Summary and Key Points: The M60 Patton, a second-generation Main Battle Tank, was introduced by the U.S. Army in 1960 during the Cold War. Despite being rushed into service and having some flaws, it became a crucial defense against the Soviet threat with its superior firepower, armor, and cruising range.

-The M60 saw extensive combat, proving effective in conflicts like the Yom Kippur War and the Gulf War.

-Even today, variants of the M60 remain in service globally, highlighting its durability and effectiveness. However, the success of the M60 contrasts with modern U.S. military procurement, which is often plagued by delays and cost overruns.

The M60 Patton was a second-generation Main Battle Tank (MBT) fielded by the United States Army in 1960. Deployed at a particularly tense time during the Cold War, the tank was designed to offset many developments that rival Soviet tanks had made. In the M60 Patton, one found greater cruising range than its predecessors, it had superior firepower, and enhanced armor—all things that were needed to deter the Soviet Red Army from marching across Western Europe.

The Army installed an integrated fire control system that helped to make reload time quicker during combat. Should the Cold War have turned hot, these beauties would have been the first line of defense the Red Army’s armored units would have come up against. Thus, the quicker reload time........

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