XBradTC

By

XBradTC

·

M60A3 SLEP

SLEP stands for Service Life Extension Program. There’s quite a few countries that bought the M60A3 Patton tank, and it is still in use in significant numbers worldwide.  But while its mobility, firepower and protection were reasonable for the 1970s, it is a bit outdated today. But buying entirely new tanks to replace them is…

SLEP stands for Service Life Extension Program.

There’s quite a few countries that bought the M60A3 Patton tank, and it is still in use in significant numbers worldwide.  But while its mobility, firepower and protection were reasonable for the 1970s, it is a bit outdated today. But buying entirely new tanks to replace them is expensive, and Raytheon is hoping that its private venture to field an upgrade will appeal to operators of the tank that want an improved fleet, but can’t afford to buy new armor.

Just how effective is the upgrade? Well, the powerplant upgrade is likely to be pretty successful. There have been great improvements in diesel power over the last 40 years. And while upgrades to the fire control system should be rather straightforward, actually integrating new systems into an older turret (with all the space restrictions) might be a challenge. And given the problems Chrysler had fitting the 120mm M256 to the M1 tank, we have to wonder how well upgunning the M60 will work out. And last, but certainly not least, there’s only so much you can do to improve the armor of an M60 .

Tags:

Responses to “M60A3 SLEP”

  1. Casey

    Speaking of armor (if I may ask a silly question) in some shots I see skirts on the sides of the M-60. Are those to defeat shaped-charge warheads?

    Like

  2. Quartermaster

    Unless the skirts also include reactive armor, no. By the time I got into an M-60 in the mid 80s, the skirts were long gone.
    To upgun the 60 it’s pretty well certain that you’ll have to redesign the turret. The A3 differs from the 60 in that the turret had to be redesigned to accommodate the updated fire control system as it would not fit into the original more rounded turret.
    Given the manner in which main gun ammo is stowed in a 60, I’d hate to take it into combat. It’s a “brew up” waiting to happen as there is nothing between the crew compartment and ammo racks.

    Like

  3. Joey Jo Jo Jr.

    Side skirts would provide an extra layer of protection against RPG’s…it increases the stand-off distance from the hull armor. Notice the bar/slat armor around the turret, designed to do the same thing.

    Like

  4. Casey

    Ah. RPG is what I meant to say. Brain fart. 😉

    Like

Leave a comment