How Many M60 tanks are in Storage?: A Look into the Enduring Legacy of aClassic Main Battle Tank
From the dawn of the technological age of warfare, tanks play a vital role in decisive battles, serving as essential components of military forces while also evolving with advancements from World War I to conflicts in the Middle East’s contemporary theatre. The Armored Core’s legacy showcases the ingenuity of metallurgy, mechanics, development, and design, in addition to the resilience shared by military personnel and machine alike. One of historical significance’s most enduring stories is the M60 Armor, produced by the Army Tank Automotive Command (DAM) from 227 units. As we focus on how many M61 tanks are in storage since the mid-199 0s, let dive into a world of mechanics, battle histories, legacy, and numbers.
As of the early 16th century, there more than 4,475 M60s, all variants of the tank except for a few experimental model prototypes and prototype units within the USA and worldwide markets. To give a simplified view of this number the breakdown into 4 divisions is shown below:
M49: A prototype with varying design improvements.
Series I (M60S): First generation made of stainless plate steel, which led numerous design issues. There isn’t an exact count (number unknown) as in storage because many of prototype models, some in this series were used in operational scenarios during World War as experimental.
Series R (M60R ): Series 1 tanks, also made of some stainless plate with stainless plate steel parts. No information available available.
Series T. M60T (main production) Series M60T as well as Series T tank with improved stainless plate performance and no design issues: Mainly in use operational use (more than
What are the purposes of storage?
While we understand that many may wonder, why these Tanks are kept in storage despite being decommissioned?, it is essential to define the objectives behind these M60 tank storage strategies;
- Historital Preservation: For educational/training purposes and for long-term archiving.
Some tanks remain operational and preserved as monuments or memorially dedicated sites, which often provide opportunities for people both in military service and without to appreciate and understand them. They can be repurposed as static memorials.
- Museums or Exstatic Memorials: Assembled as collections in museums allowing people to explore, preserve and share history.
Within the US and globally; these institutions can display operational, restored, or as they once were.
