I would like know what are the differences between the M-60a1 and the M-60a3? Is there a big difference?

Being not really a specialist of this tank, here is my understanding :

the A3 is fitted with a laser rangefinder, has a wind sensor on top of the turret, has smoke grenades dischargers on both sides of the turret and if I'm correct different air cleaner boxes on the rear fenders.
Some, if not all, of the A3s have a thermal shroud around the main gun.

I'm sure members more in the know will pop up and correct me as needed

Olivier

The A3's laser rangefinder is in the right blister and has a protective flap which the A1's didn't have. Later A3's had the TTS (Tank Thermal Sight) fitted.

Photo from the Internets somewhere to illustrate:


Jim

Quick differences between an A1 and an A3:

Some external indicators of the M60A3 vs the M60A1 are:
- The wind sensor on the rear of the turret as Oliver mentioned, the M60A1 does not have this feature
- The cover on the left range finder blister as Jim mentioned, the M60A1 does not have the cover on the rangefinder blister
- A thermal shroud on the main gun, again, the M60A1 does not have the thermal shroud cover
- The M60A3 TTS has a rounded top to the Gunners Sight, while the M60A3 and M60A1 have a flat topped cover for the M35 Passive sight.

Using the armored, top loading air cleaners or the M239 Smoke Grenade launchers are not good indicators of the tank types as many M60A1s received updated air cleaners during the AOS (Add on Stabilizer) modifications starting in 1972, and armored air cleaners as part of the RISE Passive upgrades in 1977. The M239 SGLs were added as part of the M60A3 standardization and were also added to the A1s as they underwent periodic rebuilds at Anniston AL, Detroit MI or Mainz GE. I got most of the exact info from Hunnicutt's Patton book, pages 200-210.

There were more internal differences between A1s and A3s but I doubt that they will matter in your build.

John Charvat
ex-Dinosaur tanker

Just to add a couple of items:

1. As mentioned the M60A1 was fitted with smoke grenade launchers with the RISE/Passive upgrades in 1977-78. RISE = Reliability Improved Selected Equipment: Air cleaners armored, the wiring harness was placed on top of the power pack (moving it from the bottom of the power pack). Passive was the night vision/sights on the tank now a 'starlight scope' types that amplified ambient light and not needing an infrared light source.

2. The first versions of the M60A3 were not equipped with the Tank Thermal Sight (TTS), but retained the Passive night sights and the tank still had a Xenon searchlight mounted like the M60A1. In West Germany M60A3 Passive tank units were two armor battalions in 1st Brigade, 3rd AD; 11th ACR; and the 2nd ACR. All of these M60A3's had a retro-fit of the TTS in 1982-83.

The rest of differences have been stated.

checkout this website it has photos of just about any armored vehicle ever made primeportal.net

sorry www.primeportal.net click battlefield hope this creates a link for you

Duane,
Thanks for the assist... I skipped the explanation of the Passive sights, white and pink light searchlights, etc. I am more familar with A3TTS as that was my first tank, although I did "own" some M60A1RPs back at Knox in the late 80's... They mainly supported ARNG M60A1 MG Classes.

Jody,
Are you looking for specific pics or just general walkarounds???

John

Thanks for your detailed explanations John and Duane

Olivier, you are welcome.

John, my first tank training was on the M60A1 (R/P) at Fort Knox in 1978-79, then used them in H Company, 2/11th ACR in 1979. Then I did force modernization starting in 1980 at V Corps and helped field the M60A3 and the TTS retro-fit (among many other new equipment fielding projects). That did help me when I went back to Fort Knox in 1986 to do Armor Reserve Officers Advance Course and we used the M60A3 for gunnery and maneuver as I had contact with fire control system. And some training is hard not to fall back on..... 'Drop half form; no drop a mil' for the main gun corrections.

Yea, understand... In 1986, I was a tank platoon leader, OICing the M60A3 Tank Commander's Certification Course (TC3) and saw lots of the guys that were converting from A1s to A3s... "Drop ___ form", "Burst on Target," and severla other A1 gunnery phrases were highly discouraged...

Ahhh, that takes me back in time to when I was yound and dumb, not that I am any smarter now that I am older...

JC

John, that is so true. There were several of us O-3's doing the same thing - drop _____ form, and an instructor saying, no, it is in mils.'

At least I still recalled how to zero the main gun and got to fire more 105mm rounds on the range. At least I got to 'play' with a real, life sized tank (M60A1 and M60A3 - 1978-1979; 1986).