Hi guys,

I'll be receiving AFV Club's M60A3 tomorrow and I was wondering if the markings on these images would be present in wartime or they are exercise markings.

The number 76:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/M60A3_REFORGER_'85_DF-ST-85-13241.JPEG

The number 17:
http://i.imgur.com/eDsFBzP.jpg

I believe the AFV Club has markins for both these tanks. In the photos, these markings look like stickers and I think they were just put for the exercise, but maybe I can get some input from those who know a lot more about this than I do.

Thanks in advance.

The vast majority of what you will find is exercise related for the A3. If you Google 'Reforger Germany' you'll find lots of modeling inspiration.

Both the 17 and 76 markings are exercise numbers. As Chris says, they are from a REFORGER (REturn of FORces to GERmany) exercise in Europe. The only M60A3s to see combat under US forces were about 10 M60A3 TTS tanks handed down to the USMC from the US Army in Operation Desert Storm, '90-'91.

Hi Chris,

that's actually how I found those photos.

So, to make a what-if wartime diorama,I can use the kit's markings without using those bigger markings, I guess.

For a what if diorama, just lose the blue or yellow marker panels and you should be good to go. Also don't use the Hoffman device or the orange marker lights.

Thanks.

That I know. We had some M60A3 TTS in the Portuguese Army and I was able to take some photos almost 17 years ago:

They are, in fact, giant vinyl stickers. Of course, the cold, rough, dirty surface of the tank did not stick very well. We often used 100 mph tape (OD green duct tape) to help adhere it to the tank. The strips of tape give the marking a stop sign appearance.