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This M60, is for comparison to the "Slick 60". This M60 sits in the 4th ID museum display and its serial number is 1420. I thought this might be a good reference as to the differences between the two types. I visited the museum today to ask where one of their M4A3's was and they didn't know, imagine that! They didn't even know where the "Slick 60" was, pathetic!

MORE great pics! Thanks Jeff!

About this...hand crank fuel transfer pump? Never seen one so mounted before. Very interesting detail, especially for a "display vehicle". Comments, Joe D. or Roy?

Hi Doug! Hi Folks!

- Doug_Kibbey

MORE great pics! Thanks Jeff!

[b]About this...hand crank fuel transfer pump? Never seen one so mounted before. Very interesting detail, especially for a "display vehicle". Comments, Joe D. or Roy?

That's a new one on me!

As I recall, the unit maintance section had ONE hand pump. For one to be bolted onto a vehicle that would not be practical for the the rest of the unit.

Very interesting!
Sgt, Scouts Out!

Hit the 1st CAV museum today and photographed their M60's as further comparison for this thread. The first on here is an M60, serial number 504, reg 9B3C31, there is also 140 stamped into the middle of the front glacis. It has the same type turret as the "Slick 60" and M48 that I am about to post as well.

Jeff, is that a painted RN or did you find that somewhere?

Neil

Hi everyone,
Jeff, M60, Slick Sixty or as Neil lists them M60A0. All the same to me with slight differences. I'm tracking 148 in the US and I'm sure there are quite a few more out there. The biggest differences on them all depended on how long they remained in service. Old "Dot" 10 you found based on the graffitti has been retired at least as far back as 1972. Which helps some what explain why it hasn't any of the upgrades. Depending on what shop (CSMS,Depot or Contractor) upgraded a tank in it's life had a lot to do with what items were changed. This turret below had all the search light and M2 brackets ground off.



I'd sure like to see some pictures of the top of the cupola, in particular the armored access cover to the M85 and the pericope opening cover. The Cupolas were upgraded to IR sights not long after the M60 was fielded. Looking inside of it the sight's would look like the picture below. Even with the sights removed the housing would usually remain.



Curious why this one was never changed or maybe it was later made to look older. My other question is why was it retired so early. The Gaurd was using M60A0's as late as the mid '80s in Texas. Did this one get damaged real bad or was it a Training Tank no one wanted at Hood???? I'm leaning towards Training Tank that when the active units switched to A1's and A2's in the '70's no one wanted it and was made a display piece.
Just a guess and unfortunately no one at Hood seems to know much about what they have let alone the history of them, So Sad. Now I have more reason to drop by FT Hood when I get back.


Joe D

Doug,
That's the standard 10 Gallon Per Minute transfer pump every Company "Should" have had at least two of if they wanted. Was supposed to be stowed in the right rear sponson box, the transfer hoses were in the front right box. Was replaced by an electric one that hooked to the slave receptacle. We had one of those electric ones per platoon in my Company in Korea, 99-00. Had to make an extension for the bustle rack just to carry it.

This one is not supposed to be mounted there. Not sure who thought that up. When in use it slide into the brackets welded on top of the air filter housings on the right side. BTW, Only one fuel cap for an M60, right side. Every model kit I've seen shows two like the M48.

Side Loader

Top Loader Aluminum

Top Loader Armored


You slid the pump in the brackets and tightened the thumb screws/ Jam bolt so it wouldn't slide out. If pumping fuel into your tank just run the outlet hose into the fuel filler, If transfering fuel out from your tank you opened the top grills on the deck right side and connected the fuel hose into the fuel cell siphon port.



Hope this helps out,



Joe D

Jeff,
This might help answer Joe's question - did you happen to notice if the front hull said "Training Tank Only" underneath that good paint job? - like this one (SN 7). I cant tell from your picture.



Neil

I haven't found any tanks with "Training Only" welded on them or with the appearance of ground off wording.
The M60 at range control had a rifled barrel while the "Slick 60" was smooth-bore. The smooth-bore suprised me, is this common to M60A0 models?

Hello all,
Here are the last two M60's at the 1ST Cav Museum, for further comparison. The first is an M60A1 (RISE), serial number 8800, USA number JJ01UK, and there is 380 stamped into the front glacis.
The second tank is an M60A3 which was rebuilt at Anniston and thus the two serial numbers, 7241 and 3079A. The USA number was damaged by the addition of the welded on plates.
My camera was almost dead when I took these so sorry for the limited detail.

So which SN is the original? Joe, Jeff?

Neil

The original should be 7241. Once it's rebuilt, the numbers get "crossed" out and a new once applied, 3079A. I was informed a while back that the "A" indicates an Anniston rebuild. This second number is very faint and hard to see in the picture but both my son and I determined the same number when we looked at it closely. It's great to have a second set of eye's.

Hi Jeff, Neil,
Here is the million dollar question,,,,,. I am only tracking two other M60A0's with a supposed serial number below 15. I'm saying supposed because the other two examples (Aberdeen, Thurmont) serial numbers are based on a number Bob found on the front slope that isn't a known location for them and an information sheet Neil has that is put out by the Aberdeen Museum. No actual number has been seen in the traditional area (Left Tow Lug or Left Rear hull below deck) to my knowledge.


Were the first 15 made with bad armor never numbered as the operational ones were and possibly those started with Dot 1 ?????

Maybe this Dot 10 isn't so special or they did a really good job of grinding off the "Training Tank Only" Weld. The answer might be found if we could gain access to the Data Plate of the Aberdeen or Thurmont M60A0's.


Something to ponder,
Joe D

Joe, next time I get to Aberdeen I will make a note of checking the M60A0 tow lug again. It had a number, which I dont remember being 7 admittedly. Unfortunately the picture I took didnt come out...

Neil

- Joe_D

Hi Jeff, Neil,
Here is the million dollar question,,,,,. I am only tracking two other M60A0's with a supposed serial number below 15. I'm saying supposed because the other two examples (Aberdeen, Thurmont) serial numbers are based on a number Bob found on the front slope that isn't a known location for them and an information sheet Neil has that is put out by the Aberdeen Museum. No actual number has been seen in the traditional area (Left Tow Lug or Left Rear hull below deck) to my knowledge.


Were the first 15 made with bad armor never numbered as the operational ones were and possibly those started with Dot 1 ?????

Maybe this Dot 10 isn't so special or they did a really good job of grinding off the "Training Tank Only" Weld. The answer might be found if we could gain access to the Data Plate of the Aberdeen or Thurmont M60A0's.


Something to ponder,
Joe D

I just happened to stop by the Thurmont M60 yesterday. It has 13 on the tow lug and on the aft upper location what is interesting is the number on the front hull below the right headlight was 12. The Registration number is stamped into the hull below the left headlight

Also there is no M2 mount at the rear uf the turret but there is the square plate on the side of the cupola