Tank Lovers Group
Hobbies & Interests
This group is for everyone who like tanks, sci-fi tanks, real tanks, funny tanks, you can put here tank mods, tank maps, simply everything with straps, armor and gun :D
Also known as Super M60. This 80s upgrade package was offered for all existing tanks in the M60 series.
The engine was changed to a 12-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel injected, and turbocharged diesel AVCR-1790-1B producing 1200 hp at 2400 rpm (a modification of the standard AVDS-1790-2C producing 800 hp at 2400 rpm) with most components being the same as the standard engine.
The Allison CD-850 manual transmission was also replaced with the fully automatic 8-gear Renk RK-304. Installation of this whole new powerpack required only a few modifications.
The original torsion bar suspension was replaced by a Model 2866 hydropneumatic suspension developed by the National Waterlift Company, who also developed earlier models used in the HIMAG, General Motors XM-1, and Centurion. This suspension achieved a speed of 38.62 km/h compared to the original M60's torsion bar 14.48 km/h over Profile IV cross-country terrain. Test also showed that this suspension allowed for loading and firing accurately on the move at speeds up to 32 km/h.
The new applique armor provided protection from weapons as follows:
Turret front from 125mm weapons
Turret roof and sides from 30mm weapons
Hull front and glacis from kinetic and HEAT weapons (no caliber specified)
Sideskirts provided track and hull protection from HEAT warheads
This new armor layout consisted mostly of high-hardness steel and composite ceramic modules. The sideskirts were made with a layer of Sital type material sandwiched between two hardened steel plates and were modular for easy access to the tracks and suspension.
An automatic NBC protection was designed specifically for this upgrade by Engineered Air Systems Incorporated that removed toxic agents from the air entering the tank. It also provided ventilation to the crew when the tank was in a non-toxic environment.
The tank was also equipped with a full-solution laser fire control system, and included a Nd-YAG laser, second generation image intensifier or thermal imager.