Initial production of the M60 began in 1959 out of the Chrysler Delaware Defense Plant to which the first M60 units were formed and stocked in 1960. While not officially labeled "Patton" in its formal US Army listing ("105mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank (M60)"), it was widely accepted as part of the Patton family that began with the "M46" - and all Pattons (M46, M47 and M48) were more or less related to the late World War 2-era M26 Pershing Heavy Tank. The resulting design came to be known initially as the "M68" but this was later changed to the more well known "M60" designation. The general turret shape of the M48 more or less remained, though this was progressively changed to a more defined, unique form to help reduce the front and rear profiles. The hull was revised with more straight contours and aluminum wheels replaced the M48's steel ones. The basic M48 was upgraded with a new, more powerful engine mated to a cross-drive transmission system and a the excellent British L7 main gun was fitted to a new turret. With expediency and cost in mind, it was decided to take the existing M48 systems and modify it to suit the ever-changing requirements of the then-modern battlefield. While not a perfect combat tank, the M60 certainly was a stout and ready performer for the 50+ years it has been in operational service. A myriad of operators and variants soon emerged operating the type and the T-62 recorded combat actions from the 1969 Sino-Soviet Border War to the 2011 Libyan Civil War. The Soviet design turned out to be the "T-62" tank which began formal service in 1961 and went on to see over 22,000 examples produced for the Red Army and allied states/friendly nations. With this armament, the Soviet offering was capable of outgunning the latest M48 Patton series, then the staple of the American armored corps. The M60 "Patton" Main Battle Tank began development in 1957 to counter rumors that the Soviets were working on a new main battle tank of their own armed with a 115mm smoothbore main gun.
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