M60A3 Variant

Bruce Morris · Post by **Bruce Morris** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:27 am

I've been pulling some old models out to strip and repaint. I have several GHQ M60A3s from the early/mid 80s without the commanders cupola. How common were these late production tanks? I also found some Marders with the remote MG on the rear deck.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:35 am

So far as I know, M60A3s were in service with the active US Army in the early to late 80s, in the US Army National Guard, with Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. GHQ made a version with an "Israeli cupola" which, I believe, was an A1, so if that's what you are looking at, only the Israelis used it. There are probably a few folks who know more about this, but I haven't seen them reply yet, so I figured I would speak up.

Bruce Morris · Post by **Bruce Morris** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:44 am

Thanks Panzergator,
I've worked at Fort Benning since the 1980s and never saw the M60A3 with the 'Israeli cupola' since the 197th or 3rd Bde was at Kelly Hill. I believe when I purchased these years ago GHQ had labeled them as M60A3s. Not sure how long GHQ kept them in production. I will more than likely repaint in Israeli colors. As far as the Marder is concerned, I think the version I have with the remote MG on the rear deck was a pre-production model. I'm glad I kept them with my older M551s (no crows nest) and M60A2s

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:51 am

If I remember correctly, 197th Bde deployed to Desert Storm with M60A3s, perhaps exchanging them before the campaign kicked off for M1A1s. They may not have. 2-68 Armor at Baumholder was the last unit in USAREUR to give up the A3. I am not sure the Israeli cupola'd A1 saw service even in Isreal. There were definite good things about the idea, though.