The initial bid package for the production of
M60 tanks was released in April 1959 and in June of the same year a production contract was awarded to Chrysler Corporation, Delaware Defense Plant, for the production of 180
M60 MBTs. In August 1959, an engineering release bid package was released for the second production buy of M60s to be built at Delaware. Subsequent production buys, beginning with October 1960 production, were made from the Chrysler Corporation Detroit Tank Plant, with production of the
M60A3 completed in September 1987.
The
M60 entered service with the US Army in 1960 and from October 1962 the tank was succeeded in production by the
M60A1 (development designation M60E1). The first M60s had M48-type turrets with 105 mm guns. The
M60A1 has the same basic chassis as the
M60 but a redesigned turret with greater ballistic protection and other modifications. It carries 63 rounds of 105 mm ammunition rather than 57 as carried by the older
M60.
For most of the 1960s and early 1970s production of the
M60A1 was maintained at a very low rate, the minimum necessary to sustain the production base.
As a result of the Middle East War of 1973 a major effort was made to increase production of the
M60A1 for two reasons: to replace
M60A1 tanks supplied to
Israel and to increase war reserve stocks which were then very low. It took some time to build up production of the
M60A1 owing, in the main, to a shortage of hull and turret castings.
By 1975, production had been boosted to 48 tanks per month, which increased to 72 a month in 1977 and 104 a month in December 1977. Peak production rate was achieved in October 1978 when 129 vehicles were completed. Production continued at a high rate until April 1979 when it started to drop and by the summer of 1980 it was running at 50 vehicles a month. The last
M60A1 was completed in May 1980 and all production after this date was of the
M60A3. Production of the
M60A3 MBT was expected to be completed in May 1985 after over 15,000
M60 series MBTs had been built but, in May 1985, the DoD notified Congress of a letter of offer for 94
M60A3 MBTs for
Egypt at a cost of US$165 million. M60A3s being produced early in 1985 were for
Saudi Arabia.