AFV Club 1/35 M60A1 Patton Main Battle Tank Kit

In the late 1950s the US Army was searching for a more modern tank to form its battle fleet and to replace the M48 series. They tried a new line of tanks with the T95 but this tank never seemed to provide a satisfactory alternative, so an updated version of the M48 tank was then considered. There were three primary things the Army sought for this tank: the AVDS-1790 diesel engine to reduce fire risks and increase range; the new British 105mm L7A1 main gun to replace the 90mm series weapons; and the use of siliceous core armor plate on the glacis and parts of the turret. While the first two items were relatively easy to achieve, the latter one ran into cost and production issues and was dropped. While a new “long nose” turret from the T95 program was preferred, the original turret adopted to field the new tank, now dubbed M60, was a modified version of the M48 series turret with a bubble in the back to permit use of the new gun and larger ammunition. The first M60 series tanks were deli