This diorama is of the Marine M60’s during Desert Storm that took part in the tank battle for the Kuwaiti Airport. These M60’s represent two(2) of the eleven(11) tanks that the Marines received from the Army just prior to the commencement of hostilities. These M60’s are entering the airport via one of the runways. They were not fitted with ERA, yet these venerable M60’s proved to be more than a match for the Russian built Iraqi tanks. Enjoy and as always all comments and critiques are appreciated.
Glad you like it. I’ve seen some of your armor work and its top notch.
The tank on the left is from Tamiya M60A3 and the one on the right is from Italeri M60A1 that I had to upgrade to an 'A3. The knocked out Iraqi tank is a kitbash. I had the turret and upper hull but had to use the lower hull and road wheels of a BMP-7. I think it came out OK. I have a T-74 from Ertl that is on the shelf and should be built in the future.
Hey wow, that’s some nice work! We don’t see nearly enough non Second World War subjects and you did a great job here. Good looking tanks but I love the setting, gives you a ‘you are there’ feeling.
I did not even notice the BMP roadwheels until you mentioned it… I really like the Italeri M-60 kit. It was orginally an ESCI mold and probably the best M60 kit out there until the new AFV & Dragon kits
Hey Gamera, thanks for the comments. I’ve always liked the M60 tanks, since they were the MBT when I served. I’m glad that I was able to portray that “you are there” feeling with my diorama.
They look pretty good. One correction though, both your M60s are USMC M60A1 RISE/Passive tanks, which are correct for ODS. M60A3s had thermal sleeves on the barrels, different sights, and a few other minor differences. M60A1 RISE/Passive tanks had been upgraded with top-loading air cleaners, smoke grenade launchers and their storage boxes, and a few other internal changes. The biggest tell though is the un-sleeved barrels. Also, the one loader with the older, bone dome helmet is out of place for ODS. By ODS, the smaller, two-part (cloth shell and hard cover) CVC helmet was in use, as on your other figures.
M60A3 (smoke launchers and storage boxes removed, mounting brackets still present)
I really did not want to use the older bone dome loader, but could not find any tank figures for ODS with that helmet, except for the so-so Dragon kit which I used 2 figures from. At least the Tamiya tank figure came with the ODS helmets.
I know you classified my M60A1 as a RISE/Passive tank variant, but it doesn’t fall in that category. It’s just a RISE variant since these were the M60’s that were delivered to the Marines sans ERA. So they wouldn’t be considered Passive. But you are correct that the barrel thermal shroud and lack of smoke dischargers and storage boxes would make it an A3. So my error on the title.
The USMC M60A1s in ODS were all RISE (Reliabiliaty Improvement Selective Equipment) / Passive (night sights) tanks. The USMC already had these upgraded tanks since the early '80s. They did not get them just before ODS. The Passive part has to do with night sights, not the ERA.
The M60A1 (RISE )(PASSIVE), which debuted in 1977, featured passive night vision sights for gunner and commander, a new night vision device for the driver and a deep water fording kit.
RISE improvements included several changes to the AVDS-1790-2C diesel engine in order to improve service life and reliability: new top-loading air cleaners; stronger cylinders; improved starter, fuel injection lines, and nozzles; and better turbo superchargers. A new 650 ampere oil cooled alternator, a solid state regulator and new wiring harness with more accessible disconnect were also incorporated into its electrical system.
OK I was mistaken on the Passive Night Sights, and I know the USMC had those upgraded M60’s since the '80’s but the ones I modeled were the ones received by the USMC sans ERA, just prior to ODS. Attached is blog from a person that was there as he explains to someone on that thread regarding the tanks the Marines received prior to ODS.
Howdy Mario, here is the real dealy-o. In Jan. 1991 the US Army 197th Separate Infantry Brigade from Ft Stewart, GA had transitioned in-country(KSA) from the M1-M60A3 to the M1A1. The Brigade Cavalry Troop had eleven (11) M60A3s. The USMC MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force) G4 was made aware of the fact that there was a battalions worth of 105mm M1s and eleven (11) non-ERA “slick” M60A3s available. The USMC sent representatives (myself and some other Jarheads) from 3rd Tank Bn. to see what condition the vehicles were in. We reported the “NATOflage” M60A3s would be a good thing to pick up as we had the ability to operate and maintain them. MEF allocated six (6)M60A3s to 3rd Tank Bn. and five(5) to 1st Tank Bn. Upon arrival in the 3rd Tank Battalion’s Field Trains one(1) of the tanks was immediately turned one into a parts tank(hangar queen)and cannibalized. They then assigned one (1) to each of the four (4) gun companies in the battalion. The remaining tank was assigned to the Bn. Headquarters Tank section. The turret bustle ammo ready racks were removed by maintenance personnel and they installed a system of homemade racks for the shoulder launched Stinger missile. It was manned by LAAD (Low Altitude Air Defense) Marines when we crossed LD and became an impromptu air defense tank with a Stinger operator in the loaders hatch. In my company(C Co, 3rd Tanks) the M60A3 was assigned to the headquarters platoon and pulled the TAB (Towed Assault Bridge). That tanks TTS (Tank Thermal Sight) and LRF (Laser Range Finder) were inoperative as well as the GPS (Gunners Primary Sight). The good old M105D telescope worked just fine though. In 3rd Tanks crews covered the five (5) remaining M60A3s hulls/turrets with tons of sand bags secured via field communication “slash” wire. Put a green spray paint color over the US Army bumper number markings and call it good. They did not have any other markings and remained “slick”.
M60A3TTS tanks would have smoke grenade launchers and storage boxes as well as the TTS “doghouse”. It also has a crsswind sensor directly behind the loader’s hatch that looks like a short, fat antenna with what looks like an inverted egg beater on top. The crosswind sensor did not work and was normally left off and stowed in its case inside the turret, but the mast was a fixed item that resembles a short antenna.
Additionally, the right side coincidence range finder blister was where the Laser Range Finder (LRF) fired from and had a little armored door secured with a padlock when not in use. The door would be locked into the open position when in combat.
This picture was taken in mid 1988 at Grafenwohr Germany. You can see the crosswind sensor to the right of my big fat head as well as the rounded TTS doghouse and the door on the LRF blister. These three items and the thermal shrouded gun tube are the main identifying features between an M60A3TTS and an M60A1 RISE/Passive in US service. Other nations have upgraded A1s to A3s and those tanks often have mixed features.
Thanks Rob. I like that picture. Unfortunately for me the Corps sent me to Forward Observer School at Fort Sill, OK. If they had sent me to Armored/Tank School at For Knox, KY I probably would have retired after 30 years of service as a MGySgt. It is what it is.
Yes, I knew that the USMC received about a Bn’s worth of M60A3 tanks and a Company(-) worth of M60A3 TTS tanks when the Army turned them in for M1A1s. As Rob pointed out, they were different from what you have modeled. You still have modeled M60A1 RISE/Passive tanks since they do not have M60A3-specifc features. I don’t mean to seem like I am harping on it, but your models are not M60A3s.
I really like your Diorama. These guys know their stuff! We are lucky to have all of you on board to help us learn the finer points. My only very very minor criticism when viewing the Dio myself was “that helmet looks kind of weird”, but the fellas already covered that. To be honest, without clicking on the picture to “zoom in”, I thought it was a blonde chick! Great job!
