A former US Army tank crewmman has accepted to do an interview for my blog. T. spent several years in Germany in several tank units, including the 2nd Ar Div (fwd). During this time he operated in M60 tanks.
Hello T. Thanks for accepting the invertiew. Could you provide a brief overview of your career in the US Army?
I spent four years on M60A1 RISE, and RISE Passive, tanks. After basic I was held over to help train the next cycle. I then spent most of the next two years in B Trp. 2/9 Cavalry. I went to Germany in the fall of 81 where I was posted to 2nd Ar Div (fwd). I spent a few months as the S-2 driver (M577) followed by A Co. 2/66 Armor. I stayed there until the early fall when we became the company-sized unit used to test the cohort principle. I then spent the rest of my time with C Trp. 2/1 Cavalry (mostly in the field) until I ETSed in the summer of 83.
The tanks in which you served were M60 Patton variants. What was your impression of the vehicle, and the strong/weak points?
I thought that it was powerful. It was more than capable of doing what was wanted of it. I think its weakest point was its under-powered engine and only two forward gears. I also recognized that having more powerful magnification would be really nice.
What were the capabilities of the M60 RISE and RISE Passive in terms of Fire Control System (FCS)? What sort of aimed fire did you practice (target, tank velocity…)?
We had hydraulic/manual control of the turret. There was, on the RISE tanks, a stabiliser system added on. The range finder was connected through a mechanical computer to the elevation system so that changing the range also changed the super elevation of the main gun, how much depended on what round was indexed into the computer. We practiced firing from a stationary position, from a short halt (stopping when the target is announced then moving when the engagement is over) and firing on the move. Our targets were all stationary at Ft Stewart. We had moving targets at Bergen Hohne.
The M60 you used did not have a thermal sight. How was the night firing conducted?
Active IR, Passive, illumination flares, and range cards were the methods. The most fun was flares in the autumn when there was a slight ground fog. Made the targets really stand out even when the illumination wasn't very intense.
By the 1980s Israel had used the M60 Patton in combat. Did you get any feedback on it's performance or changes applied to variants?
I believe that is what the RISE package was meant to address. We also got new SABOT and HEAT rounds, I believe.
You spent time deployed in Western Europe. What was you impression of the terrain when first deployed?
I was stationed in northern Germany just north of Bremen. The land was really flat for the most part. I thought if they put concrete in parts of the rivers and creeks we would have very good hull down positions. Would have made for good sniping at long ranges. My limited experience in southern Germany made me think that we would have great defense in depth there.
Did you have the opportunity to train with other NATO Armies? What were your impressions? Did you like/dislike any specific equipment?
I trained with the Dutch, German, and BAOR but I never got to cross train on their equipment. Every member of a fellow NATO armed force that I met was always competent and professional. They were a pleasure to work with. I thought the Marder and Luchs were awesome designs. The two times I saw Chieftains I thought they should be called Banshees because of the loud screaming noise they made when moving. One Sargent I served with got to get on a Chieftain and a Leo I while those crews got to look at our M60A1. He thought the other tanks were cramped and the Brits and Germans marveled at the amount of space we had in ours. He also said the Brits were very proud that they could almost get three rounds down range in a minute (we could easily get 12 plus). My great thanks to the Dutch Army for working one weekend (they were unionised and didn't have to) to put up an NBC decontamination station so we could get hot showers after being in the field for 30+ days.
In the 80s the Warsaw Pact had deployed a very large number of tanks in Eastern Europe, including T-64/72/80. Did you have access to intelligence on these vehicles?
Not really. We new what they looked like and what their perceived strengths and weaknesses were but not much else.
Was there any Soviet equipment that you found impressive/unimpressive?
I was impressed by all that I got to see up close. T-55/62, BMP, BDRM-2, BTR-60. Especially when you consider how many there were.
Newer models of tanks have incorporated turbines and automatic loaders. What is your opinion of them?
The turbine has great power but is a fuel hog. An auto-loader that breaks down puts the tank out of commission. I new plenty of people who could load faster than the ones on T-tanks of the day. I am unimpressed by them.
In the early 1990s M60 Patton were quickly retired from the US Army. Do you think it was a good decision?
Considering what they were replaced with and how the replacement has evolved, yes.
What is your opinion on the Israel upgrades (Magach - also sold to Turkey as M60T)?
I don't really know that much about them.
Turkey has used M60s in Syria. What do you think of the way they are being used?
Heads should roll! It has been a pathetic waste of machines and, more importantly, manpower.
Hello T. Thanks for accepting the invertiew. Could you provide a brief overview of your career in the US Army?
I spent four years on M60A1 RISE, and RISE Passive, tanks. After basic I was held over to help train the next cycle. I then spent most of the next two years in B Trp. 2/9 Cavalry. I went to Germany in the fall of 81 where I was posted to 2nd Ar Div (fwd). I spent a few months as the S-2 driver (M577) followed by A Co. 2/66 Armor. I stayed there until the early fall when we became the company-sized unit used to test the cohort principle. I then spent the rest of my time with C Trp. 2/1 Cavalry (mostly in the field) until I ETSed in the summer of 83.
The tanks in which you served were M60 Patton variants. What was your impression of the vehicle, and the strong/weak points?
I thought that it was powerful. It was more than capable of doing what was wanted of it. I think its weakest point was its under-powered engine and only two forward gears. I also recognized that having more powerful magnification would be really nice.
What were the capabilities of the M60 RISE and RISE Passive in terms of Fire Control System (FCS)? What sort of aimed fire did you practice (target, tank velocity…)?
We had hydraulic/manual control of the turret. There was, on the RISE tanks, a stabiliser system added on. The range finder was connected through a mechanical computer to the elevation system so that changing the range also changed the super elevation of the main gun, how much depended on what round was indexed into the computer. We practiced firing from a stationary position, from a short halt (stopping when the target is announced then moving when the engagement is over) and firing on the move. Our targets were all stationary at Ft Stewart. We had moving targets at Bergen Hohne.
The M60 you used did not have a thermal sight. How was the night firing conducted?
Active IR, Passive, illumination flares, and range cards were the methods. The most fun was flares in the autumn when there was a slight ground fog. Made the targets really stand out even when the illumination wasn't very intense.
By the 1980s Israel had used the M60 Patton in combat. Did you get any feedback on it's performance or changes applied to variants?
I believe that is what the RISE package was meant to address. We also got new SABOT and HEAT rounds, I believe.
You spent time deployed in Western Europe. What was you impression of the terrain when first deployed?
I was stationed in northern Germany just north of Bremen. The land was really flat for the most part. I thought if they put concrete in parts of the rivers and creeks we would have very good hull down positions. Would have made for good sniping at long ranges. My limited experience in southern Germany made me think that we would have great defense in depth there.
Did you have the opportunity to train with other NATO Armies? What were your impressions? Did you like/dislike any specific equipment?
I trained with the Dutch, German, and BAOR but I never got to cross train on their equipment. Every member of a fellow NATO armed force that I met was always competent and professional. They were a pleasure to work with. I thought the Marder and Luchs were awesome designs. The two times I saw Chieftains I thought they should be called Banshees because of the loud screaming noise they made when moving. One Sargent I served with got to get on a Chieftain and a Leo I while those crews got to look at our M60A1. He thought the other tanks were cramped and the Brits and Germans marveled at the amount of space we had in ours. He also said the Brits were very proud that they could almost get three rounds down range in a minute (we could easily get 12 plus). My great thanks to the Dutch Army for working one weekend (they were unionised and didn't have to) to put up an NBC decontamination station so we could get hot showers after being in the field for 30+ days.
In the 80s the Warsaw Pact had deployed a very large number of tanks in Eastern Europe, including T-64/72/80. Did you have access to intelligence on these vehicles?
Not really. We new what they looked like and what their perceived strengths and weaknesses were but not much else.
Was there any Soviet equipment that you found impressive/unimpressive?
I was impressed by all that I got to see up close. T-55/62, BMP, BDRM-2, BTR-60. Especially when you consider how many there were.
Newer models of tanks have incorporated turbines and automatic loaders. What is your opinion of them?
The turbine has great power but is a fuel hog. An auto-loader that breaks down puts the tank out of commission. I new plenty of people who could load faster than the ones on T-tanks of the day. I am unimpressed by them.
In the early 1990s M60 Patton were quickly retired from the US Army. Do you think it was a good decision?
Considering what they were replaced with and how the replacement has evolved, yes.
What is your opinion on the Israel upgrades (Magach - also sold to Turkey as M60T)?
I don't really know that much about them.
Turkey has used M60s in Syria. What do you think of the way they are being used?
Heads should roll! It has been a pathetic waste of machines and, more importantly, manpower.
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