Airplane Model*Hobby Master HG5612 M60A1 “Beirut Payback” USMC, Operation Desert Storm 1991 – Miniature Marvels: Airplane Models & Painted Dice

The M60 was initially introduced in 1960 and often incorrectly referred to as a Patton. The M60 resembled the M48 because it was based on the M48 but with some significant alterations and improvements. M60 has a 105mm Main Gun while the M48s was 90mm and the front slope was straight compared to the M48s rounded front plus other modifications. The M60 was the last U.S. tank to use homogenous steel as well as an escape hatch in the floor for the driver. Between 1986 and 2002 Egypt purchased M60A3 tanks and other variants from the U.S. and several other countries. The list included 1,016 M60A3 and 700 M60A1RISE variants. Presently Egypt is the largest operator of the M60A3s.

On August 2, 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and refused to leave so a multi-nation coalition force, led by the U.S. was formed and on January 17, 1991 the combat phase to remove Iraq began. When the war began the USMC was starting to re-equip from their M60A1s to the M1A1 Abrams. There wasnt time to complete the change so the 2nd and 4th Battalions were equipped with the M1A1 while the 1st, 3rd and 8th Battalions used the M60. Between February 24th and 28th 1991 the USMC defeated the Iraqi forces in Kuwait and forced them to retreat.