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What was the most produced tank of all time?

#16: Re: What was the most produced tank of all time? Author: Joe_D, Location: Razorback Country

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:54 am
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Was an M60A2 "new production" or a "rebuild" to newer type

M60A2 was new build. What has confused a lot of folks was the M60A1E1 program called for the production of 243 turrets to be installed on modified M60 hulls. The Army also contracted two batches of 300 new M60A2 tanks which utilized the newer M60A1 hull. The second contract was then reduced to 270. Then the M60A1E2 contract was canceled and the turrets were stored for a while until they could work out the bugs (Conventional ammo, turret control, recoil system among others). Production of the initial batch continued and the tanks were placed in storage too until the bugs could be worked out. When the budget got tight they canceled the second order of M60A2's and then awarded a new contract to install the 243 M60A1E1 turrets on to new M60A1 hulls specifically made for A2's once the initial batch of M60A2's were complete. This second set of M60A2's were considered new production tanks. The original plan for M60A2's called for 600, and this was reflected in the sequencing of serial numbers, 4426 thru 5025 being assigned to the M60A2 contracts. Only 540 M60A2's were produced. I am still trying to track down what happened to the M60A1E2's. I have a theory but nothing concrete yet.

Over 15,000 is close. 14,916 is what I have. Detroit produced 14,416 various models before ceasing production. 360 were made in the Newark Delaware plant and 200 were made from kits in Italy by OTO Melera. This is all new production. The number gets bumped by the A3 program because many count the rebuilt A3's made in Anniston and Mainz.

#17: Re: What was the most produced tank of all time? Author: bsmart, Location: Central Maryland

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:16 am
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- Joe_D

Over 15,000 is close. 14,916 is what I have. Detroit produced 14,416 various models before ceasing production. 360 were made in the Newark Delaware plant and 200 were made from kits in Italy by OTO Melera. This is all new production. The number gets bumped by the A3 program because many count the rebuilt A3's made in Anniston and Mainz.

14,416 + 360 + 200 = (Lets see take off the shoes and use toes as well as fingers) 14976 (unless math in Arkansas is different Mr. Green

)
But thanks. So for M48/M60 series production we have 11,703 + 14,976 = 26,679

#18: Re: What was the most produced tank of all time? Author: JimWeb, Location: The back of beyond

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:27 am
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- bsmart

Thanks Trevor and Taranov for your inputs. I was surprised how few Centurians were produced.

Tthe Centurions were all upgraded constantly - most went through at least three (possibly more) modification programs.

#19: Re: What was the most produced tank of all time? Author: Joe_D, Location: Razorback Country

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:34 pm
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Duh,

That's what happens when you stay up late and do math after logging over 1800 miles in a week driving (the JB and coke didn't help).

26,679 a pretty amazing number if you consider these tanks were cast hulls and turrets, not rolled steel welded. The size of the M48 and early M60 single piece hull castings being most impressive. Another consideration are the relatively large castings being made for the M103 tanks produced around the same time. We no longer have this capability in America without much lead time.

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