About a decade ago I used to do work at Edwards Air Force Base from time to time. On one of my visits I spotted this old abandoned M60 battle tank some distance off the road. The tank was a short distance from the gate to the Air Force testing range and as a joke base personnel planted several unexploded bombs in the sand in close proximity to the tank to make it look like some cross-eyed pilot tried to bomb it and missed badly.
This is a location that I wanted to share because only base personnel and civilian contractors (like me) will only be able to see it in person.
The History of the M60:
The M60 is one of the world’s most successful main battle tanks with 15,000 having been produced and serving in the armies of 22 countries.
The tank has provided proven battlefield performance over four decades and has been continuously advanced and upgraded with advanced weapon control, ammunition, applique armour and increasingly powerful engines. The M60 series main battle tanks of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the US were deployed in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 during the Gulf Crisis.
M60 tanks entered service with the US Army in 1960. The M60A1 with a new turret, thicker armour and a new ammunition stowage system, was manufactured from 1962 to 1980. The development of the M60A2 with a new turret fitted with a 152mm gun and missile launcher was halted and effort was directed to the development and production of the highly successful M60A3 tank, which incorporated improvements to the gunfire control and entered service in 1978.
The manufacturer, General Dynamics Land Systems Division, has ceased production of the tank but continues to provide fleet management support to the US Army Tank Automotive Command and to user countries worldwide. - Source
The pilot who missed this tank will remain anonymous to protect the innocent. Just for fun we will call him Bob.
You need glasses Bob.
All kidding aside, please enjoy these images because unless you have a security clearance this location is strictly off limits to you.
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