Italeri M60A2 Main Battle Tank 1/72 Model Kit
The Italeri M60A2 Main Battle Tank (7086) is a 1/72 scale plastic model kit of the American Cold War tank fitted with a distinctive short-barrelled 152 mm gun/launcher. Based on the original M60 hull, the A2 introduced a different main-armament system capable of firing both conventional ammunition and Shillelagh anti-tank missiles.
This kit features link-and-length tracks and measures 10.1 cm when completed. It represents one of the more unusual variants of the M60 family, combining the established American tank chassis with a specialised gun and missile-launching system.
The American M60 Main Battle Tank
The M60 entered service with the United States Army in the early 1960s. Developed as the successor to the M47 and M48 Patton tanks, it became a principal main battle tank of the US Army throughout much of the Cold War.
Manufactured by the American company Chrysler, the M60 family remained in production until 1983, with more than 15,000 vehicles built. The tank was also adopted in various versions by armed forces around the world, making it an important part of post-war armoured vehicle development.
The original M60 was armed with an M68 105 mm gun mounted in its turret. Subsequent development produced several variants, including the M60A2, which introduced a substantially different weapons arrangement while retaining the basic M60 hull.
M60A2 Gun and Missile System
The M60A2 was developed around a short-barrelled 152 mm gun/launcher. Unlike the conventional 105 mm armament of the original M60, this system could fire standard ammunition as well as Shillelagh guided anti-tank missiles.
A laser rangefinder was also incorporated into the A2’s equipment, supporting the tank’s more advanced weapons system. These changes distinguished the M60A2 from other members of the M60 family and gave the vehicle a recognisable appearance.
A considerable number of M60A2 tanks were produced between 1972 and 1981, placing this variant firmly within the Cold War period of American armoured vehicle development.
Model Kit Features
Italeri’s 1/72 scale kit depicts the M60A2 configuration, including its characteristic short-barrelled main weapon. The model’s compact dimensions make it suitable for a Cold War military vehicle collection in the same scale.
- 1/72 scale American M60A2 main battle tank
- Cold War US Army armoured vehicle
- Distinctive 152 mm gun/launcher configuration
- Vehicle equipped with a laser rangefinder
- Link-and-length tracks included
- Completed model size: 10.1 cm
Link-and-Length Tracks and Assembly
The kit includes link-and-length tracks, combining longer track sections with individual links to reproduce the tank’s tracked running gear. This construction method allows the track sections to follow the arrangement of the vehicle’s wheels during assembly.
The completed model represents the M60A2’s distinctive combination of an established American tank hull and the 152 mm gun/launcher developed for conventional ammunition and Shillelagh missiles. At 10.1 cm, it offers a 1/72-scale representation of this specialised Cold War main battle tank.
