The M60 recoilless gun is an 82-mm antitank recoilless gun developed in the former Yugoslavia. It entered service with the Yugoslav People's Army during the 1960s.
| M60 | |
|---|---|
 82-mm M60 recoilless gun | |
| Type | Recoilless rifle |
| Place of origin | Yugoslavia |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Yugoslav Wars Syrian Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1960s |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 122 kg (269 lb) |
| Length | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Height | 0.83 m (2.7 ft) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | HEAT |
| Elevation | -20 to 35°[1] |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 4 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 388 m/s (1,270 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 4,500 m (2.8 mi) |
| Sights | Optical |
Description
editThe M60 is mounted on a towing carriage with wheels for transport and firing. Aiming is done with an optical sight. The recoilless rifle resembles that of American counterparts. Ammunition for the M60 includes two fin-stabilized high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds. The first HEAT projectile for the M60 had an effective range of 500 meters. The second was an improved version that used a rocket booster to increase the effective range to 1,000 meters.[2]
The maximum range of the piece is 4,700 meters. Direct fire is limited to 1,500 meters against stationary targets and 1,000 meters against moving targets. The M60 is credited with a 220mm penetration of armor with its HEAT round.[3]
Users
edit
Yugoslavia: It was used by the Yugoslav People's Army.[4]
Serbia[4]
Croatia: produced as BT-82.[4]
Republic of North Macedonia[5]
Syrian National Coalition: It is being used in the Syrian Civil War.[6]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ JIW, p. 746.
- ^ WEG, p. 62.
- ^ JIW, p. 747. Sources from post-Yugoslavian republics claim later rounds increased armor penetration to 300 - 400mm.
- ^ a b c Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "82 mm M60A recoilless gun". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 5909–5910.
- ^ Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1.
- ^ "Weapons from the Former Yugoslavia Spread Through Syria's War". 25 February 2013.
Bibliography
edit- (JIW) Hogg, Ian. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984-85, London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1984.
- (WEG) U.S. Army. Worldwide Equipment Guide 2001, Training and Doctrine Command, 2001.
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