M60A2 Starship

The M60A2 Starship is a tier 5 Main Battle Tank originating from the United States. It is sold by Sophie Wölfli and can be unlocked from the M60A1 as a side branch of the main American MBT tree.

Features

 * Heavy armor : this vehicle's armor bounces more shots and takes more hits
 * High caliber: the high caliber weaponry deals an increased damage

Player Recommendations
With a powerful 152mm cannon unmatched in raw power among the T5 MBTs, the Starship fulfills the role of high powered attacker and capable defender. However, with the high damage comes a very long reload. Therefore, it is best for the M60A2 to travel with friendly tanks, as its high reload leaves it exposed if no allies are covering.

Pros

 * Extremely powerful cannon
 * Excellent penetration at tier 5
 * Fast turret traverse

Cons

 * Long reload time
 * Unreliable armor
 * No AP shells, making shots more susceptible to HEAT countermeasures
 * Sluggish top speed and acceleration
 * Large target

Upgrade Suggestions
Since the M60A2 is all about firepower, research should focus on upgrading the already impressive gun. The Improved Rangefinder will increase gun accuracy, and the MGM-51A "Shillelagh" ATGM is a strong alternative to the standard HEAT ammunition.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Advanced Muzzle Reference System
 * Augmented Optics
 * Improved Gun Breech
 * Improved Pioneer Tool Kit

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Juan Carlos, to improve the aim speed and crew stats
 * Driver: Spin to Win, Off-Road Driving
 * Gunner: Sharpshooter, Do the Twist
 * Loader: Rapid Fire, Explosive Shells/Preparation

Variants

 * M60A2 Starship Independence

History
Class: Main Battle Tank Developed: 1958-1966 Service: 1972-1981 Vehicles Built: 540 Operators: USA The Patton series of universal tanks is as important to the United States military as the T-54/55 series was to the Soviets and formed the backbone of the American armored forces from the late 1940s practically until the 1990s. Having evolved from the M26 Pershing Medium Tank, the Patton family was named after George S. Patton, one of the most famous U.S. generals to have ever lived. Right until their final versions, the Patton series tanks were protected only by their steel armor and used 90mm and 105mm rifled guns. Developed as a potential replacement for the M60A1 Patton, this Main Battle Tank comes with the M162 152mm gun-launcher, intended to replace the original 105mm gun for a number of reasons (it was lighter, smaller, could fire larger HEAT warheads, could launch the Shillelagh guided missiles and could use the combustible casing technology). This weapon was installed in a new, narrow turret. Due to the amount of switches and dials present, the inside of the turret was compared to that of the U.S.S. Enterprise from the popular Star Trek series, earning it the unofficial nickname &#34;Starship&#34;. The vehicle was not very successful and suffered from a number of issues such as its limited night-fighting capability and problems with its electronics. Only 540 tanks (U.S. Army sources claim 526) were built between 1973 and 1975. From 1975 onwards, the M60A2 was deployed in Europe for several years, but what really doomed it was the development of anti-HEAT measures such as ERA, spaced armor kits and, of course, composite armor. Faced with these developments, the U.S. Army saw no choice but to return to kinetic penetrators and the M60A2 was retired in 1981, only a decade after its introduction.