Spain auctions off Cold War‑era M60 tanks, bypassing Ukraine aid

Spain has finally retired the old M60 tanks, previously used by marine infantry units. The withdrawn equipment is a hope for Ukraine, but Madrid has not decided to send its tanks to the east. Instead, it has put them up for auction. What do we know about this equipment?

Until recently, Spain was one of the last NATO users of the M60 Patton tanks—apart from Spain, Pattons are still in service in the armies of Greece and Turkey, where they undergo significant modifications that greatly enhance their capabilities.

The Spanish tanks have not undergone such modernization. For years, 16 machines were operated in the M60A3 TTS (Tank Thermal Sight) version. They were assigned to the 11th Armored Company of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion as part of the Tercio de Armada.

Since 2017, this equipment has been withdrawn and replaced by wheeled VCR (Vehículos de Combate a Ruedas) Dragon vehicles with 120 mm guns.

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By discontinuing the use of M60 tanks, Spain decided not to donate this equipment to Ukraine. Instead, the tanks will be put up for auction—the starting price for one piece is almost £47,000, and offers can be submitted until 26 April.

The M60 Patton Tank

The M60 tank is a relic of the Cold War—it was created in the USA around the same time as the French AMX-30 and German Leopard 1. Compared to its European counterparts, the American tank is more heavily armored and—as proved in subsequent decades—has significant modernization potential.

The tank's Achilles' heel is its relatively weak engine with 750 horsepower (HP), which, with a weight reaching 57 tons (about 63 tons), affects its limited mobility—the maximum speed is just 30 mph (around 48 km/h). The M60 is armed with a rifled 105-mm cannon.

The M60A3 TTS variant withdrawn by Spain is a tank equipped with a modernized fire control system in the 70s, which, at the time of introduction, was characterized by high capabilities. The tank also features modern observational and target acquisition devices.