CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Some might view it as an inglorious end to a faithful old solder while others might see it as a final salute to today's warriors. The first shipment of a planned 80 to 100 decommissioned M60 tanks arrived at the Clovis rail yards Sept. 29. Offloading procedures soon began as these old "soldiers' headed for their final destination - Melrose Air Force Range, where they will be used as targets. Once there, armed airframes such as the AC-130H Spectre gunships will open fire on them with their 40mm and 105mm cannons as crews perfect their combat tactics. And because of their nearly 60-ton bulk, these old tanks are expected to see another four to five years of service.

According to range operations officer Johnny Rogers the tanks will be a welcome sight that will last longer and give aircraft crews an additional sense of realism. "We had one weapons carrier vehicle; it got hit twice, and all that was left were the tracks," said Mr. Rogers, referring to the power of the cannons aboard a gunship. The durable tank, with its sloped armored steel hull and turret, is expected to be mainstay on the Jockey and Spirit impact areas through 2012. The M60 was the U.S. military's main battle tank beginning in 1961 and saw its last action with U.S. Marines during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. More than 15,000 M60s and its variants were produced. Mr. Rogers and Jerry Foise, the assistant range operations officer, orchestrated the acquisition of the tanks and other targets from Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. The primary mission of the depot is to repair tracked vehicles, but it is also a "boneyard" for vehicles that are no longer in use by the active Army or its Reserve or Guard units. According to Mr. Rogers, the final cost of the vehicles is about $84 million.

"It was a whole lot of work getting these targets," said Mr. Rogers, "and Jerry was really instrumental in helping me get this done." "We'll begin to train in earnest, real soon" said Lt. Col. Dwight Davis, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Detachment 1, commander.

"It will give us two more areas [Jockey and Spirit ranges] where we can work. After the tanks are in place, they will enable us to re-create combat scenarios," said Colonel Davis. "We should have full use by next summer." A specially built tractor will move the tanks into place on the ranges, said Mr. Rogers. They should be ready for use by the end of October or early November.

by Greg Allen
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs