Tank origin

Although the M60 and Leopard 1 vehicles had proven dependable, both the United States and West Germany recognized that they might not fare well against such threats as anti-tank missiles and the Soviet T62 and T64 tanks. The two nations undertook the MBT-70/KPz-70 joint development project in 1965. The innovative resulting tank design included a 152mm gun and a variable height hydropneumatic suspension. However, soaring costs and crew displeasure with other design elements led to the project’s cancellation in 1970.