YouTuber finds abandoned army tanks in US forest
- These tanks were once used by 22 countries around the world
- But the US phased them out beginning in the 1990s
- This YouTuber found a bunch of them abandoned in a forest
Published on Sep 23, 2024 at 6:06 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 24, 2024 at 7:06 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
These explorers came across abandoned tanks while exploring a forest in the US.
Whilst hiking in the wilderness, there are many things you can expect to see.
A ton of trees are a given, and seeing some animals would be considered a nice bonus.
But a whole bunk of army tanks is not something anyone would expect to stumble across in their wildest dreams.
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What tanks did these YouTube explorers find in a forest?
Bob, the host of YouTube channel Exploring the Unbeaten Path, was the one to document the unusual finding.
The tanks in question are M60A3 Pattons, one of the world’s most successful battle tanks.
Approximately 15,000 have been produced and they have seen service in the armies of 22 countries.
They were first produced in 1960 and saw continuous use over the next four decades.
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the US all used M60s in battle.
The US began phasing them out in 1997.
As recently as 2010, Egypt had 1,700 M60A3s in their ranks whilst Turkey and Israel had 900 and 700 respectively.
In their native US, they’re now primarily used for target practice in military exercises.
So, the question is – what are they doing in the middle of this forest in the United States?
The tanks are in varying states, with some being stripped down to their bare bones, whilst others look relatively well kept.
They’re not quite as fresh looking as this World War One era tank which was made by an American man in his own yard.
Veterans react to this tank graveyard
Rust has crept in on several of the tanks, particularly on the interior.
Bob and his friend managed to get a closer look inside these steel behemoths, and showed their viewers.
Many people took to the video’s comments section to react, including many army veterans.
One viewer wrote: “It always breaks my heart seeing all these amazing works of machinery just wasting away.”
Another said: “Sad thing is there are people who would love to get a Patton tank and restore it to working condition.”
“I was a (US) tank platoon leader and company commander in 1968-70. Those were the years. The M-60 series were the best tanks in the world from 1960 to the late 1970s,” a fellow commenter said.
Another admirer said: “The M60 is just… a tanker’s tank. It looks so rugged and dependable, even rusting in the forest.”
Tanks often spend a lot of time gathering dust after their service is up.
For example, this tank spent years on a UK street before it was taken away to be reused.
Whether or not the tanks in this forest will be revived one day remains to be seen.
To see the tanks for yourself, head over to Exploring the Unbeaten Path’s YouTube channel.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
