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The purpose of a combat engineering vehicle (CEV) is to support armored combat units in the removal of obstacles, pioneering routes, construction of barricades, and vehicle recovery. The earliest use of a vehicle designed and used for such operations occurred during the Allied landings at the Port of Diep, France. A Canadian engineer designed and installed a device on the Churchill tank enabling it to lay logs on the soft sand of the Diep beaches. Despite the operation being a failure, the value combat engineering vehicles was fully demonstrated. Hence, such vehicle was widely adopted for use during the invasion of Normandy two years later.

After WWII there was a continual development of CEV’s in every country. In the 1960s, the United States modified the M60A1 medium tank to accommodate a bulldozer blade or a mine plow on the front of the chassis. An “A” shaped crane with a hydraulic-powered reel was installed for vehicle recovery and heavy lifting. The M68 105mm main cannon was replaced by a license-built M135 165mm demolition mortar. The M135 cannon fired lowvelocity high explosive plastic (HEP) rounds which could effectively clear obstacles and demolish buildings. The original armor of the M60A1 tank provided the crew with sufficient protection.

The modified M60A1 was officially designated the M728 in 1963.  The M728 entered production in 1965 and was subsequently deployed to Vietnam. Production ended in 1987. Between M728’s and the later M728A1(based on the M60A3 chassis) total production was 291 vehicles.

 In addition to the US Army, many allied countries used the M728 including the armies of Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

The M728 saw combat in the 1990 Persian Gulf War but due to its traditional power train was unable to keep up with the M1 Abrams. In 2000, the M728 was transferred to reserve units, while some vehicles were sent to the National Guard, FBI, and ATF where the type continues in service to this day.