Abrams m1a3 ?!

[Kunal Biswas]

Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) System Demonstrator Vehicles AKA Abrams M1A3!

Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) System Demonstrator Vehicles AKA Abrams M1A3!

It seems that this is an M1A3 prototype or new turret prototype on the older hull configuration test bed.

Seems interesting, I can find some similarities between this turret and CATTB turret, seems to be very heavy armored + the new longer gun, rumored M256A1?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

COLD WAR PROTOTYPES..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The new Prototype is lot like its predecessor..

This beast is huge..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

New Devlopments..

Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) System Demonstrator Vehicles.

The new (back in the day) turret was designed to integrate the XM291 140mm main gun into a new turret (with auto-loader), fitted to an M1 hull. The gun fired two-piece 140mm ammo "with twice the muzzle energy of the standard 120mm M256." The program also included the testing of a millimeter wave radar target acquisition system. The first (maybe only) demonstrator vehicle was named "Thumper" (see pic below - without the cammo paint).

"Due to a shortage of funding, the CATT-B was never completed as a fully integrated system. Prior to being installed in the CATT-B, the ATAC System has been installed in a modified M1 turret on a standard M1 chassis (Thumper). This also features the Benet Laboratory designed automatic loader, modified M1A1 fire-control electronics, Rockwell Multisensor Target Acquisition Sensor, standard M1 gunner's primary sight and a new fire-control computer. In this vehicle the gunner is on the right, as in the M1, while the tank commander is on the left in the space normally occupied by the loader."

 

[Kunal Biswas]

To the above they also added welded Depleted uranium plates for extra protection..

 

[Damian]

To the above they also added welded Depleted uranium plates for extra protection..

These are not DU alloy plates but steel plates weight simulators, they are installed only when new armor will be installed on a prototype, yet prototype have still empty armor cavities or old armor inserts.

BTW, it seems that there are two Thumper prototypes, with two different turrets, the older pic shows more "smaller" better designed turret, the newer pics shows bigger turret.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

These are not DU alloy plates but steel plates weight simulators, they are installed only when new armor will be installed on a prototype, yet prototype have still empty armor cavities or old armor inserts.

BTW, it seems that there are two Thumper prototypes, with two different turrets, the older pic shows more "smaller" better designed turret, the newer pics shows bigger turret.

Welcome to DFI..

 

[Damian]

Hi.

Other MBT Block III/M1A3 prototype, the M1TTB (Tank Test Bed):