M1 Abrams

[asianobserve]

Post your pictures and videos of the most battle hardened modern MBT in service today, M1 Abrams.

 

[asianobserve]

Casualties of war:

 

[asianobserve]

Genesis:

 

[Damian]

M1 Abrams - Broń pancerna - MILITIS - Portal Militarno-Historyczny

My article about M1, in Polish, it is not final version however, in nearest future I will improve it. I think that translator should handle translation from Polish to English.

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[Damian]

USMC M1A1HC/FEP.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I really like this vid..

Think of making one Indian based on this one..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

My Wallpaper for some time.

 

[Damian]

This vehicle was not actual loss, it was only disabled, so soldiers stripped with from weapons and other important equipment and left behind, it was later recovered and take back to US, repaired and back in to service. From all photos of this vehicle it seems that it have not any bigger damages.

This one was also not complete loss, as it seems from damage it seems that there was some fir ebut as vehicle was not comsumed completely it seems that soldiers were able to extuinguish it. Also turret traversed to rear position, it means that it is in safe position, so crew had actually time to do it.

This one is casualty of overkill IED, there were only 4 to 5 such incidents in Iraq, I seen photos of only two other tanks that ran over so huge IED that explosion forces lifted turret from hull and throw it off. Important note, turret was not lifted due to internal ammunition explosion, as I said, it was done by IED.

Turrets of these tanks were repraired as they have minimal damage, but hull needed extensive rebuilds or were replaced by new build hulls (GDLS done them in low rate production for replacing the ones completely lost, turrets were manufactured and are still manufactured for replacement needs or for modernisation of the oldest M1 and M1IP tanks that are using different turrets than M1A1 and M1A2 series).

This one is famous "Cojone Eh", it was disabld by SPG-9 hit in the engine, there was fuel leak that started small fire and soldiers were unable to extuinguish it, with fire in engine area it was dangerous to tow vehicle, so it was stripped from all valuable equipment, then crew opened ammunition storage blast doors, thrown inside MG ammo and white phosphorus to prevent capture of still intact vehicle. Also one M1 tank from column fired APFSDS in to turret bustle rear bulkhead.

Later tank was towed by Iraqis from place to place for propaganda purposed (they claimed to destroy numerous american tanks, actually most pictures of "destroyed" M1 tanks in Baghdad were different photos of "Cojone Eh"), civilians completely vandalized it. In the end US command ordered air assets to destroy vehicle even more, AH-64's fired at least two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, one definetly hit turret side armor (right side of turret), it was also hit by AGM-56 Maverick missile (~50 kg HEAT warhead is big... very big) at turret front, but it appears that armor was not perforated but penetration was at high angle and shaped charge jet got through front turret armor cavity bottom plate and in to hull top plate and probably also turret race ring area, at least well informed people says so and it looks that way on photos. In the end tanks was also hit by at least one JDAM bomb.

It was looking like this in the end:

AGM-65 and AGM-114 holes are clearly seen. Still after such punishment, tank looks surpsingly intact.

This one was probably cought by fire after RPG or more probably IED attack and left behind by crew without any fire extuinguishing operations.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Damian, do you where this happened ?

It in middle of the desert ..

 

[Damian]

Friendly Fire in the side or back, IRCC it was AGM-114 from AH-64. Incident and photo is from 1991, thermal sights back then still have pure resolution and low zoom, and vehicles were not equipped with combat identification panels visible in thermals or with FBCB2-BFT/EPRLS system, actually more M1's were disabled by friendly fire than only few ones lightly damaged by Iraqis.

BTW, it seems that vehicle after hit was caught by fire and just left without any extuinguishing operations... pitty, if fire would be extuinguished vehicle could be saved, but it completely burned, after it was send back to US it was probably cut and send for remelting.

 

[Damian]

More photos.

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These are new M1A2SEP v2's for 2nd Infantry Division (Mechanized) Heavy Brigade Combat Team stationing in South Korea, they also have new M2A3's. So 2nd ID (Mech) have complete heavy tracked AFV's replacement from older M1A1HA/HC/AIM/SA and M2A2ODS/ODS-SA.
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[Kunal Biswas]

Combat Photos:

 

[Damian]

More photos of new M1A2SEP v2's:

 

[Damian]

M19 ARAT-1 (Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles - 1) after most probably EFP attacks. Seems that vehicle back to base on it's own, so protection was effective.




M1A2SEP v2's among other vehicles participating in parade in Kuwait.



M1A2SEP v2 turret in Anniston Army Depot.



Some M1A2SEP v2's on Proving Ground in US.

 

[asianobserve]

Production Variants/Upgrades

M1: First production variant. Production began (at Chrysler) in 1979 and continued to 1985 (at General Dynamics) (3,273 built for the US).*

M1IP (Improved Performance): Produced briefly in 1984 before the M1A1, contained upgrades and reconfigurations like new turret with thicker frontal armor, new turret is referred as "long" turret instead of older "short" turret, armor upgraded from ~650mm line of sight thickness to ~880mm (894 build for US).*

M1A1: Production started in 1985 and continued to 1992, pressurized NBC system, rear bustle rack for improved stowage of supplies and crew belongings, redesigned blow-off panels and M256 120 mm smoothbore cannon (4,976 built for the US Army, 221 for USMC, 755 for Egypt, 59 M1A1 AIM SA sold to Australia).*

M1A1HA (Heavy Armor): Added 1st generation depleted uranium armor mesh, some tanks were later upgraded with 2nd generation depleted uranium armor mesh, and are unofficially designated M1A1HA+.*

M1A1HC (Heavy Common): Added new 2nd generation depleted uranium armor mesh, digital engine control and other small upgrades common between Army and Marine Corps tanks.*

M1A1D (Digital): A digital upgrade for the M1A1HC, to keep up with M1A2SEP, manufactured in quantity for only 2 battalions.*

M1A1AIM v.1 (Abrams Integrated Management): A program whereby older units are reconditioned to zero hour conditions;[59] and the tank is improved by adding Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Far Target Locate sensors, a tank-infantry phone, communications gear, including FBCB2 and Blue Force Tracking, to aid in crew situational awareness, and a thermal sight for the .50 caliber machine gun. General Dynamics has been awarded contracts by the US Army to supply this variant.*

*M1 Abrams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[asianobserve]

(Cont. Production Variants/Upgrades)

M1A1AIM v.2/M1A1SA (Situational Awareness): Upgrades similar to AIM v.1 tanks + new 3rd generation depleted uranium armor mesh.*

M1A1FEP (Firepower Enhancement Package): Similar upgrade to AIM v.2 for U.S.M.C. tanks.*

M1A1KVT (Krasnovian Variant Tank): M1A1s that have been visually modified to resemble Soviet-made tanks for use at the National Training Center, fitted with MILES gear and a Hoffman device.*
(picture unavailable)

M1A1M: An export variant ordered by the Iraqi Army.*

M1A2 (Baseline): Production began in 1992 (77 built for the US and more than 600 M1s upgraded to M1A2, 315 for Saudi Arabia, 218 for Kuwait). The M1A2 offers the tank commander an independent thermal sight and ability to, in rapid sequence, shoot at two targets without the need to acquire each one sequentially, also 2nd generation depleted uranium armor mesh.*

M1A2SEP (System Enhancement Package): Has upgraded 3rd generation depleted uranium armor mesh with graphite coating (240 new built, 300 M1A2s upgraded to M1A2SEP for the USA, also unknown numbers of upgraded basic M1's and M1IP's, also 400 oldest M1A1's upgraded to M1A2SEP).*

M1A3: Under development, with prospective prototypes by 2014, operational by 2017.*

(?)

M1 TTB (Tank Test Bed): Prototype with unmanned turret, 3 crew members in armored capsule in front of the heavy armored hull, main armament was 120mm smoothbore gun, M256 derivative or modification, mechanical loading system under turret, never fielded.*

*M1 Abrams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[asianobserve]

(Cont. Production Variants/Upgrades)

CATTB - Experimental model with a 140 mm smoothbore gun, heavy armored turret and upgraded hull based on the M1's chassis. It had a mechanical loading system in turret bustle, a new engine and probably other upgrades, never fielded. The tank went trials in 1987-1988. CATTB stands for Component Advanced Technology Test Bed.*

M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV)

M1 Panther II Remote Controlled Mine Clearing Vehicle

M104 Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge

M1 Panther II Mine Clearing Blade/Roller System

M1ABV Assault Breacher Vehicle: Assault variant for the USMC. Based upon the M1A1 Abrams chassis, the Assault Breacher Vehicle has a variety of systems installed, such as a full-width mine plow, two linear demolition charges, and a lane-marking system. Reactive armor has been fitted to the vehicle providing additional protection against HEAT-based weapons. The turret has been replaced by a new smaller one with two MICLIC launchers at its rear. A M2HB .50 machine gun in a remote weapons station is mounted on the commander's cupola and a bank of grenade launchers are fitted to each side of the superstructure to cover the frontal arc are provided for self-protection.*

M1 Armored Recovery Vehicle. Only a prototype produced.*
(see picture posted below by Damian)


*M1 Abrams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[asianobserve]

M1ABV (Assault Breacher Vehicle) in action in Afghanistan:

 

[Damian]

M1IP (Improved Performance): Produced briefly in 1984 before the M1A1, contained upgrades and reconfigurations like new turret with thicker frontal armor, new turret is referred as "long" turret instead of older "short" turret, armor upgraded from ~650mm line of sight thickness to ~880mm (894 build for US).*

It is actually incorrect. M1 had front turret armor at 0 degrees from turret longitudinal axis ~740mm thick, it was thickened by approx 9 inches (~220-230mm) so it was increased to something between ~900-960mm.

This is actually one of several prototypes (test beds) for Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) program, a downsized version of CATTB, but it is possible that they are used for M1A3 development.

This is actually M88A2 HERCULES ARV.

This is M1 (also known AFAIK as XM90/M90) ARV:

 

[Damian]

AGDS concepts:




Liberty II concepts:





Armament of both were two 30/35mm automatic cannons and ADATS anti tank/anti air missiles.