M1 Abrams

M1 Abrams

M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

Specification

Country Of Origin = United States Of America

Manufacturer = General Dynamics Land Systems - USA

Produced in = 1979 - present 

Number Produced = 10,000 units

Crew = 4

Length = 9.83 m

Width = 3.65 m

Height = 2.88 m

Weight = 69,086 kg / 139,081 lb

Powerplant = Textron Lycoming AGT-1500 / Honeywell AGT1500C  gas-turbine engine

Engine Power = 1500 h.p.

Maximum Speed = 67 km/h

Maximum Range = 426 km

Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) Protection = Installed

Nightvision = Installed

Armament = 

Original (M1) :   1 x 105mm Royal Ordnance M68A1 (L7) rifled main gun

                              1 x 12.7mm Browning M1HB anti-aircraft machine gun

                              1 x 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun

                              1 x 7.62mm M240 machine gun at loader's hatch

                              2 x 6 smoke grenade dischargers

Standard (M1A1/M1A2) : 1 x 120mm Rheimetall M256A1 (L/44) smoothbore main gun

                                               1 x 12.7mm Browning M1HB anti-aircraft machine gun

                                               1 x 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun

                                               1 x 7.62mm M240 machine gun at loader's hatch

                                               2 x 6 smoke dischargers

About

        

In year 1960, United States and West Germany was involved in a partnership to replace the outdated M60 tank and created the MBT-70 tank. The MBT-70 tank had many advanced features but the MBT-70 was too heavy, complex and expensive. As a result, the MBT-70 project was cancelled. But the Americans doesn't gave up, they made a new tank prototype of their own and embodies some of the technological breakthroughs from the cancelled MBT-70. The result was an outstanding XM815 tank prototype which is later to be known as M1 Abrams in honor of General Creighton Abrams. The M1 Abrams and the next variant the M1A1 was the first NATO tank to be equipped with an outstanding Chobham Armor which gave the tank excellent protection. The next variant, the M1A2 is equipped with depleted uranium mesh-reinforced armor gave it an even better protection from the last variant. It could also be equipped with TUSK ( Tank Urban Survival Kit) modification to prepare the tank for urban combat environment. The first variants of M1 Abrams was equipped with the 105mm Royal Ordnance L7 rifled gun but it was replaced with the larger 120mm Rheinmetall M256A1 smoothbore gun on later variants like the M1A1 and M1A2.


Combat Action

1. Gulf War
2. War In Afghanistan
3. Iraq War
4. Iraqi Insurgency (2011 - present)

Variants

M1 Abrams

M1A1 Abrams

M1A2 Abrams