Changes

==Depleted uranium shells and armour==

==Depleted uranium shells and armour==

The Abrams Tank System Program has been using [[depleted uranium]] shells and armor since the 1980s. The depleted uranium is made of a particular hardened "man-made" element, harder than lead, steel, or iron. So-called "amour piercing shells" of depleted uranium can slice through or melt lead, steel, or iron, while artillery shells made of those metals cannot penetrate the armour.

The Abrams Tank System Program has been using [[depleted uranium]] shells and armor since the 1980s. The depleted uranium is made of a particular hardened "man-made" element, harder than lead, steel, or iron. So-called "amour piercing shells" of depleted uranium can slice through or melt lead, steel, or iron, while artillery shells made of those metals cannot penetrate the armour.  Use of depleted uranium shells causes longterm [[environmental]] damage, and the lasting danger to humans of exposure to [[cancer]] causing [[radiation]].

Also, incorporating a modular designed Honeywell 1,500 HP smokeless gas turbide engine, easily removed, serviced and upgraded. The Abrams tank has a governed top speed of 45&nbsp;mph, with a range of 265 miles. Speeds of up to 60&nbsp;mph have been reached with the governor removed, but this results in damage to the transmission and generally makes the tank unservicable quite quickly. Following a series of critical reports beginning in 1990 and gaining urgency after the 2003 Iraq campaign, the US Army are considering a number of options for replacing the gas turbine with a conventional diesel engine. The main problem is the very high fuel consumption (twice that of an equivalent 1,500&nbsp;hp tank diesel) which both reduces the tank's range and increases the logistics burden. The high-temperature jet exhaust is also an issue, as it both creates a large thermal target and is dangerous to infantry working close to the tank, which is a serious issue in urban operations. The fire control system allows the gunner to fire accurately while moving against either stationary or moving targets. The commander's station of the Abrams M1A1 is equipped with six periscopes, providing a 360° view.<ref>[http://www.army-technology.com/projects/abrams/ M1A1 / M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank, USA, Army-technology.com]</ref>  The tank weighs nearly 70 Tons making it one of the heaviest in the world. The US Army is currently trying to develop a lightened 60 ton variant providing the same level of protection by using advanced materials such as Dorchester armour. The original M1 was armed with a Royal Ordnance Factories 105mm L7 rifled gun built under licence as the M68, but in the M1A1 and later this was replaced with a Rheinmetall L44 120mm smoothbore gun licence-built as the M256. All original L7-armed M1s have now been upgraded to at least M1A1 standard or have been retired.

Also, incorporating a modular designed Honeywell 1,500 HP smokeless gas turbide engine, easily removed, serviced and upgraded. The Abrams tank has a governed top speed of 45&nbsp;mph, with a range of 265 miles. Speeds of up to 60&nbsp;mph have been reached with the governor removed, but this results in damage to the transmission and generally makes the tank unservicable quite quickly. Following a series of critical reports beginning in 1990 and gaining urgency after the 2003 Iraq campaign, the US Army are considering a number of options for replacing the gas turbine with a conventional diesel engine. The main problem is the very high fuel consumption (twice that of an equivalent 1,500&nbsp;hp tank diesel) which both reduces the tank's range and increases the logistics burden. The high-temperature jet exhaust is also an issue, as it both creates a large thermal target and is dangerous to infantry working close to the tank, which is a serious issue in urban operations. The fire control system allows the gunner to fire accurately while moving against either stationary or moving targets. The commander's station of the Abrams M1A1 is equipped with six periscopes, providing a 360° view.<ref>[http://www.army-technology.com/projects/abrams/ M1A1 / M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank, USA, Army-technology.com]</ref>  The tank weighs nearly 70 Tons making it one of the heaviest in the world. The US Army is currently trying to develop a lightened 60 ton variant providing the same level of protection by using advanced materials such as Dorchester armour. The original M1 was armed with a Royal Ordnance Factories 105mm L7 rifled gun built under licence as the M68, but in the M1A1 and later this was replaced with a Rheinmetall L44 120mm smoothbore gun licence-built as the M256. All original L7-armed M1s have now been upgraded to at least M1A1 standard or have been retired.