Changes

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 turbine engine also sucks in dirt, sand and debris.

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 turbine engine also sucks in dirt, sand and debris.

 

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, adding to the cost of transporting it accross oceans. 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.

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, adding to the cost of transporting it accross oceans. 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.

 

These tanks gained some combat experience in the first [[Gulf War]] as well as the 2003-2011 [[Iraq]] deployment.  Here they have shown to be a true force to be reckoned with and have one of the best combat records of any modern tank against older T-64s.   

These tanks gained some combat experience in the first [[Gulf War]] as well as the 2003-2011 [[Iraq]] deployment.  Here they have shown to be a true force to be reckoned with and have one of the best combat records of any modern tank against older T-64s.