M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is the Main Battle Tank of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps. In the 1970's, Chrysler Defense Inc. developed this front-line battle tank to fight against outnumbered Warsaw Pact mechanized divisions. In 1982, Chrysler Defense sold to General Dynamics, which still manufactures the tanks to the present day, some speculate until the year 2040. Significant varients give the tank new life and new models numbers; M1, M1A1, M1A1D, M1A2, M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package) . The current modification is M1A1 SA, incorporating second-generation forward-looking infrared thermal sight, a driver's vision-enhancer thermal viewer and Tank Urban Survivability Kit improvements, providing better crew shielding in urban warfare environments. Modifications will take place at General Dynamics plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Florida and completed in 2011. [1]
| M1 Abrams | |
|---|---|
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| M1A Abrams of the 1st Armored Division during Exercise Ready Crucible, Germany | |
| Specifications | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Origin | United States |
| Entered production | 1979 |
| Length | 9.76 m (32.02 ft) |
| Width | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Height | 2.44 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | 61.4 tonnes |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | Chobham, RHA |
| Primary amament | 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, |
| Secondary armament | 1 x .50 in (12.7mm) M2 BMG machine gun 2 x M240 7.62mm machine guns |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Max. road speed | 72km/h (45mph) |
| Max. offroad speed | 48km/h (30mph) |
| Operational range | 465.29 km/289 miles |
| Engine | Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine |
| Power output | 1500 hp/1119 kW |
| Power/weight | 24.5 hp/tonne |
| Transmission | Allison X-1100-3B Hydro-Kinetic Automatic; four forward/2 reverse gears |
On February 28, 1980, the first M1 tank rolled out of the government-owned Lima Tank Plant in Lima, Ohio. It was designated the M1 Abrams, in honor of General Creighton Abrams, a commander in Vietnam. [2] Over 9,000 Abrams tanks have been manufactured.
The Abrams Tank System Program has been using Depleted Uranium armor since the 1980's. Also, incorporating a modular designed Honeywell 1,500 HP smokeless gas turbine engine, easily removed, serviced and upgraded. Unique to the battlefield, the Abrams tank has a speed of 48 MPH, with a range of over 250 miles. The technology was unmatched, allowing the four-man crew to fire accurately while moving. The commander's station of the Abrams M1A1 is equipped with six periscopes, providing a 360° view. [3] The tank weighs nearly 70-Ton making it one of the heaviest in the world.
These tanks have seen significant combat experience in the first Gulf War as well as the current Iraq deployment.