MILITARY MACHINES
JULY 28, 2021
History of m1 abrams main battle tank
The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and commander of the 37th Armored Battalion
According to FAS Militay Network website, the tank currently serves as the main battle tank of the United States Army and Marine Corps, the M1 Abrams entered service in 1980. There are three versions of the Abrams tank in service today : the original M1 model from the early 1980’s and two newer versions, designated M1A1 and M1A2.
The M1A1 series, produced from 1985 through 1993, replaced the M1s 105mm main gun with a 120mm gun and incorporated various other enhancements, including an improved suspension system, increased armor protection, a new turret and a nuclear-chemical-biological protection system.
The newer M1A2 series includes all of the M1A1 features plus a commander’s independent thermal viewer and weapon station, position navigation equipment and a digital data bus and radio interface unit providing a common picture among M1A2s on the battlefield.
The M1 series tank is equipped with a 1500 horsepower Lycoming Textron gas turbine engine coupled to an Allison hydrokenetic transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The tactical crusing range is approximately 275 miles. Despite its weight, the M1 ca nreach a top speed of nearly 45 miles per hour.
During the Gulf War in 1991, only 18 Abrams tanks were taken out of service due to battle damage: nine were permanent losses and another nine suffered repairable damage, mostly from mines. Not a single Abrams crewman was lost in the conflict.
The tank has also been featured in Bosnia as well as in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 during the US invasions.
Besides the United States, operators of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank include Australia, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Around 8.800 Abrams have been produced in all its varied forms.
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