M1 Abrams tank: Difference between revisions
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'''M1 Abrams''' [[tank (military)|main battle tanks]] are only true tank type in the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps]]. They have gone through several upgrades, and were first used in combat in the [[Gulf War]], and were successful there and in continuing operations. As the U.S. Army reorganized, they, along with the [[M2 Bradley]] [[infantry fighting vehicle]], will remain the principal weapons of the [[Restructuring of the United States Army#heavy brigade combat team|heavy brigade combat team]]. | '''M1 Abrams''' [[tank (military)|main battle tanks]] are only true tank type in the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps]]. They have gone through several upgrades, and were first used in combat in the [[Gulf War]], and were successful there and in continuing operations. As the U.S. Army reorganized, they, along with the [[M2 Bradley]] [[infantry fighting vehicle]], will remain the principal weapons of the [[Restructuring of the United States Army#heavy brigade combat team|heavy brigade combat team]]. | ||
In some respects, these make no compromises with the traditional three tradeoffs in tank design: protection, weapons, and speed. Not in the classic list, but also extensive, are electronic sensors and | In some respects, these make no compromises with the traditional three tradeoffs in tank design: protection, weapons, and speed. Not in the classic list, but also extensive, are electronic sensors and communications. Obviously, nothing can be optimized in all ways, and they are expensive and heavy. | ||
==Protection== | ==Protection== | ||
Their frontal armor appears to withstand direct hits from any tank gun and most antitank missiles in the world, although their thinner top and side armor has been punctured, usually with minimal damage. Complementing the armor is an automatic fire extinguishing system, a "blowout" ammunition compartment so that an explosion there does not go into the crew compartment, and other features. | Their frontal armor appears to withstand direct hits from any tank gun and most antitank missiles in the world, although their thinner top and side armor has been punctured, usually with minimal damage. Complementing the armor is an automatic fire extinguishing system, a "blowout" ammunition compartment so that an explosion there does not go into the crew compartment, and other features. | ||
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The ammunition limitation was not inherent to the gun, but to its original ballistic fire control computer, which only could store information on two types of shell. A updated computer has more storage, so the gun can also fire [[blast-fragmentation]], [[anti-personnel]], and [[concrete penetrating]]. The limitation now tends to be in the number of shells for which the tank has storage. | The ammunition limitation was not inherent to the gun, but to its original ballistic fire control computer, which only could store information on two types of shell. A updated computer has more storage, so the gun can also fire [[blast-fragmentation]], [[anti-personnel]], and [[concrete penetrating]]. The limitation now tends to be in the number of shells for which the tank has storage. | ||
Additional weapons include a M240C 7.62mm [[machine gun]]s, with one mounted coaxially with the main gun, so pointing the turret points the machine gun. There is another M240C at the loaders hatch and a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the commanders | Additional weapons include a M240C 7.62mm [[machine gun]]s, with one mounted coaxially with the main gun, so pointing the turret points the machine gun. There is another M240C at the loaders hatch and a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the commanders cupola and pointed and fired remotely from inside by the commander. | ||
==Protection== | ==Protection== | ||
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Especially on the most exposed areas, the armor slopes, to have the maximum effectiveness of deflecting rather than absorbing the effect of hits. | Especially on the most exposed areas, the armor slopes, to have the maximum effectiveness of deflecting rather than absorbing the effect of hits. | ||
==Electronics | ==Electronics== | ||
*Independent thermal viewers for commander and gunner | *Independent [[forward-looking infrared|thermal viewers]] for commander and gunner | ||
*position navigation equipment, | *position navigation equipment, | ||
*distributed data and power architecture | *distributed data and power architecture | ||
*embedded diagnostic system and improved fire control systems. | *embedded diagnostic system and improved fire control systems. | ||
*MIL bus | *[[MIL-STD-155]]B bus | ||
*software commonality with C3I systems | *software commonality with C3I systems | ||
*far-target-designation capability | *far-target-designation capability | ||
==Propulsion== | ==Propulsion== | ||
The tank's top speed is limited by an engine speed limiter, not by the engine, a 1,500 hp turbine. | The tank's top speed is limited by an engine speed limiter, not by the engine, a 1,500 hp turbine. | ||
Revision as of 23:28, 30 July 2008
M1 Abrams main battle tanks are only true tank type in the United States Army and United States Marine Corps. They have gone through several upgrades, and were first used in combat in the Gulf War, and were successful there and in continuing operations. As the U.S. Army reorganized, they, along with the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, will remain the principal weapons of the heavy brigade combat team.
In some respects, these make no compromises with the traditional three tradeoffs in tank design: protection, weapons, and speed. Not in the classic list, but also extensive, are electronic sensors and communications. Obviously, nothing can be optimized in all ways, and they are expensive and heavy.
Protection
Their frontal armor appears to withstand direct hits from any tank gun and most antitank missiles in the world, although their thinner top and side armor has been punctured, usually with minimal damage. Complementing the armor is an automatic fire extinguishing system, a "blowout" ammunition compartment so that an explosion there does not go into the crew compartment, and other features.
The latest version is air-conditioned, and protected against weapons of mass destruction contamination.
Weapons
All versions that have gone into combat have a 120mm smoothbore main gun. It originally was limited to two types of ammunition, the armor-piercing, fin-stabilized, discarding-sabot (APFSDS) round used against tanks or other heavily armored target, and a shaped-charge high explosive anti-tank used against more lightly armored targets, and, originally, against all other targets.
The ammunition limitation was not inherent to the gun, but to its original ballistic fire control computer, which only could store information on two types of shell. A updated computer has more storage, so the gun can also fire blast-fragmentation, anti-personnel, and concrete penetrating. The limitation now tends to be in the number of shells for which the tank has storage.
Additional weapons include a M240C 7.62mm machine guns, with one mounted coaxially with the main gun, so pointing the turret points the machine gun. There is another M240C at the loaders hatch and a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the commanders cupola and pointed and fired remotely from inside by the commander.
Protection
The main armor is a derivative of the British Chobham armor, which is a "sandwich" of several materials, each optimized against a certain type of armor-piercing weapon, and mutually reinforcing. The exact composition is classified, but is generally believed to contain steel armor plate, hard ceramic, dense depleted uranium, and possibly some fiber-resin composite materials.
Especially on the most exposed areas, the armor slopes, to have the maximum effectiveness of deflecting rather than absorbing the effect of hits.
Electronics
- Independent thermal viewers for commander and gunner
- position navigation equipment,
- distributed data and power architecture
- embedded diagnostic system and improved fire control systems.
- MIL-STD-155B bus
- software commonality with C3I systems
- far-target-designation capability
Propulsion
The tank's top speed is limited by an engine speed limiter, not by the engine, a 1,500 hp turbine.