M1 Abrams
The M1 tank was designed by Chrysler Defense, General Dynamics Corp. It was produced in the Lima, Ohio facilities of the company. He started his duty in 1980. The improved M1A1 tank entered the US Army inventory in 1985. The M1A1 tank carries the M256 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is also used in the German Leopard 2 tank. This tank also has improved armor and protection against NBC (nuclear-biological-chemical) weapons. M1A2 tanks have a thermal camera system, electronic navigation tools and a digital radio receiver for the tank commander. Thanks to the changed stabilization system of the M1A1 model, the percentage of hitting the target while moving has increased significantly. In fact, it had a very bad hit percentage when it was first produced. M1 tanks participating in a 1988 demonstration in Pakistan on the day of Zia ul Haq's death missed the target ten times out of ten and then broke down. After this incident on June 23, 1988, they finally achieved the ability to hit the target with electronic systems.
To date, 8,800 M1 or M1A1 have been produced. The cost of a tank is between $2,300,000 and $4,300,000, depending on the model.
Missions Held
Operation Desert Shield
The most important conflict in which Abrams tanks were tested was the Gulf War in 1991. A total of 1,841 tanks were deployed in Saudi Arabia to participate in the operation to liberate Kuwait. They were facing Soviet-made T-55, Soviet-made T-62, Soviet-made T-72, PRC-made Type 59, PRC-made Type 69 tanks. Unlike the Soviet export models, the T-72 tanks did not have night vision or modern range finding systems. In a night battle, they had a chance to detect the enemy only with an infrared range finder or optical sight. Only 23 M1A1s were out of service during the operation. Only one M1 Abrams tank was destroyed by enemy fire. No crew members died in any of these. It protected the tank crew even during friendly fire coming from the front or on the tracks.
Iraq-2003
No tank crews were lost during the campaign against Iraq. The most important reason for this was the unrivaled air support. The most important clash was against 7 T-72s in Mahmudiye, near Baghdad. The American side suffered no casualties in this conflict. However, on September 29, 2003, in an explosion that occurred near a tank that was rendered inoperable by an anti-tank mine, 2 crew members died and 3 were injured. The most important lesson learned in Operation Desert Storm was to avoid friendly fire. For this reason, appropriate panels were placed on tanks, just like other vehicles. These panels were shaped like a four-cornered box, allowing the tanks to be identified from all sides. AT4 shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles were also given to tank crews for use. In addition, a second warehouse was built behind the tank, allowing extra items and equipment to be taken.
War in Afghanistan
Canada and Denmark have deployed Leopard 1 and 2 MBTs specially modified to operate in the relatively flat and arid conditions of southwestern Afghanistan. In late 2010, at the request of Southwest Regional Command, the U.S. Marine Corps deployed a small detachment of 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks from Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward) to southern Afghanistan in support of operations.
Technical data
Armor: Composite armor
Main armament: M1: 105 mm L/52 / M1A1: 120 mm L/44 / M1A2: 120 mm L/44
Engine: AGT-1500 turbine engine, Allison DDA X-1100 3B transmission 1500 hp (1119 kW)
Curb weight: 61.3 tonnes
Operational range: 465 km
Maximum speed: 72 km/h
