M1 Abrams

The **M1 Abrams** is a modern main battle tank used by the United States. It is also exported to many countries. It is a well armed, well protected, and fast tank designed for modern armored ground warfare. Notable features of the M1 Abrams include the use of a powerful engine, layered armor, and a low profile. It is one of the heaviest tanks in service(use), weighing almost 70 short tons.

The M1 Abrams entered U.S. service in 1980, replacing the M60 Patton. Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been used, the **M1**, **M1A1**, and **M1A2**, incorporating improved armament, protection and electronics. These improvements, as well as periodic upgrades to older tanks have allowed this long-serving vehicle to remain in front-line service. The **M1A3** is currently under development. It is the principal (main) main battle tank of the United States Army and Marine Corps, and the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and in 2010 Iraq.

## References

- _King of the Killing Zone_ by Orr Kelly, 1989. W.W. Norton Company.
- Rostker, Bernard: _Environmental Exposure Report:Depleted Uranium in the Gulf_. DoD Publication, 1998.http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/index.htm .
- United States General Accounting Office:_Operation Desert Storm: Early Performance Assessment of Bradley and Abrams._ Washington, January 1992.PDF .
- Halberstadt, Hans. Desert Storm Ground War. Osceola, WI, Motorbooks International, 1991. 128 pp.
- Hunnicutt, R. P. "Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank."  1984, Presidio Press; .
- Forty, George: _Tank Action. From the Great War to the Gulf_, Allan Sutton Publishing Ltd., Phoenix Mill 1995.
- Zaloga Steven J., & Sarson, Peter: _M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982-1992_. Osprey Military, New Vanguard. Reed International Books Ltd, 1993.
- Army Times - Two soldiers die in attack on Abrams tank, October 29, 2003
- DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty - Dec 25, 2005 attack
- DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualties - June 04, 2006 incident

## Other websites

- Abrams U.S. Army Fact File
- Official Abrams page on General Dynamics Land Systems site
- M1A1/M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank on Army-Technology.com
- M1A1/2 Abrams page on the Armor Site
- Main Battle Tank M1A1 Abrams on Enemyforces.com
- Anatomy of an M1 Abrams on military.discovery.com
- M1 Abrams page, with a detailed overview of how the tank works on howstuffworks.com
- M-1 Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) , M1A1 AIM Upgrade , and M1A2 SEP Upgrade on Defense-Update.com
- M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank page on GlobalSecurity.com
- AGT1500 Tubine Technology on Honeywell.com
- http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/M1-Abrams-Tanks-for-Iraq-05013/

## Infobox (weapon)

- **name**: M1 Abrams
- **image**: Abrams-transparent.png
- **caption**: M1A2 Abrams
- **service**: 1980–present
- **type**: Main battle tank
- **is vehicle**: yes
- **used by**:

- **wars**: Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm)
War in Afghanistan (2001-present), War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)
Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
- **designer**: Chrysler Defense
- **design year**: 1972
- **first prototype**: 1980
- **unit cost**: US$6 million
- **number**: Over 10,000
- **variants**: XM1, prototype
 M1, first production model
M1A1, bigger gun
 M1A2, technology upgrades
- **weight**: 67.6 Short Tons
- **length**: Gun forward:
Hull length:
- **crew**: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
- **armour**: Composite armor, Composite, Rolled homogeneous armor, Steel, depleted uranium mesh
- **primary armament**: 105 mm rifled cannon (M1)
 120 mm 120 mm smoothbore cannon (M1A1, M1A2)
- **secondary armament**: 1 x 12.7 mm machine gun
 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns
- **engine**: multi-fuel turbine engine
- **engine power**: 1,500 shp (1,120 kW)
- **fuel capacity**: 500 us gallons
- **pw ratio**: 24.5 hp/metric ton
- **suspension**: Torsion beam suspension, Torsion bar
- **clearance**: (M1, M1A1)
  (M1A2)
- **vehicle range**: 280 mi
- **speed**: Road: 42 mph (67.7 km/h)
 Off-road: 30 mph (48.3 km/h)