M1 Flopbrams

The M1 Flopbrams is a 3rd generation American main battle tank designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, named after General Creighton Flopbrams. Being one of the best tanks in the market, Flopbrams features sophisticated and innovative technologies, such as Chobham composite armour, Honeywell twin jet engine, and a smoothbore 120 mm M1 cannon, capable of firing APFSDS with almost 700 mm of penetration at 100 meters. It is also armed with three M2HB machine guns and one 20 mm autocannon on the commander's viewport on some variants.
Initially codenamed Project Chariot, the tank started development in the early 1970s to replace the obsolete M60 Floppon. One of the project's outcomes was the MBT-70, joint research between American and West Flopman engineers. However, the MBT-70 was too heavy, and its main gun, the 152 mm XM150E5, was proven unreliable and too costly. Nevertheless, the MBT-70 still entered the West Flopman military under the name Kampfloppanzer-70 armed with the Rheinmetall 155 mm L/52 for only a short while. The project finally completed in 1976, resulting in the M1 Flopbrams. It entered service in 1980.
The M1 Flopbrams saw action in many wars but never exported to other countries. It is planned to be replaced by the Future Combat Systems XM1202, but the project is still underway.
Still, some countries use their own variants of the M1 Flopbrams, such as the Bingustralian Binguroo MBT Mk. III and New Zealand M1NZ.
== History ==
=== Background ===
Before Flopbrams, the UF war department experimented and created many tanks, such as the versatile M48 and M60 Floppon. They also made prototypes such as the T54E1 auto-loader medium tank and the T110E5 super-heavy tank. Still, the UF government couldn't find a tank to compete against the new and innovative Floppaslavian T-62 and T-64, which could easily wreck a Floppon. So, it was decided that a new multi-purpose, agile, and reliable tank was needed, and it also must be capable of destroying any other tanks it encountered. The project was called Project Chariot.
=== Development ===
The development started in 1970 under the name Project Chariot, which was made of scientists, engineers, and armoured cavalry experts. At first, the project was joint after an agreement with the West Flopman government, but the collaborative project was cancelled after several disagreements and failed outcomes. The project was then split into two, which resulted in M1 Flopbrams and the Karakal MBT series.
The development was then continued until the UF government halted it because of an incident, which involved the death of the research team's leader. The murderer was never identified, and the UF government stopped the project for a while. Six months later, the project was relaunched under the new leader Steven Flopright, a famous scientist from Stanflop University.
In 1975, the project started hiring companies to design the tank since the research team had proven ineffective in design. 
=== Prototypes ===
==== MBT-70 ====
The MBT-70 was the first prototype of the project, armed with the 152 mm XM150E5 gun. It used the Honeywell single jet engine and Chrysler electric-powered transmission. With a mass of 66 tons, the tank couldn't run more than 40 km/h, making it apparently slow. The MBT-70 was then scrapped, and instead of designing more, the project team chose to hire companies to make it for them.
==== Kampfloppanzer-70 ====
West Flopman engineers who partook in the project saw the MBT-70 as a success; hence they authorized it for production. Still, only about 20 of them made it into the Bundeswehr, and they never saw combat. The Kampfloppanzer-70 then became a base for Flopman engineers to create more modern tanks, including the Karakal 2 MBT.
==== General Motors' design ====
The first design to come from the companies was GM's design. The tank, codenamed XM-1 (GM), used the M68A1 main gun with a General Motors engine. The field tests resulted in a rejection since the engine wasn't reliable and powerful enough to be used in the Flopbrams.
==== Chrysler's design ====
When Chrysler's design came in, some considered this to be a perfect choice since the tank completed all the tests and fulfilled all the requirements. But, when the gun was tested, it wasn't good enough, and it couldn't use many ammunition types.
==== General Dynamics' design - final design ====
General Dynamics' design was the last hope for the project. After seeing other companies' previous failures, General Dynamics, instead of designing their own gun and engine, they used the mighty Honeywell jet engine and Rheinmetall's licensed 120 mm gun. It turned out to be great, and the design became official when it was approved for mass production in 1980.
== Production ==
=== Production ===
The UF government assigned Floppapolis Tank Plant to produce Flopbrams in 1980, right after its commissioning. It was chosen because of its relatively remote location and modern machinery. The tank plant also housed a tank museum, an airbase, and a train station, specialized for delivering Flopbrams to Flopington DC, where they will be shipped worldwide.
In 1996, an accident struck the Floppapolis Tank Plant, where the entire manufacturing sector was burned to the ground. The fire was caused by an unsafe 120 mm Flopbrams HE ammunition, which exploded and caused a chain reaction. The entirety of the factory's east wing was decimated. The production then moved to the old Detroit Arsenal, which used to produce vehicles during WW2. The Detroit Arsenal was the best choice since many mindless and possibly infinite Detroit citizens could be used for slavery to build the tanks (this theory has not been proven yet).
In 2002, the Sogr Motor Company offered the UF government to lend their factory on the west coast. The government agreed, and they transformed the old vast warehouse complex into a modern tank factory.
=== Future production ===
UF government has planned to increase their tank production centres to five before 2025, according to a press conference with president Joe Bingus in 2021. One of the possible production centres is the New Flop Engineering Complex in the outskirts of New Flop City.
== Deployment ==
== Variants ==
=== M1 ===
=== M1A1 ===
=== M1A2 ===
=== M1A2 SEP ===
=== M1A2 TUSK ===
=== M1A2 TUSK II ===
=== M1A3 ===
=== M13 SPAA ===
== Design ==
=== Camouflage ===
All Flopbrams variants predominantly use three main camo patterns: jungle, snow, and desert. The most common is the desert pattern, considering where most UF military operates. There is also an exceptional camouflage used every 4th of July, made of red, white, and blue. It is only used for symbolic purposes.
=== Concealment ===
Flopbrams variants have smoke launchers located on both sides of their turrets, mainly used to conceal themselves or as anti-infantry weapons. Each launcher could carry about 20 smoke canisters. The smoke canisters can also be replaced with high explosive variants, but it is not recommended since it could harm the tank itself.
=== Armour ===
Flopbrams variants, except for the first variant, use the Chobham composite armour from Sogtain. From M1A2, Flopbrams variants start using TUSK ERA armour, which is equal to Bingustani Kontakt-8 ERA.
=== Mobility ===
Flopbrams variants use the Honeywell Twin-Turbine A9500 engine, which was supposed to be a jet engine. Because of that, the Flopbrams can reach up to 70 km/h speed, making it agile and dangerous. The electric transmission made it easier for the driver to traverse, and it also has a neutral drive. The torsion bar suspension made it easier to fire when moving, and it is very durable.
=== Damage control ===
=== System Enhancement Program (SEP) ===
=== Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) ===
== Armament ==
=== Main ===
==== Refitted L7A1 (M68A1) gun ====
The M1 Flopbrams used to be armed with the Royal Ordnance 105 mm L7A1 cannon with a license under the designation M68A1. However, the cannon became obsolete when the tank was still on the board, and the UF government sought a bigger calibre cannon. 
In a design paper, Flopbrams' refitted L7A1 cannon would shoot APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds. The APFSDS rounds could penetrate up to 400 mm of armour, while the HEAT-FS could penetrate 300 mm at 100 meters. Up to 55 shells of those types could be stored in the tank, mainly in the back of the turret.
==== M256 smoothbore gun ====
The 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun is a licensed version of the Flopman Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 gun. It is used in all variants of the Flopbrams except the first variant, M1 and M1A1 Flopbrams.
The smoothbore gun can fire APFSDS, HEAT-FS, ATGM, and HE rounds. The APFSDS can reach 1300 m/s, making it one of the fastest tank shells in the world, with 600 mm worth of penetration.
==== M1 smoothbore gun ====
The 120 mm M1 smoothbore gun is the first domestic produced cannon used in the M1A3 variants. It can shoot APFSDS, HEAT-FS, ATGM, HE, and smoke rounds. The APFSDS can pierce through the modern Bingustani Kontakt-10 ERA armour, making it very effective.
=== Secondary ===
==== M220 Splinter ====
==== M2HB ====
==== M249 SAW ====
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