20 Facts About M1 Abrams

1.

M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense and named for General Creighton Abrams.

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2.

M1 Abrams was developed from the failure of the MBT-70 project to replace the obsolescent M60 tank.

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3.

The M1 Abrams was due to be replaced by the Future Combat Systems XM1202 but due to its cancellation, the US military has opted to continue maintaining and operating the M1 series for the foreseeable future by upgrading with improved optics, armor and firepower.

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4.

M1 Abrams entered service in 1980 and currently serves as the main battle tank of the United States Army and formerly the Marine Corps.

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5.

The M1 Abrams was first used in combat in the Persian Gulf War and has seen combat in both the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War under US service, while Iraqi M1 Abrams tanks have seen action in the war against Islamic State and have seen use by Saudi Arabia during the Yemeni Civil War.

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6.

M1 Abrams remained untested in combat until the Persian Gulf War in 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.

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7.

Some M1 Abrams tanks were fitted with a secondary storage bin on the back of the existing bustle rack on the rear of the turret to enable the crew to carry more supplies and personal belongings.

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8.

Some M1 Abrams tanks were disabled by Iraqi infantrymen in ambushes during the invasion.

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9.

Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite Kata'ib Hezbollah were reported to operate M1 Abrams, and released publicity showing the tanks being transported by trucks to take part in the Battle of Mosul.

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10.

One Iraqi-operated M1 Abrams has been nicknamed "The Beast" after it became the lone working tank when taking back the town of Hit in April 2016, destroying enemy fighting positions and IED emplacements.

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11.

In October 2017, M1 Abrams were used by the Iraqi security forces and the Popular Mobilization Forces in assaults against the Kurdistan Regional Government Peshmerga in the town of Altun Kupri.

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12.

In December 2014, Congress again allocated $120 million, against the wishes of the Army, for M1 Abrams upgrades including improving gas mileage by integrating an auxiliary power unit to decrease idle time fuel consumption and upgrading the tank's sights and sensors.

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13.

Tank Urban Survival Kit is a series of improvements to the M1 Abrams intended to improve fighting ability in urban environments.

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14.

US Army M1A2 SEP V2 M1 Abrams tanks deployed to Germany in July 2020 fitted with Trophy systems.

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15.

The primary APFSDS round of the M1 Abrams is the depleted uranium M829 round, of which four variants have been designed.

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16.

M1 Abrams tank has three machine guns, with an optional fourth:.

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17.

M1 Abrams is equipped with a ballistic fire-control computer that uses user and system-supplied data from a variety of sources to compute, display, and incorporate the three components of a ballistic solution—lead angle, ammunition type, and range to the target—to accurately fire the main gun.

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18.

High speed, high temperature jet blast emitted from the rear of M1 Abrams tanks makes it hazardous for infantry to take cover or follow behind the tank in urban combat.

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19.

The M1 Abrams can be carried by a C-5 Galaxy or a C-17 Globemaster III.

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20.

M1 Abrams is transportable by truck, namely the Oshkosh M1070 and M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter System for the US Military.

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