PVE aS o dj Minaya a cenen sia Aa = At ii ea MIAI S aa a ABRAMS Pa Eo} | bo oh! MAIN BATTLE TANKay MTC tsp ty MI, MIIP & MIAI ABRAMS VIE VELA DWT Pen ea Willy PETERS Patrick J, COONEY resus? aed ae CencM1 & M1 IP ABRAMS When It became eminent the M60 MBT could no longer challenge the new Soviet armor such as the T-72 and T-80, development of the M1 ABRAMS Main Battle Tank was alreagy under way. Many times before had such developments been haunted by cost ‘overruns and Congressional scepticism. This time was no different and by early 1976 when the first prototypes became avallable, this ‘weapon system was tong overdue, Finaly, In late 1979, most of the development problems were solved and the M1 was ready to go into production. The squared (ff appearance and low profile oF the Mit contrasted totally with al former Us army developments and could be called revolutionary. The hull structure was designed to ensure crew survivability and provide protection for internally mounted equipment against a broad spectrum of antitank weapons, The hull armor con figuration consists of a weld-fabricated rolled homogeneous armor iRHA) structure with armor protecting the front and siges Of the crew areas. Fuel and main weapon ammo are separated from the crew in armored compartments. The hull ammo Compartment is located aft of the engine bulkhead on the right Side and separated from the crew area by siding armor doors ‘The same protection is Installed In front of the turret bustle ammo room which is topped by blast panels channeling an explosion Upward, The M1 Is operated by a four men crew consisting of a driver, commander, loader and gunner. It is equipped with a 105mm MBE Rified Cannon and a Coaxial 7.62mm M240 Machinegun. The first Mi's on German soll were operated by the 6ath Armor, {3rd infantry Division (Mechanized) In the fall of 1961, .M1 ABRAMS CHARACTERISTICS‘The same weapons were retained by the Mi IP (Improved) which featured several Improvements stemming from Met test trials An additional turret bustle rack and side stowage bins were nstalled and an-increase in armor protection was seen on the front hull and turret. the latter shortening the distance between the bore evacuator and the gun mantlet. Another update was the installation of a redesigned rear armor skirt plate over the sprocket wheel internally, the MtIP was also improved and some were outfitted with an NBC over-pressure ventilation system. All these changes added one ton of extra weight, so it became necessary to Strengthen the suspension with increasea capacity shock absorbers and reindexed torsion bars, A somewhat confusing fact for the modeler Is some early production Ma's have been retrofitted with the rear turret bustle Fack and stowage bins, but are lacking the frontal armor protection and the internal improvements, Some 894 IP M1's were produced from October 1984 through May 4988, and saw service in the US and Europe, Thee servicemen awaiting further developments next to their seemingly) disabled Mi a¢ the Bergen Hohe exerclse area. The front amor si Is Span evening tne dat compensiting laer whee which re 25 den Note the jerrycan and holder aft ofthe turet stowage bi, ade Track ‘ADJUSTING tie )‘avove) The same setting. a titferent m1 and crew. The external stowage. bins are Being used to dood advantage. Note the very ow pronie of tne turret compared t0-the crew: memeber stanging next to I Note the velero strip surround Ing the turret just above the towenble, (deft) Washing and cleaning is art of reguige maintenance procedures. This view clearly Shows the large ring mounted fon the sprocket weed on ear modets. ft mas instal prevent the track from Up Denind the armor skirt ‘Alenough le was sil being used inter modificstion of the rear Considered no longer useful an fate ype ants‘me ABRAMSpantie mounted below chese gile oor ‘Above, signe & top yy Power Unie (APU) ‘ent tothe battery tne tainghe wen the Compartment. wote the moun(Top) & fairly clean M1 IP speeaing past the camera Guring “CERTAIN CHALLENGE” In 1988, Commander and loader are standing In ther fespective haten openings Keeping "2 WatehfU) ine) An. IP sitting In 9 ditcn showing a rene “sits Each 109d 47m OF Ene 5 sng assembly which is bottea to the hu ing vehicle welght jes eden road arm upward, the twisting the torsion bar resist the motion and roduces a springing action which supports the ‘ona ana, a€ the same time, Keeps the track I contact withthe ground,16 JUN mount interfaces with the Curret by attachment to a rotor, which pivots in tevation on ture trunnion bearings. The Foter Fas apertures for te Coal Weapon, {nd felescone nether of which physically contact the rotor Bot are cre atached 20 (Left) Top view of the turret reveals the off set position of the gun mantiee £0 take the cosal Zeamm un used agains troops and soft targets The turret structure fs designed to ensure crew, Survivabinty The armor configuration consists of a weld fabricated rolled hamogereous armor in soructure whien protects the font and side Of the crew areas and the turret bustle, The main hydraulics system provides 50 horsepower for the operating demands of the Qun turret drive system and the turret ammunition deor actuation aster. Or interest in this view is &he 2 shaped spring Noting the front mudguards in place and two types of ammunicion in from of the tank TURRET ASSEMBLYLAMP" mine The mint redesigned transmission ne tie sal tn (ans? ol coheetorsThe commander and loader taking a Breather while allowing the photo Grapher to take this snapsnot of the Uncovered ead mirror of the GPs tat lef ana the mount fort Thermal sigme TC) (ae nome. an M1at awaiting embarkation at ‘anewerp docks from where fe vill Be Smipped to aud! araba to pariipate inthe cuit War ‘he ramp ata sau TANGO, aT, ASC. ath'an. bath AR fogecner with Bela around the clock f0 io some 6.000 fn pore only fe wil 90 into story as the largest movement of military REFORGER reverse This m1A1 boarding 2 US vessel at antwerp docks during Speration "SANDY COCKTAIL” showing rear engine deck layout {0 c00d savantage. to fue filer cape are located Inthe Cuter Comers of the geck while the sponson alr incake Ore can be Seen at far-right. The rest of the hatches cover te Compartments snown on pages 18 and'19. Note the cable fockina te Garret whch in turn fs esting on a rol oF razor wie 2DRIVER'S STATIONDRIVER'S INTERCOM SYSTEM DRIVER'S NIGHT VISION VIEWER DRIVER'S SEAT POSITIONSmamcun we conxcentnc cowwan 1S mn Si ‘COMMANDER'S ‘STATION STOWAGE GUIDEQ @ ‘GUNNER'S STATION iS S| ‘oMPITEN CONTROL PANEL GS conven ranonWA il Dwesrson orate