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MTC tsp ty
MI, MIIP & MIAI ABRAMS
VIE VELA DWT
Pen ea
Willy PETERS
Patrick J, COONEY
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CencM1 & 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 ABRAMSpantie 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 ASSEMBLYLAMP" mine
The mint
redesigned
transmission ne tie sal tn
(ans? ol coheetorsThe 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
2DRIVER'S STATIONDRIVER'S INTERCOM SYSTEM
DRIVER'S NIGHT VISION VIEWER
DRIVER'S SEAT POSITIONSmamcun we
conxcentnc cowwan 1S
mn Si
‘COMMANDER'S
‘STATION
STOWAGE GUIDEQ @
‘GUNNER'S STATION
iS S|
‘oMPITEN CONTROL PANEL GS conven ranonWA il
Dwesrson orate