M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams main battle tank, the US Army's principal combat tank, can operate in all climate and light conditions. Several versions were deployed to Southwest Asia, primarily the M1A1. The M1A1's advanced armor, superior maneuverability, low profile, chemical overpressure system, and compartmentalized fuel and ammunition stores provide the crew with levels of battlefield protection that surpass any other tank, and its main gun is capable of making catastrophic kills in excess of 3000 m. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm some M1A1s were modified with add-on armor and others were equipped with mine rollers and mine plows for breaching obstacles and clearing minefields. The M1 Abrams first entered Army service in 1980. It is manufactured by Chrysler.
General Characteristics
- Length: 32.3 feet with gun
- Width: 12 feet
- Height: 8 feet
- Weight: 62.9 tons
- Speed: 41 miles per hour
- Range: 288 miles
- Crew: 4
- Armament:
- Primary: 105mm gun (M1), 120-mm smoothbore gun (M1A1)
- Secondary: .50-caliber machine gun, 7.62-mm machine gun
- Power plant: 1,500 horsepower turbine