M1 Abrams Tank

M1 Abrams Tank. . , The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a fully tracked, low silhouette, land combat assault weapons system. It is named for General Creighton Abrams, whom Maj. Gen. George Patton called "the best tank commander in the Army" during World War II., Designed to outfight Soviet tanks, Abrams tanks did just that in the Gulf War, knocking out 160 of Iraq's Russian-built tanks without the loss of a single Abrams. The impact of the Abrams tank main projectile equals that of an 11-ton truck hitting a square inch target at 70 miles-per-hour. Offering unprecedented protection to its crew, the Ordnance Corps produced and tested the XM1 prototype in 1978. Mass production began in 1980. The modified M1A1 appeared in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986. The tank's 105-mm. gun was upgraded to a 120-mm. smoothbore in the M1A1 and later versions, capable of engaging enemies at 4,000 yards. An advanced fire-control system automatically adjusts aim to account for a variety of factors., Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) , Empty Weight 120,000-144,000 pounds , Length 32 feet , Width 12 feet , Height 8 feet , Primary Armament M1: 105-mm, rifled bore gun M1A1/M1A2: 120-mm. smooth bore gun , Secondary Armament M2.50 caliber machine gun M240 7.62-mm machine gun, Caption: , An M-1A1 Abrams main battle tank of the 3d Armored Cavalry moves through the sand as it heads to a refueling area during Operation DESERT SHIELD. On 22 January 1991, 3d Platoon, Troop L engaged in the first ground combat after moving to the defense of a Saudi outpost under attack by Iraqis.