Manufacturer: General Dynamics [NYSE: GD]
Some countries excel in the creation of different things. It just so happens that the US excels in the creation of the machines of war. Aside from being the richest country in the world and having the Cold War spurring the development of said military technology, the Abrams tank was truly a revolutionary design when unveiled in the 80s. Despite whatever claims that certain tank exporting countries have about their newly designed next-generation tanks, none of them, aside from a distant second with the British Challenger 2 main battle tank, have been tested as extensively in battle as the M1 Abrams tank. The Abrams tank has constantly been upgraded to withstand the stresses of battle, and when it comes to a main battle tank, you actually want it to last…in battle. Support systems and facilities, repair and maintenance technicians, and myriads of other factors contribute to determining what tank could win against another. Sure other modern MBT tanks have bells and whistles, but none have the serious capability to survive and be retrofitted like the M1-Abrams tank. The M1-A2 MBT is the greatest tank in existence. Also be sure to read about the depleted uranium shells seen in slow motion in the video.
Check out this M1 Abrams tank video. The slow motion segment depicts a fin-guided round shedding it’s skin midflight.
You can see other Abrams tank videos at YouTube.com’s Abrams Tank videos section.
12 Responses
[...] the likes of the newest military machines to storm the scene: Starring as actual transformers: the M1 Abrams tank, F22 Raptor, a Buffalo mine-protected vehicle, and the MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. These characters [...]
Posted on July 20th, 2007 at 12:10 am
first of all, to “transformers….”….it’s not the Abrahms, it’s a tank destroyer, ANOTHER MODEL….second, IT’S NOT THE DAMN F-22….it’s the F-35 Joint strike Fighter, NOT the Raptor….you should actually try and do some research before you post dumb crap….
Posted on February 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am
oh yeah, the F-22 Raptor DOES NOT have the VTOL capability, it ONLY has the rear engines….
Posted on February 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Both the Abrams and the F22 were used in Transformers. Although the tank was highly modified for the movie the base was an Abrams. Maybe you should try to do some research on the sources you provided yourself as Wikipedia clearly states that Transformers was the F22’s Hollywood debut.
At any rate thanks for visiting and for your comments.
Posted on February 7th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Also where does it say that the F22 has VTOL capabilities? I couldn’t find that article.
Thanks
Posted on February 7th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I never said the F-22 has VTOL, I stated it DOESN’T. And great thing wikipedia….right….You know it’s user edited right? Trust me, neither were in the movie….
Posted on May 18th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Starscream was an F-22! End of story!
Posted on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
[...] to the large size/weight of most of the US military’s mechanized forces, it can only carry 1 M1A1 Abrams tank (70 tons). These aspects of airlifting (weight/maintenance/costs) are major influencing factors on [...]
Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I think the only tank in the world that could possibly beat the m1a2 in head-to-head is the Leopard 2, and even then I’m not sure.
Posted on October 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
The Challenger II, Lepord II and Abrahms are all amazing tanks, and I’m sure each would play a specific role better then the next, but who cares? we’re all on the same side, unless theres something I don’t know about, right?
All We have to know is that it’s better then the T90, and Type 99 by a long shot, same with the Blank Panzor, or what ever, (The Korean tank)
Posted on August 18th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Andrew’s bias in this article is ridiculous, yes the Abrams has been tested but only against cheap export versions of Soviet tanks from the 70s. Andrew makes it sound like the Abrams has actually fought any tank of significant value, it hasn’t, but neither has any real modern MBT. But the point is just because the Abrams fought Iraqi tanks without even night vision/IR equipment doesn’t mean its “the greatest tank in existence.” If you ask all NATO countries or poll armies of western civilization, all of them except for Australia will say the Leopard L2, especially the Leopard 2E. Which offers more maneuverability, smaller foot print, less fuel requirement, savings in weight from using none DE (Depleted Uranium) armor slats that the Abrams M2A1. While having similar levels of protections and using the same exact gun. And the simple fact is that the Leopard A2 is the tank world’s F-16. It is simply the most widely exported Western MBT. Aside from Australia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia no one else really uses the Abrams in large numbers. Due to it’s weight and its fuel consumption and the logistics required for it due to those two factors.
Furthermore, the Abrams has been updated over time, but not anywhere as close to the number of versions as the Leopard 2 has. Even now the army has not updated the Abrams with the urban warfare kit you have posted on the top of your article. So your MISLEADING people with that picture, showing what it could have when it doesn’t. A great Russian analysis of Abrams points out that the Abrams while in Iraq shows a vulnerability from engine fires from RPG hits and is exposed in the back area to RPGs especially. As that picture shows, the slat armor in the back is suppose to fix that issue but that kit has still not been installed on Abrams.
And speaking of RPGs, an RPG-7VR has penetrated an Abrams, and RPG-29 has penetrated both an Abrams and a Challenger. Soviet tanks ever since the Afghanistan days have incorporated both ERA armor (Kontakt-5, kaktus, relikt)and active protection system to protect (Drozd, Areana) against RPG and anti tank missiles.
So the best tank in world if you were to ask tankers of the world would probably be either the Leopard 2A6/E2 or the Merkava. As the Merkava has arguably the greatest crew survivability in the world with the engine being placed in the front and the concealed rear entry way on top of their active protection system (Trophy, Iron Fist). And the Merkava can engage helicopters and has a 40mm mortar that can be operated from within the tank.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Abrams cant be hurt on the front. Top or rear only, bottom with mines or tracks.
Posted on November 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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