"Abrams" without "dill" and embellishment
About it tank To date, a lot has been written. Articles are very different: from the eulogies of laudatory to the humiliatingly critical. This is understandable, any article will perforce have a certain share of subjectivity, depending on the author’s point of view. It is no secret that the same facts can be presented in different ways.
We invite you to meet again with history the creation of one of the famous main tanks of our time - Abrams ("Abrams"), get acquainted with the history of its creation and with modifications of the combat vehicle, which are in service with the armies of some states.
If we consider the point of view of the American researchers and chroniclers of the history of the creation of the main tank (OT) "Abrams", then some of them represent the history of this machine as a further development of the medium tank М48 "Patton II". This is how the history of the creation of the new American OT is interpreted in the work of the American explorer R.R.Hannicutt (RR Hunnicutt) “The History of the American main tank”.
Research and development work on the design of the new American tank began in 1951. In fact, the birth of the famous Abrams resulted in the consistent implementation of three main programs for the development of the tank of the future.
The second prototype of the T95 tank with the 90-mm gun in the Fort-Knox
Tests of the Delta 120-mm gun mounted on the first prototype of the T95-8 tank with the registration number 967052
The chassis of the T95EX1 tank, on which the turret model is mounted, of a tank that will become a new prototype - MVT70
The second prototype tank MVTNUMX with registration number 70А09 002
Prototype tank model HM803 with 152-mm gun-launcher
Chrysler XM1 prototype with JEOOO registration number for competitive tests
Prototype sample tank HM1 company "General Motors"
The first prototype of the Chrysler XM1 tank at the Detroit plant in February 1978. Second left: Dr. Philip Lett
The first serial tank M1 "Abrams", built at a factory in Detroit. 31 March 1982
The first of them was a program to work out the T95 tank, which was based on earlier work on the creation of an experienced T42 tank. The purpose of this R & D was to create a prototype machine with a relatively small mass, armed with a medium-caliber gun. Parallel to the testing of the T95, one more program was initially developed - the T-96, which envisages the development of a tank with heavy cannon armament. Later, both projects were combined on the basis of the chassis of the T95 tank. As part of this R & D, 13 projects of machines were worked out in total, starting with T95 and ending with T95EX12, as well as also T96. However, the development of the T95EZ project was completed, all other versions were built partially or existed only in the form of layouts. When developing the T95 program, many innovations and concepts were worked out, such as the use of a rigidly fixed bore gun and new fire control systems. Many of the concepts developed at that time require further elaboration at the present time. These difficulties encountered in combination with the changed views of the military on the concept of a tank of the future led to the closure of the T-95 program. Instead, she urgently initiated a program to improve the medium tank M48 Patton. Such a rush was caused by the appearance in the USSR of the T-45A and T-54B medium tanks armed with a stabilized 100-mm cannon and superior in all characteristics to the American MXXUMX “Patton” tanks. As a result of work on the improvement of the M48 in the USA, the M48 tank with the 1960-mm rifled gun is being used in the 60.
After the closure of the T95 program, the development of some new systems and components continued anyway. Everyone understood that sooner or later a new program for the development of a promising main tank, new basic concepts of a battle tank, would be launched in the United States. In this, in the USA and some NATO countries, the emphasis in developing the main weapons The tank has changed a bit. The attention of the military was more attracted not by tank guns firing high-speed armor-piercing shells of kinetic action, but by cannon-launchers capable of firing guided missiles with a cumulative warhead. As a technical innovation that could be used to create new tanks, a laser rangefinder and other new components for the fire control system appeared.
August 1 An agreement was signed between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany on the joint development of a new main tank for production and use in both countries. The project was named MVT1963 - “Main Battle 70-x” (Main Battle Tank 70).
In MVT70, designers have implemented quite a few technical innovations, such as a hydropneumatic suspension, an automated fire control system, automatic loading of a gun, a combined reservation. It should be noted that similar booking and automatic loading in the USSR by this time had already been implemented on mass-produced T-64 and T-64A tanks. So the American designers, even without even knowing it, played the role of "catching up" in world tank building. The introduction of advanced technical innovations in MVT70 pulled along the rise in the cost of the combat vehicle. The US Congress revised a number of advanced technology development programs towards reducing the final cost of samples. Here e got and the program MOB70. Prospective tank considered too expensive and difficult. In addition, there were a lot of disagreements among American and German designers regarding the need and design of a number of systems and components of a promising tank. This led to the termination of joint work on the car and each of the countries went further on its own way.
In the United States, with the aim of reducing costs and increasing reliability, the design of a promising tank was simplified, but the 803-mm gun launcher was retained as the main weapon in the new project, designated the main tank HM152. However, in the west, by the beginning of the 70s of the last century, the priorities regarding the tank’s main weapon began to change again. Again, preference was given to cannons capable of introducing fire with high-speed armor-piercing shells of kinetic action. In addition, the developed new tank HM803 turned out not much cheaper than its predecessor MVT70. In December 1971, the US Congress terminated the work on the HX803 project. At the same time, the need to develop a new tank for the army was recognized. Under this was allocated and the necessary funding. We must not forget that the Soviet T-64A medium tanks, armed with an 125-mm smooth-bore tank gun, capable of firing armor-piercing projectile shells with an initial speed of 1800 m / s, had already arrived in the USSR. On the approach were new cars: T-72 "Ural" and T-80.
"Good" and finances from the US Congress to develop a new American tank became the third attempt to create a new American tank, which was successful.
In the US Army, a working group was organized to develop a new tank TTZ. The development of the TTZ for the 80-s tank, designated XM1, began in January 1972. The prepared by the Ministry of Defense of the TTZ proposed the use of MVT70 and XM803 operating time. However, there were many ambiguities and there was even a moment when the option of abandoning the XM1 program was considered in favor of further improving the M60. The final requirements for the new tank and the timing of the program were formulated in January of 1973. Most of all, when developing the TTZ, the financial side of the issue was taken into account, which limited the cost of one production vehicle to just over 500 thousand USD when ordering 3300 tanks. For the first time in the USA, it was decided to develop a new tank on a competitive basis by General Motors and Chrysler Corporation companies.
The XM1 mining program included three stages: 1974-76. - evaluation of the concept and selection of a prototype based on the results of comparative tests of prototypes of the companies General Motors and Chrysler; 1977-80 - revision of the prototype, preparation of mass production, manufacture of the installation batch, adoption for service; 1981-90 - mass production and modernization. The transfer of the TTZ and the signing of contracts with the companies General Motors and Chrysler Corporation for the development and creation of prototypes of the tank The Pentagon carried out in June 1973.
True, in October, some provisions of the TTZ had to be corrected after a thorough analysis of the experience of the Arab-Israeli war of the Doomsday. This experience demanded an increase in the effective range of fire on armored targets, an increase in the basic weapon’s ammunition, increased machine protection, reduced time to prepare the machine for combat use, and increased reliability of systems and units and their maintainability.
One of the most controversial issues in the development of the new American main tank was the question of choosing the main weapon. At that time, the USSR tanks already had 125-mm smooth-bore guns; the new Leopard 2 tank created in Germany was planned to be equipped with the 120-mm gun created in Germany. Why did the M1 "Abrams" in the USA go to the troops with the M105 68-mm cannon (the licensed version of the British L7 cannon, developed in the second half of 50-s)? The answer to this question was given to the author personally by the chief designer of Abrams, Dr. Philippe Leah, during one of the meetings in Nizhny Tagil. He just proposed to install the smoothbore “Rheinmetall” L120, developed in the FRG for the new “Leopard” on the new 44 tank. And the American military insisted on the 105-mm M68 cannon, arguing their choice is very simple: “There is a large amount of ammunition for the M68 cannon in warehouses, they have to be put somewhere. Then back to the talk about the gun caliber 120 mm. "
Tank XM1 in the exposition of the military museum in Aberdeen
To participate in the comparative tests of prototypes of tanks HM1, competing companies presented the 1976 in February. Both tanks had a classic layout: a control compartment in the forward part of the vehicle hull, a combat compartment in the middle part of the hull and an engine-transmission unit in the stern. Tower with a circular rotation gun.
As a power plant, General Motors used the Teledyne Continental AV-1360-2 V-diesel diesel with turbocharging, which develops the power of the 1500 hp. This engine is an improved version of the diesel engine used on the prototypes MBT70 and XM803.
A three-shaft “AVCO Lycoming” AGT-1500 gas turbine engine was installed on the machine presented by Chrysler? Also power in 1500 hp
The running gear of competitors' tanks also had differences. On the tank of General Motors, the chassis consisted of six road wheels on board, three of which on a hydropneumatic suspension, and three on a torsion bar. By car from Chrysler, the chassis had seven road wheels on board with an individual torsion bar suspension.
By mass, both prototypes fit into the TTZ and did not exceed 53 tons.
Tests of prototypes of competing companies were carried out at the Aberdeen Proving Ground (piece Maryland), and then in Fort Knox and Fort Hood. The winner of the competition was determined 12 in November 1976. They became the prototype of the company Chrysler, which was chosen by the leadership of the US Army for further development as the future main tank of the US Army.
Tank МХNUMX "Abrams" during the operation "Desert Storm" in February 1. To enhance the protection, tank crews hung sandbags on armor
At the same time, attempts to cooperate with German designers to create a single main tank were resumed to a certain extent. 11 December 1976 was signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of tank construction between the United States and Germany. The document provided for the comparative tests of tanks "Leopard 2" and HM1 in the United States and the adoption of the machine, which will win in these tests. The winner was to be determined by a joint commission consisting of specialists from the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. At the same time, the Germans were skeptical about the gas turbine engine of the American machine, and the American military on the Leopard did not like the weapon system with the 120-mm smooth-bore gun. In the end, economic problems became a stumbling block in the choice of a single combat vehicle. As it often happens, American and German manufacturing companies did not agree on the size of the profits received during the implementation of the project. As a result, the US military and the Bundeswehr received different machines. Attempts to unify the tanks for individual systems and units, such as the main weapon, power plant, running gear, did not lead to success. The military commission of the US Congress insisted that the work on the maximum unification of components and systems would lead to a delay in the implementation of the program, its appreciation and reduction in the characteristics of the ХМ1 tank. In 1978, after the Americans abandoned the tests of the HM1 tank with a German diesel engine, the memorandum of understanding has sunk into oblivion.
To continue the tests, Chrysler built the 11 stages of prototypes of the XM1 tank, which took part in the second stage of technical and military tests that took place from March 1978 to September 1979 and from May 1978 to February 1979, respectively .
Even before the completion of the second stage at the end of 1978, Chrysler received a go-ahead from the Pentagon to build an installation batch of 110 tanks intended to participate in the testing of the third stage and to train the personnel of tank units.
American tank "Abrams" М1А2
During the tests, as one would expect, when a fundamentally new machine is being tested, a number of shortcomings in the design of the machine and the operation of its systems and assemblies were revealed. Serious complaints were caused by the unreliable operation of the gas turbine power plant (GTSU). The GTSU worked so unreliably that the time between failures of a CCD was on average no more than 210 km. In this regard, it was even proposed to replace the CCD with a German diesel engine from Leopard 2 or the British diesel engine Rolls Royce CV12. Engineers in a hurry had to carry out a whole range of work on the improvement of experimental machines, which gave a positive effect. On tests, which were carried out in the second half of 1979, the upgraded prototypes reached an average time to failure of the CCD already about 480 km. A number of representatives of the State Testing Committee HM1 insisted on postponing the adoption of the tank and began its mass production, inviting Chrysler engineers to begin a full-scale development of the diesel version of the HM1 tank.
Nevertheless, the majority of experts spoke in favor of using the GTSU on the tank as a more progressive technical solution. The last third test phase of the XM1 tank was completed in 1980 and the tank was put into service under the designation M1 “Abrams” in honor of General Creighton Abrams, the former chief of staff of the US Army, commanding American troops in Vietnam at the final stage of war.
The Pentagon placed an order for Chrysler to build the first batch of 352 production tanks, (cars). The first production Abrams М1 tanks were manufactured in 1980 at the state tank factory in Lima, Ohio, but mass full-scale production of these vehicles began only in September 1981. In 1982, the Abrams serial production started at one state-owned tank factory - the Detroit arsenal in Warren, Michigan. The total production rate for the two plants was 70 tanks per month. In total, the 2374 of the Abrams tank model M1 was built, the production of which was completely stopped in January 1985. By this time, the USSR Ground Forces were armed, including in the groups of forces deployed in the GDR, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary, as well as Western military districts, there were already thousands of units of type T-64B, T-80B and T-72A tanks, which by their characteristics were significantly superior to the newest American tank. And at the Soviet research test sites were nearing completion of testing more new models of armored weapons.
Description of the design of the tank M1 "Abrams"
Something like this, the Abrams mechanic drives the car while driving in combat
The main tank M1 "Abrams" is made on the classic layout. The hull of the tank is a welded structure with a large angle of inclination of the upper frontal armor detail (VLB). In the forward part of the body there is a control section located along the longitudinal axis of the machine. At the workplace of the driver installed height-adjustable seat with upholstered, headrest and lumbar support. In order to reduce the silhouette of the tank, in a combat position, the driver is in a reclining position with legs raised relative to the seat. To control the movement of the tank, the T-shaped steering column of a motorcycle type and the brake pedal are installed in the control compartment. All the necessary controls - the switch gear for forward and reverse, fuel control knob - placed on the steering column. Landing and disembarking of the driver to his workplace is carried out only through the hatch, equipped in the VLB, closed with an armor cover shifted to the right. The emergency hatch in the bottom of the case is missing. Three periscopic surveillance devices are installed in the lid of the driver's hatch.
The fighting compartment of the tank includes a middle part of the hull and a tower of circular rotation. The combat compartment houses a tank armament complex, communications equipment, commander, gunner and loader jobs, as well as other equipment.
Comparison of the overall dimensions of the onboard projections of the American M1A1 and the Soviet T-72A
When creating the МХNUMX «Abrams», a significant increase in its security was given in comparison with the tanks of previous generations. This problem was solved by reducing the silhouette of the tank and reducing its visibility, increasing armor protection, using a new type of reservation. The hull and turret of the tank are all-welded. On the forward part of the hull there are units for hanging roller or knife mine trawls, as well as dozer equipment.
The tower consists of outer and inner layers of armor steel, connected by transverse stiffening ribs, between which are laid packs of filler from steel and ceramic materials. The chassis is covered with side screens consisting of separate sections of seven pieces on board. Sections have spaced booking, between which there is a filler. The screens are attached to the body on the brackets with the help of hinges; between them, the sections are connected by a hinge-and-loop connection. The most massive front sections are rigidly fixed to the body, bolted. The thickness of each section is about 70 mm, and the total weight of the screens is 1,5 t.
In order to increase mine resistance, booking of the front part of the hull bottom to 30-32 mm is enhanced, while the thickness of the bottom hull sheet in the rear part is only 12,5 mm. The differentiation of the thickness of the armor plates is applied throughout the tank, which varies from 25 mm in the MTO area to 125 mm in the frontal part of the tower. However, it should be noted a small thickness of armor side hull sheets, which does not exceed 35 mm. In general, approximately 56% of the total mass of the tank accounts for armor protection.
View of the Abrams M1A1 tank ammunition from the side of the loading area. It is necessary to have a good practice in order for the loader to accurately extract the necessary type of shot.
Loading ammunition in the tank
The armament complex FROM М1 "Abrams" includes the main, auxiliary and auxiliary weapons; automated fire control system (MSA), ammunition, weapon stabilizer, duplicated manual guidance drives, surveillance devices.
The main weapon of the tank - stabilized in two planes 105-mm threaded gun M68А1. As an additional weapon, an 7,62-mm M240 machine gun (a licensed version of the Belgian FN MAG machine gun) mounted on a commander's turret, an anti-aircraft 12,7-mm “Browning” machine gun M2NV and another 7,62-mm machine gun M240, is used, used by the gun. loader. The vertical angles of aiming of the gun are from -10 ° to + 20 °, anti-aircraft machine gun - from -10 ° to + 65 °. Tower machine guns do not have remote control, shooting from them is conducted by the tank commander and loader with open hatches.
As an auxiliary weapon, there are 12 units 66-mm grenade launchers for firing smoke grenades (6 units on the left and right sides of the turret) with a firing range of 30 m; 5,56 mm M16A1 rifle and M67 hand grenades.
The tank's ammunition includes 55 unitary 105-mm shots for tank guns, including МХнUMX shots with armor-piercing sabot-pierced projectiles (BOS) with a detachable tray with a tungsten alloy core, МХNUMX and МХNUMX cores with cores, I also apply I-100X shells, M735 cores, M774 with MOPNEXX and M883 with projectile shells (BOS) with a detachable tray with tungsten alloy cores, M494 and M456 with projectile shells. ready arrow-shaped striking elements, M416 with a cumulative fragmentation projectile and M737 with a smoke projectile. Training shots МХNUMXВ with a projectile in inert equipment can also be used. The main part of the ammunition - 44 unitary shots are placed in an isolated compartment in the aft niche of the tower. The compartment is isolated from the tank’s habitable compartment by opening armored covers and is equipped on top with ejection panels that direct the blast wave during detonation of shots in the ammunition compartment.
The remaining 11 shots are placed in armored containers in the hull of the tank and on the polik of the turret in front of the loader.
Ammunition for machine guns consists of 11400 cartridges for 7,62-mm machine guns (1400 cartridges for machine gun loader and 10000 cartridges for coaxial machine guns) and 900 cartridges for caliber 12,7-mm for anti-aircraft machine gun. The ammunition for the automatic rifle is 210 ammunition, in addition there are 24 smoke grenades and 8 hand grenades.
The firepower of the tank M1А1 "Abrams" has increased significantly compared with the M1
The armament complex of the M1 “Abrams” tank has an automated SLA developed by Hughes Aircraft. When developing the XM1, the Chrysler designers abandoned the OMS with the combined gunner’s sight and the commander’s panoramic sight with independent stabilization of the sight lines used in the XM803 experimental tank. It was considered too expensive and difficult.
As part of the MSN of the Abrams M1 tank, the periscopic monocular GPS gunner (Gunner's periscope sight) is used with independent stabilization of the line of sight in the vertical plane (such stabilization of the line of sight in the USSR was already used on the latest T-62 and T-55 tanks). As part of the GPS sight, an optical channel with a 3- and 10-fold increase, a thermal night-vision channel and a laser rangefinder are integrated. The sight is mounted on the roof of the turret under the armored roof and in the non-working position it is closed with a steel flap opened from the turret. The thermal imaging channel provides the vision distance at night to 2000 m, the laser rangefinder allows you to measure the distance to the target, both from a standstill and in motion at distances from 200 to 8000 m. The sight has an ocular retraction for the commander, providing the commander with the opportunity to conduct aim fire from the main weapon.
In the MSN of the M1 tank, a digital ballistic computer is used which automatically introduces corrections to the aiming angles and side corrections taking into account the measured distance to the target, the lateral component of the wind speed, target speed, roll of the axles of the cannon, projectile type, barrel wear, atmospheric pressure, charge temperature and corrections for alignment errors. Data on the type of projectile, barrel wear, atmospheric pressure, charge temperature and sight alignment errors are entered into the computer manually, the rest - automatically.
A gun with a machine gun paired with it is stabilized in two planes. Drives pointing guns and turning the tower electro-hydraulic. They provide the maximum speed of rotation of the tower 40 degrees / s and pointing guns - 25 degrees / s.
As a backup sight gunner on the M1 "Abrams" monocular unstabilized rifle scope M920 with 8-fold increase is used. To conduct aimed shooting from an anti-aircraft machine gun, the tank commander has an optical sight М919 with 3-fold increase. The sight is mounted on the hatch cover of the rotating commander's turret and is associated with an anti-aircraft large-caliber machine gun parallelogram mechanism.
To monitor the terrain from the commander's place, six prism surveillance devices are installed in the commander's turret; the loader has a prism surveillance device mounted on a rotating support for this purpose.
The places of the commander and the gunner are located in the turret to the right of the cannon one after another: the gunner is in front of the vehicle, followed by the commander. Workplace loader is located in the tower to the left of the gun.
The power unit of the tank "Abrams" with a gas turbine engine GTA-1500
The engine compartment of the МNNUMX Abrams tank is located in the rear part of the hull, occupying more than a third of its length and the volume of the 1 м6,8. Since the height of the machine body to accommodate all the units of the GTSU was not enough, the upper part of the body in the MTO area is significantly raised. MTO is separated from the fighting compartment with an airtight fire partition. It is installed longitudinally with the gas turbine engine "AVCO Lycoming" AGT-3, made in a single unit with an automatic hydro-mechanical transmission "Allison" X-1500-1100. GTE AGT-3 is a three-shaft engine with a two-stage compressor, an individual combustion chamber, a two-stage free power turbine with an adjustable nozzle apparatus of the first stage and a stationary ring plate heat exchanger. The air enters the turbine through a two-stage air cleaner. To regulate engine power in the AGT-1500 GTE, a hydromechanical fuel supply regulator with an electronic control system is used. The engine is started by an electric starter, which, through the drive of the unit box, spins the rotor of the turbocharger of the second stage. The maximum gas temperature in the turbine is 1500 ° C, the rotational speed of the output shaft is 1193 rpm. Dry weight: 3000 kg. The engine can reach a maximum torque of 1137 Nm at a frequency of rotation of the output shaft 5310 r / min.
The CCD with the transmission provide the M1 tank with acceleration from standstill to a speed of 30 km / h in 6 s.
Automatic transmission "Allison" X-1100-3 two-flow hydromechanical. It provides four gears for forward driving and two reverse gears. The transmission includes a torque converter, a four-speed automatic transmission, service and stopping brakes and an infinitely variable steering mechanism with dual differential and hydrostatic transmission, planetary final drives. The mass of the transmission is 1960 kg.
The chassis of the tank consists of seven gable rubberized rollers on board, four supporting rollers on board, two guide wheels unified with the supporting rollers, two driving wheels and two tracks consisting of 78 tracks (per track) of ТХNUMX type with rubber-metal parallel hinges. Track width - 156 mm. The wheels of the road wheels are made of aluminum alloy, the hubs are steel; diameter of the road wheels - 635 mm. Individual torsion bar suspension, on the first, second and seventh suspension nodes, blade hydraulic shock absorbers are installed. Full speed roller - 635 mm.
American tank "Abrams" М1А2 SEP in Afghanistan
To overcome water obstacles, there is equipment for underwater driving, which provides for overcoming fords to a depth of up to 2,36 m. The equipment includes two breathing pipes and an exhaust pipe.
Fuel is placed in six tanks with a total capacity of 1907 l. This fuel supply provides the tank with a power reserve of 440 km. Two front and two feed tanks made of polyethylene, in the front of the fences, between the main board and the outer screen, there are two metal tanks.
Tank МХNUMX "Abrams" is equipped with a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction with a manual switch, which ensures the supply of purified air to the individual respiratory masks of crew members. Air purification is carried out by a filtering unit.
Special equipment includes radiation and chemical reconnaissance devices.
Also, the tank is equipped with an automatic high-speed fire-fighting system, consisting of two subsystems installed in the MTO and in the combat compartment. The system includes optical and thermal sensors for fire detection, a control unit and cylinders with a fire extinguishing agent Halon-1301. The system response time to fire does not exceed 150 ms.
When creating the МХNUMX “Abrams” tank, the designers paid a lot of attention to improving the operational properties of the tank in comparison with the previous American models of armored weapons. For this, access to the main components and assemblies was facilitated, and the fuel, electrical and hydraulic systems were quickly disconnected.
Development and new modifications
"Abrams" M1IP
The M1IP (Improved Production - Improved) modification is a transitional version from the base model to the M1А1 modification, on which the 120-mm smooth-bore gun М256, the licensed version of the German Rheinmetall L44 gun, was planned. On the M1IP tank, all the major improvements proposed for introduction on the M1А1 except the gun itself, which remained the same - 105-mm М68, are made. The mass of the improved tank has increased by 900 kg compared with the mass of the serial M1. Between October 1984 and May 1986, 894 of such a tank was built.
"Abrams" M1A1
In the period 1982 – 1984. work was carried out to improve the tank M1. The main difference between the M1А1 and the Abrams М1 was the installation of the 120-mm smoothbore gun on it. The German gun “Rheinmetall” L44 in the United States was slightly reworked, changing the design of the cradle and breech. Ammunition to the gun was reduced to 40 shots due to the larger size of the ammunition, 34 of which are placed in the ammunition in the aft niche of the tower, and 6 shots in the corps in the fighting compartment. Unitary shots with a partially burning sleeve and a steel pan. The 120-mm cannon ammunition consisted of M827 shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber feathered projectiles with a detachable tray with a tungsten alloy core and M829 shots with BPS with a core of depleted uranium. It is also possible to use regular German ammunition used in the ammunition of the Leopard 2 tank.
In connection with the change in the ballistics of the main weapon, necessary changes were made to the ballistic computer of the SLA; An ammunition consumption meter is introduced, working from a sensor that takes into account gun recoil. According to estimates, the range of real fire when firing on the move for 120-mm cannon armor-piercing ammunition is 1,9 – 2 km and 1,7 – 1,8 km for cumulative ammunition; when firing from a place, the range increases respectively to 2,6 – 2,8 and 2 – 2,2 km.
In addition to increasing firepower in the tank M1А1 "Abrams" was increased and security. The given thickness of the armor on the new tank was 600 - 680 mm of homogeneous rolled armor (GKB) in the frontal projection of the tower when shelling an armor-piercing projectile shells, and 1080-1320 mm GKB - when firing cumulative shells. For the frontal projection of the body, these numbers are 580 - 630 and 800 - 900 mm, respectively.
Tank М1А1 is equipped with a new collective protection system with a filtering unit (FEF) with automatic activation. The HLF creates overpressure in the tank and ensures the supply of purified air to the individual masks of the crew members. The collective protection system works only when the GTE is running and all the hatches of the tank are closed. The pressurization system of the internal volume of the tank is activated not only during radiological or chemical contamination, but also when firing from a cannon and a machine gun paired with it to remove powder gases from the fighting compartment.
The installation of additional armor, a heavier gun and a new HLF led to an increase in tank mass on the 2,6 T. This required an increase in the transmission and undercarriage, as well as installing more powerful gun pointing drives and turning the turret.
Externally, the M1А1 differs from the M1 in the 120-mm cannon with a thermo-insulating jacket, a device for aligning a sight and an ejector, as well as the presence of a basket on the back side of the tower and two (instead of three) expelling panels in the tower roof above the ammunition; Containers with spare grenades (six grenades for each grenade launcher) are mounted under the grenade launchers on the outer walls of the turret.
In 1982 – 1984 14 experienced M1A1 was manufactured and tested. The serial production of tanks МХNUMXА1 "Abrams" was launched in August 1. The Pentagon ordered 1985 machines. For a while, the M4199А1 tanks were produced in parallel with the M1IP, which outwardly differs from the M1A1 only with a different gun and three, and not two, expelling panels on the roof of the tower. The production of the M1A1 "Abrams" was discontinued in 1, 1993 machines were manufactured in total.
М1А1 became the first "Abrams" put into service abroad. In November, 1988 between the United States and Egypt signed an agreement on joint production in Egypt for ten years of 555 МХNUMXА1 tanks for the Egyptian armed forces. Subsequently, the number of cars ordered by Egypt was reduced to 1 units. Production of tanks began in 524 at a factory in the city of Abu-Zabal near the capital. Some units and assemblies were supplied from the USA (up to 1992%). The first 60 tanks for Egypt were manufactured in the USA. The end of production was planned for the middle of 25.
"Abrams" М1А2
The active phase of the creation of a variant of the M1А2 tank began in the early 90-s. last century. The rapid development of electronics and computer technologies made it possible for designers to implement those projects that could not be implemented when creating the prototype XM803. In many respects, the impetus to the emergence of the Abrams version of the МХNUMXА1 was the German concept of the OMS, implemented on “Leopard 2”. The new SLA is the main difference between the new Abrams and its predecessors. As part of this MSA, built on the basis of the MIL STD2B data bus, there is a combined gunner's sight with an independent, stabilized in two planes line of sight, a panoramic thermal viewing device of the commander, also having a line of sight stabilized in two planes.
The laser rangefinder has been replaced by a more advanced carbon dioxide-powered one and has the same working wavelength as the thermal imaging devices. Thanks to the introduction of the MIL STD1553B data bus equipment into the onboard equipment, many elements of the SLA are integrated into a single information system, which serves to ensure the organization of interaction and control in battle, identifying targets. Innovations implemented on М1А2, increased its combat effectiveness in comparison with М1А1 in the attack in 1,5 times, and in defense - in 2 times.
The rest of the onboard equipment has undergone a serious improvement. A GPS navigation system based on satellite navigation system receivers has been introduced, new generation communication facilities have been installed.
The first М1А2 was reequipped from М1А1 in September 1990, then 9 machines were reequipped, which passed a set of test tests. In November, 1992 began mass production of the M1A2. By May 1993 was built 67 machines. In total, it was planned for the US Army to build 3000 tanks МХNUMXА1 "Abrams", however, due to the changing political situation in the world, namely the cessation of the existence of the USSR, these plans were redone. In the version М2А1 М2А1 tanks are being converted to overhaul. While it is planned to upgrade to the level of М1А1 2 tanks М998А1.
"Abrams" M1A2SEP
American tanks "Abrams" M1A2 SEP on the streets of Iraqi cities
The Abrams M1A2 SEP (Systems Enhancement Package) modernization program was initially launched in 1999 as the “digital” version М1А2 as part of the CEEP (Continuous Electronics Enhancement Program) program. In the course of work on the improvement of the machine, it was planned to equip the tank with a new fully digital fire control system, including the 2 generation thermal gunner and 2nd Gen FLIR (2nd Generation Forward Looking Infra-Red sighting system) commander, which have significantly improved detection capabilities goals day and night. The most up-to-date information technologies are also used, including the installation of color monitors, the use of network communications, increased machine memory and processor performance to increase the efficiency of information processing and target destruction.
In addition, the improvement included equipping the tank with advanced third generation armor protection without using depleted uranium filler, an auxiliary power unit to ensure the functioning of electronic systems without starting GTSU, as well as a thermal control system for crew air conditioning and electronic equipment.
Deliveries of the first Abrams M1A2, brought to the SEP level, were launched in August 1999. In total, the program provides for updating 1150 of previously released М1А2 Abrams tanks. In addition, up to the “digital” standard, tanks М1А2, delivered to Saudi Arabia, are being upgraded. The contract for the modernization of the first 60 machines was concluded in 2006, and in November 2007 was launched.
In November 2007, General Dynamics was awarded a contract to upgrade 240 tanks from M12 SEP V1 to M1X2 SEP V2 (V2-second version of SEP). The SEP V2 level involves the installation of improved color displays to display tactical situations, the installation of gunner’s and commander’s sights with optical and infrared channels, the refinement of the GTSU and the installation of new communications equipment compatible with information and combat networks of infantry units and formations. The upgrade also includes the introduction of other technologies developed as part of the development of the program “Combat Systems of the Future” or FCS (Future Combat Systems). A long-term contract for upgrading 435 tanks М1А1 to М1А2 SEP V2 company General Dynamics received in February 2008 of the year. It is planned to bring all previously launched МХNUMXА2 “Abrams” tanks up to the “digital” SEP V1 standard.
"Abrams" M1A2 TUSK
American tank "Abrams" M1А2, equipped with a set of TUSK
This modification provides for the installation of a special set of equipment for urban action TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit - urban tank survival kit) on a combat vehicle. The TUSK kit includes the ARAT complex of dynamic protection, ostensibly providing increased protection for lateral projections from cumulative weapons; thermal sight for turret machine gun loader M240; armored covers to protect the commander and loader during observation and work in open hatches; spaced reservation bottoms; headset to communicate with the support infantry; additional 12,7-mm machine gun "Browning" M2HB on the installation of CSAMM, mounted on the mask gun; a remote-controlled CROWS with a Browning 12,7-mm machine gun M2НВ manufactured by the Norwegian company Kongsberg (on Abrams M1A2 tanks) or a thermal sight for the commander's TOR on the M1-X1 version.
The TUSK kit can be mounted on a tank in the field, which provides for the finalization of combat vehicles without the need to send them to repair facilities.
29 August 2006, General Dynamics Land Systems received an order from the US Army Command for equipping TUSK 505 Abrams tanks participating in an operation in Iraq. The total contract value was 45 million US dollars. (For comparison, see: "Set of means of protection for survival in the city for the T-72 tank")
Almost all modifications of Abrams tanks took part in the battles. However, the story of the combat past and present of the American main tank “Abrams”, an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses is already a topic for a separate article.
- Sergey Suvorov, Candidate of Military Sciences, veteran of armored forces. Army and Navy Review magazine # XXUMX, 5
- http://otvaga2004.ru
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