The REAL M1 Abrams! Chapter 1: Overview

The M1 Abrams MBT is by far the most overrated tank of all time.

It's the world's most expensive and cumbersome tank, it costs more than any of it's contemporaries, and yet it's compat results fall well short of it's predecessors and contemporaries.

Yet, it's the most popular tank ever built.


This series will reveal the truth behind one of the worst tanks ever built. Namely, what it can and can't do (there's a LOT more of the latter), how and why it became what it is, how it compares to the other tanks out there, and more.

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[BandNerdcp]

It gets the element of surprise by shooting enemy tanks at ranges they cannot achieve. Next, the strategy of it "running off by itself to fight other tanks" is BULLSHIT, because it DOESNT have any other tanks to fight anymore. And again, has NOTHING to do with the tank.

[BlacktailDefense]

@BandNerdcp "It gets the element of surprise by shooting enemy tanks at ranges they cannot achieve."

The M1's gunnery computer cannot calculate a range beyond 4000m. That's about 1000m short of the effective range of the Soviet 9M119M Refleks (AT-11 Sniper), which penetrates 950mm of RHA Steel, and about 4000m short of the effective *direct-fire* range of the L31 HESH round fired by the Challenger 2 --- as well as the Chieftain Mk.III that Iran operates 200 of.

[BlacktailDefense]

@BandNerdcp "Next, the strategy of it "running off by itself to fight other tanks" is BULLSHIT, because it DOESNT have any other tanks to fight anymore. And again, has NOTHING to do with the tank. "

Then why were no rounds other than HEAT and Sabot for the M1's 120mm gun until the late 1990s?

And why were the efforts field other rounds so weak? The Canister does the same thing as the M1's machine guns, HE-OR is actually APHE, and MPAT is HEAT with an added anti-helicopter capability.

[franknbeans4761]

@Pcordero87 True, I was more so seeing his reasoning behind what he had to say about it and I am still not sure how reliable his statistics were.

Losing tanks is usually what causes you to lose the battle, but returning tank crews to combat with viable experience and hard learned lessons would usually allow you to win the war.

[Pcordero87]

@franknbeans4761 Abrams is indeed good tank to ride in, crews normally survive hits. this has been proved by several friendly fire incidents. the only problem is a destroyed tank is a destroyed tank. while crew survivability is something desirable, if the tank gets felled and burns even if the crew survives, its still a tragedy that can cost a battle in a conventional war scenario

[franknbeans4761]

@franknbeans4761 But that is also when assuming if your sources are right, which is something that raises question a lot.

[franknbeans4761]

@BlacktailDefense Doesn't matter, some of these were fratricide. But it also doesn't matter either, a destroyed tank is a destroyed tank. If only 1 man was killed out of 14 tanks being destroyed, it says a lot about crew survivability.

[BlacktailDefense]

@franknbeans4761 "1 KIA out of 14 M1's being lost? That tells a lot about crew survivability."

Especially when all of the ammunition that Iraq used was more than 20 years old, with the notable exception of the rounds that Iraqi T-72M1s, Saddams, and Asad Babils used against the M1 --- which were TPFSDS rounds with *Aluminum* projectiles.

[franknbeans4761]

@BlacktailDefense Same with most, well all, MBT's.

Either way, you said there were 14 destroyed, that means 14 losses. If only 1 man died then that isn't bad no matter what.

[BlacktailDefense]

@franknbeans4761 Not when the only tanks they've ever faced were export-model T-55s, T-62s, T-72s, and make-believe T-72s. A refrigerator and a cardboard box are the same shape, but do NOT have the same composition --- the same goes with ComBloc export-model weapons, which is why their manufacturers call them "Monkey Models".

This is all the M1 has ever been tested against.

[franknbeans4761]

@BlacktailDefense "14 M1s were lost, with 21 casualties, including a KIA."

1 KIA out of 14 M1's being lost? That tells a lot about crew survivability. And with only 35% of the total crew members being wounded out of destroyed tanks, I would say that isn't bad at all.

[franknbeans4761]

@BlacktailDefense There has been a lot of internet chatter relating you and Sparks. You should set some things straight rather than associating yourself with him by supporting what he says.