Abrams M1 battle tank
History:
 After Trials of the XM1 prototypes built by chrysler (now General Dynamics Land Systems division) and General Motors, the tank was further developed and eventually accepted for service as M1 Abrams MBT. The first M1 for production was completed in 1980 and production was undertaken at the Lima Army Tank Plant, Ohio and at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Sarren, Michigan, but production is now concentrated at Lima. The M1 was followed in production by the improved M1 and then the M1A1 with 120mm gun and numerous other improvements. Final production model was the M1A2 which has been built for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Many M1's are also being upgraded to M1A2's for the U.S. Army.
 Layout is pretty normal with the driver in front, turret center and engine and transmission in the rear. The Commander and gunner sit on the right of the turret, loader on the left. The Commander mans a roof-mounted 12.7mm machine gun, the loader mans a 7.62 roof-mounted machine gun.
 
Tank organization here.

Variants:
basic M1 with 105mm gun, built from 1980/1985. Improved M1, M1 with additional armor and built 1984/1986.

Country: United States
Crew: 4
Armament: 105mm, 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 7.62mm MG (mounted on top of turret), 12.7mm MG (also mounted on top of turret), 2 x 6 smoke grenade launchers.
Ammunition: 55 x 105mm, 1,000 x 12.7mm, 11,400 x 7.62mm
Length (gun forwards): 9.766m
Length hull: 7.918m
Width: 3.653m
Height to turret roof: 2.375m
Overall height: 2.885m
Ground clearance: 0.482m
Weight, combat: 54,545 kg
Engine: Textron Lycoming AGT 1500 gas turbine developing 1,500 hp at 30,000 rpm
Max. road speed: 72.421 km/hr
Max range: 498 km.
Fuel Capacity: 1,907 lt.
N.B.C. system: yes
Night vision equipment: Yes (passive for commander, gunner and driver)
Armor type: Laminate/steel
S.D.C.: 2000

Weapons:
120mm Main gun
the main armament is made up of a 120mm cannon with (as mentioned before) a firing arc of -9 to +20.
Damage: High Explosive 1D6 x 100, Heat 3D4 x 100, or Armor Piercing 2D6 x 100.
Payload: 40 rounds
Approx. effective range: 4,000m (1,333 ft)
Maximum Range: 25,000m (8,333 ft)

7.62 machine gun (2)
Mostly used for antipersonnel jobs one Machine gun is located coaxial to the main gun, while the other is mounted on top of the turret manned by the loader.
Damage: 6D6.
Approx. effective range: 900m (300 ft).
Maximum Range: 4,000m (1333 ft)
Payload: 10,000 for coaxial machine gun.
           1,400 for loader's gun.

(optional) 12.7 machine gun
This gun is manned by the Tank commander, and can be switched with an M2 .50 cal machine gun.
Damage: 1D4 X 10 + 6 S.D.C.
Approx. Effective range: 2000m (6562 ft).
Payload: 1,500

 
M1 tanks in the Iraqi Desert
 
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