The USA officially gives Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks We already wrote about this equipment in September, and now it’s time to read this material again. We hope this article will help you stay up to date with what our main partner has to offer.

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Back in the spring, namely on April 28, the House of Representatives of the United States voted to provide a lend-lease for Ukraine. Thanks to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine can receive a list of the necessary weapons to liberate the territory from the occupiers. Lend-Lease has been agreed for the provision of armored vehicles, air defense equipment, aviation and other types of weapons, and this document will enter into force already at the beginning of October 2022. Ukraine still receives weapons within the framework of the USAI military aid program.

At the end of September, information about future military aid packages began to appear online. The American side is considering the transfer of heavy weapons, namely M1 Abrams tanks. This is evidenced by a number of analysts, in particular the Ukrainian military portal Defense Express. Military experts note that this type of weaponry is capable of strengthening Ukrainian forces for offensive operations.

The history of the creation of the M1 Abrams

The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American tank that entered service in 1980. This is not a new type of armored vehicle, but this particular model has been used in all military operations in which the US Army has participated since the 90s. That is, the M1 Abrams was tested in action during the training of the alliance forces during the Cold War and real military operations in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. Today, this type of weapon is used by the armies of eight countries – the USA, Australia, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia. And already in April 2022, Poland signed a contract worth 4.75 billion dollars for the supply of 250 units of M1 Abrams tanks.

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Why has this model maintained its reputation as one of the most effective tanks in service with modern armies of the world for more than 40 years?

Tactical and technical characteristics of the M1 Abrams tank

Despite the imperfection of the model at the time of its construction, the M1 Abrams received many upgrades over the years of its existence. It became the first tank equipped with an anti-tank shell with depleted uranium, capable of damaging any other armored vehicle of foreign armies. Although at the time of its creation, the M1 Abrams was inferior in some parameters to the German Leopard 2 tank and even to Soviet models such as the T-64 or T-80.

The classic M1 Abrams models entered service with the US Army in the typical dark green and black NATO colors, but a Google search often shows photos of the tank in a pale brown color. This is due to the fact that the first M1 and its modernization M1A1, operating during military operations in the Middle East, were repainted in desert tones, the so-called tan color.

The tank is designed for a crew of four people – a commander, a gunner, a loader, a mechanic-driver. The weight of the armored car is 57 tons for the M1A1 version and 61 tons for the M1A2 version.

An important element of the design of any armored vehicle is the degree of its protection and the type of weapons. “Abrams” armor was created on the basis of “Cobham” development by British specialists. The tank is covered with composite armor made of steel, ceramic and Kevlar, and is additionally covered with protection over the undercarriage and aft parts and fuel tanks. Since 1987, a modernized depleted uranium armor system has been used to protect the front of the turret and the tank body. This, on the one hand, makes the M1 Abrams one of the most protected tanks, but also one of the heaviest models, because depleted uranium is almost twice as dense as lead.

M1 Abrams is equipped with a ballistic fire control system, a laser rangefinder and a thermal imaging device are built into the main sight of the GPS gunner. A gas fire protection system and ammunition detonation when the tank is hit are provided for.

The armament of the M1 Abrams differs from version to version. The original version used the M68 105 mm rifled tank gun with a capacity of 55 rounds, while the M1A1 and M1A2 upgrades use the 120 mm M256 smoothbore tank gun. The M68 gun at one time had a good reputation among designers, but in order to cope with heavy tank armor in the future, the next versions of the M1A1 and M1A2 tanks use large-caliber weapons.

From additional weapons, the tank is equipped with three machine guns, the crew can store M16 type rifles or M4 carbines inside the tower.

Aircraft (C-5 Galaxy or C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft) and M1070 heavy transporters can be used to transport tanks.

Table 1. Characteristics of the M1 Abrams tank

Imperfection of the M1 Abrams design

One of the features of the tank model is its excessive weight, as well as excessive fuel consumption (38 liters of fuel is used only to start the turbine). M1 Abrams works on a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1,500 liters. and equipped with a six-speed (four forward, two reverse) automatic transmission. On the road surface, it is capable of developing a speed of 72 km/h, but on average terrain it does not move faster than 48 km/h.

Such a need for fuel creates logistical problems for the troops. During the offensive in the Middle East, the US Army first faced the slow speed of movement on tanks, because it required frequent refueling, which was carried out by special vehicles.

The heavy weight of the M1 Abrams, in turn, creates problems with the speed of deployment of tanks, because it requires specialized equipment to roll them over.

The potential of using M1 Abrams for the Armed Forces

According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, our Armed Forces expect to receive American Abrams and German Leopard 2 from Western partners. Currently, the Ukrainian army uses Soviet models of T-72 tanks and similar armored vehicles. Western models are distinguished not only by the best firepower and armor, but also by maneuverability, which will allow them to have an advantage in the battle with the Russian invaders.

Tanks are inherently used to support infantry during combat missions as well as offensive operations. Where there is a possibility of a defense breakthrough, tank formations are used. According to the latest events at the front, it becomes clear why the Ukrainian diplomacy and military leadership have increased requests for this type of weaponry.

Providing modernized equipment capable of striking Russian counterparts will help strengthen the firepower of the Ukrainian army. With 100% support of the Armed Forces within the framework of lend-lease, the Ukrainian side can gain an advantage not only on the ground, but also in the sky, if military aid is not hampered by Western partners.

The main reasons, which the officials of the defense ministries of the USA and Germany explain the delay in deliveries, are the differences in the Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks from the Soviet models. Western models of weapons require other logistical support and maintenance, as well as long-term training of our military. Ukraine must convince its partners that it is able to form crews for the effective use of equipment and is able to maintain it.

However, information about the training of the Ukrainian military already came from Pentagon representative John Kirby. And this allows us to hope that Ukraine will receive new equipment not only for the liberation of the occupied territories from February 24, but also from 2014. We believe in the Armed Forces and do not stop working hard to bring Victory closer.