Corps to deploy M1A1 tanks to Afghanistan

[bigross86]

I'll admit to being a non Artillery type (though not a lesser being) and still knowing what 6400 mil is.

[S2]

Gun Grape Reply

"For you lesser beings,(non Artillery types) I will translate. :)"

Ahhh...blessings unto thee, Gunnery Sgt Grape. The other ways so common to lesser beings just lack...precision.;)

[3ACR_Scout]

The tank provides the sensor and the weapon in one package. If the USMC has or can use the army's battle management system you make the system even better. Not only can the tank see better than any other ground mounted system, and outgun any ground mounted system, it can do so with precision. For example, the Abrams can hit the homicide bombers/drug smugglers truck without detonating it (sabot through the motor), and in the midst of other traffic.

While this is basically correct, keep in mind that the M1A1 and the M1A2SEP have significantly different optics packages - the older 10x Thermal Imaging System is a lot less capable than the SEP's FLIR. There are other systems now that can be mounted on a HMMWV or MRAP that are superior to the M1A1's optics. However, you are definitely correct in that no other system ties the optics to the weapons as effectively or as accurately as the M1. Even the M240 coaxial machinegun tied to the ballistic computer becomes a preceision weapons at 800+ meters.

Did the Marine Corps upgraded the optics in its M1A1s at some point? I haven't kept up with their tanks.

As far as roads vs. cross country, I will run an Abrams cross country all day if I have the option over traveling on roads. The suspension is second to none, and it practically floats over rough terrain - we've all found that the faster you move, the smoother the ride. I've done 40 mph on rolling praries with no issues. You just have to be alert and watch for stream and river beds, large holes, boulders, etc.

Dave

[bigross86]

Or the occasional house, brick wall, car...

[Officer of Engineers]

God help you if you hit a sheapard's goat.

[ShawnG]

You just have to be alert and watch for stream and river beds, large holes, boulders, etc.

Dave

And the landmines that the Russians so kindly left littered behind by the thousands. Not as significant, but I'm sure they could blow a track off.

You know, ON base, they dug one up that was in the pallet storage area behind the mailroom?! Those bastards are everywhere.

[ShawnG]

God help you if you hit a sheapard's goat.

Roger that Sir!

Cut a check for the goat, the goats potential kids, the kids potential kids, and so on for a few generations... big money.

The tactic they used when I was there was to push their own daughters in front of a ISAF/US convoy hoping we would kill her. Big money paid to the father and since they value a Son much more than a Daughter, they didn't care.
Sad, Sad world.

[bigross86]

The IDF controls all the fire areas and exercise areas up in the Golan and let the ranchers use it for grazing. When we have an exercise, we let them know to get their cattle out. One guy decided not to, and wound up with one of his cows with five 7.62mm bullets in the head. Whoops.

Even though it was his fault and he got to keep the carcass for the meat, we still had to pay him out big time...

[3ACR_Scout]

Even though it was his fault and he got to keep the carcass for the meat, we still had to pay him out big time...

We have the same problem in Texas - the age-old state laws require someone who kills a cow, even by accident, to pay for 4 generations of that cow that the rancher lost out on. Fort Hood just happens to be on free range cattle land, and we have to clear all of them off the tank range before we can shoot. There have been a number of instances of cows standing behind tank targets, or wandering across the range at night, that have resulted in the rancher getting two halves of a cow back from the Army...

Dave

[Stitch]

Sounds like Germany during the Cold War; I know when the Allied forces would conduct exercises like Reforger we'd tear up huge chunks of German farmland that the farmer's would get reimbursed for. Those were some expensive exercises!

[Tankguy]

"Did the Marine Corps upgraded the optics in its M1A1s at some point? I haven't kept up with their tanks."

The USMC did upgrade their fleet of M1A1 tanks, or a portion of them with the Firepower Enhancement Program or FEP. They used commercial, off the shelf upgrade to add a lower cost version of the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer and some other basic upgrades. It still lacks the fully integrated digital SA/Sensor/weapon system design of the M1A2 SEP, but meets the requirements for the Marine Corps.

[zraver]

I am not aware of any corps M1A1's with CITV, what people often think is the CITV is actually a (IR) jammer.

[ArtyEngineer]

I am not aware of any corps M1A1's with CITV, what people often think is the CITV is actually a (IR) jammer.

For reference the device zraver speaks of can be seen clearly in this pic.




I have to admit I was a little confused by it myself first time I saw it as I thought it was a Commanders Independant viewer of some description too.

[HKDan]

I am not aware of any corps M1A1's with CITV, what people often think is the CITV is actually a (IR) jammer.

How does the IR jammer work? Is there any similar system on Army M1s?

[Pak Nationalist]

Whats the reason i've never seen explosive reactive armor on any M1?