How the M-1 Became a Fuel Hog

Strategypage.com ^ | 12-18-03 | AJ Wagner

[antiRepublicrat]

There is no diesel engine involved.

I think you missed the earlier post. We were talking about a Swedish tank that has a reserve diesel for lagering and other low-speed conditions to save fuel, but kicks in the turbine for high-speed operations. They apparently use the same shaft, with the turbine spinning free during diesel power, and hopefully a disconnect from the diesel during turbine power (diesel @ 30,000 RPM?). My question was about the transmission in the end which has to deal with an RPM range of almost 30,000, where even high-end sports cars only have 13,000 and only a fraction of the torque. Maybe they just kick in one monster step-down gear when using the turbine.

[expatpat]

The issue in post #25 was speed reduction in the order of 10:1. No diesel back-up is involved in the M1 or helicopters (see post #40 immediately after yours).

[Blueflag]

A mounted, well-trained US armoured brigade with a modicum of air support and decent intel cannot be defeated by any non-nuclear OPFOR on the earth today. Even the Chinese can't do it without taking huge losses.

[Blueflag]

There does exist an APU that be hung off the rear quarter of an M1-A1. I cannot speak to its usefulness or adoption by the tankers.

[magslinger]

I think you missed the earlier post. We were talking about a Swedish tank...

I did kind of skip over that part.

[antiRepublicrat]

The issue in post #25 was speed reduction in the order of 10:1. No diesel back-up is involved in the M1 or helicopters (see post #40 immediately after yours).

Go further back to post #6 about using the Swedish hybrid design in the M1 to save fuel.

[archy]

I drive a Sweedish "S" series tank...it burns unleaded.

Ewwwww...the wheeled version. How's it handle in the turns.

-archy-/-

[archy]

The Crusader howitzer is dead, done, gone, zip, nata.

Maybe the Germans will sell us some Haubitze 2000s. Or we can get some 2S19 MSTA-Ss from our good Russian friends.

[BlueLancer]

Please add me to the Treadhead ring ...

[GigaDittos]

Sounds like a little false idle-atry going on. :)~

[Dead Dog]

The "wholly" trinity of Engineering:

Burn Gas
Go Fast
Make Noise.

[Orangedog]

Ewwwww...the wheeled version. How's it handle in the turns.

IMO, it has the turning radius of the Nimitz, but that's kinda what I was after. You have to be tallented to get yourself killed in a Volvo.

[Dead Dog]

The only reason they are used on airliners is they don't lose efficiency (to the point of being ineffective) at higher speeds, they have extremely high thrust to weight (lowers Empty Weight), are capable of good performance at 30-40K ft, they burn cheaper fuel, and are much more reliable.

They used to always burn more gas then a recip counterpart, but that is changing.

[archy]

Not sure how it would work or what it would look like, but unceremoniously dropping turbines is a bad move. I guess the article writer never tried to start a cold Paladin diesel on a winter morning..

And of course not all of our M109 155 SP guns have been upgraded to the M109A6 *Paladin* standard; only around 2000 or so, last I'd heard- some National Guard units still have the M109A4 withthe short-barrel gun tube. But the very best any of them is good for is about 35MPH or so, if the flat-out German cannoncockers I've passed in convoy on the autobahn are any indication.

[Darksheare]

Yes.
That is, I'm afraid, correct.
And the A4's winter start procedures were even more arcane and cantankerous than the A6's if memory serves correctly.
Having been light towed, I failed to pay much attention to the SP's info and data when I should have.

[ArrogantBustard]

You pick the weapon you want to use against a U.S. Armor Brigade.

I get to pick?

I'll take a W-88 or three. Anything smaller and I can't be sure of the job...

[archy]

Ewwwww...the wheeled version. How's it handle in the turns.

IMO, it has the turning radius of the Nimitz, but that's kinda what I was after. You have to be tallented to get yourself killed in a Volvo.

The closest I've ever been to the Volvo S-cars is the Saab Turbo-Viggens, which I think is a sort of apples/oranges comparison. But the little Saabs handled and braked very nicely IMHO.

-archy-/-

[AnalogReigns]

Swedish S Tank: Though older than the Abrams, pretty hot looking Tank (no turret) Never knew it had 2 engines...

[hosepipe]

How bout refueling the tanks from copters the way fighter jets are refueled by planes... with similar already designed off the self refueling add ons to the tanks and copters.. ? i.e refueling copters.. would work for other equipment too.. eliminating tankers following closely,,

ANybody game, lets start a bizness...lol

[AnalogReigns]

A hovering close to the ground fuel tank....for 15 minutes sounds like a lovely RPG target...