M-1 Casualties in Iraq: TUSK to Update Abrams for Urban Battle

Of the 1,100 American M-1 tanks that have served in Iraq, about seven percent have been badly damaged, at least enough to get shipped back to the factory for rebuilding. Only about 30 percent of the Iraqi based M-1s have not been in combat. As infantry have known since World War I, tanks draw fire. But they are well protected, and fewer than twenty of the 4,400 tank crewmen involved have been killed, two thirds of those while standing up in a turret hatch, with at least head and shoulders exposed. The main cause of lost tanks is, as it has been since World War II, is mines and bombs. A few tanks have rolled over particularly large bombs, which in some cases flipped the tank. But other times, mines blow off one of the tracks, immobilizing the tank and making it the center of a fierce fight. But the terrorists and anti-government forces have come to avoid American tanks. Yes, these 69 ton behemoths can be hurt, but only at great risk and cost to the attacker. In addition to the M-1s three machine-guns, the 120mm gun has special shells for urban warfare, shells that are particularly deadly against gunmen trying to hide in buildings.

I think a cool idea is to have the gunner sit down inside the tank and operate the gun via a TV link, you'd have a much smaller unmanned turret. I like to play the role playing game Twilight: 2000" where you are in the 5th US Army Division in Poland after the year 2000 where you're fighting Soviets and Warsaw Pact even after the nukes fell in a limited nuclear war. It was called the "M1A2 Tank" aka "Giraffe" since it resembled a giraffe. The game was made in 1984 and I have the US Army Vehicle guide which was made in 1986 so it was made before the current M1A2 tank (I think in the game, it is an M1A3) came out. Wish I had my scanner hooked up, I'd scan in the Giraffe. There was also a depiction of an M60A4 in reactive armor too. In the game, World War III started with the Warsaw Pact in 1997 and it is still going on, so needless to say, it is alternate history. That picture of an M1 tank with a Gatling gun reminds me a little of the M691 "Diana" anti-aircraft gun on an M1 chassis which was another vehicle made for the game.

Thanks for the information, but does it make that much difference if the round exploded on the outer surface of a building or the interior? I can only imagine what one thousand 10 mm. balls can do for the stability of a building. I know what flechette (sp) rounds from an M-79 and a twelve gauge could do.
I would guess that in the end the shell of the building might remain but the enterior would be gutted.

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