You're right. Back in the later 70s when I was at Fort Knox, our M-60 tanks had four standard combat rounds. Sabot, HEAT, HEP, and Beehive. The Beehive could be set to open at various distances and the flechettes would begin their spread pattern.
But since the M-1 uses the 120mm, only two combat rounds were available: HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) and Sabot (depleted uranium penetrator--armor piercing discarding sabot). Only the coax and other machineguns were truly anti-personnel. I'm not surprised that they have again added this type of main gun munition.
What was main gun on the M60's? 105mm's??
Earlier versions of the Abrams (M1, M1IP) had a 105mm main gun that would accomodate the 5 types of ammo (name 'em...and pass that station on TCGST!). One of the reasons why the tank Bn's in Korea were the last to convert to the M1A1 was due to the loss of that AP round with the 120mm.
In Iraq, my tanks carried HEAT, SABOT and MPAT. HEAT and MPAT were useful to a point. This "new" round will be helpful.
Adding a better TC and loader's Machine Gun stations would be more useful in my opinion...
A good article though!
Regards,