[Bogey78O]

We only lost a couple of them. I'd say that's the hallmark of an excellent weapon.

[Thebaddog]

Nobody has a better one. The big dog stays, in my opinion.

[demlosers]

Not once was the M1's frontal armor penatrated.

[dts32041]

How many crew members where killed as a result of a catistrophic hit?

[Thunder 6]

At the recent US Army Armor Conference at Ft. Knox, it was briefed that the army expects the Abrams to remain in service in some capacity until 2030 or so.

regards,

[Criminal Number 18F]

The "lumbering" M1 is speed-governed to something like 45 MPH -- cross country. disable the governor and it'll hit 70 on a road.

The wretched Stryker is vulnerable to everything on the battlefield bigger than rifle calibre. Heavy small arms can mob-kill it by shredding the tires. It's very vulnerable to mines and IEDs, and it has a huge signature on the battlefield.

But now, Shinseki is going, and the Stryker is vulnerable to common sense. While lightening some heavy units may make sense, so far the Stryker Brigades have been made from light infantry units. This was Shinseki's vision of an all-armored Army.

Strykers are too heavy for low-intensity conflict, like Afghanistan and what remains in Iraq, and too light for high-intensity conflict, like the battles that shredded those couple of Abrams (think any of the crew would be alive if they were in those tin coffins instead of a real tank... hell, no).

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[joesnuffy]

Top of the line tank....
Like the A-10 and the Cobra Helicopter....needs to stay in the inventory...
never replace something that is a classic...just to take a chance on something new and unproven...
Go with what works

[ozzymandus]

The best tank in the world is not invulnerable?? I didn't realize there was such a thing as an unkillable tank. Keep it!

[Panzerfaust]

I think you'll find this link very informative. Great report, with pictures, on M1 survivability in recent Iraq war. It is a powerpoint presentation and takes a bit of time to download, but well worth it if you are interested in the M1

http://www.sftt.org/PPT/article05242003a.ppt

[LibKill]

It's a keeper.

At least until we get the MKI BOLO. :)

[Doctor Raoul]

That first M-1 column into the center of Baghdad came within seconds of firing on another tank column coming the other way. Luckily they figured out they were friendlies.

[ntnychik]

Thanks to the Putineers for teaching the Iraqis where our vulnerable spot was. Pres. Bush is in St. Petersburg, why??

[Valin]

M1-A1 Abrams tank's performance in Iraq. Revered by soldiers as the world's best, the report found that lone Iraqis armed with simple rocket-propelled grenades halted a few Abramses in their tracks.

And that's why you don't put out armor unsupported.

[VaBthang4]

More HaterAde being swallowed by the Anti-reality crowd.

The M1 Abrams tank scared the Iraqis to death. It's battle performance is unmatched in the history of armoured warfare from the first bathtub in WWI to today.

The Abrams performed "excellently".

[Tailback]

They call them "lessons learned" reports in the Pentagon, and few are getting as much attention as the review of the Army's lumbering M1-A1 Abrams tank's performance in Iraq.

You've got to be frigging kidding me. Lumbering? Are these people high? The Abrams is a dragster among AFV's. Sounds like more of the Stryker mafia leaking ridiculous stories to justify their existence. How many crew members of buttoned up Abrams tanks have been killed by enemy fire? How many crew members of USMC LAV's were killed in this war?

[Light Speed]

M1-A1/A2 in both Iraq wars fared well...

Iraq having little to nothing in way of tank killing air package upped ABRAMS survivabiltiy ratio.

Upped again vs the targeting package of said existing Iraqi tanks as per distance engagement values.

Upped again as per intermediate range weapons such as shoulder fired ATM'S...RPG's and mounted anti tank missiles.

In the Balkans..Serbian tanks did use Russian depleted Uranium munitions..

Israels tanks look good on paper..but the claim is primarily their own Munitions testing.

Palestinian and specially brought in insergents from Hizbullah in Lebanon did get off some shots with more modern Euro ANTI tank missiles....if Merkava got the chop...Palies never claimed it..or IDF covered it up well.

Placed mines of certain volumes..such as the 2 which blew 2 Merkavas turrets from their rings would have done the same to M1A1/A2....composites and metal alloy combinations can only endure so much shock loading before failure.

IF Israel where to take her new Merkavas into Lebanon..it would be telling as the environment gives the defender multiple angles via conture to await a tank and make the best placed shot happen.

Israel would also have some airpower to contend with via Helo's with Anti tank missiles.

Neither the Merkava..nor the Abrams have yet to see Depleted munitons fired at them repeatedly and in volume....nor have they seen the better Anti tank missiles which exist in Euro and Russian arsenals.

Other goodies exist too..such as motion detection mines which propel themselves to overhead configuration and fire a hypervelocity spike into a tanks engine compartment.

Other motion response mines designed to shred a tanks tracks..

Russian tanks are catching up on target aquistion values as per distance...some are known by their demonstrations at IDEX meets and private demonstration.

It still comes down to aquireing the other guy first...and then to how you move in said environment.

The tanks bad day is comming..as Missiles are way cheaper than a tank.

All that is needed is to get TOBY soldier near the tank..and hopefully his nerves are not rattled in battle to operate his new killing toy.

Was watching the American Javelin Anti tank missile on video demo...it hit a T-72..the tank just fractured into so many pieces from the overhead strike.

Iran and Syria have access to superior Anti tank missiles than Iraq...both Israel and America may encounter them if things begin to fall apart in the mid east soon.