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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| M-1 Casualties in Iraq | |
| 2005-04-06 | |
| April 6, 2005: Of the 1,100 American M-1 tanks to serve 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.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 "I've read that they want to give the Hellfire missile a fuel-air explosive (FAE) warhead for urban targets as the building will contain the blast reducing damage to nearby buildings and personnel while the overpressure will kill the occupiers in nearby rooms. I imagine the 120mm is probably too small for such a device, but maybe a delayed-action warhead will be implemented to let the shell penetrate a wall or two before exploding?" The thermobarid Hellfire has already been used. I believe that the Russians successfully used thermobaric artillery shells in Afghanistan. The muj called them "devil sticks" or something like that. I also believe that thermobaric payloads has been tried on small projectiles, 40mm grenades or something, so 120mm should be doable. If there is a need, I am not sure. |
| Posted by: Babson 2005-04-06 9:11:39 PM |
| #12 The Hellfire was tested out during a SINKEX a little while back. Interesting little beastie... |
| Posted by: Chap 2005-04-06 4:09:53 PM |
| #11 Touche, JFM. |
| Posted by: Matt 2005-04-06 3:01:52 PM |
| #10 The Leclerc has four speeds in reverse because after crushing an enemy soldier under its threads we just looove to pass again over him in reverse. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-04-06 2:45:03 PM |
| #9 Ha! No LeClerq has ever been damaged in battle. With four speeds of reverse, it's no wonder... |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-04-06 12:27:43 PM |
| #8 It eese de uparmored butt protekshion dat makes all de differ-ance in our superior AFV's. When one must, let us say "fight", provi-sion must be made for the traditional French retreat and rout phase of tactical operations. |
| Posted by: Charles DeBile 2005-04-06 11:36:08 AM |
| #7 Certainly not in the forward profile. |
| Posted by: G. S. Patton 2005-04-06 11:07:36 AM |
| #6 Ha! No LeClerq has ever been damaged in battle. |
| Posted by: Jacques Chirac 2005-04-06 10:59:14 AM |
| #5 I was infantry and only stood next to a M1 once, but the top of the tread came to just below my chin (about 5') and the top towered over my head and I stand at 6'2". So, at least 5' without a snorkle. (can a M1 use a snorkle?) |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-04-06 10:33:31 AM |
| #4 120mm shotgun shell (containing 1100 10mm tungsten balls, that can kill or wound at up to 700 meters from the tank), How deep can an M1 wade? A little Maryland autumn green and some moss and you've got yourself a mighty fine mobile duck blind. Game wardens would think twice too. |
| Posted by: Nimrod 2005-04-06 10:23:28 AM |
| #3 Here it is: A new generation of tank gun ammunition is proving very useful in Iraq and Israel. The new shells are better at killing infantry, and destroying bunkers and buildings, rather than destroying tanks. In the 1990s, new shells were developed for this, but in the last few years, 19,000 M830A1 multipurpose 120mm tank gun rounds were modified (to become M908 shells), to make them more lethal against bunkers, buildings and unarmored vehicles. In addition, there is the M1028, which is a 120mm shotgun shell (containing 1100 10mm tungsten balls, that can kill or wound at up to 700 meters from the tank), that began production in 2002. This shell, and the M908, are what American M-1 tanks use nearly all the time in Iraq. Israel pioneered both types of tank ammunition, and has been using their versions heavily in Palestinian areas during the last four years. These two shells make tanks much more useful in urban fighting. Hostile gunmen often take cover in buildings, or trees and crops. The M908 can knock down buildings, and the M1028 can clear out anyone sniping at you from lighter structures or vegetation. Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.: The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center's 120mm M908 ammunition cartridge was recently deployed to the Middle East to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The M908 is fired from the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks and is used to destroy concrete obstacles, permitting the rapid advance of infantry and armor. The M908 was developed in response to an urgent requirement from Korea in 1996, when the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle and its 165mm M123 demolition round was removed from the Army's inventory, an action that threatened to leave combat engineers without a means to destroy or "rubble" large obstacles that would otherwise impede friendly troops. In late 1996, the center conducted tests using several 120mm ammunition items in inventory. The tests revealed that modifying the M830A1 high explosive, multi-purpose cartridge performed just as well, if not better, at reducing obstacles than the 35-pound M123 warhead. The modification also proved effective against bunkers, concrete walls and light armored vehicles. As a result of successful testing, the M830A1 was modified to produce the M908. Specifically, the M830A1's proximity switch nose (used to defend against attacking helicopters) was replaced with a hard steel nose. The steel nose allows the projectile to "burrow" itself inside an obstacle before the warhead functions. This fractures the concrete block from the inside out and is more effective than detonating a large explosive on the block's surface. To date, Alliant Techsystems and General Dynamics-OTS have converted more than 19,000 M908s. "The M908 met an urgent Army requirement for Korea, and now, with other contingencies, has become a highly desirable item in our Abrams inventory for bunker defeat and urban battle," said Bill Sanville, project manager, Maneuver Ammunition Systems. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-04-06 10:13:02 AM |
| #2 "A moving foxhole attracts the eye" Willy or Joe, circa WWII |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-04-06 9:41:10 AM |
| #1 I've read that they want to give the Hellfire missile a fuel-air explosive (FAE) warhead for urban targets as the building will contain the blast reducing damage to nearby buildings and personnel while the overpressure will kill the occupiers in nearby rooms. I imagine the 120mm is probably too small for such a device, but maybe a delayed-action warhead will be implemented to let the shell penetrate a wall or two before exploding? |
| Posted by: Dar 2005-04-06 9:36:18 AM |