U.S. Army/photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Berner
08:00 04.02.2021 (updated: 11:15 04.02.2021)
© Sputnik / Sergey Melkonov / Go to photo bank
MOSCOW, 4 Feb - RIA Novosti, Andrey Kots. The Pentagon is sounding the alarm: the famous Abrams tanks, the main striking force of the American army, are not ready for an armed conflict with Russia. It turned out that the last modification was not suitable for military operations in Eastern Europe. What is the problem with this car - in the material RIA Novosti.
Too heavy
The M1 Abrams has been in service with the US Army for over 40 years. Since 1980, more than ten thousand of these tanks have been produced, about six thousand are in service. "Abrams" fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and proved themselves well in battle - the armor was enough to withstand the fire of enemy anti-tank weapons in the forehead, and the power of the gun was sufficient to confidently destroy any targets.
The Abrams have been modernized several times. The armor was gradually strengthened, new solutions were introduced into the design, and the onboard equipment was improved. However, the tank was noticeably heavy. The combat weight of the latest modification of the M1A2 SEP V3, which has been entering the troops since last summer, is approaching 68 tons, which is comparable to the German Tiger II heavy tank of the Second World War. According to Pentagon experts, this seriously complicates operation.
"The Abrams M1A2 SEP V3 modernization program is questionable," says a recent report by the US Operational test and evaluation. "A significant increase in vehicle weight reduces its mobility. The M1A2 SEP V3 cannot withstand tactical bridges, cannot carry them. combat repair and recovery vehicles and even heavy army transport equipment. "
Size issue
All this, according to American analysts, limits the Abrams' capabilities in Europe, especially on the eastern flank. Experts point out that local bridges and roads are not designed for such heavy equipment. In the event of a full-scale war with Russia, the battle groups of tank brigades will need to quickly overcome vast spaces. And it is the logistics of armored vehicles that can become the main obstacle for the Pentagon strategists.
© PETRAS MALUKAS
US Army Abrams tanks at a railway station in Lithuania
"Abrams" are now second in weight only to the German Leopard 2A7 (68.5 tons). Thus, the two most militarily powerful states of the North Atlantic Alliance are unlikely to be able to conduct active offensive actions in the event of a war with Russia. Plans to strengthen the transport infrastructure of Eastern European countries in NATO were announced back in 2017. The organization's general secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, said that the requirements for roads and bridges should be reviewed.
Earlier, Western media reported on problems with the deployment of additional forces. So, during the transfer of American heavy armored vehicles to Poland, some combat vehicles simply did not fit into railway stations in size. In particular, when approaching the platform in the Polish city of Kovalevo-Pomorsk, several tanks were almost ditched, caught on the supports of a reinforced concrete structure.
In addition, there may be difficulties in the transfer of Abrams from the United States. The largest American military transport aircraft, the C-5, takes only one modernized tank on board. Note that the combat weight requirements for Russian equipment are much higher: the newest T-90M weighs only 48 tons, and the promising T-14 "Armata" - about 55 tons.
Third modification
The M1A2 SEP V3 has gotten heavier due to a lot of improvements and improvements. The auxiliary power plant is now hidden by armor and is located in the stern - this was done to increase the protection of the vehicle from the fire of large-caliber machine guns at close range, as well as small-caliber automatic cannons.
SEP modifications appeared after the Iraq War. The hostilities showed that armored vehicles in urban areas are extremely vulnerable to shelling from the upper floors of buildings. Improvised explosive devices installed on the roadside are very dangerous.
© AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis
American tanks "Abrams" in the city of Pabrade, Lithuania. 21 october 2019
Therefore, on the M1A2 SEP V3, the thickness of the frontal armor was seriously increased, and the structure's resistance to mine explosion was improved. The Israeli Trophy active protection complex is capable of shooting down any subsonic ammunition approaching the vehicle. But the weight has grown a lot.
Previous versions did not have high-explosive ammunition in the ammunition load. It was believed that they would be replaced by buckshot and multipurpose shells, but practice has not confirmed this. As a result, the "troika" received new M1147 ammunition, equipped with a programmable fuse and used as shrapnel, with a concrete-piercing or high-explosive warhead.
Historical experience
In December, the US Department of Defense announced a $ 4.62 billion contract with General Dynamics Land Systems to upgrade Abrams tanks to the M1A2 SEP V3 level. The work must be completed by 2028. Apparently, the generals are not confused by the warnings of Washington analysts. Or they intend to solve the problem of excess weight by creating special vehicles.
As you know, Russian roads have interfered with foreign invaders more than once. In the fall of 1941, mud, muddy roads and the peculiarities of the Soviet road infrastructure seriously slowed down the movement of the Wehrmacht's tank wedges towards Moscow. Subsequently, Hitler's military leaders blamed all their defeats off-road.
"In the morning we drive pretty fast, then the road torments begin again," the German field surgeon Hans Killian recalled in his book "In the shadow of victories." , the depth of which is unknown to anyone, are filled to the brim with dirty slime. You need to go slowly and be on the alert all the time so as not to fly into such a ".
The Pentagon commanders should remember about the bad experience of aggressive wars of the previous conquerors. Even though the Soviet Union no longer exists, Russia is still the largest country in the world with an unpredictable climate.
M1A2 Abrams: Details
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