What are M1 Abrams Tanks?

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Overview:

United States President Joe Biden recently announced that he will send 31 state-of-the-art M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine to help its troops push back Russian forces.

About M1 Abrams Tanks:

  • It is the United States main battle tank.
  • The first M1 tank was manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in 1978 and was delivered to the US Army in 1980.
  • It was named in honor to General Abrams, commander of US forces during the Vietnam War. 
  • The export version of the Abrams is used by the armies of Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. 
  • Features of M1 Abrams Tanks:
  • It uses a powerful and complex turbine engine that produces 1,500 horsepower and requires four persons to operate. 
  • It is one of the heaviest tanks in service at nearly 62 metric tons.
  • The M1 tanks have a maximum speed of 45  kmph.
  • Armement: The Abrams is armed with a 120 mm main gun and .50 caliber and 7.62 mm machine guns. 
  • It can destroy tank-size targets at a range of 2 km while firing on the move.
  • In modern versions of the Abrams tank, there are layers of depleted uranium armour which provides substantial protection to those inside.

 


Q1) What is a main battle tank?

The main battle tank, also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fulfills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver of many modern armies. The main battle tank market is segmented by type and by geography.

Source: What Are M1 Abrams Tanks And Why They Matter To Ukraine? 5-Point Explainer