- Reaction score
- 6,355
- Points
- 1,160
In keeping with this -
I started thinking about this when I read that the KF51 Panther vehicle is actually a reworked 2A4 hull with a new turret. The Wiki review article bears reading in full but the Current Operators list gives a sense of the problem.
Leopard 2 - Wikipedia
We talk about the Leopard 2 as if it is a single tank. In fact of the 3600 produced ( "Deutsche Panzer für Katar". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). 19 June 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2019. per Wikipedia) there isn't a common fleet from which to draw contributions to equip Ukraine.
If each country that operated Leopard 2s were to contribute a company sized element similar to the Challenger 2 element supplied by the Brits to field the 300 tanks that Ukraine is requesting then Ukraine would likely end up with 20 different vehicles in inventory to support, all of different ages with different national quirks and various upgrades. The logistics situation would only be marginally worse if, in addition to the Brit Challenger 2 they were gifted French LeClercs and Italian Arietes. (Or even Centauros to match the AMX10-RCs).
The only likely source of 300 tanks with common logistics is M1 Abrams from the US stockpile .... but even there
Variants and upgrades[edit]
- XM1-FSED: Preproduction test model. Eleven Full-Scale Engineering Development test bed vehicles were produced in 1977–78. These vehicles were also called Pilot Vehicles and numbered PV-1 through PV-11.
- M1: First production variant. Production began (at Chrysler) in 1979 and continued to 1985 (at General Dynamics) (3,273 built for the US). The first 110 tanks were low rate initial production (LRIP) models, still called XM1s, because they were built before the tank being type-classified as the M1.
- M1IP (Improved Performance): Produced briefly in 1984 before the M1A1, contained upgrades and reconfigurations like new turret with thicker frontal armor, new turret is referred as long turret instead of older short turret, armor upgraded from ~650mm line of sight thickness to ~880mm (894 built for US).
- M1A1:[nb 1] Production started in 1985 and continued to 1992, pressurized NBC system, rear bustle rack for improved stowage of supplies and crew belongings, redesigned blow-off panels and M256 120 mm smoothbore cannon (4,976 built for the U.S. Army, 221 for USMC, 59 M1A1 AIM SA sold to Australia).
- M1A1HA (Heavy Armor): Added first generation depleted uranium armor components. Some tanks were later upgraded with second generation depleted uranium armor components, and are unofficially designated M1A1HA+.
- M1A1HC (Heavy Common): Added new second generation depleted uranium armor components, digital engine control and other small upgrades common between Army and Marine Corps tanks.
- M1A1D (Digital): A digital upgrade for the M1A1HC, to keep up with M1A2 SEP, manufactured in quantity for only 2 battalions.
- M1A1 AIM v.1 (Abrams Integrated Management): A program whereby older units are reconditioned to zero hour conditions;[126] and the tank is improved by adding Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Far Target Locate sensors, a tank-infantry phone, communications gear, including FBCB2 and Blue Force Tracking to aid in crew situational awareness, and a thermal sight for the .50 caliber machine gun.[109]
- M1A1 AIM v.2/M1A1SA (Situational Awareness): Upgrades similar to AIM v.1 tanks + new third generation depleted uranium armor components. Configuration for the Royal Moroccan Army, which is almost identical to the Australian variant, except exportable turret armor is installed by General Dynamics Land System to replace the DU armor.[127]
- M1A1 FEP (Firepower Enhancement Package): Similar upgrade to AIM v.2 for USMC tanks.
- M1A1KVT (Krasnovian Variant Tank): M1A1s that have been visually modified to resemble Soviet-made tanks for use at the National Training Center, fitted with MILES gear and a Hoffman device.
- M1A1M: An export variant ordered by the Iraqi Army.[128]
- M1A1 (AIDATS upgrade): Upgrade-only variant to all USMC General Dynamics M1A1 Abrams tanks to improve the tank commander's situational awareness with an upgraded thermal sight, color day camera, and a stationary color display.[129]
- M1A2 (Baseline): Production began in 1992 and initial operating capability achieved in 1993.[130] (77 built for the U.S. and more than 600 M1s upgraded to M1A2, 315 for Saudi Arabia, 1,005 for Egypt, 218 for Kuwait). The M1A2 offers the tank commander an independent thermal sight and ability to, in rapid sequence, shoot at two targets without the need to acquire each one sequentially, also second generation depleted uranium armor components.[131]
- M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package): Is fitted with new, second-generation gunner's thermal sight.[132] Has upgraded third-generation depleted uranium armor components with graphite coating (240 new built, 300 M1A2s upgraded to M1A2 SEP for the US, also unknown numbers of upgraded basic M1s and M1IPs, also 400 oldest M1A1s upgraded to M1A2 SEP).
- M1A2S (Saudi Package): Saudi Arabian variant upgrade of the M1A2 based on M1A2 SEP, with some features, such as depleted uranium armor, believed to be missing and replaced by special armor. (442 M1A2s upgraded to M1A2S).[133][134]
- M1A2 SEPv2: Added Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station as standard, color displays, improved interfaces, a new operating system, improved front and side armor with ERA (TUSK kit), tank-infantry phone as standard, and an upgraded transmission for better durability.[citation needed]
- M1A2 SEPv3 (formerly M1A2C): Has increased power generation and distribution, better communications and networking, new Vehicle Health Management System (VHMS) and Line Replaceable Modules (LRMs) for improved maintenance, an Ammunition DataLink (ADL) to use airburst rounds, improved counter-IED armor package, improved FLIR using long- and mid-wave infrared, a low-profile CROWS RWS, Next Generation Armor Package (NGAP),[135] and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) under armor to run electronics while stationary instead of the engine, visually distinguishing the version by a small exhaust at the left rear. More passive ballistic protection added to the turret faces, along with new Explosive Reactive Armor mountings (Abrams Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT))[136] and Trophy Active Protection systems added to the turret sides. Prototypes began testing in 2015,[137] and the first were delivered in October 2017.[138] The first unit received them in July 2020.[citation needed]
- M1A2T: Special configuration variant of the M1A2 SEPv3 reportedly being offered for sale to Taiwan as of March 2019 and approved by US State Department as of July 2019.[139] Per DSCA statement, it is roughly equivalent to M1A2 SEPv3, except depleted uranium armor is replaced by FMS export armor. There is no mention of the Trophy APS system. The new-built tanks will be produced at Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, Alabama, and the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, Lima, Ohio.[140][141]
- M1A2 SEPv4 (formerly M1A2D): Under development as of 29 March 2022.[142] The Commander's Primary Sight, also known as the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer, and Gunner's Primary Sight will be upgraded with third Gen FLIR, an improved laser rangefinder and color cameras. Additional improvements will include advanced meteorological sensors, laser warning/detection receivers, directional smoke grenade launchers and integration of the new XM1147 advanced multi-purpose [sv] (AMP) 120mm tank round.[143][144][145][146] The AN/VVR-4 laser warning receiver and ROSY rapid obscurant system have been trialed by the US Army for adoption on the Abrams tank and Bradley fighting vehicle.[147][148][149]
- M1A2-K: Under development, unique variant for the Kuwaiti Army, slated to replace Kuwait's current M1A2 fleet.[150]
- Tank Test Bed (TTB) Prototype TACOM project begun in 1983 with unmanned turret, three crew members in armored capsule in front of the heavy armored hull, main armament was 120 mm smoothbore gun M256, mechanical loading system under turret.[151]
- Component Advanced Technology Test Bed (CATTB) was an experimental model with a XM291 140 mm smoothbore cannon,[152] heavy armored turret and upgraded hull based on the Abrams chassis. It had a mechanical loading system in turret bustle, a new engine and probably other upgrades, never fielded. The tank went into trials in 1987–88.[153]
AbramsX at AUSA 2022
- AbramsX is a technology demonstrator[154] of the M1 Abrams series by General Dynamics Land Systems. The AbramsX features an autoloader, unmanned turret (which reduces the crew to 3), a hybrid diesel-electric power pack that gives 50% more fuel efficiency, a 30mm chain gun in a remote weapon station, active protection systems, augmented reality that would increase the crew's awareness thanks to cameras and sensors mounted around the tank’s exterior, a silent mode when running on electric power, the ability to be updated more easily than existing tanks, the ability to utilize loitering munitions such as the AeroVironment Switchblade as well as surveillance drones,[citation needed] and reduced weight for improved mobility. In October 2022, GDLS released a video showing the Technology Demonstrator and various technology tests.[155][156]
It seems to me, a civvy on the margins, that it is a bit of a mugs game to be worrying about maintaining a common standards fleet in Ukraine in the current situation.
The Ukrainians are, my guess, going to continue using whatever tanks they can get ahold of and use them until they drop due to lack of ammo, diesel, track or electronics failure.
Their army will look more like the German army of WW2 with its mix of homegrown solutions and captured vehicles as well as vehicles produced by the national factories of occupied countries like Czechoslovakia. Or even the Brit army with its mix of Brit, Canadian and US vehicles of various standards and ages.
Each company/squadron will have to train independently and operate until it runs out of vehicles and/or people. And that is going to influence tactics.
