MOSCOW, February 4-RIA Novosti, Andrey Kots. The Pentagon is sounding the alarm: the famous Abrams tanks, the main striking force of the US army, are not ready for an armed conflict with Russia. It turned out that the last modification is not adapted for combat operations in Eastern Europe. What is the problem with this car-in the material of RIA Novosti.
Too heavy
The M1 Abrams has been in service with the US Army for more than 40 years. Since 1980, more than ten thousand of these tanks have been produced, and 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 enough to confidently destroy any targets.
"Abrams" has been repeatedly upgraded. Gradually, the booking was strengthened, new solutions were introduced into the design, and the onboard equipment was improved. However, the tank was noticeably heavier. The combat weight of the latest modification of the M1A2 SEP V3, which has been received by 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 the operation.
"The Abrams M1A2 SEP V3 tank modernization program is questionable," says a recent report from the U.S. Office of Operational Test and Evaluation. - A significant increase in the mass of the machine reduces its mobility. The M1A2 SEP V3 cannot withstand tactical bridges, they cannot be transported by combat repair and evacuation vehicles and even heavy army transport equipment."
The question of dimensions
All this, according to American analysts, limits the capabilities of the Abrams 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 huge spaces. And it is the logistics of armored vehicles that can become the main obstacle for the Pentagon's strategists.
Abrams tanks of the US army at the railway station in Lithuania
Image source: © PETRAS MALUKAS
"Abrams" are now inferior 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 in 2017. Secretary General of the organization Jens Stoltenberg said that it is necessary to review the requirements for roads and bridges.
Earlier, Western media reported 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 in the dimensions of the railway stations. In particular, at the entrance to the platform in the Polish city of Kovalevo-Pomorsk, several tanks were almost destroyed, caught on the supports of a reinforced concrete structure.
In addition, there may be difficulties in transferring "Abrams" from the United States. The most heavy-duty American military transport aircraft, the C-5, takes on board only one upgraded tank. Note that the requirements for combat weight for Russian equipment are much higher: the latest T-90M weighs only 48 tons, and the promising T-14 "Armata" — about 55 tons.
Third modification
M1A2 SEP V3 is heavier due to many improvements and improvements. The auxiliary power plant is now hidden by armor and located in the stern — this was done to increase the protection of the car from the fire of large-caliber machine guns at close range, as well as small-caliber automatic guns.
SEP modifications appeared after the Iraq War. The fighting has shown that armored vehicles in urban areas are extremely vulnerable to attacks from the upper floors of buildings. Improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides are very dangerous.
American tanks "Abrams" in the town of Pabrade, Lithuania. October 21, 2019
Image source: © AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis
Therefore, the M1A2 SEP V3 significantly increased the thickness of the frontal armor, improved the stability of the structure to the explosion of mines. The Israeli Trophy active defense system is capable of shooting down any subsonic ammunition approaching the vehicle. But the weight has grown a lot.
The previous versions did not have high-explosive ammunition in their ammunition. It was believed that they would be replaced by buckshot and multi-purpose 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 repeatedly hindered foreign invaders. In the autumn of 1941, mud, mud and the peculiarities of the Soviet road infrastructure seriously slowed down the movement of the Wehrmacht tank wedges to Moscow. Subsequently, Hitler's military leaders blamed all their defeats on off-road driving.
"In the morning, we drive quite fast, then the road torments begin again," German field surgeon Hans Killian recalled in the book "In the Shadow of Victories". - The roads are completely blocked and blurred with mud, and the artillery has shelled the offensive route very well. The craters from the exploding shells, the depth of which is not known to anyone, are filled to the brim with dirty slime. You need to drive slowly and be on the lookout all the time, so as not to fly into such a situation."
The military leaders of the Pentagon should remember the unfortunate experience of aggressive wars of previous conquerors. Although the Soviet Union is no more, Russia is still the world's largest country with an unpredictable climate.