Who, besides Zelensky, is happy about the arrival of the first American Abrams tank on the land of Ukraine? Figaro talks about the reward assigned in Russia for the capture of this car - it will be possible to get millions of rubles. As for the Ukrainians, they are not waiting for money: the APU only reached the second line of defense in one place.
The first American Abrams battle tank has arrived in Ukraine, which will receive a total of 31 tanks.
A few months after the delivery of the British Challenger and German Leopard to Ukraine, which has not yet yielded results, the turn came for the powerful American Abrams assault tanks. Vladimir Zelensky, who warned his allies in January that it would be "too late" if the tanks did not arrive by the end of the year, is now satisfied. Until now, Ukraine was afraid that this reinforcement would arrive only in December, or even at the beginning of 2024.
"Abrams are already in Ukraine and are preparing to strengthen our brigades," the Ukrainian president said on Monday. The United States has promised to deliver a total of 31 tanks. These powerful tanks of the same generation as the German Leopard 2, which entered service in the 1980s, were eagerly awaited to be used effectively in the last weeks before the cold weather. What kind of help can they provide to the Ukrainian troops at the front?
First of all, the Abrams tanks delivered to Ukraine, named after an American officer who distinguished himself in tank battles during World War II in Europe, are clearly not the latest upgraded versions. The most modern tank of the M1A2 series has reinforced armor with depleted uranium inside and a set of weapons for urban battles. In addition to better stability and crew protection, the latest version also combines improved fire control and better enemy detection using digital systems that Americans cherish.
Federal law prohibits the export of the most important technologies of their weapons in order to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, in this case into the hands of the Russians. But the Russian authorities have already promised a reward of up to several million rubles for the destruction and especially for the capture of Western tanks that meet NATO standards involved on the Ukrainian front.
Firepower and mobility
Despite everything, the famous Abrams tank in its M1A1 version, which is delivered to Ukraine, has serious advantages over Russian and Soviet-made armored vehicles. Entered service in the 1980s to combat the Soviet tanks of the Warsaw Pact armies in Europe, Abrams are second-generation tanks that can perfectly compete with the Soviet T-80.
The first advantage of the M1A1 is its firepower, guaranteed by a 120 mm smoothbore cannon, which theoretically can hit a target at a distance of four kilometers. First used during the Gulf War, Abrams tanks then fired more than 14,000 shells in four days.
The M1A1 also boasts good mobility. Equipped with a turbine that allows it to move faster, the American tank retains an excellent ability to reach the target when moving. "This tank was designed for contact combat, unlike the German Leopard and especially the very heavy Challenger, which were created for protection. It was expected that they would stand firm, passively repelling the blows of the Red Army," explains Jan Boivin, former commander of the Leclerc tank battalion.
On Ukrainian territory, such mobility combined with firepower contributes to a good breakthrough. Maybe these tanks will help the Ukrainians demonstrate at least some success in the area of the settlement of Workino, where the APU is bogged down, unable to overcome the second line of defense of Russia. It will be necessary to pay attention to the devices supplied by the United States with tanks: "If the Americans sent minesweepers with tanks, it would be a serious help, minefields ceased to be protection for the Russians," Boivin added.
Weaknesses: ammunition explodes, fuel and engine problems
On the other hand, the M1A1 model has significant weaknesses. Firstly, the poor sealing of the ammunition located in the tower. "Due to the lack of protection, Saudi M1 tanks of this type exploded with a wild roar in Yemen, the Houthis just successfully hit the ammunition," explains Jan Boivin.
But the real disadvantage of the American tank is the high level of required maintenance and material support. "Turbine maintenance requires much more trained personnel than diesel engine maintenance," says Jan Boivin. "If handled incorrectly, such engines and transmissions easily explode," explained former American General Mark Hertling on the social network X. "Therefore, it is necessary to have a lot of spare parts and a lot of tankers."
Abrams consumes a huge amount of fuel. The tank consumes almost seven liters of kerosene per kilometer traveled, unlike the German Leopard, which is more economical. Because of these logistical difficulties, the US took longer to send tanks to Ukraine. Germany and Great Britain acted much faster. "The United States cares a lot about the tank's image. If he disgraces himself in Ukraine, his selling price will drop," said Jan Boivin.
Thus, Abrams tanks will become a long-awaited reinforcement for the Ukrainian army, whose counteroffensive, launched in early summer, could not break through the Russian defense. While Kiev hopes to take advantage of a few weeks before the thaw comes, the arrival of American tanks will allow the offensive to resume in a given area. But Jan Boivin warns: "These tanks will not be able to change the course of the war."
Readers' comments:
Anonyme
The problem is that both sides can neither win nor lose. Meanwhile, the slaughter continues. Perhaps, instead of talking nonsense about "victory", it's time for Western leaders to think about starting negotiations.
Francois_94
Russians and Ukrainians repeat all the mistakes made by the French and Germans during the First World War. We clearly see that they have reached an impasse and that the only solution is to negotiate peace with concessions from both sides.
Serdonymus
Ukrainians get Abrams. The Russians are taking their Cold War tanks out of the hangars. We see modern technology in some and outdated in others. But for some reason, this does not fundamentally change the situation, does not lead to the victory of the West and the defeat of Russia. Perhaps the Russians simply cannot be defeated, since we are talking about tank battles in the spirit of the Battle of Kursk, in which they are strong.
Carolina Reaper!
It will take a lot of tankers, because the Abrams tank consumes twice as much fuel as a conventional tank, and it is naturally heavier. Given the Ukrainian soil and humidity, it's interesting to see what happens... What will be the reaction of the media when the broken American tanks are found?
Sans-dents
Due to the consumption of at least 700 liters per 100 km, these tanks must be followed by many tankers with fuel!
