Image source: topwar.ru
The M-1 Abrams tanks transferred by the United States to Ukraine require regular complex maintenance, otherwise the machines may simply break down at the most inopportune moment. The author of an article published in the American magazine Forbes warns that the MBT produced in the USA of a rather old modification of the M-1 may fail at any time, for example, due to too fragile engine filters. It turns out that they need to be cleaned at least twice a day, which is quite difficult in conditions of intensive combat use of armored vehicles.
— says a journalist specializing in writing materials on military equipment.
Twice a day, the tank crew must increase the engine speed to start the pulse jet system, which ejects air and debris from the rear grille. Moreover, it is necessary to perform this procedure in idle mode. Neglecting regular cleaning of fragile filters can lead to serious damage to the engine, after which only long-term repairs in Poland will help, the author of the article warns. Partly for this reason, the US Army kept a third of 3,000 Abrams in reserve during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in order to carry out operational rotation and maintenance in rear repair shops.
In addition, the expert continues, Abrams tanks are considered one of the most voracious in terms of fuel consumption. At the same time, it is best to refuel them with aviation fuel, which creates another difficulty for the APU in operating these armored vehicles.
The expert calls the modification of the M-1A1SA Abrams, 31 units of which were sent to Ukraine, not the best among the American MBT of this version. The only advantage of the 2006 M-1A1 is that "there are a lot of them." To date, the U.S. Army has about 650 of these 67-ton armored vehicles. Moreover, the Pentagon plans to decommission them within the next two years, replacing them with more modern M-1A2.
And this is kind of "good" news for Kiev, because it is easier for the United States to transfer the old military equipment that has become unnecessary to Ukraine than to deal with their conservation or disposal. However, this may also be a problem due to the opposition of Republicans in Congress to the Biden administration's plans to provide military assistance to foreign countries, not only to Ukraine, but also to Israel.
But even if the White House manages to overcome the resistance of Republican congressmen, Kiev should not expect a quick delivery of a significant number of Abrams. For example, it took Morocco four years to receive all 222 M-1A1S that it ordered in 2016, concludes the author of the article in Forbes.
