Today in WW II: 5 Jul 1943 Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel) begins, last German offensive in Russia and largest tank battle [5-19 July].  More ↓
5 Jul 1945 In British election, Winston Churchill loses to Labour Party, Clement Atlee becomes Prime Minister.
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M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (Army and Marine Corps)

The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (heavy tank) entered U.S. service in 1980, a lighter and more versitile tank that emerged from the cancelled MBT-70 and XM803 tank programs. With a series of variants and technology upgrade packages, the M1 Abrams continued to serve the U.S. and allied countries well into the 21st Century.

See United States Tanks After World War II for information about the development history of the M1 Abrams MBT and its variants.

The M1 Abrams models are summarized in this table:

  M1/M1IP M1A1 M1A2 M1A2 SEP
Length: 32.04 ft 32.04 ft 32.04 ft 32.04 ft
Width: 12 ft 12 ft 12 ft 12 ft
Height: 7.79 ft 8 ft 8 ft 8 ft
Weight: 61.4/62.8 tons 67.6 tons 68.4 tons 69.5 tons
Max speed: 45 mph 41.5 mph 41.5 mph 42 mph
Main gun: 105mm 120mm 120mm 120mm
Crew: 4 4 4 4

In addition to the 120mm main gun, the M1 Abrams is armed with a .50 cal. machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun.

Crew of an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank behind the tank commander's M2 .50-caliber machine gun (left) and the ammunition loader's M240 7.62 mm machine gun. The driver is seated below the turret. June 1981
Crew of an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank behind the tank commander's M2 .50-caliber machine gun (left) and the ammunition loader's M240 7.62 mm machine gun. The driver is seated below the turret. June 1981.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup.