Osprey New Vanguard 2 : M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982-1992

The M1 Abrams was the most radical departure in US tank design since World War 2. Until the advent of the M1 in the early 1980s, the US Army had relied on the steady evolution of the M26 Pershing tank, through the M46, M47, M48 and M60. The M1 design came at a time when there were a host of important new tank technologies coming to fruition, in terms of structure and weaponry: these were integrated into it. The M1 was not designed to be the best tank in the world, only the best possible within a limited budget - but nevertheless it is certainly a strong contender for the title of the world's best main battle tank. Steven Zaloga examines this world-beating tank in detail. Much of the first half of the book is devoted to the development of the tank, and the adoption of the technology that makes it so effective. The second half deals with the M1A1 (an updated version of the M1) in action during the Gulf War. Its performance during Operation 'Desert Storm' is analysed and compared against those of the Iraqi T-72Ms that it faced. Its great success is explained not only by its excellent design, but also is put down to good crew training and morale and its technological superiority over Iraqi weapons. A comprehensively detailed book with illustrations by Peter Sarson.

Contents

• Developmental History
• Operational History
• Desert Storm - M1A1 Tank Battalions
• M1 Abrams Variants