M1 Abrams Mbt Armament

Starting in 1988, tanks M1A1 received the packagesplace as opposed to cylindrical and rotating like the
improved of armor which incorporated the mesh outCITV. The main armament of the original model M1
of uranium exhausted in their armor in front of thewas the M68A1 105 mm rifled tank gun firing a
turret and the hull. The armor reinforced this mannervariety of HEAT, high explosive, white phosphorus
resistance appreciably increased of offers towards all(smoke), and a highly efficient and lethal
the types of the armaments anti-tank device, but atanti-personnel (multiple flechette) round. This gun is a
the expense adding the considerable weight to thelicense-built version of the British Royal Ordnance L7
tank. First tanks M1A1 to receive this leveling weregun.
tanks posted in Germany, since they were the firstWhile being a reliable weapon, the 105 mm was
line of defense against the Soviet Union. In additionbecoming obsolete in the face of advances in armor
to the Abrams' advanced armor, some Abrams, mosttechnology, which meant that a better tank gun was
notably M1A1s of the US Marine Corps, are equippedneeded for the M1. The main armament of the M1A1
with a Missile Countermeasure Device that canand M1A2 is the M256 120 mm smoothbore gun,
detect and jam the guidance systems of laser-guideddesigned by Rheinmetall AG of Germany. The M256 is
anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).a variant of the Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 gun
This device is mounted on the turret roof in front ofmanufactured under license in the United States by
the Loader's hatch, and can lead some people toGeneral Dynamics Land Systems Division in their plant
mistake Abrams fitted with these devices for thein Lima, Ohio. It is the same armament carried by the
M1A2 version, since the Commander's IndependentGerman Leopard 2 tank up to the version A5 until
Thermal Viewer on the latter is mounted in the samereplaced by the longer L/55 gun in version A6.
place, though the MCD is box-shaped and fixed in