This tank packs quite the punch!
Among the American Military's mightier vehicles is the iconic M1A1 Abrams tank. The first Abrams tanks were introduced back in 1980 and the fighting vehicle continues to be a force to be reckoned with on any battlefield. The M1A1 Abrams weighs over 60 short tons thanks to the heavy composite armor and heavy gun.
It is one thing to read about the specs of this tank and another to see it in action. The video we are sharing today is of M1A1 tanks in a training exercise.
Once you see the firepower of these machines firsthand, it gives you a better appreciation for why they are so feared by enemy combatants.
Now that is what we call firepower! The original M1 was fitted with a 105mm main gun before they upgraded it to the 120mm M256A1 smoothbore cannons you see on the M1A1 today. In case you were wondering, the muzzle velocity of one of these rounds can exceed a blistering 5,500 feet per second. That insane speed is what helps give this tank's gun an equally impressive effective range out to 8,000 yards or more.
The loader here has one of the more difficult jobs of the crew. He is the one muscling those heavy rounds into that huge chamber. He must do it quickly. Any delay could cause the rest of the crew to be in danger of return fire from an enemy tank. Fortunately, they get plenty of practice in training exercises like this before ever entering a combat scenario.
If you were paying close attention, you likely also noticed the M2 Browning machine gun chambered in .50 BMG. This iconic firearm was designed by the legendary gunmaker John Browning and has been in service for well over 100 years now. It just goes to show that a quality firearms design never goes out of style.
There has been some talk of replacing the Abrams in recent years, but so far, none of those plans have come to fruition. We see this tank as being much like the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a quality design that is going to be tough to beat for a long time to come!
NEXT: THE SIG SAUER CROSS RIFLE FOLDS THE GAP BETWEEN TACTICAL, HUNTING PURPOSES
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