Posted on 08/10/2007 4:14:22 AM PDT by Renfield
August 10, 2007: Crews of the latest model (M1A2) Abrams tank can't help but notice that, while their workspace is well protected, air conditioned and a smooth ride, it also resembles the inside of a space ship. The current generation of recruits grew up with video games and spectacular science fiction films.
The number of gadgets inside a tank has just kept increasing over the last decade. And all the new computers, and their software, have been redesigned to make them faster and easier to use. That's handy when you are under a lot of stress, or tired from being awake all night just watching somewhere the bad guys were expected to show up.
Consider, for example, the array of electronics that come into play when the gunner sees a target, through his thermal sight (that senses differences in temperature, so works day or night and in any weather). The gunner presses a button to have the computer calculate exactly where to point the 120mm gun, so that it will hit a truck size target several kilometers away. Within a second or so, the computer draws data from a laser rangefinder, a crosswind sensor, a pendulum static cant sensor, data on the ammunition type, ammunition temperature, and a muzzle reference sensor (MRS) that determines barrel drop due to gravity and temperature, and moves the gun minute distances, and lets the gunner know that he can push the fire button.
The tank commander also has a separate thermal site, in the mini-turret atop the turret, the better to look for new targets. The tank has GPS, and maps of the area. So, like many automobile owners, the driver can glance at a computer display to see where they are, in relation to all sorts of things.
The radio system, for internal and external communication, is now enhanced by a phone handset affixed to the side rear of the tank, so that infantry can pick up and discuss the situation. Infantry like to have M1A2s around, because the tank now has an auxiliary power supply, which enables the main (fuel guzzling gas turbine) engine to be shut down, while the tank sits in one place all night, using its thermal sights to watch out for whatever. And whatever is out there, nothing has yet come along that can kill the M-1 in combat. Only nine have been knocked out in combat. Seven were lost to friendly fire, and two were disabled on the battlefield, and destroyed by their crews because the tanks could not move, and their unit had to move on.
Yeah. OK.
Spaceship?
But you still should step outside to take a dump. (Give a dump?) 8<)
That’s it! I’m not voting for these tank things! Don’t they know that Spencer Abraham has buritos for breakfast with LaRaza every Tuesday and Thursday? How could they possibly name their tanks after him?
I was a tank supporter, but now I’m not so sure. Until these tank things unequivocally repudiate the North American Union and denounce CFR, I’m jumping off their bandwagon!
In WW2, the M4 Sherman had a hatch on the bottom so that crew could escape the tank while making themselves less of a target. It was also convenient for taking a leak without making yourself a target
Yeppers. Couople of more recent ones had that too. (The Sherman also had a handset (but not a complete radio) on the back to talk to infantry as well.)
This explains everything!
Do you realize how many Mexicans you can move over the border in these things, and how powerless our so called Border Patrol is in dealing with them...
Well if there was really a Border Patrol, we know Bush has ordered them to stay at a small diner in Austin and not interfere...
Cool. I get a beep like that from the autofocus on my Canon camera. I'm glad to see he gets one from the autofocus on his cannon camera.
I remember the howls of protest from the anti-military dims back when these tanks were being developed. They blasted the contractors for being bloodsucking, overcharging capitalists. But I would rather spend a few million on a tank than a few hundred on body bags. G-d bless the contractors who build such great weapon systems!
don’t mention it ;-)
Its not a spaceship. Its a Bolo Mk. I!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_%28self-aware_tank%29
Mark I
The Mark I Bolo was introduced in 2000 as a comprehensive upgrade of the Abrams. The Mark I mounted a 150 mm cannon which fired discarding sabot, fin-stabilized, long-rod penetrator (DSFSLRP) rounds, allowing it to defeat the Chobham armor used on other MBTs of the time. The Mark I was also fitted with computer controlled anti-personnel/point defense gatlings with integral radar, probably similar to the Phalanx CIWS. The Mark I required a crew of four, was powered by two fossil-fuel power plants, and weighed in at 150 metric tons. Despite the greatly increased weight, the Mark I had a road speed of 80 km/h and combat radius of 1000 km.[1]
‘In WW2, the M4 Sherman had a hatch on the bottom so that crew could escape the tank while making themselves less of a target. It was also convenient for taking a leak without making yourself a target’
My great uncle commanded one in North Africa in ‘42. They were known as ‘Ronsons’ by their crews. Ronson was the name of the most popular British cigarette lighter at the time with a sales slogan that went ‘lights first time, everytime’.
Being petrol powered they burst into flames everytime the were hit. The krauts called them tommy-cookers! :)
:p
Damn, firewall got the pic. I’ll see it tonight...
So are gallon sized drip cans from the mess hall, just don’t spill the thing inside the track!
No ... You really don’t want to “get” the picture ....
(Some thongs are butter left unsaid.)
But that “look” was greatly affected by the vertical side steel plates over the upper treads. (These were added by a Detroit manager because they “looked right”.
Of minor impact in shielding against hits by RPG’s on the drive and dolly wheels, these side plates actually proved invaluable under sand and dust conditions to improve visibility of the crew, reduce signature of the tank while underway, and reduce fouling of the sensors and lasers.
So the “looks right” = “feels right” = “is right” theory of design is proved again.
ACK!
MY EYES MY EYES!
YOU BASTARD!
He’s got nice legs though. :p
Had one in my M48A3 too. But it was in the driver’s compartment only.
The M48A3 had one too. Grunts in Nam used it to direct us onto targets while minimizing radio chatter.
Red Star Rising is the best “long novel” with a running story about M-1 and Bradley tank warfare.
M1’s have corn flakes for armor.
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