Ukrainian troops commend M1A1 Abrams tanks, cite critical armor flaw
Although they've identified a notable flaw, Ukrainian army soldiers have praised the American M1A2 Abrams tanks for their precision, stabilization, and smoothness.
5:58 PM EDT, May 8, 2024
As previously reported, Ukraine received 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States. Initially, there was discussion of providing the newer M1A2 Abrams variant, which would be bought with funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Ultimately, Ukraine was supplied with refurbished M1A1 Abrams tanks previously utilized by American forces. This decision was made to expedite the delivery of the tanks.
The Ukrainian soldiers highly commend the American tanks' precision, stabilization, and smoothness, yet they note a significant drawback.
Unfortunately, our version lacks depleted uranium armor, which is currently its most significant weakness, as one of the soldiers pointed out.
The many virtues of the Abrams M1A2
The thermal imaging cameras enabling night operations and the tank's capacity to fire depleted uranium anti-tank shells received particular praise. These tanks have shown proficiency in destroying Russian military vehicles and infantry.
The advantages of the Abrams significantly outnumber the disadvantages. These tanks have demonstrated superior performance on the battlefield, and despite sustaining a few losses, Ukrainian soldiers remain uncomplaining and urge more tanks to be sent.
It's noteworthy that these tanks come equipped with an M256 cannon cal. 120 mm, along with additional weaponry, including machine guns cal. .50 (12.7 mm) and cal. .308 (7.62 mm). Despite measuring nearly 32.8 feet in length and weighing close to 66 short tons, these powerhouses, powered by a 1500 HP engine, can reach speeds of about 42 mph.
