How the M1 Abrams Sparks Fear in the Hearts of Its Enemies

There are tanks and then there is the M1 Abrams. This beast of a machine has struck fear in the hearts of enemy combatants on battlefields worldwide and with good reason.

The machine is equipped with main guns that can shoot projectiles up to 4.7 in (120 mm) in size, extremely rigid armor fitted with extra layers of steel and depleted uranium, and caterpillar tracks powered by gas-turbine engines. It’s indeed the optimum platform of destruction and is also surprisingly mobile especially given its significant size and weight.

First introduced in 1980, the massive tank was named after General Creighton Abrams, a prominent commander of military operations during the Vietnam War. It inspired two subsequent iterations: the M1A1 and the M1A2.

Each of these versions was heavier and slower than the M1 but also fitted with far more powerful armaments and advanced technology making them platforms of innovation and futuristic design. 

How do these tanks manage to stay so mobile despite being so large? What are their famed caterpillar treads? How are all three versions being used in the world today? We bring you answers to all these questions and provide you with unique footage of the tanks in action.