This American Main Battle Tank Has Been in Service For More Than Four Decades

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24/7 Wall St. Insights:

• The M1 Abrams is one of the most impactful tanks of the modern era
• It is equipped with a 120mm Rheinmetall M256A1 as its primary armament, as well as 12.7mm and 7.62mm secondary machine guns
• The M1 Abrams is powered by a Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine which outputs 1,500 horsepower and can hit speeds of 45 mph
• Also: Dividend legends to hold forever

The M1 Abrams is by far one of the most widely produced and impactful tanks of the modern era. It was originally designed by General Dynamics and introduced in 1980. Over 10,000 of these tanks have been produced in total. It has seen service in multiple conflicts and has a proven battle record as a truly effective tank.

In terms of the specs, the M1 Abrams uses a 120mm Rheinmetall M256A1 as its primary armament, as well as 12.7mm and 7.62mm secondary machine guns. With all these features combined, the M1 Abrams isn’t just important, it’s essential for any military looking to dominate the ground. (This is every tank in the history of the U.S. military. )

For the engine, the M1 Abrams is powered by a Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine which can operate on a variety of fuels. It has a fuel capacity of roughly 500 gallons, which is enough fuel to last for almost 300 miles without refueling. Also, the engine is capable of outputting 1,500 horsepower and reaching top speeds around 45 mph.

Entering service in 1980, the M1 Abrams has been a staple of U.S. ground forces in practically every conflict since that time. Over the course of its four decades of service, the Abrams design has undergone some upgrades in terms of its armor and firepower. However, one of the most significant upgrades was its M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package) which introduced digital systems and a computer architecture to this tank from the 1980s. The Abrams has come a long way in the past four decades.

Although the main battle tank first emerged much earlier in World War I, it did not truly see widespread use until the Second World War. Tanks have seen service from this time even up to the current ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Africa. With service spanning practically a century, these war machines have built a storied history. (These are the 30 most mass-produced tanks since World War II. )

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at modern tanks. To identify the oldest tanks of the modern era, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of tanks from Military Factory. We ordered each tank according to when it was first introduced, including only tanks from 1990 and before. We included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of tank, country of origin, manufacturer, and top speed. We excluded tanks that did not make it out of the prototype or proposal stage and included only tanks that had at least 250 units manufactured.

Here is a closer look at the oldest tanks of the modern era: Why Are We Covering This?

Knowing about tanks of the modern era is crucial because they play a significant role in shaping military strategies and global security. Understanding their capabilities helps nations assess their own defenses and those of potential adversaries. By studying modern tanks, we can gain insight into the evolution of military technology and the direction of future conflicts.

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