THE GULF WAR : Tanks : LEADS THE WAY

Developed by the British during World War I, tanks first appeared, at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Called “chariots of the desert” in the Middle East, tank forces will play a leading role in any prolonged land warfare that arises during Operation Desert Storm. The latest American incarnation, the M-1A1 is equipped with the most modern weapons and protection systems including, it is reported, ceramic materials. Tank Comparison M-1A1 (U.S.) Country of origin: United States Entered service: 1980 Mobility when firing: Can fire accurately at top speed Ability to fight at night: Excellent, state-of-the-art ability Crew training: Among the world’s best trained and largest group of career tank teams Cannon shots per minute: 12 Armor: Some have new, super-reinforced armor, can withstand everything but some tank fireand direct artillery hits. T-72 (IRAQ) Country of origin: Soviet Union Entered service: 1972 Mobility when firing: Has to stop or slow down to fire accurately Ability to fight at night: Very limited capability Crew training: Battle seasoned from war with Iran Cannon shots per minute: 6 Armor: Some have reinforced turrets and resilient armor. Cannot stop tank fire, artillery or some field missiles. Maximum range of accurate fire Figures are approximate M-1A1: 3,000 yards T-72: 2,000 yards Laser Rangefinder: The Laser Rangefinder accurately measures the distance to the target within inches then relays that information to the gun’s computer. Both the commander and the gunner have the ability to look through this system. Muzzle reference system: the Muzzle Reference System measures the amount of barrel warp caused by the heat of repeated firing. Crew Communications: Each of the crew has a headset for easy communication. Wind Sensor: The wind sensor checks for crosswinds that would cause the projectile to go astray and sends data to a targeting computer that makes proper adjustments. Smoke Grenades: The M-1A1 has two smoke grenade launchers (one on each side of the turret).The smoke makes it harder for the enemy to spot the tank. Engine: The 1,500-horsepower, gas turbine engine with automatic, 4-speed transmission allows the M-1 to travel at a top speed of 45 mph (35 mph cross-country). Exhaust: Redesigned exhaust outlets give them a less conspicuous appearance making it more difficult for enemy infrared systems to detect. Turret Stabilization System: No matter how much the tank is jossled around, the gun barrelremains fixed on its target. Blast Panels: Ready-use ammunition is stowed in the turret bustle and in the event of penetration by an enemy missile, the explosion would blow off the blast panels with the crewbeing protected by the access doors which are normally kept in the closed position. M-1A1 Statistics Crew of four: Commander Driver Gunner Loader Length: 32 feet Width: 12 feet Height: 8 feet Weight: 134,000 pounds