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Panther

2022-10-10T21:31:08Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

[[File:Panther.webp|thumb|Rawr means I love you in tank.]]
During Operation Barbarossa, the [[T-34]] was a nasty surprise to the Panzer Corps. Not wanting his tanks to be outmatched by people he saw as inferiors, Hitler ordered something be made to not only match the T-34 but best it. What they eventually got was the '''Panther'''. Not as heavy as a Tiger, it was still pretty well armored and armed while being fast and could be a deadly combatant in a tank duel. When it was working at least.
==Mid War==
[[File:Panther Statcard.webp|thumb|left|Die Stats]]

==Late War==

==IRL==
[[File:Panther_Tank.jpg|thumb|300px|meow meow meow]]
Panzerkampfwagen V, better known as the Panther, was cheaper, more reliable, more efficiently-built with its sloped armor, and just as good a tank as the legendary Tiger I. It's 75mm cannon did not have the same firepower or effective range, but it was still plenty capable. Although it did suffer from reliability problems (a common theme with German heavy armor designs later in World War II), the Panther offered almost as much combat capability for vastly less complexity and cost than the Tiger.

The sloped armor was shamelessly stolen from the Soviet T-34, but the Germans copied Ivan's homework well. Manufactured in considerably greater numbers than the Tiger, the Panther served on every front with numerous divisions.

Despite that, the Panther still had a lot of technical issues, most of which came down to the fact that it was rushed into production without testing to find all the bugs. It was maintenance heavy and both its engine and transmission had a bad tendency to crap out in battle. It also was a gas guzzler, which was important given that Germany had limited Petroleum resources, and when it was introduced the third Reich's logistical system was badly overstretched in Eastern Europe before collapsing. Just as importantly by the time it was introduced Crew Attrition had become an increasingly pressing issue. There were teenagers entrusted with crewing and even commanding these in the 12th SS Panzer Division in the summer of 1944.

The legacy of the Panther lives on in modern times, with Rheinmetall introducing the Panther KF51 in 2022. Armed with a 130 mm gun alongside a suicide drone launcher, protected by APS with modular armor, and given an improved power train, it's basically an upgraded [[Leopard 2]]A4. Aka the Leopard 3 in all but name.

{{Template:German Forces in Flames of War}}

Panther

2022-10-10T19:29:27Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

[[File:Panther.webp|thumb|Rawr means I love you in tank.]]
During Operation Barbarossa, the [[T-34]] was a nasty surprise to the Panzer Corps. Not wanting his tanks to be outmatched by people he saw as inferiors, Hitler ordered something be made to not only match the T-34 but best it. What they eventually got was the '''Panther'''. Not as heavy as a Tiger, it was still pretty well armored and armed while being fast and could be a deadly combatant in a tank duel. When it was working at least.
==Mid War==
[[File:Panther Statcard.webp|thumb|left|Die Stats]]

==Late War==

==IRL==
[[File:Panther_Tank.jpg|thumb|300px|meow meow meow]]
Panzerkampfwagen V, better known as the Panther, was cheaper, more reliable, more efficiently-built with its sloped armor, and just as good a tank as the legendary Tiger I. It's 75mm cannon did not have the same firepower or effective range, but it was still plenty capable. Although it did suffer from reliability problems (a common theme with German heavy armor designs later in World War II), the Panther offered almost as much combat capability for vastly less complexity and cost than the Tiger.

The sloped armor was shamelessly stolen from the Soviet T-34, but the Germans copied Ivan's homework well. Manufactured in considerably greater numbers than the Tiger, the Panther served on every front with numerous divisions.

Despite that, the Panther still had a lot of technical issues, most of which came down to the fact that it was rushed into production without testing to find all the bugs. It was maintenance heavy and both its engine and transmission had a bad tendency to crap out in battle. It also was a gas guzzler, which was important given that Germany had limited Petroleum resources, and when it was introduced the third Reich's logistical system was badly overstretched in Eastern Europe before collapsing. Just as importantly by the time it was introduced Crew Attrition had become an increasingly pressing issue. There were teenagers entrusted with crewing and even commanding these in the 12th SS Panzer Division in the summer of 1944.

The legacy of the Panther lives on in modern times, with Rheinmetall introducing the Panther KF51 in 2022. Armed with a 130 mm gun alongside a suicide drone launcher, protected with APS with modular armor, and given an improved power train, it's basically an upgraded [[Leopard 2]]A4. Aka the Leopard 3.

{{Template:German Forces in Flames of War}}

Dana SpGH

2022-10-10T15:21:22Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

[[File:TWBX01-08.jpg|300px|thumb|right|If it looks stupid but works, work away from everyone else.]]

==In Team Yankee==
[[File:TWBX01-03.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Do you like peirogi...]]
[[File:TWBX01-04.jpg|300px|thumb|left|... or knedlíky?]]
The Eastern bloc has never been a loved child of the Soviets, who kept all the goodies for themselves. Hence, the Czechs decided to get to work on creating their own heavy artillery piece and boy, is it terrifying.

The Dana is a heavy artillery piece with AT4 and FP 2+, placing it in the same class as the M109 and the Acacia. It might kill the occasional tank, but this unit decimates lightly armored vehicles like LAVs and Leopard 1s while performing decently against dug-in infantry. Unlike other Soviet artillery, the Dana has an autoloader which gives you a +1 to hit. More importantly, Polish and Czech unit leaders both have 4+ skill. With a dedicated forward observer for one point, you can call for arty on a 3+ which is amazing, considering this is PACT we are speaking about.

It is one of the most expensive artillery pieces for the PACT, but is still a little cheaper than NATO counterparts. For the price, it is an excellent killing artillery unit that should be used to weaken the scariest combat units your opponent brings afield. If absolutely required, the Dana can also fire smokescreens or shoot directly at opponents.

As this is an artillery piece, avoid driving it towards the enemy. 5+ cross will make it very difficult for your vehicles to pass through forests or bushes. More importantly, it may have more armour than a BM-21 but it will die if your enemy can target it.

A very competitive unit that delivers NATO level artillery with the price of a Soviet unit. Combined with a spotter, you will be calling for fire on a 3+ and hitting NATO models on a 3+ or a 2+. In a Czech infantry list, this unit is the hammer to the massive anvil you forged from the bodies of your infantry. Use the lives of your men to buy time for the Dana to pound holes out of the enemy's advance!

The Poles can purchase a battery of 3 guns for 7 points or 6 for 14 points. The Czechs may purchase 3 for 6 points or 6 guns for 12 points.

==IRL==
[[File:CZECHGUNTRUCK.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Flatbed trucks with a turreted cannon: how... communist.]]
The DANA is a major departure from other SPGs due to its use of wheels instead of tracks, in what is essentially a turret slapped onto the flatbed of an armored truck. This makes the vehicle easier to build and maintain, although it does need hydraulic stabilizers to fire. However, that’s not the only noteworthy feature. It uses an autoloader that can load the weapon at any angle, meaning it doesn’t need to return to a neutral position for the autoloader to work; an important feature when you’re trying to maximize the amount of shots you can get off in a barrage.

The DANA remains in service with a handful of post-soviet states. The Czechs have developed two direct successors, the DITA and Morana, which fires the NATO standard 155/L45 shell with a fully automated turret requiring only a driver and commander.

{{Czech Forces in Team Yankee}}
{{Polish Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]] [[Category:Team Yankee]]

Leopard 2

2022-10-10T15:19:53Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

[[File:Leopard-2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUkqWrtitIM Ob sturmt, oder schneit...]]]
[[File:TGRAB03-03.jpg|right|thumb|]]
{{topquote|No, I'm not defending German technical superiority, '''I'm stating the fucking obvious'''!|Anonymous Soviet soldier, Company of Heroes 2}}

The armored fists of the Fatherland are back, with one of the most successful tanks ever designed. The Leopard 2 is currently one of the heaviest and most expensive tanks in the world.
The Leopard 2 has influenced modern tank design around the world with some systems proving so successful that they have been adapted onto other nations' vehicles. Particularly the Rheinmetall 120mm L/44 smoothbore cannon with hydraulic recoil compensation, which has become the standard tank cannon for all of NATO and was adapted for American use as the primary weapon of the M1A1 Abrams and later variants.

==In Team Yankee==
===West German===
[[File:Leopard-2 Statcard.jpg|left|300px|thumb|I know what you're thinking. Did I fire sechs shots, or only fünf?]]
You poor, majestic beast.

The mighty steel fist of the Heer (Army) of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Leopard 2 is one of the strongest MBTs in the game when it comes to tank-on-tank engagements. Costly and difficult to build, it possesses outstanding firepower, armor and mobility. For sheer quality per tank, it is among the best in the entire game. A 120mm L/44 smoothbore main cannon grants the Leopard 2 a ROF of 2 shots both on the move and stationary, perfect for commanders who prefer to fight a mobile war, and the AT value of 22 <s>fucking obliterates</s> practically overwhelms ''almost'' all Soviet armor from the front <s>fukken [[T-80]]s</s>. T-55, T-62, T-64, T-72 - it makes no difference. One direct hit from the Leopard 2 and it is guaranteed to explode. The Panzer crews of the Heer have little need to flank the inferior armor of their Soviet bloc enemies, but if you try it, vaporizing a Polish/Czech/Russian/East German tank from the side or rear could be fun to witness. As for lighter armored vehicles like the BMP, BTR, BRDM: if they actually try to stand up to the Leopard 2 on the battlefield, it can be safely assumed that they ''want'' to die. ''Ve shall grant zem vot zey vish for.''

If Warsaw Pact troops, and God alone knows why, feel like actually getting close to this thing, you get a pair of MG3 7.62mm Machine guns to remind them why their grandfathers feared the MG42 so much, one of which can be employed in an AA role.

The Leopard 2 is protected by <s>the second-strongest frontal armor in the game with a value of</s> a mediocre FA18 <s>[[M1 Abrams|Damn Yankees]]</s>. It also gets additional protection against HEAT warheads with the Chobham Armor Package increasing the side armor to 16 against them, though the unaltered value of 7 is enough to deal with things like autocannons and such. You definitely dont want to engage in any stand-up fights with the Leopard 2, so make sure whatever you're shooting at dies.

But why haven't these units seen more play? Mostly because tanks in Team Yankee have proven to be far too inefficient when competing against infantry, especially with affordable ATGMs for all (just like in Ukraine). The Leopard 2 holds the crown for having some of the worst efficiency in the game unless used for the specific role of tank combat. For ELEVEN POINTS PER TANK (did we mention how expensive they were?), a Leopard 2 Zug would cost between 22 to 33 points! If taken in twos, a Leopard 2 has a very real chance of bailing on the spot due to morale, meaning that the true minimum cost is 33 points. For this, your opponent could purchase an entire infantry platoon, with artillery and a couple of ATGMs. Even the Germans can purchase an infantry COMPANY with some support for the price.

This is worsened by the fact that anti-tank roles can be performed better by a Leopard 1 Kompanie. Instead of taking three Leopard 2s, you could take 7 Leopard 1s for 21 points, a Jaguar Zug for 4-6 points and have points left over. In the current meta of infantry, there is little reason to bring expensive tank killers when the days of T-72 hordes are long gone.

With much sadness, the Leopard 2 is relegated to the realms of casual play and friendly games despite it being one of the prettiest Panzers around. Maybe, just maybe, the low model sales may trigger something in someone who makes these things to lower their pointage in a new edition or bumping up their stats. *cough* M1IP *cough*

As of April 2018, West German Commanders are authorized to fill their Panzer Zugs with up to 4 tanks while having 3 platoons per Kompanie. We're all confident in your 44 point platoon carrying the game...

===Dutch===
[[File:TDBX01-15.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Een koninklijke doemkat!]]
The Royal Netherlands Army has taken the practical route of recognizing that the (West) Germans make better tanks than they ever could, and so they, too, wield one of the mightiest tanks seen on the battlefields of Western Europe. Dutch Leopard 2 platoons form the backbone of the Royal Netherlands Army's tank squadrons, coming in units of 2-4 at 10 points each. Only 1 tank is allowed in the HQ, while the Recon (Verkennings) squadron can take up to two pairs of Leopard 2s.

However, this discount comes at a price: dropping to 4+ skill and morale. The survival of Leopard 2s relies on the player being able to maneuver their vehicles to minimize any return fire, given that a single piece costs around 10 points. A failed 'shoot and scoot' order would typically be met with casualties as your Leopards are hammered with ATGMs or tank guns: they are strong but far from impervious against dedicated anti-armor.

Now for a plot twist: you will probably be buying a couple of these at higher point levels. Why? Because this is the best anti-tank option you can get for the Dutch. While a unit of PRATs might suffice at the lower point levels, vehicle ATGMs is a pretty iffy choice in general. A platoon of Leopards has the ability to pick off enemy tanks from pretty much any point of the table when managed correctly, with orders used to minimize the chance of your tanks blowing up.

It may not be the best tank overall, but it's still the king in a tank fight.

==Leopard 2A5==
[[File:TGRAB03-25.jpg|left|thumb|]]

Have you ever looked at the Leopard 2 and wanted... more of it? Maybe you looked at those fancy M1A1HCs that the Yanks get and burned with jealousy? Maybe you're sick of those Soviets flaunting their new T-80s? Well you're in luck, 'cause our boys in the Bundeswehr were thinking the exact same thing! The Leopard 2A5 is just as fast and well-armed as the Leopard 2 you know and love, but with FA22 it is practically invulnerable from the front to ''every single'' tank gun in the game, as well as most missiles. This fixes one of the biggest perceived issues from the older Leopard 2, namely that it is very fragile for an 11 point tank, but exacerbates the point cost issue. <s>Still cheaper than the HC though, suck it Yanks!</s> At 17 points each, you're effectively buying half of another Leopard 2 and hiding behind it to increase your FA by 4.

Interestingly, the side armor of 13 means it's the only tank in the game that gets a useful save vs. any other MBT in the game, with its ability to save against base T-55s on a 3 or T-55AM2s on a 4. Still wouldn't recommend wading into the thick of it though, one of your tanks costs more than 10 of theirs, and you only get 2 shots.

All that said, compared to the M1A1HC, the side armor boost, higher skill, and cheaper points cost makes it better for countering pact tank swarms as opposed to fighting head to head with the best tanks in the game. As always with super tanks like this, you'll never take them in a company, but if you pair them with a decently sized infantry company, they can use their maneuverability, armor, and firepower to plug holes in your lines while your infantry dig in and do their best to weather the pact swarm.

The plastic kit also includes the L/55 barrel for the Leopard 2A6. We can all see where this is going!

{{clear}}

==IRL==
[[File:Leopard2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You won't think it's shit when it tears your hull wide open on the move.]]
[[File:Blitzkrieg.jpg|300px|right|thumb|]]
With the [[Leopard 1]] entering service in the mid 1960s, it soon became apparent that a successor should be developed to better fit the modern battlefield and utilize newly developed technologies. The ''Bundeswehr'' initially partnered with the US of A in the development of the MBT-70, but as time marched on and more and more money was sunk into the program, it soon became apparent that the MBT-70 was never going to see service. With this in mind, West Germany began to look into ways to upgrade the Leopard 1 platform while utilizing as much as they could from the failed MBT-70.

The result of this was the Leopard 2. The first Leopard 2 prototypes were initially armed with the 105mm L7 gun which basically equipped all of NATO, and few of these 105mm armed Leopards were actually sent over to the US to be tested against their American sibling, the brand new XM1 Abrams, but soon the 120mm L/44 was mounted after it became apparent that a more powerful weapon was needed to deal with modern Soviet armor. The Americans definitely appreciated the Leopard, but they chose to stick with the Abrams, and began to work on ways to make as many parts interchangeable between the two tanks.

The Leopard 2 remains in service to this day and country after country has bought them from Germany. Even nations as far as Indonesia choose to equip their armored forces with the Leopard 2, thanks to its legendary reliability, excellent gun accuracy and toughness. In the 21st century, the Leopard 2 competes rather comfortably with contemporary designs like the T-90, Abrams and Challenger 2, depending on mission requirements and environment. However recent conflict has exposed one of the designs major flaws ammo in the hull is unprotected and is becoming a glaring flaw in the design. Even as the Russians experiment with the T-14's 152mm main gun, the Germans are testing out the 130mm. Time will tell which is the caliber of the future. Some modern Leopard 2s have been upgraded to include one of the greatest innovations in the recent history of armored vehicles: Air Conditioning.

Meanwhile Germany and France are co-developing the MGCS (what many call the "Leopard 3" by the 2030s). Additionally, a German rival design was revealed with a concept vehicle known as the Panther KF51 revealed in 2022. In an attempt to avoid falling into the pitfall that now plagues many western weapon procurement programs. By that time laser Active Protect systems might actually be a thing.

{{West German Forces in Team Yankee}}
{{Dutch Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]]

Challenger 1

2022-10-10T15:16:05Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* In Real Life */

{{British}}
[[File:Challengerstock.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Base Model]]
[[File:ChallengerModel.jpg|300px|right|thumb|ROMOR Battle Package. AKA the toughest of nuts]]
The Challenger 1 is the British third generation main battle tank that takes the concepts of the Chieftain but updates it for a network centric battlefield. Seeing action in the Gulf War under the crews of the Desert Rats, the 1983 system was a fast, hard-hitting tank with an L11A5 cannon, a Rolls-Royce diesel engine, and the first Chobham armor introduced to the world: a composite of ceramics and steel that would become the standard for all tanks across the Western world.

Unlike the Chieftain, the Challenger was designed to be a fully stabilized tank that could fire accurately on the move. Equipped with the armour to serve the British preference for defensive positions and the speed and firepower to outmatch the East’s armoured forces, the concept would remain used until the modern day with successors like the Challenger 2.

==In Team Yankee==
[[File:CHALLENGER CARD.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Tally Ho!]]

This is the camper's Leopard 2.
The premier tank of the Brits serves as the harder, costlier cousin of the [[Chieftain]]. World War III in 1985 has caught the British Army's tank forces in a state of transition, as the Challenger had only entered service in 1983 and was experiencing some "technical issues" in those early years. The few tank crews using the Challenger in 1985 would strictly speaking have been the luckiest of their fellows, getting the newest and most advanced tank, but the Chieftain was a far more proven design, and British Army logistics would have had far more parts on hand for it. Still- bloody Russians want a war, they're ruddy well getting a war.

Trading cost-efficiency for being one of the most heavily-armoured tanks in the game, the Challenger is like a Chieftain turned up to 11 points. The near doubling in cost gets you Front Armour 20, Chobham Armour, Theral Imaging and and increased dash speeds. On the downside the high cost means you're always going to struggle not to get flanked because of low numbers. They still suffer the same weakness as Chieftains, namely being completely useless on the move. Offensively they carry the same ROF 2/1 AT22 FP2+ L11 gun as the Chieftain, with all the tank and infantry mulching goodness.

For an extra 2pts per tank, you can upgrade them to ROMOR. This ups the front armour to a mighty 21 and the side armour to 10. This means you can ignore nearly all tank guns at long range, however, you still retain the weaknesses of vulnerable flanks and being outnumbered.

Park them at the back, shoot them and blitz them, at this point you are paying a lot of points for a bunker with paper sides. They will lose to nearly all other tanks if flanked.

The Formation HQ comes in units of 1-2 (remember HQs always pass their last stand); the Combat Unit comes in <s>squadrons</s> ''Troops''of 2-3. All that has been written about the Leopard 2 being cripplingly costed applies to the Chally 1 as well. Also remember, at long range the Milan shoots just as good (AT wise).

==In Real Life==
[[File:ChallengerIRL.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Scuse me, pardon me, tank coming though]]

Obviously the Challenger is the successor to the Chieftain.

Team Yankee starts in 1985, and the Challenger 1 was introduced in 1983, and still hardly a mainstay vehicle during the period depicted in TYV2. The turret of the Chally was extra thick: there were no guns at the time that could penetrate it. When introduced Britain was keen to show the new tank off to NATO allies so entered two teams of them into the Canadian Army Trophy, considered the premier inter NATO tank gunnery competition. Due to varying levels of fail, including rushing tanks straight off the production line without the proper gun sights and not giving crews time to train, the shiny new much hyped tank placed last and [[That Guy|Britain decided never to enter the completion again]] while the government cut funding and quickly started looking for an alternative tank, even considering purchasing [[Heresy|German Leopard 2s]]. The tank finally got to prove itself in Operation Granby, the UK operation in the 1991 Gulf War, despite huge doubts around reliability, concerns it was outclassed by Iraqi [[T-72|T-72Ms]], and only 22% of tanks being operational due to a crippling lack of spare parts as well as manufacturing faults. Despite a bit of teamkilling by the US 1st Infantry, the Challenger performed well, including scoring the longest tank on tank kill at 5,110 metres against an Iraqi tank.

The Challenger has been succeeded by the Challenger 2. The latter is a complete redesign and only three percent of their parts are interchangeable, despite a similar outward appearance. Both are contemporaries of the [[Leopard 2]] and the [[M1 Abrams]]. Considering how expensive the Challenger 2 is, any replacement during the 2040s would likely to be a foreign platform if common sense was used, but British pride being what it is (and the fact they are a blockadable island), they're likely to give another crack at making a local model. Chally 2 is currently undergoing an extensive Life Extension Program to bring it up to modern specs, this includes swapping the 120mm L30 rifled gun with a 120mm smoothbore Rheinmetall gun (which is also planning for
the Challenger 3 upgrade), the same gun on Leopard 2, for logistical (unify ammunition with other NATO countries) and supply (the factory making HESH for the British Army shut down) reasons.

{{British Forces in Team Yankee}}

M1 Abrams

2022-10-10T15:14:37Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

{{America}}
[[File:M1 Abrams Picture.jpg|300px|right|thumb|70 Tons of Pure American FREEDOM!]]
[[File:IMP1 Abrams.png|300px|right|thumb|The IPM1 version; with Neon camo upgrades.]]
[[File:M1A1Abramsmini.jpg|300px|right|thumb|And you thought it couldn't get any better.]]
{{topquote|It is never very crowded at the front.|General Abrams}}
{{topquote|Crunchie: Term used by a Tank Crewman to describe a dismounted infantry Soldier, derived from the sound that they make when the tank rolls over them.|US Army Slang}}
The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank is the premier armored fighting vehicle in the United States Arsenal. The first totally new tank developed by the United States after the end of the Second World War, the Abrams is a force to be reckoned with by those who wish to tear down democracy and oppress those who are weaker than they. It is armed with:
*A stabilized M68 - an American license-built version of the British L7 - 105mm rifled cannon,
*A single pintle mounted .50, aka .50 BMG or 12.7x99mm, M2 Browning heavy machine gun for the Commander,
*And a pair of M240 light machine guns chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, one for the loader and one mounted coaxially with the main gun.

While the Abrams' primary mission is to destroy enemy armor, the protection of the crew has not been neglected in the design. The M1 Abrams is protected by Chobham Armour plating on the turret cheek, mantlet, and lower glacis, as well as the turret sides.
Chobham is said to be as difficult to penetrate as 2 meters of solid steel (against HEAT rounds at any rate), constructed of panels of high hardness ceramic, steel, and textiles such as Kevlar and Spectra, interspliced with air. The consensus is that against KE, the M1 had 400mm of protection, and 700mm of protection v. HEAT. Some areas were different, but eh.
The ready-use ammunition is mounted in the rear of the turret in a specially designed compartment. If the ammunition is hit, purpose-built blowout panels direct the explosion up and away from the crew compartment, ensuring the survival of the crew even if the ammo begins to cook off. It is worth noting that if said ammunition compartment's hydraulic blast doors are open upon detonation... Not much of a difference.

If you don't have a raging freedom boner right now, something is seriously wrong. Either that or you’re an Iraqi still living in your POS Lion of Babylon aka a worse T-72M knockoff and you still fap to a portrait of Saddam Hussein.

==In Team Yankee==
[[File:Abrams Card with IMP1 Stats.png|300px|left|thumb|The Stat Card]]
The M1 Abrams is an excellent tank in ''Team Yankee'', even if the overall real-world hype about it is somewhat exaggerated. It offers some of the best armor, firepower and mobility of any main battle tank in the game, and is the best MBT the U.S. Army of 1985 had to offer. Caught in the midst of phasing out the much older M60 Patton in favor of this all-new tank, the Army is sending all its armored forces in Europe into the fight with whatever they are currently using. The Abrams is a worthy foe for the Warsaw Pact's cheap but numerous T-series tanks and then some.

The M1's Front Armor is tied with the Leopard 2 and the Chieftain Stillbrew as the second-strongest in the game at 18, and the side armor is an impressive 8. In addition, with the release of the ''Stripes'' Book, you may now upgrade any and all of the Abrams in a platoon the IPM1 Abrams (the IP standing for "Improved Performance") for +1pt each. The IPM1 boasts an extra point of armor all around, with <s>''the'' strongest frontal armor</s> ([[Leopard 2|not any more]]) one of the strongest frontal armor values in the game at a value of 19 and a side armor of 10. The Chobham Armor package also bumps the side armor up to 16 against HEAT weapons, ie. most guided missiles and man portable Anti-Tank weapons. Have fun running over Soviets in the Assault Phase when there's practically nothing they can do to hurt you! Against 120mm shells from enemy tanks above 16", you need a 2 to test for bailing which makes it preeetty good against Ruskie tanks, never mind Leopard 1s or T-72Ms.

Take note that the additional armour will not help against top-end ATGMs from the Hind, Frogfoot or the Storm ATGM carrier. Also, for those historically-inclined gamers, take note that the Abrams was only in use with the active-duty U.S. Army in 1985; Marine, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard heavy armor units were all using the M60 Patton at the time.

Abrams enthusiasts will note that this is the 1980s Abrams, the original M1, meaning it retains the exact same 105mm M68 cannon used in the M60 Patton. The 120mm gun adopted from the Leopard 2 was not installed until the M1A1 version, only a 150 of these tanks existed in 1985. That said, that 105mm cannon is a pretty decent damage dealer, with a ROF of 2 both while halted and moving, meaning that no matter what, you will always have 2 dice to roll. The M68 is improved by an Advanced Stabilizer, so you can haul ass both toward and away from the foe at full Tactical Speed and suffer no penalties. As well as the M68, the Abrams carries a trio of machine guns; a .50-caliber M2 Browning is mounted on the roof alongside a 7.62mm-caliber M240 and can be used for AA work, while another coaxial-mounted M240 enables the Abrams to deal with infantry and lightly-armored targets without using its tank round.

You can take the Abrams in platoons of up to four tanks, with a minimum of two tanks in a platoon. Each standard Abrams costs 8 points; the IPM1 costs 9 points.

===IPM1 VS. M1===
For those who are a little in the dark on the difference between an M1 and an IPM1 Abrams, the M1 Abrams is the first model of the Abrams to see service, while the IPM1 is a slightly up-armoured version made to bridge the gap between the M1 and the M1A1 Abrams, having the armour of the latter but the Firepower of the Former. Does this mean that someday we will see a M1A1 in game with the armour of the IPM1 and the firepower of the Leopard 2? No one really knows (well, we do now), even though the model package has all the parts for an M1A1! Hell, by 1985 the US had deployed half of all M1A1s to Western Europe. In any event, the IP had a slightly longer turret from extra armor. Also, the M1A1 would probably be a very expensive tank due to the sheer power, especially in the era of Team Yankee.

Now, I bet that you are wondering why you would ever take a plain M1 now that the IPM1 is available (besides the fact that you bought them before ''Stripes'' came out and didn't know it was possible to have any other Abrams variant. <s>Screw you too Battlefront</s>). Like a lot of things in wargaming, it all comes down to numbers. If you are running a force with a lot of Abrams, the extra point per vehicle is going to add up quickly. For example, let's say you are running a maxed out Abrams Combat Team. Starting off you have 2 tanks in your command squad. Well, an extra two points aren't too bad, so let's add more. The requisite two Abrams platoons have 4 tanks each, so now we're at an additional 10 points, and the final platoon tacks on an extra 4 points, for a grand total of 14 points.

For reference, that is two whole [[US Mech Platoon|Mechanized Platoons]] that you could have taken instead. Also, since the IPM1 does not have an increase in firepower over the M1 you haven't gotten any better at dealing with the enemy, just better at tanking (heh) their fire, which isn't even that great of an issue since the M1 is already pretty fantastic at taking fire with its Front armour of 18, and if you lose a tank you have 17 more to avenge its loss.

Instead, you should take the IMP1 in lists where you are limited to small numbers of tanks like the Mechanized Team. Since you have fewer tanks, it becomes imperative that you do everything in your power to keep them in the fight for as long as possible, and the cost increase of, at max, 4 is significantly more manageable.

TL;DR:

M1 ===> Good when you have tanks to spare, or in large point cap games because edge in spamminess.

IPM1 ===> Good when you don't have numbers or smaller point cap games, and you need every tank to survive attack.

Sneak peak from previous livestream leaks in the American forces book coming out soon.
==M1A1==
[[File:M1A1Abramscard.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Ba-Bam!]]
Clocking in at a whopping 14 points per vehicle, the M1A1 is one of the most powerful tanks that can roll across your table. Its M256 120mm smoothbore cannon is capable of punching clean through the front of a [[T-64]] and out the other side with its AT of 23 only matched by the heaviest of dedicated Anti-Tank Missiles. Combined with its lovely front armor rating of 19, just like the IPM1 before it, the M1A1 can stands a decent chance of defeating most dedicated Anti-Tank munitions it will face. When the inherent awesomeness is combined with good placement and moment orders, this thing becomes an embodiment of the American will to stand against the red menace. Just make sure you don't get flanked. In truth its greatest weakness is its truly ridiculously high price. If you thought that the [[Leopard 2]] was hamstrung by its points costs, son you ain't seen nothing yet.

If for some reason you looked at the M1A1 and thought that it simply wasn't kick ass enough, or if you laugh in the face of point inefficiency the M1A1HC is what you need. It's got the same weapons and therefore the same unit crushing potential as its base model counterpart. Where it differs is that the front armor goes up to a damn near impervious 21 (<s>only matched by the ROMOR package [[Challenger 1]] at time of writing</s> Beaten by the Bundeswehr's own Leopard 2A5 at FA22 <s>fukken krauts</s>) and the side armor goes up to an impressive 11. That's right, you can flat out ignore most autocannons as they cannon penetrate you from any angle (Bad pun). The cost? 18 points per tank. A 72 fucking point 4 tank platoon ?!?! <s>Jesus Fucking Christ!!!</s> ''World's largest defense budget, baby!''

Thanks to being the most expensive tanks in the game, the chances that you will see formations of these things in games of less than 200 or so points is slim to none, but they still have a use for both the competitive player and the casual pickup gamer alike! The M1A1 comes integral to any US Mech infantry company, making it a powerful resource to support your formation, especially since US mech infantry formations tend to play defensive and thus need to figure out reserves. The Abrams fills this role nicely, having the speed and firepower to make an impact the moment it enters the board, and the points cost to take up the entirety of your reserve pool in a single unit. The synergy with infantry formations in particular is strong, since US Mech infantry can bring a shitload of ATGMs to help deal with BMP and tank swarms, as well as the general durability of infantry letting them hold the line while waiting for your tanks to arrive like the Rohirrim at Pelennor Fields or body blocking enemy tank swarms that want to flank your Abrams. If you play smart, focusing your fire on eliminating one tank company at a time and opening up the maneuver space for your tanks with smoke and your superior tactical speed, the Warsaw Pact tank swarms can be dissected in detail, all while your Abrams are perfectly safe behind their heavy armor and screening infantry, carving swathes in the Red Horde. If you play dumb, your gorgeous 72 point tank platoon is gonna go up in capitalist smoke before you can say "Damn Commie!"

{{clear}}

==IRL==
[[File:DA-ST-88-04607.jpeg|300px|right|thumb|Heard ya talkin' bout freedom!]]
In the 1960s the US Army began to search for a replacement for the [[M60 Patton]]. In this effort, they joined forces with West Germany in development of the MBT-70, an innovative design which featured the entire crew situated in the Turret and sporting a 152mm Gun/missile launcher similar to that of the [[M551 Sheridan]]. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you ask) the MBT-70 Program was canceled before the vehicle was ready for production due to excessive costs. It was not a total failure, however, as the West Germans took the lessons learned from the project and created the [[Leopard 2]] and the Americans took their data and created the M1 Abrams.

The M1 Abrams and its subsequent variants have been in service with the US Military for close to 40 Years. First introduced in 1980, the Abrams has gone through several updates to keep pace with the requirements of the modern battlefield. The first major update was in 1985 the M1A1 which swapped out the 105mm rifled L7 gun for a 120mm Smoothbore (which by the way is included in the Abrams kit and as of 1985 150 M1A1 tanks were in Germany waiting for the war to go hot seriously Team Yankee wikipedia doesn't get this wrong). The latest iteration is the M1A2, which has been upgraded with more advanced targeting equipment and improved defense systems from lessons learned fighting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's also gotten better armor to stop the new shiny guns and missiles. However, please note: The original M1 Abrams had practically no armor whatsoever versing KE, as most APFSDS rounds went straight through turret, hull, mantlet, anything, below 1500 meters. This kind of makes sense because the M1 was built around the assumption that the T-72 (which the Americans were expecting the Abrams to engage with) would be equipped with the same 115mm smoothbore gun as the T-62, but it turned out that the T-72 used a much more powerful 125mm gun. The new intel about the larger and more powerful Soviet tank gun was part of the reason that the Abrams eventually received DU (Depleted Uranium) armour and a 120mm L44 cannon for the M1A1HA version onwards.

The M1A2C, renamed SEP v3 (System enhancement package) is currently in the process of deployment to US Army units in the field due to the Factory getting done ahead of schedule, containing all the wonders of modern technology including but not limited to:
* More powerful shells like the M859A3 and A4, designed to penetrate the heavy reactive armor instead of brute forcing and setting off ERA panels.
* Improved view sights that are in color, so no more B&W guesswork.
* Better computer networks, data links, improved laser range finders, danger indicators, and improved meteorological sensors. Just better electronics in general.
* A shiny new Active Protection System to stop rocket weapons.
* Earlier SEP v1 and SEP v2 upgrades also present, namely infantry-tank telephone, ERA plating, commander 50cal being remotely controlled and an optional second fifty call remotely controlled placed over the barrel.

The Abrams is a terrifyingly effective battering ram as well. Mostly due to its absurd speed and weight. And how does it achieve that speed? Why with its engine of course. Specifically its gas turbine engine. Seeing Sweden play around with turbines in the Strv-103 and hearing rumors that Russia was doing the same with the T-80, America got a little envious. The Strv-103 weighs 40 tons with a 300 HP Boeing turbine designed for drones. The M1 weighs 60 tons and has a '''1500''' HP Lyncoming (now produced by Honeywell) which was also marketed for heavy cargo helicopters. For context, this is the sort of horsepower you'd expect to see on a small freight train. The tradeoff is that its a logistics nightmare, measuring its fuel consumption in gallons per mile and can only drive about 6 hours before needing to refuel. This is mitigated somewhat by two things. First one is that the Abrams is able to use just about any type of fuel available. Jet fuel is standard issue but it can also take gasoline, diesel and marine diesel.(yes, that means fuel for sea vessels.) All very common among the military forces of NATO. The second is that the M1 Abrams is being fielded by a nation that has 753.5 '''billion''' in defense spending, if the M1 could burn Pennies for fuel it would barely make a dent in that budget.

A M1A3 variant is currently in development to design a lighter tank that may one day be more air transportable, as the M1A2's fat ass weighs in at 68 tons (the upgrade to fibre cabling alone shaved 2 tons!) meaning something like the C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest planes in the world, can only take off with two on board rather than the three that can physically fit in the cargo hold. This will be difficult as apparently politics make upgrades more affordable than new-ish tanks. Eventually, though, the mainframe of the tank will wear out and new ones will have to be manufactured. This may take some time, given that the Marines have ditched the Abrams. So all those tanks have gone to the Army,[[derp| due to the USMC brass being idiots that don't realize China has their own light Tanks for island hopping.]] While the Army has just adopted their own light tank the Griffin (based on the ASCOD). [[Herp|So far none of the Marine brass showing any interest despite both of these known facts.]]

The one noteworthy addition will be the long overdue Active Protection System (Trophy System), basically a system that shoots incoming projectiles like RPGs out of the air before they make contact with the tank proper. They bought the Trophy system from Israel because it's a more battle-tested system than the Quick Kill system (US development). The US's own Quick Kill system, similar to Trophy, accomplishes the same job. The US armed forces plans to use both in the latest versions of the Abrams by 2020.

The US Army plans to field the M1A1 until the 2040s and the M1A2 until the 2060s. They also want the M1A3 to be upgraded to a [[Tau|railgun]]. Which is in the realm of possibility because the Abrams is already a modular platform. A new engine may even be able to power two downsized variants of the laser weapon System installed on the USS Ponce. Obviously replacing the M240s and M2 Brownings. Therefore, many Abrams now in service or not yet acquired would eventually be turned into drones after 2050. Renamed the QM1A3, QM1A4 and so forth down the line. Said M1 Abrams drones would serve alongside a future tank. Gotta do something with that military budget larger than most countries GDPs.

Recently, General Dynamics just teased a technological demonstrator call Abrams-X. With a silent hybrid drive that reduces fuel consumption to 50%, a 30 mm autocannon turret for anti aircraft defense, an autoloader, APS systems integrated with reactive armor, and networking capabilities, the company claims it can serve as an interim bridge between the SEPv3 and 4 variants and the Abram’s successor once the DLP component of the NGCV program goes online in the next decade or so. That’s assuming the US Army or a foreign buyer expresses any interest at all.

{{US Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]]

M1 Abrams

2022-10-10T15:13:25Z

2607:FB91:1119:721:6403:739C:5C0A:985F: /* IRL */

{{America}}
[[File:M1 Abrams Picture.jpg|300px|right|thumb|70 Tons of Pure American FREEDOM!]]
[[File:IMP1 Abrams.png|300px|right|thumb|The IPM1 version; with Neon camo upgrades.]]
[[File:M1A1Abramsmini.jpg|300px|right|thumb|And you thought it couldn't get any better.]]
{{topquote|It is never very crowded at the front.|General Abrams}}
{{topquote|Crunchie: Term used by a Tank Crewman to describe a dismounted infantry Soldier, derived from the sound that they make when the tank rolls over them.|US Army Slang}}
The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank is the premier armored fighting vehicle in the United States Arsenal. The first totally new tank developed by the United States after the end of the Second World War, the Abrams is a force to be reckoned with by those who wish to tear down democracy and oppress those who are weaker than they. It is armed with:
*A stabilized M68 - an American license-built version of the British L7 - 105mm rifled cannon,
*A single pintle mounted .50, aka .50 BMG or 12.7x99mm, M2 Browning heavy machine gun for the Commander,
*And a pair of M240 light machine guns chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, one for the loader and one mounted coaxially with the main gun.

While the Abrams' primary mission is to destroy enemy armor, the protection of the crew has not been neglected in the design. The M1 Abrams is protected by Chobham Armour plating on the turret cheek, mantlet, and lower glacis, as well as the turret sides.
Chobham is said to be as difficult to penetrate as 2 meters of solid steel (against HEAT rounds at any rate), constructed of panels of high hardness ceramic, steel, and textiles such as Kevlar and Spectra, interspliced with air. The consensus is that against KE, the M1 had 400mm of protection, and 700mm of protection v. HEAT. Some areas were different, but eh.
The ready-use ammunition is mounted in the rear of the turret in a specially designed compartment. If the ammunition is hit, purpose-built blowout panels direct the explosion up and away from the crew compartment, ensuring the survival of the crew even if the ammo begins to cook off. It is worth noting that if said ammunition compartment's hydraulic blast doors are open upon detonation... Not much of a difference.

If you don't have a raging freedom boner right now, something is seriously wrong. Either that or you’re an Iraqi still living in your POS Lion of Babylon aka a worse T-72M knockoff and you still fap to a portrait of Saddam Hussein.

==In Team Yankee==
[[File:Abrams Card with IMP1 Stats.png|300px|left|thumb|The Stat Card]]
The M1 Abrams is an excellent tank in ''Team Yankee'', even if the overall real-world hype about it is somewhat exaggerated. It offers some of the best armor, firepower and mobility of any main battle tank in the game, and is the best MBT the U.S. Army of 1985 had to offer. Caught in the midst of phasing out the much older M60 Patton in favor of this all-new tank, the Army is sending all its armored forces in Europe into the fight with whatever they are currently using. The Abrams is a worthy foe for the Warsaw Pact's cheap but numerous T-series tanks and then some.

The M1's Front Armor is tied with the Leopard 2 and the Chieftain Stillbrew as the second-strongest in the game at 18, and the side armor is an impressive 8. In addition, with the release of the ''Stripes'' Book, you may now upgrade any and all of the Abrams in a platoon the IPM1 Abrams (the IP standing for "Improved Performance") for +1pt each. The IPM1 boasts an extra point of armor all around, with <s>''the'' strongest frontal armor</s> ([[Leopard 2|not any more]]) one of the strongest frontal armor values in the game at a value of 19 and a side armor of 10. The Chobham Armor package also bumps the side armor up to 16 against HEAT weapons, ie. most guided missiles and man portable Anti-Tank weapons. Have fun running over Soviets in the Assault Phase when there's practically nothing they can do to hurt you! Against 120mm shells from enemy tanks above 16", you need a 2 to test for bailing which makes it preeetty good against Ruskie tanks, never mind Leopard 1s or T-72Ms.

Take note that the additional armour will not help against top-end ATGMs from the Hind, Frogfoot or the Storm ATGM carrier. Also, for those historically-inclined gamers, take note that the Abrams was only in use with the active-duty U.S. Army in 1985; Marine, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard heavy armor units were all using the M60 Patton at the time.

Abrams enthusiasts will note that this is the 1980s Abrams, the original M1, meaning it retains the exact same 105mm M68 cannon used in the M60 Patton. The 120mm gun adopted from the Leopard 2 was not installed until the M1A1 version, only a 150 of these tanks existed in 1985. That said, that 105mm cannon is a pretty decent damage dealer, with a ROF of 2 both while halted and moving, meaning that no matter what, you will always have 2 dice to roll. The M68 is improved by an Advanced Stabilizer, so you can haul ass both toward and away from the foe at full Tactical Speed and suffer no penalties. As well as the M68, the Abrams carries a trio of machine guns; a .50-caliber M2 Browning is mounted on the roof alongside a 7.62mm-caliber M240 and can be used for AA work, while another coaxial-mounted M240 enables the Abrams to deal with infantry and lightly-armored targets without using its tank round.

You can take the Abrams in platoons of up to four tanks, with a minimum of two tanks in a platoon. Each standard Abrams costs 8 points; the IPM1 costs 9 points.

===IPM1 VS. M1===
For those who are a little in the dark on the difference between an M1 and an IPM1 Abrams, the M1 Abrams is the first model of the Abrams to see service, while the IPM1 is a slightly up-armoured version made to bridge the gap between the M1 and the M1A1 Abrams, having the armour of the latter but the Firepower of the Former. Does this mean that someday we will see a M1A1 in game with the armour of the IPM1 and the firepower of the Leopard 2? No one really knows (well, we do now), even though the model package has all the parts for an M1A1! Hell, by 1985 the US had deployed half of all M1A1s to Western Europe. In any event, the IP had a slightly longer turret from extra armor. Also, the M1A1 would probably be a very expensive tank due to the sheer power, especially in the era of Team Yankee.

Now, I bet that you are wondering why you would ever take a plain M1 now that the IPM1 is available (besides the fact that you bought them before ''Stripes'' came out and didn't know it was possible to have any other Abrams variant. <s>Screw you too Battlefront</s>). Like a lot of things in wargaming, it all comes down to numbers. If you are running a force with a lot of Abrams, the extra point per vehicle is going to add up quickly. For example, let's say you are running a maxed out Abrams Combat Team. Starting off you have 2 tanks in your command squad. Well, an extra two points aren't too bad, so let's add more. The requisite two Abrams platoons have 4 tanks each, so now we're at an additional 10 points, and the final platoon tacks on an extra 4 points, for a grand total of 14 points.

For reference, that is two whole [[US Mech Platoon|Mechanized Platoons]] that you could have taken instead. Also, since the IPM1 does not have an increase in firepower over the M1 you haven't gotten any better at dealing with the enemy, just better at tanking (heh) their fire, which isn't even that great of an issue since the M1 is already pretty fantastic at taking fire with its Front armour of 18, and if you lose a tank you have 17 more to avenge its loss.

Instead, you should take the IMP1 in lists where you are limited to small numbers of tanks like the Mechanized Team. Since you have fewer tanks, it becomes imperative that you do everything in your power to keep them in the fight for as long as possible, and the cost increase of, at max, 4 is significantly more manageable.

TL;DR:

M1 ===> Good when you have tanks to spare, or in large point cap games because edge in spamminess.

IPM1 ===> Good when you don't have numbers or smaller point cap games, and you need every tank to survive attack.

Sneak peak from previous livestream leaks in the American forces book coming out soon.
==M1A1==
[[File:M1A1Abramscard.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Ba-Bam!]]
Clocking in at a whopping 14 points per vehicle, the M1A1 is one of the most powerful tanks that can roll across your table. Its M256 120mm smoothbore cannon is capable of punching clean through the front of a [[T-64]] and out the other side with its AT of 23 only matched by the heaviest of dedicated Anti-Tank Missiles. Combined with its lovely front armor rating of 19, just like the IPM1 before it, the M1A1 can stands a decent chance of defeating most dedicated Anti-Tank munitions it will face. When the inherent awesomeness is combined with good placement and moment orders, this thing becomes an embodiment of the American will to stand against the red menace. Just make sure you don't get flanked. In truth its greatest weakness is its truly ridiculously high price. If you thought that the [[Leopard 2]] was hamstrung by its points costs, son you ain't seen nothing yet.

If for some reason you looked at the M1A1 and thought that it simply wasn't kick ass enough, or if you laugh in the face of point inefficiency the M1A1HC is what you need. It's got the same weapons and therefore the same unit crushing potential as its base model counterpart. Where it differs is that the front armor goes up to a damn near impervious 21 (<s>only matched by the ROMOR package [[Challenger 1]] at time of writing</s> Beaten by the Bundeswehr's own Leopard 2A5 at FA22 <s>fukken krauts</s>) and the side armor goes up to an impressive 11. That's right, you can flat out ignore most autocannons as they cannon penetrate you from any angle (Bad pun). The cost? 18 points per tank. A 72 fucking point 4 tank platoon ?!?! <s>Jesus Fucking Christ!!!</s> ''World's largest defense budget, baby!''

Thanks to being the most expensive tanks in the game, the chances that you will see formations of these things in games of less than 200 or so points is slim to none, but they still have a use for both the competitive player and the casual pickup gamer alike! The M1A1 comes integral to any US Mech infantry company, making it a powerful resource to support your formation, especially since US mech infantry formations tend to play defensive and thus need to figure out reserves. The Abrams fills this role nicely, having the speed and firepower to make an impact the moment it enters the board, and the points cost to take up the entirety of your reserve pool in a single unit. The synergy with infantry formations in particular is strong, since US Mech infantry can bring a shitload of ATGMs to help deal with BMP and tank swarms, as well as the general durability of infantry letting them hold the line while waiting for your tanks to arrive like the Rohirrim at Pelennor Fields or body blocking enemy tank swarms that want to flank your Abrams. If you play smart, focusing your fire on eliminating one tank company at a time and opening up the maneuver space for your tanks with smoke and your superior tactical speed, the Warsaw Pact tank swarms can be dissected in detail, all while your Abrams are perfectly safe behind their heavy armor and screening infantry, carving swathes in the Red Horde. If you play dumb, your gorgeous 72 point tank platoon is gonna go up in capitalist smoke before you can say "Damn Commie!"

{{clear}}

==IRL==
[[File:DA-ST-88-04607.jpeg|300px|right|thumb|Heard ya talkin' bout freedom!]]
In the 1960s the US Army began to search for a replacement for the [[M60 Patton]]. In this effort, they joined forces with West Germany in development of the MBT-70, an innovative design which featured the entire crew situated in the Turret and sporting a 152mm Gun/missile launcher similar to that of the [[M551 Sheridan]]. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you ask) the MBT-70 Program was canceled before the vehicle was ready for production due to excessive costs. It was not a total failure, however, as the West Germans took the lessons learned from the project and created the [[Leopard 2]] and the Americans took their data and created the M1 Abrams.

The M1 Abrams and its subsequent variants have been in service with the US Military for close to 40 Years. First introduced in 1980, the Abrams has gone through several updates to keep pace with the requirements of the modern battlefield. The first major update was in 1985 the M1A1 which swapped out the 105mm rifled L7 gun for a 120mm Smoothbore (which by the way is included in the Abrams kit and as of 1985 150 M1A1 tanks were in Germany waiting for the war to go hot seriously Team Yankee wikipedia doesn't get this wrong). The latest iteration is the M1A2, which has been upgraded with more advanced targeting equipment and improved defense systems from lessons learned fighting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's also gotten better armor to stop the new shiny guns and missiles. However, please note: The original M1 Abrams had practically no armor whatsoever versing KE, as most APFSDS rounds went straight through turret, hull, mantlet, anything, below 1500 meters. This kind of makes sense because the M1 was built around the assumption that the T-72 (which the Americans were expecting the Abrams to engage with) would be equipped with the same 115mm smoothbore gun as the T-62, but it turned out that the T-72 used a much more powerful 125mm gun. The new intel about the larger and more powerful Soviet tank gun was part of the reason that the Abrams eventually received DU (Depleted Uranium) armour and a 120mm L44 cannon for the M1A1HA version onwards.

The M1A2C, renamed SEP v3 (System enhancement package) is currently in the process of deployment to US Army units in the field due to the Factory getting done ahead of schedule, containing all the wonders of modern technology including but not limited to:
* More powerful shells like the M859A3 and A4, designed to penetrate the heavy reactive armor instead of brute forcing and setting off ERA panels.
* Improved view sights that are in color, so no more B&W guesswork.
* Better computer networks, data links, improved laser range finders, danger indicators, and improved meteorological sensors. Just better electronics in general.
* A shiny new Active Protection System to stop rocket weapons.
* Earlier SEP v1 and SEP v2 upgrades also present, namely infantry-tank telephone, ERA plating, commander 50cal being remotely controlled and an optional second fifty call remotely controlled placed over the barrel.

The Abrams is a terrifyingly effective battering ram as well. Mostly due to its absurd speed and weight. And how does it achieve that speed? Why with its engine of course. Specifically its gas turbine engine. Seeing Sweden play around with turbines in the Strv-103 and hearing rumors that Russia was doing the same with the T-80, America got a little envious. The Strv-103 weighs 40 tons with a 300 HP Boeing turbine designed for drones. The M1 weighs 60 tons and has a '''1500''' HP Lyncoming (now produced by Honeywell) which was also marketed for heavy cargo helicopters. For context, this is the sort of horsepower you'd expect to see on a small freight train. The tradeoff is that its a logistics nightmare, measuring its fuel consumption in gallons per mile and can only drive about 6 hours before needing to refuel. This is mitigated somewhat by two things. First one is that the Abrams is able to use just about any type of fuel available. Jet fuel is standard issue but it can also take gasoline, diesel and marine diesel.(yes, that means fuel for sea vessels.) All very common among the military forces of NATO. The second is that the M1 Abrams is being fielded by a nation that has 753.5 '''billion''' in defense spending, if the M1 could burn Pennies for fuel it would barely make a dent in that budget.

A M1A3 variant is currently in development to design a lighter tank that may one day be more air transportable, as the M1A2's fat ass weighs in at 68 tons (the upgrade to fibre cabling alone shaved 2 tons!) meaning something like the C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest planes in the world, can only take off with two on board rather than the three that can physically fit in the cargo hold. This will be difficult as apparently politics make upgrades more affordable than new-ish tanks. Eventually, though, the mainframe of the tank will wear out and new ones will have to be manufactured. This may take some time, given that the Marines have ditched the Abrams. So all those tanks have gone to the Army,[[derp| due to the USMC brass being idiots that don't realize China has their own light Tanks for island hopping.]] While the Army has just adopted their own light tank the Griffin (based on the ASCOD). [[Herp|So far none of the Marine brass showing any interest despite both of these known facts.]]

The one noteworthy addition will be the long overdue Active Protection System (Trophy System), basically a system that shoots incoming projectiles like RPGs out of the air before they make contact with the tank proper. They bought the Trophy system from Israel because it's a more battle-tested system than the Quick Kill system (US development). The US's own Quick Kill system, similar to Trophy, accomplishes the same job. The US armed forces plans to use both in the latest versions of the Abrams by 2020.

The US Army plans to field the M1A1 until the 2040s and the M1A2 until the 2060s. They also want the M1A3 to be upgraded to a [[Tau|railgun]]. Which is in the realm of possibility because the Abrams is already a modular platform. A new engine may even be able to power two downsized variants of the laser weapon System installed on the USS Ponce. Obviously replacing the M240s and M2 Brownings. Therefore, many Abrams now in service or not yet acquired would eventually be turned into drones after 2050. Renamed the QM1A3, QM1A4 and so forth down the line. Said M1 Abrams drones would serve alongside a future tank. Gotta do something with that military budget larger than most countries GDPs.

Recently, General Dynamics just teased a technological demonstrator call Abrams-X. With a silent hybrid drive that reduces fuel consumption to 50%, a 30 mm autocannon turret for anti aircraft defense, an autoloader, APS systems integrated with reactive armor, and networking capabilities, the company claims it can serve as an interim bridge between the SEPv3 and 4 variants until DLP component of the NGCV program goes online in the next decade or so. That’s assuming the US Army or a foreign buyer expresses any interest at all.

{{US Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]]