M1 Abrams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids M1 Abrams |
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![]() U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams with production TUSK explosive reactive armor package installed
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Type | Main battle tank |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1980–present |
Used by | See Operators below |
Wars | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2011 Egyptian revolution War in Iraq Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen |
Production history | |
Designer | Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) |
Designed | 1972–1975 |
Manufacturer | Lima Army Tank Plant (since 1980) Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant (1982–1996) Egyptian Defense Company Tank Plant |
Unit cost | US$6.21 million (M1A2 / FY99) Estimated in 2016 as US$8.92 million (with inflation adjustment) |
Produced | 1979–present |
No. built | approx. 10,400 |
Variants | See variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | M1: 60 short tons (54 t) M1A1: 63 short tons (57 t) M1A1 SA: 67.6 short tons (61.3 t) M1A2 SEP v2: 71.2 short tons (64.6 t) M1A2 SEP v3: 73.6 short tons (66.8 t) |
Length | Gun forward: 32.04 ft (9.77 m) Hull length: 26.02 ft (7.93 m) |
Width | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
Height | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
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Elevation | +20° / -10° |
Traverse | 9 seconds/360 degrees |
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Armor | Composite armor |
Main
armament |
M1: 105 mm L/52 M68A1 rifled gun (55 rounds) M1A1: 120 mm L/44 M256A1 smoothbore gun (40 rounds) M1A2: 120 mm L/44 M256A1 smoothbore gun (42 rounds) |
Secondary
armament |
1 × 0.50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun with 900 rounds 2 × 7.62 mm (.308 in) M240 machine guns with 10,400 rounds (1 pintle-mounted, 1 coaxial) |
Engine | Honeywell AGT1500 multi-fuel turbine engine 1,500 shp (1,120 kW) |
Power/weight | From 26.9 hp/t (20.05 kW/t) to 23.8 hp/t (17.74 kW/t) |
Transmission | Allison DDA X-1100-3B |
Suspension | High-hardness-steel torsion bars with rotary shock absorbers |
Ground clearance | M1, M1A1: 0.48 m (1.6 ft; 19 in) M1A2: 0.43 m (1 ft 5 in) |
Fuel capacity | 504.4 US gallons (1,909 L) |
Operational
range |
M1A2, road: 265 mi (426 km) Cross country: 93–124 mi (150–200 km) |
Maximum speed | M1A1, road: 45 mph (72 km/h) (governed); Off-road: 30 mph (48 km/h) M1A2, road: 42 mph (67 km/h) (governed); Off-road: 25 mph (40 km/h) |
The M1 Abrams is a powerful American main battle tank. It was designed by Chrysler Defense and is named after General Creighton Abrams. This tank is one of the heaviest tanks used by armies today.
The M1 Abrams brought many new technologies to military vehicles. It uses a special turbine engine that can run on different types of fuel. It also has strong Chobham composite armor for protection. A computer system helps aim its powerful gun. For safety, its ammunition is stored in a separate area that can blow outwards if hit. It also protects the crew from chemical, biological, and nuclear threats.
Early M1 tanks had a 105 mm gun. Later versions use a larger 120 mm gun. There are three main types of Abrams tanks: the M1, M1A1, and M1A2. Each new version has better weapons, stronger protection, and more advanced electronics.
The M1 Abrams has been in service since 1980. It is the main battle tank for the United States Army. It was also used by the United States Marine Corps. Other countries like Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Poland, and Iraq also use the Abrams.
This tank first saw combat in the Gulf War. It has also been used in the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War. Iraqi Abrams tanks have fought against the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia has used them in the Yemeni Civil War.
Contents
Countries Using the M1 Abrams Tank
The M1 Abrams tank is used by many countries around the world. Here are the main operators:
Current Operators

Australia – Australian Army: Australia has 59 M1A1 tanks. They bought these from the U.S. in 2006. These tanks replaced their older Leopard AS1 tanks in 2007. Australia plans to buy 75 new M1A2 SEPv3 tanks and other armored vehicles. These new tanks will arrive in 2024 and replace the current M1A1s.
Egypt – Egyptian Army: Egypt has 1,360 M1A1 tanks. These tanks are put together in Egypt with help from the U.S.
Iraq – Iraqi Army: Iraq has 321 M1A1M tanks. They started getting these tanks in 2010. By 2011, all deliveries were finished.
Kuwait – Kuwaiti Army: Kuwait uses 218 M1A2 tanks.
Poland – Polish Land Forces: Poland has bought 250 M1A2 SEP v3 tanks. These will be delivered by early 2025. Poland also bought 116 used M1A1 tanks from the U.S. These older tanks will start arriving in 2022. They will add to Poland's existing Leopard 2PL tanks.
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabian Army: Saudi Arabia has 373 Abrams tanks. These tanks are being updated to the M1A2S version. They ordered 69 more M1A2S tanks in 2013.
Morocco – Royal Moroccan Army: Morocco ordered 222 M1A1 SA tanks in 2015. Deliveries started in 2016. The U.S. also approved the sale of 162 M1A2M tanks to Morocco in 2018.
Taiwan – Republic of China Army: Taiwan decided to buy 108 M1A2 tanks from the U.S. in 2018. These tanks will replace their older CM-11 Brave Tiger and M60A3 TTS tanks. The first two tanks were delivered to Taiwan in June 2022.
United States – United States Army and United States Marine Corps: The U.S. has received over 8,100 M1, M1A1, and M1A2 tanks. The U.S. Army currently has 2,509 tanks in active service. Many more are kept in storage.
Future Operators
Ukraine – Ukrainian Army: The U.S. plans to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. These will be older M1A1 tanks that have been updated. They are expected to arrive by Fall 2023.
Romania – Romanian Land Forces: Romania is planning to buy a battalion of Abrams tanks. This proposal was announced in March 2023.
Former Operators
United States – United States Marine Corps: In 2020, the Marine Corps decided to stop using tanks. They transferred all 450 of their M1 Abrams tanks to the U.S. Army. This change was completed in May 2021.
Images for kids
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An Abrams tank crossing the Euphrates River in 2003.
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U.S. M1A1 tanks during training in South Korea, 1998.
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Tankers driving an M1A1 Abrams through the Taunus Mountains in Germany, 2005.
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A U.S. Army M1A1 tank after being unloaded from a C-17 aircraft in Iraq in 2004.
See also
In Spanish: M1 Abrams para niños