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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
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Unusual M1A2 V2 with add on turret armour ?
chnoone
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
Joined: January 01, 2009
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 07:28 PM UTC
Hey Guys

My attention was brought to this recent pic of an M1A2 V2 in Germany ... looks like some armour package was attached to the front turret.
Has anyone more info on this Typ of appearance ???



Cheers
Christopher
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 08:01 PM UTC
I think that's part of the Heavy Armor Package 3 (HAP-3).
2805662
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: March 27, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 10:14 PM UTC
Apparently a counterweight package related to the Trophy APS fitment.
SWATdoc
#503
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 10:38 AM UTC
Hello Chris,

I believe this is the M1A2C. Part of the improvement(s) to this version includes additional armor on the turret. I think that it began to enter service in 2019.

Respectfully,

Allen
Majekm
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Poland
Joined: April 06, 2008
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020 - 03:10 AM UTC
M1a2c does have thicker frontal turret armor but the turret faces have been lengthened. And in this case this is clearly an add-on armor that looks like weight simulators. Interesting.
Kenaicop
#384
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Nevada, United States
Joined: August 23, 2005
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020 - 05:36 AM UTC
Part of the TROPHY upgrade, perhaps?

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/m1-abrams-tank-m1a2c
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5517903/m1-abrams-loaded-onto-raft-wet-gap-crossing
2805662
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: March 27, 2008
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020 - 07:24 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello Chris,

I believe this is the M1A2C. Part of the improvement(s) to this version includes additional armor on the turret. I think that it began to enter service in 2019.

Respectfully,

Allen


Allen, the M1A2C hull has enlarged towing points/lifting eyes that are a lot ‘beefier’ than the original.

This vehicle has the originals, indicating that it isn’t a M1A2C.

The boxes on the turret roof, as well as the frontal appliqué, are associated with the Trophy active protection system.
SWATdoc
#503
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2006
KitMaker: 147 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020 - 02:23 PM UTC
Hello Greg,

I will certainly defer to you on this, mate. I should know more about an American designed tank, but, since it is not built in Texas, I can not claim to know everything about it!

It do look pretty good with that addition to the turret front.

Respectfully,

Allen

BigSplashBear
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Australia
Joined: November 26, 2011
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020 - 10:16 PM UTC
Great photo!
Is that vehicle being loaded on or off?
If off, is someone about to have a bad day?

Best wishes,
Craig
Trisaw
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California, United States
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

M1a2c does have thicker frontal turret armor but the turret faces have been lengthened. And in this case this is clearly an add-on armor that looks like weight simulators. Interesting.


A public Defense forum said that the frontal armor is actually counterweights to balance the turret for the Trophy APS.

According to the forum, the U.S. Army found out that the Trophy APS on the sides of the M1A2C's turret makes firing the main gun or driving unbalanced when the 120mm gun is pointed 90 degrees left or right, hence the need for more frontal armor. It is not solely for adding more armor thickness to counter new threats.
Kenaicop
#384
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Nevada, United States
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:44 AM UTC
Good info, figured it was part of the TROPHY system, be nice to see more detailed pics
TankSGT
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New Jersey, United States
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 10:11 AM UTC
This video may answer that question The M1A2C has thicker frontal armor there are shots of the turret with counter weights. Plus lots of great M1 pictures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmtkgrRdi_A

exgrunt
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: December 17, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 02:15 PM UTC
Does the Trophy variant have a formal designation?

Also, so when are we going to see some aftermarket (or a new kit) of the all-up M1 with all this new gear?
knewton
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New Zealand
Joined: June 19, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 02:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Does the Trophy variant have a formal designation?

Also, so when are we going to see some aftermarket (or a new kit) of the all-up M1 with all this new gear?


Dragon has one in the works, there was a line drawing in their 2020 catalog. Their M1 is a reference kit of sorts.
jfeenstra
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: April 24, 2014
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 03:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great photo!
Is that vehicle being loaded on or off?
If off, is someone about to have a bad day?

Best wishes,
Craig


It’s being loaded - the operator at the front is clearly signalling for the driver to turn to passenger side. But even if it was being offloaded, it would be fine at the present line. I’ve loaded/unloaded equipment many times with only half the width of the track on each side actually on the trailer.

Jon
junglejim
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Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 04:32 PM UTC
Ever loaded in the rain Jon?!



Jim
jfeenstra
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Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 05:16 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ever loaded in the rain Jon?

Jim


Ha! Except it’s not raining in the picture!

Rain never worries me, it’s the operator Lol!

Jon
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 12:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Does the Trophy variant have a formal designation?


No, Trophy is an add-on kit (like TUSK) that can be installed on any tank that has the proper wiring added.
exgrunt
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: December 17, 2013
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 12:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Does the Trophy variant have a formal designation?


No, Trophy is an add-on kit (like TUSK) that can be installed on any tank that has the proper wiring added.


So the armor / counterweight package on the turret front is removable as well?
LonCray
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Virginia, United States
Joined: August 24, 2005
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 02:12 AM UTC
There's two boxes on top of the turret, almost on top of the side stowage boxes - I don't recall seeing those there before. Are they new or are they temporary shipping containers for equipment, or what?
exgrunt
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Massachusetts, United States
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 03:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

There's two boxes on top of the turret, almost on top of the side stowage boxes - I don't recall seeing those there before. Are they new or are they temporary shipping containers for equipment, or what?


Believe they are storage lockers for extra Trophy munitions.

I'd love to see some additional pictures of these new tanks. Wonder if the Army is adding provisions for this system to all M1's and will just install the actual Trophy sensors and launchers as needed or if only a small subset of forward deployed tanks will get this kit? I'm especially interested in the counterweight on the front. Assume it was designed to provided maximum armor protection like the new package on the V3's?
2805662
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: March 27, 2008
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 04:31 AM UTC
This illustration is from the annual test & evaluation report:

https://i.imgur.com/Nl4qU0x.jpg

Everything green is Trophy-specific, including the roof-mounted stowage boxes. The turret is illustrated without any of its normal armour. The same illustration has been used in the previous annual reports, pre-dating the appliqué counterweight/armour kit.

Apparently only one brigade’s worth of Trophy is being procured.
seanmcandrews
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: May 09, 2009
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Posted: Monday, March 30, 2020 - 01:41 AM UTC
That is an interesting illustration, notice the glacis armor is missing as well with the headlights floating out in space.

Sean
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