War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Merkava Mk.4M

2023-10-17T08:19:03Z

U6307927: Added some pros and cons

{{About
| about = Israeli medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Merkava (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=il_merkava_mk_4m
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Merkava Mk.4M''' is the third and last subvariant of the Merkava Mk.4, which is the fourth variant of the [[Merkava (Family)|Merkava main battle tank family]]. It is an enhanced subvariant of the standard Merkava Mk.4, outfitted with the Trophy active protection system (APS). Also known as the Merkava Mk.4M Windbreaker, this tank began production in 2009. In 2011, the first brigade outfitted with these tanks was declared operational. It saw action in the same year and successfully resisted an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) attack. Since then, the updated Merkava Mk.4M tanks equipped with the Trophy APS have intercepted dozens of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) such as the RPG-29 and ATGMs such as the Kornet and Metis-M.

Introduced in [[Update "Wind of Change"]], the Merkava Mk.4M is the ultimate subvariant of the Merkava Mk.4. Players can lead assaults into modern battlefields without fear of ATGMs from both ground vehicles and helicopters, thanks to the Trophy APS. The Merkava Mk.4M is a truly modern main battle tank designed for even the most intense conflict, providing the finest protection and firepower to confront any adversary. Players should bear in mind, however, that the Trophy APS does not give unlimited protection, and hence the tank should not stay out in the open for long during combat.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=2,325|rbMinHp=1,327}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|IMI MG251 (120 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[IMI MG251 (120 mm)|120 mm IMI MG251]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 46 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 32.4 || 44.8 || 54.4 || 60.2 || 64.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 20.2 || 23.8 || 28.9 || 32.0 || 34.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:IMI MG251 (120 mm)/Ammunition|M325, M339, M322, M338}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Merkava_Mk.4B.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''46''' || 30 ''(+16)'' || 13 ''(+33)'' || 11 ''(+35)'' || 1 ''(+45)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 1,000 (200) || 577 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 6,000 (200) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle || 1,800 (200) || 600 || -5°/+50° || -60°/+120°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful APFSDS round
* Trophy System will stop most missiles
* HE-TF can help with fighting against helicopters
* Generation 2 thermal for gunner and commander
* 200mm of NERA on the turret roof will protect against HE shells striking the optics and sometimes even against artillery
* 400mm of NERA side armor above the tracks. Enough to stop most HEAT-FS and autocannons.
* Can reverse at 64kph.

'''Cons:'''

* Engine is at the front of the tank and any penetrating hit to the UFP will result in a stranded tank
* Upper front plate is weaker than those of other nations' tanks
* Slower reload than most top tier manual loaded tanks. 8.7 secs stock, 6.7 ace.
* depression of only 7°

== History ==

Due to the relatively small size of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) compared to some of its potential opponents, Israel's military doctrine is ever focused on protecting its highly-trained personnel from harm during combat. This is typically achieved by fielding advanced technology designed to reduce casualties. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the design of the Merkava tank. Beyond its rare configuration, which places the engine at the front to soak up penetrating rounds, as well as the "Hairs of Shulamit" passive protective chains around the rear of the tank's turret, in the early 2000s Israel began simultaneous development of two Active Protection Systems (APS) designed to intercept and destroy incoming anti-tank weaponry.

One of these two systems is called "Me'il Ruach" (Windbreaker Jacket, or simply Windbreaker), which was developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Windbreaker system contains a high-precision radar and four flat-panel antennas, designed to detect incoming projectiles such as HEAT rounds, ATGMs, RPGs, and any other "slow" chemical warheads. Once an incoming projectile is detected, the system quickly calculates its exact flight trajectory and determines the optimum timing for interception. Two launchers on either side of the turret can quickly rotate in any direction to fire a pack of Explosively-Formed Projectiles (EFP) at the warhead and detonate it before it can hit the tank. This is effectively a very tight shotgun blast of tiny pellets that triggers the warhead by directly hitting it. If the system determines that the enemy projectile will not hit the tank, it does not fire the pellets at all.

The extreme accuracy of the radar, the precise trajectory calculation and the tight cone of pellets not only increase the chance of detonating the warhead to approximately 90-95% (100% in operational history), but also significantly reduce the risk to any friendly infantry who may be near the tank when the system fires. This was set as a prerequisite before development ever began. Furthermore, the system alerts the tank crew to the direction the attack came from, allowing them to return fire quickly and effectively.

The Windbreaker system was first installed onto a platoon of operational [[Merkava Mk.4B|Merkava Mk.4 tanks]] in 2009. The upgraded model was renamed '''Merkava Mk.4M''', with the M being the first letter in the system's Hebrew name ("Me'il Ruach"). The IDF's 401st Armored Regiment was the first to be fully equipped with Merkava Mk.4Ms in 2012. Today, all new Israeli-produced tanks are Merkava Mk.4Ms; all Merkava Mk.4 tanks in service in the IDF have been upgraded to Merkava Mk.4M standards; and the Windbreaker system is also known to feature on some older [[Merkava_Mk.3D_(USA)|Merkava Mk.3D models]].

Windbreaker became the first fully-operational hard-kill APS in any Western-aligned army, and to this day is the only mass-produced system of this type outside of Russia and China. It was first tested in battle in 2011, when it intercepted an RPG fired by Hamas combatants at a Merkava Mk.4M on the border of the Gaza Strip. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Windbreaker systems reportedly intercepted a total of 15 enemy warheads, including Metis, Konkurs and Kornet ATGMs. As of 2023, the system has maintained a 100% operational success rate in combat.

Windbreaker's development quickly drew the attention of the United States Army, which first purchased a light version of the system for protecting its Oshkosh M-ATVs. In the United States military, the system is named "Trophy". In 2017, the U.S. Army ordered 100 heavy-model Trophy units for installation on [[M1A2 Abrams]] tanks, enough to outfit an entire regiment. In 2019 the Army ordered enough systems to outfit three additional regiments. Germany was also an early adopter of the Trophy system, installing it into its state-of-the-art Leopard 2A7A1. Reportedly, the British army is currently planning on installing the Trophy system into its future Challenger 3 tank, though trials are proceeding concurrently for other APS systems.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=il_merkava_mk_4m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|diXj9XNkSSs|'''The Shooting Range #298''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7607-development-merkava-mk-4b-mk-4m-the-chariots-of-modern-warfare-en|[Devblog] Merkava Mk.4B & Mk.4M: The chariots of modern warfare]]

{{TankManufacturer Israeli Ordnance Corps}}
{{Israel medium tanks}}
[[Category:Ground vehicles with active protection system]]

M1A2 Abrams

2019-12-17T14:47:24Z

U6307927: pic description

{{Specs-Card|code=us_m1a2_abrams}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_M1A2 Abrams.jpg|420px||thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.93 "Shark Attack"]] as the top-researchable vehicle in the US Ground Forces tech tree. The M1A2 introduces heavy depleted uranium armour, a commander's thermal sight and the only driver's thermal imager in the game.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===


[[File:M1A2 armour scheme.png|thumbnail|The M1A2's frontal KE protection vs CL1343 at 500 metres]]
[[File:M1A2 CE armour scheme.png|thumbnail|The M1A2's frontal CE protection vs MIM-146]]

The M1A2's armour is a massive improvement in comparison to its predecessor, the [[M1A1 Abrams|M1A1]] and is the first Abrams in the game to be equipped with depleted uranium composite armour, located on the turret cheeks of the tank. The protection afforded by the use of depleted uranium amounts to roughly over 200 mm RHAe more armour against kinetic energy projectiles whilst retaining the near-impenetrable chemical protection of the M1A1. The turret's overall kinetic energy protection ranges from around 690 mm to 600 mm whilst the chemical energy protection ranges from 1200 mm to 1000 mm. However, the M1A2 has no depleted uranium located in the lower front plate and retains the same protection there, retaining the same weak spots as the M1A1 there. The turret ring and breech also are weak spots, though the breech on the Abrams series is notably some of the strongest out of all NATO main battle tanks being small and well protected against chemical energy rounds and some early APFSDS rounds.

=== Mobility ===


The M1A2 retains the same 1,500 horsepower AGT-1500 gas turbine on previous Abrams variants, though the tank has gained an additional 4 metric tons of weight, putting the total mass of the tank at 61.7 tonnes. This translates to a noticeable decrease in acceleration and manoeuvrability due to a lower hp/ton ratio. However, the tank retains the same 68 km/h top speed and 40 km/h reverse speed and compared to its counterparts the M1A2 is still quite mobile, especially at speeds over 40 km/h. When stock, the hull traverse is quite horrendous and acceleration is lacking, though these are largely remedied by researching the engine, filters, transmission and tracks modules.

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|M256 (120 mm)}}

The M1A2 is armed with the same 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun as the M1A1 and has access to the same ammunition of APFSDS and HEAT-FS. However, the M1A2 also gets access to a new HEAT-MP-T shell, M830A1. The M829 APFSDS round is still an excellent anti-tank munition, boasting the third highest penetration figures out of any sabot round in the game, at 493 mm of flat penetration at point-blank and decreasing to just 458 mm at 2 kilometres. Its angled performance is also excellent, penetrating 284 mm of armour at 60 degrees point-blank and 264 mm at 2 kilometres. It is sufficient to reliably engage any vehicle in the game frontally. The M830 HEAT-FS shell penetrates a meagre 480 mm of armour. It is not recommended to use this shell after unlocking the M829. The M1A2's new shell, M830A1 is a special type of HEAT-FS round. Instead of using a conventional impact fuse, M830A1 is a sub-calibre HEAT-FS round that has been saboted into a 120 mm casing and fitted with a proximity fuse. This allows it to effectively engage low flying aircraft and helicopters up to a range of 4.5 kilometres. The sub-calibre nature of the round means it travels extremely quickly at 1,400 m/s, making it the fastest HEAT round in the game. However, its effectiveness against armoured vehicles is limited as it penetrates a mere 350 mm of armour.

The M1A2's gun handles very well, with a very efficient stabiliser that allows accurate fire at any speed and a very fast 40 degrees per second turret traverse. The gun has good depression and elevation angles; negative 10 and positive 20 degrees respectively. An aced crew can reload the gun in just six seconds, making it a very fast firing and powerful gun.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="6" |[[M256 (120 mm)|120 mm M256]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" |42
| -10°/+20°
|±180°
|Two-plane
|-
! colspan="6" |Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
!Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
!Prior + Full crew
!Prior + Expert qualif.
!Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
|''Arcade''
|38.08
|52.71
|64.00
|70.8
|75.29
|-
|''Realistic''
|23.8
|28.0
|34.0
|37.6
|40.0
|-
! colspan="4" |Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" |Stock
! colspan="1" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
|7.80
|6.9
|6.36
|6.0
|}

=====Ammunition=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="8" |Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" |Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Type of
warhead
! colspan="6" |'''Penetration''' ''in mm'' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
!10m
!100m
!500m
!1000m
!1500m
!2000m
|-
|M830||HEAT-FS||650||650||650||650||650||650
|-
|M829||APFSDS||493||492||484||476||467||458
|-
|M830A1
|HEAT-MP
|350
|350
|350
|350
|350
|350
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="11" |Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" |Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Type of
warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity
in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile
Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" |''Explosive Mass in g'' ''(TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" |''Normalization At 30°''
''from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" |''Ricochet:''
|-
!0%
!50%
!100%
|-
|M830||HEAT-FS||1,140||13.5||0.0||0.1||1,640||+0°||65°||72°||75°
|-
|M829||APFSDS||1,679||4.3||N/A||N/A||N/A||+1.5°||78°||80°||81°
|-
|M830A1
|HEAT-MP
|1,400
|11.4
|400
|0.1
|1.39
|
|65°
|72°
|75°
|}
=====[[Ammo racks]]=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full
ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st
rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd
rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual
discrepancy
|-
||'''42'''||18||24|| style="text-align:left" |Yes
|-
|}
=== Machine guns ===
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M240 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" |[[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! colspan="7" |''Pintle mount (Commander)''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |1,000 (200)||577||-9°/+65°||±180°
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" |[[M240 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M240]]
|-
! colspan="7" |''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |10,000 (200)||750||-10°/+20°||±180°
|-
! colspan="7" |''Pintle mount (Loader)''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |1,400 (200)||750||-9°/+65°||-77°/+135°
|}
===Optics and night vision===
The M1A2 is equipped with a thermal imager for the commander, gunner and driver. It has good resolution and provides excellent situational awareness for the vehicle.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" |{{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! rowspan="3" |Type of optic
! rowspan="3" |Magnification
! colspan="5" |[[Night Vision Devices]]
|-
! colspan="3" |Image Intensifier
! rowspan="2" |Thermal Imager
Resolution
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!Resolution
!Light Mult
!Noise Level
|-
!Gunner's Sight
|X3.0 - X10.0
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|
|-
!Commander's View
|X6
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|
|-
!Driver's View
|X1
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M1A2 Abrams excels as an all-around jack of all trades vehicle capable of any role presented to it. It has a great combination of protection, firepower, situational awareness and mobility to allow it to adapt to any task it may face, from close-quarters fighting in urban areas to long-range engagements on large open maps.

;Urban combat

The M1A2, with its good mobility and improved protection over the M1A1 can function as an effective brawler in close-quarters urban fighting. The M1A2's reload rate is on par and superior when aced to its counterparts with the exception of the Challenger 2 and Type 90, making it able to quickly dish out damage and deal with multiple foes. Thusly, the M1A2 has no issue leading the charge into urban areas and being a frontline vehicle in the thick of the action, being able to equally deal damage and take it.

;Long-range combat

On large open maps, the M1A2 is fully able to exploit its improved turret protection and commander's thermal imaging to give it the upper hand in long-range battles. The mobility of the M1A2 allows it to reach advantageous positions that overlook key areas of the map and its improved thermal quality allows easier identification of targets at range and in dense woodland. The commander's thermal imager means the player can keep track of threats all around the vehicle and monitor the battlefield without exposing the turret at all. The M1A2 is best played as an ambush sniper, using its commander's thermal sight to survey from cover, exposing the tank only to engage a target. The turret armour also means the M1A2 should be kept in a hull-down position, making the tank extremely hard to destroy. The M1A2 also retains the ability to effectively take the enemy head-on when the situation calls for it, such as assaulting capture points. The M830A1 shell is also valuable, allowing the M1A2 to become an ad-hoc anti-aircraft vehicle, especially against unwary helicopters that get too close to you or your allies.

;Notable enemies

* [[Leopard 2A5]]: This is the main counterpart of the M1A2 and both tanks are evenly matched in nearly all aspects. Thusly the Leopard 2A5 should be a high-priority target to be dealt with carefully. When hull down, the Leopard 2A5 can only be effectively penetrated through the gun mantlet or a lucky shot into the mantlet, so aim for the gun area, which usually results in the disabling of the weapon. If the Leopard 2A5 presents its hull, aim for the left side as the lined-up crew members usually result in all of them being knocked out at the same time.

* [[T-80U]]: The T-80U can be a fearsome enemy if you are unaware of its significant disadvantages and weaknesses. The tank's frontal protection is very strong, though the area around the gun and the driver's hatch are weak spots that you should aim for. The T-80U, like many other T-series vehicles, are prone to being destroyed in one-shot due to the tightly-packed interior that has the turret crew sitting on top of all the ammunition. Furthermore, the T-80U is very vulnerable to any form of angling in the hull as its side protection is very weak in comparison to the frontal armour. A single penetration at all but the most oblique angles usually results in the detonation of the hull-ammo carousel to easily destroy the T-80U.

* [[Leclerc]]: The Leclerc's good mobility, firepower and protection make it a formidable foe to engage. However the tank's armour scheme is inconsistent and presents three main weak spots frontally; the massive and extremely weak mantlet, the UFP and LFP. These are quite easy to hit and present a good chance of dealing serious damage or knocking out the vehicle entirely.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* New depleted uranium composite armour layout makes the frontal turret extremely difficult to penetrate to all munitions in the game
* Can effectively destroy aircraft or helicopters with new HEATFS shell through proximity detonation
* Thermal sight for the commander, gunner and driver
* Excellent thermal quality (800 x 600), comparable to the [[Leopard 2A5]]
* Good crew survivability like the rest of the Abrams line

'''Cons:'''

* Has the same weak spots as the preceding Abrams
* The mantlet can be penetrated by almost all shells, will only stop HEATFS
* The Italian CL1343 APFSDS found on the Ariete line of tanks can penetrate some areas of the gunner's side turret cheek at close range
* Least manoeuvrable Abrams in the game, due to its weight of 61.7 tonnes

== History ==


In the second half of the 1980s, a development project was launched to increase the combat effectiveness of the Abrams MBT. The result of this undertaking became the M1A2 version of the Abrams.

The new version featured an upgraded fire control system, a new independent commander’s panoramic sight as well as improved protection thanks to the use of second generation depleted uranium composite armor. All of these upgrades combined significantly bolstered the combat capabilities of the Abrams tank. Production of the M1A2 began in 1986 and the modification was formally introduced into US service in 1992.

The M1A2 and its sub-variants are the most advanced modifications of the Abrams tank fielded to date. Over 1,500 M1A2s have been built with some older variants also being upgraded to the M1A2 standard. Apart from the U.S. as its primary operator, the M1A2 also sees service with the armed forces of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

''- From [[wt:en/news/6451-development-m1a2-abrams-higher-and-higher-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==

<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:M1A2 on Kursk.png |thumb|250px|M1A2, ''Angel of Death'', scanning the horizon on [[Kursk (Ground Forces)|Kursk]].]][[File:Shot 2019.12.17 15.34.50.jpg|thumb|M1A2 sporting the unlockable Allied Spirit VIII skin.This skin represents US Army units in Europe, 2018.]]</li>
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6451-development-m1a2-abrams-higher-and-higher-en|[Development<nowiki>]</nowiki> M1A2 Abrams - Higher and Higher]]

{{USA medium tanks}}

M1A2 Abrams

2019-12-17T14:42:37Z

U6307927: Added a photo of the Allied Spirit VIII skin.

{{Specs-Card|code=us_m1a2_abrams}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_M1A2 Abrams.jpg|420px||thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.93 "Shark Attack"]] as the top-researchable vehicle in the US Ground Forces tech tree. The M1A2 introduces heavy depleted uranium armour, a commander's thermal sight and the only driver's thermal imager in the game.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===


[[File:M1A2 armour scheme.png|thumbnail|The M1A2's frontal KE protection vs CL1343 at 500 metres]]
[[File:M1A2 CE armour scheme.png|thumbnail|The M1A2's frontal CE protection vs MIM-146]]

The M1A2's armour is a massive improvement in comparison to its predecessor, the [[M1A1 Abrams|M1A1]] and is the first Abrams in the game to be equipped with depleted uranium composite armour, located on the turret cheeks of the tank. The protection afforded by the use of depleted uranium amounts to roughly over 200 mm RHAe more armour against kinetic energy projectiles whilst retaining the near-impenetrable chemical protection of the M1A1. The turret's overall kinetic energy protection ranges from around 690 mm to 600 mm whilst the chemical energy protection ranges from 1200 mm to 1000 mm. However, the M1A2 has no depleted uranium located in the lower front plate and retains the same protection there, retaining the same weak spots as the M1A1 there. The turret ring and breech also are weak spots, though the breech on the Abrams series is notably some of the strongest out of all NATO main battle tanks being small and well protected against chemical energy rounds and some early APFSDS rounds.

=== Mobility ===


The M1A2 retains the same 1,500 horsepower AGT-1500 gas turbine on previous Abrams variants, though the tank has gained an additional 4 metric tons of weight, putting the total mass of the tank at 61.7 tonnes. This translates to a noticeable decrease in acceleration and manoeuvrability due to a lower hp/ton ratio. However, the tank retains the same 68 km/h top speed and 40 km/h reverse speed and compared to its counterparts the M1A2 is still quite mobile, especially at speeds over 40 km/h. When stock, the hull traverse is quite horrendous and acceleration is lacking, though these are largely remedied by researching the engine, filters, transmission and tracks modules.

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|M256 (120 mm)}}

The M1A2 is armed with the same 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun as the M1A1 and has access to the same ammunition of APFSDS and HEAT-FS. However, the M1A2 also gets access to a new HEAT-MP-T shell, M830A1. The M829 APFSDS round is still an excellent anti-tank munition, boasting the third highest penetration figures out of any sabot round in the game, at 493 mm of flat penetration at point-blank and decreasing to just 458 mm at 2 kilometres. Its angled performance is also excellent, penetrating 284 mm of armour at 60 degrees point-blank and 264 mm at 2 kilometres. It is sufficient to reliably engage any vehicle in the game frontally. The M830 HEAT-FS shell penetrates a meagre 480 mm of armour. It is not recommended to use this shell after unlocking the M829. The M1A2's new shell, M830A1 is a special type of HEAT-FS round. Instead of using a conventional impact fuse, M830A1 is a sub-calibre HEAT-FS round that has been saboted into a 120 mm casing and fitted with a proximity fuse. This allows it to effectively engage low flying aircraft and helicopters up to a range of 4.5 kilometres. The sub-calibre nature of the round means it travels extremely quickly at 1,400 m/s, making it the fastest HEAT round in the game. However, its effectiveness against armoured vehicles is limited as it penetrates a mere 350 mm of armour.

The M1A2's gun handles very well, with a very efficient stabiliser that allows accurate fire at any speed and a very fast 40 degrees per second turret traverse. The gun has good depression and elevation angles; negative 10 and positive 20 degrees respectively. An aced crew can reload the gun in just six seconds, making it a very fast firing and powerful gun.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="6" |[[M256 (120 mm)|120 mm M256]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" |42
| -10°/+20°
|±180°
|Two-plane
|-
! colspan="6" |Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
!Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
!Prior + Full crew
!Prior + Expert qualif.
!Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
|''Arcade''
|38.08
|52.71
|64.00
|70.8
|75.29
|-
|''Realistic''
|23.8
|28.0
|34.0
|37.6
|40.0
|-
! colspan="4" |Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" |Stock
! colspan="1" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
|7.80
|6.9
|6.36
|6.0
|}

=====Ammunition=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="8" |Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" |Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Type of
warhead
! colspan="6" |'''Penetration''' ''in mm'' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
!10m
!100m
!500m
!1000m
!1500m
!2000m
|-
|M830||HEAT-FS||650||650||650||650||650||650
|-
|M829||APFSDS||493||492||484||476||467||458
|-
|M830A1
|HEAT-MP
|350
|350
|350
|350
|350
|350
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="11" |Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" |Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Type of
warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity
in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile
Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" |''Explosive Mass in g'' ''(TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" |''Normalization At 30°''
''from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" |''Ricochet:''
|-
!0%
!50%
!100%
|-
|M830||HEAT-FS||1,140||13.5||0.0||0.1||1,640||+0°||65°||72°||75°
|-
|M829||APFSDS||1,679||4.3||N/A||N/A||N/A||+1.5°||78°||80°||81°
|-
|M830A1
|HEAT-MP
|1,400
|11.4
|400
|0.1
|1.39
|
|65°
|72°
|75°
|}
=====[[Ammo racks]]=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full
ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st
rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd
rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual
discrepancy
|-
||'''42'''||18||24|| style="text-align:left" |Yes
|-
|}
=== Machine guns ===
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M240 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" |[[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! colspan="7" |''Pintle mount (Commander)''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |1,000 (200)||577||-9°/+65°||±180°
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" |[[M240 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M240]]
|-
! colspan="7" |''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |10,000 (200)||750||-10°/+20°||±180°
|-
! colspan="7" |''Pintle mount (Loader)''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
(shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" |Vertical
guidance
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
guidance
|-
| colspan="4" |1,400 (200)||750||-9°/+65°||-77°/+135°
|}
===Optics and night vision===
The M1A2 is equipped with a thermal imager for the commander, gunner and driver. It has good resolution and provides excellent situational awareness for the vehicle.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" |{{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! rowspan="3" |Type of optic
! rowspan="3" |Magnification
! colspan="5" |[[Night Vision Devices]]
|-
! colspan="3" |Image Intensifier
! rowspan="2" |Thermal Imager
Resolution
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!Resolution
!Light Mult
!Noise Level
|-
!Gunner's Sight
|X3.0 - X10.0
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|
|-
!Commander's View
|X6
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|
|-
!Driver's View
|X1
|Not fitted
|N/A
|N/A
|800 x 600
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M1A2 Abrams excels as an all-around jack of all trades vehicle capable of any role presented to it. It has a great combination of protection, firepower, situational awareness and mobility to allow it to adapt to any task it may face, from close-quarters fighting in urban areas to long-range engagements on large open maps.

;Urban combat

The M1A2, with its good mobility and improved protection over the M1A1 can function as an effective brawler in close-quarters urban fighting. The M1A2's reload rate is on par and superior when aced to its counterparts with the exception of the Challenger 2 and Type 90, making it able to quickly dish out damage and deal with multiple foes. Thusly, the M1A2 has no issue leading the charge into urban areas and being a frontline vehicle in the thick of the action, being able to equally deal damage and take it.

;Long-range combat

On large open maps, the M1A2 is fully able to exploit its improved turret protection and commander's thermal imaging to give it the upper hand in long-range battles. The mobility of the M1A2 allows it to reach advantageous positions that overlook key areas of the map and its improved thermal quality allows easier identification of targets at range and in dense woodland. The commander's thermal imager means the player can keep track of threats all around the vehicle and monitor the battlefield without exposing the turret at all. The M1A2 is best played as an ambush sniper, using its commander's thermal sight to survey from cover, exposing the tank only to engage a target. The turret armour also means the M1A2 should be kept in a hull-down position, making the tank extremely hard to destroy. The M1A2 also retains the ability to effectively take the enemy head-on when the situation calls for it, such as assaulting capture points. The M830A1 shell is also valuable, allowing the M1A2 to become an ad-hoc anti-aircraft vehicle, especially against unwary helicopters that get too close to you or your allies.

;Notable enemies

* [[Leopard 2A5]]: This is the main counterpart of the M1A2 and both tanks are evenly matched in nearly all aspects. Thusly the Leopard 2A5 should be a high-priority target to be dealt with carefully. When hull down, the Leopard 2A5 can only be effectively penetrated through the gun mantlet or a lucky shot into the mantlet, so aim for the gun area, which usually results in the disabling of the weapon. If the Leopard 2A5 presents its hull, aim for the left side as the lined-up crew members usually result in all of them being knocked out at the same time.

* [[T-80U]]: The T-80U can be a fearsome enemy if you are unaware of its significant disadvantages and weaknesses. The tank's frontal protection is very strong, though the area around the gun and the driver's hatch are weak spots that you should aim for. The T-80U, like many other T-series vehicles, are prone to being destroyed in one-shot due to the tightly-packed interior that has the turret crew sitting on top of all the ammunition. Furthermore, the T-80U is very vulnerable to any form of angling in the hull as its side protection is very weak in comparison to the frontal armour. A single penetration at all but the most oblique angles usually results in the detonation of the hull-ammo carousel to easily destroy the T-80U.

* [[Leclerc]]: The Leclerc's good mobility, firepower and protection make it a formidable foe to engage. However the tank's armour scheme is inconsistent and presents three main weak spots frontally; the massive and extremely weak mantlet, the UFP and LFP. These are quite easy to hit and present a good chance of dealing serious damage or knocking out the vehicle entirely.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* New depleted uranium composite armour layout makes the frontal turret extremely difficult to penetrate to all munitions in the game
* Can effectively destroy aircraft or helicopters with new HEATFS shell through proximity detonation
* Thermal sight for the commander, gunner and driver
* Excellent thermal quality (800 x 600), comparable to the [[Leopard 2A5]]
* Good crew survivability like the rest of the Abrams line

'''Cons:'''

* Has the same weak spots as the preceding Abrams
* The mantlet can be penetrated by almost all shells, will only stop HEATFS
* The Italian CL1343 APFSDS found on the Ariete line of tanks can penetrate some areas of the gunner's side turret cheek at close range
* Least manoeuvrable Abrams in the game, due to its weight of 61.7 tonnes

== History ==


In the second half of the 1980s, a development project was launched to increase the combat effectiveness of the Abrams MBT. The result of this undertaking became the M1A2 version of the Abrams.

The new version featured an upgraded fire control system, a new independent commander’s panoramic sight as well as improved protection thanks to the use of second generation depleted uranium composite armor. All of these upgrades combined significantly bolstered the combat capabilities of the Abrams tank. Production of the M1A2 began in 1986 and the modification was formally introduced into US service in 1992.

The M1A2 and its sub-variants are the most advanced modifications of the Abrams tank fielded to date. Over 1,500 M1A2s have been built with some older variants also being upgraded to the M1A2 standard. Apart from the U.S. as its primary operator, the M1A2 also sees service with the armed forces of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

''- From [[wt:en/news/6451-development-m1a2-abrams-higher-and-higher-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==

<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:M1A2 on Kursk.png |thumb|250px|M1A2, ''Angel of Death'', scanning the horizon on [[Kursk (Ground Forces)|Kursk]].]][[File:Shot 2019.12.17 15.34.50.jpg|thumb]]</li>
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6451-development-m1a2-abrams-higher-and-higher-en|[Development<nowiki>]</nowiki> M1A2 Abrams - Higher and Higher]]

{{USA medium tanks}}

File:M1A2 Allied Spirit VIII camouflage.jpg

2019-12-17T14:41:57Z

U6307927:

M1A2 using the unlockable Allied Spirit VIII camouflage.
This skin represents 2018 M1A2s in Germany.