M1A1 "Abrams" - US main battle tank (Wojsko Polskie)

M1 "Abrams" - a modern 3rd generation American main battle tank. The first prototypes of the combat vehicle were created in the 1970s, serial production began in 1979, which continues to this day. To date (2018), about 10,500 tanks of this type have been produced. The M1 "Abrams" is powered by an Avco "Lycoming" AGT-1500C 1500 h. p. turbo engine. The tank is armed with a 105 mm M68A1 cannon on the M1 version and a 120 mm M256 gun on the M1A1 and later versions. Additional armament - 1 12.7 mm machine gun and 2 7.62 mm M240 machine guns. The M1 "Abrams" was developed in response to the need for a new main battle tank, announced by the US Army as early as 1960. The new combat vehicle was supposed to replace the "Patton" family of tanks (M47-M48-M60) in the US Army. Initially the project, named MBT-70, involved cooperation with German companies. However, after a few years, the cooperation was terminated and further work took place only in American companies, especially the "Chrysler Defense" concern. Despite a very long process of analytical, study and experimental work, which lasted almost 15 years, the tank of this line was introduced in the early 1980s. It turned out to be an almost revolutionary design and far superior to the Soviet tanks of the time. M1 "Abrams" is characterized primarily by unprecedented - until 1979. – mobility and maneuverability for tanks of this class, as a powerful 1500 h. p. power engine. However, the choice of a turbine engine turned out to be not very successful, as it requires very careful maintenance and is prone to ignition. The tank is well armored, using composites and fire control system. The M1A1 version is armed with an excellent 120mm cannon. During serial production, several versions of the combat vehicle were created. The first significant improvements were made to the M1A1 version, the production of which began in 1985 - using a much more effective 120 caliber gun instead of a 105 mm cannon. In 1992 a version M1A2 began production with much richer electronics, than previous versions and a cannon, capable of firing depleted uranium projectiles. Then came the M1A2 SEP version with even more advanced armor. The latest versions of the "Abrams" are the M1A2 SEPv2 and M1A2 SEPv3, which have more advanced information exchange, battlefield management, fire control systems and improved secondary weapon control systems. The M1 "Abrams" tank was exported to several countries, including Poland, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Egypt and Kuwait. Combat vehicles of this type participated in several operations, the most important of which were the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991 and the Iraq War in 2003.

A moderately complex, but labor-intensive, well-designed and richly detailed model of a modern tank without internal equipment. Although, intended for intermediate to advanced modelers, even a novice modeler will get the assembling of this model, when working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. Simpler (stripes) and more complex (from individual tracks) tracks are provided. Nice tricolor spotted camouflage. The model reproduces the appearance of a tank, used by Wojsko Polskie. The only drawback is that, there is no stock of colors and there is no way to "combine" them either. You will have to make no mistake...