shazlion
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Why is the Iraqi army losing Abrams tanks so easily?
ISIS militant standing over burnt out Iraqi Army M1A-1 Abrams.
The Iraqi Army has about 140 M1A-1 Abrams tanks in its inventory,
and they are steadily taking casualties at the hands of ISIS.
Recently, an entire column of Abrams and M113 APCs in Anbar province were thrashed in an ISIS ambush. The tanks were driven into ditches (probably the drivers panicked) or abandoned by the Iraqis then set on fire by the ISIS fighters (who won't know how to use these advanced vehicles for themselves)
For one thing the Iraqi versions were downgraded, particularly in their armor which doesn't contain depleted uranium, unlike US M1s. I also imagine they were issued without the latest US communications, electronics and fire-control systems and are probably using older versions
Operators (Source: M1 Abrams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
4,393 M1A1 variants
The Abrams Iraq uses is the M1A1M, an M1A1 with no Depleted Uranium strike plates, downgraded FCS and a few other water downs. The DU is a major part of Abrams armor.
The weapons ISIS uses are more advanced than those of the Abrams, like RPG-29, Kornet ATGM's and massive IED's. The downgraded armor is susceptible to the weapons.
The Iraqi army is suffering the same fate as other armies have ; They dont have infantry clearing the buildings around the tank or protecting the tanks from people getting on the tank and throwing grenades, molotovs or shooting inside. AT teams arent cleared of the tanks route
ISIS militant standing over burnt out Iraqi Army M1A-1 Abrams.
The Iraqi Army has about 140 M1A-1 Abrams tanks in its inventory,
and they are steadily taking casualties at the hands of ISIS.
Recently, an entire column of Abrams and M113 APCs in Anbar province were thrashed in an ISIS ambush. The tanks were driven into ditches (probably the drivers panicked) or abandoned by the Iraqis then set on fire by the ISIS fighters (who won't know how to use these advanced vehicles for themselves)
For one thing the Iraqi versions were downgraded, particularly in their armor which doesn't contain depleted uranium, unlike US M1s. I also imagine they were issued without the latest US communications, electronics and fire-control systems and are probably using older versions
Operators (Source: M1 Abrams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Australia – Australian Army: 59 M1A1 (AIM) configuration (hybrids with a mix of equipment used by U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps tanks, without depleted uranium layers in armor) tanks were bought from the United States in 2006, to replace the Leopard AS1 in 2007.[94]
- Egypt – Egyptian Army: 1,005 M1A1 tanks co-produced by the U.S. and Egypt for the Egyptian army. Another 200 tanks have been ordered.[95]
- Iraq – Iraqi Army: 140 M1A1Ms (downgraded, without depleted uranium layers in armor). Iraq was leasing 22 U.S. Army M1A1s for training in 2008.[80][96][97][98] The first 11 tanks were delivered to the Iraqi Army in August 2010.[99] All were delivered by August 2011.[100] In October 2012, it was reported that six more tanks were being delivered.[101]
- Kuwait – Kuwaiti Army: 218 M1A2s (downgraded, without depleted uranium layers in armor)[102]
- Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabian Army: 373 Abrams tanks,[103] To be upgraded to M1A2S configuration in Saudi Arabia.[103] 69 more M1A2S tanks ordered on 8 January 2013, to be delivered by 31 July 2014.[104]
- United States – United States Army and United States Marine Corps have received over 8,100 M1, M1A1 and M1A2 tanks combined.[105][106]
- U.S. Army
4,393 M1A1 variants
The Abrams Iraq uses is the M1A1M, an M1A1 with no Depleted Uranium strike plates, downgraded FCS and a few other water downs. The DU is a major part of Abrams armor.
The weapons ISIS uses are more advanced than those of the Abrams, like RPG-29, Kornet ATGM's and massive IED's. The downgraded armor is susceptible to the weapons.
The Iraqi army is suffering the same fate as other armies have ; They dont have infantry clearing the buildings around the tank or protecting the tanks from people getting on the tank and throwing grenades, molotovs or shooting inside. AT teams arent cleared of the tanks route



Are you high on drugs?