M1A2 (SEP)
M1A2 (SEP): Main Battle Tank
Note: This page is a work in progress. In particular, some of the images need replacement and/or verification and the statistics need validation.
Statistics
Main gun: 120mm M256
Ammunition Stowage: 17 ready/23 stowed
Default Ammunition: 13/17 M829A1 APFSDS, 4/6 M830 HEAT
Coaxial machine gun: 7.62mm M240
Ammunition Stowage: 8000 ready/4000 stowed
Default Ammunition: 8000/4000 7.62mm NATO
AAMG: M2 caliber .50 HMG
Ammunition Stowage: 100 ready/900 stowed
Default Ammunition: 100/900 0.50 Cal US
Grenade Dischargers: Grenades
Ammunition Stowage: 2 ready/2 stowed
Default Ammunition: 2/2 Smoke
Armour protection:
Frontal Turret Armour: 359mm-580mm vs KE, 896mm-1220mm vs HEAT
Frontal Hull Armour: 125mm-390mm vs KE, 285mm-910mm vs HEAT
Combat Mass: 63t
Engine Power: 1500hp
Height 2.43m
General
.JPG)
The M1A2 (SEP) is a variant of the American M1 series main battle tank which was first introduced in 1979. The original M1 was equipped with a rifled 105mm main gun, which, amongst other things, was upgraded to a smooth bore 120mm main gun on the M1A1. The "(SEP)" stands for System Enhancement Package, referring to a series of upgrades to the original M1A2.
The package included armor enhancement in the form of a monolithic and composite armor, and compartmented storage for fuel and ammunition. The gas turbine engine was improved, becoming a true multi-fuel system. The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was moved under armor, protecting the tank's power supply while in stationary positions.
The tank also received second generation thermal imaging systems (TIS) for the commander's independent viewer (CITV) and the gunner's primary sight (GPS). The sight uses 2nd generation FLIR and is fully stabilized, providing full capability to fire while moving in both daylight and night conditions. The driver has a wide-field thermal driver vision enhancer (DVE) for driving and situational awareness. Other systems include an enhanced GPS and inertial position/navigation system, driving a color digital terrain map display. The tank also received an eyesafe laser rangefinder. Further enhancements are being provided through the SEP V2 program. It will feature improved displays, sights, power and a tank-to-infantry phone.
The chief advantage of the M1, and the characteristic that gains it the most affection from its crews, is that the M1 has excellent crew survivability due to how the ammunition is stored and its automatic fire suppression system. Unlike other tanks that store ammo in the crew compartment, the M1 stores ammo in a separate compartment with blast doors between it and the crew. These doors are opened and closed when the loader loads a round into the breech. If the ammo is ignited, the roof of the turret has blowout panels that safely vent the explosion and resulting away from the crew compartment, where as other tanks may suffer from catastrophic explosions when ammo is ignited. The M1s automatic fire suppression system and use of fire resistant hydraulic fluids (FRH) also decrease the likelihood of catastrophic fires on the vehicle.
The M1 has seen many modifications and has extensive combat experience in the Middle East and continues to be fielded to this day (2010), although it has been substantially modernized to increase survivability due to combat experience in Iraq.
Thermal Signature
The M1A2 (SEP) has a distinguishing thermal signature with an extremely hot rear half of the hull due to the heat put out by the turbine engine.
Crew Positions
At this time, the M1A2 (SEP) is provided in Steel Beasts Professional and Professional PE as an AI-operated vehicle only. None of the crew stations are playable as of release 2.538.
Reference
--Toyguy 21:24, September 11, 2010 (UTC)