M1A2 Abrams

Hello fellow military buffs!

Thanks for coming down to this blog, and we hope you would enjoy your little visit to this small blog dedicated to the modelling of modern militaries around the world.

For today, we have JQ's modified M1A2 from Forces of Valor, and the green background in actually a flock mat from Games Worshop:

The M1 Abrams is regularly touted as one of the world's finest/toughest MBTs in service today, with a proven track record in battle (against admittedly inferior opponents) and packs one of the most advanced technological suites of its time. Interestingly, the tank was named after General Creighton Abrams, who was the US Army Chief of Staff from 1972 until his death on 1974...he was known for overseeing the drop of US troop numbers in Vietnam, and perhaps unfortnately remembered for the My Lai massacre (he took most of the blame even though he was not in full command at that time). The tank, or more accurately, the prototype (the XM1) was named in remembrance of him after his untimely death on 1974.

Interestingly, it is a myth that no M1 Abrams was ever lost to an Iraqi MBT, and rounds from Iraqi T-72s actually had bypassed the M1's armor, yet these have proven to be very rare occurences. Official US sources stated that there was one instance of an Abrams tank being hit and knocked out by 3 KE rounds (which aren't used by the US, thus ruling out FF), 1 in the front left of the turret and 2 in the rear right side of the turret. Other weapons have also been proven to knock out or diasble other Abrams tanks, such as RPGs, IEDs and recoiless rifles.

With the US pullout already in progress, the Iraqi army needed to build up its own armored forces, and the M1 interestingly featured in their plans. One option they took was to order several retro-fitted T-72-Ms from Hungary, and actually still use Iraqi-built T-72s for training purposes, while keeping the maintenance facility (previously used during Sadaam's era) operational. In another, the Iraqi army requested about 140 M1A1Ms from the US, and 22 are currently being leased for training...this sees Iraq joining the list of known global operators of the famed Abrams tank.

Well, we hope the posts and pictures have been good, and it is our pleasure to keep this blog running in the name of military model hobby! As the rotation goes, it's time for me to hand the blog back to JQ, and let's all give him a warm welcome back to this blog!