NationStates Jolt Archive

People come up with a lot of "new" versions of existing tanks/planes/ships and stuff, so I had an idea.

I'm sure at least some people have heard of the M1A3 - plans to better armor the Abrams and slap a 140mm gun on the top. The problem is, I haven't been able to find anything more specific than that on the 'net.

I've heard people suggesting that they drop the gas turbine in favor of some new German engine, too.

So I ask you, armor aficionados of the NS world, what's the deal with the M1A3, and how much better would it fare against some of the newer stuff? Basically I'm looking for info and suggesting, in a very circuitous way, that someone sells the -A3 if it's an improved version.

*edit - perhaps DT knows something about this...*

Hmmm... I have an M1A3 model, though I basically use the suggestions mentioned here (http://www.g2mil.com/m1a3.htm).

Basically, I improve the secondary armament, replace the turbine with a diesel engine, and put gunishields around the places where they should be.


God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Hmmm... I have an M1A3 model, though I basically use the suggestions mentioned here (http://www.g2mil.com/m1a3.htm).

Basically, I improve the secondary armament, replace the turbine with a diesel engine, and put gunishields around the places where they should be.


God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Yeah, I had read that during my search. I was hoping to find something more specific on the armor - slapping a minigun and a Mk19 on the roof doesn't do a hell of a lot for the tank itself.

I havent heard of plans to upgun the M1A2, although there are such plans for the Leclers, the Ukranian Oplot, and Sweden considered giving its leopards 140mm guns.

Yeah, I read in a few pretty obscure web pages that they were working on it, or at least considering it. I was thinking that if anybody knew about this than they should sell it to counter NS tanks (mainly yours and your infernal missiles, actually :tantrum: :D )

Unless you uparmor it my RPG-30's can still knock it out.

Unless you uparmor it my RPG-30's can still knock it out.

Note first post...better armor is part of the program but I don't have any specifics on it.

I'm sure at least some people have heard of the M1A3 - plans to better armor the Abrams and slap a 140mm gun on the top. The problem is, I haven't been able to find anything more specific than that on the 'net.

:D

Then I make RPG-31.

So anyway...I take it nobody knows jack about the details of the M1A3 upgrades....damn.

So anyway...I take it nobody knows jack about the details of the M1A3 upgrades....damn.
5 or 6 people made their own M1A3's in NS....

*Sigh*

Then that's who I'm looking for. Remember who they were?

*Sigh*

Then that's who I'm looking for. Remember who they were?
Only one I remember is fluffywuffy.

*runs off to investigate*

So anyway...I take it nobody knows jack about the details of the M1A3 upgrades....damn.

Not much is going to be found out about it at this point. There is some speculation about what the specs are and the main armament is one of the biggest rumors as well as the replacement of the turbine engine.

As of now, there is speculation that the gun will be replaced with a 140mm smoothbore. There is also speculation of a railgun system. Either way, we're not going to learn more till much later as it is a private venture by General Dynamics and not a declared specification set down by the Armed Forces Appropriation Committee.

There is also speculation of a railgun system.

Interesting....

Is there a tank called the M1A3, or is that just the generic name for an improved Abrams?
There is also speculation of a railgun system.Is the tech for that available quite yet?

Is there a tank called the M1A3, or is that just the generic name for an improved Abrams?
There is also speculation of a railgun system.Is the tech for that available quite yet?

The technology is in development now. Currently, most railgun technology is too unwieldy to be used as a cost-efficient weapon system. With larger projectiles, a charge is still needed to begin the propulsion of the object, at which there must be exact timing to the magnetic accelerators and a completely even flow of energy through the radiating elements to ensure that the launch is not skewed. With an eneven launch, it is possible that the munition could simply destroy the launch apparatus and then you're SOL.

Also, there is the problem of a sustained power source. Most generators simply don't produce enough juice to continuously fire heavy projectiles. You might get one good shot and then you'll have to wait for the charge to rebuild. Perhaps in the future when we have more efficient generators and faster charging capacitors will this technology really be feasible. Chances are we'll see naval vessels with rail-gun tech before anything else as they have a nearly limitless supply of energy from their nuclear reactors.

Hmmm... I have an M1A3 model, though I basically use the suggestions mentioned here (http://www.g2mil.com/m1a3.htm).

Basically, I improve the secondary armament, replace the turbine with a diesel engine, and put gunishields around the places where they should be.


God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Yeah, I had read that during my search. I was hoping to find something more specific on the armor - slapping a minigun and a Mk19 on the roof doesn't do a hell of a lot for the tank itself.

The point of the upgraded secondary weapons is that they'd enhance the survivability of the tank by allowing it to respond to infantry-based threats with more firepower than a simple M240 machine gun can produce.

Armoring might include 'blazer' armor, which has proven effective against RPGs both on the latest marine amphibious APC and on the Israeli Zelda II mod of the M113. Judging from plans elsewhere, electro-active armor (employing electric and fiberoptic grids to neutralize the effect of shaped-charges) might also be a possibility.