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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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The First Abrams Tank
Thrashergklm
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: August 06, 2005
KitMaker: 179 posts
Armorama: 166 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:40 PM UTC
Yes I'm trying to find out some information on the 1st Abrams that Came of the Line on 28 February 1980 That carried the Name of THUNDERBOLT. Things like dose anyone have any pics of this tank, for an example did it have the springs on the mud flaps on the front, from the pics that I see of it in the M1 Abrams in Action Book. Was this the XM1, or did it just carrier the M1 Name on it. So what can someone tell me about this tank, for an example would it have ever been fitted with the Mine Rollers? I'm think about doing to Dio with the first tank that came of the line in the forest with a Mine Roller driving through it, or would a tank not be driving through the forest with a Mine Roller on it?

Thrashergklm
210cav
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Virginia, United States
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 11:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Yes I'm trying to find out some information on the 1st Abrams that Came of the Line on 28 February 1980 That carried the Name of THUNDERBOLT. Things like dose anyone have any pics of this tank, for an example did it have the springs on the mud flaps on the front, from the pics that I see of it in the M1 Abrams in Action Book. Was this the XM1, or did it just carrier the M1 Name on it. So what can someone tell me about this tank, for an example would it have ever been fitted with the Mine Rollers? I'm think about doing to Dio with the first tank that came of the line in the forest with a Mine Roller driving through it, or would a tank not be driving through the forest with a Mine Roller on it?

Thrashergklm


Cam-- you might want to send a PM to Rob (Sabot). He's stationed at Fort Knox which either has the original or a very early model on display outside the museum. There is another one at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. I would hazard a guess that no one ever thought about putting a mine roller on the early versions. They had enough of a challenge just getting it into production (fires, flash backs, sensors gone wild, etc.). As for driving with the current mine rollers through a typical German woodline, good luck. The maneuver damage bill would be staggering.
DJ
armorcrewman2000
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United States
Joined: November 21, 2010
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 20, 2010 - 02:57 PM UTC
i know it is an old post, but i was on that tank on Feb 28, 1980. ask crockett on the forum he was in the 2/6 cav too . Good ole THUNDERBOLT!
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