I am looking for some reference photos of a burnt out MI, I have seen these photos in the past on this site.i think it was from the early days of OIF.

Cookie

try this site
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=126915&page=40

I think all the photos of destroyed tanks are there .

If you click on my profile I have downloaded some pics of destroyed M1's and I think of some other vehicles.

Burnt OIF USMC M1A1 (from Flickr) :


HTH
Frenchy

What the hell hit that thing? Any info on that pic Frenchy?

I believe it broke down with an engine problem and then was destroyed by the crew

Cheers

Keith

The pictures I have of a destroyed M1 is one that broke down and another tank fired 2 or 3 shells at it, did minimal damage and the unit had to call in aircraft to take care of the rest. This, of course, is what I was told by my chain of command.

Still, it shows just how tough the Abrams is!

Sorry I don't have any more info about this tank...

Frenchy

I can't remember the name of the Tank or Crew, but it had externally mounted fuel cells on the turret that where hit. The fuel ran into the engine resulting in the picture you see. Mike, correct me if I'm wrong.

Tanks
Andy

Like this one (IIRC this is a Flexcel fuel bladder) :


Frenchy

Hey Frenchy. Do you have any other photos of Bring it? Thanks!

-Mike

i think that it was called "cojone eh" apparentley the u.s high command called in an airstrike to stop it falling into enemy hands.and thats the kind of damage that a maverick missile can cause.
neil

Unfortunately no..I wish I had more...


Cojone Eh was a Army tank, not a USMC one as in the picture I've posted above :


. You can take take a look at this MilitaryPhotos.net thread about its fate :
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=136468

Frenchy

You're back.......

yep, as Gary said last night, good time to use the hide user button.

This photo also appears in the Concord Publications "Marines on the Ground: Operation Iraqi Freedom 1" with a second view from the opposite site. Though the caption does not provide specific details about what transpired for this tank. The caption does make the claim that "...there was not a single catastrophic loss of an M1A1 Abrams due to Iraqi direct-fire or indirect-fire weapons." It also mentions that several tanks were destroyed as a result of secondary effects, commonly externally loaded supplies catching fire, but the majority suffered mechanical breakdowns with few or no repair parts. It does say the crew deliberately destroyed it to prevent capture by the enemy.

Don't know if anyone who is more in the know can confirm this reference, but "Cojone EH", the other tank in this thread, a US Army one, suffered such a fate. If I'm not mistaken, there was video of the airstrike attempting to ensure Cojone EH was destroyed was on You Tube at one point. Pretty grainy with little detail and again not easy to verify, but it was there.

By the way, the last photo with the attempt to extinguish the fire on Cojone Eh is incredible. Its hard to believe they were in the midst of the Thunder Run, basically behind enemy lines, yet look so calm in the photo. Interesting photo to a modeler, but I just don't see the emotion, tension or activity that had to have been present for the crew. Almost like one of those crappy made for TV re-enactments, but we know its the real deal.

A testament to the professionalism of the American Soldier.

Unless you are actively being engaged by enemy fire, you are on alert, but still going about your business. Running around and being wound up too tightly leads to mistakes in the end. We train to be able to overcome fear or aprehension and continue to operate on an even keel. Also, that tank is their life at that moment. Our vehicles were our home the duration until we got to Baghdad and set up bases. They were doing all they could to save it. No one wanted to lose your vehicle.

Feul bladders......... [img]http://gallery.kitmaker.net/13711/thumbs/USMC_Left.jpg" BORDER="0">ut.url.here/image.file[/img]