What is the most suitable M1A1/2 to depict a Marine Corps tank?

Does the Marine Corps have A2's?

Any pointers in the right direction for photos would be appreciated.

Thanks

Des

The USMC doesn't use A2s. They use all M1A1s. The Tamiya M1A1/A2 kit comes with the parts to build a USMC M1A1 from about 2003. If you want a more up to date one, you could get the Dragon M1A1 AIM and then source the USMC parts (double 4-stack smoke launchers at a minimum) to convert it into a USMC tank.

If you want to go all out with the details and pretty up to date, follow the below items.

USMC M1A1HC/AIM Upgrades

Change out the smoke launchers to the USMC 8-shot, double-stacked type.



EPLRS antenna mount, thin post to the right side of regular antenna.


APU Power Junction box. New electrical conduit is the angle-iron piece running along the left side of the blow-out panel.


Power connection box next to the man-hole cover. There are two screw caps to connect to located on the front of the connector, toward the front of the tank.


PLGR antenna is mounted somewhere on the turret roof. It is usually in front of the crosswind sensor. I have also seen it to the front right of the TC's cupola as well. The location for it varies.

Tank/Infantry Phone and rear Slave Cable Receptacle on right rear of hull on latest AIM tanks. (Added in '07. Prior to this, they had just the T/I box on the right rear.)


Deep fording kit exhaust flange on HCs and AIMs.


The box in front of the loader's hatch is an MCD (Missile Countermeasure Device). It is used to defeat optically and laser guided anti-tank missiles.



Some USMC M1A1HCs are using the old sprocket retaining rings as well. They were found to be an easy fix to counter the track losing tension during operations. The USMC started putting the rings back on M1A1HCs in the early-mid nineties that were stationed stateside on the West Coast (1st Tank Bn) and they were seen on tanks on deployment with the MEUs until 2006. No rings are/were on the sprockets of East Coast (2nd Tank BN) tanks though. Most USMC tanks that came off of the Maritime Preposition Ships (MPS) in Kuwait for OIF I /II did not have the sprocket retaining rings other than at least three known tanks that came off the MPS ships with them. The USMC tanks that have been seen in Iraq with retaining rings are from stateside (1st Tank Bn). They are part of the different ocean-going Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) that have gone to Iraq and participated in the festivities over the past few years. So, specific USMC tanks could be seen with the rings applied.

The below pic is a USMC M1A1HC in ops in Kuwait with the rings on it.


For the USMC BRE used in OIF.


Eduard makes one in PE, set # 35598. There is also one in the new(ish) Academy M1A1 Iraq 2003 kit. It is one of the few good pieces off the new J sprue. It also has a T/I Phone box on the new sprue. The rest of the kit sucks though. The Dragon M1A2 SEP kit comes with a nice PE and plastic one as well.

You can take a look at my M1 Variants Article as well for more info and pics.

You can also take a look at my USMC M1A1HC that I did a while ago.
"Angry American", USMC M1A1HC


The Tamiya M1A1/A2 kit comes with the MCD and smoke launchers. The Academy kit also includes the T/I phone box, smoke launchers, BRE, and MCD as well. Echelon makes a couple great decal sheets for Marine Abrams in Iraq too. They also have another sheet coming out soon.

Gino,

Or should I say Sir Gino

Your knowledge of the Abrams is encyclopedic!!!! Hopefully spelt correctly.

Thank you for your info.

I took a look at the Angry American too. What a tank!!!! For a machine that deals out death and destruction to anyone stupid enough to cross it, it sure is one hell of a good looking tank, wouldn't you agree?

I notice that you are a serving artillery officer. I am an ex detachment commander of a MLRS. No longer serving though. Any experience with MLRS?

Thanks again Gino. Priceless info.

Des

Glad you like the Angry American, I think it looks great, but may be a little biased. I do have MLRS experience. My last job was XO of an MLRS BN, 1-21 FA (MLRS) out of Ft Hood, TX.

Gino, your ability to swing a football bat in a public enviromment knows no bounds! You truly are the"Minister of Mis-information". Mike sends . . .

O.K. Mike, telll me where it is incorrect then. As it was the last time you said so, most of that info was given from you as I was building Angry American. And as usual, you just like to point fingers and not give any helpful advice yourself. So correct away, oh God of all Marine Knowledge.

Ever felt the urge to build one?

Are the Trumpeter Abrams kits any good?

Hi Gino,

so far I think U covered everything one has to keep an eye on. Having been a TC (amongst other thing) in Corps I remember our M1‘s HA not having the " Forward MCB power/control box connector next to driver's hatch."
I know that the ARMY‘s AIM version, a least here in Europe, do not feature this item. Which always made me wonder why this very useful device wasn‘t fitted during their rebuild process. I know that the M1A2‘s introduced the MCB in their production run.
Could be that the Corps insisted that all their rebuild M1A1 AIM must feature it, like the phone box.
So if anyone wants to build an USMC M1A1 HA U would have to leave it off, looking thru my ref. material I haven‘t found any proof of the MCB yet. But U may be more up to date than me, since I know I will build a USMC M1A1 AIM some time soon confirmation would be of great help.
Other wise, just keep the good and useful info coming !

Cheers
Christopher

I have built a few MLRS kits. Here are a couple pics.






The Trumpeter M1s are so-so. The detail is ok, but they have some bad parts like rubber wheel hubs and an incorrect profile on the left front of the turret. Here is a side-by-side comparison that includes the Trumpeter kit. The newer DML M1A1 AIM is the best on the market. The newer Tamiya M1A1/A2 OIF kit is a close second.


Thanks for the backup Christopher. I'll check further on the mine plow connection box.

Hello des.
A few other things that may help you in building your marine abrams are the decal sets from echalon http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/ and concord do some nice books that can be interesting to have a look at especially special ops vol.26.I built this recently using the OIF tamiya kit and although not as detailed as the offerings from dragon it can build into a nice model.

Good luck.

neil..........................

Here ya go Gino, please pay attention this time around:
1. The AIM Abrams is "Heavy and Common". The USMC only deployed M1A1 Abrams outside CONUS that were both Heavy and Common.
2. The flange on the rear grille door for mounting the DWFK(Deep Water Fording Kit) exhaust elbow is a "Common" feature, both "Heavy" and "Light".
3. Since October, 1990 when we (Marines) received the first M1A1s NO USMC Abrams has had the power connector mounted on the top front hull left of the drivers hatch. But it is coming in the future, stay tuned.
4. The track retaing rings on the sprockets is a West Coast (1st Tank Bn) feature for tanks seen on deployment with the MEUs until 2006. It was also present on at three known tanks that came off the MPS ships. No rings on the sprockets of East Coast (2nd Tank BN) hogs.
5. The tank pictured with the DWFK exaust elbow installed never made it to Iraq. The picture was taken in Kuwait in the fall/winter of 2003 while on deployment with a MEU. That tank also went to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Guam in February 2004. Google "Cpl Lipford" and see what turns up.
6. The "Late" TI Phone box and Slave Cable Receptacle that you have pictured were not installed on USMC tanks until 2007. And no there were no "Ammo Can" can phone boxes in 2003 per one of your earlier posts.
Please print this page for future reference ye self anointed Abrams Master. Outta here, Mike sends . . .
-|

Thanks Mike, other than the specific years, which I never used, all general time frames from my end, we said basically the same thing. I'll take note and update my files though. Corrections made above.

I wonder if this last part, of your otherwise very informative answer, is very helpful ?
Either way I can do without it !

Christopher

Desmond, I do not know your skill level but these 1/35 scale Abrams kits are a good place to start:
1. Tamiya kit #35269 M1A1/A2 Abrams "Operation Iraqi Freedom". You will need to source a BRE(Bustle Rack Extension)and TI Phone box.
2. Dragon kit #3533 Abrams "Baghdad 2003". Has the BRE but it is only correct for an Army vehicle. I swapped mine to somone for the correct (USMC 2003) Eduard PE. Needs a TI Phone box.
3. Academy Abrams "Iraq 2003". Has turret shape issues but can be built into a nice looking model. Has a BRE(styrene)and TI Phone. The tracks are not correct for a USMC tank and are the early T-156 rubber chevron type.
4. If you are up for a complex yet highly accurate build then the Dragon kit #3535 M1A1 Abrams AIM tank is there. For a USMC vehicle you will need to source the Smoke Grenade Launchers, MCD,TI Phone and BRE.
I have never looked inside the box of the Trumpeter M1A1s. Maybe there is review out there somewhere, possibly on this site. For correct USMC Abrams markings you cannot beat Echelons Fine Details decals.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Chris, if my response gets your skiivies in a twist disregard it. When you see the post has my name on it just scroll past. You did not mind or comment on Ginos response(God Like?) to my original post(wud upp!). Being a former Marine Tanker you sure are the sensitive type. Usually a former service member can recognize the verbal sparring that takes place between the members of different (rival) services. Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Chris, Don't let ol' Gunny Mummy bother you, he's really a softy once you get to know him. He and I have a healthy inter-service rivalry thats been going on here for a few years now. Hell, has it been over 5 years now Mike? Time flies when you're having fun. Its all good though.

Mike,

I just believe we are not helping Desmond with his inquiry giving him and other readers the impression of disliking each other, and their comments / help given.
During my time in the Corps, as a tanker and holding a commission, finding the proper tone was an essential part of the Marine Corps tradition.
I am surprised to find that this might have changed.

Semper Fi
Christopher

Chris, you must have lived a sheltered life dude. I think I already know part of the problem, deals with the "commission" part. You did see that I answered Desmonds post with some real info? Like I said if you see my name on a post just keep on scrolling so as not to get offended. And I have never met anyone who uses "U" instead of "you" in a written response as much as you do, especially someone whom supposedly was commissioned. What would your RS think? Semper Fi bud. Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Thanks gunnie and Major. I found this to be not only a interesting, informative thread on the M1, but amuzing also. A bit a fresh air.

Desmond, the first model I built for a campaign here on Armorama was the Trumpeter Abrams M1a1 HC kit for the "Mission Abrams ID". I knew absolutely nothing about the USMC's M1's but the rest of those in the campaign did a hell of a lot to help me along, and build a somewhat acceptable model. If you use the Trumpeter M1A1 HC kit as I did, you have a lot of work ahead of you just to correct the front of the turret. Being cheap, I ended up building my own APU thingy in the bustle rack, and also building the bustle rack extension from some photos someone sent me. (Sorry I really don't remember who that was, but he also sent me the photos to do the angle iron wire runs, and some other detail shots.)

One of the requirements of the "Mission was to display members names on the tank for crew-members, so my rendition is of no particular real life M1.
BUT it was my first campaign, I was totally new at the site, and I got to meet a hell of a lot of not only good modelers, but damn decent guys who took a lot of time to go out of their way to help me along the way

So to bring back a few fond memories of the early fun days on the site here's a few shots of my first Armorama build for everyones entertainment. Not the greatest M1 ever made, and certainly not the best photos ever shown, but one of my most fun builds.







Nice to see not only the Major back in "The World" but also "The Gunnie"

"The only Marine Department I know of ------ runs the NYC Ferry Boats"
Most of my friends today are Marines------ they treated me with the up-most respect and dignity while they served me my daily rations of bread and water.

Desmond,

I found the book "Vehicles of the USMC in OIF" by David Harper / Hard Corps Models very useful, not only for the M1A1.

"M1A1 AIM in Detail" Wings & Wheels Publications , by Ralph Zwilling covers the AIM version from an ARMY perspective, but very good as general ref. on the Abrams.

Also try various publications offered by TANKOGRAD on the M1, since this is certainly not going to be your first and last Abrams I believe.
For a Kit the Dragon M1A1 AIM would be the best platform to start your project on, supplementing all USMC specifics from other sources.

U can check out my USMC M1 here on ARMORAMA:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/147919&page=1

And as U will see I am still looking for the right parts to wrap things up.

Cheers
Christopher

Mike, Gino, Chris, Neil, Dave,

All of this info is priceless. Thank you all for your continued imput. I know for a fact that any Abrams I get would have to have the BRE for a fact as my scratch building skills are virtually zero.

I would probably get the Tamiya Abrams as I have a feeling I would be very tempted to do an Army version too in an up to date Team Yankee (book by Harold Coyle) tank. Don't know if any of you have read it but its a good read.

So with that in mind I could use the Tamiya base kit for that and make use of the USMC style smoke dischargers exhaust flange and the MCD for a start. Then add them to the dragon kit and hopefully Hey Presto!

As for the banter between you guys, keep it coming. It gives my mind a chance to absorb some of the info in the posts!!!

Chris, Im ex British Army myself so the banter is second nature. Some of the garbage we used to come out with would make you cringe. In hindsight it does me too.

If I ever win the lottery Im making a long trip State side and visiting the nearest USMC unit possible and bribe myself into a M1A1 for at least a day. I will keep on dreaming I suppose.

Des

Neil,

The Tamiya M1A1 you built. Does the lack of non slip surface detail on the Tamiya kit show up much once the tank is weathered?

Des

Gino,

The M1A1HC that you have pictured in Kuwait looks very well used, for want of a better description. Almost looks rusty. Is that from being on board ship for prolonged periods and the exposure to sea water?

Des