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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
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Abrams Tusk Question
JeffCsr
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 02:00 PM UTC
I am slightly puzzled about the different TUSK I / II kits in use.

There are M1A1 and M1A2 Tusk variants in service right now?

Are the M1A1s only using TUSK I ?

Are TUSK II kits exclusively used on A2 models?

Would there be such a thing as a NATO camo'ed M1A2 with TUSK or were they all Desert Tan?

Would there be such a thing as a NATO camo'ed M1A1 with a TUSK II kit?


TIA,
Cuny12
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 04:37 PM UTC
As far as I'm aware there were no M1A1s fitted with TUSK 2 configuration there were examples of the TUSK 1 in NATO cam with carc sand TUSK parts.

The TUSK II kit was only fitted to the A2 and all were in carc sand none in NATO cam and TUSK parts in the normal sand.

I highly recommend you get your hands on the Tankograd TUSK book it has all the info that you would need such as tech info and detailed photos of the TUSK 1 and TUSK II fielded in Iraq.

Cheers Ben.
Ellevenbravo
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 06:53 PM UTC
Thought the A2's deployed to S. Korea were TUSK II, they were all in standard NATO cam.

Also, given the issues we are having with Russia of late, thought I read the US Army is rapidly painting a good portion of it's tracked and wheeled vehicles back into NATOflauge.

HeavyArty
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 07:01 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thought the A2's deployed to S. Korea were TUSK II, they were all in standard NATO cam.


Nope, the latest Abrams fielded in Korea are M1A2 SEP v2s, but they do not have TUSK II on them. TUSK is only added in combat situations. No M1A2 SEP v2s have worn TUSK since they were fielded after we left Iraq and no US Army Abrams have been deployed to A'stan.

On another note, TUSK II could be added to an M1A1, however, by the time TUSK II was fielded, the US Army had transitioned to almost all M1A2 SEPs. That is the reason you don't see it on M1A1s.
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 07:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Thought the A2's deployed to S. Korea were TUSK II, they were all in standard NATO cam.


Nope, the latest Abrams fielded in Korea are M1A2 SEP v2s, but they do not have TUSK II on them. TUSK is only added in combat situations. No M1A2 SEP v2s have worn TUSK since they were fielded after we left Iraq and no US Army Abrams have been deployed to A'stan.

On another note, TUSK II could be added to an M1A1, however, by the time TUSK II was fielded, the US Army had transitioned to almost all M1A2 SEPs. That is the reason you don't see it on M1A1s.


Not sure on this- Were any USMC M1A1s ever fitted with TUSK I kits? I've never seen any in photos or on TV, but that doesn't mean anything...
HeavyArty
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 08:10 PM UTC
USMC M1A1s used some parts of the TUSK I set. Remember TUSK is a kit that can have pieces added or not depending on the situation. USMC tanks in A'stan used the belly armor, thermal sight on the TC's .50 cal, and the Loader's gun shields.



M1A2 SEP v2 in Korea. V2 has the CROWS II as opposed to the ICWS w/.50 cal. They do not have TUSK fitted. They do have the loader's gun shield and armor plates fitted though.

M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 08:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

USMC M1A1s used some parts of the TUSK I set. Remember TUSK is a kit that can have pieces added or not depending on the situation. USMC tanks in A'stan used the belly armor, thermal sight on the TC's .50 cal, and the Loader's gun shields.



M1A2 SEP v2 in Korea. V2 has the CROWS II as opposed to the ICWS w/.50 cal. They do not have TUSK fitted. They do have the loader's gun shield and armor plates fitted though.



THANKS MUCH!!! I was referring to the Anti-IED Blocks and should have said so. But I'm good with your info!
JeffCsr
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Friday, December 04, 2015 - 08:48 AM UTC
Okay, I received the kit and looked it over.

The only supplemental rear 'armor' is an exhaust divertor plate that throws the exhaust straight up, I'm guessing it's something that would be on a USMC M1A1

Wasn't there supposed to be a slat armor plate for the rear of the tank?
Cuny12
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Posted: Friday, December 04, 2015 - 09:32 AM UTC
The rear slat was tested and that was about it, the exhaust deflector is a standard bit of kit that can be used on the Army M1s and USMC tanks as well.
exgrunt
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Posted: Friday, December 04, 2015 - 09:21 PM UTC
Somewhat related, Echelon has a pretty cool set of decals just released for OIF Abrams. Including a tiger mouth / "flame job".

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/echelon.html

amoz02t
#192
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Posted: Friday, December 04, 2015 - 09:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Somewhat related, Echelon has a pretty cool set of decals just released for OIF Abrams. Including a tiger mouth / "flame job".

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/echelon.html



Thank you for pointing these decal sets out. The 101st Humvee in Mosul 2003 looks interesting!
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