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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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Three antennas on OIF USMC Abrams?
ICPRIDE
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Michigan, United States
Joined: April 01, 2004
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 03:40 AM UTC
Can someone explain to me what the third antenna is on the turret of many OIF USMC Abrams tanks?
m60a3
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Georgia, United States
Joined: March 08, 2002
KitMaker: 778 posts
Armorama: 396 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 04:06 AM UTC
Without seeing a picture of it, I am guessing you are talking about the short thick mast in the center rear of the turret. If that's the case, that's the Crosswind Sensor mast of the gun aiming system, not an antenna at all. I am not an expert on the M-1 series, but I don't know of any M-1s that could accomodate more than two radio units inside the turret, thus only two antennae.
ICPRIDE
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Michigan, United States
Joined: April 01, 2004
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 05:31 AM UTC
It is not the crosswind sensor. This third antenna appears usually to the loader's side of the wind sensor, sometimes inboard of the radio antenna, sometimes outboard of it. Could it be GPS?
matt
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
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New York, United States
Joined: February 28, 2002
KitMaker: 5,957 posts
Armorama: 2,956 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 05:42 AM UTC
I can see three antenna type things here
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 07:57 AM UTC
It should be the EPLRS (enhanced position locating and reporting system) antenna. Quick, everyone write down the acronym. There will be a test on it next week. Of course I'm not an expert and someone will point out that I am wrong.
Jurgen
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Limburg, Belgium
Joined: October 29, 2003
KitMaker: 651 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 09:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Of course I'm not an expert

Excuse me?!
DMS
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California, United States
Joined: May 14, 2003
KitMaker: 53 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 11:34 AM UTC
Do only USMC tanks have the EPLRS? Hell, do all Marine tanks have it? I remember reading about a Marine upgrade to the their Abrams (Firepower Enhancement Program) so would only the M1A1 FEP include EPLRS?
BroAbrams
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Washington, United States
Joined: October 02, 2002
KitMaker: 1,546 posts
Armorama: 1,081 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 12:55 PM UTC
If I am not mistaken, all the HC upgraded tanks have the EPLRS mast, as I ghave seen numerous Army tanks with the mast, including the AIM photographed by Jan Willem de Boer that is posted at Tanxheaven.

rob
USArmy2534
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Indiana, United States
Joined: January 28, 2004
KitMaker: 2,716 posts
Armorama: 1,864 posts
Posted: Friday, April 02, 2004 - 02:11 AM UTC
I have been reading on various army.mil sites and it is possible that it could be an IFF box antennae. Kind of like ones on aircraft, I've seen some on various army abrams, but they are located usually up front near the smoke dischargers. Antennae is also relatively short. but in this case I doubt this is it
warriorFSO
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: March 10, 2004
KitMaker: 38 posts
Armorama: 30 posts
Posted: Friday, April 02, 2004 - 10:27 AM UTC
I have never seen that before. It could be any piece of junk the crew stuck up there. I noticed the chair hangin out the back too. I noticed that tank didnt have bumper numbers on it either, so it could be a national guard draw, or maybe a test team tank.
melon
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Ohio, United States
Joined: November 21, 2003
KitMaker: 347 posts
Armorama: 313 posts
Posted: Friday, April 02, 2004 - 10:44 AM UTC
That is a USMC tank from 29 Palms CA. Marine tanks dont usually have any bumper codes, that appears to be an army thing.
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