Hi guys,
after we finished the M1 campaign I am thinking about converting one of my kits into an IP. To me it looks as if there were early and late versions of this batch? Early IP's with the original short turret and late with the HA turret version
Common to all seems the absence of the NBC pack and the lack of the additional engine access doors on the hull roof? All seem to have the early GPS, or have some been fitted with the uparmored version of the A1?
Late IP's seems to have the attachments for the EAPU, early versions don't?
thanks for helping me out!
-Andreas -

Sounds like you are mixing variants here. While some M1IPs were built in the factory, many were retrofitted from XM1 and straight M1 tanks after the tanks were fielded.

M1IPs didn't receive A1 turrets but they did get the bustle rack added. Maybe that's what you mean by "A1" turret. None of IPs had the the NBC over pressurization system.

As far as the top engine access panels, not even all M1A1s had them and certainly no M1IP would have it unless they needed the entire back deck replaced for some maintenance repair reason.

As far as the GPS doghouse, I recall having MWOs replacing the doghouses on all early Abrams tanks so it is entirely possible that the same later type found on M1A1 Heavies and M1A2s would be found on M1IPs.

There really isn't a "late" M1IP. The production run for these tanks wasn't very long before it switched to the M1A1. There are still M1IPs running around in the National Guard forces and these tanks are most likely getting many upgrades out in the field. You could probably find an IP with T-158 tracks and later style sprockets. I guess these could be considered late.

Thanks Rob! I knew I could count on you. In the Osprey book they mention that some IP's had the uparmoured (longer) turrets in part, hence my q ... ... so my IP's gonna have the shorter turret and original GPS doghouse .... plus some other goodies I guess.
-Andreas-

Rob,

Actually there were M1 IP's with shorter and with longer turret. I don't know if the longer turret had the same armor as M1A1, or was it still not the same, but the fact is that some IP's had short turret as in XM1 and M1, while some "later" M1 IP's had significantly longer turret (thicker front armor). Check the photo below - it is not the best, as turrets are at slightly different angles, but difference in distance between red lines on both photos is quite noticeable. Rails and towing cable are noticeably farther back from the turret edge on the second photo (even if you take different photo angle in the account). I have some pictures that show it more clearly, but only on paper and I don't have my scanner connected now. Both photos show 105mm equipped tanks, an both have turret racks, so I assume they are both M1 IP's.



Pawel

Actually there is one more noticeable difference between two variants of M1 IP mentioned above. They have different gun mantlets. The later variant tanks have mantlet similar to this in M1A1, but of course with 105mm fitted, while some M1 IP have typical M1 mantlet. There are two main differences - the shape of the hole under the machine gun barrel and the shape of the small plate attached on top of mantlet (I'm not sure what is the purpose of it but it has two holes in it, so it is probably used to attach some device there).



Pawel