Was M1A1 nicknamed Silent Death? because of the very low engine noise it gives? I am totally thick about modern armors, so any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

During some of the initial tests of the M1, a unit of M1's went head to head against the Canadians in a joint exercise. The Canadians, expecting to hear the roar of the diesel engines, did not hear the M1's rolling up on their rear. After being totally destroyed, one soldier called the M1 "whispering death" , and the name stuck.

I read this in the history of the M1

John

Oh, the shame

Nic

" COOL":, I never heard about that !! Teach those Sneakin Good fer nuthin Canucks !!
LOL....Just Kidding Guy's. But still that is an interesting history...JUST THINK, IRAQ'S Republican Guards, Got to find that out PERSONLLY, And for real He-He-He !!!

DAGGER-1

Cool, thanks guys....it's a nice name....

Dave--My good friend was in the 82nd Airborne on a joint exercise with an armor unit and he told me about an experience he had with an M1A1. He was a forward observer and was well forward of the main body of the unit so is wasn't like there was much noise where he was. He told me that he was laying in some bushes about 2 feet off of a dirt road observing the "enemy" position. He said that the ground started to shake a bit and by the time he turned about an M1A1 roared right past him 2 feet away on the road. He said that he was shocked at how quiet it was because he never heard the engines until it was practically on top of him.

Absolutely nothing to be ashamed about!!!!!

Back then, just the sound of a diesel idling was more than enough to drown out a turbine. The Army has gone to great lenghts to quiet the M1 series. The loudest sound you'll hear is the tracks hitting against the sprocket. (well, unless the tank is off, and the EAPU is running) (freakin' POS)

On a side note, we have a Canadian unit here on Knox for their annual training....great bunch of people.

John

Iraqis also got a wake up call when the first indication of being attacked by M1A1s at night was several of their tanks exploding at once. The tank's thermal sights and 120mm door knocker was hitting their tanks at ranges in excess of 3000 meters (about 2 miles+ for you non-metric folks). They never had a chance to "not hear" the tank coming.

Mind you with both tanks at full speed. That thing is a menace.
Anyone seen the blurb on the OICW? That thing is mad! Heres a pic:
(sorry for hijacking the thread but this is cool )

That baby carries a fire control computer, a SEMI AUTOMATIC 20 mm grenade launcher with 6 round MAGAZINE!
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/oicw.htm


Anthony

Yes, there is an article in the latest issue of Ordnance Magazine (the official publication of the US Army Ordnance Corps). It is designated the XM29.

I want one