135
Sunday, July 22, 2018 - 07:42 PM UTC
Panda has shared the boxart for an M1IP Abrams
The M1IP was an improvement -hence the designation, Improvement Performance- on the original M1 Abrams design. It was armed with a Rheinmetall 120mm gun, had a different turret and better armor protection.

The kit will have photoetch parts.
Click Star to Rate
2 readers have rated this story.
Get a daily email with links to all our latest news, reviews, and features.

Comments

The M1 IPs where also re-manufactured into M1A2SEP V.2s also-but hey we don't have to worry about doing conversions like that anymore
JUL 25, 2018 - 03:14 AM
Didn't these tanks serve in the ODS? Looks like there's no decal option for that.
JUL 25, 2018 - 01:14 PM
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived.
JUL 25, 2018 - 11:47 PM
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived. [/quote] There were a couple of units from Europe who had M1IP that transitioned to M1A1 upon arrival. You'd have to look up the codes of every unit in the stack to find them but they were nothing special just green with black codes on sand. Might as well do an M1IP in USAEUR or one of the handful that the Guard and Reserve had. According to the sprue photos I've seen this kit actually comes with the M1 short turret too so a remanufactured M1 could be done. We had some "bastard" tanks mixing M1 and M1A1 parts and fittings. Some had come from the NTC so were sand under their fresh coats of green that quickly chipped and flaked off. Oops. Change a light bulb n the headlight and strip off all the green paint on every bolt and screw touched.
JUL 26, 2018 - 12:30 AM
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived. [/quote] There were a couple of units from Europe who had M1IP that transitioned to M1A1 upon arrival. You'd have to look up the codes of every unit in the stack to find them but they were nothing special just green with black codes on sand. Might as well do an M1IP in USAEUR or one of the handful that the Guard and Reserve had. According to the sprue photos I've seen this kit actually comes with the M1 short turret too so a remanufactured M1 could be done. We had some "bastard" tanks mixing M1 and M1A1 parts and fittings. Some had come from the NTC so were sand under their fresh coats of green that quickly chipped and flaked off. Oops. Change a light bulb n the headlight and strip off all the green paint on every bolt and screw touched. [/quote] Really? I am looking at a whole bunch of photos of Abramses with the M68 105 mm main gun on pp. 13-15 of this book, Ground War Desert Storm: LINK Supposedly, these tanks are M1IPs from the 24th Infantry Division sent to Saudi near Kuwait border. Not that the book is totally accurate but you all are saying that all these Abramses may have been upgraded to M1A1 in Saudi Arabia?
JUL 26, 2018 - 03:03 AM
From my understanding, yes. All M1IPs were traded for M1A1s before the ground war started on 24 Feb '91. Only M1A1s went across LD.
JUL 26, 2018 - 05:12 AM
Like Gino says, They were all traded for M1A1 before Desert Storm. I have the book too. Those tanks are doing training. They set up a whole M1A1 DETT (detached equipment transition training) and ran people through it.
JUL 26, 2018 - 05:21 AM
Wow, good to know! Thanks for the info, gents!
JUL 26, 2018 - 07:47 PM
I was in the 3rd Bde, 3rd Armored Division, "SPEARHEAD", A Co. 2/67 Armor Bn.. We transitioned from M60A3TTS to M1IP's in July 1987. It is an incredible tank, a big improvement over the M60's.It had the improved suspension, additional armor in hull and turret of the M1A1, the aditional stowage provided by the bustle rack and extended rails in the turret but kept the basic M1's 105 mm gun, blow out pannels and NBC filter.
AUG 01, 2018 - 03:54 PM
THIS STORY HAS BEEN READ 6,738 TIMES.
ADVERTISEMENT

Panda Hobby  ReviewsMORE
M109A7 Paladin Howitzer Built Review
by Gino P. Quintiliani
M1296 Stryker Dragoon Built Review
by Pete Becerra
9K37M Buk-M1 Built Review
by Pete Becerra | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
M8 AGS Built Review
by Pete Becerra
Husky Mk III VMMD Built Review
by Pete Becerra
M1235A1 Maxxpro Built Review
by Pete Becerra
Husky Mk III VMMD In-Box Review
by Benjamin M. Kahn
M1235A1 Maxx Pro Dash DXM In-Box Review
by Benjamin M. Kahn
M1235A1 MaxxPro Dash DXM In-Box Review
by Eric Buchanan | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
M1 Abrams MBT In-Box Review
by Adie Roberts
ZTZ-99A Built Review
by Matt Flegal
Husky Mk.III VMMD Built Review
by Kevin Brant
Cougar 6x6 JERRV In-Box Review
by Pete Becerra
Cougar 6x6 JERRV First Look Video Review included
by Jim Starkweather
ZTZ-99A First Look
by David Miles

ADVERTISEMENT