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Here's the picture,
Notice the gun has been cut jut like the 105's were for the MRS. Well that's it for me tonight. MWR is kicking me out.

Joe D

I'll bet its a painted solid plug welded on the end.....

M1E1?

Man, I can not wait to get home! Anyone remember Tamiya's first M1A1 kit?

I am going to check mine against that photo. It has me wondering if Tamiya based their first M1A1 kit on that vehicle and that is why so many items are wrong for a standard production A1.

Very interesting vehicle. Another example of why one should be very careful when using a display vehicle to help build a model kit.

Outstanding folks!
Sgt, Scouts Out!

Roy

Not an M1E1. However it is an M1/IPM1 upgraded with the 120mm.

I remember seeing the M1E1 during field tests at Ft Hood back in 86. It is obvious with the armor counter-weights sandwiched on the turret, and this doesn't have that.

Actually there are a few of these 'monument' tanks popping up in museums. They are totally 'demilled' with a plugged main gun, hollowed ballistic skirts, and a host of other details to bring them into the realm of public exhibit, but not usuable platforms.

Perhaps a way of 'recycling' left over (or otherwise unusuable) parts or vehicles, to fill the publics interest in the Abrams.

Don

Interesting, so it has m1s turret with less LOS armour size so the gun is somewhat prominent?

Hey Dontos,
I got to thinking about this tank and thought the gun looked familiar. So I did some browsing and found a pic of the Leopard 2 Austere that they tried to sell the US. Look at how the the MRS mounts with bands and the front thermal shroud coller. They look very much the same. The sign in front said it was a prototype M1E1 but who knows. You don't usually see the diagnostic test receptacles on cobbled together tanks like this one has in front of the NBC sponson. I've seen the same test connectors on an XM-1 diesel parked in front of Range Control at FT. Campbell the winter of 2003. If I get a chance to get back to south Hood I'll get some detailed shots. Didn't think much of it at the time.

Joe D

Joe_D, what is the Leo-2 variant on your photo? it has a vary strange front hull

- Andrei

Joe_D, what is the Leo-2 variant on your photo? it has a vary strange front hull

As Joe said, that is the Leopard 2 Austere Version (AV) that was offered to the United States as an alternative to the XM1 Abrams.





It featured additional multi-layered (ie Chobham) armor on the frount hull.

More info

Wonder what happened to it....

Neil

Yes, I see. Just the AV has distinctive differense from Leo-2A1 in front hull structure.