Lla M1 Abrams est un char de combat principal américain de troisième génération nommé en l’nom du général Creighton Abrams. Très mobile, conçu pour la guerre terrestre blindée moderne, le M1 est bien armé et lourdement blindé. Les caractéristiques notables incluent un puissant moteur à turbine multicarburant AGT1500, une armure composite sophistiquée et un rangement séparé des munitions dans un compartiment d’explosion pour la sécurité de l’équipage. Pesant près de 68 tonnes courtes (près de 62 tonnes métriques), c’est l’un des chars de combat principaux les plus lourds en service.
Lla M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV)was an ambitious Cold War-era project designed to create the most capable armored engineer vehicle in history. Built on a modifiedM1 Abramschassis, the Grizzly was intended to clear complex obstacles—mines, tank ditches, berms, and wire—at the same pace as a fast-moving armored division. While highly advanced, its extreme complexity and high cost led to its cancellation in 2001, leaving the role to the simpler M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV).
Attribute
Technical Specification (M1 Grizzly)
Rôle
Combat Engineering / Breaching Vehicle
Crew
2 (Driver and Commander)
Statut
Canceled (Prototype only)
Groupe motopropulseur
1 × Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine
Horsepower
1,500 hp (1,120 kW)
Vitesse maximale
45 mph (72 km/h)
Excavator Arm
Powered telescopic arm with 1,814 kg (4,000 lb) lift
Armor
Abrams-equivalent composite armor
Specialized Engineering Tools
The Power-Driven Arm (PDA):The Grizzly’s most distinctive feature was a massive, telescopic excavator arm mounted on the right side. It could reach out over 9 meters (30 ft) to dig out tank ditches or lift heavy obstacles, allowing the vehicle to work while staying behind cover.
Full-Width Mine Plow:Unlike many tanks that use individual rollers, the Grizzly featured a heavy, full-width plow designed to push buried mines and obstacles out of the way, creating a « safe lane » in a single pass.
Remote Weapon Station:For self-defense, the crew sat in a protected « citadel » and operated a remote-controlled weapon station armed with a .50 cal machine gun or a 40mm grenade launcher.
Automatic Depth Control:The Grizzly featured advanced sensors that automatically adjusted the plow depth to follow the contours of the ground, ensuring mines were cleared without the plow digging too deep and getting stuck.
Why it Failed and its Legacy
Complexity vs. Cost:The Grizzly was an « all-in-one » solution that became too expensive for the post-Cold War U.S. Army. Each unit was projected to cost significantly more than a standard M1 Abrams tank.
Lla « Shredder » Successor:After the Grizzly was canceled in 2001, the U.S. Marine Corps took the lead in developing theM1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV). The ABV is simpler, omitting the excavator arm in favor of MICLIC (Mine Clearing Line Charge) rockets.
Survivability:The Grizzly was designed to be just as tough as the tanks it supported, featuring the same Chobham-style armor so it could operate under heavy enemy fire at the front of a breach.
Where are they now?Only two prototypes were built by United Defense. They served as critical technology demonstrators that proved « under-armor » breaching was possible.
Ariete – Photos & Vidéos
AMX-50 – Photos et vidéos
K2 Black Panther – Photos & Vidéos
K1 Type 88 – Photos et vidéos
FV4034 Challenger 2 – Photos & Vidéos
Type 69 (irakien) – Photos & Vidéo
Type 59 (NVA) – Photos et vidéo
AMX-30 - WalkAround
Centurion Shot Kal Dalet - WalkAround
Leopard 1A1 – WalkAround
Nouvel ensemble de 60 photos d’un M1 Abrams Walk Around