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US M1A1s, Tal Afar
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On July 31/08, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF] Iraq’s formal request to buy M1 Abrams tanks, well as the associated vehicles, equipment and services required to keep them in the field. The tanks will apparently be new-build, not transferred from American stocks. With this purchase, Iraq would become the 4th M1 Abrams operator in the region, joining Egypt (M1A1s), Kuwait (M1A2), and Saudi Arabia (M1A2-SEP variant).

Defense-related purchase requests from Iraq over the last 2 weeks of July 2008 totaled over $10.9 billion, and included tanks, wheeled LAV wheeled APCs and/or wheeled M1117 armored cars, armed reconnaissance helicopters, C-130J transport aircraft, and major infrastructure build-outs. December 2008 additions include coastal patrol boats, 56 trainers and light attack aircraft, command & control equipment, and small arms. Once a DSCA request is made, the rule is that Congress has 30 days to pass a blockage of the sale, or contracts may be negotiated and the sale can go through.

The Iraqi request for M1A1s was updated with a December 2008 request that is now confirmed to be additive. In the lastest development, General Dynamics gets a $150.5 million contract to supply 140 M1A1s tanks to Iraq.

The Tanks

M1 Abrams TUSK
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“M1A1-SA” (Situational Awareness) tanks are a modification set designed by the US Army, in response to their experiences in Iraq. It is potentially complementary to the M1 TUSK (Tank Urban Survivability Kit) upgrade, which adds a set of advanced sensors and machine gun operated from inside the vehicle, a loader’s armored gun shield, explosive-reactive armor tiles, a remote thermal sight, and an improved power distribution box, as well as other key modifications. See the accompanying article’s graphic for more.

The Iraqis have evidently responded to these tanks’ success on the ground, and Iraq’s tanks appear to borrow a number of these characteristics. Modifications for the American set include:

• 2nd-generation FLIR sights, which make a difference on the battlefield. General Dynamics releases specifically mention this feature for Iraq’s tanks.

• Far Target Locate.

• An eye-safe laser rangefinder.

• Driver’s vision enhancements. These may include BAE System’s DVRC rear-view thermal camera. General Dynamics releases specifically mention this feature for Iraq’s tanks.

• A power distribution box (note all of the associated electronics in these modifications)

• A rear slave receptacle. An auxiliary power (slave) receptacle is used to start a vehicle when its batteries are unable to supply starting current. A D-N-I.NET article had a couple of interesting points from the field re: the slave receptacle’s design and positioning, and indeed the M1 upgrade initiatives generally.

• A tank-infantry phone that is mounted on the outside of the tank, and can be picked up by accompanying infantry. This modification has been used on tanks for decades, but was left out of the M1. It improves coordination, without forcing the tank crew to come out and expose themselves to enemy fire. This had been a frequent request from infantry troops in Iraq, whose urban situations make this feature especially useful; it is featured on both M1A1-SA and M1 TUSK tanks.

One addition specifically mentioned for Iraqi M1s is turbine engines developed through the US Army’s TIGER (Total Integrated Engine Revitalization) program, along with pulse-jet filter cleaning systems added to improve performance in Iraq’s dust and grit.

There are also 2 enhancements that are normal on US Army tanks, but may not feature on Iraqi vehicles:

• Blue Force Tracking (BFT)/Force Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), which shows the positions of friendly forces and identified enemies on a computer screen.

• Explosive Reactive Armor tiles, which protect against incoming anti-tank missiles, rockets, and shells. The USA uses a set developed by a partnership between General Dynamics and Israel’s RAFAEL. Other manufacturers exist for this concept, but any tile set sold will have to be designed to fit the M1 Abrams.

Contracts and Key Events

Dec 22/09: General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI received a $150.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for the “definization of material contract” and acquisition of 140 M1A1-SA Abrams tanks for Foreign Military Sales program customer Iraq. General Dynamics will perform the work in Lima, OH (70%), Scranton, PA (14%), Anniston, AL (10%), and Tallahassee, FL (6%), with an estimated completion date of May 2011. The US Army Tank and Automotive Command, Contracting Command in Warren, MI manages the contract (W56HZV-06-G-0006).

In its release, GDLS states that the contracts for these 140 tanks are expected to total $198 million.

Dec 8/09: General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. in Sterling Heights, MI received a $14.3 million cost-no-fee contract for material for the Iraq program to purchase 140 M1A1 Abrams vehicles. Work is to be performed at Lima, OH (70%); Scranton, PA (14%); Anniston, AL (10%); and Tallahassee, FL (6%), with an estimated completion date of May 31/11. One bid was solicited and one bid received by the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command, Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-06-C-0006).

General Dynamics has confirmed to DID that despite Iraq’s budgetary difficulties, this is a long-lead materials order that corresponds to the 2nd DSCA request for another 140 tanks, made in Dec 10/08. See also GDLS release.

Nov 29/09: MNF-I announces that the M1A1 Tank Familiarization Course at Besmaya has graduated its 5th Class. Another 44 tank crewmen from the 9th Division graduated from the course, which took place from Sept 30/09 – Nov 18/09. The training “heavily emphasized hands-on performance over lecture type instruction.” Specialized training consisted of individual crew station training, day and night tank driving, simulation training on the advanced gunnery training simulator, crew served weapons training, and day and night live-fire gunnery training.

Concurrently, 4 maintenance soldiers trained collectively for 97 hours on crew station training, track maintenance, and drivers training on the M1A1 tank and the M88 tank recovery vehicle.

Oct 26/09: DJ Elliott, who maintains the open source Iraqi Order of Battle, discusses M1 related developments:

“The 36th Armored Brigade of 9th Armored Division is the first to upgrade to M1A1 tanks. The new 5-36/9 Armored Battalion received its third company of M1A1s in August 2009. This replaces the Basrah deployed T55 tank equipped 1-36/9 Armored Battalion. The 1-36/9 will re-designate and become a permanent part of 14th Division instead of a temporary attachment.

These trades in the 9th Armored Division minimizes the impact of the upgrade and transfers to the 36th Armored Brigade by reconfiguring it to two M1A1/BMP1 equipped armored battalions and an M113 equipped mechanized reconnaissance battalion.”

March 11/09: General Dynamics Land Systems announces a contract worth $33 million to purchase long-lead materials for 140 Iraqi M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness) tanks. The SA enhancements to the M1A1 for Iraq include second generation FLIR thermal sights, Tank Urban Survivability (TUSK) enhancements and a driver’s vision-enhancing thermal viewer. The tanks will also be equipped with the TIGER engine, the Pulse Jet System, and embedded diagnostics.

Jan 23/08: MNF-Iraq announces that training continues at Besmaya Range Complex, using a combination of tanks and simulators. Mr. Mark Bangsboll, JHAATT M1A1 Project Officer/Advisor:

“Currently, the first four American tanks are at Besmaya Range Complex, with another 18 to be delivered within the next month. The 22 tanks will be used to train 11 Iraqi tank crews in each of thirteen future 45-day rotations. Iraq has purchased 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, scheduled for delivery in August 2010.”

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Salazar, commander, Joint Headquarters Army Advisory Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq:

“We currently have 30 Iraqis in the M1A1 Train-the-Trainer course for the first phase of the process. The second phase will involve these new instructors training the new crews.”

Dec 21/08: The Iraqi Army Armor School in Taji, Iraq hosts an M1A1 tank orientation for the first group of 28 Iraqi Army M1A1 tank crewmen, selected from the cadre of current Iraqi Army Armor School instructors and Iraqi Army 9th Mechanized Infantry Division.

They will continue their orientation through Jan 2/09, then selectees will then participate in a 3 month train-the-trainer course with U.S. Army instructors at the Combat Training Center. Once their training is complete, the graduates will serve as instructors for the remaining Iraqi Army crews. The MNF-Iraq release says that the first set of 140 tanks are expected to arrive in fall 2010.

Dec 10/08: The US DSCA announces Iraq’s official follow-on request [PDF], at the same time as it announces a number of other weapons requests. This request for 140 more M1A1Ms is now confirmed as additive, and not just a new version of the July 2008 request. It’s very similar to the July 2008 request; the only differences are 35 635NL Semi-Trailers instead of 92, and 20 spare 5-ton truck engines instead of 2:

• 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, modified and upgraded to the M1A1M configuration
• 20 M1A1 engines
• 20 M1A1 Full Up Power Packs

• 8 of BAE’s tracked M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) Armored Recovery Vehicles, with the pulling power to tow or winch even a 70-ton M1 out of trouble.
• 3 spare M88A2 engines

• 16 M548A1 tracked logistics vehicles, based on the M113 armored personnel carrier
• 12 M577A2 Command Post Carriers, based on the M113
• 4 M577A2 spare engines
• 8 M113A2 tracked armored ambulances

• 64 M1151A1B1 armored Hummers
• 92 M1152 Hummer Shelter carriers
• 8 HMMWV Ambulances w/ Shelter
• 20 spare HMMWV engines

• 35 M1070 FHTV Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Truck Tractors, which can truck tanks on their flatbeds to minimize tank and road wear when the tanks need to move to new locations.
• 10 spare M1070 engines

• 40 M978A2 FHTV Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Tankers, which provide fuel for the M1’s gas-guzzling turbine engine
• 36 M985A2 FHTV HEMTT Cargo Trucks
• 4 M984A2 FHTV HEMTT Wrecker Trucks
• 20 spare HEMTT engines

• 16 2500 gal Water Tank Trucks
• 8 Contact Maintenance Trucks

• 140 M1085A1 5-ton Cargo Trucks
• 20 spare 5-ton truck engines

• 35 635NL Semi-Trailers
• 80 8-ton Heavy/Medium Trailers
• 32 500 gal Water Tank Trailers
• 92 M1102 Light Tactical trailers

• 16 Motorcycles
• 16 Sedans

• 4 5,500 lb Rough Terrain Forklifts

• 420 AN/VRC-92 Vehicular Receiver Transmitters

• Plus ammunition, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and documentation, personnel training and equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost for this order is also $2.16 billion, though the final cost remains subject to contract negotiations.

July 31/08: Iraq issues its formal request via the DSCA for:

• 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, modified and upgraded to the M1A1M configuration
• 20 M1A1 engines
• 20 M1A1 Full Up Power Packs

• 8 of BAE’s tracked M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) Armored Recovery Vehicles, with the pulling power to tow or winch even a 70-ton M1 out of trouble.
• 3 spare M88A2 engines

• 16 M548A1 tracked logistics vehicles, based on the M113 armored personnel carrier
• 12 M577A2 Command Post Carriers, based on the M113
• 4 M577A2 spare engines
• 8 M113A2 tracked armored ambulances

• 64 M1151A1B1 armored Hummers
• 92 M1152 Hummer Shelter carriers
• 8 HMMWV Ambulances w/ Shelter
• 20 spare HMMWV engines

• 35 M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Truck Tractors, which can truck tanks on their flatbeds to minimize tank and road wear when the tanks need to move to new locations.
• 10 spare M1070 engines

• 40 M978A2 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Tankers, which provide fuel for the M1’s gas-guzzling turbine engine
• 36 M985A2 HEMTT Cargo Trucks
• 4 M984A2 HEMTT Wrecker Trucks
• 20 spare HEMTT engines

• 16 2500 gal Water Tank Trucks
• 8 Contact Maintenance Trucks

• 140 M1085A1 5-ton Cargo Trucks
• 2 spare 5-ton truck engines

• 92 635NL Semi-Trailers
• 80 8-ton Heavy/Medium Trailers
• 32 500 gal Water Tank Trailers
• 92 M1102 Light Tactical trailers

• 16 Motorcycles
• 16 Sedans

• 4 5,500 lb Rough Terrain Forklifts

• 420 AN/VRC-92 Vehicular Receiver Transmitters

• Plus ammunition, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and documentation, personnel training and equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.16 billion.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately 8 U.S. Government and 35 contractor representatives to Iraq for up to 4 years. The prime contractors will be:

• General Dynamics Land Systems Division of Sterling Heights, MI (M1 tanks)
• Honeywell International (M1 engines)
• General Motors Allison Transmission Division of Detroit, MI.

Abrams for Iraq: Employment and Implications

T-55 ‘Fixer-Upper’
...fire sale price!
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The DSCA adds that:

“The proposed sale and upgrade will allow Iraq to operate and exercise a more lethal and survivable M1A1M tank for the protection of critical infrastructure. Iraq will have no difficulty absorbing these tanks into its armed forces.”

While details of the M1A1M have yet to be released, it is likely to use the M1A1-SA variant as a base. Developed for use in Iraq, the M1A1-SA configuration adds a number of enhancements for use in cities and other built-up areas, but doesn’t include the remotely-operated machine gun, reactive armor from General Dynamics and Israel’s RAFAEL, et. al. that are found in full M1 TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) variants.

Other Arab armies in the region, whose recommendations reportedly influenced Iraq’s choice, operate either M1A1s (Egypt) or advanced M1A2-SEP variants (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia).

The DSCA also says, as it almost always does, that the “proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” That is true from one point of view, if one factors in the American presence in Iraq. If the Americans are removed from the equation, however, this purchase crosses a rubicon.

Past Iraqi defense purchases, including its recent LAV/M1117 and helicopter buys, have all been focused on building forces whose primary focus was on enforcing internal law and order. LAVs can certainly be used in an offensive context, or the US Marines could not depend on them as they do. On the other hand, there are a number of opponents and situations that a USMC commander will not confront with LAVs.

USMC M1A1 settles a
firefight in Fallujah
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American M1 tanks have proven effective in counterinsurgency fights, where their outstanding defenses and the precision fire of their 120mm cannon offer a vital hammer against enemy strongpoints.

What’s new, and different, is that they would also give Iraq a capability it has lacked – the ability to enforce its territorial integrity against incursions from its neighbors.

Iraq’s 9th Division in Taji has done an excellent job with its refurbished T-72 tanks, aged T-55s, BMP-1 tracked APCs, and MT-LB wheeled APCs. Nevertheless, its equipment provides no significant edge over neighboring states, and is not fielded in sufficient numbers to provide real deterrence. 140 Abrams tanks and 392 LAVs would equip only 2-4 mechanized brigades, or about 1/2 to 1 division. That certainly isn’t an invasion force for anything. In a defensive role, however, they would present very formidable mobile opposition against even numerically superior foes. That is exactly what they were designed to do for the USMC in Norway and other areas on Europe’s Cold War front lines. In addition, the Abrams’ history of battlefield performance against enemy T-72s and other Russian stock would have to give neighbors like Iran and Syria pause, if a North Vietnam-style armored invasion were ever contemplated.

The new tanks may even have some deterrence value vis-a-vis Turkey, which has engaged in sporadic incursions into northern Iraq targeting the Marxist Kurdish terrorists of the PKK. Those incursions have had Iraq’s tacit acceptance, however, so long as they do not go too far. Turkey has an democratically accountable government, just as Iraq does, and the 2 countries have a number of interlocking economic and political interests than cannot be dismissed lightly no mater what sentiments rule the day.

Turkey remains Iraq’s main gateway for its rich northern oil fields, and that transit revenue is important to Turkey as well. The Kurdish provinces’ booming economies since 2004 also have other desirable spinoff effects. Nevertheless, Turkey has shown that it will act if it is pushed by the PKK. Iraq, in turn, knows that Turkey’s coordinated armor and air force power is something it cannot defeat. Nor does Iraq’s government have much sympathy for terrorists of any ilk, though its own ability to act against the PKK is tied by the threat of civil war within Iraq. Hence Iraq’s approach of warnings and protests to Turkey, coupled with tacit acceptance. The Kurdish PUK, which is the PKK’s main rival in the Kurdish provinces and plays a significant balancing role within the Iraqi government, has also remained tacitly neutral – so far.

Turkey, in turn, knows that escalating too far risks the prospect of confrontation that spills well beyond Iraq into Turkey’s own Kurdish minorities. Their nightmare scenario would involve united opposition and funding from the Kurdish PUK and PKK parties, Iraq, and possible Arab allies – many of whom attained statehood by throwing off Turkish control. A corollary public campaign in Europe, where the Kurdish cause has been popular in the past, risks even further damage to the Turks.

These balancing ties and risks, plus the potential fallout in the USA from a serious clash, can be expected to be far more effective than 140 Abrams tanks in deterring any larger conflict along Iraq’s northern border.

Additional Readings

• Thanks to DID subscriber DJ Elliott of the Long War Journal for his assistance with this article.

• The Long War Journal (Aug 4/08) – Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle: August 2008 Update . Overall analysis of Iraq’s recent purchases, and their likely destinations.

• The Armor Site – M1A1/2 Abrams. The best online resource, anywhere.

• StrategyPage (Aug 3/08) – Iraq Getting M-1A1 Tanks. Adds that there have been tensions between Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well, including threats to intervene in Iraq. Tanks would be the last form any such intervention would take, however; their inability to sustain a supporting logistics effort would defeat any armored incursion all by itself.