Street Fighters: M1 Abrams TUSK Tank Conversions

M1A2 Abrams TUSK(click to view full) TUSK stands for “Tank Urban Survival Kit,” and represents the American approach to the problem of employing tanks in urban situations where weapons elevation, protection placement, and other design elements aren’t designed to cope with key threats. The Leopard 2 PSO (Peace Support Operations) is another example of this kind of adaptation, albeit with a different combat engineering slant and camouflage improvements. France has its AZUR program for the Leclerc, and other vehicles as well. Israel’s Merkava tanks are seeing their own modifications, including a rear sniper porthole to go with its traditional under-armor mortar and space for infantry; now dedicated APC versions are also in the mix. What is certain is that combat in urban terrain is the way of the future, as demonstrated by trends over the last 15 years of major military engagements. This article details the M1 TUSK kit, and covers associated purchases from 2006-2008… M1 Abrams: The Tank Urban Survival Kit 3ID M1A1s in Tal Afar(click to view full) American M1 Abrams TUSK upgrades include a RWS machine gun operated from inside the vehicle, a loader’s armor gun shield, a tank-infantry phone, Abrams reactive armor tiles, a remote thermal […]