I admit its not the way I thought they would be broken off.
Something I've been doing the past days
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greengiant
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Re: Something I've been doing the past days
See Alpha I spotted a short coming in your genre without even knowing that it was already pointed out.
I admit its not the way I thought they would be broken off.
I admit its not the way I thought they would be broken off.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
Most likely the older M1 models out there will be refurbished to v3. This is wot they've been doing in the past for various variants. This basically resets to zero hours the old tanks, resulting to practically brand new machines.
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greengiant
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Re: Something I've been doing the past days
I agree with that but again I wonder if the deal is done. The Mfgr made this video before the new federal budget was passed and no one knows what has been approved for spending on improvements to Military equipment.
From everything I've read the under hull armor improvement and the lower silhouette crows, and return to a non battery UAAPU and some additional turret electronics add ons were already in the in the works for several years and were to be added to existing V2 models as they go thru the normal rebuild cycle, and to some of the older models if the Army wants to increase the MBT force size so prepositioned force size could be maintained as Abrams go through what's now the normal SEP overhaul system now in place as part of the last Budgets priorities.
The Military seems to know they have reached the weight limit for a readily usable piece of armor even in Europe with more modern roads but off road problems that would probably be worse with the generally softer terrain that can change a nice flat firm surface into a vehicle eating quagmire with a few days of good rainfall or one night of heavy rainfall.
I've seen that happen firsthand during maneuvers with much lighter M60 and even M551 tanks not daring to go of road or move from their position if already off road until the ground firmed up again.
The biggest surprise to me to me was no mention of a diesel main engine. They already have one that is built and tested, is as powerful as the turbine and is a slightly lighter power pack and truly multifuel, has a much smaller heat signature and much better mileage with only a very small reduction in acceleration times and would allow the smoke screen feature of the Abrams to again be used.
From everything I've read the under hull armor improvement and the lower silhouette crows, and return to a non battery UAAPU and some additional turret electronics add ons were already in the in the works for several years and were to be added to existing V2 models as they go thru the normal rebuild cycle, and to some of the older models if the Army wants to increase the MBT force size so prepositioned force size could be maintained as Abrams go through what's now the normal SEP overhaul system now in place as part of the last Budgets priorities.
The Military seems to know they have reached the weight limit for a readily usable piece of armor even in Europe with more modern roads but off road problems that would probably be worse with the generally softer terrain that can change a nice flat firm surface into a vehicle eating quagmire with a few days of good rainfall or one night of heavy rainfall.
I've seen that happen firsthand during maneuvers with much lighter M60 and even M551 tanks not daring to go of road or move from their position if already off road until the ground firmed up again.
The biggest surprise to me to me was no mention of a diesel main engine. They already have one that is built and tested, is as powerful as the turbine and is a slightly lighter power pack and truly multifuel, has a much smaller heat signature and much better mileage with only a very small reduction in acceleration times and would allow the smoke screen feature of the Abrams to again be used.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
Looks like it's a done deal. See:
https://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/Bud ... FY2016.pdf
The Abrams stuff in that document seem to have been approved already by the Army and refer to the SEP v3.
As for the diesel engine, I think it is not an overriding concern as the fleet of ground vehicles of the US armed forces basically use the same fuel, and having a new diesel engine could muck up those logistics issues. As long as there is no overriding concern WRT fuel, then there won't be a need to change the engine.
https://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/Bud ... FY2016.pdf
The Abrams stuff in that document seem to have been approved already by the Army and refer to the SEP v3.
As for the diesel engine, I think it is not an overriding concern as the fleet of ground vehicles of the US armed forces basically use the same fuel, and having a new diesel engine could muck up those logistics issues. As long as there is no overriding concern WRT fuel, then there won't be a need to change the engine.
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greengiant
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Re: Something I've been doing the past days
That was the 2015 projections budget for improvements to existing Abrams platforms as the SEP2 were built to be ready to accept as add ons newer electronics packages that they had already expected to be added as early as 2014 to make a M1A3 but was put off due to funding restraints. As stated in the document the Army knows the Abrams and Bradley have reached its weight their carrying and electronics cooling limits with very little room for additions in either area.
Looked all over for info on what the proposed V3 version would weigh and the mfgr and military hasn't listed anything more than rather vague descriptions of the armor improvements, which would probably add weight.
How they will lighten something to keep it at the 70 ton limit is never mentioned but the mfg is expected to develop and submit it for testing . My guess is something in the existing armor of the Abrams will be changed so that the amount of very heavy depleted uranium mesh in the existing armor sandwich can be reduced without losing any protection.
With the new budget now approved and an increase in defense spending part of it I still think we will have to wait to see were the money goes and how much is used on the SEP program and what those improvements will be. The electronics seemed to be most important in 2015 document, to further improve operation in our digitized fleet of armor of all types. The armor upgrades to the Abrams seem to be less important as only in one instance was a SEP version damaged but not destroyed by a very large IED in Iraq many years ago with no fatalities, and with the improved target acquisition electronics already available and better main gun ammo being developed the Abrams, stand off distance for engaging visible enemy forces is supposed to increase significantly.
Maybe with the new budget those upgrades will begin to take place as preliminary testing is completed by the end of 2016 and all the proposed contracts can be paid for and a need is shown to have full or partial production contracts awarded.
Or maybe more will be put into Bradly and Striker contracts for upgrades and actual production contracts. Both old and outdated designs being used in a fashion they weren't designed for which was to quickly move troops into areas after the enemies larger armor forces were destroyed by the Abrams, move the front forward and secure it while the heavies move again up to repeat the process. They are so much more venerable to even todays more lethal handheld anti armor weapons that the current US version of the Abrams is being used to hold areas while the troop carriers try to move up without being destroyed by enemy troops bypassed by the Abrams.
The document shows no budgeting for any production, other then prototypes for testing purposes, of all three vehicles the document covers.
Looked all over for info on what the proposed V3 version would weigh and the mfgr and military hasn't listed anything more than rather vague descriptions of the armor improvements, which would probably add weight.
How they will lighten something to keep it at the 70 ton limit is never mentioned but the mfg is expected to develop and submit it for testing . My guess is something in the existing armor of the Abrams will be changed so that the amount of very heavy depleted uranium mesh in the existing armor sandwich can be reduced without losing any protection.
With the new budget now approved and an increase in defense spending part of it I still think we will have to wait to see were the money goes and how much is used on the SEP program and what those improvements will be. The electronics seemed to be most important in 2015 document, to further improve operation in our digitized fleet of armor of all types. The armor upgrades to the Abrams seem to be less important as only in one instance was a SEP version damaged but not destroyed by a very large IED in Iraq many years ago with no fatalities, and with the improved target acquisition electronics already available and better main gun ammo being developed the Abrams, stand off distance for engaging visible enemy forces is supposed to increase significantly.
Maybe with the new budget those upgrades will begin to take place as preliminary testing is completed by the end of 2016 and all the proposed contracts can be paid for and a need is shown to have full or partial production contracts awarded.
Or maybe more will be put into Bradly and Striker contracts for upgrades and actual production contracts. Both old and outdated designs being used in a fashion they weren't designed for which was to quickly move troops into areas after the enemies larger armor forces were destroyed by the Abrams, move the front forward and secure it while the heavies move again up to repeat the process. They are so much more venerable to even todays more lethal handheld anti armor weapons that the current US version of the Abrams is being used to hold areas while the troop carriers try to move up without being destroyed by enemy troops bypassed by the Abrams.
The document shows no budgeting for any production, other then prototypes for testing purposes, of all three vehicles the document covers.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
The new armour package that the v3 will be receiving is said to be lighter but just as strong (if not stronger) than the current armour package on the v2 etc.
The upgraded ECM aims to provide that first line of protection against IEDs.
The document shows the Army's intentions, all that needs it seems is the funding to push through with it.
The upgraded ECM aims to provide that first line of protection against IEDs.
The document shows the Army's intentions, all that needs it seems is the funding to push through with it.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
Ketchup has arrived!
And so are the new sprockets, new servo (for turret traverse with greater torque), and oblong speakers. I'll be working on those soon. Add some more markings, give the whole thing a flat coat of two, then add the "glass," and it'll be done.
And so are the new sprockets, new servo (for turret traverse with greater torque), and oblong speakers. I'll be working on those soon. Add some more markings, give the whole thing a flat coat of two, then add the "glass," and it'll be done.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
BTW, the eBay vendor of the ketchup bottles also included a free wine bottle. Cool!
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greengiant
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Re: Something I've been doing the past days
Man that is a lotta ketchup. Looks like Pikachu is happy because he's been I the wine already.
Re: Something I've been doing the past days
atcttge wrote:Ketchup has arrived!
And so are the new sprockets, new servo (for turret traverse with greater torque), and oblong speakers. I'll be working on those soon. Add some more markings, give the whole thing a flat coat of two, then add the "glass," and it'll be done.
Those are some MONSTER bottles of Ketchup ................Buy in bulk I guess lol....atcttge wrote:BTW, the eBay vendor of the ketchup bottles also included a free wine bottle. Cool!
I agree with Giant....Pika looks real happy he got the wine...Looks like he already popped the cork and had a few "sips"
ALPHA
