Amrams vs. Russian armor: Ukrainian commander gives verdict
The Ukrainian brigade commander using Abrams tanks evaluated them and compared them to tanks employed by the Russians. According to the military officer, the American machines, whose capabilities we remind you of, significantly surpass Russian designs, even those most highly praised by Russian propaganda.
The American Business Insider published the opinion of the Ukrainian soldier. As highlighted on this portal, the interview was conducted at an unspecified location near the main frontline in eastern Ukraine. Part of the 31 Abrams M1A1 tanks sent to the Ukrainians as part of aid from the United States were directed to this region.
Ukrainian evaluated the Abrams
Initially, newer M1A2 variants were considered for the transfer, but in the end, older M1A1 models were sent to the front. The Ukrainians requested this because they were eager to receive Western tanks immediately. The Americans assured that even the Abrams M1A1 would offer significantly more than the post-Soviet tanks on which the Ukrainians had to rely at the beginning of the war. The ongoing conflict has confirmed this scenario.
"It’s better than the T-72, T-62, and even the Russian T-90," firmly commented the Ukrainian commander using the callsign Zakon. "It’s like a mouse against a big cat," he added in the context of comparing the T-90 to the Abrams.
According to the Ukrainian commander, even the T-90, described by Vladimir Putin as the "best tank in the world," stands no chance against the Abrams. It is less armoured, making it more vulnerable to attacks, and also has inferior technologies related to optics and fire control systems, among other things.
"Probably one of the best features of this tank is its speed. It's really fast; it can easily engage in combat and exit the battlefield," noted the Ukrainian commander.
The Abrams M1A1 tank has a 120 mm cannon and machine guns of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm calibres. It weighs about 63 tonnes, but its engine has 1500 horsepower, enabling it to achieve a speed of even 68 km/h on roads. In the variants intended for Ukrainians, the standard depleted uranium panels were replaced with tungsten inserts.
The Americans took this step out of concern that their sensitive technologies might fall into Russian hands. In hindsight, the decision seems justified because the Abrams are not invincible. According to data from Oryx, Ukrainians have already lost 10 Abrams (some may be eligible for repair).
