Retired U.S. general dismisses Ukrainian complaints about Abrams tanks
Retired U.S. Army General Mark Hertling addressed the accusations made by some Ukrainian military personnel regarding the M1A1 Abrams tanks, describing them as "nonsense." He believes the issues experienced on the front line are primarily due to the tanks' characteristics and the insufficient training of certain Ukrainian crews rather than the tanks being weak.
In an interview with American media, Ukrainian soldiers expressed dissatisfaction with the Abrams tanks, citing weak armour as a concern. They claimed this made the tanks vulnerable to effective attacks by Russians using not only heavy weapons but also drones. Additionally, they noted that the tanks seemed more prone to breakdowns than anticipated.
American military defends the Abrams
Mark Hertling, a highly experienced retired U.S. Army general who once served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe, views Abrams tanks as among the best in their class. He argues that the complaints from Ukraine are unjustified. The Ukrainian crews underwent expedited training, and it must be understood that maintaining these tanks to high standards is essential for flawless operation. Moreover, the Abrams tanks are operating in Ukraine under conditions for which they were not designed, including a lack of air support and often even artillery support.
"They were disappointed because a tank broke down. Remember what I have already said—this is not the best tank to deploy in Ukraine due to maintenance issues and the need for a well-trained crew to handle some of the current problems," Mark Hertling said on CNN.
How many Abrams tanks does Ukraine have?
It is worth noting that 31 Abrams tanks were delivered to Ukraine. Initially, M1A2 variants were considered for transfer, but ultimately, older M1A1 models were sent to the front. The Ukrainians themselves pushed for this, seeking to receive support as quickly as possible. According to publicly available information, so far, the Russians have destroyed five Abrams tanks and damaged three more.
The Abrams M1A1 tanks delivered to Ukraine have been modified to address American concerns about sensitive technologies potentially falling into Russian hands. Instead of depleted uranium armour panels, new tungsten inserts were used.
The offensive capabilities remain unchanged. The M1A1 Abrams has a 120 mm cannon, .50 calibre machine guns, and 7.62 mm machine guns. It is powered by a 1,500 hp engine, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 68 km/h (42 mph).
