M1 Abrams variants

[Suhiir]

General Motors M-1 prototype, 105mm gun, Deisel engine, 6 road wheels.
Chrysler M-1 prototype, 105mm gun, gas turbine engine, 7 road wheels.

"Block I, 1980"
M1 - basic Abrams, 105mm gun, based on Chrysler prototype radical new chobham armor suit giving us today's Abrams look. This is the "Block I," Large numbers built.
M1IP - improved, generally M1A1, but with 105mm in a new universal gun mount, transitional production to the Block II.

"Block II 1985"
M-1A2, 120mm smothbore gun, CITV, radical new digital electronics/communication system, US Army unable to get the bugs out. 330 or so built for Kuaiti Army. some numbers of older base model M-1s upgraded to 'A2 but never successful, withdrawn from service.
M1A1 - 120mm, new NBC system, exactly the same analog electronics as the base model M-1, sort of a M-1A-2 lite always intended to be upgraded to A-2 standards if the US Army ever got the bugs out. 1986.
M1A1(HA) - 1988, turret armor with DU inserts.
M1A1HC - post-ODS, M1A1 with M1A2 turret armor
M1A1D - proposed M1A1 with M1A2 digital electronics thus the "D."
M1A1AIM - Box stock M-1A1XX with digital add-ons to the analog electronics for ease of maintenance, other small improvements.
M1A2SEP - new armor?, looks exactly like M-1A2 but totally new electronics/software, not the same tank as M-1A2.

"Block III" Several prototypes built including:
TTS - 3 men in M-1 hull, unmanned turet w/120mm gun.
"Block III Prototype" new LV-100 engine which greatly changes the rear of the hull, new tracks, new skirts with frills to hide the roadwheel heat and radar signiture, Leopard 2 turret with new armor and 140mm gun.

Other prototypes include M-1A1 with Leo 2 Powerpack, one built and tested.