Combat Countdown (2012) s01e04 Episode Script
Maximum Horsepower
1 narrator: whether the battle is fought on land man: go, go, go, go! [ gunfire .]
sea, or air, there is one thing that every war machine needs -- power.
horsepower makes all the difference.
narrator: dogfighting at 50,000 feet or lifting massive loads, horsepower is the decisive factor.
when you hear that thing in the air, you feel the ground move.
narrator: we're counting down the most powerful war machines across every class of weapon system from the ch-53 super stallion to the legendary mig 25 jet fighter and the awesome NIMITZ -class carrier to find out what delivers maximum horsepower where it counts.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS English Sbutitles Collected and Modified By: in battle, horsepower is a decisive edge.
it doesn't get much more essential.
it's almost that simple.
narrator: with the help of military experts i'd put my life on the line with the m1a2 tank.
narrator: each machine will be assessed on a balance of service record, versatility, design ingenuity, and rank within their class to determine our definitive top 10.
at number 10, the beast that delivers more pull than anything else on the battlefield the m88 hercules.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $2.
1 million.
weight -- 56 tons.
length -- 27 feet.
the hercules is purpose-built to help out the u.
s.
army's mighty, 70-ton abrams battle tanks when they run into trouble.
[ wrench clicking .]
tracks will break.
suspension will break.
engines and transmissions will fail.
[ gunfire .]
narrator: when the bullets are flying, you need more than aaa to get you out of trouble.
you need 1,050 horsepower under heavy armor, and that comes courtesy of hercules.
this will get them home.
this will do it.
narrator: here at fort bliss, texas, the men of the 1st armored division are getting ready to take their machines to war.
this was my machine here.
it's big, it's loud, it's dirty.
i like big machines, so [ laughs .]
narrator: in any given day of combat, up to 30% of tanks in an armored unit can expect to suffer some sort of mechanical problem, so the m88s are critical to their combat capability.
every tank company, there's at least one m88a2 hercules, which is specifically designed to service this 70-ton monster.
if they're broken down, they know they can call us and know we're coming.
there's nothing in the army i cannot pull with this vehicle.
i love being that go-to guy.
narrator: the key to the $2.
1 million vehicle's incredible pulling power is an engine 10 times the size of an average sports car's.
you can see these massive exhaust ports.
i've got a 1,790-cubic-inch v-12 diesel engine [ engine revs .]
and ungodly amounts of torque.
[ laughs .]
narrator: when it comes to pulling power, torque, the application of force to the ground, is what really counts.
and this is where the m88 scores big.
with the right pulley, the m88 can drag a 140-ton load -- more than twice its own body weight.
wielding that kind of power takes constant training.
today, 1st armored divisions has to handle a 25-ton bradley infantry fighting vehicle stranded on the desert sand.
our sergeants received a call.
we actually have a bradley down.
the troops have moved on.
this is the tool for the job.
we're gonna go get it.
narrator: the general dynamics air-cooled turbo-diesel engine channels its power through a three-speed gearbox to give hercules a max speed of 30 miles per hour.
the m88 may not be fast, but once it's on the scene of a breakdown, the 56-ton vehicle can really strut its stuff.
hickey: recovering mired or disabled armored vehicles is both an art and a science.
you have to remember these things are about 70 tons.
back here we've got our heavy tow bars, because we can pull anything from bradleys to a1 abrams.
narrator: for lifting light vehicles or heavy components, like a one-ton gas-turbine tank engine, hercules deploys the a-frame lifting gear.
i've got a 20-ton boom for lifting equipment, changing tires, pulling engines, things like that.
narrator: if the enemy tries to interrupt a repair job, the m88 just ignores it.
m88a2 hercules is very well armored.
it's proof up to about 30-millimeter cannons.
if we do end up in the fight, we do have to get people that are broken down out of a bad situation.
we're not gonna leave soldiers in the field.
narrator: the eight-foot-long steel tow bars weigh 340 pounds each, and getting them into position in combat conditions can be a tough job for the three-man crew.
once the load's hooked up the m88's driver has to engage low gear to get the bradley moving.
on this ground, any ordinary tow truck would just be spinning its wheels in the dirt, but the m88's torsion bar suspension system takes the strain, and the wide tracks spread the load, driving the heavy hauler out of trouble.
i love the fact that my soldiers know if they're broke down, i'm coming.
narrator: the m88's distinguished service record goes back more than 40 years.
it can perform a range of engineering tasks, as well as armored recovery.
the design is evolution rather than a revolution.
the m88 is up there with the best.
overall, the m88 earns enough for the number-10 position.
at number 9, the most powerful, heaviest-lifting chopper in the u.
s.
military the ch-53 super stallion.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $24 million.
weight -- 15 tons.
length -- 99 feet.
ch-53 is a phenomenal aircraft, tremendously powerful.
it's designed to lift a lot of things and move it quickly.
narrator: the chopper's phenomenal heavy-lift performance has made it a key player in every major u.
s.
conflict since its debut in the vietnam war.
ch-53 can haul artillery pieces, small amounts of wheeled vehicles, equipment.
it can even haul a stryker vehicle.
narrator: the ability to fly at speeds of almost 200 miles per hour carrying loads of up to 14 tons has made the ch-53 especially vital to the united states marine corps.
mcfadden: it's fast, big.
marines will use it as their key to supporting their operations in an austere environment.
narrator: for carrying massive loads or up to 37 troops internally, the super stallion has not onenot two but three 4,380-horsepower gas-turbine engines -- more than any other helicopter.
ch-53, with its three engines, provides a tremendous amount of power for that massive rotor system to move a large amount of equipment up off the ground.
narrator: the phenomenal lifting power of the 79-foot main rotor, together with the 20-foot tail rotor, makes a massive difference to troops on the ground.
bose: when the ground guys see a ch-53 coming, they know we're bringing food, water, mail, supplies.
it's like santa claus.
narrator: the super stallion's combination of speed and colossal power is truly exceptional.
the super stallion has been a pivotal player since it entered service.
the range of tasks it can undertake scores for versatility.
the design is optimized for strength and power.
the ch-53 is tough to beat in its class.
overall, the super stallion earns enough for the number-9 position.
up next, we're maxing out the horsepower.
narrator: at number 8 in the horsepower countdown, the brute that lugs one of the biggest, heaviest guns on the battlefield, the terrifying 2s19 msta-s.
origin -- soviet union.
cost -- $3 million.
weight -- 42 tons.
length -- 39 feet.
caddick-adams: it's a great, big wrestler in the ring rather than a subtle ninja.
narrator: russia's msta-s carries an oversized 152-millimeter howitzer, along with 50 100-pound shells.
and that means this beast needs power.
its horsepower is simply designed to bear the weight of a huge gun and all the artillery shells that come with it.
in the russian army, artillery is the red god of war.
narrator: when the russian army invaded the mountainous chechen republic in 1991, they relied on the msta-s' power to travel quickly over freezing, rugged terrain.
and the helpless city of grozny suddenly found itself at the wrong end of this fearsome weapon.
working in packs of eight, vista s batteries fired up to 64 high-explosive shells every minute.
that's a staggering three tons of ordnance in the air at any one time.
the devastation was astounding.
but it's not just the alarming firepower that makes this weapon a massive threat.
the 840-horsepower, liquid-cooled diesel engine means it can really move.
and the 300-mile range dwarfs the opposition.
conflicts are fought on rough terrain, but msta-s's torsion-bar suspension and 580-millimeter-wide tracks can handle it.
it can keep up with the russian main battle tanks.
it's as maneuverable as they are.
and whenever they hit opposition, then it can dig in and just belt off round after round and simply swamp any opponent.
narrator: it can fire its massive shells a mind-blowing 20 miles.
a semiautomatic loader boosts msta's rate of fire to a rapid eight rounds a minute.
now, that is quite nasty.
the 2s19 has been dishing out destruction for over 20 years.
it can engage multiple target types, so scores for versatility.
the design is functional rather than innovative.
it's one of the most feared artillery pieces in the world.
overall, the msta earns enough for the number-8 position.
at number 7, the fighter with the power to do every job in the french air force and navy -- the rafale.
origin -- france.
cost -- $90 million.
loaded weight -- 25 tons.
length -- 50 feet.
the cutting-edge rafale is the world's first omni-role combat aircraft.
if a plane's going to do more than one job, power is at a premium.
it can do ground attack.
it can do intercepts.
it can do anti-bombing missions.
it can do bombing missions of its own.
so it's an amazing airplane.
they found a sweet spot for an aircraft to operate that is extremely useful for the air force and equally valuable for the navy.
narrator: for ground or surface attack, the rafale has to carry 10 tons of bombs and missiles -- the weight of nearly 10 cars.
it's the only carrier-borne combat jet in the world with the power to lift more than twice its own weight.
the key to getting the massive loads airborne from a short carrier deck is the mighty, 12-foot-long snecma m88 turbojets.
each one of these three-quarter-ton power plants pushes out 17,000 pounds of thrust.
with the help of the carrier's steam catapults, the rafale roars to a takeoff speed of 200 miles per hour in just three seconds.
the acceleration on the takeoff is incredible.
narrator: with full afterburners on, the lethal jet can accelerate to speeds of 1,500 miles per hour -- 1.
9 times the speed of sound.
you can take nine g's in one or two seconds.
narrator: power's useful for getting to the battle, but once the fight starts, power's a matter of life and death.
in aerial combat, a powerful jet engine can allow you to outmaneuver or outrun an enemy fighter.
narrator: the delta wing configuration, combined with the engine's incredible 5.
7 power-to-weight ratio, makes the rafale amazingly maneuverable.
we can go faster, higher than the other aircraft.
narrator: the devastating combination of power and design made the rafale nato's most potent weapon in operation unified protector -- libya.
the rafale has performed well in its short life to date.
versatility is a strong point for the omni-role aircraft.
the design has solved some of the trickiest problems in aviation.
there is no more capable carrier-borne aircraft in service today.
overall, the rafale earns enough for the number 7 position.
still to come, ultimate horsepower.
narrator: coming in at number 6 in the extreme horsepower countdown, the most powerful plane ever produced by the american war machine -- the c-5 galaxy.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $180 million.
weight -- 175 tons.
length -- 247 feet.
the weight of 10 houses, 65 feet tall, the height of a six-story building -- there's a reason they call it a galaxy.
huston: the first time you see a big airplane like that fly, you just stare at it, because it's so big.
narrator: shifting this 250-foot-long leviathan and up to 130 tons of cargo takes truly awesome horsepower.
the four general electric t39 high-bypass turbofans produce a total of 172,000 pounds of thrust.
that's like having two jet fighters strapped to each wing.
only because of the awesome $2 million, 3.
5-ton engines can the galaxy perform its incredible feats of heavy lifting.
enough room to fit two abrams tanks, six black hawk helicopters, six greyhound buses, and it's massive.
to get off the ground with these massive loads, galaxy has a wing area 2,000 square feet bigger than a basketball court.
the size is absolutely critical to its role, performing the u.
s.
military's biggest, heaviest lifts.
it's rare to have a piece of equipment in the u.
s.
military that can't fit in the c-5.
you can fit almost anything inside the c-5.
narrator: to accommodate these massive loads, the galaxy can drop down on its 28-wheel landing gear, lowering the 31,000-cubic-foot cargo floor by a full 5 feet.
pop open the front and the back and roll them both ways.
you can fill it with helicopters.
you can put tanks inside of it.
and that's what we need.
narrator: but without the power, the $180 million galaxy and its mission-critical payloads are staying firmly on the ground.
to feed the incredible power plants, the galaxy has to carry more than 51,000 gallons of fuel -- enough to fill 3,400 average cars.
even with four of the record-breaking, 26-foot-long tf39 engines, the c-5 needs a mile and a half of runway to take off.
but once she's in the air, that awesome power makes the massive plane incredibly agile.
[ choir vocalizing .]
pilot: ironically, once you get airborne, it's like flying a cessna 172.
[ vocalizing continues .]
[ album scratches .]
[ rock 'n' roll music plays .]
narrator: at its service ceiling of 35,700 feet, in spite of its bulk, the galaxy powers to a top speed of 579 miles per hour -- faster than airliners a fraction of its size.
huston: it always looks like it's just hanging there in the sky like a helicopter, but it's not.
it's moving at the same speed as everybody else.
it's just so enormous.
narrator: the service record encompasses every major u.
s.
overseas operation.
the big hauler's versatility has been proved.
the galaxy's engines were groundbreaking.
it's one of the world's top heavy lifters.
overall, the galaxy earns enough for the number-6 position.
at number 5, the most powerful, toughest bulldozer on the world's battlefields -- the cat d9 armored dozer.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $1 million.
weight -- 57 tons.
length -- 26 feet.
bunkers, trenches, or even mine fields -- whenever the israeli defense force is faced with an obstacle, they bring the power.
the 13-foot-high d9 is a million dollars of unstoppable force, driven by a 475-horsepower c18 diesel engine.
in spite of its 57-ton bulk, you don't need massive muscles to handle this beast.
it's a very, very big machine, as you can see.
narrator: israeli operators have nicknamed their heavily armored d9s "teddy bears.
" the hardest thing is probably getting on.
[ laughs .]
short people like me, it takes a big step to get on top.
narrator: but there's nothing warm and fuzzy about this war machine.
engineers have had to work actually on the battlefield, and for that, they will need to use an armored bulldozer.
narrator: today, they'll have to use all its power, training to tackle the massive, 15-foot-high sand walls that frequently surround defensive position in desert warfare.
narrator: despite its incredible power, the d9's top speed is just 7.
3 miles per hour moving forward.
it's actually faster in reverse.
but once the beast is moving, nothing is going to stop it.
rough ground or even whole houses, the 18-cubic-yard dozer blade is going to keep moving forward.
the four hydraulic rams that drive the dozer blade are capable of shifting the massive vehicle's entire bulk.
even a deadweight 20 tons heavier than the dozer is no problem.
once the d9 has smashed a path through enemy defenses, the next job is to make sure the enemy haven't left any nasty surprises behind.
that's a job for the 4.
85-ton ripper claw.
with the d9's fearsome pulling power, the hardened-steel tool will either break or detonate any bombs in its path and can even smash through reinforced-concrete bunkers.
for ultra-high-risk missions, there's even a remote-controlled variant of the d9 code-named "dawn thunder.
" the d9 has seen tough combat in israel and the gulf war.
multiple roles score for versatility.
the design is effective, but not ingenious.
without doubt, the d9 is the top military dozer.
overall, the cat d9 earns enough for the number-5 position.
coming up, more power than you can handle.
narrator: we're counting down the war machines that provide the most extreme horsepower on the planet.
at number 4, the world's most powerful military transport truck, the hets -- heavy equipment transportation system.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $486,000.
weight -- 42 tons.
length -- 72 feet.
when the u.
s.
army needs the power to carry anything up to and including a 70-ton main battle tank they call on the 80-foot-long combination of the m1070 tractor unit and the m1000 trailer together known as the hets.
the hets system is the largest vehicle in the army.
narrator: the 12-foot-high hets has a 500-horsepower series 92 detroit diesel engine to shift its enormous bulk.
that's a lot of weight coming at you on the road.
narrator: the soldiers of 1st armored division are going to show just what the hets' power can do.
man: the mission today, we're gonna go to the desert and go pick up an 88, which is a big tank.
it weighs about 56 tons.
narrator: with its 250-gallon fuel capacity [ horn honks .]
the m1070 has a range on roads of 300 miles.
and the massive diesel engine can move it at 45 miles per hour, even with heavy loads.
the major challenge is controlling that power.
any ordinary 42-ton rig has serious trouble turning tight.
the hets has 10 axles and 40 tires, but the trailer has a system of connected wheel assemblies, so instead of being dragged around, it steers itself.
so it's not just powerful.
it's agile enough to use that power effectively in a demanding battlefield environment.
i love driving this vehicle.
it's very easy to drive.
it's almost as easy to drive as your car.
narrator: but once the $486,000 rig comes to a stop, the power's off, which means the 23-ton trailer is harder to handle.
the trailer ramps are manual.
we wish they were hydraulic.
they weigh probably 400 or 500 pounds.
narrator: for getting massive loads on, the hets trailer does offer some power assistance.
positioned above each axle, a total of 10 hydraulic cylinders can lower the bed by nine inches, then raise it up once the cargo is on board.
man: the normal riding height for the trailer is 43 inches, which is very high for a tank to actually climb up the ramps and up onto the trailer deck.
so we lower the entire deck to right above the tires.
narrator: the combination of power, performance, and utility has made the hets a favorite with the armies of nine different nations around the globe.
the hets has been essential to u.
s.
armored forces since it arrived.
it's highly versatile, carrying a range of cargoes.
the design is an evolution from its predecessor.
there is nothing to match the hets in its class.
overall, the hets scores enough for the number-4 position.
coming in at number 3, the fastest, most powerful jet fighter ever created -- the mig 25 foxbat.
origin -- soviet union.
cost -- classified.
weight -- 41 tons.
length -- 78 feet.
the mig 25 is the ultimate cold war killing machine, and the footage you're about to see has only recently been released from secret soviet archives for western observers.
from its first flight in 1964, the mig 25's incredible performance worried western air forces.
its key attribute was its speed.
it would go pretty high.
very fast, very formidable fighter.
narrator: the amazing power gave it a speed of 2,170 miles per hour -- three times the speed of sound -- so it could intercept any plane in soviet airspace within minutes.
it would have really made allied air forces think twice about getting into hostile airspace.
[ speaking russian .]
narrator: moving a 20-ton plane at those speeds takes truly awesome power.
that comes from two tumansky r-15b-300 afterburning turbofans each churning out 22,500 pounds of thrust.
that's jumbo-jet power for a single-seat fighter.
the plane's 78-foot-long airframe had to be specially strengthened to withstand the huge stresses of that phenomenal power.
hoyle: the aircraft is built to be rugged and to do a tough job.
narrator: initially, the aircraft's huge 660-square-foot wings confused nato experts [ camera shutter clicks .]
who thought they must be looking at a highly maneuverable aircraft.
but the 45-foot span and massive wing area was necessary just to get the weight of the colossal power plants into the air.
it could do things no other aircraft could do, like climb to 123,000 feet -- three times the height of mount everest -- in just three minutes.
with this awesome performance and four aa-6 acrid air-to-air missiles under the wings, the foxbat posed a threat to even the most advanced western aircraft.
hoyle: so, the russians needed to field an aircraft that could fly extremely fast, very high, and fire some missiles and bring down an aircraft like the sr-71.
narrator: the mig 25's power was so extraordinary, it set a total of 29 world records for speed and altitude, several of which still stand more than 40 years after its first flight.
the mig is still in service almost 50 years after first flight.
it is a specialist and scores low for versatility.
reaching record speeds takes incredible design ingenuity.
the mig set new standards for power in its class.
overall, the mig 25 earns enough for the number-3 position.
still to come, horsepower to the max.
narrator: coming in at number 2 in the extreme horsepower countdown, the largest and most powerful warship ever built -- the nimitz -class aircraft carrier.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $4.
5 billion.
weight -- 95,000 tons.
length -- 1,092 feet.
there's really nothing out there on the scale of the nimitz -class.
everything about it is big, is massive, is powerfuland is american.
narrator: the nimitz -class was born in 1975.
at the height of the cold war, america needed the ability to deliver massive air power anywhere in the globe.
to have a carrier battle group arrive in your back garden is awesome and almost impossible to defend.
narrator: the nimitz delivers unprecedented air power, but at 1,092 feet long and the width of a city block, its sheer scale means it needs truly unprecedented horsepower.
so the u.
s.
navy went nuclear.
deep within the hull of the nimitz are concealed two massive a4w pressurized water reactors.
the nuclear reactors drive four turbines, providing a staggering 260,000 horsepower -- enough for the huge vessel to reach a speed of 30 knots.
and they can do it for 20 years without refueling.
it's enough grunt to power a small city.
the inherent power of the ship is mind-boggling.
narrator: the reason it uses the power of a city? that's exactly what it is, complete with shops, cafés, and even hairdressers.
it's like a small city floating around the world.
a floating city that can support an entire army.
goodwin: the captain of an aircraft carrier's much like the mayor or city manager.
narrator: when it's in harbor, the floating neighborhood even gets assigned its own zip code.
you'll find 6,000 people on board.
you'll find 80 to 90 aircraft on a vessel that displaces 100,000 tons.
narrator: the main drag of the city is the massive flight deck, longer than three football fields.
in rush hour, this strip can launch every 20 seconds -- 180 planes every hour.
not even the world's busiest airport can keep up with that.
each one of the carrier's payload of f/a-18 super hornet fighter jets is a powerhouse in its own right, capable of carrying eight tons of bombs.
huston: those airplanes are so phenomenally capable that the firepower carried by that ship around the world is unprecedented.
there is no comparison between the nimitz -class carrier and the aircraft carriers of any other nation.
it's larger, faster, can carry more combat power.
it can influence events around the world simply by its presence.
narrator: it's not just impressive horsepower.
it's horsepower that makes a massive difference on a truly global scale.
the nimitz has played a vital role since its creation.
it's highly versatile, performing multiple roles.
the design leans heavily on earlier models.
the nimitz -class leads the world.
overall, the nimitz earns enough for the number-2 position.
whether it's on a jet hitting three times the speed of sound, a heavy hauler, or a $5 billion warship, engine power can be a decisive edge.
but when you factor in all the key elements, one war machine's power delivers where it really counts -- right at the front line.
coming in at number 1, the most powerful tank ever created -- the m1 abrams.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $6 million.
weight -- 68 tons.
length -- 33 feet.
i'd put my life on the line with the m1a2 tank.
clearly one of the best tanks ever produced.
narrator: the weight of armor and firepower on the abrams gives it the mass of nearly 50 family cars.
the abrams is just a beast.
it's massive.
narrator: and moving that mass takes truly incredible power.
that comes courtesy of the 1.
5-ton honeywell agt1500c multi-fueled turbine engine.
the 1,500-horsepower monster power plant is a gas turbine, similar to what you'd find in a jet fighter.
felstead: that's an awesome amount of power.
it's effectively a jet engine inside a tank.
narrator: it's so powerful, it can be dangerous to anyone standing nearby.
it's got jet-engine turbines in the back.
you can literally cook your lunch or yourself if you stand behind it.
[ explosion .]
narrator: and it's thirsty.
instead of miles per gallon, fuel consumption is measured in gallons per mile.
man: it has a lot of get-up power.
it'll actually throw you back in the turn if you're not hanging onto it.
without a doubt, this is the best engine for a tank out there.
narrator: the point of this awesome power is to get the m1 into position to pour out pain.
and the m1 scores here, too.
the rheinmetall 120-millimeter smoothbore gun can kill at 4,000 meters.
it has a 120-millimeter gun.
it's a smoothbore gun that can fire depleted-uranium rounds.
and they're able to penetrate anything up to a meter of rolled homogeneous armor steel.
narrator: but the main reason the abrams needs so much grunt is the weight of its incredible armor protection.
the exact weight of the blend of depleted-uranium plate and advanced composites is highly classified, but it's equivalent to more than two feet of ordinary steel armor.
soldier: i've been in iraq.
i've encountered a couple i.
e.
d.
s.
didn't affect the tank.
and i've been shot at by small-arms fire, and all it pretty much did was just chip the paint.
narrator: the m1 is so jacked, the heaviest armor protection of any main battle tank hardly slows it down.
it's meant to go fast.
it's like a ferrari, but a tank.
it's amazing.
narrator: you might think a tank this powerful would be deafeningly loud.
think again.
they even call it "the whispering death" because it's so quiet [ engine whirs quietly .]
but it's also quick.
narrator: bottom line -- the m1 could be the most deadly all-around ground-combat system on the planet.
m1 abrams is the king of the armored forces.
it was designed to be undefeatable.
narrator: and it all comes down to power.
the service record stretches across multiple global conflicts.
it has demonstrated extraordinary combat versatility.
the design's range of features to boost combat potential is dazzling.
there's strong competition, but the abrams is a world leader.
overall, the m1 does just enough to stake a claim to the number-1 spot.
the need for power gets critical on the battlefield, and in this countdown, we've analyzed the war machines that deliver maximum horsepower.
horsepower makes all the difference.
i like big machines, so [ laughs .]
narrator: from number 10 all the way down to number 2, there are strong contenders.
but there's no doubt about the winner, the m1 abrams.
sea, or air, there is one thing that every war machine needs -- power.
horsepower makes all the difference.
narrator: dogfighting at 50,000 feet or lifting massive loads, horsepower is the decisive factor.
when you hear that thing in the air, you feel the ground move.
narrator: we're counting down the most powerful war machines across every class of weapon system from the ch-53 super stallion to the legendary mig 25 jet fighter and the awesome NIMITZ -class carrier to find out what delivers maximum horsepower where it counts.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS English Sbutitles Collected and Modified By: in battle, horsepower is a decisive edge.
it doesn't get much more essential.
it's almost that simple.
narrator: with the help of military experts i'd put my life on the line with the m1a2 tank.
narrator: each machine will be assessed on a balance of service record, versatility, design ingenuity, and rank within their class to determine our definitive top 10.
at number 10, the beast that delivers more pull than anything else on the battlefield the m88 hercules.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $2.
1 million.
weight -- 56 tons.
length -- 27 feet.
the hercules is purpose-built to help out the u.
s.
army's mighty, 70-ton abrams battle tanks when they run into trouble.
[ wrench clicking .]
tracks will break.
suspension will break.
engines and transmissions will fail.
[ gunfire .]
narrator: when the bullets are flying, you need more than aaa to get you out of trouble.
you need 1,050 horsepower under heavy armor, and that comes courtesy of hercules.
this will get them home.
this will do it.
narrator: here at fort bliss, texas, the men of the 1st armored division are getting ready to take their machines to war.
this was my machine here.
it's big, it's loud, it's dirty.
i like big machines, so [ laughs .]
narrator: in any given day of combat, up to 30% of tanks in an armored unit can expect to suffer some sort of mechanical problem, so the m88s are critical to their combat capability.
every tank company, there's at least one m88a2 hercules, which is specifically designed to service this 70-ton monster.
if they're broken down, they know they can call us and know we're coming.
there's nothing in the army i cannot pull with this vehicle.
i love being that go-to guy.
narrator: the key to the $2.
1 million vehicle's incredible pulling power is an engine 10 times the size of an average sports car's.
you can see these massive exhaust ports.
i've got a 1,790-cubic-inch v-12 diesel engine [ engine revs .]
and ungodly amounts of torque.
[ laughs .]
narrator: when it comes to pulling power, torque, the application of force to the ground, is what really counts.
and this is where the m88 scores big.
with the right pulley, the m88 can drag a 140-ton load -- more than twice its own body weight.
wielding that kind of power takes constant training.
today, 1st armored divisions has to handle a 25-ton bradley infantry fighting vehicle stranded on the desert sand.
our sergeants received a call.
we actually have a bradley down.
the troops have moved on.
this is the tool for the job.
we're gonna go get it.
narrator: the general dynamics air-cooled turbo-diesel engine channels its power through a three-speed gearbox to give hercules a max speed of 30 miles per hour.
the m88 may not be fast, but once it's on the scene of a breakdown, the 56-ton vehicle can really strut its stuff.
hickey: recovering mired or disabled armored vehicles is both an art and a science.
you have to remember these things are about 70 tons.
back here we've got our heavy tow bars, because we can pull anything from bradleys to a1 abrams.
narrator: for lifting light vehicles or heavy components, like a one-ton gas-turbine tank engine, hercules deploys the a-frame lifting gear.
i've got a 20-ton boom for lifting equipment, changing tires, pulling engines, things like that.
narrator: if the enemy tries to interrupt a repair job, the m88 just ignores it.
m88a2 hercules is very well armored.
it's proof up to about 30-millimeter cannons.
if we do end up in the fight, we do have to get people that are broken down out of a bad situation.
we're not gonna leave soldiers in the field.
narrator: the eight-foot-long steel tow bars weigh 340 pounds each, and getting them into position in combat conditions can be a tough job for the three-man crew.
once the load's hooked up the m88's driver has to engage low gear to get the bradley moving.
on this ground, any ordinary tow truck would just be spinning its wheels in the dirt, but the m88's torsion bar suspension system takes the strain, and the wide tracks spread the load, driving the heavy hauler out of trouble.
i love the fact that my soldiers know if they're broke down, i'm coming.
narrator: the m88's distinguished service record goes back more than 40 years.
it can perform a range of engineering tasks, as well as armored recovery.
the design is evolution rather than a revolution.
the m88 is up there with the best.
overall, the m88 earns enough for the number-10 position.
at number 9, the most powerful, heaviest-lifting chopper in the u.
s.
military the ch-53 super stallion.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $24 million.
weight -- 15 tons.
length -- 99 feet.
ch-53 is a phenomenal aircraft, tremendously powerful.
it's designed to lift a lot of things and move it quickly.
narrator: the chopper's phenomenal heavy-lift performance has made it a key player in every major u.
s.
conflict since its debut in the vietnam war.
ch-53 can haul artillery pieces, small amounts of wheeled vehicles, equipment.
it can even haul a stryker vehicle.
narrator: the ability to fly at speeds of almost 200 miles per hour carrying loads of up to 14 tons has made the ch-53 especially vital to the united states marine corps.
mcfadden: it's fast, big.
marines will use it as their key to supporting their operations in an austere environment.
narrator: for carrying massive loads or up to 37 troops internally, the super stallion has not onenot two but three 4,380-horsepower gas-turbine engines -- more than any other helicopter.
ch-53, with its three engines, provides a tremendous amount of power for that massive rotor system to move a large amount of equipment up off the ground.
narrator: the phenomenal lifting power of the 79-foot main rotor, together with the 20-foot tail rotor, makes a massive difference to troops on the ground.
bose: when the ground guys see a ch-53 coming, they know we're bringing food, water, mail, supplies.
it's like santa claus.
narrator: the super stallion's combination of speed and colossal power is truly exceptional.
the super stallion has been a pivotal player since it entered service.
the range of tasks it can undertake scores for versatility.
the design is optimized for strength and power.
the ch-53 is tough to beat in its class.
overall, the super stallion earns enough for the number-9 position.
up next, we're maxing out the horsepower.
narrator: at number 8 in the horsepower countdown, the brute that lugs one of the biggest, heaviest guns on the battlefield, the terrifying 2s19 msta-s.
origin -- soviet union.
cost -- $3 million.
weight -- 42 tons.
length -- 39 feet.
caddick-adams: it's a great, big wrestler in the ring rather than a subtle ninja.
narrator: russia's msta-s carries an oversized 152-millimeter howitzer, along with 50 100-pound shells.
and that means this beast needs power.
its horsepower is simply designed to bear the weight of a huge gun and all the artillery shells that come with it.
in the russian army, artillery is the red god of war.
narrator: when the russian army invaded the mountainous chechen republic in 1991, they relied on the msta-s' power to travel quickly over freezing, rugged terrain.
and the helpless city of grozny suddenly found itself at the wrong end of this fearsome weapon.
working in packs of eight, vista s batteries fired up to 64 high-explosive shells every minute.
that's a staggering three tons of ordnance in the air at any one time.
the devastation was astounding.
but it's not just the alarming firepower that makes this weapon a massive threat.
the 840-horsepower, liquid-cooled diesel engine means it can really move.
and the 300-mile range dwarfs the opposition.
conflicts are fought on rough terrain, but msta-s's torsion-bar suspension and 580-millimeter-wide tracks can handle it.
it can keep up with the russian main battle tanks.
it's as maneuverable as they are.
and whenever they hit opposition, then it can dig in and just belt off round after round and simply swamp any opponent.
narrator: it can fire its massive shells a mind-blowing 20 miles.
a semiautomatic loader boosts msta's rate of fire to a rapid eight rounds a minute.
now, that is quite nasty.
the 2s19 has been dishing out destruction for over 20 years.
it can engage multiple target types, so scores for versatility.
the design is functional rather than innovative.
it's one of the most feared artillery pieces in the world.
overall, the msta earns enough for the number-8 position.
at number 7, the fighter with the power to do every job in the french air force and navy -- the rafale.
origin -- france.
cost -- $90 million.
loaded weight -- 25 tons.
length -- 50 feet.
the cutting-edge rafale is the world's first omni-role combat aircraft.
if a plane's going to do more than one job, power is at a premium.
it can do ground attack.
it can do intercepts.
it can do anti-bombing missions.
it can do bombing missions of its own.
so it's an amazing airplane.
they found a sweet spot for an aircraft to operate that is extremely useful for the air force and equally valuable for the navy.
narrator: for ground or surface attack, the rafale has to carry 10 tons of bombs and missiles -- the weight of nearly 10 cars.
it's the only carrier-borne combat jet in the world with the power to lift more than twice its own weight.
the key to getting the massive loads airborne from a short carrier deck is the mighty, 12-foot-long snecma m88 turbojets.
each one of these three-quarter-ton power plants pushes out 17,000 pounds of thrust.
with the help of the carrier's steam catapults, the rafale roars to a takeoff speed of 200 miles per hour in just three seconds.
the acceleration on the takeoff is incredible.
narrator: with full afterburners on, the lethal jet can accelerate to speeds of 1,500 miles per hour -- 1.
9 times the speed of sound.
you can take nine g's in one or two seconds.
narrator: power's useful for getting to the battle, but once the fight starts, power's a matter of life and death.
in aerial combat, a powerful jet engine can allow you to outmaneuver or outrun an enemy fighter.
narrator: the delta wing configuration, combined with the engine's incredible 5.
7 power-to-weight ratio, makes the rafale amazingly maneuverable.
we can go faster, higher than the other aircraft.
narrator: the devastating combination of power and design made the rafale nato's most potent weapon in operation unified protector -- libya.
the rafale has performed well in its short life to date.
versatility is a strong point for the omni-role aircraft.
the design has solved some of the trickiest problems in aviation.
there is no more capable carrier-borne aircraft in service today.
overall, the rafale earns enough for the number 7 position.
still to come, ultimate horsepower.
narrator: coming in at number 6 in the extreme horsepower countdown, the most powerful plane ever produced by the american war machine -- the c-5 galaxy.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $180 million.
weight -- 175 tons.
length -- 247 feet.
the weight of 10 houses, 65 feet tall, the height of a six-story building -- there's a reason they call it a galaxy.
huston: the first time you see a big airplane like that fly, you just stare at it, because it's so big.
narrator: shifting this 250-foot-long leviathan and up to 130 tons of cargo takes truly awesome horsepower.
the four general electric t39 high-bypass turbofans produce a total of 172,000 pounds of thrust.
that's like having two jet fighters strapped to each wing.
only because of the awesome $2 million, 3.
5-ton engines can the galaxy perform its incredible feats of heavy lifting.
enough room to fit two abrams tanks, six black hawk helicopters, six greyhound buses, and it's massive.
to get off the ground with these massive loads, galaxy has a wing area 2,000 square feet bigger than a basketball court.
the size is absolutely critical to its role, performing the u.
s.
military's biggest, heaviest lifts.
it's rare to have a piece of equipment in the u.
s.
military that can't fit in the c-5.
you can fit almost anything inside the c-5.
narrator: to accommodate these massive loads, the galaxy can drop down on its 28-wheel landing gear, lowering the 31,000-cubic-foot cargo floor by a full 5 feet.
pop open the front and the back and roll them both ways.
you can fill it with helicopters.
you can put tanks inside of it.
and that's what we need.
narrator: but without the power, the $180 million galaxy and its mission-critical payloads are staying firmly on the ground.
to feed the incredible power plants, the galaxy has to carry more than 51,000 gallons of fuel -- enough to fill 3,400 average cars.
even with four of the record-breaking, 26-foot-long tf39 engines, the c-5 needs a mile and a half of runway to take off.
but once she's in the air, that awesome power makes the massive plane incredibly agile.
[ choir vocalizing .]
pilot: ironically, once you get airborne, it's like flying a cessna 172.
[ vocalizing continues .]
[ album scratches .]
[ rock 'n' roll music plays .]
narrator: at its service ceiling of 35,700 feet, in spite of its bulk, the galaxy powers to a top speed of 579 miles per hour -- faster than airliners a fraction of its size.
huston: it always looks like it's just hanging there in the sky like a helicopter, but it's not.
it's moving at the same speed as everybody else.
it's just so enormous.
narrator: the service record encompasses every major u.
s.
overseas operation.
the big hauler's versatility has been proved.
the galaxy's engines were groundbreaking.
it's one of the world's top heavy lifters.
overall, the galaxy earns enough for the number-6 position.
at number 5, the most powerful, toughest bulldozer on the world's battlefields -- the cat d9 armored dozer.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $1 million.
weight -- 57 tons.
length -- 26 feet.
bunkers, trenches, or even mine fields -- whenever the israeli defense force is faced with an obstacle, they bring the power.
the 13-foot-high d9 is a million dollars of unstoppable force, driven by a 475-horsepower c18 diesel engine.
in spite of its 57-ton bulk, you don't need massive muscles to handle this beast.
it's a very, very big machine, as you can see.
narrator: israeli operators have nicknamed their heavily armored d9s "teddy bears.
" the hardest thing is probably getting on.
[ laughs .]
short people like me, it takes a big step to get on top.
narrator: but there's nothing warm and fuzzy about this war machine.
engineers have had to work actually on the battlefield, and for that, they will need to use an armored bulldozer.
narrator: today, they'll have to use all its power, training to tackle the massive, 15-foot-high sand walls that frequently surround defensive position in desert warfare.
narrator: despite its incredible power, the d9's top speed is just 7.
3 miles per hour moving forward.
it's actually faster in reverse.
but once the beast is moving, nothing is going to stop it.
rough ground or even whole houses, the 18-cubic-yard dozer blade is going to keep moving forward.
the four hydraulic rams that drive the dozer blade are capable of shifting the massive vehicle's entire bulk.
even a deadweight 20 tons heavier than the dozer is no problem.
once the d9 has smashed a path through enemy defenses, the next job is to make sure the enemy haven't left any nasty surprises behind.
that's a job for the 4.
85-ton ripper claw.
with the d9's fearsome pulling power, the hardened-steel tool will either break or detonate any bombs in its path and can even smash through reinforced-concrete bunkers.
for ultra-high-risk missions, there's even a remote-controlled variant of the d9 code-named "dawn thunder.
" the d9 has seen tough combat in israel and the gulf war.
multiple roles score for versatility.
the design is effective, but not ingenious.
without doubt, the d9 is the top military dozer.
overall, the cat d9 earns enough for the number-5 position.
coming up, more power than you can handle.
narrator: we're counting down the war machines that provide the most extreme horsepower on the planet.
at number 4, the world's most powerful military transport truck, the hets -- heavy equipment transportation system.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $486,000.
weight -- 42 tons.
length -- 72 feet.
when the u.
s.
army needs the power to carry anything up to and including a 70-ton main battle tank they call on the 80-foot-long combination of the m1070 tractor unit and the m1000 trailer together known as the hets.
the hets system is the largest vehicle in the army.
narrator: the 12-foot-high hets has a 500-horsepower series 92 detroit diesel engine to shift its enormous bulk.
that's a lot of weight coming at you on the road.
narrator: the soldiers of 1st armored division are going to show just what the hets' power can do.
man: the mission today, we're gonna go to the desert and go pick up an 88, which is a big tank.
it weighs about 56 tons.
narrator: with its 250-gallon fuel capacity [ horn honks .]
the m1070 has a range on roads of 300 miles.
and the massive diesel engine can move it at 45 miles per hour, even with heavy loads.
the major challenge is controlling that power.
any ordinary 42-ton rig has serious trouble turning tight.
the hets has 10 axles and 40 tires, but the trailer has a system of connected wheel assemblies, so instead of being dragged around, it steers itself.
so it's not just powerful.
it's agile enough to use that power effectively in a demanding battlefield environment.
i love driving this vehicle.
it's very easy to drive.
it's almost as easy to drive as your car.
narrator: but once the $486,000 rig comes to a stop, the power's off, which means the 23-ton trailer is harder to handle.
the trailer ramps are manual.
we wish they were hydraulic.
they weigh probably 400 or 500 pounds.
narrator: for getting massive loads on, the hets trailer does offer some power assistance.
positioned above each axle, a total of 10 hydraulic cylinders can lower the bed by nine inches, then raise it up once the cargo is on board.
man: the normal riding height for the trailer is 43 inches, which is very high for a tank to actually climb up the ramps and up onto the trailer deck.
so we lower the entire deck to right above the tires.
narrator: the combination of power, performance, and utility has made the hets a favorite with the armies of nine different nations around the globe.
the hets has been essential to u.
s.
armored forces since it arrived.
it's highly versatile, carrying a range of cargoes.
the design is an evolution from its predecessor.
there is nothing to match the hets in its class.
overall, the hets scores enough for the number-4 position.
coming in at number 3, the fastest, most powerful jet fighter ever created -- the mig 25 foxbat.
origin -- soviet union.
cost -- classified.
weight -- 41 tons.
length -- 78 feet.
the mig 25 is the ultimate cold war killing machine, and the footage you're about to see has only recently been released from secret soviet archives for western observers.
from its first flight in 1964, the mig 25's incredible performance worried western air forces.
its key attribute was its speed.
it would go pretty high.
very fast, very formidable fighter.
narrator: the amazing power gave it a speed of 2,170 miles per hour -- three times the speed of sound -- so it could intercept any plane in soviet airspace within minutes.
it would have really made allied air forces think twice about getting into hostile airspace.
[ speaking russian .]
narrator: moving a 20-ton plane at those speeds takes truly awesome power.
that comes from two tumansky r-15b-300 afterburning turbofans each churning out 22,500 pounds of thrust.
that's jumbo-jet power for a single-seat fighter.
the plane's 78-foot-long airframe had to be specially strengthened to withstand the huge stresses of that phenomenal power.
hoyle: the aircraft is built to be rugged and to do a tough job.
narrator: initially, the aircraft's huge 660-square-foot wings confused nato experts [ camera shutter clicks .]
who thought they must be looking at a highly maneuverable aircraft.
but the 45-foot span and massive wing area was necessary just to get the weight of the colossal power plants into the air.
it could do things no other aircraft could do, like climb to 123,000 feet -- three times the height of mount everest -- in just three minutes.
with this awesome performance and four aa-6 acrid air-to-air missiles under the wings, the foxbat posed a threat to even the most advanced western aircraft.
hoyle: so, the russians needed to field an aircraft that could fly extremely fast, very high, and fire some missiles and bring down an aircraft like the sr-71.
narrator: the mig 25's power was so extraordinary, it set a total of 29 world records for speed and altitude, several of which still stand more than 40 years after its first flight.
the mig is still in service almost 50 years after first flight.
it is a specialist and scores low for versatility.
reaching record speeds takes incredible design ingenuity.
the mig set new standards for power in its class.
overall, the mig 25 earns enough for the number-3 position.
still to come, horsepower to the max.
narrator: coming in at number 2 in the extreme horsepower countdown, the largest and most powerful warship ever built -- the nimitz -class aircraft carrier.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $4.
5 billion.
weight -- 95,000 tons.
length -- 1,092 feet.
there's really nothing out there on the scale of the nimitz -class.
everything about it is big, is massive, is powerfuland is american.
narrator: the nimitz -class was born in 1975.
at the height of the cold war, america needed the ability to deliver massive air power anywhere in the globe.
to have a carrier battle group arrive in your back garden is awesome and almost impossible to defend.
narrator: the nimitz delivers unprecedented air power, but at 1,092 feet long and the width of a city block, its sheer scale means it needs truly unprecedented horsepower.
so the u.
s.
navy went nuclear.
deep within the hull of the nimitz are concealed two massive a4w pressurized water reactors.
the nuclear reactors drive four turbines, providing a staggering 260,000 horsepower -- enough for the huge vessel to reach a speed of 30 knots.
and they can do it for 20 years without refueling.
it's enough grunt to power a small city.
the inherent power of the ship is mind-boggling.
narrator: the reason it uses the power of a city? that's exactly what it is, complete with shops, cafés, and even hairdressers.
it's like a small city floating around the world.
a floating city that can support an entire army.
goodwin: the captain of an aircraft carrier's much like the mayor or city manager.
narrator: when it's in harbor, the floating neighborhood even gets assigned its own zip code.
you'll find 6,000 people on board.
you'll find 80 to 90 aircraft on a vessel that displaces 100,000 tons.
narrator: the main drag of the city is the massive flight deck, longer than three football fields.
in rush hour, this strip can launch every 20 seconds -- 180 planes every hour.
not even the world's busiest airport can keep up with that.
each one of the carrier's payload of f/a-18 super hornet fighter jets is a powerhouse in its own right, capable of carrying eight tons of bombs.
huston: those airplanes are so phenomenally capable that the firepower carried by that ship around the world is unprecedented.
there is no comparison between the nimitz -class carrier and the aircraft carriers of any other nation.
it's larger, faster, can carry more combat power.
it can influence events around the world simply by its presence.
narrator: it's not just impressive horsepower.
it's horsepower that makes a massive difference on a truly global scale.
the nimitz has played a vital role since its creation.
it's highly versatile, performing multiple roles.
the design leans heavily on earlier models.
the nimitz -class leads the world.
overall, the nimitz earns enough for the number-2 position.
whether it's on a jet hitting three times the speed of sound, a heavy hauler, or a $5 billion warship, engine power can be a decisive edge.
but when you factor in all the key elements, one war machine's power delivers where it really counts -- right at the front line.
coming in at number 1, the most powerful tank ever created -- the m1 abrams.
origin -- usa.
cost -- $6 million.
weight -- 68 tons.
length -- 33 feet.
i'd put my life on the line with the m1a2 tank.
clearly one of the best tanks ever produced.
narrator: the weight of armor and firepower on the abrams gives it the mass of nearly 50 family cars.
the abrams is just a beast.
it's massive.
narrator: and moving that mass takes truly incredible power.
that comes courtesy of the 1.
5-ton honeywell agt1500c multi-fueled turbine engine.
the 1,500-horsepower monster power plant is a gas turbine, similar to what you'd find in a jet fighter.
felstead: that's an awesome amount of power.
it's effectively a jet engine inside a tank.
narrator: it's so powerful, it can be dangerous to anyone standing nearby.
it's got jet-engine turbines in the back.
you can literally cook your lunch or yourself if you stand behind it.
[ explosion .]
narrator: and it's thirsty.
instead of miles per gallon, fuel consumption is measured in gallons per mile.
man: it has a lot of get-up power.
it'll actually throw you back in the turn if you're not hanging onto it.
without a doubt, this is the best engine for a tank out there.
narrator: the point of this awesome power is to get the m1 into position to pour out pain.
and the m1 scores here, too.
the rheinmetall 120-millimeter smoothbore gun can kill at 4,000 meters.
it has a 120-millimeter gun.
it's a smoothbore gun that can fire depleted-uranium rounds.
and they're able to penetrate anything up to a meter of rolled homogeneous armor steel.
narrator: but the main reason the abrams needs so much grunt is the weight of its incredible armor protection.
the exact weight of the blend of depleted-uranium plate and advanced composites is highly classified, but it's equivalent to more than two feet of ordinary steel armor.
soldier: i've been in iraq.
i've encountered a couple i.
e.
d.
s.
didn't affect the tank.
and i've been shot at by small-arms fire, and all it pretty much did was just chip the paint.
narrator: the m1 is so jacked, the heaviest armor protection of any main battle tank hardly slows it down.
it's meant to go fast.
it's like a ferrari, but a tank.
it's amazing.
narrator: you might think a tank this powerful would be deafeningly loud.
think again.
they even call it "the whispering death" because it's so quiet [ engine whirs quietly .]
but it's also quick.
narrator: bottom line -- the m1 could be the most deadly all-around ground-combat system on the planet.
m1 abrams is the king of the armored forces.
it was designed to be undefeatable.
narrator: and it all comes down to power.
the service record stretches across multiple global conflicts.
it has demonstrated extraordinary combat versatility.
the design's range of features to boost combat potential is dazzling.
there's strong competition, but the abrams is a world leader.
overall, the m1 does just enough to stake a claim to the number-1 spot.
the need for power gets critical on the battlefield, and in this countdown, we've analyzed the war machines that deliver maximum horsepower.
horsepower makes all the difference.
i like big machines, so [ laughs .]
narrator: from number 10 all the way down to number 2, there are strong contenders.
but there's no doubt about the winner, the m1 abrams.