Deadliest Tech (2012) s01e04 Episode Script
Tanks
Narrator: THESE ARE THE ARMORED ASSAULT VEHICLES THAT BRING THE BOOM.
TANKS.
PACKING ENOUGH DEADLY FIREPOWER TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN THEIR PATH.
THE TANK IS THE MODERN ARMORED KILLING MACHINE.
Narrator: SEE AND FEEL THESE EARTH-SHAKING BEASTS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AND DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THEIR INVINCIBILITY FROM THE CREWS WHO OPERATE THEM.
Padilla: IT'S A BIG RUSH.
THIS IS WHY YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TANKER.
Narrator: THEY ARE THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE EVERY ENEMY FEARS, CHARGING THROUGH ANY TERRAIN.
IT'S EASY TO FEEL INVINCIBLE WHEN YOU'RE IN A TANK.
Narrator: WE'LL SHOW YOU THE LATEST TANK INNOVATIONS USED TO COMBAT NEW ENEMY THREATS IN THE EVER-CHANGING THEATER OF WAR.
FROM THE HEAVY HITTING CHIEFTAIN TO THE HIGH-SPEED LEOPARD [ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
TO THE REVOLUTIONARY FIREPOWER OF THE ABRAMS.
IT'S TIME TO CRUSH, KILL, AND CONQUER.
NOW -- TANKS ON "DEADLIEST TECH.
" CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE, FORTIFIED, AND ARMED WITH ENOUGH FIREPOWER TO TOPPLE ANY DEFENSE, THE TANK IS A RELENTLESS JUGGERNAU THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ALL GROUND COMBAT OPERATIONS.
TASKS RANGE FROM ENGAGING ENEMY VEHICLES AND DEFENSES TO SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING TROOPS IN THE FIELD.
A SUPERIOR TANK CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VICTORY AND DEFEAT.
A CENTURY OF TANK WARFARE HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE FIGHT, AND IT'S CULMINATED IN THIS -- THE M1A2 ABRAMS, THE DEADLIEST, MOST HIGH-TECH TANK STALKING THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY.
FIELDED BY THE U.
S.
ARMY AND MARINE CORPS, IT TAKES THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY'S DOORSTEP.
THE M1 ABRAMS TANK IS THE MODERN AMERICAN ARMORED KILLING MACHINE, THE GREATEST TANK THE AMERICAN MILITARY'S EVER PRODUCED.
IT EMBODIES ALL THE MISSIONS AND ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES NECESSARY TO DOMINATE THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: PROPELLING A TANK THAT WEIGHS 70 TONS, THE SAME AS SIX CITY BUSES, THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TERRAIN TAKES REAL POWER.
AND THE MIGHTY ABRAMS HAS MORE THAN IT NEEDS, BOASTING A 1,500-HORSEPOWER GAS TURBINE ENGINE THAT RUNS ON JET FUEL.
THE MASSIVE ABRAMS ROLLS TO AN EXCESS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR.
WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LO IF YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT IF YOU'RE IN A MULTI-TON TANK, IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Narrator: COMPARED TO THE NOISY DIESEL ENGINES USED TO POWER OTHER TANKS, THE TURBINE ENGINE IN THE ABRAMS PRACTICALLY PURRS, GIVING RISE TO THE TANK'S NICKNAME, WHISPERING DEATH.
BUT CALLING IT "STEALTHY" WOULD BE A STRETCH.
INSTEAD, THE ABRAMS USES SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY TO HUNT DOWN ENEMIES AND UNLEASH FEROCIOUS FIREPOWER.
MOST OF ITS DEVASTATING PUNCH COMES FROM ITS KILLER CANNON.
MAIN GUN IS 120mm SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST ACCURATE IN THE WORLD.
Narrator: THIS 120mm ABRAMS MAIN GUN ANNIHILATES EVERYTHING IN ITS SIGHTS FROM ENEMY VEHICLES TO BUILDING STRONGHOLDS.
AND ALL OF THE CANNON'S DESTRUCTIVE POWER IS AT THE GUNNER'S FINGERTIPS.
Padilla: IT'S A BIG RUSH.
THIS IS WHY YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TANKER.
YOU'RE THE ONE TO GET TO PULL THE TRIGGERS.
YOU GOT TO BE QUICK.
YOU GOT TO BE GOOD.
Narrator: BUT THE ABRAMS' DESTRUCTIVENESS ISN'T ONLY ABOU HAVING A SHARP GUNNER AT THE READY.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT ROUND FOR THE JOB.
Padilla: WE HAVE SABOT, WHICH IS ARMOR-PIERCING.
WE HAVE H.
E.
A.
T.
, WHICH IS HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ANTI-TANK, FOR SMALLER, LIGHTER TARGETS LIKE PERSONNEL CARRIERS.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS FIRST ENTERED SERVICE IN 1980, BUILT AS PART OF THE ONGOING COLD WAR.
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1991 IN DESERT STORM THAT THE ABRAMS FULLY DISPLAYED ITS LETHAL PROWESS.
RACING THROUGH THE DESERT AND FIRING AT WILL, THE ABRAMS DOMINATED THE IRAQIS' T-55, T-62, AND T-72 TANKS.
THE TANK BATTLES OF THE FIRST GULF WAR ARE ONE OF THE MOST LOPSIDED IN MILITARY HISTORY.
Narrator: OUTNUMBERED TWO TO ONE BY IRAQI TANKS, THE ABRAMS ENTERS THE BATTLEFIELD.
BUT RATIO IS DECEIVING.
THE ABRAMS' SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY AND OVERWHELMING FIREPOWER PROVED THAT WARS AREN'T WON ON NUMBERS ALONE.
IT'S A ROUT, WITH THE ABRAMS VICTORIOUS.
THE EFFECTIVE RANGE OF THE AMERICAN M1 ABRAMS TANK IN THE GULF WAR WAS ABOUT THREE TIMES AN IRAQI T-72, WHICH MEANT BY THE TIME AN IRAQI T-72 EVEN COULD THINK ABOUT FIRING AT AN AMERICAN TANK, IT WAS ALREADY A SMOLDERING WRECK.
Narrator: FIRING FROM NEARLY TWO MILES AWAY BEYOND ENEMY RANGE IS ADVANTAGE ENOUGH, BUT THE ABRAMS' HIGH-TECH FIRING SYSTEM MAKES EVERY SHOT DEADLY ACCURATE WITH NONE WASTED.
PEERING AT A CROSS SECTION OF THE TANK FOR A UNIQUE VIEW OF ITS FEATURES, THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY CORRECTS FOR RANGE, CROSSWIND, AIR TEMPERATURE, AMMO TEMPERATURE, TANK AXIAL TILT, AND TURRET MOTION, ALLOWING THE ABRAMS TO SHOOT ACCURATELY ON THE MOVE.
FIREPOWER ALONE ISN'T THE M1'S GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
ABRAMS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT.
ITS NIGHT-VISION SYSTEMS ARE FAR IN ADVANCE OF WHAT THE T-72 HAD.
Narrator: EQUIPPED WITH NIGHT VISION AND A THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEM, THE ABRAMS WIPES OUT ENEMY FORCES ALL IN THE COVER OF DARKNESS.
WITH AN ABRAMS, THERE IS LITERALLY NOWHERE TO HIDE.
THE M1 USHERED IN A NEW ERA OF TANK WARFARE, SOMETHING IRAQIS LEARNED THE HARD WAY.
BY THE END OF THE WAR, ONLY 18 M1 ABRAMS TANKS HAD BEEN DISABLED DUE TO BATTLE DAMAGE, WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY, UP TO 3,700 IRAQI TANKS HAD BEEN DESTROYED OR DISABLED.
Gordon: ABRAMS ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED THE BATTLEFIELD DURING DESERT STORM.
U.
S.
FORCES COULD MANEUVER RAPIDLY, THEY COULD GO WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, WHEN THEY WANTED TO GET THERE.
Narrator: IN 2003, THE MIGHTY ABRAMS RETURNS TO IRAQ.
AND GETTING A 70-TON TANK TO THE BATTLEFIELD TAKES SOME SERIOUS HEAVY LIFTING.
THE C-17 TRANSPORT CRAFT EASILY HANDLES THE JOB, ONCE PREVIOUSLY DONE BY THE C-5 AND CARGO SHIPS DURING DESERT STORM.
THE M1 LOADS VIA THE AFT RAMP, AND WHEN IN POSITION, IS CHAINED DOWN AND READY FOR TAKEOFF.
OVER 7,000 MILES LATER, THE C-17 TOUCHES DOWN AND THE ABRAMS IS UNLEASHED, READY TO JOIN THE FIGHT.
BUT THIS WAR IN IRAQ WAS DIFFERENT FROM DESERT STORM.
BATTLES WEREN'T FOUGHT IN OPEN TERRAIN, BUT INSTEAD IN CRAMPED, CONFINED, URBAN AREAS.
FOR DECADES, THE RULE FOR TANK WARFARE WAS ONLY ENGAGE IN OPEN BATTLEFIELDS, MEANING THE ENEMY WOULD FALL BACK TO URBAN AREAS FOR COVER, PRESENTING A GREATER THREAT TO THE M1.
Horowitz: MOST COUNTRIES HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON -- DON'T CONFRONT AN AMERICAN TANK ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AMERICAN TANKS LIKE THE M1 ARE NOW USED MOST OFTEN IN URBAN WARFARE ENVIRONMENTS.
Gordon: ALL TANKS ARE AT GREATER RISK WHEN THEY GO INTO URBAN SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE SURPRISED AT CLOSE DISTANCE, THEY CAN BE SUBJECT TO FIRING DOWN ON THE TOP OF THE TANK FROM THE UPPER FLOORS OF BUILDINGS.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS IS NOT SIMPLY SUITED FOR OPEN BATTLEFIELD ENGAGEMENTS.
IT HAS AN ARRAY OF SECONDARY WEAPONS THAT IT CAN USE TO ADAPT TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
FIRST IS AN M240 MACHINE GUN IN A COAXIAL MOUN TO THE RIGHT OF THE TANK'S MAIN GUN.
MANNED BY THE GUNNER, THE COAXIAL GUN IS AIMED AND FIRED WITH THE SAME COMPUTER SYSTEM AS THE MAIN GUN.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
ANOTHER M240 IS INSTALLED AT THE LOADER STATION WHILE THE COMMANDER'S WEAPON STATION FEATURES AN M2 .
50-CALIBER MACHINE GUN.
TOGETHER, THESE GUNS CAN UNLEASH AN ONSLAUGHT OF 10,000 ROUNDS.
IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, HAVING TANK CREWS BOTH SECURE INSIDE THE TANK AND FIRING THE MAIN GUN IS IDEAL.
WITH SUCH DESTRUCTIVE POWER AT THE FINGERTIPS OF THE CREW, COLLATERAL DAMAGE BECOMES A SERIOUS CONCERN, WHICH IS WHERE THE M1028 CANISTER ROUND COMES INTO PLAY.
MOST TANK ROUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO DESTROY OTHER TANKS AND LEVEL BUILDINGS, BUT THE M1028 TAKES A UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT ROUTE, TURNING THE ABRAMS CANNON INTO A SUPERSIZED SHOTGUN FILLED WITH 1,150 TUNGSTEN BALLS.
THE ROUND DOES NOT HAVE A FUSE, BUT INSTEAD, DISPERSES THE BALLS AS IT EXITS THE MUZZLE.
ENSURING ABRAMS CREWS HAVE THE NECESSARY FIREPOWER TO RULE THE BATTLEFIELD IS CRUCIAL, BUT SO IS KEEPING THEM SAFE.
BEING IN AN M1 ABRAMS TANK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO BE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: THE SECRET INGREDIENT? CHOBHAM ARMOR.
DEVELOPED IN THE 1960s, THE ABRAMS WAS THE FIRST TANK OUTFITTED WITH THIS NEW PROJECTILE-DEFEATING ARMOR.
THE CHOBHAM ARMOR SYSTEM IS A MULTI-LAYERED ARMOR WITH STEEL AND COMPOSITES.
LATER VERSIONS OF THE ABRAMS START TO INCLUDE DEPLETED URANIUM PLATES WITHIN THE ARMOR ARRAY, WHICH IMPROVED THEIR PROTECTION EVEN MORE.
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE EFFECT OF THESE COMPOSITE ADVANCED ARMORS, IT'S VERY, VERY HEAVILY SLOPED.
SO ALL THESE THINGS COMBINED GIVE THIS TANK INCREDIBLE LEVELS OF PROTECTION.
Narrator: IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, THE ARMOR WAS VIRTUALLY IMPENETRABLE BY THE ENEMY.
OF THE 18 ABRAMS LOST, HALF WERE DISABLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE, INCLUDING TWO PURPOSELY DESTROYED TO PREVENT ENEMY CAPTURE.
UNDAUNTED, THE TANK'S ENGINEERS LOOKED FOR WAYS TO MAKE THE ABRAMS EVEN MORE POWERFUL.
AND YEARS LATER, DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, THAT OPPORTUNITY ARRIVED.
TANK ARMOR IS FRONT HEAVY, DESIGNED TO PROTECT IT FROM ONCOMING PROJECTILES FIRED BY OTHER TANKS WHILE CROSSING THE BATTLEFIELD.
BUT TO COMBAT INSURGENTS IN URBAN IRAQ ATTACKING FROM ALL SIDES, DESIGNERS INTENSIFY OTHER AREAS OF THE TANK'S ARMOR.
SO, A KIT WAS DEVELOPED.
THE TANK URBAN SURVIVAL KIT, OR T.
U.
S.
K.
, WHICH BASICALLY ADDED IMPROVED ARMOR TO THE SIDES AND BACK OF THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: AMONG THE OTHER T.
U.
S.
K.
PACKAGE FEATURES ARE SHIELDS FOR THE EXTERNAL MACHINE GUNS.
THE SHIELDS ARE A TYPE OF TRANSPORT ARMOR, TESTED AND PROVED TO WITHSTAND VARIOUS ARMOR-PIERCING PROJECTILES.
INSTEAD OF SHATTERING UPON IMPACT, THE SHIELD CATCHES THE PROJECTILE, RESULTING IN A SPIDER WEBBING EFFECT, KEEPING THE SHIELD IN PLACE.
BEST OF ALL, ENGINEERS RAISED THE STAKES ON CHOBHAM ARMOR, FABRICATING ANOTHER TYPE OF ARMOR WHICH, WHEN IT GETS HIT, HITS BACK.
IT'S CALLED EXPLOSIVE REACTIVE ARMOR.
THE NEW REACTIVE ARMOR OF THE M1 ABRAMS TANK IS DESIGNED THAT EVEN IF AN I.
E.
D EXPLODES OR AN ANTI-TANK MISSILE IS FIRED AT AN M1 ABRAMS TANK, IT CAN SURVIVE.
THE REACTIVE ARMOR PUSHES THE EXPLOSION BACK OUTWARD SO IT DOES NOT END UP DAMAGING THE TANK ITSELF OR THE CREW INSIDE.
Narrator: THE REACTIVE ARMOR SITS ON TOP OF THE EXISTING TANK ARMOR AND CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUAL BOXES OF EXPLOSIVES.
WHEN A PROJECTILE, LIKE AN RPG, STRIKES ONE OF THESE BOXES, THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE BOX BURSTS, DEFEATING THE PROJECTILE BY PREVENTING IT FROM PENETRATING THE M1 ARMOR.
UP-ARMORING THE TANK MAKES THE ABRAMS THE ULTIMATE URBAN WARRIOR AND NEARLY UNSTOPPABLE, GIVING TROOPS ALL THE CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
THERE'S BEEN TIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN HIT WITH SMALL ARMS, AND WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND WONDER, "WHAT IS THAT?" BUT WE DO GET A CHUCKLE.
AND ALL WE DO IS TRAVERSE AND THEM GUYS ARE DONE AND RUNNING AWAY.
I'M TAKING I.
E.
D.
s AND WE'RE STILL GOING.
THIS VEHICLE CAN REALLY TAKE A HIT.
I'VE TAKEN SEVERAL RPG HITS TO THE VEHICLE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD.
Narrator: FOR ALL OF THE M1'S HIGH-TECH WEAPONRY AND ARMOR, CREWS SHARE AN INSIDER'S TIP THAT HELPS SIMPLIFY LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE ONE.
Page: IT'S LIKE A MINI MOTORCYCLE HANDLEBAR.
YOU HAVE THE THROTTLE, WHERE YOU TWIST I JUST LIKE YOU WOULD ON A MOTORCYCLE, AND IT STEERS.
JUST STEER IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS NOT ONLY PROVIDES A DISTINCT PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE FOR ITS CREWS, BUT A MENTAL EDGE, AS WELL.
Page: IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD BEING ON A TANK.
NOT MANY THINGS WILL COME AFTER US IN A TANK.
WE DOMINATE THE BATTLEFIELD.
Padilla: I LOVE BEING A TANKER.
YOU COME OUT THERE, AND YOUR PRESENCE IS KNOWN.
AS SOON AS THEY HEAR US COMING, IT'S GAME OVER.
Narrator: WITH ITS FIREPOWER, ACCURACY, ARMOR, AND MOBILITY, THE M1 ABRAMS MAKES A CONVINCING CLAIM FOR THE TITLE "WORLD'S BEST BATTLE TANK.
" BUT HAVING THE STRONGEST, MOST DEADLY TANKS ON THE BATTLEFIELD DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T USE A LITTLE HELP.
COMING UP, THIS VEHICLE HOLDS ITS OWN WITH A WEAPON THAT TOPS THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: TANKS BLAST THEIR WAY THROUGH EVERY WAR ZONE, AND THAT FORCE HAS PROVEN ESSENTIAL FOR GROUND-FORCE VICTORIES.
WHEN THE ABRAMS STORMS THE BATTLEFIELD, IT ISN'T ALONE.
RIDING SHOTGUN IS THE M2 BRADLEY.
BUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $1.
5 MILLION, NEARLY SIX TIMES LESS THAN THE M1, ENGINEERS TOOK THE BEST OF DIFFERENT MILITARY VEHICLES TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE TANK COMBAT COMPANION.
Horowitz: THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE A CROSS, IN SOME WAYS, BETWEEN A HUMMER AND A TANK IN THAT IT HAS THE BENEFITS OF A HUMMER IN THAT IT'S A LITTLE MORE AGILE AND MOBILE, BUT THE BENEFITS OF A TANK IN TERMS OF ITS ARMOR AND WEAPONRY.
IT'S AS FAST AS AN ABRAMS TANK, SO IT CAN KEEP UP.
Narrator: BOASTING A 600-HORSEPOWER DIESEL ENGINE CAPABLE OF TOP SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR ON-ROAD AND 25 MILES PER HOUR OFF-ROAD, MAINTAINING PACE WITH THE ABRAMS WAS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY IN THE BRADLEY'S BLUEPRINT.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE M2 IS MANUFACTURED WITH TRACK, LIKE MOST TANKS, INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL WHEELS.
TANK TRACKS FUNCTION SIMILARLY TO A CONVEYOR BELT.
THE ENGINE ROTATES ONE OR MORE STEEL SPROCKETS MOVING A TRACK MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF METAL LINKS PROPELLING THE TANK FORWARD.
A KEY ADVANTAGE OF TRACKED VEHICLES IS THEIR ABILITY TO EASILY MANEUVER OVER ROUGH TERRAIN.
SINCE THE TRACK COMES IN CONTACT WITH A WIDER AREA OF GROUND, IT HAS MORE GRIPPING POWER THAN A 4-WHEEL VEHICLE.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD OF THE TRACK IS A TYPE OF RUBBER, IT NEVER GOES FLAT LIKE A TIRE.
WHILE THE BRADLEY CAN SURGE THROUGH THE BATTLEFIELD JUST AS EASY AS ITS HEAVY METAL PARTNER, IT CAN DO SOMETHING THE ABRAMS CAN'T -- CARRY GROUND TROOPS INTO THE HEART OF BATTLE.
Horowitz: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE INVOLVED IN USING TANKS IN THE BATTLEFIELD IS SOMETHING THAT'S EXISTED SINCE WORLD WAR I.
IF YOUR TANKS BREAK THROUGH THE ENEMY LINES, HOW DO YOU BRING ENOUGH FORCES WITH THEM SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BREAKTHROUGH? THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOLES PUNCHED BY THE M1 ABRAMS TANK THROUGH ENEMY LINES.
Narrator: THE WAR IN IRAQ PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ABRAMS AND BRADLEY TO COMBINE LETHAL FORCES.
Schmitman: THE REASON YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BRADLEY THERE IS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TROOPS IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AND HOLD TERRAIN.
AND THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS AN ARMORED BOX.
IT NOT ONLY HAS OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES, BUT IT CAN, TO A LIMITED EXTENT, PROTECT THE TROOPS THAT ARE IN THE BACK AND DEPOSIT THEM AS IT RIDES ALONG WITH THE MAIN BATTLE TANK FORCE.
Narrator: ONCE THE BRADLEY ELIMINATES MAJOR THREATS IN THE AREA, TO SECURE THE LOCATION, ARMED SOLDIERS SEATED IN THE REAR EXIT THE BRADLEY.
WHEN GIVEN THE CUE, THE BRADLEY'S BACK HATCH DROPS AND TROOPS JUMP OUT TO CONDUCT THEIR MISSION, WHILE THE BRADLEY CREW STAYS ON ITS GUNS TO COVER THEM.
Earhart: THIS IS THE M2A3 BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BACK RAMP WHERE THE DISMOUNTS NORMALLY WILL RIDE INTO THE BATTLE OR INTO THE MISSIONS.
YOU CAN FIT SEVEN PEOPLE BACK THERE.
DEFINITELY NOT COMFORTABLY, BUT YOU CAN FIT SEVEN, AND THEY'LL BE READY TO GO.
Narrator: BUT THE BRADLEY DOESN'T SIMPLY DELIVER TROOPS.
ITS OFFENSIVE CAPABILITY CONSISTS OF A TERRIFYING ARRAY OF WEAPONS.
THE MAIN GUN ON A BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS A 25mm M242 GUN.
IT FIRES AT ABOUT 200 ROUNDS PER MINUTE AND HAS AN EFFECTIVE RANGE OF ABOUT 2,000 METERS.
Earhart: M242 BUSHMASTER CHAIN GUN.
IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE GREATEST GUNS EVER BUILT.
NOT ONLY CAN YOU HIT ARMORED TARGETS WITH ARMOR-PIERCING, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE CAPABILITY TO HIT SOFTER TARGETS WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVE.
Narrator: THE BUSHMASTER IS LIKE A STANDARD MACHINE GUN BUT WITH A MORE POWERFUL KICK.
WORKS LIKE ANY OTHER MACHINE GUN ROUND.
YOU HAVE A DISINTEGRATING LINK THAT'S FED THROUGH THE WEAPON, IT FALLS APART AT THE BACK END OF THE GUN, AND THE ROUND IS BASICALLY STRIPPED OFF INSIDE THE FEEDER, JUST HOW I STRIPPED THAT OFF.
A LIVE ROUND OF THESE IS ALMOST LIKE SHOOTING A HIGH-SPEED HAND GRENADE.
YOU HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FIRE ON IT, SO EACH ONE YOU SHOOT IS GONNA BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A HAND GRENADE HITTING IN ALL THOSE SPOTS.
Narrator: CAPABLE OF FIRING BOTH ARMOR-PIERCING AND HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ROUNDS, THE BUSHMASTER COVERS DISMOUNTED GROUND TROOPS AND DESTROYS ENEMY POSITIONS.
IN THE OPEN DESERT, THE BRADLEY'S PRIMARY WEAPON PROVED EFFECTIVE IN DISMANTLING ENEMY VEHICLES.
IN FACT, DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM, BRADLEYS DESTROYED MORE IRAQI VEHICLES THAN THE ABRAMS TANK.
ANOTHER POWERFUL BRADLEY WEAPON EARNED THE VEHICLE A DISTINCT REPUTATION -- TANK KILLER.
BRADLEY NOT ONLY HAS A VERY GOOD AUTOMATIC 25mm GUN, WHICH IS REALLY DEADLY TO LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLES AND LIGHT BUILDINGS.
BRADLEY ALSO HAS THE T.
O.
W.
WIRE-GUIDED ANTI-TANK WEAPON.
Earhart: YOU ARE ABLE TO LOAD TWO MISSILES AT A TIME, AND IT GOES IN A LAUNCHER THAT HAS TO BE RAISED PRIOR TO FIRING.
YOU'LL RAISE YOUR T.
O.
W.
LAUNCHER AND ENGAGE.
Narrator: T.
O.
W.
STANDS FOR TUBE-LAUNCHED, OPTICALLY-TRACKED, WIRE-COMMAND DATA LINK.
WHEN A T.
O.
W.
MISSILE FIRES FROM ITS TUBE, FOUR WINGS AND FOUR TAIL CONTROL SURFACES SPRING OPEN.
SINCE THE SYSTEM IS WIRED, SOLDIERS USE A CONTROL TO GUIDE THE MISSILE TO THE DESIGNATED TARGET.
THE T.
O.
W.
MISSILE'S RANGE EXCEEDS 3,000 METERS, MEANING IT CAN RAIN FIRE DOWN ON ENEMIES UP TO TWO MILES AWAY.
THE T.
O.
W.
ACTUALLY HAS A LONGER RANGE THAN THE MAIN GUN ON THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: TO OPERATE ALONGSIDE THE ABRAMS IN THE WAR ZONE, THE BRADLEY MUST BE PROTECTED.
HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME CHOBHAM ARMOR PROTECTION, BUT INSTEAD EMPLOYS A SOPHISTICATED ALUMINUM-BASED ARMOR WITH SPACED LAMINATE ARMOR ON THE REAR AND SIDES, ALLOWING FOR RAPID TROOP TRANSPORT.
Gordon: THE BRADLEY, LIKE MOST INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES, HAS A MUCH LOWER LEVEL OF PROTECTION COMPARED TO A MAIN BATTLE TANK.
IT WAS GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST ARTILLERY FRAGMENTS, SMALL ARMS FIRE, LIGHT AUTOMATIC CANNONS.
Narrator: AND LIKE ITS BROTHER IN ARMS, THE BRADLEY ALSO RECEIVES AN UPGRADE KI TO FIGHT AGAINST URBAN THREATS.
SIMILAR TO A T.
U.
S.
K.
, B.
U.
S.
K.
, OR BRADLEY URBAN SURVIVAL KIT, INCLUDES ADDITIONAL UNDERSIDE ARMOR, A REMOTE-CONTROLLED 5.
56mm MACHINE GUN ON THE TURRET, AND A BULLET-RESISTANT TRANSPARENT SHIELD FOR THE COMMANDER WHEN OUTSIDE THE TURRET.
THE KIT KEEPS THE TOTAL WEIGHT TO 33 TONS, ALLOWING FOR THE BRADLEY TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED AND AGILITY.
Horowitz: THERE REALLY ARE NOT A LOT OF OTHER MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES LIKE IT.
THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE HAS GIVEN THE AMERICAN MILITARY AN ADVANTAGE EVERYWHERE IT'S DEPLOYED, 'CAUSE IT'S FAST ENOUGH AND NIMBLE ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN USE IT ON THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD, BUT IT'S ALSO DIVERSE ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD USE IT IN AN URBAN WARFARE ENVIRONMENT.
Narrator: IT'S THAT MOBILITY WHICH ALLOWS THE BRADLEY TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE ENEMY THREATS FROM BOTH DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE FIGHTING POSITIONS.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
WITH ITS SPEED, TROOP CAPACITY, AND WEAPONRY, FEW VEHICLES IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY POSSESS THE CAPABILITIES AND FIREPOWER OF THE M2 BRADLEY, SOMETHING THAT BOOSTS CONFIDENCE IN THE TROOPS THAT RELY ON IT IN BATTLE.
DURING COMBAT WITH THE BRADLEYS, THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WEAPON SYSTEM, AND I LOVE THIS VEHICLE.
Narrator: SOME MISSIONS CALL FOR U.
S.
ALLIES TO JOIN ABRAMS AND BRADLEYS IN COMBAT, AND ONE ALLY RAISES THE STAKES FOR THE ENEMY.
ONE OF ITS GREATEST ADVANTAGES IS RANGE, AND IT PUSHES THAT ADVANTAGE TO GAME-CHANGING LEVELS, ENGAGING TARGETS SIX MILES AWAY.
Narrator: THE TANK CHANGED GROUND COMBAT FOREVER, OFTEN DETERMINING WHO WINS AND LOSES.
A TANK OPERATED BY U.
S.
ALLIES DISHES OUT PLENTY OF ITS OWN DESTRUCTION.
THIS IS THE LEOPARD 1C2, MANNED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMOURED CORPS.
THIS BATTLE-TESTED BEAST WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BY GERMANY, BUT ACQUIRED TO FILL THE ROLE OF CANADA'S MAIN BATTLE TANK.
WEIGHING IN AT OVER 40 TONS, LEOPARD C2s PACK A FORMIDABLE 105mm CANNON, ALONG WITH TWO 7.
62mm MACHINE GUNS -- ONE AT THE COMMANDER'S HATCH AND ONE COAXIAL MOUNTED TO THE LEFT OF THE MAIN GUN.
AND WHEN THOSE LEOPARDS WORK TOGETHER, NO ENEMY IS SAFE.
Johns: YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FOUR TANKS ON THE PAD, AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH A SERIAL OF FIRING WHERE THEY'RE ENGAGING DIFFERENT TARGETS WITH THEIR MAIN ARMAMENT AND THEIR CO-AX MACHINE GUN.
Narrator: WHEN FIRST DEVELOPED, THE LEOPARD INCLUDED A NEW GUN-STABILIZATION SYSTEM ALLOWING TANK CREWS TO EFFECTIVELY SHOOT ON THE MOVE.
CREWS PREDOMINANTLY FIRE TWO TYPES OF ROUNDS -- SABOT AND HESH.
Johns: WE'LL BE FIRING SABOT, WHICH IS BASICALLY A GIANT BULLET.
AND THAT'S THE TANK HUNTING ROUND.
AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO SEE THEM FIRING HESH, WHICH IS A HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ROUND.
Narrator: TANK CREWS CAN ALSO LIMIT THE ENEMY'S ABILITY TO FIGHT BACK WITH HELP FROM ANOTHER INNOVATIVE PROJECTILE -- THE SMOKE ROUND.
John: WE USE IT PRIMARILY TO OBSCURE US FROM A TARGET.
MAYBE IF A COMBAT TEAM OR A BATTLE GROUP IS ADVANCING, A FIREBASE COULD LAY DOWN A SMOKE SCREEN TO COVER THEIR ADVANCE.
Narrator: TANK CREWS ALSO WORK IN UNISON WHILE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, UNLEASHING A COORDINATED BARRAGE OF FIREPOWER TO DEFEAT AN ENEMY.
IN 2006, CANADIAN FORCES PUT THEIR LEOPARD C2s TO THE TEST IN AFGHANISTAN, USING THEM TO SUPPORT GROUND TROOPS.
WHILE THE TANK WAS EFFECTIVE DURING ENGAGEMENTS IN BATTLE, CHANGING BATTLEFIELD CONDITIONS REQUIRED AN EVOLUTION OF THE LEOPARD.
I WAS THERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 IN KANDAHAR, AND I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE OLDER TANK, THE LEOPARD 1C2.
BUT IT WAS IDENTIFIED THA IF WE WERE GONNA KEEP PACE WITH OUR ALLIES AND MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL AND MODERN ARMY THAT WE NEEDED TO GET A NEW TANK.
Narrator: THE SOLUTION IS WHAT SOME CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST BATTLE TANK FIGHTING TODAY -- THE LEOPARD 2.
FASTER, STRONGER, AND MORE POWERFUL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, THE 69-TON LEOPARD 2 PROVIDES INCREASED ARMOR PROTECTION FROM MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s AND TOUTS A 120mm MAIN GUN.
SEEING THE LEOPARD 2 UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL IS THE LAST THING AN ADVERSARY WOULD EVER WANT.
A LEOPARD 2 USES THE SAME 120mm SMOOTH-BORE GUN THAT THE ABRAMS HAS.
IT IS AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL, MODERN TANK CANNON.
Narrator: THE CANNON FEATURES A THERMAL SLEEVE DESIGNED TO HELP COOL THE BARREL MADE OF GLASS-REINFORCED PLASTIC, WHILE THE BARREL ITSELF HAS A CHROME LINING TO HELP IT LAST LONGER.
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS AN ADVANTAGE THAT FEW TANKS CAN TOUCH.
THE SYSTEM HAS A LASER RANGE FINDER INTEGRATED INTO THE GUNNER'S SIGHT.
SO DIGITAL RANGE MEASUREMENTS ARE VIEWED DIRECTLY.
THE MAXIMUM RANGE OF THE LASER RANGE FINDER IS JUST UNDER 10,000 METERS, OR ABOUT SIX MILES.
THOUGH THE LEOPARD 2 MAY BE A DEADLY ASSASSIN AT A DISTANCE, IT IS ALSO A THREAT CLOSE-UP, WHERE ITS POWERFUL ENGINE ALLOWS IT TO CHASE DOWN VIRTUALLY ANY ENEMY.
IT'S GOT A 1,500-HORSEPOWER ENGINE.
QUITE A LOT OF POWER BEHIND IT.
SO THIS THING HAS PHENOMENAL OFF-ROAD ABILITY.
Narrator: AND THE LEOPARD 2 USES ALL 1,500 HORSEPOWER TO SURGE THROUGH THE BATTLEFIELD, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FASTEST TANKS EVER MADE.
THE LEOPARD 2 TANK IS THE CANADIAN EQUIVALENT OF THE M1 ABRAMS IN NEARLY ALL WAYS, EXCEPT FOR ONE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE -- IT'S ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR FASTER.
IT HAS A TOP SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
Narrator: THE LEOPARD 2'S POWERFUL OFFENSE COMES WITH A CHARACTERISTIC RUMBLING ROAR.
[ ENGINE ROARS .]
ONE THAT ITS OPERATOR PROUDLY SHOW OFF AND THAT ITS ENEMIES FEAR.
Banman: THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS STILL REALLY LOUD.
LIKE, I WANT MY TANK TO SOUND MEAN.
Narrator: THE LEOPARD 2's SECRETIVE SPACE MULTI-LAYERED COMPOSITE ARMOR GETS REGULAR UPGRADES THAT HELP KEEP I ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE BATTLEFIELD ASSETS.
Gordon: THE MAIN THREATS TO ARMORED VEHICLES IN AFGHANISTAN WERE ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES AND MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s.
THE CANADIANS HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL ARMOR TO THE BELLY OF THE VEHICLE.
THEY'VE ADDED WHAT THE AMERICANS FREQUENTLY CALL "BIRD CAGE ARMOR.
" IT'S CAGED ARMOR PLATE TO GO AROUND THE FLANKS AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY TO DEFEA THE ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE THREAT.
Narrator: AND CREWS CAN ATTEST FIRSTHAND TO THE ARMOR'S PROTECTIVE POWER.
Banman: MY BUDDY WAS TWO TANKS IN FRONT OF ME AND WOUND UP SETTING OFF AN I.
E.
D.
AND I SEE THE BIG COLUMN OF DIRT SHOOT UP.
AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WASN'T, "OH, MAN, MY BUDDY JUST GOT BLOWN UP," BECAUSE I KNEW IN THIS TANK, HE'D BE OKAY.
Narrator: THE TALIBAN ISN'T THE ONLY ENEMY IN AFGHANISTAN.
TANK CREWS MUST ALSO BATTLE INTENSE HEAT.
INSTEAD OF USING TRADITIONAL AIR-CONDITIONING, WHICH ONLY HELPS ELIMINATE SOME OF THE TANK'S INTERNAL HEAT, CREWS REVEAL THE INSIDE INFO ON HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT.
WHAT WE WORE IS WHAT'S CALLED A COOLING SUIT.
HUGE VEHICLE, AND YOU LEAVE A LOT OF THE WINDOWS OR HATCHES OPEN.
SO THERE'S NO POINT IN TRYING TO COOL IT DOWN WITH GENERAL AIR-CONDITIONING.
Narrator: A COOLING SUIT IS A VES THAT CIRCULATES A CHILLED FLUID ACROSS THE SOLDIER'S BODY, LOWERING THEIR CORE TEMPERATURE.
ULTIMATELY, IT ALLOWS TANK CREWS TO REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL, EVEN THROUGH THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE DAY.
THE LEOPARD 2 SHOWED THE IMPORTANCE OF TANKS TO A MODERN MILITARY, EVEN IN CONDITIONS NOT THOUGHT TO BE TRADITIONALLY SUITED FOR TANK WARFARE.
Johns: WHEN WE WENT TO AFGHANISTAN, IT REAFFIRMED THE FAC THAT THE TANK HAD A PLACE EVEN IN THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: WHEN THEY'RE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THE LEOPARD 2s GIVE CREWS SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE.
IT'S EASY TO FEEL INVINCIBLE WHEN YOU'RE IN A TANK BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POWERFUL MACHINE AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH FIREPOWER AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE ON A TANK.
Narrator: AND THERE'S ONLY ONE THING FOR THE ENEMY TO DO WHEN THE LEOPARD IS ON THE PROWL.
IF YOU SEE IT COMING, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator: NEXT, THE ICONIC TANK THAT ALTERED THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II.
LEARN THE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THAT LED TO ITS SUCCESS AND SEE A TANK DESIGNED TO LITERALLY CRUSH THE ENEMY.
Narrator: TANKS PROVIDE POTENT POWER TO BREAK DOWN ENEMY DEFENSES.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE TANK HAS BEEN A FORCE IN THE MODERN MILITARY.
WHILE THE ABRAMS ROLLS ON U.
S.
FRONT LINES NOW, DECADES EARLIER, IT WAS THE M4 SHERMAN STALKING THE BATTLEFIELD OF WORLD WAR II.
AFTER THE SUCCESS OF TANK WARFARE IN WORLD WAR I, THE U.
S.
CONTINUED THE DESIGN EVOLUTION OF TANKS, RESULTING IN THE GAME-CHANGING M4 SHERMAN.
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TANK DESIGN HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THEN.
ALL TANKS ARE SOMEWHAT OF A TRADE-OFF OF MOBILITY, PROTECTION, AND FIREPOWER.
Narrator: WITH NEARLY 50,000 PRODUCED, THE 33-TON SHERMAN COULD CHARGE THROUGH ANY TERRAIN AT A TOP SPEED OF ROUGHLY 30 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN INITIALLY PLACED ON THE FRONT LINES OF PACIFIC AND EUROPEAN THEATERS, THE SHERMAN RIPPED THROUGH THE ENEMY WITH EASE.
WHEN SHERMAN FIRST APPEARED IN COMBAT IN LATE 1942, IT WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE VEHICLE.
Narrator: IT WAS DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BLOODIEST BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II, WHERE THE SHERMAN SHINED BRIGHTEST.
BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 1944, GERMAN FORCES PLOTTED A SURPRISE OFFENSIVE THEY BELIEVED WOULD DIVIDE ALLIED FORCES AND SECURE OVERALL VICTORY, ENDING THE WAR.
EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW TIGER II TANK, THE GERMAN ARMY ADVANCED.
THE ALLIES COUNTERED WITH THE SHERMAN AND ITS UPGRADED, MORE DESTRUCTIVE CANNON.
Gordon: THE EARLIER SHERMANS ALL MOUNTED A RELATIVELY SHORT-BARRELED 75mm CANNON.
THE LATER MODELS OF THE SHERMAN STARTED TO MOUN A LONG-BARRELED 76mm GUN -- HIGHER VELOCITY, BETTER ARMOR PENETRATION.
Narrator: AN EFFECTIVE GUN SYSTEM IS KEY TO ANY TANK BATTLE, BUT THE SHERMAN'S GUN WASN'T ITS GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
EARLIER SHERMAN HULLS WERE FULLY CAST, TAKING DAYS TO COOL.
NEEDING TO PRODUCE MORE TANKS AT A FASTER PACE, MILITARY ENGINEERS BEGAN WELDING PIECES TOGETHER TO CREATE THE HULL, DRAMATICALLY CUTTING PRODUCTION TIME.
Gordon: SHERMAN WAS PRODUCED IN HUGE NUMBERS, AND THAT WAS TREMENDOUSLY TO THE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH THE U.
S.
, AS WELL AS OUR ALLIES.
THE MECHANICAL RELIABILITY OF SHERMAN WAS IDEAL FOR A RAPID ADVANCE LIKE THAT.
Narrator: ANOTHER ADVANTAGE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS THE SHERMAN'S ABILITY TO STAY IN THE FIGH LONGER THAN ENEMY TANKS.
VERY FEW SHERMANS WERE BREAKING DOWN ALONG THE WAY.
EASY TO MAINTAIN IN BATTLEFIELD CONDITIONS.
Narrator: ARMED WITH OVER 1,500 TANKS -- DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF GERMAN TANKS -- THE ALLIES ADVANCE, WIPING OUT GERMAN FORCES.
THE SHERMAN ISN'T ALONE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
IT'S JOINED BY A DIRECT DESCENDANT -- THE SELF-PROPELLED GUN NICKNAMED "THE PRIEST," WHICH IS BUILT USING THE SHERMAN'S DESIGN AS A FOUNDATION.
THIS IS KIND OF BASED OFF THE SHERMAN TANKS.
THE SIMILARITY IS KIND OF CLOSE WITH THE CHASSIS, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST LIKE THE SHERMAN FRONT, THE SHERMAN SUSPENSION, THE SHERMAN TRACK.
Narrator: LOADED WITH A 105mm HOWITZER, SOLDIERS ON THE PRIEST WEREN'T COMPLETELY COVERED, LEAVING THEM TO BRAVE THE ELEMENTS.
THIS IS THE FIGHTING COMPARTMENT.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE [BLEEP.]
GOES DOWN -- RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE AMMO STORED IN ALL ITS RACKS AND THE READY RACKS BEHIND YOU IN THE BUSTLES.
Narrator: ONE MONTH AFTER GERMANY'S INITIAL ASSAULT, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS OVER WITH THE ALLIES VICTORIOUS.
WITH MUCH OF ITS ARMY AND RESERVES GONE, THE GERMAN MILITARY WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED, SIGNALING THE END OF THE WAR, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE SHERMAN TANK.
AFTER WORLD WAR II, THE MILITARY LOOKED FOR WAYS TO INCREASE ITS STRENGTH BY IMPROVING ITS TANKS.
MILITARY ENGINEERS CONTINUED TO EXPLORE NEW METHODS OF INCREASING A TANK'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE VARIOUS TERRAIN AND STATION GUNS ANYWHERE ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
LIKE THE PRIEST, THE ABBOT IS A 105mm SELF-PROPELLED GUN DESIGNED FOR LONG-RANGE ATTACKS.
THIS IS AN FV433 ABBOT SELF-PROPELLED GUN.
THIS VEHICLE'S MAIN LINE OF WORK IS ARTILLERY FROM A LONG DISTANCE AWAY UP TO ABOUT 10 MILES.
IT'S ALSO CAPABLE OF DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT, ANTI-TANK ROLE, WHICH WOULD BE AS A TANK DESTROYER.
Narrator: THE ABBOT RIPS THROUGH THE TERRAIN WITH EASE.
IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AS A TANK, THE ABBOT WAS DESIGNED WITH SIMILAR TANK MECHANICS.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S TRACKS, A MOTOR, AND A TRANSMISSION, SO, FROM A MECHANICAL STANDPOINT, IT'S THE SAME THING.
Narrator: ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ALLOW FOR INCREASED LEVELS OF TANK INNOVATION, LEADING TO THE CHIEFTAIN.
WEIGHING IN AT 62 TONS, WHEN THE CHIEFTAIN FIRST ENTERED SERVICE IN 1966, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE THE MOST HEAVILY PROTECTED AND MOST POWERFULLY ARMED TANK EVER BUILT.
THEY WERE THE MAINSTAY BATTLE TANK FOR SOME YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAD A 120mm MAIN GUN.
THE CHIEFTAIN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TANKS TO IMPLEMENT A 120mm MAIN GUN.
Narrator: THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM CAN ACCOUNT FOR MEASURE DEFLECTION, OR WARPING, OF THE BARREL.
AS THE BARREL HEATS UP, IT BEGINS TO BEND.
SENSING THIS CHANGE, THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS, CONTINUING TO FIRE ACCURATELY.
TANK PROTECTION WAS ALSO A TOP PRIORITY FOR MILITARY ENGINEERS.
THE CHIEFTAIN'S TURRET ARMOR IS NEARLY 8 INCHES THICK, WHILE ITS SLOPE IS NEARLY 5 INCHES.
BUT ONE NEW DESIGN FEATURE MADE THE TANK EVEN HARDER TO STOP.
Borglum: ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE WITH THE CHIEFTAIN THAT YOU DON'T SEE WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER TANKS OF ITS ERA IS THE RECLINED DRIVER'S POSITION.
SO, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY MAKE THE DRIVER ACTUALLY LAY DOWN WHEN HE'S DRIVING.
WHAT THAT DOES IS LOWERS THE PROFILE OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT HARDER TO HIT, 'CAUSE IT'S SMALLER, PLUS THE ANGLE'S LESS STEEP, SO IT'S EASIER TO DEFLECT ROUNDS.
Narrator: POWERED BY A 750-HORSEPOWER, 12-CYLINDER ENGINE, THE CHIEFTAIN MOTORS TO AN ON-ROAD TOP SPEED OF 30 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT ALLIES LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON FROM URBAN WARFARE IN EARLIER WARS.
LARGE DEBRIS OR ABANDONED CARS COULD BE USED BY THE ENEMY TO BLOCK IMPORTANT ACCESS ROADS, EFFECTIVELY CUTTING OFF TANK UNITS FROM VITAL BATTLE POSITIONS.
THE CHIEFTAIN WAS DESIGNED WITH THOSE OBSTACLES IN MIND.
THE CREW HERE SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYS THE VAN WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE TANK, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE TANK'S WELL-CRAFTED SUSPENSION.
Borglum: SO, THE WALKING BEAM SUSPENSION ACTUALLY CAN OSCILLATE WITHOUT ADDING ANY PRESSURE TO THE TRACK.
SO, WHAT THAT ALLOWS IT TO DO IS ONE WHEEL WILL GO UP, AND ONE COME DOWN.
FOR IN THE CASE OF DRIVING OVER A CAR, IT'LL KEEP EVEN PRESSURE, SO THAT YOU DON'T SINK IN OR BECOME STUCK.
Narrator: CRUSHING THE CAR CLEARLY SHOWS WITH A TANK IN PLAY, ANY FORCE HAS A DISTINCT GROUND ADVANTAGE.
NEXT, THE TECH THAT WILL DRIVE TANKS TO DOMINATE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE FUTURE, INCLUDING A DEFENSE SYSTEM SO ADVANCED IT MAKES TANKS VIRTUALLY IMPENETRABLE.
Narrator: TANKS WITH THEIR POWERFUL OFFENSIVE WEAPONRY AND UNSTOPPABLE BRUTE FORCE HAVE OWNED THE BATTLEFIELD VIRTUALLY FROM THE MOMENT THEY ROLLED INTO THE THEATER OF WAR BACK IN WORLD WAR I.
FROM THE ICONIC SHERMAN OF WORLD WAR II TO THE INNOVATIVE BRITISH CHIEFTAIN TO THE MODERN-DAY WAR-ZONE WARRIORS LIKE THE LEOPARD 2 AND ABRAMS TANKS HAVE BEEN A DECIDING FACTOR IN KEY GROUND ATTACK VICTORIES, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
ADAPTING TO EVERY CHALLENGE, THE TANK GETS FASTER, STRONGER, AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE WITH EACH TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH.
IT'S THESE MODIFICATIONS THAT ALLOW TANKS TO OPERATE IN EVER-CHANGING BATTLEFIELDS WITH EVER-INCREASING ROLES.
THE PLAN IN THE U.
S.
IS TO KEEP THE MIGHTY ABRAMS UP AND RUNNING AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IT REMAINS INDISPENSABLE.
ABRAMS IS GONNA BE AROUND WELL INTO THE 2040s, POSSIBLY AS LATE AS 2050.
IT'S QUITE A WAYS TO GO.
AND IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE UPGRADES TO THE ABRAMS OVER TIME.
Narrator: AMONG THOSE UPGRADES, INCREASING THE M1's FIREPOWER -- NOT REPLACING THE GUN, BUT CREATING DEADLIER, MORE ACCURATE ROUNDS.
THE M829A3 IS THE NEWEST DESIGN OF THE ARMY'S KINETIC-ENERGY PENETRATOR.
ONE HIT FROM THIS WILL STOP AN ENEMY TANK DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.
USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PENETRATOR TECHNOLOGIES WITH AN EXTENDED RANGE OF 3,000 METERS MAKES THIS THE MOST LETHAL TANK ROUND IN THE WORLD.
ANOTHER WAY TO BEEF UP THE ABRAMS IS BY ADDING TO ITS ALREADY IMPRESSIVE DEFENSES, MAINLY WITH ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
Dr.
Gordon: THE THREAT THAT TANKS ARE STARTING TO FACE TODAY IS TOP ATTACK.
THAT'S ONE REASON WE'VE SEEN THESE ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS STARTING TO BE FIELDED WITH THE ARMORED VEHICLES IN ORDER TO TRY TO EITHER SPOOF OR SHOOT DOWN INCOMING PROJECTILES COMING FROM THE TOP.
Narrator: ONE SYSTEM IS CALLED "SOFT KILL.
" UPON DETECTING AN INCOMING PROJECTILE, THE DEFENSE SYSTEM SENDS OU AN INTENSE BURST OF INFRARED ENERGY, SCRAMBLING THE SENSOR OF THE INCOMING PROJECTILE, DIVERTING IT AWAY FROM THE TANK.
OTHER SYSTEMS SIMILAR TO ISRAEL'S TROPHY SYSTEM SENSE AN INCOMING PROJECTILE AND INTERCEPT I BY FIRING A SHOTGUN-LIKE BLAST, DESTROYING THE PROJECTILE.
STILL ANOTHER WAY TO BOOST THE VALUE OF THE POWERFUL ABRAMS IS TO EXPAND ITS ROLE IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY.
LIKE THE SHERMAN TANK BEFORE IT, THE SUCCESS OF THE ABRAMS MEANS PUTTING IT TO WORK IN OTHER KEY MISSIONS.
USING THE SAME CHASSIS AS THE MAIN BATTLE TANK, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OPERATES A VITAL TOOL IN MINE-CLEARING OPERATIONS KNOWN AS THE ASSAULT BREACHER VEHICLE, OR A.
B.
V.
THE ABRAMS PLATFORM PROVIDED A WONDERFUL STARTING POIN FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAD THE WEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS THAT THE BREACHER REQUIRES.
Narrator: FIRST DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2010, THE A.
B.
V.
's 15-FOOT-WIDE PLOW ATTACHES TO THE FRAME TO DIG UP THE MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s.
THE A.
B.
V.
ALSO COMES EQUIPPED WITH THE M58 MICLIC.
THIS SYSTEM FIRES ROCKETS CARRYING C-4 EXPLOSIVES 100 TO 150 YARDS OUT, DETONATING HIDDEN BOMBS AT A SAFE DISTANCE.
WHILE PACKAGE UPGRADES CONTINUE TO GET ADDED TO THE BATTLEFIELD-DEPLOYED ABRAMS, MILITARY ENGINEERS ARE ALREADY DESIGNING THE NEXT-GENERATION ABRAMS, THE M1A3.
BY PROVIDING ARMOR UPGRADES, BETTER NETWORKING, AND LASER DESIGNATION, THE PLAN IS TO HAVE AN EVEN MORE HIGH-TECH KILLING MACHINE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS EARLY AS 2018.
INVESTING IN THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES PROVES HOW ESSENTIAL THE TANK IS TO MILITARY GROUND OPERATIONS.
Horowitz: WE DO KNOW THAT THE MILITARY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A NEED FOR A HEAVILY ARMORED VEHICLE THAT CAN STRIKE BACK AT OPPONENTS AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
I THINK THE MAIN BATTLE TANK IS HERE TO STAY.
Narrator: THE TANK CONTINUES TO SHOW IT CAN ADAPT TO ANY COMBAT ZONE AND PROVIDE A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE OVER THE ENEMY.
EVER EVOLVING WITH GREATER SPEED, BETTER PROTECTION, AND INCREASING FIREPOWER, THE TANK'S PLACE ON BATTLEFIELDS OF THE FUTURE IS SECURE.
TANKS.
PACKING ENOUGH DEADLY FIREPOWER TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN THEIR PATH.
THE TANK IS THE MODERN ARMORED KILLING MACHINE.
Narrator: SEE AND FEEL THESE EARTH-SHAKING BEASTS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AND DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THEIR INVINCIBILITY FROM THE CREWS WHO OPERATE THEM.
Padilla: IT'S A BIG RUSH.
THIS IS WHY YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TANKER.
Narrator: THEY ARE THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE EVERY ENEMY FEARS, CHARGING THROUGH ANY TERRAIN.
IT'S EASY TO FEEL INVINCIBLE WHEN YOU'RE IN A TANK.
Narrator: WE'LL SHOW YOU THE LATEST TANK INNOVATIONS USED TO COMBAT NEW ENEMY THREATS IN THE EVER-CHANGING THEATER OF WAR.
FROM THE HEAVY HITTING CHIEFTAIN TO THE HIGH-SPEED LEOPARD [ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
TO THE REVOLUTIONARY FIREPOWER OF THE ABRAMS.
IT'S TIME TO CRUSH, KILL, AND CONQUER.
NOW -- TANKS ON "DEADLIEST TECH.
" CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE, FORTIFIED, AND ARMED WITH ENOUGH FIREPOWER TO TOPPLE ANY DEFENSE, THE TANK IS A RELENTLESS JUGGERNAU THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ALL GROUND COMBAT OPERATIONS.
TASKS RANGE FROM ENGAGING ENEMY VEHICLES AND DEFENSES TO SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING TROOPS IN THE FIELD.
A SUPERIOR TANK CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VICTORY AND DEFEAT.
A CENTURY OF TANK WARFARE HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE FIGHT, AND IT'S CULMINATED IN THIS -- THE M1A2 ABRAMS, THE DEADLIEST, MOST HIGH-TECH TANK STALKING THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY.
FIELDED BY THE U.
S.
ARMY AND MARINE CORPS, IT TAKES THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY'S DOORSTEP.
THE M1 ABRAMS TANK IS THE MODERN AMERICAN ARMORED KILLING MACHINE, THE GREATEST TANK THE AMERICAN MILITARY'S EVER PRODUCED.
IT EMBODIES ALL THE MISSIONS AND ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES NECESSARY TO DOMINATE THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: PROPELLING A TANK THAT WEIGHS 70 TONS, THE SAME AS SIX CITY BUSES, THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TERRAIN TAKES REAL POWER.
AND THE MIGHTY ABRAMS HAS MORE THAN IT NEEDS, BOASTING A 1,500-HORSEPOWER GAS TURBINE ENGINE THAT RUNS ON JET FUEL.
THE MASSIVE ABRAMS ROLLS TO AN EXCESS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR.
WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LO IF YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT IF YOU'RE IN A MULTI-TON TANK, IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Narrator: COMPARED TO THE NOISY DIESEL ENGINES USED TO POWER OTHER TANKS, THE TURBINE ENGINE IN THE ABRAMS PRACTICALLY PURRS, GIVING RISE TO THE TANK'S NICKNAME, WHISPERING DEATH.
BUT CALLING IT "STEALTHY" WOULD BE A STRETCH.
INSTEAD, THE ABRAMS USES SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY TO HUNT DOWN ENEMIES AND UNLEASH FEROCIOUS FIREPOWER.
MOST OF ITS DEVASTATING PUNCH COMES FROM ITS KILLER CANNON.
MAIN GUN IS 120mm SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST ACCURATE IN THE WORLD.
Narrator: THIS 120mm ABRAMS MAIN GUN ANNIHILATES EVERYTHING IN ITS SIGHTS FROM ENEMY VEHICLES TO BUILDING STRONGHOLDS.
AND ALL OF THE CANNON'S DESTRUCTIVE POWER IS AT THE GUNNER'S FINGERTIPS.
Padilla: IT'S A BIG RUSH.
THIS IS WHY YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TANKER.
YOU'RE THE ONE TO GET TO PULL THE TRIGGERS.
YOU GOT TO BE QUICK.
YOU GOT TO BE GOOD.
Narrator: BUT THE ABRAMS' DESTRUCTIVENESS ISN'T ONLY ABOU HAVING A SHARP GUNNER AT THE READY.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT ROUND FOR THE JOB.
Padilla: WE HAVE SABOT, WHICH IS ARMOR-PIERCING.
WE HAVE H.
E.
A.
T.
, WHICH IS HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ANTI-TANK, FOR SMALLER, LIGHTER TARGETS LIKE PERSONNEL CARRIERS.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS FIRST ENTERED SERVICE IN 1980, BUILT AS PART OF THE ONGOING COLD WAR.
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1991 IN DESERT STORM THAT THE ABRAMS FULLY DISPLAYED ITS LETHAL PROWESS.
RACING THROUGH THE DESERT AND FIRING AT WILL, THE ABRAMS DOMINATED THE IRAQIS' T-55, T-62, AND T-72 TANKS.
THE TANK BATTLES OF THE FIRST GULF WAR ARE ONE OF THE MOST LOPSIDED IN MILITARY HISTORY.
Narrator: OUTNUMBERED TWO TO ONE BY IRAQI TANKS, THE ABRAMS ENTERS THE BATTLEFIELD.
BUT RATIO IS DECEIVING.
THE ABRAMS' SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY AND OVERWHELMING FIREPOWER PROVED THAT WARS AREN'T WON ON NUMBERS ALONE.
IT'S A ROUT, WITH THE ABRAMS VICTORIOUS.
THE EFFECTIVE RANGE OF THE AMERICAN M1 ABRAMS TANK IN THE GULF WAR WAS ABOUT THREE TIMES AN IRAQI T-72, WHICH MEANT BY THE TIME AN IRAQI T-72 EVEN COULD THINK ABOUT FIRING AT AN AMERICAN TANK, IT WAS ALREADY A SMOLDERING WRECK.
Narrator: FIRING FROM NEARLY TWO MILES AWAY BEYOND ENEMY RANGE IS ADVANTAGE ENOUGH, BUT THE ABRAMS' HIGH-TECH FIRING SYSTEM MAKES EVERY SHOT DEADLY ACCURATE WITH NONE WASTED.
PEERING AT A CROSS SECTION OF THE TANK FOR A UNIQUE VIEW OF ITS FEATURES, THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY CORRECTS FOR RANGE, CROSSWIND, AIR TEMPERATURE, AMMO TEMPERATURE, TANK AXIAL TILT, AND TURRET MOTION, ALLOWING THE ABRAMS TO SHOOT ACCURATELY ON THE MOVE.
FIREPOWER ALONE ISN'T THE M1'S GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
ABRAMS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT.
ITS NIGHT-VISION SYSTEMS ARE FAR IN ADVANCE OF WHAT THE T-72 HAD.
Narrator: EQUIPPED WITH NIGHT VISION AND A THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEM, THE ABRAMS WIPES OUT ENEMY FORCES ALL IN THE COVER OF DARKNESS.
WITH AN ABRAMS, THERE IS LITERALLY NOWHERE TO HIDE.
THE M1 USHERED IN A NEW ERA OF TANK WARFARE, SOMETHING IRAQIS LEARNED THE HARD WAY.
BY THE END OF THE WAR, ONLY 18 M1 ABRAMS TANKS HAD BEEN DISABLED DUE TO BATTLE DAMAGE, WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY, UP TO 3,700 IRAQI TANKS HAD BEEN DESTROYED OR DISABLED.
Gordon: ABRAMS ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED THE BATTLEFIELD DURING DESERT STORM.
U.
S.
FORCES COULD MANEUVER RAPIDLY, THEY COULD GO WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, WHEN THEY WANTED TO GET THERE.
Narrator: IN 2003, THE MIGHTY ABRAMS RETURNS TO IRAQ.
AND GETTING A 70-TON TANK TO THE BATTLEFIELD TAKES SOME SERIOUS HEAVY LIFTING.
THE C-17 TRANSPORT CRAFT EASILY HANDLES THE JOB, ONCE PREVIOUSLY DONE BY THE C-5 AND CARGO SHIPS DURING DESERT STORM.
THE M1 LOADS VIA THE AFT RAMP, AND WHEN IN POSITION, IS CHAINED DOWN AND READY FOR TAKEOFF.
OVER 7,000 MILES LATER, THE C-17 TOUCHES DOWN AND THE ABRAMS IS UNLEASHED, READY TO JOIN THE FIGHT.
BUT THIS WAR IN IRAQ WAS DIFFERENT FROM DESERT STORM.
BATTLES WEREN'T FOUGHT IN OPEN TERRAIN, BUT INSTEAD IN CRAMPED, CONFINED, URBAN AREAS.
FOR DECADES, THE RULE FOR TANK WARFARE WAS ONLY ENGAGE IN OPEN BATTLEFIELDS, MEANING THE ENEMY WOULD FALL BACK TO URBAN AREAS FOR COVER, PRESENTING A GREATER THREAT TO THE M1.
Horowitz: MOST COUNTRIES HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON -- DON'T CONFRONT AN AMERICAN TANK ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AMERICAN TANKS LIKE THE M1 ARE NOW USED MOST OFTEN IN URBAN WARFARE ENVIRONMENTS.
Gordon: ALL TANKS ARE AT GREATER RISK WHEN THEY GO INTO URBAN SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE SURPRISED AT CLOSE DISTANCE, THEY CAN BE SUBJECT TO FIRING DOWN ON THE TOP OF THE TANK FROM THE UPPER FLOORS OF BUILDINGS.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS IS NOT SIMPLY SUITED FOR OPEN BATTLEFIELD ENGAGEMENTS.
IT HAS AN ARRAY OF SECONDARY WEAPONS THAT IT CAN USE TO ADAPT TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
FIRST IS AN M240 MACHINE GUN IN A COAXIAL MOUN TO THE RIGHT OF THE TANK'S MAIN GUN.
MANNED BY THE GUNNER, THE COAXIAL GUN IS AIMED AND FIRED WITH THE SAME COMPUTER SYSTEM AS THE MAIN GUN.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
ANOTHER M240 IS INSTALLED AT THE LOADER STATION WHILE THE COMMANDER'S WEAPON STATION FEATURES AN M2 .
50-CALIBER MACHINE GUN.
TOGETHER, THESE GUNS CAN UNLEASH AN ONSLAUGHT OF 10,000 ROUNDS.
IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, HAVING TANK CREWS BOTH SECURE INSIDE THE TANK AND FIRING THE MAIN GUN IS IDEAL.
WITH SUCH DESTRUCTIVE POWER AT THE FINGERTIPS OF THE CREW, COLLATERAL DAMAGE BECOMES A SERIOUS CONCERN, WHICH IS WHERE THE M1028 CANISTER ROUND COMES INTO PLAY.
MOST TANK ROUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO DESTROY OTHER TANKS AND LEVEL BUILDINGS, BUT THE M1028 TAKES A UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT ROUTE, TURNING THE ABRAMS CANNON INTO A SUPERSIZED SHOTGUN FILLED WITH 1,150 TUNGSTEN BALLS.
THE ROUND DOES NOT HAVE A FUSE, BUT INSTEAD, DISPERSES THE BALLS AS IT EXITS THE MUZZLE.
ENSURING ABRAMS CREWS HAVE THE NECESSARY FIREPOWER TO RULE THE BATTLEFIELD IS CRUCIAL, BUT SO IS KEEPING THEM SAFE.
BEING IN AN M1 ABRAMS TANK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO BE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: THE SECRET INGREDIENT? CHOBHAM ARMOR.
DEVELOPED IN THE 1960s, THE ABRAMS WAS THE FIRST TANK OUTFITTED WITH THIS NEW PROJECTILE-DEFEATING ARMOR.
THE CHOBHAM ARMOR SYSTEM IS A MULTI-LAYERED ARMOR WITH STEEL AND COMPOSITES.
LATER VERSIONS OF THE ABRAMS START TO INCLUDE DEPLETED URANIUM PLATES WITHIN THE ARMOR ARRAY, WHICH IMPROVED THEIR PROTECTION EVEN MORE.
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE EFFECT OF THESE COMPOSITE ADVANCED ARMORS, IT'S VERY, VERY HEAVILY SLOPED.
SO ALL THESE THINGS COMBINED GIVE THIS TANK INCREDIBLE LEVELS OF PROTECTION.
Narrator: IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, THE ARMOR WAS VIRTUALLY IMPENETRABLE BY THE ENEMY.
OF THE 18 ABRAMS LOST, HALF WERE DISABLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE, INCLUDING TWO PURPOSELY DESTROYED TO PREVENT ENEMY CAPTURE.
UNDAUNTED, THE TANK'S ENGINEERS LOOKED FOR WAYS TO MAKE THE ABRAMS EVEN MORE POWERFUL.
AND YEARS LATER, DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, THAT OPPORTUNITY ARRIVED.
TANK ARMOR IS FRONT HEAVY, DESIGNED TO PROTECT IT FROM ONCOMING PROJECTILES FIRED BY OTHER TANKS WHILE CROSSING THE BATTLEFIELD.
BUT TO COMBAT INSURGENTS IN URBAN IRAQ ATTACKING FROM ALL SIDES, DESIGNERS INTENSIFY OTHER AREAS OF THE TANK'S ARMOR.
SO, A KIT WAS DEVELOPED.
THE TANK URBAN SURVIVAL KIT, OR T.
U.
S.
K.
, WHICH BASICALLY ADDED IMPROVED ARMOR TO THE SIDES AND BACK OF THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: AMONG THE OTHER T.
U.
S.
K.
PACKAGE FEATURES ARE SHIELDS FOR THE EXTERNAL MACHINE GUNS.
THE SHIELDS ARE A TYPE OF TRANSPORT ARMOR, TESTED AND PROVED TO WITHSTAND VARIOUS ARMOR-PIERCING PROJECTILES.
INSTEAD OF SHATTERING UPON IMPACT, THE SHIELD CATCHES THE PROJECTILE, RESULTING IN A SPIDER WEBBING EFFECT, KEEPING THE SHIELD IN PLACE.
BEST OF ALL, ENGINEERS RAISED THE STAKES ON CHOBHAM ARMOR, FABRICATING ANOTHER TYPE OF ARMOR WHICH, WHEN IT GETS HIT, HITS BACK.
IT'S CALLED EXPLOSIVE REACTIVE ARMOR.
THE NEW REACTIVE ARMOR OF THE M1 ABRAMS TANK IS DESIGNED THAT EVEN IF AN I.
E.
D EXPLODES OR AN ANTI-TANK MISSILE IS FIRED AT AN M1 ABRAMS TANK, IT CAN SURVIVE.
THE REACTIVE ARMOR PUSHES THE EXPLOSION BACK OUTWARD SO IT DOES NOT END UP DAMAGING THE TANK ITSELF OR THE CREW INSIDE.
Narrator: THE REACTIVE ARMOR SITS ON TOP OF THE EXISTING TANK ARMOR AND CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUAL BOXES OF EXPLOSIVES.
WHEN A PROJECTILE, LIKE AN RPG, STRIKES ONE OF THESE BOXES, THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE BOX BURSTS, DEFEATING THE PROJECTILE BY PREVENTING IT FROM PENETRATING THE M1 ARMOR.
UP-ARMORING THE TANK MAKES THE ABRAMS THE ULTIMATE URBAN WARRIOR AND NEARLY UNSTOPPABLE, GIVING TROOPS ALL THE CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
THERE'S BEEN TIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN HIT WITH SMALL ARMS, AND WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND WONDER, "WHAT IS THAT?" BUT WE DO GET A CHUCKLE.
AND ALL WE DO IS TRAVERSE AND THEM GUYS ARE DONE AND RUNNING AWAY.
I'M TAKING I.
E.
D.
s AND WE'RE STILL GOING.
THIS VEHICLE CAN REALLY TAKE A HIT.
I'VE TAKEN SEVERAL RPG HITS TO THE VEHICLE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD.
Narrator: FOR ALL OF THE M1'S HIGH-TECH WEAPONRY AND ARMOR, CREWS SHARE AN INSIDER'S TIP THAT HELPS SIMPLIFY LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE ONE.
Page: IT'S LIKE A MINI MOTORCYCLE HANDLEBAR.
YOU HAVE THE THROTTLE, WHERE YOU TWIST I JUST LIKE YOU WOULD ON A MOTORCYCLE, AND IT STEERS.
JUST STEER IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO.
Narrator: THE ABRAMS NOT ONLY PROVIDES A DISTINCT PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE FOR ITS CREWS, BUT A MENTAL EDGE, AS WELL.
Page: IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD BEING ON A TANK.
NOT MANY THINGS WILL COME AFTER US IN A TANK.
WE DOMINATE THE BATTLEFIELD.
Padilla: I LOVE BEING A TANKER.
YOU COME OUT THERE, AND YOUR PRESENCE IS KNOWN.
AS SOON AS THEY HEAR US COMING, IT'S GAME OVER.
Narrator: WITH ITS FIREPOWER, ACCURACY, ARMOR, AND MOBILITY, THE M1 ABRAMS MAKES A CONVINCING CLAIM FOR THE TITLE "WORLD'S BEST BATTLE TANK.
" BUT HAVING THE STRONGEST, MOST DEADLY TANKS ON THE BATTLEFIELD DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T USE A LITTLE HELP.
COMING UP, THIS VEHICLE HOLDS ITS OWN WITH A WEAPON THAT TOPS THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: TANKS BLAST THEIR WAY THROUGH EVERY WAR ZONE, AND THAT FORCE HAS PROVEN ESSENTIAL FOR GROUND-FORCE VICTORIES.
WHEN THE ABRAMS STORMS THE BATTLEFIELD, IT ISN'T ALONE.
RIDING SHOTGUN IS THE M2 BRADLEY.
BUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $1.
5 MILLION, NEARLY SIX TIMES LESS THAN THE M1, ENGINEERS TOOK THE BEST OF DIFFERENT MILITARY VEHICLES TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE TANK COMBAT COMPANION.
Horowitz: THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE A CROSS, IN SOME WAYS, BETWEEN A HUMMER AND A TANK IN THAT IT HAS THE BENEFITS OF A HUMMER IN THAT IT'S A LITTLE MORE AGILE AND MOBILE, BUT THE BENEFITS OF A TANK IN TERMS OF ITS ARMOR AND WEAPONRY.
IT'S AS FAST AS AN ABRAMS TANK, SO IT CAN KEEP UP.
Narrator: BOASTING A 600-HORSEPOWER DIESEL ENGINE CAPABLE OF TOP SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR ON-ROAD AND 25 MILES PER HOUR OFF-ROAD, MAINTAINING PACE WITH THE ABRAMS WAS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY IN THE BRADLEY'S BLUEPRINT.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE M2 IS MANUFACTURED WITH TRACK, LIKE MOST TANKS, INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL WHEELS.
TANK TRACKS FUNCTION SIMILARLY TO A CONVEYOR BELT.
THE ENGINE ROTATES ONE OR MORE STEEL SPROCKETS MOVING A TRACK MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF METAL LINKS PROPELLING THE TANK FORWARD.
A KEY ADVANTAGE OF TRACKED VEHICLES IS THEIR ABILITY TO EASILY MANEUVER OVER ROUGH TERRAIN.
SINCE THE TRACK COMES IN CONTACT WITH A WIDER AREA OF GROUND, IT HAS MORE GRIPPING POWER THAN A 4-WHEEL VEHICLE.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD OF THE TRACK IS A TYPE OF RUBBER, IT NEVER GOES FLAT LIKE A TIRE.
WHILE THE BRADLEY CAN SURGE THROUGH THE BATTLEFIELD JUST AS EASY AS ITS HEAVY METAL PARTNER, IT CAN DO SOMETHING THE ABRAMS CAN'T -- CARRY GROUND TROOPS INTO THE HEART OF BATTLE.
Horowitz: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE INVOLVED IN USING TANKS IN THE BATTLEFIELD IS SOMETHING THAT'S EXISTED SINCE WORLD WAR I.
IF YOUR TANKS BREAK THROUGH THE ENEMY LINES, HOW DO YOU BRING ENOUGH FORCES WITH THEM SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BREAKTHROUGH? THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOLES PUNCHED BY THE M1 ABRAMS TANK THROUGH ENEMY LINES.
Narrator: THE WAR IN IRAQ PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ABRAMS AND BRADLEY TO COMBINE LETHAL FORCES.
Schmitman: THE REASON YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BRADLEY THERE IS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TROOPS IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AND HOLD TERRAIN.
AND THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS AN ARMORED BOX.
IT NOT ONLY HAS OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES, BUT IT CAN, TO A LIMITED EXTENT, PROTECT THE TROOPS THAT ARE IN THE BACK AND DEPOSIT THEM AS IT RIDES ALONG WITH THE MAIN BATTLE TANK FORCE.
Narrator: ONCE THE BRADLEY ELIMINATES MAJOR THREATS IN THE AREA, TO SECURE THE LOCATION, ARMED SOLDIERS SEATED IN THE REAR EXIT THE BRADLEY.
WHEN GIVEN THE CUE, THE BRADLEY'S BACK HATCH DROPS AND TROOPS JUMP OUT TO CONDUCT THEIR MISSION, WHILE THE BRADLEY CREW STAYS ON ITS GUNS TO COVER THEM.
Earhart: THIS IS THE M2A3 BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BACK RAMP WHERE THE DISMOUNTS NORMALLY WILL RIDE INTO THE BATTLE OR INTO THE MISSIONS.
YOU CAN FIT SEVEN PEOPLE BACK THERE.
DEFINITELY NOT COMFORTABLY, BUT YOU CAN FIT SEVEN, AND THEY'LL BE READY TO GO.
Narrator: BUT THE BRADLEY DOESN'T SIMPLY DELIVER TROOPS.
ITS OFFENSIVE CAPABILITY CONSISTS OF A TERRIFYING ARRAY OF WEAPONS.
THE MAIN GUN ON A BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE IS A 25mm M242 GUN.
IT FIRES AT ABOUT 200 ROUNDS PER MINUTE AND HAS AN EFFECTIVE RANGE OF ABOUT 2,000 METERS.
Earhart: M242 BUSHMASTER CHAIN GUN.
IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE GREATEST GUNS EVER BUILT.
NOT ONLY CAN YOU HIT ARMORED TARGETS WITH ARMOR-PIERCING, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE CAPABILITY TO HIT SOFTER TARGETS WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVE.
Narrator: THE BUSHMASTER IS LIKE A STANDARD MACHINE GUN BUT WITH A MORE POWERFUL KICK.
WORKS LIKE ANY OTHER MACHINE GUN ROUND.
YOU HAVE A DISINTEGRATING LINK THAT'S FED THROUGH THE WEAPON, IT FALLS APART AT THE BACK END OF THE GUN, AND THE ROUND IS BASICALLY STRIPPED OFF INSIDE THE FEEDER, JUST HOW I STRIPPED THAT OFF.
A LIVE ROUND OF THESE IS ALMOST LIKE SHOOTING A HIGH-SPEED HAND GRENADE.
YOU HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FIRE ON IT, SO EACH ONE YOU SHOOT IS GONNA BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A HAND GRENADE HITTING IN ALL THOSE SPOTS.
Narrator: CAPABLE OF FIRING BOTH ARMOR-PIERCING AND HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ROUNDS, THE BUSHMASTER COVERS DISMOUNTED GROUND TROOPS AND DESTROYS ENEMY POSITIONS.
IN THE OPEN DESERT, THE BRADLEY'S PRIMARY WEAPON PROVED EFFECTIVE IN DISMANTLING ENEMY VEHICLES.
IN FACT, DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM, BRADLEYS DESTROYED MORE IRAQI VEHICLES THAN THE ABRAMS TANK.
ANOTHER POWERFUL BRADLEY WEAPON EARNED THE VEHICLE A DISTINCT REPUTATION -- TANK KILLER.
BRADLEY NOT ONLY HAS A VERY GOOD AUTOMATIC 25mm GUN, WHICH IS REALLY DEADLY TO LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLES AND LIGHT BUILDINGS.
BRADLEY ALSO HAS THE T.
O.
W.
WIRE-GUIDED ANTI-TANK WEAPON.
Earhart: YOU ARE ABLE TO LOAD TWO MISSILES AT A TIME, AND IT GOES IN A LAUNCHER THAT HAS TO BE RAISED PRIOR TO FIRING.
YOU'LL RAISE YOUR T.
O.
W.
LAUNCHER AND ENGAGE.
Narrator: T.
O.
W.
STANDS FOR TUBE-LAUNCHED, OPTICALLY-TRACKED, WIRE-COMMAND DATA LINK.
WHEN A T.
O.
W.
MISSILE FIRES FROM ITS TUBE, FOUR WINGS AND FOUR TAIL CONTROL SURFACES SPRING OPEN.
SINCE THE SYSTEM IS WIRED, SOLDIERS USE A CONTROL TO GUIDE THE MISSILE TO THE DESIGNATED TARGET.
THE T.
O.
W.
MISSILE'S RANGE EXCEEDS 3,000 METERS, MEANING IT CAN RAIN FIRE DOWN ON ENEMIES UP TO TWO MILES AWAY.
THE T.
O.
W.
ACTUALLY HAS A LONGER RANGE THAN THE MAIN GUN ON THE ABRAMS.
Narrator: TO OPERATE ALONGSIDE THE ABRAMS IN THE WAR ZONE, THE BRADLEY MUST BE PROTECTED.
HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME CHOBHAM ARMOR PROTECTION, BUT INSTEAD EMPLOYS A SOPHISTICATED ALUMINUM-BASED ARMOR WITH SPACED LAMINATE ARMOR ON THE REAR AND SIDES, ALLOWING FOR RAPID TROOP TRANSPORT.
Gordon: THE BRADLEY, LIKE MOST INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES, HAS A MUCH LOWER LEVEL OF PROTECTION COMPARED TO A MAIN BATTLE TANK.
IT WAS GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST ARTILLERY FRAGMENTS, SMALL ARMS FIRE, LIGHT AUTOMATIC CANNONS.
Narrator: AND LIKE ITS BROTHER IN ARMS, THE BRADLEY ALSO RECEIVES AN UPGRADE KI TO FIGHT AGAINST URBAN THREATS.
SIMILAR TO A T.
U.
S.
K.
, B.
U.
S.
K.
, OR BRADLEY URBAN SURVIVAL KIT, INCLUDES ADDITIONAL UNDERSIDE ARMOR, A REMOTE-CONTROLLED 5.
56mm MACHINE GUN ON THE TURRET, AND A BULLET-RESISTANT TRANSPARENT SHIELD FOR THE COMMANDER WHEN OUTSIDE THE TURRET.
THE KIT KEEPS THE TOTAL WEIGHT TO 33 TONS, ALLOWING FOR THE BRADLEY TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED AND AGILITY.
Horowitz: THERE REALLY ARE NOT A LOT OF OTHER MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES LIKE IT.
THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE HAS GIVEN THE AMERICAN MILITARY AN ADVANTAGE EVERYWHERE IT'S DEPLOYED, 'CAUSE IT'S FAST ENOUGH AND NIMBLE ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN USE IT ON THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD, BUT IT'S ALSO DIVERSE ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD USE IT IN AN URBAN WARFARE ENVIRONMENT.
Narrator: IT'S THAT MOBILITY WHICH ALLOWS THE BRADLEY TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE ENEMY THREATS FROM BOTH DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE FIGHTING POSITIONS.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
WITH ITS SPEED, TROOP CAPACITY, AND WEAPONRY, FEW VEHICLES IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY POSSESS THE CAPABILITIES AND FIREPOWER OF THE M2 BRADLEY, SOMETHING THAT BOOSTS CONFIDENCE IN THE TROOPS THAT RELY ON IT IN BATTLE.
DURING COMBAT WITH THE BRADLEYS, THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WEAPON SYSTEM, AND I LOVE THIS VEHICLE.
Narrator: SOME MISSIONS CALL FOR U.
S.
ALLIES TO JOIN ABRAMS AND BRADLEYS IN COMBAT, AND ONE ALLY RAISES THE STAKES FOR THE ENEMY.
ONE OF ITS GREATEST ADVANTAGES IS RANGE, AND IT PUSHES THAT ADVANTAGE TO GAME-CHANGING LEVELS, ENGAGING TARGETS SIX MILES AWAY.
Narrator: THE TANK CHANGED GROUND COMBAT FOREVER, OFTEN DETERMINING WHO WINS AND LOSES.
A TANK OPERATED BY U.
S.
ALLIES DISHES OUT PLENTY OF ITS OWN DESTRUCTION.
THIS IS THE LEOPARD 1C2, MANNED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMOURED CORPS.
THIS BATTLE-TESTED BEAST WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BY GERMANY, BUT ACQUIRED TO FILL THE ROLE OF CANADA'S MAIN BATTLE TANK.
WEIGHING IN AT OVER 40 TONS, LEOPARD C2s PACK A FORMIDABLE 105mm CANNON, ALONG WITH TWO 7.
62mm MACHINE GUNS -- ONE AT THE COMMANDER'S HATCH AND ONE COAXIAL MOUNTED TO THE LEFT OF THE MAIN GUN.
AND WHEN THOSE LEOPARDS WORK TOGETHER, NO ENEMY IS SAFE.
Johns: YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FOUR TANKS ON THE PAD, AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH A SERIAL OF FIRING WHERE THEY'RE ENGAGING DIFFERENT TARGETS WITH THEIR MAIN ARMAMENT AND THEIR CO-AX MACHINE GUN.
Narrator: WHEN FIRST DEVELOPED, THE LEOPARD INCLUDED A NEW GUN-STABILIZATION SYSTEM ALLOWING TANK CREWS TO EFFECTIVELY SHOOT ON THE MOVE.
CREWS PREDOMINANTLY FIRE TWO TYPES OF ROUNDS -- SABOT AND HESH.
Johns: WE'LL BE FIRING SABOT, WHICH IS BASICALLY A GIANT BULLET.
AND THAT'S THE TANK HUNTING ROUND.
AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO SEE THEM FIRING HESH, WHICH IS A HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ROUND.
Narrator: TANK CREWS CAN ALSO LIMIT THE ENEMY'S ABILITY TO FIGHT BACK WITH HELP FROM ANOTHER INNOVATIVE PROJECTILE -- THE SMOKE ROUND.
John: WE USE IT PRIMARILY TO OBSCURE US FROM A TARGET.
MAYBE IF A COMBAT TEAM OR A BATTLE GROUP IS ADVANCING, A FIREBASE COULD LAY DOWN A SMOKE SCREEN TO COVER THEIR ADVANCE.
Narrator: TANK CREWS ALSO WORK IN UNISON WHILE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, UNLEASHING A COORDINATED BARRAGE OF FIREPOWER TO DEFEAT AN ENEMY.
IN 2006, CANADIAN FORCES PUT THEIR LEOPARD C2s TO THE TEST IN AFGHANISTAN, USING THEM TO SUPPORT GROUND TROOPS.
WHILE THE TANK WAS EFFECTIVE DURING ENGAGEMENTS IN BATTLE, CHANGING BATTLEFIELD CONDITIONS REQUIRED AN EVOLUTION OF THE LEOPARD.
I WAS THERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 IN KANDAHAR, AND I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE OLDER TANK, THE LEOPARD 1C2.
BUT IT WAS IDENTIFIED THA IF WE WERE GONNA KEEP PACE WITH OUR ALLIES AND MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL AND MODERN ARMY THAT WE NEEDED TO GET A NEW TANK.
Narrator: THE SOLUTION IS WHAT SOME CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST BATTLE TANK FIGHTING TODAY -- THE LEOPARD 2.
FASTER, STRONGER, AND MORE POWERFUL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, THE 69-TON LEOPARD 2 PROVIDES INCREASED ARMOR PROTECTION FROM MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s AND TOUTS A 120mm MAIN GUN.
SEEING THE LEOPARD 2 UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL IS THE LAST THING AN ADVERSARY WOULD EVER WANT.
A LEOPARD 2 USES THE SAME 120mm SMOOTH-BORE GUN THAT THE ABRAMS HAS.
IT IS AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL, MODERN TANK CANNON.
Narrator: THE CANNON FEATURES A THERMAL SLEEVE DESIGNED TO HELP COOL THE BARREL MADE OF GLASS-REINFORCED PLASTIC, WHILE THE BARREL ITSELF HAS A CHROME LINING TO HELP IT LAST LONGER.
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS AN ADVANTAGE THAT FEW TANKS CAN TOUCH.
THE SYSTEM HAS A LASER RANGE FINDER INTEGRATED INTO THE GUNNER'S SIGHT.
SO DIGITAL RANGE MEASUREMENTS ARE VIEWED DIRECTLY.
THE MAXIMUM RANGE OF THE LASER RANGE FINDER IS JUST UNDER 10,000 METERS, OR ABOUT SIX MILES.
THOUGH THE LEOPARD 2 MAY BE A DEADLY ASSASSIN AT A DISTANCE, IT IS ALSO A THREAT CLOSE-UP, WHERE ITS POWERFUL ENGINE ALLOWS IT TO CHASE DOWN VIRTUALLY ANY ENEMY.
IT'S GOT A 1,500-HORSEPOWER ENGINE.
QUITE A LOT OF POWER BEHIND IT.
SO THIS THING HAS PHENOMENAL OFF-ROAD ABILITY.
Narrator: AND THE LEOPARD 2 USES ALL 1,500 HORSEPOWER TO SURGE THROUGH THE BATTLEFIELD, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FASTEST TANKS EVER MADE.
THE LEOPARD 2 TANK IS THE CANADIAN EQUIVALENT OF THE M1 ABRAMS IN NEARLY ALL WAYS, EXCEPT FOR ONE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE -- IT'S ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR FASTER.
IT HAS A TOP SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
Narrator: THE LEOPARD 2'S POWERFUL OFFENSE COMES WITH A CHARACTERISTIC RUMBLING ROAR.
[ ENGINE ROARS .]
ONE THAT ITS OPERATOR PROUDLY SHOW OFF AND THAT ITS ENEMIES FEAR.
Banman: THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS STILL REALLY LOUD.
LIKE, I WANT MY TANK TO SOUND MEAN.
Narrator: THE LEOPARD 2's SECRETIVE SPACE MULTI-LAYERED COMPOSITE ARMOR GETS REGULAR UPGRADES THAT HELP KEEP I ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE BATTLEFIELD ASSETS.
Gordon: THE MAIN THREATS TO ARMORED VEHICLES IN AFGHANISTAN WERE ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES AND MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s.
THE CANADIANS HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL ARMOR TO THE BELLY OF THE VEHICLE.
THEY'VE ADDED WHAT THE AMERICANS FREQUENTLY CALL "BIRD CAGE ARMOR.
" IT'S CAGED ARMOR PLATE TO GO AROUND THE FLANKS AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY TO DEFEA THE ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE THREAT.
Narrator: AND CREWS CAN ATTEST FIRSTHAND TO THE ARMOR'S PROTECTIVE POWER.
Banman: MY BUDDY WAS TWO TANKS IN FRONT OF ME AND WOUND UP SETTING OFF AN I.
E.
D.
AND I SEE THE BIG COLUMN OF DIRT SHOOT UP.
AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WASN'T, "OH, MAN, MY BUDDY JUST GOT BLOWN UP," BECAUSE I KNEW IN THIS TANK, HE'D BE OKAY.
Narrator: THE TALIBAN ISN'T THE ONLY ENEMY IN AFGHANISTAN.
TANK CREWS MUST ALSO BATTLE INTENSE HEAT.
INSTEAD OF USING TRADITIONAL AIR-CONDITIONING, WHICH ONLY HELPS ELIMINATE SOME OF THE TANK'S INTERNAL HEAT, CREWS REVEAL THE INSIDE INFO ON HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT.
WHAT WE WORE IS WHAT'S CALLED A COOLING SUIT.
HUGE VEHICLE, AND YOU LEAVE A LOT OF THE WINDOWS OR HATCHES OPEN.
SO THERE'S NO POINT IN TRYING TO COOL IT DOWN WITH GENERAL AIR-CONDITIONING.
Narrator: A COOLING SUIT IS A VES THAT CIRCULATES A CHILLED FLUID ACROSS THE SOLDIER'S BODY, LOWERING THEIR CORE TEMPERATURE.
ULTIMATELY, IT ALLOWS TANK CREWS TO REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL, EVEN THROUGH THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE DAY.
THE LEOPARD 2 SHOWED THE IMPORTANCE OF TANKS TO A MODERN MILITARY, EVEN IN CONDITIONS NOT THOUGHT TO BE TRADITIONALLY SUITED FOR TANK WARFARE.
Johns: WHEN WE WENT TO AFGHANISTAN, IT REAFFIRMED THE FAC THAT THE TANK HAD A PLACE EVEN IN THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD.
Narrator: WHEN THEY'RE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THE LEOPARD 2s GIVE CREWS SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE.
IT'S EASY TO FEEL INVINCIBLE WHEN YOU'RE IN A TANK BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POWERFUL MACHINE AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH FIREPOWER AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE ON A TANK.
Narrator: AND THERE'S ONLY ONE THING FOR THE ENEMY TO DO WHEN THE LEOPARD IS ON THE PROWL.
IF YOU SEE IT COMING, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator: NEXT, THE ICONIC TANK THAT ALTERED THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II.
LEARN THE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THAT LED TO ITS SUCCESS AND SEE A TANK DESIGNED TO LITERALLY CRUSH THE ENEMY.
Narrator: TANKS PROVIDE POTENT POWER TO BREAK DOWN ENEMY DEFENSES.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE TANK HAS BEEN A FORCE IN THE MODERN MILITARY.
WHILE THE ABRAMS ROLLS ON U.
S.
FRONT LINES NOW, DECADES EARLIER, IT WAS THE M4 SHERMAN STALKING THE BATTLEFIELD OF WORLD WAR II.
AFTER THE SUCCESS OF TANK WARFARE IN WORLD WAR I, THE U.
S.
CONTINUED THE DESIGN EVOLUTION OF TANKS, RESULTING IN THE GAME-CHANGING M4 SHERMAN.
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TANK DESIGN HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THEN.
ALL TANKS ARE SOMEWHAT OF A TRADE-OFF OF MOBILITY, PROTECTION, AND FIREPOWER.
Narrator: WITH NEARLY 50,000 PRODUCED, THE 33-TON SHERMAN COULD CHARGE THROUGH ANY TERRAIN AT A TOP SPEED OF ROUGHLY 30 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN INITIALLY PLACED ON THE FRONT LINES OF PACIFIC AND EUROPEAN THEATERS, THE SHERMAN RIPPED THROUGH THE ENEMY WITH EASE.
WHEN SHERMAN FIRST APPEARED IN COMBAT IN LATE 1942, IT WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE VEHICLE.
Narrator: IT WAS DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BLOODIEST BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II, WHERE THE SHERMAN SHINED BRIGHTEST.
BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 1944, GERMAN FORCES PLOTTED A SURPRISE OFFENSIVE THEY BELIEVED WOULD DIVIDE ALLIED FORCES AND SECURE OVERALL VICTORY, ENDING THE WAR.
EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW TIGER II TANK, THE GERMAN ARMY ADVANCED.
THE ALLIES COUNTERED WITH THE SHERMAN AND ITS UPGRADED, MORE DESTRUCTIVE CANNON.
Gordon: THE EARLIER SHERMANS ALL MOUNTED A RELATIVELY SHORT-BARRELED 75mm CANNON.
THE LATER MODELS OF THE SHERMAN STARTED TO MOUN A LONG-BARRELED 76mm GUN -- HIGHER VELOCITY, BETTER ARMOR PENETRATION.
Narrator: AN EFFECTIVE GUN SYSTEM IS KEY TO ANY TANK BATTLE, BUT THE SHERMAN'S GUN WASN'T ITS GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
EARLIER SHERMAN HULLS WERE FULLY CAST, TAKING DAYS TO COOL.
NEEDING TO PRODUCE MORE TANKS AT A FASTER PACE, MILITARY ENGINEERS BEGAN WELDING PIECES TOGETHER TO CREATE THE HULL, DRAMATICALLY CUTTING PRODUCTION TIME.
Gordon: SHERMAN WAS PRODUCED IN HUGE NUMBERS, AND THAT WAS TREMENDOUSLY TO THE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH THE U.
S.
, AS WELL AS OUR ALLIES.
THE MECHANICAL RELIABILITY OF SHERMAN WAS IDEAL FOR A RAPID ADVANCE LIKE THAT.
Narrator: ANOTHER ADVANTAGE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS THE SHERMAN'S ABILITY TO STAY IN THE FIGH LONGER THAN ENEMY TANKS.
VERY FEW SHERMANS WERE BREAKING DOWN ALONG THE WAY.
EASY TO MAINTAIN IN BATTLEFIELD CONDITIONS.
Narrator: ARMED WITH OVER 1,500 TANKS -- DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF GERMAN TANKS -- THE ALLIES ADVANCE, WIPING OUT GERMAN FORCES.
THE SHERMAN ISN'T ALONE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
IT'S JOINED BY A DIRECT DESCENDANT -- THE SELF-PROPELLED GUN NICKNAMED "THE PRIEST," WHICH IS BUILT USING THE SHERMAN'S DESIGN AS A FOUNDATION.
THIS IS KIND OF BASED OFF THE SHERMAN TANKS.
THE SIMILARITY IS KIND OF CLOSE WITH THE CHASSIS, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST LIKE THE SHERMAN FRONT, THE SHERMAN SUSPENSION, THE SHERMAN TRACK.
Narrator: LOADED WITH A 105mm HOWITZER, SOLDIERS ON THE PRIEST WEREN'T COMPLETELY COVERED, LEAVING THEM TO BRAVE THE ELEMENTS.
THIS IS THE FIGHTING COMPARTMENT.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE [BLEEP.]
GOES DOWN -- RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE AMMO STORED IN ALL ITS RACKS AND THE READY RACKS BEHIND YOU IN THE BUSTLES.
Narrator: ONE MONTH AFTER GERMANY'S INITIAL ASSAULT, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS OVER WITH THE ALLIES VICTORIOUS.
WITH MUCH OF ITS ARMY AND RESERVES GONE, THE GERMAN MILITARY WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED, SIGNALING THE END OF THE WAR, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE SHERMAN TANK.
AFTER WORLD WAR II, THE MILITARY LOOKED FOR WAYS TO INCREASE ITS STRENGTH BY IMPROVING ITS TANKS.
MILITARY ENGINEERS CONTINUED TO EXPLORE NEW METHODS OF INCREASING A TANK'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE VARIOUS TERRAIN AND STATION GUNS ANYWHERE ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
LIKE THE PRIEST, THE ABBOT IS A 105mm SELF-PROPELLED GUN DESIGNED FOR LONG-RANGE ATTACKS.
THIS IS AN FV433 ABBOT SELF-PROPELLED GUN.
THIS VEHICLE'S MAIN LINE OF WORK IS ARTILLERY FROM A LONG DISTANCE AWAY UP TO ABOUT 10 MILES.
IT'S ALSO CAPABLE OF DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT, ANTI-TANK ROLE, WHICH WOULD BE AS A TANK DESTROYER.
Narrator: THE ABBOT RIPS THROUGH THE TERRAIN WITH EASE.
IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AS A TANK, THE ABBOT WAS DESIGNED WITH SIMILAR TANK MECHANICS.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S TRACKS, A MOTOR, AND A TRANSMISSION, SO, FROM A MECHANICAL STANDPOINT, IT'S THE SAME THING.
Narrator: ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ALLOW FOR INCREASED LEVELS OF TANK INNOVATION, LEADING TO THE CHIEFTAIN.
WEIGHING IN AT 62 TONS, WHEN THE CHIEFTAIN FIRST ENTERED SERVICE IN 1966, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE THE MOST HEAVILY PROTECTED AND MOST POWERFULLY ARMED TANK EVER BUILT.
THEY WERE THE MAINSTAY BATTLE TANK FOR SOME YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAD A 120mm MAIN GUN.
THE CHIEFTAIN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TANKS TO IMPLEMENT A 120mm MAIN GUN.
Narrator: THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM CAN ACCOUNT FOR MEASURE DEFLECTION, OR WARPING, OF THE BARREL.
AS THE BARREL HEATS UP, IT BEGINS TO BEND.
SENSING THIS CHANGE, THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS, CONTINUING TO FIRE ACCURATELY.
TANK PROTECTION WAS ALSO A TOP PRIORITY FOR MILITARY ENGINEERS.
THE CHIEFTAIN'S TURRET ARMOR IS NEARLY 8 INCHES THICK, WHILE ITS SLOPE IS NEARLY 5 INCHES.
BUT ONE NEW DESIGN FEATURE MADE THE TANK EVEN HARDER TO STOP.
Borglum: ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE WITH THE CHIEFTAIN THAT YOU DON'T SEE WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER TANKS OF ITS ERA IS THE RECLINED DRIVER'S POSITION.
SO, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY MAKE THE DRIVER ACTUALLY LAY DOWN WHEN HE'S DRIVING.
WHAT THAT DOES IS LOWERS THE PROFILE OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT HARDER TO HIT, 'CAUSE IT'S SMALLER, PLUS THE ANGLE'S LESS STEEP, SO IT'S EASIER TO DEFLECT ROUNDS.
Narrator: POWERED BY A 750-HORSEPOWER, 12-CYLINDER ENGINE, THE CHIEFTAIN MOTORS TO AN ON-ROAD TOP SPEED OF 30 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT ALLIES LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON FROM URBAN WARFARE IN EARLIER WARS.
LARGE DEBRIS OR ABANDONED CARS COULD BE USED BY THE ENEMY TO BLOCK IMPORTANT ACCESS ROADS, EFFECTIVELY CUTTING OFF TANK UNITS FROM VITAL BATTLE POSITIONS.
THE CHIEFTAIN WAS DESIGNED WITH THOSE OBSTACLES IN MIND.
THE CREW HERE SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYS THE VAN WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE TANK, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE TANK'S WELL-CRAFTED SUSPENSION.
Borglum: SO, THE WALKING BEAM SUSPENSION ACTUALLY CAN OSCILLATE WITHOUT ADDING ANY PRESSURE TO THE TRACK.
SO, WHAT THAT ALLOWS IT TO DO IS ONE WHEEL WILL GO UP, AND ONE COME DOWN.
FOR IN THE CASE OF DRIVING OVER A CAR, IT'LL KEEP EVEN PRESSURE, SO THAT YOU DON'T SINK IN OR BECOME STUCK.
Narrator: CRUSHING THE CAR CLEARLY SHOWS WITH A TANK IN PLAY, ANY FORCE HAS A DISTINCT GROUND ADVANTAGE.
NEXT, THE TECH THAT WILL DRIVE TANKS TO DOMINATE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE FUTURE, INCLUDING A DEFENSE SYSTEM SO ADVANCED IT MAKES TANKS VIRTUALLY IMPENETRABLE.
Narrator: TANKS WITH THEIR POWERFUL OFFENSIVE WEAPONRY AND UNSTOPPABLE BRUTE FORCE HAVE OWNED THE BATTLEFIELD VIRTUALLY FROM THE MOMENT THEY ROLLED INTO THE THEATER OF WAR BACK IN WORLD WAR I.
FROM THE ICONIC SHERMAN OF WORLD WAR II TO THE INNOVATIVE BRITISH CHIEFTAIN TO THE MODERN-DAY WAR-ZONE WARRIORS LIKE THE LEOPARD 2 AND ABRAMS TANKS HAVE BEEN A DECIDING FACTOR IN KEY GROUND ATTACK VICTORIES, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
[ MACHINE GUN FIRE .]
ADAPTING TO EVERY CHALLENGE, THE TANK GETS FASTER, STRONGER, AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE WITH EACH TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH.
IT'S THESE MODIFICATIONS THAT ALLOW TANKS TO OPERATE IN EVER-CHANGING BATTLEFIELDS WITH EVER-INCREASING ROLES.
THE PLAN IN THE U.
S.
IS TO KEEP THE MIGHTY ABRAMS UP AND RUNNING AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IT REMAINS INDISPENSABLE.
ABRAMS IS GONNA BE AROUND WELL INTO THE 2040s, POSSIBLY AS LATE AS 2050.
IT'S QUITE A WAYS TO GO.
AND IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE UPGRADES TO THE ABRAMS OVER TIME.
Narrator: AMONG THOSE UPGRADES, INCREASING THE M1's FIREPOWER -- NOT REPLACING THE GUN, BUT CREATING DEADLIER, MORE ACCURATE ROUNDS.
THE M829A3 IS THE NEWEST DESIGN OF THE ARMY'S KINETIC-ENERGY PENETRATOR.
ONE HIT FROM THIS WILL STOP AN ENEMY TANK DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.
USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PENETRATOR TECHNOLOGIES WITH AN EXTENDED RANGE OF 3,000 METERS MAKES THIS THE MOST LETHAL TANK ROUND IN THE WORLD.
ANOTHER WAY TO BEEF UP THE ABRAMS IS BY ADDING TO ITS ALREADY IMPRESSIVE DEFENSES, MAINLY WITH ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
Dr.
Gordon: THE THREAT THAT TANKS ARE STARTING TO FACE TODAY IS TOP ATTACK.
THAT'S ONE REASON WE'VE SEEN THESE ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS STARTING TO BE FIELDED WITH THE ARMORED VEHICLES IN ORDER TO TRY TO EITHER SPOOF OR SHOOT DOWN INCOMING PROJECTILES COMING FROM THE TOP.
Narrator: ONE SYSTEM IS CALLED "SOFT KILL.
" UPON DETECTING AN INCOMING PROJECTILE, THE DEFENSE SYSTEM SENDS OU AN INTENSE BURST OF INFRARED ENERGY, SCRAMBLING THE SENSOR OF THE INCOMING PROJECTILE, DIVERTING IT AWAY FROM THE TANK.
OTHER SYSTEMS SIMILAR TO ISRAEL'S TROPHY SYSTEM SENSE AN INCOMING PROJECTILE AND INTERCEPT I BY FIRING A SHOTGUN-LIKE BLAST, DESTROYING THE PROJECTILE.
STILL ANOTHER WAY TO BOOST THE VALUE OF THE POWERFUL ABRAMS IS TO EXPAND ITS ROLE IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY.
LIKE THE SHERMAN TANK BEFORE IT, THE SUCCESS OF THE ABRAMS MEANS PUTTING IT TO WORK IN OTHER KEY MISSIONS.
USING THE SAME CHASSIS AS THE MAIN BATTLE TANK, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OPERATES A VITAL TOOL IN MINE-CLEARING OPERATIONS KNOWN AS THE ASSAULT BREACHER VEHICLE, OR A.
B.
V.
THE ABRAMS PLATFORM PROVIDED A WONDERFUL STARTING POIN FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAD THE WEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS THAT THE BREACHER REQUIRES.
Narrator: FIRST DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2010, THE A.
B.
V.
's 15-FOOT-WIDE PLOW ATTACHES TO THE FRAME TO DIG UP THE MINES AND I.
E.
D.
s.
THE A.
B.
V.
ALSO COMES EQUIPPED WITH THE M58 MICLIC.
THIS SYSTEM FIRES ROCKETS CARRYING C-4 EXPLOSIVES 100 TO 150 YARDS OUT, DETONATING HIDDEN BOMBS AT A SAFE DISTANCE.
WHILE PACKAGE UPGRADES CONTINUE TO GET ADDED TO THE BATTLEFIELD-DEPLOYED ABRAMS, MILITARY ENGINEERS ARE ALREADY DESIGNING THE NEXT-GENERATION ABRAMS, THE M1A3.
BY PROVIDING ARMOR UPGRADES, BETTER NETWORKING, AND LASER DESIGNATION, THE PLAN IS TO HAVE AN EVEN MORE HIGH-TECH KILLING MACHINE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS EARLY AS 2018.
INVESTING IN THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES PROVES HOW ESSENTIAL THE TANK IS TO MILITARY GROUND OPERATIONS.
Horowitz: WE DO KNOW THAT THE MILITARY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A NEED FOR A HEAVILY ARMORED VEHICLE THAT CAN STRIKE BACK AT OPPONENTS AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
I THINK THE MAIN BATTLE TANK IS HERE TO STAY.
Narrator: THE TANK CONTINUES TO SHOW IT CAN ADAPT TO ANY COMBAT ZONE AND PROVIDE A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE OVER THE ENEMY.
EVER EVOLVING WITH GREATER SPEED, BETTER PROTECTION, AND INCREASING FIREPOWER, THE TANK'S PLACE ON BATTLEFIELDS OF THE FUTURE IS SECURE.