Tankers of the Armed forces of Ukraine (AFU) said that the American main battle tank (MBT) Abrams M1A1 has become the number one target for Russian fighters on the battlefield, and that the machine has a number of minuses. This was reported by the TV channel CNN, citing sources.
“Ukrainian crews working on US-supplied Abrams tanks told CNN about a number of weaknesses and flaws in the armoured vehicles, which casts doubt on their usefulness on the ever-changing front lines of the war,” the report said.
The material notes that the delivered modifications of US tanks have insufficient protection against modern weapons. In this vein touches on the role of drones in the Ukrainian theatre of military operations.
“At the moment their armour is not enough. It does not protect the crew. In fact, today it’s a drone war. So now when a tank rolls out, they always try to hit it,” noted an AFU soldier with the call sign “Joker.”
A colleague of “Joker” with the call sign “Dnepr” added that in the Ukrainian conflict American MBTs are “target number one” for the Russians. According to him, without protection, the Abrams crew will not survive on the battlefield.
“One of them (tanks. – ed.), parked under a tree, was almost immobile during CNN’s visit due to an engine problem, according to the crew, even though the vehicle had just been delivered from Poland. They also complain that in rain or fog, condensation can fry the electronics inside the car,” the TV channel specified.
In addition, CNN emphasised that the AFU tankers are also experiencing a shortage of shells for the US MBT. It is about the fact that the United States has supplied Ukraine with ammunition for fighting other tanks, but not for destroying infantry or cover.
The Ukrainian team, speaking to reporters, expressed disappointment that the tanks were designed for the NATO style of warfare, in which aviation and artillery prepare the battlefield before the OPVs and infantry advance. The AFU has no such capabilities.
“Ukraine is now testing and improving equipment that was not originally prepared for our war”, – said a representative of the Ministry of defence of Ukraine in comments to CNN.
We will remind, earlier the Indian newspaper Hindustan Times said that Russian kamikaze drones forced the Armed forces of Ukraine to withdraw to the rear of the American tanks Abrams M1A1, which, in turn, was a “huge embarrassment” for OPVs from the United States.