Renegade334

A rare picture: an overhead shot of the M1 Thumper, used to test the XM291 ATAC gun (sometimes referred to as LW120) in conjunction with the XM91 cassette autoloader. The Thumper, which was built out of a M1A1 at Anniston Depot, used a 120mm XM291 in three different barrel lengths, one 265in/6.75m long (the standard, "long tube" XM291), a second one cut the same length as the M256 ("short tube", 5.3m) and a third, intermediary one ("medium tube") that stands somewhere between 6.75m and 5.3m. On-the-move test fires done at speeds of 10, 15 and 20mph showed that the target impact dispersion (TID) was bigger (read: lower accuracy) with the "long tube" XM291 compared to the "short tube" or EVEN the M256, which was problematic. To support the increased barrel length, Benét Labs also had to create a 415lbs and 22in-long extension for the gun cradle...which was later reused in the proposed installation of a XM360E1 inside the notional M1A3...and, quite likely, inside the M1 AbramsX demonstrator showcased at AUSA 2022. The 1988 M1 Thumper was only fitted with the 120mm ATAC gun, but the XM291 installed on the 1993 M1 CATTB, on the other hand, went on to trial a 120mm and a 140mm barrel. At one point, the ATAC prototype pool was noted to have successfully fired 1,300 rounds, 150 of which were of the 140mm variety. The latter (at least the KE part) was even judged capable of defeating the armor of what was tentatively described as the FST-3 (Future Soviet Tank 3, essentially a Obj.477/477A); there are no known numbers for the 140mm XM964's performance, but the 140mm ATAC itself was expected to produce a great maximum of 25MJ of muzzle energy. The ammunition for the ATAC was developed by Valentec International and Hercules. While the Thumper was originally meant to trial the 120mm ATAC, some of the official literature indicates it may have also undergone the 120-to-140mm tube conversion and done static test firings at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where it showed precision equal to a M1A1 but "with greater penetration". >> Source document for the two above scans << Also, a common mistake (one I've also been guilty of, mea culpa) I often see around in forums and milblogs is that the Thumper is a derivative of the CATTB, which is false, as the Thumper (AKA the ATAC Demonstration System) predates the CATTB Phase I by at least five years. M1 CATTB Phase I (using a M1 hull as basis), in 93/94, about to be shipped to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for testing: Picture of the CATTB Phase II (ATTD?) hull under construction, completed in 1994. Note the closed back with no exhaust grille, the absence of apertures for torsion bars (replaced by a hydro-pneumatic suspension system) and the smaller engine compartment designed to receive a Cummins XAV-1000 AIPS instead of a Honeywell AGT-1500. The freed-up volume between the XAV and the turret basket was reclaimed to accept two vertically-stacked non-ready cassettes housing a total of 22 rounds (either single-piece 120mm or two-piece 140mm), which would have given the CATTB Phase II a maximum loadout of 39 rounds (either 120mm or 140mm), just five less than a M1A2. The huge tradeoff, of course, was that all this made the CATTB massively overweight. Apparently, at least one of the two CATTB testbeds is currently sitting at the Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, California, but one has to wonder if it's not a case of mistaken identity; the Thumper was, after all, spotted in 2010/09/30, in Ohio, as it was being relocated by train to parts unknown. Here's to hoping any of these big bois shall make their way to a museum one day, as did the TTB, the Crusader and many others before them. XM291 ATAC with its 17-round Benét Labs XM91 bustle autoloader:

Dunno if it's ever been posted here, but I'll leave these as is - PDFs from Benét Labs, ARDEC and Tank Main Armaments (Picatinny Arsenal) on the ATAC gun project. https://www.docdroid.net/BNPwd3j/20184655mnbt989107254f026170i002-pdf https://www.docdroid.net/9uIlRZe/20181815mnbt989112214f167098i011-pdf ff6a7899ba6d421e2d9e4bc222fdd340d6d6.pdf (semanticscholar.org) <-- study on barrel vibrations and stabilization; XM291 is featured. https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA320105/mode/2up <-- has a bit on the XM291 testing.

Przezdzieblo on tank-net identified it as a DVE AN/VAS-5B(V) thermal driver vision system. PatriotANVAS5BV_NVTS_2.10.pdf (nvtsglobal.com) The JLTV used to have a different sensor at that spot, though:

SEPv3 Abrams at Lima, sporting a rather uncommon paint scheme. These photos were taken during a visit of the plant by the Polish Minister of Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak.

Well, we had the M60 hull with an Abrams turret and a Leopard 2 hull with a Leclerc turret and now, from the annals of History, we have this Frankensteiner:

XM1299 turret under construction: EDIT: the International Howitzer refers to the M109A6+ (see my previous post). There is apparently some ongoing research to see if the gap between the M109A7 and the XM1299 can be affordably bridged.

From tank-net: A 2001 precursor to the XM1299, the M109A6+ with its 52-caliber, 155mm M284 gun. EDIT: the M109A6+ was also dubbed "International Howitzer" and boasted several improved capabilities. Aside from its 52-caliber, JBMOU-compliant and Watervliet Arsenal-built M284 gun, it also sported a semi-automatic rammer, an automatic fire control system and a modified suspension.

Not art official, it goes without saying. As for claims that the AbramsX's autoloader is smaller than Meggitt's CTA just based on pictures, I would take those with a grain of salt...unless you've been there in person with a measuring tape and came back with an interesting tale on how you bribed or blackmailed the GDLS guys into letting you climb onto the turret and engine deck.

BAE Archer on HEMTT:

Impressive weight reduction, though I have to ask how many rounds are in that carousel and whether they did consider using the turret basket as additional ammo storage space. The M1 CATTB had two extra horizontal, non-ready carousels in the hull to replenish the turret bustle's ready carousel upon depletion, but using a vertical carousel in the basket could potentially make it a ready carousel. For reference, a SEP v3 should clock in at around 73.6 US tons.

Boeing: The next evolution of Apache ... I thought they were winding down Apache production? Or is this just an [proposed] upgrade for existing 64E airframes?

Apparently, the AbramsX in AUSA 2022 might be reusing the hull of the Abrams used to showcase the Abrams Dieselization Project, back in AUSA 2013: Referring to this, of course: Minor detail: while the Protector R6 on the AbramsX showpiece doesn't have the coaxial M240, it does have the servo for the Javelin launcher. Not a guarantee there'll be tests of the sort, though.

Alright, will do. Thanks - there's quite a lot of things filtering in from AUSA, but I think I'll take a breather on the posting.

Tentative comparison between Abrams turret geometries: ^-- More GDLS goodness from AUSA.

AUSA opening ceremony is in six hours from now, but there's already a few fleeting glimpses of what's there:

@Ramlaen: Is that an AN/VVR-4 LWR jutting out just behind the turret cheek? Another render of the new Abrams. TTB-like, three-men-inside-hull + unmanned turret + main gun autoloader + hybrid diesel/electric configuration confirmed.

I'm a bit skeptical. Sure, the M230LF is there, but the centerline pedestal it is mounted on is flush with the turret roof rather than raised, no PASEOs in front of the RWS, no Trophy sponsons on the sides, no access hatches behind the said PASEO turrets, no pepperbox muzzle brake or bore evacuator on the main gun and the turret cheek geometry seems more Leopard 2A5-inspired than Abrams-inspired. Aside from that, the turret looks quite TTB-ish. Sure it's not one of the GVSC's what-if doodles (the background makes it look like it's viewed through VR goggles) rather than GDLS' homebrewed offering? Of course, I'm not denying the possibility of a convergence (and exchange) of ideas and concepts from both sides...

T-90M Proryv (covered with a Nakidka radar/heat-absorbing shroud) captured in the Kharkiv region and towed away by a T-72B3...also captured by Ukrainians. Credits: Shawshank Redemption on YouTube

There are three hatches on the driver's compartment, indeed. The left (from our perspective) one is open and half-hidden by the turret cheek, the centerline one is hidden by the XM360 (but there is a lighter shape there that alludes to a triangular hatch, not to mention the periscopes shown in other posters), and the right one is closed.

Promo pictures enhanced through Photoshop: EDIT - added three more. At least two hatches for the driver compartment confirmed (with one open, the other closed), and possibly a third one right under the mantlet and XM360. More detail on the turret front - the cheek plates are no longer welded together? Coaxial 7.62mm retained. Mantlet is smaller than I first thought - it's the front lip of the M230LF pedestal that's making it look taller/bigger. At least one hatch on the turret's right side behind the PASEO and beside the M230LF pedestal. No periscopes on it.