[Coming Soon] M1A1 Abrams: Desert Storm

The Big and Medium trophies contain the first series modification of M1 Abrams tanks with a 120 mm gun.

Historical note

Development of the M1A1 Abrams with a 120 mm gun began almost simultaneously with the basic M1 entering production. In 1981, a German Rheinmetall gun was successfully tested on the M1E1 prototype. Then, in 1984-1986, a special version called the IPM1 with reinforced armor and an enlarged turret was produced, which became a technological bridge between the original M1 and M1A1. M1A1 inherited all these improvements and was equipped with a licensed copy of the 120 mm gun, designated M256.

The M1A1 received its baptism of fire during Desert Storm operation in 1991, where it demonstrated overwhelming superiority. However, in urban combat, the tank's vulnerability to ambushes and hand-held anti-tank weapons became apparent. The tank remained in production until 1992, with a total of over 5,800 units produced, including export versions for Egypt and Australia.

M1A1 (Rank XIII)

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: excellent 120 mm gun, effective shells, good turret front protection, blow-out panels for crew protection, good mobility.
Weaknesses: vulnerable hull, rather large dimensions.
Opportunities: particularly good in long-range firefights.
Threats: enemy attacks on the sides and rear.

In battle

The M1A1 will be the first American Rank XIII vehicle in War Thunder Mobile. This version of the US MBT combines good protection with decent mobility and increased firepower.

Let's start with the main feature – the 120 mm M256 cannon, a licensed copy of the weapon used on the Leopard 2 series. This gun can shoot three types of HE shells, including an interesting HE-OR shell with an increased explosive charge, as well as two types of APFSDS, the most advanced of which can penetrate any enemy at short ranges.

Protection is another advantage of the Abrams. The strongest part of the tank is the front of the turret, which uses combined protection with depleted uranium armor elements. The rear of the M1A1's turret is equipped with blast panels that protect the crew from damage caused by ammunition detonation. The tank's hull is less well protected. The sides are particularly vulnerable, and in the front, the area where the turret connects to the hull and in the area of the driver's observation devices can be penetrated. The commander should take care to cover the tank's hull when shooting (for example, behind a small object, in a lowland, or behind the reverse hillside).

The mobility of this new US top-tier tank is quite good — the engine remains unchanged from the previous modification. Even with the increased weight due to reinforced protection and the new gun, the tank retains good mobility and a high maximum speed.

Premium version of the M1A1 (Rank XIII)

The Premium variant is an extra tank for your hangar! The premium tank maintains the same performance as the standard variant, though it comes in a unique camouflage. With this premium tank you’ll be able to enjoy faster Silver Lion and Research Point gains, and earn some Golden Eagles in your battles.

If you’re lucky enough to unlock both the premium and the standard variants, you will be able to use them both in the same battle!

Premium version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Big Trophy.
By reaching the top-10 in the relevant Leaderboard.
From the Collector's Trophy after adding the vehicle to this trophy type;
In Special Offers.

Standard version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Medium Trophy.
Order vehicles for Silver Lions after collecting 1,000 blueprints.

Ways to get blueprints:

In Medium Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 10 to 100 pcs per attempt.
In Big Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 80 to 200 pcs per attempt.
In the in-game store: purchase for Silver Lions a Folder with a number of blueprints (even after the season ends).
In special offers.

*Vehicle specifications and camouflages are still work in progress and may differ on release.

The M1A1 (Rank XIII) can be obtained in War Thunder Mobile (WTM) from Medium or Big Trophies in the Tank Campaign with the start of the new Season.