Chinese To Get M-1
Fire Control System

The M-1's most amazing feature was it’s target acquisition system.

It accounts for 1/4 of the tank’s total cost, and was designed
by Army engineers at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia.

It includes a thermal imaging night sight, and a laser range finder.

The barrel has a small reference point mounted on it’s tip.

Barrels sag a tiny amount, when they get hot from firing or sun light.

The laser can use the MRS (muzzle reference system)
to determine the barrel’s exact position.

The thermal imager and laser range finder is made
by Hughes and uses the Neodymium-doped
YAG (Yttrium, Aluminum, Garnet) type laser,
instead of the older pink ruby type.

The laser has a transmitter, power-supply,
receiver, and timing and logic circuits.

Range is from 200 to 7,880m w/ an accuracy of + or - 10m.

Newer versions of the M-1A2 are said to
be unaffected by the type of thick smoke that
played havoc w/ the lasers in the Gulf War.

Hughes Laser FCS

It can be shut off for training purposes to protect the eyes
of friendly troops, and is good for at least 1,800 hrs.

The thermal imager was designed by the Night Vision
and Electro Optics Laboratory at Ft. Belvoir, Va., and uses
the rare non- metallic element tellurium to pick up heat,
and a cooling system to keep it at the precise temperature.

It can provide an image of the surrounding area in night, for or smoke.

The Thermal Imaging System

M1s have a a wind sensor on the turret.

All the information is fed to an on-board computer along w/ the
following information that is entered manually by the crew;
ammo type and temp., barrel wear, and barometric pressure.

The computer is made by Control Data Canada Ltd.

But, the most important feature is a stabilization system
that keeps the barrel aimed at the target even
when the tank is traveling over bumpy terrain.

At the time it was the only system of it’s kind, making the
M1 the only tank that could fire accurately while on the move.

1996
Washington D.C.'s rumor mill says Clinton is
negotiating a deal to have at least 1000 of these sent
to China in return for a $100,000 kick-back to the DNC.

M1 Ammo And The Gulf War Syndrome

M1 Abrams | POW/MIAs