Ukrainian forces face growing losses of U.S. - Supplied Abrams tanks
Russian armed forces have reportedly captured another American M1A1 Abrams tank used by Ukrainian troops. Analysts from the portal Bulgarian Military note that the tanks provided by the U.S. are falling at an alarming rate on the front.
The last destroyed Abrams tank, which fell into Russian hands, was reportedly eliminated from combat on September 14, 2024. The online photo shows that the vehicle was equipped with additional armour – Soviet Kontakt-1 reactive armour. The enhancements made by the Ukrainians did not achieve the desired effect, as the tank was completely immobilized.
The myth of indestructible Abrams tanks is falling in Ukraine
At the same time, it is significant that the recently destroyed M1A1 Abrams is the third tank of this type destroyed in less than seven days, according to the Bulgarian Military. Reports from the front indicate that Ukrainian forces are losing Abrams tanks at an alarming rate, a trend that follows a period of increased losses from February to mid-April 2024.
Ukrainian armed forces quickly decided to withdraw Abrams tanks from the front to implement improvements related to armour. This decision came from increased losses, reported just three days after the tanks were sent to the front lines.
According to calculations by the Bulgarian Military, over 20 units of the 31 tanks delivered to Ukraine have been destroyed, damaged, or captured. Most of the losses are attributed to artillery strikes or kamikaze drones.
Previously, Ukrainian soldiers themselves expressed dissatisfaction with the tanks, highlighting issues related to condensation inside the machines, which negatively affects critical tank systems, including fire control and communication. Ukrainians also emphasized that the size of Abrams tanks is significant. American tanks are larger compared to Soviet-produced tanks (e.g., T-80), making them easier to hit. This is important, especially given the popularity of kamikaze drones in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Abrams tanks
The M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Ukrainian armed forces stand out with impressive technical specifications. Each tank is equipped with a 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, and a Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine powers them. The length of the vehicle is nearly 10 metres, the width is about 4 metres, and the height does not exceed 2.5 metres. The range of the Abrams is over 450 kilometres on a full tank. On roads, these tanks can travel at speeds up to 70 km/h, and in more challenging terrain, they can reach up to 50 km/h.
