"We will carry out a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility ... and by the application of overwhelming force."
- CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks commenting on the conduct of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, March 21st, 2003

The M1 Abrams was the next stage in American tank development after the M60 series. Chrysler completed the prototype in 1978 and the first production vehicles appeared in 1980 with 30 tanks a month being built in the years that followed by General Dynamics, then a division of Chrysler Motors. Its advanced Chobham armour makes the M1 the best protected US main battle tank yet devised. Its gas turbine engine is smaller and easier to service than a diesel engine, but the extra fuel requirement negates the space saved, which is perhaps why the idea was rejected for acquiring the German-built Leopard 2. Thermal sights, laser rangefinder equipment, and a sophisticated gun stabilization system give the M1 excellent firepower on the move, be it day or night. In the 1991 Gulf War, the Abrams proved itself the best tank in the world, knocking out Iraqi T-72s with impunity. In fact, no Abrams were lost due to enemy fire.

According to General Dynamics, international sales of the Abrams tank are strong. Egypt has purchased 777 M1A1 tank kits. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia purchased and fielded 315 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and lest we forget the Government of Kuwait, which purchased and fielded 218 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the Kuwaiti Land Forces. All of these nations are considering additional orders or configuration upgrades for their existing fleet of M1A1/A2 tanks.

Further M1A2 improvements, called the System Enhancement Program (SEP), are underway to enhance the tank's digital command and control capabilities and to to improve the tank's fightability and lethality. The M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package), is the digital battlefield centerpiece for Army XXI. It is the heavy force vehicle that will lead Armor into the next century and transition the close combat mission to the Future Combat System (FCS). The M1A2 SEP is an improved version of the M1A2. It contains numerous improvements in command and control, lethality and reliability.

The SEP upgrade includes improved processors, color and high resolution flat panel displays, increased memory capacity, user friendly Soldier Machine Interface (SMI) and an open operating system that will allow for future growth. Major improvements include the integration of the Second Generation Forward Looking Infared (2nd Gen FLIR) sight, the Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit (UAAPU) and a Thermal Management System (TMS).

This 1:35 scale replica of a US M1A2 Abrams seen here has been outiftted with the Systems Enhancement Package (SEP) and painted in a desert camouflage pattern. This particular vehicle served with the 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1/67th Armor, 4th Infantry Division, during its tenure in Iraq during 2003 and is so named in honor of a M48 A3 Patton tank attached to C Company 1/52nd Infantry deployed during the Vietnam conflict. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 11-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 3-1/2-inches

Release Date: November 2004

Historical Account: "Steadfast and Loyal" - The 4th Infantry Division is the Army's First Digitized Division. Today, the 4th Infantry Division is the most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world; it is prepared to conduct full-spectrum combat operations. It is organized with five Brigade-sized elements: three maneuver brigades, a combat aviation brigade, division artillery, and division support command. The Division shares a long and distinguished history that includes combat in three wars. It has earned twenty-one campaign streamers with twenty Ironhorse soldiers receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The 4th Infantry Division nickname, the 'Ivy Division,' comes from the design of its shoulder patch: four green ivy leaves joined at the stem and opening at the four corners. The word 'Ivy' is a play on the roman numeral four, IV. Ivy leaves are symbolic of tenacity and fidelity, the basis of the Division's motto, 'Steadfast and Loyal'. The unit has a long and distinguished history that includes combat in three wars. Twenty Ivy Division soldiers have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and 21 campaign streamers adorn its colors.

The 4th Infantry Division is leading the United States Army into the 21st century under the banner of Force XXI. They are busy developing and testing state of the art digital communications equipment, night fighting gear, advanced weaponry, and doctrine to prepare the Army for wars in the next century. Recently, the division has adopted the nickname "Iron Horse" to better reflect the power they possess.