XM-1 and M1 Abrams: The Last Chrysler Tanks
Chrysler tank development and production goes back to World War II, but the modern M-1 "Abrams" tanks are much more recent. When launched, the M-1 had double the power, cross-country speed, and mobility of existing combat tanks - along with Chrysler self-diagnostic telemetry adapted from Apollo space (later, they moved to on-board diagnostics).
M-1 tank development
In 1970, the Chrysler Defense Division joined a U.S./German effort to design a new military battle tank. The Department of Defense had greater needs, though, and in 1973, both Chrysler and General Motors began developing competing tanks to replace Chrysler's M60 as well. The competing prototypes were given to the U.S. Army for trials in February 1976, and in November, the Army's selection committee chose Chrysler's XM-1 prototype, partly because of its turbine engine, according to Major General Robert J. Sunell.
Just two years later (in 1978), Chrysler Corporation began producing the turbine-powered M-1 tank at the Army Modification Center in Lima, Ohio (now known as the Lima Army Tank Plant or the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center) and the Highland Park complex, which also housed the turbine research group. It was named after the late General Creighton W. Abrams, commander of the 37th Armored Battalion and Army Chief of Staff. The tank's electronic assemblies were produced through the Huntsville factory (later to become Pentastar Electronics, or PEI).
With decades of support for the Moon rockets behind them, Chrysler engineers created a testing system, the Direct Electrical System Test Set (DSESTS), for cars and military vehicles; it is still used (as of 2012) for the Abrams and Bradley tanks and the Marines' LAV. Later, PEI put full diagnostics into the tank itself. (In 1997, PEI was purchased by investors, ending up with Finmeccanica in 2003; but it still exists as a separate entity, now called DRS Technologies. Chrysler's tank manufacturing was sold to General Dynamics in 1986.)
Chrysler tank development and production goes back to World War II, but the modern M-1 "Abrams" tanks are much more recent. When launched, the M-1 had double the power, cross-country speed, and mobility of existing combat tanks - along with Chrysler self-diagnostic telemetry adapted from Apollo space (later, they moved to on-board diagnostics).
M-1 tank development
In 1970, the Chrysler Defense Division joined a U.S./German effort to design a new military battle tank. The Department of Defense had greater needs, though, and in 1973, both Chrysler and General Motors began developing competing tanks to replace Chrysler's M60 as well. The competing prototypes were given to the U.S. Army for trials in February 1976, and in November, the Army's selection committee chose Chrysler's XM-1 prototype, partly because of its turbine engine, according to Major General Robert J. Sunell.
Just two years later (in 1978), Chrysler Corporation began producing the turbine-powered M-1 tank at the Army Modification Center in Lima, Ohio (now known as the Lima Army Tank Plant or the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center) and the Highland Park complex, which also housed the turbine research group. It was named after the late General Creighton W. Abrams, commander of the 37th Armored Battalion and Army Chief of Staff. The tank's electronic assemblies were produced through the Huntsville factory (later to become Pentastar Electronics, or PEI).
With decades of support for the Moon rockets behind them, Chrysler engineers created a testing system, the Direct Electrical System Test Set (DSESTS), for cars and military vehicles; it is still used (as of 2012) for the Abrams and Bradley tanks and the Marines' LAV. Later, PEI put full diagnostics into the tank itself. (In 1997, PEI was purchased by investors, ending up with Finmeccanica in 2003; but it still exists as a separate entity, now called DRS Technologies. Chrysler's tank manufacturing was sold to General Dynamics in 1986.)
M1 Average Fuel Consumption Figures |