Greetings Zygmoot,
I've decided to post the answer since I believe I know what M1 front
turret plates you are talking about.
The panels are called Combat Identification Panels (CIPs), as noted in
the website below.
CALL Newsletter No. 00-6: Operation DESERT THUNDER - Kuwait; DEEP
OPERATIONS
http://call.army.mil/products/newsltrs/00-6/00-6ch4.htm
- Go to 'Lessons' part, second paragraph
Another source:
FULL METAL JACKET - buildup of a kit-bashed M1A1
http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/fullmetal/m1a1/m1a1art.html
- This may just be a model, but this modeler did research in order to
follow actual details, and adds CIPs (look at the last paragraph of
the "Turret" part, just before "Finishing"). It appears that the CIPs
were merely steel plates.
I doubt CIPs provide any contribution to armor protection and sensor
apparati inside the turrets. If you think they are the DU (Depleted
Uranium) plating added to HA (Heavy Armor) M1s, no, that is not
correct. Many pictures of M1A1-HAs don't show the CIPs. These markings
are meant to be removable; note the explanation that what you though
of as 'duct tape' is really velcro (but sometimes I see thermal tape
mentioned). I also noted that the pictures I saw on the Net showing
these CIPs are mostly M1A1s in Desert Storm. The purpose of these was
to make a tank or other ground unit easily identifiable as a friend
amidst the blinding smoke of the desert, and to avoid incidence of
friendly fire (which was much publicized by the press then).
Note: CIP also means "Combat Identification Program", referring to the
whole project of vehicle identification involving the panels.
Other M1 resources:
I collected other websites where you can find pictures of M1s with
those ID plates, and other interesting details.
M1A1 Abrams Details Part 2
http://ipmslondon.tripod.com/armourreferencearticles/id21.html
- One picture shows a velcro strip on the front of the tank turret. It
houses MILES detectors, which are the devices that register an
electronic "hit" in simulated combats (the things that beep in the
show "Combat missions".
M1 Abrams profile from the Military Analysis Network
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1.htm
M1A1 Abrams profile from the Global Security website
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m1a1.htm
Main Battle Tank (USA) - M1 Abrams - USNI Military Database
http://www.periscope1.com/demo/weapons/gcv/tanks/w0003593.html
Main Battle Tank - Abrams M1A1/2
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/abrams.htm
Google search terms used:
m1a1 identification marking
m1 front turret markings
m1 abrams front turret identification
I hope this has been a most helpful answer. If you have any problem
with it, do please post a Request for Clarification and I shall
respond as soon as I can. Thank you. |
