Proper 120mm ammunition stowage
“Knowledge is power when shared.”
In preparation of tank gunnery, crews train on multiple tasks to ensure they are proficient in their job skills, which should guarantee a qualified rating on Tank Table VIII. Throughout the gunnery training phase all tasks are important–individual task training is the key to successful collective tasks.
Collectively, a tank crew wants to acquire, engage, and destroy all targets presented for each engagement. The score for each engagement depends on the time, in seconds, of the last target destruction. To assist in taste, engagement times, experienced tank crewmen emphasize the training of loading the 120mm main gun. During the training phase, the loader will be required to load the main gun until he meets crew standards. In most cases, the loader is allowed to stow the HEAT and sabot rounds in the ready rack where he is comfortable. Since the training sabot weighs 37.8 pounds and the training HEAT weighs 51.4 pounds, the majority of loaders prefer to place HEAT rounds in the upper tubes of the compartment–when the locking mechanism is unlatched for the HEAT round, the weight of the round will assist in the removal and loading process. This is where the armor community falls short in safety issues for crews and equipment.
All M1-series tanks have a ready and semi-ready ammunition compartment in the turret rear and a hull ammunition compartment. The main armament ammunition is stowed in the racks behind sliding armor doors. Each compartment, including the hull, has blow-off panels, a reinforced structure, and ballistic doors to protect the crew in case of projectile penetration in the ammunition storage area. The design specification of the 16-, 17-, and 18-round ammunition racks is the deciding factor in storing HEAT ammunition.
Advertisement
The initial M1A1 tank from 1985 was assembled with 17-round racks in the turret ammunition compartment and full anti-fratricide protection for all tube locations on both the ready and semi-ready sides. Also, the hull ammunition compartment has full anti-fratricide protection. Because of their design, HEAT rounds are more vulnerable when compared to kinetic energy or canister rounds. Thus, to lower overall system vulnerability, only kinetic energy and canister rounds are to be stowed in the top two rows of the turret ammunition compartments. The lower two rows can hold either kinetic energy, canister, or HEAT rounds. The anti-fratricide protection is provided by wrapping materials around the outside of each tube where the warhead is located. If the jet steam of a HEAT round was to penetrate the amino storage area and detonate a HEAT warhead, the anti-fratricide bars are made to stop the fragmentation and explosive effects from detonating a neighboring round.
The design of the M1 tank evolved into the M1A1 to combat the increased capability of threat forces. The M1A1 tank incorporated modifications that increase the weight of the vehicle. During this period of production, our battle secnario was the tank-to-tank battle as were the tears of the Cold War. This type of battle scenario drove the requirement for more kinetic energy rounds rather than chemical energy rounds. To mitigate the increase in vehicle weight, there were several vehicle weight-reduction initiatives, which included reducing anti-fratricide protected locations within the new 16/18-round ammunition racks. Since the Cold War load plan required a majority of kinetic energy rounds, the reduction in anti-fratricide bars was not considered a reduction in capability.
The 16- and 18-round ammunition racks have been used in the Abrams tank since 1990. Whether you have a 16- or 18-round rack will determine where HEAT rounds will be stowed within the turret ammunition compartment. A 16- and 18-round rack has anti-fratricide bars mounted around the rearward portion of the tubes. Refer to Technical Manual (TM) 9-2350-264-10-1, Operator Controls, PMCS, and Operation Under Usual Conditions, page 2-485, for the exact placement of rounds. Generally speaking, to maximize tank crew survivability, stowage of HEAT rounds are to be placed in the two bottom rows and in the inner tube locations of the tun-et ammunition racks. Kinetic energy and canister rounds can be stowed in all rack locations of the turret ammunition compartment. The hull ammunition compartment will accommodate free stowage of kinetic energy, canister, or chemical energy rounds. However, HEAT rounds are considered safer if they are stowed in the inner column of the hull ammunition compartment. If more HEAT rounds are to be uploaded, the TM depicts the tubes that can be used to accommodate your unit’s SOP, but these rounds need to be fired first. The new U.S. Army Field Manual (FM) 3-20.12, Tank Gunnery (Abrams), will address the 120mm ammunition stowage.
Other safety considerations when handling and storing 120mm ammunition include: thoroughly inspecting all rounds prior to uploading according to TM 9-2350-264-10-2, Operations Manual Operation Under Unusual Conditions, Emergency Procedures, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance, page 5-11, Table 5-2; training rounds will not be stored in the hull ammunition compartment due to the vulnerability of the training round propellant; load only enough training ammunition in the bustle compartments to achieve immediate training objectives; do not have, operate, or carry any unauthorized wireless/electronic devices when within three meters of tank ammunition; never operate any tactical or commercial radio on the 200-280 MHz frequency when within three meters of tank ammunition; frequency blocks shall be incorporated in all radios near the tank ammunition; and wear gloves when handling ammunition–the human body could act as an antenna amplifying any signals in area if the center primer electrode is touched.