RE: [OT]Wither Canada? And Australias Abrahms

G'day,

> What model are they?	Cross training for different Abrams models is a
> matter of a few weeks of refresher course.

We're getting MiA1 AIMs

> Not true.  The DU reinforcement in the glacis plate adds to the
> survivability (and I'm baffled by a country that would give up armor
> to make a political point, but I guess its a quasireligious thing)

Each to his own, Australians (like the Europeans) have done it for
environmental, political and health reasons, the Aussie armed forces
still smarting from Agent Orange, the goop troops (F1-11 refueler saga),
beryllium contamination of naval personnel etc.

As to which tank comes out better here's the comparison:

					M1A1		M1A2
LeopardIIA6
Crew:				4		4		4
Length (m):			9.6		9.6		7.7	
Width (m):				3.6		3.6
3.7
Weigh (tons):			63-67.6 	69.5-68.4	62 
Pressure (kg/cm2):		1.08		1.25		0.89
Obstacle Crossing (cm): 	106.7		106.7		120.0
Top speed (km/hr):		66.8		67.5-72.0
68.0-72.0
Armour (KE-turret) (mm RHA):	800-900 940-960 920-940
Armour (KE-glacis) (mm RHA):	560-560 560-590 620
Armour (Chem-turret) (mm RHA):1320-1620 1320-1620	1730-1960
Armour (Chem-glacis) (mm RHA):510-1050	510-1050	750
Main armament (mm):		120 (L44)	120 (L44)	120 (L55
- 1.3m longer)
Muzzle velocity (m/s):		1700		1700		1800 
Round:				DU		DU		Tungsten
Rod penetration (mm):		>810 (if DU)>810 (if DU)810
Load:					40		42
42
Other armament: 	   2x7.62+50cal 2x7.62+50cal 2x7.62
Fuel efficiency (km/L): 	3.6		3.6		3.0	
Range (km):				442.5		426.5
500
Cost ($million AUD):		7		7		2-3

So the Leopard 2A6 is lighter (important in our jungle and desert
terrain), faster (remembering we're getting M1A1s not M1A2s), has
comparable or better armour (again remembering we're not getting DU),
has 1.3m longer gun with higher muzzle velocity (which is important
again because we won't get the DU rounds so the performance of the L55
will be greater than the Abrahm's L44 with tungsten rounds), has better
fuel efficiency and cruising range and costs half as much.

Now if I went for a slower, heavier car whose parts are no longer in
general manufacture and paid twice as much for it I think I'd feel a wee
bit silly. The Abrams looks like a really great tank (to me miss tank
illiterate), but for what Australia needs and with the budget we've got
it seemed a poor choice in comparison is all.

Cheers

Beth