FMC's Close Combat Vehicle-Light (CCVL) light tank proposed for the US Army's Armored Gun System (AGS) program during 1980s. Although it was never selected, it led to development of the XM8 AGS by FMC (later United Defense).
At the design stage a number of key goals were drawn up for the CCVL, which included mobility comparable with Abrams, lethality that would defeat threat tanks or BMPs. It should need the minimum of logistic support, be airportable by C-130, be able to use LAPES and be survivable.
BTW the Armored Gun System (AGS) program added a requirement for Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD) from a C-130 aircraft in 1991, so FMC had to modify its CCVL to meet the latest specification requirements. Modified FMC proposal became later XM8 AGS.
The first prototype of the CCVL was completed in Aug 1985 and following initial mobility and firing trials was airlifted in a civilian C-130 aircraft from Oakland Airfield and flown nonstop to National Airport. It was subsequently shown in public at the AUSA meeting in Oct 1985.
The CCVL has a hull of all-welded aluminium construction with bolton steel to enhance ballistic protection level. If the user required additional protection this could be provided with the aid of add-on armor.
The CCVL is powered by six-cylinder Detroit Diesel 6V92TA developing 550hp on JP8 fuel and 575hp on diesel fuel. This uses 65% common components with 8V92TA installed in HEMTT already in service with US Army. The engine is coupled to a GE HMPT 500-3 hydromechanical transmission.
The air inlet/outlets are in the root of the engine compartment with the exhaust at the left. At the rear of the hull is an access ramp, which provides a platform for the maintenance. The crew can remove the powerpack to the ramp platform.
The turret is of all-welded aluminium with an additional layer of steel armor like the hull, with the automatic loader on the left and commander and gunner on the right. The gunner is seated forward of the commander and has a singlepiece hatch cover that opens forwards.
Well forward of this is the Hughes Aircraft Company's two-axis stabilized day/thermal gunner's sight with laser rangefinder. As a back-up, the gunner also has a fibre-optic auxiliary sight mounted coaxially to the right of the main gun.
In front of the commander hatch is Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) developed by Hughes, providing a hunter/killer with ballistic fire control. This is stabilized with a day/thermal and a panoramic capability. When not being used the CITV retracts within the turret.
Main armament comprises a 105mm M68A1 tank gun with an inverted breech fitted with a low recoil system, gun mount and muzzle brake developed by Rheinmetall.
Mounted in the left side of the turret is an automatic loader designed by FMC which enables a rate of fire of 12 rounds a minute to be achieved. The automatic loader holds 19 rounds stowed vertically base downward; another 24 rounds are stowed in the hull.
The CCVL prototype is fitted with the Advanced Smoke Launcher System developed by Tracor MBA. Either side of the turret is a bank of 16 launcher tubes which can fire L8 visual or M76 infrared obscurants.
The brochure and the specifications.
(Source: Richard S. Eshleman)
Only one survivor is currently placed at the National Museum of Military Vehicles, Dubois, WY.
In a sense, it is the predecessor of current BAE Systems' Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) light tank.
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The Armed Forces of Ukraine have released a promo video of their M1A1 (Situational Awareness) SA Abrams tank with many close-ups. The following will illustrate the differences in the Ukrainian M1A1 configuration.
From the ‘UKR’ in the turret serial number suffix, we can know that the Ukrainian M1A1 uses a different ‘Ukrainian’ armor package, which is different from the US Army’s Heavy Armor (HA) package.
The Ukrainian version of the M1A1 SA weighs 57.2 metric tons, which is much lighter than the U.S. Army configuration, which reaches 62.2 metric tons (68.6 short tons)
Today, the US Army unveiled the first LRIP batch of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles (BCV) for the first time at the historic naming dedication ceremony for the M10 Booker. It also means that the M10 program is moving into the Production and Deployment (PD) phase now.
The LRIP configuration of the M10 Booker is different from the XM10 prototypes built the year before last, and has been modified in details.
For example, changes to the front box of the turret are visible. (M10 on the left, XM10 on the right)
In the late 1990s, General Dynamics Land Systems came up with an interesting concept named the Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank, which provided an air transportable MBT at significant weight reduction. For simplicity purposes, the concept tank will be referred to below as ALVT.
The primary design goal of ALVT is to reduce the vehicle ship weight to a target of 39 tons (35 tonnes), consistent with the C-17 cargo aircraft lift requirements (two units on a C-17). While at the same time it is desired to maintain the high survivability and lethality.
The Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank weights 51.15 tons (46.4 tonnes) in combat configuration, and 46.24 tons (41.9 tonnes) in curb/dry weight. The vehicle can be further reduced to 39.33 tons (35.6 tonnes) through the modular design and shipped separated systems.
In addition to Cummins Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) used on GD's AbramsX tank, looking back at history, there have been many different dieselization options proposed for the Abrams:
GM/MTU MT883 Ka-500 (manufactured by GM), a 27.36 litre 12 cylinder 1500hp diesel engine, coupled to Allison XT 6775 7-speed automatic transmission, was provided for M1 Block III (M1A1 hull).
Cummins XAV-28 AIPS-D, a 27.56 litre 12 cylinder 1450hp diesel engine, coupled to Allison XT-series seven-speed automatic transmission, was used on M1A1-based Component Advanced Technology Testbed (CATTB).
The @ArmorCollection recently preserve one of twelve prototypes of BAE Systems' Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicle for historic and research purposes. This is a special design and different from the winning GDLS proposal. This thread will introduce it a bit more.
(Thanks Jim Miller, BAE Systems’ vice president of business development, for the great information.)
BAE Systems' Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) formerly known as Expeditionary Light Tank (ELT), is a further derivative of canceled M8 Armored Gun System.
A thread to discuss why the US Army doesn't call MPF a tank
First of all, what is the purpose of Mobile Protected Firepower? The MPF's purpose is to defeat targets that could compromise the effectiveness of the Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The MPF provides precision, long-range direct fire to support infantry maneuver while retaining freedom of action. The MPF has the range and lethality to reduce bunkers and hardened sites, allowing infantry freedom of maneuver.