Thread by @wackleeb0

A neat 🧵 on an important and potentially influential field modification made on Abrams in the Iraq War.

1/14 3-67AR deployed to Iraq a second time in 2005, equipped with the first M1A2 SEPs to see service in the Army they were one of the most up to date armor units. There was a problem though, all models of Abrams in theater shared the same weaknesses no matter how old.

2/14 The unit had taken some losses in their initial 03 deployment. One tank, A33, was destroyed by a supermassive IED in arguably the most damaged attack of its kind in the war. The unit was no stranger to Iraqi ingenuity by 2005.

3/14 Within the first few months of their stint in Baghdad, the unit had lost at least 3 tanks to EFPs. These EFPs were deliberately aimed, and detonated just below the No 1 and No 2 skirts. The insurgents were aiming for fuel tanks and drivers.

4/14 Luckily, no drivers in the unit were killed from this, though a driver in 1-64AR around this time had one penetrate his fighting compartment, killing him. Multiple tanks were caught on fire and knocked out, sometimes directly outside their FOB at the time.

5/14 For the most part, these weren't homemade EFPs. The Iranians were shipping in pre fabricated curbs with EFPs that could be set off by an IR signature or manual trigger. The only way to tell them apart from any other curb, was a quarter sized hotspot where the sensor was.

6/14 This caused serious issues for the unit, they could only maneuver their tanks at about 5-10mph while doing QRF missions. Soldiers that needed their help were dying, and they were losing tanks in the process just to get there.

7/14 While their names will be kept private, soldiers within the unit were looking for a solution.

The solution was found on their Bradleys. The units Bradley's had taken hits from EFPs, their BRAT ERA proving highly effective at warding off these attacks.

8/14 Upon soldiers in the unit suggesting using said BRAT on the tanks, the Battalion Commander showed extreme trust in his subordinates, allowing them to begin modifying the tanks.

9/14 The modifications came in two variations.

The first was a hanging system, easily seen here. The tiles were simply strapped to the skirts. The second was a full bracket and mounting piece that was welded into the skirts and held the tiles firmly.

10/14 The effect was almost immediate. The EFP attacks almost immediately halted against tanks fitted with them, the units intelligence assets later confirmed that the insurgents saw the modifications and chose not to potentially waste high quality EFPs on them.

11/14 Soon after the attacks stopped, they began occurring again to a unit on the opposite side of Baghdad. The soldiers in 3-67 shared their knowledge and techniques to the other unit, giving them the ability to also ward off the attacks.

12/14 Eventually the attacks picked back up, this time though they were aimed at the turrets, not a single tank in the unit was lost to a burn down from then on. The effects of no longer worrying about them was almost immediate, the QRFs could maneuver at 30-40mph again.

13/14 Supposedly, the technique was tested in the development of TUSK, achieving at least a 70% defeat rate against Mark 0 Iranian EFPs. Sadly this modification never made it into TUSK, though it seems these types of attacks lessoned over the years.

14/14 This ends my small thread on this subject, I contacted the boys in the unit at the time intrigued by the photos I had seen and was immediately put in contact with the lead "designer," who provided this invaluable information. He wishes to remain private.

*Some photos used are not from the unit, are from their previous deployment or are from their stateside training time.*

I would like to thank @toadmanstanks for consolidating so many pictures, and the soldiers of the Hound Battalion for the info.