From your article
Dated May 2018 (1st ref.)
page 34 lower left...
https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-conte...ive-System.pdf
"The Marine Corps is
currently testing the Trophy APS on
the M1A1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) in order to fill this capability gap for the tank and explore APS issues in general for all ground combat vehicles."
"In
FY18–19, the Marine Corps will continue to improve the
integration design and procure up to
nine systems for
continued testing, TTP development, experimentation, system optimization, and integration into the GCE."
"The Marine Corps
currently plans to procure a total of 56 APS special mission kits, capable of outfitting four Marine Corps tank companies."
So, FY 18-19 means
OCT 2017 - Sep 2019.
The writing on the wall from the [b]Marine Corps Commandant
Jul. 17th, 2019 and note the date
compared to the above.
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Pu...-17-090732-937
From
Page 2.
"FORCE DESIGN
We should take pride in our force and recent operational
successes, but the
current force is not organized, trained,
or equipped to support the naval force – operating in
contested maritime spaces, facilitating sea control, or
executing distributed maritime operations.
We must
change.
We must divest of legacy capabilities that
do not meet our future requirements, regardless of
their past operational efficacy. There is no piece of
equipment or major defense acquisition program that
defines us – not the AAV, ACV, LAV,
M1A1, M777, AH-1,
F/A-18,
F-35, or
any other program. Likewise,
we are
not defined by any particular organizing construct – the
Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)
cannot be our
only solution for all crises. Instead,
we are defined by
our collective character as Marines and by fulfilling our
Service roles and functions prescribed by Congress."
"
Force design is my number one priority.
I have already
initiated, and am personally leading, a future force design
effort. Going forward,
CD&I will be the only organization
authorized to publish force development guidance on
my behalf.
We will divest of legacy defense programs
and force structure that support legacy capabilities.
If provided the opportunity to secure additional
modernization dollars in exchange for force structure,
I am prepared to do so. Plans or programs developed in
support of this planning guidance that require additional
resources must include an accompanying resource offset
verified by a recognized analytic body (PA&E, OAD,
etc.) to be considered for implementation."
I hope the reader is
tracking these dates.
By the
Spring of 2020 Marine Corps tanks were starting to head to Army Depots for further modernization to meet the Army's goals for
SEP 3 conversion. However, as we now know the Army is cutting production of the
SEP 3 and have
killed the
M1A2C Program this past Summer as I've posted.
Operational Requirements changed.
2020 Summer of discontent.
Picture caption...
"U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tanks with
2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division are staged in a lot on Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 27, 2020. After serving 2nd MARDIV for more than three-quarters of a century,
2nd Tank Battalion will deactivate as part of the Marine Corps' modernization plan. (Patrick King/U.S. Marine Corps)"
https://www.stripes.com/branches/mar...m1a1s-1.639355
I recommend the reader strongly take a good look at the turrets and see what's missing.
Picture Caption...
"Marines with
1st Tank Battalion pose for a photograph in front of the
last tank assigned to 1st Tank Battalion
before its departure at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, July 6, 2020. As part of
Force Design 2030, tanks are being
divested from the Marine Corps in an effort to accelerate modernization and realign capabilities, units and personnel to higher priority areas. (Courtney White/U.S. Marine Corps)"
https://www.military.com/daily-news/...sion-ends.html
Something is
missing off this West Coast tank as well!!
To Clarify and makes things easy Camp Lejune N.C. WAS "
tank East coast" for the USMC, while Camp Pendelton CA. was "tank West coast".
Interview with the same USMC Commandant in
September 22-24 Modern Day Marine (MDM) Expo
2020
Picture Caption...
"
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, June 7, 2020. RailOps
transports divested tanks and other heavy equipment from the
USMC to the U.S. Army. Photo by Sgt. Jack Adamyk"
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...oes-that-mean/
Something is still missing!?!
Para 3
"According to GDLS’s virtual Modern Day Marine Expo Booth, the first 66.68-ton M1A2 SEPv3s were delivered to U.S. Army’s III Corps based at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2020. The
U.S. Marine Corps does not possess any M1A2s and
operated the lighter and older M1A1 Abrams versions
devoid of the M1A2’s 360-degree rotating Commander’s Independent Therman Viewer (CITV located to the front left of the turret) and the latest Depleted Uranium composite armor package on the front turret. Four M1A1 MBTs often are deployed with each Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and these four tanks provide the heavy armor and firepower of the MEU aboard Amphibious ships."
Directly below ...
"The U.S. Army’s
M1A2 SEPv3 is enhanced with these features:
Lethality: A Low-profile .50cal CROWS II Remote Weapons Station for the Tank Commander. New digital crew display panels and electronics. New datalink for programmable ammunition.
Survivability: Increased armor plates welded on the front turret and hull to balance the optional add-on Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) I and II armor packages and the
Trophy Active Protection System (APS). Upgraded underbelly armor against blasts.
Range: Under-armor diesel APU for enhanced range and electrical power with reduced signature when at idle.
Power: Upgraded and greater electrical power distributed through the turret ring.
C4ISR: Multiple Command and Control C4ISR upgrades to improve situational awareness and Joint Forces’ cooperation.
M1A2 SEPv3’s unique external features: Enlarged frontal tow hooks (green in top photo) and rear track mudflaps.
The U.S. Marine Corps
Were Upgrading their M1A1s
According to MarineTimes, the Marine Corps
were in the process of upgrading their M1A1s with:
A slew-to-cue feature that allows the Tank Commander to move the 120mm main gun to where the Commander’s .50cal heavy machine gun is pointed to.
Improved Gunner’s Primary Sight day and thermal cameras that allows for better resolution and to see further out.
A new color camera and color display that allows for better color differentiation than the previous green and black color camera and display.
A new Gunner’s lower panel that allows the M1A1s to use two new types of ammunition developed by the U.S. Army.
New tactical communications radios."
The above is basically FEP and will note nothing in the "upgrade in progress" (Until divestiture.) is APS mentioned, unlike it was for the SEP 3.
It appears what I posted might not have been looked at in my last, so I'll just repost one of the refs.
Picture Caption...
"U.S. Army Deploys M1A2 Abrams Sep V2 Main Battle Tanks Fitted with Trophy Active Protection System (APS) to Germany"
DATE: Jul 20, 2020
Para 3:
"In
2019 Leonardo DRS, Inc. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. of Israel (Rafael) announced that the partners have
delivered on time the first Trophy Active Protection Systems (APS) to defend the
U.S. Army’s Abrams main battle tanks against a variety of anti-armor threats."
Para 4:
"On
December 2018, U.S. Soldiers assigned to
Company D, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, tested the Trophy Active Protection System mounted on
M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams main battle tank tanks at Fort Bliss in the United States."
https://militaryleak.com/2020/07/20/...ps-to-germany/
In
Post 1699 (My last) you will notice what I just posted above is in the middle of that post and as quoted from...
https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/...0of%20vehicles
https://www.dote.osd.mil/
I really went to some pains to point out the dates to show between Army testing and the events leading up and including the Marines divesting and "sunsetting" tanks there is NO POSSIBLE way the Marine tanks could have APS.
Even if the
only thing I had was just simply getting them transported to the
Army's Depots for installation of
APS and returning them it would take well over a
year to two to get it done.
But you well know that wasn't going to happen. APS is an Army program and Army tanks will take priority for installation.
And if you really want to know why this situation bothers me; I would ask "Who asked whom" to look into the USMC FEP tanks? I put days' worth of effort into them and if I thought there was even a "
maybe" about USMC tanks having APS,
I would've submitted THEM THAT WAY.
Regards,
Pat
