Editing M1 Abrams (section)

== Doctrine, crew responsibilities and platoon operations ==
Before the M1 Abrams program, the U.S. Army had designed tanks to conform to doctrine. This approach changed with the XM1, where the Army wrote its doctrine after developing the tank.{{sfn|Kelly|1989|pp=215}} The U.S. Army's Abrams tank doctrine was influenced by German, British, American, and Soviet ideas. The German concept of ''[[Auftragstaktik]]'' (English: Mission-type tactics), a military doctrine emphasizing decentralized decision-making, and ''[[Schwerpunkt]]'' (English: Main point), the massing of resources around a focal point, were influential. German-type breakthrough tactics favored by general [[George S. Patton]], commander of the [[Seventh United States Army|Seventh Army]] in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army|Mediterranean Theater]] of [[World War II]] were advocated by Creighton Abrams and his devotees [[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command|U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command]] (TRADOC) commanding generals [[William E. DePuy]] and his successor [[Donn A. Starry]].{{sfn|Kelly|1989|pp=216-238}}

The Army's new fighting doctrine was drafted by TRADOC commanding general DePuy, and was heavily influenced by lessons from the 1973 Arab–Israeli Yom Kippur War. ''Field Manual 100-5 Operations'', published in 1976, became "one of the most controversial documents the Army had ever published", according to Orr Kelly. The document recognized that U.S. forces would quickly become outnumbered in the case of a surprise Soviet invasion. It called for U.S. forces to maneuver quickly to where they were needed to mount an "active defense" oriented towards blunting the spearhead of the attacking force. Critics of this document noted that Soviet attacks would come in waves that would overwhelm U.S. defenses. The revision to the manual, which faced criticism rivaling that of the first edition, was published in 1982. The manual's emphasis was influenced by Depuy's successor, Starry. It called for using the "entire depth of the battlefield to strike the enemy and to prevent him from concentrating his firepower or manuevering his forces to a point of his choice." This alarmed [[NATO]] allies, who considered U.S. counterattacks across enemy borders to be needlessly provocative.{{sfn|Kelly|1989|pp=216-238}} The third revision of the manual published in 1986 left open the possibility of attacking across enemy borders at the discretion of politicians.{{sfn|Kelly|1989|pp=238-241}}

When the Abrams entered U.S. Army service in 1980, its arrival marked an organizational change. The tank battalion went from three companies of three platoons to four companies of three platoons.{{sfn|Zaloga|1985|p=32}} The standard tank platoon fell from five tanks — a number consistent since the first days of the [[Tank Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces|Tank Corps]] in World War I — to four. The change reflected both the improved capability of the new tank but also its cost. The reduction in platoon size necessitated changes in tactics oriented upon platoon and section actions in which the platoon leader had both to fight his tank and manage the unit.<ref name="platoon size">{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=Robert S. |title=The Canadian Army Trophy – Achieving Excellence in Tank Gunnery |date=2018 |publisher=US Army Armor School |page=89 |url=https://mcoecbamcoepwprd01.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/library/ebooks/Canadian%20Army%20Trophy%20Book_2018.pdf |access-date=30 December 2023}}{{Source-attribution}}</ref>

=== United States ===
[[File:M1 Abrams Platoon Operations.png|thumb|right|M1 Abrams U.S. platoon organization]]
Platoon organization within the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps as of 2019 is as follows:

A tank [[platoon]] includes four Abrams MBTs organized into two [[Section (military unit)|sections]], with two tanks in each section. "A" section consists of the platoon leader (''platoon commander'' in USMC parlance) who is the commander of the vehicle designated as Tank 1, and the platoon leader's wingman, who is the commander of Tank 2. "B" section consists of the platoon sergeant, who is the tank commander of Tank 4, and Tank 3 is the platoon sergeant's wingman.{{sfn|ATP 3–20.15 Tank Platoon|2019|loc=1–2}}

The wingman concept requires that individual tanks orient off the tank to its left or right side. In the tank platoon, Tank 2 orients off the platoon leader's tank, while Tank 3 orients off the platoon sergeant's tank. The platoon sergeant orients off the platoon leader's tank.

The tank platoon is organic to Armor [[Company (United States Army)|companies]] of a [[combined arms]] [[Battalion (United States Army)|battalion]]. The platoon may be attached to a number of organizations, commonly a mechanized infantry company, to create company teams. It may also be placed under the control of an Infantry organization. The exact amount of control the gaining unit would have is determined by the command relationship established by its higher HQ.{{sfn|ATP 3–20.15 Tank Platoon|2019|loc=1–8}}

The Armor company is organized, equipped, and trained to fight pure or as a task organized company team. The Armor company includes an HQ and three tank platoons. The company headquarters is equipped with two MBTs, armored personnel carriers, and wheeled vehicles for mission command/command and control and sustainment.{{sfn|ATP 3–20.15 Tank Platoon|2019|loc=1–9}}

==== Maintenance and Operation ====
A series of TM 9 technical manuals cover various aspects of the tanks maintenance and operation. The exact number and titles of TM 9 manuals for the M1 Abrams may vary depending on the specific variant (M1, M1A1, etc.) and the date of publication.

* '''M1:''' Initial production model with a 105mm gun.
* '''M1A1:''' Upgraded with a 120mm smoothbore gun, improved armor, and a bustle rack. 
* '''M1A2:''' Features a commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV), improved fire control systems, and an enhanced digital architecture. 
* '''M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package):''' A series of upgrades to the M1A2, including SEP v2 and SEP v3, with further improvements.<ref>{{cite web |title=TM 9-2350-388-10-HR |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1027008 |website=armypubs.army.mil |publisher=Army Publishing |date={{Date|2023-06-15}} |quote=Hand Receipt Covering Contents Of Components Of End Item (COEI), Basic Issue Items (BII), And Additional Authorization List (AAL) For Tank, Combat, Full-Tracked: 120 MM Gun, M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 2 (SEPV2) NSN 2350-01-328-5964 (EIC AAF) General Abrams}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TM 9-2350-412-10-HR |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1029545 |website=armypubs.army.mil |publisher=Army Publishing |date={{Date|2024-08-31}} |quote=Hand Receipt … M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3 (SEPV3) NSN 2350-01-619-5649 (EIC 455) Abrams}}</ref>
[[File:M1 Abrams - change og turbine.jpg|thumb|Hoisted power pack; Top left section: Engine lubricating-oil cooler heat exchanger (HE). Lower section: Transmission. Lower rear:  High Temperature-HE (HTHE) "Recuperator".<ref name="Horan92">{{cite conference |author=Horan, Richard |date=June 1–4, 1992 |title=Textron Lycoming AGT1500 Engine: Transitioning for Future Applications |conference=ASME International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition |location=Cologne, Germany |publisher=The American Society of Mechanical Engineers |doi=10.1115/92-GT-436 |isbn=978-0-7918-7894-1 |quote=The recuperator improves in part: power, fuel economy, and also reduces heat signature and engine noise.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=High Temperature Heat Exchangers (HTHE) |url=https://dc.engconfintl.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=heatexchangerfall2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=China Exhaust Gas Cooling Heat Exchanger Manufacturers and Suppliers - Best Price Exhaust Gas Cooling Heat Exchanger for Sale - VRcooler |url=https://www.vrcoolertech.com/heat-exchanger/finned-tube-heat-exchangers/exhaust-gas-cooling-heat-exchanger.html |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.vrcoolertech.com |language=en |quote=Recover heat from the exhaust gases and preheat the compressed air entering the combustion chamber, increasing overall efficiency.}}</ref>]]

===== Hull =====
* Engine and Powertrain
#Engine: type, its components, and maintenance procedures.<ref>{{cite web |title=M1-Series Tanks: Keep Your Engine Happy and Healthy |url=https://www.ascrad.army.mil/News/Article/2039189/m1-series-tanks-keep-your-engine-happy-and-healthy/ |website=Army Sustainment Command - Redstone Arsenal Detachment |access-date=23 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SAM.gov |url=https://sam.gov/opp/ad6e89bd43d94563a41a0b10061c5df6/view |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=sam.gov |quote=Cooler, Lubricating Oil, Engine [NSN: 2930-01-067-3839] [Part Number: 12273116] The COOLER, LUBRICATING OIL,ENGINE is for use on the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. The engine oil cooler removes heat from the engine by air conduction as the oil is pumped through tubes within the oil cooler. The engine oil cooler provides a critical function by removing surplus heat from the AGT1500 engine and protects the engine oil and internal components from premature wear or failure.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Military |url=https://www.aero-classics.com/military/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Aero-Classics Inc. |language=en-US |quote=Current Military Products M1 Abrams [12273116-2: Engine oil cooler], [12311195: Transmission oil cooler (primary)], [12311196: Transmission oil cooler (auxiliary)], [2273377: Hydraulic oil cooler]}}</ref>
#Transmission: system type, including gearboxes and differentials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allison Transmission Awarded $83.3 Million Contract to Support U.S. Army Abrams Tank Modernization and Tank Production for Abrams User Nations |url=https://www.allisontransmission.com/newsroom/article/2024/01/18/allison-transmission-awarded--83.3-million-contract-to-support-u.s.-army-abrams-tank-modernization-and-tank-production-for-abrams-user-nations |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=www.allisontransmission.com |language=en}}</ref>
#Air Intake and Filtration System: components and their function.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Murphy |first1=Joseph P. |last2=Camplin |first2=Harry |title=Volume 2: Aircraft Engine; Marine; Microturbines and Small Turbomachinery |chapter=A Compact, High Efficiency, Self-Cleaning Air Filtration System for a Vehicular Gas Turbine Engine |date=6 June 1988 |doi=10.1115/88-GT-85 |isbn=978-0-7918-7919-1 |quote=The conceptual design is described as well as the detailed design of both precleaner element and the self-cleaning barrier filter.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abrams Air Intake Plenums/Precleaner Assemblies |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA216127}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pulse-Jet-Air-Cleaner.pdf |url=https://www.donaldson.com/content/dam/donaldson/aerospace-defense/literature/north-america/f112270/Pulse-Jet-Air-Cleaner.pdf}}</ref>

* Mobility Systems
#Suspension: system type, including road wheels and bogies.
#Tracks: type and replacement procedure.
#Steering and Braking System: type and their operation.

=== Ukraine ===
A Ukrainian tank battalion consists of 31 tanks: three companies of three platoons, with each tank platoon operating three tanks. Each company and battalion is led by an additional command tank.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Altman |first1=Howard |title=This Is What M1 Abrams Tanks Will Bring To The Fight In Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/this-is-what-m1-abrams-tanks-will-bring-to-the-fight-in-ukraine |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=26 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref>