Difference between revisions of "M1A2 SEP"

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(Added a bit of info.)
(I've added relevant information about the M1A2 SEP tank as this wiki section was not edited by other players)
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Fire and Ice"]].
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Fire and Ice"]]. As of 26th of October 2022 the M1A2 SEP is the top researchable vehicle in the American ground forces tech tree. In the <ref>[[wt:en/news/7906-development-m1a2-sep-tusk-up-close-personal-en|devblog]] </ref> it states that M1A2 SEP is "An advanced modification of the M1 Abrams tank, featuring improved firepower and protection" with features being "Improved thermal imaging" and "TUSK add-on armor kit". Also this variant of Abrams replaces night vision to thermal vision for the driver from the previous tank.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
In terms of armour the M1A2 SEP has the same protection as it's predecessor from the front, the tank has used depleted uranium composite armour behind the turret cheeks of the tank, as with previous Abrams the turret's overall kinetic energy protection ranges between 680 mm to 780 mm and the chemical energy protection ranges between 1000 mm and 1200 mm. As with previous Abrams the M1A2 SEP retains the same weak spots as the M1A2's hull because it doesn't use depleted uranium in the lower front plate as well as the turret ring and breech being weak spots.
  
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'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
+
The improvements in M1A2 SEP from previous Abrams is that it has from the sides of the hull as it can use the TUSK kit (ARAT ERA) which provides 20 mm kinetic energy protection and 450 chemical energy protection, this will improve protection from ATGMs and HEAT-FS rounds.
−
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)
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[[File:M1A2 SEP x-ray view.png|thumb|M1A2 SEP x-ray view]]
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* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) -->
 
−
 
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
|-
 
−
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
−
|-
 
−
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
 
−
|-
 
−
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
 
−
|-
 
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
 
−
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
 
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''
+
The M1A2 SEP uses 1,519 horsepower AGT-1500 gas turbine like previous Abrams variants, the tank has gained an additional 0.5 tons of weight from M1A2, putting the total mass of the tank at 62.2 tonnes. This causes a slight change from M1A2 which means that commanders should expect the vehicle to respond a bit slower to movement commands compared to previous modifications. However, the tank retains the same 68 km/h top speed and 40 km/h reverse speed as the M1A2 and is still fairly mobile. Without upgrades, the hull traverse is slow and acceleration is lacking as with previous Abrams, however those issues can be remedied by upgrading the tracks, filters, engine and transmission modifications.
  
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{{tankMobility}}
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=2058|rbMinHp=1343|AoAweight=}}
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{main|M256 (120 mm)}}
 
{{main|M256 (120 mm)}}
  
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
The M1A2 SEP is armed with the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun which can also be found on the M1A2, the M1A1 and the M1A1 HC, and has access to the same APFSDS and HEATFS ammunition. Its ammo selection is the same as M1A2.  
  
 +
As with the previous Abrams the M1A2 SEP's gun handles very well, with an excellent stabilizer that can be used to accurately fire at any speed and having a quick turret traverse. The gun has good depression and elevation angles which are the same as previous Abrams; negative 10 and positive 20 degrees respectively. An aced crew can reload the gun in six seconds which is the same as previous Abrams, it's slower than the Challenger 2s, Type 90s, and Type 10.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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[[File:M1A2 sep abrams ammo racks.png|thumb|This shows the ammo racks for M1A2 SEP (the location is the same as for M1A2)]]
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
−
! 4th<br>rack empty
 
−
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
−
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''42''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
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| '''42''' || 37&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 19 ''(+23)'' || 1 ''(+41)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M240 (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M240 (7.62 mm)}}
−
 
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| || ___ (___) || ___ || __° || __°
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| Pintle (Commander)
−
|-
+
| 1,000 (200) || 577 || -9°/+65° || -160°/+180°
−
| || ___ (___) || ___ || __° || __°
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| || ___ (___) || ___ || __° || __°
+
| Coaxial
 +
| 10,000 (200) ||941
 +
| N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|Pintle (Loader)
 +
|1,400 (200)
 +
|941
 +
| -9°/+65°
 +
| -180°/+20°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
The M1A2 SEP like the previous Abrams is well rounded jack of all trades vehicle capable of any role or task the player decides to carry out. Just like previous Abrams it has an effective combination of protection, firepower, situational awareness and mobility which allows the player to adapt to any task on the battlefield, which includes close-quarters fighting in urban areas to long-range engagements on large open maps.
 +
 
 +
'''Urban combat'''
 +
 
 +
The M1A2 SEP has good mobility and improved protection over the M1A2 from the sides of the hull due to TUSK kit which increases survivability and can help the player to function better as an effective brawler in close-quarters than M1A2. The M1A2 SEP's reload rate is faster when aced to its counterparts, with the exception of the [[Challenger 2 (Family)|Challenger 2s]] and [[Type 90 (Family)|Type 90s]], and [[Type 10]] tanks. This enables the player to deal great amount of damage in a short period of time to single or multiple enemies. Therefore the M1A2 SEP could be leading the charge into urban areas as well as act as a frontline vehicle as it's able to deal significant amount of damage when used by a skilled player.
 +
 
 +
One thing to remember is that the TUSK upgrade kit adds 3250 kg to the tank as well as causes +2.6 m to braking distance and +0.7 to acceleration speed, it could be advisable to remove the upgrade if the player wishes to maximise speed of the tank.
 +
 
 +
'''Long range combat'''
 +
 
 +
On large maps with open areas, the M1A2 SEP is able to utilise its high turret protection and commander's thermal imaging to give it the upper hand in long-range battles. The mobility of the M1A2 SEP allows it to reach strategic positions that overlook key areas of the map. The improvement from the previous Abrams means that the M1A2 SEP can use second generation thermal vision like in M1A1 AIM which allows faster identification of targets at range and in dense woodland giving it an advantage. As with M1A2 the M1A2 SEP's commander thermal imager enables the player to keep track of threats all around the vehicle and monitor the battlefield without exposing the turret.
 +
 
 +
The M1A2 SEP can be used as an sniper by using commander's thermal sight to look for enemy positions without exposing the tank until the player decides to do so and tank's turret armour enables the tank to be extremely hard to destroy if it's kept in a hull down position which gives the player an advantage. The M1A2 SEP can also be used to attack the enemy head on such as going for the capture points and then retreating to a safe position to protect the capture points.
 +
 
 +
'''Notable enemies'''
 +
 
 +
* [[Leopard 2A5]]/[[Leopard 2A6|2A6]]: These tanks are the main counterparts of the M1A2 SEP. Though the M1A2 SEP has better firepower than the Leopard 2A5, the Leopard 2A6 has superior firepower. The DM53 APFSDS the Leopard 2A6 is equipped with is capable of penetrating the turret cheek of the M1A2 at closer ranges. Therefore Leopards 2s are dangerous and should be a high priority target that should be approached with caution. When hull down, the Leopard 2s can only be effectively penetrated through the gun mantlet or a lucky shot into the turret ring therefore it's advisable to aim for the gun area a this can result in damaging the cannon or breech, temporarily stopping the enemy fro returning fire. It's advisable to aim for the left side of the hull if it's visible as the crew members are lined up and usually results in knocking out the tank in one shot if done correctly.
 +
 
 +
* [[T-80U]]: It will be difficult to deal with T-80U if the player is not aware of it's disadvantages and weaknesses as the frontal protection of the tank is strong, it is advised to aim around the gun and the driver's hatch as those are the weak spots, like other t-series vehicles they can be destroyed using a single shot as the tanks have tightly packed interior with the turret crew sitting on top of the ammunition. It is also advised to attack the sides of the T-80U's hull as they're very weak and a single shot can result in the detonation of the hull ammo carousel to destroy the T-80U.  
 +
 
 +
* [[Leclerc]]: Despite Leclerc's good firepower and mobility which could pose a problem, the tank's armour scheme present three main weak spots frontally; the massive and extremely weak mantlet, the UFP (upper frontal plate) and LFP (lower frontal plate). There weak points are easy to hit and can knock out the crew or do serious damage to the vehicle.
 +
* [[Black Night|Challenger 2 Black Night]]: Due to it's armour vulnerabilities the Black Night could be used as a sniper which is something the player should be vary of, when going against the Black Night it's advisable to aim for the driver's hatch, the gun area to damage the cannon or breech and the lower frontal plate as those are weak spots that could do serious damage to the enemy tank.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->'''Pros:'''
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
−
'''Pros:'''
+
* Uranium composite armour layout in the frontal turret makes it extremely difficult to be penetrated by munitions in the game (the frontal turret could have difficulties against Leopard 2A6's DM53 at short ranges)
 +
* The M830A1 HEAT-FS shell can be effective at destroying helicopters and aircraft through proximity detonation
 +
* Thermal sight for the commander, gunner and driver
 +
* Second generation thermal view which is an upgrade from first generation view in M1A2
 +
* Like other Abrams tanks it has good crew survivability
 +
* M829 APFSDS modification unlocked at tier I
 +
* Powerful M829A2 APFSDS shell with excellent ballistics and penetration properties
 +
* TUSK kit is available on the M1A2 SEP making the tank resistant to chemical rounds from the side of the hull
  
 
*
 
*
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 +
* Like with previous Abrams tanks they're very easy to penetrate (even by low rank 5 tanks) as hits on the UFP (upper frontal plate) could auto bounce into the turret, often incapacitating the gunner and commander, as well as detonating the ammo
 +
* Has the same massive weak spot in the turret ring as previous Abrams which any tank in the game can penetrate, a hit to the highly angled upper front plate will likely cause the incoming shell to ricochet into the turret ring, destroying critical components and knocking out crew members
 +
* The LFP (lower front plate) is huge and has very poor protection(~400 mm protection)
 +
* Has the same weak spots as its preceding variants
 +
* The gun mantlet weak spot on the turret
 +
* The DM53 that Leopard 2A6 user has a good chance of penetrating the turret cheeks if they're hit at a right angle
 +
* The M1A2 SEP is the least manoeuvrable Abrams in the game, due to its weight of 62.2 tonnes with additional 3.25 tons of weight with TUSK kit equipped
 +
* Like with previous Abrams the stock HEAT-FS shell is very difficult to use at top tier as every tank the player faces has more than 600mm of chemical protection or being coated in ERA frontally. Flank shots are the only reliable way to do damage and get kills
 +
* Like with most Abrams series tanks, the engine deck is slightly raised, meaning that you will not be able to depress the gun over the rear of the tank.
  
 
*
 
*
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== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
In September 1994, just one month prior to the delivery of the first M1A1 HC, which would subsequently evolve into the M1A2, General Dynamic Land Systems was awarded a contract to conduct studies on the development of a modernization package for the upcoming M1A2. The work was intended to study the possibilities of equipping the M1A2 with the latest technology in the areas of firepower, protection and digital assets.
 +
 
 +
Becoming known as the System Enhancement Package (SEP), the upgrade was envisioned as a whole new production standard for newly produced units as well as being a refit for previously built ones. In 1995, the requirements for the upgrade package were formulated and the production contract was awarded to General Dynamic in 2001, with production lasting up until 2004.
 +
 
 +
While the M1A2 SEP was still in production, experiences from the US Invasion of Iraq unveiled in 2003 the vulnerability of tanks in urban combat environments. In response to this, American engineers designed the ‘Tank Urban Survival Kit’ (TUSK). It used readily available components to provide a substantial protection upgrade for M1 Abrams tanks, which could be flexibly fitted onto the vehicles by troops in the field, depending on mission requirements. In 2006, a total of over 500 of such kits were ordered and by 2008 all of the M1 Abrams stationed in Iraq were fitted with this modification.
 +
 
 +
<ref>''- From [[wt:en/news/7906-development-m1a2-sep-tusk-up-close-personal-en|Devblog]]''</ref>  
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
 
 +
'''Videos'''
 +
 
 +
<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwruZG8-_os M1A2 SEP Review and gameplay by SUSLIK GAMING (from 26th October 2022)]</ref>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 204: Line 239:
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
[[M1 Abrams (Family)|M1 Abrams family wiki page]]
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7gZVGIvegU The Abrams family - war thunder official channel video]
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
[[wt:en/news/7906-development-m1a2-sep-tusk-up-close-personal-en|Devblog - M1A2 SEP TUSK: Up Close & Personal]]
−
 
 
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 
{{USA medium tanks}}
 
{{USA medium tanks}}

Revision as of 16:35, 27 October 2022

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
M1A2 SEP
us_m1a2_sep_abrams.png
GarageImage M1A2 SEP.jpg
M1A2 SEP
USA flag.png USA
VIII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
12.0 12.0 12.0
Class:
Research:200 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:1 100 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm Gun M1A2 SEP is a rank VIII American medium tank with a battle rating of 12.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Fire and Ice". As of 26th of October 2022 the M1A2 SEP is the top researchable vehicle in the American ground forces tech tree. In the [1] it states that M1A2 SEP is "An advanced modification of the M1 Abrams tank, featuring improved firepower and protection" with features being "Improved thermal imaging" and "TUSK add-on armor kit". Also this variant of Abrams replaces night vision to thermal vision for the driver from the previous tank.

General info

Survivability and armour

ERA
Effective action against the cumulative ammunition
Composite armour
Balanced protection against all types of ammunition
Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull133 / 60 / 32
Turret139 / 120 / 13
Crew4 people
Visibility82 %

In terms of armour the M1A2 SEP has the same protection as it's predecessor from the front, the tank has used depleted uranium composite armour behind the turret cheeks of the tank, as with previous Abrams the turret's overall kinetic energy protection ranges between 680 mm to 780 mm and the chemical energy protection ranges between 1000 mm and 1200 mm. As with previous Abrams the M1A2 SEP retains the same weak spots as the M1A2's hull because it doesn't use depleted uranium in the lower front plate as well as the turret ring and breech being weak spots.

The improvements in M1A2 SEP from previous Abrams is that it has from the sides of the hull as it can use the TUSK kit (ARAT ERA) which provides 20 mm kinetic energy protection and 450 chemical energy protection, this will improve protection from ATGMs and HEAT-FS rounds.

M1A2 SEP x-ray view

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB76 / 43 km/h
RB and SB69 / 39 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight62.2 t
Engine power
AB2 898 hp
RB and SB1 519 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB46.6 hp/t
RB and SB24.4 hp/t

The M1A2 SEP uses 1,519 horsepower AGT-1500 gas turbine like previous Abrams variants, the tank has gained an additional 0.5 tons of weight from M1A2, putting the total mass of the tank at 62.2 tonnes. This causes a slight change from M1A2 which means that commanders should expect the vehicle to respond a bit slower to movement commands compared to previous modifications. However, the tank retains the same 68 km/h top speed and 40 km/h reverse speed as the M1A2 and is still fairly mobile. Without upgrades, the hull traverse is slow and acceleration is lacking as with previous Abrams, however those issues can be remedied by upgrading the tracks, filters, engine and transmission modifications.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 76 43 62.2 2058 2,898 33.09 46.59
Realistic 69 39 1343 1,519 21.59 24.42

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 291 → 7 011 Sl icon.png
RB4 159 → 6 795 Sl icon.png
SB5 264 → 8 601 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications298 100 Rp icon.png
485 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training310 000 Sl icon.png
Experts1 100 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 300 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 350 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
160 / 200 / 210 % Sl icon.png
256 / 256 / 256 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
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Cost:
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310 Ge icon.png
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Suspension
Research:
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Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
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Brake System
Research:
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Cost:
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340 Ge icon.png
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Filters
Research:
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Cost:
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Transmission
Research:
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Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
410 Ge icon.png
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Engine
Research:
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Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
410 Ge icon.png
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Improved Parts
Research:
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Cost:
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Improved FPE
Research:
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Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
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Crew Replenishment
Research:
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Cost:
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ESS
Research:
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Cost:
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Horizontal Drive
Research:
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Cost:
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120mm_DM_HEAT_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
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Cost:
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120mm_M908_HE_OR_ammo_pack
Research:
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Cost:
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Adjustment of Fire
Research:
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Cost:
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TUSK
Research:
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Cost:
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340 Ge icon.png
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Elevation Mechanism
Research:
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Cost:
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480 Ge icon.png
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Laser rangefinder
Research:
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Cost:
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Artillery Support
Research:
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Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
410 Ge icon.png
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120mm_M829A_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
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Cost:
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NVD
Research:
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Cost:
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410 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night
Setup 1:120 mm M256 cannon
12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
7.62 mm M240 machine gun
7.62 mm M240 machine gun
Setup 2:120 mm M256 cannon
12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
7.62 mm M240 machine gun
7.62 mm M240 machine gun

Main armament

120 mm M256 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition42 rounds
First-order18 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
Main article: M256 (120 mm)

The M1A2 SEP is armed with the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun which can also be found on the M1A2, the M1A1 and the M1A1 HC, and has access to the same APFSDS and HEATFS ammunition. Its ammo selection is the same as M1A2.

As with the previous Abrams the M1A2 SEP's gun handles very well, with an excellent stabilizer that can be used to accurately fire at any speed and having a quick turret traverse. The gun has good depression and elevation angles which are the same as previous Abrams; negative 10 and positive 20 degrees respectively. An aced crew can reload the gun in six seconds which is the same as previous Abrams, it's slower than the Challenger 2s, Type 90s, and Type 10.

120 mm M256 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 42 -10°/+20° ±180° Two-plane 38.1 52.7 64.0 70.8 75.3 7.80 6.90 6.36 6.00
Realistic 23.8 28.0 34.0 37.6 40.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M830 HEATFS 480 480 480 480 480 480
M830A1 HEATFS 350 350 350 350 350 350
M829 APFSDS 491 488 481 473 464 454
M829A2 APFSDS 629 627 619 610 601 590
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M830 HEATFS 1,140 13.1 0.05 0.1 2.36 65° 72° 77°
M829 APFSDS 1,670 4.27 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°
M829A2 APFSDS 1,680 4.92 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Arming distance
(m) 		Trigger radius
(m) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M830A1 HEATFS 1,410 11.4 0.05 0.1 400 10 1.39 65° 72° 77°
File:M1A2 sep abrams ammo racks.png
This shows the ammo racks for M1A2 SEP (the location is the same as for M1A2)

Ammo racks

Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
42 37 (+5) 19 (+23) 1 (+41) No

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-9° / 65°
12.7 mm M2HB machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition200 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
7.62 mm M240 machine gun
Ammunition1 400 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate941 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), M240 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle (Commander) 1,000 (200) 577 -9°/+65° -160°/+180°
7.62 mm M240
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 10,000 (200) 941 N/A N/A
Pintle (Loader) 1,400 (200) 941 -9°/+65° -180°/+20°

Usage in battles

The M1A2 SEP like the previous Abrams is well rounded jack of all trades vehicle capable of any role or task the player decides to carry out. Just like previous Abrams it has an effective combination of protection, firepower, situational awareness and mobility which allows the player to adapt to any task on the battlefield, which includes close-quarters fighting in urban areas to long-range engagements on large open maps.

Urban combat

The M1A2 SEP has good mobility and improved protection over the M1A2 from the sides of the hull due to TUSK kit which increases survivability and can help the player to function better as an effective brawler in close-quarters than M1A2. The M1A2 SEP's reload rate is faster when aced to its counterparts, with the exception of the Challenger 2s and Type 90s, and Type 10 tanks. This enables the player to deal great amount of damage in a short period of time to single or multiple enemies. Therefore the M1A2 SEP could be leading the charge into urban areas as well as act as a frontline vehicle as it's able to deal significant amount of damage when used by a skilled player.

One thing to remember is that the TUSK upgrade kit adds 3250 kg to the tank as well as causes +2.6 m to braking distance and +0.7 to acceleration speed, it could be advisable to remove the upgrade if the player wishes to maximise speed of the tank.

Long range combat

On large maps with open areas, the M1A2 SEP is able to utilise its high turret protection and commander's thermal imaging to give it the upper hand in long-range battles. The mobility of the M1A2 SEP allows it to reach strategic positions that overlook key areas of the map. The improvement from the previous Abrams means that the M1A2 SEP can use second generation thermal vision like in M1A1 AIM which allows faster identification of targets at range and in dense woodland giving it an advantage. As with M1A2 the M1A2 SEP's commander thermal imager enables the player to keep track of threats all around the vehicle and monitor the battlefield without exposing the turret.

The M1A2 SEP can be used as an sniper by using commander's thermal sight to look for enemy positions without exposing the tank until the player decides to do so and tank's turret armour enables the tank to be extremely hard to destroy if it's kept in a hull down position which gives the player an advantage. The M1A2 SEP can also be used to attack the enemy head on such as going for the capture points and then retreating to a safe position to protect the capture points.

Notable enemies

  • Leopard 2A5/2A6: These tanks are the main counterparts of the M1A2 SEP. Though the M1A2 SEP has better firepower than the Leopard 2A5, the Leopard 2A6 has superior firepower. The DM53 APFSDS the Leopard 2A6 is equipped with is capable of penetrating the turret cheek of the M1A2 at closer ranges. Therefore Leopards 2s are dangerous and should be a high priority target that should be approached with caution. When hull down, the Leopard 2s can only be effectively penetrated through the gun mantlet or a lucky shot into the turret ring therefore it's advisable to aim for the gun area a this can result in damaging the cannon or breech, temporarily stopping the enemy fro returning fire. It's advisable to aim for the left side of the hull if it's visible as the crew members are lined up and usually results in knocking out the tank in one shot if done correctly.
  • T-80U: It will be difficult to deal with T-80U if the player is not aware of it's disadvantages and weaknesses as the frontal protection of the tank is strong, it is advised to aim around the gun and the driver's hatch as those are the weak spots, like other t-series vehicles they can be destroyed using a single shot as the tanks have tightly packed interior with the turret crew sitting on top of the ammunition. It is also advised to attack the sides of the T-80U's hull as they're very weak and a single shot can result in the detonation of the hull ammo carousel to destroy the T-80U.
  • Leclerc: Despite Leclerc's good firepower and mobility which could pose a problem, the tank's armour scheme present three main weak spots frontally; the massive and extremely weak mantlet, the UFP (upper frontal plate) and LFP (lower frontal plate). There weak points are easy to hit and can knock out the crew or do serious damage to the vehicle.
  • Challenger 2 Black Night: Due to it's armour vulnerabilities the Black Night could be used as a sniper which is something the player should be vary of, when going against the Black Night it's advisable to aim for the driver's hatch, the gun area to damage the cannon or breech and the lower frontal plate as those are weak spots that could do serious damage to the enemy tank.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Uranium composite armour layout in the frontal turret makes it extremely difficult to be penetrated by munitions in the game (the frontal turret could have difficulties against Leopard 2A6's DM53 at short ranges)
  • The M830A1 HEAT-FS shell can be effective at destroying helicopters and aircraft through proximity detonation
  • Thermal sight for the commander, gunner and driver
  • Second generation thermal view which is an upgrade from first generation view in M1A2
  • Like other Abrams tanks it has good crew survivability
  • M829 APFSDS modification unlocked at tier I
  • Powerful M829A2 APFSDS shell with excellent ballistics and penetration properties
  • TUSK kit is available on the M1A2 SEP making the tank resistant to chemical rounds from the side of the hull

Cons:

  • Like with previous Abrams tanks they're very easy to penetrate (even by low rank 5 tanks) as hits on the UFP (upper frontal plate) could auto bounce into the turret, often incapacitating the gunner and commander, as well as detonating the ammo
  • Has the same massive weak spot in the turret ring as previous Abrams which any tank in the game can penetrate, a hit to the highly angled upper front plate will likely cause the incoming shell to ricochet into the turret ring, destroying critical components and knocking out crew members
  • The LFP (lower front plate) is huge and has very poor protection(~400 mm protection)
  • Has the same weak spots as its preceding variants
  • The gun mantlet weak spot on the turret
  • The DM53 that Leopard 2A6 user has a good chance of penetrating the turret cheeks if they're hit at a right angle
  • The M1A2 SEP is the least manoeuvrable Abrams in the game, due to its weight of 62.2 tonnes with additional 3.25 tons of weight with TUSK kit equipped
  • Like with previous Abrams the stock HEAT-FS shell is very difficult to use at top tier as every tank the player faces has more than 600mm of chemical protection or being coated in ERA frontally. Flank shots are the only reliable way to do damage and get kills
  • Like with most Abrams series tanks, the engine deck is slightly raised, meaning that you will not be able to depress the gun over the rear of the tank.

History

In September 1994, just one month prior to the delivery of the first M1A1 HC, which would subsequently evolve into the M1A2, General Dynamic Land Systems was awarded a contract to conduct studies on the development of a modernization package for the upcoming M1A2. The work was intended to study the possibilities of equipping the M1A2 with the latest technology in the areas of firepower, protection and digital assets.

Becoming known as the System Enhancement Package (SEP), the upgrade was envisioned as a whole new production standard for newly produced units as well as being a refit for previously built ones. In 1995, the requirements for the upgrade package were formulated and the production contract was awarded to General Dynamic in 2001, with production lasting up until 2004.

While the M1A2 SEP was still in production, experiences from the US Invasion of Iraq unveiled in 2003 the vulnerability of tanks in urban combat environments. In response to this, American engineers designed the ‘Tank Urban Survival Kit’ (TUSK). It used readily available components to provide a substantial protection upgrade for M1 Abrams tanks, which could be flexibly fitted onto the vehicles by troops in the field, depending on mission requirements. In 2006, a total of over 500 of such kits were ordered and by 2008 all of the M1 Abrams stationed in Iraq were fitted with this modification.

[2]

Media

Videos

[3]

See also

M1 Abrams family wiki page

The Abrams family - war thunder official channel video

External links

Devblog - M1A2 SEP TUSK: Up Close & Personal


USA medium tanks
M2  M2
M3  M3 Lee · ▃Grant I
M4  M4 · Calliope · M4A1 · M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (105) · M4A3 (76) W · M4/T26
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26 T99 · M26E1
M46/47/48 Patton  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47 · M48A1 · T54E1 · T54E2
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A2 · M60A3 TTS · M728 CEV · 120S
MBT-70  MBT-70 · XM803
M1 Abrams  XM1 (Chrysler) · XM1 (GM)
  M1 Abrams · M1 KVT · IPM1
  M1A1 · M1A1 HC · M1A1 Click-Bait
  M1A2 Abrams · M1A2 SEP · M1A2 SEP V2
Other  T95E1
Australia  M1A1 AIM
Canada  M4A5
Israel  ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Merkava Mk.1 · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.3D
Turkey  M60 AMBT

  1. ↑ devblog
  2. ↑ - From Devblog
  3. ↑ M1A2 SEP Review and gameplay by SUSLIK GAMING (from 26th October 2022)
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