M1A1 AIM

This page is about the American main battle tank M1A1 AIM. For other versions, see M1 Abrams (Family).

M1A1 AIM

M1A1 AIM

USA

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	11.7	11.7

Class:

SQUADRON

Medium tank

Research:550 000

Purchase:1 000 000

Show in game

Description

As new threat profiles emerged from the Cold War, the Australians recognized that their existing fleet of Centurions and Leopards for the Royal Australian Armoured Corp (RAAC) was becoming obsolete in being able to protect the crew against these threats. To provide the Australian Army with the best protection capabilities against these threats and continue fighting in a combined arms fashion, the Australian government sought to replace their existing tank fleet with 59 M1A1 AIM tanks from the United States. The M1A1 AIM ("Abrams Integrated Management") are refurbished Abrams tanks with additional sensors and communication platforms for better integration with the new information space on the battlefield. The M1A1 AIM were put into service by the Australian Army in 2007.

Introduced in Update "Danger Zone" as a squadron vehicle unlock, the M1A1 AIM presents most of the benefits of the M1A1 tank. Players benefit from the tank's upgrade to the AIM variant, with better armour array and fire control system to allow better usage of the Abrams' great specifications. While the KE-W APFSDS round's penetration values may be lower than the M1A1's M829A1, it still packs enough power to be a threat against most targets the M1A1 AIM can be expected to face.

General info

Survivability and armour

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 %

At first glance, the M1A1 AIM looks identical to post-M1A1 Abrams variants with its iconic 120 mm M256 cannon; but if there's anything that can make it different from the M1A1 and HC variant in US service, it is the AIM package. This gives better protection to the M1A1 AIM in terms of its turret and LFP where revised DU armour was installed to fit the 21st century battlefield. Thanks to its relatively large size overall, players might sometimes find that a penetrating shot does lesser damage as the shrapnel damage is mitigated by the large internal space, smaller calibre shells are the same case as well; but do not take this protection for granted since there is still the infamous "neck" by the turret where penetrating shots have possibility of taking out crew in the turret. Do also keep an eye on the LFP as well since the overall thickness is still insufficient to stop darts at its rank. Like other Abrams, it has a blowout panel at the rear of the turret for protecting the crew from an ammo detonation; make sure to clear the rear right side of the hull of ammunition as a detonation would mean an instant-kill for the crew.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	___ mm	___ mm Top ___ mm Bottom	___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Turret	___ - ___ mm Turret front ___ mm Gun mantlet	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Cupola	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB76 / 43 km/h

RB and SB69 / 39 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

4 back

Weight62.0 t

Engine power

AB2 898 hp

RB and SB1 519 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB46.7 hp/t

RB and SB24.5 hp/t

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	2,058	2,898	33.19	46.74
Realistic	69	39		1,343	1,519	21.66	24.5

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 343 → 6 857

RB4 245 → 6 702

SB5 369 → 8 477

Total cost of modifications277 400

458 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces2 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

150 / 190 / 210 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 360 Suspension Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 310 Brake System Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 310 Filters Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 450 Transmission Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380	Improved Parts Research: 4 500 Cost: 23 000 360 Improved FPE Research: 3 900 Cost: 20 000 310 Crew Replenishment Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 450 ESS Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380	Horizontal Drive Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 360 120mm_DM_HEAT_FS_ammo_pack Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 360 Adjustment of Fire Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 310 120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 310 Elevation Mechanism Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 450 Smoke grenade Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 450 Artillery Support Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380 Laser rangefinder Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380 NVD Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 380

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

Main armament

120 mm M256 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition40 rounds

First-order17 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

6.5 → 5.0 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

The M1A1 AIM is armed with the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, players of the M1A1 HC will soon find themselves at home as they share identical shells.

The stock round is M830 HEATFS, although it might not be effective in the late Cold War where tanks are usually equipped with ERA blocks or composite armour; be sure to take down the enemies from the sides or pick light targets as they will either be knocked out by the explosive contents or melted by the jet stream.

The researchable M830A1 MPAT shell, while having lesser explosive content and penetration, is equipped with a proximity fuze, making it effective against aforementioned targets as well as aircraft - a hit from it certainly critically damage any aircraft, if not taking them down outright.

Since there were limits from the Non-Proliferation Treaty of nuclear-related weapons, including DU rounds, RAAC received the tungsten alloy version of M829A1, the KE-W. Although it has lesser penetration compared to M829A1 at 583 mm, the "Silver Bullet" will still make short work of most armoured targets with one shot.

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	40	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	38.1	52.7	64.0	70.8	75.3	6.50	5.75	5.30	5.00
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	HEAT MP	350	350	350	350	350	350
KE-W	APFSDS	583	579	569	556	542	528

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°
KE-W	APFSDS	1,585	4	-	-	-	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	HEAT MP	1,410	11.4	0.05	0.1	400	10	1.99	65°	72°	77°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M1A1 (identical)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
40	35 (+5)	18 (+22)	1 (+39)	No

Identical to the M1A1 and A1 HC, be sure to clear out all ammunition in the hull (5 rounds); although the Abrams has a blowout panel to save the crew from turret side shots, a solid hit on those 5 unprotected shells will cause players to quickly meet a miserable end.

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°

7.62 mm M240 machine gun

Ammunition1 400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate941 shots/min

7.62 mm M240 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition10 000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate941 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle (Commander)	1,000 (200)	575	-9°/+65°	-160°/+180°

7.62 mm M240
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle (Loader)	1,400 (200)	941	-9°/+65°	-77°/+135°
Coaxial	10,000 (200)	941	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

The AIM plays just like its regular tech tree counterparts, meaning seasoned Abrams players will already be accustomed to its playstyle. The increased turret protection allows it to make use of hull down tactics just as effectively as the M1A1 HC and M1A2, with the 2nd generation thermal sights allowing for easier target identification and acquisition at range. It can also brawl relatively well because of its quick reactionary ability. The KE-W APFSDS round is perfectly capable of tackling its contemporaries.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has access to 2nd generation thermal sights allowing for easier targeting especially at long range
• Good gun handling
• Excellent reload speed
• M830A1 is effective against helicopters
• Decent KE-W APFSDS

Cons:

• No stock APFSDS
• Traditional "NATO hump" impairs firing above the engine
• Poor armor and survivability, easily one shotted from every angle
• Engine is extremely loud and high-pitched, easily detectable
• Large profile and easy to find

History

The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) had been a long time user of European tanks including British Centurions and German Leopard AS1s. However, the Royal Australian Army opted to purchase M1A1s from from the United States as the replacement of Leopards in July 2007. These 59 M1A1 AIM have their DU armour removed to comply with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and were deployed in the RAAC as their new generation MBT. These tanks were planned to be upgraded in the late 2010s, and later plans include building 75 M1A2 Sep v.3 domestically with a non-DU armour package specifically for Australia by 2024 to replace these 59 M1A1 AIMs.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the M1A1 AIM from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• M1 Abrams (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Squadron vehicle: M1A1 AIM

References

Squadron ground vehicles
USA	M901 · M1A1 AIM
Germany	Leopard 2 PL
USSR	BMP-2M · T-80UK
Britain	Bhishma TWMP
Japan	RCV (P)
China	Object 122MT "MC"
France	CV 9035NL
Sweden	T 80 U
Israel	Magach 6B Gal