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I'm traveling in a US Army M1 Abrams, loaded with a 120mm projectile! At any moment, we will shoot at a target two thousand meters away or more than a mile away. Tank, charge sabot! Here we go! Driver, back up! Ready! Fire! On the way! Welcome to Camp Ripley, Minnesota. We will have exclusive access for forty -eight hours to the One-One Hundred Ninety-Fourth Armored Battalion.
Its history of more than a century began in World War I and was forged in Bataan in World War II. That legacy lives on today in seventy tons of steel, fire, and American engineering. What does it take to qualify for the deadliest tank? Let's find out. When the M1 Abrams first emerged in 1980, it completely changed the modern battlefield. This vehicle brought with it great speed, advanced composite armor, and the ability to attack at distances that were previously completely unimaginable.
After more than four decades of service, the Abrams remains a cornerstone of the Army. Equipped with four different weapon systems, it is one of the most feared combat vehicles in the world. Its heart is the powerful 120-millimeter cannon, a piece of artillery capable of destroying enemy targets three miles away. It can fire armor-piercing projectiles, high-explosive projectiles, or even special pellets that turn the entire turret into a giant shotgun.
Right next to the main cannon is a seven point sixty-two millimeter machine gun, known as the coaxial. This weapon uses the same sight to attack infantry or light vehicles. If the heavy cannon is not needed, the coaxial machine gun perfectly fulfills the mission. Up above there is another 7.62mm machine gun. The loader operates it manually and provides close defense around the tank. And finally, mounted in the tank commander's station is the fifty-caliber heavy machine gun. It is capable of attacking enemies at distances of more than eighteen hundred meters. But as impressive as these weapons are, firepower is only half the equation.
A military saying goes: a tank is only as good as its crew. Even the most advanced and heavily armored vehicle means nothing without an expert team to operate it. Specialist Henry Hust, driver of the Abrams. Luke Henderson, loader. Ready! Sergeant Cole Olson, gunner. Tank, one thousand four hundred! Sergeant Todd Wiersgalla, tank commander.
Sabot load! Ready! On the way! In the Abrams, the crew rotates through the four positions. So you start as a driver, and once you've mastered being a driver, you move up to become a loader. After you master the loader position, you then move up to become a gunner. Once you master being a gunner, you finally earn the right to become a tank commander, demonstrating that you know all the duties and responsibilities of every tank crew member. My main job, of course, is to drive the tank, which includes, if there are obstacles or debris that could impede our progress, warning others to change the route. I also, if possible, detect targets that might not be visible from the turret. In addition,
I am responsible for the maintenance of the tracks and the engine, and for communicating any failures to our full-time mechanics. The space is small. Getting in and out is complicated. Being small helps a lot when going through the hatch. Most of the time you're on your own and isolated, which is sometimes nice. Some might call it a reclining chair. I somewhat disagree. The seat is quite uncomfortable. And as with everything in the tank, driving is the crew's job. So I have both the tank commander and the loader helping me maneuver the tank.
It's a team effort, like everything here. Tank, charge sabot! Ready! As a tank loader, I supply ammunition to all weapon systems. It includes the fifty caliber, the coaxial, the two forty and the tank's main gun. Come in! Back! To go to artillery, you must load in less than seven seconds. A good loader does it in almost five seconds: opens and closes the door, arms, inserts the projectile, checks that it rises, and steps out. I've had a lot of practice, so, I do n't want to brag, but, yes, I'm good at it. ___ Tank detected
one thousand four hundred! I am in charge of operating the 120mm cannon and also the coaxial machine gun. It is possible to detect and lock onto targets up to five thousand meters away. In the fire orders you will hear me say. On the way! This specifically means that at that moment I will proceed to fire the tank's main gun. I used to get quite tense because of the impact, but now it's completely natural for me. I am the one who commands the tank and I am responsible for taking care of my entire crew at all times. I supervise absolutely every single activity and maneuver we perform in here.
This position can be extremely exciting, but at the same time, there is a sense of nervousness knowing that you are responsible for the lives of three other soldiers. It takes years and years of training, mentoring, and preparation to get where we are. These crew members who start from day one as privates, and you see them rise through the ranks to become tank commanders, and you see what they have become since they started. That's very gratifying. Since there are four of us, there is a high level of mutual trust. Each of us has a vital and specific role that must be fulfilled with absolute precision under high-pressure situations. But what I really want you to pay attention to is not firepower,
it's communication. In the M1 Abrams, communication is everything. And it can mean the difference between a direct impact or a missed opportunity. Okay, I'm going with Charlie. We're at Redcon one right now, over. Two four, Redcon one. Two four, two three, Redcon one. Perform a scan! Copied! Where do I look? Left side. Received! On! Keep your left. Right.
Now, before we get to the live-fire demonstration, I thought it would be fun to show you how this seventy-ton tank actually maneuvers, how it accelerates, how it handles this snowy terrain. For something so big and heavy, you might be surprised to learn that it has a top speed of forty-two miles per hour! Today I am accompanied by Sergeant Coombs. Tell me, Sergeant, what exactly are we going to experience today? We have our tank platoon, which is four tanks, and we're going to attack a target, and you'll see these things tear through the rolling hills of Minnesota. Great, then I'll go in this way! It 's definitely cozy.
There's a bit more space than I thought, to be honest, but, uh, it 's definitely a tight space for the crew. Now, the smell is interesting. It's a mix of a mechanic's workshop and definitely a bit of a gym and a locker room, but it's not bad overall. Now, I think one of the coolest things about driving this tank is that they keep the hatches open most of the time so you can stick your head out and scan the area and, uh, not feel so claustrophobic. So I think that's what I'll do. And I can't wait for our first trip on the M1 Abrams!
The Abrams tank is unique. Its 1,500 horsepower engine powerfully drives two steel tracks. Thus, a seventy-ton machine rotates and scales in ways that are incredible for its large size. Even on a cold day in Minnesota, crawling through the snow and climbing up a frozen hillside, you begin to understand why this thing has dominated the battlefield for decades. What is the most challenging terrain you have ever had to drive on? forests of Minnesota are definitely especially challenging with the trees and how big the turret is, how long your barrel is.
You have to be constantly aware of where your turret is at all times because you can't. You don't want to crash into a tree. It seems the tank is moving very well in the snow. Does this represent a challenge or does it simply pass him by? Well, snow can be a challenge due to the weight of the vehicle. It compresses the snow so hard and so fast, that it basically turns to ice immediately. So yes, it 's definitely a challenge when it 's wet and slippery like it is now. They told me to always hold on tight because we don't know what's coming.
Wow, things are really moving here! Standing up, one doesn't feel safe at all. Shooting down there feels different. That hill is big. What is the maximum incline these tanks can climb? The limit is sixty degrees. At sixty degrees, are they moving with difficulty or are they already picking up some speed? Goes. Very slow. You maintain excellent communication. The driver has almost no visibility from their seat, so you're the one guiding their path completely, isn't that right? That's right, and the loader also helps by monitoring the situation,
always staying alert and keeping an eye on the other tanks in the group. Copied! It's pure trust. They all look out for each other and make sure the path is clear. Yes. You are moving forward together. Yeah! It's definitely a team thing. So you have your four crew members and you have your four tanks. On the battlefield, a static target is extremely vulnerable. So, when the Abrams needs to reposition its firepower without exposing itself, it can perform a pivot turn, rotating 360 degrees on its own axis, keeping the main gun fixed on any target.
And if the tank is already in position, the crew doesn't need to move the hull. The turret can rotate completely independently, allowing the gunner and commander to scan and attack targets in any direction, whether the tank is stationary or in full motion. In our Access Granted series, we bring you closer to what you don't usually see. And something that is not seen in the M1 Abrams is the transmission. This part allows for precise turns and very smooth acceleration in seventy tons of weight. Many thanks to Allison Transmission for sponsoring this video.
Allison's legacy began in Indianapolis in 1915. The same James Allison who helped found the Indy 500. During World War II, they manufactured up to a thousand aircraft engines each month for the Allied forces. Today, Allison builds the X1100 transmission that powers every M1 Abrams. It is automatic, American-made, and designed for easy repair, delivering continuous power even when shifting gears. Thus the Abrams responds smoothly and quickly, maintaining power in both tracks over any difficult terrain. That mobility is what gives the troops an advantage. And, thanks to Allison's torque management,
even novices can operate these tanks with great precision. What does the future hold for us? It's the eGen Force, Allison's hybrid propulsion system. It is a quiet system, with a reduced thermal signature and more available power for the modern battlefield. Allison powers global militaries and more than 90 percent of the United States' current combat vehicles. In war, failure is not an option. For decades, Allison has been the trusted name for moving military vehicles around the world. So after getting in that thing, it's clear that the M1 Abrams has impressive maneuverability. But what really interests me is not how he moves, but how he fights. And now,
the crew will move on to their live-fire qualification, where they will be evaluated on both speed and accuracy. This is the Miller Firing Complex, eight hundred acres of open land where the 1st Battalion of the 194th Armored Regiment is about to make its live-fire qualification. The crews have spent the last few days working in combat scenarios, fine-tuning their communication and procedures before the final test. That was table five. Today, it is what is known as table six, the real test. A graded rating where targets appear without warning at different distances and the crew has seconds to respond.
I wanted to bring you to this station because right now they are loading our tank with ammunition. And look at this! This here is the M eight six five one hundred twenty millimeters fin-stabilized, disposable-casing shooting practice projectile. And it can be fired at no less than 1,740 meters per second. This bullet weighs about forty-five pounds, and our tank can carry forty-two of these. We're going to fire this in addition to the coaxial machine gun. And the loader is supposed to be able to chamber this in less than seven seconds. Of all the jobs on the tank, I feel that the loader definitely has the most difficult role.
This is how it's scored: each objective is presented for fifty seconds. As soon as the driver moves forward, the tank is exposed and time starts ticking. To pass, the target must be destroyed in less than twenty-five seconds. If you miss that window, the target falls and your score is zero. Each crew receives a single 120mm projectile per target and up to 50 rounds from the coaxial system. They need to average seventy points across all fights to qualify. We will shoot at four targets from two positions, moving under cover and only exposing ourselves to attack.
Our short-range targets will be at distances of four hundred and fifty and eight hundred and fifty meters with the seven point sixty-two coaxial cable. And at long range, we will fire the 120mm cannon to 1,300 meters before our final shot at a target that is 2,000 meters away. Upon completion, the crew will report to the master gunner for review. Received. Do I request permission to conduct a quick fire test? Understood. Notify us when you're at Redcon one. I 'm just testing the radio.
Received, yes. Uh, permission to, go up and, occupy the LFAST line. Waiting. The Abrams is lethal not only because of its fire, but because of its ability to see what the enemy simply cannot. The thermal sight allows you to see through smoke, dust, or anything that blocks your view, day or night. The fire control system automatically calculates distance, wind, temperature, and movement. When firing, the computer has already done all the heavy lifting and the crew just needs to be fast enough to keep up. When firing, is it purely the tank's technology or does your personal instinct also play a role?
Yes. It's one hundred percent the entire tank. It just tells us what to do. Basically, it does everything automatically, so. Yeah! And just out of curiosity, is there a bathroom in here? Oh, no. So what are they doing, in a bucket, in a bottle? Well, hopefully it's a bottle. I mean, hopefully there's something out there, but yes. No, I mean, you do what you have to do at that moment. I understand! Well, yes. Let's do it. Driver, do you copy? I'll copy you! Are you leaving without touching the simulator? Uh, yes, Sergeant.
Okay, move the vehicle. We're moving. Received. Sam, I'm going to take care of the first one so you can see exactly how it feels. Just sit still and try not to get in my way, okay? Okay, I'll do that. Easy. So we'll see how good I am. Wow, you can really feel the pressure with so many people watching us! TRUE. Here Mike golfs nine two. Intelligence reports armored vehicles. Defend and report. Out. Received. Driver ready. Clear.
Sure. Ready. Fire on the way. Charlie Nine Two, here Blackjack Mike Golf. I 'm safe with the machine gun. Tank, sabot! Ready! Driver, move forward! Clear! On the way. Cease fire, driver, back up! Tank, load sabot! Ready! Driver, move forward! Clear! On the way! Change, move forward! Driver, back up! Tank, load sabot!
Ready! On the way. Driver, back. Ceasefire. You can feel it in your chest, dude. Oh, God. Firing a sabot projectile inside an M1 Abrams is an unparalleled experience. From the outside it looks very violent. The explosion raises clouds of dust, shakes the ground, and you can feel the vibration in your chest even from a great distance. But from the inside, the shock wave of the projectile is absorbed by the tank's chassis, compressed into a single controlled blow. On the way! What you just saw was what it's like to fire with only two people, the tank commander and the loader. But now, it was my turn to play the role of the gunner and experience the rhythm of what it's like to fire the M1 Abrams from the inside.
Ready? On the way! Come on. Here we go! First we will attack the infantry troops with the coaxial machine gun and then we will proceed to destroy an enemy truck. We use the 7.62 caliber machine gun for troops and unarmored targets, just as we would the main gun. And you, well, you just pull the trigger.
How many shots do you plan to take? Well, yes, quite a few. Aim. Okay. Whatever you want to give them. Tower, Blackjack. Gunner, coax. Target at four hundred and fifty meters! Driver, move forward. Driver, stop! Shoot and adjust. On the way! White, stop, back! Low pressure. Sabot to the tank! Ready! Tank at 1,300 meters. Fire, then adjust! On the way!
Shoot and adjust. On the way! Aim. Shoot and adjust. On the way! Gunner, sabot. Ready! Identified tank, two thousand meters. Driver, move forward. Fire. On the way! Aim. Target destroyed. Charlie nine two, destroyed. Message received. Proceed to retreat and clear all weapons. Please confirm when you are finished so that the RSO can release the vehicle. Well done!
Well, I hope you had fun, Sam. That was incredible! It was super fun. Oh my God, for God's sake! So that was crazy! I honestly don't know how to describe it other than to say it was completely insane?! Being so close to such a big weapon?! Uh, it was simply the most powerful feeling I've ever felt in my chest. I have to say, this crew is incredible. But it doesn't matter much how I think we did, because now we have to go and face the master gunner. He was the one who kept track of each attack, noting whether we missed or hit the target. So I'm going to change quickly, and then we'll go inside for our post-action check-up.
Ready? Gentlemen, I am First Sergeant King. I am the brigade's master gunner. We'll review their attacks from today. So let's start with their five-zero attack. Here was his position and his two objectives. We'll show the video and then we'll talk about it. Fire passage. High temperature. On the way! It's hot. They
have no penalties on their card. The whole procedure was very clear. Do you have any doubts about what just happened? I will say that, as it was one of our first attacks, I will take full responsibility for our failure in that. You were probably getting used to me being there, so I assume that. They're not going to fail it if I'm not in that tank, so. Very good. They advanced by ten seconds, which is a good start. At target thirteen, they fell back by sixteen seconds, a good tactical pause.
One hundred points for the first target; fifty for the second for not destroying it completely. So we'll move on to their next attack. In this part of the exercise they obtained eighty-one points, so they are already qualified. However, when it came time to backtrack, his score dropped to fifty-nine. That attempt does not qualify for the test. The last attack was his six one. Attack time of six. They scored ninety-one points in the first objective, seventy-three points. One hundred sixty-four divided by two is eighty-two.
Skilled attack. Good job. Good burst of machine gun fire on this one, good communication. They had an excellent career; They are now fully ready for the night test. Thank you for letting me in. It was a lot of fun. It was a real treat, truly. That would be good. Thank you. Yes. What has impressed me most out here is n't even the tanks, it's the people. They are the soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard. Civilians with day jobs who choose to spend their weekends putting on the uniform and maintaining one of the most complex weapons systems in the world, ready for when their country calls them.
That kind of commitment is hard to describe, but you can feel it out here and you can tell how much they really care about the work they do. We just found out that the head of the National Guard office has just arrived. In fact, he is a four-star general in the Air Force and oversees the 450,000 men and women in the National Guard. Now we have been given the opportunity to ask him a couple of questions. So I'm going to come over and introduce ourselves.
You know, we've talked so much about the team today, but for me, if we look at it more broadly, what really stands out about the National Guard isn't the tanks, right? It's the people. So, what would you say about the soldiers of the Guard? Our soldiers are always ready. They are citizen soldiers who serve part-time or full-time. They bring various skills from their everyday civilian lives, such as being teachers or police officers, directly to the battlefield. Whether serving abroad or right here at home, they are highly trained professionals and always ready for action. Could you help me with this?
Yes, please hold that for me. Serving the state of Minnesota is not just about serving the state of Minnesota. For me personally, it's about serving my community, serving my family, and serving my country. It has been one of the best moments of my life. But the only reason I keep doing it is because I enjoy training the crews, I enjoy being in the tanks, and I love having a positive impact on other people's lives. Raise your hand and repeat. I, your name. I. I swear. I solemnly swear. Which I will faithfully defend. Which I will defend.
The U.S. Constitution. The Constitution. Many thanks to the Minnesota National Guard for teaching us about their mission! I learned that this tank is only as good as the crew inside it If you're interested in getting the limited edition patches for the M1 Abrams, be sure to check out the link below. That's all for now from Camp Ripley! Until next time!
