M1A2 in Iraq Question

That makes sense. I am using my new tablet that I got for Christmas to look at the photo, and have not yet figured how to use this thing for blowing up photos, saving them, etc. Kind of frustrating to figure this thing out... I am not a gadget guy at all.

It may be because of the angle of the photograph. If I increase the view to 400%, it may be visible just above the doghouse, but it is too fuzzy to tell. Likewise with the CWS vs ICWS; when blown up it appears to be an ICWS. Normally when parked, the .50 is parallel to the ground on a CWS. The duck hunter pose of that .50 is more common for the ICWS.

Understood. Is it me, missing the CITV in that photo? Or another reason as to why it is not there/visible? I do apprecate all this schooling on the M1 series.

Neither.

The ICWS was added because the commander's screens for the CITV took up the room for the traverse motor for the M1/M1A1 CWS. The CWS had to be redesigned and the ICWS, which isn't really an improvement, was born.

Bottom line, an M1A1 is an M1A1 and an M1A2 is an M1A2.

Now, all M1A2SEPs began life as another variant and are entirely rebuilt tanks, whether they were M1IP or M1A1.

Very true.  Do  components  such as the CITV or ICWS get removed from the M1A2 or added to an M1A1?

Then you may be wrong; the commander's cupola appears to be the ICWS, a sign of an M1A2 or M1A2SEP.

Thanks for those bits of info guys. I will look for some photos to try and get an idea of the details you describe. IWM, I do not see the CITV on the turret top, so I will presume that is an M1A1.

Here isa photo I took in the Fall of 2004 of a 4th Brigade, 1CAV, M1 that was parked outside my hooch. Hopefully you can tell what kind it is.

Also, on the SEP, because the UAAPU or battery module is installed in place of the left rear fuel cell, the fuel filler cap on that side of the (upper) rear hull is not present (compared to the M1A1 and initial M1A2).

OK, thanks there guys. I will look for some photos of those areas so I can know what I need to do there.

I have some photos from late 2004 of 1st Cav M1s, but they are on my work computer. I will remember to post some tomorrow.

The SEP deletes the APU in the rear bustle rack and replaces it with a VCU (Vapor Compression Unit - A/C Compressor like outside your house) and associated armored covers for the tubing that runs under the turret, the left rear hull has been reworked to fit an UUAPU (Under Armor APU) or Hawker Battery System, and depending which type it has (UUAPU) an intake and exhaust on the left side and rear respectively.

I also believe 1 CAV brought SEPs with them on their rotation in '04-'05.

Thanks for that information. Is there anyplace you can point me for a good overview on the M1A2 operational usage?

I do not know. I'm not sure when the 1st Cavalry fielded the SEP. I do know at some point the 1st Cav had a mixture of M1A1D, M1A2, M1A2SEP tanks. I am not sure which ones went in first, which ones didn't go, etc.

I know the 1st Cav fielded the original M1A2, but I do not know if they used them in combat or sent them to Kuwait/Iraq. It may have been battalions with the other variants that went. The straight M1A2 did not have a wide fielding nor a long operational lifespan before it was replaced with the SEP or AIM.

Thank you Rob. Yes I do recall all the brouhaha with Turkey and the 4th ID whenit was going on.

At what point did 1st Cav bring in their M1A2's?

The only two units to field the original M1A2 in US service were the 4th ID and the 1st Cav (only certain battalions). The 4th did not land in time for the initial invasion because Turkey would not let them land and move through their territory. The straight M1A2 saw service shortly afterwards, at the tail end of the  invasion in 2003. The had to enter through Kuwait.

The above information applies to only the original M1A2 and not the later generation M1A2SEP.

The only other US unit to operate the M1A2 (non-SEP) was the US Army Armor Center and School in training and demonstrational purposes.