How come antiquated RPG and Molotov can defeat M1A1 Abrams Tanks?

Question

Up to now, M1A1 Abrams is the jewel of US Army's main battle tank. It reportedly has alloys that can defeat modern anti-tank ordnance thrown its way.

But in the IRAQ & Afghan war, from news excerpts, the enemy was able to knock-out Abrams with mere RPGs and Molotov?

Answer 1

Not physically possible; the M1A1/A2 tank is the most advance piece of steel we have in Iraq; it has been disabled by knocking tracks with RPGs, but I have not heard of a single incident where a single RPG shot has destroyed an M1A1, I've heard (and seen) a few M1s being damaged by RPGs, hell, I've even seen an M1 being launched in the air by a daisy-chained IED on a road, but the tank managed to drive on and the crew survived, despite a massive case of ringing in the ears and bruises galore from being bounced around inside this M1, but an RPG-7D (currently used RPG rocket launcher in Iraq) cannot by itself defeat the composite (Chobham/Burlington) armor on an M1 tank; some of the newer RPGs being smuggled into Iraq through Iran have penetrated the sideskirt armor of the M1 and partially penetrated the turret armor, but not enough to disable the tank or kill the crew.

In Desert Storm, we had 18 M1A1 tanks disabled by not only enemy fire, but also by fractricide.

During an early attack on Baghdad, one M1A1 was disabled by a recoiless rifle round that had penetrated the rear engine housing, and punctured a hole in the right rear fuel cell, causing fuel to leak onto the hot turbine engine. After repeated attempts to extinguish the fire, the decision was made to destroy or remove any sensitive equipment. Oil and .50 caliber rounds were scattered in the interior, the ammunition doors were opened and several thermite grenades ignited inside. Another M1 then fired a HEAT round in order to ensure the destruction of the disabled tank. Unfortunately, the tank was completely disabled but still intact. Later, an AGM-65 Maverick was fired into the tank to finish its destruction. Ironically the tank still appeared to be intact from the exterior. (took a lot of ammo to destroy this M1)

On November 27, 2004 an Abrams tank was badly damaged and its driver killed from shrapnel wounds when an extremely powerful improvised explosive device (IED) consisting of three M109A6 155 mm shells with a total explosive weight of 34.5 kg detonated next to the tank. The other three crew members were able to escape.

On December 25, 2005 another M1A2 was disabled by a roadside bomb that left the tank burning near central Baghdad, Crew member, Spc. Sergio Gudino, died in the attack.

On June 4, 2006 two out of four soldiers died in Baghdad, Iraq, when an IED detonated near their M1A2.

Some were disabled by Iraqi infantrymen in ambushes employing short-range antitank rockets, such as the Russian RPG-7, during the 2003 invasion. This damage usually corresponds to the tracks of the Abrams. Another one was put out of action when heavy machine gun rounds struck fuel stowed in an external rack, starting a fire that spread to the engine.

So, in short; you could disable an M1 tank with an RPG-7 round, but you will NEVER destroy one by just using an RPG-7 alone.

Answer 2

Report was in error a Molotov is worthless in fighting a tank like the Abrams. A RPG can punch through the thin armored areas of a tank like the treads or the engine covers a weak spot on all tanks. While this kind of hit immobilizes a tank it doesn't knock it out. It becomes a pill box.

Answer 3

M1 Abrams Armor

Answer 4

you would have to be very lucky to disable a m1a1 with a Molotov[don't think it can be done] but an rpg is made to disable tanks and hit is the right spot it Will also disable an Abrams.

Answer 5

an missile like the Komet E , can penetrate up to 1,2 m of armour, can destroy a MBT because his chopham armour is about the same as 1 meter of classic armour .This weapon is not a RPG it's a guide missile but the RPG 29 has the capability to destroy the side armour of a MBT.
A Molotov cocktail can also destruy a tank just trow it into a open hatch and it's finessed with that tank

Answer 6

Tanks are not good urban fighters. They depend on infantry to prevent someone from hitting them with an RPG or mine. The tank is also very damaging to the roads and needs to refuel often especially the very thirsty M1A1. The main gun is way too destructive in an urban environment as the terrorist you shot at in one building. That shell keeps on going to the next several buildings killing who knows how many civilians who in righteous indignation will become the new terrorist to avenge the families that were killed by your one shot from the main gun.

Answer 7

There have been abrams lost in iraq,one particular vulnerable area is the side skirt of the abrams.If you look at the british challenger 2 it was retrofitted with reactive armour skirts to prevent RPGs penetrating it.Even then the RPGs have been damaging not taking out the american tanks.however the insurgent have had a hold of Kornet E missiles which have taken out M1s.The chobham armour on the american and british tanks is still very effective, a british challenger took 8 rpg hits and 1 guided missile hit by fedayeen none penetrated the hull.

Answer 8

So far as I know, there's been one M1 ever knocked out by an RPG on a lucky shot. US, British, German and probably French MBT's are truly technologic wonders, but any tank is going to have weaknesses, and antitank defenses can be effective. It's a pretty good bet that the tanks are at a huge advantage against the weapon systems they face now, but that's just a snapshot view, and could change.

Answer 9

Because any weapon - no matter how primitive - can defeat another system under the right conditions.

Yes - in the past 4 years the enemy has managed to _damage_ (not destroy) a handful of tanks with RPGs and scorch the paint on a few more with Molotov's.

In so doing they have literally lost thousands of people who tried to do this.

The fact of the matter is that the enemy has no weapons that are effective (can be used with a reasonable chance of success) against tanks.

OK - now my only question is why do people think that in all the years of tank development nobody ever thought to 'harden' a tank against Molotov cocktails?

Answer 10

A lot of answers do not respond to the question. The question is how to defeat an Abrams not how to completely destroy.

A tank is defeated at the moment that she can no more participate at the action she is doing. Mostly an immobilised tank is a defeated tank because she can not help the attack or defend the convoy any more. She is becoming a burden instead of an support because you must leave people to defend the tank or repair/evacuate (technically you can compare it with a wounded soldier, he is no help anymore but becomes a "burden" because people have to take attention to him).

So once this is defined an answer to the question :
As all tanks the Abrams has also weak spots. Chains, back and engine compartment are the weak spots of every tank.
With an RPG you can destroy the chains or support wheels. Or the engine compartment by firing from above or at the back (thought I'm not certain about this with the Abrams.
Molotov can put on fire the engine compartment or be thrown into the hatches (again it depends of the volume of liquid because the modern tanks have fire extinguish systems that are rather efficient).
This is not easy to do but from a well prepared ambush this is possible (though the change that the attackers survive is rather small). Especially in towns with narrow streets every tank is in a bad environment.

Honestly a better procedure is to mine the road to stop the tank.

Answer 11

Wow, all of the comments are either filled with uneducated people or 'murrican shills. There have been a number of instances where rpg shots have gone right through the very thin armor on top of the engine bay and set the tank on fire. The Abrams is a multi-role tank and suffers from a number of weakspots. The side armor is flat and pretty much any modern launcher will go right through. The frontal lower plate (if you can manage to hit it) is also a major weakspot; most of the crew will die if the shell penetrates there. Back of the turret is also flat and some of the primary shells are stored there too. Penetrate and the whole tank will light like a pile of gunpower.

TLDR: A molotov is unlikely to do much to an Abrams unless you throw it on top of the engine bay which can (and has) cause the tank to catch on fire. An RPG is a different story and has a relatively good chance of penetrating on many spots. The turret armor is very well designed on the Abrams and that's where you are most likely to land a hit; but penetration from the front of the turret is nearly impossible (unless you're in another tank like T-72, T-80 or a T-90.