US-made M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank Destroyed in Ukraine by Russian Tank

▪️Russia claims to have destroyed an M1 Abrams using a T-72B3 (video), an upgraded version of the T-72 using modern optics, fire control, armor, gun, and engine;

▪️The US had boasted of the Abrams’ prowess since the 1990s after destroying Iraqi tanks including T-72s, citing it as “proof” US tanks were better than their Soviet-made counterparts;

▪️The Iraqi tanks were antiquated, lacking thermal imaging, and operated by poorly trained crews – a poor comparison with Soviet tanks even at the time;

▪️In footage of the M1 Abrams being knocked out, the T-72B3 is using thermal imaging, the round comes in at an angle meaning it was fired from several kilometers away;

▪️Russian tanks can also fire anti-tank guided missiles outside the M1 Abrams gun’s maximum effective range;

▪️M1 Abrams losses in Ukraine are a result of over-hyped capabilities and poorly trained crews;