M1 Abrams DESERT STORM: Tank Battles, M1A1 Combat Operations, and the in Gulf War

The M1A1 Abrams was built for a war in Europe. Its first great test came in the deserts of the Persian Gulf.When Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the United States began assembling one of the most powerful armored forces of the modern era. At its center stood the M1A1 Abrams - a relatively young main battle tank about to face its first major combat test.M1 Abrams - Desert Storm follows the Abrams from its Cold War origins and deployment during Operation Desert Shield to the fast-moving tank battles of Operation Desert Storm.Discover how Abrams crews prepared for war in the Saudi desert, how the tank's 120 mm gun, thermal sights, armor protection, mobility, and fire-control system shaped its battlefield performance, and how American armored formations fought through darkness, dust, smoke, and rapidly changing conditions.The book takes readers inside the major armored actions of the campaign, including: - 73 Easting and the violent encounter with Republican Guard forces- The Battle of Norfolk and the challenges of night armored warfare- Medina Ridge and the defeat of prepared Iraqi armored positions- The fight for Kuwait, where Marine Abrams crews faced minefields, fortified defenses, and Iraqi armor- The crews, logistics, reconnaissance, artillery, training, and combined-arms doctrine behind the Abrams' battlefield successRather than presenting Desert Storm as a simple contest between the Abrams and the T-72, this book examines the larger military system that made American armored warfare so effective - and the limitations, friendly-fire risks, logistical demands, and human decisions that remained even during an overwhelming victory.Clear, detailed, and focused on the realities of tank combat, M1 Abrams - Desert Storm is for readers interested in tanks, military history, the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, and modern armored warfare.Volume 1 in the Tanks at War series, dedicated to the tanks, crews, battles, and combat operations that shaped armored warfare.