United States Armed Forces ) are currently the most powerful and strongest troops in the world, with an active staff of approximately 1.36 million people and a budget of $ 686 billion in 2018. One of their most important components is the ground army, i.e. the United States Army, in which 476,000 soldiers in the line served in 2017. The most numerous type of army in the ground forces is, of course, infantry - primarily motorized and mechanized. It is theoretically assigned to divisions, but in practice it very often operates within the Brigade Combat Team. Infantry units are divided into the classic Infantry Brigade Combat Team, consisting of, inter alia, three infantry battalions and support units. In 2014, it consisted of about 4,400 people and an infantry brigade on Stryker vehicles (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) based on three motorized infantry battalions and support units. In 2014, it had around 4,500 soldiers and 307 Styker vehicles in various versions. The American infantry also serves in Armored Brigade Combat Team, in companies and mechanized infantry battalions. The main shooting weapons of the American infantryman are the 5.56 mm M16 and M4 rifles. As an interesting fact, it can be said that the private (Private E1) US Army earns about $ 20,200 annually, while the sergeant (Sergeant E5) with 2 years of experience - about $ 28,700. These are basic salaries - without any allowances or bonuses.
The M1 Abrams is a modern 3rd generation American Main Battle Tank. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in the 1970s, and serial production started in 1979 continues to this day. To date (2018), about 10500 tanks of this type have been produced. The M1 Abrams is powered by a turbo-shaft (turbine) engine Avco Lycoming AGT-1500C 1500 hp. The vehicle is armed with a 105mm M68A1 tank gun in the M1 version, and a 120mm M256 tank gun in the M1A1 and later versions. The additional armament is 1 12.7 mm machine gun and 2 7.62 mm M240 machine guns.
The M1 Abrams was created in response to the demand for a new Main Battle Tank announced by US Army already in the 60s of the twentieth century. The new vehicle was to replace the Patton family tanks (M47-M48-M60) in the US Army. Initially, cooperation with German companies was initiated in the project designated as MBT-70. However, after a few years, the cooperation was terminated and further work was focused only on American companies, especially in the Chrysler Defense concern. Despite a very long process of analytical, study and experimental work lasting almost 15 years, it was introduced to the line in the early 1980s M1 Abrams It turned out to be an almost revolutionary structure and far superior to the then Soviet ones. M1 Abrams It is primarily characterized by unprecedented - before 1979 - in tanks of this class, mobility and maneuverability, thanks to the use of a powerful 1500 HP engine. Another thing is that the choice of the turbine engine turned out to be not very successful because it requires very careful maintenance and is prone to catching fire. M1 Abrams it also has very good armor, using composites and SKO (fire control system). In the M1A1 version, it was also armed with a great 120mm gun. Several versions of the tank were created in the course of serial production M1 Abrams. The first significant improvements were made to the M1A1 version, the production of which was launched in 1985 - mainly by using a much more effective 120 caliber cannon instead of the 105mm gun. In 1992, the M1A2 version entered the line, with much richer electronic equipment than previous versions and armor using depleted uranium. Then came the M1A2 SEP version with even more perfect armor. The last development versions of the Abrams tank are the M1A2 SEPv2 and M1A2 SEPv3 versions, which have advanced information exchange, battlefield control, fire control systems and improved secondary weapon control systems. The M1 Abrams tank was exported to several countries, including: Saudi Arabia, Australia, Egypt and Kuwait. Vehicles of this type took part in several operations, the most important of which were the Gulf War in 1990-1991 and the Iraq War in 2003.
The first Gulf War was conducted in 1990-1991. The main cause of the conflict was the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990 and the economic and territorial claims of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein against his much smaller neighbor. On one side of the barricade, in the course of this war, stood the troops of the anti-Iraqi coalition composed of the forces of many countries, but most of all of the United States, which in total numbered about 950,000 soldiers. The commander of the coalition forces was the American general Norman Schwarzkopf. Their opponent was the Iraqi forces, estimated at around 650,000 soldiers. The war was divided into two separate operations. The first was codenamed Desert Shield and lasted from August 1990 to January 1991. Its purpose was to significantly increase Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities and to transfer the coalition's armed forces to the theater of hostilities. It is worth adding that at this stage Iraq, through its military passivity, left the initiative in the hands of the coalition, which many experts considered a considerable military error. The second stage was Operation Desert Storm, fought in January and February 1991. This operation de facto settled the fate of the war in favor of the coalition within a few days. It also showed great preparation for the military operations of the US Army, the high quality of its doctrine and the very high quality of its equipment - especially armored and mechanized weapons. The one-sided nature of the war is evidenced by the fact that the coalition of wounded and killed lost approximately 1,100 soldiers, while Iraqi troops lost at least 25,000 dead and over 75,000 wounded.