How the Ukrainians Have Used US Abrams M-1 Tanks So Far

The US-made M1AI Abrams tank was supposed to be a game-changer for Ukraine. But so far, its use has been cautious and its impact minimal.

The reason: drones. For all its power, the Abrams is vulnerable to FPV kamikaze drone attacks and the Ukrainians have been undestandably loathe to risk losing too many of them. The M1 tank has been used by the 47th Mechanized Brigade around Avdiivka, but in keeping with its advanced optics and long range, has been used, to date, primarily as an infantry support weapon. It has been effective in that role and the belief is still that it can play a larger part under the right circumstances. JL 

Defense Express reports:

The Ukrainians gather Abrams and Bradley alongside other armored vehicles into "tactical groups" tasked with providing fire support to the infantry, both in defense and counteroffensive. Quite often Abrams tanks deploy alone. As the Russians gained an open all-around field of view of surrounding territories around Avdiivka, Ukrainians had to become more careful in their use of equipment, including American combat vehicles. Particularly, use them from a larger distance than before. Western tanks retain their identity as specialized anti-tank vehicles, distinct from the multi-role, easily mass-produced Soviet models.

American M1 Abrams shown in service with the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade, made headlines in late February 2024 because it was the first time Abrams faced the russian army but it lacked a crucial piece of information: how it actually performs. But now we can start to put the pieces together.

Defense Express' Chief Editor and Director Serhii Zghurets asked the question to the warrior of the 47th Brigade, during an interview hosted by Espresso TV channel. Oleh, call sign Azimuth, said that both M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles continue to contribute to combat operations in this brigade's area of responsibility, namely the Avdiivka operational axis in eastern Ukraine.

 

However, frontal engagements became a less viable option ever since the russian forces occupied the Avdiivka Coke Plant. Having installed anti-tank weapons at high points of this vast industrial facility, russians gained an open all-around field of view of surrounding territories, so Ukrainians had to become more careful in their use of equipment, including American combat vehicles. Particularly, use them from a larger distance than before.

Avdiivka Coke Plant: general view and one of positions of russian anti-tank units / Still frame credit: Press service of the 47th Mechanized Brigade

The issue of Abrams' application by Ukrainian forces was also analyzed by a Polish author writing for the Defence24 website, Marcin Gaweda. According to his observations, Ukrainians gather Abrams and Bradley alongside other armored vehicles into "tactical groups" tasked with providing fire support to the infantry, both in defense and counteroffensive. Moreover, Gaweda states that quite often Abrams tanks deploy alone.

 

Western tanks retain their identity as specialized anti-tank vehicles, distinct from the multi-role, easily mass-produced Soviet models. The availability of anti-personnel ammunition for them is a consequence of an attempt to at least somehow cover the missing functionality in the basic version, which was not originally implemented during development.