Grummitt, David M1 Abrams. The US's Main Battle Tank in American and Foreign Service, 1981-2019

Since its introduction in 1981, at the height of the Cold War, the "Abrams" main battle tank has been one of the most visible and iconic symbols of American military power, and it is the fascinating subject of this heavily illustrated historical and modelling guide in the "TankCraft" series by David Grummitt. Designed to meet head-on the massed tank forces of the Warsaw Pact, its combat debut in fact came in a different scenario in 1991 during the First Gulf War. Since then it has served in the peace-keeping role in the former Yugoslavia and seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. It has gone through a series of modifications and modernizations that see it set to remain the backbone of the U.S. Army until at least 2050. As well as charting the development and combat history of the vehicle, the book is illustrated throughout with colour photos and specially commissioned colour profiles. Five different models, covering the service history of the Abrams, are featured, as is modellers guide to the existing kits and accessories in the all the popular scales.

The "Abrams" did not see its first combat missions against the armoured masses of the Warsaw Pact, but in 1991 in Kuwait and Iraq as part of Operation Desert Storm. Since then, it has taken part in peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia and fought again in Iraq (2003), as well as in Afghanistan and Yemen. A series of modifications and modernisations have been carried out that will make the "Abrams" the armoured backbone of the U.S. Army until at least 2050. In addition to describing the development and operational history of the M1, the book features colour photographs and colour vehicle profiles throughout. Five different models are presented, covering the operational and development history of the "Abrams", as well as instructions for modellers on the available kits and accessories in all common scales.