M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle Explained

M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle
Origin:United States
Type:Military engineering vehicle
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:2009–present
Used By:United States Army
United States Marine Corps (2009– 2023)
Armed Forces of Ukraine
Wars:
Unit Cost:$14 million (FY 2009)[1]
Number:239
Length:40abbr=offNaNabbr=off
Crew:2
Primary Armament:M58 MICLIC
Secondary Armament:1 .50 BMG M2 machine gun mount on top of the vehicle.

The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) is a U.S. military mine- and explosives-clearing vehicle, based on the M1 Abrams chassis, equipped with a mine plow and line charges. Its first large scale use by the US Marines (USMC) was in the joint ISAF-Afghan Operation Moshtarak in Southern Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan in 2010 against the Taliban insurgency.

The USMC had retired the ABV as of 2023.

Design and purpose

These tracked combat vehicles were specifically designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles through minefields and along roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. The 72-ton, 40adj=midNaNadj=mid vehicles are based on the M1 Abrams with a 1,500 horsepower engine, but fitted with only a .50 cal machine gun and a front-mounted 15adj=midNaNadj=mid plow, supported by metallic skis that glide on the dirt and armed with nearly 7000lb of explosives.

They are equipped with Linear Demolition Charge System (LDCS): rockets carrying C-4 explosives up to 100–150 yards forward, detonating hidden explosives at a safe distance, so that troops and vehicles can pass through safely.[2]

In the 1990s, the U.S. Army decided it could not afford to continue developing complicated, maintenance-heavy vehicles for this purpose. The Grizzly program was cancelled in 2001, and the prototype developed never made it to the production lines. The Marine Corps however persisted and funded its own development and testing. The main body of the final model of the ABV is built on the General Dynamics chassis that is used for the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. Pearson Engineering of the UK provided the specially designed plow and the other mine-clearing accessories.[3] [4] [5]

Operational history

In the morning of December 3, 2009, for the first time breachers were used in combat, when Marines pushed into the Taliban stronghold Nawzad during Operation Cobra's Anger in Helmand province, on their way to another Taliban stronghold Marjah, 380abbr=offNaNabbr=off southwest of Kabul, that was to be assaulted in February 2010.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

On February 11, 2010, two breachers fired explosive line charges in the desert outside Sistani to test Taliban defenses on the eve of Operation Moshtarak when closing off the enemy's escape route.[11] [12] [13] [14]

On February 13, 2010, on the first day of the operation, breachers of the US Marines 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion succeeded in digging and blasting "safety lanes" through the numerous minefields laid by the Taliban around Marjah.[15] [16]

According to a report in December 2009, there were then five ABVs in Afghanistan, and the U.S. Marines were said to have plans to field a total of 52 by 2012, of which about 34 have already had been produced. The U.S. Army was said to have ordered 187.[17]

By August 2013, six ABVs were brought to the Korean Peninsula to be used by the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) to provide the capability for deliberate and in-stride breaching of mine fields and complex obstacles. The ABVs would allow the 2ID to clear the heavily mined Korean Demilitarized Zone, believed to contain tens of thousands to millions of mines. A previous deployment of MRAP mine-resistant vehicles to South Korea caused North Korea to accuse their presence as vehicles that would cross the DMZ for an attack of the country; the MRAPs were later withdrawn due to their unsuitability for the terrain. North Korea has not publicly responded to the ABVs' arrival on the peninsula.[18] [19]

In 2019, the USMC's Force Design 2030 decision to divest of its Armor component included the ABV. This divestment transferred the majority their ABV inventory to the Army. This action resulted in the US Army being the sole branch of the US Military with under-armor mechanical breach capability.[20] As of 2023, the USMC had divested the ABV.[21]

In April 2021 the US Department of State approved the sale of 29 M1150s to Australia, where they will be operated by the Australian Army.[22]

Russo-Ukrainian War

Russian invasion of Ukraine

In November 2023 an ABV was shown in Ukraine during a ceremony to commemorate Ukraine's Day of Rocket Forces and Artillery and Engineering Troops Day.[23] [24]

On February 22, 2024 an M1150 was lost in combat for the first time in Avdiivka, Ukraine.[25] On 3 March, another M1150 was visually confirmed lost in combat near the village of Berdychi, Avdiivka.[26]

Operators

Current operators

United States Army, 149xM1150 vehicles.[27]

Vehicles supplied by the United States.[28]

1x captured from Ukraine.[29]

Future operators

29xM1150 vehicles.[22]

25xM1150 for the 18th Mechanized Division.[30]

4xM1150 vehicles.[31]

Former operators

United States Marine Corps, retired in 2023.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.deagel.com/Armies/M1150%20Assault%20Breacher%20Vehicle/a004118
  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/11/AR2010021101755.html "Marines push 'The Breacher' against Taliban lines"
  3. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0211/Marines-roll-out-Assault-Breacher-Vehicles-for-Marjah-Afghanistan-offensive "Marines roll out Assault Breacher Vehicles for Marjah Afghanistan offensive - When Marines rumble into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province for one of the largest offensives of the Afghanistan war, they'll be battle-testing a powerful new weapon, the Assault Breacher Vehicle"
  4. http://www.sfexaminer.com/world/us-marines-push-their-ultimate-mine-clearance-weapon-the-breacher-against-taliban-lines-84113127.html "US Marines push their ultimate mine clearance weapon, 'The Breacher,' against Taliban lines"
  5. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,210215,00.html "MV-22 and ABV Meet Expectations"
  6. http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/1209_marineassault/ ""Marine assault - Operation Cobra's Anger"
  7. http://www.marines.mil/unit/iimef/2ndmeb/Pages/MarinesBlastThroughNowZadWithAssaultBreacherVehicles.aspx "Marines Blast Through Now Zad With Assault Breacher Vehicles"
  8. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/80130.html "Monster mine-clearing tank goes to work in Afghanistan"
  9. http://thetension.blogspot.com/2009/12/combat-camera-us-marines-take-now-zad.html "Combat Camera: US Marines Take Now Zad During Operation Cobra's Anger, Part 1"
  10. http://www.armyrecognition.com/2009_mois_news_actualites/december_2009_worldwide_news_army_military_defence_industries_industry_exhibition_equipment_armoured.html "United States Marines Corps deployed for the time in Afghanistan the new engineer armoured ABV Assault Breacher Vehicle"
  11. http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/11/taliban-escape-route-sealed-attack/ "Taliban escape route sealed before attack"
  12. http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/us-and-afghan-troops-ring-taliban-stronghold-227745.html "US and Afghan troops ring Taliban stronghold"
  13. http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/11/Marines_test_Taliban_defenses_before_Afghan_attack/ "Marines test Taliban defenses before Afghan attack"
  14. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/19/20100210/img/pwl-afghanistan-95b79c4-85cac14aa052.html "Two U.S. Marine Assault Breacher Vehicles (ABV), test-fire explosive line charges in the desert outside Sistani"
  15. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-31-la-fg-afghan-marines31-2010jan31-story.html "Marine assault vehicles key to Afghan strategy - As U.S. and Afghan troops prepare for an offensive in Helmand province, the Assault Breacher Vehicle - a cross between a tank and a bulldozer - is intended to conquer the terrain and roadside bombs"
  16. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7026348.ece "Taliban leaders flee as marines hit stronghold"
  17. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3ac952d8a7-8924-4343-8565-08d1f224bd7b&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest "New Marine Tech Slams into Helmand"
  18. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/08/16/mrap-no-good-for-korea-2id-decides.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm MRAP No Good for Korea, 2ID Decides
  19. http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2013_defense_industry_military_army_news_uk/the_abv_assault_breacher_vehicle_is_deployed_by_u.s._army_in_south_korea_2008132.html The ABV Assault Breacher Vehicle is deployed by U.S. Army in South Korea
  20. Web site: Gonzales . Matt . 2021-12-01 . Force Design 2030: Divesting to meet the future threat . 2023-08-11 . United States Marine Corps Flagship . en-US.
  21. News: Keys . William . Richard . Ronald . Marine combat engineers no longer capable of supporting the infantry . 16 August 2023 . Marine Corps Times . 6 March 2023 . en.
  22. News: Kadib . Charbel . Defence procures $2.5bn in AFVs, CH-47F Chinooks . 3 May 2021 . Defence Connect . 3 May 2021.
  23. Web site: 3 November 2023 . On the occasion of the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery and the Engineering Troops Day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents state awards to Ukraine's defenders . 3 November 2023 . PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY Official website.
  24. Web site: Ukraine's Troops Were Reinforced by the American M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle Defense Express . 2023-11-04 . en.defence-ua.com . en.
  25. Web site: Ukraine Has Only A Few American-Made Assault Breacher Vehicles. It Just Lost One Outside Avdiivka.. 22 February 2024.
  26. News: Second Abrams tank & mine-clearing vehicle destroyed in Ukraine conflict – media. 2024-03-04. Conflict media.
  27. 2023-12-31 . Chapter Three: North America: Regional trends in 2022 16; United States: defence policy and economics 18; Canada: defence policy 28; Arms procurements and deliveries 29; Armed forces data section 32 . The Military Balance . en . 123 . 1 . 16–49 . 10.1080/04597222.2023.2162715 . 256848739 . 0459-7222.
  28. Web site: Axe . David . The United States Quietly Gave Ukraine the Assault Breacher, a Special Vehicle For Breaking Through Russian Defenses . Forbes . 10 November 2023.
  29. Web site: Nikolov . Boyko . US mine-clearing vehicle M1150 falls into Russian possession .
  30. Web site: Ratka . Damian . Assault Breacher Vehicles for the Polish Army . defence24.com . 29 December 2023 . en . 21 November 2023.
  31. Web site: Romania – M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 9 November 2023.
  32. Web site: BAHRAIN – M1A2 ABRAMS MAIN BATTLE TANKS. en. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 19 March 2024.

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