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Abrams afloat

Edition 1167, May 31, 2007
 
 
Tri-service tank: An M1A1 Abrams from 1 Armd Regt tries to bridge all three Services as it first takes to the air then floats across Darwin Harbour in a ship-to-ship-to-shore transfer.
Photos by LS Helen Frank and AB Jo Dilorenzom
THE new M1A1 Abrams has passed another stage of its introduction into service by completing a successful joint exercise inside Darwin Harbour with the Navy.

HMAS Manoora embarked both the 61.3-tonne M1A1 Abrams and M88 Hercules recovery vehicle on May 15, transferring both to the HMAS Betano using the ship’s crane.

Betano then sailed across Darwin Harbour to the shore establishment HMAS Coonawarra, where the vehicles drove ashore.

Maj Glenn Ryan, OC B Sqn, 1 Armd Regt, said the exercise tested the Navy’s ability to load, carry and deploy the Army’s new tank.

“The trial was a complete success. It was the first in a number of tests that will be conducted with Navy fleet units so that this potent piece of armour can be efficiently moved to where it is needed,” Maj Ryan said.

CO HMAS Manoora Cmdr Charles McHardie said the trial proved the Abrams could be embarked and deployed and also demonstrated the high degree of cooperation between the services.