# An M1A2 Abrams tank in World War 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713 "2012-06-20T03:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/81 "2012-06-21T23:35:36Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I doubt that the 1944 paving of the Autobahn could support the weight of an M1 tank. So what? You’re driving to Berlin to shoot Hitler, & you friggin worry about scuffing the pavement? FUGGGIDDABOUDIT! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/82 "2012-06-22T03:11:16Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > I bet the most useful way to use that M1 would be as a scout and spotter. Between the thermal site and range finder, the crew could just sit back and call in artillery, or direct its supporting infantry around an ambush. Basically, use it as a “force multiplier”, rather than just a Supar Heavy Tank Sure, it could probably chew up a battalion or two without much trouble, but there’s a whole lot of German army between it and Berlin. > > (how good is the thermal site? Could you spot an anti-tank gun on the other side of a hedgerow? Can you keep the machine guns fed with WW2 ammunition?) That’s what I was thinking myself- the thermal sight and laser rangefinder for the main gun would be worth more than the weight of the tank in gold back then. And you could definitely keep the 50 loaded; those things haven’t significantly changed since WWI. I suspect that it would be a relatively trivial task to either re-arm the M1 with M1919 machine guns, or to make a production run of 7.62 NATO, provided that it wasn’t all shot up. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/83 "2012-06-22T04:43:33Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > That’s a good choice. But it might be fun to tell Patton that it was going to be called the Monty. Just make sure his pearl-handled revolvers aren’t within reach. ---
**Author:** ![Mekhazzio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@Mekhazzio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mekhazzio)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/84 "2012-06-22T07:46:25Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > :dubious: I’m calling BS. > > Abrams maintenance isn’t that damned hard; The anecdote wasn’t intended to convey an impression that the M1’s unreliable, just that they need a non-negligible amount of effort and supply behind them. It’s been about 6 years now so I’m fuzzy on the details of the story, but as I remember it, the reason the tanks were down so much in this guy’s company weren’t because of constant failure, but because cost-cutting measures meant that any failure was a serious problem. Replacement parts were a long time coming, there weren’t enough mechanics to cover everything and the crews didn’t get much time with their tanks because they were having to do things like patrolling in HMMWVs (there were a lot of unkind things said about -that- practice…) Admittedly, there wasn’t much for armor to **do** during the occupation of Iraq, but it’s still a notable point that even with the huge amount of money we burned on it, it wasn’t enough to keep everything fully mission ready. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/85 "2012-06-22T08:41:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Just make sure his pearl-handled revolvers aren’t within reach. [QUOTE=Patton] They’re ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol. [/QUOTE] 🙂 > **[General Patton Revolver](https://smith-wessonforum.com/threads/general-patton-revolver.127214/)** > > What did General Patton carry as Revolvers with the PEARL Grips? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/86 "2012-06-22T18:04:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Well, since Grant, Lee, Sherman and Sheridan were honored by having tanks named after them, I’d say it undoubtedly has to be a Thomas. > > [George Henry Thomas - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Thomas) Post war some Commonwealth forces may have a snigger at [the name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine) (if not the performance). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/87 "2012-06-22T19:08:18Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Post war some Commonwealth forces may have a snigger at [the name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine) (if not the performance). Heh. Good point. Not to worry until 1946 - and given the huge media footprint the wonder tank would have during the war, the Rev. W. Awdry might just pick another name for his pride and joy! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713/88 "2012-06-22T20:16:11Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Post war some Commonwealth forces may have a snigger at [the name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine) (if not the performance). No, as long as it’s not John Thomas you’re good. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-m1a2-abrams-tank-in-world-war-2/625713.md?page=4)