# How many stars safety rating would an M-1 Abrams get? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130 "2013-01-23T18:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [January 26, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/81 "2013-01-26T17:12:37Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > “The good news is, the Admiral would like to do some skeet shooting today.” It’s good to be the Admiral. Thanks for the helmet info, **Loach** and **ExTank**. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/82 "2013-01-28T21:16:46Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Aircraft have ejection seats. Race cars are not usually being shot at and do not have large amounts of ammunition ready to go off. I’m not sure I see the relevance of your comment. Not all aircraft have ejection seats, and racecars have large amounts of fuel that can pose a life-threatening hazard to a driver who can’t get out of his restraints in a hurry. (Google “fiery race crash.”) And if the ammo goes off inside the tank, you aren’t going to be able to get out fast enough whether you’re strapped in or not. [Quote=ExTank] I wouldn’t want to trust any quick-release harness made by the lowest bidder. [/quote] Every other component in the tank, plus your helmet, your boots, your sidearm, etc., are all (presumably) made by the lowest bidder. Why would the harnesses be any different? ---
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/83 "2013-01-28T21:55:45Z")
I designed the electronic analog speedometer for the first production run back in 1975 or so and the speedo scale only went to 45 mph/70 kph at that time. I am sure the instrument panel has been redesigned since then and probably has a digital display nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/84 "2013-01-28T22:14:09Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Helmets [… have a] built-in foam-padded earphones and boom mic for the intercom and radio system, with a thin fiberglass shell over the top (more of a bump-cap than a helmet)… Does the microphone have a switch between the in-tank comm and the radio? I can imagine times when the commander does not want crew to hear some things. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > “The good news is, the Admiral would like to do some skeet shooting today.” I know this is the punchline, but I’ve forgotten the joke. Could you tell it? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/85 "2013-01-28T23:15:58Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Googling around on tank crews I saw the military expression “DAT:” Dumb Assed Tanker. I doubt it, but used by tank crew themselves? With the Abrams it was updated to CDAT. Computerized Dumb Assed Tanker. Used by the jealous Infantry because we don’t have to walk and they do. And they don’t like it when we call them Crunchies. Of course my state got rid of our tanks and now I’m a Combat Engineer. So I’m a crunchy now. > [@ExTank](#): > > Helmets on when the engine’s running or the vehicle is in motion. The helmets provide some hearing protection, but when I was “in,” it was also recommended to wear our issue ear plugs, as well. > > It’s a foam-padded, nylon mesh head covering/cap, with built-in foam-padded earphones and boom mic for the intercom and radio system, with a thin fiberglass shell over the top (more of a bump-cap than a helmet). > > [Here’s an image](http://flighthelmet.com/item_photos/DSCN4508_600.jpg) that’s a pretty good representative of a typical modern tanker’s helmet. You can’t see the boom mic; it appears to not be present in this photo. > > [This is another image.](http://www.gentexcorp.com/assets/gentex/Ground/DH132helmet.jpg) You can see the fiberglass shell in the background. The switch on the left ear piece is the intercom and radio switch. The cord is for connecting to the intercom system. Again, the boom mic appears to be left out. Or [this](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/images/life/dukakis.jpg&imgrefurl=http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/lm10.html&h=442&w=585&sz=72&tbnid=fI4yEQBQpuDpLM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=102&zoom=1&usg=__9gBlcMw9QknQwXNSaID_G2PWYzY=&docid=LB2W4yUkvcEjGM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hwUHUebfN7O30QGCpYDYDw&sqi=2&ved=0CKIBEP4dMAw) picture. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/86 "2013-01-28T23:36:25Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Every other component in the tank, plus your helmet, your boots, your sidearm, etc., are all (presumably) made by the lowest bidder. Why would the harnesses be any different? It was more in the way of a lame joke than an actual point. IME, there just weren’t many instances where a five-point restraint system would be of any use. The few cases where it might have were all caused by delibrate operator misuse of the vehicle, not even “error;” the driver was deliberately zig-zagging back-and-forth across a gravel road cut into the side of a hill. He got too close to the bad side of the road, it gave way, and the tank rolled down the hill. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130/87 "2013-01-28T23:39:10Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > With the Abrams it was updated to CDAT. Computerized Dumb Assed Tanker. Used by the jealous Infantry because we don’t have to walk and they do. And they don’t like it when we call them Crunchies. They like it even less when we roll by, as they trudge wearily along under their burdensome packs, and have to eat our dust. Screw 'em. They should’ve joined up for Armor. At least they could’ve gone Mech. Infantry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-stars-safety-rating-would-an-m-1-abrams-get/648130.md?page=4)