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M1A1 Abrams vs M1A2 Abrams: how to tell them apart

Two versions of the same family. Name the wrong one in Spotrep and you still get family points, but the exact model scores most.

M1A1 Abrams, main battle tank from USA

M1A1 Abrams

Main battle tank, USA. In service since 1986

What gives it away

Seven road wheels and a wide, flat slab-sided turret; lacks the separate commander’s sight box of the M1A2.

Used by

Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Poland, Ukraine

Photo: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Austin Berner, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
M1A2 Abrams, main battle tank from USA

M1A2 Abrams

Main battle tank, USA. In service since 1993

What gives it away

Seven road wheels, wide flat slab-sided turret with a separate commander's sight box on the roof; very hot gas-turbine exhaust at the rear.

Used by

USA, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Taiwan, Australia

Photo: Oregon National Guard from Salem, Oregon, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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