The loss of the first Abrams

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On 26 February, Russian forces west of Avdiivka destroyed the first M1A1 Abrams tank of the war. Like the loss of the first Challenger 2 near Robotyne last September the event has provoked widespread commentary. This article seeks to establish the facts and draw lessons. Even after two years of war, no NATO army has seriously addressed the threat to its armoured fleets - not just tanks - from the revolution taking place on the frontlines of Ukraine from the proliferation of cheap drones.
Unless thought is given to this problem, every tank fleet faces the same fate as the M1A1 Abrams examined in this article.
What happened - the Ukrainian side of the story
On 17 February, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka following a four-and-a-half month battle. This battle, incidentally, cost the Russians 224 tanks, according to the dedicated Oryx analyst who started counting the losses when the assaults started in October.
47 Separate Mechanised Brigade (47 OMBr) had been defending the flank north of Avdiivka. Following the withdrawal, the brigade fell back from the contested rail line and front line village of Stepove and took positions two kilometres west in Berdychi. Both settlements exist only in name as they have been wholly destroyed.
47 OMBr had previously distinguished itself in the Robotyne sector during the 2023 summer counter-offensive. Over this period the brigade was supported by Leopard 2A6s from a separate tank battalion as its organic tank battalion was delayed in Germany training on a batch of M1A1 Abrams. The organic tank battalion was only finally taken under command on 23 February this year. Two days later the first YouTube video of an M1A1 Abrams appeared on the internet. The following day the loss occurred.
On 26 February, two Russian assault groups had broken through the defence line of neighbouring troops. A forward position was in danger of being surrounded. In the words of 47 OMBr 'Thanks to the actions of the crew of Abrams, Bradley, artillery strikes and drones of the 47th brigade, two Russian assault groups were destroyed, and our infantrymen withdrew.' In this action, the Bradley killed eight helpless Russian infantryman dropped off by a BTR-82A with cannon fire.
The fleeing vehicle was then destroyed by an FPV drone.
The M1A1 Abrams was fitted with ECM but it did not work. The Ukrainians speculate the reason was frequency changes on the command link of the Russian FPV drones. Crews had attempted to fit protective 'grills' but without success due to 'the features of the tank design'. This has generally been true of all the Western-supplied tanks, in comparison with Russian tanks that are now rarely observed without fitted 'barbecues' (the protective grills or screens).
What happened - the Russian side of the story
The Russian unit involved in the attack was the Recce-Strike Group from 15th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle1 commanded by an individual with call sign 'Kolovrat'('Spinning Wheel'). The drone pilot was an individual with call sign Rassvet ('Dawn'). In his words, 'We found the target and went around him from behind. It [the FPV drone] hit the rear part. The tank was stopped first.' Attacking the turret rear has become the standard tactic of drone pilots on both sides.
The strike caused an exterior fire. The crew baled and abandoned the tank. A second drone was then launched. The second strike caused an ammunition fire and the tank burned out (but did not detonate catastrophically in the manner of Russian tanks).
The FPV drone used in the attack
The M1A1 Abrams was a victim of a Piranha-10 FPV drone costing around 50,000 roubles ($500). (The Challenger 2 last year was hit in the engine compartment by a Lancet loitering munition; this also started a fire).
The Simbirsk Design Bureau (SKB) 'Piranha', based in Ulyanovsk, makes two variants of the Piranha - Piranha-7 (2.5kg warhead) and Piranha-10 (4.5kg warhead). At first, SKB Piranha copied Chinese FPV drones. Today it manufactures purely indigeno...