M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) (Breacher)

Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV)

United States | 1995

"The M1 Grizzly was a planned Combat Engineering Vehicle offshoot of the storied M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank line - the Army budget halted the project."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/28/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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The M1 "Grizzly" was a short-lived Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV) product for the United States military based on the established chassis of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT). The vehicle was in-development during the early part of the 1990s and intended for the role of "breacher" system for the modern battlefield (indeed the product initially carried the name of "Breacher"). Able to keep pace with the mechanized land forces of the United States, the Grizzly was to clear any obstacles and minefields laid down by enemy forces ahead of the direct-combat land units like Abrams tanks and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). A prototype emerged in 1995 but the program was terminated in 2001 due to Army budget constraints.

The U.S. Army planned to acquire some 366 total Grizzly vehicles for their part in the program which would have refurbished out-of-service Abrams tanks - providing at least some level of "logistical friendliness" in terms of commonality of parts.

While maintaining much of the general form and performance of the Abrams (including amphibious capabilities but sans the powered main gun turret), the Grizzly's defining features were its bow-mounted dozer blade and trainable telescoping arm (containing an earth-moving bucket) over the rear. An onboard Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) powered the systems when the engine was turned off. The Grizzly retained the NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) and fire suppression suites of the Abrams for basic crew survivability and was modestly-armed through 1 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) by way of a Remote Weapon Station (RWS). The standard operating crew numbered two - driver and vehicle commander - they positioned side-by-side in a fixed forward superstructure. At the front facing of the superstructure was found 12 x smoke grenade dischargers giving the vehicle a self-screening capability. The running gear remained faithful to the original Abrams - its gas turbine engine in place and driving a rear mounted sprocket. As in the Abrams design, seven double-tired roadwheels were to be featured in a "track-and-wheel" arrangement along each hull side.

In the end, the program was cited as being too expensive to procure per-unit and too expensive to maintain in the long run. In its place was adopted the "Assault Breacher Vehicle" (ABV) - otherwise known as "The Shredder" - and this product entered service in 2009 with the Army and USMC services. Thirty-nine were procured.

Only a single M1 Grizzly prototype was ever completed.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV).

1 x Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine developing 1,500 horsepower.
Installed Power

41 mph
66 kph
Road Speed

261 miles
420 km
Range

Structure
The physical qualities of the M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV).

2
(MANNED)
Crew

34.8 ft
10.62 meters
O/A Length

12.0 ft
3.65 meters
O/A Width

11.5 ft
3.5 meters
O/A Height

110,231 lb
50,000 kg | 55.1 tons
Weight

Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) (Breacher) Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV).

1 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) OR 1 x 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) in Remote Weapon Station (RWS).
12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers

AMMUNITION:
500 x 12.7mm ammunition (estimated)
250 x 40mm projectiles (estimated)
12 x Smoke Grenades

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
Nightvision - YES.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Protection (CBRN) - YES.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) (Breacher) family line.

M1 Grizzly CMV - Base Series Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the M1 Grizzly Combat Mobility Vehicle (CMV) (Breacher). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): Chrysler Defense (General Dynamics Land Systems) - USA