A valid
e-mail address must be provided. (This is not
optional)
3.
Images
must be posted at low resolution (72 dpi) and
no larger than 760 pixels wide, and copyright/trade
mark owners must be credited whenever reasonably possible
Posts
that violate the guidelines or Terms and conditions of Use
of the Missing-lynx.com discussion groups will be erased,
and repeated violation of this policy may result in termination
of the violator's account.
(Login SWATdoc501) Missing-Lynx members from IP address 70.242.126.101
Hello to all,
A few years ago, I read an article posted in Military Modeler magazine concerning an M-1 conversion for the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980's. Well, I found the magazine. It is volume 21, number 5 and is dated May of 1994.
The article reads that up to five (5) M-1's were shipped to Iraq via Egypt and Saudi Arabia during 1985-1986. The article states that this was due, in part, to the Iranian's effective use of the T.O.W. missile against Iraqi armor in Southern Iraq.
According to the article, American engineers from the BDTR corporation carried out the following modifications on two (2) of the tanks;
-the addition of Soviet style rear mounted fuel drums.
-storage racks added to both sides of the turret front.
-replacing the 105mm main gun with a Soviet style 125mm gun.
-secondary armament replacement.
-Soviet style smoke dischargers.
-numerous internal electronics changes.
-minor engine modifications.
-removal of specific sensitive items.
The modified vehicles were said to have been named the IM-1 Lion.
The Iraqi army was reportedly unable to sustain these vehicles and they were supposedly relegated to a tank park somewhere in Iraq following the cessation of hostilities between Iran and Iraq.
Interestingly, the article points out that the U.S. representatives felt that the Soviets had figured out the working of Chobham armor by the time the M-1's were supplied to Iraq. Whoever "they" were chose not to restrict it's use on the Iraqi vehicles. The Soviets were able to examine the vehicles pursuant to this, according to what was written.
The resulting model as displayed in the article was well done and was built by the author, a Mr. John Williamson. It makes for an intriguing topic as well as a unique model, in my opinion.
If this article is accurate, I would like to know more about the disposition of these vehicles. Does anyone here have anything more to add? Are any of our members familiar with author as named above?
