Why It Sucks Inside an M1 Abrams Tank

The M1 Abrams tank is one of the most advanced and powerful tanks in the entire world. But, being in a tank is nothing like in movies or video games.
Abrams Tanks are massive metal beasts with groundbreaking technology, but they were NOT built for your comfort.
Like tight spaces?
It can trigger claustrophobia issues even in the healthiest soldier because there's not much room to move around. Inside the turret, you'll find three out of the four crew members crammed into an extremely tight space… and during military operations, the tank crew may spend hundreds of hours inside in the dark smelly tank interior.
Spending hours or even days in an airtight tank may be unbearable. The smell emanating from the same crew members is the worst part. The dirtiest is always the loader that after spending countless hours inserting the ammunition into the barrel, sweats more than anyone else – and of course, there’s no bathroom in Abrams tanks, so while it might be cool to check out, you wouldn’t want to stay in one very long.

[reptarbun]

Former tank crew member here. Despite everything being true, don't underestimate a soldier's number one superpower. The ability to sleep anywhere.

[morrisvanderslice]

If you ever served on an Abrams that was hit by enemy fire, you’d never complain about being a little cramped.

[donaldhoward]

The smell of your fellow soldiers is never an issue. Once everyone stinks, nobody stinks.

[charlessnay]

Served 3 years as a loader on a M1A2 Abrams tank . Best job I ever had

[GenScinmore]

If you think this is claustrophobic you should see T72

[FishTurd]

From what I've heard, it's nice being in an air conditioned compartment when you're fighting a desert war.

[tibedog]

I was once a M1A1 crew member, my unit was compromised of nobody over five foot six inches. I was five foot five and hated the turret, which is why I was glad when I got to be the driver. The driver hole is the best position period. My favorite thing in the world was waking up on cold winter days, popping the driver hatch, raising my seat, and just slightly peeking out of the hole at the slope of the tank as it was dusted with ice and snow. Cocooned in my sleeping bag watching the dazzling sparkling rainbows of sunlight glinting off the thousands of ice particles on the slope as the morning sun rose burning away the fog from the ground.

[omarjassar]

Claustrophobia is a whole lot better than gettingshotaphobia

[Annisgotagun]

The same can be said for damn near every tank

[mr.matthews]

Depending on which way the turret is oriented the driver of the vehicle may be unable to open the hatch or crawl through to the center of the turret. There has been a case where this happened in water and a soldier drowned.

[thomasscaife]

The funny thing is that, from what I’ve heard, the Abrams is one of the more spacious tanks currently in service.

[stephenhumphrey]

M1 Abrams - Some of my crew get claustrophobia.

T72 - Hold my beer. 🍺

[cosmodeuschado]

"There's no bathroom in the Abrams"

Ah yes, while other tank have one
like "hold the ammunition for me, i need to pee"

[haveaday]

I was in a mechanized unit. Trust me, when it’s hot outside, or raining, or cold, or just plain garbage weather, you want to be in a tank. You envy those guys.

[LeonidasRex]

I was a tank crewman from M60A1s up to M1A1s... to rip off a movie phrase: Best damned job I ever had.

[JosephStealin]

Smell really isn’t a problem. When you all smell, no one smells. The worst part of being in a tank for hours is the numb Ass, headaches from wearing the headset etc

[Jameman]

After watching all of the Chieftain’s “Inside the Hatch” videos I can assure you that the Abrams is the pinnacle of luxury in terms of tanks

[zoes]

The worst part is not having a kettle for tea.
The designers of the British Challenger 2 tank knew what mattered most.

[Shadsbruh]

Meanwhile the L3:
“You haven’t seen nothing yet”

[deniro]

The smell shouldnt even be the issue tbh, like you get used to it after a while, unless everyone shitting everywhere