The world Internet is discussing with interest the video, filmed last year in Ohio, but has gained popularity only in the past few weeks. The video shows an unknown tank of a rather original design transported by rail. According to many, this vehicle is the prototype of the new American M1A3 tank, although there is an equally popular version that it is just a decoration for the Hollywood movie "Transformers 3".
If this is really a new tank of the US Army, then its design is noticeably different from all armored vehicles known up to this point. First of all, the noticeably elongated tower with a hatch on the rear wall is striking. It is possible that this was done due to the presence of an automatic loader in the tank, and the hatch serves for loading ammunition, or ejecting spent cartridges. Based on the video, it is impossible to say anything about the caliber of the tank's gun, however, even with the naked eye it is clear that it is more than a third longer than that of the M1A2 Abrams.
The prototype of the American tank CATTB - development of the 80s
Perhaps this armored vehicle is the heir to the development of the 80s of the CATTB tank, at least outwardly both vehicles are very similar. The CATTB also had an automatic loader and a powerful 140mm cannon, which in terms of its characteristics was almost as good as 155mm howitzers. By the way, if there was a need to reduce the caliber of the gun, then it was changed within an hour, by simply replacing the barrel with a standard 120 mm for tanks.
In the 80s, the work of the Americans on CATTB was very worried about the Soviet leadership, because, in fact, we had nothing to oppose against such a powerful armored vehicle. Considering that over the past time the United States could further improve this tank, then one can only imagine the faces of the heads of our Ministry of Defense at the sight of this video.
However, perhaps not everything is so bad, and this tank is still nothing more than a decoration for a new Hollywood film. This version is supported by the fact that the Pentagon would hardly have decided to openly transport its new top-secret development by rail, and even on a graffiti-painted train. But so far there are no official statements, neither from the Pentagon leadership, nor from the creators of "Transformers 3", and one can only guess what is actually filmed in this video.
