The M1150 ABV: America's Mine-Clearing Monster Tank

Out of all of the weapons employed on the fields of modern warfare, landmines are some of the most consistently concerning. With only a bit of preparation, an enemy force can pepper a battlefield with concealed explosives, which detonate the moment an unassuming soldier or vehicle sets foot on one. 

Stepping on an errant landmine is one of the biggest concerns for any active soldier, which is why the United States military has worked for years to find ways to safely clear them out in the middle of an active conflict. While methods like metal detectors and mine-sniffing dogs can be used to clear mines after a conflict has concluded, clearing them in the heat of things can be difficult due to constant offense from the opposing side. 

It's for this reason that, in the mid-2000s, the U.S. military devised a vehicle that could clear mines out of the line's way while keeping everyone in and behind it safe: the M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle, or "ABV" for short.

The ABV was originally prototyped as far back as 2002, before being finalized in 2008. Built from the decommissioned hull of an M1 Abrams tank, the vehicle's design is rather genius in its simplicity. By swapping out the usual turret on the tank for a set of spider-like protrusions — collectively named the "Full-Width Mine Plow" — the vehicle could bulldoze through a battlefield, digging up the ground as it went. 

As the dirt gets shoved aside, any mines buried within get pushed away from the ABV's line, ensuring safe passage to any soldiers and vehicles that follow it. In the event that any of the mines detonate, the ABV's explosive reactive armor paneling would absorb the brunt of the explosion, keeping the pilot safe.

In addition to the mine plow, the ABV featured several swappable attachments. If the pilot wanted to clear out a long swath of field in a hurry, a Line Charge Launcher could be attached on the rear of the vehicle, firing a line of tightly-packed explosives to detonate any potential mines in a straight line. 

A more traditional Dozer Blade could also be swapped in for the mine plow, allowing the ABV to dig trenches and gun emplacements, shove enemy barricades, and remove anti-tank ditches.

After the ABV was finalized in 2008, the vehicle saw active deployment in several armed conflicts in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2011. After this, it continued to be used in several smaller-scale conflicts in Helmand, and on the border between South and North Korea. 

It was also utilized in military training exercises held in Germany and Norway in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Based on currently-available information, there are around 45 ABVs in the possession of the U.S. Marines, as well as 187 in the possession of the U.S. Army.

Relatively speaking, the ABV is still a very new development in the United States military's repertoire, but as mines have continued to be a problem on battlefields, not to mention the use of I.E.D.s, its applications have remained readily apparent. With the help of the ABV, soldiers can march confidently onto a battlefield without fear of explosive devices beneath their feet, as well as exercise greater control over terrain and emplacements.