'Having our Soldiers getting their tanks certified for airlift is very exciting for them because this is not something that they normally get to do.' 'Our Soldiers do not get to participate in the type of operation very often,' said Maj. The M1 weighs in excess of 130,000 pounds, which comes to 300,000 pounds of restraint by using more than 40 one-inch heavy chains.įor members of the 1-118th CAB this was the first time that the unit had loaded their M1s onto a C-17 for transport and planners wanted to ensure that crews, who were not used to strapping down their equipment for airlift, where given ample time. Thigpen also said they have to calculate for 3Gs in any direction. Ensuring that the tank does not move while in flight is our primary goal.' 'Preparing the 130,000 pound M1 for flight takes total effort by everyone. Lamar Thigpen, ground commander for the 315th Airlift Control Flight. 'Getting the tanks onto the C-17 is the easy part,' said Lt. Air Force C-17 transport planes for transportation to McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, S.C. Soldiers and Airmen worked in unison over two days to load and secure four of the 1-118th CAB's new M1A1SA Abrams main battle tanks onto four U.S.

The South Carolina Army National Guard's 1-118th Combined Arms Battalion (CAB) participated in heavy airlift operations April 10-11, 2014, at Wright Army Airfield (WAAF) demonstrating the joint capabilities of the South Carolina Guard and U.S.

Does the air force have tanks?