M1 Panther II MineClearing Tank - Trumpeter's No.00346, released in 2004
The M1 Abrams Panther is an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank specially modified for mine
clearing missions. Modifications to the Abrams tank include the removal of turret, and
installation of mine rollers on the front of the vehicle. Rollers attached to the front of
the vehicle explode landmines without causing damage to the vehicle. Weighing 43 tons,
the Panther II can clear 5,000 square-meter area within an hour. Plow and roller kit
attachments push mines out of the way when clearing roads without damaging the vehicle.
The two Panther II vehicles in the 130th Engineer Brigade's arsenal are one-third of the
Army's total stock. Two have been used since 1999 for mine-clearing missions in Bosnia,
and two more are en route to Kosovo.
