Human Factors Evaluation of the M1 Combat Tank in Operational Test III
Abstract
The New Army Battle Tank Operational Test III (XM1 OT III) was conducted at Fort Hood, TX from September 1980 through May 1981. It was a comprehensive test of low rate initial production (LRIP) M1 tanks operated by members of a standard Army tank battalion in live-firing and non-firing field exercises. The test was designed to provide data and analyses of the capabilities of LRIP M1 tanks in an operational environment. The results were for use in the decision of whether or not to place the M1 tank system into full- scale production and fielding. The test agent for XM1 OT III was the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command's Combined Arms Test Activity (TCATA). The purpose of the human factors test objective was to provide data to determine if problems observed previously during XM1 OT II (March 1979) on prototype tanks had been corrected on the LRIP tanks and to identify additional needed modifications. The scope of the effort was to include the following activities: assess the ability of the tank commander to function in the M1's commander's weapon station; administer questionnaires to all crew members to obtain data on human factors engineering design considerations; collect performance data on the times required to accomplish loader's tasks involving loading and transferring main-gun ammunition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA164538
Entities
People
- William K. Earl
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences