The remote commander's .50 machine gun is actually part of an upgrade package for the M1A1 currently being deployed in Iraq due to the nature of the combat situations most of these tanks find themselves in, urban areas with targets not just straight ahead. The M1 is designed for battle in the open against USSR tanks, not for moving through urban areas.
I can't remember the name of this exact upgrade package but it consists of extra armour to protect the tank and its crew from the newer, more advanced IEDs being deployed by Insurgent forces. It also includes the addition of an armoured cowling for the loader's M240 and a CROWS weapon station with an M2 replacing the current commander's .50
I have just found info on this package and here is a link on TUSK
I just realised we are wandering way off topic here and I know I'm a part of that, oops.
Now where were we?
M249 On Abrams/7.62 Machinegun on Bradley
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El_Vikingo
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