The blow-out panels of the Abrams aren't meant to prevent the bustle-stored ammunition from combusting if hit. Rather, they're designed to channel the combustion up through the turret roof, protecting the crew and the rest of the tank. If an Abrams is hit in the bustle and the ammo there goes off, the vehicle will be mission-killed, but it won't be "kill" killed. For instance, it won't toss its turret à la carousel autoloader tanks.
If the video does in fact show an Abrams, the footage is entirely consistent with the blow-out panels working properly and venting the ammo combustion up and out, leaving a live crew and a tank that's relatively easy to repair.
Only about the bold texts.
Firstly, IMO M1's turret will be tossed off just like a carousel autoloader tank
in the same situation when the crew compartment is penetrated..
We all know that the T-tanks turrent blown off is due to the explosion of the ammunition inside the crew compartment. M1 also have some ammunition stored inside the crew compartment , M1A1 has 11, A2 has 6. These shells have the same chance of being detonated as the shells in T-tanks. Their lesser number makes no difference in blowing up the turret. When these shells are hit, there is no more chances for M1 crews to survive than T crews.
M1's turret does have less chance to be blown off than T-tanks in the same situation because it is much heavier and less ammo to simutanously combust, but for the crew the difference is only about being cripy or charred, the tank itself will be totally wasted beyond repair.
Secondly, if I remember correctly there was Saudi's M1A2S' crew burnt to death due to the ammunition in the bustle was hit. So even for the intended purpose (deflect the combustion) the bustle design isn't always working.
