And that answers my question. 
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Good eyes. I brought the image into a photo program, but zooming makes it blurry. The closest I could get was “WUTJACK.” 
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Note that the SEPs are fitted with the Vapo(u)r Compression System Unit - VCSU - not “VCU”.
The correct name should help with searches.
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@systemic, on the image of the Meng kit, what is that rectangular part next to the left tail light on the left side of the image?
I also see that part on some M1A2’s as shown in this image below.
You can also see it on this M1A2. Do you know what those blocks are hanging off the side skirt in this image?
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The angled rectangle on the left side is a cover for the Under Armor Aux Power Unit (UAAPU - generator) exhaust in the left rear of the hull.
Below the left front of the side skirt is added ERA blocks. They are non-standard and probably added by the crew.
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Thanks!
Would the rear hull UAAPU cover be on the M1A2 in the original image I posted? You can’t see the rear as it is blocked by the wall. I am building the Tamiya M1A2 SEP TUSK II 35326 kit as a TUSK I from the image in my original post which doesn’t provide the cover but I have the RFM M1A1/A2 SEP TUSK I/TUSK II 5004 kit which includes it. I am building the RFM kit as an M1A1 TUSK I so the cover is not used on that version.
In the image systemic posted of the Meng M1A2, it shows the cover only on the one on the left. In the images I posted in this post at the bottom and previously with the extra armor hanging from the side skirts, some M1A2’s have the cover which are the same as the one on the right of the Meng image with the 4 bolts on the side of the hull just above the side skirt. The Tamiya kit rear upper hull looks the same as the Meng but without the 4 bolts on the side of the hull.
Some more images of M1A2’s with those extra armor blocks.
Images found here.
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There is a “standard” kit for those - it’s not just a one off. I’ve seen it in Iraq down in Mosul with my own eyes.
Edit: I just saw Terence’s post. They were indeed used quite a bit.
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The above Meng pic shows the two types of systems used on M1A2 SEPs. Originally, the UAAPU was used, but was found to have problems. The Hawker Battery System replaced the UAAPUs in later models. The left side of the pic shows the UAAPU. The right side shows the Hawker Battery System.
It looks like your original pic has the left rear cover of the UAAPU.
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From the Meng product image, the one on the right with the Hawker Battery System is the same as the Tamiya M1A2 SEP TUSK II 35326 kit. The Tamiya kit is missing the small square with the 4 bolts on the side of the hull.
The Meng image showing the Hawker Battery System has a long rectangular section overlapping down the side of the hull. Tamiya also has that same long rectangular section molded on. They are pointed out. Second image is from Tamiya.
The original image I posted of the real M1A2 also has the long rectangular section similar to the Hawker Battery System shown on the Meng and Tamiya kits. That third section you pointed out on top of the hull of the real M1A2 is quite possibly the same as what Meng shows on the left image showing the UAAPU. It is getting confusing now which version of the M1A2 it is in the original image I posted. Here you can see the long rectangular section overlapping the side of the hull on the right arrow point. The left arrow point is common to both the UAAPU and Hawker Battery System.
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Hard to tell for sure from the photo. I would just pick one way and go with it.
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I’m sorry and I’m not trying to nit-pick, but the batteries are Hawker Brand. The army did a big push to get away from the liquid cell to the maintenance free gel cells.
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Yeah, the images show a few different vehicles with them attached. Do you know why they were just at those specific locations of the side skirts and road wheels? They are in the area of the driver but hanging low down to the road wheels.
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To defeat EFPs, which usually were aimed at a slightly upward angle.
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Thanks for all the help, greatly appreciated!
@HeavyArty, I already have the Tamiya kit started and it has the same upper hull as the Meng kit shown on the right side of the Meng product image so I can only do that version. With no other images of the specific vehicle I want to do, I will just go by what is visible on similar M1A2’s.
@18bravo, thanks!
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@twong I think it’s getting confusing because the picture I posted is wrong - or at least, Meng made a mistake in their image and I didn’t spot it before posting. Sorry.
The bolted square plate on the hull side goes with the UAAPU. Hopefully this clarifies things (or maybe it makes them worse 
).
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Can we add this to the M1 Abrams Reference thread? I think it’s valuable information to add.
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Thanks for the clarification.
Looks like the M1A2 in my original post has the Hawker battery system as it doesn’t have the bolted square on the side of the hull.
So only the ones with the UAAPU would have that rectangular part next to the left tail light?
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I believe so. Apart from that glitch the Meng CADs are accurate.
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Thanks again, greatly appreciated!
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