The rear hull mounted APU is only correct for some US Army M1A1 tanks from stateside in ODS. Not all had them and no USMC M1A1HC tanks had them during or after ODS. Also, the USMC did not have any of their own M1A1HC tanks in ODS. They were loaned a Bn of Army M1A1 tanks, with Army 6-shot smoke launchers. Another BDE from the Army (2nd “Tiger” BDE from 2 AR) was assigned to the USMC to provide additional heavy armor support with their M1A1s. The USMC was in the middle of fielding their first Bn of M1A1HCs when ODS broke out and they were not ready to deploy.
The USMC M1A1HC doesn’t have to have the turret mounted APU, neither does the M1A2. They are issued with them, but not all retain them. Sometimes they are damaged or break down and are removed by the crew to allow for more storage. The power junction box should still be on the top of the turret though where the APU connects.
Basically, the M1A2 is correct for one in OIF, it just depends on how up to date you want it to be. All the current M1A1/A2 models on the market need something added to bring them to the latest standards, even Dragon’s new M1A1AIM.
The only M1A2s that were in NATO 3-tone camo were test vehicles and a few as trainers at the Armor School at Ft Knox. They have all been sand since fielding.
I don’t know of any AM turret bustle APU out there. I would just pick which one you want to have it and go that way. You could also post at Armorama or Missing-Lynx Buy, Sell, Trade forums and see if anyone has an extra APU.
Here is some more M1 update info:
US Army M1A1HC/AIM Upgrades
EPLRS antenna mount, thin post to the right side of regular antenna.

APU Power Junction box. New electrical conduit is the angle-iron piece running along the left side of the blow-out panel.

Power connection box next to the man-hole cover. There are two screw caps to connect to located on the front of the connector, toward the front of the tank.

PLGR antenna is mounted somewhere on the turret roof. It is usually in front of the crosswind sensor. I have also seen it to the front right of the TC’s cupola as well. The location for it varies.
Tank/Infantry Phone and rear Slave Cable Receptacle on right rear of hull on latest AIM tanks.

Deep fording kit exhaust flange on HCs and AIMs.

Forward MCB power/control box connector next to driver’s hatch.

Check Prime Portal for more M1A1 and M1A2 pics.
Check out my M1 Variants Article as well for more info and pics.
USMC M1A1HC/AIM Upgrades
You still need to add some things to the Dragon M1A1 AIM to bring it up to current standards for a USMC M1A1HC (Heavy Common) though. Here is a short list of items to add to it.
Change out the smoke launchers to the USMC 8-shot, double-stacked type.


EPLRS antenna mount, thin post to the right side of regular antenna.

APU Power Junction box. New electrical conduit is the angle-iron piece running along the left side of the blow-out panel.

Power connection box next to the man-hole cover. There are two screw caps to connect to located on the front of the connector, toward the front of the tank.

PLGR antenna is mounted somewhere on the turret roof. It is usually in front of the crosswind sensor. I have also seen it to the front right of the TC’s cupola as well. The location for it varies.
Tank/Infantry Phone and rear Slave Cable Receptacle on right rear of hull on latest AIM tanks.

Deep fording kit exhaust flange on HCs and AIMs.

Forward MCB (Mine Clearing Blade) power/control box connector box next to driver’s hatch. (only on later USMC M1A1 AIMs)

The box in front of the loader’s hatch is an MCD (Missile Countermeasure Device). It is used to defeat optically and laser guided anti-tank missiles.


Some USMC M1A1HCs are using the old sprocket guards as well. The older T-156 Chevron Block track had an issue with jumping off the sprockets. The newer T-158 Bigfoot track solved the problem. Originally developed for the M1IP the USMC started putting the rings back on M1A1s that were stationed stateside in the early-mid nineties. It was an easy fix to counter the track losing tension during operation. The USMC tanks that came off of the Maritime Preposition Ships (MPS) in Kuwait for OIF I /II do not have the sprocket rings. The USMC tanks that you see in IRAQ with Retaining Rings are from stateside (1st or 2nd Tank Bn). They are part of the different ocean-going Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) that have gone to Iraq and participated in the festivities over the past few years. So, specific USMC tanks could be seen with the rings applied. The below pic is a USMC M1A1HC in ops in Iraq.

For the USMC BRE used in OIF.

Eduard makes one in PE, set # 35598. There is also one in the new(ish) Academy M1A1 Iraq 2003 kit. It is one of the few good pieces off the new J sprue. It also has a T/I Phone box on the new sprue. The rest of the kit sucks though. The Dragon M1A2 SEP kit comes with a nice PE and plastic one as well.
You can take a look at my M1 Variants Article as well for more info and pics.
You can also take a look at my USMC M1A1HC that I did a while ago.
“Angry American”, USMC M1A1HC
Hope it isn’t too much info. Good luck.