In Metal Gear Solid, Vulcan Raven controls an M1 Abrams tank during his first boss battle with Solid Snake.
The encounter takes place in a snowy section of the Shadow Moses nuclear weapons disposal facility. Raven operates the tank while Snake must use explosives and anti-armor weapons to disable it. The battle introduces Raven as a physically powerful member of FOXHOUND and establishes his connection to heavy military equipment.
The M1 Abrams is a real American main battle tank, unlike the fictional Metal Gear REX that appears later in the story. It is also easy to confuse the tank with the game's many other armored vehicles because the series uses both real-world military hardware and invented weapons. Vulcan Raven's larger role is tied to his Native Alaskan background, battlefield strength, and spiritual imagery.