How does one play the abrams

I do really really shit in the abrams, it feels like every single time i try and get aggressive with it I get 1 tapped my turret ring is out and I am just completely fucked. Say when I hit a t80, I land a critical hit on them yet they can fire completely fine??? Like say I get shot from the side, I am completely disabled. Yet I shoot any tank other than an abrams and they can spin around and fire just fine.

Is the abrams meant to be a rat vehicle?

Same way you play any tank, use terrain, cover, don’t run around blindly in the open

Watch how BPA_Jon and Cavenub on youtube play it.

thanks for some actual advice

It plays best at longer ranges, where you can be hull down. It gets really good optics and gun handling, along with a good Expert reload (Ace if you can ofc). Play it like a Rat with occasional armor.