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Sherman II

2023-09-01T16:36:08Z

U128413528: /* Ammunition */

{{About
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M4 Sherman (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_sherman_II
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Sherman II''' was identical to the [[M4A1|M4A1 variant]] of the Sherman deployed by the U.S. Army ground forces, except it had access to the late-war armour-piercing composite rigid (APCR) ammunition. The British acquired many more Shermans than any other Allied nation: 17,181 units (approximately 34% of all M4 Sherman medium tanks constructed). The British supported and supplied free Polish and Czechoslovak government-in-exile armoured units with M4A1, [[M4A2]], and [[M4A4 (Italy)|M4A4]] variants.

Introduced in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]], the Sherman II supplies the British Army ground forces with the first U.S. medium tank under the lend-lease programme in World War II. The playstyles are identical to M4A1 in the U.S. Army ground forces. The Sherman II is defined by its curved hull shape due to its cast hull construction. This causes the hull's upper front armour plate to have a variable slope angle throughout the upper glacis, but it also introduces a number of weaknesses. The first is in the frontal hull and side joints, which have relatively flat angles despite the tank being angled, and the second is in the cast construction, which affects the overall effectiveness of the frontal hull armour. The final are the view blocks on the frontal hull's top. Despite this, its armour remains effective against enemy fire from lesser calibre guns. The 75 mm M3 tank gun is mounted in the M34 gun mantlet with the periscope, a smaller gun mount than the future M34A1 gun mantlet, which will be installed in all future 75 mm M4 Sherman variants. This lessens the frontal turret's overall protection while also presenting a somewhat larger gun depression by -2° than the future M34A1 mantlet.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Lower side hull)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1-50.8 mm (48°-72°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (11-58°) ''Transmission area'' || 38.1 mm (1-71°) ''Top'' 38.1 ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (0-69°) ''Top'' 38.1 mm (13-51°) || 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 76.2 mm (2-66°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (3-49°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 50.8 mm (0-65°) || 50.8 + 4 mm (0-60°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || 50.8 mm || 50.8 mm || 50.8 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Sand skirts on the suspension sides are 4 mm thick.
* Front armour slope not even, lower part is weaker than top.
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (50.8 mm) than the rest (76.2 mm).
* Bolt edges on the transmission housing are 101.6 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 90 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
When discussing the {{PAGENAME}}'s shells, one always has to account for the fact that it's a medium tank. This means short to medium engagement range, so realistically it can benefit more from its short-range penetration figures than long-range sniping tanks would.

* M72 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Solid shot, stock shell. Acceptable penetration, poor post-penetration damage.
* M48 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive fragmentation}} - Low-velocity shell useful against soft targets, in particular when hitting an open-topped vehicle. Harmless against any vehicle with more than 10 mm of armour.
* M61 shot - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - This shell has a better penetration than the M72 thanks to its ballistic cap and a good post-penetration damage thanks to its explosive filler.
* T45 shot- {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-piercing composite rigid}} - Subcalibre round with high penetration but only on flat surfaces, poor post-penetration damage. Good option against the [[T14]].
* M89 smoke shell - Useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.

{{:M3 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, T45 shot, M89}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M4A1.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M4A1 (identical).]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''90''' || 82 ''(+8)'' || 75 ''(+15)'' || 72 ''(+18)'' || 70 ''(+20)'' || 54 ''(+36)'' || 38 ''(+52)'' || 22 ''(+68)'' || 1 ''(+89)'' || Yes
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The visual discrepancy concerns rack 8: 28 shells are modeled but it contains only 21 shells.
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
* Flanks and turret empty: 22 ''(+68)'' shells.

==== Optics ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x1.85 || x3.5
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[M4A2]]
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 600 (200) || 576 || -10°/+22° || ±60°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The best use of the Sherman II is in defence or in an exploitation movement.

In the defence: hull-down position. Find a terrain like a hill where the Sherman can inch forward, exposing only the turret, yet be able to aim down most of the horizon with the 75 mm gun. This allows the Sherman to use the most of the turret and gun mantlet armour as well as minimizing the amount of the body able to be hit by incoming enemy fire while dishing out quite a considerable amount of fire towards the enemy with a fast-firing 75 mm gun. If enemy fire at the hull-down position intensifies or wound the crew members, simply reversing can put the Sherman under adequate cover and reposition for another attempt to attack the enemy.

In exploitation, attack enemy utilizing the Sherman's adequate speed and handling. Manoeuvre into enemy territory scanning for targets. A benefit of the fast reloads and the traverse rate of the Sherman is that it allows for quick reaction to enemies spotted at various directions. Remember, the general rule of tank combat, the first person to shoot generally wins the battle. As such, it is imperative for the success of this tactic to attack an enemy not aware of the Sherman's presence and movement. As such, an unaware enemy will probably be exposing their weak points such as the side armour, allowing for a well-placed 75 mm shot to damage the interior. Try not to be caught up in one position as being stuck in one place will cause the enemy to eventually swarm the Sherman and destroy it.

While the Sherman isn't a purpose-built brawler, it can perform decently in that role. The frontal armour cannot be relied on, but a combination of proper positioning and careful angling can deflect some less-potent guns. As is the case with its American cousins, the Sherman II is equipped with a gyroscopic stabilizer effective at speeds up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph). This ability to shoot accurately on the move is a significant advantage in close quarters combat and meeting engagements, as the few seconds an enemy takes to stop and aim is ample time for the Sherman II to turn them into a burning wreck.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

* [[M4A2]] / [[M4A4 (1st PTG)|A4]] - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over 3 nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation you play they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of your short 75 mm gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed kill most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's a M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenseless. Note that their guns are equally weak against you, so wiggle around to disrupt their aim while you reload, you have a good chance of bouncing some shells.

* [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] - A tough tank that the M4 Sherman will experience difficulty against is this German upgunned KV-1. While the preceding KV-1's L-11 cannon is not as powerful, the 75 mm KwK40 is considerably much more powerful against the Sherman's frontal armour, and the Sherman can't easily penetrate the KV-1's thick armour particularly when it has extra armour plates attached. In the event that this hefty tank is spotted and it's angling against you, focus on the gun mantlet as it is only 50 mm thick. You can knock out its turret crew and/or armament without any problem. Or on the other hand take shots at the tall commander's cupola, there's some opportunity to take out the gunner from there. Obviously, the most ideal way is to fire shots at its sides from as close as you can get, where its armour is unsloped. Moreover, shots to the sides will undoubtedly hit its fuel tanks or ammo racks, causing a fire or ammo explosion. Remember to utilise your superior (although not excellent) mobility plus your vertical stabiliser when dealing against such heavy tanks.

* [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill III]] heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to kill at range. Again, manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the ideal distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret at you, only go for the turret. For the Mk I Churchills, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III and the German Churchill, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when you are facing their hull without any angles should you shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.

* [[Pz.IV F2]]/[[Pz.IV G|G]]/[[Pz.IV H|H]]/[[Pz.IV J|J]] - The historical nemesis of any Sherman, the Panzer IV is one of the Sherman's biggest threats at this rank. The long barrel 75 mm gun will easily penetrate the Sherman from the front. The F2 variant is admittedly easy to deal with. A single APCBC to its hull or turret should end it pretty quickly, even at long range. The other variants are slightly harder to deal with. They have thicker hull armour, at 80 mm, which will be much harder to penetrate with the APCBC over 500 m. Luckily the turret armour remains the same at 50 mm. Either aim here with APCBC or sacrifice damage potential and use the AP round to penetrate the hull.

* [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] - Another historical nemesis of the Sherman, and another big threat. The StuG III packs the same punch as the Panzer IV line with its long barrel 75 mm gun, whilst losing the turret, which turns out to be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Lacking a turret means that it will have to traverse the whole vehicle to target an enemy, but it also means that it has a lower profile. The StuG's armour profile is also more complex than the Panzer IV, with less flat areas. Certain areas are sloped and very bouncy. Luckily, there is a big weak spot. There are two flat plates on the front of the hull. The flat plate on the right is the drivers port. Shoot that and you are able to kill the driver, gunner and loader in one go. This is a very efficient way to destroy this vehicle. With the F variant, you can use APCBC to instantly knock out this vehicle with one hit. With the G variant, it is more reliable to use AP at ranges within 500 m to ensure penetration.

* [[R3 T20 FA-HS]] - This speedy wheeled vehicle can circle around you with ease and wipe out all your crew with its fast firing autocannon. In a close encounter, never expose your side to it, and do not even angle your hull. Face your hull directly to the R3, because on each side of the cast hull, above the inducer wheel there is a triangular area that blends and connects the upper front plate to the side. By angling the hull, this triangle becomes unangled to the R3, making it easily penetrated, and the driver / gunner will usually get knocked out first. It is harder for the R3 to penetrate your unangled hull thus giving you more time to react and destroy it.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun depression -12° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
* Great penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents with a single shot
* Has access to APCR ammunition, effective against thick but flat armour like that of the [[Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)|Pz.Kpfw. Churchill]]
* Great turret traverse speed allows it to deal with multiple threats easily
* Adequate top speed allows it to get to positions in time, or to do tactical manoeuvres like flanking
* Pintle-mounted HMG provides an anti-aircraft defence or anti-tank duty against tanks like [[Marder III]]
* Fitted with a vertical stabilizer, allowing more accurate fire on the move compared to other tanks, as well as better usage of shoot-n-scoot tactics

'''Cons:'''

* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get frontally penetrated and knocked out by tanks with a single shot
* Large profile and weak side armour; flankers like the Sd.kfz.234/2 or GAZ trucks can easily see and penetrate it
* When opponents are angling, both AP and APCR struggle to penetrate heavy tanks
* Narrow tracks offer poor ground flotation, thus poor off-road capabilities. Can only reach its top speed on paved or hard surfaces
* Prone to damage by artillery barrages, tracks can be hit and the fuel supply can be ignited
* Ammunition storage is vulnerable to detonation
* May tip over when travelling across steep inclines
* The cast hull creates frontal weak spots with very little effective thickness, e.g. the triangles between upper front plate and the side, and the curved hull hatches

== History ==

===Development===
The Battle of France in 1940 proved to America that their current tank arsenal would not be able to withstand a German assault. The only tanks in their inventory at that time was the [[M2A4|M2 Light Tanks]] and the [[M2|M2 Medium Tank]], both are inadequate against the German [[Pz.III (Disambiguation)|Panzer IIIs]] and the [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IVs]]. The US Army, in response, ordered for a tank armed with a 75 mm gun. While a 75 mm gun was available for use, a turret able to mount the gun was not. So while the turret and tank design underwent development, the 75 mm would be mounted on the stopgap design, the [[M3 Lee]] tank in a sponson mount. This interim design put the 75 mm on a lower and limited traverse mount that restricted its firing angle, but it did give the Allies a tank with the gun, so it was issued by the thousands until a better design could be made.

During the M3's development, the designs of the 75 mm armed vehicle were being drawn up and submitted by the Ordnance Department. Specifications on the tank design were strict in order to maximize logistical support. Restrictions were made on the tank's height, width, and weight in order to make it able to be transported over bridges, roads, railroads, and on naval ships. These specifications would help the Army by making the tank be very flexible on strategic, logistical, and tactical grounds. On April 1941, the Armored Force Board chose the simplest of the designs, which was a redesigned M3 hull and chassis with a turret mounting the 75 mm gun designated the T6, completed in September 1941. This tank would then designated the Medium Tank M4 in American service. The tank would eventually become the most used Allied tank during World War II as it was lent out by the thousands in the Lend-Lease program to the Allied countries. The British called the M4 the "Sherman", which coined into the tank's name M4 Sherman that it would be known as in history. The production for the Shermans began on October 1941 and would continue to be produced until the end of the war in 1945 with around 50,000 units produced, making it the second most-produced tank in World War II before the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34 tank]].

===Design===
Many variants of the Shermans were produced, but they all followed a similar layout. The driver and bow gunner sat in the front driving compartment, the fighting compartment in the middle housed the turret its three crew member, and in the back was the engine compartment. The Sherman used many features present in previous American tank designs, the vertical volute suspension system (VVSS) and radial engine from the [[M2A4|M2 Light Tanks]], and the sloping armour of the [[M2|M2 Medium Tanks]]. This became a contributing factor on the Sherman's reliability on the field, as most of the design flaws were ironed out with the previous tank designs. The tank mounted the 75 mm M3 gun, giving the tank very good AP and HE capabilities. The Sherman's turret traverse speed was very fast, able to traverse a full 360 degrees in only 15 seconds, which is considerably faster than the traverse speed on most German tanks. Another unique feature on the Sherman was the installation of a gyroscopic stabilizer on the gun and sight, making the Sherman one of the first produced tanks to incorporate those features. While the stabilization was only done for the vertical plane, it kept the gun stable enough to be able to shoot on the move effectively, with a study showing a 70 % hit probability on an enemy 300 to 1,200 yards away when moving at a speed of 15 mph. However, this feature was controversial among the crew and experiences with it vary.

The [[M4A1|M4A1 Sherman]] model (known in British nomenclature as the Sherman II) ran on a gasoline Continental R975C-1 radial engine and was one of the first models of the Sherman developed. The model in-game features the early M38 telescopic sight in the M4 periscope with no zoom, which was later replaced with a M55 telescopic sight in the gun mantlet by recommendation from the British.<ref name="ZalogaArmorT1">Zaloga Steven. ''Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II'' Stackpole Books, 2008, "Baptism Of Fire"</ref> The tank's hull was fully cast, giving the tank a distinctive rounded slope front and sides. Though the rounded shape gave the frontal armour uneven angling, it provided adequate protection up to 100 mm in thickness in certain areas. Cast armour was used because casting took less man hours to perform, but suffered from the limited capability of most American factories and was hard to repair on the field. Thus, welding was prioritized as the primary manufacturing method in the other Sherman variants.<ref name="ZalogaArmorT3">Zaloga Steven. ''Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II'' Stackpole Books, 2008, "The School of Tank Technology"</ref> Nevertheless, up to 6,281 M4A1s were produced from February 1942 to December 1943, out of the 49,234 Sherman units produced in the war.

===British nomenclature===
The British had a different naming convention with their equipment than the Americans. It is this naming system that actually gave the M4 Medium tank their namesake "Sherman". As the American differentiate the M4 models with letter and numbers such as [[M4|M4]], [[M4A1|M4A1]], [[M4A2|M4A2]], and [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3]]. The British use roman numerals past the name "Sherman". Thus, the nomenclature translate to:

* [[Firefly «Scorpion»|Sherman I]] - M4
* Sherman II - M4A1
* Sherman III - M4A2
* Sherman IV - M4A3
* [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman V]] - M4A4
* Sherman VII - M4A6

Past these designation, there would be a letter to signify differences in model design. A designation ending with "A" indicates the usage of the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm gun]]. A designation ending with "B" indicates the usage of the [[M4 (105 mm)|105 mm howitzer]]. A designation ending with "Y" would indicate the usage of the [[M4A3 (76) W|Horizontal Volute Suspension System (HVSS)]]. Finally, a designation ending with "C" indicates the usage of the [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pdr gun]], essentially translating to the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]]. There was a word addition "Hybrid" exclusive to the Sherman I variant, meaning the M4 Hybrid design which used a cast front armour, but a welded rear design.<ref name="JohnChrisSherman">Christopher John. Sherman M4 Medium Tank Amberley Publishing, 2014</ref>

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_sherman_II Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Other M4A1 vehicles in the game

* [[M4A1]] - American equivalent of the Sherman II.
* [[M4A1 (France)]] - French equivalent of the Sherman II.
* [[M4A1 (76) W]] - American version with a [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm gun]]
* [[M4A1 (75) W (China)]] - A version with a T23 turret, but with a 75 mm gun, in the Chinese tech tree
* [[M4A1 (FL10)]] - A premium version with an [[AMX-13]] turret placed on it; located in the French tech tree

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{Britain medium tanks}}

S.M.79 AS

2023-04-03T19:07:39Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = Italian bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = S.M.79 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=sm_79_1941_italy
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] alongside the initial Italian aviation tree.

== General info ==
The '''S.M.79 Sparviero AS (1941)''' is a later modification of the SM.79 bomber used in the North Africa campaign, AS stands for North Africa. It was used during the Africa campaign and was equipped with a sand filter on the carburetor air intake, the radiator was also extended so that the engines would not heat too much.

It is armed with 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT defensive machine guns that can give a good hit against any fighter it faces, but you have to be precise to damage the enemies.

The pilot can also use a fixed 12.7 mm Breda that fires forward, this gun can be useful for destroying light vehicles and trucks that are often encountered in low-tier battles and can be used to shoot down other aircraft.

With the ability to carry 2 x 500 kg bombs, the SM.79 AS can destroy pillboxes and tanks with ease. This bomber can carry a torpedo you can use to destroy ships.

=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 459 || 445 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.2 || 33.1 || 3.3 || 3.3 || rowspan="2" | 400
|-
! Upgraded
| 504 || 480 || 29.9 || 31.0 || 9.3 || 5.9
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 313 || 298 || 220 || ~4 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 260 || < 270 || < 270 || > 290
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,400 m || 740 hp || 910 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}


* No armour
* 9 self-sealing fuel tanks (1 under dorsal gunner, 4 in each wing)
* Can survive some hits from calibres below 20 mm
* Engines are prone to catching fire very easily when hit
* Poor defensive gunner positions

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal-mounted (350 rpg)

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|GP 50 (50 kg)|GP 100 (100 kg)|GP 250 (250 kg)|GP 500 (500 kg)|F200/450}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs (600 kg total)
* 12 x 100 kg GP 100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
* 5 x 250 kg GP 250 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 1 x F200/450 torpedo
* 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)

=== Defensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Defensive}}

{{main|Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)|Lewis (7.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is defended by:

* 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)
* 1 x 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (485 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

'''RB/SB mode'''

''Air mode''

The {{PAGENAME}} is a mediocre bomber at its battle rating in air battles, though this variant can stay in WEP for longer and is good for a warm climate. At the beginning of the battle, go up to 3,000-4,500 m and go to destroy enemy bases. Whenever enemy fighters or other aircraft attack the {{PAGENAME}}, use your gunners to fight back against enemy aircraft, it is recommended to use the universal ammunition for the [[Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] turret belt because it contains 2 API-T and 2 AP-I per belt. {{annotation|AP-I|Armour-Piercing Incendiary}} and {{annotation|API-T|Armour-Piercing Incendiary Tracer}} ammo is perfect for defeating enemy planes because it can knock out the enemy pilot or set fire to enemy planes. Meanwhile for the [[Lewis (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Lewis machine gun]], use universal ammo for the side turrets belt because it contains 1 Tracer and 3 AP-I rounds. When you are close to the enemy base, use your bomber sights to drop your bombs and then return to the airfield to reload your bombs.

''Ground mode''

You can use the {{PAGENAME}} in ground battles with the following payloads: 5 x [[GP 250 (250 kg)|250 kg (Mod.28)]] or 2 x [[GP 500 (500 kg)|500 kg (Type 28)]]. After spawning with the {{PAGENAME}}, stay at an altitude of 900-1,500 m and use the bomber crosshairs to drop the bombs more accurately. The selected bombs in the payload are very good, so if your bombs get close to enemy medium and heavy tanks, they can be destroyed very easily.

''Naval mode''

The {{PAGENAME}} has in its arsenal the ability to equip the [[F200/450 (450 mm)|450 mm torpedo (F200/450)]]. The torpedo drop performance is mediocre so the {{PAGENAME}} has to be under 301 km/h and a height of less than 120 m to use it. However, the torpedo's effect against ships are very good due to the 200 kg of explosives in the warhead.

'''AB mode'''

Like any bomber in Arcade Battles, the {{PAGENAME}} is likely to be the first to be destroyed. Go up to 4,000-5,000 m and stay at that height and drop bombs onto enemy bases. Remember that the {{PAGENAME}} can be destroyed very easily by enemy planes, so be careful and maintain situational awareness to see if there are enemy planes coming.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil
! Water
! Type
|-
| Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Pilot-controlled fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm Breda, which can be equipped with IAI (explosive) ammunition
* Good speed, fastest version of the S.M.79s
* Middle engine provides some level of protection for the pilot against head-on attacks
* Capable of carrying torpedoes, unlike previous models
* Can fly on 2 engines
* The engines overheat slowly

'''Cons:'''

* Very limited bomb payload
* Poor defensive fire arcs, including a dead-zone in the rear where neither of the rearward facing 12.7 mm machine guns can cover
* No frontal defensive gun covering the frontal aspect
* Lacks armour protection for the crew
* Forced to choose between less total bomb payload, but individually more powerful bombs or higher total bomb payload with less powerful bombs
* Engines are prone to catching fire when hit
* Lewis guns are mostly obsolete at this tier

== History ==


Alessandro Marchettí was famous for creating record breaking and Schneider Trophy winning racing seaplanes, and was the Savoia (aka SIAI, Società Idrovolanti Alta Italia). In 1922, Marchettí joined Savoia to form one of the great aircraft companies in history, until merged in 1983. After the conclusion of the Schneider Trophy race (won by UK), the firm used its experience to build fast aircraft for civilian and military use.

You probably saw the very similar looking Italian SM.81 in game, which was a militarized version of the successful S.73. The SM.79 was new passenger version based on the platform of its predecessor; the most obvious difference was retractable landing gear. It was truly made first as a passenger version to compete with those being made by other countries. Needless to say, it immediately attracted attention of the Regina Italia and a bomber version was developed in parallel. For a few brief months it was considered the best transport and bomber in world and became a major point of pride in Fascist Italy and was sold to several countries in the years before WW2.

Unlike nearly every bomber in War Thunder (and even in WW2), it was built mainly of steel a wood. The fuselage was a common for time welded steel tube design, with entire rear half being covered in cloth and plywood. The crew area to nose was duralumin cladded (which is very similar to Hawker Hurricane’s construction). Most surprising the wings are completely wood! A major technical achievement for its size. During its production life several engines where tried, depending on power and reliability, one model even removing the nose engine.

To make the SM.79 fast the wings are shorter than typical for its weight. To compensate for higher clean stall speed a number of advanced high lift devices were used to reduce stall speed for landing, being Handley-Page leading extending slats and drooping ailerons (also called "flaperons") in conjunction with uncommon slotted flaps. After trying a few engines, the Alfa Romeo 126 was used on the prototypes for testing and the record breaking flights soon after. As with the SM.73 / S.81, once again the Italian military wanted a bomber version and laid out proposed additions.

'''Sparviero goes to war'''

The spacious cabin was easy to install a set of bomb racks, all bombs mounted vertically (not unusual for time). While the S.81 had the bomb aimers position just behind the nose-mounted engine, the SM.79 positioned it in a ventral "tub" well after of the bomb bay itself. Also unlike the S.81 this streamlined tub also became the location of the ventral defensive gun, usually a 12.7 mm Breda-SAFT MG instead of a turret. A streamlined dorsal mount was also installed for a rear firing 12.7 mm MG, and unusually for bombers a fixed, pilot fired forward mounted 12.7 mm MG, firing above the propeller disk. Both these streamlined protrusions could be closed to greatly minimize drag for a very high cruise speed, which the turreted S.81 could not. It was the prominent hump on its top that earned the nickname il gobbo maledetto ("damned hunchback"). Italy was open to export sales, and many countries purchased this top of line bomber to add to their forces.

From the high of the Spanish Civil War to the end of WW2, the Sparviero was the backbone of Italian bomber air forces and continued to do well over the vast stretches of the Mediterranean sea despite better allied defenses. Success was made despite high losses up to the Italian Armistice. They continued to be used in lesser roles on both sides of the conflict, and after the war were used for various duties by several nations for years later. Lebanon was the last operator who used them well in the 1950’s and are the last 2 remaining SM.79 in world.

The version was modified to mount a torpedo, but was little changed from earlier versions.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sm_79_1941_italy Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Other S.M.79 vehicles:

* [[S.M.79_AS_(Germany)|▀S.M.79 AS]] - Version of the plane in the German tech tree
* [[S.M.79 serie 1]]
* [[S.M.79 serie 8]]
* [[S.M.79 bis/T.M]]
* [[S.M.79 B]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/428091-sm79-sparviero-as-1941/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer SM}}
{{Italy bombers}}

Lewis (7.7 mm)

2023-04-03T19:03:22Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|osprey_mk4}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1941_italy}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1941}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_iar_italy}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_iar}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1936_italy}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1936}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1937}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1939_italy}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1939}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|sm_79_1942}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|s_81_ar125}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|walrus_mk1}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''

'''Pros:'''

* Does not overheat quickly

*

'''Cons:'''

* Smaller magazine does not enable sustained fire compared to contemporaries
* Comparitively obsolete

*

== History ==

The Lewis Gun is one of the most famous light machine guns of World War I. Invented by United States Army Colonel Issac Newton Lewis in 1911, the gun was rejected by the Army due to either political differences or unreliability. Retiring from the Army, Lewis left the United States and set up the Armes Automatique Lewis company in Belgium. He got his first order from the Belgian Army in 1913, and a year later, World War I led the British Birmingham Small Arms company to produce the guns under license. With its distinctive long barrel-shroud and pan drum magazine, the Lewis is unusual for using a clock-style spiral spring for the action instead of a coiled recoil spring.

The Lewis is also notable for being the first gun to be fired from an aircraft. On June 7th, 1912, a Wright Model B flyer was fitted with a Lewis and fired by Captain Charles Chandler. For both British and French aircraft, it was mounted in the gunners and observers position or to supplement the [[Vickers E (7.7 mm)|Vickers E]]. A lightweight, air-cooled, and high capacity design, the Lewis gun's only drawback was being open-bolt making synchronization to fire through a propeller arc a difficult task. For use on aircraft, the Lewis has the distinctive barrel shroud removed due to the lower temperatures found at altitude and a much larger 97-round pan drum magazine. The Vickers F.B.5. "Gunbus", the world's first purpose-built fighter aircraft, and later models of aircraft would resolve the synchronization issues by using a pusher configuration where there is no propeller to fire through. Examples include the Airco D.H. 2, Royal Aircraft Factory, F.E.2 and F.E.8. Other alternatives methods were used during World War I. Two early production models of the Bristol Scout C were fitted with Lewis guns mounted on the right side of the fuselage that fired outwards at a 30 degree angle. Another more common solution was to use the Foster mounting where the Lewis gun was placed on the top wing of the biplane such as on the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 and the French Nieuport 11 Bebé and Nuieport 17 fighters. After World War I, the Lewis would continue to see use as an aircraft weapon for a few years in the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, but it would be phased for the [[Browning (7.7 mm)|Browning .303]] or [[Vickers K (7.7 mm)|Vickers K]]. The Italians use the Lewis into World War II with their [[S.M.79 (Family)|S.M.79 Sparverio]] bomber series and the Japanese used a licensed variant designated the [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|Type 92]].

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Aircraft machine guns}}

[[Category:Aircraft machine guns]]

Pz.III N (Italy)

2023-03-31T20:43:22Z

U128413528: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Panzer III (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_pzkpfw_III_ausf_N
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]].

This is a Panzer III, upgraded to carry a short 75 mm KwK37 cannon, which can also be found on a number of [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IV]] variants, as mounting the [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|long 75 mm L43 gun]] failed, so a compromise was made. Panzer III N is referred to as the assault variant of the Panzer III family, and it retains a body of the Panzer III L and M variants. A small amount would be used by the Italian Social Republic in the late stages of World War 2.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola roof)
* Cast homogeneous armour (cupola, gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 20 + 50 mm ''Upper plate'' 50 mm (53°) ''Upper glacis'' 53 mm (22°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (74°) ''Lower glacis'' || 30mm || 32 mm (44°) ''Upper glacis'' 53 mm (16°) ''Upper plate'' 53 mm (10°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 26 mm (6°) ''Front'' 18 mm ''Centre'' 15-17 mm (2-11°) ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 50 mm (cylindrical) ''Turret front'' 50 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 30 mm (17-25°) || 30 mm (conical) || 10 mm (7°)
|-
| Cupola || 50 + 30 mm (cylindrical) || 50 + 30 mm (cylindrical) || 50 + 30 mm (cylindrical) || 10 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Track links used as add-on armour are 20 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=465|rbMinHp=265}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|KwK37 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK37 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK37]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 64 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.3 || 18.4 || 22.4 || 24.8 || 26.4 || rowspan="2" | 4.29 || rowspan="2" | 3.80 || rowspan="2" | 3.50 || rowspan="2" | 3.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK37 (75 mm)/Ammunition|K.Gr.rot Pz., Hl.Gr 38B, Sprgr. 34, Hl.Gr 38C, K.Gr.Rot Nb.}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Pz.III_N.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''64''' || 57 ''(+7)'' || 54 ''(+10)'' || 46 ''(+18)'' || 38 ''(+26)'' || 24 ''(+40)'' || 10 ''(+54)'' || 1 ''(+63)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,450 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


One of the most effective ways to play the Pz.III N is as either a brawler or support tank. As a brawler you'll essentially be one of the few people on your team leading the charge against the enemy team. Unlike other Italian tanks at a similar battle rating, you actually have somewhat of a reliable armor that can come in very useful when charging the enemy, especially by surprise due to the enemy being caught off-guard and likely misplacing their initial shot. Although its speed is not really the best, with powertrain and engine upgrades that improve the mobility of the tank, you should still be able to keep up fairly well on a flat surface. Protection-wise, make sure you angle your tank if you are not charging the enemy, this will increase your chances of survival. The main asset when playing in the brawler role is your 75 mm KwK37 cannon. This cannon can easily make short work with the majority of the enemies you'll be facing at your BR. Sadly, its stock rounds are not the best so new players might struggle to penetrate from time to time. Once you have unlocked the Hl.Gr 38C HEAT round, you'll be easily taking out enemies frontally. This again will aid you heavily when playing as a brawler. As a support tank, you'll be providing essential support for your team which will greatly increase your chances to get a victory. The support role can be played in many ways, for example some players prefer to get to a good vantage point at the start of the map, usually a place that overlooks key points of a map, such as a capture zones or enemy spawn points. Others prefer to stay behind the main line of tanks leading the charge, and coming in either to assist teammates in eliminating enemy vehicles or by flanking enemy positions to get the edge over them whenever you manage to spot them. It is also recommended that you bring either a back-up vehicle or a strike aircraft in the case you end up perishing during the fight. One of the main weaknesses of this tank is when you're detected or ranged by a tank or tank destroyer (assuming they have an angle that negates your cover's protection), your armor will not protect you from powerful guns. Your sides are the most vulnerable part of the vehicle, so always keep it in mind wherever you are going, as your average speed will make you an easy target for enemy snipers. Also, keep in mind which game mode you are playing, as in Arcade Battles enemies can easily find out where you are located due to the name tag showing up above you, and are able to quickly find out where your weak spots are.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Spaced armour covering the turret of the tank
* Small silhouette
* Good mobility
* Fast-firing main gun

'''Cons:'''

* Lacks hull side skirts seen on the German Pz.III N
* May have trouble penetrating heavily armoured tanks
* Hard to aim at long ranges
* Poor stock rounds

== History ==

[[File:Pz.III N (Div.M.) (2) .png|thumb|Pz.III N (Div.M.) during training]]
The history of Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N began in Germany of 1942, this variant was mainly an assault tank based on the Ausf. L and Ausf. M chassis, which was re-used to produce this tank. This variant was produced to meet the need for a stronger tank, one that could more effectively handle the Soviet T-34 and KV-1. There was also a desperate need for a special infantry support tank which would be used during advances alongside soldiers on the ground. It had a somewhat complicated development cycle, for example the widely used 75 mm long-barreled gun could not be installed in the turret due to the limited turret internal size. The German designers instead decided to use the short-barreled 7.5 cm KwK37 L/24 gun, which would be paired alongside with special hollow-charge shells. This explosive projectile packed more punch than the 5 cm KwK39 L/60 gun, so at the time it was favoured and underwent a series of trials, which were an overall success. Some design features of the tank had to be modified however, for example, the gun's mantlet was redesigned to accommodate the changes done. Other aspects of the vehicle also became better: the gun's recoil mechanisms were improved, the single-hinged hatch for the command turret was replaced with a two-hinged hatch, the thickness of the commander's cupola was increased to 100 mm. This variant's overall operational weight was around 23 tons. Most of the tanks received 5 mm side skirts (Schürzen) to protect the tank's hull and turret., however Italian variants, in Italian fashion, removed said side skirts. Production of the Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N tanks began in June 1942 and lasted until August 1943. A total of 700 of these tanks were built. 3 were built from Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J tanks, 447 from Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L tanks, 213 from Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M tanks, and 37 from other variants after they had returned from the front.
[[File:Pz.III N (Div.M.) (1).png|thumb|Pz.III N (Div.M.) during training]]
Concerning the Italian operational of this tank, Germany during the late stages of the second world war had supplied 12 units of Panzer IV G to Italy, which were placed in the Division "M" and, after the 25th of July, they were transferred to the 136th Armored Division "Centauro II". The 1st Armored Division Black Shirts "M" (for "Mussolini") was established starting from May of 1943, mainly starting from the very few survivors of the previous MVSN Battalions M who had been repatriated from the Russian front, this had to be done if there was hope for any new division being formed. The division was organised in 3 companies, the second company used 12 Panzer Kpfw III Ausf. N tanks, they were slightly modified however: they featured the 7.5 cm L/24 cannon, but something unique not previously installed on the same model, would be the smoke grenade launcher on the turret. As previously mentioned, they also removed the side skirts of the vehicle, and they were painted in a light tan color with the Divisione "M" logo painted onto the turret. They didn't see any action during the war, most of them were still undergoing training at the time. Most of the tanks ended up in Allied hands after the war. In conclusion, this tank variant earned a good reputation with the troops that had used it and by the beginning of the battle at the Kursk Bulge, the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS owned 155 vehicles of this type. Some of the tanks were also transferred to Romania, Slovakia, and Croatia. Tanks of this variant were used until the end of the war and were transferred to Allied forces after Germany's surrender.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_pzkpfw_III_ausf_N Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|pKSAaUxvPE8|'''IXWA Strike - Panzer III N for Italy''' - ''8Bit Dane''}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Italy medium tanks}}

AS 42

2023-03-31T20:37:22Z

U128413528: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = Italian SPAA '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the tank destroyer version
| link = AS 42/47
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_as_42_metropolitana
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened as just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


The AS 42 lacks any armour and is very vulnerable to attacks from the air. While the sloped 3 mm of armour and 10 mm thick spare wheel on the front may be sufficient against standard machine guns, most heavy machine guns will simply cut right through and result in the death of the crew.

Though the armour itself is not sufficient against heavy machine guns, it is possible to use the rear engine compartment as armour to protect the crew from heavy machine guns, though this will leave you immobile and unable to return fire. The ammunition compartments at the sides of the vehicle may stop machine guns from penetrating all the way through to knock out the crew, but these have dubious protective qualities in the long run. If HE or HEAT is fired, it will simply not matter and the vehicle will be dead from overpressure.

However, due to these extremely thin armour characteristics, standard armour-piercing rounds tend to penetrate straight through with minimal damage. In addition, the gun cannot traverse to fire directly at the back of the AS 42, and in any case the gunner is still fully exposed. Your best protection is going to be hard cover and the element of surprise; don't let the enemy get a shot at you. The AS 42 has 2 crew with ammo located in the flanks of the car. The gun's armour will only protect the gunner in rare cases. The small profile makes it easy to conceal the vehicle in realistic battles, especially from aircraft's sight.

'''Armour type:'''

* Structural steel (chassis, gun breech, gun mount)
* Wheel (tires & spares)
* Gun Steel (cannon barrel)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Chassis || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 3 mm
|-
| Gun mount || colspan="3" | 150 mm ''Gun Breech'' 20 mm ''Gunner's Seat'' 20 mm ''Elevation and Traverse Mechanisms'' || N/A
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Tires are 10 mm thick. * There is a spare tire on the front and on the rear of the vehicle.
* Storage boxes, fuel containers and fenders are 3 mm thick.
* Storage Boxes and fuel Containers cover much of the flanks in addition to the chassis armour.
* The belly of the car is 3 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


The car has very high mobility with speeds exceeding 80 km/h on concrete and 35 km/h offroad. The 4x2 configuration severely reduces the AS 42's effectiveness on soft terrain (snow, mud). The AS 42 cannot turn on the spot, and is best used on roads of sufficient width or open, hilly terrain.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=156|rbMinHp=97}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)}}

Your sole armament is a 20 mm autocannon. It is a longer-barreled version of the 20 mm autocannon found on the L6/40 and AB 41, with a bigger magazine capacity, shorter reload time, and similar belt composition. For an anti-aircraft role, the gun has an inferior magazine size and rate of fire. In addition, you don't have a 360° traverse arc, something that is detrimental when engaging aircraft or enemy tanks.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)|20 mm Breda Mod.35]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 1,200 (12) || rowspan="2" | 240 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+90° || rowspan="2" | ±150° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 30.8 || 42.7 || 51.8 || 57.3 || 60.9 || rowspan="2" | 3.90 || rowspan="2" | 3.45 || rowspan="2" | 3.18 || rowspan="2" | 3.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 20.8 || 24.5 || 29.8 || 32.9 || 35.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - The belt composition means that 75% of the shells (HEFI-T*) are useless against tanks. However, this belt is reliable against open-topped or lightly armoured targets like SPAA vehicles.

* '''Granata mod.35:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - This belt does little damage against armoured targets and should be used especially against aircraft or open-topped vehicles. The high-explosive filler is deadly to crew members.

* '''Perforante mod.35:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - This belt offers a good transition from the Default to the PzGr 40 belt. The round offers decent damage against lightly armoured tanks, especially at close range. Due to lack of high-explosive filler, however, it is better to focus on the PzGr 40 belt to maximize penetration power.

* '''PzGr 40:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Probably the belt with the best penetrating shell for the vehicle. While the damage effects post-penetration can be quite poor, the rapid fire from the autocannon can remedy this problem by following up quickly with another penetrating shot. In close combat, these shells should be used against modules and crew member to make the most of each shell. Against angled armour, however, the HVAP ammo may not be very effective.

{{:Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, API-T, HVAP-T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
|-
| '''100''' || 94 ''(+6)'' || 88 ''(+12)'' || 82 ''(+18)'' || 76 ''(+24)'' || 70 ''(+30)'' || 64 ''(+36)'' || 58 ''(+42)'' || 52 ''(+48)'' || 46 ''(+54)''
|-
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! 12th rack empty
! 13th rack empty
! 14th rack empty
! 15th rack empty
! 16th rack empty
! 17th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
!
|-
| 40 ''(+60)'' || 34 ''(+66)'' || 28 ''(+72)'' || 22 ''(+78)'' || 16 ''(+84)'' || 10 ''(+90)'' || 4 ''(+96)'' || 0 ''(+100)'' || Yes
!
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The visual discrepancy is the rack 17. It contains 4 clips whereas only one is modeled.
* Racks 1 to 16 contain 6 clips each.
* Clips are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack after you've fired/loaded both clips in the set.

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

The main roles of the {{PAGENAME}} are as an SPAA and as a light tank destroyer. When playing as an SPAA, position the vehicle in an open space to be able to detect aircraft from a distance, usually near your spawn point. You can move forward and stay close to your teammates to offer the best AA support, but be careful not to reveal yourself to enemy tanks. Engage approaching aircraft only under 1,000 m to increase your chances of hitting, and ideally within 500-700 m. Avoid being detected too early: your fire rate and clip size is poor for an AA gun, so you'll have to shoot precisely and make every shot count. Your vehicle's protection is non-existent: plan to have an obstacle nearby you can use as cover, and have an escape route ready.

You can also play as a tank destroyer/scout car on some maps: use your speed to flank enemy forces and ambush them. After ambushing, retreat and relocate after destroying an enemy. Avoid frontal engagements at all costs for the best penetration, and because your vehicle and crew are fully unprotected. Keep in mind that you have good mobility on hard terrain (solid ground, roads, etc.) but not on soft terrain (mud, sand, snow) because of your tires. The big turn radius of the {{PAGENAME}} also prevents it from sneaking through narrow passages in urban maps. Drive precisely: any obstacle will immobilize you very quickly if you don't pay attention and your mobility is key to your survival in this role.

;Notable enemies

Pretty much any enemy can destroy the {{PAGENAME}} in seconds. The most lethal enemies are:

* Strafing planes. The biggest threat is enemy aircraft, as even a 7.62 mm MG can kill your SPAA in one burst.
* Vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns. They will destroy you from 1 km distance in a heartbeat.
* Tanks firing HEAT or HE shells. The blast effect is deadly to your already limited and unprotected crew.
* Heavily armoured tanks that are immune to your gun, even if you catch them by surprise.

;How to defeat a {{PAGENAME}}

Being a vehicle without any armour, it remains a vehicle easy to destroy: the 2 quickest ways to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} are machine guns/autocannons and HEAT/HE projectiles. But any shell with explosive filler will do.
Avoid close quarters and engage from long distance to increase your armour advantage while decreasing the {{PAGENAME}}'s firepower.
You can also force your opponent to play on a terrain hindering its mobility (mud, snow, sand) to negate its main advantage. Aim for the driver or the engine to immobilize it, then finish it off with a follow up shot or machine gun fire.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High top speed
* Access to PzGr 40 rounds
* Sloped frontal armour, may deflect some rounds
* High penetration for the 20 mm cannon
* Small profile helps when flanking the enemy

'''Cons:'''

* Small magazine for SPAA
* Virtually no protection at all, even rifle rounds will penetrate the armour
* Only has two crew members
* Crew is exposed

== History ==


The AS (Autosahariana) 42 was derived from the AB 41 armoured car. It was, however, unarmoured and did not have the rear driver position. Designed for long-range reconnaissance in North Africa, it had a cross country range of almost 500 miles (800 km). It was also known as the Camionetta Desertica (Desert Weapons Carrier) mod. 42, or "la Sahariana" (the Saharan). The main armament varied: 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons, 20 mm anti-tank rifles, and machine guns were common alternatives. For heavier firepower, some were fitted with a Breda M35 47 mm anti-tank gun, represented by the [[AS 42/47]]. About 200 were built and saw service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. After the armistice, some continued in use with Fascist Italian forces and Germany, including on the Eastern Front, and in the Ardennes in 1944-5.

Post-war, about a dozen survivors, painted amaranth red and disarmed, were used by the ''Polizia di Stato'' in Udine and Bologna.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPA-Viberti_AS.42</ref>

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_as_42_metropolitana Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ND8CwYH8-io|'''AS42 Review: Great with the CR42 as backup! Not so much at taking hits...''' - ''Joseph 2000''|nR4lecy5CBA|'''Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42 Light Italian Truck - The Italian Desert Raider''' - ''Tanks Encyclopedia''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Type 94]]
* [[Flakpanzer I]]
* [[Pvlvv fm/42]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:SPA-Viberti_AS.42|[Wikipedia] SPA-Viberti AS.42]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/italy/Camioneta_AS-42_Sahariana.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Italy anti-aircraft vehicles}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

AB 41

2023-03-31T20:16:43Z

U128413528: /* Survivability and armour */

{{Specs-Card
|code=it_ab_41
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' or '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Gun steel (main gun, machine gun)
* Wheel (tires)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 8 mm (22°) ''Upper Plate'' 8 mm (44-68°) ''Upper Glacis'' 8 mm (19-50°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 8 mm (29°) ''Top'' 8 mm (12°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm (16°) ''Crew Compartment'' 18 mm (spherical) ''Rear MG Port'' 5 mm (33°) ''Engine Compartment'' 6 mm (27°) ''Lower plate'' || 6 mm ''Crew Compartment'' 6 mm (18°) ''Engine Compartment - Centre'' 8 mm (39°) ''Engine Compartment - Sides''
|-
| Turret || 18 mm (11°) ''Turret front'' 8 mm (cylindrical) ''Gun mantlet'' || 8 mm (24-25°) || 8 mm (17-18°) || 6 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* The wheels are 10 mm thick.
* The gun barrel is 10 mm thick while the coaxial machine gun is 5 mm thick.
* Viewports on the turret are 6 mm thick.
* Mudguards are 8 mm thick.

The armour of the {{PAGENAME}} is very weak, and will not protect it from most weapons on the battlefield, including some light machine guns at closer ranges. Speed is the primary armour of the AB41. One upside is that some side shots will not be instant kills, since the crew is well spaced out. Ammunition will not always go off when hit either, another bonus to the AB41. However, fronal fire will result in a crew kill from many weapons, and HE/HEAT shells will probably kill even if just a glancing blow.

When facing an AB41, aim for the driver in the front or the engine; if it cannot move it is dead. If you have access to the [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)]], then use that to quickly kill the crew. Otherwise, firing just about anywhere on this vehicle will result in substantial damage. Avoid aiming for the turret, as it is relatively well armored and isn't a primary target.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=124|rbMinHp=71}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)|20 mm Breda Mod.35]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 456 (8) || rowspan="2" | 240 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.9 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - Half the belt is composed of HEFI-T* shells, which will do negligible damage against armoured targets. However against aircraft and vehicles with exposed crew, they can prove deadly.
* '''Perforante mod.35:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Intermediate usage until the better PzGr 40 can be used. Decent enough against light tanks and other vehicles from the rear.
* '''PzGr 40:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Highest penetrating belt. However, the post-penetration effects are very poor. In close combat, aiming for modules and crew members is advised. Its effects against angled armour is limited due to the nature of the HVAP shells, however the base penetration compensates such drawback.

{{:Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, API-T, HVAP-T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! 12th rack empty
! 13th rack empty
! 14th rack empty
! 15th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''57''' || 53 ''(+4)'' || 49 ''(+8)'' || 45 ''(+12)'' || 41 ''(+16)'' || 37 ''(+20)'' || 33 ''(+24)'' || 29 ''(+28)'' || 25 ''(+32)'' || 21 ''(+36)'' || 17 ''(+40)'' || 13 ''(+44)'' || 9 ''(+48)'' || 6 ''(+51)'' || 3 ''(+54)'' || 1 ''(+56)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)|8 mm Breda Mod. 38]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 1,992 (24) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

Even though the armour of the {{PAGENAME}} is lacking, if played to its advantages it can become a vital part of achieving victory over the other team. This armoured car has 2 main things going for it: a very good mobility and a very effective, fast-firing autocannon that can decimate enemies at close to medium range.

With these advantages in mind, there are several playstyles for this vehicle:

* The first option is to play a harasser role. Using the excellent mobility, the {{PAGENAME}} can get to the best positions on the map early and ambush enemy vehicles. Once you have struck and taken an enemy out, use the mobility to relocate to a new position and repeat the process.
* A second option is to use this vehicle to flank the enemy tanks while your teammates face them. Using your speed and mobility, you go around to take the enemy in a pincer movement.
* As third option, you can play it so as to get to cap zones before the other teams do, and afterwards use your vehicle as a support tank along with your teammates tanks taking up a position behind them and overextending when needed.

In addition to these roles, the AB 41 can be used against airplanes with its 20 mm autocannon.

;Notable opponents:

* [[S.35]] - Very well armoured but slow (flank if possible)
* [[B1 bis]] - Very well armoured for its BR and can be very dangerous with several cannons (avoid if possible)
* [[T-70]] / [[T-80]] - Strong frontal armour that will be hard to penetrate (but thinner side and rear armour), if you find yourself fighting one of these try to flank its position and catch it off guard.
* Most tanks of this tier can be penetrated easily by your autocannon, but be careful as some of these tanks will carry .50 cal machine guns which can penetrate your armour.

;Defeating the {{PAGENAME}}:

Being a very lightly armoured vehicle, it remains a vehicle easy to destroy: the 2 quickest ways to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} are autocannons and HEAT/HE projectiles. But any shell with explosive filler will do.
Avoid close quarters and engage from long distance to increase your armour advantage while decreasing the {{PAGENAME}}'s firepower.
You can also force your opponent to play on a terrain hindering its mobility (mud, snow, sand) to negate its main advantage. Aim for the driver or the engine to immobilize it, meaning almost certain death for an armoured car.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Reasonably fast on flat paved terrain especially roads
* Good acceleration
* Much quicker than other tracked competitors because it can steer both sides at 45° angle
* Can take very sharp turns at low speed
* Unlocks potent PzGr 40 APCR belt that is identical to the German 20 mm autocannons, giving it impressive close range penetration
* Good reverse speed

'''Cons:'''

* The armour protection is only enough to stop rifle-calibre bullets
* Off-road mobility is lacklustre
* Sharp turns leave it vulnerable to tipping over
* Only 8 rounds per magazine, which is quickly expended
* Long reload for a small magazine
* Individual shells don't do much internal damage upon penetration; multiple magazines may be required
* PzGr 40 belt is a tier IV modification
* Default belt is half API-T and half HEF-T Shells
* API-T rounds struggle at longer ranges or with even slightly angled armour

== History ==


An advanced automotive design, with the similar AB 40 it gave the Italian Army a modern armoured car during the Second World War. The {{PAGENAME}} had a 4x4 layout, with four-wheel steering and fully independent suspension. The freely rotating spare wheels, positioned midway along the sides of the hull, prevented the vehicle from bellying out when crossing obstacles. It also had a rear driver position. The AB 40 had 2 coaxial machine guns in the turret and a third rear-facing machine gun. The AB 41 had the 20 mm gun in place of one of the turret machine guns, and also had an increase in engine horsepower over the other design. In total 24 AB 40 and 560 AB 41s were built. They served in the reconnaissance units of armoured, motorized and cavalry divisions, as well as in independent recon companies and platoons, with 4 vehicles per platoon. The AB 40s only were used in North Africa, but AB 41s were active on all fronts, including 30 sent to Russia.

The Germans seized 37 AB 41 and another 20 in production when Italy fell in 1943. They used these, along with 102 AB 43s converted back to a 20 mm main gun, and known as AB 41/43s.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_ab_41 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XKdfhUHK81Y|'''What is more important: Rate of fire or Penetration? Autoblinda 41''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|ejKAkRG1Dv0|'''{{PAGENAME}} Review, Fun as heck!''' - ''Joseph 2000''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[AB 43]]

;Tanks of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[Sd.Kfz.234/1]]
* [[AMD.35]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Autoblindo_Fiat-Ansaldo|[Wikipedia] Autoblindo Fiat-Ansaldo]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/italy/autoblinda_AB40_AB41_AB43.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Autoblinda AB 40/41/43]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=379 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Autoblinda 40/41 (AB 40/41)]

{{TankManufacturer FIAT-Ansaldo}}
{{Italy light tanks}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

AB 41

2023-03-31T20:10:11Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=it_ab_41
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' or '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Gun steel (main gun, machine gun)
* Wheel (tires)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 8 mm (22°) ''Upper Plate'' 8 mm (44-68°) ''Upper Glacis'' 8 mm (19-50°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 8 mm (29°) ''Top'' 8 mm (12°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm (16°) ''Crew Compartment'' 18 mm (spherical) ''Rear MG Port'' 5 mm (33°) ''Engine Compartment'' 6 mm (27°) ''Lower plate'' || 6 mm ''Crew Compartment'' 6 mm (18°) ''Engine Compartment - Centre'' 8 mm (39°) ''Engine Compartment - Sides''
|-
| Turret || 18 mm (11°) ''Turret front'' 8 mm (cylindrical) ''Gun mantlet'' || 8 mm (24-25°) || 8 mm (17-18°) || 6 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* The wheels are 10 mm thick.
* The gun barrel is 10 mm thick while the coaxial machine gun is 5 mm thick.
* Viewports on the turret are 6 mm thick.
* Mudguards are 8 mm thick.

The armour of the {{PAGENAME}} is very weak, and will not protect it from any weapons, including some light machine guns at close range. From the front an inexperienced enemy may shoot the turret, which is the most heavily armoured portion, but even that is easy to penetrate by all anti-tank weapons. From the side many shots will over penetrate, killing only two of the four crew members at most; from the side the crew is well spaced out. From the front the crew members are lined up, making it an easy one shot kill. The ammunition stowage is a large target from the side, but it will not always explode when hit.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=124|rbMinHp=71}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)|20 mm Breda Mod.35]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 456 (8) || rowspan="2" | 240 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.9 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - Half the belt is composed of HEFI-T* shells, which will do negligible damage against armoured targets. However against aircraft and vehicles with exposed crew, they can prove deadly.
* '''Perforante mod.35:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Intermediate usage until the better PzGr 40 can be used. Decent enough against light tanks and other vehicles from the rear.
* '''PzGr 40:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Highest penetrating belt. However, the post-penetration effects are very poor. In close combat, aiming for modules and crew members is advised. Its effects against angled armour is limited due to the nature of the HVAP shells, however the base penetration compensates such drawback.

{{:Breda Mod.35 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, API-T, HVAP-T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! 12th rack empty
! 13th rack empty
! 14th rack empty
! 15th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''57''' || 53 ''(+4)'' || 49 ''(+8)'' || 45 ''(+12)'' || 41 ''(+16)'' || 37 ''(+20)'' || 33 ''(+24)'' || 29 ''(+28)'' || 25 ''(+32)'' || 21 ''(+36)'' || 17 ''(+40)'' || 13 ''(+44)'' || 9 ''(+48)'' || 6 ''(+51)'' || 3 ''(+54)'' || 1 ''(+56)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)|8 mm Breda Mod. 38]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 1,992 (24) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

Even though the armour of the {{PAGENAME}} is lacking, if played to its advantages it can become a vital part of achieving victory over the other team. This armoured car has 2 main things going for it: a very good mobility and a very effective, fast-firing autocannon that can decimate enemies at close to medium range.

With these advantages in mind, there are several playstyles for this vehicle:

* The first option is to play a harasser role. Using the excellent mobility, the {{PAGENAME}} can get to the best positions on the map early and ambush enemy vehicles. Once you have struck and taken an enemy out, use the mobility to relocate to a new position and repeat the process.
* A second option is to use this vehicle to flank the enemy tanks while your teammates face them. Using your speed and mobility, you go around to take the enemy in a pincer movement.
* As third option, you can play it so as to get to cap zones before the other teams do, and afterwards use your vehicle as a support tank along with your teammates tanks taking up a position behind them and overextending when needed.

In addition to these roles, the AB 41 can be used against airplanes with its 20 mm autocannon.

;Notable opponents:

* [[S.35]] - Very well armoured but slow (flank if possible)
* [[B1 bis]] - Very well armoured for its BR and can be very dangerous with several cannons (avoid if possible)
* [[T-70]] / [[T-80]] - Strong frontal armour that will be hard to penetrate (but thinner side and rear armour), if you find yourself fighting one of these try to flank its position and catch it off guard.
* Most tanks of this tier can be penetrated easily by your autocannon, but be careful as some of these tanks will carry .50 cal machine guns which can penetrate your armour.

;Defeating the {{PAGENAME}}:

Being a very lightly armoured vehicle, it remains a vehicle easy to destroy: the 2 quickest ways to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} are autocannons and HEAT/HE projectiles. But any shell with explosive filler will do.
Avoid close quarters and engage from long distance to increase your armour advantage while decreasing the {{PAGENAME}}'s firepower.
You can also force your opponent to play on a terrain hindering its mobility (mud, snow, sand) to negate its main advantage. Aim for the driver or the engine to immobilize it, meaning almost certain death for an armoured car.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Reasonably fast on flat paved terrain especially roads
* Good acceleration
* Much quicker than other tracked competitors because it can steer both sides at 45° angle
* Can take very sharp turns at low speed
* Unlocks potent PzGr 40 APCR belt that is identical to the German 20 mm autocannons, giving it impressive close range penetration
* Good reverse speed

'''Cons:'''

* The armour protection is only enough to stop rifle-calibre bullets
* Off-road mobility is lacklustre
* Sharp turns leave it vulnerable to tipping over
* Only 8 rounds per magazine, which is quickly expended
* Long reload for a small magazine
* Individual shells don't do much internal damage upon penetration; multiple magazines may be required
* PzGr 40 belt is a tier IV modification
* Default belt is half API-T and half HEF-T Shells
* API-T rounds struggle at longer ranges or with even slightly angled armour

== History ==


An advanced automotive design, with the similar AB 40 it gave the Italian Army a modern armoured car during the Second World War. The {{PAGENAME}} had a 4x4 layout, with four-wheel steering and fully independent suspension. The freely rotating spare wheels, positioned midway along the sides of the hull, prevented the vehicle from bellying out when crossing obstacles. It also had a rear driver position. The AB 40 had 2 coaxial machine guns in the turret and a third rear-facing machine gun. The AB 41 had the 20 mm gun in place of one of the turret machine guns, and also had an increase in engine horsepower over the other design. In total 24 AB 40 and 560 AB 41s were built. They served in the reconnaissance units of armoured, motorized and cavalry divisions, as well as in independent recon companies and platoons, with 4 vehicles per platoon. The AB 40s only were used in North Africa, but AB 41s were active on all fronts, including 30 sent to Russia.

The Germans seized 37 AB 41 and another 20 in production when Italy fell in 1943. They used these, along with 102 AB 43s converted back to a 20 mm main gun, and known as AB 41/43s.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_ab_41 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XKdfhUHK81Y|'''What is more important: Rate of fire or Penetration? Autoblinda 41''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|ejKAkRG1Dv0|'''{{PAGENAME}} Review, Fun as heck!''' - ''Joseph 2000''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[AB 43]]

;Tanks of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[Sd.Kfz.234/1]]
* [[AMD.35]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Autoblindo_Fiat-Ansaldo|[Wikipedia] Autoblindo Fiat-Ansaldo]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/italy/autoblinda_AB40_AB41_AB43.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Autoblinda AB 40/41/43]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=379 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Autoblinda 40/41 (AB 40/41)]

{{TankManufacturer FIAT-Ansaldo}}
{{Italy light tanks}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

Archer

2023-03-31T19:58:27Z

U128413528: /* Survivability and armour */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_sp_17_pdr_valentine
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Archer_Front.jpg|GarageImage_Archer_Rear.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (also known as just the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the entire British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. The Archer is a unique tank destroyer, as its gun faces the rear of the tank. The Archer can be good at both close combat- so long as you have somewhere to retreat to- and is also good at sniping. In a sense, you might consider the Archer to have two forward directions.

The Archer's armament is very good at this battle rating. The same cannon is even used on Rank III and IV tanks like the [[Sherman Firefly]] and the [[A.C.IV]]. Its reload speed is not bad, but there are faster firing cannons at this rank. However, the Archer can destroy many enemy tanks in one shot, and if it doesn't destroy them it will incapacitate them. If the enemy is not destroyed and they can shoot you, retreat and reload. Once reloaded, you can try to destroy the enemy tank, but if it's aiming in your direction you can try sneaking up on it. The Archer does not have a turret, but its gun can traverse further left and right than most non-turreted tank destroyers, including the [[StuG III F]] and [[SU-122]]. While these tank destroyers have a different battle rating, you may still encounter them.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


The Archer's Armour is ok, but it will not protect against close range fire, and the gun shield is especially vulnerable to fire from heavy machine guns and autocannons. The benefit is that when in a firing position, the engine and gun can work as extra protection. Generally speaking, don't expect to survive prolonged bombardment.

When facing the Archer, consider firing onto the left side of the gun shield, as that will eliminate the gunner and prevent the Archer from firing back. Avoid firing directly on the front of the vehicle, as you are unlikely to kill the crew in an efficient amount of time. Instead get shots on the side or concentrate fire on the gun compartment.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 20 mm (32-33°) ''Front glacis'' 20 mm (27°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm || 20 mm (23°), 14 mm (60°) ''Top'' 20 mm (0°), 14 mm (65°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm
|-
| Superstructure || 20 mm (32-33°) ''Same as hull front'' || 20 mm (13-18°) || 20 mm (16-57°) ''Gun shield'' 100 mm ''Gun breech'' || N/A
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* The front of the vehicle is the direction the driver is facing.
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 10 mm thick.
* A 9-12 mm RHA plate separate the crew compartment from the engine

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=273|rbMinHp=170}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 39 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±22° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 2.2 || 3.0 || 3.7 || 4.1 || 4.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.11 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 4.98 || rowspan="2" | 4.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 1.5 || 1.7 || 2.1 || 2.4 || 2.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:QF 17-pounder (76 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.6, Shell Mk.1, Shot Mk.4, Shot Mk.8, 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''39''' || 30 ''(+9)'' || 27 ''(+12)'' || 14 ''(+25)'' || 1 ''(+38)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.

== Usage in battles ==

You should use the true forward direction (opposite of the gun) to travel from place to place as its reverse speed is low. You should travel in the direction of the gun when approaching an enemy or an area with combat taking place. Once you can shoot the enemy, fire around at them and quickly go in the true forward direction to retreat. The same applies to when you're sniping, fire a shot and retreat. Again, the Archer can be played in both close combat and sniping, but be sure not to get too close.

The Archer has an open top, so you will need to be careful about machine guns and artillery. Its faster forward speed can allow you to escape from planes who are attacking you. You should also note that the Archer is faster than all three Valentines. While it is based on a Valentine, its reverse speed is about double the reverse speed of a Valentine, and its forward speed is about 9 km/h faster.

Whenever facing tanks of any battle rating and rank, always be on alert and always have a backup plan as most tanks may be able to knock out the Archer in one shot. Do not worry, always play safely and stay at a reasonable distance from the cap circle or in an area which can be a chock point for the enemy team. Always make sure you are in an area where they have to face the tank from in the cannon's arc to always have a first shot opportunity and have the enemy back off from charging straight into the Archer's field of fire. If a plane or tank starts strafing the Archer, pull out and find a new location as that place is now compromised and a wary pilot or flanking enemy could put an end to the Archer's career.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Ability to move faster in the opposite direction of the gun can allow for a quick retreat
* [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)]] is amazing at causing damage and offers easy ballistic trajectory
* The direction configuration can confuse or surprise enemies
* Very stealthy when in hull-down position
* Engine and gun can double as armour; some shots will be absorbed, protecting the crew
* Smooth handling despite strange design
* Decent speed for a SPG, allowing it to keep pace with teammates

'''Cons:'''

* It can be hard to master this vehicle as the gun does not face forward
* The Archer has a long reload time for its BR
* Vehicle immobilization can occur often
* Only travels about 4 km/h backwards, which makes it hard to move in the direction of your gun
* Very slow cannon traverse speed and average reload speed; high crew training is critical for maximum effectiveness
* Lightly-armoured tanks get off easy from your shots due to over-penetration
* Thin armour means that heavy calibre fire will penetrate armour plates quite easily
* Open-topped vehicle; ideal target for planes, HE shells, and artillery strikes

== History ==


===Development===
The production of the 17-pounder anti-tank gun for British service gave the British military firepower capable of destroying the heavier German tanks, however, the gun's heavyweight and bulkiness presented a mobility issue for the crew. An attempt to make a mobile version was done in 1942, first with the [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]] as a self-propelled mount, then with the [[Achilles|M10 tank destroyer]] from the Americans which proved more successful. Another project done was to use obsolete tank chassis and convert them into mounts for use, like the [[Crusader Mk III|Crusader]] cruiser tanks and the [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry gun. The Valentine was chosen for further development as it was one of the more reliable tanks in British service and had the specifications needed to mount the gun. The modified Valentine, known as the '''Self Propelled 17pdr, Valentine, Mk.I, Archer''', was given a more powerful engine and a casemate superstructure on the front. The most distinctive feature of the Archer compared to any other tank destroyers in the war was that its gun is not facing forward, rather to the rear. This had a benefit of reducing the vehicle's length by making the gun stretch out over the rear hull of the vehicle, limiting the gun from extending over the vehicle. The rear gun mounting, despite its unorthodox method, allowed the Archer to become an excellent ambush weapon, by firing at targets with its gun and able to speed away forward at full speed rather than the reverse. The first prototype of the Archer was made in 1943, trials were carried out in April 1943, which concluded favourably and 800 were ordered from Vickers and accepted into service in October 1944. Vickers were able to complete 655 Archer tank destroyers from March 1943 to until the end of the war in May 1945.

===Combat usage===
The Archer was used in the Italian front and the European campaign against Germany. As a self-propelled gun, the Royal Artillery had authority over the tank destroyer just like other tank destroyers in British service. Reception to the Archer proved that the crews favour the Archer over the M10 Achilles due to the better tactics the Archer presented by shooting then speeding away before the enemy could discover them. Though the drawbacks of the crew positions, open-topped superstructure, and limited gun traverse limited the Archer's capabilities, this was mitigated by its role as a tank destroyer and was used in World War II until the end.

Britain continued to use the Archer up until the 1950s. Once retired, some were sold to the Egyptian Army, to which they reported using it during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956. After that, no further action reports are known with the Archers.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_sp_17_pdr_valentine Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VFEv4q3G5Us|'''Most unusual vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:15 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PSz-X-WvGeo|'''Reason why no one plays it? Weirdest tank construction! - Archer''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|OY1uqehXGKY|'''The SP 17pdr. Valentine "Archer", British Tier-2, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[Valentine (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:Archer_(tank_destroyer)|[Wikipedia] Archer (tank destroyer)]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Archer_17pdr_SPG.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Archer, Self Propelled 17 Pdr Anti-tank gun]

{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}

Archer

2023-03-31T19:47:34Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_sp_17_pdr_valentine
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Archer_Front.jpg|GarageImage_Archer_Rear.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (also known as just the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the entire British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. The Archer is a unique tank destroyer, as its gun faces the rear of the tank. The Archer can be good at both close combat- so long as you have somewhere to retreat to- and is also good at sniping. In a sense, you might consider the Archer to have two forward directions.

The Archer's armament is very good at this battle rating. The same cannon is even used on Rank III and IV tanks like the [[Sherman Firefly]] and the [[A.C.IV]]. Its reload speed is not bad, but there are faster firing cannons at this rank. However, the Archer can destroy many enemy tanks in one shot, and if it doesn't destroy them it will incapacitate them. If the enemy is not destroyed and they can shoot you, retreat and reload. Once reloaded, you can try to destroy the enemy tank, but if it's aiming in your direction you can try sneaking up on it. The Archer does not have a turret, but its gun can traverse further left and right than most non-turreted tank destroyers, including the [[StuG III F]] and [[SU-122]]. While these tank destroyers have a different battle rating, you may still encounter them.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 20 mm (32-33°) ''Front glacis'' 20 mm (27°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm || 20 mm (23°), 14 mm (60°) ''Top'' 20 mm (0°), 14 mm (65°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm
|-
| Superstructure || 20 mm (32-33°) ''Same as hull front'' || 20 mm (13-18°) || 20 mm (16-57°) ''Gun shield'' 100 mm ''Gun breech'' || N/A
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* The front of the vehicle is the direction the driver is facing.
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 10 mm thick.
* A 9-12 mm RHA plate separate the crew compartment from the engine

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=273|rbMinHp=170}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 39 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±22° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 2.2 || 3.0 || 3.7 || 4.1 || 4.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.11 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 4.98 || rowspan="2" | 4.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 1.5 || 1.7 || 2.1 || 2.4 || 2.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:QF 17-pounder (76 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.6, Shell Mk.1, Shot Mk.4, Shot Mk.8, 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''39''' || 30 ''(+9)'' || 27 ''(+12)'' || 14 ''(+25)'' || 1 ''(+38)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.

== Usage in battles ==

You should use the true forward direction (opposite of the gun) to travel from place to place as its reverse speed is low. You should travel in the direction of the gun when approaching an enemy or an area with combat taking place. Once you can shoot the enemy, fire around at them and quickly go in the true forward direction to retreat. The same applies to when you're sniping, fire a shot and retreat. Again, the Archer can be played in both close combat and sniping, but be sure not to get too close.

The Archer has an open top, so you will need to be careful about machine guns and artillery. Its faster forward speed can allow you to escape from planes who are attacking you. You should also note that the Archer is faster than all three Valentines. While it is based on a Valentine, its reverse speed is about double the reverse speed of a Valentine, and its forward speed is about 9 km/h faster.

Whenever facing tanks of any battle rating and rank, always be on alert and always have a backup plan as most tanks may be able to knock out the Archer in one shot. Do not worry, always play safely and stay at a reasonable distance from the cap circle or in an area which can be a chock point for the enemy team. Always make sure you are in an area where they have to face the tank from in the cannon's arc to always have a first shot opportunity and have the enemy back off from charging straight into the Archer's field of fire. If a plane or tank starts strafing the Archer, pull out and find a new location as that place is now compromised and a wary pilot or flanking enemy could put an end to the Archer's career.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Ability to move faster in the opposite direction of the gun can allow for a quick retreat
* [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)]] is amazing at causing damage and offers easy ballistic trajectory
* The direction configuration can confuse or surprise enemies
* Very stealthy when in hull-down position
* Engine and gun can double as armour; some shots will be absorbed, protecting the crew
* Smooth handling despite strange design
* Decent speed for a SPG, allowing it to keep pace with teammates

'''Cons:'''

* It can be hard to master this vehicle as the gun does not face forward
* The Archer has a long reload time for its BR
* Vehicle immobilization can occur often
* Only travels about 4 km/h backwards, which makes it hard to move in the direction of your gun
* Very slow cannon traverse speed and average reload speed; high crew training is critical for maximum effectiveness
* Lightly-armoured tanks get off easy from your shots due to over-penetration
* Thin armour means that heavy calibre fire will penetrate armour plates quite easily
* Open-topped vehicle; ideal target for planes, HE shells, and artillery strikes

== History ==


===Development===
The production of the 17-pounder anti-tank gun for British service gave the British military firepower capable of destroying the heavier German tanks, however, the gun's heavyweight and bulkiness presented a mobility issue for the crew. An attempt to make a mobile version was done in 1942, first with the [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]] as a self-propelled mount, then with the [[Achilles|M10 tank destroyer]] from the Americans which proved more successful. Another project done was to use obsolete tank chassis and convert them into mounts for use, like the [[Crusader Mk III|Crusader]] cruiser tanks and the [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry gun. The Valentine was chosen for further development as it was one of the more reliable tanks in British service and had the specifications needed to mount the gun. The modified Valentine, known as the '''Self Propelled 17pdr, Valentine, Mk.I, Archer''', was given a more powerful engine and a casemate superstructure on the front. The most distinctive feature of the Archer compared to any other tank destroyers in the war was that its gun is not facing forward, rather to the rear. This had a benefit of reducing the vehicle's length by making the gun stretch out over the rear hull of the vehicle, limiting the gun from extending over the vehicle. The rear gun mounting, despite its unorthodox method, allowed the Archer to become an excellent ambush weapon, by firing at targets with its gun and able to speed away forward at full speed rather than the reverse. The first prototype of the Archer was made in 1943, trials were carried out in April 1943, which concluded favourably and 800 were ordered from Vickers and accepted into service in October 1944. Vickers were able to complete 655 Archer tank destroyers from March 1943 to until the end of the war in May 1945.

===Combat usage===
The Archer was used in the Italian front and the European campaign against Germany. As a self-propelled gun, the Royal Artillery had authority over the tank destroyer just like other tank destroyers in British service. Reception to the Archer proved that the crews favour the Archer over the M10 Achilles due to the better tactics the Archer presented by shooting then speeding away before the enemy could discover them. Though the drawbacks of the crew positions, open-topped superstructure, and limited gun traverse limited the Archer's capabilities, this was mitigated by its role as a tank destroyer and was used in World War II until the end.

Britain continued to use the Archer up until the 1950s. Once retired, some were sold to the Egyptian Army, to which they reported using it during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956. After that, no further action reports are known with the Archers.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_sp_17_pdr_valentine Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VFEv4q3G5Us|'''Most unusual vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:15 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PSz-X-WvGeo|'''Reason why no one plays it? Weirdest tank construction! - Archer''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|OY1uqehXGKY|'''The SP 17pdr. Valentine "Archer", British Tier-2, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[Valentine (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:Archer_(tank_destroyer)|[Wikipedia] Archer (tank destroyer)]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Archer_17pdr_SPG.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Archer, Self Propelled 17 Pdr Anti-tank gun]

{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}

M6 (37 mm)

2023-03-31T19:31:16Z

U128413528: /* Description */

{{About
| about = the tank cannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = M6 (Disambiguation)
}}
[[File:Weapon_M6_(37_mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 37 mm M6 mounted on an [[M3A1 Stuart]].]]

== Description ==

The '''37 mm M6''' is an American tank cannon. It is primarily found on the M2 and M3 series of light tanks, as well as a coaxial weapon for the [[M6A1]] and a main weapon for the [[M3 Lee]].

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_1}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A3}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m3a3_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M5A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_canadian_5st_arm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m5a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}
{{Navigation-Line|M22}}{{Specs-Link|us_m22_locust}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M74B1, M63 shell, M51B1}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good rate of fire
* Access to SAPHEI shells
* M51B1 shot has good penetration

'''Cons:'''

* HE shells perform poorly against heavier targets
* Multiple shots required to knock out targets
* No dedicated APHE shells

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{Italy tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M6 (37 mm)

2023-03-31T19:25:43Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = the tank cannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = M6 (Disambiguation)
}}
[[File:Weapon_M6_(37_mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 37 mm M6 mounted on an [[M3A1 Stuart]].]]

== Description ==

The '''37 mm M6''' is an American tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_1}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A3}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m3a3_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M5A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_canadian_5st_arm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m5a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}
{{Navigation-Line|M22}}{{Specs-Link|us_m22_locust}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M74B1, M63 shell, M51B1}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good rate of fire
* Access to SAPHEI shells
* M51B1 shot has good penetration

'''Cons:'''

* HE shells perform poorly against heavier targets
* Multiple shots required to knock out targets
* No dedicated APHE shells

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{Italy tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M6 (37 mm)

2023-03-31T19:25:15Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = the tank cannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = M6 (Disambiguation)
}}
[[File:Weapon_M6_(37_mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 37 mm M6 mounted on an [[M3A1 Stuart]].]]

== Description ==

The '''37 mm M6''' is an American tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_1}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A3}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m3a3_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M5A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_canadian_5st_arm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m5a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}
{{Navigation-Line|M22}}{{Specs-Link|us_m22_locust}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M74B1, M63 shell, M51B1}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good rate of fire
* Access to SAPHEI shells
* M51B1 shot has excellent penetration

'''Cons:'''

* HE shells perform poorly against heavier targets
* Multiple shots required to knock out targets
* No dedicated APHE shells

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{Italy tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

Wirbelwind

2023-03-31T15:45:25Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_flakpanzer_IV_Wirbelwind
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29_Sd.Kfz._Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 161/4''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft (SPAA) vehicle {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind is a anti-aircraft platform on a Panzer IV chassis. Armed with quad 20 mm FlaK38 cannons, this machine will absolutely obliterate any enemy plane that's unfortunate enough to cross paths with it. Due to the high fire rate, this machine effectively spews out a river of fragmentation rounds. Any airplane unfortunate enough to even touch that stream will at least burst into flames, if not more severe damage. However, they are incredibly easy to spot because of the tracers. While an individual 20 mm shell does not do much damage, it is very hard when using the Wirbelwind to hit an aircraft with only one shell. The sheer number of shells fired can overwhelm enemy aircraft and act like a laser, cutting off pieces and burning others. This tank, considering its BR, has the potential to be a viable anti-tank thanks to having about 60 mm of penetration. If a Sherman is caught from the flank, you can very much destroy it entirely.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


The armour surrounding the turret can provide a small amount of protection against plane machine guns, but the amount of armour on its turret is still low and it has an open top so it's best to destroy the attacking plane quickly or move out of the way.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (11°) ''Front plate'' 20 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' 80 mm (11-12°) ''Lower glacis''|| 30 mm || 30 mm (4-15°) || 10 mm
|-
| Turret || 16 mm (19-24°) || 16 mm (21-27°) || 16 mm (17-22°) || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Some track links are placed on the front glacis, adding 15 mm armour at their area.
* Belly armour is 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=265}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

If the Wirbelwind is to be used in an anti-air role, mobility modules are not as important as the Sprgr. modification, which gives the vehicle access to a purely high-explosive ammo belt. The Horizontal Drive and Elevation Mechanism modules are also useful.

The PzGr 40 modification gives this vehicle a decent anti-tank capability, although this upgraded ammo belt will still not be able to penetrate heavily armoured targets.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|FlaK38 (20 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[FlaK38 (20 mm)|20 mm FlaK38]] (x4) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 3,200 (20) || rowspan="2" | 1,920 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+90° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 52.8 || 73.1 || 88.8 || 98.2 || 104.5 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 35.7 || 42.0 || 51.0 || 56.4 || 60.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - These are adapted for the anti-air role with much less performance against enemy tanks. Focus on the AA role with this belt until others are researched. You can still damage and take out lightly armoured vehicles in self-defence as last resort.
* '''Sprgr.:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - These are absolutely devastating in the anti-air role.
* '''PzGr:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - They do decent damage against lightly armoured vehicles as well as planes. When targeting enemy vehicles, focus on weak spots like the rear or the sides.
* '''PzGr 40:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Best penetrating belt of this vehicle: devastating for enemy vehicles. However, the post-penetration damages are very poor and the penetration power drops quickly over distance. Go for close combat and target modules and crew members for increased efficiency. Like any ACPR shell, it is not very effective against angled armour.

Since every bullet is a tracer, it helps aiming at aircraft but detectability is also greatly increased.

{{:FlaK38 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, API-T, HVAP-T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''160''' || 36 ''(+128)'' || 32 ''(+128)'' || 24 ''(+136)'' || 20 ''(+140)'' || 16 ''(+144)'' || 12 ''(+148)'' || 8 ''(+152)'' || 0 ''(+160)'' || Yes
|-
|}
Notes:

* Clips with 20 rounds each (3,200 rounds max)
* Visual discrepancy: ammunition clips in turret do not empty.

== Usage in battles ==


Being the first anti-aircraft of a modified Panzer IV, it is superior to the previous vehicle, the [[Sd.Kfz. 6/2|3.7-cm Flak 36 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz. 6/2]] in many areas and has little to none disadvantages. One notable disadvantage would be the lack of penetration of API-T rounds compared to the prior 3,7 cm cannon. It is recommended to stay away from areas of combat as your quad 20's will do practically nothing against the front plates of heavier armoured enemies at its rank, against which its only defence is to blind enemy vehicles with a barrage of fire and hope allies will neutralize the threat. However, firing a stream of HVAP-T rounds into an enemy's side plates can lead to a very fast elimination.

In terms of advantages with the 20 mm autocannons, the quad-mount gives the Wirbelwind the ability to fire a lethal stream of bullets at any pilot who wanders into your sights.

;Anti-Aircraft:

While in tank guns, dispersion (the MOA cone that is used to determine accuracy) is something that is ideally kept to a minimum, this vehicle benefits from it by having shots spread out in a sort of "shotgun" effect, rather than having four separate beams of projectiles. This means that if you can get your lead point right, your odds of shredding aircraft with even a momentary burst is exceptional compared to other types of AA present at the ranks that you will be operating this vehicle. Unfortunately, this rapid-fire ability is hindered by the 20 round magazine capacity for each cannon (for a total of 80 rounds), meaning that it is best to fire 3-5 round bursts to make effective use of what ammunition you have and your magazine size. This is one of the few areas the Wirbelwind is caught lacking, the others being an open crew compartment roof and the fact that your SPAA houses most of its crew in a thinly armoured turret.

Some of these disadvantages with the Wirbelwind can be mitigated by working with another SPAA. Two Wirbelwinds about 30m apart prove a daunting combination to enemy aircraft as their crossed streams maximize their ability to hit and it is very hard to neutralise both in one go. Besides doubling their spotting ability — when one sees the other firing, he or she will be quick to acquire the same target and proceed to severely worsen the aeroplane's day. For this reason, as a matter of etiquette, do not fire into the air if you do not see anyone, so as not to mislead your teammates.

;Attack:

It is highly discouraged to use the Wirbelwind aggressively since it can be hard to always get such a favourable engagement (and also it is not the SPAA's job to do so). However, should a player choose such an attack plan, they should consider either being supported by friendly tanks as an additional gun or cover, or flanking wide and make effective use of cover and concealment against thin-skinned vehicles. Use roads less-traveled to remain hidden. No matter which manoeuvre that is used, stay vigilant for enemy aircraft to avoid them spotting and pouncing on the Wirbelwind. Even if equipped with the PzGr 40 belt for anti-tank purposes, eighty 20 mm shells from the Wirbelwind can still mess up an aircraft's flight time.

Once the question of manoeuvring to an advantageous position is answered, the next concern is seeing if the 20 mm have enough firepower to be of any threat to the enemy downrange. While the PzGr 40 APCR belt can be a threat to enemy light tank, lightly armoured tank destroyers like the [[M18 GMC|M18 Hellcat]], and also enemy anti-air vehicle, the shell's penetration decreases drastically at range and it's not enough to deal with more heavily armoured vehicles, with the side armour of some medium tanks even being a questionable option. The Wirbelwind's armour is only enough to reduce the damage done by aeroplanes, which makes engaging any sort of tank very dangerous. As such, pick targets wisely and make sure to either take them out within one belt's worth of shells or hold fire to avoid drawing any attention at all.

==== Against the Wirbelwind ====

* '''Aircraft''': the Wirbelwind is an extremely popular SPAA in Ground Realistic battles and pose a huge threat to any plane, thus every pilot should know how to counter it. Aircraft with access to rockets (e.g. P-47D, IL-2) can practice firing off a salvo of rockets at long distances, this way the pilot can score hits/critical hits if not a kill without even entering the effective range of the 20 mm autocannons. Bomb-carrying planes, for example BTD-1, P-47D, will be more dangerous, as they usually need to get closer to drop the bombs accurately. The conventional method of shallow dive bombing will not work if the Wirbelwind knows your presence and starts spraying bursts towards you as you dive, 1-2 hits from it and your wing will snap off. Pilots can try flying low to the ground - at tree-top level if they can, to avoid getting spotted by the SPAA. On occasion, the opposing team, being usually the Allies, will have aircraft with huge cannons, like the XA-38 and Yak-9K. In this case, practising long-range shooting with these plane cannons can definitely help, since you want to finish your pass as quick as possible so you do not get too close to the Wirbelwind. Its armour can overall be easily penetrated by most aircraft armaments, except the frontal hull.

* '''Light tank/SPAA''': light tanks generally see the Wirbelwind as a nice target if their cannon is effective, for example the M24. Other countries' SPAAs usually cannot quickly kill a Wirbelwind from the front, because its hull can reach 100 mm thick which no SPAA at this tier can pierce through. It is best to focus fire on its thin turret, clean out every crew inside, wait for ~12 seconds so it finishes replenishing new crew, and wipe out the new crew again, destroying the Wirbelwind. Perform this task carefully, though, as the Wirbelwind has access to a HVAP belt with ~48 mm penetration, allowing it to penetrate almost all light vehicles without a problem.

* '''Medium tank/heavy tank/tank destroyer''': these vehicles will have no issue destroying a Wirbelwind, it is an SPAA after all. Note, do not shoot the frontal hull armour if it is angling, your shell might fail to penetrate if its penetration is not high enough. Also certain tank destroyers (e.g. M10, M18, SU-85) should be careful as their armour have weak spots that can be penetrated by Wirbelwind's PzGr.40 HVAP belt.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High rate of fire (1,800 rounds per minute combined!) allows it to spray shells in an aircraft's path and quickly take them down
* Impressive ammo capacity of 3,200 rounds (~2 minutes of continuous fire)
* Excellent gun elevation and depression allows it to deal with targets regardless of their location
* Powerful guns with various belts: HE belt will devastate planes at close range, while HVAP can go through side armour and quickly knock out the crew of common enemies like [[M4]], [[T-34 (1942)]] and [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]]
* Excellent turret traverse makes it possible to stay on aircraft
* Excellent hull armour for an AA vehicle, can resist low-penetrating tanks like [[M24]], T-34 (1942) and 75 mm M4
* Turret armour is thick enough to protect the crew inside from light machine gun fire from enemy tanks
* High driving speed able to move from cover to cover with little to no problem

'''Cons:'''

* Weak turret protection: open top design makes vehicle vulnerable to strafing runs by enemy aircraft, especially those with .50 cals like the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]], and the thin armour can get penetrated by other SPAA like [[M16 MGMC|M16]], [[ZSD63]] and [[GAZ-MM (72-K)|GAZ]] trucks
* Especially vulnerable to HE and HEAT shells: even glancing shots could be lethal
* Less effective at firing at distant aircraft
* Reloading rate sub-par compared to other SPAAs at 5.6 seconds
* With continuous firing, a magazine is emptied very fast so strict trigger control is important
* 20 mm shells have difficulty dealing with bombers due to both durability and the typical altitude of targets
* Weak side armour, where an ammo rack is located

== History ==

===Development===
Development of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns that could keep up with the Panzer formations were not taken into consideration in the early years of World War II due to the Luftwaffe's superiority over the air, but gradual losses in the Luftwaffe and inability to support their flights gave the Allies the upper hand in the air, granting them air superiority. The growing air power of the Allies forced the Germans to develop methods to protect their tank formations from strafing from Allied aircraft, one early design to protect the front line tanks was the ''Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen'', an interim design as Flakpanzer designs underwent development. SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Wilhelm Krause of the 12th SS Panzer Division came up with the concept of the '''Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind''' in the summer of 1944. The commander of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche, received this and presented it to Hitler, to which he approved for its development.[[File:German SPAA Wirbelwind (2-426).jpg|right|x200px|thumb|none|A camouflaged Wirbelwind.]]

The design called for use of the proven Panzer IV design. The Wirbelwind uses the Panzer IV hull, but the original Panzer IV turret was removed and replaced with an open-topped nine-sided turret that mounted the anti-aircraft armament. The anti-aircraft armament chosen for the vehicle was a quadruple mounted 2 cm FlaK 38. Though a closed-top turret design was desired, the number of gasses given out by the gun made this impossible for the crew. The production of the Wirbelwind commenced at the Ostbau Werke at Sagan, Silesia. Between 87 to 105 Wirbelwinds were manufactured from May to November 1944, with the discrepancies due to differences in the Wehrmacht service records and Ostbau Werke's production records.

===Combat usage===
[[File:Wirbelwind_CFB_Borden.jpg|left|thumb|x200px|A surviving Wirbelwind.]]
The troops nicknamed the Wirbelwind the ''"Keksdose"'' (Biscuit Tin) due to its unique turret shape. The Wirbelwind was equipped with Panzer formations to protect them against low-flying aircraft. During the Battle of Normandy in 1944, flak units in the 12th SS Panzer Division were credited with shooting down 45 allied planes. However, there weren't enough to go around in the front-lines so many Panzer formations were left vulnerable to enemy aircraft due to lack of availability of the Flakpanzers. Not only did their small numbers made their effect on the front minimal, but the 20 mm cannon was also determined to insufficient against the more armoured aircraft that the Allies are fielding. Thus, the design was changed to not use the quadruple 2 cm Flak 38, but instead the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 in the new designation [[Ostwind|Flakpanzer IV Ostwind]]. Aside from that the Wirbelwind also served as a ground support role, which it proved very well at with its rapid firing 20 mm cannons.

It was determined that the Flakpanzer IV in the ''Wirbelwind'' and ''Ostwind'' configurations were to be replaced by the [[Kugelblitz]] by early 1945, in an attempt to yet again increase the firepower of the anti-aircraft guns. But this never happened due to the war ending before the Kugelblitz could be deployed.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
After losing air superiority, the Wehrmacht needed to improve the AA weapons of its armoured tank divisions. The Wirbelwind AA vehicle was built on the chassis of the Pz.IV tank. It was the first specialized, self-sufficient means of defending armoured tank divisions against enemy aircraft. The Flakvierling 38 installation was placed in an open turret protected by 16 mm of armour plating. Unlike various other self-propelled AA systems, this AA weapon struck a balance between protection, deployment time, and firepower. Between July, 1944 and March, 1945 105 of these mounts were built. They were used on the Western and Eastern Fronts. The first prototype was built on the basis of a remodeled Pz.IV by Krupp-Druckenmuller GmbH Berlin-Mariendorf in May, 1944.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_flakpanzer_IV_Wirbelwind Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
Image:Wirbelwind looking for planes.jpg|The Wirbelwind scanning the sky for target aircraft.
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|naeDoEwZ5Pg|'''German SPAAs''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:22 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|8GHgtBsV32M|'''Aviation industry HATES it! For having these weird characteristics - Wirbelwind''' - ''HowToPlay1337''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[Flakpanzer IV]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Crusader AA Mk II]]
* [[ZSD63]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/635|[Devblog] Flakpanzer IV 'Wirbelwind']]
* [[wikipedia:Wirbelwind|[Wikipedia] Wirbelwind]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-germany-flakpanzer-iv-wirblewind/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Flakpanzer IV (2cm Flak 38 Vierling) 'Wirbelwind']

{{Germany anti-aircraft vehicles}}

OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)

2023-03-31T15:32:17Z

U128413528:

OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)

2023-03-31T15:29:36Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

QF 2-pounder (40 mm)

2023-03-31T15:21:35Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

== Description ==

Following the 1935 budget in Britain, the Government decided to standardise the armaments employed by both the Royal Tank Regiment and anti-tank gun companies to be identical. The first tank to utilise this gun was the Cruiser Mk. I (A9) which entered service in 1938. This tank, whilst not in the game, saw service in North Africa and France alongside other tanks such as the A13.

Seeing action during the Phony War and the Retreat to Dunkirk, it was first used on the battlefield by the Belgian Army, however many of the guns that were produced had to be abandoned following the evacuation of Dunkirk. Stockpiles in Britain would eventually be distributed to the Army before they were phased out for the QF 6-pounder, and the remaining guns were sent to Home Guard Anti-tank sections across the United Kingdom.

The gun was proven to show its effectiveness against the early Panzer IIs and Panzer IIIs however it could also pierce elements of the later Panzer IVs until the E variant.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_daimler_mk_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a17_mk_1_tetrarch}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_2pdr}}
{{Navigation-Line|A13}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk1_3rd_rtr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk2_1939}}
{{Navigation-Line|Crusader}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_crusader_mk_2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_valentine_mk_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_ac1_sentinel}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_matilda_hedgehog}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{Notice|"Shell Mk.2 HE" can only be found on certain vehicles.}}
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|Shot Mk.1 AP/T, Shell Mk.2, Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T, Shot Mk.1 APHV/T, Shell Mk.1 AP/T}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

Depending on the tank, the tactics available to you differ. The QF-2 Pounder has a rapid rate of fire and is found on faster chassis, such as the [[SARC MkVI (2pdr)]], [[Daimler Mk II]], and [[Tetrarch I]]. The faster speed and smaller profile of these platforms, along with the decent penetration of the cannon itself, makes it suitable for flanking and killing tanks. It can also be used in brawling, though the [[Crusader (Family)]] tanks may not be suitable for this type of combat due to their poor reverse speeds and low amounts of armor.

On Heavy tanks, this is somewhat different. [[Matilda (Family)]] and the [[Churchill I]] tanks can absorb gunfire and return it. While this can include getting kills, it also can involve disabling enemy tanks in ways such as hitting their tracks, disabling the gun, or doing damage to the propolsion systems like the transmission or drive.

Be warned that using the QF2 pounder for long range fire on enemy tanks is ill advised: the penetration drops sharply the further away you get, and there are better options in your arsenal, such as the [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)]]. If you must engage at long range, consider using the Shot Mk.IXB or the Shot Mk.1 APHV/T.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High-penetrating round
* Quick reload
* Decent muzzle velocity

'''Cons:'''

* Lack of explosive filler on most shells means multiple shots could be needed to take out a target
* 3 of the 4 available shells lose penetration very quickly over range
* APHE shell is only useful at very close range and often bounces

== History ==

The gun proved its effectiveness against early Panzer IIs and Panzer IIIs and proved effective even later against more advanced enemies where it could also pierce elements of the Panzer IVs until the E variant arrived to the battlefield.

Examinations of the gun on angled surfaces showed good results in the 1936 tests.<ref>Bird, Lorrin; Lingston, Robert (2001). World War II Ballistics: Armor and Gunnery. Albany, NY USA: Overmatch Press. p. 60</ref>

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

QF 2-pounder (40 mm)

2023-03-31T15:00:37Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

== Description ==

Following the 1935 budget in Britain, the Government decided to standardise the armaments employed by both the Royal Tank Regiment and anti-tank gun companies to be identical. The first tank to utilise this gun was the Cruiser Mk. I (A9) which entered service in 1938. This tank, whilst not in the game, saw service in North Africa and France alongside other tanks such as the A13.

Seeing action during the Phony War and the Retreat to Dunkirk, it was first used on the battlefield by the Belgian Army, however many of the guns that were produced had to be abandoned following the evacuation of Dunkirk. Stockpiles in Britain would eventually be distributed to the Army before they were phased out for the QF 6-pounder, and the remaining guns were sent to Home Guard Anti-tank sections across the United Kingdom.

The gun was proven to show its effectiveness against the early Panzer IIs and Panzer IIIs however it could also pierce elements of the later Panzer IVs until the E variant.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_daimler_mk_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a17_mk_1_tetrarch}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_2pdr}}
{{Navigation-Line|A13}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk1_3rd_rtr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_13_mk2_1939}}
{{Navigation-Line|Crusader}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_crusader_mk_2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_valentine_mk_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_ac1_sentinel}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_matilda_hedgehog}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{Notice|"Shell Mk.2 HE" can only be found on certain vehicles.}}
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|Shot Mk.1 AP/T, Shell Mk.2, Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T, Shot Mk.1 APHV/T, Shell Mk.1 AP/T}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High-penetrating round
* Quick reload
* Decent muzzle velocity

'''Cons:'''

* Lack of explosive filler on most shells means multiple shots could be needed to take out a target
* 3 of the 4 available shells lose penetration very quickly over range
* APHE shell is only useful at very close range and often bounces

== History ==

The gun proved its effectiveness against early Panzer IIs and Panzer IIIs and proved effective even later against more advanced enemies where it could also pierce elements of the Panzer IVs until the E variant arrived to the battlefield.

Examinations of the gun on angled surfaces showed good results in the 1936 tests.<ref>Bird, Lorrin; Lingston, Robert (2001). World War II Ballistics: Armor and Gunnery. Albany, NY USA: Overmatch Press. p. 60</ref>

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

Staghound AA

2023-03-27T15:55:15Z

U128413528: /* General info */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_t17e2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft (SPAA) Gun {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the initial British ground tree. A very mobile self-propelled anti-tank gun with a dual-mounted .50 cal machine gun, it also has armour rivaling some of the Rank I vehicle and can withstand a majority of the small shells, warranting its high battle rating.

The T17E2 has two obvious characteristics. It has wheels, giving it excellent speed and mobility, especially on hard surfaces like rock or roads. The wheels also mean that it struggles in mud, sand or snow. Then, there are the guns, the T17E2 is armed with a seemingly light armament of two 12.7 mm (.50 cal) machine guns. Compared to other SPAA of the rank, the armament are light. German and Japanese SPAA are armed with highly potent 20 mm auto cannons, which inflict far more damage to aircraft and vehicles alike. Instead, the T17E2 relies on its longevity and high rate of fire.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

The Staghound AA's armour protection is moderate for an SPAA. The frontal hull glacis is a sloped 22 mm plate which, when angling, can deflect quite some shells. Most reserve tanks' 37 mm guns will not be able to penetrate this, which makes the Staghound seem greatly protected considering that it is only a wheeled SPAA. However the driver's port will not be able to resist most shots as it is only 15 mm, and poorly angled. The turret is made of 31 mm plates all-round, which makes it immune to vehicles with weak penetration when they are shooting from far away, for example the [[H.35]]. This thickness is also enough to stop most aircraft weapons, such as the commonly used 7.92 mm MG17 and the 12.7 mm M2HB.

However, when facing vehicles at a higher BR with more powerful guns (e.g. [[Chi-Ha Kai]], [[M3A1 Stuart|M3A1]], [[Pz.IV C]], etc) this armour will not hold up anymore, so it is better to stay in cover if tanks are around. The crew count is low, at only 3 men. Luckily there is a gap between the driving compartment and the fighting compartment. The post-penetration survivability depends on the shell: if it is an early tank's low-calibre shell or a solid AP round, then a penetration might take out only one or no crew member at all. If it is explosive, then you will not be so lucky. Quite some times the shell enters the hull at an angle, perfectly lining up the driver/machine gunner with the turret gunner, taking out those 2 crew members and destroying the Staghound. The turret is also prone to penetrations and strafing runs as it is open topped. The gun shield has a crack that lets the gunner aim but unfortunately exposes him to enemy fire at the same time. Overall the Staghound AA has quite some thick armour for a low tier wheeled SPAA, but should still be played carefully.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 22 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' 22 mm (43°) ''Lower glacis'' 15 mm (32°) ''Driver's port'' || 19 mm (8-12°) || 9 mm (2-53°) || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 31.7 mm (2-42°) || 31.7 mm (0-1°) || 31.7 mm (2°) || N/A
|-
|}

* Wheels are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

The mobility of the Staghound AA is quite decent for a SPAA vehicle. Its weight is quite high for a wheeled vehicle. With a lower-than-average power-to-weight ratio, it will suffer from extremely low acceleration and lacklustre top speed in bad terrain like mud, snow and sand. But on hard surfaces it can often reach around ~50 km/h. The Staghound benefits greatly from developed roads, so pick the routes with the best terrain like concrete roads or hard grass plain to maximise your speed. Remember though that stock Staghounds will need quite some time to pick up speed. Its reverse speed of -15 km/h is also adequately fast to back you up from a dangerous corner, which can save your life. However it is still not fast enough comparing to vehicles with reverse gearbox, like the [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]] series, so do not count too much on your -15 km/h and don't overextend beyond cover when the situation ahead is unknown.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=276|rbMinHp=172}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}

The Staghound AA is armed with a twin 12.7 mm M2 heavy MG at the gunner's sides. The M2 Browning MG is well known for its great penetration and damage as a machine gun, and it is evident on the Staghound: it can frontally penetrate almost all light tanks (e.g. [[BT-7 (Family)|BT-7]], [[M22]], [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]]), and the sides of some medium tanks (e.g. [[T-28 (Family)|T-28]], [[Chi-Ha Kai]], [[Pz.IV C]], etc) at close range, while dealing great damage to the crew. Usually 1 or 2 bullets are enough to knock out one crew member. The rate of fire of almost 600 rounds/min ensures that it can spray bullets around the target and quickly knock out remaining crews. This weapon system is also great at destroying modules such as MG, optics, tracks and gun barrels, though these small targets mean that you have to tilt the reticle to the side due to your far-apart gun placement.

With two 12.7 mm machine guns, the T17E2 shares the same anti-aircraft armament as the early USA's SPAAs ([[M13 MGMC]] and [[M16 MGMC]]). Against planes the dual M2 generally will not score critical hits instantly like other SPAAs with autocannons. These machine guns require you to accurately track the plane and land as much hits as possible to deal significant damage. With tracers, one can use the turret's fast traverse rate to "trace" the rounds towards the target and stay on them to cause enough damage to destroy planes. Low-tier biplane fighters like the [[He 51 (Family)|He 51]] will usually be destroyed with approximately 10 to 20 rounds, while more robust attackers and bombers can require way more. It is not too hard though, since each gun is fed with a 200-round ammo box, allowing the Staghound AA to spray and pray to some extent. With good trigger control, 200 rounds will be enough to get some planes down them before reloading. The M20 API-T is great at setting engines and fuel tanks on fire.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]] (x2) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 2,800 (200) || rowspan="2" | 577 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+75° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 37.87 || 52.41 || 63.64 || 70.38 || 74.87 || rowspan="2" | 10.40 || rowspan="2" | 9.20 || rowspan="2" | 8.48 || rowspan="2" | 8.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 25.59 || 30.10 || 36.55 || 40.42 || 43.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Common:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - These rounds work well until the others are researched.
* '''API:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|M8 armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - These are absolutely devastating in the AA role with slightly less performance against enemy tanks than AP.
* '''AP:''' {{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - These are best against enemy tanks at close range and do good damage to planes.
* '''APIT:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - Better than API in all regards but not as good against tanks as AP, this is the belt of choice in almost all situations. Since every bullet is a tracer, it makes destroying aircraft much easier and detectability is not greatly increased over AP-I, however is increased a bit over AP.

{{:M2HB (12.7 mm)/Ammunition|AP, I, API-T, AP-I}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''14''' || 2 ''(+10)'' || No
|-
|}

==== Optics ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x2.1 || x3.7
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[M13 MGMC]]
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The T17E2 main role is anti-aircraft. It is recommended to use tracer belts in order to be accurate yet deadly when engaging an enemy plane. It should be noted the T17E2 lacks capabilities to destroy enemy armour as most of tanks will be able to withstand your 12.7 mm machine guns. Do not engage with enemy armour unless they are lightly armoured (with armour less than 20 mm of thickness) or open vehicles (other anti-aircraft vehicles, Soviet SPGs, etc). Due to being a wheeled vehicle, the T17E2 has enough speed to capture enemy points and retreat. Use this tactic when there are no air engagements, go capture enemy points and avoid enemy contact unless you are in immediate danger or see an open vehicle, use your speed and low profile to your advantage. Bushes (both map props and tank decorators) are your friends in combat as they will camouflage you and reduce your tank silhouette. Be aware of your turret as, since it is open top, enemy planes will be able to kill your gunner in a strafe. Be aware that enemy tanks machine guns will be able to fire between the turret shield and kill your gunner (where the optics are at).

=== Anti-air duty: ===
Since the Staghound AA has plenty of ammo, the player will be able to "spray and pray", shooting prolonged bursts at an aircraft and hoping for some hits. This is only safe when the Staghound is in or near friendly territory, since long bursts of MG fire will usually draw enemy tanks' attention if you are near enemy territory. Or, the player can choose to be more accurate and shoot less. First find a hard cover taller than you and stay next to it. This way the target plane will not likely to hit you. When you see an enemy plane, fire off some short bursts (lasting ~1 second) towards it to draw its attention (tracer rounds work the best here). Quite a percentage of pilots in Ground RB tend to go for SPAA kills, so there is a chance that the plane will actually go after you. If it does, keep firing short bursts to "guide" it to you. Once its wingspan occupies around 1/5 of your reticle, start shooting long bursts or keep firing until it dies. Aim slightly above the plane's rudder tip to compensate for the bullet drop, as well as slightly drawing circles when you fire to increase the bullet spread so they are more likely to hit. In a head on like this, most planes will not survive undamaged. If they are not dead, you can still pour bullets at it as it zooms away. However if it lands hits around or on you, it might be a good idea to move into cover and wait for another chance to attack, since you don't have a lot of crew to spare. Other than head-ons, the Staghound AA is also good at killing nearby planes, as the large ammo box allows for long bursts to get the correct lead and deal some damage.

=== Anti-tank duty: ===
The twin M2 Browning MG on the Staghound is only capable of gunning down lightly-armoured vehicles, which are quite likely to appear on low BR battlefields. Targets like those (e.g. other SPAAs, tank destroyers, light tanks, or even some medium tanks) are your primary prey. Against SPAAs, tank destroyers, and most light tanks, you should have no problem destroying them, just fire at them before they spot you or shoot at you. Against better armoured tanks like [[T-28E]], your MG become less useful due to their limited penetration of only 31 mm. If the enemy tank does not notice you or is reloading or disarmed, you can break their tracks and/or gun barrels for your teammates to finish them, so you can get assists. You can also try targeting their turret ring, side, copula, or rear armour if possible.

=== Enemies worth noting: ===

* [[Ju 87 (Family)|Ju 87]]: the Ju 87 Stuka is commonly seen in ground battles. It has great bombload for an attacker/dive bomber, being able to carry huge bombs of up to 1,000 kg. If a Ju 87 is spotted carrying bombs, it is not recommended to draw its attention and go for a head-on, since whether you kill it or not it will still be able to drop its bombs around you, and a single 500 kg or 1,000 kg bomb landing anywhere near you will be more than enough to destroy you with the blast and shrapnel. Therefore, it is better to stay concealed, wait until they dropped all of their bombs on some unlucky teammate, then start firing. The Stuka is rather clumsy and cannot regain much altitude after a dive, so it tends to stay low and strafe around. This is your time: fire off some shots, and once you start getting "Hit"s, lengthen the burst for greater damage.
* [[AS 42]], [[Flakpanzer 38]]: other SPAAs can be just as dangerous as tanks because their autocannons are great at tearing through light armour like that of a Staghound AA. If these SPAAs do not have the HVAP belt, then the armour of the Staghound can resist the shots, but it is better to assume that they do have HVAP. Their 64 mm penetration allows them to easily penetrate the Staghound AA's frontal armour, and the fast rate of fire will quickly finish off all 3 of your crew members. Thus stay in cover and do not go out if they know your presence. Peek out when they are distracted, their light armour cannot withstand your 12.7 mm bullets at all.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The twin .50 cal MG is potent against both aircraft and lightly-armoured ground targets
* High rate of fire sends more bullets towards target, dealing greater damage
* Good mobility on road
* Fast turret rotation, good for aiming at fast moving targets
* More efficient than tracked vehicles when turning, due to it having all-wheel drive
* Frontal hull and all-round turret armour is thick against some cannons (e.g. [[H.35]], [[I-Go Ko]])

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely slow and sluggish on bad road conditions like water, sand, snow, etc.
* Cannot pivot turn like a tank, difficult to navigate in confined spaces
* Low penetration makes heavily-armoured tanks impossible to destroy
* Armour is still weak against proper tanks like [[Pz.III M]], [[Crusader II]]
* Turret is open-topped, allowing aircraft to knock out the turret crew

== History ==

===Development===
The '''T17E2''' started as an armoured car requested by US Army Ordnance in July 1941. The request asked for a medium armoured car for combat services. Two companies, Ford Motor Company and Chevrolet, submitted designs to this request, Ford's was an all driven 6x6 wheeled vehicle and Chevrolet's was an all driven 4x4 wheeled vehicle. These two were called ''T17'' and ''T17E1'' respectively, both were powered by two Hercules JXD engines in order to standardize on parts. These two vehicles were to use a turret developed by Rock Island Arsenal with a 37 mm cannon and machine guns, this would house a crew of five. Despite their development, the United States interest on the design waned and were never adopted fully by their armed forces, instead taking in the lighter M8 Greyhound car and using the T17 until the M8 production could be started. Had it been adopted, it would've been designated the ''M6''.

===British Adoption===
During the T17's development, the British Purchasing Commission was also looking for a medium armoured car that could be used in the current campaign in North Africa. British requirements were a bit different than the American's and asked for the turret of the car to house at least two people and with a radio in the turret rather than in the hull. The British soon adopted the car and named it the ''"Deerhound"'', with production starting in October 1942. The T17E1 was also adopted as the ''"Staghound"'' and the British requested a production of 300 for testing, after which they then ordered another 1,500 for use. Production for the T17E1 also started on October 1942. When the US Army standardized their armoured cars to the M8 Greyhounds, the British vouched for the T17E1 production to continue for their use, to which the T17 was cancelled in early 1943 and only T17E1 were brought in by Lend-Lease. About 4,000 T17E1 "Staghounds" were produced in total for British use.

===T17E2===
While the armoured car variants of the T17 served as a light reconnaissance force and armoured car regiments, some were converted into self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The T17E1 was modified with a new turret developed by Frazer-Nash that equipped two .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns, this modified vehicle was given the name '''T17E2'''. The turret was open-topped, had an electric-hydraulic traverse system, and reduced the number of crew on the T17E2 to three: the commander, gunner, and driver. About 789 Staghounds were converted into the T17E2, also named the ''"Staghound AA"'', in the period of October 1943 and April 1944.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_t17e2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:T17E2_WT_poster1.jpg|Front view
Image:T17E2_WT_poster2.jpg|Right view
Image:T17E2_WT_poster3.jpg|Left view
Image:T17E2_WT_poster4.jpg|Rear view
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|lSQOT2AmsZc|'''The T17E2, British Tier-1, SPAA''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|0ZhWzyhvFGg|'''Absolute massacre - T17E2 armoured car''' - ''PhlyDaily''}}

== See also ==


* [[BTR-152A]]: A Soviet SPAA which also features dual-mounted machine guns atop an armoured car.
* [[AC Mk II AA]]: The succeeding vehicle in the British SPAA branch, featuring 20 mm autocannons.

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/854/|[Devblog] T17E2 and Armoured Car Mk II SPAA]]

{{TankManufacturer Chevrolet}}
{{Britain anti-aircraft vehicles}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

Light AA Mk I

2023-03-27T15:48:18Z

U128413528: /* General info */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_vickers_mk_6_aa_mk_1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British self-propelled anti-aircraft gun {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]].

This tank makes for a good entry-level anti-aircraft vehicle; good speed, manoeuvrability and a devastating short to medium range AA weapon. This vehicle should be used in the rear echelon of an assault, watching the skies for incoming bogies. However, the real ace is that the guns trade accuracy for sheer volume of fire, filling the skies with a hailstorm of bullets that can discourage bandits from lining up on an attack run. However, anything beyond effective range won't be struck down effectively.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Armour!!Front (Slope angle)!!Sides!!Rear!!Roof
|-
|Hull || 14 mm ''Front plate'' 14 mm (0-73°) ''Upper glacis'' 14 mm (22-69°) ''Lower glacis'' || 14 mm || 14 mm (0-52°) ''Upper'' 4 mm (53-75°) ''Lower'' || 4 mm
|-
|Turret || 14 mm (0-64°) ''Turret front'' || 14 mm || 14 mm || N/A
|}

The {{PAGENAME}} has very little armour. Most of the hull has 14 mm of armour, which is sufficient only against rifle-calibre rounds. The gunner is exposed to machine gun fire, and if he dies the entire vehicle is destroyed. This leaves you vulnerable to even enemy machine guns can kill you if they hit your gunner. You may be able to somewhat protect the gunner by aiming upwards with the machine guns as a last resort. The {{PAGENAME}} is vulnerable to any vehicle in the game.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=125|rbMinHp=78}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is decently quick and manoeuvrable, and its small size allows it to fit into areas many other vehicles cannot. It can easily get around the map, and can quickly take cover from aircraft or other tanks when necessary. However, it is too light to drive through many obstacles easily, such as walls and small trees, and its suspension is too bouncy to allow it to fire with much accuracy while moving.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]] (x4) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 3,600 (225) || rowspan="2" | 600 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+65° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 52.8 || 73.1 || 88.8 || 98.2 || 104.5 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 35.7 || 42.0 || 51.0 || 56.4 || 60.0
|-
|}

The four BESA machine guns the {{PAGENAME}} is armed with can be devastating to open-topped vehicles thanks to their high rate of fire, but they are completely ineffective against anything with armour. They are also less effective and less accurate over distance against planes than the cannons or heavy machine guns most other anti-aircraft vehicles are armed with, although a well-placed burst will still do serious damage to the biplanes you are likely to face. Each belt is large enough to enable sustained fire, allowing you to compensate for your poor accuracy through sheer volume of bullets.

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|Ball|Omni-purpose}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}} - The worst option, due to the highest quantity of poorly damaging ball and tracer rounds.
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|Ball|Omni-purpose}} - Better than default, but still has regular tracers and ball rounds which hurt damage output.
* '''API-T:''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}} - Contains a substantial amount of incendiary tracer rounds, which have a higher chance of starting fires in aircraft.
* '''AP-T:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}} - AP rounds are still ineffective against ground armour, but deal substantial damage to aircraft components. With good aim, this belt can tear wings off, destroy engines, and penetrate cockpits glass armour.

{{:BESA (7.92 mm)/Ammunition|T, Ball, IT, AP}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''16''' || 4 ''(+12)'' || 4 ''(+12)'' || 4 ''(+12)'' || 4 ''(+12)'' || Yes
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The ammunition is divided into 16 belts of 225 bullets.
* However, ammunition is modeled as 50 boxes, grouped in 4 racks (rack 1: 12 boxes, rack 2: 13, rack 3: 13 and rack 4: 12)
* Racks 1, 2 & 3 will disappear only if you have 4 belts left.
* If you pack 16, 12 or 8 belts the 4 racks will be displayed as full.
* Racks will successively disappear if you pack 16 belts and shoot them until depletion.
* Pack the maximum amount of ammo to go into battle as you are a SPAA.

==== Optics ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x2.1 || x3.7
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[M13 MGMC]]
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} is a very vulnerable vehicle, so commanders should be careful not to expose themselves to enemy fire. Take care to find a position where you will not be seen by enemy ground vehicles, and watch the sky. Due to the low velocity of the machine guns, the {{PAGENAME}} should not open fire until the enemy plane is very close, probably within 1 km. If you begin to fire while the enemy plane is out of range, they will likely change course and stay away from your position. Also be wary if there is more than one enemy plane up, as you can easily be strafed to death by machine gun fire. Once you have a good shot on the enemy plane, the 4 machine guns are capable of dealing more damage than one might expect. You can down most aircraft quite quickly, although twin-engine fighters and bombers will take longer to destroy.

It is advisable to fire off your artillery as quickly as possible, since it is the only realistic way you can possibly damage enemy tanks.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 4 BESA machine guns have a high ammo load and a good rate of fire
* 4 machine guns means that you have a high hit probability
* Can be used against low tier SPAA and open-top tank destroyers,
* Small and mobile

'''Cons:'''

* Cannot defend itself from most ground attacks, as none of its belts can penetrate tank armour
* Damage output is nowhere near comparable to SPAA armed with 12.7mm machine guns or 20 mm autocannons at this tier
* The gunner is exposed to machine gun fire from above and the front
* The armour will not protect you from 12.7 mm rounds and above
* Vulnerable to artillery and aircraft

== History ==


The machine-gun armed Mark VI light tank formed the bulk of British tank strength in 1939. They were intended for colonial duties and reconnaissance but would see front-line combat as late as the British defeats in Java in early 1942. In 1940 they were in use in the light tank squadrons of armoured regiments and the main body of the divisional cavalry regiments. They carried a .50 calibre or 15 mm machine gun as the main armament. They were also used in the early war as command vehicles for armoured units.

As they were withdrawn from service, some Mark VI's were converted to anti-aircraft vehicles, raising the superstructure and replacing the turret. In practice the commander also being the gunner was ineffective. British armoured regiments and tank battalions were supposed to have 4-8 of these vehicles each in mid-1942. By mid-1943 they were taken out of service, replaced for this purpose by the significantly more versatile 20 mm-armed Crusader AA Mk II tank.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_vickers_mk_6_aa_mk_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}
{{Britain anti-aircraft vehicles}}

M18 GMC

2023-03-27T15:26:52Z

U128413528:

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M18 Hellcat (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m18_hellcat
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank{{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]]. It was categorized as a [[:Category:Tank_destroyers|tank destroyer]] since its in-game introduction, but it was recategorized as a [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tank]] during [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]] on [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1240|7 May 2021]].

The M18 "Hellcat" was the epitome of the American tank destroyer doctrine, it was very fast, very mobile, and has a powerful gun, though with a large trade-off with only 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) of armour. These traits are largely retained by the in-game vehicle as well

The M18 "Hellcat" compensates the lack of anti-tank capability on U.S vehicles by having access to a 76 mm gun with APCR ammunition, all in the battle rating of 5.7. This gives the M18 the capability to fight off many of the high-ranking vehicles it could face like the [[Panther D|Panther D]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger H1]], [[KV-1_(ZiS-5)|KV-1]], [[KV-85]], [[IS-1]] and [[IS-2]].

Unlike the other tank destroyers known in the game, the M18 "Hellcat" has access to a 360° traversable turret, allowing players to have a greater arc of fire than a typical casemate tank destroyer like the [[StuG III G|StuG III]], but at the expense of a slightly higher profile. Americans tank destroyers also have very high manoeuvrability compared to other nation's tank destroyers, allowing it to flank the enemy.

The main weak point of M18 is its very thin armour, a feature that actually allows the M18 to reach its high speed. The thin armour makes it possible for any enemy tanks to penetrate the vehicle. A single hit would destroy many critical components in the M18 or cripple the crew. The only saving grace with this extremely thin armour is that standard AP rounds may over-penetrate the armour, doing minimal damage to the internals. Thus, when facing the M18, it's best to use AP rounds with explosive fillers or HE and HEAT rounds while avoiding usage of pure AP rounds and APCR.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (39-64°) ''Front glacis'' 12.7 mm (23-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12.7 mm (23-26°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (12°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm (36°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (15-26°) ''Turret front'' 19 mm + 25.4 mm (0-55°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 12.7 mm (1-21°) || 12.7 mm (7°) || N/A ''Open-top'' 8 mm ''Bustle and Front''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.
* The hull underside right above the tracks are only 8 mm thick.
* Tracks are attached the turret rear, granting some 15 mm in thickness.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top priority. Following that, depending on player preferences, one of 3 should be researched: Horizontal Drive (close-range, flanking), Suspension (medium-range) or Adjustment of Fire (long-range of a typical engagements). Following this the goal is to get rank IV mobility improvements in order Filters -> Engine -> Transmission. On rank III, along the way, the Crew Replenishment should be prioritized, as its an open-top vehicle, so it will suffer significant causalities from enemy airplanes. If your preferred engagement range is above 700 m then the Elevation Mechanism should be researched. Otherwise: Mobility upgrades are the most important, shells are the lowest priority, as even the situational advantage of the M93 shot is not worth researching over improved mobility, or even accuracy.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}

The 76 mm M1 is an extremely capable gun with a high damage potential and a very good gun handling. It can be found on tanks used up to battle rating 6.0, making it one of the most widely used guns throughout the battle ratings and with M18 being the first tanks to use it - it gives it a very high staying power throughout battle ratings. Once upgraded, the turret has very fair guidance in both: horizontal and vertical axis allowing to quickly catch pot-shots, though given exceptional mobility of the platform even it struggles to catch up with the near-instant hull rotation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.02 || rowspan="2" | 6.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* M79 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Stock round, has decent penetrative power but no explosive filler. Replace with the M62 shell as soon as possible.
* M42A1 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - The best round for dealing with unarmoured targets or unarmoured sections of vehicles. It should be used carefully, as everything over 10 mm armour can negate its effects. Typically M62 is superior.
* M62 shell - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - The best anti-tank shell. It has very good penetration and an excellent post-penetration effect.
* M93 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Round trades a significantly lower post-penetration effect for a 20% increase in penetration and flatter flight path.

{{:M1 (76 mm)/Ammunition|M79 shot, M42A1 shell, M62 shell, M93 shot, M88}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''45''' || 37 ''(+8)'' || 27 ''(+18)'' || 17 ''(+28)'' || 9 ''(+36)'' || 1 ''(+44)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Turret empty: 37 ''(+8)'' shells.
* When fighting in downtiers it's best to take only 17 shells, which allows the turret and sides of the tank to be empty of shells, notably increasing survivability. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many rounds are loaded, as most hits against the tank will prove deadly regardless.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 800 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Before all, avoid colourful or bright decals. Camouflage is the main part of the M18's defence. Chances for good performance in battle are: be "invisible", fast and effective.

The M18's speed is its best ally. This speed has to be used for flanking manoeuvres and relocation, Not for trying to cross an open field; that will leave it open to enemy fire. Simply put: speed is not a substitute for armour.

'''Relocate:'''

* This movement will have to be done again and again. Choose a good spot wisely, remove the foliage if necessary to get a clear field of fire. When in the fire spot, use the gun depression and stay in a hull-down position until a target is located. Once a target is locked on, aim at critical components. Try to immobilize the enemy by firing at the engine or transmission, or remove their firepower by shooting the gun or breech, or for instant destruction with a shot to the ammo storage. The last option can work very well or not, as skilled players only carry a few rounds of ammo.

* If positive that the enemy hasn't discovered the firing spot, go for another shot. Stay attentive that none of the enemy's teammates has also located the firing spot. If detected, hide immediately and relocate.

'''Flanking:'''

* Flanking is the most dangerous manoeuvre of all because the vehicle will have to be exposed as it moves to the enemy's rear, but it is very effective when it's coordinated with other vehicles. A distraction is needed to gain the enemy's attention while the M18 makes its move. Isolated enemy units are very vulnerable to this tactic. Using the M18 speed to get to the rear and as the enemy heads toward the objective, the firing perspective should give a very clear view of the enemy's side armour. A good shot with the M62 APCBC shell could knock out the enemy rather quickly, but if using solid AP shots like the M79, aim at critical components on mobility and firepower before knocking out the crew or ammo stowage.

'''Avoid flat terrain'''

* Flat terrain means that the Hellcat will become an easy target for virtually any vehicle by exposure, especially when not moving or when moving in a straight line. Open plains are the bane of the Hellcat. Whenever possible, one should try to stay amongst hills.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Overall mobility is superb, with very responsive manoeuvring that allows the Hellcat to excel in flanking manoeuvres
* Fast reload speed and turret traverse
* APCBC round has great penetration and lots of explosive filler, rarely requiring more than one penetrating shot to kill common tanks like [[M4 Sherman (Family)]], [[Cromwell (Family)]], [[Tiger H1]]/[[Tiger E|E]] or [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]
* Low profile, reducing target size and allows it to hide behind small bushes or rocks easily
* Thin armour can be a boon: most AP and some APHE shells will simply pass through without causing significant damage
* The M18 is very good at climbing hills, particularly at steep angles
* Speed works well with the scouting mechanic and providing assistance in repairing friendly vehicles

'''Cons:'''

* Thin armour means rapid-fire autocannons, heavy machine guns, and aerial weapons will easily disable it
* Commander is exposed at the 0.50 calibre machine gun mount; and knocking him out will neutralize the weapon
* Open-top construction leaves it vulnerable to aerial strikes and artillery
* Gun has poor penetration in an uptier, often can't penetrate anything frontally unless hitting a weak spot. The [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Tiger II (H)]] and [[M26 (Family)|M26]] are frontally immune to this 76 mm M1
* If unable to move, the M18 has not armor and is unlikely to survive concentrated fire
* HEAT or HE shells can cause the vehicle to be over pressurized and destroy the vehicle instantly, even if it wasn't aimed at a critical spot

== History ==


===US Tank Destroyer Doctrine===
The self-propelled anti-tank doctrine established by the US military called for fast, powerful vehicles able to stop the German blitzkrieg tactics by ambushing the attacking tank forces. This doctrine, known as the "Tank Destroyer Doctrine", called for anti-tank forces to be held in reserve to blunt the massed Panzer attacks that many in the War Department believed was the key to German victory in France in 1940. The concentration of antitank weaponry away from the frontline was eventually determined to be an unnecessary weakness, and the solution was to keep a few anti-tank guns in the front-line as the first defence, while a large reserve of mobile tank destroyers would move in at the location where a German tank breakthrough is happening to ambush and destroy the enemy forces. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun and mobility. Minimal emphasis was placed on armour, as the doctrinal role of tank destroyers was to respond rapidly to an enemy armoured breakthrough; heavy armour would only hinder a timely response. The development of a purpose-built tank destroyer languished in bureaucratic limbo for the early years of the war (a delay caused by poor designs such as the M5 Cletrac and bureaucratic infighting between the various departmental cliques), and consequently, the majority of self-propelled tank destroyers were expedients derived from the M4 Sherman chassis. The most common tank destroyer was the [[M10 GMC|M10 GMC]], made from the [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]] hull and armed with a 3-inch M1918 gun. Although perfectly capable and welcome addition for frontline forces, it was no faster than an ordinary Sherman tank. The tank destroyers would in 1944 finally receive their purpose-built self-propelled tank destroyer in 1944: the M18 Hellcat.<ref name="ZalogaM18" />

===Development===
The origin of the M18 design came as early as December 1941 with the requirement of a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun. This requirement called for a radical new tank design rather than a derivative of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. These requirements changed as the war progressed, the first change was to the new and innovative Torsion bar suspension from Buick Motor Division from General Motors and another change was to mount the British [[Ordnance_QF_6-pounder_Mk.III_(57_mm)|QF 6-pounder gun]] then in use on their [[Churchill_Mk_III|Churchill Mark III]] tanks, the developed prototype vehicle was called the ''T49 GMC''. Then the US Army wanted the heavier [[M3_(75_mm)|75 mm gun]] used on the Shermans on it, this prototype was designated the ''T67 GMC''. Finally, the army decided to mount the [[M1_(76_mm)|76 mm gun]] also in development for the Sherman onto the prototype, now known as ''T70 GMC''. Changes to hull shape and turret took place to accommodate all these new requirements and armament, but it eventually was approved for service and finally renamed as the '''M18 GMC''' and started production in mid-1943, which went on until ending in October 1944 with 2,507 units produced. A variant called the ''M39 Armored Utility Vehicle'' was also produced, its turret was removed for space for cargo, 8 personnel, or to tow guns.

===Combat usage===
These vehicles saw combat debut in the summer of 1944, where they are given the unofficial nickname "Hellcat" by the crews using them. Unlike the [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] that was built before it, the M18 GMC was purely made for emphasis on speed. Armour was restricted down to a maximum of 1-inch (25 mm) on the turret front while the rest of the body plating is a measly .50-inches thick (12.7 mm). The turret was also an open-top design similar to the M10 tank destroyer, meaning the crew are left exposed to the elements and enemy fire and shrapnel. These faults were mitigated by the fact that as its role as a tank destroyer, it was to have minimum contact with infantry and ambush enemy tanks in concealed position rather than face them in an offensive operation. Nevertheless, the M18 GMC was well-liked by the crew for its 76 mm cannon, which allows it to destroy the newer German [[Tiger H1|Tiger Is]] and [[Panther D|Panthers]] tanks from the front with HVAP ammo (though the Panther at close range only) when unable to flank around to the side or rear of these tanks. The speed was also astounding, reaching 55 miles per hour maximum, this makes the M18 GMC the fastest armoured fighting vehicle in World War II.

While use in the Pacific theatre was limited due to the inadequate armour of Japanese tanks, it saw most of its service in the European theatre against Nazi Germany. Due to the lack in armour and emphasis on speed, the M18 crews utilize the "shoot and scoot" tactic in attacking the enemy from one position and quickly move to another before the enemy could find their initial firing position, this tactic confuses the German tanks, and could even lead them to believe there is more armoured enemy than what it appears. The M18 GMCs were present during the Battle of Arracourt in France as the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lt. Edwin Leiper led an M18 platoon of C Company and in the battle knocked a total of 15 German tanks for the loss of three M18; six of these German tank kills, most of which were Panthers, were credited to one M18 led by Sgt Henry R. Hartman. The M18 also played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, where its top speed of 55 mph was finally put to good use in bypassing the enemy forces. Four M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion assisted the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in attacking the 2nd Panzer Divison and their support to kill the fuel lines to the German tanks. The overall attack had the M18 GMC credited with at least 24 tank kills of the 30 total inflicted in the attack.

===Legacy===
Overall, the M18 GMC proved itself by having the highest kill-to-loss ratio to any other tanks and tank destroyer in American service, making it the most effective tank destroyer in American service. However, like its other tank destroyer brethren, it soon found itself obsolete along with the entire tank destroyer doctrine. Mainly due to increasing prevalence of well-armoured tanks that could do its job more efficiently such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], but also the lack of German AFVs at the time of the war and a study on ammo usage indicates that the tank destroyers spent more time supporting infantry with high-explosive shells than killing tanks with armour-piercing, rendering the anti-tank section an unnecessary component in the modernizing armoured forces.

Today, some countries in the world such as Yugoslavia still have the M18 Hellcats in reserves.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
A self-propelled artillery/tank destroyer mount based on the M24 tank. It was part of the American arsenal during World War II. It was produced from the middle of 1943 to October, 1944 and was used in combat operations in Italy and northern Europe. Its primary gun was the M1 76 mm cannon, as was the case with late-model Sherman tanks. This tank destroyer featured very light armour, but the M18 was nevertheless the fastest armoured vehicle in World War II.

The Hellcat was the most effective anti-tank SPG in the American army despite its extreme vulnerability and the fact that its 76 mm cannon was unable to penetrate the armour of late German tanks. The vehicle stood out for its speed and manoeuvrability. Able to accelerate and change direction quickly, the Hellcat could easily outflank German tanks or even get behind them, whereas the rotation speed of the German tanks was not fast enough to attack the M18 and the M1 cannon could penetrate the enemy's weak points with relative ease.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m18_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|QvZ8h1CuM7s|'''The Shooting Range #314''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|1PfD0Wd2Sts|'''M18 "Hellcat" - Why everyone plays (and likes) it? [review]''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|MMbI22Uya8A|'''M18 Hellcat Supplemental''' - ''rob762x51''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3772-profile-m18-gun-motor-carriage-hellcat-en|[Profile] M18 Gun Motor Carriage – Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/news/3448--en|[Vehicle Profile] As fast as deadly: The M18 Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/760|[Devblog] M18 and M18 'Black Cat']]

=== References ===
<references>
<ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga Steven. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004</ref>
</references>

{{TankManufacturer Buick}}
{{USA light tanks}}

15cm sIG 33 B Sfl

2023-03-22T20:44:19Z

U128413528: /* Main armament */

{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_sturmpanzer_II
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]]. Based on the Panzer II chassis, it mounted a 150 mm cannon and was used during the North African campaign.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 35 mm (11°) ''Front plate'' 20 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' 35 mm (14°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm || 15 mm
!
|-
| Superstructure || 30 mm (12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 15 mm || 15 mm
!
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Hull underside right above tracks is 15 mm thick and belly armour is 5 mm thick.

The Sturmpanzer II does have enough armour to stop low BR tank rounds, however it should not be relied upon to stop high velocity or high penetration rounds, especially from other SPGs. It is an open-topped vehicle, and since it has no machine guns, it is very vulnerable to air attack.

Despite having very little armour, it does have a lot of empty space in the tank to resist multiple penetrating hits before being destroyed. However, it is hull-breakable against 75 mm or larger guns with sufficient AP velocity or HE capability.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=220|rbMinHp=137}}

The Sturmpanzer II can go up to 45 km/h, but due to the low power-to-weight ratio, the practical top speed is significantly less. Reverse speed is decent, up to -8.4 km/h. It has a decent turning capability when moving at higher speeds, but when stopped it can barely turn due to its weight.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|s.I.G.33 (150 mm)}}

The Sturmpanzer II mounts a s.I.G.33 infantry support cannon, which can fire HEAT or HE rounds. The shell velocity is very slow (240 m/s), so slow that it can be awkward to target moving targets or those at long ranges, especially with HE rounds. The calibre of the gun is 15 cm (150 mm / 5.9 in).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[s.I.G.33 (150 mm)|150 mm s.I.G.33]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 18 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+40° || rowspan="2" | -1°/+6° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 5.3 || 7.3 || 8.9 || 9.8 || 10.4 || rowspan="2" | 14.43 || rowspan="2" | 12.77 || rowspan="2" | 11.77 || rowspan="2" | 11.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.6 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 5.6 || 6.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''I.Gr.38 (HE):''' This round is extremely powerful, and can destroy pretty much every tank at the same battle rating as the {{PAGENAME}}. It requires only a hit on the tank, underneath it, or in close proximity to be effective. It completely ignores the armour of most tanks you will face, and is very good at destroying a tank with a single shot. It is likely that you will knock out several crew members and/or detonate their ammunition.

* '''I.Gr.39 HI/A (HEAT):''' This round is effective, just as is the high-explosive round, but unless you are up-tiering the vehicle, the HEAT round is likely a worse choice. It has more penetration, but that penetration is unlikely to be useful at this BR. Plus, the HEAT does not have near as much post-penetration damage as the HE round, meaning you may waste 2 shots on 1 tank, whereas the HE round may have knocked it out with a single shot. As such, unless you are up-tiering the tank you will not need HEAT, and you should probably only take a few rounds (if any), just in case you run across something like a B1 Bis.

The I.Gr.38 HE shell penetrates 61 mm against all armour angles. The 8.6 kg TNT equivalent ensure that anything that gets penetrated is instantly knocked out or is so badly crippled that a follow-up shot is guaranteed. The HE shell is so powerful that it can even knock out top-tier tanks with a single shot reliably through overpressure, but due to the huge mobility disadvantage, this is not recommended unless you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

The I.Gr.39 HI/A HEAT shell penetrates 185 mm against vertical armour and still has a 5.3 kg TNT equivalent of explosives behind it, giving it the possibility to inflict overpressure damage from the explosion splash on top of the HEAT superplastic copper jet penetration.

{{:s.I.G.33 (150 mm)/Ammunition|I.Gr.38, I.Gr.39 HI/A}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo part
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''18''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 9 ''(+9)'' 10 ''(+8)'' || 5 ''(+13)'' 6 ''(+12)'' || 0 ''(+18)'' 0 ''(+18)'' || No
|-
|}

The most recommended ammo loadout would probably either be 18 shells or 9 shells. If you expect a long lasting battle a full loadout should be preferred. 9 shells would be the choice if fast action combat is in sight. Taking only 9 shells removes all the ammo from the right side of the tank, reducing the risk of ammo rack detonation. Packing 9 shells is probably the most balanced ammunition loadout in terms of survivability and endurance, while packing a full loadout is suited for high/risk-high-reward gameply.

At higher BRs 3.0 or more consider taking always a full loadout, because at this BR the chances of being destroyed with one hit is very high, leaving the pro of having more ammo (in theory more kills) outdoing the risk of an ammo rack explosion.

== Usage in battles ==


The 15cm SIG can only played in mainly three ways:

The Sturmpanzer has no air defence weapons, therefore partnering with an SPAA tank at the back of the map is a viable option. For those operators who prefer to close-range brawl with other low-tier tanks, then sticking with another tank is a good idea, mainly due to the long reload time, allowing your partner tank to help fend off any enemy advancing tanks. It has the capability to knock out much higher battle rated tanks, so if you're uptiered, there is still a good chance of survival. However, it is imperative to get a shot off first, because if you come across a higher tier tank, there may not be a second chance. Stay on the move after firing, fall back to safety to reload and then re-engage.

Another tactic is to try facing down a street while partly undercover. The Sturmpanzer is a relatively small vehicle and many beginning players will not notice the tank, especially if only part of the vehicle is exposed. Patiently wait for an easy target to turn onto the street then fire before they realize where they are being fired from. It is critical to remember the shell drop of the tank cannon after being fired, compared to other tanks, the shell drop is significant over any distance. It is advisable to always fire just above where other tanks would typically target to allow for shell drop and hit the enemy vehicle where intended instead of lower than expected.

Due to the huge HE splash ability and sheer calibre of the gun, it can even be used to battle high-rank IFVs. It does the same thing to BMP-2s, M3 Bradleys, Warriors, Centauros, and many other vehicles. The HE splash, however, is strong enough that it can knock out light tanks such as the M41A1 Bulldog, any AMX-13 variation, Crusaders in lower ranks, and many others. Purposely up-tiering it can be a very effective way to earn Silver Lions with the "God Mode!" award - destroying an enemy vehicle 5.0 BR ranks higher (BR 7.0+) than you which nets 20,000 Silver Lions.

;Enemies worth noting

* [[B1 bis]]: This is one of the few tanks that you will face while playing at your original BR that you may struggle to destroy. These tanks are heavily armoured and much of their hulls can withstand a shot from your gun, even from the side. If you are facing one of these tanks, aim for the turret. The turret is one of the only places you can reliably do damage to the B1 bis, and you can often get a single-shot knock-out if you hit the turret. Note: The B1 bis looks extremely similar to its much more heavily armoured successor, the B1 ter, and it can be incredibly hard to tell which variety it is except at closer ranges. The B1 ter has thicker armour and so both HE and HEAT shells must be aimed much more carefully in order to cause damage.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Deadly HE with 61 mm penetration and 8.6 kg TNT filler destroys anything at its rank (e.g. [[B1 bis]], [[M5A1]], [[T-50]]) or even in a purposely uptiered battle
* HEAT offers 185 mm penetration, posing a great threat against WW2 heavy targets like [[M4A3E2]], [[IS-1]], [[KV-1E]], etc.
* Adequate mobility: moderate top speed and fast hull traverse when driving allows it to deliver heavy blows from unexpected positions
* Low and small profile makes it easy to hide behind bushes or covers
* Can withstand a few hits on certain parts of frontal armour, which may bounce low-penetrating tanks like [[M16 MGMC]] or [[P.7.T AA]]

'''Cons:'''

* Very long reload impedes close-range combat. 14 second reload requires cover from allies if in crowded position.
* Limited gun traverse and extremely curved trajectory means it's hard to track and hit moving/distant targets
* HE and HEAT get detonated by various obstacles like fences and brick walls, making some positions difficult to shoot from
* Poor survivability overall: thin armour can get penetrated by anything, especially heavy MG found on [[M16 MGMC]], and the open top means it is vulnerable to strafing aircraft, nearby bombs and exploding artillery shells
* Very slow, spastic at turning on the spot, might not be able to get gun on target in time
* Although speed is decent, most opponents still outrun it easily, for example [[M5A1]], [[T-50]], [[M22]]

== History ==

{{main|Pz.II C#History|l1=History of the Panzer II}}

=== Design ===
The Sturmpanzer I Bison was a self-propelled gun, consisting of a 150 mm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun mounted on top of a Panzer I chassis, together with a lightly armoured casemate to protect the gun servants. It was stop-gap vehicle used as an infantry support vehicle and showed its limits during the invasion of France and the Low Countries. The weight of the gun and the additional armour strongly hindered the mobility of the tank and caused premature mechanical wear. The gun installed very high on the chassis together with the casemate made the Sturmpanzer I a target of choice on the battlefield due to its very tall silhouette. The casemate did not protect all gun servants: the gunner and the commander were protected but loaders were extremely exposed as the casemate wasn't designed long enough to cover the rear of the vehicle. The extremely cramped layout of the vehicle made it impossible to stow ammunition: it had to be brought by a separate dedicated tank.

The need for the Sturmpanzer II was born early in 1941 when Rommel requested self-propelled guns to support his armoured divisions in North Africa.
This led the German Army to consider mounting the heavy gun sIG 33 on a vehicle chassis more fit to the task. The requirements for the new vehicle were to provide a less cramped layout for the gun and the crew to operate in optimal conditions, to give a silhouette as small as possible and to carry its own ammunition onboard, while maintaining the crew count, operational range and top speed of the previous Sturmpanzer.

=== Development ===
After the battle of France, the German Army focused on equipping their tank divisions with Panzer III and IV. The Panzer II tanks were recycled into other vehicles to assume different combat roles: tank destroyers, self-propelled guns, training vehicles or reconnaissance tanks. The availability of the Panzer II made it a natural successor of the Panzer I for the project. The first prototype used the standard chassis of a Panzer II, which revealed a similarly cramped layout. To remedy the issue, the chassis was widened by 32 cm, lengthened by 60 cm and a 6th roadwheel added along with track links.
The new casemate was open-topped but effectively surrounded the crew compartment, with a reinforced frontal gun shield. The 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl also carried 30 rounds. The loaders were still slightly exposed to gun fire when fetching ammunition around the vehicle but the emphasis was put on keeping a silhouette as small as possible. The operational range was increased and the crew count of 4 maintained together with the top speed.
12 vehicles were built in November and December 1941.

=== Combat action ===
The 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl served in North Africa, in the German 707th and 708th Heavy Infantry Gun Companies Heavy Infantry Gun Company until their destruction or surrender in 1943.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_sturmpanzer_II Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|iE4wTuJbe2I|'''The Shooting Range #40''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 02:43 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|_xCgMBOiA8U|'''High-explosive power''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 6:06 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[Panzer II]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[SU-122]]
* [[Ho-Ro]]
* [[fm/43-44]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:15_cm_sIG_33_auf_Fahrgestell_Panzerkampfwagen_II_(Sf)|[Wikipedia] 15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf)]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/15-cm-sig-33-auf-fahrgestell-panzerkampfwagen-ii-sf/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> 15cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf)]

{{Germany tank destroyers}}

M-10T (152 mm)

2023-03-22T20:27:50Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

R3 T20 FA-HS

2023-03-22T20:24:05Z

U128413528: /* Description */ Added a nickname I have heard used and decided to add it, since the KV-2 page has a nickname on it as well.

{{Specs-Card
|code=it_oto_r3_t20_fa
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]]. The R3 Capraia was made in at least 7 prototypes, each with their own differences. The one represented in game features a 20mm auto cannon able to easily make short work of lighty-armoured targets and other important modules such as barrels and engine on the more armoured vehicles present in game. It does not have access to smoke grenades and has very poor armour, however what the R3 Capraia is really good at is mobility. It is a wheeled vehicle which can easily reach high speeds meaning at the start of a match you can easily get into a good position to pounce on enemies or even rush certain capture zones. The R3 is also very good at BR's higher than its own so keep that in mind when playing the vehicle.

Despite being a fairly recent inclusion into the game, the R3 has already earned the unofficial nickname of "Italian Pizza Truck" among the playerbase.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Aluminum alloy 7039 (hull)
* Armoured Glass (windows)
* Wheel (tires)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 33 mm (62°) ''Upper Glacis'' 33 (56°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 15 mm (27-31°) ''Top'' 15 mm (16-20°) ''Bottom'' 15 mm ''Wheelwells'' || 15 mm (70°) ''Engine access panel'' 15 mm ''Lower Plate'' 5 mm ''Engine vent'' 15 mm (54°) ''Lower Glacis''|| 33 mm (28°) ''Front Glacis'' 15 mm ''Crew compartment'' 15 mm (20°) ''Engine access panel''
|-
| Gun mount || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 15 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 15 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* All windows are 30 mm thick.
* The tires are 10 mm thick and the torsion bars are 1 mm thick.
* The belly is 15 mm thick.

The {{PAGENAME}} has light armour able to protect it against .50 cal heavy machine guns from the front and low calibre machine guns from the sides. Any autocannon or tank cannon is however able to shred easily through this armour. The R3 has an internal layout with the crew spread apart, allowing it to survive damage from non-explosive post-penetration damage. However, this tank is still very vulnerable to strafing aircraft. Bombs and rockets also deal heavy damage if the {{PAGENAME}} is standing in their destruction radius.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 135|rbMinHp= 84}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is very mobile, able to outmanoeuvre most tanks of its rank and is reliant on this to stay alive.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Oerlikon KAD (20 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Oerlikon KAD (20 mm)|20 mm Oerlikon KAD]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 600 (120) || rowspan="2" | 996 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+60° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Two-plane|up to 25 km/h}} || 39.63 || 54.85 || 66.60 || 73.65 || 78.35 || rowspan="2" | 9.10 || rowspan="2" | 8.05 || rowspan="2" | 7.42 || rowspan="2" | 7.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 26.78 || 31.50 || 38.25 || 42.30 || 45.0
|-
|}

The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon is able to fight both aircraft and lightly armoured targets from the front.

Upgraded, the gun has access to 20 mm rounds able to penetrate up to 57 mm of armour, enabling the tank to shred any tanks that expose their sides to this vehicle. Some heavier tanks are still too heavily armoured on the sides for the gun to penetrate, but these generally don't show up unless you are up-tiered.

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}} - The standard belt that can fulfill both roles (anti-air and lightly armoured vehicles) but with a lower rate of fire.
* '''M594:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}} - This belt is adapted for targeting aircraft with its high-explosive shells.
* '''M601:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}} - This belt is adapted for targeting lightly armoured vehicles with its armour-piercing rounds.

{{:Oerlikon KAD (20 mm)/Ammunition|HVAP-T, HEFI-T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo type
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''5 600''' || ''Belts'' ''Rounds'' || 4 ''(+1)'' 480 ''(+120)'' || 3 ''(+2)'' 360 ''(+240)'' || 2 ''(+3)'' 240 ''(+360)'' || 1 ''(+4)'' 120 ''(+480)'' || 0 ''(+5)'' 0 ''(+600)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Ammunition is modeled as 5 belts of 120 rounds each.
* As the rate of fire is very high, pack the maximum ammunition.

== Usage in battles ==


The R3 is designated as an SPAA, and performs in this role extremely effectively. The autocannon has a rapid rate of fire and high velocity, allowing the R3 to tear aircraft to shreds. With accurate fire, a short burst will obliterate most aircraft in very little time. When the skies are clear and there are no more planes to shoot down, the R3 becomes a highly flexible vehicle, being able to zip around the map at high speed performing various tasks. Early game it makes an excellent reconnaissance vehicle, being able to capture points, oversee the battlefield and destroy enemy vehicles.

With over 50 mm of penetration and its exceptional speed, the R3 makes short work of British and American medium tanks from the side and will shred light tanks and other SPAA. The R3 does not have the penetration to handle well-armoured tanks, so tanks like the KV-1 and M4A5 should be avoided. When encountering an armoured vehicle: take out the gun barrel first, then tracks, and aim at the turret ring.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful main armament.

* M601 HVAP-T round has over 50 mm of penetration, enough to penetrate many vehicles up close.
* High muzzle velocity, requiring little lead and little shell drop for engaging targets at range.
* Very high rate of fire.

* Nimble enough to run circles around most armoured vehicles.

* Able to reach 100 km/h on roads with ease.
* Fast enough to reach over 50 km/h off-road.

* Front plate has armour thickness sufficient to deflect most machine gun rounds.
* Has a two-plane stabilizer.

* Completely negates recoil within effective speed/while stationary.

* Amphibious.

'''Cons:'''

* Very little armour.
* As with many wheeled vehicles, soft terrain massively slows it down.
* Hard collisions can damage modules and injure or incapacitate the crew.
* The gun only elevates up to 60° degrees.
* Stabilizer only effective up to 25 km/h.
* The vehicle tends to flip on its side when making sharp turns at high speed.

== History ==

The Story of the OTO R3 Capraia begin during the late cold war, OTO Melara was looking to make a reconnaissance vehicle for Italy in the 1980's that would be able to be easy to manufacture and hopefully be picked up by the Italian army and put into service. During that era a lot of nations around the world would experiment with creating light, easily transportable, multi role vehicles. OTO Melara was no different and in the years leading up to this they had already some experience in the field. After some time designing the new vehicle, OTO Melara woud finally first display the prototype of the R3 Capraia, (The Capraia received its production name after an island of the Tuscan archipelago.) which would be shown at an Italian Naval exhibition at Genoa in 1982. As previously mentioned they wanted a multi-role vehicle, so for this many different variants would begin to emerge. According to OTO Melara, the R3 Capraia was able to use multiple types of weapon systems, such as a TOW launcher and a dual M40 106mm Recoiless rifle (both of these versions likely weren't actually made but could be made if someone showed interest). The variant with the Oerlikon KAD-B17 20 mm cannon would be fully stabilized and was amphibious which at the time not many vehicles of the era had the same ability. It was extensively tested by the Italian army, and even though it showed some great qualities, at the time there was not a need for that type of vehicle. It had high performance for the era mainly due to the possibility of intergrating various weapon systems. Following the conclusion of its evaluation by the Italian army, the OTO R3 Capraia prototypes were put in storage inside of the OTO Melara factory.

'''A number of armament options were proposed by OTO Melara. These included:'''

* the R3 T12.7 FA, armed with an externally mounted 12.7 mm M2 HB machine gun in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +50°;
* the R3 T7.65 FA, armed with an externally mounted 7.65 mm machine gun in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +25°;
* the R3 T20 FA-HS, armed with an externally mounted Oerlikon KAD-B17 20 mm cannon in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +60°;
* the R3 Folgore ×2 FA, armed with two externally mounted Breda Folgore anti-tank missiles and a secondary 7.65 mm machine gun;
* the [[R3 T106 FA]], armed with two externally mounted 106 mm M40 type recoilless rifles; and
* the R3 TOW, armed with an externally mounted launcher for a Hughes TOW ATGM system.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_oto_r3_t20_fa Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|v-yW-GqoahE|'''Playing the Most Overpowered Vehicle in War Thunder - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''theScottishKoala''|SscGZOwoK8U|'''I bet after you try this, light tanks will never feel the same to you - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''HowToPlay1337''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[R3 T106 FA]]

== External links ==


* [https://en.topwar.ru/41170-broneavtomobili-oto-melara-gorgona.html <nowiki>[Topwar.ru]</nowiki> OTO Melara Gorgona R2.5 and R3 Capraia armored cars]
* https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/475388-oto-melara-r3-capraia-breda-folgore/
{{Italy anti-aircraft vehicles}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914 (100 mm)

2023-03-22T20:08:15Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|it_lancia3ro_100}}

== General info ==

While it is a cannon from 1914, it may seem weird that it comes with HESH. In reality, it's a flawed HEAT charge that has a poor fuze that would bend & mold the soft metal without fuzing and directly detonate the explosive matter the moment it impacts the target, acting as HESH without the chemical effect.

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|Granata da 100 Mod.32, Granata da 100 Mod.914, Effetto Pronto da 100, Effetto Pronto mod.43}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

The Mod. 1914 is a strange weapon in that it is a solidly mediocre weapon mounted on a terrible platform. The Howitzer is difficult to learn and does not lend itself to learning easily. That being said, it has the benefit of being able to one shot most vehicles at its rank. Care should be taken not to aim at gun barrels, because these will reduce the lethality of the impact of the shell unless it is open topped, in which case such an impact will not likely matter. Take care to aim your shells at locations in which the enemy crew or shells will take the most damage, resulting in a one shot kill, though sometimes hitting at those locations is not needed for this affect.

In the tank destroyer role the Mod. 1914 will usually have a slower fire rate, so care should be taken to have maxxed out the reloading and leadership skills, as well as ace status to ensure the fire rate is as high as possible. The arcing trajectory means that it is uniquely suited to go after tanks in the hull down position, and can even be used to provide indirect fire for your team, though this will require extensive practice.

In short, the Mod. 1914 is not the best weapon, but can perform if you play to its strengths and be aware of its weaknesses.

=== Pros and cons ===
'''Pros:'''

* Powerful; most shells will critically damage or outright kill most tanks
* Arcing trajectory can be used to put down fire on tanks in hull down positions
* Access to HESH at Tier I

*

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload time
* Howitzer behaves differently than cannon; more difficult to learn drop
* Large size makes it easy to damage
* Mounted on the [[Lancia 3Ro (100/17)]]

*

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Italy tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

Lancia 3Ro (100/17)

2023-03-22T19:43:30Z

U128413528: /* Mobility */

{{Specs-Card
|code=it_lancia3ro_100
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Lancia_3Ro_(100-17).jpg|ArtImage_Lancia 3Ro (100-17).png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Danger Zone"]].

This vehicle was in base a truck mounted Obice da 100/17 model 1916 or Obice da 100/17 model 1914. The truck picked to be used for this vehicle (Lancia 3ro) was picked simply because of it's abundance in Italian military workshops of the area when the Italian general leading the invasion of Egypt at the time noted his need of a quick recon vehicle. Military factories and workshops in Italian occupied Libya quickly started producing these vehicles to satisfy his demand.

The models of the guns it carried (100/17) and the trucks they used for the base of it (Lancia 3ro) is what the Italian army based it's name off of. This vehicle was the same principle than many similar makeshift gun-mounted Lancia 3ro's but the reason of it's popularity was because only the models with 100/17 howitzers were mass produced by local factories. Though it was initially planned to be a repair and recon vehicle, The Lancia 3ro (100/17)'s surprising performances in the anti-tank role led to it being denominated as a tank destroyer.<ref>Autocannone da 100/17 su lancia 3ro, Arturo Giusti, tanks encyclopedia,https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/autocannone-da-100-17-su-lancia-3ro/, June 15th 2022</ref>

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

This truck has basically no armour, this is its greatest weak point. The crew can be knocked out even by rifle-calibre machine guns because it is exposed. The truck is quite big so it's an easy target for planes as well.

'''Armour type:'''

* Structural steel (cabin, chassis, gun mount)
* Wood (truck bed, ammo boxes)
* Wheel (tires)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 3 x 1 mm ''Cabin'' 3 mm ''Truck bed'' || 1 mm ''Cabin'' 15 mm ''Truck bed'' || 15 mm ''Truck bed''
!
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Wheels are 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

The truck itself is quite light and its mobility allows it to reach good spots in battle. The turning circle of the truck is big so its not easy and fast to turn around in confined spaces.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=132|rbMinHp=82}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914 (100 mm)}}

The 100 mm Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914 has a long reload time. It has decent penetration for its BR but it's not that impressive either. The gun traverse is slow. The gun has no depression at front of the truck because of the cabin. Post-penetration damage is good: it usually knocks out opponents with a single shot. It also has a large amount of drop, and will take time to properly learn in RB.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914 (100 mm)|100 mm Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 72 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+48° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.3 || 17.1 || 20.7 || 22.9 || 24.4 || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | 11.50 || rowspan="2" | 10.60 || rowspan="2" | 10.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914 (100 mm)/Ammunition|Granata da 100 Mod.32, Granata da 100 Mod.914, Effetto Pronto da 100, Effetto Pronto mod.43}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks Lancia 3Ro (100-17).jpg|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''72''' || 56 ''(+16)'' || 20 ''(+52)'' || 1 ''(+71)'' || No
|-
|}
{{Clear}}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)}}

There is an 8 mm Breda Mod. 38 machine gun on the front of the vehicle. Since it can give away your position, it is best to use it as a last resort weapon. Otherwise, it can be used against low-flying aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)|8 mm Breda Mod. 38]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,680 (24) || 600 || -10°/+25° || ±20°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The best way to play the Lancia 3Ro (100/17) is to use it as a flanker and surprise attack vehicle. Due to the vehicle being wheeled, it is able to reach spots at the start of the match that many vehicles on the enemy team will not expect fire from. You need to have good situational awareness and also great map knowledge to fully take advantage of its mobility. Finding a good spot where it will not risk being cut down by MG fire will unlock the full potential of the vehicle.

The Lancia 3Ro is an overall very weakly protected tank destroyer so its best to keep your distance from enemy vehicles. Any machine gun fire, artillery strike, or even air attack could put the Lancia 3Ro out of combat. Note that the main armament of the vehicle does not have any depression when facing forward, so you are presenting your vehicle with either the side or back to the enemy. This is why it's best to find a good spot early in the match where you can take advantage of the better qualities this vehicle has to offer.

When it comes to other armaments, you have access to an 8 mm Breda Mod. 38 machine gun at the front of the vehicle. This weapon is only useful against aircraft or other trucks. Keep in mind that it is the only line of defence when the main gun is loading. If spotted, remember that the vehicle has a poor turning circle, so when in position make sure to keep in mind exit points in case your position is revealed and you are forced to retreat and relocate to another position.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Has access to HESH and HEAT rounds
* Fast speed on roads
* Can hide the driver's compartment, improving chances of surviving an unfavourable encounter
* Large number of crew

'''Cons:'''

* No armour
* Exposed ammo rack at the front
* Can be knocked out by rifle-calibre machine gun fire
* Not very good mobility offroad
* Big turning circle
* Slow gun traverse
* No gun depression when facing forward
* Slow muzzle velocity
* Angle limitation of Breda Mod. 38, pointing only forward

== History ==

The story of the Lancia 3Ro began during the mid-1930s, when Vincenzo Lancia started producing Ro trucks using Junkers diesel 2-cylinder 3.2L engines. In October 1937, the new 3Ro was introduced with a civilian variant (Serie 464) and a military variant (Serie 564). Deliveries began in 1938. It was very reliable and due to its performance on sandy terrain, it was given the nickname "Re del Deserto" (King of the Desert). The 3Ro was so robust and powerful that even the British started using them in North Africa when they had the rare chance of capturing them. The Soviets also allegedly captured some for their own use. It would also primarily been chosen because it was easy to maintain and also had great off road mobility for a vehicle of its class.

The Raggruppamento Esplorante Corpo d'Armata di Manovra (in English: Mobile Army Corps Reconnaissance Battlegroup) or RECAM for short, began to plan out an easy and cheap method to give their side a stronger fighting chance by upgunning several Lancia 3Ro trucks with the Skoda 100/17 howitzer. The cannon originated from the First World War and was captured or given to Italy via reparations by Austria-Hungary. In Italian service it would go under the name of Obice da 100/17 modello 16. Although the gun was old, it still proved its worth and became an extremely potent vehicle. The cannon it used was able to fire a multitude of munitions, including Granata da 100 Mod.32, Granata da 100 Mod.914, Effetto Pronto da 100, and Effetto Pronto mod.43. Interestingly enough, the Effetto Pronto da 100 was one of the first ever HESH-type munitions to ever be made and used in combat. After the First World War, they'd be officially standardised and would be used extensively around multiple Italian theatres. The first units would be made in 1940, and first saw combat a year later in 1941. The Lancia 3Ro proved to be a steady platform and quickly became one of the strongest support vehicles inside the Italian army's arsenal. In terms of mobility, the vehicle used the Lancia Tipo 102 water-cooled engine, which allowed the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 45 km/h. The vehicle was not armoured, the crew was exposed which meant that as soon as an enemy had the vehicle in its sights, chances are that the Lancia 3Ro would not have lasted much longer. During the North African campaign, the vehicle saw usage in many different battles such as the Battle of Marmatica. Sadly however, the '''Autocannone da 100/17 su Lancia 3Ro''' was produced in small numbers by the Regio Esercito, by 1943 most units if not all would be wiped out. Some Lancia 3Ro's exist today, but in the civilian variant, displayed in museums or owned by private citizens.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_lancia3ro_100 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|PVOZmKuOow8|'''First 10: Lancia 3Ro''' - ''Orangefan''}}

== See also ==


* [[90/53 M41M]]
* [[75/32 M41]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7715-development-100-17-su-lancia-3ro-the-fly-swatter-battery-en|[Devblog] 100/17 su Lancia 3Ro: The Fly Swatter Battery]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/autocannone-da-100-17-su-lancia-3ro/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Autocannone da 100/17 su Lancia 3Ro]

{{Italy tank destroyers}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]
<references />

M6 (37 mm)

2023-03-22T19:41:17Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = the tank cannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = M6 (Disambiguation)
}}
[[File:Weapon_M6_(37_mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 37 mm M6 mounted on an [[M3A1 Stuart]].]]

== Description ==

The '''37 mm M6''' is an American tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_1}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3A3}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m3a3_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M5A1}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_canadian_5st_arm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m5a1_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}
{{Navigation-Line|M22}}{{Specs-Link|us_m22_locust}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M74B1, M63 shell, M51B1}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''

'''Pros:'''

* Good fire rate
* Acceptable penetration
* Access to HE shells
* Small size makes barrel sniping difficult

*

'''Cons:'''

* HE shells perform poorly against heavier targets
* Multiple shots required to kill most targets
* Same tier as the KV-1 and T-34
* Performance takes noticable drop against frontal armor

*

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{Britain tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{Italy tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M7 (76 mm)

2023-03-22T19:30:11Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

== Description ==

The '''76 mm M7''' is an American tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|us_m6a1}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_t1e1}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|cn_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|fr_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_t55e1}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M79 shot, M42A1 shell, M62 shell}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

The M7 is a good gun that gets the most utility used at longer ranges: while it is theoretically possible to use it in brawls or at close ranges, only the [[M6A1]] or the [[T1E1]] have either the armor or turret rotation speed to make this work. That being said, it performs well against equivalent guns, and can reliably one shot Italian Semoventes and German Stugs from the front. Make sure to aim at the left side (right from your perspective) before firing to maximize crew casualties.

Due to the fast reload and good penetration, the M7 is perfect for artillery duels with enemy tank destroyers or far away targets, especially early T-34s equipped with the L[[L-11 (76 mm)]], which has poor long range performance. Additionally, the ammo reserve in most of the vehicles that wield it is perfectly sufficient to allow for extended periods of contact with the enemy, though this will vary depending on what your vehicle is and what you are facing.

A noteable challenge for the M7 is the [[KV-1 (Family)]] of tanks, which are well armored and tend to have decent guns. In which case, fire should be directed to the tracks to disable it, hopefully causing it to expose the vulnerable side armor. Failing that, the flat parts of the armor on the front of the turret are also valid targets, as well as the turret ring and the drivers port, though these shots can be particularly difficult to make.

The HE shell has some utility at its tier, as there are still plenty of soft-skinned or open topped vehicles that are vulnerable, including the [[SARC MkVI (6pdr)]], the [[M42 (Italy)]], and the [[Wirbelwind]]. The M62 shell is the ideal against most targets, as the M79 has worse post penetration damage and is less likely to crew kill the enemy tank.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Good penetration for ranks II and III
* Reloads quickly
* Has shells with decent amounts of explosive filler

'''Cons:'''

* No smoke shell

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|lK9Ck3P6AvM|'''Top 7 best rounds''' discusses the M62 at 3:41 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M7 (76 mm)

2023-03-22T19:28:08Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

== Description ==

The '''76 mm M7''' is an American tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|us_m6a1}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_t1e1}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|cn_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|fr_m10}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_t55e1}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M79 shot, M42A1 shell, M62 shell}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

The M7 is a good gun that gets the most utility used at longer ranges: while it is theoretically possible to use it in brawls or at close ranges, only the [[M6A1]] or the [[T1E1]] have either the armor or turret rotation speed to make this work. That being said, it performs well against equivalent guns, and can reliably one shot Italian Semoventes and German Stugs from the front. Make sure to aim at the left side (right from your perspective) before firing to maximize crew casualties.

Due to the fast reload and good penetration, the M7 is perfect for artillery duels with enemy tank destroyers or far away targets, especially early T-34s equipped with the L[[L-11 (76 mm)]], which has poor long range performance. Additionally, the ammo reserve in most of the vehicles that wield it is perfectly sufficient to allow for extended periods of contact with the enemy, though this will vary depending on what your vehicle is and what you are facing.

A noteable challenge for the M7 is the [[KV-1 (Family)]] of tanks, which are well armored and tend to have decent guns. In which case, fire should be directed to the tracks to disable it, hopefully causing it to expose the vulnerable side armor. Failing that, the flat parts of the armor on the front of the turret are also valid targets, as well as the turret ring and the drivers port, though these shots can be particularly difficult to make.

The HE shell has some utility at its tier, as there are still plenty of soft-skinned or open topped vehicles that are vulnerable, including the [[SARC MkVI (6pdr)]], the [[M42 (Italy)]], and the [[Wirbelwind]]. The APHE shell performs brilliantly against most targets, though has difficulty penetrating sloped armor when it hits at an awkward angle.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Good penetration for ranks II and III
* Reloads quickly
* Has shells with decent amounts of explosive filler

'''Cons:'''

* No smoke shell

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|lK9Ck3P6AvM|'''Top 7 best rounds''' discusses the M62 at 3:41 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA tank cannons}}
{{China tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M7 (76 mm)

2023-03-22T19:10:20Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

90/53 mod.41 (90 mm)

2023-03-22T19:06:25Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

[[File:90-53_piece.jpg|right|thumb|453x453px|A battle-ready 90/53 piece]]

== Description ==

The '''90 mm 90/53 mod.41''' cannon is an Italian anti-tank cannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|it_semovente_breda_501}}
* {{Specs-Link|it_semovente_m41m_90}}

== General info ==

The Cannone da 90/53 is truly a marvel of Italian design though only present on two vehicles. Similar to the [[Flak.37 (88 mm)|Flak.37]] mounted on the [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]], the 90 is a devastating weapon in the right hands, able to frontally penetrate most tanks at its rank.

=== Available ammunition ===


{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|Granata Perforante da 90, Granata da 90, Granata Perforante mod.43}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

The 90 is a solid gun that reliabely penetrates most vehicles from the front, though usually you will want to be firing on a flank since both the [[Breda 501]] and [[90/53 M41M]] have very limited armour that is not well suited for medium to close range encounters. A solid strategy if using this weapon is to take position in a bush or at the corner of a building and wait for an unsuspecting target to come into range, fire, then fire again or move. If your reflexes are good enough, it is fantastic in city combat as the cannon will one shot anything at those ranges, with the M41M being the better of the two chassis in this role.

In an artillery duel with a similarly sized gun, the 90 performs well due to the reload speed, which can be improved with leadership, loader skill, and qualification. It is ideal to avoid duels though, because the 90 is particularly vulnerable to damage from AP rounds with the exposed breach, so care should be taken when engaging in prolonged combat with an enemy. Both vehicles that wield it also tend to have very limited stores of ammunition, so it is probably better to fire then retreat rather than stay in a prolonged engagement.

The HE shells are mostly against soft skinned vehicles, a type that becomes increasingly rare at the BR that you will find it at. Still, the [[M19A1]], [[Ystervark]], and [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] are all valid targets since they are vulnerable to HE. The stock APHE shell is good, though the upgrade is even better due to the prescence of more explosive filler.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent overall ballistics
* High explosive filler
* Fast reload rate for a gun of its calibre
* Satisfactory muzzle velocity

'''Cons:'''

* Stock shell can be underwhelming
* Gun breech is exposed, leaving it vulnerable to damage

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Italy tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

SAu 40

2023-03-22T18:47:48Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=fr_somua_sau40
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (75 mm Self-Propelled Gun SAu 40) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. It distinguishes itself by its very tall cupola and thick gun barrel. This tank is equipped with APHE rounds, a rare feature in the French tech tree.

As it was developed from the French [[S.35]], this tank shares many of its characteristics such as the ~40 mm thick cast hull bolted onto the chassis, which is barely a widened version of its original. The track system is mostly the same as on the [[S.35]], with 25 mm plates covering the roller wheels. As for the hull, it's a widened variant of the [[S.35]]'s hull with two 8 mm grilles over the engine compartment and doors on the side.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

As this tank is based off the [[S.35]], it shares many of its attributes when it comes to armour. A slight angle can defeat most shots this tank will take at this BR, this is useful to know when getting into position: from a distance and not showing neither side nor front to the enemy, you should be safe. As for frontal armour, its 40 mm overall thickness is not strong enough to withstand anything bigger than AA fire. But, a thing to consider with this weird pattern is its "bouncy" behaviour, principally around the gun mantlet: complex angles may just bounce some shots, making them lose some energy before hitting the main armour, this feature is peculiarly distinctive at gun's height.

The main weakness of this tank is its very tall MG turret, which makes it quite easy to spot and destroy, as it is thinner than the main armour. Any APHE penetrating this area will knock out the tank's commander, thus disabling its only MG and some shrapnels may even damage or incapacitate the driver, disabling this tank for good. A way to avoid getting spotted too easily is buying camouflage for the front cupola area, making it look more like a bush popping out a hill than a tank's turret. Try to hide the tank's lower hull part as it is only 34 mm thick.

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (side skirts, engine vents, exhaust pipes)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 40 mm (0-73°) ''Front glacis'' 34 mm (1-54°) ''Lower glacis'' 60 mm (spherical) ''Gun mantlet'' 34 mm (cylindrical) ''Top - Turret base'' || 40 mm (20-46°) ''Top - Front'' 34 mm (43-63°) ''Top - Roof junction'' 34 mm (cylindrical) ''Top - Turret base'' 40 mm ''Top - Centre and rear'' 40 + 25 mm ''Bottom'' || 34 mm (26°) ''Upper plate'' 34 mm (4) ''Centre plate'' 34 mm (29-33°) ''Lower plate'' || 20 mm (9-15°) 8 mm (14°) ''Engine vents''
|-
| MG turret || 38 mm (15-38°) ''Turret front'' 38.5 mm (5°) + 25 mm ''Machine gun mantlet'' || 38 mm (16-38°) || 38 mm (23-32°) || 20 mm (8-17°)
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 34 mm (spherical) || 34 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Turret underside is 20 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 30 mm thick.
* Hull underside above the tracks is 12.7 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=270|rbMinHp=168}}

While being mounted on a widened [[S.35]] hull, the heavier {{PAGENAME}} has the same engine as its predecessor, making it quite slow and unwieldy, with a very low power-to-weight ratio. In order to fulfill the task of getting into position, one should choose their route wisely and avoid risky spots as this SPG's terrible reverse speed makes it quite bad at hasty retreats. Mobility with the {{PAGENAME}} is an issue. It is arguably what makes this tank hard to master as it does not allow for good map placement. One positive of this tank's mobility, however, is that it has a decent hull traverse because of the ability to use both tracks when turning in place.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|APX (75 mm)}}

As any casemate SPG, this tank's main feature is its main gun, it is also one of the rare French tanks firing APHE shells. However, the cannon has an average penetration power for its BR. And the APHE round fails to explode when targeting enemies' sides, as the round has a rather high fuze sensitivity. Another concern is its slow horizontal traverse, which makes it hard to react to fast-paced combat situations. The gun placement makes this tank quite vulnerable: being low, it exposes the SAu 40 to enemy fire when popping up a hill.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[APX (75 mm)|75 mm APX]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 101 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±7° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 5.3 || 7.3 || 8.9 || 9.8 || 10.4 || rowspan="2" | 7.15 || rowspan="2" | 6.33 || rowspan="2" | 5.83 || rowspan="2" | 5.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.6 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 5.6 || 6.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:APX (75 mm)/Ammunition|Mle1910M, Mle1917}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''101''' || 84 ''(+17)'' || 66 ''(+35)'' || 42 ''(+59)'' || 18 ''(+83)'' || 1 ''(+100)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.
* Flank racks empty: 18 (+83) shells.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|MAC 31 (7.5 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| MG turret || 3,300 (150) || 551 || -9°/+20° || ±180°
|-
|}
The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight. The turret is slow, which also negates the possibility of tracking low-flying aircraft with it.

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} behaves as a classical casemate SPG as it should provide its teammates with superior firepower from medium to far distance, behind the frontlines where it will be harder to flank. As this is its purposed role, this tank has some issues accomplishing it. The first being its relatively low penetration and shell velocity, which makes long range engagements (>750 m)a bit hard to manage. The second being bad mobility, which complicates the task of positioning.

Act as a classical SPG while keeping in mind your slow pace. There is nothing very much interesting nor special you can do with this tank.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 75 mm APHE shell gives it good single-shot knock-out potential
* Competitive reload time
* Strong armour on gun mantlet

'''Cons:'''

* Commander's turret is poorly armoured and a shot trap
* Machine gun placement makes AA use difficult
* Poor mobility due to underpowered engine
* Slow gun traverse
* Frontal armour has many weak spots due to bad sloping
* Only three crew members decreases survivability
* Large ammo rack near gunner makes easy target for ammo rack detonations

== History ==

The SAu 40 self-propelled gun was developed by the SOMUA company between 1935 and 1937 as part of the same order the French cavalry placed for the S35 tank.

The two tanks combined were intended to equip light mechanized divisions of the French army and support the larger "battle tanks" (chars de bataille). The vehicle inherited the S35's characteristic chassis with a redesigned front section of the hull to accommodate the 75 mm APX cannon. In addition, the rotating turret on top of the fighting compartment was redesigned to a commander's cupola and moved to the side of the vehicle, but the turret's 47 mm cannon was replaced with a single 7.5 mm machine gun.

The body of the SAu 40 was ready by 1937, but it couldn't be immediately completed. Because the cannon was not yet ready to be installed on the chassis, SOMUA engineers had to wait nearly 2 years before the cannon was finally made available. It wasn't until 1939 that the fully assembled prototype was completed, and orders for mass production were received in October of the same year.

Whether or not any additional vehicles other than the prototype were built or if the vehicle took part in active fighting is unknown.

''-From [[wt:en/news/5169-development-sau-40-the-ugly-duckling-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_somua_sau40 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|gch68D19_C4|'''SAu 40, French, Tier-2, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|uhgodizubC4|'''The Shooting Range #77''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:31 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with a similar chassis

* [[S.35]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Sav m/43 (1944)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5169-development-sau-40-the-ugly-duckling-en|[Devblog] SAu 40 - The Ugly Duckling]]
* [[wikipedia:SOMUA_S35#Projects|[Wikipedia] SOMUA S35 - Projects]]

{{TankManufacturer SOMUA}}
{{France tank destroyers}}

KV-2 (1939)

2023-03-22T16:00:26Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = Soviet heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = KV-2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_kv_2_1939
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]]. One of the most infamous tanks in the Soviet tree, the KV-2 introduces the concept of heavy-calibre armaments that will trend on other Soviet heavy tanks.

The KV-2 is a modification of the KV-1 that mounted a [[M-10T (152 mm)|M-10T (152mm) howitzer]] in order to provide support to infantry against fortified positions. The large and extremely heavy turret, necessary to mount the 152 mm howitzer, results in a slow traverse time. Its gun is an effective breach weapon, designed against fortifications. Despite this usage, very few were made, with the majority being lost due to breakdowns and not German forces because none of their tanks at that time could penetrate the thick armour.

The KV-2 is a behemoth of a tank, which players feared due to the devastating punch of its 152 mm round and its distinctive and intimidating profile. However, these traits also serve as the tank's weaknesses. The KV-2 can be an effective force on the battlefield, and is well-loved by the community, being christened with numerous nicknames, usually in reference to its abnormally large armament calibre, large profile, or its iconic and legendary status in the Soviet tech tree. The KV-2 has also been given the title '''''"The King Of Derp"''''' by the fanbase.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 75 mm (31°) ''Front plate'' 70 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' 25 mm (7-71°) ''Joint plate'' 75 mm (26-51°) ''Lower glacis'' || 75 mm || 60 mm (13-89°) ''Top'' 70 mm (14-57°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 75 mm (15-16°) ''Front turret'' 90 mm (10-20°) ''Gun mantlet'' 90 mm (1-54°) ''Gun mantlet shield'' || 75 mm || 75 mm || 40 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* With its straight angles the KV-2 can easily be angled in the diamond direction (30°). Improving the line of sight thickness of the chassis to 100 mm frontally and 130 mm on the side. The turret achieves at 30° up to 90 mm of steel, however, the turret ring remains a weak point on all angles. Although since the introduction of volumetric shells this has been made less of a problem

[[File:Armour KV-2 badly angled.png|left|thumbnail|x250px|A surprised and unangled KV-2 with line-of-sight armour thickness. Even in this state the [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|KwK40 L43]] ([[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]) will have problems penetrating at ranges >500 m]]

The normal role of a heavy tank is to bring armour and firepower to support the lighter, faster tanks to hold strategic points they have captured. However, the massive profile of the KV-2 heavy tank and the majority of flat 75 mm armour means that even with proper angling and cover, the KV-2 will be unable to hold points for long. The KV-2 easily identified by even the least experienced players and as soon as it fires one round, it will be out-manoeuvred on and forced to retreat or be violently removed. Additionally, artillery and aircraft will often force the KV-2 out of positions if not outright destroy it due to the KV's abysmal speed and massive size. Lastly, the KV-2 has no machine gun to deal with air or lightly armoured targets, meaning once the howitzer fires, that is it for around 30 seconds. Even most anti-air vehicles can effortlessly overrun and destroy the KV-2 if it is over-extended or alone. Couple that with this tank's inability to provide effective long range support and players will have a difficult time finding their niche with this vehicle.

The large turret housing the 152 mm howitzer is a huge target on the KV-2, a more enticing target than the hull. The profile makes concealing the tall, heavy tank difficult, while the turret armour is relatively poor all-around at 75 mm. Not to mention that there will always be ammunition inside the turret, so a penetrating APHE shot has a very high chance of detonating one of these rounds. At its battle rating, most enemy tanks have the capability of penetrating and eliminating the KV-2 through the turret, not to mention even some of the lower rank ones have powerful enough guns to deal with the armour.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=531}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is incredibly sluggish in speed and manoeuvrability. The original KV-1 is already slow as is, but the KV-2 added a huge and heavy turret that increased the total weight from ~46 tons to ~52 tons. Top speed for the vehicle on flat ground is only about 34 km/h, and accelerating is very slow to get the tank up to this speed. Unless moving forwards at a certain gear, the {{PAGENAME}} is also very hard to turn on even ground.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

"Parts" and "FPE" should be the first targets for unlocking. While the mobility of the KV-2 is quite bad, the turret traverse and accuracy is worse. Thus "Horizontal Drive", "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism" should be prioritized after the first set of upgrades. The "PB-35" shell unlock can be ignored as it is only a marginal upgrade compared with the GF-530 stock shell.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M-10T (152 mm)}}

The 152 mm gun is perhaps the most iconic weapon in the Soviet tree. Shells that penetrate will almost always destroy the enemy and even those that fail to do so will still typically do some damage or even destroy the target thanks to the huge amount of explosives in all 3 available shells. A large calibre gun coupled with the heavy turret sadly produces a slow gun traverse (both horizontally and vertically) to get the gun onto a target and very long reload times. The turret also presents a narrow gun depression and elevation range (-5° and 12° respectively), even though limited depression is something common among soviet tanks and you rarely need more elevation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M-10T (152 mm)|152 mm M-10T]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 36 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+12° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.85 || 6.72 || 8.20 || 9.00 || 9.60 || rowspan="2" | 43.29 || rowspan="2" | 38.30 || rowspan="2" | 35.30 || rowspan="2" | 33.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.57 || 4.20 || 5.10 || 5.64 || 6.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''G-530''' (AC) - The "Anti-Concrete" round has below average but bearable velocity with enough penetration for most tanks up to BR 5.0 ([[Churchill VII]] being one of the few exceptions), but the massive size can struggle to go through small weak spots such as the bow machine gun of the [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Sherman]]. With over 5 kg of TNT equivalent of HE filler, it will one shot enemies whenever it enters the crew compartment of the enemy vehicle. Even when it doesn't penetrate the enemy's armour, it can still send fragments through thin plates nearby and knock out crew/damage components like a large HE shell. Its armour piercing qualities and much lower fuse sensitivity than HE shells sometimes makes it better than HE since it can go through tracks and side skirts then explode closer to the main armour.

* '''OF-530''' (HE) - High-explosive shell that can destroy pretty much any tank in the game if you know where to shoot. The high explosive mass of the shell inflicts devastating damage to tanks with the overpressure mechanic, provided you target a spot where the armour is thin. The roof of the hull is a good spot, as the explosion will knock out the crew with the blast when going through the roof plate.

* '''PB-35''' (APCBC) - The APCBC shell has the same penetration as AC shell at point-blank range, but loses less of it over range. It's also less prone to ricochets. These are the only pros it has, further undermined by reduced shell velocity which makes the KV-2 even less suitable for long range engagements (800+ m). At the same time its explosive filler is also less potent than AC shell, which means it's less effective as a do-it-all shell.

{{:M-10T (152 mm)/Ammunition|G-530, OF-530, PB-35}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo type
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''36''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 25 ''(+11)'' 29 ''(+7)'' || 13 ''(+23)'' 15 ''(+21)'' || 1 ''(+35)'' 1 ''(+35)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

== Usage in battles ==


The old peek-a-boom tactics, and staying behind others is still the best method for employing this "heavy tank". Roll forward, take the shot, and then pull back for the over half-minute reload time, and then repeat. Close range brawling is a bad idea due to certain characteristics on the tank. Make sure to plan the route ahead of time make sure to avoid large distances in the open, this is a slow moving tank with a large profile making it an easy target for long barreled guns. It is recommended to have a work with a squad mate or other friendly tanks to cover the KV-2 during the reloading phase.

Most tanks with a high-velocity cannon can cripple the KV-2 through the turret. As such, pretty much all tanks at its battle rating should be taken account of. Rely on always getting the first shot off, else the enemy tank is more than likely to destroy the KV-2. Another type of vehicles to worry about are the very small tanks like the [[M22|M22 ''Locust'']] and the [[ASU-57]] as these can get right under the tank's gun depression and fire away at weak points with little risk of return fire by the KV-2.

===Arcade battles===
In '''Arcade''', the target lead indicator make the slow, but long-range penetrating PB-35 APCBC a destructive force to be afraid of since ranging is a lot easier for the low-velocity shells. Always conduct attacks via "Peek-a-boo" tactic in that stay behind cover while searching for targets, then pop out when a target presents itself to fire before returning back to cover to reload.

One must be conscious and use the map terrain to their advantage. On more open maps like [[Karelia]] and [[Carpathians]], the KV-2's speed and low velocity will make traversing the battlefield while sniping long-range targets difficult. However, one could hang back and snipe unsuspecting and immobile targets, while at the range most return fire would more than likely bounce off the armour. However, be wary of more penetrating guns like the 75 mm on the [[Panther D|Panther]] and the 76 mm on the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Shermans]] that easily piece the front turret armour.

Smaller maps benefit the KV-2 in that the low shell velocities are no longer a big detriment to the combat ability, plus it could make the most of the initial penetration values in close-range battles. However, enemy tanks in close-range will also have an easier time penetrating the KV-2 front armour, or flanking around while reloading the gun thanks to engine power increase. In these cases, situational awareness and friendly support is the key to victory and ''survival'' of the KV-2 in the smaller maps.

===Realistic/Simulator battle===
Realistic and Simulator modes are taxing for the KV-2 as the removal of the target lead indicator can make long-range fighting with the 152 mm a chore.

The most important thing in these game modes, due to the lack of target markers, is the vision. The binoculars are the greatest assets. Keep the turret in a well-angled position while scouting for targets with the binoculars or normal eyesight.

Since the usual fighting ranges exceed 600 m, getting hits without aim assist with the howitzer are rare. Though close-range fighting can fix this, the close-quarters battle is not a tactic the KV-2 should indulge in alone without supporting teammates to cover for the tank in case of flankers. Due to long reloads, rangefinding should be priority whenever the distance is not clear in order to not waste the first shot. If the target is beyond rangefinding range, a tip is to utilize the OF-530 HE shell in the first shot, with spare G-530 anti-concrete rounds for the follow-up. These two rounds share the same ballistics, so the HE shell can be fired first to gauge the distance. If it lands close to the enemy and hits, chances are it will either destroy it or cripple its mobility, plus the impact of the explosion will alert teammates of the presence of an enemy tank at the area of firing. If the enemy tank still remains after the OF-530 shell, the next loading G-530 AC shell can follow through the same ballistic path and destroy the enemy via a penetration.

===Counter-tactics===
'''Getting close''': Probably the most difficult part, if spotted a 40 kg shell will soon be on its way to ruin someone's day. Thus sneaking up, or attacking, from outside the KV-2's field of view is advised. Of course, after the KV-2 has fired, a window of opportunity and hope will open up. With moving up and aiming two shots can be placed on the moving Soviet tower tank. An attack route from the side or rear is preferable, not only is it a blind spot, but the turret traverse is so awful on the KV-2 that it will not have the time to react fast enough. Just make sure to hit, or the tank will be alerted and counter-attack.

'''Shooting''': Targets should be the gunner (right side) to stop the loading process and the loader to increase loading time to up to one and a half minutes. If shooting APHE shells, two penetrating hits will often take out the gun breech as well, stopping the reload and the ability to return fire entirely. The easiest way of performing these hits is via the turret ring, although a harder task since the implementation of volumetric shells, which will always not be angled at certain parts from the front. If APHE shells hit below the side hull, it will possibly detonate the main storage of ammunition, resulting in a single-shot destruction. If that is not the case the gunner, commander, cannon breech, loader, and ammunition and turret ring will be damaged or wounded.

Shooting a KV-2 from the side is much easier, just one massive turret reaching into the sky. But do not shoot anywhere! The tracks will often eat shots and most KV-2 drivers are by now smart enough to not fully load up their KV-2, leaving the rear turret empty of shells.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Huge howitzer, dealing high damage with incredible force that will almost always knock out enemies with a single shot
* Tank's reputation tends to have a noticable psychological affect on enemy players
* Has one of the best HE rounds in the game
* The new overpressure mechanic has made it so the KV-2 can kill pretty much anything with a turret shot
* Able to destroy higher rank tanks
* Has the hull armour of the KV-1 which will stop most Pz.III and Pre-[[T-34-57]] shots
* Large crew count means it is unlikely to be knocked out with a single shot unless the ammo racks explode

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload, resulting in difficult 1-on-1 fights since missing gives the enemy an opportunity to counter
* Slow rotation speed of the turret means that flank attacks are difficult to respond to
* If more than 19 rounds loaded, the ammo fills the weak spot ammo racks in the sides of the turret
* Terrible gun depression
* Tall turret is very vulnerable from the side and difficult to hide
* Driver's viewport is a weak spot; easily exploitable by experienced players
* Has a tendency, although a rare but dreaded occurrence, to overshoot targets at close range when using the sights
* Large silhouette
* Large barrel can easily be damaged by even autocannons, preventing return fire

== History ==

===Development===
The start of the KV heavy tanks began after the heavy tank [[T-35]] flaws came to light. Designers were ordered to draw up new designs to become the basis of a breakthrough heavy tank needed for the Soviet doctrine. This made for a tank that was heavily armoured, but not very mobile as it was to be for siege warfare. The designs offered all had heavy armour, wide tracks, and used the torsion-bar suspension. The designs were the [[SMK]], T-100, and what would be the '''KV-1 tank''', which was named after the then Soviet Defense Commissar '''K'''liment '''V'''oroshilov.

During the developmental progress, the prototypes of all these heavy tanks were made and the Winter War with Finland was on its way. The Soviets sent these tanks into Finland for combat testing, to which the KV design outperformed in every way with its superior armour and firepower. The armour on the KV tank was impenetrable by a tank cannon in service and most anti-tank guns as well, the 76,2 cannon also gave it a huge firepower boost compared to the usual 37 mm in use by other countries. However, the design was found to be difficult to steer, the transmission was unreliable, ergonomics was poor and vision was limited, plus with its 45-ton weight, it was a very heavy tank for its time. In truth, while formidable in power and protection, courageous crew member willing to curse the name would speak out about the trouble the KV tank really was. The main variant of production before World War II broke out was the '''[[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]]''' model.

===KV-2===
Despite its superiority on the battlefield, some observed that the KV-1's armament was not enough to destroy some of the Finnish fortifications that they encountered. For this, a request to mount a 152 mm howitzer on the KV-1 was made and resulted in the '''KV-2''' with its extremely large turret and an increased weight of 52 tons. The KV-2 suffered from a very high profile, low speed, and was to turret heavy. Compared to the KV-1 height of about 9 feet, the KV-2 was at 11 feet tall. The increased weight of the tank slowed it down drastically, and the very heavy turret mixed with a low-powered traverse speed meant that the KV-2 can only traverse on level ground, as a slope would cause the turret to start turning with gravity. The combat ineffectiveness and flaws of the KV-2 came to light and was only put on limited production due to them, resulting in only about 334 units being produced from 1939 to 1941.

===Combat usage===
During the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, the KV tanks came as a huge surprise from the Germans as they had no prior intel about these tanks, resulting in a lack of capable anti-tank weaponry that could destroy these tanks, aside from 88 mm FlaK guns. The KV-2 served alongside the KV-1 in stalling the German Offensive to Moscow. During the Battle of Raseiniai, in Lithuania, a single KV-2 was able to hold up the entire 6th Panzer Division for a full day by firing at them from a concealed location before it ran out of ammunition, ending with about two dozen tanks destroyed.

Due to the low quantity of KV-2 produced, they didn't see much service past the opening stages of the war due to loss from attrition or mechanical failures, however, 10 were still in service with the Voronezh Front on 4 July 1943 for the battle of Kursk. These were transferred to the 3rd Mech Corps on 9 July, and by 18 July only 1 was left serviceable - 5 were destroyed on 12 July, and 4 are recorded as being in repair from 13 July. <ref name="3rdMechKursk">[http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA360311 <nowiki>[DTIC.ORG] KURSK OPERATION SIMULATION AND VALIDATION EXERCISE - PHASE II (KOSAVE II) (PDF)</nowiki>]</ref>

===Survivors===
Only one KV-2 is left intact as a survivor of the war, it is housed at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
This tank came into service in the Red Army in 1940 and was an assault tank intended to be used to overcome long-term defensive positions. The KV-2 was armed with a powerful 152 mm M-10 cannon installed in its tall armoured rotating turret. This weapon was shot with separately loaded shells, so its combat rate of fire was not high. The howitzer had relatively good characteristics. Its armour-piercing 52 kg round with a 436 m/s muzzle velocity penetrated a 72 mm thick armour plate at a distance of 1,500 m at a 60° angle. For firing on concrete fortifications, it possessed a 40 kg concrete-piercing shell with a 530 m/s muzzle velocity. All these vehicles were equipped with a 71-TK-3 radio set. The vehicle was armed with three additional 7.62 mm DT tank machine guns. One was paired with the howitzer, the second mounted in the rear turret wall, and the third mounted as a bow gun in the underturret box's frontal plate to the driver's left.

By 1941, 330 of these tanks had been produced in total, and production ceased at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

In mid-February 1940, several of these heavy tanks were put to the test during the breaking of the Mannerheim Line. They broke through stone fortifications and destroyed pillboxes at close range, allowing infantry divisions to pass through areas previously closed to them. Furthermore, its strong armour could survive heavy fire from the enemy's anti-tank artillery. In the first years of the war, the KV-2 was practically invulnerable to all forms of anti-tank artillery. A number of captured vehicles of this type were used by German troops.

The tank had some serious flaws. Its mobility on the move and in combat was seriously limited by its high weight and issues with its clutch and transmission. When the vehicle was at a slight tilt, the turret became extremely difficult to turn. Its ammunition complement for its main gun amounted to only 38 shells.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_kv_2_1939 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XTSIvLEsV6c|'''The KV Family''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel'' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 04:53|ezJ7MKKcR3c|'''The Tower of Stalin''' - ''BaronVonGamez''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[KV-1 (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[SU-152]]
* [[Brummbar|Brummbär]]
* [[Lorraine 155 Mle.50]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Kliment_Voroshilov_tank#KV-2|[Wikipedia] Kliment Voroshilov tank - KV-2]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_KV-2.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> KV-2]
* [http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=210 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> KV-2 (Klimenti Voroshilov)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Kirov}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}

KV-2 (1939)

2023-03-22T15:56:42Z

U128413528: /* Description */

{{About
| about = Soviet heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = KV-2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_kv_2_1939
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]]. One of the most infamous tanks in the Soviet tree, the KV-2 introduces the concept of heavy-calibre armaments that will trend on other Soviet heavy tanks.

The KV-2 is a modification of the KV-1 that mounted a [[M-10T (152 mm)|M-10T (152mm) howitzer]] in order to provide support to infantry against fortified positions. The large and extremely heavy turret, necessary to mount the 152 mm howitzer, results in a slow traverse time. Its gun is an effective breach weapon, designed against fortifications. Despite this usage, very few were made, with the majority being lost due to breakdowns and not German forces because none of their tanks at that time could penetrate the thick armour.

The KV-2 is a behemoth of a tank, which players feared due to the devastating punch of its 152 mm round and its distinctive and intimidating profile. However, these traits also serve as the tank's weaknesses. The KV-2 can be an effective force on the battlefield, and is well-loved by the community, being christened with numerous nicknames, usually in reference to its abnormally large armament calibre, large profile, or its iconic and legendary status in the Soviet tech tree. The KV-2 has also been given the title '''''"The King Of Derp"''''' by the fanbase.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 75 mm (31°) ''Front plate'' 70 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' 25 mm (7-71°) ''Joint plate'' 75 mm (26-51°) ''Lower glacis'' || 75 mm || 60 mm (13-89°) ''Top'' 70 mm (14-57°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 75 mm (15-16°) ''Front turret'' 90 mm (10-20°) ''Gun mantlet'' 90 mm (1-54°) ''Gun mantlet shield'' || 75 mm || 75 mm || 40 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* With its straight angles the KV-2 can easily be angled in the diamond direction (30°). Improving the line of sight thickness of the chassis to 100 mm frontally and 130 mm on the side. The turret achieves at 30° up to 90 mm of steel, however, the turret ring remains a weak point on all angles. Although since the introduction of volumetric shells this has been made less of a problem

[[File:Armour KV-2 badly angled.png|left|thumbnail|x250px|A surprised and unangled KV-2 with line-of-sight armour thickness. Even in this state the [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|KwK40 L43]] ([[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]) will have problems penetrating at ranges >500 m]]

The normal role of a heavy tank is to bring armour and firepower to support the lighter, faster tanks to hold strategic points they have captured. However, the massive profile of the KV-2 heavy tank and the majority of flat 75 mm armour means that even with proper angling and cover, the KV-2 will be unable to hold points for long. The KV-2 easily identified by even the least experienced players and as soon as it fires one round, it will be out-manoeuvred on and forced to retreat or be violently removed. Additionally, artillery and aircraft will often force the KV-2 out of positions if not outright destroy it due to the KV's abysmal speed and massive size. Lastly, the KV-2 has no machine gun to deal with air or lightly armoured targets, meaning once the howitzer fires, that is it for around 30 seconds. Even most anti-air vehicles can effortlessly overrun and destroy the KV-2 if it is over-extended or alone. Couple that with this tank's inability to provide effective long range support and players will have a difficult time finding their niche with this vehicle.

The large turret housing the 152 mm howitzer is a huge target on the KV-2, a more enticing target than the hull. The profile makes concealing the tall, heavy tank difficult, while the turret armour is relatively poor all-around at 75 mm. Not to mention that there will always be ammunition inside the turret, so a penetrating APHE shot has a very high chance of detonating one of these rounds. At its battle rating, most enemy tanks have the capability of penetrating and eliminating the KV-2 through the turret, not to mention even some of the lower rank ones have powerful enough guns to deal with the armour.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=531}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is incredibly sluggish in speed and manoeuvrability. The original KV-1 is already slow as is, but the KV-2 added a huge and heavy turret that increased the total weight from ~46 tons to ~52 tons. Top speed for the vehicle on flat ground is only about 34 km/h, and accelerating is very slow to get the tank up to this speed. Unless moving forwards at a certain gear, the {{PAGENAME}} is also very hard to turn on even ground.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

"Parts" and "FPE" should be the first targets for unlocking. While the mobility of the KV-2 is quite bad, the turret traverse and accuracy is worse. Thus "Horizontal Drive", "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism" should be prioritized after the first set of upgrades. The "PB-35" shell unlock can be ignored as it is only a marginal upgrade compared with the GF-530 stock shell.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M-10T (152 mm)}}

The 152 mm gun is perhaps the most iconic weapon in the Soviet tree. Shells that penetrate will almost always destroy the enemy and even those that fail to do so will still typically do some damage or even destroy the target thanks to the huge amount of explosives in all 3 available shells. A large calibre gun coupled with the heavy turret sadly produces a slow gun traverse (both horizontally and vertically) to get the gun onto a target and very long reload times. The turret also presents a narrow gun depression and elevation range (-5° and 12° respectively), even though limited depression is something common among soviet tanks and you rarely need more elevation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M-10T (152 mm)|152 mm M-10T]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 36 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+12° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.85 || 6.72 || 8.20 || 9.00 || 9.60 || rowspan="2" | 43.29 || rowspan="2" | 38.30 || rowspan="2" | 35.30 || rowspan="2" | 33.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.57 || 4.20 || 5.10 || 5.64 || 6.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''G-530''' (AC) - The "Anti-Concrete" round has below average but bearable velocity with enough penetration for most tanks up to BR 5.0 ([[Churchill VII]] being one of the few exceptions), but the massive size can struggle to go through small weak spots such as the bow machine gun of the [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Sherman]]. With over 5 kg of TNT equivalent of HE filler, it will one shot enemies whenever it enters the crew compartment of the enemy vehicle. Even when it doesn't penetrate the enemy's armour, it can still send fragments through thin plates nearby and knock out crew/damage components like a large HE shell. Its armour piercing qualities and much lower fuse sensitivity than HE shells sometimes makes it better than HE since it can go through tracks and side skirts then explode closer to the main armour.

* '''OF-530''' (HE) - High-explosive shell that can destroy pretty much any tank in the game if you know where to shoot. The high explosive mass of the shell inflicts devastating damage to tanks with the overpressure mechanic, provided you target a spot where the armour is thin. The roof of the hull is a good spot, as the explosion will knock out the crew with the blast when going through the roof plate.

* '''PB-35''' (APCBC) - The APCBC shell has the same penetration as AC shell at point-blank range, but loses less of it over range. It's also less prone to ricochets. These are the only pros it has, further undermined by reduced shell velocity which makes the KV-2 even less suitable for long range engagements (800+ m). At the same time its explosive filler is also less potent than AC shell, which means it's less effective as a do-it-all shell.

{{:M-10T (152 mm)/Ammunition|G-530, OF-530, PB-35}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo type
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''36''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 25 ''(+11)'' 29 ''(+7)'' || 13 ''(+23)'' 15 ''(+21)'' || 1 ''(+35)'' 1 ''(+35)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

== Usage in battles ==


The old peek-a-boom tactics, and staying behind others is still the best method for employing this "heavy tank". Roll forward, take the shot, and then pull back for the over half-minute reload time, and then repeat. Close range brawling is a bad idea due to certain characteristics on the tank. Make sure to plan the route ahead of time make sure to avoid large distances in the open, this is a slow moving tank with a large profile making it an easy target for long barreled guns. It is recommended to have a work with a squad mate or other friendly tanks to cover the KV-2 during the reloading phase.

Most tanks with a high-velocity cannon can cripple the KV-2 through the turret. As such, pretty much all tanks at its battle rating should be taken account of. Rely on always getting the first shot off, else the enemy tank is more than likely to destroy the KV-2. Another type of vehicles to worry about are the very small tanks like the [[M22|M22 ''Locust'']] and the [[ASU-57]] as these can get right under the tank's gun depression and fire away at weak points with little risk of return fire by the KV-2.

===Arcade battles===
In '''Arcade''', the target lead indicator make the slow, but long-range penetrating PB-35 APCBC a destructive force to be afraid of since ranging is a lot easier for the low-velocity shells. Always conduct attacks via "Peek-a-boo" tactic in that stay behind cover while searching for targets, then pop out when a target presents itself to fire before returning back to cover to reload.

One must be conscious and use the map terrain to their advantage. On more open maps like [[Karelia]] and [[Carpathians]], the KV-2's speed and low velocity will make traversing the battlefield while sniping long-range targets difficult. However, one could hang back and snipe unsuspecting and immobile targets, while at the range most return fire would more than likely bounce off the armour. However, be wary of more penetrating guns like the 75 mm on the [[Panther D|Panther]] and the 76 mm on the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Shermans]] that easily piece the front turret armour.

Smaller maps benefit the KV-2 in that the low shell velocities are no longer a big detriment to the combat ability, plus it could make the most of the initial penetration values in close-range battles. However, enemy tanks in close-range will also have an easier time penetrating the KV-2 front armour, or flanking around while reloading the gun thanks to engine power increase. In these cases, situational awareness and friendly support is the key to victory and ''survival'' of the KV-2 in the smaller maps.

===Realistic/Simulator battle===
Realistic and Simulator modes are taxing for the KV-2 as the removal of the target lead indicator can make long-range fighting with the 152 mm a chore.

The most important thing in these game modes, due to the lack of target markers, is the vision. The binoculars are the greatest assets. Keep the turret in a well-angled position while scouting for targets with the binoculars or normal eyesight.

Since the usual fighting ranges exceed 600 m, getting hits without aim assist with the howitzer are rare. Though close-range fighting can fix this, the close-quarters battle is not a tactic the KV-2 should indulge in alone without supporting teammates to cover for the tank in case of flankers. Due to long reloads, rangefinding should be priority whenever the distance is not clear in order to not waste the first shot. If the target is beyond rangefinding range, a tip is to utilize the OF-530 HE shell in the first shot, with spare G-530 anti-concrete rounds for the follow-up. These two rounds share the same ballistics, so the HE shell can be fired first to gauge the distance. If it lands close to the enemy and hits, chances are it will either destroy it or cripple its mobility, plus the impact of the explosion will alert teammates of the presence of an enemy tank at the area of firing. If the enemy tank still remains after the OF-530 shell, the next loading G-530 AC shell can follow through the same ballistic path and destroy the enemy via a penetration.

===Counter-tactics===
'''Getting close''': Probably the most difficult part, if spotted a 40 kg shell will soon be on its way to ruin someone's day. Thus sneaking up, or attacking, from outside the KV-2's field of view is advised. Of course, after the KV-2 has fired, a window of opportunity and hope will open up. With moving up and aiming two shots can be placed on the moving Soviet tower tank. An attack route from the side or rear is preferable, not only is it a blind spot, but the turret traverse is so awful on the KV-2 that it will not have the time to react fast enough. Just make sure to hit, or the tank will be alerted and counter-attack.

'''Shooting''': Targets should be the gunner (right side) to stop the loading process and the loader to increase loading time to up to one and a half minutes. If shooting APHE shells, two penetrating hits will often take out the gun breech as well, stopping the reload and the ability to return fire entirely. The easiest way of performing these hits is via the turret ring, although a harder task since the implementation of volumetric shells, which will always not be angled at certain parts from the front. If APHE shells hit below the side hull, it will possibly detonate the main storage of ammunition, resulting in a single-shot destruction. If that is not the case the gunner, commander, cannon breech, loader, and ammunition and turret ring will be damaged or wounded.

Shooting a KV-2 from the side is much easier, just one massive turret reaching into the sky. But do not shoot anywhere! The tracks will often eat shots and most KV-2 drivers are by now smart enough to not fully load up their KV-2, leaving the rear turret empty of shells.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Huge howitzer, dealing high damage with incredible force that will almost always knock out enemies with a single shot
* Fear factor, the sight and sound of this behemoth and its gun tends to send smaller tanks fleeing in terror
* Has one of the best HE rounds in the game
* The new overpressure mechanic has made it so the KV-2 can kill pretty much anything with a turret shot
* Able to destroy higher rank tanks
* Has the hull armour of the KV-1 which will stop most Pz.III and Pre-[[T-34-57]] shots
* Large crew count means it is unlikely to be knocked out with a single shot unless the ammo racks explode

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload, resulting in difficult 1-on-1 fights since missing gives the enemy an opportunity to counter
* Slow rotation speed of the turret means that flank attacks are difficult to respond to
* If more than 19 rounds loaded, the ammo fills the weak spot ammo racks in the sides of the turret
* Terrible gun depression
* Tall turret is very vulnerable from the side and difficult to hide
* Driver's viewport is a weak spot; easily exploitable by experienced players
* Has a tendency, although a rare but dreaded occurrence, to overshoot targets at close range when using the sights
* Large silhouette
* Large barrel can easily be damaged by even autocannons, preventing return fire

== History ==

===Development===
The start of the KV heavy tanks began after the heavy tank [[T-35]] flaws came to light. Designers were ordered to draw up new designs to become the basis of a breakthrough heavy tank needed for the Soviet doctrine. This made for a tank that was heavily armoured, but not very mobile as it was to be for siege warfare. The designs offered all had heavy armour, wide tracks, and used the torsion-bar suspension. The designs were the [[SMK]], T-100, and what would be the '''KV-1 tank''', which was named after the then Soviet Defense Commissar '''K'''liment '''V'''oroshilov.

During the developmental progress, the prototypes of all these heavy tanks were made and the Winter War with Finland was on its way. The Soviets sent these tanks into Finland for combat testing, to which the KV design outperformed in every way with its superior armour and firepower. The armour on the KV tank was impenetrable by a tank cannon in service and most anti-tank guns as well, the 76,2 cannon also gave it a huge firepower boost compared to the usual 37 mm in use by other countries. However, the design was found to be difficult to steer, the transmission was unreliable, ergonomics was poor and vision was limited, plus with its 45-ton weight, it was a very heavy tank for its time. In truth, while formidable in power and protection, courageous crew member willing to curse the name would speak out about the trouble the KV tank really was. The main variant of production before World War II broke out was the '''[[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]]''' model.

===KV-2===
Despite its superiority on the battlefield, some observed that the KV-1's armament was not enough to destroy some of the Finnish fortifications that they encountered. For this, a request to mount a 152 mm howitzer on the KV-1 was made and resulted in the '''KV-2''' with its extremely large turret and an increased weight of 52 tons. The KV-2 suffered from a very high profile, low speed, and was to turret heavy. Compared to the KV-1 height of about 9 feet, the KV-2 was at 11 feet tall. The increased weight of the tank slowed it down drastically, and the very heavy turret mixed with a low-powered traverse speed meant that the KV-2 can only traverse on level ground, as a slope would cause the turret to start turning with gravity. The combat ineffectiveness and flaws of the KV-2 came to light and was only put on limited production due to them, resulting in only about 334 units being produced from 1939 to 1941.

===Combat usage===
During the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, the KV tanks came as a huge surprise from the Germans as they had no prior intel about these tanks, resulting in a lack of capable anti-tank weaponry that could destroy these tanks, aside from 88 mm FlaK guns. The KV-2 served alongside the KV-1 in stalling the German Offensive to Moscow. During the Battle of Raseiniai, in Lithuania, a single KV-2 was able to hold up the entire 6th Panzer Division for a full day by firing at them from a concealed location before it ran out of ammunition, ending with about two dozen tanks destroyed.

Due to the low quantity of KV-2 produced, they didn't see much service past the opening stages of the war due to loss from attrition or mechanical failures, however, 10 were still in service with the Voronezh Front on 4 July 1943 for the battle of Kursk. These were transferred to the 3rd Mech Corps on 9 July, and by 18 July only 1 was left serviceable - 5 were destroyed on 12 July, and 4 are recorded as being in repair from 13 July. <ref name="3rdMechKursk">[http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA360311 <nowiki>[DTIC.ORG] KURSK OPERATION SIMULATION AND VALIDATION EXERCISE - PHASE II (KOSAVE II) (PDF)</nowiki>]</ref>

===Survivors===
Only one KV-2 is left intact as a survivor of the war, it is housed at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
This tank came into service in the Red Army in 1940 and was an assault tank intended to be used to overcome long-term defensive positions. The KV-2 was armed with a powerful 152 mm M-10 cannon installed in its tall armoured rotating turret. This weapon was shot with separately loaded shells, so its combat rate of fire was not high. The howitzer had relatively good characteristics. Its armour-piercing 52 kg round with a 436 m/s muzzle velocity penetrated a 72 mm thick armour plate at a distance of 1,500 m at a 60° angle. For firing on concrete fortifications, it possessed a 40 kg concrete-piercing shell with a 530 m/s muzzle velocity. All these vehicles were equipped with a 71-TK-3 radio set. The vehicle was armed with three additional 7.62 mm DT tank machine guns. One was paired with the howitzer, the second mounted in the rear turret wall, and the third mounted as a bow gun in the underturret box's frontal plate to the driver's left.

By 1941, 330 of these tanks had been produced in total, and production ceased at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

In mid-February 1940, several of these heavy tanks were put to the test during the breaking of the Mannerheim Line. They broke through stone fortifications and destroyed pillboxes at close range, allowing infantry divisions to pass through areas previously closed to them. Furthermore, its strong armour could survive heavy fire from the enemy's anti-tank artillery. In the first years of the war, the KV-2 was practically invulnerable to all forms of anti-tank artillery. A number of captured vehicles of this type were used by German troops.

The tank had some serious flaws. Its mobility on the move and in combat was seriously limited by its high weight and issues with its clutch and transmission. When the vehicle was at a slight tilt, the turret became extremely difficult to turn. Its ammunition complement for its main gun amounted to only 38 shells.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_kv_2_1939 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XTSIvLEsV6c|'''The KV Family''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel'' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 04:53|ezJ7MKKcR3c|'''The Tower of Stalin''' - ''BaronVonGamez''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[KV-1 (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[SU-152]]
* [[Brummbar|Brummbär]]
* [[Lorraine 155 Mle.50]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Kliment_Voroshilov_tank#KV-2|[Wikipedia] Kliment Voroshilov tank - KV-2]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_KV-2.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> KV-2]
* [http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=210 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> KV-2 (Klimenti Voroshilov)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Kirov}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}

Sherman V (Italy)

2023-03-22T15:45:50Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other versions
| link-1 = M4 Sherman (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M4 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_m4a4_sherman
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (transmission housing, turret, gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50.8 mm (56°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (8-17°) + 25.4 mm (29°) ''Viewports'' 34 + 25.4 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' 50.8 mm (3°) ''Radio antenna bulge'' 50.8 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 38.1 mm 38.1 + 25.4 mm ''Ammo racks'' || 38.1 mm (21°) ''Top'' 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 19.5 mm Front section'' 12.7 mm (7°) ''Engine bay - centre'' 19.5 mm (23°) ''Engine bay - sides
|-
| Turret || 76 mm (7-65°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (9-26°) ''Turret front - gunner side'' 50.8 + 88.9 mm (cylindrical) ''Gun mantlet'' || 50.8 mm (1-3°) ''Turret sides'' 50.8 mm (58-66°) ''Roof radius'' || 50.8 mm (1-5°) ''Sponson'' 50.8 mm (21-65°) ''Roof slope'' || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 50.8 mm (16°) || 25.4 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies are 10 mm thick.
* The belly of the tank is 12.7 mm thick.
* The internal wall separating the crew compartment from the engine bay is 9.5 mm thick.

The hull is very similar to the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]], with a 50.8 mm thick upper glacis and protruding hatches interrupting the glacis (reinforced with appliqué armour). A weak spot is the radio antenna bulge on the machine gunner side. The hull sides feature appliqué armour plates covering the ammunition storage racks. The turret is also very similar but lacks the appliqué armour on the right cheek, leaving a small weakened zone in that area. Frontal protection is quite good for its rank and shots from smaller anti-tank guns can generally be shrugged off, particularly when hull down. However more powerful guns such as the [[Pz.IV F2]]'s long 75 mm can destroy the tank easily, so care should be taken. The side armour is only 38.1 mm thick and can be easily penetrated by just about any anti-tank gun if not angled.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=659|rbMinHp=376}}

Based on the chassis of the M4, the {{PAGENAME}} has the same good all-round mobility: the tank accelerates quickly and is able to reach a maximum speed of 44 km/h in a dozen of seconds. The brakes are powerful and will make the M4A4 skid rather than slow down when driving at maximum speed. The violent braking also causes the hull to wobble, making your targeting less accurate. The reverse speed is rather poor: it won't get you out of a dangerous situation quickly enough. The lack of neutral steering makes turning on the spot slow (2 km/h): make sure to build a little speed before turning and you'll turn much faster (11 km/h). Turning in reverse is equally slow (-2 km/h) Turning at full speed doesn't make you lose much speed as your acceleration is good. The offroad mobility is good: the {{PAGENAME}} reaches 16 km/h when fording, 17 km/h when driving uphill with some speed built-up but a mere 10 km/h uphill from a stop start. The tracks are large and grant you a decent mobility on hard (solid ground, roads) and soft terrain (mud, snow, sand). Light and medium obstacles (fences, posts, bushes and small trees) are not a problem but large obstacles will reduce your mobility: avoid them.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 98 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
When discussing {{PAGENAME}} shells, one always has to account for the fact that it's a medium tank. This means short to medium engagement range, so realistically it can benefit more from its short-range penetration figures than long-range sniping tanks would.

* M72 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Solid shot, stock shell. Acceptable penetration, poor post-penetration damage.
* M48 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - Low-velocity shell useful against soft targets, in particular when hitting an open-topped vehicle. Harmless against any vehicle with more than 10 mm of armour.
* M61 shot - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - This shell has a better penetration than the M72 thanks to its ballistic cap and a good post-penetration damage thanks to its explosive filler.
* M89 smoke shell - Useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.

{{:M3 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, M89}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''98''' || 91 ''(+7)'' || 89 ''(+9)'' || 86 ''(+12)'' || 79 ''(+19)'' || 62 ''(+36)'' || 46 ''(+52)'' || 31 ''(+67)'' || 1 ''(+97)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* To go into battle with the turret basket empty of ammo, pack 79 ''(+19)'' shells (racks 1 to 4 emptied).
* To go into battle with the turret basket and the flanks empty of ammo, pack 31 ''(+67)'' shells (racks 1 to 7 emptied).
* The 8th rack is large and located in a weak spot: the bottom section of the armour. In case of penetration, there is a high risk of ammo rack detonation. Make sure not to expose your flanks unnecessarily.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The M4A4 only has a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and lacks the familiar pintle-mounted M2 Browning seen on other Sherman models. This makes fending off lightly-armoured and fast opponents like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2 | Puma]] more difficult as the main gun must be used instead. The lone M1919A4 is also unlikely to do significant damage to incoming aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M4 Sherman is an effective medium-range combat tank. Equipped with a fast-firing 75 mm gun and with good handling characteristics, the M4 can be an extremely useful asset in most battles.

In battle the M4 performs well as an all-rounder; the thick turret front and 10 degrees of gun depression make the tank ideal for taking hull-down positions which protect the thinner hull armour from being penetrated by enemy fire. The sloped front upper glacis, when angled, also provides good protection against enemy fire. An unusual - and useful - difference is that the upper glacis is sloped at 56 degrees rather than the standard 45 degrees, making it more of a threat and more powerful due to improving the chances of a round ricochet. The only downfall may be the 2 crew member position in the front that protrudes out to form a flat surface, but both are covered with an additional 20 mm plate. The reasonable mobility of the Sherman makes flanking a viable tactic. The main weakness of the M4 is the side armour - not only is it vertical and thin, but behind it most of the ammunition is stowed. The tall silhouette of the tank also makes finding suitable cover difficult. Overall, the M4 Sherman can be considered as an armoured jack-of-all-trades - it will serve a tanker well, however it will not excel in any particular role.

In battle, try to use terrain as cover. Hull-down positions are especially strong in the M4 Sherman, as it has a good 10 degrees of gun depression. The gun mantlet and turret are reasonably strong, but avoiding shots is still the best strategy. In this respect, a hull-down position hides the vulnerable hull. If this is not available, then angling the hull armour to present a greater slope is often a good idea, as this can bounce some low-powered cannon at any range and at longer ranges, render the hull impenetrable.

Another way to play the M4 Sherman is to tap into its traditional cavalry role, its mobility. The M4 Sherman is a great flanker as it is fast enough to get the jump on the enemy's side. Defeat the enemy at their weak front lines or go around the entire enemy force. Once in position at their sides or rear, ambush them. Ideally, the enemy should be too busy focusing on allies attacking in the front to notice the M4 instantly. Take out the weaker light or medium tanks, the 75 mm gun is not very ideal against heavy tanks like the [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] so take out its friends to allow allies more room to outmanoeuvre the KV tank. An organized attack will increase the M4 chances on the battlefield and success.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[M4A2]] / [[M4A4 (1st PTG)|A4]] - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over 3 nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation you play they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of your short 75vmm gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed kill most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's a M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenseless. Note that their guns are equally weak against you, so wiggle around to disrupt their aim while you reload, you have a good chance of bouncing some shells.

[[Churchill I]], [[Churchill III]] - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to kill at range. Again, manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the idea distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret at you, only go for the turret. For the Mk I Churchills, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when you are facing their hull without any angles should you shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.

[[KV-1 (ZiS-5)]] - A vehicle that the M4 Sherman will have trouble against is the KV-1. While the [[KV-1 (L-11)|L-11]] is underpowered, the KV-1 (ZiS-5) is potent enough to punch through the Sherman's front, and the Sherman is unable to penetrate the KV-1's thick armour especially with its add-on armour plates. If this heavy tank is encountered frontally, aim at the vertical area on the round gun mantlet as it is only 90 mm thick. You can knock out its gunner this way. Or shoot at the vertical part where the gun mantlet doesn't cover to disable its turret ring and gunner / loader. Note: do not shoot at the frontal hull as it is too thick for the M61 shell. Of course, the best way is to shoot at its sides and rear without any angle, where its armour is unsloped, though it will still have to be at a close range to penetrate the armour. In addition, shots to the sides will most likely hit fuel tanks or ammunition storage, causing a fire or ammunition detonation and at best, time to reassess the situation.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
* Great penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents with a single shot
* Great turret traverse speed allows it to deal with multiple threats easily
* Sloped hull armour provides good protection against small calibre / low-penetration shells (e.g. 75 mm M3), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly. In addition, Italy is usually grouped with Germany therefore this M4 won't face the long 75 mm, increasing its survivability
* Adequate top speed allows it to get to positions in time, or to do tactical manoeuvres like flanking
* Fitted with a vertical stabilizer, allowing more accurate fire on the move compared to other tanks, as well as better usage of shoot-n-scoot tactics

'''Cons:'''

* Large profile and weak side armour; flankers like the M24 Chaffee can easily see and penetrate it
* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get frontally penetrated and knocked out with a single shot
* The M61 shell struggles to penetrate heavy targets
* Trajectory is curved and velocity is low due to its short barrel, thus distant/moving targets are hard to shoot at
* Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn
* Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons

== History ==

After the end of WW2, the United States started to export Sherman tanks in multiple versions for military and civil use some were used in the recostruction of various countrys and removal of destroyed tanks of WW2.

After the WW2 and the fondation of the Republican Italy, the Italian Army reconstituted in 1945 and 1946 a minor military command for the territorial defense, the unit was equipped wih Italian, British and American Tanks which they used extensively post-war.
[[File:M4A4 (italy) 1.png|thumb|M4A4 during test drives]]
Italy was subject to an export deal to reform military forces. The US delivered at least 57 M4 Sherman tanks (M4A2 and M4A4) as part of allied cooperation and Great Britain also gave some Shermans.

These tanks were given to Italy, the first official armoured corps for Italy was founded in September 1947 and was reunited in Roma to create the first post-war tankers school. Italian Shermans were used from 1948 until the early 1950s, the last ones being officially put out of service in 1952.

After their life in Italian service, they were demilitarized, scrapped and some other were refurbished from scrap and smuggled as tractors (32 reported Sherman tanks) to Israel to aid the IDF with 105 mm howitzers in the Israel-Palestine war.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_m4a4_sherman Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
* Skins and camouflages for the [[M4A4 (China)]] or the [[M4A4 (France)]] can be used for the {{PAGENAME}}.

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|x8toili-cYE|'''M4A4 Sherman Medium Tank (Italy)''' - ''Orangefan''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M4A4 (1st PTG)]]
* [[M4A4 (China)]]
* [[M4A4 (France)]]

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{Italy medium tanks}}

StuG III G (Italy)

2023-03-22T15:37:39Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = StuG III (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_stug_III_ausf_G
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]]. It differs from the German StuG III G by the absence of Ostketten and Add-on Armour modules and by the addition of a smoke grenade launcher.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, superstructure)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' 80 mm (19°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (76°) ''Bottom junction glacis''
| 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 50 mm (15°) ''Upper plate'' 50 mm ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (66°) ''Bottom junction glacis''
| 30 mm (4°) ''Front part'' 16 mm ''Engine compartment'' 30 mm (13°) ''Rear part''
|-
| Superstructure || 80 mm (0-11°) ''Upper plate'' 80 mm (1-10°) ''Gun mantlet'' 30 mm (69°) ''Upper glacis'' 30 mm (50°) ''Side glacis overhanging the tracks'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 30 mm || 11 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 50 mm (cylindrical) || 11 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* The belly of the {{PAGENAME}} is 30 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=265|AoAweight=|abForwardSpeed=44|abReverseSpeed=8.2|rbForwardSpeed=40|rbReverseSpeed=7.5|abMaxHp=525|rbMaxHp=300|weight=24.4}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|StuK40 L48 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[StuK40 L48 (75 mm)|75 mm StuK40 L48]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 54 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±10° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.2 || 18.3 || 22.2 || 24.6 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.78 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:StuK40 L48 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, Sprgr. 34, K.Gr.Rot Nb.}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_StuG_III_G.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the StuG III G (identical).]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''54''' || 40 ''(+14)'' || 17 ''(+37)'' || 1 ''(+53)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've used all shells in the rack.
* Pack 17 ''(+37)'' shells into battle to deplete your right flank of ammo (racks 1 & 2 emptied).

== Usage in battles ==


The StuG III G is best played as a support vehicle. Like the previous Semovente variants, it has excellent armour and can be quite a potent vehicle that enemies will often find hard to deal with from long ranges. Due to this, it's advised to go to a good spot overlooking common enemy positions at the beginning of the match. Make sure enemies don't breach your defenses, as the sides of the tank are a weak point from any range. Another downside of playing this vehicle is when it's brought close to the front lines (for example when capturing points). The StuG III G's armour will not be adequate against the close-range power of most vehicles. Most shots at close range will more than likely penetrate the armour, which will usually result in the vehicle being destroyed due to the small interior layout. So it is vital to maintain situational awareness when playing in a more risky playstyle. Make sure to support teammates from the flanks, attack from long ranges, and never close in the distance even for objectives unless necessary. If properly concealed, the enemy will never know where they are attacked as they concentrate their assault forwards.

The StuG III G has no defense against enemy aircraft, so if you see one heading towards you, it probably would be in you best interest to look for cover. Unlike the German variant, the Italian StuG III G does not have side skirts, so artillery might at times damage your tracks. In terms of armaments, the StuG III G is armed with the German-made 75 mm StuK40, a reliable cannon with plenty of great ammo options. Do carefully consider how many rounds are brought, as bringing more than necessary puts the vehicle at greater risk of being destroyed in one shot. In conclusion, be careful, try not to get detected by the enemy and find a place where the StuG III G can be in cover whilst engaging enemy tanks.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good frontal armour
* Low silhouette
* Powerful 75 mm cannon
* Boxy design makes it excellent for angling

'''Cons:'''

* Fixed casemate superstructure restricts gun movement to the front
* Mediocre mobility
* Left side is vulnerable to crew knockouts

== History ==


The story of the StuG begins during the interwar period of Germany, there was a clear missing asset for the German army, a vehicle which could fit the role of a self-propelled gun, which followed the same style of doctrine thanks to combat experiences in World War I. Overall, there was a major need for a mobile artillery piece which could keep up with the German infantry and fight enemy fortifications with a direct-fire assault role. After a few prototypes and refinement to the designs, the StuG III would officially enter full-scale production from January 1940, and would serve in many countries up till the end of the war in April 1945. The main reason it saw such extensive use was due to the many upgrades done on the vehicle to increase serviceability and it being a low cost platform to maintain operational. In terms of survivability, the StuG III featured about 50 mm of armour on the front, but about 30 mm of armour everywhere else, this was upgraded to 80 mm as the war progressed. The StuG in German service also had access ''Schürzen'' armour plates installed on the hull to protect the weaker hull sides against anti-tank rifles and HEAT rounds.
[[File:StuG III G (Italy).png|thumb|StuG III G (D.M.) During Training]]
The Italian versions would remove this, as was the case for many Italian vehicles. In terms of the Italian story of this tank, Germany had initially supplied 12 units of the Panzer IV G to Italy during the late stages of the Second World War. With these tanks, as well as 12 newly-received StuG III Gs, the 1st Armored Division Black Shirts "M" (for "Mussolini") was formed in May 1943, mainly starting from the very few survivors of the previous MVSN Battalions M who had been repatriated from the Russian front. The division was organised in 3 companies, with the third comprising the 12 StuGs which were armed with 7.5 cm L/48 cannons. Unlike their German counterpart, the side-skirts were removed from the tanks, but surprisingly were also modified with a smoke grenade launcher, installed onto the turret. The Italian StuGs would be painted in a light tan colour with the Divisione "M" logo usually painted on the turret. They didn't see any action during the war, most of them were still undergoing training at the time and most, if not all of the tanks would end up in Allied hands shortly after the war.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_stug_III_ausf_G Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Italy tank destroyers}}

StuG III G (Italy)

2023-03-22T15:32:56Z

U128413528: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = StuG III (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_stug_III_ausf_G
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]]. It differs from the German StuG III G by the absence of Ostketten and Add-on Armour modules and by the addition of a smoke grenade launcher.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, superstructure)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' 80 mm (19°) ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (76°) ''Bottom junction glacis''
| 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 50 mm (15°) ''Upper plate'' 50 mm ''Lower plate'' 30 mm (66°) ''Bottom junction glacis''
| 30 mm (4°) ''Front part'' 16 mm ''Engine compartment'' 30 mm (13°) ''Rear part''
|-
| Superstructure || 80 mm (0-11°) ''Upper plate'' 80 mm (1-10°) ''Gun mantlet'' 30 mm (69°) ''Upper glacis'' 30 mm (50°) ''Side glacis overhanging the tracks'' || 30 + 5* mm (*Side skirts) || 30 mm || 11 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 50 mm (cylindrical) || 11 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* The belly of the {{PAGENAME}} is 30 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=265|AoAweight=|abForwardSpeed=44|abReverseSpeed=8.2|rbForwardSpeed=40|rbReverseSpeed=7.5|abMaxHp=525|rbMaxHp=300|weight=24.4}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|StuK40 L48 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[StuK40 L48 (75 mm)|75 mm StuK40 L48]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 54 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±10° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.2 || 18.3 || 22.2 || 24.6 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.78 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:StuK40 L48 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, Sprgr. 34, K.Gr.Rot Nb.}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_StuG_III_G.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the StuG III G (identical).]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''54''' || 40 ''(+14)'' || 17 ''(+37)'' || 1 ''(+53)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've used all shells in the rack.
* Pack 17 ''(+37)'' shells into battle to deplete your right flank of ammo (racks 1 & 2 emptied).

== Usage in battles ==


The StuG III G is best played as a support vehicle. Like the previous Semovente variants, it has excellent armour and can be quite a potent vehicle that enemies will often find hard to deal with from long ranges. Due to this, it's advised to go to a good spot overlooking common enemy positions at the beginning of the match. Make sure enemies don't breach your defenses, as the sides of the tank are a weak point from any range. Another downside of playing this vehicle is when it's brought close to the front lines (for example when capturing points). The StuG III G's armour will not be adequate against the close-range power of most vehicles. Most shots at close range will more than likely penetrate the armour, which will usually result in the vehicle being destroyed due to the small interior layout. So it is vital to maintain situational awareness when playing in a more risky playstyle. Make sure to support teammates from the flanks, attack from long ranges, and never close in the distance even for objectives unless necessary. If properly concealed, the enemy will never know where they are attacked as they concentrate their assault forwards.

The StuG III G has no defense against enemy aircraft, so if you see one heading towards you, it probably would be in you best interest to look for cover. Unlike the German variant, the Italian StuG III G does not have side skirts, so artillery might at times damage your tracks. In terms of armaments, the StuG III G is armed with the German-made 75 mm StuK40, a reliable cannon with plenty of great ammo options. Do carefully consider how many rounds are brought, as bringing more than necessary puts the vehicle at greater risk of being destroyed in one shot. In conclusion, be careful, try not to get detected by the enemy and find a place where the StuG III G can be in cover whilst engaging enemy tanks.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good frontal armour
* Low silhouette
* Powerful 75 mm cannon

'''Cons:'''

* Fixed casemate superstructure restricts gun movement to the front
* Not the best mobility

== History ==


The story of the StuG begins during the interwar period of Germany, there was a clear missing asset for the German army, a vehicle which could fit the role of a self-propelled gun, which followed the same style of doctrine thanks to combat experiences in World War I. Overall, there was a major need for a mobile artillery piece which could keep up with the German infantry and fight enemy fortifications with a direct-fire assault role. After a few prototypes and refinement to the designs, the StuG III would officially enter full-scale production from January 1940, and would serve in many countries up till the end of the war in April 1945. The main reason it saw such extensive use was due to the many upgrades done on the vehicle to increase serviceability and it being a low cost platform to maintain operational. In terms of survivability, the StuG III featured about 50 mm of armour on the front, but about 30 mm of armour everywhere else, this was upgraded to 80 mm as the war progressed. The StuG in German service also had access ''Schürzen'' armour plates installed on the hull to protect the weaker hull sides against anti-tank rifles and HEAT rounds.
[[File:StuG III G (Italy).png|thumb|StuG III G (D.M.) During Training]]
The Italian versions would remove this, as was the case for many Italian vehicles. In terms of the Italian story of this tank, Germany had initially supplied 12 units of the Panzer IV G to Italy during the late stages of the Second World War. With these tanks, as well as 12 newly-received StuG III Gs, the 1st Armored Division Black Shirts "M" (for "Mussolini") was formed in May 1943, mainly starting from the very few survivors of the previous MVSN Battalions M who had been repatriated from the Russian front. The division was organised in 3 companies, with the third comprising the 12 StuGs which were armed with 7.5 cm L/48 cannons. Unlike their German counterpart, the side-skirts were removed from the tanks, but surprisingly were also modified with a smoke grenade launcher, installed onto the turret. The Italian StuGs would be painted in a light tan colour with the Divisione "M" logo usually painted on the turret. They didn't see any action during the war, most of them were still undergoing training at the time and most, if not all of the tanks would end up in Allied hands shortly after the war.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_stug_III_ausf_G Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Italy tank destroyers}}

SAu 40

2023-03-22T15:28:13Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=fr_somua_sau40
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (75 mm Self-Propelled Gun SAu 40) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. It distinguishes itself by its very tall cupola and thick gun barrel. This tank is equipped with APHE rounds, a rare feature in the French tech tree.

As it was developed from the French [[S.35]], this tank shares many of its characteristics such as the ~40 mm thick cast hull bolted onto the chassis, which is barely a widened version of its original. The track system is mostly the same as on the [[S.35]], with 25 mm plates covering the roller wheels. As for the hull, it's a widened variant of the [[S.35]]'s hull with two 8 mm grilles over the engine compartment and doors on the side.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

As this tank is based off the [[S.35]], it shares many of its attributes when it comes to armour. A slight angle can defeat most shots this tank will take at this BR, this is useful to know when getting into position: from a distance and not showing neither side nor front to the enemy, you should be safe. As for frontal armour, its 40 mm overall thickness is not strong enough to withstand anything bigger than AA fire. But, a thing to consider with this weird pattern is its "bouncy" behaviour, principally around the gun mantlet: complex angles may just bounce some shots, making them lose some energy before hitting the main armour, this feature is peculiarly distinctive at gun's height.

The main weakness of this tank is its very tall MG turret, which makes it quite easy to spot and destroy, as it is thinner than the main armour. Any APHE penetrating this area will knock out the tank's commander, thus disabling its only MG and some shrapnels may even damage or incapacitate the driver, disabling this tank for good. A way to avoid getting spotted too easily is buying camouflage for the front cupola area, making it look more like a bush popping out a hill than a tank's turret. Try to hide the tank's lower hull part as it is only 34 mm thick.

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (side skirts, engine vents, exhaust pipes)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 40 mm (0-73°) ''Front glacis'' 34 mm (1-54°) ''Lower glacis'' 60 mm (spherical) ''Gun mantlet'' 34 mm (cylindrical) ''Top - Turret base'' || 40 mm (20-46°) ''Top - Front'' 34 mm (43-63°) ''Top - Roof junction'' 34 mm (cylindrical) ''Top - Turret base'' 40 mm ''Top - Centre and rear'' 40 + 25 mm ''Bottom'' || 34 mm (26°) ''Upper plate'' 34 mm (4) ''Centre plate'' 34 mm (29-33°) ''Lower plate'' || 20 mm (9-15°) 8 mm (14°) ''Engine vents''
|-
| MG turret || 38 mm (15-38°) ''Turret front'' 38.5 mm (5°) + 25 mm ''Machine gun mantlet'' || 38 mm (16-38°) || 38 mm (23-32°) || 20 mm (8-17°)
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 34 mm (spherical) || 34 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Turret underside is 20 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 30 mm thick.
* Hull underside above the tracks is 12.7 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=270|rbMinHp=168}}

While being mounted on a widened [[S.35]] hull, the heavier {{PAGENAME}} has the same engine as its predecessor, making it quite slow and unwieldy, with a very low power-to-weight ratio. In order to fulfill the task of getting into position, one should choose their route wisely and avoid risky spots as this SPG's terrible reverse speed makes it quite bad at hasty retreats. Mobility with the {{PAGENAME}} is an issue. It is arguably what makes this tank hard to master as it does not allow for good map placement. One positive of this tank's mobility, however, is that it has a decent hull traverse because of the ability to use both tracks when turning in place.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|APX (75 mm)}}

As any casemate SPG, this tank's main feature is its main gun, it is also one of the rare French tanks firing APHE shells. However, the cannon has an average penetration power for its BR. And the APHE round fails to explode when targeting enemies' sides, as the round has a rather high fuze sensitivity. Another concern is its slow horizontal traverse, which makes it hard to react to fast-paced combat situations. The gun placement makes this tank quite vulnerable: being low, it exposes the SAu 40 to enemy fire when popping up a hill.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[APX (75 mm)|75 mm APX]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 101 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±7° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 5.3 || 7.3 || 8.9 || 9.8 || 10.4 || rowspan="2" | 7.15 || rowspan="2" | 6.33 || rowspan="2" | 5.83 || rowspan="2" | 5.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.6 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 5.6 || 6.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:APX (75 mm)/Ammunition|Mle1910M, Mle1917}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''101''' || 84 ''(+17)'' || 66 ''(+35)'' || 42 ''(+59)'' || 18 ''(+83)'' || 1 ''(+100)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.
* Flank racks empty: 18 (+83) shells.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|MAC 31 (7.5 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| MG turret || 3,300 (150) || 551 || -9°/+20° || ±180°
|-
|}
The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight. The turret is slow, which also negates the possibility of tracking low-flying aircraft with it.

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} behaves as a classical casemate SPG as it should provide its teammates with superior firepower from medium to far distance, behind the frontlines where it will be harder to flank. As this is its purposed role, this tank has some issues accomplishing it. The first being its relatively low penetration and shell velocity, which makes long range engagements (>750 m)a bit hard to manage. The second being bad mobility, which complicates the task of positioning.

Act as a classical SPG while keeping in mind your slow pace. There is nothing very much interesting nor special you can do with this tank.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Firepower: 75 mm APHE shell gives it good single-shot knock-out potential
* Competitive reload time
* Decent depression and elevation
* Thick armour
* Strong armour on Gun Mantlet

'''Cons:'''

* Commander's turret is badly designed: shot trap and poorly armored
* Machine gun placement makes AA use difficult
* Poor mobility due to underpowered engine
* Slow gun traverse
* Frontal armour has many weak spots due to bad sloping
* Only three crew members decreases survivability
* Large ammo rack near gunner makes easy target for ammo rack detonations

== History ==

The SAu 40 self-propelled gun was developed by the SOMUA company between 1935 and 1937 as part of the same order the French cavalry placed for the S35 tank.

The two tanks combined were intended to equip light mechanized divisions of the French army and support the larger "battle tanks" (chars de bataille). The vehicle inherited the S35's characteristic chassis with a redesigned front section of the hull to accommodate the 75 mm APX cannon. In addition, the rotating turret on top of the fighting compartment was redesigned to a commander's cupola and moved to the side of the vehicle, but the turret's 47 mm cannon was replaced with a single 7.5 mm machine gun.

The body of the SAu 40 was ready by 1937, but it couldn't be immediately completed. Because the cannon was not yet ready to be installed on the chassis, SOMUA engineers had to wait nearly 2 years before the cannon was finally made available. It wasn't until 1939 that the fully assembled prototype was completed, and orders for mass production were received in October of the same year.

Whether or not any additional vehicles other than the prototype were built or if the vehicle took part in active fighting is unknown.

''-From [[wt:en/news/5169-development-sau-40-the-ugly-duckling-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_somua_sau40 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|gch68D19_C4|'''SAu 40, French, Tier-2, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|uhgodizubC4|'''The Shooting Range #77''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:31 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with a similar chassis

* [[S.35]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Sav m/43 (1944)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5169-development-sau-40-the-ugly-duckling-en|[Devblog] SAu 40 - The Ugly Duckling]]
* [[wikipedia:SOMUA_S35#Projects|[Wikipedia] SOMUA S35 - Projects]]

{{TankManufacturer SOMUA}}
{{France tank destroyers}}

Flak.37 (88 mm)

2023-03-22T15:14:28Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

Flak.37 (88 mm)

2023-03-22T15:13:53Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

Breda 501

2023-03-22T15:09:25Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=it_semovente_breda_501
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened as '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

The {{PAGENAME}} represents a large and poorly armoured target for any enemy vehicle. The crew members, barring the driver, are extremely exposed to machine gun fire and players will regularly find themselves being strafed by aircraft.

The vehicles' internal modules are spread throughout, with the engine and ammo racks being placed high up at the rear behind only 8 mm of armour. This makes it possible for the Breda to be immobilized entirely by machine gun fire. As well as this, the {{PAGENAME}}'s gun breech is totally exposed and rises above even the minimal side armour, making it incredibly easy to knock out from the sides.

The thickest armour on the vehicle is the 30 mm gun shield and frontal plate. This protects from heavy machine guns but does little to stop any kind of tank shell, making the {{PAGENAME}} easy to penetrate even for even an lower-rank SPAA.

Despite the {{PAGENAME}}'s thin armour and large size, these traits can often work in the tank destroyer's favour. The thin plating of the vehicle means that shells will often over-penetrate, and the large size of the truck and the well spaced crew means that if a shell ''does'' hit the truck, the damage is minimized and often non-lethal. Additionally, the nature of the {{PAGENAME}} as an open-top tank means that enemy tankers will often instinctively attempt to kill it not with their main cannons, but rather their MGs, which require precise aiming to hit the 4 exposed crew members. Most of said rounds will often just bounce off the 30 mm gun shield, which can buy valuable seconds to either kill the enemy or to run away.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull)
* Structural steel (gun mount, gun breech)
* Wheel (tires)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 30 mm (41°) ''Upper glacis'' 40 mm (41°) ''Driver port'' 30 mm (20°) ''Lower glacis'' || 8 mm || 5-8 mm ''Radiator vents'' 8 mm (53°) ''Lower glacis'' 8 mm ''Gun platform-Engine bay wall''|| 8 mm ''Driver compartment'' 3 mm ''Engine compartment'' 3-5 mm (7°) ''Radiator vents''
|-
| Gun shield || 150 mm ''Gun breech'' 30 mm (15°) ''Shield - centre'' 15 mm (11°) ''Shield - sides'' || 150 mm ''Gun breech'' 40 mm ''Gun mount''
!
!
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Wheels are 10 mm thick.
* The belly is 3 mm thick.
* The floor of the gun platform is 8 mm thick.
* The gun mount is 40 mm thick.
* Additional tires cover the engine compartment on each side.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

As a wheeled vehicle the {{PAGENAME}} struggles on any kind of soft ground such as snow, sand and wet mud. It also cannot turn on the spot as a tracked vehicle can, making turning the vehicle around in a confined space extremely time-consuming when combined with its very slow reverse speed.

However, the {{PAGENAME}} does boast a high straight-line speed, and can easily hit 50 kph on flat smooth ground allowing it to outrun the majority of vehicles it faces. It can also corner quickly when moving forward, allowing it to zip around the streets of urban maps at high rates of speed, perfect for a flank-minded playstyle

{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 202|rbMinHp= 126}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|90/53 mod.41 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[90/53 mod.41 (90 mm)|90 mm 90/53 mod.41]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 30 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+21° || rowspan="2" | ±145° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.7 || 13.4 || 16.3 || 18.0 || 19.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 6.5 || 7.7 || 9.4 || 10.3 || 11.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:90/53 mod.41 (90 mm)/Ammunition|Granata Perforante da 90, Granata da 90, Granata Perforante mod.43}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''30''' || 16 ''(+14)'' || 1 ''(+29)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Breda Mod. 38 (8 mm)|8 mm Breda Mod. 38]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle mount (Rear left) || 1,680 (24) || 600 || -10°/+25° || ±20° (facing backwards)
|-
| Pintle mount (Rear right) || 1,680 (24) || 600 || -10°/+25° || ±20° (facing backwards)
|-
|}
The small calibre of the Breda Mod. 38 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. Facing backwards, it can't even be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

== Usage in battles ==

The Breda 501 boasts a very effective high-velocity gun for its rank, offering high penetration and excellent post-penetration damage. This combines well with the vehicles' high top speed and allows players to quickly get into strong flanking positions early in the game. The Breda can heavily punish enemy vehicles from a variety of ranges in these positions.

The Breda can also be used in a more aggressive role on some urban maps. The 90 mm gun has an excellent horizontal traverse range, meaning players can get their gun sighted around corners without fully exposing the vehicle. With a high top speed, the Breda can knock out enemy tanks before quickly disengaging, although players must beware of the slow reverse speed when planning an ambush.

The Breda will often encounter the Sherman Jumbo, whose thick, angled frontal armour presents a significant challenge. If possible the Breda should look to flank the Jumbo, where its gun can easily obliterate the US tank from the side. If forced to engage an angled Jumbo from the front, the Shermans' machine gun port represents a small weak spot. Aside from this, shots into the turret ring can penetrate the Jumbo, but this may not be reliable.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun with a fast reload, good penetration and high explosive mass
* Wide horizontal gun traverse
* High top speed and excellent agility on flat hard ground
* Turning radius is small for a wheeled vehicle, allows for quick retreats

'''Cons:'''

* Very poor armour and exposed crew - ammunition racks are easily targeted
* Significant recoil combined with the vehicle's high profile and low weight means that each shot, especially when firing to the sides, will violently shake the vehicle and throw off the aim
* Poor depression of only -4 degrees hinders use of hulldown positions behind hills
* Machine guns are effectively useless in most situations
* Very poor mobility on soft ground and lacks neutral turning
* Slow reverse speed

== History ==

The Italians had truck-mounted their heavy AA guns beginning in 1927 with the Autocannoni da 75/27, mounted on an unarmoured Ceirano chassis. 24 of these were manufactured and used during the Spanish Civil War, and some were still in service in the early stages of the North Africa campaign. The first Autocannone da 90/53 was a similar Lancia 3 RO 4x4 heavy truck with bolt-on frontal armour and the 90mm AA gun, and intended to be used as a dual-purpose anti-tank weapon as well. Somewhere around 50 may have been built, and they served throughout the Italian War, beginning in early 1942 with the 132nd Artillery Regiment in the Ariete Division. The Italians planned a change to the Breda Dovunque 6x6 truck in its place, which would have made the Breda 501 shown in game.

During the North African campaign, the Italian military quickly realized the effectiveness of their 90mm heavy AA cannon, commonly mounted on utility trucks. The cannon turned out to be just as good at dealing with enemy tanks as it was combating aircraft, being able to pierce the armor of virtually any allied tank it faced in the deserts of North Africa. However, whilst the mounting on truck chassis allowed the guns to be moved around with relative ease, the large silhouette and lack of armor protection heavily exposed these vehicles and their crews to even rifle-caliber fire, yet alone to shrapnel from nearby explosions. In 1942, the military top brass came up with a set of requirements for a new vehicle which would build up on the proven gun truck concept used in North Africa by increasing protection and mobility. The new vehicle would be designed as a dedicated SPG, intended solely to provide support to armored regiments in combating enemy tanks. Shortly after, the Breda company began work on a vehicle around those specifications. Breda based their new design on a chassis of an existing utility truck and added armor plating to the vehicle's front and sides. The 90mm cannon would be installed in an open fighting compartment in the vehicle's rear. In 1943, the prototype was finished and began undergoing testing as the Breda 501. Although the Breda 501 had successfully proven itself during testing, further development and potential mass production was hindered by Italy's capitulation in late 1943. The project was ultimately cancelled with the signing of the armistice in late 1943 with only a couple prototypes of the Breda 501 being built of which none saw any combat use.

''- From [[wt:en/news/5899-development-breda-501-when-looks-deceive-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_semovente_breda_501 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|xF4-TcnyWw0|'''Best tank destroyers''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:53 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zKlnIjv6H8g|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' - ''MagzTV''|3iQOkkIpft8|'''{{PAGENAME}}, Italian, Tier-3, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[T55E1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5899-development-breda-501-when-looks-deceive-en|[Devblog] Breda 501 - When Looks Deceive]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/434109-breda-501/ [Forum<nowiki>]</nowiki> Official Forum Thread for {{PAGENAME}}.]

{{Italy tank destroyers}}
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

90/53 mod.41 (90 mm)

2023-03-22T15:05:47Z

U128413528: /* General info */

LVT(A)(1)

2023-03-20T15:53:00Z

U128413528: /* Machine guns */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = LVT (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_lvt_a_1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]]. Featuring a crew of six people with a 37 mm gun, it has a rather competitive armament for the size and battle rating. It is also the second amphibious ground vehicle to be added into the game.

The LVT is unique among the Rank I vehicles, given its ability to float across deep water. It has extremely thin armour that can easily be penetrated by heavy machine guns. In some areas even a light machine gun can penetrate it. It mounts a lightened Stuart turret, giving it a decently fast firing 37 mm cannon. Additionally, despite its rather large size (relative to its peers) it is quite mobile due to its light weight, able to keep pace with the M3 Lee.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

Its large and spacious hull might seem hard to knock out all of its crew, but that's only true when you are getting shot from the side. From your side, there is a huge empty area between the driving compartment and the fighting compartment that will absorb any shell, regardless of their explosive fillers. However an experienced player will know to shoot at these two compartments and avoid the empty space. From the front, the spacious hull does not help to keep the crew safe as a penetrating shell will travel through the empty space and hit any crew at the back, so you could die sooner than you expected. Avoid tanks with solid shots, for example British/Swedish tanks.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Machine gun shield)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle°) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (31°) ''Front plate'' 6.35 mm (83-84°) ''Upper glacis'' 6.35 mm (41-81°) ''Lower glacis'' || 6.35 mm (11-51°) ''Top'' 6.35 + 6.35 mm ''Bottom'' || 6.35 mm (0-62°) || 6.35 mm
|-
| Turret || 12.7 mm (10°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (1-81°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 12.7 mm || 12.7 mm || 6 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Front hull has flat armour area where driver & co-driver sits.

The deadliest threats are HMG and autocannon mounted vehicles such as the Pz.II's, T-60, and AA guns. They can quickly chew through all of the crew.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 387|rbMinHp= 221}}

The LVT's mobility is adequate. On hard surfaces it easily reaches its top speed of around 38 km/h. On soft surfaces it needs more time to accelerate, and the top speed is lowered. The reverse speed is extremely poor, which can cause you to take unnecessary hits. The hull traverse is great, allowing you to quickly change direction, however a downside is that when you turn the hull to aim, you might over-turn and swing the gun past the target, increasing the aiming time which can be fatal.

Due to its big and tall tracks, the LVT can drive over some obstacles that are too tall for normal-sized tanks.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (37 mm)|37 mm M6]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 104 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.50 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.60 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74B1, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''104''' || 92 ''(+12)'' || 69 ''(+35)'' || 46 ''(+58)'' || 23 ''(+81)'' || 1 ''(+103)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Rear-facing || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+40° || ±60°
|-
| Rear-facing || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+40° || ±60°
|-
| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
The M1919 machine guns are mostly an afterthought on the LVT. The crew on the back are exposed to bullets and are the mostly likely to first in most engagements. The bullets are useful against some light tanks and open topped vehicles, but the rear guns have poor elevation for that task. The LVT can double as an anti-aircraft platform as well, because the elevation on the coaxial and rear machine guns is better suited for this task.

== Usage in battles ==

Use the LVT(A)(1)'s ability to sneak up waterways to work around the enemy lines, and ambush when possible. If that is not a option, come at them head on, either taking their vehicle out or disabling it long enough to get around and finish it with a side shot. Once done, do not take the waterways back as the LVT(A)(1) is much faster on land.

This tank has the capability to work as an early assault tank, not as fast as the Stuarts, BTs and other light tanks.

Another tactic that can be done against lightly armoured vehicles is to drive backwards towards the enemy. The combined firepower of 3 machine guns and the cannon increases the chance of take out the enemy before they can take out the LVT(A)(1).

The big thing to keep in mind is that the LVT(A)(1) is big. It is a large target that is hard to hide, but the spacious interior makes it harder for enemies to take out all of the crew members.

At the same time, keep in mind that the LVT(A)(1) is an easy target for aircraft, as the vehicle presents as very easy target for anything .50 cal and up.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very fast and manoeuvrable on most terrain
* 6 crew members
* Fast-firing and accurate 37 mm gun
* Crew members are spread out, less likely to get knocked out in one shot
* Great gun depression at the side and front
* Heavily armoured gun mantlet
* 2 machine gunners that can fire at high angles, enabling anti-air
* Small engine makes it hard to hit
* Reserve tank (no repair costs)
* Amphibious (the first reserve floating tank)
* Most of the interior is empty space meaning that most tanks will need a few shots to knock out this tank

'''Cons:'''

* Huge (shell magnet)
* Barely any armour to speak about
* Exposed lower glacis
* Weak armour and huge size makes it vulnerable to artillery
* Can easily be destroyed by HE shells (overpressure).
* Very slow reverse speed can prevent it from retreating back to cover in time
* Unstable aim while moving
* Bad suspension makes it unstable at humps
* Very slow speed when traveling in water
* Water rocks the tank when moving, making it unstable during and a while after movement in the water

== History ==

===Development===
[[File:Roebling Alligator tractor - DM-SN-82-02381.jpeg|x200px|right|thumb|Roebling's "Alligator" that would serve as the basis for the LVTs.]]
The vehicle's origins is from a swamp-access vehicle called the "Alligator" made for civilians. Donald Roebling, its developer, built an improved version of his vehicle with better speed in water. The United States Marine Corps became interested in this amphibious design as they began drawing up their amphibious warfare doctrine. They requested a more sea-worthy version of the vehicle for use in their military operations. Though Roebling and the Navy were reclusive on that idea (the Navy believes they have the current vehicle in store already), the idea brought fruit when World War II broke out in Europe and Roebling created a military version. After a few trials with improvements like a stronger engine, the Bureau of Ships placed a contract for 100 of these vehicles with all-steel armour. The first ones arrive in July 1941, with 200 more ordered before the initial contract was finished. The vehicle design was adopted and designated the LVT, with many different variants of the vehicle being produced throughout the war.

===Variants===
[[File:LVT_amphibian_tractors_Guadalcanal_in_August_1942 - NH 97749.jpg|left|x300px|thumb|none|USMC LVT-1s as part of the Guadalcanal landings in August 1942.]]
The first version of the LVT, the LVT-1, could carry 18 men or 4,500 pounds of equipment. The Marines first used the LVT-1 in Guadalcanal with 128 available to 1st Marine Division. Usage in the field revealed that the LVT was too thinly armoured for a rapid deployment back and forth the ships and landing site, but the Marines saw the vehicle's potential as an assault vehicle. So in June 1941, the Marines push forward with a Roebling design of the LVT armed with a gun turret. In order for this to be possible, the LVT underwent a redesign into the LVT-2 "Buffalo", which had a new powertrain and suspension to allow better performances on land and able to carry up to 6,950 pounds in equipment. It was this design that the turret-equipped LVTs were created. The LVT-2s were armed with turrets from the [[M3A1_Stuart|Stuart series]] and [[M8_Scott|M8 howitzer motor carriages]]. These two turret variants are designated [[LVT(A)(1)|LVT(A)-1]] and [[LVT(A)(4) ZIS-2 (USA)|LVT(A)-4]] respectively. The (A) standing for "armoured" as the LVT was built with additional armour to withstand small arms fire. 510 of the LVT(A)-1 were created while 1,890 of the LVT(A)-4 were created.

Other variants of the LVT were produced featuring redesigns for its purpose of infantry fire support and cargo-bearing. Some of the significant ones was the LVT-4 in August 1943 that moved the engine forward and had a rear ramp door, which increased capacity from 18 soldiers to 30, making previous load-carrying LVTs obsolete. The LVT-4 was the most numerous of the LVT variants at 8,351 units.

===Combat usage===
The first usage of the LVT family is as a cargo carrier in Guadalcanal, it was unarmoured at the time and only had machine guns as their main armaments. Their next usage was in Tarawa, which saw the first usage of the newly designed LVT-2. The vehicles in both cases carried ammunition, troops, and wounded back and forth the ships and the beach. After Tarawa, the LVT inventory increased by the battalion, as well as the appearance of the gun-armed LVT(A)-1 and LVT(A)-4. The LVT family continued to see service in Bougainville, the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Peleliu, Leyte (its largest usage in the war), Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The LVTs also saw use in South East Asia in use by the British, but they never saw combat action.
[[File:LVT(A)-1 amphibious vehicle at sea c1944.jpg|x250px|right|thumb|none|A LVT(A)(1) at sea.]]

Outside the Pacific, the LVT also saw use in the European Theater of Operations. Their first usage was in North Africa in November 1942 during Operation Torch to land troops, where its best usage was to get stranded landing boats back into action. The LVTs were also given to the British as part of Lend-Lease. The LVTs were used in the Normandy landings and other operations in Europe such as crossing the Rhine River in Germany and Po River in Italy.

After World War II, the LVTs continued to see action in the multiple conflicts in the world. A number were given to the Chinese Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War by America. Many of these were captured by the Chinese PLA, with some converted to use a 75 mm howitzer or a [[ZiS-2_(57_mm)|ZIS-2]] anti-tank gun. The Americans used a number of LVT vehicles in the Korean War, notably the landing at Inchon and the attack on Seoul. The French also used American-supplied LVTs during the Indochina War and the Suez Crisis.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_lvt_a_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Ms-q-FoVYo4|'''Survival Guide - The LVT (A)(1) - A Thin Skinned Behemoth''' - ''IllusiveThunder''|SJoW-2_6J6o|'''Amphibious tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:16 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|p9_XD0TgdiA|'''TOP 5 Reserve Tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:00 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Ka-Mi]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3755-development-lvt-a-1-en/|[Devblog] LVT(A)-1]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/LVTA-1_Amtrack.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> LVT(A)1 Amtrack]

{{TankManufacturer Food Machinery Corporation (FMC)}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M3A1 Stuart

2023-03-20T15:46:34Z

U128413528: /* Machine guns */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|other
|usage-1 = other versions
|link-1 = M3 Stuart (Family)
|usage-2 = other uses
|link-2 = M3 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m3a1_stuart
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. Compared to its predecessor, the [[M3 Stuart|M3]], it has a more streamlined turret shape that presents a smaller target, the M3A1 is in a folder with its predecessor.

== General info ==
[[File:M3A1 screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|M3A1 takes hits while engaging enemy vehicles.]]
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


Being a light tank the M3A1 has fairly thin armour, it can generally protect against most machine guns and some smaller (20 mm) cannons, but will usually not stand up against the main weapons of most enemy tanks at its BR. There is a fair amount of empty space inside the tank, this means that some poorly placed shots can go through your tank without causing much damage.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet, transmission housing)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (18°) ''Upper plate'' 25.4 mm ''Crew compartment sides'' 15.8 mm (70°) ''Lower glacis'' 44.4 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm ''Upper plate'' 25.4 mm (20°) ''Lower plate'' || 15.8 mm (20°) ''Front glacis'' 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm (6°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (spherical) ''Gun mantlet'' || colspan="2" | 31.75 mm (cylindrical) || 12.7 mm (15°) ''Front'' 12.7 mm ''Rear''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks, and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Mudguards and storage boxes are 4 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

[[File:M3A1 Turning Demo.gif|thumb|400px|Demonstration of the slow and fast turning of the M3A1]]

The M3A1 has competitive mobility with a ratio of 20.8 hp per ton. At lower speeds (5-10 km/h) the turning can feel rather sluggish, but once a bit of forward movement is applied and the speed is increased the turning will feel much smoother and faster. The forward drive of the M3A1 can max out at 47 km/h off-road and 58 km/h on-road which will usually allow you to reach capture points or desirable camping spots quickly. The 6 km/h reverse speed of the M3A1 is certainly usable in most situations.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 406|rbMinHp= 232}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}

Main weapon on the M3A1 is a 37 mm M6 cannon featuring two rounds, AP & APCBC. This is a fairly standard gun for early American tanks as it is also featured on the [[M5A1]], [[M22]] & [[LVT(A)(1)]] although some of these vehicles also include a HE round that the M3A1 lacks. This gun packs a fierce punch if aiming at the correct area and firing at the correct distance. It is a small calibre fast-firing gun with a maximum penetration of 84 mm at 100 m (M51B1 shell), being able to penetrate most of the opponents it will face. The penetration power and gun accuracy drop a lot beyond 500 m and become unreliable past 700 m. The gun is equipped with a vertical stabiliser, giving the M3A1 Stuart a huge advantage in some cases as you can fire precisely while moving, but keep in mind that it activates only when the tank is driving under 10 km/h.

While it lacks the post-penetration damage to disable most enemies in one shot, it can quickly finish them off with its fast reload. Knowledge of enemy vehicle layouts is essential with ammunition lacking post-penetration explosive damage. Make sure to target modules and crew positions to maximise the damage. Disabling the enemy gunner on your first shot will be critical to win engagements as you'll most likely need several shots to destroy an enemy vehicle.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (37 mm)|37 mm M6]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 106 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 19.04 || 26.35 || 32.00 || 35.39 || 37.65 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.90 || 14.00 || 17.00 || 18.80 || 20.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74B1, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''106''' || 99 ''(+7)'' || 52 ''(+54)'' || 1 ''(+105)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}


The M3A1 employs a turret top MG and a coaxial MG, both of which are the same 7.62 mm M1919A4 type, these guns are limited to a single AP & T belt type with up to 10 mm of penetration. The mg's are useful against low flying biplanes and can help provide deterrant against enemy ground attack aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,250 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
| Pintle || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -5°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:M3A1 Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|M3A1 attacking a StuG III]]
Due to its light armour it is advisable not to use the M3A1 frontally at closer ranges, especially not against higher ranked enemy vehicles that will go through your strongest frontal armour (50.8 mm) without issue. The ideal tactic to use is to employ your competitive speed to flank the enemy and find a position that will allow you to attack them with little resistance. Even in a match against higher ranked enemy vehicles your rounds will have no issue going through the side armour of said enemy vehicles, common maps such as [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]] and [[Cargo Port]] offer clear opportunities to flank the enemy vehicles with good amounts of cover. This is especially clear on [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]] where you can flank on the other side of the river that runs through the map, this puts you at close range to the side of enemy vehicles, allowing you to prevent them reaching capture points such as the central B point.

To take down enemy vehicles it is advisable to destroy both their turret and engine to prevent escape and stop them engaging you or your allies, due to the fast reload (at best 2.9s) you can hit both parts of an enemy quickly, usually before they can fire back. If they are still not dead after the gun and engine have been hit, shots into the crew compartment should finish the job, but most enemy's are usually killed by the first 2 shots. It is common for any side shot against an enemy to penetrate and cause a fair level of damage, even if the enemy is not killed, your fast reload will grant you a second chance quickly to place an adjusted shot into the enemy. Even at longer ranges the M3A1 can be a competent sniper, especially if facing lighter vehicles with flat armour or the side armour of a targeted enemy, firing from long range is another way to ensure that your light armour does not hold you back, being at long range will usually prevent or make it difficult for enemy's to successfully hit your vehicle.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the 20 mm [[KwK38 (20 mm)|KwK38]] or [[FlaK38 (20 mm)|FlaK38]] cannons, these guns might be small in calibre but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M3A3. Combined with a rate of fore of 280 rounds per minute, and a very short reload time, these guns will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter these opponents, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for their PzGr 40 HVAP-T rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

It is likely that the M3A1 will encounter some rough heavies, like the [[Matilda III]] and the [[B1 bis]]. The best tactic against these types of targets is to use the M3A1's fast speed, get within 200 m from them and attack, with shooting at point-blank range being the most effective way. Before conducting an attack, check the M3A1's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3A1. While charging, use the M3A1's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3A1. Once the tank is at the ideal distance, manoeuvre so that the gun is perpendicular to their armour. Do not shoot if the enemy is angling! The small calibre 37 mm gun is very likely to bounce off or not penetrate against sloped armour.

For the Matilda III, shoot at the middle of the near-vertical frontal plate to knock out the driver first, since the 37 mm shell is not enough to knock out the gunner after penetrating. Once it is immobile, go to its side and finish it by shooting its hull sides. Or, shoot the right side of the gun mantlet to disable its gunner. For best chance of penetration, do not shoot its turret side.

For the B1, either aim for the near-vertical frontal armour plate at the right side of the hull, or the turret ring to incapacitate the commander/gunner, or simply move to its side and knock out the crews one by one by hitting its flat side armour.
[[File:M3A1 Screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|M3A1 flanking on Eastern Europe]]

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great cannon with good penetration, excellent rate of fire and gun depression; it can effectively penetrate common opponents like the [[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.II]] and [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]], as well as heavy targets like the [[B1 bis]] or [[Matilda III]]
* Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns slower opponents like the [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]]
* Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, it is an advantage in close quarter encounters
* Respectable frontal armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance (e.g. Japanese 37 mm/German 20 mm)
* Small turret profile makes it harder to get hit when hull-down
* Empty space below the turret crew can absorb poorly aimed shots, they tend to not do much damage

'''Cons:'''

* Weak armour against high-penetration shells like 50 mm KwK39 or 76 mm F-34
* Its shells do not have explosive filler, severely limiting the post-penetration effect especially against spacious tanks like the [[LVT(A)(1)]]
* Inefficient brakes when trying to stop the tank at full speed
* Hull is fairly tall for a light tank and the crews are closely packed, reducing its survivability

== History ==


===Development===
The American light tank design prior to World War II, the [[M2A4|M2 light tank]], was seen as obsolete after observing Germany's Panzer forces tear through Europe. The design was to be upgraded with more armour, a better suspension, and a new gun recoil system. The revised version was designated the '''[[M3_Stuart|Light Tank M3]]''', which the British named the Stuart. At its basis, the light tank had a 37 mm cannon with a similar layout as the M2 light tank, with the radial engine at the rear and the transmission on the front, though the radial engine was in high demand so the Guiberson diesel T-1210 were fitted in some models to substitute the engine. The design used the VVSS bogie system seen on previous American tank designs. The tank had a crew of four: driver, assistant driver, gunner, and commander, who doubled as the loader.

The first variant of the M3 Stuart light tank was very similar to the M2 light tanks. It had five machine gun armaments scattered around like the M2 but featured better armour and a better cannon with the 37 mm M6 cannon. The design did not have a turret basket for the crew and it was constructed out of rivets, which increased the chance of spalling in the tank. Nevertheless, the first variant M3 saw about 5,811 units produced. The second variant, the '''Light Tank M3A1 Stuart ''', featured a new turret with no cupola on it, plus an added gun stabilizer. The machine guns on the hull sides were removed, so now the total machine guns were reduced from five to three. The design also featured a welded armour design to remove the weakness of riveted armour. 4,621 of this variant was produced from May 1942 to February 1943. The most used variant, the '''[[M5A1|M5A1 Stuart]]''', had a completely redesigned hull and turret, with the hull most notably having a full sloping frontal armour than the previous designs. This variant had about 6,810 units produced. All in all, the M3 light tank design and its variants were produced in massive quantities from March 1941 to October 1943 with a total of 25,000 units produced.

===Combat usage===
The British were the first to use the M3 Stuart in Africa in 1941, using it in Operation Crusader. However, the result ended with heavy losses, due to the better training the German Afrika Korps had compared to the British tank doctrine. The encounter also pointed out many flaws in the M3, mainly the cramped interior and limited operational range, but was praised for its high mobility and reliability when compared to the British contemporary designs. In 1942, the Stuarts were generally kept as recon units rather than combat units, and some were even modified to improve speed and range by removing the turret, and others were converted to armoured personnel carriers and command vehicles. Though the British used it extensively, it was still in small proportion compared to American usage. The Soviet Union was also another user of the M3 but found it unfavourable due to their own logistics, plus it was not made to withstand the Russian Rasputitsa or even the winter. The Soviet eventually turned down any more offers for the Stuart by 1943. The M3s also supported the British and Chinese forces in Asia against the Japanese Army, and also France and Yugoslavia in Europe against the German Wehrmacht.

The Americans used it widely in both operational theatres. In the Pacific, the M3s were the first tanks America used in a tank vs. tank operation against the Imperial Japanese Army, where five M3s fought [[Ha-Go|Type 95 Ha-Gos]] in the Phillippines. Though the Stuarts were newer than the Japanese tank designs by about five years, they were seen as equal in performance and firepower, but the M3 benefited by the support of the American industry arm. The Stuarts served in the Pacific slightly better than its heavier counterparts such as the [[M4|M4 Shermans]] due to its lighter weight and manoeuvrability in the poor jungle terrain, but the M3 Stuarts in the Pacific were gradually replaced by M4 Shermans due to heavy losses from its thinner armour. The M3 was also some of the first US tanks to be converted into flamethrower tanks, named as the "Satan". The Satan tanks provided favourable results to the concept of a flamethrower tank and were replaced by flamethrower-equipped M4 Shermans in 1945.

In Europe, the M3 formed a large part of the American tank battalions, though following the British path by sidelining the Stuarts from combat duties after heavy losses and to serve alongside Shermans as scouting units. A typical tank battalion for the US Army consisted of three companies of Shermans and one of Stuarts. Other than scouting, the M3s were also used in cavalry roles and infantry support since their cannon are unable to compete with the German tank designs. Despite their dwindling capabilities in battle, the M3 was kept in service up until the end of the war due to the large production numbers.

After World War II, the Stuarts were given out as cheap surplus, countries such as China, India, and Pakistan picked up a few and used them in their conflicts. Portuguese also picked up a few M3s for the war in Angola, and the South African Corps continued using the Stuarts until 1955, where some were still kept in service until 1968 due to available parts. Today, Paraguay is still a user of the M3 light tanks, though as the only tracked armour used in the country.

The Stuart light tank design was also quite versatile that it was made into different variants for different roles on the battlefield. It served as an infantry support vehicle as to the [[M8 Scott|75 mm GMC M8]] and experiments were also taken to see if it could be adapted to an anti-aircraft gun and a flamethrower as well. However, the M3 was becoming an ageing design with inferior armour, cramped interior layout, and a small 37 mm gun, so a program to replace the light tank began in 1943 and became the [[M24|M24 Chaffee]], which would eventually replace the M3 Light Tank mostly after World War II.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Production of the M3A1 Stuart modification got underway in April 1942, with its primary changes affecting turret construction. The turret was a horseshoe-shaped M3, though it did not have a cupola, and two triangular hatches on its roof served as exits for the crew. The gunner and reloader had periscopes. The turret rotated using a power traverse as opposed to the manually rotated M3. Its faster rotation speed required changes in its construction, in particular a basket fitted with seats for the crew members.

The M23 mantlet was fitted with a 37 mm M6 cannon featuring a gyro stabilizer that significantly boosted accuracy while on the move. That did, however, require more training for gunners, a difficult assignment under battlefield conditions. The sponson-mounted immobile M1919A4 machine guns were replaced with additional ammunition storage, pushing the tank's capacity to 116 shells and 6,400 bullets.

From April to August of 1942 the M3A1 was produced alongside the M3. Changes were made gradually, meaning that some later M3s featured welded bodies and new turrets. They lacked, however, the basket and power traverse, and were called Stuart Hybrids. Some early M3A1s had sponson-mounted machine guns (the intervening models plugged up the openings) and riveted bodies. By the end of February 1943, 4,621 M3A1s had been assembled, 211 of them with the Guiberson T-1020-4 engines (called Stuart IVs by the British). It is worth noting that the M3A1s with welded bodies should have been designated M3A2s, though that never actually happened.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m3a1_stuart Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|1yg1DAEbG8A|'''The Stuart Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:14 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M2A2]]{{-}}[[M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:M3_Stuart|[Wikipedia] M3 Stuart]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/us/m3_stuart.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Light Tank M3 Stuart]

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M3 Stuart

2023-03-20T15:44:21Z

U128413528: /* Machine guns */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|other
|usage-1 = other versions
|link-1 = M3 Stuart (Family)
|usage-2 = other uses
|link-2 = M3 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m3_stuart
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. With a better engine and transmission system than the [[M2A4|M2 light tanks]], the M3 ''Stuart'' is more able to manoeuvre the battlefield as a dependable light tank.

== General info ==
[[File:M3 Stuart Screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|M3 Stuart driving in the Snow ([[Frozen Pass (Ground Forces)|Frozen Pass]])]]
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


Being a light tank the M3 Stuart has fairly thin armour, it can generally protect against most machine guns but will usually not stand up against the main weapons of most enemy tanks at its battle rating. The inside of the tank is fairly cramped with the two turret members standing, this means that the likelihood of a crew member being hit is fairly high.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (lower frontal plate)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (18°) ''Driver Port'' 15.8 mm (69°) ''Front Glacis'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and bogies are 15 mm thick, tracks are 10 mm thick.

[[File:M3 Stuart turning updated.gif|thumb|426x426px|M3 Stuart Turning Demo at Slow and Fast speeds]]

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 406|rbMinHp= 232}}

The M3 Stuart can reach a speed of 49 km/h off-road and up to 50 km/h on road. It can feel sluggish while turning at a lower speed as it lacks neutral steer, but when moving forward the turning is much smoother and quicker. The vehicle reverses at up to 5 km/h which while somewhat slow, is still usable in most situations on the battlefield.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}

The main gun of the M3 Stuart is a 37 mm M5 cannon; this gun is also featured on the [[M2A4]] and [[M3 Lee]]. On the M3 Stuart the M5 can use 2 round types, either M74 (AP) or M51 (APCBC) with the latter being a Tier 1 modification.

The overall firepower is decent. The main cannon has an adequate penetration of about 60 mm which is more than enough to go through most tanks below 2.0, for example, T-26, Pz.III and Pz.35(t). Although the available ammunition is all solid shells, they still make quite a bit of shrapnel when penetrating which is enough to knock out compact tanks like T-26 and Pz.35(t). For larger tanks like the LVT(A), accurate shots pinpointing the crew are required which may be difficult for new players. The cannon has enough accuracy to precisely knock out the enemy's crew within 500 m. If one shot misses, the reload time of around 3.5 seconds allows quick following shots.

There is a nice stabiliser for the cannon which is a big advantage when exchanging fire, as it allows you to move out of cover and fire (usually before the enemy) without having to wait for your tank to stop wobbling. The stabiliser should be utilised to maximise your chance of surviving and killing. Note that it only works below 10 km/h, so remember to slow down or it will not stabilise the gun.

Targets like the 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl or M3 GMC (mixed battle) can be quite hard to destroy, as their armour is thin enough to create little shrapnel, but are also thick enough to stop MG bullets. Against them, you can only rely on you fire rate, accuracy and of course your knowledge of their crew position to knock out their crew one by one. Always go for the gunners or drivers first, if you failed then they can always fight back and knock you out.

The main cannon is only effective in close-quarter combat (usually within 200 m) or against weakly armoured targets since the penetration drops drastically as the range increases; in addition the small calibre makes the shells easy to ricochet. When encountering fairly well armoured tanks like the M13/40 or H.35, try and break their gun barrels first or track them. If they are too far away, pin them on the map and call teammates to help.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 103 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 19.04 || 26.35 || 32.00 || 35.00 || 37.65 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.90 || 14.00 || 17.00 || 18.80 || 20.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M5 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74 shot, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|right|thumb|x350px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''103''' || 84 ''(+19)'' || 41 ''(+62)'' || 1 ''(+102)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}


Alongside the main gun, the M3 has four additional [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]] machine guns. The first machine gun noted is in a coaxial mount aligned with the gun, the second is mounted on the turret top in a pintle mount and the last two are mounted on the hull sides in a fixed firing position. The M3 does also have a hull front machine gun, however, this machine gun cannot be fired.

The machine gun is only powerful enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as AS 42, Flakpanzer I and GAZ-AAAs. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of those not-so-weakly-armoured tanks like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger I or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. If you are skilled the two machine guns can effectively damage low-flying biplanes or deter enemy ground attack aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
| Coaxial || 2,250 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
| Hull || 2,000 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
| Hull || 2,000 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

When driving the M3 Stuart it is best to maintain some distance from enemy vehicles, this is advisable due to the somewhat thin armour and closely packed crew that you have to work with. If you are on a smaller map where keeping distance from enemy vehicles is not possible then it would be a good idea to use buildings and landscape features for cover and to keep your vehicle concealed.

In the majority of cases, you will be able to go through the frontal armour of enemy tanks (maximum penetration is 86 mm) although some vehicles with heavily angled front armour may be able to stop your round being effective, a consistently effective tactic is to flank an enemy vehicle and fire into the side of the crew compartment, aiming near the turret to disable their ability to fire is a good way to use your first shot. Thanks to the quick (at best 2.9s) reload of the M3 you can then put second and third shots into the enemy if needed to finish off their crew.

Another aspect worth mentioning here is the mobility of the M3. While not the fastest vehicle at its BR it certainly still has competitive mobility that will allow it to reach capture points quickly or get to a good camping or flanking position before most enemy or friendly vehicles.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any German vehicle with the 20 mm [[KwK38 (20 mm)|KwK38]] or [[FlaK38 (20 mm)|FlaK38]] cannons, these guns might be small in calibre but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M3A3. Combined with a rate of fore of 280 rounds per minute, and a very short reload time, these guns will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter these opponents, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for their PzGr 40 HVAP-T rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

It is likely that the M3 will encounter some rough heavies, like the [[Matilda III]] and the [[B1 bis]]. The best tactic against these types of targets is to use the M3's fast speed, get within 200 m from them and attack, with shooting at point-blank range being the most effective way. Before conducting an attack, check the M3's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3. While charging, use the M3's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3. Once the tank is at the ideal distance, manoeuvre so that the gun is perpendicular to their armour. Do not shoot if the enemy is angling! The small calibre 37 mm gun is very likely to bounce off or not penetrate against sloped armour.

For the Matilda III, shoot at the middle of the near-vertical frontal plate to knock out the driver first, since the 37 mm shell is not enough to knock out the gunner after penetrating. Once it is immobile, go to its side and finish it by shooting its hull sides. Or, shoot the right side of the gun mantlet to disable its gunner. For the best chance of penetration, do not shoot its turret side.

For the B1, either aim for the near-vertical frontal armour plate at the right side of the hull, or the turret ring to incapacitate the commander/gunner, or simply move to its side and knock out the crews one by one by hitting its flat side armour.

[[File:M3 Stuart Screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|An M3 Stuart attacking a [[BT-7]]]]

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great cannon with good penetration, excellent rate of fire and gun depression; it can effectively penetrate common opponents like the [[Pz.II (Family)|Pz.II]] and [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]], as well as heavy targets like the [[B1 bis]] or [[Matilda III]]
* Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns slower opponents like the [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]]
* Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, it is an advantage in close-quarter encounters
* Respectable frontal armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance (e.g. Japanese 37 mm/German 20 mm)
* Small turret profile makes it harder to get hit when hull-down
* Empty space below the turret crew can absorb poorly aimed shots, they tend to not do much damage

'''Cons:'''

* Weak armour against shells from high-penetrating cannons like the 50 mm KwK39 or the 76 mm F-34
* Its shells do not have explosive filler, severely limiting the post-penetration effect especially against spacious tanks like the [[LVT(A)(1)]]
* Inefficient brakes when trying to stop the tank at full speed
* Hull is fairly tall for a light tank and the crews are closely packed, reducing its survivability

== History ==

===Development===
The American light tank design prior to World War II, the [[M2A4|M2 light tank]], was seen as obsolete after observing Germany's Panzer forces tear through Europe. The design was to be upgraded with more armour, a better suspension, and a new gun recoil system. The revised version was designated the '''Light Tank M3''', which the British named the Stuart. At its basis, the light tank had a 37 mm cannon with a similar layout as the M2 light tank, with the radial engine at the rear and the transmission on the front, though the radial engine was in high demand so the Guiberson diesel T-1210 were fitted in some models to substitute the engine. The design used the VVSS bogie system seen on previous American tank designs. The tank had a crew of four: driver, assistant driver, gunner, and commander, who doubled as the loader.

The first variant of the M3 Stuart light tank was very similar to the M2 light tanks. It had five machine gun armaments scattered around like the M2, but featured better armour and a better cannon with the 37 mm M6 cannon. The design did not have a turret basket for the crew and it was constructed out of rivets, which increased the chance of spalling in the tank. Nevertheless, the first variant M3 saw about 5,811 units produced. The second variant, the [[M3A1 Stuart|M3A1 Stuart]], featured a new turret with no cupola on it, plus an added gun stabilizer. The machine guns on the hull sides were removed, so now the total machine guns were reduced from five to three. The design also featured a welded armour design to remove the weakness of riveted armour. 4,621 of this variant was produced from May 1942 to February 1943. The most used variant, the [[M5A1|M5A1 Stuart]], had a completely redesigned hull and turret, with the hull most notably having a full sloping frontal armour than the previous designs. This variant had about 6,810 units produced. All in all, the M3 light tank design and all its later variants were produced in massive quantities from March 1941 to October 1943 with a total of 25,000 units produced.

===Combat usage===
The British were the first to use the M3 Stuart in Africa in 1941, using it in Operation Crusader. However, the result ended with heavy losses, due to the better training the German Afrika Korps had compared to the British tank doctrine. The encounter also pointed out many flaws in the M3, mainly the cramped interior and limited operational range, but was praised for its high mobility and reliability when compared to the British contemporary designs. In 1942, the Stuarts were generally kept as recon units rather than combat units, and some were even modified to improve speed and range by removing the turret, and others were converted to armoured personnel carriers and command vehicles. Though the British used it extensively, it was still in small proportion compared to American usage. The Soviet Union was also another user of the M3 but found it unfavourable due to their own logistics, plus it was not made to withstand the Russian Rasputitsa or even the winter. The Soviet eventually turned down any more offers for the Stuart by 1943. The M3s also supported the British and Chinese forces in Asia against the Japanese Army, and also France and Yugoslavia in Europe against the German Wehrmacht.

The Americans used it widely in both operational theatres. In the Pacific, the M3s were the first tanks America used in a tank vs. tank operation against the Imperial Japanese Army, where five M3s fought [[Ha-Go|Type 95 Ha-Gos]] in a well-known action in the Phillippines. In total 108 M3s served with the 192nd and 194th Tank Battalions, also known as the 1st Provisional Tank Group, in the 1941 U.S. defence of the Phillippines, despite having no HE ammo issued. More than 30 were captured by the Japanese, who equipped their 7th Tank Regiment with them, who used them to defend the Philippines again, against the US in 1944. M3s were also used by Company B of the 1st Marine Tank Battalion at Guadalcanal in 1942. Though the Stuarts were newer than the Japanese tank designs by about five years, they were seen as equal in performance and firepower, but the M3 benefited by the support of the American industry arm. The Stuarts served in the Pacific slightly better than its heavier counterparts such as the [[M4|M4 Shermans]] due to its lighter weight and manoeuvrability in the poor jungle terrain, but the M3 Stuarts in the Pacific were gradually replaced by M4 Shermans due to heavy losses from its thinner armour. The M3 was also some of the first US tanks to be converted into flamethrower tanks, named as the "Satan". The Satan tanks provided favourable results to the concept of a flamethrower tank and were replaced by flamethrower-equipped M4 Shermans in 1945.

In Europe, the M3 formed a large part of the American tank battalions, though following the British path by sidelining the Stuarts from combat duties after heavy losses and to serve alongside Shermans as scouting units. A typical tank battalion for the US Army consisted of three companies of Shermans and one of Stuarts. Other than scouting, the M3s were also used in cavalry roles and infantry support since their cannon are unable to compete with the German tank designs. Despite their dwindling capabilities in battle, the M3 was kept in service up until the end of the war due to the large production numbers.

After World War II, the Stuarts were given out as cheap surplus, countries such as China, India, and Pakistan picked up a few and used them in their conflicts. Portuguese also picked up a few M3s for the war in Angola, and the South African Corps continued using the Stuarts until 1955, where some were still kept in service until 1968 due to available parts. Today, Paraguay is still a user of the M3 light tanks, though as the only tracked armour used in the country.

The Stuart light tank design was also quite versatile that it was made into different variants for different roles on the battlefield. It served as an infantry support vehicle as to the [[M8 Scott|75 mm GMC M8]] and experiments were also taken to see if it could be adapted to an anti-aircraft gun and a flamethrower as well. However, the M3 was becoming an ageing design with inferior armour, cramped interior layout, and a small 37 mm gun, so a program to replace the light tank began in 1943 and became the [[M24|M24 Chaffee]], which would eventually replace the M3 Light Tank mostly after World War II.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
At the beginning of 1940 the Ordnance Department put together technical requirements for a new tank, the need for which was clear at the beginning of World War II. The first prototype was refashioned after the M2A4 at the Rock Island Arsenal. The tank had a riveted turret with few viewing slits, and the new M22 mantlet had thicker armour. The hull's frontal armour was also thickened to 45 mm and the turret to 38 mm. The tank hull was assembled from rolled armour plates on a frame made from angle sections and flat bars using rivets, though later releases were partially welded. From the end of 1941 to the beginning of 1942 a lack of standard gas-powered Continental aircraft engines forced some tanks to be outfitted with 265 hp Guiberson T-1020-4 diesel-powered, nine-cylinder, air-cooled radial engines capable of reaching 2,250 rpm. The diesel tanks could be recognized by their Vortex air filters and were generally designated M3 diesels. At the end of 1941 the tanks with carburetor engines were equipped with two cylindrically-shaped external fuel tanks, each with a capacity of 102 liters, that were connected to the engine supply system. After being exhausted, the external tanks could be jettisoned by the crew without leaving the tank. Adding the new tanks doubled the M3's range.

On July 5, 1940, the new light tank was standardized and released under the M3 designation. It was more widely known by the moniker General Stuart, given it by the British, who received a significant number of them in 1941 and 1942 via Lend-Lease.

Production of the M3 began in March 1941 at the American Car & Foundry factory. March 1941 through August 1942 saw 5,811 built, 1,285 of which were equipped with the Guiberson T-1020-4 engine.

M3 Stuart light tanks were also delivered to the Red Army and the UK via Lend-Lease to be used on all fronts in World War II beginning in 1941.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m3_stuart Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|1yg1DAEbG8A|'''The Stuart Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:46 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M2A2]]{{-}}[[M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:M3_Stuart|[Wikipedia] M3 Stuart]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/us/m3_stuart.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Light Tank M3 Stuart]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=36 <nowiki>[Military Factory] M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)</nowiki>]

{{USA light tanks}}

M2A4

2023-03-20T15:41:36Z

U128413528: /* Machine guns */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m2a4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', introduced into War Thunder in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]] alongside the American ground tech tree, is a reserve vehicle available for new players to use when starting the American ground forces. The M2A4 light tank gives a good view into the [[M3_Stuart_(Family)|Stuart family of light tanks]] available for future research, presenting a fast and nimble vehicle with a respectable 37 mm anti-tank gun, though having subpar protection against close-range shots. While the M2A4 may not exceed in traits when coming up against its peers, these characteristics allow the M2A4 to perform flexibly whether coming into a direct encounter with an enemy tank or outmanoeuvring the enemy to hit them in their weak spots with the 37 mm gun without being spotted.

The United States' observations of the Spanish Civil War raised concern that their tank fleet, which consisted of machine-gun armed light tanks like the [[M2A2]], was inadequate for the type of armoured warfare expected to occur in the next conflict. Initial recommendations were improving the armour thickness of their tanks and also introducing a 37 mm anti-tank gun. The first step towards implementing these modifications came on 29 December 1938, when it was ordered that a production M2A3 be modified into M2A4 light tank specifications for trial. After a series of US Army trials and additional changes, the M2A4 was approved for production in May 1940 that would run until April 1942 with 375 tanks built. The M2A4 was the US military's primary light tank when World War II started and would see service with the US Marine Corps in the Battle for Guadalcanal. The M2A4 would be replaced in production and usage by the [[M3 Stuart]], which would achieve more combat fame in the European Theater.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (19°) ''Front plate'' 15.8 mm (69°) ''Front Glacis'' 25.4 mm (20°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm ''Top'' 25.4 mm (18°) ''Bottom'' || 6.35 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (11°) ''Turret front'' 25.4 mm (12-65°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
| Cupola || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

The overall mobility is decent. The top speed is great, easily getting to around 50 km/h on solid roads which is faster than most of the reserve tanks like Pz.II, T-26. However, wheeled vehicles like the Sd.Kfz. 140/1 can easily outrun the M2A4 on road. On softer roads like grassland and sand, it remains around 30 km/h which is still quite fast.

The hull traverse brings the overall mobility down quite a bit, since when the tank is still it turns very sluggishly, especially on soft terrain. The hull traverse gets faster when the tank is moving, but in full speed, it starts to snake around like a wheeled vehicle which makes it hard to control. Thus you must get used to this handling.

The reverse speed is only adequate to dodge shots from a distance. Do not expect to quickly reverse back to cover like a Puma.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=406|rbMinHp=232}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}

The overall firepower is decent for the reserve battle rating. The main cannon has an adequate penetration of about 60 mm which is more than enough to go through most tanks below 2.0, for example, T-26, Pz.III and Pz.35(t). Although the available ammunition rounds are all solid shells, they still create large amounts of shrapnel when penetrating which is enough to knock out compact tanks like T-26 and Pz.35(t) with a single shot. For larger tanks like the LVT(A), accurate shots aimed at the crew's positions are required, which might be a little hard for new players. The cannon has enough accuracy to precisely target a weak spot on an enemy tank within 500 m. If one shot misses, the reload time of around 3.5 seconds allows for quick follow-up shots.

There is a nice stabiliser for the cannon which is a big advantage when exchanging fire, as it allows you to move out of cover and fire (usually before the enemy) without having to wait for your tank to stop wobbling. The stabiliser should be utilised to maximise your chance of surviving and killing. Note that it only works below 10 km/h, so remember to slow down or it will not stabilise the gun.

Targets like the 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl or M3 GMC can be quite hard to destroy, as their armour is thin enough to create little shrapnel, but are also thick enough to stop MG bullets. Against them, you can only rely on you fire rate, accuracy and of course your knowledge of their crew position to knock out their crew members one by one. Always go for the gunners or drivers first, if you failed then they can always fire back at you and disable you.

The main cannon is effective in close-quarter combat (usually within 200 m) or against weakly armoured targets since the penetration drops drastically as the range increases, plus the small calibre makes the shells easy to ricochet. When encountering fairly well armoured tanks like the M13/40 or H.35, try to break their gun barrels first or detrack them. If they are too far away, pin them on the map and call teammates to help.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 103 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 19.5 || 27.0 || 32.8 || 36.3 || 38.6 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 12.2 || 14.4 || 17.4 || 19.3 || 20.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M5 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74 shot, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''103''' || 84 ''(+19)'' || 41 ''(+62)'' || 1 ''(+102)'' || No
|-
|}
Note:

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun is only powerful enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as AS 42, FlakPz I and GAZ-AAA. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of those not-so-weakly-armoured tanks like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. If you are skilled the two MG can effectively damage low-flying biplanes and help zone out enemy ground attack aircraft.

The fixed machine guns in the hull are of little use most of the times, as it is very hard to point the hull directly at a target with the poor hull traverse of the M2A4.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+45° || ±90°
|-
| Machine gunner || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Hull (left side) || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Hull (right side) || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

==Usage in battles==

The M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very manoeuvrable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank.

The M2A4 is most comparable to a cross between a BT-5 and T-26. The M2 has slightly less mobility than the BT-5 while being a larger target and having better armour, like the T-26. The M2A4 also has a fast-firing 37 mm M5 cannon that can fire M74 or M51 shot, as well as the M61 shell.

Its gun has better accuracy than the majority of tanks on its rank, and it's APC ammo retains its penetration at most ranges. This ability to hit rapidly from range and still penetrate in part makes up for the somewhat anaemic damage of the 37 mm gun.

Like all tanks of this rank, it is lightly armoured and can be damaged or knocked out by any other vehicle from anywhere on the map. A useful tactic is to make use of its speed by engaging at range and then relocating when the fire gets too heavy around you.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the [[KwK38 (20 mm)|20 mm KwK/FlaK38]] cannon, this gun might be small but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M2A4 almost anywhere. These guns can also fire 10 rounds at 280 rounds/min before having to reload the clip, meaning that they will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for the PzGr 40 rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, so to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast and agile
* Acceptable gun
* Fair armour all around
* Machine gun secondary armament allows for flexibility in taking out exposed SPAA and tank destroyers
* Roof-mounted .30 calibre is quite effective at taking out unarmoured aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible for Hull-Down postions due to lack of armour
* Uneasy handling, prone to slide at high speeds
* Prone to catching fire
* Terrible steering, not adequate under 2nd gear
* Driving this straight into a wall at a fast speed can result in a crew knock out
* Can struggle to destroy larger vehicles due to lack of explosive filler
* One of the weakest tank in the USA lineup
* Thin armor
* While fast on flat ground, it has problems with climbing steep hills

== History ==

===Development===
The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.

The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon. However, multiple theorists brought up the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks to which the British were the first to incorporate with the ''cruiser tanks''. Limitation in American development leads to the establishment of light tanks as the ''combat cars''. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes ''T1 light tank'' and the ''T2 medium tank'' from which they decided to use them as the basis for the light tank design.

Modifications made onto the experimental tanks including installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) which became the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the '''M2A1 light tank'''. The main version used before the war was designated the [[M2A2|'''M2A2''']] and had two turrets, both with a .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun as their armament. However, the Spanish Civil War demonstrated that this kind of light tank was insufficient for the ever-evolving tank warfare. Revising the armament of the tank, the two M2 Browning turrets were removed and replaced with a turret outfitted with a 37 mm cannon and improved armour. This became the '''M2A4''' and served as the main light tank variant in US service prior to World War II.

===Combat usage===
Although the M2 light tanks were promising in their introduction, they were soon succeeded by the [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5]] light tanks. While development projects were in the works for bigger and better tanks, the M2 light tanks was a stopgap solution which filled a dire and immediate need for training crews and fielding tanks on the battlefield. By December 1941, the M2 light tanks were being used for training purposes only with the US Army, however, the US Marine Corps (specifically Company A, 1st Marine Tank Battalion) used a small number in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific due to the lack of M3 light tanks available.

Britain ordered some M2 light tanks in early 1941 in part of the Lend-Lease Act, but only 36 were delivered before switching to the improved M3 light tanks. They were not used in combat.

A common feature on early US tanks was a large number of machine guns. Aside from the coaxial and the bow gunner's ball mounted gun, two machine guns were fixed facing forward on the sides of the hull, fired by the driver. Yet another M1919 Browning machine gun could be mounted on top of the turret in an anti-aircraft capacity.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
The M2 series traced its family tree back to the experimental T2s, with the M2A4 ending up the largest and most successful modification. Development began in 1939 after running trials for light tanks designed for infantry support as well as the M1 series. The M2 infantry tank was used as the base for construction, a model that was to undergo significant modification. The turret armour as well as the front end were thickened to 25 mm, capable of withstanding hits by light cannons and high-calibre machine guns.

The tank's weaponry was also improved with the installation of an M5 37 mm cannon paired with a 7.62 mm machine gun in the single turret. Another 7.62 mm machine gun was mounted in the front hull plate, with two more on the sides. An antiaircraft machine gun could be mounted on the top of the turret, and additional viewing slits were cut out of the turret and cupola. Most tanks featured the 360 hp Continental W-670-9A engine, which pushed their top speed to 56 km/h. Several tanks in the series were equipped with Guiberson T1020 diesel engines.

Given that September 1939 saw a spike in orders, the Rock Island Arsenal was no longer able to keep up on its own with the demand being placed on it by the US army. A tender for an additional batch was announced and won by American Car & Foundry. In October 1939 a contract for 329 tanks was signed, though it was soon expanded to 365. The last ten were assembled in April 1941 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, meaning that 375 M2A4s were produced in 1940.

The tanks only saw action on Guadalcanal and other Pacific islands. A few others were shipped to the UK via Lend-Lease and used there to train M3 medium tank crews.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m2a4 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yB4xDRk67hI|'''Survival Guide - The M2A4 - The American Reserve BR Workhorse''' - ''IllusiveThunder''|1yg1DAEbG8A|'''The Stuart Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:22 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|p9_XD0TgdiA|'''TOP 5 Reserve Tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:11 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M3 Stuart (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/2917/current|[Vehicle Profile] M2A4 Light Tank]]
* [[wikipedia:M2_light_tank|[Wikipedia] M2 light tank]]
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M2_Light_Tank.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> M2 Light Tank]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=560 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M2 (Light Tank, M2)]

{{TankManufacturer Rock Island Arsenal}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M2A4

2023-03-20T15:40:18Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m2a4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', introduced into War Thunder in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]] alongside the American ground tech tree, is a reserve vehicle available for new players to use when starting the American ground forces. The M2A4 light tank gives a good view into the [[M3_Stuart_(Family)|Stuart family of light tanks]] available for future research, presenting a fast and nimble vehicle with a respectable 37 mm anti-tank gun, though having subpar protection against close-range shots. While the M2A4 may not exceed in traits when coming up against its peers, these characteristics allow the M2A4 to perform flexibly whether coming into a direct encounter with an enemy tank or outmanoeuvring the enemy to hit them in their weak spots with the 37 mm gun without being spotted.

The United States' observations of the Spanish Civil War raised concern that their tank fleet, which consisted of machine-gun armed light tanks like the [[M2A2]], was inadequate for the type of armoured warfare expected to occur in the next conflict. Initial recommendations were improving the armour thickness of their tanks and also introducing a 37 mm anti-tank gun. The first step towards implementing these modifications came on 29 December 1938, when it was ordered that a production M2A3 be modified into M2A4 light tank specifications for trial. After a series of US Army trials and additional changes, the M2A4 was approved for production in May 1940 that would run until April 1942 with 375 tanks built. The M2A4 was the US military's primary light tank when World War II started and would see service with the US Marine Corps in the Battle for Guadalcanal. The M2A4 would be replaced in production and usage by the [[M3 Stuart]], which would achieve more combat fame in the European Theater.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (19°) ''Front plate'' 15.8 mm (69°) ''Front Glacis'' 25.4 mm (20°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm ''Top'' 25.4 mm (18°) ''Bottom'' || 6.35 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (11°) ''Turret front'' 25.4 mm (12-65°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
| Cupola || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

The overall mobility is decent. The top speed is great, easily getting to around 50 km/h on solid roads which is faster than most of the reserve tanks like Pz.II, T-26. However, wheeled vehicles like the Sd.Kfz. 140/1 can easily outrun the M2A4 on road. On softer roads like grassland and sand, it remains around 30 km/h which is still quite fast.

The hull traverse brings the overall mobility down quite a bit, since when the tank is still it turns very sluggishly, especially on soft terrain. The hull traverse gets faster when the tank is moving, but in full speed, it starts to snake around like a wheeled vehicle which makes it hard to control. Thus you must get used to this handling.

The reverse speed is only adequate to dodge shots from a distance. Do not expect to quickly reverse back to cover like a Puma.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=406|rbMinHp=232}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}

The overall firepower is decent for the reserve battle rating. The main cannon has an adequate penetration of about 60 mm which is more than enough to go through most tanks below 2.0, for example, T-26, Pz.III and Pz.35(t). Although the available ammunition rounds are all solid shells, they still create large amounts of shrapnel when penetrating which is enough to knock out compact tanks like T-26 and Pz.35(t) with a single shot. For larger tanks like the LVT(A), accurate shots aimed at the crew's positions are required, which might be a little hard for new players. The cannon has enough accuracy to precisely target a weak spot on an enemy tank within 500 m. If one shot misses, the reload time of around 3.5 seconds allows for quick follow-up shots.

There is a nice stabiliser for the cannon which is a big advantage when exchanging fire, as it allows you to move out of cover and fire (usually before the enemy) without having to wait for your tank to stop wobbling. The stabiliser should be utilised to maximise your chance of surviving and killing. Note that it only works below 10 km/h, so remember to slow down or it will not stabilise the gun.

Targets like the 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl or M3 GMC can be quite hard to destroy, as their armour is thin enough to create little shrapnel, but are also thick enough to stop MG bullets. Against them, you can only rely on you fire rate, accuracy and of course your knowledge of their crew position to knock out their crew members one by one. Always go for the gunners or drivers first, if you failed then they can always fire back at you and disable you.

The main cannon is effective in close-quarter combat (usually within 200 m) or against weakly armoured targets since the penetration drops drastically as the range increases, plus the small calibre makes the shells easy to ricochet. When encountering fairly well armoured tanks like the M13/40 or H.35, try to break their gun barrels first or detrack them. If they are too far away, pin them on the map and call teammates to help.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 103 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 19.5 || 27.0 || 32.8 || 36.3 || 38.6 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 12.2 || 14.4 || 17.4 || 19.3 || 20.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M5 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74 shot, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''103''' || 84 ''(+19)'' || 41 ''(+62)'' || 1 ''(+102)'' || No
|-
|}
Note:

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun is only powerful enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as AS 42, FlakPz I and GAZ-AAA. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of those not-so-weakly-armoured tanks like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. If you are skilled the two MG can effectively damage low-flying biplanes.

The fixed machine guns in the hull are of little use most of the times, as it is very hard to point the hull directly at a target with the poor hull traverse of the M2A4.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+45° || ±90°
|-
| Machine gunner || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Hull (left side) || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Hull (right side) || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

==Usage in battles==

The M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very manoeuvrable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank.

The M2A4 is most comparable to a cross between a BT-5 and T-26. The M2 has slightly less mobility than the BT-5 while being a larger target and having better armour, like the T-26. The M2A4 also has a fast-firing 37 mm M5 cannon that can fire M74 or M51 shot, as well as the M61 shell.

Its gun has better accuracy than the majority of tanks on its rank, and it's APC ammo retains its penetration at most ranges. This ability to hit rapidly from range and still penetrate in part makes up for the somewhat anaemic damage of the 37 mm gun.

Like all tanks of this rank, it is lightly armoured and can be damaged or knocked out by any other vehicle from anywhere on the map. A useful tactic is to make use of its speed by engaging at range and then relocating when the fire gets too heavy around you.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the [[KwK38 (20 mm)|20 mm KwK/FlaK38]] cannon, this gun might be small but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M2A4 almost anywhere. These guns can also fire 10 rounds at 280 rounds/min before having to reload the clip, meaning that they will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for the PzGr 40 rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, so to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast and agile
* Acceptable gun
* Fair armour all around
* Machine gun secondary armament allows for flexibility in taking out exposed SPAA and tank destroyers
* Roof-mounted .30 calibre is quite effective at taking out unarmoured aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible for Hull-Down postions due to lack of armour
* Uneasy handling, prone to slide at high speeds
* Prone to catching fire
* Terrible steering, not adequate under 2nd gear
* Driving this straight into a wall at a fast speed can result in a crew knock out
* Can struggle to destroy larger vehicles due to lack of explosive filler
* One of the weakest tank in the USA lineup
* Thin armor
* While fast on flat ground, it has problems with climbing steep hills

== History ==

===Development===
The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.

The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon. However, multiple theorists brought up the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks to which the British were the first to incorporate with the ''cruiser tanks''. Limitation in American development leads to the establishment of light tanks as the ''combat cars''. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes ''T1 light tank'' and the ''T2 medium tank'' from which they decided to use them as the basis for the light tank design.

Modifications made onto the experimental tanks including installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) which became the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the '''M2A1 light tank'''. The main version used before the war was designated the [[M2A2|'''M2A2''']] and had two turrets, both with a .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun as their armament. However, the Spanish Civil War demonstrated that this kind of light tank was insufficient for the ever-evolving tank warfare. Revising the armament of the tank, the two M2 Browning turrets were removed and replaced with a turret outfitted with a 37 mm cannon and improved armour. This became the '''M2A4''' and served as the main light tank variant in US service prior to World War II.

===Combat usage===
Although the M2 light tanks were promising in their introduction, they were soon succeeded by the [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5]] light tanks. While development projects were in the works for bigger and better tanks, the M2 light tanks was a stopgap solution which filled a dire and immediate need for training crews and fielding tanks on the battlefield. By December 1941, the M2 light tanks were being used for training purposes only with the US Army, however, the US Marine Corps (specifically Company A, 1st Marine Tank Battalion) used a small number in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific due to the lack of M3 light tanks available.

Britain ordered some M2 light tanks in early 1941 in part of the Lend-Lease Act, but only 36 were delivered before switching to the improved M3 light tanks. They were not used in combat.

A common feature on early US tanks was a large number of machine guns. Aside from the coaxial and the bow gunner's ball mounted gun, two machine guns were fixed facing forward on the sides of the hull, fired by the driver. Yet another M1919 Browning machine gun could be mounted on top of the turret in an anti-aircraft capacity.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
The M2 series traced its family tree back to the experimental T2s, with the M2A4 ending up the largest and most successful modification. Development began in 1939 after running trials for light tanks designed for infantry support as well as the M1 series. The M2 infantry tank was used as the base for construction, a model that was to undergo significant modification. The turret armour as well as the front end were thickened to 25 mm, capable of withstanding hits by light cannons and high-calibre machine guns.

The tank's weaponry was also improved with the installation of an M5 37 mm cannon paired with a 7.62 mm machine gun in the single turret. Another 7.62 mm machine gun was mounted in the front hull plate, with two more on the sides. An antiaircraft machine gun could be mounted on the top of the turret, and additional viewing slits were cut out of the turret and cupola. Most tanks featured the 360 hp Continental W-670-9A engine, which pushed their top speed to 56 km/h. Several tanks in the series were equipped with Guiberson T1020 diesel engines.

Given that September 1939 saw a spike in orders, the Rock Island Arsenal was no longer able to keep up on its own with the demand being placed on it by the US army. A tender for an additional batch was announced and won by American Car & Foundry. In October 1939 a contract for 329 tanks was signed, though it was soon expanded to 365. The last ten were assembled in April 1941 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, meaning that 375 M2A4s were produced in 1940.

The tanks only saw action on Guadalcanal and other Pacific islands. A few others were shipped to the UK via Lend-Lease and used there to train M3 medium tank crews.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m2a4 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yB4xDRk67hI|'''Survival Guide - The M2A4 - The American Reserve BR Workhorse''' - ''IllusiveThunder''|1yg1DAEbG8A|'''The Stuart Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:22 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|p9_XD0TgdiA|'''TOP 5 Reserve Tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:11 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M3 Stuart (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/2917/current|[Vehicle Profile] M2A4 Light Tank]]
* [[wikipedia:M2_light_tank|[Wikipedia] M2 light tank]]
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M2_Light_Tank.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> M2 Light Tank]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=560 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M2 (Light Tank, M2)]

{{TankManufacturer Rock Island Arsenal}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M1919A4 (7.62 mm)

2023-03-20T15:31:33Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

[[File:M1919A4.png|x280px|thumb|right|The M1919A4 on the M-51]]
== Description ==


The '''7.62 mm M1919A4''' is an American .30 cal medium machine gun. The M1919A4 is the most mass produced version of the famous M1919 Browning machine gun, which entered service just after the First World war, in 1919, and is still in service with some countries to this day. In game the M1919A4 is ubiquitous in the American ground forces tree, being found as the commander's gun on early American tanks (most later ones are equipped with the [[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)]]) as well as the co-axial machine gun on most American tanks from the start of the tech tree, until Rank 5. The gun also features heavily among American tanks in other nation's tech tree's. Being only a 7.62 mm machine gun, it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured, or open cabin, vehicles.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|us_m22_locust}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_type_64}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_2pdr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t18_e2}}
{{Navigation-Line|M2}}{{Specs-Link|us_m2a2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m2a4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m2a4_1st_armor_div}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3 Stuart}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3a1_stuart_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m3a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m3a3_stuart_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m3a3_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m3a3_stuart}}
{{Navigation-Line|M5 Stuart}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m5a1_stuart}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m5a1_stuart_canadian_5st_arm}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8 Greyhound}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}
{{Navigation-Line|M24 Chaffee}}{{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee_tl}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_13_chaffee}}
{{Navigation-Line|M41 Walker Bulldog}}{{Specs-Link|us_m41_walker_bulldog}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_le_kpz_m41}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m41_walker_bulldog}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m_41d}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a30_challenger}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m2_medium}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a5_ram_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_b1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t20}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t25}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t54e1}}
{{Navigation-Line|Grant}}{{Specs-Link|us_mk1_grant}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_mk1_grant|Grant I (Great Britain)}}
{{Navigation-Line|M3 Lee}}{{Specs-Link|us_m3_lee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ussr_m3c}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4_sherman_calliope}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_sherman_75_37}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A1 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a1_1942_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a1_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a1_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m4a1_76w_sherman}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A2 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_1944_germ}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_sherman_II}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ussr_m4a2_76w_sherman}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A3 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3_105_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a3_105_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m4a3e8_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e8_76w_sherman}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A4 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m4a4_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m4a4_sherman_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m4a4_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a4_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a4_cn_75_50}}
{{Navigation-Line|M26 Pershing}}{{Specs-Link|us_m26_pershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m26_t99}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m26_ariete}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m26a1_pershing}}
{{Navigation-Line|M46 Patton}}{{Specs-Link|us_m46_patton}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m46_patton_73_armor_bat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m47_105}}
{{Navigation-Line|M-51}}{{Specs-Link|il_m_51}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_m_51_w}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 61}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_a2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_a3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_61}}
{{Navigation-Line|Magach}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_3_idf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_magach_3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6r}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6m}}
{{Navigation-Line|Tiran}}{{Specs-Link|il_tiran_4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_tiran_4_sh}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|us_m6a2e1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m103}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t14}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A3E2 Jumbo}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo_cobra_king}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_76w_sherman_jumbo}}
{{Navigation-Line|T26}}{{Specs-Link|us_t26e4_superpershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t26e5}}
{{Navigation-Line|T32}}{{Specs-Link|us_t32}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t32e1}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|us_m50_ontos}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_60_atm}}
{{Navigation-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_4_zis_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_lvt_4_zis_2}}
{{Navigation-Line|M36}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m36b2_jgsdf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m36b2_cefeo}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''SPAA'''}}{{Specs-Link|jp_sub_i_ii_20mm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_tcm_20}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==

The M1919A4 is a fairly standard 7.62 mm medium machine gun.

=== Available ammunition ===

The M1919A4 can only be equipped with one ammo belt consisting of one Armour-Piercing (AP) bullet, followed by one Tracer (T) bullet. Neither bullet has much penetration (maximum of 13 mm), however the AP bullet performs much better than the tracer bullet.

{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|AP, T}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The M1919A4 performs identically to its British counterpart the [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|L3A1]]. Like the L3A1 it suffers from a somewhat low rate of fire compared to other , similar, machine guns such as the [[BESA (7.92 mm)|BESA]] and [[L8A1 (7.62 mm)|L8A1]], firing 100 rounds per minute less (500 compared to 600). The weapon also has slightly worse penetration than the [[BESA (7.92 mm)]], which is the main co-axial weapon of British tanks, although does get a larger ammo belt.

== Usage in battles ==

Due to the very low penetration of this weapon it is largely ineffective against enemy armour (although you may be able to penetrate some vehicles with extremely thin armour). The gun is primarily useful for incapacitating exposed crew members in open topped vehicles. The gun can also be used for ranging on some vehicles, as well as marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight). Certain light tanks have well placed commander or auxilary M1919s that work well in an anti-aircraft role, though this utility wanes the higher up the tier tree one progresses.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Larger belt capacity than some comparable guns
* Better rate of fire compared to the [[Vickers (7.7 mm)]] found on low rank British tanks

'''Cons:'''

* Worse rate of fire compared to comparable guns
* Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
* Generally low damage

== History ==

The M1919A4 is the definitive and most mass produced version of the famous M1919 Browning machine gun. The history of the M1919 can be traced back to the earlier M1917 Browning machine gun, a water-cooled .30 cal heavy machine gun. The M1917 was originally designed by John Browning in 1900, with a prototype being made in 1910. The design was left until the United states entered WW1 in 1917, Browning submitted his design to the military and it proved to be highly reliable. The US military adopted the gun as it's principal heavy machine gun in 1917 and the weapon saw limited service (due to low initial production rates) towards the end of the First World War. The weapon would go on the serve in the Second World War (alongside the M1919 and [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|M2]]), as well as in the Korean War, and despite being phased out in the 1960s in favour of the [[M60D (7.62 mm)|M60]], saw limited action in the Vietnam War.

Though the M1917 proved itself to be a good weapon, the heavy water-cooling shroud and equipment limited its portability and made it vulnerable to damage. Browning desired to make a gas-operated and air cooled machine gun and in 1919 created the M1919 machine gun, based off of the M1917 design. Chambering the .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63 mm) round, it was originally designed for use on tanks, a role for which the M1917 was poorly suited due to its weight and relative fragility. The weapon proved popular, with many variants being produced for use by infantry, tanks, aircraft and naval vehicles.

The M1919A4 version is seen as the definitive version of the gun, produced from 1936 onwards. The weapon featured an increase in barrel length from 18 inches to 24 (in order to produce more recoil and tackle reliability issues with the earlier versions, caused by a lack of recoil force to consistently cycle the guns mechanism). The variant was designed for use on both vehicles and infantry tripods.

After WW2, the M1919 remained in service with the United States and many other nations. It was used by the United States in Korea and Vietnam, although from the 1950s onwards it began to be replaced with newer general-purpose machine guns such as the [[M60D (7.62 mm)|M60]]. Many M1919s were re-chambered to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO round and remained in service with the United States until at least the 1970s. Some countries still operate variants of the M1919 firing the 7.62 mm NATO round to this day.

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:Weapon M1919A4 7.62mm.jpg|The M1919A4 on the M5A1
</gallery>

== See also ==


* [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)]] (The British designation for the same gun)
* [[Browning (7.62 mm)]] (Air-mount variant of the M1919, officially designated in the US as ''M2 AN (Army-Navy)'')

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:M1917_Browning_machine_gun|[Wikipedia] M1917 Browning machine gun]]
* [[wikipedia:M1919_Browning_machine_gun|[Wikipedia] M1919 Browning machine gun]]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=265 Military Factory - Browning M1917 (Model 1917)]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=59 Military Factory - Browning M1919 GPMG / Medium Machine Gun (MMG)]

{{Tank machine guns}}

[[Category:Tank machine guns]]

BESA (7.92 mm)

2023-03-20T15:23:44Z

U128413528: /* Usage in battles */

[[File:BESA.png|thumb|500px|The BESA inside of the Centurion Mk 1 turret]]

== Description ==

The '''BESA machine gun''' is a British 7.92 mm machine gun, it is a license-built variant of the Czechoslovakian ZB-53 machine gun. The BESA was the British Army's standard tank-mounted machine gun from the start of WW2 until the 1950s, being withdrawn from service in the late 1960s. As such in the game it is by far the most ubiquitous machine gun in the British ground forces tree, featuring as the co-axial or commander weapon for most tanks from rank I to rank IV. Being only a 7.92 mm machine gun, it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured, or open cabin, vehicles.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===

The BESA machine gun is fitted as the co-axial (and sometimes commander's) weapon on nearly every British tank from rank I to rank IV.

The [[Light AA Mk I]] is the only British tank to use the weapon as its primary armament.

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|AEC}}{{Specs-Link|uk_armored_car_aec_mk_2}}
{{Navigation-Line|Crusader}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_crusader_mk_3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_crusader_mk_2}}
{{Navigation-Line|Daimler}}{{Specs-Link|uk_daimler_mk_2}}
{{Navigation-Line|SARC}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_2pdr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_6pdr}}
{{Navigation-Line|Tetrarch}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a17_mk_1_tetrarch}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|Centurion}}{{Specs-Link|uk_centurion_mk_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_centurion_mk_3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sw_strv_81_rb52}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_centurion_mk_3_ss11}}
{{Navigation-Line|Comet}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_34_comet}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_34_comet_iron_duke}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sw_a_34_comet}}
{{Navigation-Line|Cromwell}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a27m_cromwell_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a27m_cromwell_5_rp3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a27m_cromwell_5}}
{{Navigation-Line|Valentine}}{{Specs-Link|uk_valentine_mk_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_valentine_mk_11}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|Caernarvon}}{{Specs-Link|uk_fv221_caernarvon}}
{{Navigation-Line|Churchill}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22b_mk_3_churchill_1942}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_infanterie_kampfpanzer_churchill}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22f_mk_7_churchill_1944}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_22f_mk_7_churchill_crocodile}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_churchill_na75}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_43_black_prince}}
{{Navigation-Line|Excelsior}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_33_excelsior}}
{{Navigation-Line|Matilda}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_matilda_hedgehog}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_a39_tortoise}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''SPAA'''}}{{Specs-Link|uk_vickers_mk_6_aa_mk_1}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==

The BESA machine gun performs slightly better than other British co-axial machine guns, with the same rate of fire as guns like the [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)]] and [[L8A1 (7.62 mm)]], but marginally better penetration.

=== Available ammunition ===

When fitted as a secondary machine gun (usually co-axially) the BESA can only be equipped with one ammo belt consisting of two Armour-Piercing Incendiary (AP-I) bullets, followed by one Armour-Piercing Tracer (AP-T) bullet. Neither bullet has much penetration (up to 13 mm).

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}

When fitted as the primary armament on the [[Light AA Mk I]] the BESA gains several different belts. These are:

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|Ball|Omni-purpose}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|Ball|Omni-purpose}}
* '''API-T:''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}
* '''AP-T:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}

{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|AP-I, AP-T, T, Ball, IT, AP}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The BESA performs favourably to the [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|L3A1]], [[L8A1 (7.62 mm)|L8A1]], and [[L8A2 (7.62 mm)|L8A2]] found on later British tanks. It has the same rate of fire as these weapons but better penetration. It has slightly lower rate of fire than the [[L37A1 (7.62 mm)|L37A1]] and [[L37A2 (7.62 mm)|L37A2]], but slightly higher penetration.

== Usage in battles ==

Due to the low penetration this weapon it is largely ineffective against enemy armour (although you may be able to penetrate some vehicles with extremely thin armour). The gun is primarily useful for killing exposed crew members in open-topped vehicles and SPAA, which can be fairly common at some places in the wide range of battle ratings this gun is found at. Another function for this gun is rangefinding, as well as marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight). You can use the gun against aircraft, though it does minimal damage and is usually co-axially mounted, it largely an afterthought rather than an effective AA solution.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Better penetration than other co-axial machine guns found on British tanks
* Decent rate of fire
* No particularity weak cartridges in ammo belt unlike other co-axial machine guns

'''Cons:'''

* Low penetration
* Low damage
* Lower rate of fire than [[L37A1 (7.62 mm)|L37A1]] and [[L37A2 (7.62 mm)|L37A2]]

== History ==

The BESA machine gun it is a license-built variant of the Czechoslovakian ZB-53 machine gun. The British War Office ordered the weapon in 1938, and production began in 1939. In the UK the gun was produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, the initialism of which (BSA) gave the gun its name. The ZB-53 had been designed to use the German 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser round, and the British originally intended to modify it in order to use the same .303 (7.7 mm) ammunition as other British rifles and machine guns; however it was later decided that converting the gun would take more time and effort than maintaining the original calibre and procuring the 7.92 mm ammunition. A side effect of this was that the British were able to utilise captured German 7.92 mm ammunition.

From 1939 the BESA machine gun became the standard British machine gun for tanks and other armoured vehicles (hence the widespread presence in the British tank tree), replacing the [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|Vickers machine gun]]. In June 1940 the improved BESA Mk II became available, featuring a selector to allow the operator to choose between a higher rate of fire for close combat or focused targets and a lower rate of fire for long-range combat or area targets. Several further versions of the BESA were produced up until 1966. The early models of the BESA were deemed obsolete in 1951, with later model guns remaining in service until the late 1960s.

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:Weapon BESA 7.92mm.jpg|BESA machine guns on the Light AA Mk I
</gallery>

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Besa_machine_gun|[Wikipedia] Besa machine gun]]

{{Britain and USA anti-aircraft guns}}
{{Tank machine guns}}

[[Category:Tank machine guns]]
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]

QF 17-pounder (76 mm)

2023-03-20T15:17:24Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */

M7 (76 mm)

2023-03-20T15:15:12Z

U128413528: /* Pros and cons */