War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

M36B2

2023-08-28T21:29:34Z

U140187582: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
|about = American tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage = other versions
|link = M36 Jackson (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m36b2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''M36B2''' tank destroyer, formally known as the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B2, was an improved version of the [[M36 GMC]] tank destroyer deployed by the U.S. Army near the end of World War II and throughout the Korean War. The M36B2 shared many traits with the original M36 GMC, including the same armour layout, engine, and main anti-tank gun. Beginning in May 1945, the American Locomotive Company rebuilt 672 M10 hulls into the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B2 variant. In May 1945, the Montreal Locomotive Works delivered another batch of 52 M36B2s. As Germany in World War II unconditionally surrendered in May 1945, this upgraded variant of the M36B2 saw no combat following its introduction. Instead, it was heavily utilized by the U.S. Army and the Republic of Korea Army against Soviet-made North Korean armoured vehicles during the Korean War, which began five years later, in 1950. Because [[M26]] and [[M46]] tanks were in short supply, the M36B2 became one of the favoured armoured vehicles for MAP (Military Assistance Program) transfers.

Introduced in [[Update "Drone Age"]], the M36B2 GMC performs extremely similarly to the original M36 GMC. Armoured turret cover shields were added to the M36B2, providing some modest protection against small artillery shrapnel and strafing by small-calibre aircraft machine guns. Despite this, the vehicle remains poorly armoured, leaving it vulnerable to strafing by large-calibre aircraft heavy machine guns or aircraft cannons. For the M36B2 variant, new HEAT-FS ammunition has become available, allowing it to engage strongly armoured enemy vehicles at a significantly greater range with reliability.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Turret, Hull)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (54°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8-107.8 mm (6-70°) ''Transmission housing''
| 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom'' || 19.05 mm (31-36°) ''Top'' 19.05 mm (13-45°) ''Bottom''
| 19.5 mm 10 mm
|-
| Turret || 31.75 mm (5-53°) ''Turret front'' 76.2 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 31.75 mm (14-21°) || 25.4 mm (0-22°) ||6.5 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Tracks are 20 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick while the wheels are 20 mm thick.
* Small slivers of 5 mm armour hang off the top side hull armour, giving minuscule protections at those areas.
* Track blocks on the side hull armour allows an extra 20 mm of armour at their locations.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363}}

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

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

{{main|M3 (90 mm)}}

The 90 mm M3 is the same gun available for the Super Hellcat, the T25 or the M26 and stays reliably accurate until 800 m distance. Beyond 1,000 m the loss of accuracy becomes a real handicap. The high muzzle velocity of your shells grants you pretty flat firing trajectories and thus helps fire at moving targets from a distance. In that regard, using the "sight distance control" feature can increase your chances of successfully hitting enemy tanks.

The rotation speed of the gun is better than average compared to other tanks at the same rank or battle rating. Which makes tracking a target from a distance an easy task to perform as your targeting process is fast. Elevation and depression angles of the gun are important, allowing you to fire from unusual positions (behind a ridge, from uphill, etc.). Your reload time is similar to vehicles at the same BR, if not a little longer than average. Your recoil is important but not powerful enough to throw your gun off target after firing. Lacking a stabilizer, the tank can't reliably fire on the move.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (90 mm)|90 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" | 47 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 21.1 || 29.3 || 35.5 || 39.3 || 41.8 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
The available ammunition allows for engaging all types of targets:

* '''T33''': APBC; a solid shot with an average penetration power and no explosive filler.
* '''M71''': HE; useful for destroying open and lightly armoured vehicles.
* '''M304''': APCR; a composite round with a very high penetration power but no explosive filler and will only penetrate flat vertical surfaces.
* '''M82''': APCBC; a capped armour-piercing shell with a ballistic cap that has a better but still average penetration power and an explosive filler. It will destroy any armoured target it penetrates.
* '''M348''': HEATFS; a HEAT round with very high penetration and excellent performance on angled armour
* '''M313''': Smoke; useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.

{{:M3 (90 mm)/Ammunition|T33 shot, M71 shell, M313, M304 shot, M82 shot (M36B2), M348 shell}}

==== [[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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''47''' || 39 ''(+8)'' || 30 ''(+17)'' || 21 ''(+26)'' || 12 ''(+35)'' || 7 ''(+40)'' || 1 ''(+46)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Racks 5 and 6 are first stage ammo racks. They total 11 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 5 - 6 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
* Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready racks 5 and 6. If the ready rack is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-4 into rack 6 then 5. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

=== 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||1,000 (200)||577||-10°/+70°||±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast speed
* Roof cover to protect from some air attacks
* Fast turret traverse
* Carries a powerful gun
* HEATFS and APCBC to fight German heavies and post-war vehicles
* Browning .50 cal to deal with light vehicles and aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Slow and lacking in manoeuvrability when stock
* Most opponents can penetrate your thin armour with autocannons, guns, and bombs
* Roof armor is 6.5 mm thick, meaning most cannons and rifle-calibre weaponry can knock out the crew
* HEATFS explodes on fences and bushes
* Useless APCR shell
* Stock APBC is mediocre
* HEATFS sometimes requires extra shots for destroying heavily-armoured targets

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle 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 vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-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>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m36b2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Other M36B2s

* [[M36B2 (Japan)]]
* [[M36B2 (France)]]

== External links ==

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

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

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{USA tank destroyers}}

Chi-Ha Short Gun

2023-08-24T22:22:48Z

U140187582: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = premium Japanese medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Chi-Ha (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=jp_type_97_chi_ha_12cm
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}} / Short 12cm SPG''' ({{Annotation|短十二糎自走砲|Tan-Jūni Senchimētoru Ji Hashi-Hō}}) is a later iteration of the [[Chi-Ha]] with a modified turret coming from the [[Chi-Ha Kai]], boasting a [[Navy short gun (120 mm)]] meant to defend naval bases and merchant ships in a multipurpose role. The Navy's modification of the Chi-Ha was meant to mimic the role of the Army's [[Ho-I]] tank to support infantry as a gun tank during the defense of the homeland.

The {{PAGENAME}} was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]] as a pre-order [[wt:en/news/4379-japanese-pre-order-packs-en|premium pack]]. It packs a relatively powerful 120 mm cannon that can destroy most enemies with one shot. However, it has a considerable reload time of 10s aced, poor turret traverse, and low shell velocity that make it hard to aim and fight with. It will be able to destroy the lightest targets with near misses, and will need some aim on more armoured targets trying to splash the explosive mass into the bottom or top armour of tanks.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)

[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_(2).png|thumb|right|300px|{{PAGENAME}} scanning the seaside]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25 mm (11-31°) ''Front plate'' 15-17 mm (62-80°) ''Front glacis'' 15 mm (37-59°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25 mm (25 / 40°) ''Top'' 25 mm ''Bottom'' || 15 mm (69°) ''Top'' 20 mm (5-57°) || 12 mm
|-
| Turret|| 25 mm (9-10°) ''Turret front'' 32-35 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 25 mm (9-10°) || 25 mm || 10 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 25 mm (cylindrical) || 10 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

*Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 263|rbMinHp= 150}}

The Type 97 [[Chi-Ha]] is an upgraded version of the earlier Type 89 [[I-Go Ko]]. The engine has been upgraded, from the Mitsubishi A6120VD air-cooled straight-six diesel with 120 hp to a Mitsubishi SA12200VD air-cooled V12 diesel with 170 hp. As such, the top speed has increased from 27 km/h on the [[I-Go Ko]] to 40 km/h on the [[Chi-Ha]].

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

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

[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_(4).png|thumb|{{PAGENAME}} firing]]
{{main|Navy short gun (120 mm)}}

The 120 mm Navy short gun is built to deal with submarines and close range naval combat, and that does translate over in-game as a gun that have a very low muzzle velocity, which on the bright side can be used to shoot at vehicles over cover.

The gun can only fire an HE round by default. However, the shell contains 2.64 kg of TNT equivalent, which is enough to cause a lethal overpressure damage against almost any enemy the tank has to face at its BR.

While the shell is certainly powerful, it is not as powerful as the [[Ho-Ro]]'s 150 mm howitzer rounds. This means careful aim is still needed when facing a more well-armoured opponents. Against these targets, aim at any deflective angles that can cause the explosion effect to deflect on the weak hull roof.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Navy short gun (120 mm)|120 mm Navy short gun]] || 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" | 23 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 5.7 || 7.9 || 9.6 || 10.6 || 11.3 || rowspan="2" | 13.0 || rowspan="2" | 11.5 || rowspan="2" | 10.6 || rowspan="2" | 10.0
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.6 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 5.6 || 6.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:Navy short gun (120 mm)/Ammunition|Short Ordinary HE}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''23''' || 18 ''(+5)'' || 0 ''(+23)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

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



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

{{main|Type 97 (7.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Type 97 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Hull || 3,000 (20) || 499 || ±10° || ±15°
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (20) || 499 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_(5).png|thumb|left|{{PAGENAME}} coming out behind a rock]]
Because the {{PAGENAME}} was designed for an infantry support role, its performance shows how tank combat wasn't put in mind for the vehicle. With awfully slow turret traverse and poor shell trajectory harming the tank's combat effectiveness. However, with each shell having 2.64 kg of TNT equivalent of explosives, it can easily deal overpressure damage against most tank it will face.

Most lightly-armoured vehicles and tanks with less than 30 mm of armour will be able to be destroyed from crew knock-out wherever you hit them. But when you start opposing medium to heavy tanks, you should fall back for friendlies to deal with the target. It might be possible fire a shot to deal overpressure damage against weak hull roof, but it's a tricky shot and won't always deal a fatal blow on first hit.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Familiar [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]] chassis
* {{Annotation|TEN-SECONDS|10.6s Expert; 10.0s Ace}} reload with a 120 mm cannon
* Huge explosive mass for 120 mm HE shell means it can destroy every tank it faces via overpressure
* Five crew members

'''Cons:'''

* Slow reload compared to cannons commonly met at this BR (37 to 75 mm)
* Only fires high explosive rounds
* As the shell is much less effective than the 150 mm howitzers, it requires some knowledge for where to aim on enemy's tanks to cause overpressure effect
* Poor turret traverse, just 5.1°/s
* Very slow muzzle velocity (290 m/s) causes large shell drop

== History ==

{{main|Chi-Ha (Family)|l1=History of the Type 97 Chi-Ha}}

=== Development ===
The {{PAGENAME}}, designated the ''Short 12 cm Self-propelled artillery'' ({{Annotation|短十二糎自走砲|Tan Jū ni-senchimētoru Jisōhō}}) was a navy refit of the [[Chi-Ha Kai|Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai]] to make a similar gun tank as the Army's [[Ho-I|Type 2 Ho-I]] with greater firepower to support the Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF).

To get greater firepower than the Type 2 Ho-I, a naval short barrel 120 mm was chosen with an additional bespoke muzzle brake, the official designation of this 120 mm gun is unclear but may greatly be the [[wikipedia:12_cm/12_short_naval_gun?|12cm/12 short naval gun]]. Additionally, there was a small storage compartment added onto the back of the ShinHoTo Chi-Ha turret.

=== Combat usage ===
The only certain information on this variant is that only a dozen or so vehicles were built and all were assigned to the Yokosuka No. 16 Special Land Battle Corps. The Chi-Ha's weren't the only vehicles assigned to this squadron and saw service next to the Type 2 [[Ka-Mi]] and Type 3 [[Ka-Chi]] amphibious tanks.

These vehicles would most likely have seen service in defense of the homeland next to the SNLF infantry. But in-case that these tanks would be required to move to forward islands, they would most likely be transport by [[Daihatsu-class Landing Craft]]'s just like the infantry accompanied and escorted by the Amphibious tanks during landings.

There's only a handful of images of Chi-Ha 120 mm, all being American and taken at the naval yard in Sasebo, Japan, October 1945. None of the vehicles survive today.
<gallery mode="packed" widths="300" heights="200">
File:Chi-Ha-120-Inspection.jpg|American Inspection
File:Chi-ha-120-1.jpg|Stored Chi-Ha 12 cm's
File:Chi-Ha-120-3.jpg|Inside picture of the breech, seen from the commander's port
</gallery>

== Media ==

{{main|Chi-Ha (Family)#Media|l1=Media of the Type 97 Chi-Ha}}

;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=jp_type_97_chi_ha_12cm Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Chi-Ha Short Gun (3).png|{{PAGENAME}} coming from the sea
Chi-Ha Short Gun (1).png|{{PAGENAME}} engaging an enemy
Chi-Ha Short Gun (6).png|{{PAGENAME}} back view
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VFEv4q3G5Us|'''Most unusual vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:15 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|grWpd6A4zbY|''What 120mm of Power is doing at 1.7 BR? - Chi-Ha Short Gun''' - ''HowToPlay1337''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Directly Related:
** [[Chi-Ha Kai|Type 97 Chi-Ha]] (base hull)
** [[Chi-Ha Kai|Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai]] (base turret)
** [[Ho-I|Type 2 Ho-I]] (reference role)

* Related:
** [[Chi-Ha LG|Type 97 Chi-Ha Long Gun]] (another navy variant)

;Tanks of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[M8 Scott]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4394-development-chi-ha-short-gun-naval-caliber-en|[Development] Chi-Ha Short Gun: Naval Caliber]]
* [http://sakurasakujapan.web.fc2.com/main03/weaponjpngunshort12cm20cm/short12cm20cm.html Short 12cm/20cm Gun (JP)]

{{ShipManufacturer Sasebo Naval Arsenal}}
{{Japan medium tanks}}
{{Japan premium ground vehicles}}

Pz.Sfl.Ic

2023-08-24T22:07:45Z

U140187582: /* Pros and cons */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/901--en|premium pack]] in [[Update 1.43]] as the ''Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. H'' (shortened to ''Pz.II H''). In [[Update_1.89_"Imperial_Navy"#Ground_vehicles_2|Update 1.89]], the vehicle was renamed to the current designation. It was purchasable from the store until the [[wt:en/news/7154-shop-may-sale-in-the-gaijin-store-en|2021 May sale]] after which it was removed from sale. It has since been made available for purchase in-game with Golden Eagles {{GE}} temporarily for the [[wt:en/news/7358-special-german-unity-day-en|2021]] and [[wt:en/news/7894-special-german-unity-day-en|2022]] "German Unity Day" mini-events.

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

Having 30 mm of frontal armour, this tank isn't made for the frontline. The three crew members mean that single-shot destruction is a common possibility. Worse still, this tank has no roof protection with the cloth covering being only cosmetic. Unfortunately, this also means that you are very vulnerable to aircraft attacks too. Your demure silhouette will let you easily hide in the small nooks and crannies of maps and lets you cover your entire tank with bushes for extra concealment.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 30 mm (13°) ''Upper plate'' 10 mm (74°) ''Upper glacis'' 30 mm (18°) ''Lower plate'' 5 mm (68°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm || 20 mm (4-16°) || 10 mm
|-
| Turret || 30 mm (17°) ''Turret front'' 20 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 20 mm (12°)
!
!
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.
* A 5 mm thick plate separates the crew compartment from the engine compartment.
* Mudguards are 4 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=310|rbMinHp=177}}

The {{PAGENAME}} has a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 20 hp/ton which translates to a very mobile and nimble tank. The top speed of 56 km/h (RB) is good but still pales in comparison next to the 90 km/h of the Puma armoured cars. However, its tracks handle much better at high speeds than the Puma's wheels, and it is able to make far tighter turns and faster stops. The maximum reverse speed is -10 km/h, which for a tank is decent and will let you easily get out of perilous situations where other tanks of the same rank struggle when retreating.

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

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

{{main|PaK38 (50 mm)}}

The 50 mm PaK38 is probably the best gun you can find at this battle rating. The shells have decent penetration, good post pen damage and an incredible APCR round makes this tank able to punch way above its weight. Don't be afraid to take this tank into higher rank battles. Beware, though, it will struggle against the upper front plate of T-34s and Shermans, so remember their frontal weak spots. Not that you should be engaging those tanks frontally anyway. Always bring high explosive rounds, as the lack of any secondary armament makes lighter vehicles harder to fight effectively.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[PaK38 (50 mm)|50 mm PaK38]] || 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" | 40 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.3 || 18.4 || 22.4 || 24.8 || 26.4 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.79 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:PaK38 (50 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, PzGr 40/1, PzGr 40, Sprgr. 38}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''40''' || 27 ''(+13)'' || 14 ''(+26)'' || 1 ''(+39)'' || Yes
|-
|}
Notes:

* Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.
* The visual discrepancy concerns the number of shells per rack:
** For rack 1, 20 shells are modeled for 14 available.
** For racks 2 & 3, 11 shells are modeled for 13 available.

== Usage in battles ==

In battles, it performs well as a scout vehicle with its high mobility in all game modes. It can also function well as a tank destroyer with its high penetration power. It has very little gun depression, which means you won't be able to reliably shoot over hills. It also lacks a machine gun to combat planes and open-topped vehicles, which can be a burden.

It's advised that you keep on the move while using the Pz.Sfl.Ic as any aircraft with guns can take out your turret crew which will knock your vehicle out. Most SPAAs at your BR will also be able to penetrate your hull even frontally, so try to stay out of sight. You are generally safe from .50 cal HMGs although from the rear and non-angled sides they can still penetrate.

In the Pz.Sfl.Ic, you should avoid well-protected tanks like the [[KV-1 (L-11)]], the [[T-34 (1940)]] or the [[M4A3 (105)]] as their armour will make it difficult for your 50 mm cannon to penetrate in an uptier. Your cannon still can go through any of their weak spots. Generally, you should stay on the move and make sure you're not spotted, try to stay off the frontline, but don't be afraid to use your gun if you have to since it's very potent at its BR except against the most armoured targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Has a gun that will reliably penetrate pretty much any of its expected enemies
* Is very, very, very fast (Max speed off-road of around 56 km/h)
* Has a decent reload speed
* Has the scouting ability, which can earn you some extra silver lions and valuable intel for your team
* Because of lack of armour, some shells will pass right through you
* Can change positions very quickly if needed
* Can get to the cap points and good positions early in the match

'''Cons:'''

* Weak armour - trade-off of speed for less weight
* Open-top, planes can destroy the vehicle with machine guns when strafing very easily
* Has very bad depression angles
* Can get slowed down in difficult terrain

== History ==


{{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'}}|expand=true}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
In July, 1940 Armament Command ordered two light tank prototypes with enhanced weaponry from the company MAN. Rheinmetall-Borsig built the cannons and the bulkheads comprising the body.

In January, 1942 four tanks were produced and immediately sent to the Eastern Front as part of the 1st and 3rd squads of the 559 Antitank Battalion.

An open-top rotating hexagonal turret with no rear wall was installed. Its primary weapon was a 50mm KwK 39.
{{Navigation-End}}

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{{Youtube-gallery|h8ItFYwulAs|'''The Shooting Range #15''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:43 discusses the Pz.Sfl.Ic.}}

== 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;''
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{{Germany light tanks}}
{{Germany premium ground vehicles}}

SU-152

2023-08-22T19:26:04Z

U140187582: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_su_152
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]].

A self-propelled gun built atop the KV heavy tank chassis, the vehicle carries the impressive [[ML-20S (152 mm)|152 mm ML-20S]] howitzer. To house the large gun, the vehicle structure itself is also large, which withers away the design's ability to conceal itself like other casemate structure tank destroyers.

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

The SU-152 has decent protection for a tank destroyer, but still is inadequately-protected against any enemy projectiles. The vehicle is armoured mainly with 60 mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA), covering the sides, back and glacis. The only thicker armour section covers the gun mantlet and corresponding front plate, armoured with 65 mm of cast homogeneous armour and 75 mm of RHA, respectively. The top of the vehicle is armoured with 20 mm of RHA, meaning that most cannon-calibre aircraft projectiles will penetrate it with ease.

In terms of survivability, the SU-152's five crew members are relatively spaced out, meaning that the chances of an instant crew-knock are smaller. However, the main weakness in the SU-152's protection are it's ammo racks. The vehicle has two large ammo racks (shells on the left side, charges on the right side) that sit directly underneath the side 60 mm RHA belts. This means that any shot that penetrates the side of the hull will likely cause an ammo rack detonation. The engine is located at the very rear of the vehicle, covered by fuel tanks.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 60 mm (32-71°) ''Front glacis'' 60 mm (23°) ''Lower glacis'' || 60 mm || 60 mm (8-59°) || 30 mm
|-
| Superstructure || 75 mm (29-30°) ''Front glacis'' 65 mm (0-73°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (22-25°) || 60 mm (11°) || 20 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* A 25 mm plate covers front joint area between the front and lower hull glacis.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=852|rbMinHp=531}}

The SU-152's mobility isn't particularly impressive. It can reach a top forward speed of 43 km/h, while a lower top speed can be expected in practice, especially when crossing rough terrain. Note that the engine upgrades will dramatically increase the engine horsepower, from 531 to 600 hp for RB and from 852 to 1,150 hp in AB. This means that a fully upgraded SU-152 will perform much better in terms of power, acceleration and off-road capacity. The tank also has relatively good reverse speeds (~17 km/h), much more than Soviet tanks such as the T-34 series. The power-to-weight ratio is also competitive, but should not be relied on.

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

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

{{main|ML-20S (152 mm)}}

The SU-152 carries, as the vehicle name suggests, a massive 152 mm gun. The gun has a massive 20+ second reload time, and packs a similarly-massive punch. The ML-20S is a Soviet WWII-era howitzer, developed from a WWI-era howitzer. The weapon can fire an extremely powerful APHE shell with 170 mm of penetration, while still packing 740 grams of TNT filler. The tank can also fire HE shells with 5.9 kg of explosive, as well as an APHEBC shell with more TNT filler. Thus, the shells can easily penetrate the frontal armour of most medium and heavy tanks at the SU-152's BR. In particular, the APHE/APHEBC shells can come as a nasty surprise, as they pack an impressive punch combined with strong penetration ability.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[ML-20S (152 mm)|152 mm ML-20S]] || 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" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -3°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±12° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 7.0 || 9.8 || 11.8 || 13.1 || 13.9 || rowspan="2" | 27.69 || rowspan="2" | 24.50 || rowspan="2" | 22.58 || rowspan="2" | 21.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 4.8 || 5.6 || 6.8 || 7.5 || 8.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:ML-20S (152 mm)/Ammunition|BR-540, OF-540, BR-540B}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 17 ''(+3)'' 17 ''(+3)'' || 11 ''(+9)'' 11 ''(+9)'' || 1 ''(+19)'' 1 ''(+19)''|| No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells disappear when all shells in the racks have been fired or loaded.
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.

== Usage in battles ==

The SU-152 is a tank destroyer that serves many different purposes; the most accurate way to observe this vehicle is as somewhat of a "big brother" to the [[SU-122]] and as the "cousin" of the [[KV-2 (Family)|KV-2]]. However, this vehicle features many differences from its closest predecessors. For example, the SU-152's [[Battle ratings|BR]] is higher without any noticeable gain in firepower over its relatives. This presents a problem as the SU-152 will no longer be able to perform its trademark knock-outs with one hit thanks to the high-explosive rounds as often. However, unlike the other vehicles that fill the same role, the SU-152 gains access to highly effective armour piercing high explosive (APHE) ammo. This is the pinnacle of the SU-152's effectiveness. Nonetheless, turret shots with HE shells are still a viable option in combat. Due to the vehicle's BR, players are more likely to know and counter your strategy. Thus, the 152's new armour piercing rounds may come as a rude surprise.

The biggest threats you will encounter at any point whilst playing the SU-152 are enemy tank destroyers. The dreaded Panzer IV-derived tank destroyers pose a significant threat; they can punch through the SU-152's armour at ranges of more than 1,000 m with the L70 gun while remaining at the extreme edge of your own effective firing range. Another frequent threat are the [[M10 GMC|M10]] and [[M18_GMC|M18]] tank destroyers. Boasting both range and speed, these machines can either destroy you from distances that you cannot hope to match or completely avoid your fire while still creeping closer. The final threat to this TD is actually centred on the vehicle itself: an extremely long reload time that leaves little room for error. One missed shot from within your enemy's effective firing range can mean your undoing.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Makes up for speed with great turning time when stopped
* Very powerful HE shells
* Impressive armor piercing damage
* High penetration on AP shells
* Generally good armor
* Good off-road manoeuvrability
* Lowest profile of all of the 152 mm-armed tanks, allows for limited stealth
* Great reverse speed (18 km/h)

'''Cons:'''

* Sluggish at low speeds
* Armour is box-like which prevents bounces and includes several shot traps at the front
* It lacks the "fear factor" normally associated with the KV-2
* Reload is long, though not as bad as the KV-2
* Extremely slow vertical guidance speed prevents reaction shots

== History ==

===Development===
During Operation Uranus, when the Soviet Army was able to successfully encircle the German Sixth Army inside Stalingrad, there were some weaknesses pointed out in their armoured formations. One was the need for heavy guns that could also be mobile, as there were many German fortifications that were unable to be handled by the front-line troops. The Soviet heavy artillery at the time, the 152 mm howitzer, was very heavy and could not be effectively towed from place to place due to unsuitable terrain and lack of capable transportation. Though they experimented with a propelled version of the gun with the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]], the tank was phased out of production by October 1941. In November 1942, the State Defense Committee attempted to fix this by ordering the development of a heavy self-propelled gun with the 152.4 mm ML-20 howitzer as its main armament and was to have greater mobility, armour, and better production cost.

The development of this project had actually been going on for a while and was considered before the order for its development, but the SU-152 was cancelled due to the urgency of standard tank production in the war. The project started in December 1942 among three different design teams from different factories. All the designs ended up with the 152 mm howitzer and the utilization of the [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1S]] chassis. After evaluations, the design from Josef Kotin was chosen for further development and production as it had the gun and chassis combined with minimum cost. The project was then designated the ''KV-14'' and the first prototype was called "Object 236". The vehicle was complete rather quickly in only 25 days and trials began on January 25, 1943. The vehicle was then approved for production at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant on February 14 and accepted into service. The name was changed into its designation '''SU-152''' and was produced from February 1943 to December 1943 with only about 670 units produced.

===Design===
The design of the SU-152 followed standard Soviet format for self-propelled guns. The fighting compartment was fully armoured in a casemate structure to protect the crew. The crew consisted of four people - the gunner, loader, and commander was positioned beside the gun and the driver near the front. The armour on the SU-152 was about 75 mm on the front and was sloped for better protection. The 152 mm howitzer was mounted slightly to the right of the vehicle and had a limited traverse vector. The SU-152's suspension system was made up of torsion bars from the KV-1 chassis. Observation from inside the vehicle consisted of periscopes on the roof hatches and two gun sights (a panoramic and a telescopic sight). Its communications featured an intercom system installed for use with a single radio plus a radio for communication with other SU-152s. Inside, the crew's armament was made up of a few submachine guns and grenades.

===Combat usage===
The SU-152 proved devastating in its role, and the first batch was issued to the newly formed heavy mechanized gun regiments in May 1943. The first of these regiments with twelve vehicles saw action in Kursk but was further supplemented with nine more during the battle. The regiments' organization throughout the war was for 21 vehicles in a regiment with three batteries of seven vehicles with one KV-1S tank commanding the regiment. Despite its role as an anti-fortification artillery piece, a role it performed with standard HE rounds, it was also one of the Soviets' best anti-tank weapons. It was classified as a dual-role heavy assault gun and a heavy tank destroyer. Its large cannon could even destroy the new [[Panther D|Panthers]], [[Tiger H1|Tigers]], and [[Ferdinand|Ferdinands]] with relative ease by utilizing the spalling and blast concussion effects produced by its large high explosive shells. Because of such a capability of the vehicle to destroy better German tanks, it earned its nickname as the ''Zveroboy'', or the "Beast Slayer". The reports of the "SU-152 effect" on target is said to have been able to take the turret off the Tiger I at any range with just the HE shell. The SU-152 was reported to have caused numerous armoured fighting vehicle losses to the German side. One commander, Major Sankovskiy, who commanded a SU-152 that destroyed ten German tanks in one day, was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union.

After Kursk, the SU-152 continued to serve as the Soviet Army's primary anti-fortification weapon in all of its front lines, especially during its Operation Bagration offensive in summer of 1944. However, production ended in December 1943 and thus combat losses caused a decrease in SU-152 quantity in Soviet inventory. This halt in the production was due to the introduction of the better armoured and more reliable [[ISU-152]], which was based on the newer [[IS-2]] heavy tank while still keeping the same gun and combat role. Despite that, the SU-152 remained in service until 1954, when the Soviets decommissioned, scrapped, or sold their remaining SU-152s to other allies such as Syria and Egypt.

{{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 SPG was put into production and service in February 1943. It holds a unique record in that the design and construction of its prototype model took only 25 days. The vehicle was created based on the KV-1S tank. The powerful 152 mm ML-20 howitzer-gun's elevating mass with a 28.8 calibre barrel length was installed practically unaltered in its frame. Its crew of five were housed in a specially designed fighting compartment. The vehicle's hull and cabin were welded from rolled armour plates of 20, 30, 60 and 70 mm thickness. The gun mantlet was 60 mm thick. Its direct firing range came to 3,800 m, and its maximum range was 6,200 m. The howitzer-gun's rate of fire was 2 shots per minute. The vehicle's ammunition complement consisted of 20 separate loading quick-fire shells.

The self-propelled gun was mass-produced in February-December 1943. In total, 670 of them were made.

The SU-152 turned out to be a very effective means to combat heavy tanks. These vehicles' shells, weighing 48.8 kg each, easily penetrated Tiger and Panther armour and ripped off their turrets. This lead front-line soldiers to affectionately dub it Zveroboy (one who fights beasts/animals).

Thanks to its combination of mobility and high firepower, the SU-152 was used in three separate roles: assault weapon, tank destroyer and self-propelled howitzer. However, the weapon's low rate of fire and elevation angle along with its closed fighting compartment significantly hampered the vehicle's effectiveness. The SPG's other disadvantages were the absence of a defensive machine gun, its insufficient frontal armour for 1943 and its crowded fighting compartment. The lack of forced draught ventilation in the fighting compartment, particularly when the engine stalled, often lead to the crew suffocating during firing operations.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_su_152 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|e54cLYJnH1g|'''The SU-152 "Beast Slayer", Soviet Tier-3, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[ISU-152]]
* [[ISU-152 (China)]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:SU-152|[Wikipedia] SU-152]]
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_SU-152.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> SU-152]

{{TankManufacturer ChTZ}}
{{USSR tank destroyers}}