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P-66

2024-08-03T05:54:13Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-66
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

An American fighter designed in the late 1930s, the Vultee P-66 Vanguard was originally intended to be delivered to Sweden in 1941. However, following the attack on Pearl Harbour, the US decided to retain the aircraft for defense and training of its own personnel. When better aircraft became available, the P-66 was sold to China in large numbers, serving in the 3rd and 5th Air Groups of the Chinese Nationalist Forces. At the end most of these fighters were replaced by the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in 1943, but some of them survived and were used in the Chinese Civil War against Mao's forces. Compared to its Japanese counterparts such as the Ki-43 and Ki-44, the P-66 lacked the agility to survive in prolonged fights, and thus it was forced to do hit and run tactics, using its better top speed to outrun Japanese fighters when they moved to intercept.

Introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]], the "Vanguard" may bear a slight resemblance to the [[P-36G|P-36 Hawk]], another contemporary US design with a radial engine, razorback cockpit, and similar armament, but it has large differences in the details of its design. Compared to the Hawk, it has a longer and rounder fuselage with narrower wings. It also has an unusually spacious canopy, which is not surprising considering that it was designed to share parts with trainer aircraft. Performance-wise, the P-66 is a balanced fighter with no particular strengths. This may be off-putting for pilots coming from the previous [[CW-21]] and its amazing performance, but the P-66 is still a decent aircraft and is the first Chinese fighter that can actually take a hit or two. Tactics learned with this aircraft can be applied to the succeeding [[P-40E-1 (China)|P-40E]].

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


Most flight characteristics of the P-66 are average or perhaps slightly below average. The top speed is not terrible for its rank, but it will not be winning many races against contemporary German and Italian aircraft with sleek inline engines. It is slower than the [[Bf 109 E-1|Bf 109E]]s, and [[C.202]]s or [[He 100 D-1 | He 100]]s will leave it in the dust. The Japanese [[Ki-43-II]] is faster as well. The climb rate and acceleration are nothing special. Turning is decent when combat flaps are used, but it is less manoeuvrable than many low-rank aircraft it faces. Horizontal energy retention is alright, but the vertical energy retention is below average. Dive characteristics are fairly good, as it picks up speed nicely and the controls do not stiffen that much.

Overall, the P-66 is in an uncomfortable situation where it does not have the speed or climb to consistently have an energy advantage over many of its opponents, but it also does not have outstanding manoeuvrability for easily dodging diving attacks or winning turnfights. Fly carefully!

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 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
| 523 ||508 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.9 || 21.6 || 8.2 || 8.2 || rowspan="2" | 343
|-
! Upgraded
| 571 || 547 || 19.2 || 20.0 || 14.9 || 11.2
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 445 || 399 || 280 || ~12 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 350 || < 280 || < 580 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,890 m || 1,100 hp || 1,210 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,810 m || 1,000 hp || 1,100 hp
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm of bulletproof glass on the windshield
* 8 mm of steel behind upper portion of engine compartment
* 8 mm of steel in the pilot's seat
* Two small armoured boxes with 3 mm of steel in the rear fuselage

One self sealing fuel tank is located in each wing root.

The P-66 has good armour for a plane of this size and era. The combination of the large radial engine, engine compartment armour, and bulletproof glass makes knocking out the pilot in head-on engagements less likely. The armoured seat protects the aircraft from behind and the self-sealing fuel tanks are hard to hit except in deflection shots.

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

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

{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (225 rpg = 450 total)
* 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)

Compared to the CW-21, the P-66 has two more 7.62 mm machine guns and slightly more ammunition for the twin M2 Brownings. The former are located in the wings, and the latter are tightly clustered in the upper nose. The M2 Brownings are the star of the show as they are highly accurate and deal good damage. The P-66 initially had access to mid-war belts for the M2 Brownings, but they have since been removed. The early belts do not have access to AP-I rounds and do not start fires as effectively, but the kinetic effects are much the same. Try the Universal and Stealth belts since they have a decent mix of armour-piercing and incendiary rounds.

The low-calibre 7.62 mm machine guns are less useful since they experience issues with convergence and become ineffective past a few hundred metres. Still, they add extra burst mass and will do a number against unarmoured aircraft. Much like the M2 Brownings, try the Universal or Stealth belts.

== Usage in battles ==


At the start of a match, climb and gain some altitude, at least a few thousand metres. Sideclimbing is recommended to avoid getting jumped by high-flying opponents early on. Do not try to climb to great heights since this would take a while and the engine will not perform very well there. Keep an eye out on the battlefield and look for enemies. If things are quiet, the P-66 can serve admirably for attacking bombers and attackers due to its good protection and firepower. If enemy fighters are nearby, stick with teammates and look for an opening to engage. For newer pilots, it is easier to go after enemies that have a significant energy disadvantage or are distracted. Be careful when picking fights and avoid extended horizontal or vertical manoeuvres. If the engagement becomes unfavorable, consider acting as bait and leading opponents towards teammates.

It is hard to specify any particular strategies for the P-66 due to its rounded performance. Maintain energy throughout dogfights and use the powerful armament as soon as a firing solution is available. A crippled opponent will have a hard time fighting a pristine P-66. And do not be afraid of taking some light fire if it means getting into a more advantageous position.

Do not let opponents with both superior speed and manoeuvrability like the [[Ki-43-II]] latch onto the P-66's tail. At that point, the only recourse is to dodge while running towards teammates because it is unlikely that the P-66 will be able to successfully disengage or pull a reversal against a decent pilot.

Baiting enemies into head-ons is a viable strategy since the P-66 is better protected than most other fighters and the nose-mounted M2 Brownings are very accurate with a high muzzle velocity. A few good hits can set the opponent afire or knock out their pilot. Try to dodge after firing a good burst; even if the enemy is damaged or destroyed first, their bullets or perhaps the burning wreck of their plane are still unpleasant to be hit by.

When attacking bombers or attackers with defensive gunners, note that while low-calibre defensive weapons are unlikely to knock out the P-66's pilot, the engine can still be damaged and destroyed if enough hits are taken. Do not sit on a bomber or attacker's tail for long unless its gunners have been knocked out. Try to aim for fuel tanks or engines, since those are easily set afire. Trying to dismantle large aircraft with sheer burst mass will take a while and use up lots of ammunition.

* In simulator, the P-66 is overall a decent aircraft to fly, similar to the previous CW-21 in many aspects. The tactics are also similar to RB: it can perform BnZ fighting as well as some turn fighting and intercepting.
* The P-66's pros in sim include pretty nice handling at most speeds (300-450 km/h), extremely well over-the-nose visibility thanks to its high-mounted gunsight, allowing the player to easily see what is below the nose. Sideways & upward visibility is great too, with very few canopy frames obstructing your view. It is also forgiving for beginners, since it will not easily enter flat spins even if you pull the stick a lot (almost to the edge), allowing for more agile manoeuvres.
* Its biggest con is the terrible rear visibility. With a huge non-transparent structure behind your seat, you cannot see anything behind you, sometimes not even your own stabilisers! As a result you will always get caught off guard from behind, not knowing what and where the enemy is. There are also quite some thick frames at the front. Also, the P-66's elevators struggles to pitch the aircraft at both low and high speeds (<250 km/h, >480 km/h). When performing BnZ attacks, this flaw can cause the player to ram into the target plane as a result of not being able to pitch up in time. Therefore you need to pull the stick more to turn tighter. At last, the roll rate is not satisfactory below 200 km/h.
* Note that when taking off the P-66 will drift to the left and right due to the propeller torque, so it is recommended to set keybinds for left and right brakes to effectively control your direction when on the runway. Using rudder alone will not work at low speed and you will either circle around or lose control and crash into nearby structures like tents/hangars.
* Landing is fairly beginner-friendly. It is able to decelerate quickly while also having low enough stall speed, allowing you to quickly slow down and descend onto the runway. Note: landing flaps generate lots of lift that will raise your plane back up, so use combat / takeoff flaps first and only deploy landing flaps when you are almost touching down. Remember to remain overall parallel to the ground. It also performs great when braking as its nose will not usually dip into the ground (same as the later P-43), so you can keep braking until it fully stops (given that you deflect elevators fully upwards) which is vital for preparing the next fight quickly.
* Under 2,500 m, you can use WEP for around 3 minutes, then the oil will start heating up. But above 2,500 m, the WEP can be almost infinite depending on the map season. For trimming, it is recommended to trim for around -10, -8, -8 for ailerons, elevators and rudder respectively.
* Your firepower is quite weak against bombers and attackers, and the recommended deflection shooting will take you some time to down an aircraft as you only have 2 M2 MG that do the work. The 4 x 7.62 mm generally do little damage against tough planes. Still, do not sit behind any plane with a rear facing gunner as you big radial engine will always get damaged. Some examples are the IL-2 which is commonly seen in Sim. It can get mistakenly seen as other aircraft from a distance due to its common appearance. But up close you will see two bomb-like structures underneath its wings and triangular stabilisers with rounded tips. The early IL-2s have no defensive guns so it is safe to sit behind and carefully aim. They are heavily armoured in the cockpit and engine so avoid aiming at these areas. Instead target the tail to hope for disabling their tail control. The late IL-2s, however, have a rear-facing Berezin UB which is something you definitely want to avoid. Perform deflection shots or just disengage.
* Other examples include the AI bombers which are usually Ju-87s. Do not engage them if you have no altitude advantage. Having higher speed but at the same altitude will not work either as the P-66 loses speed quickly in a level flight. Try to get at least 600 m above them. To maximise the damage aim for their nose and engines, as the wings and fuselage usually soak up lots of bullets. Only fire when they pass in front of your guns. During these steps do not forget to randomly pitch and yaw to avoid their guns, because even those single MG 15s can easily damage your fragile engine. Luckily, with a damaged engine you might still be able to glide back to a nearby airfield as interceptions with AI bombers usually happen at around 2,000 m which is enough to glide away.

=== 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
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good firepower
* Respectable turn time
* Quite rugged
* Decent dive characteristics
* Combat flaps are useful and do not rip very easily

'''Cons:'''

* Bad climb rate
* Not very fast
* Poor performance at high altitudes
* Engine tends to overheat
* No suspended ordnance for ground attack

== History ==


In the late 1930s, the Vultee Aircraft Corporation, previously known for the V-1 airliner and the derivative V-11/V-12 attackers, began work on a Model 48 fighter aircraft intended for export. The Model 48 was based on the Hughes H-1B race aircraft designed earlier by Vultee's chief designer. Not long after work began, the US Army began looking for advanced trainer aircraft, and Vultee planned on making a family of aircraft based on the Model 48, sharing components of the wings, tail, and rear fuselage. Three trainers were ultimately produced this way, including the well known BT-13 Valiant.

The Model 48, given the nickname of "Vanguard", was continuously refined. The first prototype was modified to have a long cowling and pointed nose, the engine being buried deeper in the fuselage. This approach, reminiscent of what would be used on the Japanese [[J2M2|J2M Raiden]], was intended to reduce drag, but ultimately caused issues with weight and cooling. As a result the engine installation was reverted to a more traditional setup. The Model 48C was the final revision intended for production and first flew in 1940. A large order of 144 aircraft was placed by Sweden. However, before the planes could be deliered, the US government blocked the export of aircraft to Sweden. At the time, Germany had already invaded Norway and Denmark, and the US feared that equipment exported to Sweden could end up in Axis service. This export ban prompted Sweden to focus on domestic aircraft development, eventually leading to aircraft like the [[J22-A|J22]].

100 fighters were instead to be given (though not yet produced or delivered) to Britain as the "Vanguard I", despite the fact that Britain had previously rejected it. The Vanguard was deemed unfit for combat and instead planned for use as advanced trainers in Canada. Meanwhile, the Republic of China was hard-pressed with fighting the Japanese invasion and went to the US looking to purchase suitable fighter aircraft. The Vanguard was considered a viable option, and after Britain relinquished the 100 aircraft that officially belonged to them, all 144 Vanguards were designated "'''P-66'''" and granted to China. Production fell behind schedule and no P-66s were delivered to China in fall 1941 as planned. In late 1941, the events of Pearl Harbor rocked the US, and a number of completed P-66s were used for training and testing by the USAAF. Though apparently well liked by pilots, the P-66 was rather accident prone and the final evaluation criticized its manoeuvrability and wing loading. Thus, the P-66 was dropped by the US military and the examples were shipped to China in crates beginning in the spring of 1942.

102 Vanguards survived the trip to Asia, and after their arrival in Karachi, a slow process of assembly and testing began. Ferrying the completed P-66s to China did not go smoothly, as the Republic of Chinese Air Force sent very few pilots to pick up the aircraft (frustrating the US government), and when they did, the pilots were inexperienced and many aircraft were lost in crashes. The P-66s were not used for much after being delivered either, often sitting in their hangars with few flying hours. After the US declined to export additional P-40s, citing that none of the Chinese lend-lease aircraft had actually been used in combat, the ROCAF suddenly started using their aircraft aggressively, the P-66 included.

In Chinese service, the P-66 was an unremarkable fighter. At one point it was the most numerous fighter in the ROCAF inventory, though the [[P-40E-1 (China)|P-40]] and [[P-43A-1 (China)|P-43]] saw much more action. When it did fight, it fared poorly against Japanese fighters, having more success against bombers. This may not have entirely been the fault of the design as the ROCAF had major issues with poor pilot training and logistics, but the P-43, another design held in low regard, proved to be more successful. The P-66 also suffered from friendly fire due to its passing resemblance to the [[Ki-43-I | Ki-43]] and [[Ki-44-I | Ki-44]]. Regardless, in late 1943, the P-66 was retired from combat duties and instead used as a trainer aircraft for the rest of its service in the Chinese Air Force - the same fate Britain had intended for it, and a fitting role considering its development history.

The P-66 was officially retired by the ROCAF in 1945, but a number of examples were put back into crates and stashed into caves near the city of Chongqing in preparation for the Kuomingtang's conflict with the Communists. They do not appear to have been used and their fate remains unknown. No examples are known to survive today.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=p-66 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 aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/474724-vultee-p-66-vanguard/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

=== References ===

* Dunn, Richard L. [https://www.warbirdforum.com/dunnp66.htm]. ''The Warbird's Forum'', Online June 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p66.html]. ''Joebauer.com website'', Online 18 September 1999. Retrieved 22 April 2020.

{{AirManufacturer Vultee}}
{{China fighters}}

IS-4M

2024-07-14T15:47:04Z

U141562625: /* Legacy */

{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_is_4m
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''IS-4M''' is an improved modification of the fourth variant of the IS heavy tank family. Like the [[IS-3]], the IS-4 (designation Object 701) was intended to replace the [[IS-2]]. The IS-4 was designed to be the pride of the Soviet Army, with extremely thick armour, a weight of 53 tonnes, and a 750 horsepower V-12 diesel engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 43 km/h. Despite being an upgrade to the IS-2, it never offered much to the table, particularly when compared to the IS-3, a lighter, faster, and cheaper tank that had stunned the Western world only a few years previously. The IS-4, most importantly, used the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun as the IS-2 and IS-3. Production began in March 1947 and stopped in 1949, as any work on tanks weighing more than 50 tonnes was to be terminated. The tank proved to be too heavy, sluggish, and poorly built. IS-4M, a small batch of 25 units with some enhancements, was constructed in 1951. Only 258 units were built in total.

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the IS-4M is an immediate successor of the IS-3, and it has even greater armour, making it difficult for many opponents to penetrate from the front. Needless to say, this tank is nearly invulnerable to conventional ammunition from the front. Unfortunately, the main armament remains the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun used on all prior IS heavy tank variants beginning with the IS-2, and at this rank, it simply feels inadequate sometimes. The gameplay differs slightly from its predecessor in that angling can work, but it must be done properly. A small angle will enhance the hull armour all around from the frontal perspective. Furthermore, since it is substantially heavier, the IS-4M is less manoeuvrable, making it difficult to play in faster-paced battles in higher ranks.

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


The IS-4M has very good armour although a very cramped crew compartment. Most shots will not be able to penetrate its frontal armour, and the turret is also very tricky to penetrate from the sides. However the crammed crew is very vulnerable to any shot that manages to penetrate, and in those situations surviving a hit is very unlikely.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof, Hatch roof)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 140 mm (62°) ''Front glacis'' 160 mm (40°) ''Lower glacis'' 160 mm (34-77°) ''Driver's port'' 40 mm (44-87°) ''Top of Driver's port''|| 160 mm (30-53°) ''Top'' 160 mm ''Middle'' 30 mm (61°) ''Bottom'' || 100 mm (37°) ''Top'' 30 mm (80°) ''Middle'' 100 mm (31-39°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 200-250 mm (2-89°) ''Turret front'' 200 mm (0-65°) , 170 + 250 mm (2-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 200 mm (3-40°) || 150 (62-72°) ''Top'' 170 mm (21-49°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm ''Front, Hatch roof, Ventilators'' 50 mm ''Front sides'' 170 mm ''Center''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, torsion bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Very angled turret, prone to bounce shots

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=968|rbMinHp=663}}

The increased weight of the IS-4M compared to the [[IS-3]] means a decrease in overall mobility. Its top speed is quite mediocre and the tank suffers in harsh terrain; while the reverse speed is good, its acceleration is not the best. Overall, it's not very mobile, even for a heavy tank.

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

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

{{main|D-25T (122 mm)}}

The IS-4M retains the the same 122 mm D-25T cannon found in the [[IS-2]]. It's a very capable cannon, with a good damage output and good penetration values for its BR-471D shell. However this means that its reload rate is very low, with 27 seconds when stock and 20.8 seconds with an Aced crew. That means that, even in a best case scenario, it's not capable of firing more than 3 shots per minute.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[D-25T (122 mm)|122 mm D-25T]] || 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" | -3°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 8.1 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 27.04 || rowspan="2" | 23.92 || rowspan="2" | 22.05 || rowspan="2" | 20.80
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 6.0 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:D-25T (122 mm)/Ammunition|BR-471, BR-471B, BR-471D, OF-471}}

==== [[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
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''30''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 29 ''(+1)'' 29 ''(+1)'' || 24 ''(+6)'' 24 ''(+6)'' || 19 ''(+11)'' 19 ''(+11)'' || 14 ''(+16)'' 14 ''(+16)'' || 9 ''(+21)'' 9 ''(+21)'' || 1 ''(+29)'' 1 ''(+29)'' || No
|-
|}

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

{{main|DShK (12.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DShK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DShK]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 1,000 (50) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle || 250 (50) || 600 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The IS-4M is a direct successor to the [[IS-3]], and it features even more armour, so much armour that some APDS and APFSDS cannot penetrate its UFP and most of the turret, needless to say this tank is practically invulnerable to conventional rounds from the front. Unfortunately the gun remains the same 122 mm D-25T that is featured on all IS-series tanks from the [[IS-2]], and at its BR it isn't enough sometimes, while other times a weird bounce can still lead to some good hits. Overall, though, this tank feels much better at its BR than the [[IS-3]], which has a huge shot trap.

=== General Gameplay ===
The playstyle is slightly different from its predecessor, as angling can work - it just needs to be done carefully. The frontal side armour is actually thicker than the front, so a slight angle will even-out hull armour all around (in a best case scenario it can get to 275 mm, or just slightly more). Also, the IS-4M is less mobile, because it's heavier - all speeds are dampened and mobility is heavily impaired. However, if you've played the stock [[IS-3]] this tank will feel a bit better.

'''Arcade Battles'''

The IS-4M will show a lot of red and yellow on the reticle when a player looks at it in Arcade. Only some HEAT and APFSDS shells can penetrate this beast frontally, and damage will only be substantial if the player takes their time to aim at the important components, because some shells will penetrate but their effect will be minimal inside the tank. However, there is little the IS-4M can do to make it harder to be damaged, because there are practically no weakspots to hide, and wiggling will not stop top rounds from penetrating.

In Arcade Battles, the improved speed should be used to rush any lone enemies and objectives. When this tank is at speed, enemies will often shoot the biggest part they see - the UFP, and many shots will bounce or not penetrate if they hit at an awkward angle; but even if they do penetrate the UFP, the IS-4M will be able to return fire because only the driver and possibly the transmission are knocked out. Very rarely will the IS-4M get one-shot through the UFP. Again, being at speed is being protected, and it is a big surprise to many enemies when a heavy tank drives around a corner at high speed - giving you extra seconds to take aim and disable them (usually you will pass them, so their side and/or rear is visible).

Rushing mostly works in cities, where your speed is further increased by paved roads, and enemies will be spaced apart between buildings. In open areas, rushing will usually end up in the IS-4's demise, as opponents will quickly flank you because it's easy to do.

If rushing is not an option, and you find yourself in close-quarters, your best bet is to try to bait shots either for yourself or for your teammates. You can poke your gun barrel out from a corner, and if enemies shoot it, your teammates can drive out and destroy the enemy. Poking out the side of the turret or heavily angled UFP is an option, but most enemies will realize that it's no use shooting there.

'''Realistic Battles'''

In Realistic, the IS-4M retains its ability to rush, although it's subdued. When fully upgraded you can still get up to speed and surprise enemies, especially if you can choose weird routes that are not likely to be checked by enemies. From experience, it's possible to destroy up to 3-4 enemy tanks on city maps like Alaska, American Desert and Middle East, when playing against a good mix of lighter tanks (e.g. Leopard I, Centurion Mk 10, Vickers MBT), as well as some heavier vehicles that can be out-manoeuvred.

Armour can protect the IS-4M, but most enemies usually have HEAT loaded, or will be able to load it for the next shot. Most importantly you should never find yourself fighting alone against 3 or more enemies, even 2 are hard to handle most of the time. At least when fighting one-on-one you can always try to retreat or one-shot them, depending on the situation (i.e. either gunner/gun or driver/transmission knocked out).

All in all, you should play the IS-4M as if it is a slow medium tank with sub-par firepower due to the reload speed - hope that armour withstands some shots, while taking on enemies one or two at a time; if speed can be gained - use it.

=== The Stock Grind ===
The IS-4M is less painful to play when stock because at times you can get very lucky matches where no-one seems to penetrate you and you get tons of research points for withstanding a lot of shots. Nonetheless, the experience is very much similar to the IS-3 - slow tank, slow reload, gun and engine are often out of commission. Due to this, you must research Parts and FPE first, this is extremely important. Generally, you would want to be behind your teammates, to let them direct shots away from you, when reloaded you can poke out and shoot your shot, right before going back into the cover or behind teammates. Sniping is an option, but it's not the most viable since there's quite a lot of bullet drop and missing your shots will cause the very long reload.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very good frontal armour; can bounce 128 mm shells from the Maus and even point blank shots from some British tanks using APDS (like [[Vickers MBT]]) will often be deflected, unless hit in a weak spot
* Armour on the back of the turret is very tough and due to its angle is arguably as strong as the front, causing confusion and/or shock for enemies expecting the rear to be weaker
* Retains the powerful 122 mm gun and ammunition of the previous IS-3
* Strong combination of armour and armament
* Good reverse speed for a heavy tank
* Can easily knock out most tanks with a single shot

'''Cons:'''

* Priority target for the enemy team due to its fearsome reputation
* Long reload of 25 seconds
* Frontal armour has a small but noticeable weak spot below the gun barrel, where the turret meets the hull, and shots coming through it often one-shot IS-4M
* Ammo rack in the back of the turret; if a shell penetrates, the ammo could detonate
* Can be vulnerable to tanks equipped with HEAT, APDS and APFSDS
* Armour penetration for the shells can be lacking at the rank
* Packed crew can be knocked out easily in a single shot
* Very little gun depression

== History ==

===Development===
During the development of the [[IS-3]] in 1944 under General Nikolai Dukhov, a separate project was underway by a design team led by L.S. Troyanov to improve the [[IS-2 (1944)|IS-2]] design. This separate project commenced under the designation ''Object 701''. The project produced three proposed design. The ''Object 701-2'' with a S-34 100 mm gun, ''701-5'' with a different armour configuration, and the ''701-6'' with the 122 mm D-25 gun. The ''701-6'' was accepted for further development, to which was modified with thicker armour, longer hull, and a more powerful engine. There was some implementation of German designs into the prototype; the engine has a cooling system that uses a pair of circular fans on the engine deck, a feature also is seen on the [[Panther A|Panther tank]].<ref name="ZalogaIS">Zaloga Steven. ''IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944-73'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1994</ref>

===Usage===
''Object 701'' was eventually approved for production in 1947 as the '''IS-4'''. The production turned out 200 tanks (some sources say 250) before the production was halted. The reason being that the IS-4 was criticized for being inadequate in mobility despite its new engine.<ref name="ZalogaIS" /> While production ended, the remaining IS-4 still saw service in the Soviet Union. When the Korean War broke out in 1950 and the United States and its allies got involved, the IS-4s were all shipped to the Far East of the Soviet Union in anticipation of Soviet intervention in the Korean War. They were not committed despite pressure by the Chinese from fear of inciting another world war. Even so, the IS-4 stayed in the region ready for action. In the late 1950s, the IS-4 underwent a modernization program along the lines of the IS-3 with increased ammo stowage, new machine gun armaments, new gun optics, better engine, and better filtration system and this modernized variant was named the '''IS-4M'''.<ref name="ZalogaIS" /> The IS-4 stayed in service in the Soviet Union until the 1960s.

===Legacy===
The IS-4, as a relatively unsuccessful Soviet tank, faded to obscurity with little information on it past its development period. It was the heaviest of the Soviet heavy tanks that were slated for production. The IS-4's design was further developed on in the IS tank family with the ''Object 703'', with the design using an electrical transmission instead of a mechanical one. This vehicle redesignated the ''[[IS-6]]'', also proved to be problematic and was shelved.<ref name="ZalogaIS" />

{{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}}
Development of this tank began in July 1943 at the ChKZ factory. The main impetus for creating a new Soviet heavy tank was the prospect of being able to install more powerful artillery on it than what was installed on the IS-2. The vehicle underwent testing until the autumn of 1944. The new vehicle had one inarguable virtue - no tank or anti-tank cannon of Soviet or German make could penetrate its 160 mm frontal armour. At the end of 1944, two more vehicles equipped with modernised transmission were produced.

In April 1945, the tank was put into service and mass-produced under the designation IS-4. The vehicle's hull was fully welded, while its turret was cast with tapering armour thickness. Along with its 122 mm D-25T cannon, it was also armed with a coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. An identical machine gun was placed as an anti-aircraft gun on a ring mount above the loader's hatch. One of the vehicle's characteristic features was its original ammunition rack, in which shells were housed in special metal canisters. The tank had epicyclic transmission and individual torsion-bar suspension. The crew consisted of 4 people. The vehicle's powertrain was a 750 hp B-12 diesel engine. With this engine, the tank could reach 43 km/h on-road.

The IS-4 was mass-produced until 1949. In total, around 250 of them were made. These vehicles served in the Far East.

It became clear during its deployment that the tank's mass exceeded the carrying capacity of most bridges and transport platforms. It was this fact that effectively buried the idea of building vehicles with a mass greater than 50 tonnes. The IS-4 was taken out of operation and placed in long-term storage, and then withdrawn from service entirely. After this, it was often used on ballistic ranges as a target.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_is_4m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|B2woWvJK4ew|'''Top 7 most armoured vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:49 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|MNacjyimuCQ|'''The Shooting Range #95''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 07:03 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M103]]
* [[Conqueror]]

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer ChTZ}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}

Ikv 91

2024-07-11T23:18:22Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{About
| about = Swedish light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the 105 mm variant
| link = Ikv 91-105
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=sw_ikv_91
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is an infantry support vehicle designed and produced by Hägglund & Söner. The prototype of the {{PAGENAME}} was completed in 1969 and the production began in 1975, being manufactured until 1978. A estimated 212 units were manufactured and supplied to the Swedish army. During the 1980s, it was clear that the Ikv 91's firepower was insufficient to defeat later generation Soviet tanks but still powerful enough to deal with lighter armored vehicles and infantry with its 90 mm low pressure cannon, as well as laser rangefinders for a precise first shot engagement to immobilize threats from a safe distance. There were plans to improve its weaponry with a larger-calibre 105 mm Rheinmetall cannon but the turret and hull were deemed too frail and unable to support it, thus requiring an extensive modernization of the platform and would be too costly. The {{PAGENAME}} began its service in 1976 until they were slowly phased out for the new [[CV90 (Family)|CV90]] in 1993, the {{PAGENAME}}'s service didn't end until 2002.

Introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]], the {{PAGENAME}} is the Swedish Army's first modern infantry support tank. Despite its low muzzle velocity, it can be equipped with a laser rangefinder to significantly improve accuracy, a feature that sets it apart from its competitors. The Ikv 91 is a real long-range predator with outstanding optics, built to engage enemies at long distances with precision. However, the vehicle is only built with relatively thin armour plates, leaving the crew vulnerable to even heavy machine guns at close range. Since engagement is usually close-up on city maps, it can be extremely challenging to play but can excel as an support tank for the heavier armoured vehicles that will take the focus away from the {{PAGENAME}}.

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

As one would expect from a light tank, the Ikv 91 is very weakly armoured. The armour, both on the front and sides, protects from small arms (like British 7.92 mms for example) and most splash damage. However, while the front hull also protects against .50 cals, the turret can be penetrated by them, which can quickly lead to death as 3 out of the 4 crew members are in the turret.

Although the commander can fire the weapon instead of a gunner, this rarely matters in any direct fight as they sit next to eachother and are both hit together. When they aren't hit, the gun is usually destroyed, often leaving the tank with only retreat as an option.

The engine and transmission are located in the rear hull, meaning that shots to the front hull are unlikely to destroy them, and shots to the rear hull are less likely to deal fatal damage as the engine and transmission will absorb most of the explosive damage, while the crew is not close enough to be hurt by the shrapnel. This does not help against pure kinetic shells whatsoever. It is ill-adviced to use engine as a shield until parts are researched, as even field repair fails to start the engine back up again and the tank literally cannot move after being disabled.

The tank rarely catches fire and usually expires before this happens. The only common source of fire is a failed airstrike that hits the engine too many times.

The tank also has 3 groups of modern aerosol smoke (usually only acquired at rank VI), these immediately explode midair and conceal the tank within 2 seconds instead of 5 or more. The implication is that they can be used to immediately separate opponents and in any position, particularly in AB, where the tank has stronger scouting (letting it to see enemy tanks through its own smoke wall). Some opponents with long reload also prefer to leave rather than fight an undamaged Ikv 91 inside its own smokes.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12 mm (70°) ''Top'' 20 mm (30°) ''Bottom'' || 4 mm (4°) ''Top'' 8 mm (0°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm (3°) ''Top'' 8 mm (20°) ''Bottom'' || 8-12 mm
|-
| Turret || 12 mm (11-33°) ''Turret front'' 8 mm (0-70°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 12 mm (2-25°) || 12 mm (0-29°) || 12 mm
|-
| Cupola || 12 mm || 12 mm || 12 mm || 12 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=511|rbMinHp=292}}

While the Ikv 91 is slower than wheeled light tanks on road (58 km/h (36 mph) in RB/SB, 65 km/h (40 mph) in AB), it has very good mobility off-road and a good power-to-weight ratio (20.2 hp/t in RB/SB, 38.6 hp/t in AB), overall allowing it to take positions ahead of the enemy main forces and to relocate quickly.

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

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

{{main|kan Ikv 91 (90 mm)}}

The Ikv 91 has for main armament a 90 mm gun able to use two shells: HEAT-FS and HE. All shells are unlocked from the beginning, even the excellent HEAT-FS with 400 mm of penetration and a whole 655 g TNT equivalent of explosive mass. The turret traverse speed is not the best (18.8°/s in RB/SB and 35.4°/s in AB while the American M41A1 Walker Bulldog gets 33.3°/s in RB/SB and 63.7°/s in AB), particularly when compared to future light tanks, but is above average at its BR and with upgrades is usually enough. The same goes for targeting the gun up or down.

Unfortunately, the gun also shakes a lot upon any change in movement direction, almost to an uncontrollable degree, which makes it extremely unreliable on sudden encounters, especially over uneven terrain. It is also inherently inaccurate even with all the upgrades and sometimes manages to miss the mark even with the laser rangefinder, particularly when trying to fire immediately before the gun stopped completely.

The reload speed is faster than average, but quite a few tanks reload faster at this BR, notably light tanks (the BMP-1 for example). The reload speed is also dependent on the first-stage ammo stowage, meaning that it will get slower should one run out of first-stage ammo.

The slow speed of both HEAT-FS and HE is offset by the laser rangefinder - a device on a whole level above normal rangefinders (which are also very rare at the BR), which allows the tank to automatically zero the gun scope on the target in RB, or to make shot predictions from any range in AB, making the Ikv 91 effective at long-range engagements too. It is also possible to use it from commander scope as well, which reduces the possibility of getting shot back to almost zero.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[kan Ikv 91 (90 mm)|90 mm kan Ikv 91]] || 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" | 59 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 23.8 || 32.9 || 40.0 || 44.2 || 47.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.9 || 17.5 || 21.3 || 23.5 || 25.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:kan Ikv 91 (90 mm)/Ammunition|slpsgr m/72, slsgr m/72}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''59''' || 35 ''(+24)'' || 17 ''(+42)'' || 1 ''(+58)'' || No
|-
|}

A maximum of 59 shells for the main gun can be carried, although the high-effectiveness of the HEAT shells gives the possibility for players to only carry a fraction of that and still be able to take out several targets in one run. The first-stage ammo stowage is comprised of 16 shells all located next to the loader, the next 18 shells are located in the front hull next to the driver, and the last 25 shells are located between the loader and the engine.

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

{{main|ksp m/39B (8 mm)}}

The Ikv 91 comes with two 8 mm machine guns: A pintle-mounted machine gun and a coaxial machine gun next to the main gun. The machine guns have a relatively slow fire-rate but are still effective at taking out exposed crew members of enemy vehicles.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[ksp m/39B (8 mm)|8 mm ksp m/39B]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 649 || -5°/+15° || ±120°
|-
| Coaxial || 2,250 (250) || 649 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Thanks to its excellent HEAT-FS shell, the Ikv 91 can engage any target, even when up-tiered. However, a margin of caution is still needed when going against tanks that have .50 cals, as .50 cals can go through the sides and turret to then kill the gunner, loader and commander. The good mobility makes it able to go from one objective to another very quickly. The laser rangefinder also gives it the possibility to quickly make accurate long-range shots. The -10° depression also allows it to take firing positions that some other tanks cannot (particularly the Russians that usually only have -5°).

Overall, the Ikv 91 can be played at mostly any range and can outmanoeuvre most of the tanks it encounters. Although it cannot attract too much attention as its particularly weak to aircraft, but is able to use smoke shells to hide in cases like these.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Solid mobility, especially off-road
* Excellent HEAT-FS shell that is unlocked from the beginning
* Laser rangefinder, a feature unheard of at its BR, allows the tank to snipe from any range
* Aerosol smoke, another feature unheard of at its BR, allows to use smoke very aggressively
* Reasonably good optics with a zoom level of 10x

'''Cons:'''

* The armour does not protect against .50 cals everywhere, notably the turret
* HEATFS loses velocity very quickly, making long-distance moving targets hard to hit, even when zeroed with the rangefinder
* The 10x zoom, while good at longer ranges, can hinder close-quarters fights
* Although it has a lot of strong points, almost any other light tank will destroy it rather easily if allowed to get close
* Despite all the features designed to assist you with aiming, it will sometimes still manage to miss the target regardless, which can be fatal if the enemy is aware of your presence

== History ==


The Infanterikanonvagn 91, or Ikv 91, was a Cold War era design made in Sweden. Although it is practically a light tank, it was designed as an infantry support vehicle, similar in role to the Russian PT-76. It was designed by Hägglunds, and ordered by the Swedish military. Hägglunds had previously designed the Pbv 302, an armoured personnel carrier. When designing the Ikv 91, Hägglunds used many parts from the Pbv 302, in order to reduce costs and increase parts commonality. The design featured a lightweight, lightly-armoured hull. The armament consisted of a 90 mm gun mounted in a turret. Secondary armament consisted of two low-calibre machine guns. The vehicle was powered by a Volvo Penta model TD 120 A diesel engine producing 330 hp. One of the requirements for the design was amphibious capability, a necessity in certain parts of Sweden. As such, it was amphibious with some preparation. The prototype was completed in 1969, but production wasn't authorized until 1975. 212 Ikv 91 were produced, and were given to infantry brigades, for use as tank destroyers. The Ikv 91 served until the early 2000s, replaced by newer designs such as the Strf 90 and Strv 121/Strv 122. In 1983, a prototype for an improved Ikv 91 model was created. This prototype mounted a 105 mm gun, instead of the 90 mm gun. It was marketed for export, but was never ordered It is often known as the Ikv 105.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_ikv_91 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|wGrhRQ3yrFs|'''The Shooting Range #262''' - ''Round Study'' section at 07:37 compares the rounds of the {{PAGENAME}}.|KpldmfsgZ3k|'''1975 TeChNoLoGy VS 1943 German Steel <nowiki>|</nowiki> Ikv 91''' - ''PhlyDaily''}}

== See also ==


;Similar vehicle

* [[Object 906]]
* [[C13 T90]]

== External links ==


=== Bibliography ===

* David B. (2015, November 19). Infanterikanonvagn 91. Tank Encyclopedia. https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/Sweden/Infanterikanonvagn-91.php
* Infanterikanonvagn 91. (2020, March 27). In ''Wikipedia''. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Infanterikanonvagn_91&oldid=947630551
* Military-Today. (n.d.). IKV-91. Military-Today. http://www.military-today.com/tanks/ikv_91.htm

{{TankManufacturer Hagglund}}
{{Sweden light tanks}}

Churchill III

2024-04-25T02:10:43Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = Churchill (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_a_22b_mk_3_churchill_1942
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the rest of the initial British Ground Forces Tree. Compared to its [[Churchill Mk I|predecessor]], the Mk.III has a more capable 6-pounder gun as its arsenal with its thick front armour.

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

The Churchill III is one of the best protected tanks at its battle rating. The tank has excellent frontal armour and can bounce several shots from tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] if angled. However, the Churchill III has its limits. From the sides, the engine is easily damaged. The tank is also quite large and long and is a common target for bombers. Also, the sloped front part of the front armour is also weak, so the hull will need to be angled to be effective. It also has a machine gun weak spot on front. Some people do find their way around the armour and decide to shoot the turret or the turret ring. The lower glacis can sometimes be penetrated, but angling the tank can avoid that. Also, along with the [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]], it has thin roof armour and can easily be penetrated by rockets.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver view port, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm 25.4 mm (60-69°) ''Bottom'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 15.87 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 89 mm (0-49°) ''Turret front'' 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' 19.05 mm (77°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm (0-47°) || 76.2 + 7 mm || 19.05 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and chassis construction are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.

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

The Churchill III won't get anywhere fast. It turns slowly and the reverse is also poor, making it difficult to peek hills or corner. If the terrain is rough, the Churchill's performance will suffer, as the suspension is not suited for rough terrain. Additionally, climbing hills is an excruciating experience due to the heavy armour, so you should choose a route with the shallowest incline possible.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}

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

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

{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)}}

The gun on the Churchill is also excellent, as it has very high penetration and deals also very good damage for such a small calibre. A good trait of British guns is their high rate of fire, and the Churchill's 57 mm is no exception. This allows the Churchill III to engage and/or destroy several tanks relatively quickly.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.V]] || 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" | 85 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.8, Shot Mk.5 HV, Shot Mk.9, Shell Mk.10}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''85''' || 82 ''(+3)'' || 43 ''(+42)'' || 22 ''(+63)'' || 5 ''(+80)'' || 1 ''(+84)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.
* Turret empty: 82 ''(+3)'' 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" | [[Pz.IV G]]
|-
|}

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

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 9,450 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Churchill III can be effectively be played in a brawling style, going into the front lines. It can even hold off an entire enemy flank with minimal backup, due to the thick armour and excellent gun.

In city maps, you should be careful not to expose the side armour, as it is quite weak and the engine might get damaged. With its good gun, it can be used as a support tank as well, in the second line destroying tanks. Angle the hull armour to maximize its effectiveness. When frontally angled, even the sides will be tough to penetrate.

There are some tanks that the Churchill III doesn't even need to worry about them penetrating the Churchill from the front, the most prominent of these being the Panzer III. Angling the armour will make the tank tough against even high-penetration tanks like the Panzer IV F2, though don't rely on that armour only as the F2 has a high-velocity cannon. Against those cannons, it is advised to take cover, angle, or destroy them first. Shermans are not much concern since they won't really penetrate the Churchill armour unless flanking or hitting one of the few weak points.

Most enemy tanks are easy to deal with as the 57 mm gun can punch straight through. Despite the small calibre, it can create enough post-penetration damage to one-shot medium tanks if aimed properly.

Overall, the Churchill III is a very powerful Rank III vehicle that is capable of holding off an entire flank, while destroying tanks easily in quick succession. If the Churchill III is not in an up-tiered situation, it can effectively enter a battle and act as a shell magnet for enemy rounds which could've been fired at weaker teammates, and then either engage the enemy with the 57 mm cannon or let teammates return fire. Companion vehicles such as the [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]], the [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] and other German vehicles possess superior firepower compared to the other country vehicles in rank III (Except for other special TDs, such as the American [[M10 GMC|M10]] and British [[Achilles]]) and can in most cases hold their own.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent armour profile in the front, sides, and gun mantlet that makes it immune to most small-calibre rounds
* Track and suspension profile on the sides has a tendency to absorb enemy shots, stopping them from hitting the armour
* Has access to the 57 mm QF 6-pounder Mk.V cannon with higher penetration than the Mk III cannon variant
* 57mm gun is very punchy for the rank, with access to a 132mm penetrating shell and a <4.6 second reload
* Firing the gun produces little recoil due to the the vehicle's mass
* Ability to pivot steer
* Can be a formidable asset on the battlefield when used properly, acting as a barrier against an enemy assault or charging forwards as a spearhead
* Exceptionally stable gun platform

'''Cons:'''

* Slow speed and mobility - Will take a while to reach combat and can lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion
* Armour and gun are not sufficient against other heavy tanks or enemy tanks with high-velocity guns
* Armour consists of lots of flat sides and has a frontal weak point in the machine gun port, also roof armour is quite thin
* Has trouble scaling obstacles or hills
* Ammo racks just below the turret, smart player will shoot there and will be lethal most of the time
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed

== History ==

===Development===
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.

The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.

The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.

===Variants===
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.

===Combat Usage===
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.

The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purposes on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.

After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as ''NA75'', proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to up armour and up gun the Churchill. While this experiment seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.

The Churchill was also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.

After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, when the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battles such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, when they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22b_mk_3_churchill_1942 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:06 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|gxIVvUZGptw|'''The Shooting Range #51''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:14 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|UMCGzhRFKzc|'''The Shooting Range #42''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 02:53 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== 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/devblog/current/845/|[Devblog] A22B Сhurchill Mk.III and A22 Churchill Mk.VII (with developers answers)]]

{{TankManufacturer Vauxhall}}
{{Britain heavy tanks}}

Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)

2024-04-25T02:02:46Z

U141562625: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The Churchill tank was an infantry tank produced by Great Britain intended for supporting an infantry assault with its armour and firepower. The Churchill tank's first action was during the disastrous Dieppe Raid in August 1942, which saw a number of them committed then lost when the Allies were unable to recover the tank during their retreat. The Germans captured these tanks and subjected them through evaluations. Their initial impressions were poor, thinking the Churchill tank as obsolete. The captured Churchills were repurposed within the Wehrmacht in roles such as ''Beutepanzers'' or shore fortifications.

Introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]], the Pz.Kpfw. Churchill is a German captured [[Churchill Mk III]] that is distinguished by being painted grey (with the same tone as the Panzer IV and Panzer III) and possess white Wehrmacht markings. The Pz.Kpfw. Churchill is one of the best heavy tanks in rank III, sporting heavy frontal armour, a 6-pounder gun that is suitable for its rank, and 30 smoke grenades that are fired separately from the roof, great for covering great areas with smoke. The Churchill also has great gun depression and turret traverse, meaning it can fire at different targets very efficiently. However, the low acceleration and speed makes it a slug on the battlefield, making it difficult to manoeuvre and a large target against enemy guns. The thin roof armour also means that the tank is perfect prey to fighter-bombers and rocket attacks.

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


There are very few enemies which can successfully penetrate the Churchill, although the [[M10 GMC|M10]] and the [[Achilles]] can quickly take care of this vehicle even at long ranges. Other tanks like the [[Jagdpanzer IV]], the [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]], and the [[Dicker Max]] can also make quick work of the Churchill, but only in arcade battles, as in realistic battles, they all belong in the same tree.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 452|rbMinHp= 310}}

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

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

{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.V]] || 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" | 85 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.8, Shot Mk.5 HV, Shot Mk.9, Shell Mk.10}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_III.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Churchill III (identical)]]

{| 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
|-
| '''85''' || 82 ''(+3)'' || 43 ''(+42)'' || 22 ''(+63)'' || 5 ''(+80)'' || 1 ''(+84)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.
* Turret empty: 82 ''(+3)'' 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" | [[Pz.IV G]]
|-
|}

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

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 9,350 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Like its British counterpart, the Churchill can be used as a very efficient brawler with its excellent turret traverse and gun depression, and heavy frontal armour. Though in urban environments, you should be careful in case someone tries to flank your weak side and rear armour.

This tank can be effectively be played in a brawling style, going into the front lines. This tank, due to its excellent armour and gun, can even hold off an entire enemy flank with minimal backup. In city maps, be careful not to expose your side armour as it is quite weak and your engine might get damaged. With its good gun, it can be as a support tank as well, in the second line destroying tanks. Angle your armour to maximize its effectiveness. When frontally angled, even the sides will be tough to penetrate. Many tanks will struggle penetrating you. There are some tanks that you don't even need to worry at all penetrating you from the front, such as the Panzer III. Angling your armour will make you even tough against the high penetration Panzer IV F2. However, be aware of higher penetration tanks. The M10 is a worthy mention as most of the time it might be able to penetrate your armour. The far deadlier Achilles can penetrate your front with little effort. Thus, it is advised to take cover, angle, or destroy them first. Shermans are not much threat since they won't really penetrate your armour, but sometimes they do. They are easy to deal with as your 57 mm gun can punch straight through. Your 57 oddly does a lot of damage for a 57 mm gun. It can one shot Panzer III's, and sometimes Shermans if you aim correctly. Overall, the Churchill III is a very powerful Rank III vehicle that is capable of holding off an entire flank, while destroying tanks easily in quick succession.

If you are not in an up-tiered situation, you can effectively enter a battle and absorb all the enemy rounds which could've been fired at your weaker teammates and either engage the enemy with your 57 mm cannon or let your teammates return fire. Companion vehicles such as the [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]], [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] and other German vehicles possess superior firepower compared to the other country vehicles in rank III (Except for other special TDs, such as the American [[M10 GMC]] and British [[Achilles]]) and can in most cases hold their own.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Long, tough hull is easily angled
* 90 mm turret armour is effective at medium & long range
* Large tracks can absorb shells fired at the side
* Fast turret traverse, easy to engage people without turning
* 57 mm gun reloads quickly
* Good penetration
* Slow speed makes it easy to hit enemies after a shortstop
* 30 individually fired smoke grenades, great for covering points and areas with smoke
* Good gun depression
* Has access to a low-speed stabilizer for firing on the move, pairs well with the vehicle's slow speed

'''Cons:'''

* No HE filler for any rounds, unless hitting an ammo rack, it will require multiple shots to take the target down
* Large target, easily spotted by bombers/fighter-bombers
* Very poor speed, both forward and backward
* Unangled armour fares poorly at close ranges
* Lack of camouflage, only urban grey and winter livery
* Machine gun port is only 50 mm
* Roof armour is very thin, can be penetrated by .50 cal rounds
* Engine mostly affected when hit from the side or turret
* Large tracks are vulnerable to damage

== History ==

The German military first encountered the [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] tank in August of 1942, following the disastrous Dieppe raid made by British and Canadian military elements. On August 8th, the Churchill Mk IV made its debut, as almost 60 of them had been allocated to assist the 6,000 British and Canadian troops raiding the beach. Of those, only the first 30 were deployed, and of those 30, one became trapped in its damaged landing craft, another two sank, and 11 were disabled by indirect fire and rough terrain. Despite the losses, this was the first successful use of heavy tanks in amphibious landings. In the chaotic evacuation that followed, the tanks that had deployed and survived the raid were unable to be recovered by the British and were abandoned. They, along with many other examples of British equipment, were captured by the Germans.

These tanks were later evaluated by the Germans. Though none were damaged by direct anti-tank fire, the Germans had come to the conclusion that the tanks were virtually obsolete, too underpowered and lacking proper firepower. Two of the twenty-nine tanks captured at Dieppe were used as ''Beutepanzers'' and saw service with the German military, repainted into the German standard grey colouration and marked with prominent Iron Crosses on the sides of the turret. The rest of the captured Churchills were repurposed for secondary combat roles, destroyed, or taken apart, with their turrets being used as improvised beach defences at Dieppe after the raid.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_infanterie_kampfpanzer_churchill 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.''

{{TankManufacturer Vauxhall}}
{{Germany heavy tanks}}
{{Germany premium ground vehicles}}

M26 T99

2024-04-13T18:09:20Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{About
|about=premium American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other versions
|link=M26 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m26_t99
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium tank introduced into War Thunder in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]]. The vehicle is essentially a [[M26|M26 Pershing]] tank equipped with rocket pods on both sides of the turret. With a total of 44 [[M8]] rockets, players have more firepower options aside from the [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm M3 gun]], allowing for quick follow-up attacks while the 90 mm reloads.

Though the [[M26|M26 Pershing]] brought a new level of firepower and protection for American tankers in the late end of World War II in Europe, there was a perceived need for additional firepower to be attached to the vehicle. Perhaps inspired by the [[Calliope]] based on the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], the M26 upgrade was done by attaching T99 rocket launcher pods on both sides of the turret that can hold a total of 44 rockets. This modified M26 was tested at Aberdeen around December 1945, after the conclusion of World War II. With not much mentions of the tank after this testing period, the M26 with T99 launchers was presumably caught up in the post-war military budget cuts and cancelled.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 101.6 mm (42-46°) ''Front Glacis'' 162.5 mm (25-60°) ''Upper front glacis'' 76.2 mm (28-53°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 76.2 mm (0-1°) ''Front'' 50.8 mm (0-3°) ''Rear'' || 50.8 mm (7°) ''Top'' 22.2 mm (71°) ''Bottom'' || 22.2 mm
|-
| Turret || 101.6 mm (1-55°) ''Turret front'' 114.3 mm (1-84°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 76.2 mm (3-54°) || 76.2 mm (1-79°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M3 (90 mm)}}

{| 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" | 70 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 20.0 || 27.7 || 33.6 || 37.2 || 39.5 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 12.5 || 14.7 || 17.9 || 19.7 || 21.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M3 (90 mm)/Ammunition|T33 shot, M82 shot (M26), M304 shot, M71 shell, M313}}

==== [[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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''70''' || 65 ''(+5)'' || 58 ''(+12)'' || 50 ''(+20)'' || 42 ''(+28)'' || 34 ''(+36)'' || 26 ''(+44)'' || 17 ''(+53)'' || 11 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+69)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Rack 9 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 10 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
* This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 9 - 1 - 2 - etc. until 8.
* If you pack 17 ''(+53)'' shells, it will keep most of the hull empty of ammo.
* Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready rack 9. If the ready racks is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-8 into rack 9. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* 1 shell from rack 2 remains in the rack until it is fired after rack 7 is emptied. For the purpose of clarity, it is counted as belonging to rack 7 in the table above.

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M8}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[M8]] rocket
|-
! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
|-
| 44 || -10°/+20° || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M8/Ammunition|M8}}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{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) || 577 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
|-
|}
{| 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 || 5,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Even being designated as a medium, the Pershing can perform in many different roles in battle. It can be used for supporting allied tanks with long reload time as [[IS-2]]s, [[T32]]s, etc. Participate in flanking manoeuvres — the M26 speed and agility is not brilliant but enough for that — and be successful in sniping and ambushing situations. Use the lower profile of Pershing compared to the Sherman's to navigate through. The vertical guidance (-10°/20°) allows the M26 to shoot from upper positions without exposing too much of the tank. That's an advantage compared to Russians which have many ground depression problems.

The 90 mm M3 gun owns a wide selection of ammunition to be used. The M82 APCBC with 200 g of explosive filler is extremely deadly. Usually, successful penetration with this shell can lead to a quick end to the enemy. It lacks a bit of penetration for the rank this vehicle sits, but it's great for flanking shots. The M304 HVAP shot, gives the vehicle the ability to penetrate thick armour, mind the APCR/HVAP has poor slope characteristics. This means these need to aim for flat armour. Against a [[Tiger II (H)]], this means aiming for the turret on the gunner side. At that position, the M26 can penetrate out to distances of 1,800 m.

Although moderately armoured for a medium tank class, most enemies can easily destroy the M26 at this rank. A safe playstyle is a must. To reduce direct impacts in frontal engagements angle the Pershing, the V-shape frontal armour can deflect some shots. The lower glacis is a very good target, try to keep it hidden from the enemy. One down side to the Pershing is the engine. The power to weight ratio is poor and does not allow for very quick manoeuvring. It uses the same Ford GAF that can be found in the late series M4 Medium tanks, with nearly 8 tons more weight. Being slightly underpowered, the Pershing has a hard time climbing hills. Good knowledge of maps and areas of operation will help immensely, so use them wisely.

Urban maps (Poland, Eastern Europe, Hürtgen Forest, Cologne) are perfect for ambushing, use the tank's moderate speed to catch off-guard heavier enemy tanks. Drop artillery in front of suspected enemy positions if the M26 need to cross a street and relocate, the [[Smoke screen|smoke screen]] will cover the M26.

If the {{PAGENAME}} has been able to flank an enemy, the first shot is decisive. Always shoot the breech to knock out the gun. The best ammo to do this is M304(APCR) round, or M82(APCBC). M304 will guarantee a 100% successful shot, M82 can also work very good and might destroy everything inside the turret. But some Germans have tracks in the hull sides and if the enemy saw the M26 and is turning the turret, the M82 could bounce off the turning turret armour. Most importantly, don't miss.

The large sides of German heavies are tempting targets but are very easy to overpenetrate with the wrong ammo like the T33(APCBC) or M304.

If flanking an SPG like the Jagdpanther, Jagdtiger or Ferdinand, just aim for the engine, and the vehicle is basically down for easy picking.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armament:
** The 90 mm gun is adequate for most contemporary tanks it will face
** Gets 44 M8 rockets, which can be used to blind other tanks in a pinch
* Armour:
** Armour does not differ at all from the regular Pershing
* Utility:
** Can be used as a backup for the regular M26
** Does not require any significant learning curve to operate, can be used just as the normal M26 would

'''Cons:'''

* Survivability:
** Rocket pods create external (and unarmoured) ammunition racks
** Frontal hull armour on the Pershing has relatively little sloping
* Armament:
** 90 mm gun lacks penetration to take on tanks frontally
** Rockets are not very effective at destroying tanks

== History ==


In 1944, the main tank development in US Ordnance was the ''T26E1'' tank, which would later become the [[M26|M26 Pershing]]. The M26 was made into many different variants in the hope it could fulfil multiple roles. One variant hoped to increase the M26's firepower with the addition of rocket launchers, in a manner similar to the [[Calliope|T34 Calliope]] on the Shermans. The rocket launchers were attached on M26 serial number 2011, the 250th of its kind made from Detroit Tank Arsenal. The rocket launcher attached was the ''4.5-inch multiple rocket launcher T99'', consisting of two racks on both sides of the turret, carrying a total of 44 rockets for use. The rocket launchers were traversable by the same turret controls for the main 90 mm gun. The T99 launchers were mounted on trunnions and could be jettisoned from inside the tank when empty. Settings for rocket firing came at one at a time, two at a time, and a full salvo dump. The last of these settings can fire all 44 rockets within 7 seconds.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> The design was informally called '''M26 T99'''.

Testing with the M26 with the T99 commenced in sometime in late 1945 at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> However, the tank apparently did not seem to have any interest like no other mention of it is made after that. It was presumably cancelled sometime in early 1946.

{{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 M26 medium tank, equipped with launch systems for M8 missiles. It was built as an experimental model. It was not produced serially and never saw combat. It was equipped with a T99 launch system.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m26_t99 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 ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/822/|[Devblog] M26 Pershing with T99 rocket launcher - with developer's answers]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{USA medium tanks}}
{{USA premium ground vehicles}}

M24 (Japan)

2023-12-10T07:01:02Z

U141562625: /* Japanese service */

{{About
|about= light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other variants
|link= M24 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=jp_m24_chaffee
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was, together with the [[M4A3 (76) W (Japan)|M4A3 (76) W]], provided by the Americans to the Japanese to rebuild Japan's military in self defense due to the outbreak of the Korean war. Generally liked by its new Japanese crews, the Chaffee was rather inadequate for its service time within the JGSDF, only offering a short barrel 75 mm, it was already outdated facing tanks such as the [[T-34-85]].

It was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]]. This Japanese vehicle is identical to the American [[M24]] Chaffee. Facing relatively low ranking opponents, the M24 can be used to peak performance playing as a nimble light tank, with the firepower of Sherman 75s. Packing the very competent M61 APCBC shell, smoke grenades, .50 cal MG, very forgiving reverse speed, and scout abilities, the M24 is a very versatile tank capable of outflanking and combating most tanks it faces.

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

The M24 Chaffee has thin armour on all sides, and can only effectively resist machine gun fire or very low-penetrating guns like 20 mm autocannon. Its crews are also very close to each other, increasing the chance of it getting knocked out by a single shot. The V-shaped gun mantlet might bounce some small calibre shells if you are lucky enough. However, don't rely on it as the rest of the tank is still poorly protected. Common guns like the 75 mm M1 or 76 mm F-34 / ZiS-5 can easily destroy the M24 with one shot.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
|-
| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=459|rbMinHp=262}}

The M24 (Japan) travels at an average of 40 km/h on/off-road which is the average light tank speed. It also responds fast when reversing. Thanks to its short and wide tracks it is able to turn quickly. However the acceleration is poor, making it to feel sluggish when performing short manoeuvres.

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

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

{{main|M6 (75 mm)}}

The 75 mm M6 gun has two types of AP, one HE and one smoke shell to choose from. The M61 shot, which is an APCBC, is generally better than the M72 AP. It has 63.7 g of explosive filler which brings a deadly blast once penetrated, has better penetration (104 mm max) and it has a slightly lower chance of ricocheting. With the M61 shot, the Chaffee is able to knock out plenty of tanks at its BR with a single shot like the M4, T-34, Crusader or even the KV-1.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (75 mm)|75 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" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.46 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" | 7.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.89 || rowspan="2" | 6.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, M64}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M24.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
|-
| '''48''' || 25 ''(+23)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}

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

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

The two machine guns on the M24 Chaffee are the .50 cal M2HB and the 7.62 mm M1919A4. The roof-mounted .50 cal can traverse 360 degrees and has great depression & elevation, posting a big threat to any plane that is flying too close to the M24. It has an unbelievable penetration of 31 mm at 10 m, meaning it can easily penetrate plenty of lightly armoured vehicles and even the side of some low rank medium tanks (e.g. Sd.Kfz.234 series, side of Pz.III/IV). The 7.62 mm, on the other hand, can only efficiently damage exposed crews due to its low penetration.

{| 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 || 400 (200) || 575 || -10°/+70° || ±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 || 3,750 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The M24 (Japan) is a very good tank with a fairly interesting playstyle. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive manoeuvrability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking manoeuvres. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.

The tank offers a 75 mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the [[M4|Sherman]]'s 75 mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.

Do not continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.

Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.

'''<big>Enemies worth noting</big>''':

* [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]] series (mixed ground battles) - The M24, although agile, is still not the fastest tank at its rank. When your opposite team has Germany, you might want to reconsider the option of capping a point straight away, since the German Sd.Kfz.234 series are very likely to be there first. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] (also known as the Puma) is a turreted 8-wheel vehicle with a small profile, extremely high on-road speed and a powerful 50 mm gun. But it cannot turn in place, has a very slow turret traverse and only 8 mm of side hull armour, so a good tactic is to circle with it and utilise your stabiliser, fast turret and the piercing .50 cal. In an intense brawl, you might miss your shots. Don't worry, your reliable .50 cal got you! It can penetrate the sides, or even the front of the puma easily. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/3]] and [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]], although being equally deadly, are turretless. You can use some quick turns to avoid their guns or tear through the thin armour plate protecting their gunners with your .50 cal.
* [[KV-1]], [[KV-1E]], [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] - The famous KV series can cause a bit of troubles too. They are well know for their well-protected hull and turrets. The M24 can manoeuvre to point-blank range, line up your gun so it's pointing dead flat at the armour and fire. The 104 mm penetration of the M61 shell should punch a hole in the KV's armour with ease. If you are close enough but do not have the space to manoeuvre, shoot their gun barrel to prevent them from getting a shot off, then go for their turret ring or the vertical part on their gun mantlet, which is only 90 mm. For the KV-1E, do not fire at its turret from the front and side, as they are 105 mm thick and will never get penetrated. For the KV I C 756, aim for the cupola (50 m) or the gun mantlet (50 mm) to knock out the turret crew or the gun breech. Don't shoot at anywhere else, the shell won't penetrate.
* [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] 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.
* [[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 an 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.
* [[StuG III G]], [[StuH 42 G]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]] - These German tank destroyers could either be lethal ambushes or heavily armoured "heavy tanks". They have low profiles which make them harder to be recognised especially in vegetative/hilly environments. Additionally they have extremely thick frontal protection for their BRs. Specifically, the StuG and StuH can have a greatest frontal thickness of 100 mm with extra tracks, making them almost invincible for the M24's short 75 mm gun. Therefore M24 ought to stay away from direct battle with them as they are hard to be frontally penetrated and can without much of a stretch destroy the M24. Luckily, all 3 don't have a turret and are inadequately protected in terms of side armour, so flanking become an effective way to finish them off. Nonetheless, know that StuG and StuH can turn their hull quite fast in response to flankers, so be careful when circling them.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decent mobility: good top speed and great turning ability
* Uses the same gun as the 75 mm Shermans: various shell types, great penetration & damage and excellent gun depression. M61 shell can one shot common tanks like the T-34 series, M4A1, Cromwell or even the KV-1.
* Fast turret traverse allows it to track agile targets easily
* Low profile allows it to easily hide behind small bushes or rocks, increasing survivability
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics
* Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense and some anti tank ability (e.g. GAZ trucks, SU-76M, [[ZSD63]])
* 13 smoke grenades allow escaping from dangerous situation for many times
* Effective even in uptiers if used for flanking shots or hunting soft targets
* Very fast reverse allowing it to retreat from danger quickly

'''Cons:'''

* Low survivability: all-round thin armour and closely packed crews. Can get knocked out with a single shot by common opponents
* Acceleration is rather sluggish, especially on soft terrains
* On-road top speed is still inferior to some wheeled vehicles like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]]
* Shells drop dramatically at long distances, making distant / moving targets hard to shoot at
* Reload time is pretty slow for a light tank
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches

== History ==


===Development===
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5 Stuart]] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against newer German tanks like the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the [[M4|Shermans]]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.

In April 1943, Ordnance with Cadillac started on a project for the new light tank, designation Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to keep light. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the "Chaffee" by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.

===Japanese service===
[[File:M24 (NSF).jpg|right|thumb|Parade of "Special vehicles", 1953]]
After the defeat of Japan during WWII, American forces occupied Japan and established a new government and abolished any Japanese military force. This would change in the 1950s with the outbreak of the Korean conflict and many of the American forces were moved to South Korea, leaving Japan undefended. This in turn allowed Japan to re-establish a force only to defend itself with, which started out as the NPR (National Police Reserve). Even though by legal status only a police force, it was modeled and trained after the United States Army.

In 1952, the NPR would grow larger and would be renamed into the NSF (National Safety Force) as the Police Reserve started to look more and more like a small army, this together with their "{{Annotation|special vehicles|特車}}" being US tanks such as the M24 Chaffee and M4 Sherman.

On July 1st, 1954, after the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act [Act No. 165 of 1954], Japan was officially allowed to have legal military force under the name of the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Forces). Along with equipment transferred over from the NPR/NSF, more equipment was shipped over from America to supply the newly established Self Defense Force to have a built up reserve.

While the M24 was already outdated for the Cold War against the Soviet's [[T-34-85]], they would still see limited use in the SDF considering no active war was being fought and Japan still had to develop its own tank arsenal.

Only in 1974, with the introduction of the [[Type 74 (Family)|Type 74]], would the M24s be completely be phased out as a relic of the past.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=jp_m24_chaffee Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9CJA4MHCzbg|'''{{PAGENAME}} SDF, Japanese, Tier-3, Light Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-13 (FL11)]]

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

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

{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}
{{Japan light tanks}}

M24 (Japan)

2023-12-10T06:58:16Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
|about= light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other variants
|link= M24 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=jp_m24_chaffee
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was, together with the [[M4A3 (76) W (Japan)|M4A3 (76) W]], provided by the Americans to the Japanese to rebuild Japan's military in self defense due to the outbreak of the Korean war. Generally liked by its new Japanese crews, the Chaffee was rather inadequate for its service time within the JGSDF, only offering a short barrel 75 mm, it was already outdated facing tanks such as the [[T-34-85]].

It was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]]. This Japanese vehicle is identical to the American [[M24]] Chaffee. Facing relatively low ranking opponents, the M24 can be used to peak performance playing as a nimble light tank, with the firepower of Sherman 75s. Packing the very competent M61 APCBC shell, smoke grenades, .50 cal MG, very forgiving reverse speed, and scout abilities, the M24 is a very versatile tank capable of outflanking and combating most tanks it faces.

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

The M24 Chaffee has thin armour on all sides, and can only effectively resist machine gun fire or very low-penetrating guns like 20 mm autocannon. Its crews are also very close to each other, increasing the chance of it getting knocked out by a single shot. The V-shaped gun mantlet might bounce some small calibre shells if you are lucky enough. However, don't rely on it as the rest of the tank is still poorly protected. Common guns like the 75 mm M1 or 76 mm F-34 / ZiS-5 can easily destroy the M24 with one shot.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
|-
| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=459|rbMinHp=262}}

The M24 (Japan) travels at an average of 40 km/h on/off-road which is the average light tank speed. It also responds fast when reversing. Thanks to its short and wide tracks it is able to turn quickly. However the acceleration is poor, making it to feel sluggish when performing short manoeuvres.

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

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

{{main|M6 (75 mm)}}

The 75 mm M6 gun has two types of AP, one HE and one smoke shell to choose from. The M61 shot, which is an APCBC, is generally better than the M72 AP. It has 63.7 g of explosive filler which brings a deadly blast once penetrated, has better penetration (104 mm max) and it has a slightly lower chance of ricocheting. With the M61 shot, the Chaffee is able to knock out plenty of tanks at its BR with a single shot like the M4, T-34, Crusader or even the KV-1.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (75 mm)|75 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" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.46 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" | 7.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.89 || rowspan="2" | 6.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, M64}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M24.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
|-
| '''48''' || 25 ''(+23)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}

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

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

The two machine guns on the M24 Chaffee are the .50 cal M2HB and the 7.62 mm M1919A4. The roof-mounted .50 cal can traverse 360 degrees and has great depression & elevation, posting a big threat to any plane that is flying too close to the M24. It has an unbelievable penetration of 31 mm at 10 m, meaning it can easily penetrate plenty of lightly armoured vehicles and even the side of some low rank medium tanks (e.g. Sd.Kfz.234 series, side of Pz.III/IV). The 7.62 mm, on the other hand, can only efficiently damage exposed crews due to its low penetration.

{| 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 || 400 (200) || 575 || -10°/+70° || ±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 || 3,750 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The M24 (Japan) is a very good tank with a fairly interesting playstyle. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive manoeuvrability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking manoeuvres. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.

The tank offers a 75 mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the [[M4|Sherman]]'s 75 mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.

Do not continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.

Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.

'''<big>Enemies worth noting</big>''':

* [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]] series (mixed ground battles) - The M24, although agile, is still not the fastest tank at its rank. When your opposite team has Germany, you might want to reconsider the option of capping a point straight away, since the German Sd.Kfz.234 series are very likely to be there first. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] (also known as the Puma) is a turreted 8-wheel vehicle with a small profile, extremely high on-road speed and a powerful 50 mm gun. But it cannot turn in place, has a very slow turret traverse and only 8 mm of side hull armour, so a good tactic is to circle with it and utilise your stabiliser, fast turret and the piercing .50 cal. In an intense brawl, you might miss your shots. Don't worry, your reliable .50 cal got you! It can penetrate the sides, or even the front of the puma easily. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/3]] and [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]], although being equally deadly, are turretless. You can use some quick turns to avoid their guns or tear through the thin armour plate protecting their gunners with your .50 cal.
* [[KV-1]], [[KV-1E]], [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] - The famous KV series can cause a bit of troubles too. They are well know for their well-protected hull and turrets. The M24 can manoeuvre to point-blank range, line up your gun so it's pointing dead flat at the armour and fire. The 104 mm penetration of the M61 shell should punch a hole in the KV's armour with ease. If you are close enough but do not have the space to manoeuvre, shoot their gun barrel to prevent them from getting a shot off, then go for their turret ring or the vertical part on their gun mantlet, which is only 90 mm. For the KV-1E, do not fire at its turret from the front and side, as they are 105 mm thick and will never get penetrated. For the KV I C 756, aim for the cupola (50 m) or the gun mantlet (50 mm) to knock out the turret crew or the gun breech. Don't shoot at anywhere else, the shell won't penetrate.
* [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] 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.
* [[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 an 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.
* [[StuG III G]], [[StuH 42 G]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]] - These German tank destroyers could either be lethal ambushes or heavily armoured "heavy tanks". They have low profiles which make them harder to be recognised especially in vegetative/hilly environments. Additionally they have extremely thick frontal protection for their BRs. Specifically, the StuG and StuH can have a greatest frontal thickness of 100 mm with extra tracks, making them almost invincible for the M24's short 75 mm gun. Therefore M24 ought to stay away from direct battle with them as they are hard to be frontally penetrated and can without much of a stretch destroy the M24. Luckily, all 3 don't have a turret and are inadequately protected in terms of side armour, so flanking become an effective way to finish them off. Nonetheless, know that StuG and StuH can turn their hull quite fast in response to flankers, so be careful when circling them.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decent mobility: good top speed and great turning ability
* Uses the same gun as the 75 mm Shermans: various shell types, great penetration & damage and excellent gun depression. M61 shell can one shot common tanks like the T-34 series, M4A1, Cromwell or even the KV-1.
* Fast turret traverse allows it to track agile targets easily
* Low profile allows it to easily hide behind small bushes or rocks, increasing survivability
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics
* Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense and some anti tank ability (e.g. GAZ trucks, SU-76M, [[ZSD63]])
* 13 smoke grenades allow escaping from dangerous situation for many times
* Effective even in uptiers if used for flanking shots or hunting soft targets
* Very fast reverse allowing it to retreat from danger quickly

'''Cons:'''

* Low survivability: all-round thin armour and closely packed crews. Can get knocked out with a single shot by common opponents
* Acceleration is rather sluggish, especially on soft terrains
* On-road top speed is still inferior to some wheeled vehicles like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]]
* Shells drop dramatically at long distances, making distant / moving targets hard to shoot at
* Reload time is pretty slow for a light tank
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches

== History ==


===Development===
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5 Stuart]] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against newer German tanks like the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the [[M4|Shermans]]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.

In April 1943, Ordnance with Cadillac started on a project for the new light tank, designation Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to keep light. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the "Chaffee" by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.

===Japanese service===
[[File:M24 (NSF).jpg|right|thumb|Parade of "Special vehicles", 1953]]
After the defeat of Japan during WWII, American forces occupied Japan and established a new government and abolished any Japanese military force. This would change in the 1950s with the outbreak of the Korean conflict and many of the American forces were moved to South Korea, leaving Japan undefended. This in turn allowed Japan to re-establish a force only to defend itself with, which started out as the NPR (National Police Reserve). Even though by legal status only a police force, it was modeled and trained after the United States Army.

In 1952, the NPR would grow larger and would be renamed into the NSF (National Safety Force) as the Police Reserve started to look more and more like a small army, this together with their "{{Annotation|special vehicles|特車}}" being US tanks such as the M24 Chaffee and M4 Sherman.

On July 1st, 1954, after the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act [Act No. 165 of 1954], Japan was officially allowed to have legal military force under the name of the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Forces). Along with equipment transferred over from the NPR/NSF, more equipment was shipped over from America to supply the newly established Self Defense Force to have a built up reserve.

While the M24 was already outdated for the Cold War against the Soviet's [[T-34-85]], they would still see limited use in the SDF considering no active war was being fought and Japan still had to develop its own tank arsenal.

Only until 1974, with the introduction of the [[Type 74 (Family)|Type 74]], would the M24s be completely be phased out as a relic of the past.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=jp_m24_chaffee Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9CJA4MHCzbg|'''{{PAGENAME}} SDF, Japanese, Tier-3, Light Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-13 (FL11)]]

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

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

{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}
{{Japan light tanks}}

Panther II

2023-12-10T04:39:08Z

U141562625: /* Survivor */

{{About
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other versions
| link-1 = Panther tank (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = Panther (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_panther_II
|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. 172''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]] as a main tree vehicle, however, in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] it was shifted to become a gift vehicle for players who previously owned it.

The Panther II comes with the "Fahrgerät" FG1250 IR night vision equipment, which had seen limited service. The driver of the tank also gets an IR vision.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 100 mm (55-56°) ''Front plate'' 60 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' || 60 mm (30°) ''Top'' 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (29-33°) || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 120 mm (20-21°)''Turret front'' 300 mm ''Gun Mantlet'' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm (25°) || 30 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 100 mm (57°) || 100 mm (33°) ''Outer ring'' 30 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
* Side skirts are 5 mm thick and act as additional protection against explosive warhead
* Part of the hull is covered by tracks, adding additional 20 mm of armour

The armour on this variant has better frontal and side armour than the [[Panther F]], which will protect you against the weaker guns at this BR but it won't hold up when facing higher calibre guns such as the [[M3 (90 mm)]], [[D-25T (122 mm)]] and [[20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)]] that you will likely meet at this rank. The best tactic to survive is to not get hit by an enemy attacker, as the crew is quite cramped and will typically be disabled with one well-placed shot. Also, the Panther II can angle its hull slightly more, unlike the other Panthers, which can provide greater protection.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,395|rbMinHp=796}}

As with all Panthers, this tank has excellent mobility both on and off road. One notable difference between the {{PAGENAME}} and the other Panthers is its reverse speed. Comparing to a max -4 km/h reverse speed on the rest of the Panthers, the Panther II provides a -12 km/h reverse speed, which can help a lot in battles.

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

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

{{main|KwK43 (88 mm)}}

The Panther II boasts the excellent 88 mm KwK43 with its notably punchy PzGr 39/43 shell, with a reload speed comparable to that of the [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II]]. Thus, it represents a threat for every tank on the battlefield, even at long ranges. Its rather poor gun handling, however (7.1°/s turret rotation on a stock tank with a level 1 crew) means close-quarters engagements and particularly urban combat should be avoided if possible. This can be somewhat remedied by its ability to neutral steer to acquire a firing solution faster. The optimal ammo loadout is 15 rounds, since it eliminates the ammo racks at the sides of the hull, while still providing a decent quantity of ammunition. It is not recommended to load anything other than PzGr 39/43 shells since it can readily knock out most opponents and it provides consistent ballistic characteristics, while still maintaining a fairly good penetration against sloped armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK43 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK43]] || 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 11.4 || 15.8 || 19.2 || 21.2 || 22.6 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK43 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39/43, PzGr 40/43, Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr.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
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 43 ''(+7)'' || 35 ''(+15)'' || 27 ''(+23)'' || 19 ''(+31)'' || 11 ''(+39)'' || 7 ''(+43)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modelled individually.
* Racks 6 and 7 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 7 - 1 until 5.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-5 into racks 7 then 6. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* Packing 19 ''(+31)'' shells will keep the sides of the hull empty.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

The Panther II's coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 is rather anaemic, and thus, not very versatile. It won't pose much of a threat to any vehicle that doesn't have exposed crew members, and it won't do much damage to aircraft. It can, however, be used to highlight enemy vehicles to friendlies, but it comes with the risk of alerting enemies of an enemy vehicle.

{| 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 || 3,000 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Panther II is a medium tank that performs in many roles. With its powerful gun, it can very effectively take out opponents at its battle rating at both close and long ranges. The turret traverse is slow, which makes close-quarters engagements and urban combat difficult. But, this can be made up for by careful positioning and the use of the tank's neutral steering. The gun has a fairly standard gun depression and a good reload. All in all, the Panther II's armament is decent.

The Panther II is also armed with a 7.92 mm machine gun. This won't do much damage to any enemies except those with exposed crew members. And, it won't do much damage to enemy aircraft. However, it is still useful for spotting enemies and notifying teammates of their presence.

The vehicle's mobility is also quite good. Reverse speed is much better than that of the earlier Panthers, which makes peeking out from behind cover to fire much more viable. On both roads and terrain, the tank is able to reach a respectable top speed, and in general, the mobility is quite nice, and is suited for both crossing the map to reach favourable positions and for close-quarters brawling.

As for armour, the Panther II's protection is the same as that of the [[Panther F]]. It can protect against most small-calibre guns, but won't hold up against larger guns such as those found on the enemy's medium and heavy tanks. The best survival tactic, as usual, is to avoid being hit entirely. The crew compartment (and the turret especially) is quite cramped, and the Panther II can take debilitating damage from even one shot. Many enemies will aim to hit the Panther's turret cheeks, since a hit to the turret can do extreme damage. To prevent this, it is helpful to wiggle the turret from side to side. Although this doesn't always work, it can sometimes throw off the enemy's aim enough so that the shot doesn't do much damage.

The Panther II is a classic medium tank. While it doesn't excel in any one role, it performs well in many. It can snipe, brawl, or do practically anything in between. When the tank's weaknesses are understood, it can be used to great effect to destroy the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the impressive KwK43 gun that's great for the BR thanks to the very high accuracy, velocity and rate of fire
* The default APCBC shell has fantastic penetration, and damage potential at all ranges
* The gunner has a really nice set of optics that provides 2.5x-6x of magnification. Great for quick target acquisition at close range, while still being great for long range sniping
* The Panther II's speed and manoeuvrability is almost as good as the Leopard 1's
* Much better frontal armour than the other Panthers. When properly angled, the upper plate is basically immune to anything that isn't packing 250 mm of penetration
* Unlike the other Panthers, this tank actually has a really nice reverse speed
* The gun mantlet is not that large, but it is very tough
* One of the few tanks at this BR that can use night vision

'''Cons:'''

* The night vision gear on the commander's cupola makes it very easy to spot the tank
* Same turret as the Panther F, but at a much higher BR. Taking a straight shot from any contemporary tank is almost guaranteed to end in disaster
* Bad turret traverse. Reacting to flanking enemy's isn't that easy
* The sides of the hull is lined with a lot of ammo. Enemy shells that enter the sides will likely destroy the tank
* Transmission is mounted in the front, meaning that the tank can be immobilized from both front and the rear
* There is some night vision gear on the drivers side of the upper hull. So the gun will have less gun depression than normal over this area of the tank

== History ==

=== Development ===
In late 1942, German designers started the development of a more powerful and slightly larger version of [[Panther D|Panther]] mounted on a newly designed chassis. In January of 1943, Adolf Hitler agreed on the development of Panther with increased armour protection especially for the needs of the Eastern Front. This project was designated '''Panther II''' and its design was planned along with the development of [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. In February of 1943, it was decided that Panther II, in its design would resemble Tiger II and would have many common components such as tracks, transmission, suspension and road wheels. Both designs had common components in an attempt to standardize the production.

Overall dimensions were very similar to those of [[Panther G]]; the hull's design was very similar to that of the late model Panther G but with many modernizations such as the arrangement of observation equipment and new engine deck. Its armour protection was significantly increased if compared to any other Panther variant produced. Side armour protection was 60 mm thick while frontal armour protection was 100 mm thick. It was planned to arm Panther II with the latest 75 mm KwK42 L/100 or even 88 mm KwK43 L/71 (without a muzzle brake) gun mounted in a newly designed narrow turret – Turm Panther 2 (Schmale Blendenausführung) (Turret Panther 2 (narrow mantlet variant)) - an early version of the Schmalturm turret. The Schmalturm itself was not designed until after the Panther 2 had been cancelled - designed by Rheinmetall in 1944 and to be produced by Daimler-Benz. The Panther II in the game with the Schmalturm and 8,8 cm KwK43 therefore represents a configuration that never made it out of the suggestion phase.

Panther II's schmale Blendenausführung (narrow mantlet variant) turret was significantly different to the Schmalturm of [[Panther F]]. The Schmalturm turret used on the Panther II in game has armour protection significantly increased if compared to any other Panther turret. The front was 120-125 mm, gun mantlet was 150 mm, while sides and rear were 60 mm and the top was 30 mm thick. Schmalturm had special mountings for infrared device and telescopic range finder. All of those modifications increased Panther II's weight to 47 tons. Panther II was to be powered by a new Maybach HL234 engine with a total power of 900 hp operated by 8-speed hydraulic transmission. Instead, Maybach HL 230 P 30 engine was mounted and Maybach HL234 was later on due to being completed in August of 1945, for future Panther series. It was believed that Panther II's performance would be similar to that of Panther G, while if ever produced Panther II would most likely suffer from the same problems as Tiger II, simply because of its great weight and high fuel consumption which made it extremely slow. It is unknown what other modifications would be made if Panther II would be combat tested.

In March of 1943, plans were made that the production of the first series would start in late 1943 or early 1944 and that by spring of 1944, full-scale production of Panther II would start. On May 20 of 1943, Rheinmetall-Borsig proposed a special air-defence turret designed for Panther II, mounted with four 20 mm MG151/20 guns, but it never reached prototype stage.

=== Production and cancellation ===
In early 1944, MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg) was allowed to produce two prototypes but was only able to produce one in early 1945, without the newly designed Schmalturm turret. On May 4th of 1944, it was realized that German industry was unable to start Panther II's production and this project was abandoned in favour of further development of Panther based on lessons learned from Panther II. On June 3rd of 1944, all companies which were to produce Panther II were ordered to instead start production on the regular Panther tank. The war ended with only one Panther II chassis produced.

The lessons from Panther II, specifically the ''Schmalturm'' turret, would be used on main Panther tank, resulting in the planned [[Panther F]] variant.

===Survivor===
The Americans captured the Panther II chassis and it was shipped to the states. Sometimes after 1946, a Panther G turret was added onto the chassis while it was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In the 1960s, the Panther II chassis was transferred to the Smithsonian Institute, which gave the tank to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in the 1970s. Following the closure of the Patton Museum, the Panther II is currently at the in-construction National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning.<ref name="ArmorJournalPantherII">The Armor Journal. "Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds." Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds. Waddling Penguin Publishing, LLC, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [http://www.armorjournal.com/index-tanks-PantherII-NACM.php Website]</ref>

{{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}}
Having adopted the Tiger II tank in the autumn of 1943, the Ministry of Armaments ordered the development of a new Panther II tank, specifying that maximum compatibility between the assembly of the two tanks be maintained. Development of the new tank design was assigned to the company Henschel & Sohn. The new tank was to have thicker armour (100 mm in the front and 60 mm on the sides) and was to be equipped with a Schmalturm turret. The main armament consisted of an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK43 L/70 tank gun with a long 70-calibre barrel, the same gun which was installed on the Tiger II (P). The tank's weight had to be increased to 55 tons or more. The main design problem was the lack of a suitable engine for the heavier vehicle. Several options were developed for installing a MAN/Argus LD 220 750 hp engine or a Maybach HL 234 900 hp engine, using an eight-speed hydromechanical AK 7-200 gearbox, but this work was never completed. The chassis of the new Panther consisted of 7 all-metal rollers on a single torsion bar. The tank's treads were 660 mm wide.

By late 1944, the company had only managed to build one tank hull, which for testing purposes was fitted with a turret from a production Panther G. The testing was never completed, and the tank was captured by American troops. This tank's hull is kept in the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox.

It is likely that two Panther II prototypes were built which may have participated in battles at the end of the war. Further work, however, virtually stopped. Project E50 was commissioned to replace both the Panther I and the Panther II.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hbNzrbSgGag|'''Panther II - The "Forgotten" Panther''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|PUw2CQ8e0lE|'''Best Combo #1''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:30 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-50 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6317-development-changes-and-optimization-in-the-german-tech-tree-en|[Devblog] Changes and optimization in the German tech-tree]]
* [[wikipedia:Panther_II_tank|[Wikipedia] Panther II tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-germany-panther-ii-mit-88cm-kwk-43-l71/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panther II mit 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panther-ausf-f.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki>Panzerkampfwagen Panther Ausf.F (Sd.Kfz.171)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer MAN AG}}
{{Germany medium tanks}}
[[Category:Hidden vehicles]]

Panther II

2023-12-10T04:36:58Z

U141562625: /* Development */

{{About
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other versions
| link-1 = Panther tank (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = Panther (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_panther_II
|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. 172''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]] as a main tree vehicle, however, in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] it was shifted to become a gift vehicle for players who previously owned it.

The Panther II comes with the "Fahrgerät" FG1250 IR night vision equipment, which had seen limited service. The driver of the tank also gets an IR vision.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 100 mm (55-56°) ''Front plate'' 60 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' || 60 mm (30°) ''Top'' 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (29-33°) || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 120 mm (20-21°)''Turret front'' 300 mm ''Gun Mantlet'' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm (25°) || 30 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 100 mm (57°) || 100 mm (33°) ''Outer ring'' 30 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
* Side skirts are 5 mm thick and act as additional protection against explosive warhead
* Part of the hull is covered by tracks, adding additional 20 mm of armour

The armour on this variant has better frontal and side armour than the [[Panther F]], which will protect you against the weaker guns at this BR but it won't hold up when facing higher calibre guns such as the [[M3 (90 mm)]], [[D-25T (122 mm)]] and [[20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)]] that you will likely meet at this rank. The best tactic to survive is to not get hit by an enemy attacker, as the crew is quite cramped and will typically be disabled with one well-placed shot. Also, the Panther II can angle its hull slightly more, unlike the other Panthers, which can provide greater protection.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,395|rbMinHp=796}}

As with all Panthers, this tank has excellent mobility both on and off road. One notable difference between the {{PAGENAME}} and the other Panthers is its reverse speed. Comparing to a max -4 km/h reverse speed on the rest of the Panthers, the Panther II provides a -12 km/h reverse speed, which can help a lot in battles.

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

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

{{main|KwK43 (88 mm)}}

The Panther II boasts the excellent 88 mm KwK43 with its notably punchy PzGr 39/43 shell, with a reload speed comparable to that of the [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II]]. Thus, it represents a threat for every tank on the battlefield, even at long ranges. Its rather poor gun handling, however (7.1°/s turret rotation on a stock tank with a level 1 crew) means close-quarters engagements and particularly urban combat should be avoided if possible. This can be somewhat remedied by its ability to neutral steer to acquire a firing solution faster. The optimal ammo loadout is 15 rounds, since it eliminates the ammo racks at the sides of the hull, while still providing a decent quantity of ammunition. It is not recommended to load anything other than PzGr 39/43 shells since it can readily knock out most opponents and it provides consistent ballistic characteristics, while still maintaining a fairly good penetration against sloped armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK43 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK43]] || 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 11.4 || 15.8 || 19.2 || 21.2 || 22.6 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK43 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39/43, PzGr 40/43, Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr.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
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 43 ''(+7)'' || 35 ''(+15)'' || 27 ''(+23)'' || 19 ''(+31)'' || 11 ''(+39)'' || 7 ''(+43)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modelled individually.
* Racks 6 and 7 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 7 - 1 until 5.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-5 into racks 7 then 6. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* Packing 19 ''(+31)'' shells will keep the sides of the hull empty.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

The Panther II's coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 is rather anaemic, and thus, not very versatile. It won't pose much of a threat to any vehicle that doesn't have exposed crew members, and it won't do much damage to aircraft. It can, however, be used to highlight enemy vehicles to friendlies, but it comes with the risk of alerting enemies of an enemy vehicle.

{| 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 || 3,000 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Panther II is a medium tank that performs in many roles. With its powerful gun, it can very effectively take out opponents at its battle rating at both close and long ranges. The turret traverse is slow, which makes close-quarters engagements and urban combat difficult. But, this can be made up for by careful positioning and the use of the tank's neutral steering. The gun has a fairly standard gun depression and a good reload. All in all, the Panther II's armament is decent.

The Panther II is also armed with a 7.92 mm machine gun. This won't do much damage to any enemies except those with exposed crew members. And, it won't do much damage to enemy aircraft. However, it is still useful for spotting enemies and notifying teammates of their presence.

The vehicle's mobility is also quite good. Reverse speed is much better than that of the earlier Panthers, which makes peeking out from behind cover to fire much more viable. On both roads and terrain, the tank is able to reach a respectable top speed, and in general, the mobility is quite nice, and is suited for both crossing the map to reach favourable positions and for close-quarters brawling.

As for armour, the Panther II's protection is the same as that of the [[Panther F]]. It can protect against most small-calibre guns, but won't hold up against larger guns such as those found on the enemy's medium and heavy tanks. The best survival tactic, as usual, is to avoid being hit entirely. The crew compartment (and the turret especially) is quite cramped, and the Panther II can take debilitating damage from even one shot. Many enemies will aim to hit the Panther's turret cheeks, since a hit to the turret can do extreme damage. To prevent this, it is helpful to wiggle the turret from side to side. Although this doesn't always work, it can sometimes throw off the enemy's aim enough so that the shot doesn't do much damage.

The Panther II is a classic medium tank. While it doesn't excel in any one role, it performs well in many. It can snipe, brawl, or do practically anything in between. When the tank's weaknesses are understood, it can be used to great effect to destroy the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the impressive KwK43 gun that's great for the BR thanks to the very high accuracy, velocity and rate of fire
* The default APCBC shell has fantastic penetration, and damage potential at all ranges
* The gunner has a really nice set of optics that provides 2.5x-6x of magnification. Great for quick target acquisition at close range, while still being great for long range sniping
* The Panther II's speed and manoeuvrability is almost as good as the Leopard 1's
* Much better frontal armour than the other Panthers. When properly angled, the upper plate is basically immune to anything that isn't packing 250 mm of penetration
* Unlike the other Panthers, this tank actually has a really nice reverse speed
* The gun mantlet is not that large, but it is very tough
* One of the few tanks at this BR that can use night vision

'''Cons:'''

* The night vision gear on the commander's cupola makes it very easy to spot the tank
* Same turret as the Panther F, but at a much higher BR. Taking a straight shot from any contemporary tank is almost guaranteed to end in disaster
* Bad turret traverse. Reacting to flanking enemy's isn't that easy
* The sides of the hull is lined with a lot of ammo. Enemy shells that enter the sides will likely destroy the tank
* Transmission is mounted in the front, meaning that the tank can be immobilized from both front and the rear
* There is some night vision gear on the drivers side of the upper hull. So the gun will have less gun depression than normal over this area of the tank

== History ==

=== Development ===
In late 1942, German designers started the development of a more powerful and slightly larger version of [[Panther D|Panther]] mounted on a newly designed chassis. In January of 1943, Adolf Hitler agreed on the development of Panther with increased armour protection especially for the needs of the Eastern Front. This project was designated '''Panther II''' and its design was planned along with the development of [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. In February of 1943, it was decided that Panther II, in its design would resemble Tiger II and would have many common components such as tracks, transmission, suspension and road wheels. Both designs had common components in an attempt to standardize the production.

Overall dimensions were very similar to those of [[Panther G]]; the hull's design was very similar to that of the late model Panther G but with many modernizations such as the arrangement of observation equipment and new engine deck. Its armour protection was significantly increased if compared to any other Panther variant produced. Side armour protection was 60 mm thick while frontal armour protection was 100 mm thick. It was planned to arm Panther II with the latest 75 mm KwK42 L/100 or even 88 mm KwK43 L/71 (without a muzzle brake) gun mounted in a newly designed narrow turret – Turm Panther 2 (Schmale Blendenausführung) (Turret Panther 2 (narrow mantlet variant)) - an early version of the Schmalturm turret. The Schmalturm itself was not designed until after the Panther 2 had been cancelled - designed by Rheinmetall in 1944 and to be produced by Daimler-Benz. The Panther II in the game with the Schmalturm and 8,8 cm KwK43 therefore represents a configuration that never made it out of the suggestion phase.

Panther II's schmale Blendenausführung (narrow mantlet variant) turret was significantly different to the Schmalturm of [[Panther F]]. The Schmalturm turret used on the Panther II in game has armour protection significantly increased if compared to any other Panther turret. The front was 120-125 mm, gun mantlet was 150 mm, while sides and rear were 60 mm and the top was 30 mm thick. Schmalturm had special mountings for infrared device and telescopic range finder. All of those modifications increased Panther II's weight to 47 tons. Panther II was to be powered by a new Maybach HL234 engine with a total power of 900 hp operated by 8-speed hydraulic transmission. Instead, Maybach HL 230 P 30 engine was mounted and Maybach HL234 was later on due to being completed in August of 1945, for future Panther series. It was believed that Panther II's performance would be similar to that of Panther G, while if ever produced Panther II would most likely suffer from the same problems as Tiger II, simply because of its great weight and high fuel consumption which made it extremely slow. It is unknown what other modifications would be made if Panther II would be combat tested.

In March of 1943, plans were made that the production of the first series would start in late 1943 or early 1944 and that by spring of 1944, full-scale production of Panther II would start. On May 20 of 1943, Rheinmetall-Borsig proposed a special air-defence turret designed for Panther II, mounted with four 20 mm MG151/20 guns, but it never reached prototype stage.

=== Production and cancellation ===
In early 1944, MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg) was allowed to produce two prototypes but was only able to produce one in early 1945, without the newly designed Schmalturm turret. On May 4th of 1944, it was realized that German industry was unable to start Panther II's production and this project was abandoned in favour of further development of Panther based on lessons learned from Panther II. On June 3rd of 1944, all companies which were to produce Panther II were ordered to instead start production on the regular Panther tank. The war ended with only one Panther II chassis produced.

The lessons from Panther II, specifically the ''Schmalturm'' turret, would be used on main Panther tank, resulting in the planned [[Panther F]] variant.

===Survivor===
The Americans captured the Panther II chassis and it was shipped to the states. Sometimes after 1946, a Panther G turret was added onto the chassis while it was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In the 1960s, the Panther II chassis was transferred to the Smithsonian Institute, who proceeded to give the tank to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in the 1970s. Following the closure of the Patton Museum, the Panther II is currently at the in-construction National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning.<ref name="ArmorJournalPantherII">The Armor Journal. "Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds." Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds. Waddling Penguin Publishing, LLC, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [http://www.armorjournal.com/index-tanks-PantherII-NACM.php Website]</ref>

{{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}}
Having adopted the Tiger II tank in the autumn of 1943, the Ministry of Armaments ordered the development of a new Panther II tank, specifying that maximum compatibility between the assembly of the two tanks be maintained. Development of the new tank design was assigned to the company Henschel & Sohn. The new tank was to have thicker armour (100 mm in the front and 60 mm on the sides) and was to be equipped with a Schmalturm turret. The main armament consisted of an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK43 L/70 tank gun with a long 70-calibre barrel, the same gun which was installed on the Tiger II (P). The tank's weight had to be increased to 55 tons or more. The main design problem was the lack of a suitable engine for the heavier vehicle. Several options were developed for installing a MAN/Argus LD 220 750 hp engine or a Maybach HL 234 900 hp engine, using an eight-speed hydromechanical AK 7-200 gearbox, but this work was never completed. The chassis of the new Panther consisted of 7 all-metal rollers on a single torsion bar. The tank's treads were 660 mm wide.

By late 1944, the company had only managed to build one tank hull, which for testing purposes was fitted with a turret from a production Panther G. The testing was never completed, and the tank was captured by American troops. This tank's hull is kept in the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox.

It is likely that two Panther II prototypes were built which may have participated in battles at the end of the war. Further work, however, virtually stopped. Project E50 was commissioned to replace both the Panther I and the Panther II.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hbNzrbSgGag|'''Panther II - The "Forgotten" Panther''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|PUw2CQ8e0lE|'''Best Combo #1''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:30 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-50 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6317-development-changes-and-optimization-in-the-german-tech-tree-en|[Devblog] Changes and optimization in the German tech-tree]]
* [[wikipedia:Panther_II_tank|[Wikipedia] Panther II tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-germany-panther-ii-mit-88cm-kwk-43-l71/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panther II mit 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panther-ausf-f.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki>Panzerkampfwagen Panther Ausf.F (Sd.Kfz.171)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer MAN AG}}
{{Germany medium tanks}}
[[Category:Hidden vehicles]]

Panther II

2023-12-10T04:36:00Z

U141562625: /* Production and cancellation */

{{About
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other versions
| link-1 = Panther tank (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = Panther (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_panther_II
|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. 172''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]] as a main tree vehicle, however, in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] it was shifted to become a gift vehicle for players who previously owned it.

The Panther II comes with the "Fahrgerät" FG1250 IR night vision equipment, which had seen limited service. The driver of the tank also gets an IR vision.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 100 mm (55-56°) ''Front plate'' 60 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' || 60 mm (30°) ''Top'' 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (29-33°) || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 120 mm (20-21°)''Turret front'' 300 mm ''Gun Mantlet'' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm (25°) || 30 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 100 mm (57°) || 100 mm (33°) ''Outer ring'' 30 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
* Side skirts are 5 mm thick and act as additional protection against explosive warhead
* Part of the hull is covered by tracks, adding additional 20 mm of armour

The armour on this variant has better frontal and side armour than the [[Panther F]], which will protect you against the weaker guns at this BR but it won't hold up when facing higher calibre guns such as the [[M3 (90 mm)]], [[D-25T (122 mm)]] and [[20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)]] that you will likely meet at this rank. The best tactic to survive is to not get hit by an enemy attacker, as the crew is quite cramped and will typically be disabled with one well-placed shot. Also, the Panther II can angle its hull slightly more, unlike the other Panthers, which can provide greater protection.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,395|rbMinHp=796}}

As with all Panthers, this tank has excellent mobility both on and off road. One notable difference between the {{PAGENAME}} and the other Panthers is its reverse speed. Comparing to a max -4 km/h reverse speed on the rest of the Panthers, the Panther II provides a -12 km/h reverse speed, which can help a lot in battles.

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

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

{{main|KwK43 (88 mm)}}

The Panther II boasts the excellent 88 mm KwK43 with its notably punchy PzGr 39/43 shell, with a reload speed comparable to that of the [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II]]. Thus, it represents a threat for every tank on the battlefield, even at long ranges. Its rather poor gun handling, however (7.1°/s turret rotation on a stock tank with a level 1 crew) means close-quarters engagements and particularly urban combat should be avoided if possible. This can be somewhat remedied by its ability to neutral steer to acquire a firing solution faster. The optimal ammo loadout is 15 rounds, since it eliminates the ammo racks at the sides of the hull, while still providing a decent quantity of ammunition. It is not recommended to load anything other than PzGr 39/43 shells since it can readily knock out most opponents and it provides consistent ballistic characteristics, while still maintaining a fairly good penetration against sloped armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK43 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK43]] || 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 11.4 || 15.8 || 19.2 || 21.2 || 22.6 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK43 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39/43, PzGr 40/43, Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr.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
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 43 ''(+7)'' || 35 ''(+15)'' || 27 ''(+23)'' || 19 ''(+31)'' || 11 ''(+39)'' || 7 ''(+43)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modelled individually.
* Racks 6 and 7 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 7 - 1 until 5.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-5 into racks 7 then 6. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* Packing 19 ''(+31)'' shells will keep the sides of the hull empty.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

The Panther II's coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 is rather anaemic, and thus, not very versatile. It won't pose much of a threat to any vehicle that doesn't have exposed crew members, and it won't do much damage to aircraft. It can, however, be used to highlight enemy vehicles to friendlies, but it comes with the risk of alerting enemies of an enemy vehicle.

{| 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 || 3,000 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Panther II is a medium tank that performs in many roles. With its powerful gun, it can very effectively take out opponents at its battle rating at both close and long ranges. The turret traverse is slow, which makes close-quarters engagements and urban combat difficult. But, this can be made up for by careful positioning and the use of the tank's neutral steering. The gun has a fairly standard gun depression and a good reload. All in all, the Panther II's armament is decent.

The Panther II is also armed with a 7.92 mm machine gun. This won't do much damage to any enemies except those with exposed crew members. And, it won't do much damage to enemy aircraft. However, it is still useful for spotting enemies and notifying teammates of their presence.

The vehicle's mobility is also quite good. Reverse speed is much better than that of the earlier Panthers, which makes peeking out from behind cover to fire much more viable. On both roads and terrain, the tank is able to reach a respectable top speed, and in general, the mobility is quite nice, and is suited for both crossing the map to reach favourable positions and for close-quarters brawling.

As for armour, the Panther II's protection is the same as that of the [[Panther F]]. It can protect against most small-calibre guns, but won't hold up against larger guns such as those found on the enemy's medium and heavy tanks. The best survival tactic, as usual, is to avoid being hit entirely. The crew compartment (and the turret especially) is quite cramped, and the Panther II can take debilitating damage from even one shot. Many enemies will aim to hit the Panther's turret cheeks, since a hit to the turret can do extreme damage. To prevent this, it is helpful to wiggle the turret from side to side. Although this doesn't always work, it can sometimes throw off the enemy's aim enough so that the shot doesn't do much damage.

The Panther II is a classic medium tank. While it doesn't excel in any one role, it performs well in many. It can snipe, brawl, or do practically anything in between. When the tank's weaknesses are understood, it can be used to great effect to destroy the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the impressive KwK43 gun that's great for the BR thanks to the very high accuracy, velocity and rate of fire
* The default APCBC shell has fantastic penetration, and damage potential at all ranges
* The gunner has a really nice set of optics that provides 2.5x-6x of magnification. Great for quick target acquisition at close range, while still being great for long range sniping
* The Panther II's speed and manoeuvrability is almost as good as the Leopard 1's
* Much better frontal armour than the other Panthers. When properly angled, the upper plate is basically immune to anything that isn't packing 250 mm of penetration
* Unlike the other Panthers, this tank actually has a really nice reverse speed
* The gun mantlet is not that large, but it is very tough
* One of the few tanks at this BR that can use night vision

'''Cons:'''

* The night vision gear on the commander's cupola makes it very easy to spot the tank
* Same turret as the Panther F, but at a much higher BR. Taking a straight shot from any contemporary tank is almost guaranteed to end in disaster
* Bad turret traverse. Reacting to flanking enemy's isn't that easy
* The sides of the hull is lined with a lot of ammo. Enemy shells that enter the sides will likely destroy the tank
* Transmission is mounted in the front, meaning that the tank can be immobilized from both front and the rear
* There is some night vision gear on the drivers side of the upper hull. So the gun will have less gun depression than normal over this area of the tank

== History ==

=== Development ===
In late 1942, German designers started the development of a more powerful and slightly larger version of [[Panther D|Panther]] mounted on a newly designed chassis. In January of 1943, Adolf Hitler agreed on the development of Panther with increased armour protection especially for the needs of the Eastern Front. This project was designated '''Panther II''' and its design was planned along with the development of [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. In February of 1943, it was decided that Panther II, in its design would resemble Tiger II and would have many common components such as tracks, transmission, suspension and road wheels. Both designs had common components in an attempt to standardize the production.

Overall dimensions were very similar to those of [[Panther G]]; the hull's design was very similar to that of the late model Panther G but with many modernizations such as the arrangement of observation equipment and new engine deck. Its armour protection was significantly increased if compared to any other Panther variant produced. Side armour protection was 60 mm thick while frontal armour protection was 100 mm thick. It was planned to arm Panther II with the latest 75 mm KwK42 L/100 or even 88 mm KwK43 L/71 (without a muzzle brake) gun mounted in a newly designed narrow turret – Turm Panther 2 (Schmale Blendenausführung) (Turret Panther 2 (narrow mantlet variant)) - an early version of the Schmalturm. The Schmalturm itself was not designed until after the Panther 2 had been cancelled - designed by Rheinmetall in 1944 and to be produced by Daimler-Benz. The Panther II in the game with the Schmalturm and 8,8 cm KwK43 therefore represents a configuration that never made it out of the suggestion phase.

Panther II's schmale Blendenausführung (narrow mantlet variant) turret was significantly different to the Schmalturm of [[Panther F]]. The Schmalturm turret used on the Panther II in game has armour protection significantly increased if compared to any other Panther turret. The front was 120-125 mm, gun mantlet was 150 mm, while sides and rear were 60 mm and the top was 30 mm thick. Schmalturm had special mountings for infrared device and telescopic range finder. All of those modifications increased Panther II's weight to 47 tons. Panther II was to be powered by a new Maybach HL234 engine with a total power of 900 hp operated by 8-speed hydraulic transmission. Instead, Maybach HL 230 P 30 engine was mounted and Maybach HL234 was later on due to being completed in August of 1945, for future Panther series. It was believed that Panther II's performance would be similar to that of Panther G, while if ever produced Panther II would most likely suffer from the same problems as Tiger II, simply because of its great weight and high fuel consumption which made it extremely slow. It is unknown what other modifications would be made if Panther II would be combat tested.

In March of 1943, plans were made that the production of the first series would start in late 1943 or early 1944 and that by spring of 1944, full-scale production of Panther II would start. On May 20 of 1943, Rheinmetall-Borsig proposed a special air-defence turret designed for Panther II, mounted with four 20 mm MG151/20 guns, but it never reached prototype stage.

=== Production and cancellation ===
In early 1944, MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg) was allowed to produce two prototypes but was only able to produce one in early 1945, without the newly designed Schmalturm turret. On May 4th of 1944, it was realized that German industry was unable to start Panther II's production and this project was abandoned in favour of further development of Panther based on lessons learned from Panther II. On June 3rd of 1944, all companies which were to produce Panther II were ordered to instead start production on the regular Panther tank. The war ended with only one Panther II chassis produced.

The lessons from Panther II, specifically the ''Schmalturm'' turret, would be used on main Panther tank, resulting in the planned [[Panther F]] variant.

===Survivor===
The Americans captured the Panther II chassis and it was shipped to the states. Sometimes after 1946, a Panther G turret was added onto the chassis while it was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In the 1960s, the Panther II chassis was transferred to the Smithsonian Institute, who proceeded to give the tank to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in the 1970s. Following the closure of the Patton Museum, the Panther II is currently at the in-construction National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning.<ref name="ArmorJournalPantherII">The Armor Journal. "Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds." Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds. Waddling Penguin Publishing, LLC, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [http://www.armorjournal.com/index-tanks-PantherII-NACM.php Website]</ref>

{{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}}
Having adopted the Tiger II tank in the autumn of 1943, the Ministry of Armaments ordered the development of a new Panther II tank, specifying that maximum compatibility between the assembly of the two tanks be maintained. Development of the new tank design was assigned to the company Henschel & Sohn. The new tank was to have thicker armour (100 mm in the front and 60 mm on the sides) and was to be equipped with a Schmalturm turret. The main armament consisted of an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK43 L/70 tank gun with a long 70-calibre barrel, the same gun which was installed on the Tiger II (P). The tank's weight had to be increased to 55 tons or more. The main design problem was the lack of a suitable engine for the heavier vehicle. Several options were developed for installing a MAN/Argus LD 220 750 hp engine or a Maybach HL 234 900 hp engine, using an eight-speed hydromechanical AK 7-200 gearbox, but this work was never completed. The chassis of the new Panther consisted of 7 all-metal rollers on a single torsion bar. The tank's treads were 660 mm wide.

By late 1944, the company had only managed to build one tank hull, which for testing purposes was fitted with a turret from a production Panther G. The testing was never completed, and the tank was captured by American troops. This tank's hull is kept in the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox.

It is likely that two Panther II prototypes were built which may have participated in battles at the end of the war. Further work, however, virtually stopped. Project E50 was commissioned to replace both the Panther I and the Panther II.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hbNzrbSgGag|'''Panther II - The "Forgotten" Panther''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|PUw2CQ8e0lE|'''Best Combo #1''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:30 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-50 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6317-development-changes-and-optimization-in-the-german-tech-tree-en|[Devblog] Changes and optimization in the German tech-tree]]
* [[wikipedia:Panther_II_tank|[Wikipedia] Panther II tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-germany-panther-ii-mit-88cm-kwk-43-l71/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panther II mit 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panther-ausf-f.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki>Panzerkampfwagen Panther Ausf.F (Sd.Kfz.171)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer MAN AG}}
{{Germany medium tanks}}
[[Category:Hidden vehicles]]

Panther II

2023-12-10T04:34:43Z

U141562625: /* Development */

{{About
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other versions
| link-1 = Panther tank (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = Panther (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_panther_II
|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. 172''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]] as a main tree vehicle, however, in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] it was shifted to become a gift vehicle for players who previously owned it.

The Panther II comes with the "Fahrgerät" FG1250 IR night vision equipment, which had seen limited service. The driver of the tank also gets an IR vision.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 100 mm (55-56°) ''Front plate'' 60 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' || 60 mm (30°) ''Top'' 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (29-33°) || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 120 mm (20-21°)''Turret front'' 300 mm ''Gun Mantlet'' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm (25°) || 30 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 100 mm (57°) || 100 mm (33°) ''Outer ring'' 30 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
* Side skirts are 5 mm thick and act as additional protection against explosive warhead
* Part of the hull is covered by tracks, adding additional 20 mm of armour

The armour on this variant has better frontal and side armour than the [[Panther F]], which will protect you against the weaker guns at this BR but it won't hold up when facing higher calibre guns such as the [[M3 (90 mm)]], [[D-25T (122 mm)]] and [[20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)]] that you will likely meet at this rank. The best tactic to survive is to not get hit by an enemy attacker, as the crew is quite cramped and will typically be disabled with one well-placed shot. Also, the Panther II can angle its hull slightly more, unlike the other Panthers, which can provide greater protection.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,395|rbMinHp=796}}

As with all Panthers, this tank has excellent mobility both on and off road. One notable difference between the {{PAGENAME}} and the other Panthers is its reverse speed. Comparing to a max -4 km/h reverse speed on the rest of the Panthers, the Panther II provides a -12 km/h reverse speed, which can help a lot in battles.

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

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

{{main|KwK43 (88 mm)}}

The Panther II boasts the excellent 88 mm KwK43 with its notably punchy PzGr 39/43 shell, with a reload speed comparable to that of the [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II]]. Thus, it represents a threat for every tank on the battlefield, even at long ranges. Its rather poor gun handling, however (7.1°/s turret rotation on a stock tank with a level 1 crew) means close-quarters engagements and particularly urban combat should be avoided if possible. This can be somewhat remedied by its ability to neutral steer to acquire a firing solution faster. The optimal ammo loadout is 15 rounds, since it eliminates the ammo racks at the sides of the hull, while still providing a decent quantity of ammunition. It is not recommended to load anything other than PzGr 39/43 shells since it can readily knock out most opponents and it provides consistent ballistic characteristics, while still maintaining a fairly good penetration against sloped armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK43 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK43]] || 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 11.4 || 15.8 || 19.2 || 21.2 || 22.6 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK43 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39/43, PzGr 40/43, Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr.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
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 43 ''(+7)'' || 35 ''(+15)'' || 27 ''(+23)'' || 19 ''(+31)'' || 11 ''(+39)'' || 7 ''(+43)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modelled individually.
* Racks 6 and 7 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 7 - 1 until 5.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-5 into racks 7 then 6. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* Packing 19 ''(+31)'' shells will keep the sides of the hull empty.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

The Panther II's coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 is rather anaemic, and thus, not very versatile. It won't pose much of a threat to any vehicle that doesn't have exposed crew members, and it won't do much damage to aircraft. It can, however, be used to highlight enemy vehicles to friendlies, but it comes with the risk of alerting enemies of an enemy vehicle.

{| 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 || 3,000 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Panther II is a medium tank that performs in many roles. With its powerful gun, it can very effectively take out opponents at its battle rating at both close and long ranges. The turret traverse is slow, which makes close-quarters engagements and urban combat difficult. But, this can be made up for by careful positioning and the use of the tank's neutral steering. The gun has a fairly standard gun depression and a good reload. All in all, the Panther II's armament is decent.

The Panther II is also armed with a 7.92 mm machine gun. This won't do much damage to any enemies except those with exposed crew members. And, it won't do much damage to enemy aircraft. However, it is still useful for spotting enemies and notifying teammates of their presence.

The vehicle's mobility is also quite good. Reverse speed is much better than that of the earlier Panthers, which makes peeking out from behind cover to fire much more viable. On both roads and terrain, the tank is able to reach a respectable top speed, and in general, the mobility is quite nice, and is suited for both crossing the map to reach favourable positions and for close-quarters brawling.

As for armour, the Panther II's protection is the same as that of the [[Panther F]]. It can protect against most small-calibre guns, but won't hold up against larger guns such as those found on the enemy's medium and heavy tanks. The best survival tactic, as usual, is to avoid being hit entirely. The crew compartment (and the turret especially) is quite cramped, and the Panther II can take debilitating damage from even one shot. Many enemies will aim to hit the Panther's turret cheeks, since a hit to the turret can do extreme damage. To prevent this, it is helpful to wiggle the turret from side to side. Although this doesn't always work, it can sometimes throw off the enemy's aim enough so that the shot doesn't do much damage.

The Panther II is a classic medium tank. While it doesn't excel in any one role, it performs well in many. It can snipe, brawl, or do practically anything in between. When the tank's weaknesses are understood, it can be used to great effect to destroy the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the impressive KwK43 gun that's great for the BR thanks to the very high accuracy, velocity and rate of fire
* The default APCBC shell has fantastic penetration, and damage potential at all ranges
* The gunner has a really nice set of optics that provides 2.5x-6x of magnification. Great for quick target acquisition at close range, while still being great for long range sniping
* The Panther II's speed and manoeuvrability is almost as good as the Leopard 1's
* Much better frontal armour than the other Panthers. When properly angled, the upper plate is basically immune to anything that isn't packing 250 mm of penetration
* Unlike the other Panthers, this tank actually has a really nice reverse speed
* The gun mantlet is not that large, but it is very tough
* One of the few tanks at this BR that can use night vision

'''Cons:'''

* The night vision gear on the commander's cupola makes it very easy to spot the tank
* Same turret as the Panther F, but at a much higher BR. Taking a straight shot from any contemporary tank is almost guaranteed to end in disaster
* Bad turret traverse. Reacting to flanking enemy's isn't that easy
* The sides of the hull is lined with a lot of ammo. Enemy shells that enter the sides will likely destroy the tank
* Transmission is mounted in the front, meaning that the tank can be immobilized from both front and the rear
* There is some night vision gear on the drivers side of the upper hull. So the gun will have less gun depression than normal over this area of the tank

== History ==

=== Development ===
In late 1942, German designers started the development of a more powerful and slightly larger version of [[Panther D|Panther]] mounted on a newly designed chassis. In January of 1943, Adolf Hitler agreed on the development of Panther with increased armour protection especially for the needs of the Eastern Front. This project was designated '''Panther II''' and its design was planned along with the development of [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. In February of 1943, it was decided that Panther II, in its design would resemble Tiger II and would have many common components such as tracks, transmission, suspension and road wheels. Both designs had common components in an attempt to standardize the production.

Overall dimensions were very similar to those of [[Panther G]]; the hull's design was very similar to that of the late model Panther G but with many modernizations such as the arrangement of observation equipment and new engine deck. Its armour protection was significantly increased if compared to any other Panther variant produced. Side armour protection was 60 mm thick while frontal armour protection was 100 mm thick. It was planned to arm Panther II with the latest 75 mm KwK42 L/100 or even 88 mm KwK43 L/71 (without a muzzle brake) gun mounted in a newly designed narrow turret – Turm Panther 2 (Schmale Blendenausführung) (Turret Panther 2 (narrow mantlet variant)) - an early version of the Schmalturm. The Schmalturm itself was not designed until after the Panther 2 had been cancelled - designed by Rheinmetall in 1944 and to be produced by Daimler-Benz. The Panther II in the game with the Schmalturm and 8,8 cm KwK43 therefore represents a configuration that never made it out of the suggestion phase.

Panther II's schmale Blendenausführung (narrow mantlet variant) turret was significantly different to the Schmalturm of [[Panther F]]. The Schmalturm turret used on the Panther II in game has armour protection significantly increased if compared to any other Panther turret. The front was 120-125 mm, gun mantlet was 150 mm, while sides and rear were 60 mm and the top was 30 mm thick. Schmalturm had special mountings for infrared device and telescopic range finder. All of those modifications increased Panther II's weight to 47 tons. Panther II was to be powered by a new Maybach HL234 engine with a total power of 900 hp operated by 8-speed hydraulic transmission. Instead, Maybach HL 230 P 30 engine was mounted and Maybach HL234 was later on due to being completed in August of 1945, for future Panther series. It was believed that Panther II's performance would be similar to that of Panther G, while if ever produced Panther II would most likely suffer from the same problems as Tiger II, simply because of its great weight and high fuel consumption which made it extremely slow. It is unknown what other modifications would be made if Panther II would be combat tested.

In March of 1943, plans were made that the production of the first series would start in late 1943 or early 1944 and that by spring of 1944, full-scale production of Panther II would start. On May 20 of 1943, Rheinmetall-Borsig proposed a special air-defence turret designed for Panther II, mounted with four 20 mm MG151/20 guns, but it never reached prototype stage.

=== Production and cancellation ===
In early 1944, MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuremberg) was allowed to produce two prototypes but was only able to produce one in early 1945, without the newly designed Schmalturm turret. On May 4th of 1944, it was realized that German industry was unable to start Panther II's production and this project was abandoned in favour of further development of Panther based on lessons learned from Panther II. On June 3rd of 1944, all companies which were to produce Panther II were ordered to instead start the production on the regular Panther tank. The war ended with only one Panther II chassis produced.

The lessons from Panther II, specifically the ''Schmalturm'' turret, would be used on main Panther tank, resulting in the planned [[Panther F]] variant.

===Survivor===
The Americans captured the Panther II chassis and it was shipped to the states. Sometimes after 1946, a Panther G turret was added onto the chassis while it was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In the 1960s, the Panther II chassis was transferred to the Smithsonian Institute, who proceeded to give the tank to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in the 1970s. Following the closure of the Patton Museum, the Panther II is currently at the in-construction National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning.<ref name="ArmorJournalPantherII">The Armor Journal. "Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds." Panther II. NACM, Ft.Benning. TAJ Walkarounds. Waddling Penguin Publishing, LLC, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [http://www.armorjournal.com/index-tanks-PantherII-NACM.php Website]</ref>

{{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}}
Having adopted the Tiger II tank in the autumn of 1943, the Ministry of Armaments ordered the development of a new Panther II tank, specifying that maximum compatibility between the assembly of the two tanks be maintained. Development of the new tank design was assigned to the company Henschel & Sohn. The new tank was to have thicker armour (100 mm in the front and 60 mm on the sides) and was to be equipped with a Schmalturm turret. The main armament consisted of an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK43 L/70 tank gun with a long 70-calibre barrel, the same gun which was installed on the Tiger II (P). The tank's weight had to be increased to 55 tons or more. The main design problem was the lack of a suitable engine for the heavier vehicle. Several options were developed for installing a MAN/Argus LD 220 750 hp engine or a Maybach HL 234 900 hp engine, using an eight-speed hydromechanical AK 7-200 gearbox, but this work was never completed. The chassis of the new Panther consisted of 7 all-metal rollers on a single torsion bar. The tank's treads were 660 mm wide.

By late 1944, the company had only managed to build one tank hull, which for testing purposes was fitted with a turret from a production Panther G. The testing was never completed, and the tank was captured by American troops. This tank's hull is kept in the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox.

It is likely that two Panther II prototypes were built which may have participated in battles at the end of the war. Further work, however, virtually stopped. Project E50 was commissioned to replace both the Panther I and the Panther II.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hbNzrbSgGag|'''Panther II - The "Forgotten" Panther''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|PUw2CQ8e0lE|'''Best Combo #1''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:30 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[AMX-50 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6317-development-changes-and-optimization-in-the-german-tech-tree-en|[Devblog] Changes and optimization in the German tech-tree]]
* [[wikipedia:Panther_II_tank|[Wikipedia] Panther II tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-germany-panther-ii-mit-88cm-kwk-43-l71/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panther II mit 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panther-ausf-f.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki>Panzerkampfwagen Panther Ausf.F (Sd.Kfz.171)]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer MAN AG}}
{{Germany medium tanks}}
[[Category:Hidden vehicles]]

M3A3 (Italy)

2023-08-27T23:32:51Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M3 Stuart (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=it_m3a3_stuart
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The history of the American M3A3 Stuart in Italian service starts in the immediate aftermath of post-war Italy. Several re-armament programs, partially supported by America and the United Kingdom, allowed them to give away surplus military equipment away to nations who needed to bolster their forces. Italy received the vehicles in the form of the Military Assistance Program, and they would be in service in several armoured regiments for many decades. They were well-liked as the doctrine of the Italian army allowed for the Stuart to fit in nicely without too many issues, mainly thanks to its compact design which made it ideal for use in Italy. It was light but armoured enough to withstand hits from lower calibre rounds.

Introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]], the M3A3 has great mobility which can be taken advantage of at the start of matches, either to get into a favourable position or to capture a point before anyone else. It is very small, so you can hide the vehicle to set up ambushes with allies. Its crew arrangement however isn't good as one good hit means that you will likely not be able to keep fighting. Armament is good enough to fight other light tanks in your class, for more armoured targets the munitions provided can penetrate enemies from the sides which is easy to do because your mobility allows you to flank enemy teams with ease. Overall, it's a recommended addition to anyone's lineup when researching the Italian tech tree.

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


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
|Hull || 25 mm (46-49°) ''Front Glacis - upper plate'' 20 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' 50 mm (24-27°) ''Front Glacis - joint plate'' 50 mm (44-46°) ''Front Glacis - lower plate'' 44.4 mm (25-43°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm (1-26°) ''Upper part'' 25.4 mm (21°) ''Lower part'' || 12.7 mm
|-
|Turret || 38.1 mm (12-14°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 31.75 mm 15 mm ''Add-on tracks'' || 31.75 mm || 12.7 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and bogies are 15 mm thick.
* Mudguards and rear storage box are 4 mm thick

The frontal armour on the {{Specs|pseudonym}} is pretty tough for a light tank with 25 mm on the front & sides of the hull, and a large, 50 mm thick gun mantlet covering up most of its frontal turret. When angled correctly it can bounce off quite a few shots. However it can still be easily penetrated by average guns on its BR. From the front the 4 crews are sitting pretty close together, thus making it highly possible to get knocked out by shells with explosive fillers like the Soviet 45 mm AP or the German short 75 mm APHE. The transmission and the engine are all quite small and low, and the ammo racks are also small, reducing the chance of being immobile or ammoracked. There is also an empty area under the turret crews and in front of the driving compartment, which will absorb those shells with weak damage.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 406|rbMinHp= 232}}

One of the best aspects of the {{PAGENAME}} is its superior mobility. It has a top speed of 58 km/h and doesn't lose too much speed on soft terrains as it's tracked, making it one of the fastest tanks at the BR alongside with the famous BT series tanks. The turning ability is also amazing, since the hull is short and wide enough, allowing it to turn agilely. However, when trying to stop the tank while it is travelling at full speed, the brakes tend to be inefficient, giving it a long braking distance and making it very sluggish when stopping.

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

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

{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}

The {{Specs|pseudonym}} is armed with a 37 mm cannon as its main armament. While its high BR makes it face tougher opponents, the gun still packs a fierce punch if aimed well and fired at the correct distance. The 37 mm provides a 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 considerably beyond 500 m and become unreliable past 700 m. The gun is equipped with a vertical stabiliser, giving the {{Specs|pseudonym}} 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. However, the gun can overheat from shooting several shots without interruption and cause a loss of accuracy noticeable even at 200 m distance. A short pause between shots will prevent this from happening.

{| 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" | 174 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.7 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.34 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.9 || 14.0 || 17.0 || 18.8 || 20.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74B1, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks M3A3 Stuart (China).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the ␗M3A3 Stuart (identical)]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''174''' || 131 ''(+43)'' || 87 ''(+87)'' || 44 ''(+130)'' || 1 ''(+173)'' || Yes
|-
|}

Notes:

* Only 144 shells are modeled in the racks 1 to 4.
* The 1st rack contains 13 shells but empties after having fired 43 shells.
* The 2nd rack contains 52 shells but empties after having fired 44 shells.
* The 3rd rack contains 24 shells but empties after having fired 43 shells.
* The 4th rack contains 55 shells but empties after having fired 44 shells.
* To go into battle with the turret and the flanks empty of ammo, pack 44 ''(+130)'' shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied).

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

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The M3A3 has two [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]] machine guns, one being coaxial to the main gun and the other roof-mounted. The two machine guns can quickly incapacitate the exposed crews on some vehicles or do some serious damage to low-passing planes. The machine gun is only enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as the AS 42, the FlakPz I and GAZ-AAAs. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of lightly-armoured vehicles like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. They are still a vast improvement over the previous Breda machine guns.

{| 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
|-
| Pintle || 4,500 (250) || 500 || -10°/+70° || -60°/+15°
|-
| Coaxial || 3,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The M3A3 Stuart is best used as a point-capturer and a hit-n-run tank. Its extreme mobility gives the player uncountable ways to play with the enemy. At the start of a battle, it can quickly cap a nearby point first, but note that some wheeled vehicles, like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2|Sd.Kfz.234]] series in a mixed battle can still outrun the M3A3 on-road, therefore posing a great threat. Or it can get to an ambush position near the point and wait until the prey comes. With its reliable gun, the M3A3 should be able to destroy the first wave of enemies easily and quickly.

In the middle stages of a battle, the M3A3 can utilise its excellent mobility and get to wherever needs help while carefully looking around. If the M3A3 unexpectedly encounter an enemy in its path, don't panic! Circle around the enemy and try to force it to turn, this way it usually cannot aim at the M3A3 accurately, then reduce the M3A3's speed down under 10 km/h and keep moving. Now the M3A3's stabiliser will give the tank a great chance to hit while on the move as it stabilises the gun when the tank is under 10 km/h, making it easier time to put the gun on target while moving compared to the enemy.

The frontal armour of this tank is also quite good at a distance. Find a building or a big rock as cover and angle the hull for about 40 degrees. When ready to fire, go out of cover and stop once the 37 mm gun is exposed, don't go out too much or the thin side armour will be exposed to be hit. Keep in mind that with this tactic the player should only engage the low-penetrating enemies at more than 400 m, as their penetration will drop significantly at that distance while the M3A3 can still penetrate 73 mm of armour, which is enough to go through most of its opponents like the [[T-50]], [[SU-76M]] or [[Crusader Mk III]].

'''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 fire 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 M3A3 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 M3A3'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 M3A3's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3A3. While charging, use the M3A3's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3A3. 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.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great firepower: the 37 cannon mm has good penetration, excellent rate of fire and a gun depression of -10°, allowing the M3 to adapt to most kinds of rough terrain.
* Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns common opponents like the [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]] and Crusader
* Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, giving it an advantage in a sudden encounter
* Respectable sloped armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance, such as the 37 mm M6 on other M3 Stuarts
* Small turret profile makes it harder to get hit

'''Cons:'''

* Weak armour against high-penetration shells like the 76 mm F-34/ZIS-5
* 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
* While fast, it is still slower than the Sd.Kfz.234 series on the road
* Angling brings no additional protection as there are angled plates of armour on both sides.

== History ==


After World War II, Italy joined NATO. As part of the military aid program, the United States supplied Italy with a diverse set of vehicles, including the M3A3 Stuart, which was designated Carro Leggero M3A3 in Italian service. The Military Aid program which the Stuart would first appear in would be in the year of 1948, allied countries such as America proceeded to distribute several different types of surplus armoured fighting vehicles for Italy. Delivery of the inital batch of vehicles would continue up until February of 1949, the contents of this package also included various types of Sherman tanks, artillery pieces, trucks and munitions. The first units would enter service in Italy with the Armoured Calvary Squadron, and 2 other armoured battalions made from previous brigades which broke up during the last stages of the second world war. In Italy it was actually very good piece of kit to have access to, it was light, easily transportable and gave infantry and other security roles a vehicle with decent armour protection, at least when compared to what previously was being fielded. Some in Italy would be modified to fit the reconnaissance role, which would remove the inital turret and replace it with a mount for a 50 caliber machine gun. The standard variant would have a crew of 4, whilst the reconnaissance variant only needed a crew of 2. During its service, it didn't face any combat, but would recieve a potential upgrade program which replaced the american cannon with an Italian made one. This was likely to see if there was room for conversion to allow the tank to remain in service longer. Overall the M3A3's in Italian service would be operational up until the year of 1957, where the last units would officially be replaced by more modern vehicles better adapted for Italian needs.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_m3a3_stuart Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M5 Stuart (Family)]]
* [[M8 General Scott (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[A13 Mk II 1939]]

== 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}}
{{Italy light tanks}}

Sherman III/IV

2023-08-16T16:41:17Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = Swedish medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M4 Sherman (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=sw_sherman_3_4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Sherman_III-IV.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "La Royale"]].

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

The Sherman III/IV has a similar armour profile to the M4A2, but without the additional side armour squares, and also due to the lack of a hull machine gun, it loses the MG-port weak spot. It still has the spot of thinner armour on the front of the turret (area ground out to fit the stabilizer) that most of the other 75 Shermans have.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (46°) ''Front glacis'' 63.5-108 mm (2-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (23-43°)|| 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 50.8-76.2 mm (10-41°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (4-32°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
| Cupola || 51 mm || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Upper front plate has consistent thickness due to lack of MG port weak spot
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (51 mm) than the rest (76 mm).
* Driver and Machine gunner hatches are 25.4 mm thick

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

Even though the Sherman III/IV is on the slower side in terms of Shermans, its mobility is still good, with a quick acceleration and a high top speed. Due to a lack of neutral steering, turning in this tank can be slow from stationary.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

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

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

{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}

75 mm M3 gun is a competent, well-handling gun for a medium tank. Even without any modifications, its ability to fulfil its role, though where it begins to shine is with the M61 shot. Default, M72, suffers from issues typical to US and British solid shots - poor post-penetration effects. This means it's preferable to take down enemy gunner first, usually by hitting the right side of the turret.

{| 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" | 66 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

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

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Sherman_III-IV.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
|-
| '''66''' || 57 ''(+9)'' || 45 ''(+21)'' || 24 ''(2)'' || 1 ''(+65)'' ||No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* First stage ammunition is 23 rounds.
* To enter battle with the sponsons empty bring 45 ''(+21)'' shells (1st and 2nd racks empty).

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

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun on this tank is a general-purpose 7.62 mm M1919A4 Browning machine gun mounted in the coaxial position. A typical machine gun not too unlike on many other vehicles, the machine gun is just average. You will not be able to damage much besides sniping crew in open top vehicles.

{| 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 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Sherman is an effective medium-range combat tank. Equipped with a fast-firing 75 mm gun and with good handling characteristics, this tank can be an extremely useful asset in most battles.

In battle the Sherman 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. The reasonable mobility of the Sherman makes flanking a viable tactic. The main weakness of the Sherman 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 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 Sherman is to tap into its traditional cavalry role, its mobility. The 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 Sherman immediately. 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 chances of success on the battlefield.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

M4A2/[[M4A4 (1st PTG)]]: these Sherman tanks are widely used by 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 an M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there can guarantee a knock out most of the time. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenceless. 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.

[[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1 and variants]] - 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)|ZiS-5]] is potent enough to punch through the Sherman's front, and the Sherman is unable to penetrate the KV-1's thick frontal armour. If this heavy tank is encountered, try to shoot it in its sides and rear, where its armour is thinner and 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.

[[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate 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 Shermans 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 incapacitate 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 a single shot. With the G variant, it is more reliable to use AP at ranges within 500 m to ensure penetration.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] - This German half-track is armed with a potent 88 mm gun that can easily knock you out in one shot. However, the gun has a long reload and the half-track has literally no armour to speak of. Also, its crew members are spread out so you're going to need multiple shots to put it down. The shell you should use while dealing with this is of course your HE shell, packed with over 600 g of explosive. First, you take out the gun. The HE shell will also knock out most of the crew members around it too, as an added bonus. Then, take out the two crew members in front of the Flak 37. This may require some more careful aiming, but if you manage to get a good shot, it will likely destroy the vehicle immediately.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
* Great firepower: adequate penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents
* Great turret traverse speed allows it to deal with multiple threats easily
* Well angled frontal hull provides protection against small calibre / low-penetration guns (e.g. 75 mm M3, 50 mm KwK39), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly.
* 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 Sd.kfz.234/2 can easily see and penetrate it
* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get penetrated and knocked out by tanks like [[Pz.IV F2]]/G, [[StuG III F]]/G, [[M10 (Family)|M10]] by a single shot
* The M61 shell struggle to penetrate angled targets like [[StuG III G]], Churchill Mk.III or even the T-34 and M10
* Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn. Also the narrow tracks offer poor ground flotation, thus poor off-road capabilities. Can only reach its top speed on paved or hard surfaces
* Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons. For example the widely used MG151 15/20 mm
* Lack of M2 Browning machine gun seen on most other Shermans means anti-aircraft defense is weak and removes the extra option for taking out lighter vehicles or shooting off tracks without having to use your main gun.

== History ==

After World War II, Sweden purchased a few surplus Sherman tanks from Britain for evaluation and to learn about foreign tank design. They were tested in field conditions. All of the Shermans did quite well in the tests and were praised for their reliability and ease of use even with inexperienced drivers, and while not being made for the winter conditions they were testing in. Even though the tank was viewed favourably, Swedish never fully adopted the Sherman nor did the examples they did obtain see combat service. Inability to purchase more with sufficient spare parts, and other better vehicles being available may be some of the reasons for this decision. The tallness of the Sherman, and the weaknesses brought with that height were a partial inspiration for the future [[Strv 103 (Family)|Strv 103]] which was focused on minimizing height.

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Swedish Evaluation of the Sherman: http://tanks.mod16.org/2016/09/30/swedish-impressions-of-the-sherman/

{{Sweden medium tanks}}
{{Sweden premium ground vehicles}}

Sherman III/IV

2023-08-16T16:39:42Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = Swedish medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M4 Sherman (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=sw_sherman_3_4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Sherman_III-IV.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "La Royale"]].

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

The Sherman III/IV has a similar armour profile to the M4A2, but without the additional side armour squares, and also due to the lack of a hull machine gun, it loses the MG-port weak spot. It still has the spot of thinner armour on the front of the turret (area ground out to fit the stabilizer) that most of the other 75 Shermans have.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (46°) ''Front glacis'' 63.5-108 mm (2-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (23-43°)|| 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 50.8-76.2 mm (10-41°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (4-32°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
| Cupola || 51 mm || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Upper front plate has consistent thickness due to lack of MG port weak spot
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (51 mm) than the rest (76 mm).
* Driver and Machine gunner hatches are 25.4 mm thick

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

Even though the Sherman III/IV is on the slower side in terms of Shermans, its mobility is still good, with a quick acceleration and a high top speed. Due to a lack of neutral steering, turning in this tank can be slow from stationary.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

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

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

{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}

75 mm M3 gun is a competent, well-handling gun for a medium tank. Even without any modifications, its ability to fulfil its role, though where it begins to shine is with the M61 shot. Default, M72, suffers from issues typical to US and British solid shots - poor post-penetration effects. This means it's preferable to take down enemy gunner first, usually by hitting the right side of the turret.

{| 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" | 66 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

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

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Sherman_III-IV.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
|-
| '''66''' || 57 ''(+9)'' || 45 ''(+21)'' || 24 ''(2)'' || 1 ''(+65)'' ||No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* First stage ammunition is 23 rounds.
* To enter battle with the sponsons empty bring 45 ''(+21)'' shells (1st and 2nd racks empty).

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

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun on this tank is a general-purpose 7.62 mm M1919A4 Browning machine gun mounted in the coaxial position. A typical machine gun not too unlike on many other vehicles, the machine gun is just average. You will not be able to damage much besides sniping crew in open top vehicles.

{| 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 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Sherman is an effective medium-range combat tank. Equipped with a fast-firing 75 mm gun and with good handling characteristics, this tank can be an extremely useful asset in most battles.

In battle the Sherman 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. The reasonable mobility of the Sherman makes flanking a viable tactic. The main weakness of the Sherman 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 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 Sherman is to tap into its traditional cavalry role, its mobility. The 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 Sherman immediately. 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 chances of success on the battlefield.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

M4A2/[[M4A4 (1st PTG)]]: these Sherman tanks are widely used by 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 an M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there can guarantee a knock out most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenceless. 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.

[[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1 and variants]] - 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)|ZiS-5]] is potent enough to punch through the Sherman's front, and the Sherman is unable to penetrate the KV-1's thick frontal armour. If this heavy tank is encountered, try to shoot it in its sides and rear, where its armour is thinner and 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.

[[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate 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 Shermans 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 incapacitate 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 a single shot. With the G variant, it is more reliable to use AP at ranges within 500 m to ensure penetration.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] - This German half-track is armed with a potent 88 mm gun that can easily knock you out in one shot. However, the gun has a long reload and the half-track has literally no armour to speak of. Also, its crew members are spread out so you're going to need multiple shots to put it down. The shell you should use while dealing with this is of course your HE shell, packed with over 600 g of explosive. First, you take out the gun. The HE shell will also knock out most of the crew members around it too, as an added bonus. Then, take out the two crew members in front of the Flak 37. This may require some more careful aiming, but if you manage to get a good shot, it will likely destroy the vehicle immediately.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
* Great firepower: adequate penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents
* Great turret traverse speed allows it to deal with multiple threats easily
* Well angled frontal hull provides protection against small calibre / low-penetration guns (e.g. 75 mm M3, 50 mm KwK39), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly.
* 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 Sd.kfz.234/2 can easily see and penetrate it
* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get penetrated and knocked out by tanks like [[Pz.IV F2]]/G, [[StuG III F]]/G, [[M10 (Family)|M10]] by a single shot
* The M61 shell struggle to penetrate angled targets like [[StuG III G]], Churchill Mk.III or even the T-34 and M10
* Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn. Also the narrow tracks offer poor ground flotation, thus poor off-road capabilities. Can only reach its top speed on paved or hard surfaces
* Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons. For example the widely used MG151 15/20 mm
* Lack of M2 Browning machine gun seen on most other Shermans means anti-aircraft defense is weak and removes the extra option for taking out lighter vehicles or shooting off tracks without having to use your main gun.

== History ==

After World War II, Sweden purchased a few surplus Sherman tanks from Britain for evaluation and to learn about foreign tank design. They were tested in field conditions. All of the Shermans did quite well in the tests and were praised for their reliability and ease of use even with inexperienced drivers, and while not being made for the winter conditions they were testing in. Even though the tank was viewed favourably, Swedish never fully adopted the Sherman nor did the examples they did obtain see combat service. Inability to purchase more with sufficient spare parts, and other better vehicles being available may be some of the reasons for this decision. The tallness of the Sherman, and the weaknesses brought with that height were a partial inspiration for the future [[Strv 103 (Family)|Strv 103]] which was focused on minimizing height.

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Swedish Evaluation of the Sherman: http://tanks.mod16.org/2016/09/30/swedish-impressions-of-the-sherman/

{{Sweden medium tanks}}
{{Sweden premium ground vehicles}}

Sherman III/IV

2023-08-15T21:31:16Z

U141562625: /* Main armament */

{{About
| about = Swedish medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M4 Sherman (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=sw_sherman_3_4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Sherman_III-IV.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "La Royale"]].

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

The Sherman III/IV has a similar armour profile to the M4A2, but without the additional side armour squares, and also due to the lack of a hull machine gun, it loses the MG-port weak spot. It still has the spot of thinner armour on the front of the turret (area ground out to fit the stabilizer) that most of the other 75 Shermans have.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (46°) ''Front glacis'' 63.5-108 mm (2-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (23-43°)|| 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 50.8-76.2 mm (10-41°) ''Turret front'' 50.8 mm (4-32°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
| Cupola || 51 mm || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Upper front plate has consistent thickness due to lack of MG port weak spot
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (51 mm) than the rest (76 mm).
* Driver and Machine gunner hatches are 25.4 mm thick

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

Even though the Sherman III/IV is on the slower side in terms of Shermans, its mobility is still good, with a quick acceleration and a high top speed. Due to a lack of neutral steering, turning in this tank can be slow from stationary.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

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

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

{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}

75 mm M3 gun is a competent, well-handling gun for a medium tank. Even without any modifications, its ability to fulfil its role, though where it begins to shine is with the M61 shot. Default, M72, suffers from issues typical to US and British solid shots - poor post-penetration effects. This means it's preferable to take down enemy gunner first, usually by hitting the right side of the turret.

{| 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" | 66 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

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

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Sherman_III-IV.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
|-
| '''66''' || 57 ''(+9)'' || 45 ''(+21)'' || 24 ''(2)'' || 1 ''(+65)'' ||No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* First stage ammunition is 23 rounds.
* To enter battle with the sponsons empty bring 45 ''(+21)'' shells (1st and 2nd racks empty).

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

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun on this tank is a general-purpose 7.62 mm M1919A4 Browning machine gun mounted in the coaxial position. A typical machine gun not too unlike on many other vehicles, the machine gun is just average. You will not be able to damage much besides sniping crew in open top vehicles.

{| 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 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Sherman is an effective medium-range combat tank. Equipped with a fast-firing 75 mm gun and with good handling characteristics, this tank can be an extremely useful asset in most battles.

In battle the Sherman 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. The reasonable mobility of the Sherman makes flanking a viable tactic. The main weakness of the Sherman 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\ 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 Sherman is to tap into its traditional cavalry role, its mobility. The 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 Sherman immediately. 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 chances of success on the battlefield.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

M4A2/[[M4A4 (1st PTG)]]: these Sherman tanks are widely used by 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 an M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there can guarantee a knock out most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenceless. 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.

[[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1 and variants]] - 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)|ZiS-5]] is potent enough to punch through the Sherman's front, and the Sherman is unable to penetrate the KV-1's thick frontal armour. If this heavy tank is encountered, try to shoot it in its sides and rear, where its armour is thinner and 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.

[[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate 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 Shermans 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 incapacitate 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 a single shot. With the G variant, it is more reliable to use AP at ranges within 500 m to ensure penetration.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] - This German half-track is armed with a potent 88 mm gun that can easily knock you out in one shot. However, the gun has a long reload and the half-track has literally no armour to speak of. Also, its crew members are spread out so you're going to need multiple shots to put it down. The shell you should use while dealing with this is of course your HE shell, packed with over 600 g of explosive. First, you take out the gun. The HE shell will also knock out most of the crew members around it too, as an added bonus. Then, take out the two crew members in front of the Flak 37. This may require some more careful aiming, but if you manage to get a good shot, it will likely destroy the vehicle immediately.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
* Great firepower: adequate penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents
* Great turret traverse speed allows it to deal with multiple threats easily
* Well angled frontal hull provides protection against small calibre / low-penetration guns (e.g. 75 mm M3, 50 mm KwK39), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly.
* 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 Sd.kfz.234/2 can easily see and penetrate it
* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get penetrated and knocked out by tanks like [[Pz.IV F2]]/G, [[StuG III F]]/G, [[M10 (Family)|M10]] by a single shot
* The M61 shell struggle to penetrate angled targets like [[StuG III G]], Churchill Mk.III or even the T-34 and M10
* Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn. Also the narrow tracks offer poor ground flotation, thus poor off-road capabilities. Can only reach its top speed on paved or hard surfaces
* Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons. For example the widely used MG151 15/20 mm
* Lack of M2 Browning machine gun seen on most other Shermans means anti-aircraft defense is weak and removes the extra option for taking out lighter vehicles or shooting off tracks without having to use your main gun.

== History ==

After World War II, Sweden purchased a few surplus Sherman tanks from Britain for evaluation and to learn about foreign tank design. They were tested in field conditions. All of the Shermans did quite well in the tests and were praised for their reliability and ease of use even with inexperienced drivers, and while not being made for the winter conditions they were testing in. Even though the tank was viewed favourably, Swedish never fully adopted the Sherman nor did the examples they did obtain see combat service. Inability to purchase more with sufficient spare parts, and other better vehicles being available may be some of the reasons for this decision. The tallness of the Sherman, and the weaknesses brought with that height were a partial inspiration for the future [[Strv 103 (Family)|Strv 103]] which was focused on minimizing height.

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Swedish Evaluation of the Sherman: http://tanks.mod16.org/2016/09/30/swedish-impressions-of-the-sherman/

{{Sweden medium tanks}}
{{Sweden premium ground vehicles}}

Celere Sahariano

2023-08-09T13:01:59Z

U141562625: /* Devblog */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]] for 700 Golden Eagles.

An Italian "Crusader", the {{PAGENAME}} is a significant departure from the standard Italian tank building school and shares several similarities with the [[P40]] and Soviet [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]s, like angled plates all around the hull and large-wheeled suspension for better mobility. It was also the first tank to use a torsion bar suspension instead of semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension found on the standard issue Fiat M14/41, a design choice inspired by the Christie Suspension used by the [[BT-5]], [[BT-7 (Family)|BT-7]] and [[Crusader (Family)|Crusaders]].

The full designation of this tank stands as ''Fiat Carro Armato M Celere Sahariano'' or ''Saharian Fast Medium Tank''. In War Thunder Community and several War Thunder Youtubers had referred to this tank as "wide boi" when looked at the tank from the front.

== 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 + 15 mm (55°) ''Upper Glacis'' 35 mm (55°) ''Driver's Hatch'' 20 mm (55°) ''Upper Glacis (Lower Portion)'' 20 mm (35°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 15 mm ''Main'' 8 mm ''Upper Engine Compartment'' ||15 mm ''Lower Part'' 8 mm ''Upper Part'' || 10 mm ''Crew Compartment'' 8 mm ''Engine Compartment''
|-
| Turret || 30 mm (12°) ''Turret front'' 30 mm + 40 mm (Curved) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25 mm || 25 mm || 10 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Fenders and sideskirts - 5 mm
* Tracks, road wheels, drive sprocket, etc. - 15 mm
* Suspension - 10 mm

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=243}}

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

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

{{main|47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)|47 mm 47/40 mod.38]] || 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" | 122 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.3 || 18.4 || 22.4 || 24.8 || 26.4 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)/Ammunition|Granata mod.35, Granata Perforante mod.39}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''122''' || 114 ''(+8)'' || 105 ''(+17)'' || 53 ''(+69)'' || 1 ''(+121)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As shells are modeled by sets of 2, 3, or 4, they disappear from the rack after you've fired or loaded all shells in the set.
{{Clear}}

=== 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 || 288 (24) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Celere Sahariano is one of the best vehicles at its battle rating, thanks to the unique characteristics that make this vehicle a truly vital asset in any team. The best playstyle for this type of machine is either a brawler or support tank.

As a brawler you'll essentially be one of the few players leading the charge against the enemy team. This can be done quite easily thanks to the sheer mobility: the speed for a vehicle of its type is unlike the majority of vehicles you'll be facing. You are able to intercept a lot of unsuspecting enemies too, mainly in places where they will not expect an enemy to be at the start of the match, this will greatly come in handy as you'll be able to get a few eliminations with minimum effort required. Another bonus that will aid you when playing the brawler role is your armour, at your battle rating it can actually prove to be quite effective, especially frontally. You'll be bouncing most shots that come your way, paired up with your speed this will mean you should have the edge on most engagements as unsuspecting enemies might judge you too quickly and not do any substantial damage to your tank or crew. One upside of your tank is also your profile, you are not very tall compared to other tanks you'll face. This means that you can easily get in hull-down spots or even better, hide behind cover more effectively.

As a support tanker, you can play it in multiple ways, but the most popular method with this vehicle is to use the speed advantage you have over the enemy team to easily flank them, and take them out while they don't realise you are in the vicinity. This is usually one of the best playstyles as you get to fully take advantage of your mobility. You can also use your mobility to get in hard to reach spots at the start of the match, which can be very annoying for the enemy team. Your actual armament is nothing special, it is the same [[47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)|47 mm 47/40 mod.38]] cannon on the AB 43 armoured car. It will be enough for you to deal with the majority of the threats you'll be facing, it's however recommended you do not bring a lot of ammo, to increase your chances at survival. One of the downsides of this vehicle is how long and wide it is, you'll find out that artillery and enemy aircraft will be one of your worst enemies, your speed will not be enough to render them useless. You should quickly find cover if you see an aircraft or artillery heading towards you.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great mobility
* Wide, great grip and turning rate
* The UFP can bounce most shells at its BR
* The APBC shell has great post-penetration damage

'''Cons:'''

* Very slow reverse speed
* Relatively sub-par turret traverse, can be countered with its good turn rate and mobility
* Armour can't block higher calibre shells
* The 47 mm cannon will have difficulty dealing with [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4s]] and [[T-34 (Family)|T-34s]] in uptiers

== History ==

[[File:Celere-sahariano-3.jpg|thumb|300px|Celere Sahariano with an open driver's hatch]]
=== [[wt:en/news/6939-development-celere-sahariano-the-desert-cheetah-en|Devblog]] ===
After clashing with British armored forces in the desert of North Africa in the early 1940's, the Italian Army became impressed with the performance of the various cruiser tanks fielded by the British (e.g. the Crusader). As a result, the army issued an order to tank manufacturers to develop a new light vehicle whose mobility and firepower would outmatch that of the cruiser tanks.
[[File:Celere Sahariano.jpg|thumb|300px|Celere Sahariano with side-skirts removed, showing torsion bar suspension.]]
Already in 1941, work on the new vehicle began as mock-ups were created based on the existing M14/41 medium tank. The new vehicle incorporated thin, but sloped armor, as well as a torsion bar suspension system, instead of the more commonly used leaf spring system on similar fighting vehicles.
A single prototype of the vehicle was built by 1943, which had multiple engines trialed, including aviation ones. However, with the worsening war situation, limited Italian industrial capacity and the P40 taking over production priority along with the fact that Italy was driven out of the theater for which the vehicle was initially designed for, all this led to diminishing interest in the vehicle.

With all these factors in play, further development of the Celere Sahariano was halted and the project subsequently cancelled, leaving the sole prototype of the vehicle as the only example of the design to be built.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 001.jpg|Although the promotional images depict the {{PAGENAME}} with a pintle-mounted 8 mm Breda machine gun, this is not present in the game.
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 002.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 003.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 004.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 006.jpg
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Crusader (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6939-development-celere-sahariano-the-desert-cheetah-en|[Development] Celere Sahariano: The Desert Cheetah]]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_carro_armato_celere_sahariano.html <nowiki>[History of War]</nowiki> Carro Armato Celere Sahariano]
* [http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/2-Italy/02-MediumTanks/Celere-Sahariano/File/Carro-Celere-Sahariano.htm <nowiki>[War Drawings]</nowiki> Carro Armato Celere Sahariano (Fast) Medium Tank]

{{TankManufacturer FIAT-Ansaldo}}
{{Italy medium tanks}}
{{Italy premium ground vehicles}}

Celere Sahariano

2023-08-09T12:56:58Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]] for 700 Golden Eagles.

An Italian "Crusader", the {{PAGENAME}} is a significant departure from the standard Italian tank building school and shares several similarities with the [[P40]] and Soviet [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]s, like angled plates all around the hull and large-wheeled suspension for better mobility. It was also the first tank to use a torsion bar suspension instead of semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension found on the standard issue Fiat M14/41, a design choice inspired by the Christie Suspension used by the [[BT-5]], [[BT-7 (Family)|BT-7]] and [[Crusader (Family)|Crusaders]].

The full designation of this tank stands as ''Fiat Carro Armato M Celere Sahariano'' or ''Saharian Fast Medium Tank''. In War Thunder Community and several War Thunder Youtubers had referred to this tank as "wide boi" when looked at the tank from the front.

== 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 + 15 mm (55°) ''Upper Glacis'' 35 mm (55°) ''Driver's Hatch'' 20 mm (55°) ''Upper Glacis (Lower Portion)'' 20 mm (35°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 15 mm ''Main'' 8 mm ''Upper Engine Compartment'' ||15 mm ''Lower Part'' 8 mm ''Upper Part'' || 10 mm ''Crew Compartment'' 8 mm ''Engine Compartment''
|-
| Turret || 30 mm (12°) ''Turret front'' 30 mm + 40 mm (Curved) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25 mm || 25 mm || 10 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Fenders and sideskirts - 5 mm
* Tracks, road wheels, drive sprocket, etc. - 15 mm
* Suspension - 10 mm

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=426|rbMinHp=243}}

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

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

{{main|47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)|47 mm 47/40 mod.38]] || 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" | 122 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.3 || 18.4 || 22.4 || 24.8 || 26.4 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)/Ammunition|Granata mod.35, Granata Perforante mod.39}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''122''' || 114 ''(+8)'' || 105 ''(+17)'' || 53 ''(+69)'' || 1 ''(+121)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As shells are modeled by sets of 2, 3, or 4, they disappear from the rack after you've fired or loaded all shells in the set.
{{Clear}}

=== 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 || 288 (24) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Celere Sahariano is one of the best vehicles at its battle rating, thanks to the unique characteristics that make this vehicle a truly vital asset in any team. The best playstyle for this type of machine is either a brawler or support tank.

As a brawler you'll essentially be one of the few players leading the charge against the enemy team. This can be done quite easily thanks to the sheer mobility: the speed for a vehicle of its type is unlike the majority of vehicles you'll be facing. You are able to intercept a lot of unsuspecting enemies too, mainly in places where they will not expect an enemy to be at the start of the match, this will greatly come in handy as you'll be able to get a few eliminations with minimum effort required. Another bonus that will aid you when playing the brawler role is your armour, at your battle rating it can actually prove to be quite effective, especially frontally. You'll be bouncing most shots that come your way, paired up with your speed this will mean you should have the edge on most engagements as unsuspecting enemies might judge you too quickly and not do any substantial damage to your tank or crew. One upside of your tank is also your profile, you are not very tall compared to other tanks you'll face. This means that you can easily get in hull-down spots or even better, hide behind cover more effectively.

As a support tanker, you can play it in multiple ways, but the most popular method with this vehicle is to use the speed advantage you have over the enemy team to easily flank them, and take them out while they don't realise you are in the vicinity. This is usually one of the best playstyles as you get to fully take advantage of your mobility. You can also use your mobility to get in hard to reach spots at the start of the match, which can be very annoying for the enemy team. Your actual armament is nothing special, it is the same [[47/40 mod.38 (47 mm)|47 mm 47/40 mod.38]] cannon on the AB 43 armoured car. It will be enough for you to deal with the majority of the threats you'll be facing, it's however recommended you do not bring a lot of ammo, to increase your chances at survival. One of the downsides of this vehicle is how long and wide it is, you'll find out that artillery and enemy aircraft will be one of your worst enemies, your speed will not be enough to render them useless. You should quickly find cover if you see an aircraft or artillery heading towards you.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great mobility
* Wide, great grip and turning rate
* The UFP can bounce most shells at its BR
* The APBC shell has great post-penetration damage

'''Cons:'''

* Very slow reverse speed
* Relatively sub-par turret traverse, can be countered with its good turn rate and mobility
* Armour can't block higher calibre shells
* The 47 mm cannon will have difficulty dealing with [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4s]] and [[T-34 (Family)|T-34s]] in uptiers

== History ==

[[File:Celere-sahariano-3.jpg|thumb|300px|Celere Sahariano with an open driver's hatch]]
=== [[wt:en/news/6939-development-celere-sahariano-the-desert-cheetah-en|Devblog]] ===
After clashing with British armored forces in the desert of North Africa in the early 1940's, the Italian Army became impressed with the performance of the various cruiser tanks fielded by the British. As a result, the army issued an order to tank manufacturers to develop a new light vehicle whose mobility and firepower would outmatch that of the cruiser tanks.
[[File:Celere Sahariano.jpg|thumb|300px|Celere Sahariano with side-skirts removed, showing torsion bar suspension.]]
Already in 1941, work on the new vehicle began as mock-ups were created based on the existing M14/41 medium tank. The new vehicle incorporated thin, but sloped armor, as well as a torsion bar suspension system, instead of the more commonly used leaf spring system on similar fighting vehicles.
A single prototype of the vehicle was built by 1943, which had multiple engines trialed, including aviation ones. However, with the worsening war situation, limited Italian industrial capacity and the P40 taking over production priority along with the fact that Italy was driven out of the theater for which the vehicle was initially designed for, all this led to diminishing interest in the vehicle.

With all these factors in play, further development of the Celere Sahariano was halted and the project subsequently cancelled, leaving the sole prototype of the vehicle as the only example of the design to be built.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 001.jpg|Although the promotional images depict the {{PAGENAME}} with a pintle-mounted 8 mm Breda machine gun, this is not present in the game.
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 002.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 003.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 004.jpg
File:Celere Sahariano WTWallpaper 006.jpg
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Crusader (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6939-development-celere-sahariano-the-desert-cheetah-en|[Development] Celere Sahariano: The Desert Cheetah]]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_carro_armato_celere_sahariano.html <nowiki>[History of War]</nowiki> Carro Armato Celere Sahariano]
* [http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/2-Italy/02-MediumTanks/Celere-Sahariano/File/Carro-Celere-Sahariano.htm <nowiki>[War Drawings]</nowiki> Carro Armato Celere Sahariano (Fast) Medium Tank]

{{TankManufacturer FIAT-Ansaldo}}
{{Italy medium tanks}}
{{Italy premium ground vehicles}}

Artillery Support

2023-07-23T22:40:49Z

U141562625: /* Usage and strategy */

{{Notice|This page refers to the "artillery strike" functionality for ground vehicles.|}}

== Overview ==
'''Artillery support''' is a game mechanic available for ground vehicles to use against the enemy. Currently, the artillery option is only available to [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tanks]], [[:Category:Medium_tanks|medium tanks]], and [[:Category:Anti-aircraft_vehicles|anti-aircraft vehicles]], with some exceptions.
Artillery strikes are fired in salvoes of 15 shells (4 targeting shots + 11 high-explosive shells). Targeting shots are solid shots filled only with aerosol smoke. HE shells inflict overpressure damage with their large explosive filler.

==Usage and strategy==
Artillery in-game is an area denial weapon. Thus, artillery should be used on a large concentration of enemies, to flush out a hiding enemy, or deny easy access to a zone. As artillery is available for light tanks, medium tanks, and anti-aircraft vehicles, you will have a variety of vehicles that have access to this powerful asset.

When aiming artillery, you should aim at where the enemy will be at the time of shell impact (at least 10 seconds in the future), rather than where they are at the moment you call it. This is due to the delay between the artillery command and the time of impact.

When fighting up-close to the enemy, you should not use artillery to attack the enemy in front of you. Artillery is indiscriminate and will destroy both allies and enemies alike. Instead, if fighting in a close-quarter location like a town, you should use artillery to cut off the passageway the enemies use to get into the area. This way, you isolate the enemy force in the town that allows you to take them out without worrying about incoming reinforcement for a time.

==Crew skills==
{{main|Crew skills}}

===Artillery strike calling time===
This skill decreases the time between calling the strike and the shells being fired from a base level of 13 seconds to a minimum of 10 seconds. The progression may seem marginal, but it can influence a stand-off very significantly.

===Artillery targeting accuracy===
This skill increases the targeting accuracy of artillery by reducing the shells' scattering, from a base level of 57 m to a minimum of 45 m. When seeking to take out specific targets, this can be very relevant, as it means a decrease in over 30% of the strike's surface area, concentrating all the shots into a smaller spot.

==History==

::"God fights on the side with the best artillery." ''—Napoleon Bonaparte'' 
::"I do not have to tell you who won the war. You know, the artillery did" ''—General George S. Patton''
::"Artillery is the god of war." ''—Joseph Stalin''

Artillery refers to any large-calibre guns meant to fire their ammunition in a long-range at a direct or indirect firing role. Artillery has its roots all the way to the invention of gunpowder, but it was not until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th and 20th centuries that its effectiveness increased marginally. In all modern combat from the Napoleonic War in early 1800s to World War I and World War II, artillery has been the cause of the majority of combat deaths and thus, the most lethal weapon in the modern battlefield.

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|GFeqU5ci0Sw|'''Artillery Strike Update''' - ''8Bit Dane''}}

== See also ==


* [[Close Air Support]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7548-it-s-fixed-40-en|[News] It’s fixed! №40]]
* [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1344|[Changelog] Update 2.13.0.109 (2.13.0.109 — Xbox, PlayStation®)]]

[[Category:Modules_and_modifications]]

VL Pyörremyrsky

2023-07-19T15:55:39Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=pyorremyrsky
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_pyorremyrsky.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.93 "Shark Attack"]] as a [[wt:en/news/6450-development-pyörremyrsky-the-nordic-whirlwind-en|premium pack]], but was removed from the Gaijin store after the [[wt:en/news/7674-shop-may-sale-en|2022 May sale]]. It was re-introduced as a regular in-game premium for {{GE}} in [[Update "Fire and Ice"]].

Though the Pyörremyrsky shares some design traits with the [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109 series]] of German fighters, it is in fact a completely domestic Finnish design and has significantly different flight characteristics.

From 1942, the superiority of the Red Army Air Force over the Finnish was becoming increasingly obvious. While 160 modern Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2, G-6 and other versions were transferred to the Finnish Air Force by Germany between 1942 to 1944, the situation began to deteriorate among the Axis countries, and due to the increasing successes (especially from the second half of 1943) of the countries of the Allies, it became obvious that further deliveries of new Bf 109s as well as spare parts for them would become more and more problematic.

In this situation, the command of the Finnish Air Force ordered LV to develop a fighter that was to be made of domestic materials (mainly wood and steel) and which was to have characteristics comparable to the Bf 109 G-6. Engineers T. R. Verkola, Arvo Ilinen, and Edward Vigelius proposed an aerodynamically clean low-wing aircraft equipped with a German twelve-cylinder double-row inverted gear motor Daimler-Benz DB 605AC, developing 1,475 hp (1,085 kW) and rotating the German three-bladed VDM propeller. In the project, the fairing of the propeller sleeve and the engine hood were borrowed from the German fighter, which made the new Finnish aircraft, designated Pyörremyrsky (hurricane), very similar in front to the Bf 109 G.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 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
| 596 || 580 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.0 || 19.6 || 14.3 || 14.3 || rowspan="2" | 390
|-
! Upgraded
| 647 || 620 || 17.1 || 18.0 || 23.9 || 18.5
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 437 || 408 || 260 || ~14 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 450 || < 390 || < 450 || > 715
|-
|}

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


This aircraft, having only one spar in each wing along with its water coolant system, is not a hugely durable aircraft - though it's not fragile either. The combined 20mm of spaced amour behind the pilot is fairly effective for protection but a lack of any frontal armour makes the Pyörremyrsky very vulnerable in head ons or in bomber hunting.

* 10 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
* 10 mm Steel - Behind pilot
* Self-sealing fuel tank (1 behind pilot)

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

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

{{main|MG 151 (20 mm)|LKk/42 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

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

{{main|Model 1938 (50 kg)|Model 1938 (100 kg)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 50 kg Model 1938 bombs (200 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg Model 1938 bombs (400 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==
This 1945 aircraft is not a great fighter to low-level pursuits where really great top speed is crucial. But instead, use this plane for medium-altitude engagements. Where an altitude advantage allows the Pyörremyrsky to increase the speed and surprise its enemies with a proper turn rate. This aircraft excels in both boom 'n' zoom but is also an excellent dogfighter, sporting fantastic low speed handling characteristics (especially with combat and takeoff flaps), a steady gun platform and, as previously mentioned, a fairly tight turning circle.

The Pyörremyrsky climbs very well and maintains adequate speed up to approximately 5,000 m, this is more than enough speed to initiate combat actions, albeit Finnish pilots can continue the climb to allow themselves more combat choices. Oppositely, they can remain below the 5,000 m and work together with their Swedish brothers to down all the enemy team; the Pyörremyrsky often acting as the decoy. The engine power is favourable, and under WEP produces over 1,400HP which the Pyörremyrsky can maintain almost indefinitely with proper radiator and oil radiator management.

The intercepting role varies somewhat nonetheless. Pyörremyrsky does not offer great frontal protection, so engaging bombers with good turret protection is not the best idea. Specially bombers like the mighty Soviet [[Pe-8]] or the German [[He 219 A-7]] which are loaded with high-calibre weapons able to harm your pilot with a direct shot or break the light Pyörremyrsky apart. The rather reserved ammo count also limits the input damage against bombers. Because of that same reason, head-on attacks are ill-advised, only should be attempted versus planes with a good turn rate and light airframe. Usually the Japanese [[A6M3|Zeros]], The British [[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfires]] or the Italian [[C.205 (Family)|C.205s]]. Though, there are exceptions where the player must know how to engage a specific enemy. When to dive away or when to engage in a turning duel.

=== Ground Battles ===
The Pyörremyrsky is not the fastest plane in here. Therefore players need to consider 2 main roles if they seek good rewards in the Pyörremyrsky flying over the tank's battlefield.

'''Air Superiority role'''

In this role the Pyörremyrsky will take no bombs and instead climb over the battlefield, diving down and taking attacks of opportunity against enemy aircraft. The aircraft excels in this role as it preserves energy well and even if lured into a low level dogfight, will still be in home turf if in the hands of a skilled pilot.

Generally, the target planes are attackers with low top speed or fighters with bombs, so the Pyörremyrsky should have no trouble downing them with a surprise advantage.

'''Close air support'''

Here the Pyörremyrsky performs as a light strike fighter armed with the 4 x 100 kg bombs. This bomb load for a single engined fighter is very good and lends the Pyörremyrsky a fantastic multi-role capability. The bombs can inflict some serious damage and then the aircraft can serve to preserve air superiority over the battle.

Crew exposed vehicles or light tanks can also be destroyed with the heavy machine guns or cannons, both of which have good AP belts and can inflict some damage to armoured vehicles from a top-down approach.

=== 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 || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very good climb rate, can outclimb even the Bf 109 G-2 and J2Ms to common combat altitude
* Good armament, MG 151/20 and two 12.7 mm LKk/42 both nose mounted
* The LKk/42 MGs can load entirely AP ammunition that can penetrate 26 mm of armour
* Good turn rate, can outturn some Merlin Spitfires in sustained turnfight
* Decent flaps allow for decreased turn rate
* Fantastic engine characteristics (overheating can be negated entirely)
* Very steady and reliable gun platform

'''Cons:'''

* Not hugely fast, Spitfire and Bf 109 series outrun it
* No frontal armour protection
* Not best suited to bomber hunting

== History ==


Pyörremyrsky, meaning hurricane, tornado or whirlwind in Finnish (pyörre > vortex/whirl, myrsky > storm), was the name of a Finnish fighter design at the end of WWII. Designed by Torsti Rafael Verkkola (1909-1977), the chief designer of Valtion lentokonetehdas (VL or "State Aircraft Factory") and the designer of the previous Myrsky fighter and the Pyry trainer, the Pyörremyrsky was conceived as a domestic equivalent to the Messerschmitt Bf 109G.

=== Design ===
Conceptually, the Pyörremyrsky was very similar to the Bf 109G: it was powered by the same Daimler Benz DB605 engine and had a similar armament, consisting of one hub-mounted 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon and two 12.7 mm hood-mounted machine guns. However, the design was optimized for domestic production, making maximum use of wooden sub-assemblies, and crucially, unlike the Bf 109, it used a wing-mounted landing gear with a wide ground track, giving the design better handling on the ground.

=== Testing ===
Design and construction of the Pyörremyrsky met significant delays, and while the original tender called for a prototype to be ready in May 1944, it wasn't until 21 November 1945 that the prototype was ready and made its first flight.

The prototype was designated PM-1. PM being its intended type designation and 1 being its airframe number. The designation PM is an abbreviation of '''P'''yörre'''m'''yrsky.

Flight trials of the Pyörremyrsky revealed some minor issues, but other than that, the design was very promising. Performance of the Pyörremyrsky was very similar to that of the Bf 109G, but it had a superior climbing speed and proved to be very agile. One major worry, however, was the quality of the glue used to bind the wooden components.

=== Fate ===
The end of the War saw Finland's military subjected to severe restrictions under the Moscow Armistice, which also called for a reduction of its forces. This limited the air force to only 60 fighter aircraft. As a result, the Pyörremyrsky became surplus before it even reached production as Finland chose to retain the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G as its primary fighter for economical reasons. The last of the Finnish Bf 109 Gs bowed out of service on March 13th 1954. The sole completed prototype of the Pyörremyrsky was put into storage after its last flight on July 22nd 1947, and stricken from the Finnish Air Force's inventory on April 1st 1953. Fortunately the prototype was preserved: it is now displayed at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland in Tikkakoski.

=== Legacy ===
Fortunately the Pyörremyrsky legacy continued even after the prototype was grounded. In 1948, construction started on a replacement of the VL Pyry trainer. The new design reused the wing design of the Pyörremyrsky in combination with a new fuselage. This aircraft, which was constructed by the successor of VL, Valmet, was named Vihuri (Gale) and first flew on February 6th 1951. The Vihuri prototype was designated VH-1, VH being an abbreviation of '''V'''i'''h'''uri.

After successful tests the Finnish air force ordered 30 aircraft on 27 February 1951. These were collectively called Vihuri sarja (series) II and carried the numbers VH-2 to VH-31. Series II were entered service in 1953 and this prompted the Finnish air force to order yet another 20 aircraft by autumn 1954. These aircraft were collectively called Vihuri series III and carried the numbers VH-32 to VH-51. All of series III were handed over to the Finnish air force on 15 January 1957.

Unlike the Pyörremyrsky the Vihuri was entirely constructed from metal. As a trainer it was a sound design, however it suffered badly in the engine department. The Vihuri design used old Tampere (Bristol) Mercury engines which had been recuperated from scrapped Bristol Blenheim bombers. These engines were already worn out by the time they were installed on the trainers which lead to a lot of breakdowns. After a string of fatal accidents the design was placed under severe suspicion and in March of 1957 all the Vihuri's were grounded after an accident was caused by structural failure. A subsequent inquest showed this particular accident as well as most of the previous ones were caused by pilots violating the flight safety regulations, taking the aircraft beyond its structural limitations. The Vihuri was returned to service in May of 1957, but following two further fatal accidents in 1959 the type was permanently grounded and stricken from the Finnish Air Force's inventory, with 31 out of 32 surviving airframes being sold for scrap; ironically it was outlasted in service by the Pyry (withdrawing in 1962), the design it was supposed to replace as a trainer. The sole surviving complete Vihuri is now displayed next to the sole surviving Pyörremyrsky at the Tikkakoski air force museum.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 001.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 002.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 003.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 004.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 005.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 006.jpg
File:Pyorremyrsky WTWallpaper 007.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|u_HsKH1DYlc|'''Premium Vehicles: VL Pyörremyrsky''' - ''War Thunder Wiki''|ZPGPaceu1oI|'''Pyörremyrsky "One Hard Hitting Finn!"''' - ''Bo Time Gaming''|AKxlwtWIlSI|'''The Shooting Range #173''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:47 discusses the Pyörremyrsky.
}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Yakovlev [[Yak-9 (Family)|Yak-9]]
* Macchi [[C.205 (Family)|C.205]]
* Fiat [[G.55 (Family)|G.55]]
* Reggiane [[Re.2005 serie 0|Re.2005]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6448-development-py%C3%B6rremyrsky-the-nordic-whirlwind-en|[Development] Pyörremyrsky: The Nordic Whirlwind]]
* [[wikipedia:VL_Pyörremyrsky|[Wikipedia] VL Pyörremyrsky]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/474725-pyorremyrsky/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer VL}}
{{Sweden fighters}}
{{Sweden premium aircraft}}

ARL-44 (ACL-1)

2023-07-13T16:50:05Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{About
|about=heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=the tank destroyer version
|link=ARL-44
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=fr_arl_44_acl1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The ARL-44 (ACL-1) is the second heavy tank in the French tree. It is a well-rounded foe more suited for a medium tank role than an heavy one due to lacking armour (which is still decent). It distinguishes from previous French heavy tanks for having a potent gun. The ARL-44 (ACL-1) is a prototype design that would be finalized as the [[ARL-44]].

The ARL-44 (ACL-1) bears very distinctive characteristics, with a WWI-style track system (similar to the Churchill) which runs across the whole side of its chassis. This tank is a mix of different inspirations, mainly late war German tank technology such as the [[Panther D|Panther series]] or the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]], from which it takes its slope frontal armour and tall profile. As France was reviving from WW2, its engineers were hard at work to catch up with tank technology, the ARL-44 series was a training ground for them. This is why this tank has rather weird design choices, coming from both experience and experimentation.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, gun mantlet, MG port)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 60 mm (48°) ''Front glacis'' 100 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' 50 mm ''Hull compartment between the tracks'' 50 mm (63°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm 25 mm ''Tracks cover'' || 35 mm (32°) ''Rear glacis'' 35 mm (20°) ''Hull compartment between the tracks'' || 20 mm 5 mm ''Radiator vents'' 5 mm (18°) ''Engine access panel''
|-
| Turret || 100 mm (0-44°) ''Turret front'' 80-100 + 30 mm (spherical) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (3°) || 30 mm 20 mm ''Rear hatch'' 60 mm (52°) ''Turret overhang'' || 20 mm (13-15°)
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm || 20 mm
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies are 10 mm thick.
* 25 mm RHA plate separate the engine from the crew compartment.
* Turret ring is 55 mm thick, with an additional 20 mm armour behind it.

The armour on this version of the ARL-44 is average as it can be penetrated by most foes it encounters up close from the front: with 60 mm at 48°, it is similar to a [[M4A3 (105)]]. With that in mind, this tank should be kept a fair distance from the frontline. In order to put this "land battleship" to good use, it should be angled at about 25° facing towards the enemy. An even better way to maximise its armour is by keeping an hull-down position, using its -10° depression : turret armour is ~100 mm thick, with a bit of distance and angle, most rounds will not penetrate.

Be advised that this tank has 3 main ammo racks: between driver and machine gunner, in the turret's back and in the plain middle of the right track, shooting them down can be an easy ammorack explosion. Another thing to consider is this tank's large elevation mechanism, a penetrating shot to the tank's center of mass may damage or disable it, making it very hard for this foe to return fire.

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


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

At 47 tons, this is not a light tank, even more so that its tracks have bad ground traction. What saves this vehicles from feeling too slow is its 954 HP engine, capable of maintaining its top speed even when climbing slight hills. Do not expect too much from this tank, especially in highly inclined and soft terrains. Don't forget its reverse speed of only -4 km/h won't get you out quick of the situations: don't overextend.

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

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

{{main|SA44 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[SA44 (75 mm)|75 mm SA44]] || 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" | 37 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.1 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

When compared to other tanks at the same battle rating, it has the same characteristics as other medium tanks' gun, the weak points being its lack of explosive filler and the long reload time.

==== Ammunition ====
{{:SA44 (75 mm)/Ammunition|75 mm OR Mle.44, 75 mm OE Mle.28}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''37''' || 25 ''(+12)'' || 13 ''(+24)'' || 1 ''(+36)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Turret empty: 25 (+12) 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
|-
| Coaxial || 5,100 (150) || 551 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

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.

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively well armoured vehicle and should be played as a support tank: take advantage of your strong armour to shrug enemy fire off from a distance while answering with well placed shots. Your frontal glacis and turret armour are strong enough to resist most enemy guns beyond 500 m. But there are weak spots your opponents will prioritize: the front glacis (if not properly angled) and the turret cupola. Refrain from rushing towards the frontline: your sides are weak and your turret traverse speed is slow so avoid close combat. Staying at a distance from the frontline will also prevent from being taken in a pincer move.
Your gun has a good penetration power allowing you to stay at a distance but the lack of explosive filler is detrimental to your performance as you'll need two to three shells to take down enemies. Your reload time is a bit longer than most opponents, so aim precisely and make every shot count.
Your mobility is rather poor, with a rigid suspension, outdated tracks and a long and cumbersome chassis. Terrain irregularities will make you slow down and hinder your progress. Position your hull carefully when getting to a shooting spot to avoid hull twitching that will impact your targeting process.

;Notable enemies

* Tank destroyers with powerful guns that can penetrate you from afar: M10, StuG III F, YaG-10 (29-K), ASU-57, SU-85A, Achilles, Na-To, 90/53 M41M, Breda 501, Pvkv II and Pvkv m/43 (1946). You can add the Pz.IV F2, the Pz.IV G to the list as they sport powerful cannons too.
* Tanks firing HEAT shells that can defeat your frontal glacis: 75/34 M43, P40,
* Tanks whose cannon is powerful enough when in close proximity: any M24, any Sherman (M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A4, M4A5), any T-34 (1941, 1942, 1943, E STz), any KV-2 (1939, 1940, 754), the Chi-Nu and the AMX-13 (FL11).
* Heavy tank able to resist your fire and get close enough to damage you: KV-1S, MK-II "Matilda"

;How to defeat a {{PAGENAME}}

[[File:ARL-44 weakspot picture.png|thumb|This piece of armour will detonate the shell, leading to the knock out of at least 1 crew member]]

* One might assume that the ARL's side armour is also very thick, complex, and hard to penetrate at an angle but the ARL can actually get penetrated frontally even with 3.7 tanks despite the fact that the tracks and hull sides somewhat resemble the structure of a Churchill heavy tank. Behind the track and front sprocket wheel lays an unangled armour of only 50 mm thickness. The effective thickness of all these components combined are no more than 100 mm when aiming from the front. Therefore even a 3.7 tank can shoot at the track and the shell will most certainly go through the frontmost wheel, then penetrate the 50 mm armour, sending shrapnel into the crew compartment with its explosion. Of course, solid shots will not work as good since you are shooting at the very edge of the tank after all, you need explosive filler to knock out the crew who are beside the point of penetration. This weak spot remains small and requires close proximity.

[[File:ARL-44 (ACL-1) weakspot picture.png|thumb|As seen through protection analysis, this weak spot only has an effective thickness of less than 100 mm, meaning almost any tank can reliably penetrate there]]

* Do not attack the {{PAGENAME}} frontally unless you have enough armour to afford it.
* Sneak around it and target the turret from the back or the side. The {{PAGENAME}} has a slow turret traverse and flat side and rear armour, making it especially vulnerable to flanking.
* If you have no other option than to attack it frontally, blind it with smoke before closing the gap. Target either the turret cupola or the lower part of the front glacis when the {{PAGENAME}} is not angling as they are weak spots.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Thick side armour enables strong angling
* Complex side armour can negate HEAT round effectiveness
* 5 crew members increase the survivability
* Good mobility for a heavy tank, suited with a powerful engine
* Hull turning is fast due to wide hull
* Potent gun for the battle rating
* -10° of gun depression angle

'''Cons:'''

* Large silhouette makes it a priority target
* Many tanks can reliably penetrate its frontal glacis
* Thin roof armour
* Weak 20 mm plate in turret back protects one of the main ammo racks
* Many weak spots in the armour, including shot traps
* Track traction is subpar (pre-war track pattern)
* Very slow reverse speed
* No explosive filler in available shells
* Limited ammunition choice
* Long reload time
* Large elevation mechanism, often get damaged
* Bad ammo storage layout makes ammo rack shots frequent

== History ==

{{main|ARL-44#History|l1=History of the ARL-44}}

===Development===
The {{PAGENAME}} was the initial variant of the ARL-44 in 1944, with a 75 mm SA 44 gun, a 60 mm sloped front plate and an ACL1 turret designed by the shipyard "Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire". Isolated from the latest evolutions of tank design, the tank was deemed too weak and sent back to the drawing board to equip the tank with better armour and firepower. The design evolved towards the known version of the ARL-44: a 90 mm gun, a Schneider turret and a 120 mm sloped front plate. While 60 ACL1 turrets were ordered, the {{PAGENAME}} never made it past the prototype stage.

===Combat usage===
The {{PAGENAME}} saw no service or combat action.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_arl_44_acl1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|fdfFS8z1jsU|'''ARL-44 (ACL-1), French, Tier-3, Heavy Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[ARL-44]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Churchill III]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:ARL_44|[Wikipedia] ARL 44]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/France/ARL-44.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> ARL-44]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=531 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> ARL 44 Heavy Tank]

{{France heavy tanks}}

Achilles (65 Rg.)

2023-06-09T19:02:28Z

U141562625:

{{About
| about = premium British tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Achilles
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{specs|pseudonym}}''', full name '''17 pounder, Self-Propelled M10 Achilles (65th Anti-Tank Regiment)''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/3472--en|premium pack]] in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]] and removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/4684-vday-victory-day-discounts-en/|2017 Victory Day sale]]. It has also been obtainable in the [[Warbonds|Warbond]] shop in [[wt:en/news/5243--en|January 2018]], [[wt:en/news/5858-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2018]] and [[wt:en/news/6463-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2019]]. It was also made available briefly in the store during the [[wt:en/news/6759/current|2020 D-Day sale]] and 2023 D-Day sale.

It was one of the first British tanks introduced in the game as an Achilles tank destroyer with the insignia of 7th Armored Division, 65th Anti-Tank Regiment "Norfolk Yeomanry".

The [[Achilles]] is based on the American [[M10 GMC]], but carries a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] cannon as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. Thanks to a well assigned BR, the Achilles won't feel in the wrong game even when facing higher rank tanks. The Achilles has plenty of firepower, as the Mk.8 APCBC shot is more effective against the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]]'s sloped armour. The 17-pdr cuts through enemy [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]] (the shots enter the front and exit from the rear) so try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage (first shot to the turret to disable enemy firepower). The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Soviet tanks, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage caused is unreliable (sometimes two or more shots are required to destroy a T-34). The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable to carry the player, the gun, and the team to where it needs to go.

Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of the enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles easily. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse (man-powered) are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
* Structural steel (Counterweight)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (55°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (7-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top hull'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom hull''|| 19.05 (28-33°) ''Top Hull'' 25.4 mm (7-52°) ''Bottom hull'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 9.5 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (66-88°) ''Turret front'' 57.15 mm (0-47°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (22-46°) || 25.4 mm (1-29°) ''Turret rear'' 50 mm (0-50°) ''Counterweight'' || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick while the bogies are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that gives 20 mm of extra armour.
* Tracks placed on the front transmission area provide 30 mm extra armour.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.32}}

=== 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.0 || 5.5 || 6.7 || 7.4 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 2.7 || 3.1 || 3.8 || 4.2 || 4.5
|-
|}

==== 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_Achilles.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Achilles.]]

{| 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
|-
| '''50''' || 48 ''(+2)'' || 45 ''(+5)'' || 34 ''(+16)'' || 23 ''(+27)'' || 12 ''(+38)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || Yes
|-
|}

Turret empty: 45 ''(+5)''

==== 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" | [[M10 GMC]]
|-
|}

=== 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 || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks! To make full use of its decent sniping capacity, find a spot that:

* overlooks key passageway / street / battle area
* is not too close to the frontline
* has slopes, hard covers or bushes
* is not too hard to get to

With a location like that, the Achilles can utilise its -10° gun depression and use hull down. Its turret front and mantlet can consistently cause ricochets especially in a downtier. Looming behind bushes, an Achille's well aimed shots should be able to knock out most enemy tanks at the battle rating range from long range. Even if you get spotted, any slope or hard covers will provide protection for you.

Keep in mind the low fire rate (compared to other 17-pdr AFVs). Once the Achilles has destroyed (or damaged) the enemy the best thing to do is to relocate. Don't stay in the same spot for too long: the Achilles has weak armour and an open top. Artillery barrages will cripple the Achilles or the crew.

Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes... It is **really** slow. Therefore, some changes need to be made in the typical playstyle. If the Achilles need to target an enemy quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to knock it out with a single shot as the crew members are all lined up.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]]: also known as the "Flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the Flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great gun (17-pounder!)
* High level of penetration. Will often pass through the front of lighter vehicles and leave through the back.
* Premium vehicle - instant access to the best shell (Shot Mk.8)
* Good speed
* 5 crew members
* .50 cal Heavy machine gun on top to fight lightly armoured tanks and aircraft
* Sloped armour makes incoming rounds more likely to ricochet
* Spare tracks that provided some limited protection on the front and the rear section of the side armour.
* Good gun depression

'''Cons:'''

* Armour is rather thin
* Big ammo racks
* Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
* Very slow turret traverse
* Lack of explosive filler for AP shells
* Handling is poor on some rough terrain before mobility modifications are researched
* Reverse speed is bad
* Limited ammo count for the commander's machine gun

== History ==


===Development===
The [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the [[M6A1|M6A1 Heavy Tank]] and the body from the [[M4A2| M4A2 Sherman]], this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.

===British Use===
These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design.

The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this larger cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, coming before the [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Firefly]].

The Achilles were issued out as part of the Royal Artillery in armoured divisions in anti-tank regiments. One of such regiments was the '''65th Anti-Tank Regiment''' assigned to the 7th Armoured division during 1942 and onward until the end of the war.

===Combat Usage===
The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed the Achilles as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German [[Tiger E|Tiger]] or [[Panther G|Panther]] tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on [[Churchill Mk III|Churchills]] while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.

The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IVs]] and [[Panther G|Panthers]] from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry 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 ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/827/|[Devblog] Pioneering British Tanks in War Thunder with developer's answers]]
* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles]]

{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Achilles (65 Rg.)

2023-06-09T19:01:18Z

U141562625:

{{About
| about = premium British tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Achilles
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{specs|pseudonym}}''', full name '''17 pounder, Self-Propelled M10 Achilles (65th Anti-Tank Regiment)''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/3472--en|premium pack]] in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]] and removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/4684-vday-victory-day-discounts-en/|2017 Victory Day sale]]. It has also been obtainable in the [[Warbonds|Warbond]] shop in [[wt:en/news/5243--en|January 2018]], [[wt:en/news/5858-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2018]] and [[wt:en/news/6463-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2019]]. It was also made available briefly in the store during the [[wt:en/news/6759/current|2020 D-Day sale]] and 2023 D-Day sale.

It was one of the first British tanks introduced in the game as an Achilles tank destroyer with the insignia of 7th Armored Division, 65th Anti-Tank Regiment "Norfolk Yeomanry".

The [[Achilles]] is based on the American [[M10 GMC]], but carries a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] cannon as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. Thanks to a well assigned BR, the Achilles won't feel in the wrong game even when facing higher rank tanks. The Achilles has plenty of firepower, as the Mk.8 APCBC shot is more effective against the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]]'s sloped armour. The 17-pdr cuts through enemy [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]] (the shots enter the front and exit from the rear) so try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage (first shot to the turret to disable enemy firepower). The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Soviet tanks, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage caused is unreliable (sometimes two or more shots are required to destroy a T-34). The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable to carry the player, the gun, and the team to where it needs to go.

Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of the enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles easily. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse (man-powered) are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
* Structural steel (Counterweight)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (55°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (7-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top hull'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom hull''|| 19.05 (28-33°) ''Top Hull'' 25.4 mm (7-52°) ''Bottom hull'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 9.5 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (66-88°) ''Turret front'' 57.15 mm (0-47°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (22-46°) || 25.4 mm (1-29°) ''Turret rear'' 50 mm (0-50°) ''Counterweight'' || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick while the bogies are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that gives 20 mm of extra armour.
* Tracks placed on the front transmission area provide 30 mm extra armour.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.32}}

=== 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.0 || 5.5 || 6.7 || 7.4 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 2.7 || 3.1 || 3.8 || 4.2 || 4.5
|-
|}

==== 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_Achilles.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Achilles.]]

{| 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
|-
| '''50''' || 48 ''(+2)'' || 45 ''(+5)'' || 34 ''(+16)'' || 23 ''(+27)'' || 12 ''(+38)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || Yes
|-
|}

Turret empty: 45 ''(+5)''

==== 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" | [[M10 GMC]]
|-
|}

=== 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 || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot where to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks! To make full use of its decent sniping capacity, find a spot that:

* overlooks key passageway / street / battle area
* is not too close to the frontline
* has slopes, hard covers or bushes
* is not too hard to get to

With a location like that, the Achilles can utilise its -10° gun depression and use hull down. Its turret front and mantlet can consistently cause ricochets especially in a downtier. Looming behind bushes, an Achille's well aimed shots should be able to knock out most enemy tanks at the battle rating range from long range. Even if you get spotted, any slope or hard covers will provide protection for you.

Keep in mind the low fire rate (compared to other 17-pdr AFVs). Once the Achilles has destroyed (or damaged) the enemy the best thing to do is to relocate. Don't stay in the same spot for too long: the Achilles has weak armour and an open top. Artillery barrages will cripple the Achilles or the crew.

Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes... It is **really** slow. Therefore, some changes need to be made in the typical playstyle. If the Achilles need to target an enemy quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to knock it out with a single shot as the crew members are all lined up.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]]: also known as the "Flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the Flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great gun (17-pounder!)
* High level of penetration. Will often pass through the front of lighter vehicles and leave through the back.
* Premium vehicle - instant access to the best shell (Shot Mk.8)
* Good speed
* 5 crew members
* .50 cal Heavy machine gun on top to fight lightly armoured tanks and aircraft
* Sloped armour makes incoming rounds more likely to ricochet
* Spare tracks that provided some limited protection on the front and the rear section of the side armour.
* Good gun depression

'''Cons:'''

* Armour is rather thin
* Big ammo racks
* Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
* Very slow turret traverse
* Lack of explosive filler for AP shells
* Handling is poor on some rough terrain before mobility modifications are researched
* Reverse speed is bad
* Limited ammo count for the commander's machine gun

== History ==


===Development===
The [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the [[M6A1|M6A1 Heavy Tank]] and the body from the [[M4A2| M4A2 Sherman]], this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.

===British Use===
These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design.

The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this larger cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, coming before the [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Firefly]].

The Achilles were issued out as part of the Royal Artillery in armoured divisions in anti-tank regiments. One of such regiments was the '''65th Anti-Tank Regiment''' assigned to the 7th Armoured division during 1942 and onward until the end of the war.

===Combat Usage===
The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed the Achilles as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German [[Tiger E|Tiger]] or [[Panther G|Panther]] tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on [[Churchill Mk III|Churchills]] while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.

The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IVs]] and [[Panther G|Panthers]] from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry 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 ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/827/|[Devblog] Pioneering British Tanks in War Thunder with developer's answers]]
* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles]]

{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Achilles (65 Rg.)

2023-06-09T18:59:38Z

U141562625:

{{About
| about = premium British tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Achilles
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{specs|pseudonym}}''', full name '''17 pounder, Self-Propelled M10 Achilles (65th Anti-Tank Regiment)''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/3472--en|premium pack]] in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]] and removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/4684-vday-victory-day-discounts-en/|2017 Victory Day sale]]. It has also been obtainable in the [[Warbonds|Warbond]] shop in [[wt:en/news/5243--en|January 2018]], [[wt:en/news/5858-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2018]] and [[wt:en/news/6463-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2019]]. It was also made available briefly in the store during the [[wt:en/news/6759/current|2020 D-Day sale]] and 2023 D-Day sale.

It was one of the first British tanks introduced in the game as an Achilles tank destroyer with the insignia of 7th Armored Division, 65th Anti-Tank Regiment "Norfolk Yeomanry".

The [[Achilles]] is based on the American [[M10 GMC]], but carries a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] cannon as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. Thanks to a well assigned BR, the Achilles won't feel in the wrong game even when facing higher rank tanks. The Achilles has plenty of firepower, as the Mk.8 APCBC shot is more effective against the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]]'s sloped armour. The 17-pdr cuts through enemy [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]] (the shots enter the front and exit from the rear) so try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage (first shot to the turret to disable enemy firepower). The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Soviet tanks, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage caused is unreliable (sometimes two or more shots are required to destroy a T-34, sometimes one shot is enough). The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable to carry the player, the gun, and the team to where it needs to go.

Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of the enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles easily. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse (man-powered) are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
* Structural steel (Counterweight)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (55°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (7-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top hull'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom hull''|| 19.05 (28-33°) ''Top Hull'' 25.4 mm (7-52°) ''Bottom hull'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 9.5 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (66-88°) ''Turret front'' 57.15 mm (0-47°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (22-46°) || 25.4 mm (1-29°) ''Turret rear'' 50 mm (0-50°) ''Counterweight'' || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick while the bogies are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that gives 20 mm of extra armour.
* Tracks placed on the front transmission area provide 30 mm extra armour.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.32}}

=== 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.0 || 5.5 || 6.7 || 7.4 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 2.7 || 3.1 || 3.8 || 4.2 || 4.5
|-
|}

==== 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_Achilles.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Achilles.]]

{| 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
|-
| '''50''' || 48 ''(+2)'' || 45 ''(+5)'' || 34 ''(+16)'' || 23 ''(+27)'' || 12 ''(+38)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || Yes
|-
|}

Turret empty: 45 ''(+5)''

==== 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" | [[M10 GMC]]
|-
|}

=== 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 || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot where to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks! To make full use of its decent sniping capacity, find a spot that:

* overlooks key passageway / street / battle area
* is not too close to the frontline
* has slopes, hard covers or bushes
* is not too hard to get to

With a location like that, the Achilles can utilise its -10° gun depression and use hull down. Its turret front and mantlet can consistently cause ricochets especially in a downtier. Looming behind bushes, an Achille's well aimed shots should be able to knock out most enemy tanks at the battle rating range from long range. Even if you get spotted, any slope or hard covers will provide protection for you.

Keep in mind the low fire rate (compared to other 17-pdr AFVs). Once the Achilles has destroyed (or damaged) the enemy the best thing to do is to relocate. Don't stay in the same spot for too long: the Achilles has weak armour and an open top. Artillery barrages will cripple the Achilles or the crew.

Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes... It is **really** slow. Therefore, some changes need to be made in the typical playstyle. If the Achilles need to target an enemy quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to knock it out with a single shot as the crew members are all lined up.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]]: also known as the "Flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the Flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great gun (17-pounder!)
* High level of penetration. Will often pass through the front of lighter vehicles and leave through the back.
* Premium vehicle - instant access to the best shell (Shot Mk.8)
* Good speed
* 5 crew members
* .50 cal Heavy machine gun on top to fight lightly armoured tanks and aircraft
* Sloped armour makes incoming rounds more likely to ricochet
* Spare tracks that provided some limited protection on the front and the rear section of the side armour.
* Good gun depression

'''Cons:'''

* Armour is rather thin
* Big ammo racks
* Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
* Very slow turret traverse
* Lack of explosive filler for AP shells
* Handling is poor on some rough terrain before mobility modifications are researched
* Reverse speed is bad
* Limited ammo count for the commander's machine gun

== History ==


===Development===
The [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the [[M6A1|M6A1 Heavy Tank]] and the body from the [[M4A2| M4A2 Sherman]], this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.

===British Use===
These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design.

The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this larger cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, coming before the [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Firefly]].

The Achilles were issued out as part of the Royal Artillery in armoured divisions in anti-tank regiments. One of such regiments was the '''65th Anti-Tank Regiment''' assigned to the 7th Armoured division during 1942 and onward until the end of the war.

===Combat Usage===
The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed the Achilles as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German [[Tiger E|Tiger]] or [[Panther G|Panther]] tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on [[Churchill Mk III|Churchills]] while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.

The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IVs]] and [[Panther G|Panthers]] from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry 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 ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/827/|[Devblog] Pioneering British Tanks in War Thunder with developer's answers]]
* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles]]

{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Achilles (65 Rg.)

2023-06-09T18:57:04Z

U141562625:

{{About
| about = premium British tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Achilles
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (shortened to '''{{specs|pseudonym}}''', full name '''17 pounder, Self-Propelled M10 Achilles (65th Anti-Tank Regiment)''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/3472--en|premium pack]] in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]] and removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/4684-vday-victory-day-discounts-en/|2017 Victory Day sale]]. It has also been obtainable in the [[Warbonds|Warbond]] shop in [[wt:en/news/5243--en|January 2018]], [[wt:en/news/5858-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2018]] and [[wt:en/news/6463-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|November 2019]]. It was also made available briefly in the store during the [[wt:en/news/6759/current|2020 D-Day sale]] and 2023 D-Day sale.

It was one of the first British tanks introduced in the game as an Achilles tank destroyer with the insignia of 7th Armored Division, 65th Anti-Tank Regiment "Norfolk Yeomanry".

The [[Achilles]] is based on the American [[M10 GMC]], but carries a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] cannon as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. Thanks to a well assigned BR, the Achilles won't feel in the wrong game even when facing higher rank tanks. The Achilles has plenty of firepower, especially once the Mk.8 APCBC shot is unlocked, which is more effective against the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]]'s sloped armour. The 17-pdr cuts through enemy [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]] (the shots enter the front and exit from the rear) so try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage (first shot to the turret to disable enemy firepower). The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Soviet tanks, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage caused is unreliable (sometimes two or more shots are required to destroy a T-34, sometimes one shot is enough). The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable to carry the player, the gun, and the team to where it needs to go.

Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of the enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles easily. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse (man-powered) are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
* Structural steel (Counterweight)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (55°) ''Front glacis'' 50.8 mm (7-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top hull'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom hull''|| 19.05 (28-33°) ''Top Hull'' 25.4 mm (7-52°) ''Bottom hull'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 9.5 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (66-88°) ''Turret front'' 57.15 mm (0-47°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (22-46°) || 25.4 mm (1-29°) ''Turret rear'' 50 mm (0-50°) ''Counterweight'' || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick while the bogies are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that gives 20 mm of extra armour.
* Tracks placed on the front transmission area provide 30 mm extra armour.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.32}}

=== 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.0 || 5.5 || 6.7 || 7.4 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 2.7 || 3.1 || 3.8 || 4.2 || 4.5
|-
|}

==== 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_Achilles.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Achilles.]]

{| 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
|-
| '''50''' || 48 ''(+2)'' || 45 ''(+5)'' || 34 ''(+16)'' || 23 ''(+27)'' || 12 ''(+38)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || Yes
|-
|}

Turret empty: 45 ''(+5)''

==== 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" | [[M10 GMC]]
|-
|}

=== 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 || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot where to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks! To make full use of its decent sniping capacity, find a spot that:

* overlooks key passageway / street / battle area
* is not too close to the frontline
* has slopes, hard covers or bushes
* is not too hard to get to

With a location like that, the Achilles can utilise its -10° gun depression and use hull down. Its turret front and mantlet can consistently cause ricochets especially in a downtier. Looming behind bushes, an Achille's well aimed shots should be able to knock out most enemy tanks at the battle rating range from long range. Even if you get spotted, any slope or hard covers will provide protection for you.

Keep in mind the low fire rate (compared to other 17-pdr AFVs). Once the Achilles has destroyed (or damaged) the enemy the best thing to do is to relocate. Don't stay in the same spot for too long: the Achilles has weak armour and an open top. Artillery barrages will cripple the Achilles or the crew.

Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes... It is **really** slow. Therefore, some changes need to be made in the typical playstyle. If the Achilles need to target an enemy quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to knock it out with a single shot as the crew members are all lined up.

[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]]: also known as the "Flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the Flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great gun (17-pounder!)
* High level of penetration. Will often pass through the front of lighter vehicles and leave through the back.
* Premium vehicle - instant access to the best shell (Shot Mk.8)
* Good speed
* 5 crew members
* .50 cal Heavy machine gun on top to fight lightly armoured tanks and aircraft
* Sloped armour makes incoming rounds more likely to ricochet
* Spare tracks that provided some limited protection on the front and the rear section of the side armour.
* Good gun depression

'''Cons:'''

* Armour is rather thin
* Big ammo racks
* Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
* Very slow turret traverse
* Lack of explosive filler for AP shells
* Handling is poor on some rough terrain before mobility modifications are researched
* Reverse speed is bad
* Limited ammo count for the commander's machine gun

== History ==


===Development===
The [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the [[M6A1|M6A1 Heavy Tank]] and the body from the [[M4A2| M4A2 Sherman]], this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.

===British Use===
These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design.

The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this larger cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, coming before the [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Firefly]].

The Achilles were issued out as part of the Royal Artillery in armoured divisions in anti-tank regiments. One of such regiments was the '''65th Anti-Tank Regiment''' assigned to the 7th Armoured division during 1942 and onward until the end of the war.

===Combat Usage===
The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed the Achilles as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German [[Tiger E|Tiger]] or [[Panther G|Panther]] tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on [[Churchill Mk III|Churchills]] while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.

The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IVs]] and [[Panther G|Panthers]] from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry 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 ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/827/|[Devblog] Pioneering British Tanks in War Thunder with developer's answers]]
* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles]]

{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}
{{Britain tank destroyers}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Cromwell I

2023-06-09T18:55:09Z

U141562625:

{{About
|about= British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other versions
|link= Cromwell (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_a27m_cromwell_1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the initial British ground tree in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]].

The Cromwell Mk I uses the 6-pdr, which provides higher penetration than the 75 mm on the [[Cromwell V|Mk V]]. It is also slightly faster and more manoeuvrable, thanks to the addition of an engine governor on the Mk. V that lowered its maximum output. However, these advantages are offset by the higher BR which means the Cromwell will be facing some tanks that are a good match for the Cromwell in terms of speed, like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]], and some tanks that are largely invulnerable, like the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]].

The Cromwell I is one of the fastest tanks in the game, due to its Meteor engine derived from the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin of Spitfire fame. It can outrun almost every other tank, including most low-rank light tanks like the [[BT-5|BT]] [[BT-7|series]] or [[M3 Stuart|M3]], but has adequate armour for a medium tank and a reasonable gun. Generally speaking, it can easily outfight most tanks that can keep up with it, and outrun anything that is a serious threat. Just don't sit still; anyone can snipe if given the chance, and the Cromwell's armour makes it a one-hit-wonder.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Driver's port, Side armour, Compartment hull roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm ''Front plate'' 25.4 mm (74°) ''Front glacis'' 57 mm (13°) ''Joint plate'' 25.4 mm (68°) ''Lower glacis'' ||44 mm ''Top front'' 32 + 14 mm ''Bottom front'' 38 (0°) + 32 mm (34°) ''Top rear'' 25.4 + 14 mm ''Bottom rear'' || 32 mm (0-7°) ''Top'' 20 mm (47°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm ''Compartment'' 14 mm ''Engine''
|-
| Turret || 64 mm + 12.7 mm ''Turret front'' 63.5 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 51 mm + 12.7 mm || 44 mm + 12.7 mm || 20 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* 12.7mm Armour basket behind Turret front, sides and rear.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 930|rbMinHp= 531}}

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

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

{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] || 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" | 75 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 23.8 || 32.9 || 40.0 || 44.2 || 47.1 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.9 || 17.5 || 21.3 || 23.5 || 25.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.5, Shot Mk.5 HV, Shot Mk.8, Shot Mk.9, Shell Mk.10}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''75''' || 66 ''(+9)'' || 56 ''(+19)'' || 46 ''(+29)'' || 37 ''(+38)'' || 28 ''(+47)'' || 19 ''(+56)'' || 10 ''(+65)'' || 1 ''(+74)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}.]]
==== Optics ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x1.8 || x3.5
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[M10 GMC]]
|-
|}

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

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


'''Overview:'''

The Cromwell I is a fast tank with a good cannon and acceptable armour protection. Commanders should play it like a light tank, but be careful of the extremely slow reverse gear. It excels in close quarters combat due to the excellent gun and hull handling characteristics, as well as the fast reload rate. Commanders should avoid long range fights due to the slow reverse gear. This lack of a reverse gear makes it difficult to return to cover after exposing your tank to fire on the enemy. The best strategy in the Cromwell I is to hug the map corners and try to flank, outmanoeuvring enemy forces. The tank is very rewarding to players who have experience with the map that is being played, and are able to predict enemy movements. It is a true Cruiser tank, able to exploit gaps in the enemy defenses by disrupting the enemy back line.

'''Firepower:'''

The best shell to use is the Shot Mk.9 APCBC due to its penetration characteristics. Generally this is a great round due to the fast reload and shell velocity. However this round struggles against angled armour, most notably against Soviet T-34 tanks. Against this enemy Cromwell gunners will have to aim for the turret or machine gun port, as the upper front plate will bounce the Shot Mk.9 easily.

'''Staying alive:'''

In terms of armour, the Cromwell I is in a better situation than many players would assume. While the front armour is not particularly impressive, the design is very square and the side armour is acceptable. This means that the Cromwell I is an excellent tank to angle your hull and turret armour in. When the enemy fires, a quick turn using the impressive handling and acceleration can cause a bounce. Generally Cromwell I commanders should seek to move unpredictably when under fire and create angles that are difficult to penetrate.

One somewhat unconventional tool that the Cromwell has access to is an abundance of smoke grenades. Commanders can use these grenades to shut down enemy firing angles and protect themselves from being shot in the side. However, be careful not to spam these too much as they may get in the way of your teammates as well.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very fast for a medium tank, excellent for capturing zones
* 57 mm performs well against most armoured targets
* Gun handles well
* Can easily hide behind obstacles and surprise passing enemies with a flanking manoeuvre
* Remains competitive even in an uptier

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible reverse speed, makes overextending difficult
* Neutral turning performs poorly on sloped terrain
* Sensitive steering in forward travelling gears
* Boxy, vertical armour on hull and turret makes angling essential
* Gunner can frequently be knocked out from frontal shots
* 57 mm struggles to penetrate sloped or angled armour. T-34s and KV-1s are an issue at this rank as they are very difficult to penetrate at long ranges

== History ==

===Development===
Development for the tank started back in 1940, just around the time the [[Crusader Mk II|Crusader cruiser tank]] was being put into service in the British Army. The development of a stronger cruiser tank was initiated due to the belief that that the Crusader would become obsolete in the face of more advanced German tanks as the time pass. The initial plans was for the tank to mount the OQF 6-pounder gun and was to be completed in 1942. The project was taken up by three companies who submitted their designs. Vauxhall developed the A23, a scaled down [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill tank]] with 75 mm of armour and a 12-cylinder Bedford engine. Nuffield developed the A24 based off the Crusader that was powered by the Liberty engine and had an advantage of being put into production quickly. Leyland and Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon developed a design that was similar to Nuffield's, but with different suspension and track designs. All these designs were examined in January 1941 and it was decided that Nuffield's A24 would become the vehicle of choice for the project. Six prototypes of the vehicle, now called Cromwell I were ordered for delivery in the Spring of 1942, but arrived four months late, with current events making the tank designs outdated. Despite that, the tank was put into production and experienced an unsatisfactory performance history as being an under-powered tank. The lack of available tanks led to the demands for more 6-pounders on the battlefield, which were used to be mounted on the older tank designs.

When Britain entered the war, Rolls-Royce stopped producing cars and set up a team to find ways to use their production lines. The team was made under Roy Robotham at Clan Foundry near the city of Belper. Meeting with Henry Spurrier of Leyland, they talked tank designs and a project began of fitting a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine onto a tank. A Leyland-built Crusader was used for the test, removing the supercharger from the engine before installing it in the tank. The result was an absurdly fast tank, able to reach a speed of 80 km/h, estimated since timing the speed runs was difficult. The impressive performance had Leyland organize a production for 1,000 units of the engine, renamed as the Meteor. This plan was changed after concerns of the engine's cooling was raised, Leyland decides to produce their own version of Meteor which was weaker (350 hp) compared to the Rolls design (500 hp). Thus, the Tank Board decided to just order the engine straight from Rolls-Royce for the Meteor engine. The A24 tank design with the Meteor engine was redesignated as the A27. During the development, Leyland suggested that the tank should be made to fit both the Meteor and the American-designed Liberty engine, thus the designation expanded to A27M (Meteor) and the A27L (Liberty) and were called Cromwell III and Cromwell II respectively. Leyland's attempt at building their own engine was abandoned. The A27M tank was made into a prototype and delivered on January 1942, it proved extremely mobile with its 600 hp engine and orders were placed for both engine versions. This proved difficult due to production difficulties with the Meteor and soon Leyland took over production of both versions. Production lines for the Meteor engine continued to be strained until late 1942, where Ernest Hives of Rolls met with Spencer Wilks of the company Rover made a deal in January 1943 to exchange factories, with Rolls establishing a Meteor engine factory at Barnoldswick, Lancashire.

Production of the tank began in November 1942 with new names given out the tanks. The original A24 Cromwell I from Nuffield was renamed the Cavalier, the Liberty powered Cromwell II became the Centaur, and the Meteor powered Cromwell III retained the name as the '''Cromwell'''. The actual Cromwell tank production was delayed until January 1943 due to low supply of Meteor engines until the Rover factory began producing it. With more Meteor engines being produced, the Centaur tanks were often converted to use the Meteor engine, turning them into Cromwells. Field tests with the tanks took place in August to September in 1943 alongside the [[M4A2|M4A2]] and M4A4 Shermans. The tests proved the Shermans to be more reliable than the Cromwell and Centaurs, needing only about 0.03 hours of mechanical attention every mile compared to the Cromwell's 0.07 hours per mile and the Centaur's 0.08 hours per mile. The two tanks were thus given time to iron out these deficiencies, the Cromwell suffered from oil leaks along with brake and clutch failures. While the tank suffered from these defects, the crews expressed their satisfaction with the designs for their speed and handling, but the Centaur was not given the same attention as the Cromwell. The second test in November had the Cromwell perform with improved results while the Centaur was still experiencing the same problems. The production model was finalized on February 2, 1944, after a specifications for a "Battle Cromwell" came in from Leyland, which included some design changes, an increase of 6 mm on the bottom of the tank, seam welding the joints, and the standard usage of the Meteor engine and the Merritt Brown transmission. The Centaur was relegated to training roles or modified for specialist roles such as anti-aircraft guns or engineering vehicles. Total production for the A27 tank series is 4,016 tanks, of which 950 are Centaurs and 3,066 are Cromwells.

===Design===
The Cromwell's frame used a riveted construction in its initial production models, but this later changed to welding. The frame was strengthened with bolted armour plates. Companies involved in the A27 production were LMS Railway, Morris Motors, Metro-Cammell, Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, and English Electric. Some of these models were not consistent in construction, such as some variants built with 360 mm wide tracks and some with 393 mm tracks. The suspension was a Christie suspension derived from the earlier cruiser tank designs. Four of the tanks' road wheels have shock absorbers, and no return rollers are available, the tracks are supported on the top of the large road wheels. The gearbox has five forward and one reverse gear, with the first forward gear made for confined areas and sharp turns. While the Meteor engine is capable of going faster, it is restricted to 540 hp output with a governor to avoid straining the engine and suspension. The Cromwell's armaments changed over a few times, its initial model mounted the 6-pounder gun, but the later models [[Cromwell V|mounted the 75 mm gun]]. The adaption was easy due to the 75 mm gun being a 6-pounder bored for the larger calibre. A 7.92 mm BESA machine gun was available for coaxial firing on the turret. The armour on the Cromwell started as a 76 mm plate, which increased gradually to 83 mm and 100 mm overtime for additional protection.

The '''A27M Cromwell I''' was exactly the same as Centaur I, with the biggest difference being that it was powered with a Meteor engine. It featured a 6-pounder as its main armament, but only a few were produced before the Cromwell changed armament to the [[Ordnance QF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm gun]]

===Combat usage===
The British, at the time of Operation Overlord, primarily service the [[M4|M4 Sherman]] as the main tank of their armoured units, only the armoured brigades of the 7th Armoured Division were equipped with the Cromwell tanks. Although the Cromwell also saw use as armoured reconnaissance regiments in other British divisions such as the Guards Armoured Division and the 11th Armoured Division. Compared to the Sherman, the Cromwell was much faster, so fast that it earned the title as the fastest British tank in World War II. The Cromwell also presented a smaller profile, making it a lower target, and has a thicker frontal armour plate. However, the Cromwell's armour was not sloping, was not as reliable in comparison to the Sherman, and a slightly smaller crew space inside the tank. Nevertheless, the Cromwell proved very mobile and effective on the battlefield alongside the Sherman, often outflanking German armour with their superior speed to hit the tanks on their sides or rear. Since the Cromwells are not able to mount the larger and more powerful 17-pounder and a derivative, the [[Challenger|A30 Challenger]], met with production issues, Cromwell units were equipped with [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Fireflies]] in order to supplement the firepower of the 17-pounder. Later in the war, these units began to be succeeded by the [[Comet I|Comet tank]] which had more armour and a more powerful 77 mm gun derived from the 17-pounder.

During the war, the Cromwell chassis was used in various specialized roles on the battlefield. The A30 Challenger is a tank design that attempted to mount the 17-pounder on a lengthened Cromwell chassis, the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]] was another attempt to equip the 17-pounder, but used a lighter turret instead. Some were made into observation posts or command tanks. The Centaur saw a wider conversion with some becoming engineering vehicles, armoured recovery vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers. After the war, the British attempted to up-gun the Cromwell into the [[Charioteer Mk VII|Charioteer]], which was designed in the 1950s to supplement tank units before the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] was mass-issued.

The Cromwells were also given out to Allied units such as the 1st Polish Armoured Division and the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade. These units served in Northern Europe with the Allies as they breakthrough deeper into Europe. After World War II, some Cromwell stayed in service and saw service in the Korean War with the 7th Royal Tank Regiment and the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. The Cromwells also were given to Greece, where it had the distinction of being the first tank put into service by the Greek Army. 52 Centaurs were given to Greece in 1946 to fight in the Greek Civil War, but these were stored due to lack of crews with adequate training. Formal training began in Greece began in 1947 with the return of trained officers from Britain. The Centaur saw limited service in the Greek Armoured Corps, fighting in the Greek mountains. These units kept the Centaurs up until 1963 where it was replaced by the American [[M47|M47 Pattons]].

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a27m_cromwell_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:Cromwell I desert charge.jpg|Cromwell I in the desert.
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|CHvo6EIIlKk|'''Pages of History: A27 Cromwell''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


* [[Cromwell V]]
* [[Cromwell V (RP-3)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/846/|[Devblog] Cromwell I]]
* [[wt:en/news/3549-profile-cromwell-mk-i-en|[Vehicle Profile] Cromwell Mk I]]

{{Britain medium tanks}}

KV-2 (1939)

2023-05-15T20:01:13Z

U141562625: /* KV-2 */

{{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 is easily identified by even the least experienced players and as soon as it fires one round, it will be out-manoeuvred 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. Mobility upgrades also help with the tank's poor mobility.

== 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''' (SAPCBC) - The semi armour-piercing 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 knock out 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''' (SAPCBC) - The PB-35 shell has a higher penetration than the G-530 shell at point-blank range, and 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 the G-530 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 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 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 too 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)

2023-05-15T19:41:36Z

U141562625: /* General info */

{{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 is easily identified by even the least experienced players and as soon as it fires one round, it will be out-manoeuvred 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. Mobility upgrades also help with the tank's poor mobility.

== 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''' (SAPCBC) - The semi armour-piercing 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 knock out 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''' (SAPCBC) - The PB-35 shell has a higher penetration than the G-530 shell at point-blank range, and 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 the G-530 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 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 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)

2023-05-15T19:39:21Z

U141562625: /* General info */

{{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 is 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. Mobility upgrades also help with the tank's poor mobility.

== 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''' (SAPCBC) - The semi armour-piercing 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 knock out 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''' (SAPCBC) - The PB-35 shell has a higher penetration than the G-530 shell at point-blank range, and 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 the G-530 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 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 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}}

SMK

2023-05-01T01:23:43Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. The SMK was named after Sergei Mironovich Kirov, an early Communist Party official who was assassinated in 1934. A twin-turret heavy tank, the SMK provides an interesting playstyle to its users. Only one prototype was built before the project was dropped.

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

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 75 mm (30°) ''Front plate'' 75 mm (76°) ''Front glacis'' 75 mm (48-74°)|| 60 mm || 55 mm (26-71°) ''Top'' 55 mm (9-63°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
|-
| Main Turret || 60 mm (4-70°) ''Turret front'' 60 mm (3-56°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (14-17°) || 60 mm (15-16°) || 30 mm
|-
| Secondary Turret || 60 mm (11-47°) ''Turret front'' 60 mm (4-59°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (9-16°) || 60 mm (15°) || 30 mm
|-
| Cupola || 60 mm || 60 mm || 60 mm || 30 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Column elevating main turret is 60 mm thick with a range of 12-18° of slope.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,097|rbMinHp=752}}

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

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

{{main|L-11 (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L-11 (76 mm)|76 mm L-11]] || 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" | 113 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+35° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.1 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.19 || rowspan="2" | 7.25 || rowspan="2" | 6.68 || rowspan="2" | 6.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:L-11 (76 mm)/Ammunition|BR-350SP, OF-350M, Sh-354T, BR-350A (MD-5 fuze)}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''113''' || 108 ''(+5)''|| 102 ''(+11)''|| 90 ''(+23)'' || 78 ''(+35)'' || 1 ''(+112)'' || Yes
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The visual discrepancy concerns the number of shells in rack 5: 60 shells are modeled but it contains 77 shells.
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
* Turret rear empty: 102 (+11)

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|20-K (45 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[20-K (45 mm)|45 mm 20-K]] || 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" | 300 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±135° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.1 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 3.8 || rowspan="2" | 3.3 || rowspan="2" | 3.1 || rowspan="2" | 2.9
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:20-K (45 mm)/Ammunition|O-243, BR-240SP, BR-240P, BR-240}}

==== [[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
|-
| '''300''' || 245 ''(+55)'' || Yes
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* The visual discrepancy concerns the total number of 45 mm shells: only 56 shells are modeled but 300 shells can be taken into battle.
* Once the 56 modeled shells are depleted (either from shooting or from packing fewer shells), the rack disappears.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{main|DK (12.7 mm)|DT (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DK]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Turret rear || 600 (50) || 600 || -10°/+1° || ±15°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial with 45 mm || 1,890 (63) || 600 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Confidently stand against most enemy tanks especially if they are without support, use caution against engaging multiple targets from a distance however as a track hit will end any day on the battlefield, the SMK packs its biggest punch up close and cannot expect to survive against sniping units if caught in the open. Keep the tank moving as much as possible and slightly angled facing enemies directly. When engaging heavies it's best to not go toe to toe; however by disabling a track or turret the SMK can hold up in close proximity to most heavy enemy tanks. HE and shrapnel shells are not this tanks forte, rather its APHE rounds usually due to the trick against most enemy units. The SMK can also fool enemies by shooting the 45 mm cannon, then letting the opponent peek out when they think that the cannon is reloading, and shoot them with the 76 mm cannon instead.

Attack and break enemy lines, The SMK is very much a tank worthy of entitling "Not one step back"! A fast load rate and dual turret firing system allow this tank multiple scores even when surrounded or disabled, and the sizeable crew enables quick repair, which is great as its size makes the SMK a juicy target that is more than capable of withstanding incredible amounts of damage. Great at providing weaker units cover and protection from enemy fire, the one-two punch of its cannons reward players that love using more aggressive playing styles.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Two turrets, two guns. A punchy 45 mm and a slow, but steady 76 mm
* Consistent armour all-round, effective against circling low rank tanks like [[Flakpanzer 38]]
* Outstanding Mobility for a heavy tank (15 hp/t)
* Can defend itself even when one gunner is injured thanks to the two turrets
* Very difficult to destroy in one hit thanks to the large interior

'''Cons:'''

* Gigantic size, very easy target
* The additional turret won't really help when being circled
* Armour isn't strong against tanks at the same BR like the [[Pz.IV (Family)|Pz.IV]]
* Somewhat unique playstyle which may need practice
* Big ammo rack in the second turret (cannot be removed)
* Bad reverse gear

== History ==

===Development===
The development of the '''SMK''' began after the [[T-35]] heavy tank flaws came to light. The T-35 was unreliable and expensive, so the project was made to replace it. The project was headed by former OKMO designer N. Barykov and started in 1937 at the Bolshevik Plant with a specification that the tank could withstand 45 mm hits from point-blank ranges and 75 mm artillery at 1,200 m. The design drawn up in 1938 was still a multi-turret design like the T-35, but the number of turrets was reduced to just two and a wide-track torsion-bar suspension was utilized instead of a spring suspension. The SMK was also redesigned to two different prototypes, the one with two turrets and the other with a single turret installed instead. These two designs were approved by Stalin and the single turret one was named after then Soviet Defense Commissar Kliment Voroshilov as the KV, the forerunner for the [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1 heavy tanks]].

The SMK design weighed 55 tons and had two turrets mounted with one in front of the other, with the one in the mid-hull area as the main turret and the one in front as the secondary turret. The main turret was mounted higher than the secondary and had the 76.2 mm L-11 gun mounted while the smaller one had a 45 mm 20-K gun mounted. The design was powered by a GAM-34BT engine that produces 850 hp for the vehicle. The tank suspension was a torsion-bar suspension for improved smoothness over other suspension designs. Armour on the front hull was 75 mm thick in the front and 60 mm on the sides.

===Testing===
As part of the heavy tank evaluations, the designs submitted for the project were to be battle-tested. The SMK, two KV-1, and two T-100 prototypes were sent to Finland during the Winter War and took part in the Battle of Summa. These vehicles formed the 91st Tank Battalion in the 20th Heavy Tank Brigade. The SMK, however, was immobilized by a Finnish anti-tank mine during combat and because of its heavy 55-ton weight, an attempt at recovering the vehicle failed and had to be left behind for two months before Soviet forces could break the Finnish defences to secure it. Before being recovered, the Finnish were able to document and photograph the SMK thoroughly. When German intelligence discovered the SMK, it was designated the ''T-35C'', which caused the misunderstanding that the T-35 also took part in the Winter War when it did not.

The failure of the SMK in the Winter War in contrast to the success of the KV-1 prototypes caused the KV-1 design to be accepted into service on December 19, 1939, as the Soviet's main heavy tank. The SMK thus never reached pass the development stage and was left with only one prototype produced.

{{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 SMK heavy tank was designed and built at the Kirov Factory in Leningrad. In January, 1939 work began on building the tank itself, and the SMK's first test trip around the factory courtyard took place on April 30, 1939. After getting broken in at the factory, the tank was sent to testing grounds, where it underwent testing beginning on the night of July 31 and ending on August 1. Only one model was ever built. It was used in the Finnish War.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|RyA5KcS2hAw|'''Multi-turreted Tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:37 - ''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 series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [http://russian-tanks.com/heavy-soviet-tank-smk.php [Russian Tanks<nowiki>]</nowiki> Heavy Soviet Tank SMK]

{{TankManufacturer Kirov}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

Vehicle Presets

2023-04-22T04:42:59Z

U141562625: /* Managing presets */

"'''Vehicle Presets'''" are a mechanism which allows player to save several variants for vehicle arrangement in the crew slots.

{{Notice|Vehicle Presets have no actual effect in gameplay except for saving time.}}

== Managing presets ==
By default, each nation has up to 4 presets available filled with '''Reserve''' vehicles of ''Army'', ''Aviation'', ''Bluewater fleet'' and ''Coastal fleet'' trees. If naval trees are not yet implemented on a nation, only the first two of them appear.
[[File:Vehicle Presets window.png|thumb|The action buttons below can be used to make change to presets.]]
The initial presets are only made for convenience; players may add new presets, delete existing presets or rename/reorder them. To do so, click the '''Presets''' button on the right side of the presets list; a window named ''Vehicle Presets'' will pop up, with a set of action buttons on the bottom.

The total number of presets are limited. Players can increase the limit by unlocking high rank vehicles of different tech trees; each nation can have 18 presets at most.

Technically a player can play all [[:Category:Game modes|game modes]] and [[Battle ratings|battle ratings]] with only 1 preset, but this would waste time in switching vehicles.

== Changing a preset ==
[[File:Changing crew slot.png|thumb|A vehicle list and filter will be displayed when changing a slot.]]
As previously mentioned, a preset acts as a recorder. To make changes to a preset, player need to first select it, then changing the individual crew slots and/or game mode, the last state of them will be saved for future.

Vehicle on each crew slot can be changed by clicking the slot and choose '''Change Vehicle''' on the context menu.

{{Notice|Crew trainings and qualifications are tied to certain crew slots, irrelevant to the chosen preset.|!}}

The game mode can also be changed by clicking it.

When encountering game crash or connection lost, one or more presets may get mistakenly replaced, in this case player have to manually restore it by changing individual slots.

[[Category:Game mechanics]]

He 219 A-7

2023-04-06T12:01:32Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=he_219a_7
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} German strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]]. The He 219 A-7 is unique as it is the first user-created vehicle to be featured in the game as part of the [[Affiliate_Program_Revenue_Share|Revenue Share Program]], created by Daniil ''"Joy_Division__"'' Zaitsev, inspired by ''"NovA29R"''. The plane texture was created by Arthur ''Pacifica'' Carley. The He 219 A-7 is purchasable in-game with {{ge}} and a percentage of the sale goes back to the model author who created it under the Revenue Share Program.

The Heinkel He 219 A-7 Uhu was produced by the legendary Heinkel company, which was renowned for making excellent aircraft. He 219 A-7 Uhu, is a powerful German Night Fighter, with less than 300 aircraft created during the war. It has a very distinct external appearance, the design of the aircraft resembles a "Tasman beaked whale". He-219-A7 features a pressurised cockpit, one pilot and one radar operator; who operates the plane. The plane offers a powerful twin "Daimler-Benz DB 603 E" engines. Each engine offers up to 1,774 metric horsepower with a top speed of 388 mph with WEP. The plane is able to climb up to altitudes of 8,000 m (26,248 feet) within 18 minutes and 22 seconds without using WEP.

The He 219-A7 has three different types of weaponry installed, with a grand total of six cannons.

In the fuselage, it has two Mk 103 30 mm cannons, given 200 rounds, with another pair of MG 151 20 mm cannons with 600 rounds. In the wings it has two Mk 108 30 mm cannons, with a total of 200 rounds. The total of all the ammunition, which it carries is 1,000 rounds. It can not be equipped with bombs, rockets, torpedoes or any other type of secondary weapons.

The unique ground-pounding capability of this aircraft makes it a true force to be reckoned with, if left alone. The "Armoured targets" belt for the Mk 103s, consisting of only {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}} bullets, is easily able to kill medium tanks from the sides and rear. While the Mk 108s or MG 151s can be left to deal with AAA or Artillery targets, or any fighters that dare to take it head-on.

Do note that the engines seem to overheat rather quickly when running at full WEP.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,700 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
| 602 || 584 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.2 || 33.4 || 8.4 || 8.3 || rowspan="2" | 444
|-
! Upgraded
| 648 || 624 || 29.4 || 30.7 || 13.7|| 10.8
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 470 || 444 || 310 || ~11 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 440 || < 420 || < 490 || > 280
|-
|}

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


* 8 mm Steel - pilot seat
* 8 mm Steel - radar operator seat
* 12 mm Steel- aircraft nose

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

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

{{main|MK 103 (30 mm)|MK 108 (30 mm)|MG 151 (20 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
* 2 x 30 mm MK 103 cannons, belly-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
* 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, belly-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

The six cannons are arranged two groups with the two 30 mm MK 108 cannons mounted in the wing roots, while the two Mk 103 and two MG 151 cannons are clustered in the belly of the fuselage. Each of the 30 mm cannons are armed with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all guns will fire together until empty. The 20 mm cannons on the other hand have three times as much ammunition and will continue to be able to fire when the 30 mm ammunition is depleted.

Note: The belly mounted 30 mm MK 103 cannons count as 'additional armament'. Be sure that they are keybound properly.

== Usage in battles ==

The below tactics, can be used in all games modes:

Climb to a high altitude, make sure the enemy aircraft is below you, descend and stay on their tail. Since most of your cannons are mounted in the fuselage you don't need to set convergence. However you will still have to set it, since your two Mk 108 30 mm cannons are mounted in the wings, set it for 600 m. Since this will allow them to help with main fuselage cannons to cause critical damage and/or to destroy the enemy plane.

'''Bombers''' 
Once you locate the enemy bombers, perform a fast descent, keeping your energy and speed up in the process. Once you are closing in, fire a short burst to get your attack angles right. As you start closing on your target, your target's gunners may start firing. The rugged airframe of the He-219 should be able to withstand hits.

This does not mean you should stay only on the bombers six o'clock during the attack; only staying on the six o'clock will result in your untimely death. You need to keep moving around erratically and being unpredictable, if the gunners on the target aircraft have not been neutralised.

Use WEP and fire two to three second bursts; this will bring the bomber down. Once the bomber is down, ascend and find your next prey. For tougher bombers such as the B-25 Mitchell, you will need to fire a longer burst if aiming for the fuselage, this should be about five seconds. However, you could always aim for the engines and wings and fire a much shorter burst of about two seconds, this will cause major damage to the engine, wing spar, flaps and ailerons, often causing the target aircraft to catch alight and/or lose control and crash which will award you with a kill.

'''Fighters, interceptors & strike aircraft''' 
As long as you stay on its tail and are undetected, a fighter aircraft will be a easy kill.

Stay on its tail and do not let it escape. Do not lose your energy: do not turn fight, this is how you will lose the energy you require to escape. Fire above or below the direction it is going to go; as soon as it starts to turn, disengage and use WEP to get away from that enemy aircraft.

You should really watch out for the following planes, these are able to outperform and eliminate you from the battle: P-61 Black Widow, Yak 9UT including all the Yaks, the P-51 Mustang, includes all American fighters and British Spitfires.

'''How to perform defensive fighting:''' 
When you are being engaged by an enemy fighter, make sure you push the engines to WEP and push the plane into a very steep dive of about 70 degrees. You will reach about 470 mph in this dive, do not perform sharp movements this will result in you causing structural damage and often will rip your wings clean off. To get out of this speed make small improvements to the dive angle of attack, you can keep the speed and energy gained from this evasive dive, then commence your climb back to a high altitude.

'''Ground-pounding''' 
From the very start of the game, dive down to very low altitude, perhaps choosing a bearing away from the expected flight path of any enemy fighters. Try to let them pass and engage the fighters on your team before engaging any of the ground targets.

Medium tanks can be killed very easily with the Mk 103s "Armoured Targets" belt, aim for the sides of the tanks, or the back of the tanks.

Try your best not to over-extend, as the flight characteristics of the He 219 are not forgiving if you dip too low.

After killing a target from the side, fly a bit away before turning around to re-engage other targets, as you want the best possible chance to strike the tanks with a single shot of the Mk 103s, which ''can'' kill tanks easily.

AAA and Artillery can be left alone, or killed easily with the Mk 108s or MG 151s, as you probably want to save the Mk 103s for heavier targets.

===Radars===
{{main|FuG 202}}
The He 219 A-7 is equipped with a [[FuG 202]] search radar, located in the nose of the aircraft; a control box which is part of the radar damage model is located in the rear of the cockpit.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[FuG 202]] - Target Detection Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Detection Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Guaranteed Detection Range|The range, below which, detection of a target is practically guaranteed}}
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
|-
| 4,000 m || 4,000 m || ±30° || ±30°
|-
|}

=== 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 || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armament
** Very powerful gun armament with a high one-second burst mass
** Powerful 30 mm MK 108 cannons
** MK 103 are devastating to ground target, especially with HVAP-T rounds with excellent 77 mm of armour penetration
** High burst mass means the plane excels in bomber hunting
* Airframe, performance and handling
** Decent climb rate with WEP
** Tough and sturdy airframe
** Landing gear is strong, can take a fast hard landing
** Can make it back to the airfield with one engine
** Can put wing fuel tank fires out in a dive as longed as the engine is throttled back
** Engines cool down quickly
* Has access to radar

'''Cons:'''

* Armament
** 30 mm MK108 cannons have low velocity
** No defensive or additional armament
* Airframe, performance and handling
** Below average manoeuvrability
** Hard to evade enemies if they are on your tail
** Can start to overheat quickly when using WEP
** Subpar top speed of 388 mph (624 km/h)
** Mediocre climb rate performance without WEP
** Can stall easily, if you put it in a steep climb
** Long landing distance
** Heavy airframe makes it a subpar dogfighter
** Fuselage fires cannot be put out
** Can be hard to control at low speed and steep angles
** At an 85-90 degree roll in a turn, the plane will flip over; this can be very hard to recover from at low altitude
** Impossible to land without landing gear as the tail section will snap off upon impact with the ground
** Massive ballistic performance difference between your three different cannons, making it in most scenarios impossible to fully utilize the full firepower of all 3

== History ==

The He 219 'Uhu' ("Eagle-Owl") was a German prototype night fighter of the Second World War. Designed to counter strategic bombers such as the [[Lancaster B Mk I|Avro Lancaster]], the He 219 was fitted with a radar and Schräge Musik upwards-firing weapons. The aircraft was also the first German aircraft to be fitted with a tricycle landing gear arrangement, and the first production aircraft to be fitted with ejection seats.

The design and development of the He 219 was long and delayed due to rivalries within the Luftwaffe. Following repeated design changes and delays, the first prototype began construction in February of 1942 funded entirely by Heinkel, as the RLM (German air ministry) was unwilling. After the prototype engine choice was changed to the Daimler DB 603C (the same engine used on the Fw 190 C high-altitude fighter), the prototype was finally completed and flown in November of 1942. The aircraft impressed German night fighter commander Josef Kammhuber, and as a result, the aircraft was ordered into production against the wishes of the RLM. After more internal conflicts, the He 219 was ordered into production.

The He 219 A-0 was the first production model of the He 219 and was powered by two DB 603 A engines. The aircraft was followed by the He 219 A-2 with extended fuel tanks. The He 219 A-1, A-5 and A-6 were prototypes for various purposes and were not completed. The He 219 A-7 was the last production model of the He 219, featuring upgraded DB 603E engines.

In terms of design, the He 219 featured a high-mounted wing with two engine nacelles each housing a DB 603E engine and was capable of 670 km/h at 7,000 m altitude. The landing gear was arranged in a tricycle configuration, each rear landing gear leg mounted in the nacelle. The He 219 had a crew of two in a pressurized cockpit, both crew members having access to ejection seats. In terms of armament, the He 219 had four 20 mm MG 151/20 autocannons firing forward and two 30 mm MK 108 cannons firing upwards in a Schräge Musik configuration: these weapons proved to be very effective against bombers.

In service, the He 219 proved to be quite effective against allied bombers: the aircraft could be directed to the general area by ground control, then locate and engage enemy bombers using their radars. In total, 210 He 219 A-7 aircraft were ordered, but the actual number completed is not known. In total, roughly 300 He 219 aircraft were built; following the war, three aircraft were acquired by the USAF for testing. One He 219 survives today, an A-2 variant, at the Smithsonian National Air & Space museum in Washington DC.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=he_219a_7 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|L04Bp-FkBhA|'''The Shooting Range #4''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 06:09 discusses the He 219 A-7.}}

== See also ==


* [[Ta 154 A-1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3746-development-he-219-the-night-hunter-en/|[Devblog] He 219: The Night Hunter]]
* [[wt:en/news/2799--en/|[News] Revenue Share Program]]
* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/315760-heinkel-he-219-a-7/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Heinkel}}
{{Germany strike aircraft}}
{{Germany premium aircraft}}

He 219 A-7

2023-04-06T11:59:39Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=he_219a_7
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} German strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]]. The He 219 A-7 is unique as it is the first user-created vehicle to be featured in the game as part of the [[Affiliate_Program_Revenue_Share|Revenue Share Program]], created by Daniil ''"Joy_Division__"'' Zaitsev, inspired by ''"NovA29R"''. The plane texture was created by Arthur ''Pacifica'' Carley. The He 219 A-7 is purchasable in-game with {{ge}} and a percentage of the sale goes back to the model author who created it under the Revenue Share Program.

The Heinkel He 219 A-7 Uhu was produced by the legendary Heinkel company, which was renowned for making excellent aircraft. He 219 A-7 Uhu, is a powerful German Night Fighter, with less than 300 aircraft created during the war. It has a very distinct external appearance, the design of the aircraft resembles a "Tasman beaked whale". He-219-A7 features a pressurised cockpit, one pilot and one radar operator; who operates the plane. The plane offers a powerful twin "Daimler-Benz DB 603 E" engines. Each engine offers up to 1,774 metric horsepower with a top speed of 388 mph with WEP. The plane is able to climb up to altitudes of 8,000 m (26,248 feet) within 18 minutes and 22 seconds without using WEP.

The He 219-A7 has three different types of weaponry installed, with a grand total of six cannons.

In the fuselage, it has two Mk 103 30 mm cannons, given 200 rounds, with another pair of MG 151 20 mm cannons with 600 rounds. In the wings it has two Mk 108 30 mm cannons, with a total of 200 rounds. The total of all the ammunition, which it carries is 1,000 rounds. It can not be equipped with bombs, rockets, torpedoes or any other type of secondary weapons.

The unique ground-pounding capability of this aircraft makes it a true force to be reckoned with, if left alone. The "Armoured targets" belt for the Mk 103s, consisting of only {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}} bullets, is easily able to kill medium tanks from the sides and rear. While the Mk 108s or MG 151s can be left to deal with AAA or Artillery targets, or any fighters that dare to take it head-on.

Do note that the engines seem to overheat rather quickly when running at full WEP.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,700 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
| 602 || 584 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.2 || 33.4 || 8.4 || 8.3 || rowspan="2" | 444
|-
! Upgraded
| 648 || 624 || 29.4 || 30.7 || 13.7|| 10.8
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 470 || 444 || 310 || ~11 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 440 || < 420 || < 490 || > 280
|-
|}

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


* 8 mm Steel - pilot seat
* 8 mm Steel - radar operator seat
* 12 mm Steel- aircraft nose

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

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

{{main|MK 103 (30 mm)|MK 108 (30 mm)|MG 151 (20 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
* 2 x 30 mm MK 103 cannons, belly-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
* 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, belly-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

The six cannons are arranged two groups with the two 30 mm MK 108 cannons mounted in the wing roots, while the two Mk 103 and two MG 151 cannons are clustered in the belly of the fuselage. Each of the 30 mm cannons are armed with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all guns will fire together until empty. The 20 mm cannons on the other hand have three times as much ammunition and will continue to be able to fire when the 30 mm ammunition is depleted.

Note: The belly mounted 30 mm MK 103 cannons count as 'additional armament'. Be sure that they are keybound properly.

== Usage in battles ==

The below tactics, can be used in all games modes:

Climb to a high altitude, make sure the enemy aircraft is below you, descend and stay on their tail. Since most of your cannons are mounted in the fuselage you don't need to set convergence. However you will still have to set it, since your two Mk 108 30 mm cannons are mounted in the wings, set it for 600 m. Since this will allow them to help with main fuselage cannons to cause critical damage and/or to destroy the enemy plane.

'''Bombers''' 
Once you locate the enemy bombers, perform a fast descent, keeping your energy and speed up in the process. Once you are closing in, fire a short burst to get your attack angles right. As you start closing on your target, your target's gunners may start firing. The rugged airframe of the He-219 should be able to withstand hits.

This does not mean you should only stay only on the bombers six o'clock during the attack, just staying on the six o'clock will result in your untimely death. You need to keep moving around erratically and being unpredictable, if the gunners on the target aircraft have not been neutralised.

Use WEP and fire two to three second bursts; this will bring the bomber down. Once the bomber is down, ascend and find your next prey. For tougher bombers such as the B-25 Mitchell, you will need to fire a longer burst if aiming for the fuselage, this should be about five seconds. However, you could always aim for the engines and wings and fire a much shorter burst of about two seconds, this will cause major damage to the engine, wing spar, flaps and ailerons, often causing the target aircraft to catch alight and/or lose control and crash which will award you with a kill.

'''Fighters, interceptors & strike aircraft''' 
As long as you stay on its tail and are undetected, a fighter aircraft will be a easy kill.

Stay on its tail and do not let it escape. Do not lose your energy: do not turn fight, this is how you will lose the energy you require to escape. Fire above or below the direction it is going to go; as soon as it starts to turn, disengage and use WEP to get away from that enemy aircraft.

You should really watch out for the following planes, these are able to outperform and eliminate you from the battle: P-61 Black Widow, Yak 9UT including all the Yaks, the P-51 Mustang, includes all American fighters and British Spitfires.

'''How to perform defensive fighting:''' 
When you are being engaged by an enemy fighter, make sure you push the engines to WEP and push the plane into a very steep dive of about 70 degrees. You will reach about 470 mph in this dive, do not perform sharp movements this will result in you causing structural damage and often will rip your wings clean off. To get out of this speed make small improvements to the dive angle of attack, you can keep the speed and energy gained from this evasive dive, then commence your climb back to a high altitude.

'''Ground-pounding''' 
From the very start of the game, dive down to very low altitude, perhaps choosing a bearing away from the expected flight path of any enemy fighters. Try to let them pass and engage the fighters on your team before engaging any of the ground targets.

Medium tanks can be killed very easily with the Mk 103s "Armoured Targets" belt, aim for the sides of the tanks, or the back of the tanks.

Try your best not to over-extend, as the flight characteristics of the He 219 are not forgiving if you dip too low.

After killing a target from the side, fly a bit away before turning around to re-engage other targets, as you want the best possible chance to strike the tanks with a single shot of the Mk 103s, which ''can'' kill tanks easily.

AAA and Artillery can be left alone, or killed easily with the Mk 108s or MG 151s, as you probably want to save the Mk 103s for heavier targets.

===Radars===
{{main|FuG 202}}
The He 219 A-7 is equipped with a [[FuG 202]] search radar, located in the nose of the aircraft; a control box which is part of the radar damage model is located in the rear of the cockpit.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[FuG 202]] - Target Detection Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Detection Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Guaranteed Detection Range|The range, below which, detection of a target is practically guaranteed}}
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
|-
| 4,000 m || 4,000 m || ±30° || ±30°
|-
|}

=== 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 || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armament
** Very powerful gun armament with a high one-second burst mass
** Powerful 30 mm MK 108 cannons
** MK 103 are devastating to ground target, especially with HVAP-T rounds with excellent 77 mm of armour penetration
** High burst mass means the plane excels in bomber hunting
* Airframe, performance and handling
** Decent climb rate with WEP
** Tough and sturdy airframe
** Landing gear is strong, can take a fast hard landing
** Can make it back to the airfield with one engine
** Can put wing fuel tank fires out in a dive as longed as the engine is throttled back
** Engines cool down quickly
* Has access to radar

'''Cons:'''

* Armament
** 30 mm MK108 cannons have low velocity
** No defensive or additional armament
* Airframe, performance and handling
** Below average manoeuvrability
** Hard to evade enemies if they are on your tail
** Can start to overheat quickly when using WEP
** Subpar top speed of 388 mph (624 km/h)
** Mediocre climb rate performance without WEP
** Can stall easily, if you put it in a steep climb
** Long landing distance
** Heavy airframe makes it a subpar dogfighter
** Fuselage fires cannot be put out
** Can be hard to control at low speed and steep angles
** At an 85-90 degree roll in a turn, the plane will flip over; this can be very hard to recover from at low altitude
** Impossible to land without landing gear as the tail section will snap off upon impact with the ground
** Massive ballistic performance difference between your three different cannons, making it in most scenarios impossible to fully utilize the full firepower of all 3

== History ==

The He 219 'Uhu' ("Eagle-Owl") was a German prototype night fighter of the Second World War. Designed to counter strategic bombers such as the [[Lancaster B Mk I|Avro Lancaster]], the He 219 was fitted with a radar and Schräge Musik upwards-firing weapons. The aircraft was also the first German aircraft to be fitted with a tricycle landing gear arrangement, and the first production aircraft to be fitted with ejection seats.

The design and development of the He 219 was long and delayed due to rivalries within the Luftwaffe. Following repeated design changes and delays, the first prototype began construction in February of 1942 funded entirely by Heinkel, as the RLM (German air ministry) was unwilling. After the prototype engine choice was changed to the Daimler DB 603C (the same engine used on the Fw 190 C high-altitude fighter), the prototype was finally completed and flown in November of 1942. The aircraft impressed German night fighter commander Josef Kammhuber, and as a result, the aircraft was ordered into production against the wishes of the RLM. After more internal conflicts, the He 219 was ordered into production.

The He 219 A-0 was the first production model of the He 219 and was powered by two DB 603 A engines. The aircraft was followed by the He 219 A-2 with extended fuel tanks. The He 219 A-1, A-5 and A-6 were prototypes for various purposes and were not completed. The He 219 A-7 was the last production model of the He 219, featuring upgraded DB 603E engines.

In terms of design, the He 219 featured a high-mounted wing with two engine nacelles each housing a DB 603E engine and was capable of 670 km/h at 7,000 m altitude. The landing gear was arranged in a tricycle configuration, each rear landing gear leg mounted in the nacelle. The He 219 had a crew of two in a pressurized cockpit, both crew members having access to ejection seats. In terms of armament, the He 219 had four 20 mm MG 151/20 autocannons firing forward and two 30 mm MK 108 cannons firing upwards in a Schräge Musik configuration: these weapons proved to be very effective against bombers.

In service, the He 219 proved to be quite effective against allied bombers: the aircraft could be directed to the general area by ground control, then locate and engage enemy bombers using their radars. In total, 210 He 219 A-7 aircraft were ordered, but the actual number completed is not known. In total, roughly 300 He 219 aircraft were built; following the war, three aircraft were acquired by the USAF for testing. One He 219 survives today, an A-2 variant, at the Smithsonian National Air & Space museum in Washington DC.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=he_219a_7 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|L04Bp-FkBhA|'''The Shooting Range #4''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 06:09 discusses the He 219 A-7.}}

== See also ==


* [[Ta 154 A-1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3746-development-he-219-the-night-hunter-en/|[Devblog] He 219: The Night Hunter]]
* [[wt:en/news/2799--en/|[News] Revenue Share Program]]
* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/315760-heinkel-he-219-a-7/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Heinkel}}
{{Germany strike aircraft}}
{{Germany premium aircraft}}

Artillery Support

2023-03-05T19:44:29Z

U141562625: /* Crew skills */

{{Notice|This page refers to the "artillery strike" functionality for ground vehicles.|}}

== Overview ==
'''Artillery support''' is a game mechanic available for ground vehicles to use against the enemy. Currently, the artillery option is only available to [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tanks]], [[:Category:Medium_tanks|medium tanks]], and [[:Category:Anti-aircraft_vehicles|anti-aircraft vehicles]], with some exceptions.
Artillery strikes are fired in salvoes of 15 shells (4 targeting shots + 11 high-explosive shells). Targeting shots are solid shots filled only with aerosol smoke. HE shells inflict overpressure damage with their large explosive filler.

==Usage and strategy==
Artillery in-game is an area denial weapon. Thus, artillery should be used on a large concentration of enemies, to flush out a hiding enemy, or deny easy access to a zone. As artillery is available for light tanks, medium tanks, and anti-aircraft vehicles, you will have a variety of vehicles that have access to this powerful asset.

When aiming artillery, you should aim at where the enemy will be at the time of shell impact rather than where they are at the moment you call it. This is due to the delay between the artillery command and the time of impact.

When fighting up-close to the enemy, you should not use artillery to attack the enemy in front of you. Artillery is indiscriminate and will destroy both allies and enemies alike. Instead, if fighting in a close-quarter location like a town, you should use artillery to cut off the passageway the enemies use to get into the area. This way, you isolate the enemy force in the town that allows you to take them out without worrying about incoming reinforcement for a time.

==Crew skills==
{{main|Crew skills}}The radio operator crew member has two skills that directly affect artillery:

===Artillery strike calling time===
This skill decreases the time between calling the strike and the shells being fired from a base level of 13 seconds to a minimum of 10 seconds. The progression may seem marginal, but it can influence a stand-off very significantly.

===Artillery targeting accuracy===
This skill increases the targeting accuracy of artillery by reducing the shells' scattering, from a base level of 57 m to a minimum of 45 m. When seeking to take out specific targets, this can be very relevant, as it means a decrease in over 30% of the strike's surface area, concentrating all the shots into a smaller spot.

==History==

::"God fights on the side with the best artillery." ''—Napoleon Bonaparte'' 
::"I do not have to tell you who won the war. You know, the artillery did" ''—General George S. Patton''
::"Artillery is the god of war." ''—Joseph Stalin''

Artillery refers to any large-calibre guns meant to fire their ammunition in a long-range at a direct or indirect firing role. Artillery has its roots all the way to the invention of gunpowder, but it was not until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th and 20th centuries that its effectiveness increased marginally. In all modern combat from the Napoleonic War in early 1800s to World War I and World War II, artillery has been the cause of the majority of combat deaths and thus, the most lethal weapon in the modern battlefield.

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|GFeqU5ci0Sw|'''Artillery Strike Update''' - ''8Bit Dane''}}

== See also ==


* [[Close Air Support]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7548-it-s-fixed-40-en|[News] It’s fixed! №40]]
* [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1344|[Changelog] Update 2.13.0.109 (2.13.0.109 — Xbox, PlayStation®)]]

[[Category:Modules_and_modifications]]

Matilda Hedgehog

2023-03-04T05:42:25Z

U141562625: /* Additional armament */

{{About
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Matilda (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_matilda_hedgehog
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|market=items_Matilda Hedgehog (Britain)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "New Power"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season I]].

The Matilda Hedgehog is an Australian late-war experiment of the early but legendary Matilda infantry tank. The most notable difference from other Matildas is the presence of a new type of armament in the rear; a Spigot system fitted with Hedgehog mortars. This mortar was commonly used in naval warfare as an anti-submarine weapon and as such is very lethal weaponry if used correctly against tanks.

One of the flaws of the Matilda Hedgehog over other variants is the reduced combat readiness and versatility. This is because the Hedgehog mortar is a situational and limited weapon in tank warfare. The vehicle also loses its smoke grenade launchers and receives a large weak spot in its rear, since the Hedgehog launcher acts as a large unprotected ammo rack.

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

The uneven and sloped armour protection is generally useful versus most low to medium calibre (40-75 mm) guns in the rank; the farther from the target makes it better for the armour. The irregular front and sloped side armour configuration on the turret makes it perfect to bounce some poorly aimed shots, yet some areas are not sloped at all and can be easily penetrated by shells of over 80 mm of penetration in close ranges. This armour has not changed drastically since the Matilda III, however, some noteworthy areas did receive an increase in protection: the turret ring received an additional armour plate of 40 mm. Extended from the front to the sides and partially reaching the back of the turret ring area. Effectively concealing a good portion of the previously vulnerable turret ring. This armour acts also as spaced armour since the shell needs to penetrate the first plate and then will likely shatter before colliding with the turret ring armour. Flanking tanks like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] will be troubled when firing at this area from the sides or the rear, yet will be easier to just penetrate the turret side armour. Anti-tank assault guns like the [[StuG III F]] will struggle equally when firing at the turret ring. The area under the gun mantlet remains only protected with a sloped armour prone to bounce shells.

The commander cupola has been lowered. This reduces effectively the previously noticeable large weak spot on the turret of the Matilda III. While the 75 mm of armour remains unchanged, the flatter cupola is difficult to penetrate.

Aside from these changes, minor structural armour has been added as fenders and the structure for the Hedgehog mortar system in the rear. This armour is barely effective in countering armour-piercing shells, and might just protect versus powerful HE shells as those on the [[15cm sIG 33 B Sfl]].

{{Notice|Increasing the "Vitality" feature of the tank crew can increase survivability against spalling and shrapnel.}}

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Cupola || 75 mm ''All-around'' 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Unlike the Matilda III, the cupola roof is 75 mm thick
* The Hedgehog launcher structure is 5 mm thick

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=294|rbMinHp=168}}
With a rounded heavyweight of over 27 tons, the Matilda isn't the fastest vehicle, but one of the heaviest. However, the tank has a double Leyland diesel powerplant that provides 190 HP and is just enough to boost the tank through regular terrain. Maps with lots of slopes and rocks will be difficult to overcome because of the outpowered engine; is best to avoid intricate shortcuts since if stuck, the Matilda won't be able to get out - Maps like [[Karelia (Ground Forces)|Karelia]] or [[Stalingrad (Ground Forces)|Stalingrad Factory]].

Fortunately because of the weight, in flat ground, the vehicle keeps a lot of traction and can reach top speed in approximately 17 seconds. This slow top speed suits Matilda's gun stabilization, effectively firing on the move while on cruise gear 1. As most British tanks on the rank, the reverse leaves a lot to desire. Still, the lack of any smoke cover means using the reverse gearbox is the only way to effectively retreat from frontal engagements without angling. The sluggish nature of the Matilda also sets up the tank for ambushes.

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}
With an average reload of 3.6 seconds, the 40 mm 2-pounder remains a threat for most tanks at the rank. The also decent penetration values and ballistics make Matilda a capable heavy tank in frontal engagements. Despite the effectiveness of the gun, the small calibre will usually require a follow-up shot to knock out a tank.

The recommended ammunition is the Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T. Because of the overall better penetration values and ballistics. With the auxiliary ammo being either the Shell Mk.2 or the Shell Mk.1 AP/T to counter light targets as anti-air trucks or exposed crew, which are quite common at the rank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-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" | 93 || rowspan="2" | ±20° || rowspan="2" | ±150° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 16.2 || 22.4 || 27.2 || 30.1 || 32.0 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.9 || 14.0 || 17.0 || 18.8 || 20.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:QF 2-pounder (40 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.1 AP/T, Shell Mk.2, Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T, Shot Mk.1 APHV/T, Shell Mk.1 AP/T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Matilda_III.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Matilda III (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
|-
| '''93''' || 86 ''(+7)'' || 78 ''(+15)'' || 63 ''(+30)'' || 52 ''(+41)'' || 40 ''(+53)'' || 28 ''(+65)'' || 14 ''(+79)'' || 0 ''(+93)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
* Turret empty: 52 ''(+41)'' shells.

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Hedgehog}}
Baptized by its name, the Matilda Hedgehog features an experimental spigot mortar system launching Hedgehog depth charges. These mortars can be widely found in ships like the [[Town (L45)|Town class]] because they were designed for anti-submarine warfare.

The Hedgehog mortar now placed behind the Matilda offers lethal explosive ordnance. Yet the death from above by the Hedgehog will be challenging to accomplish. Firstly, the Hedgehog is ''only effective in a default distance of 190 m or less''. The launcher can be raised by aiming upward, lowering the horizontal distance the mortar will travel from the tank. Secondly, the mortars will be launched individually from right to left. Yet they will fall quite close to each other. Depending on the intentions of the player, they might turn the hull while deploying the Hedgehog, to spread the fire. Lastly, there is available a limited number of mortars (7) and the eventual reload of more inside a capture point will be tediously slow and dangerous. This means the mortar is likely to be a piece of single-use equipment. The mortar rack is also poorly shielded and vulnerable to machinegun fire. If hit, the mortars will likely detonate and disable all of them.

In more positive regards, a single hit of the mortar atop enemy tanks will be destructive. Acting as a small bomb, the mortar will be effective versus light or unarmoured vehicles as half-tracks and open-top vehicles. Armour thickness will not be an issue, since the 80 mm of penetration are enough to take down most tanks in the rank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Hedgehog]]
|-
! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
|-
| 7 || +30°/+45° || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:Hedgehog/Ammunition|Hedgehog projectile}}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''7''' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* It is not possible to select how many mortar projectiles to bring into battle.
* Missiles are fired from right to left when looking from behind (see image).

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

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}
Albeit relegated to obstacle clearing and last resort anti-air armament, the machine gun can be handy when fighting enemies with exposed crew members, e.g, the [[Sd.Kfz. 6/2]], [[CCKW 353 (M45)]], [[Lvtdgb m/40]] or [[ZiS-30]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,050 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Matilda should be played as a support tank. While is unlike to be the first tank in the line, Matilda Hedgehog should advance to take place in the vanguard or rearguard of the joint attacking force. Pushing slowly towards the enemy positions with support from team members; halt or reduce the speed to fire at any target that reveals itself. When moving and firing with the stabilizer, Matilda's armour weakness is not only harder to pinpoint, but more prone to bouncing shells. Additionally, players should keep in mind the importance of smart positioning and proximity to allies since if ambushed by the sides or the rear, the Matilda will likely be eliminated.

When defending, find distance away from choke points near vital areas and blast enemies as they try to enter; the excellent depression will be handy during these defensive stances. Procure to keep a safe distance from the enemy to maximise the effectiveness of the armour so Matilda will be very hard to destroy.

Close-distance fighting is ill-advised and tricky as opponents will be able to easily penetrate the front armour or find those weak points; such as the loaded Hedgehog mortar rack in the rear. Therefore, open and vast maps are the forte for Matilda's armour and main gun. Although this is contradictory to the novelty of this variant: the Hedgehog mortar.

Considering the launching range of the Hedgehog is quite limited, a possible tactic to deliver a mortar rain more effectively is to reach capture zones within 190 m away then fire the mortars if the enemy is in the vicinity or inside the perimeter of the zone. This is effective on urban maps like [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]] and [[Berlin (Ground Forces)|Berlin]], but on vast areas as those on maps like [[Maginot Line (Ground Forces)|Maginot]], the Hedgehog becomes quite ineffective.

Players should decide depending on the map if it is reasonable and useful to load the Hedgehog mortars. Also acknowledging the very capable 40 mm QF gun remains the principal weapon.

=== Enemies worth noting ===
Opponents that deserve extra attention are the tank destroyers. Most tank destroyers at the rank were designed exactly to counter the heavy frontal armour of tanks like the Matilda.

==== Germany ▀ ====
The two German Marders carry a gun that can easily knock you out at long range, especially the [[Marder III H|Marder III (H)]], but those have thin armour, so use that to your advantage. The more armoured German TD, the StuG III, is even more dangerous. The [[StuG III A]] carry the [[KwK37 (75 mm)|short 75 mm]] that can fire high-penetrating HEAT rounds while its front armour can resist the 2-pounder's shots from a longer distance. The [[StuG III F]] is a bigger problem with its [[StuK40 L43 (75 mm)|longer 75 mm gun]] and thicker armour, but its higher battle rating should make this an uncommon sight. The Matilda will have a hard time fighting the StuGs due to the front armour and inability to manoeuvre to hit the side armour, thus it would be better to leave that to more manoeuvrable team members.

==== Medium tanks ====
Other tanks to worry about are the more common medium tanks each nation carries from the [[M4A1|M4 Shermans]], [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IVs]], and [[T-34 (1941)|T-34s]]. These medium tanks have frontal armour able to resist Matilda's 2-pounder rounds and easily outmanoeuvre it as well. The most noteworthy tank to worry about is the Panzer IV with the [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|long 75 mm guns]], which can easily destroy your frontal armour.

=== Counter tactics ===
Unlike Matilda III, this tank has a Hedgehog 183 mm launcher on its back. While it can be useful against clusters of unmoving vehicles, it is inaccurate and takes time or skills to get used to. It also makes the Matilda Hedgehog much more vulnerable to flanking attacks since the backwards firing arc of the 40 mm gun is now limited and blinded by the mortar structure.

The launcher can be shot easily and results in an ammo rack explosion, possibly getting the tank destroyed even by SPAA vehicles or more commonly, burning off most Hedgehog mortars. If impossible to flank, an easy area to target is the thin armour located on each extremity of the lower front glacis (on either side of the driver's position).

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Identical 40 mm gun to [[Matilda III]], meaning same excellent gun depression, rate of fire and armour penetration
* Hedgehogs are lethal versus clusters of immobile or light vehicles; such as those in close quarters battles
* Frontal armour weak spots as the commander's cupola and the turret ring have been reinforced
* An empty Hedgehog launcher doubles as rear protection for the turret

'''Cons:'''

* Poor mobility on all terrains, something retained from its predecessor, the [[Matilda III]]
* Hedgehog launcher cannot be stowed or independently aimed; this means some corrections may be needed when firing
* Tank layout is identical to the Matilda III, but rearward firing arc is limited by the Hedgehog launcher mounting
* No smoke grenades
* The launcher acts as an external ammunition rack, meaning even machine gun fire and artillery shrapnel can cause a detonation

== History ==

Although the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) had been developing their own tanks, there were also numbers of British tanks in RAAC service, and the A12 Matilda II was among them; around 440 Matilda IIs were in RAAC service from 1942 all the way to the last days of WWII.

In the European theatre, the Matilda II was absolutely obsolete due to its design philosophy of being an infantry tank; however, this would not be the case for the Pacific theatre where neither IJA or IJN marines had the required firepower to take the Matilda out without resorting to kamikaze attacks, traps, or bombing runs. A common problem in the Pacific theatre was the existence of Japanese fortifications which could level extensive firepower against the attacking Allied troops, as well as extensive trench and tunnel networks; this called for a durable vehicle which could deliver devastating offense upon such infrastructure.

An unusual idea was proposed: a tank with a "Hedgehog" ASW launcher installed at the rear by the engine deck to demolish fortifications from a safe distance. The result of this idea was the Matilda Hedgehog. While field tests on mainland Australia proved successful, by the time it would have been commissioned in RAAC service, the war had ended, thus leaving the tank useless.

One of six modified tanks likely intended to be used by the 6th Divisional Calvary Regiment of RAAC, numbered 35357 and nicknamed "Bullpup", is now displayed at the RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:Matilda Hedgehog Devblog Image 001.jpg|Matilda Hedgehog devblog image.
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yuMkZYEs1H4|'''Matilda Hedgehog - Getting Gaijined Again [War Thunder]''' - ''Napalmratte''|dxCO6tn53jY|'''Matilda Hedgehog Very Quick Mortar Tutorial''' - ''PhantomRiderWT''}}

== 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/6967-special-battle-pass-in-war-thunder-en|[Special] Battle Pass in War Thunder!]]

{{Britain heavy tanks}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Matilda Hedgehog

2023-03-04T05:39:19Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{About
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Matilda (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_matilda_hedgehog
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|market=items_Matilda Hedgehog (Britain)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "New Power"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season I]].

The Matilda Hedgehog is an Australian late-war experiment of the early but legendary Matilda infantry tank. The most notable difference from other Matildas is the presence of a new type of armament in the rear; a Spigot system fitted with Hedgehog mortars. This mortar was commonly used in naval warfare as an anti-submarine weapon and as such is very lethal weaponry if used correctly against tanks.

One of the flaws of the Matilda Hedgehog over other variants is the reduced combat readiness and versatility. This is because the Hedgehog mortar is a situational and limited weapon in tank warfare. The vehicle also loses its smoke grenade launchers and receives a large weak spot in its rear, since the Hedgehog launcher acts as a large unprotected ammo rack.

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

The uneven and sloped armour protection is generally useful versus most low to medium calibre (40-75 mm) guns in the rank; the farther from the target makes it better for the armour. The irregular front and sloped side armour configuration on the turret makes it perfect to bounce some poorly aimed shots, yet some areas are not sloped at all and can be easily penetrated by shells of over 80 mm of penetration in close ranges. This armour has not changed drastically since the Matilda III, however, some noteworthy areas did receive an increase in protection: the turret ring received an additional armour plate of 40 mm. Extended from the front to the sides and partially reaching the back of the turret ring area. Effectively concealing a good portion of the previously vulnerable turret ring. This armour acts also as spaced armour since the shell needs to penetrate the first plate and then will likely shatter before colliding with the turret ring armour. Flanking tanks like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] will be troubled when firing at this area from the sides or the rear, yet will be easier to just penetrate the turret side armour. Anti-tank assault guns like the [[StuG III F]] will struggle equally when firing at the turret ring. The area under the gun mantlet remains only protected with a sloped armour prone to bounce shells.

The commander cupola has been lowered. This reduces effectively the previously noticeable large weak spot on the turret of the Matilda III. While the 75 mm of armour remains unchanged, the flatter cupola is difficult to penetrate.

Aside from these changes, minor structural armour has been added as fenders and the structure for the Hedgehog mortar system in the rear. This armour is barely effective in countering armour-piercing shells, and might just protect versus powerful HE shells as those on the [[15cm sIG 33 B Sfl]].

{{Notice|Increasing the "Vitality" feature of the tank crew can increase survivability against spalling and shrapnel.}}

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
|-
| Cupola || 75 mm ''All-around'' 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm 25 mm ''Base'' || 75 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Unlike the Matilda III, the cupola roof is 75 mm thick
* The Hedgehog launcher structure is 5 mm thick

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=294|rbMinHp=168}}
With a rounded heavyweight of over 27 tons, the Matilda isn't the fastest vehicle, but one of the heaviest. However, the tank has a double Leyland diesel powerplant that provides 190 HP and is just enough to boost the tank through regular terrain. Maps with lots of slopes and rocks will be difficult to overcome because of the outpowered engine; is best to avoid intricate shortcuts since if stuck, the Matilda won't be able to get out - Maps like [[Karelia (Ground Forces)|Karelia]] or [[Stalingrad (Ground Forces)|Stalingrad Factory]].

Fortunately because of the weight, in flat ground, the vehicle keeps a lot of traction and can reach top speed in approximately 17 seconds. This slow top speed suits Matilda's gun stabilization, effectively firing on the move while on cruise gear 1. As most British tanks on the rank, the reverse leaves a lot to desire. Still, the lack of any smoke cover means using the reverse gearbox is the only way to effectively retreat from frontal engagements without angling. The sluggish nature of the Matilda also sets up the tank for ambushes.

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}
With an average reload of 3.6 seconds, the 40 mm 2-pounder remains a threat for most tanks at the rank. The also decent penetration values and ballistics make Matilda a capable heavy tank in frontal engagements. Despite the effectiveness of the gun, the small calibre will usually require a follow-up shot to knock out a tank.

The recommended ammunition is the Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T. Because of the overall better penetration values and ballistics. With the auxiliary ammo being either the Shell Mk.2 or the Shell Mk.1 AP/T to counter light targets as anti-air trucks or exposed crew, which are quite common at the rank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-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" | 93 || rowspan="2" | ±20° || rowspan="2" | ±150° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 16.2 || 22.4 || 27.2 || 30.1 || 32.0 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.9 || 14.0 || 17.0 || 18.8 || 20.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:QF 2-pounder (40 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.1 AP/T, Shell Mk.2, Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T, Shot Mk.1 APHV/T, Shell Mk.1 AP/T}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_Matilda_III.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Matilda III (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
|-
| '''93''' || 86 ''(+7)'' || 78 ''(+15)'' || 63 ''(+30)'' || 52 ''(+41)'' || 40 ''(+53)'' || 28 ''(+65)'' || 14 ''(+79)'' || 0 ''(+93)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
* Turret empty: 52 ''(+41)'' shells.

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|Hedgehog}}
Baptized by its name, the Matilda Hedgehog features an experimental spigot mortar system launching Hedgehog depth charges. These mortars can be widely found in ships like the [[Town (L45)|Town class]] because they were designed for anti-submarine warfare.

The Hedgehog mortar now placed behind the Matilda offers lethal explosive ordnance. Yet the death from above by the Hedgehog will be challenging to accomplish. Firstly, the Hedgehog is ''only effective in a default distance of 190 m or less''. The launcher can be raised by aiming upward, lowering the horizontal distance the mortar will travel from the tank. Secondly, the mortars will be launched individually from right to left. Yet they will fall quite close to each other. Depending on the intentions of the player, they might turn the hull while deploying the Hedgehog, to spread the fire. Lastly, there is available a limited number of mortars (7) and the eventual reload of more inside a capture point will be tediously slow and dangerous. This means the mortar is likely to be a piece of single-use equipment. The mortar rack is also poorly shielded and vulnerable to machine gunfire. If hit, the mortars will likely detonate and disable all of them.

In more positive regards, a single hit of the mortar atop enemy tanks will be destructive. Acting as a small bomb, the mortar will be effective versus light or unarmoured vehicles as half-tracks and open-top vehicles. Armour thickness will not be an issue, since the 80 mm of penetration are enough to take down most tanks in the rank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Hedgehog]]
|-
! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
|-
| 7 || +30°/+45° || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:Hedgehog/Ammunition|Hedgehog projectile}}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''7''' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* It is not possible to select how many mortar projectiles to bring into battle.
* Missiles are fired from right to left when looking from behind (see image).

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

{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}
Albeit relegated to obstacle clearing and last resort anti-air armament, the machine gun can be handy when fighting enemies with exposed crew members, e.g, the [[Sd.Kfz. 6/2]], [[CCKW 353 (M45)]], [[Lvtdgb m/40]] or [[ZiS-30]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,050 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Matilda should be played as a support tank. While is unlike to be the first tank in the line, Matilda Hedgehog should advance to take place in the vanguard or rearguard of the joint attacking force. Pushing slowly towards the enemy positions with support from team members; halt or reduce the speed to fire at any target that reveals itself. When moving and firing with the stabilizer, Matilda's armour weakness is not only harder to pinpoint, but more prone to bouncing shells. Additionally, players should keep in mind the importance of smart positioning and proximity to allies since if ambushed by the sides or the rear, the Matilda will likely be eliminated.

When defending, find distance away from choke points near vital areas and blast enemies as they try to enter; the excellent depression will be handy during these defensive stances. Procure to keep a safe distance from the enemy to maximise the effectiveness of the armour so Matilda will be very hard to destroy.

Close-distance fighting is ill-advised and tricky as opponents will be able to easily penetrate the front armour or find those weak points; such as the loaded Hedgehog mortar rack in the rear. Therefore, open and vast maps are the forte for Matilda's armour and main gun. Although this is contradictory to the novelty of this variant: the Hedgehog mortar.

Considering the launching range of the Hedgehog is quite limited, a possible tactic to deliver a mortar rain more effectively is to reach capture zones within 190 m away then fire the mortars if the enemy is in the vicinity or inside the perimeter of the zone. This is effective on urban maps like [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]] and [[Berlin (Ground Forces)|Berlin]], but on vast areas as those on maps like [[Maginot Line (Ground Forces)|Maginot]], the Hedgehog becomes quite ineffective.

Players should decide depending on the map if it is reasonable and useful to load the Hedgehog mortars. Also acknowledging the very capable 40 mm QF gun remains the principal weapon.

=== Enemies worth noting ===
Opponents that deserve extra attention are the tank destroyers. Most tank destroyers at the rank were designed exactly to counter the heavy frontal armour of tanks like the Matilda.

==== Germany ▀ ====
The two German Marders carry a gun that can easily knock you out at long range, especially the [[Marder III H|Marder III (H)]], but those have thin armour, so use that to your advantage. The more armoured German TD, the StuG III, is even more dangerous. The [[StuG III A]] carry the [[KwK37 (75 mm)|short 75 mm]] that can fire high-penetrating HEAT rounds while its front armour can resist the 2-pounder's shots from a longer distance. The [[StuG III F]] is a bigger problem with its [[StuK40 L43 (75 mm)|longer 75 mm gun]] and thicker armour, but its higher battle rating should make this an uncommon sight. The Matilda will have a hard time fighting the StuGs due to the front armour and inability to manoeuvre to hit the side armour, thus it would be better to leave that to more manoeuvrable team members.

==== Medium tanks ====
Other tanks to worry about are the more common medium tanks each nation carries from the [[M4A1|M4 Shermans]], [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IVs]], and [[T-34 (1941)|T-34s]]. These medium tanks have frontal armour able to resist Matilda's 2-pounder rounds and easily outmanoeuvre it as well. The most noteworthy tank to worry about is the Panzer IV with the [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|long 75 mm guns]], which can easily destroy your frontal armour.

=== Counter tactics ===
Unlike Matilda III, this tank has a Hedgehog 183 mm launcher on its back. While it can be useful against clusters of unmoving vehicles, it is inaccurate and takes time or skills to get used to. It also makes the Matilda Hedgehog much more vulnerable to flanking attacks since the backwards firing arc of the 40 mm gun is now limited and blinded by the mortar structure.

The launcher can be shot easily and results in an ammo rack explosion, possibly getting the tank destroyed even by SPAA vehicles or more commonly, burning off most Hedgehog mortars. If impossible to flank, an easy area to target is the thin armour located on each extremity of the lower front glacis (on either side of the driver's position).

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Identical 40 mm gun to [[Matilda III]], meaning same excellent gun depression, rate of fire and armour penetration
* Hedgehogs are lethal versus clusters of immobile or light vehicles; such as those in close quarters battles
* Frontal armour weak spots as the commander's cupola and the turret ring have been reinforced
* An empty Hedgehog launcher doubles as rear protection for the turret

'''Cons:'''

* Poor mobility on all terrains, something retained from its predecessor, the [[Matilda III]]
* Hedgehog launcher cannot be stowed or independently aimed; this means some corrections may be needed when firing
* Tank layout is identical to the Matilda III, but rearward firing arc is limited by the Hedgehog launcher mounting
* No smoke grenades
* The launcher acts as an external ammunition rack, meaning even machine gun fire and artillery shrapnel can cause a detonation

== History ==

Although the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) had been developing their own tanks, there were also numbers of British tanks in RAAC service, and the A12 Matilda II was among them; around 440 Matilda IIs were in RAAC service from 1942 all the way to the last days of WWII.

In the European theatre, the Matilda II was absolutely obsolete due to its design philosophy of being an infantry tank; however, this would not be the case for the Pacific theatre where neither IJA or IJN marines had the required firepower to take the Matilda out without resorting to kamikaze attacks, traps, or bombing runs. A common problem in the Pacific theatre was the existence of Japanese fortifications which could level extensive firepower against the attacking Allied troops, as well as extensive trench and tunnel networks; this called for a durable vehicle which could deliver devastating offense upon such infrastructure.

An unusual idea was proposed: a tank with a "Hedgehog" ASW launcher installed at the rear by the engine deck to demolish fortifications from a safe distance. The result of this idea was the Matilda Hedgehog. While field tests on mainland Australia proved successful, by the time it would have been commissioned in RAAC service, the war had ended, thus leaving the tank useless.

One of six modified tanks likely intended to be used by the 6th Divisional Calvary Regiment of RAAC, numbered 35357 and nicknamed "Bullpup", is now displayed at the RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:Matilda Hedgehog Devblog Image 001.jpg|Matilda Hedgehog devblog image.
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yuMkZYEs1H4|'''Matilda Hedgehog - Getting Gaijined Again [War Thunder]''' - ''Napalmratte''|dxCO6tn53jY|'''Matilda Hedgehog Very Quick Mortar Tutorial''' - ''PhantomRiderWT''}}

== 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/6967-special-battle-pass-in-war-thunder-en|[Special] Battle Pass in War Thunder!]]

{{Britain heavy tanks}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Hellcat Mk II (Great Britain)

2023-03-03T20:17:52Z

U141562625: /* Description */

{{About
| about = premium British fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F6F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=hellcat_fmk1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27 as the ''Hellcat Mk I'', but was renamed to the Hellcat Mk II in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]].

The Hellcat Mk II is nearly identical to the American non-premium [[F6F-5|F6F-5 Hellcat]], both can carry a wide array of weaponry for ground attack, but the British one has a good premium boost for Silver Lions {{sl}} and Golden Eagles {{ge}}, making it an effective researcher for many British Rank 4 aircraft. Just like the American Hellcat, it is easy to get to grips with and can be very fun to play.

The stock [[F6F-5|F6F-5 Hellcat]] is equipped with six 12.7 mm Browning machine guns, which can be upgraded to use the "New 12 mm MGs" that are more accurate and and less likely to jam. The Hellcat can also be upgraded to carry either 6 x 127 mm rockets, 2 x 298 mm rockets, 2 x 1,000 lb bombs, or 6 x 127 mm rockets and two 1,000 lb bombs.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 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
| 583 || 562 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.9 || 23.7 || 9.8 || 9.8 || rowspan="2" | 399
|-
! Upgraded
| 643 || 610 || 20.7 || 21.8 || 18.6 || 13.6
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 803 || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 487 || 458 || 310 || ~12 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 450 || < 420 || < 420 || > 420
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
* 6.35 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 3 mm Steel plate on both sides of the oil cooling system
* 3 mm Steel plate in front of cockpit on top of the fuselage
* 3 mm Steel plates under the engine and fuselage

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

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

{{main|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 2,400 total)

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

{{main|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|Tiny Tim|Mk.13-6 Case (2,216 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 6 x HVAR rockets
* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedo

== Usage in battles ==

The Hellcat Mk I is an all-around excellent aircraft, being at home in many roles such as Bomber Hunter, Fighter, and Ground attacker. This plane is especially good in the role of Boom & Zoom, and for its Battle Rating, it can be one of the first aircraft at high altitude, ready to stalk its prey. You can turn-fight with the Hellcat's excellent elevator authority, but it is ill-advised, as aircraft of this battle rating you will encounter such as the [[La-5]], [[A6M2]], [[Spitfire Mk IIb|Spitfire]], and the occasional [[Yak-3]] will out turn you and turn you into Swiss cheese. This aircraft is legendary for its ruggedness and reliability in real life and is accurately represented in War Thunder. This aircraft is easy to land with its strong landing gear. The large radial engine and sturdy wings can take some hits and still make it home, and, as in the Pacific theatre, this plane was very hard to set alight due to its self-sealing fuel tanks. Don't jump out of your burning Hellcat just yet! You can take bombs and rockets to become a formidable ground attacker, and even take Tiny Tim rockets for extreme anti-ship and anti-tank capabilities. You will earn Silver Lions {{sl}} very quickly thanks to the Premium vehicle bonus. The M2 Browning machine guns can load Ground targets belts to destroy light vehicles easily, as well as medium tanks and light pillboxes (though with some difficulty). In the bomber hunter role, use Universal belts (as with the fighter role) as they contain the most Incendiary rounds to set nearly anything alight, double time. Just remember to not get carried away with staying behind bombers - they can shoot into your engine and set you alight; sometimes with no hope of getting rid of the fire. Though this aircraft is a Jack of All Trades, one may say this is a disadvantage itself - being master of none. Aircraft that excel in certain categories such as climb rate, manoeuvrability, and firepower can beat you if they play smart - but remember, if you play smart too, you may come out on top, even against very deadly aircraft such as the earlier mentioned Yak-3.

=== 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 || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 3 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent diving ability
* Great bomb & rocket payload options
* Great top speed
* Good instantaneous turn
* Well armed for its rank with a lot of ammunition
* Decent climber
* Very stable gun platform

'''Cons:'''

* Below average turner against Japanese & British aircraft
* Higher stall speeds than its Japanese counterparts
* Control Stiffening above moderate speeds
* Poor roll rate
* Poor performance when equipping bombs and rockets
* Large fuselage cross-section makes it an easy target
* Spins are cumbersome to recover from due to poor rudder effectiveness

== History ==

[[File:Hellcats in flight, 1944.jpg|thumb|400x400px|A flight of British Fleet Air Arm Hellcats from 1840 NAS in flight.]]
The American-designed Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighter served with the British Fleet Air Arm (FAA) between 1944 and 1946. The aircraft was initially known as the "Gannet", but soon had its name reverted to its original, American name. The Hellcat was delivered in two variants; the Mk I, equivalent to the F6F-3, and the Mk II, equivalent to the F6F-5. Over 1,300 Hellcat Mk Is and Mk IIs were used by the FAA between 1944 and 1946.

=== Origins ===
During the Second World War, the British FAA found that the fighters it had were either obsolete (the Sea Hurricane) or unsuitable for naval service (the Seafire). As a result, the UK acquired a large amount of F4F Wildcats, renamed the [[Martlet Mk IV|Martlet]].<ref name=":0">Msw. (2019, June 11). Hellcats in the Royal Navy. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/06/29/hellcats-in-the-royal-navy/</ref> The F6F, a successor to the F4F, was first flown in 1943, and immediately caught the interest of the FAA. As a result, the UK ended up receiving almost 1,300 F6Fs under the lend-lease program: 252 F6F-3s (Hellcat Mk I) and 930 F6F-5s (Hellcat Mk II).<ref name=":0" /> These aircraft were initially named the Grumman Gannet (Mk I and II), but were later renamed the Hellcat in 1943 when the UK reverted to using American names for all of its American aircraft.<ref name=":1">Skaarup, H. A. (2020, June 24). Grumman Martlets, Hellcats and Avengers flown by the Royal Navy. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from http://silverhawkauthor.com/canadian-warplanes-3-the-second-world-war-grumman-martlets-hellcats-and-avengers-flown-by-rcn-and-rcnvr-pilots-in-service-with-the-royal-navy-fleet-air-arm_1068.html</ref>

=== Service life ===
The first two batches of 188 Hellcat Mk II aircraft began deliveries in May of 1944, mainly to 1840 Squadron NAS (Naval Air Service).<ref name=":0" /> Eventually, a total of twelve NAS squadrons would be flying FAA Hellcats by the time of the German armistice. These aircraft saw service in the Mediterranean, off Norway, and in the Far East.<ref name=":1" /> In one notable mission, FAA Hellcats escorted several squadrons of Blackburn Barracudas to an attack against the Tirpitz; the resulting damage put the battleship out of service for six months.

In July of 1945, the four British aircraft carriers joined the Americans in the Pacific, serving as Task Force 37.<ref name=":0" /> Though their air arm consisted mainly of Seafires and Fireflies, the HMS Formidable also carried the 1844 squadron, a highly-decorated NAS Squadron flying the Hellcat. 1844 would go on to become the most successful Hellcat squadron, notching a total of 32.5 kills while serving in the Pacific Theatre.<ref name=":1" /> In total, British squadrons would achieve 52 kills while flying the Hellcat.<ref name=":0" /> Though successful, the Hellcat's relatively late entry to service with the FAA meant that it would never achieve the success of its American counterpart. Following V-J Day, the FAA Hellcats were quickly retired and replaced with indigenously-built aircraft such as the Hawker [[Sea Fury FB 11|Sea Fury]]. By the end of the year, 10 of the 12 Hellcat squadrons had re-equipped or disbanded; the last two Hellcat squadrons would be disbanded by mid-1946.

{{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}}
Described as 'the most important Allied shipboard fighter of World War II' by record breaking test pilot Captain Eric Brown RN, the Grumman Hellcat was a single-seat, single-engine, all-metal fighter which entered service in 1943. Designed the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation under the direction of Leroy Grumman and William Schwendler, a prototype of the XF6F-1 fighter made its first flight on 26th June 1942. In October 1942, the first production version, F6F-3, was launched and the US Navy began equipping squadrons in January 1943.

The aircraft was powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp radial air-cooled engine and a Hamilton Standard three-bladed propeller. Its armament consisted of six 0.50 calibre Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns, with 400 rounds each, located in the wings. Weapon racks under the fuselage and under the wings could carry up to three bombs weighing up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) or six 127 mm High Velocity Aircraft Rockets. An external fuel tank could be mounted on the central rack.

Hellcats began equipping squadrons of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in July 1943, starting with 800 Naval Air Squadron who used the American fighters to replace their Hawker Sea Hurricanes. In the British service the aircraft was initially named the Grumman Gannet Mk.I, but it was later changed to the Hellcat F Mk.I.

The Fleet Air Arm's Hellcats first saw action in December 1943, when 800 NAS launched a series of anti-shipping strikes off the Norwegian coast from the light escort carrier HMS Emperor. In April 1944, Hellcats formed part of the escort for a series of Fleet Air Arm strikes against the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaafiord; during the strikes Lt Cdr AR Richardson, CO of 1840 NAS, used his Hellcat's arrestor hook to tear off an enemy radio mast once he had run out of ammunition. It was during operations over Norway that Lt Cdr SG Orr and Lt B Richie both became aces whilst flying Hellcats. From June 1944, British Hellcats fought in the Mediterranean theatre and near the beaches of Normandy in support of the D-Day landings. However, it was with the British Pacific Fleet in the Far East that Hellcats were used in the greatest numbers by the Fleet Air Arm, including acting as escort for the mass raids on the Palembang oil refineries in January 1945. It was with the British Pacific Fleet that the Royal Navy's top Hellcat ace, Sub Lt ET Wilson, scored 3 kills and four shared. Royal Navy pilots flying Hellcats scored a combined total of 52 air-to-air victories.

A rugged, well armed machine with a good blend of agility, performance and firepower, the Hellcat was one of the most successful naval aircraft of the war. Some 1300 Hellcats were delivered to Great Britain as part of the Lend-Lease agreement, and were withdrawn from service in August 1946.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=hellcat_fmk1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:FighterImage_Hellcat secondary skin unlock.jpg|Hellcat sporting 6 x HVAR rockets and 2 x 1000 lb bombs. Unlockable in-game skin: 1844th Squadron RAF, Fleet Air Arm.
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|vIiQQ0PEmKs|'''Premium Review. British Hellcat Mk II. A True Workhorse''' - ''Joseph 2000''}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of a similar role, configuration or era

* [[F4F (Family)|F4F 'Wildcat']]
* [[Martlet Mk IV|Grumman Martlet]]

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
{{Britain fighters}}
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

BV 155 B-1

2023-02-24T22:43:29Z

U141562625: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=bv-155b-1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|market=id50186_bv_155_b_1_germany
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Danger Zone"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season VIII, "Field Testing"]].

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

The BV 155 B-1 has below average energy retention, diving speed and roll rate at altitude below 4.5 km, and it becomes more problematic if you don't have any energy left, making it harder to escape from a enemy with the upper hand or with a higher energy potential than you.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at 15,500 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
| 670 || 658 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 18.1 || 18.8 || 11.5 || 11.5 || rowspan="2" | 350
|-
! Upgraded
| 722 || 695 || 16.3 || 17.2 || 16.7 || 13.8
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 730  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 438 || 409 || 260 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

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

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


* 57 mm Bulletproof glass (60°), central pane of the windshield
* 57 mm Bulletproof glass (18°), side panes of the windshield

The fuel tank is located in the enlarged wing spar.

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

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

{{main|MK 108 (30 mm)|MG 151 (20 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon, nose-mounted (75 rpg)
* 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)

== Usage in battles ==

'''Realistic Battles:'''

The BV 155 B-1 has some similarity with the playstyle of the [[Ho 229 V3]] and you may get familiar to it, you need to keep in mind that BV 155 needs energy to keep its good performance, but at the same time trying to maintain IAS low due its constant compression at high speeds, it means you have to maintain the altitude and energy all the time to avoid any enemy fighter getting the upper hand on you, which means you will have a hard time escaping from it (even bombers such as SB2C may catch you easily), as you bleed considerably in long dogfights and have below average diving speed, bad straight line acceleration and top speed at most common engagement altitudes (3 km and 5 km). But this plane can be very efficient when you get used to its BnZ and turn rate or bomber hunting capabilities (due its very reliable weaponry) while you don't let anyone dive on you and getting more energy.

Ideally, you should not commit to head-on engagements as your only protection is the 57 mm bulletproof glass of the windshield, which is completely inadequate against fighters equipped with cannons.

'''Enemy worth mentioning:'''

[[Ki-43-III otsu]] - It may outclimb the BV 155 at the beginning of a match and must be avoided if at higher altitude. This plane can rope-a-dope and outturn you, so proceed with caution.

Spitfires - Some spitfires may not seem a threat as they have a very lower performance at high altitude compared to yours, but as it can make you bleed your energy and after that accelerate to catch your tail, Spitfires need to be treated properly as dangerous enemies. BnZ is recommended and dogfights need to be avoided.

=== 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 || Controllable Auto control available || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Auto control available || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely impressive performance at any altitude if it has energy (can even outturn some turnfighters depending on the circumstance)
* Has combat flaps to even faster turns
* Very powerful cannons with effective belts against air targets that can rip apart large bombers
* Decent climb rate that comes along with airspawn in RB

'''Cons:'''

* Large wingspan makes you an easy target
* Lacking of armour makes bomber hunting slightly harder
* The engine tends to overheat too often if radiator is damaged
* 2 out of 3 cannons are mounted in wings
* Compresses past 700 km/h and doesn't have airbrakes
* Poor flight performance at lower atltitudes

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft 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=bv-155b-1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Lj3Uf9_LPMY|'''The Shooting Range #317''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|Zd7RsLY3Ecc|'''Battle Pass: Field Testing''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 01:18 - ''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 series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7783-development-battle-pass-vehicles-high-altitude-interceptor-bv-155-en|[Devblog] Battle Pass vehicles: high-altitude interceptor BV 155]]

{{AirManufacturer BlohmVoss}}
{{Germany fighters}}
{{Germany premium aircraft}}

Yak-2 KABB

2023-02-23T04:18:13Z

U141562625: /* Flight performance */

{{Specs-Card
|code=yak_2_kabb
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]].

The Soviet Yak-2 was initially built to be a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Originally known as Ya-22, the aircraft was redesignated to Yak-2 later in 1941. Like many aircraft making the transition into the Great War (or World War II) it was constructed of wood, duralumin, steel framing and fabric skin. Early prototypes exhibited issues with the engine cooling system, brakes and the fuel system which resulted in the crash of one of the prototypes. Pressed into service, the Yak-2 saw early action as Germany made their rush into the Soviet Union.

Conversion options of the Yak-2 resulted in an unusual setup, but a functioning multi-use aircraft. The {{PAGENAME}} (Russian: ''kombineerovannaya artillereeysko-bombardirovochnaya batareya Mozharovskovo i Venevidova''; English: "combined gun/bomb battery designed by Mozharovskiy and Venevidov") eliminated the need of the radio/gunner and replaced that compartment with the capability to carry four 100 kg bombs. To aid the pilot in bombing targets, the nose of the aircraft was reconfigured to be an all glazed nose, allowing the pilot fantastic visibility out the front of the aircraft. A ventral pack was mounted directly below the cockpit containing two 20 mm autocannons and two 7.62 mm machine guns which do not require the pilot to adjust for convergence when shooting as they are directly in-line with the fuselage.

The {{PAGENAME}} finds itself in an excellent position as a rank I aircraft as either a fighter/bomber interceptor or as a ground attacker. Early in matches if the {{PAGENAME}} can attain a superior altitude over other fighters and bombers, then it can utilise the Boom & Zoom technique to attack fighters and bombers below it or to engage or outrun enemy fighters which manage to get up to the same altitude. As a low-level attacker, this aircraft does a great job of getting to targets where it can strategically bomb vehicles and anti-aircraft guns and when the bombs run out, the 20 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns can be turned on them to also inflict damage and destruction.

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


The {{PAGENAME}} has great manoeuvrability, especially when it comes to low altitude flying, though it also performs well at mid-altitudes. It can be used as a great low-altitude ground-attack heavy fighter which can focus its four bombs and cannon/machine gun combination on light vehicles and anti-aircraft instalments. The turn rate is very good, which allows the {{PAGENAME}} to compete easily with some fighters can outperform other heavy fighters such as those from the Potez 630 family.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,800 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
| 497 || 479 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.0 || 20.6 || 9.2 || 9.2 || rowspan="2" | 450
|-
! Upgraded
| 548 || 520 || 17.9 || 19.8 || 21.0 || 12.8
|-
|}
[[File:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 003.png|450px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' taking out a [[Pyörremyrsky]].]]
==== 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 || ✓ || 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}} || N/A || N/A || 280 || ~19 || ~11
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 360 || < 360 || < 400 || > 340
|-
|}

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


* 8 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)

For an attacker aircraft, the {{PAGENAME}} is in a unique situation that it is not outfitted with various armour plates and bulletproof glass as one might expect, however, this aircraft has only one armour plate and that is the 8 mm steel plate located behind the pilot's seat. This steel plate helps protect the pilot from largely machine gun fire from the rear quadrant, but that is about it. Since this version of the Yak-2 was modified from the original version and very few were built, what would typically be later additions never made it to the aircraft. As such, the plexiglass cockpit windows all around the pilot including the entire front face are just standard plexiglass and this makes it very dangerous when manoeuvring into a head-on attack. Such attacks should be avoided as not only is the pilot vulnerable to being knocked out, but both engines are unprotected and could take damage and typically any damage taken from a head-on attack results in critical damage or total failure of the hit component (though the aircraft can fly on one engine, it cannot continue if the pilot is knocked out).

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
[[File:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 004.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' gaining altitude after a ground attack.]]

{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, chin-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, chin-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is unique compared to many other fighters and attackers found in War Thunder in that its machine guns and autocannons are mounted in a ventral turret just below the cockpit. All guns are forward-facing which allow for the pilot to fire at any distance without having to worry about calculating for convergence, just for the bullet drop of the ammunition. If all four guns are fired at the same time, the ShVAK cannons will run out of ammunition first, which can be a problem when attacking an enemy aircraft as they are the harder-hitting weapons. The machine guns by themselves can take down another fighter, however it either takes well-placed shots for a pilot snipe or critical damage to the coolers or engine, otherwise, the enemy aircraft will typically just soak up the machine gun rounds.

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

{{main|FAB-100sv (100 kg)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (400 kg total)

If the {{PAGENAME}} is to solely be used as a fighter/bomber interceptor, select the option "Without load" as the 400 kg of bombs will hinder the performance of the aircraft in its ability to manoeuvre effectively. When going for the ground-attack role, selecting the 4 x 100 kg bombs will allow the {{PAGENAME}} to attack lighter ground targets such as trucks, anti-aircraft artillery and light tanks. This load of bombs is less effective when it comes to bombing bases, instead, it should be relegated for one-off targets which are typically scattered around the map. If the bombs don't take out all of the targets, it is easy to turn the attacker around and eliminate the rest of the targets with the autocannons and machine guns.

== Usage in battles ==


In Ground RB, the Yak-2 can act as an excellent fighter, as it excels in low-altitude combat. You can also exploit the 4 x FAB-100s on board to hit light targets like TDs and SPAAs. The Yak-2 is highly manoeuvrable and fast at the low altitudes of dogfights in the game mode and the twin ShVAK cannons will shred enemy airframes, although take care on expelling too much ammunition as you can only carry 150 rounds per cannon. Do not attempt heavy dives as the controls easily lock up, and the cockpit has no forward-facing protection, so head-on attacks are very risky. Despite its size and use as an attacker, no defensive armament exists on the aircraft.

===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
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 003.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Cockpit view has superb visibility for pilots who fly in simulator battles.]]

'''Pros:'''

* Very manoeuvrable at low altitudes, excellent for higher altitude Boom & Zoom
* Powerful armament consists of 2 ShVAK cannons and 2 ShKAS machine guns centrally mounted (no need to adjust for convergence)
* Armament is more than adequate to destroy enemy aircraft
* Good speed it allows it to be used as both a fighter and bomber interceptor
* Can actually be used as a heavy fighter
* Decent rate of climb

'''Cons:'''

* Payload option is only 4 x 100 kg bomb, limited to only destroying light targets
* No defensive armaments
* The cockpit doesn't have armoured glass, head-on attacks are very dangerous
* Engines are easily damaged/water-cooled
* Controls stiffen in high-speed dives
* Rudder controlled manoeuvres difficult due to the small surface area on the vertical stabilizers

== History ==

[[File:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 001.png|450px|thumb|right|]]

The Yak-2 KABB was a ground attack version of the Yak-2 light bomber (not available in game) designed by George Mozharovsky and Ivan Venevidov (MV), who were two renowned designers of aircraft armament. They specialized in developing and building many variants of reloading systems, targeting sights, weapon suspensions systems, bomb deployment mounts and the "MV" series of aircraft gun turrets. In late 1940, Mozharovsky and Venevidov invented a new type of gun mount for attack aircraft called the "комбинированной артиллерийско-бомбардировочной батареей" (Russian for "Combined artillery-bomb battery") or KABB for short which was mounted to the ventral side of the aircraft. The premise behind this gun mount was it utilized two 20 mm ShVAK cannons and two ShKAS machine guns and the cannons could be pivoted mechanically from horizontal to downside of a maximum of 30 degrees. The cannons pivoted electrically while they were connected to the K-8T gun sight which pivoted mechanically tracking with the cannons, automatically adjusting as the cannons moved. The cannons could be fixed at an intermediate position between the 0 and 30-degree range. This system allowed the pilot to maintain horizontal flight and set up for his bombing run while suppressing the target with cannon fire at the same time. Hence the name for "combined artillery-bomb battery."

Installation of the KABB-MV system into the Yak-2 required significant modifications to the main fuselage and cockpit. The nose of the aircraft was removed along with part of the side panels to allow for the installation of plexiglass, significantly improving the visual field of the pilot. Bomber controls were also relocated into the pilot's cockpit due to the navigator/bomber/gunner position being removed. Because of the installation of the fixed and movable frames of the KABB system and addition of ammunition cartridge boxes, the floor of the navigator's cabin was removed.

Tests of this new system in March to April 1941 produced favourable results, with recommendations to attach this new system to single and double-engined aircraft, but the German invasion in June 1941 halted all prototype work to focus on the enemy threat.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=yak_2_kabb Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
Image:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 002.png
Image:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 001.jpg
Image:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 002.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|PLv_jl9DbZI|'''Yak-2 KABB - New Favourite Plane''' - ''Gamer Khan''|ukF_iSI9oqI|'''Update 1.75 - Yak-2 KAAB''' - ''TheEuropeanCanadian''|ILCez16Gi0E|'''Realistic: Yak-2 KABB (Soviet Beauty)''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Yakovlev [[Yak-4]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Messerschmitt [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]]
* Kawasaki [[Ki-45 (Family)|Ki-45]]
* [[Potez 630]] and [[Potez 631|631]]
* Bréguet [[Br.693AB2]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/392573-yak-2-kabb/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/yak-2-4/kabb-mv.htm <nowiki>[Sovietwarplanes pages]</nowiki> Yak-2 with KABB-MV]
* [https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,10038.0/wap2.html <nowiki>[Secret Projects]</nowiki> Mozharovski MV Kombain (Shturmovik) aircraft]

{{AirManufacturer Yakovlev}}
{{USSR strike aircraft}}

Scouting

2023-02-09T14:30:34Z

U141562625:

'''Scouting''' refers to special traits of certain lightly armoured vehicles, which allows them access to extra abilities. This perk is available only to light tanks of ranks II and above, as well as a select few tank destroyers plus vehicles armed solely with anti-air guided missiles.

== Scout traits ==
=== Active Scouting ===
The first benefit afforded to these vehicles is called '''Active Scouting.''' This is an activatable ability that allows the tank to scout enemy positions and relay that information to allied vehicles. This rewards the scout with Research Points and Silver Lions. The key to use Active scouting is, by default, '''V''', and can be changed in controls under the Tank tab, then under Miscellaneous. The mechanic works differently based on gamemode;

[[File:Active Scouting Ability.png|thumb|The icon for Active scouting as seen in-game]]

* '''ARCADE''' - To scout a hostile ground vehicle, target the enemy using the 'Lock Target' keybind—found under Common—and press your Active scouting key. You and your teammates will now be able to see and select the enemies' marker in the world and on the minimap at all times for the next 30 seconds.
* '''REALISTIC''' - To scout a hostile ground vehicle, enter your Binoculars, or use your sight (Sniper Mode), and place your crosshair directly atop your target before pressing the Active scouting key. You and your teammates will see a small red arrow above the target that updates periodically, with their location updating on the minimap in tandem, for the next 30 seconds.

Only one player can scout a target at a time, with another scout attempt on an already scouted target only successful once 30 seconds have passed since the previous successful scout. In realistic battle mode, if you use Active scouting while your crosshair is '''not''' placed over a hostile ground vehicle, your ability will go on a lengthy cooldown before it can be used again.

Whenever a target you have an active scout on is killed by an ally during the 30 second window, you receive an additional reward of Research Points and Silver Lions, on top of the smaller reward you received for successfully scouting the target. You also receive an additional, in-match bonus for your efforts, based on gamemode;

* '''ARCADE''' - You are rewarded with an additional artillery strike and an air strike point. Reward is granted only if the destroyed enemy was not clearly visible to your ally before the scouting or their destruction, or if the attacker is your squadmate.
* '''REALISTIC''' - The Spawn Point (SP) cost of all aircraft in your line-up is reduced by 7%. If you have the 'Airstrike' modification, the reduction is 14% instead.

=== Team Repairs ===
While any vehicle with the "Parts" modification installed has the ability to help repair allied vehicles, vehicles with the Active scouting capability are more effective in doing so.

;Helping a player who's already repairing
Whenever an allied player is repairing their vehicle, the player will see a white wrench icon inside a timer circle above their tank. Moving your own tank close to the ally and then holding the Tank repair key increases the speed at which that allied vehicle is repaired threefold (compared to twofold with a vehicle without Active scouting capability).

;Helping a player who can't repair
You can also help players who haven't unlocked their "Parts" module yet and therefore can't repair on their own. Tanks in that situation will request help for repair by displaying the white wrench icon alone above their tank. Helping them repair will however last the full duration of the repair time (no sped up repair).

=== Modifications ===
Vehicles with the capability of Active scouting also have access to two unique modifications — the first of which is '''Airstrike''' — which grants a different benefit based on the gamemode;

* '''ARCADE''' - At all times, players with this modification can join an existing air battle as an Attacker or Bomber, as well as the standard option of spawning a Fighter. Spawning an additional Attacker or Bomber allows the enemy team to spawn one additional Fighter in exchange.
* '''REALISTIC''' - Doubles the reward for an ally killing a scouted target from an SP reduction of 7% of all aircraft in your line-up, to a 14% reduction.

There is also a second modification — '''Improved Optics''' — which increases the spotting range of the crew. As with Airstrike, this has different effects based on the gamemode;

* '''ARCADE''' - Increases the range at which markers will appear for enemy vehicles.
* '''REALISTIC'''- Sometimes, your crew will point you in the general direction of an enemy vehicle with a small red arrow on the border of your screen. Increases the range at which this triggers.

== List of scout vehicles ==
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== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|2AF4ZDe6M2g|'''The Shooting Range #299''' - ''Tactical Briefing'' section at 13:13 discusses changes to team repair mechanic.|RuBjkyZT6Yw|'''The Shooting Range #6''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 04:14 discusses how to use binoculars.|-KhcG7ajFSw|'''The Shooting Range #80''' - ''Special'' section at 04:11 discusses the scouting mechanic.}}

== External Links ==

* [[wt:en/news/5193-development-new-opportunities-for-light-vehicles-en|[Development] New opportunities for light vehicles!]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]