War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

T29

2022-02-05T21:00:40Z

U36756661: Editted the section on .50cals being able to destroy barrels to say that they can shred tracks.

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t29
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|store=5266
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. The {{PAGENAME}} was introduced in the [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]] as a gift vehicle and was available on the Gaijin store as a [[wt:en/news/3742-shop-pre-order-packs-for-update-1-59-flaming-arrows-with-exclusive-decals-en|pre-order pack]] before the update. The {{PAGENAME}} is a formidable heavy tank that introduces the 105 mm T5 cannon in a rotating turret rather than in the fixed case-mate setting like the [[T95]], with a tougher-than-average gun mantlet, and a sloped, but slightly thin hull.

The {{PAGENAME}} is perhaps one of the best performing heavy tanks at Rank IV, right up there with the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] and [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]] tanks. Thanks to the 105 mm cannon, the {{PAGENAME}} can engage most enemies it faces on the battlefield from the front, often destroying an enemy tank with a single shot with the extremely powerful T13 APCBC round. With a frontal armour thick enough to block most incoming shots, The {{PAGENAME}} can act as the "damage sponge" of the team by absorbing or shrugging off most of the enemy fire. As its gun has a high muzzle velocity, it can also act as a sniping tank by positioning in the back or sides of the map and fire at any unsuspecting enemy tank. A single T13 APCBC round can destroy even the strongest tank if it penetrates the side armour. Like other heavy tanks, the {{PAGENAME}} has an average mobility but has a lower top speed than its main rivals: the IS-2 mod. 1944 and the Tiger II (H) and only better than the Caernarvon. Nonetheless, it possesses an above-average acceleration, making it more suited for dense environments.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull sides, Hull rear)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 102 mm (52-56°) ''Front Glacis'' 70.25 mm (26-59°) ''Bottom Glacis'' 102 mm (6-81°) ''Machine gun port'' || 76.2 mm ''Front'' 51 mm ''Rear'' || 51 mm (9°) ''Upper'' 19 mm (11-66°) ''Lower'' || 38.1 mm
|-
| Turret || 158.7 mm (18-31°) ''Turret front'' 203 mm (0-9°) ''Gun mantlet'' 305 mm (1-57°) ''Gun mantlet border'' || 158.7 mm (3-42°) || 102 mm (1-20°) ''Rear'' 50 mm (63-84°) ''Bottom of turret overhang'' || 38.1 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 152.4 mm || 38.1 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Front belly armour is 25.4 mm thick while the rear is 13 mm.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=994|rbMinHp=681}}

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

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

{{main|T5E2 (105 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[T5E2 (105 mm)|105 mm T5E2]] || 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" | 63 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 14.6 || 20.2 || 24.5 || 27.1 || 28.8 || rowspan="2" | 16.25 || rowspan="2" | 14.38 || rowspan="2" | 13.25 || rowspan="2" | 12.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| T32 || APCBC || 256 || 253 || 238 || 221 || 205 || 190
|-
| T13 || APCBC || 253 || 250 || 236 || 219 || 204 || 190
|-
| T29E3 || APCR || 292 || 287 || 266 || 242 || 220 || 200
|-
| T30E1 || HE || 20 || 20 || 20 || 20 || 20 || 20
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| T32 || APCBC || 914 || 17.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| T13 || APCBC || 899 || 18.59 || 1.2 || 19 || 177.38 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| T29E3 || APCR || 1,128 || 11.2 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| T30E1 || HE || 945 || 15.2 || 0 || 0.1 || 1,550 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo type
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''63''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 58 ''(+5)'' 39 ''(+24)'' || 50 ''(+13)'' 9 ''(+54)'' || 42 ''(+21)'' 7 ''(+56)'' || 9 ''(+54)'' 1 ''(+62)'' || 1 ''(+62)'' N/A || No
|-
|}
Notes:

* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
* Projectiles and propellants are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Racks 3*, 4* and 5* are first stage ammo racks. They total 8 projectiles and 8 propellant bags.
* These racks get filled first when loading up the tank and are also emptied early.
* The projectiles' depletion order at full capacity is: 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
* The propellants' depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{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
|-
| Coaxial mount #1 || 1,200 (200) || 577 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Coaxial mount #2 || 1,200 (200) || 577 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle mount || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
|-
|}
One of the hidden gems of this tank, the three .50cals enable a player to effectively blind enemies, shred lightly armoured vehicles, and engage unsuspecting aircraft. Two of the machineguns are mounted in the turret and are controlled by the gunner. They are locked with the sight of the main gun, thus are also subjected to the limited elevation angles of the turret. The third machinegun is located at the roof of the turret and is pintle mounted. While this top gun is technically able to freely move around, its actual training speed is rather slow. It is best to use this gun to engage slower moving aircraft or those flying in a predictable path.

One spicy advantage of the .50cal is its ability to de-track enemy vehicles in close-quarters. With three .50cals, immobilizing enemy tanks at close range will take a matter of seconds, and grant you the tactical initiative against whoever's tracks you just shredded.

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

* In an ''offensive role'', the {{PAGENAME}} can be used in 2 main ways. The more common and safer strategy is to team up with another tank, preferably a heavy or medium tank. Move up to the frontline while covering each other, leapfrog each time so one tank snipes an enemy while the other moves to a cover position with an advantageous firing position, then keep advancing at a safe pace. The other method is to get right up in their face, only giving them shots at the {{PAGENAME}}'s tough frontal armour. As aggressive this strategy is, it leaves the {{PAGENAME}} open to attacks from the sides. This is a last-ditch strategy generally. In either offence strategy, the biggest risk is getting too far ahead from the rest of your allies, leaving the {{PAGENAME}} vulnerable and without any supporting fire.

* In a ''defensive role'', the {{PAGENAME}} truly shines in a hull down position. Frontally, its turret is tough and the cheeks are sloped enough to bounce most shots. The only real target available would be the small cupola on the turret roof and the turret ring if it is not covered. While the gun barrel is vulnerable to being broken, a moderate crew can repair it in seconds. Although the gun depression angle isn't as great as other American tanks, it still provides an advantage in hilly terrain. When in the right spot, the player can devastate the enemy team with almost no risk to themselves by exposing only the gun barrel and the top of the mantlet. Be aware that there are certain spots and ports in the mantlet that can be penetrated even by a Wirbelwind using PzGr 40 rounds. Players experienced with American heavies can find a good spot that will provide them with ample cover while they support the team. Wiggling the turret while reloading can make the enemy bounce, same tactics as seen with the IS-2. Some shots to the lower gun mantlet may also bounce downwards and penetrate the thin hull roof.

;Notables enemies

* [[Tiger II (P)]] and [[Tiger II (H)|(H)]]: These are going to be the most common and equal enemy. While most of the {{PAGENAME}}'s front armour can take on the 88 mm APCBC round, APCR can penetrate the front mantlet of the turret. It can also aim for the lower glacis on the hull, which will knock-out the driver and can repeatedly do this until the entire crew gets knocked out. To fight the Tiger II's, aim at the "cheeks" of the turret with any ammo, preferably the right as that is where the gunner sits. Using the T32 APBC ammo, there is a chance that it can penetrate the Tiger II's front glacis at close range (less than 100 meters) and the lower glacis from even further, making the T32 round probably the most preferable round to use against the Tiger II's front. If the {{PAGENAME}} can get the Tiger's side though, a simple T13 APCBC round can turn a Tiger II into a fiery ball of fire.
* [[Tiger II (10.5 cm Kw.K)|Tiger II 10.5 cm]]: Though the same rule applies to the 88 mm Tiger II, take extreme caution as the 10.5 cm cannon can penetrates the {{PAGENAME}}'s mantlet from the front and devastate interior.
* [[Jagdpanther]]: Equipped with the same 88 mm as on the Tiger II, this tank destroyer can do some damage if it can get a good shot. However, the {{PAGENAME}}'s 105 mm cannon can easily penetrate through its front glacis, just don't shoot too close to the gun or the gun mantlet may bounce it.
* [[Ferdinand]]: The greater armour on this tank destroyer makes it harder to fight in a long-range engagement. However, if the {{PAGENAME}} can get closer, the flat armour space on the top superstructure and the hull front can prove more vulnerable. Of course, getting to the side of this tank destroyer is a guaranteed point if an APCBC round can be landed into it.
* [[ISU-152]]: While easily destroyed by one shot of the 105 mm cannon, the 152 mm howitzer still can do unspeakable damage if it hits the {{PAGENAME}}'s vulnerable turret and hull roof.

;Defeating a {{PAGENAME}}

* With 4 crewmen sitting in the turret, any penetrating shot to the turret with a good post-penetration damage means most certainly the destruction of your vehicle.
* In a frontal encounter, aim for the {{PAGENAME}}'s lower glacis or the hull MG port (small area).
* When flanking, aim for the hull section under the turret. Make sure to avoid shooting the tracks. Follow up with a shot at the driver's position if it survives.
* You can also aim at the engine compartment to immobilize the {{PAGENAME}} and then let your teammates finish it.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with an extremely good 105 mm gun that's far superior to the T32's 90mm gun.
* T13 round has both high penetration power and post-penetration damage potential. Penetrating an enemy's crew compartment is almost always a kill.
* An Ace crew will reload in an impressive 12.5 seconds when there's at least 1 shell in the 8-round first stage ammo rack.
* Has a fantastic set of optics with magnification levels of 4.0x-8.0x. Great for both quick close range target acquisition and long range sniping.
* Decent APCR shells that can go through the Jagdtiger's superstructure.
* Great overall turret armour. Only guns that penetrate more than 200 mm of armour pose a real threat.
* 10 degrees of gun depression coupled with the really strong turret makes the {{PAGENAME}} great at shooting from ridgelines and hull-down fighting.
* Armed with three .50 cal machine guns, allowing the {{PAGENAME}} to easily damage lightly armoured vehicles and tracks.

'''Cons:'''

* Smart enemies will highlight the {{PAGENAME}} as a priority target, attracting a lot of enemy attention from both the ground and the sky.
* The lower glacis plate is both long and weakly armoured. Any gun packing over 165 mm of penetration poses a threat if the lower plate is visible.
* While tough, the gun mantlet is not impenetrable. Guns like the Tiger II's 88 mm can punch right through it at ranges exceeding 500 m.
* The T29 is much slower than other heavy tanks at the same BR.
* Tall silhouette like the Tiger II, meaning that it is very hard to hide.
* The {{PAGENAME}} has an enormous amount of ammo lining the right turret cheek and rear turret compartment.
* Unlike most tanks at the BR, the sides of the engine compartment are much weaker than the sides of the hull.
* The weak engine compartment armour coupled with the placement of the turret means that the {{PAGENAME}} isn't as good at side scraping as the Tiger II is.
* Only one of the .50 cal machine guns can effectively engage aircraft flying higher than coaxial level.

== History ==


===Development===
Projects for a dedicated heavy tank for the U.S. Armed Forces began in March 1944 as a response to the German heavy tanks that have been popping up in Europe. While the T26E3 tank, later known as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]] was slated to be the next-generation American tank, it was still considered unsuitable against the even heavier [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. A project to increase the armour and firepower commenced countering this problem, the project titled '''Heavy Tank T29'''. Using design elements from the T26E3 with thicker armour and lengthened hull, the T29 also was equipped with the [[T5E2 (105 mm)|105 mm Gun T5]], a gun in development alongside the heavy assault tank [[T95|T95]]. Other features included a 770 hp Ford GAC engine, armour thickness up to 279 mm effective, and a coincidence range-finder. The heavy armour and armament made the tank weigh about 64 tons, making it a close match to the Tiger II.

Though the T29 was monstrous itself, side projects involving the T29 crafted the ''[[T30|T30 Heavy Tank]]''. Itself similar to the T29 in terms of armour, but featured a monstrous [[T7 (155 mm)|155 mm Gun T7]] with a more powerful engine and an extra crew member to facilitate loading the gun.

===Effect in World War II===
Throughout World War II, the T29 and the T30 stayed in development under the priority "limited procurement". Eventually, the war in Europe ended in May 1945, but the small ordered stayed in hope it may be useful in the Japan invasion in Operation Downfall. That hope was smashed as well when Japan surrendered in September 1945, ending World War II. Even if an operation commenced that used these vehicles, the Army Ground Forces objected to the use of such heavy equipment due to the lack of adequate transporters. Further production was cancelled in the post-war demilitarization.

===Post World War Effect===
The heavy tank concept didn't end with the war and a final attempt was made to remake the T29 into a more modern, lethal weapon system. This produced the ''[[T34|T34 Heavy Tank]]'', which mounted a 120 mm gun based on the M1 anti-aircraft gun. The calibre made an adequate balance of firepower and loading ease between the 105 mm and the 155 mm used in the T29 and T30. In fact, the two T34 pilot models made were a converted T29 and T30. However, the demilitarization took down the T34 program as well, but the experience in this project help engineers in the development of the ''[[M103|M103 Heavy Tank]]''.

Today, there are a few T29s still in display across the United States, most of them residing in storage at Fort Benning, Georgia where they will be used as a display in the future National Armor and Cavalry Museum.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t29 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|owYlJZ4LgyA|'''The Shooting Range #36''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 02:26 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|z_rLi-s7U2k|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Tank Review - Too Awesome : Pay-to-win?''' - ''Napalmratte''|n9KdgbSzla8|'''The Shooting Range #23''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 03:26 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|NLr2swmOW_w|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[T29 Heavy Tank (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Tiger II (10.5 cm Kw.K)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3731-development-t29-the-experimental-monster-video-added-en|[Devblog] T29: The Experimental Monster]]
* [[wikipedia:T29_Heavy_Tank|[Wikipedia] T29 Heavy Tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-usa-heavy-tank-t29/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Heavy Tank T29]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=352 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> T29 (Heavy Tank T29)]

{{USA heavy tanks}}
{{USA premium ground vehicles}}

KwK42 (75 mm)

2021-07-19T14:30:18Z

U36756661: /* Usage in battles */ Added section against using it against Jumbos

== Description ==


The '''75 mm KwK 42''' is the main cannon of the Panther tanks. This weapon is the tank armament variant of the similarly named [[PaK 42 (75 mm)|PaK 42]] mounted on Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyers.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===

[[File:7,5-cm-KwK 42 L-70 Munster.jpg|thumb|KwK 42 from a panther with the letterbox mantlet and recoil system included.]]

* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_V_ausf_a_panther|short}}
* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_V_ausf_d_panther|short}}
* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_V_ausf_g_panther|short}}
* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_V_ersatz_m10|short}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pzkpfw_V|short}}
* {{Specs-Link|fr_pzkpfw_V_panther_dauphine|short}}

== General info ==

The KwK 42 gun has shells with high muzzle velocity, but relatively low projectile mass, which along with a long reload makes it more suited to long range engagements.

=== Available ammunition ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| PzGr 39/42 || APCBC || 191 || 188 || 173 || 156 || 140 || 126
|-
| PzGr 40/42 || APCR || 227 || 224 || 204 || 182 || 162 || 145
|-
| Sprgr. 42 || HE || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! rowspan="2" | Normalisation at 30° from horizontal
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| PzGr 39/42 || APCBC || 935 || 6.8 || 1.2 || 14.0 || 28.9 || +4.0° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| PzGr 40/42 || APCR || 1,120 || 4.75 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +1.5° || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| Sprgr. 42 || HE || 700 || 5.74 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 725 || 0.0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

=== Comparison with analogues ===


* [[M1 (76 mm)]]
* [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)]]
* [[D-5S (85 mm)]]

== Usage in battles ==

With a much higher muzzle velocity compared to the [[KwK 40 (75 mm)|preceding 75 mm cannon]], the KwK 42 can penetrate much more armour and fly in a flatter arc to allow for vehicle knock-outs from hundreds of meters away with greater degrees of range-estimating error.

It should also be noted, that the stock APCBC has enough power to frontally penetrate a Jumbo head on. Although, this can be somewhat unpredictable, as if the Jumbo is angling, it will bounce or shatter.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High velocity
* High accuracy

'''Cons:'''

* Low explosive filler in AP rounds
* Long reload

== History ==

With the development of the new Panther tanks, a new gun (the KwK 42) also had to be designed, as the KwK 40 was seen as insufficient to deal with the new generation of Soviet tanks. Shells between these guns were near-identical allowing for easier manufacturing with the only difference being the larger driving band. Of note should be that the PaK 42 is also a tank gun rather than a towed gun as the name would designate it which may or may not have been manufactured.

== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''

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

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

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

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

{{Germany tank cannons}}
{{USSR tank cannons}}
{{France tank cannons}}

[[Category:Tank cannons]]

M10 GMC

2021-06-28T05:07:32Z

U36756661: /* Survivability and armour */ Added information about M10 and overpressure

{{About
| about = American tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|other
|usage-1 = other uses
|link-1 = M10 (Disambiguation)
|usage-2 = other vehicles of the family
|link-2 = M10 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m10
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''', unofficially the ''Wolverine'') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]].

The M10 GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) takes much from the [[M4A2|M4A2 Sherman]] which it was derived from. The drivetrain is identical with the drive shaft running from the engine in the rear to the front transmission and sprockets. The hull is sloped to a larger degree. The [[M7 (76 mm)|3-inch (76 mm) cannon]] originally mounted on the experimental M6 Heavy Tank lacks the muzzle brake of the 76 mm M1A2 gun used on the later Rank III Sherman's and the M18 Hellcat. The turret is a pentagonal shaped M5 Mount type.

== 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 (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (55°) 50.8 mm (7-55°) ''Transmission area'' || 19.05 mm (38°) ''Top'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom'' || 19.05 mm (28°) ''Top'' 25.4 mm (7-52°) ''Bottom'' || 19.05 mm ''Front'' 9.5 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (68-89°) ''Turret front'' 57.15 mm (0-47°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (24-47°) || 25.4 mm (30-47°) ''Turret rear'' 50 mm (0-50°) ''Counterweight'' || N/A
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspensions wheels are 20 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that give 20 mm of extra armour.

The armour of the M10 is quite decent for the rank and can make shells ricochet when angled properly, but nonetheless, the armour is not thick enough to resist the stronger tank weapons of Rank II. The thickest part of the front hull is the 51 mm lower plate and the upper plate is 38 mm, though both are sloping at 55 degrees from vertical. The sides and back are only 19 mm slightly angled and thus can be penetrated by most weapons stronger than a 12.7 mm machine gun. This fact is made worse by the positioning of ammo racks on the sides, making it easy to one-shot the M10 with a side penetration. The turret has slightly better armour with the gun mantlet having 57 mm angled at 45 degrees on the front, but it is still very weak on the sides and back. The front of the turret can often eat shells as the shell will fragment on the initial armour, and the massive breech of the 76mm cannon will often absorb most if not all of the spalling, leaving the turret crew untouched. This will take the M10 out of combat, but when backed up by team-mates it is possible to reverse away to repair. The turrets top is exposed and because of that artillery barrages and HE shells are much more lethal to the crew. One should avoid angling the armour a great degree as it may expose the weaker side armour at a more perpendicular angle.

For those fighting the M10 from the front, firing towards the upper left side of the hull glacis (towards the right from the firing perspective) will be able to knock out both the driver and/or gunner if the shot penetrates in the right angle. If this does not completely destroy the tank, it certainly has crippled it and the follow-up shot should go towards the opposite side to knock out the rest of the crew. Repeat if necessary in cases where the crews are still active inside the tank. It is also a good idea to shoot the bottom of the hull to disable the transmission if the M10 is trying to flee. Since the M10 is an open-topped tank destroyer, overpressure from HE rounds will have no problem dealing with the entire crew in a single shot, as long as the round hits the M10. When using HE against the front of the M10, aim center mass, as that will give you the strongest possibility of hitting it.

The M10's side is lined with ammo racks and it's extremely easy to one-shot the tank. Simply aim below the turret, shoot the side and the ammo should explode in a blaze of glory. If the ammo does not explode the first time, then try shooting the same spot again or aim more to the front of the hull to knock out any remaining crew. It is possible to blow up the fuel tanks or set it on fire by shooting the rear of the M10, the worse case at least the engine will be disabled.

There is not a whole lot of places to shoot at the back of the M10, though a shot at the turret can knock out the turret crew or a shot in the hull can cripple the engine. Two ammo racks are present at the rear of the turret, but these racks are most likely empty as 1) They are the first two to run dry and 2) Players will usually keep this empty with reduced ammo load. The best place to shoot in the rear would be the engine to immobilize the M10 and potentially set it on fire.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.5}}

The {{PAGENAME}} has roughly the same mobility characteristics as the M4 Sherman. Spaded, the tank moves surprisingly fast in a straight line, but the turning speed is a bit sluggish as well as the reverse speed. The {{PAGENAME}} struggles while driving on inclines due to its narrow tracks. All in all the {{PAGENAME}}'s mobility is moderate and it can get to its location reasonably fast.

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

First off get all protection modifications: ''Parts'' and ''FPE''. After that move on to research modifications from the Firepower tree: ''Horizontal Drive'', ''Adjustment of Fire'', and the ''Elevation Mechanism''. Lastly research the Mobility tree: ''Tracks'', ''Filters'', ''Engine'', ''Transmission'', ''Suspension'', ''Brake System''.

Though the ''M79 shot'' stock is an available module in the modifications, it can be at the bottom of prioritization as it currently possess no advantage over the stock M62 shell, having the same shell velocity but with worse penetration at all distances and angles, shallower ricochet angle, higher shell cost.

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

{{main|M7 (76 mm)}}

The 3-inch (76 mm) cannon is a wonderful and powerful gun. APCBC ammo can penetrate any tank on the battlefield even from long range. The M10 also has access to an unlockable AP round, but it does not offer any advantages over the stock APCBC shell and so generally should not be used. It is not a bad idea to carry a few HE shells as well to fight lightly armoured and open top tanks like the [[M16_MGMC|M16 SPAA]]. The powerful gun and potent ammunition make the M10 a good sniper vehicle at its battle rating, especially with its -10° gun depression, giving the M10 the ability to maximize a hull-down position. Unfortunately, even though this tank destroyer does feature a turret, its turret rotation speed is extremely slow (< 4.0°/s) due to its historic configuration of only possessing a hand crank for the turret traverse. It is possible to crest a ridge and watch as the enemy rotates their turret, takes aim, and shoots the M10, all while the latter is rotating its turret into position. Thus, it is better to see it as a regular fragile SPG instead of a turreted SPG and fight from a distance and in possible concealment. Take warning that the gun's excellent penetration is too much for lower rank tanks and can lead to over-penetration, thus dealing less or even no damage to the enemy. Also, start each round with at least six missing shells (as detailed in the [[#Ammo_racks|Ammo Racks]] section) to remove the ammo racks on the rear of the turret, reducing turret penetration vulnerability to an instant cook-off.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M7 (76 mm)|76 mm M7]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 54 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 3.96 || 5.48 || 6.66 || 7.37 || 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 8.19 || rowspan="2" | 7.25 || rowspan="2" | 6.68 || rowspan="2" | 6.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 2.68 || 3.15 || 3.83 || 4.23 || 4.50
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M62 shell || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 133 || 119 || 106 || 95
|-
| M42A1 shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
|-
| M79 shot || AP || 134 || 132 || 121 || 109 || 99 || 89
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M62 shell || APCBC || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M42A1 shell || HE || 800 || 5.84 || 0 || 0.1 || 390 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M79 shot || AP || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
|}

==== [[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
|-
| '''54''' || 49 ''(+5)'' || 37 ''(+17)'' || 25 ''(+29)'' || 13 ''(+41)'' || 1 ''(+53)'' || No
|-
|}
Note:

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.

=== 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 || 300 (200) || 577 || -10°/+28° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The M10 is a support vehicle. Find a good sniping position and lay behind the team taking out enemy tanks from a distance. Try to stay away from enemy tanks to avoid getting destroyed quickly. 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 M10 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 M10'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.

If fighting in a close quarter's environment, do not try to push forward without support. Stay behind friendly tanks in order to support them without being shot at. If in an urban scenario on maps like [[Poland_(Ground_Forces)|Poland]] or [[Normandy (Ground Forces)|Normandy]], utilize the tank's turning speed to rotate the turret to the right angle. But, the best option is still to find a hull down location. For example, in [[Normandy (Ground Forces)|Normandy]], during arcade, the best location is towards the C point, where there are hills and dips that can be used to hide the hull, while giving a good view of the battlefield.

The M10 has a very slow turret rotation speed, but the M10 can traverse faster than it can rotate its turret and use its high speed when at high gear to produce some interesting skids via the physics engine to swerve the M10 and angle its gun at an enemy tank around the corner. It is recommended to understand and get a good feel of the M10's mobility and horsepower on dirt and paved roads before attempting this stunt. The low turret rotation speed means that a M10 player must always be aware of where the enemy tanks are, because they will not be able to turn the turret quickly if the enemy is able to flank the M10. In addition, the M10's side armour is weak, and the ammunition storage is in the hull sides, so if the enemy is able to shoot the M10 at that location, it is very likely to explode the ammo rack and destroy the tank with one shot.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an M10: extremely high topspeed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-maneuvered R3 can easily circle around the M10 and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the M10 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 fuse might not get triggered, and the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to one shot it as the crew 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 armor 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 armor is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Main cannon penetration and damage is very good for the rank, can knock out many tanks (eg. T-34, KV-1 or even the [[Tiger H1]]) in one hit
* Mantlet sometimes absorbs shots with its sloped armour
* Good gun depression of -10°, perfect for hull-down positions
* Frontal glacis is somewhat bouncy due to a steep angle. Also the huge, V-shaped gun mantlet can often bounce / absorb shells (eg. 75 mm M3 and 76 mm F-34 / ZIS-5), as well as the large gun breech behind it further protecting the turret crew
* 5 crew members to replace 3 incapacitated crew members, plus one more with [[Crew Replenishment]] modification
* Storage bustle on the rear of the turret helps protect it by absorbing shots aimed at it
* Turreted purpose-built tank destroyer allows for a wide field of fire compared to casemate designs
* Powerful roof-mounted [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2 Browning]] can damage light vehicles ([[R3 T20 FA-HS]])or low flying aircraft well
* A lot of camouflages to unlock with relative ease
* Access to modification "[[Add-on Armor|Add-on Armour]]", that increases hull protection significantly on the sides and front
* Has relatively no problem when getting up-tiered

'''Cons:'''

* Very poor turret traverse speed combined with its rather sluggish hull traverse "locks" it as a long range sniper for most players- close quarters combat is difficult and great situational awareness is required, as it often cannot get its gun on target in time
* Base armour is quite thin, can get easily penetrated by common opponents like the [[Pz.IV F2]] or StuG III F/G
* Open topped, vulnerable to aircraft strafing. Watch out for any IL-2 or Hs-129 B2
* Poor reverse speed can sometimes get the player killed
* Only x3.5 gunsight zoom making it hard to shoot distant targets

== History ==

{{main|M10_GMC/History|l1=History of the M10 GMC}}

===Development===
Conceived after the Battle of France, the US Army employed a doctrine to fight against the expected massed armoured attack the Germans had employed with their Panzer Divisions.<ref name="MoranTDHistory">Moran 2016</ref> The doctrine called for a Tank Destroyer Branch that would be held in reserve to be deployed against an armoured attack. The first few vehicles produced on this concept was the ''37 mm GMC M6'' and the ''[[M3 GMC|75 mm GMC M3]]''. While adequate, these were only seen as a stop-gap measure until better tank destroyers could be developed.<ref name="ZalogaM10">Zaloga 2002</ref><ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga 2004</ref> With requests being sent for a 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage (GMC), a proposal was made in November 1941 for a turreted tank destroyer that would use the chassis of [[M4A2]] Sherman and armed with the 3-inch gun from the [[M6A1|M6 heavy tank]]. The resulting prototype was standardized in June 1942 as the '''3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10''' in June 1942.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

Production started on the M10s in September 1942 at Fisher Tank Arsenal at Grand Blanc, Michigan with a production priority rating much higher than even the new M4 medium tank. Due to the concerns of not meeting production demands, a separate variant developed on the [[M4A3_(76)_W|M4A3]] chassis as the ''M10A1''. Production of these two vehicles would run until December 1943 (M10) and January 1944 (M10A1) for a total production number of 6,706 vehicle produced, 4,993 M10s and 1,713 M10A1s.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

Today, the M10 is often referred to as the ''"Wolverine"''. However, the origin of this nickname is unknown. Some have contested that it was a British nickname, but it is unlikely as they gave it the designation [[Achilles|"Achilles"]]. It also is not an American nickname as well as all official documents referred to the M10's by their designation or "TD". It is widely accepted that "Wolverine" is a post-war nickname similar to the "Hetzer" nickname on the [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]].<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

===Combat usage===
The M10 received their baptism of fire in Tunisia, with the Tank Destroyer putting their doctrine into practice at the Battle of El Guettar on 23 March 1943 against the 10th Panzer Division. Afterwards, the Allies found themselves on the offensive while large-scale German armoured punches became sporadic and scarce. Discontent with valuable guns and vehicles being left in reserves, a tactic was devised by Lt.Col. James Barney of the 776th to use the M10 in an artillery role with their 3-inch guns, a role the M10 found itself in during the fighting in Italy.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

The M10 was also deployed as the standard equipment in 11 Tank Destroyer battalions during Operation Overlord, serving alongside [[M18 GMC|M18 ''Hellcats'']] and towed guns in the same tank destroyer role. Due to once again the armour engagements in Normandy and the rest of France to being scarce, the M10 found themselves supporting infantry advances into German territory. In July, encounters with [[Panther G|Panther tanks]] shocked the tank destroyer crew as there was a belief the armaments were capable of easily dealing with the new German tanks, and complaints were made for the fielding of a better gun on the field. The solution came in the form of the [[M36 GMC|M36 ''Jackson'']] with a 90 mm cannon and the T4 HVAP ammo for the 3-inch gun.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

Towards the end of 1944, the German Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) caused the M10 and the other employed tank destroyers to face off once again against a dedicated armoured punch of Panthers and [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]] tanks. During this campaign, a deception mission was launched by the Germans named ''Operation Grief'', which had ten [[Ersatz M10|Panther tanks dressed up to look like M10s]] externally to fool Americans.<ref name="HartPanther">Hart 2003</ref> All of these mock-ups were destroyed by battle or scrapped after it. After the Battle of the Bulge, the majority of German armoured forces have dwindled and armour engagements largely declined in the final months of the war in Europe.<ref name="ZalogaM10" /> One of the M10's most notable action in 1945 was done on January 26 in the Colmar Pocket when the most decorated soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, used a knocked out M10's M2 Browning machine gun to hold off a German counterattack of six tanks plus infantry while calling in artillery. He held for an hour and killed about 50 German soldiers from behind the burning M10 wreck, forcing the tank units to retreat due to loss of infantry support. Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.<ref name="USOMurphy">Walker 2015</ref><ref name="MoHMurphy">Smithsonian Institution. "The Price of Freedom: Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor Citation."</ref>

The M10s were a part of the American Lend-Lease program to the Allies and as such many M10s found their ways into British, Free French, and Soviet hands. In all, 1,855 M10s were sent in the Lend-Lease program, of which 1,648 were to Great Britain. The British designated the M10s as the 3" SPM (Self-Propelled Mount) M10. The most famous of the British usage of the M10 was the conversion of the armament into the 17-pounder gun. These converted M10s were designated ''M10C'' or ''M10 17-pdr'' under British nomenclature, though they did issue a name ''[[Achilles|Achilles]]'' to designate all forms of M10 under British service.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

After the end of World War II, most M10s were scrapped or given away as part of the Military Assistance Program to other allies.<ref name="ZalogaM10" />

=== In-game description ===
A self-propelled artillery/anti-tank mount based on the Sherman tank. A new open turret featuring a more powerful gun, but only manual targeting, was installed on it. It was released from September 1942 to January 1944 and proved to be quite effective in combat against German medium tanks. However, it was not powerful enough to stand up to the Tiger or Panther. And also... Due to its open turret it was vulnerable to artillery barrages and in battles in populated areas. It was frequently used as a standard linear tank.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=us_m10 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|trEB3qmyePk|'''Giving Advice on the {{PAGENAME}} Tank Destroyer''' - ''Joseph 2000''|e66dcmyd7Xk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M10 (Family)]]
* [[M36 Jackson (Family)]]

;Vehicles equipped with the same gun

* [[M6A1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/772/|[Devblog] Attacker FB.1 and M10 & M36 Slugger]]
* [[wikipedia:M10_tank_destroyer|[Wikipedia] M10 tank destroyer]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M10_Wolverine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> 3in GMC M10 Wolverine]
* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/671566/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (M76 & M71C & M71D) for M4 Shermans with 76mm cannon, M10, M36, T25 and M26 Pershings]

=== References ===
<references />

=== Bibliography ===

* Hart, Stephen A. ''Panther Medium Tank 1942-45.'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2003
* Moran, Nicholas. "US Tank Destroyer History." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Aug. 2016. Web. 08 Feb. 2017. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ho8TU_JpoI Video]
* Smithsonian Institution. "The Price of Freedom: Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor Citation." The Price of Freedom: Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor Citation. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=421 Website]
* Walker, Dale L. "Audie Murphy: To Hell and Back." United Service Organizations. N.p., 20 Sept. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2017. [https://www.uso.org/stories/183-audie-murphy-to-hell-and-back Website]
* Zaloga, Steven J. ''M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942-53'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2002
* Zaloga, Steven J. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004

{{USA tank destroyers}}

ZSD63/PG87

2021-06-28T04:50:05Z

U36756661: Changed the section of Hull Break to overpressure.

{{Specs-Card
|code=cn_zsd63_pg87
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese SPAA {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].

The ZSD63 is the second vehicle in the Chinese SPAA line and offers greatly improved anti-air capabilities to Chinese tankers. Though it looks rather like a jury-rigged technical from the Middle East, having a turret with twin autocannons grafted on an APC chassis, it packs some serious firepower for its rank. A slight brush from the ZSD63's rapid-fire cannons will tear aircraft and lightly armoured ground vehicles to shreds. Even medium tanks will be wary of the onslaught of AP rounds, which can cut through them like a buzzsaw. While it has excellent firepower, the defensive capabilities are lacking; the large size, paper-thin armour, and high profile make it an attractive target to anything on the battlefield. The pair of PG87 cannons have a 600 rpm fire rate that will empty its dual 40 round magazine (80 total) in just over 4 seconds, then to face a truly abysmal reload speed of 30 plus seconds! The vehicle also only carries enough ammo for 5 reloads which will vanish like magic. Its saving grace is the high velocity ammo that makes aiming easy; the succeeding Chinese SPAAs have a much lower rate of fire and lower velocity, thus harder to use against aerial targets until the [[WZ305]] and its proximity-fused shells are researched. Despite these challenges, the ZSD63 can be a very fun vehicle to play and will serve well as an anti-air vehicle even beyond its low rank.

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


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear
|-
| Hull || 12 mm || 8 mm || 8 mm
|-
| Turret || 8 mm || 8 mm || 8 mm
|-
|}

Despite its armoured box look, one would be hard pressed to call the ZSD63 "armoured". The armour is almost entirely 8 mm thick all-around, save for the 12 mm upper glacis. The near vertical sides may as well be unprotected. Adding insult to injury is the high-mounted open-top turret with the crews' heads exposed on top like pumpkins. Even coaxial rifle-calibre machine guns stand a fair chance of penetrating this vehicle. While you might survive a few glancing bullets or have shots pass through the empty rear compartment, the best survival tactic is to avoid being seen and stay close to cover for quick retreats after firing off a few bursts.

On the other hand, the extremely thin armour will result in most shells over-penetrating, given that most fuse sensitivities are around 10 mm. An over-penetration through the empty space is likely to do little to no damage. Although you might survive, it is still a clear warning that you are exposed to lethal firepower and you should immediately relocate if possible.

Being an open topped AA with very weak armor makes it extremely susceptible to overpressure from HE and HEAT shells.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=369|rbMinHp=230}}

Mobility is good, though somewhat underwhelming compared to what the statistics might suggest. With 19 hp/ton, the ZSD63 accelerates to 60 km/h forward on paved roads and the suspension works quite nicely on all kinds of terrain. Off-road speed is less impressive, topping at around 30-35 km/h. The 8 km/h reverse speed leaves something to be desired but is better than most contemporary vehicles. Overall, the ZSD63 is mobile enough to follow teammates and flank, though it is not exactly lightning fast and there should be no expectation of arriving at the battlefield far ahead of everyone else.

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

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

{{main|PG87 (25 mm)}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is arguably the most lethal autocannon system at its rank in-game. Each cannon fires a staggering 10 rounds per second (600 rpm) with extremely high velocity and precision. The excellent turret traverse speed makes tracking targets very easy. Aircraft are instant confetti under its FI-T rounds. Although the AP-T penetration at 100 meters is only 60 mm, declining to 47 mm at 500 meters, the high fire rate and high velocity allow multiple hits at weak points until a kill shot is made. Light tanks, tank destroyers, and other SPAAs are generally easy targets. Medium units should not be too difficult to eliminate either, and even heavy tanks can be disabled by the cannons when aimed at vulnerable locations. The weaknesses are the limited belt capacity and the extremely long reload time, so be highly conservative with your fire control. This monster will be just as effective in Rank VII as in Rank II.

The default belt is a 50/50 mix of AP-T and FI-T. This does a pretty good job for anti-air operations, and is perfectly adequate for the sort of ground targets you should be engaging - lightly armoured vehicles. The pure AP-T load is better but a needless expense. There is also a pure FI-T belt that is high effective versus aircraft but essentially useless against ground targets; it is not of much use since the default belt is almost as effective and can still deal with ground targets adequately. Using just the default belt avoids the potential for having the wrong belt loaded - it is good for all targets

Avoid trying to switch belts in the middle of combat as might be done for other SPAAs. Doing so will put the guns out of commission for potentially more than 30 seconds, which is unhelpful to say the least if there are enemies around. Spending minutes to switch belts for different targets only makes you defenceless and vulnerable.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[PG87 (25 mm)|25 mm PG87]] (x2) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 480 (40) || rowspan="2" | 600 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+90° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 47.6 || 65.8 || 79.9 || 88.8 || 94.0 || rowspan="2" | 32.5 || rowspan="2" | 28.8 || rowspan="2" | 26.5 || rowspan="2" | 25
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 32.1 || 37.8 || 45.9 || 50.8 || 54.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|FI-T*|Fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
* '''Type 87 HE:''' {{Annotation|FI-T*|Fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
* '''Type 87 AP:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| Default || 63 || 60 || 47 || 35 || 26 || 19
|-
| Type 87 HE || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
| Type 87 AP || 63 || 60 || 47 || 35 || 26 || 19
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Belt details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| Type 87 HE || FI-T* || 1,050 || 0.25 || 0 || 0.1 || 19 || 47° || 56° || 65°
|-
| Type 87 AP || AP-T || 1,050 || 0.25 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''12''' || 10 ''(+2)'' || 8 ''(+4)'' || 6 ''(+6)'' || 4 ''(+8)'' || 2 ''(+10)'' || 0 ''(+12)'' || No
|-
|}
Notes:

* A box of ammunition contains 40 projectiles.
* A rack consists of 2 boxes.

== Usage in battles ==


The main job for this vehicle is providing effective defence for your team against enemy aircraft. Avoid continuous firing, 1 to 2 second bursts are critical for success. The cannons have noticeable recoil and the limited ammunition capacity does not allow for much "Spray and Pray". Before any planes spawn, it is recommended to locate yourself between the points and the spawn, and find some hard cover. This way you can get close to most of your teammates and target incoming planes easier, you don't need to worry about getting shot by enemy tanks, and you can use the covers to dodge strafing planes. Then, as soon as an enemy plane spawns, slowly shoot single salvos towards it to draw its attention. Most planes will dive in for an easy SPAA kill, knowing that all SPAA have weak armour and not-lethal-enough firepower. If it is a bomber, position your hull sideways for quick retreat from bombs. Planes diving straight towards the ZSD63 are very threatening, but at the same time they present easy no-deflection targets; use your great gunsight magnification to work out the plane's flying path, and spray a 1-sec burst of 25 mm rounds in their flight path. 1-3 hits will shred most planes apart. With this method a 40-round clip can take out 1-2 planes. Fire conservatively if the target is not flying directly towards or away from the ZSD63.

When attacking ground units, be extremely cautious and avoid exposing your weak armour. The best approach for engaging ground units is do not do so except for the lightest ones. The pure AP (AP-T) belt doubles the chance of penetrating hits but changing belts is time consuming, and you should not be engaging ground targets where the default belt isn't enough in the first place. Wide flanking manoeuvres allow you to attack the weak sides of light targets, but are likely to leave you exposed and without any support yourself - so an easy target. Going wide, you will likely encounter other weakly armoured units like the popular [[M24 (Family)|M24 Chaffee]], which is very vulnerable to the 25 mm cannons. Know your targets and aim for weak points. The ubiquitous Shermans are generally tough customers from the front, where at most the transmission housings or perhaps ventilators can be penetrated, but the terrible hull side armour is a good target. The lower side armour behind the tracks is an especially good weak point if facing Shermans with applique side armour, and spraying a wide burst in that area can knock out the transmission, ammo, and driver. Other medium tanks like the [[Pz.IV F2]] and [[Chi-Nu]] are vulnerable from the front at close range. T-34s are tougher targets and can only be reliably penetrated frontally in the turret cheeks (for "small turret" models like the [[T-34 (1940)]]) or the turret ring at close range. The hull sides are thicker and better sloped than other medium tanks and also have fuel tanks protecting the turret crew, so during flanking attacks, try to shoot the lower hull armour to knock out the engine and driver/machine gunner before going for the turret side. The AP round does not have explosive filler so multiple penetrating hits are needed to defeat a tank. Remember that the ZSD63 also has access to artillery, a very useful spoiler to keep your targets off balance.

For self-defence, it is important to know how to disable opponents quickly and efficiently, with minimal time and ammunition expenditure. Obviously the optimal situation is to knock out a target's crew before they can attack the ZSD63, but this will not always be possible. The twin cannons can destroy tracks and tires almost instantly, but for turreted vehicles this will not prevent the target from returning fire. If only one track is destroyed, even a casemate tank destroyer can potentially scoot around enough to fire back (though this can expose their sides). Destroying the engine is a good move when shooting from the sides or rear for this reason. Destroying gun barrels is also a good idea, but this can be difficult if said barrel is pointed directly at you, presenting a small cross section. Destroying turret rings can also be helpful, but this is not really possible outside of close quarters, and some tanks like Shermans don't even have vulnerable turret rings. Juggling these techniques takes practice, and some may end up using a lot of ammo, so it's best not to use the ZSD63 offensively against multiple well-armoured opponents. Damage targets just enough to save yourself and allow your teammates to finish them off. A target with upgraded crew skills might be able to repair their damage before the ZSD63 can reload!

Note that the default gun camera seems to be located between the guns, as a result when shooting at a target your vision will be mostly obstructed by the muzzle smoke. Some solutions include moving slightly away from the old spot to get out of the smoke, or use the "camera from gunner sight" option, although it may not be practical for other tanks.

Expect to go to allied cap zones more than most vehicles to replenish ammo and possibly another crew member.

'''Against the ZSD63:'''

'''Light tank/SPAA''': these vehicles are not well armoured (eg. [[M24 (Family)|M24]]) so never expose yourself to a ZSD63, or you will get destroyed within a second. If you get the chance to fire at it, do not shoot the hull directly below the turret, as there is absolutely nothing there. Your shells will either over-penetrate without detonating, or explode inside with the shrapnel hitting next to nothing. Only target two sections: frontal hull and turret. These are the areas where there are crew inside. A few more shots might be needed if the shell fuse are not set off by the thin armour. For an SPAA (eg. [[M16 MGMC]]) it will be easier, as all you have to do is spray bullets/shells at said parts until the ZSD63 is knocked out.

'''Medium tank/tank destroyer''': never rely on your armour even in a medium tank or tank destroyer. The ZSD's AP rounds have a maximum of 63 mm penetration which is enough to go through some weakspots of common tanks (eg. [[Pz.IV F2]], [[M4A1]], [[StuG III F]]), even from the front! Since medium tanks do not have good mobility as lighter tanks and thus cannot manoeuvre around the ZSD quickly, it is crucial to ensure that it cannot fight back or cannot penetrate you. Angle your hull, target the above areas, but prioritise the turret. If you have add-on armour installed they might save your life now, for example the frontal hull armour of the Pz.IV F is 50 mm which can be penetrated by the ZSD's AP, but with an additional 20 mm tracks it becomes 70 mm, which is immune to its shells. Even a Sherman's weak side will be able to resist some fatal shells with a slight increase in its effective thickness (38 + ~20 = ~58 mm).

'''Heavy tank''': in a well-protected heavy tank such as [[T14]], you are safe to take some hits from a ZSD and not worry about a single shell going through, since most if not all heavy tanks' front/side armour is thicker than 63 mm. Target the same areas as said above. Note that heavy tanks are less mobile so the ZSD might manage to break your tracks and/or gun barrel. Prevent this by angling your hull and traversing it randomly, and swing your turret around randomly while you reload, this way the ZSD will waste quite some shells to follow up its target.

'''Aircraft''': with a plane against a ZSD, your best buddy is anything with big blast radius, like bombs and rockets. With them, you do not have to perform head-ons with a ZSD63, rather you can destroy it from far away and bank off early if your bomb drops or rockets are accurately aimed. Planes such as [[P-47D-28|P-47D]] and [[F6F-5|F6F]] are perfect for this role. The shrapnel can pierce through the ZSD's thin armour easily and knock out its crew members and/or modules. It is very not recommended to go head-on with a ZSD no matter how powerful your offensive weapons are. With the ZSD's great shell velocity, accuracy, trajectory, penetration and damage, the SPAA is able to put a spray of deadly 25 mm shells precisely in your flight path, and you cannot afford to take more than ~2 hits from its guns. However it has a really long reload time of around 30 seconds, so you can try strafing it if you think it fired around 40 shells.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

* [[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: This popular Italian vehicle should be a player's priority target to hunt, if playing in an anti tank mode. It is extremely fast on road and bears a very deadly 20 mm rapid-firing autocannon. With the high fire rate and great speed, it can appear at unexpected positions and easily finish the {{PAGENAME}} with a 2-second burst. To deal with it, the full AP belt is very handy. Aim at the front half of its hull and tap to fire single salvos, and the {{PAGENAME}} can knock out all of its crews quickly.
* [[Wirbelwind]]: this is another big threat. It has two types of AP belts, and both of them can penetrate the {{PAGENAME}}'s armour. Plus the good firerate and four barrels it can be equally deadly as the R3 T20. It also has better survivability in terms of hull armour and crew number: 80 mm of frontal armour means that the {{PAGENAME}}'s guns cannot penetrate it in a frontal encounter, while the rather spread out crew makes it harder to knock it out in time. Aim at its turret and wipe out all the turret crew to disarm it. Of course, aim at the hull side/rear if it's not facing the {{PAGENAME}} frontally.
* [[Ju 87 (Family)|Ju 87]], [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]], etc: utmost care should be taken when facing against bomb-equipped planes since even if they are considered destroyed, they can still drop their bombs around the {{PAGENAME}} which, given its weak armour, will likely result in the vehicle getting destroyed by the bombs. Common examples include the Ju 87 and Bf 110 series as they can carry bombs of up to 1,000 kg which is a huge threat. As mentioned above, find hard cover and point the hull sideways so the {{PAGENAME}} can quickly get away from the bombs.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent firepower against planes and light & medium tanks
* Extremely high rate of fire, making it deadly against any and all aircraft
* Great -10 degrees gun depression allows engagements in hilly terrain
* High top speed allows it to get to positions in time
* Thin armour can lead to some shells over-penetrating without detonation (e.g. 122 mm)
* Huge gap behind the driving compartment and below the turret can absorb shells
* Great gun sight magnification allows easy snipes from long range

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely long reload time of up to 32 seconds
* High rate of fire can empty the magazine in 4 seconds
* Low magazine capacity (2 x 40 rounds) as well as low total ammunition capacity (only 480 rounds)
* Very poor survivability due to its light armour and open-topped turret with exposed crew
* Fuel tanks are easily set on fire
* High profile makes it easier to get spotted and shot at
* AP round is not powerful enough to penetrate heavy tanks even at point blank range

== History ==


The 装甲输送车 (Zhuangjia Shusong Che, Armoured Personnel Carrier) ZSD63 was China's first domestic armoured vehicle design. China initiated the work in 1958 with a prototype finished in 1960. It is also sometimes called the "Type 63", both a name system used to refer to Julian year of production start. The basic steel box design is simple and functional, designed for small arms protection and have all terrain operation with amphibious capabilities. Although it is a domestic Chinese design, the Soviet design influence is strongly visible. Thousands have been produced with hundreds sold to other countries making it one of the most successful military vehicles built.

This SPAA version mounts a turret on the roof armed with twin PG87 which is based on the Soviet ZU-23-2 23 mm auto cannon which was modified to use domestically produced 25x183B 25 mm rounds. As the name suggests, this weapon was put in production in 1987 making for a retrofit of an approximately 23 year old chassis. This turret seems to be literally mounted on the roof, as there is no hole into the hull of the ZSD, likely an attempt to maintain is amphibious ability despite additional weight. In addition, a pair of extending feet for stabilization were added, but are not functional in-game. It is likely in real world operation the vehicle had to be stationary, feet planted, and crew externally passing the large and heavy ammo magazines to the loaders on top.

=== [[wt:en/news/6702-development-zsd-63-twin-barrel-mower-en|Devblog]] ===
During the 1980's, Chinese engineers finished developing a new dual 25mm anti-aircraft turret, designated as the PG87. Intended to replace the outdated 37mm anti-air cannons in service with the Chinese armed forces in the years prior, work on this replacement already began in the 1970's, but lacking interest and shifting priorities led to the development work being prolonged into the next decade.

Around the same time, the Chinese military was in dire need of a new mobile SPAA vehicle in order to successfully be able to carry out its air defense tasks. As no new vehicle could be developed in such short notice, the decision was made to convert existing Type 63 APC chassis into SPAAG's with the use of the newly developed PG87 anti-air turret.

The result of this undertaking was an SPAA variant of the Type 63 APC, which entered service with the Chinese military some time in the late 1980's and early 1990's. It's unknown exactly how many APC's were converted onto the SPAAG standard nor if the vehicle is still in active service today.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=china&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=spaa&vehicle=cn_zsd63_pg87 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

'''Images'''<gallery mode="packed" caption="Devblog Images" heights="150">
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:ZSD-63 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|QAM5QTzjZLg|'''Spade Review: {{PAGENAME}}. A Powerful but limited AA''' - ''Joseph 2000''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Wirbelwind]]
* [[Crusader AA Mk II]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6702-development-zsd-63-twin-barrel-mower-en|[Devblog] ZSD63: twin-barrel mower]]
* [[wikipedia:Type_63_(armoured_personnel_carrier)|[Wikipedia] Type 63 (armoured personnel carrier)]]

{{China anti-aircraft vehicles}}