War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

FCM.36

2020-10-02T10:01:38Z

U47243178: Fixed a few grammatical errors along with updating and adding sources.

{{Specs-Card|code=fr_fcm_36}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{specs|name}}''' (Light support tank FCM.36) is a Rank {{specs|rank}} French light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. Though affectionately nicknamed the "Cone" due to the turret's shape. The FCM.36 was removed as a researchable vehicle from the main tech tree during [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] after the ammo update that rendered its armament impotent, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles.

Generally speaking, what used to be the main reason you'd play the FCM.36 is so it can unlock better vehicles like the [[AMR.35 ZT3]] to have better firepower at the rank (although following [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] this is no longer the case). Bearing the awful [[wikipedia:Puteaux_SA_18|SA18 L/21 cannon]] as the main armament with 40 mm of armour all around and bad mobility, this tank resembles the [[H.35]] in many ways. However, the FCM.36 does have well-sloped armour for the rank to be a tad useful during long range engagements, but the underperforming gun makes the FCM.36 act more like a shield rather than a spear.

Compared to the reserve [[H.35]], the FCM.36 features a design with "better" armour and a more powerful engine, bringing the power ratio to a more manageable 12.4 HP/ton. With wider tracks than the H.35, this tank feels faster than other BR 1.0 French tanks. It turns quite smoothly and reaches its top speed fairly easily on road. 40 mm all around is enough to survive incoming rounds at long distances (~ 500+ m) but its bad angling makes it unreliable at close range, whereas your gun enters its actual combat ranges. Keeping the awful SA18 L/21 canon as the main armament, this gun is what makes an otherwise good tank so bad as it is. As the Devblog claims: "Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!", you will have to get up close and personal with this tank in order to penetrate another tank. With -17° of gun depression, this is actually a depressing gun.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 40 mm (25-37°) ''Front plate'' 40 mm (71°) ''Upper glacis'' 40 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm (45°) ''Top quarter (sponson)'' 8 mm (45°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) ''Upper quarter'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) + 20 mm (41°) ''Lower quarter'' 20 (0°) + 20 mm (36-41°) ''Bottom quarter'' || 20 mm (50-65°) ''Upper glacis'' 8 mm (65°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (30-65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm (89°)
|-
| Turret || 40 mm (24-71°) ''Turret front'' 20 mm (4-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' 40 mm (18°) ''Cupola'' || 40 mm (12-28°) || 40 mm (36°) || 15 mm (77-89°)
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Belly armor is 12 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 34 mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 10 mm thick plus a small 25 mm thick sleeve.

=== Mobility ===


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 163|rbMinHp= 93}}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|SA18 L/21 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[SA18 (37 mm)|37 mm SA18 L/21]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 102 || -17°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 13.33 || 18.45 || 22.40 || 24.77 || 26.35
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 8.33 || 9.80 || 11.90 || 13.16 || 14.00
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 4.03 || 3.56 || 3.28 || 3.10
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 36 || 33 || 24 || 16 || 8 || 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 600 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''102''' || 43 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+101)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (150) || 1,350 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Bullet magnet''':

Sit down in an open field, angle yourself and stay at a good distance (500+ m) from any threat. Watch enemy shells ricochet of your armour, spot enemies for the team. Whenever a potent gun comes your way, '''flee''' and hope not to get shot at. Blind such big guns with your good MAC 31 coaxial machine gun and attempt a few shots on the move (big guns generally means poor armour at this BR).

If you intend to play in RB or SB, use brush or other objects to obscure your vehicle's outline, so that the enemy doesn't entirely know what you are, and therefore have a chance of not taking shots at your weak points such as your gun mantle or driver port.

One notable recent change is that due to the new volumetric shells, it is nearly impossible to hit the FCM.36's vulnerable turret ring. In addition, it is much harder to actually damage anything from shooting through the weak spot on the mantlet; The commander's right side is protected by the large drum of the MAC 31, and hits to his left will now often hit the breech. This makes the FCM much more well protected. Shots that penetrate will usually be absorbed by various parts inside the turret.

'''"Brawler":'''

''Never'' engage an enemy upfront: assist your allies in flanking manœuvres and don't bother stealing a score since it's all you can get with such a poor cannon. Feel free to turn you back anytime and flee when allies are lacking, go find friends and act as a bullet magnet for them as they attempt to flank enemies.

'''Not the size that matters its the technique'''

In the right hands, this tank can be used correctly to a degree. Practice with the gun along with knowledge of enemy armour, it can pen most enemy vehicles but anything above rank II tanks is nearly impossible to pen.

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Tier
! colspan="2" |Mobility
!Protection
!Firepower
|-
|I
|Tracks
|
|Parts
|Horizontal Drive
|-
|II
|Suspension
|Brake System
|FPE
|Adjustment of Fire
|-
|III
|Filters
|
|Crew Replenishment
|Elevation Mechanism
|-
|IV
|Transmission
|Engine
|
|Artillery Support
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Decent frontal armour with good sloping
* Relatively small
* -17° of depression
* Turret is 40 mm all-around
* Primitive "LOCK" stabiliser makes stop-and-shoot tactic easier.
* APCR can penetrate other tanks if aimed and used correctly

'''Cons:'''

* Very bad penetration
* The same gun as the [[H.35]]
* Only 102 HP engine
* Max speed is 24 km/h
* Cannot angle properly without exposing a flat surface (driver's port)
* Only 2 crew members are cramped and lined-up makes one-shot easy
* Bad reverse speed : -3 km/h

== History ==

In 1934, the FCM company received an order from the French army to design a modern tank for their light tank regiments. FCM was an experienced tank manufacturer, having proved themselves with work on previous projects (such as the Char 2C and Char B1), and quickly developed a new light tank design. Just over a year after the initial wooden mockup was presented and approved by the Army, the first prototype was tested in April 1935. During the one year testing period, multiple changes were made to make the vehicle more reliable, lighter, and better protected.

In July 1936, the FCM 36 was declared the best of three competing vehicles (which included the Hotchkiss H35 and Renault R35), although all three vehicles were still produced. But due to the Rhineland crisis in May 1936, the FCM company received orders for 100 of the FCM 36 tanks before it was even proclaimed the winner of the competition. Production of the FCM 36 did not begin until 1937, after tests of an improved version failed to produce the desired results. The first FCM 36 tanks left the factory floor in May 1938, and joined the ranks of the Army the following year. After the initial order of 100 vehicles was fulfilled, production was discontinued in favour of the Char B1, (also manufactured by FCM).

During the Invasion of France in 1940, the 100 FCM 36s in service with the French army saw limited success against the latest German armour—most notably the Panzer III. Although both vehicles offered similar overall performance, long tank battles against the Panzer III often resulted with neither vehicle able to achieve a fatal blow against the other. Unfortunately, the welds of the FCM 36’s heavily angled and complex armour would eventually break from extensive and repeated battle damage, which left the Panzer III as the victor in the long run. During the German occupation, the FCM 36 was initially used by the German army as a training or reserve vehicle. In 1943/44, 37 captured FCM 36s were converted into tank destroyers or self-propelled artillery pieces.

''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en Devblog]''

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:54 discusses the FCM-36.|g4iFbrxQsj8|Attack of the Cones <nowiki>|</nowiki> War Thunder ''By: ConeOfArc''}}

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> FCM 36 - Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!]
* [http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/liste-chronologique/de-1930-a-1940?task=view&id=801 Char-francais page on FCM.36]

{{France light tanks}}

H.35

2019-11-13T23:42:41Z

U47243178: Edited media and a wee bit to the Description

{{Specs-Card|code=fr_hotchkiss_h35}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_H.35.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (Hotchkiss light tank model 1935) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The H.35 was removed from its reserve status and hidden from the main tech tree during [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] after the ammo update, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles. During its session in the main tree, it was arguably the ''worst reserve vehicle in War Thunder''.

Combining a 17-year-old gun from World War I, average armour, and sub-par engine sounds resulting in people not being very fond of the tank adding to eventually its removal from the main tree in update 1.85 supersonic.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The armour is decent and it ''will'' protect you from incoming long-range shots... but nothing more than that. At close ranges, anything bigger than HMG fire can shred your tank very easily. If you're lucky enough to survive a shot, retreat and ask your allies for help.

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 34 mm (8-87°) ''Front plate'' 22 mm (75-85°) ''Upper glacis'' 34 mm (31°) ''Central glacis'' 34 mm (30°) ''Lower glacis'' || 34 mm (1-33°) 34 mm (1-2°) || 34 mm (31°) ''Top'' 34 mm ''Bottom'' (7-32°) || 22 mm
|-
| Turret || 45 + 25 mm (5°) ''Turret front'' 45 mm (28-30°) ''Left side'' 25 mm (10-19°) ''Gun mantlet'' 35 mm (9-88°) ''Vision port'' || 40 mm (1-28°) 35 mm (8-87°) ''Vision ports'' || 40 mm (8-63°) || 25 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 40 mm || 40 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 15 mm thick.
* Belly is 8mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 10mm thick.

=== Mobility ===

With its low speed, don't even dream of bold flanking manœuvres, you must rely on road and downhills in order to achieve a decent speed. Climbing hills and turning on the spot are also a hard thing to achieve while driving this vehicle. The only thing "light" about this tank is the weight.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 10.6 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 31 (AB)
|-
|28 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|90
|100
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|71
|75
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|8.49
|9.43
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|6.70
|7.07
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|SA18 L/21 (37 mm)}}

With only 36 mm of penetration, poor post-penetration damage and a long reload time, this tank's main gun is the main failing of the H.35. With -13° of depression, it is actually a very depressing gun to shoot in a figurative and literal sense.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[SA18 L/21 (37 mm)|37 mm SA18 L/21]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 76 || -13°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 14.95 || 20.69 || 25.12 || 27.77 || 29.55
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 9.34 || 10.99 || 13.34 || 14.75 || 15.7
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 4.03 || 3.56 || 3.28 || 3.10
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 36 || 33 || 24 || 16 || 8 || 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 600 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ° || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_H.35.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the H.35.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''76''' || 75 ''(+1)'' || 62 ''(+14)'' || 49 ''(+27)'' || 36 ''(+40)'' || 23 ''(+53)'' || 10 ''(+66)'' || 1 ''(+75)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 2,400 (150) || 1,350 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Playing the H.35 is a hard task. Having such a bad gun, it cannot reliably engage a fight without getting the first shot off; hence, one must stick with its teammates in order to survive an encounter. Never drag attention on yourself since anything bigger than HMG fire will shred you at normal combat ranges (~500 m).

====Tactics====

'''Hull down:'''

Since your turret armour is decent, a good way to use this tank can be to hide the hull behind a rock, a hill or any shell-proof prop and wait for the enemy to fall in your sights. This way, you will either be able to shoot at their weak side or have enough time to aim before they can react to your presence. Ensure yourself to pick a spot near a choke-point such as a capture point or a popular main road.

'''"Brawling":'''

In urban maps, narrow streets and crossroad allow for many flanking and close-quarter action: follow your team, always cover behind allied vehicles and don't bother stealing a score from them since it's about the only good shots you will get on an enemy with such a poor vehicle.

'''Fleeing:'''

Turn your back to the enemy and use your engine deck as a shield for the crew. Use this tactic anytime you are left alone and go find yourself another teammate. Don't use your reverse speed since it's too low: turn back and flee, your armour is as thick as on the front of your tank. Never stop to try a shot since your pursuers have a way better gun than yours.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Decent armour for its BR (at distances)
* Good depression of -13°
* Tiny target
* Thick and sloped turret makes a good hull-down position
* Coaxial MAC 31 MG

'''Cons:'''

* Arguably the '''worst''' beginner ground vehicle: very frustrating to play
* It has the worst APCR-shot in the entire game
* APCR deals only punctual damage: unable to one-shot anything but other French light tanks
* Reload speed is a little on the slow side for the calibre
* Not very mobile for a light tank
* Tracks are narrow, offering poor cross-country capability
* HP/ton ratio is unsatisfying (8.49 HP/ton)
* Only two crew member allows for no survivability, and barely so with crew replenishment

== History ==


Officially known as the Char Leger mle 1935 Hotchkiss (Hotchkiss Light Tank model 1935), this was a competitor with Renault's R.35 to replace the WWI-era FT-17 as France's infantry tank. While the infantry went with the R.35, the French cavalry adopted the H.35 to serve alongside the S.35 Somua. The R.35 and H.35 were very similar in construction and visual appearance, with the same turret and the SA 18 37mm main gun, a tank gun conversion of a 1916 infantry gun. Both tanks also used a cast hull, a novel idea in 1935. As with all French tanks, none were equipped with radios. The H.35, as a cavalry tank was heavier but also somewhat faster than the R.35.

In total 400 of the Hotchkiss model would be built, 300 for the cavalry and another 100 for the 13th and 38th independent tank battalions. Cavalry units equipped with the H.35 during the fall of France included the 4th Cuirassiers, the 11th (Motorized), 13th, 18th and 29th Dragoons, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armored Car Regiments, and the 5th Divisional Reconnaissance Group, in total comprising 16 squadrons of 16-20 tanks each. Another three H.35s were on trials with the Polish Army at the onset of war in September 1939. They, along with 4 stray R.35s, fought in an ad hoc unit on the Ukrainian front until the fall of Poland.

Another 900 R.35s, using the same turret, the SA 18 gun and a very similar hull, were in service in 1940, in 20 tank battalions, making it the most common tank in French service during the war. In total, somewhere between 1400 and 2000 of the Renault model would be built. Another 190 of the R.35s were exported pre-war, to Poland (50), Yugoslavia (50), Turkey (50), and Romania (40). Most of those in Polish service was with the 21st Light Tank Battalion, which escaped to Romania without seeing combat; it is unclear how many of the Yugoslav-purchased tanks were even delivered before France fell, but those that arrived served with that country's 2nd Tank Battalion, which saw limited or no action during the 1941 invasion; after that country fell those R.35s would have been turned over to the Romanians as well. The Romanians would upgrade their R.35s with captured Russian 45 mm tank guns and continue to use them through to 1944.

The SA 18-armed R.35 also continued in service with Vichy France until 1942 and were used in fighting in Syria and North Africa. Another 124 SA 18-armed R.35s were turned over by the Germans to Italy, where they fought and were lost in the invasion of Sicily in 1942. The Germans converted another 174 R.35s to tank destroyers (PanzerJager), generally armed with 47mm guns in the place of turrets and used primarily in France and secondary theatres. 110 of these were still in service at the start of 1944. Syria would employ these tanks in the [[wikipedia:1947–1949_Palestine_war|1947-1949 Palestine War]] however they were vastly outdated and were employed more for more of a fear factor than tactical use. They would also later be refit with a QF 2 pounder gun and used in the [[wikipedia:1958_Lebanon_crisis|1958 Lebanon Crisis]] and would be the last recorded use of the vehicle.

== Media ==
When it was removed along in [[update 1.85 supersonic]] with the other tanks the [[FCM.36]] and [[Ha-Go]] it caused large amounts of community members and popular Warthunder Youtubers to request it be put back in the game which would eventually happen.

== 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;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
* ''other literature.''

{{France light tanks}}

FCM.36

2019-11-13T23:33:08Z

U47243178: Added more detail to media

{{Specs-Card|code=fr_fcm_36}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{specs|name}}''' (Light support tank FCM.36) is a Rank {{specs|rank}} French light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The FCM.36 was removed as a researchable vehicle from the main tech tree during [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] after the ammo update, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles.

Generally speaking, the main reason you'd play the FCM.36 is so it can unlock better vehicles like the [[AMR.35 ZT3]] to have better firepower at the rank. Bearing the awful SA18 L/21 cannon as the main armament with 40 mm of armour all around and bad mobility, this tank resembles the [[H.35]] in many ways. However, the FCM.36 does have well-sloped armour for the rank to be a tad useful during long range engagements, but the underperforming gun makes the FCM.36 act more like a shield rather than a spear.

Compared to the reserve [[H.35]], the FCM.36 features a design with "better" armour and a more powerful engine, bringing the power ratio to a more manageable 12.4 HP/ton. With wider tracks than the H.35, this tank feels faster than other BR 1.0 French tanks. It turns quite smoothly and reaches its top speed fairly easily on road. 40 mm all around is enough to survive incoming rounds at long distances (~ 500+ m) but its bad angling makes it unreliable at close range, whereas your gun enters its actual combat ranges. Keeping the awful SA18 L/21 canon as the main armament, this gun is what makes an otherwise good tank so bad as it is. As the Devblog claims: "Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!", you will have to get up close and personal with this tank in order to penetrate another tank. With -17° of gun depression, this is actually a depressing gun.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 40 mm (25-37°) ''Front plate'' 40 mm (71°) ''Upper glacis'' 40 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm (45°) ''Top quarter (sponson)'' 8 mm (45°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) ''Upper quarter'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) + 20 mm (41°) ''Lower quarter'' 20 (0°) + 20 mm (36-41°) ''Bottom quarter'' || 20 mm (50-65°) ''Upper glacis'' 8 mm (65°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (30-65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm (89°)
|-
| Turret || 40 mm (24-71°) ''Turret front'' 20 mm (4-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' 40 mm (18°) ''Cupola'' || 40 mm (12-28°) || 40 mm (36°) || 15 mm (77-89°)
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Belly armor is 12 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 34 mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 10 mm thick plus a small 25 mm thick sleeve.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 12.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 26.6 (AB)
|-
|24.0 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|163
|198
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|93
|105
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|13.14
|15.96
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|7.50
|8.47
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|SA18 L/21 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[SA18 (37 mm)|37 mm SA18 L/21]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 102 || -17°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 13.33 || 18.45 || 22.40 || 24.77 || 26.35
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 8.33 || 9.80 || 11.90 || 13.16 || 14.00
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 4.03 || 3.56 || 3.28 || 3.10
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 36 || 33 || 24 || 16 || 8 || 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 600 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ° || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''102''' || 43 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+101)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (150) || 1,350 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Bullet magnet''':

Sit down in an open field, angle yourself and stay at a good distance (500+ m) from any threat. Watch enemy shells ricochet of your armour, spot enemies for the team. Whenever a potent gun comes your way, '''flee''' and hope not to get shot at. Blind such big guns with your good MAC 31 coaxial machine gun and attempt a few shots on the move (big guns generally means poor armour at this BR).

If you intend to play in RB or SB, use brush or other objects to obscure your vehicle's outline, so that the enemy doesn't entirely know what you are, and therefore have a chance of not taking shots at your weak points such as your gun mantle or driver port.

'''"Brawler":'''

''Never'' engage an enemy upfront: assist your allies in flanking manœuvres and don't bother stealing a score since it's all you can get with such a poor cannon. Feel free to turn you back anytime and flee when allies are lacking, go find friends and act as a bullet magnet for them as they attempt to flank enemies.

'''Not the size that matters its the technique'''

In the right hands this tank can be used correctly to a degree. With practice with the gun and knowlege of enemy armour it can pen most enemy vechiles but anything above teir 2 tanks is nearly impossible to pen.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Decent frontal armour with good sloping
* Relatively small
* -17° of depression
* Turret is 40 mm all-around
* Primitive "LOCK" stabiliser makes stop-and-shoot tactic easier.
* APCR Can pen other tanks if aimed and used correctly

'''Cons:'''

* Very bad penetration
* As the same gun as the [[H.35]]
* Only 102 HP engine
* Max speed is 24 km/h
* Cannot angle properly without exposing a flat surface (driver's port)
* Only 2 crew members are cramped and lined-up makes one-shot easy
* Bad reverse speed : -3 km/h but this is the French we're talking about

== History ==

In 1934, the FCM company received an order from the French army to design a modern tank for their light tank regiments. FCM was an experienced tank manufacturer, having proved themselves with work on previous projects (such as the Char 2C and Char B1), and quickly developed a new light tank design. Just over a year after the initial wooden mockup was presented and approved by the Army, the first prototype was tested in April 1935. During the one year testing period, multiple changes were made to make the vehicle more reliable, lighter, and better protected.

In July 1936, the FCM 36 was declared the best of three competing vehicles (which included the Hotchkiss H35 and Renault R35), although all three vehicles were still produced. But due to the Rhineland crisis in May 1936, the FCM company received orders for 100 of the FCM 36 tanks before it was even proclaimed the winner of the competition. Production of the FCM 36 did not begin until 1937, after tests of an improved version failed to produce the desired results. The first FCM 36 tanks left the factory floor in May 1938, and joined the ranks of the Army the following year. After the initial order of 100 vehicles was fulfilled, production was discontinued in favour of the Char B1, (also manufactured by FCM).

During the Invasion of France in 1940, the 100 FCM 36s in service with the French army saw limited success against the latest German armour—most notably the Panzer III. Although both vehicles offered similar overall performance, long tank battles against the Panzer III often resulted with neither vehicle able to achieve a fatal blow against the other. Unfortunately, the welds of the FCM 36’s heavily angled and complex armour would eventually break from extensive and repeated battle damage, which left the Panzer III as the victor in the long run. During the German occupation, the FCM 36 was initially used by the German army as a training or reserve vehicle. In 1943/44, 37 captured FCM 36s were converted into tank destroyers or self-propelled artillery pieces.

''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en Devblog]''

== Media ==
When it was removed in update [[1.85 Supersonic]] there was large amounts of backlash from both the Warthunder Community especially popular Warthunder Youtuber [https://www.youtube.com/user/MrStevecrafter ConeOfArc] it would eventually be put back in the game along with the [[H.35]] and the [[Ha-Go]]. Along with this it has been affectionately known to the wider community as the Cone due to the turrets shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjTYOvrLIB8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4iFbrxQsj8

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> FCM 36 - Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!]
* [http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/liste-chronologique/de-1930-a-1940?task=view&id=801 Char-francais page on FCM.36]

{{France light tanks}}

FCM.36

2019-11-13T23:30:30Z

U47243178: Added details to media along with links info on its gun and techniques along with edits and additions to pros and cons

{{Specs-Card|code=fr_fcm_36}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{specs|name}}''' (Light support tank FCM.36) is a Rank {{specs|rank}} French light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The FCM.36 was removed as a researchable vehicle from the main tech tree during [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] after the ammo update, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles.

Generally speaking, the main reason you'd play the FCM.36 is so it can unlock better vehicles like the [[AMR.35 ZT3]] to have better firepower at the rank. Bearing the awful SA18 L/21 cannon as the main armament with 40 mm of armour all around and bad mobility, this tank resembles the [[H.35]] in many ways. However, the FCM.36 does have well-sloped armour for the rank to be a tad useful during long range engagements, but the underperforming gun makes the FCM.36 act more like a shield rather than a spear.

Compared to the reserve [[H.35]], the FCM.36 features a design with "better" armour and a more powerful engine, bringing the power ratio to a more manageable 12.4 HP/ton. With wider tracks than the H.35, this tank feels faster than other BR 1.0 French tanks. It turns quite smoothly and reaches its top speed fairly easily on road. 40 mm all around is enough to survive incoming rounds at long distances (~ 500+ m) but its bad angling makes it unreliable at close range, whereas your gun enters its actual combat ranges. Keeping the awful SA18 L/21 canon as the main armament, this gun is what makes an otherwise good tank so bad as it is. As the Devblog claims: "Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!", you will have to get up close and personal with this tank in order to penetrate another tank. With -17° of gun depression, this is actually a depressing gun.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 40 mm (25-37°) ''Front plate'' 40 mm (71°) ''Upper glacis'' 40 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm (45°) ''Top quarter (sponson)'' 8 mm (45°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) ''Upper quarter'' 20 mm (0-8°) + 20 mm (43-45°) + 20 mm (41°) ''Lower quarter'' 20 (0°) + 20 mm (36-41°) ''Bottom quarter'' || 20 mm (50-65°) ''Upper glacis'' 8 mm (65°) ''Radiator grille'' 20 mm (30-65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 15 mm (89°)
|-
| Turret || 40 mm (24-71°) ''Turret front'' 20 mm (4-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' 40 mm (18°) ''Cupola'' || 40 mm (12-28°) || 40 mm (36°) || 15 mm (77-89°)
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Belly armor is 12 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 34 mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 10 mm thick plus a small 25 mm thick sleeve.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 12.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 26.6 (AB)
|-
|24.0 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|163
|198
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|93
|105
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|13.14
|15.96
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|7.50
|8.47
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|SA18 L/21 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[SA18 (37 mm)|37 mm SA18 L/21]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 102 || -17°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 13.33 || 18.45 || 22.40 || 24.77 || 26.35
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 8.33 || 9.80 || 11.90 || 13.16 || 14.00
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 4.03 || 3.56 || 3.28 || 3.10
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 36 || 33 || 24 || 16 || 8 || 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 600 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ° || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''102''' || 43 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+101)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (150) || 1,350 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Bullet magnet''':

Sit down in an open field, angle yourself and stay at a good distance (500+ m) from any threat. Watch enemy shells ricochet of your armour, spot enemies for the team. Whenever a potent gun comes your way, '''flee''' and hope not to get shot at. Blind such big guns with your good MAC 31 coaxial machine gun and attempt a few shots on the move (big guns generally means poor armour at this BR).

If you intend to play in RB or SB, use brush or other objects to obscure your vehicle's outline, so that the enemy doesn't entirely know what you are, and therefore have a chance of not taking shots at your weak points such as your gun mantle or driver port.

'''"Brawler":'''

''Never'' engage an enemy upfront: assist your allies in flanking manœuvres and don't bother stealing a score since it's all you can get with such a poor cannon. Feel free to turn you back anytime and flee when allies are lacking, go find friends and act as a bullet magnet for them as they attempt to flank enemies.

'''Not the size that matters its the technique'''

In the right hands this tank can be used correctly to a degree. With practice with the gun and knowlege of enemy armour it can pen most enemy vechiles but anything above teir 2 tanks is nearly impossible to pen.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Decent frontal armour with good sloping
* Relatively small
* -17° of depression
* Turret is 40 mm all-around
* Primitive "LOCK" stabiliser makes stop-and-shoot tactic easier.
* APCR Can pen other tanks if aimed and used correctly

'''Cons:'''

* Very bad penetration
* As the same gun as the [[H.35]]
* Only 102 HP engine
* Max speed is 24 km/h
* Cannot angle properly without exposing a flat surface (driver's port)
* Only 2 crew members are cramped and lined-up makes one-shot easy
* Bad reverse speed : -3 km/h but this is the French we're talking about

== History ==

In 1934, the FCM company received an order from the French army to design a modern tank for their light tank regiments. FCM was an experienced tank manufacturer, having proved themselves with work on previous projects (such as the Char 2C and Char B1), and quickly developed a new light tank design. Just over a year after the initial wooden mockup was presented and approved by the Army, the first prototype was tested in April 1935. During the one year testing period, multiple changes were made to make the vehicle more reliable, lighter, and better protected.

In July 1936, the FCM 36 was declared the best of three competing vehicles (which included the Hotchkiss H35 and Renault R35), although all three vehicles were still produced. But due to the Rhineland crisis in May 1936, the FCM company received orders for 100 of the FCM 36 tanks before it was even proclaimed the winner of the competition. Production of the FCM 36 did not begin until 1937, after tests of an improved version failed to produce the desired results. The first FCM 36 tanks left the factory floor in May 1938, and joined the ranks of the Army the following year. After the initial order of 100 vehicles was fulfilled, production was discontinued in favour of the Char B1, (also manufactured by FCM).

During the Invasion of France in 1940, the 100 FCM 36s in service with the French army saw limited success against the latest German armour—most notably the Panzer III. Although both vehicles offered similar overall performance, long tank battles against the Panzer III often resulted with neither vehicle able to achieve a fatal blow against the other. Unfortunately, the welds of the FCM 36’s heavily angled and complex armour would eventually break from extensive and repeated battle damage, which left the Panzer III as the victor in the long run. During the German occupation, the FCM 36 was initially used by the German army as a training or reserve vehicle. In 1943/44, 37 captured FCM 36s were converted into tank destroyers or self-propelled artillery pieces.

''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en Devblog]''

== Media ==
When it was removed there was large amounts of backlash from both the Warthunder Community especially Warthunder Youtuber [https://www.youtube.com/user/MrStevecrafter ConeOfArc] it would eventually be put back in the game along with the [[H.35]] and the [[Ha-Go]]. Along with this it has been affectionately known to the wider community as the Cone due to the turrets shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjTYOvrLIB8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4iFbrxQsj8

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5190-development-fcm-36-wait-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> FCM 36 - Wait Until You See The Whites of Their Eyes!]
* [http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/liste-chronologique/de-1930-a-1940?task=view&id=801 Char-francais page on FCM.36]

{{France light tanks}}

Beaufort Mk VIII

2019-10-24T21:32:54Z

U47243178: Added a bit more history, links to media and Wikipedia too

{{Specs-Card|code=beaufort_mkviii}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Though the plane is in the British tech tree, it is painted with Australian markings.

The Beaufort Mk VIII is a superb low-level bomber. For a bomber, it's fast and agile and it has a great rear armament for its rank (the twin rear .50s can be more powerful than the Lancaster's 4 x .303s!). It is able to do very good low-level bombing runs. With its 4 x 250 lb or 2 x 500 lb bombs, it is easily able to destroy light, medium and heavy tanks. The Beaufort is also able to take a few hits, making it a great bomber to start the British line.

The best thing to do with this bomber is to put it in a shallow dive after you spawn in and head for where you want to bomb (be careful when diving, the plane locks up at high speed). Get low to the ground, as your rear turret does not provide cover below the plane. Once you have dropped your bombs, you have a decision to make. You can re-arm and go for another bombing run (or just wait if you are playing in Arcade Battles), or go fighter hunting with your tail gunner.

Overall, this is a great low-rank bomber and easily able to turn the tide of any battle.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,981 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 420 || 405 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 40.8 || 41.8 || 3.8 || 3.8 || 414
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,981 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 460 || 437 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 38.6 || 39.6 || 8.9 || 6.1 || 414
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 440 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 330 || < 330 || < 360 || > 290
|-
|}

{| 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
|-
| 3,993 m || 1,000 hp || 1,064 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate behind the pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - Armor plate behind the gunner

== Armaments ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV (250 lb)|G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV (500 lb)|Mark XII}}

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

* 4 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 1 x Mark XII torpedo
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning .303 (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)
* 2 x 7.7 mm Browning .303 machine guns, nose turret (1,150 rpg = 2,300 total)

== Usage in battles ==

When engaging fighters ([[Yak-7B|Yak-7's]], [[Bf 109 E-3|Bf 109 E's]], [[Spitfire Mk Ia|Spitfires]], [[P-36G|P-36's]], [[A5M4|A5M's]] etc...) try to force them onto your tail. The Beaufort's twin rear .50 calibre machine guns tear everything up at this rank. Try to avoid head-ons, as your pilots are prone to be wounded behind that large glass window. If you get an enemy fighter to stay on your tail at wing level, your gunner will show no mercy!

When engaging bombers, try to come below them and pepper them with your tail gunner. Flying in front of them and aiming for the enemy bombers pilot is also effective.

Be mindful of these things too; watch out for players diving on you, as they can easily kill your tail gunner from above. Also watch out for rockets, even a B-17 can't take a rocket hit! Plus some of the American planes ([[F2A-3|F2A]], [[F4F-3|F4F]]) are armed with four or more .50s, try to avoid these as their ammunition count is very large and they are easily able to critically damage a Beaufort.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 7 mm
| TBC-A
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
| MBC-A
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
|
|-
|}

* Researching all the belts and turrets is helpful in this very aggressively played bomber. Further enhancements should be in the plane's performance. ''Compressor'', ''Engine'' and ''Engine Injection'' for the quickest gain in top speed. As bomber ''Airframe'' and ''Cover'' are also useful but to a lesser extent. They improve the maximum possible damage received.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very strong rear 12.7 mm machine guns
* Fast and agile (for a bomber)
* Two pilots (if one is killed, you can still fly)
* Universal ammo belt for the 12.7 mm machine guns contains a large amount of API ammo
* 12.7 mm machine guns can engage enemy aircraft effectively over 1,500 m away

'''Cons:'''

* Low endurance
* Below average payload
* Does not have a ventral gunner
* Dorsal turret cannot turn 360 degrees, cannot fire forward
* Loses the single offensive machine gun of the Blenheim. Doesn't seem like much, but it comes in useful sometimes
* Arguably has less effective defensive armament than the Blenheim. Experienced players will be able to take advantage of your limited coverage

== 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,''

The Bristol Beaufort was a twin-engine torpedo-bomber used in large numbers by RAF Coastal Command and the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Beaufort design process began in 1935, when Great Britain’s Air Ministry formulated the M.15/35 and G.24/35 specifications for the development of a torpedo bomber and a general reconnaissance aircraft/bomber, respectively. While working on these aircraft designs Bristol proposed one aircraft, manufactured in two different variants, for both of these specifications. After submitting two separate designs to the Air Ministry, the favoured design was selected and named the Beaufort.

The Beaufort was based on the Blenheim light bomber, from which were borrowed the designs of the wing, tail unit, and landing gear. To increase the bomb bay’s size to carry a torpedo, the cockpit’s floor was raised. Nevertheless, the torpedo did not fully fit in the bomb bay and had to be partially suspended.

Bristol was commissioned in August 1936 to produce 78 Beauforts, before the first prototype had even flown. Teething problems with the prototype resulted in a number of design modifications, and the first aircraft did not enter service until January 1940.

In 1940, production of the Beaufort began in Australia. But due to the fact that the Australian government was not confident in an uninterrupted supply of Taurus engines thanks to the U-Boat problem and the later war with Japan, it was decided that the Twin Wasp engine would be used instead resulting in the Australian variants being more faster, powerful and having larger bomb loads than the British. In addition, the Australians expanded the fin to increase stability.

The last Australian modification, the Beaufort Mk VIII, used 1200 hp engines and had an ASV Mk II radar. It also had additional wing-mounted fuel tanks.

This modification made up 520 of the 700 Beauforts built in Australia in addition to the 1180 aircraft built in Britain until production ceased in November 1944.

== Media ==
https://youtu.be/ck6fcnvKpSQ

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Beaufort

Wirraway (Great Britain)

2019-10-24T21:26:27Z

U47243178: Added a bit more historical detailing to the plane, gave a few tips and added info to the survivability section and linked a youtube video

{{Specs-Card|code=wirraway}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_Wirraway_Great_Britain.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29. This Wirraway represents a version serving in the Australian Air Force.

The Wirraway is a premium rank 1 ground attack aircraft for the British in War Thunder. It is characterized by its heavy payload, high manoeuvrability, and very low speed. The Wirraway is an easy handling aircraft, effective for its rank and is dirt cheap at only 450 golden eagles without a sale, which makes it a good starting premium for beginners.

The two machine guns are very accurate and have very fast rates of fire. This, combined with the plane's low speed and good stability, makes the Wirraway ideal for strafe attacks on lightly armoured ground targets, while the plane's heavy bomb load can destroy more heavily defended ground targets. The lack of a bombing reticle, in realistic battles, makes level bombing very inaccurate and impractical.

It has an impressive payload of 2 x 500 lb bombs and 2 x 250 lb bombs, making it devastating to ground units. In realistic, use it as a dive bomber as it has no aiming reticle. However, long fast dives in the Wirraway are not recommended, as the plane will quickly exceed the never exceed speed (VNE) for the airframe, which is between 380-420 kph. If a Wirraway is going faster than 400 kph, it has likely already lost one or both of its wings, or is about to.

Additionally, the Wirraway's cockpit offers great visibility, but little pilot protection. Wirraway pilots must be wary against pilot sniping.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,200 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 332 || 310 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.5 || 37.9 || 3.4 || 4.5 || 285
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,200 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 358 || 338 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 35.4 || 36.5 || 10.8 || 6.5 || 285
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 404 || ~10 || ~8
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 320 || < 320 || < 320 || > 130
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1.120 m || 550 hp || 600 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
No armour at all with the rear gunner in an open postition resulting in strafing providing very deadly. It does have self-sealing fuel tanks but will burn up quick in an engine fire. Head-ons will result more than likely in the pilot being knocked out.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|Vickers E (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 7.7 mm Vickers E machine guns, nose-mounted (650 rpg = 1,300 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV (250 lb)|G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs + 2 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,500 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

{{main|Vickers K (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, dorsal turret (576 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

In arcade, the Wirraway makes a great fighter-bomber, good for attacking ground units but also to rack some aerial victories. In realistic, the Wirraway becomes even better. While sluggish when fully laden, once it releases it bombs it is very manoeuvrable and will out turn almost everything it comes across. Use its manoeuvrability to your advantage as your weak armament will do some, but not a lot of, damage. The rear machine gun can be useful of scaring off enemies commonly faced by the Wirraway such as the [[He 51 A-1|He 51]] and the [[Ki-27 otsu|Ki-27]]. The highest ranked plane it will see is [[Bf 109 E-1]]'s which are devastating to the little Wirraway. This little plane may be nimble but is not fast. It is one of the slowest climbers in the game and with a max speed of 356 kph even the slowest of planes can catch up to it. Try to avoid dive battles or diving in general as the airframe is not strong and will break under high speeds.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
| mk.21
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 7 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Large bomb load
* Good manoeuvrability
* Good survivability (especially against enemy 7.7 mm MGs)
* Rear gunner with a good firing arc
* High visibility cockpit
* Low stall speed
* Decent frontal armament for its rank
* Is sometimes underestimated; use this to your advantage
* Is a Premium aircraft = more XP and lions gained per battle

'''Cons:'''

* Very slow
* No bombing reticule (Realistic/Simulator Battles)
* Very low rip speed (416 kph / 258.5 mph)
* Lower damage output from the two 7.7 mm MGs compared to 12.7 mm MGs, although the rate of fire somewhat makes up for it.
* Bomb load can impede its maneuverability
* Recent updates have resulted in the plane having a lower max speed resulting in dives being very dangerous to the inexperienced pilot

== History ==


In 1936, the Royal Australian Air Force began evaluating foreign-designed aircraft for local production and established the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to oversee production. In 1937, the North American NA-16 "Basic Combat" aircraft was selected as the first "home-built" Australian military aircraft. The NA-16, with some modifications, would go on to see service in the US Army Air Corps as the BC-1 before being re-designated the T-6 Texan (later AT-6 Texan), in the US Navy as the SNJ-1, in the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force and South African Air Force as the Havard. The NA-16 was used as a Trainer and as a "Hack", a second-line plane used for courier and transport duties, by air forces around the world.

After acquiring production licenses, CAC bought and shipped two production model NA-16s to Australia as prototypes. There the two North American planes were tested and modifications to CAC production aircraft were ordered to improve combat capability: primarily, an additional forward-firing machine gun and strengthened wings to allow dive bombing. This improved NA-16 entered production as the CAC CA-1 Wirraway in March 1939, although actual production proceeded at a leisurely pace. When the war started in September, the RAAF had only six Wirraways.

The RAAF had expressed interest in obtaining an interceptor version of the Wirraway, but it was never designed (Instead, the Australian-designed CAC [[Boomerang Mk I (Great Britain)|Boomerang Mk.I]] would be built using the Wirraway as a starting point. The British RAF was also interested in obtaining the Wirraway, but as CAC production could not meet even the RAAF orders, RAF procurement never happened. The Wirraway was constantly modified throughout the war, with CA-3, -5, -7, -8, -9, -10A (not a production model, but a standard that previous Wirraways were upgraded to), and -16 models.

When the Pacific War broke out, seven RAAF squadrons were equipped with Wirraways. Throughout the first months of the war, the Wirraway was pressed into service as a light bomber and as an "emergency fighter". It performed well enough in the ground attack role (which it was designed for), but suffered badly in air-to-air combat, scoring only a single air-to-air kill against a lone what was belived to be a Zero (it has now been confimed that it was a Ki-43 not a Zero that was shot down) while on a scouting mission. The Wirraway saw most of its combat action on New Guinea, before being withdrawn as more powerful American-built planes became available.

As a trainer, the Wirraway would serve in the RAAF and Royal Australian Navy (as the CA-20 Wirraway) until 1959. Over 750 Wirraways were built for the Australian military, and more than fifteen still exist, with at least ten in flying condition.

=== In-game description ===
In April 1938, the Australian Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) obtained a license from the US company North American to produce the two-seater NA-16 trainer. On March 27th 1939, the first production model of the CA-1 was completed at CAC; the aircraft was named the Wirraway, ‘Challenge’ in the language of the Australian Aborigines, and was designated Mk 1. The Wirraway NA-16 differed from the prototype in its D-shaped elevators, a fuselage battery of two synchronized Vickers .303 inch machine guns and another pintle-mounted Vickers Class K gun of the same calibre in the observer’s cockpit. In field conditions, a unit consisting of two paired Vickers Class K machine guns was sometimes mounted at this position. To enable the Wirraway to be used as a bomber, the structure of the wings and fin was reinforced. The reinforcement of the wing structure enabled a bomb load of two 250 lb and two 500 lb bombs to be fitted. The Wirraway was fitted with a nine-cylinder radial air-cooled Pratt & Whitney R-1340 S1H1-G Wasp engine, rated at 600 HP at an altitude of 7000 feet (2135 m), and a three-bladed propeller.

The Wirraway was manufactured right up to the end of the war in several series. The first series CA-1 (Mk 1) was built from March 1939 to February 1940; a total of 40 aircraft. From February 1940 to June 1942, five more series were built, although in practice, they differed only slightly from each other by way of the shape of the carburettor air intake and were therefore given the combined military designation of Wirraway Mk II. The series were numbered CA-3 (60 aircraft), CA-5 (32 aircraft), CA-7 (100 aircraft), CA-8 (200 aircraft) and CA-9 (188 aircraft). The production peak was in 1942, when 270 aircraft were produced.
From June 1942, the most advanced Wirraway series, the C-16 (Mk III) entered production, continuing until the end of 1946. In total, 135 were produced. Virtually all aircraft of other series were re-equipped and brought up to CA-16 standards.

Throughout 1942, Wirraways were pressed into combat from the New Britain Islands to the Eastern tip of New Guinea, being used as light bombers and, in one case even accounting for the air-to-air kill of a A6M ‘Zero’ fighter. But once the Allied forces took the offensive in the Pacific theatre, the requirement for Wirraways began to diminish rapidly. The aircraft were transferred back to training units and after the war served as civilian aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force finally flew its last Wirray flight in 1959.

== Media ==
https://youtu.be/jk16MDXq7rc

== See also ==


* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Aircraft_Corporation Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation]

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

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

{{Britain bombers}}
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

A.C.IV

2019-10-24T21:15:43Z

U47243178: Added a link to a YouTuber playing this specific vehicle

{{Specs-Card|code=uk_ac4_thunderbolt}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_A.C.IV.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the ''AC IV Thunderbolt'' or the ''AC IV Sentinel'', is a premium Rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank on the British tree {{Battle-rating}}. It was released some time after [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. Armed with a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder gun]], it has a high firepower for the battle rating it is in, able to effectively fight any other tanks at the battle rating. The Thunderbolt is also a small and maneuverable tank able to exploit harsh terrain to target the enemy.

The AC IV is a relatively small medium tank in comparison to the common mainstay of the other countries, especially when compared to the American [[M4A2|Sherman]] tanks. The Sentinel also has a good maneuverability and power-to-weight ratio for the propulsion, able to accelerate to its max speed of roughly 30 km/h quickly and stay there on stable terrain. The tank has a great advantage of a decent reverse speed in comparison to other medium tanks of its caliber, with a reverse speed almost the same speed as forward. The addition of the 17-pounder gun also gives this tank a whopping high firepower for the size, so it can stand a chance against tanks of the same tier despite being out of the league in terms of armour.

The tank in the game is the version planned for serial production, so it has the hull of the AC III; unlike the actual prototype design developed, which used the hull from the AC I version.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The AC IV Thunderbolt's armour have a high tendency to bounce shells. This is obvious with the extreme slope on the from of the tank, and turret design. The armour itself is not thick, but thanks to the angle of it this tank can be very fierce competition to enemy vehicles.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50.8 mm (66-67°) ''Frontal glacis'' 50.8 mm (30°) ''Driver's port'' 50.8 mm (7-68°) ''Lower glacis'' || 44.45 mm (0-12°) || 22.22 mm (78°) ''Top'' 44.45 mm (21-52°) ''Bottom'' || 22.22 mm
|-
| Turret || 63.5 mm (4-47°) ''Turret front'' 25.4-63.5 mm (1-68°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-88°) || 63.5 mm (1-53°) || 35 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm || 35 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm.
* The rear bottom area has a track placed there, providing 20 mm of extra armour.
* The commander cupola is extended outwards from the left side of the turret, creating a vulnerable unsloped area vulnerable to weaker guns.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armour weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 26.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 53 (AB)
|-
|48 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|615
|757
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|351
|397
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|23.29
|28.67
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|13.29
|15.04
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 17-pounder]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 47 || -6°/+20° || ±180° || N/A
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 10.7 || 14.8 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 10.7 || 12.6 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 7.60 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 160 || 157 || 133 || 112 || 96 || 86
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 165 || 160 || 138 || 108 || 94 || 81
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 171 || 168 || 156 || 143 || 130 || 120
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 7.0 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 580 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity in m/s
! Projectile Mass in kg
! ''Screen radius in m''
! ''Screen time in s''
! ''Screen hold time in s:''
! ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
|-
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 754 || 8.4 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks A.C.IV.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the AC IV Thunderbolt]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |9th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''50''' || XX ''(+X)'' || XX ''(+X)'' || ''35 (+15)'' || ''45 (+5)'' || 10 ''(+40)'' || ''14 (+36)'' || 31 ''(+19)'' || 39 ''(+11)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 4,250 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Exploit the A.C. IV's maneuverability against the heavier tanks, plus the 17-pounder tank allows for a penetration through the enemy's armour to cause internal damages. The fast reverse speed makes the "shoot-and-scoot" tactic a viable method against the enemy, and should be the prime one as the armour of the Sentinel is not exactly the most durable at only 50 mm flat. However, the sloping nature of the armour could give the bouncing capability of the tank comparable to the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]], it's even arguably much better. So while the weight class is definitely against the Sentinel, a chance is always there to take out the opposition.

"Shoot-and-scoot" tactics are the best tactics to use with this vehicle. The Sentinel's armour does not let the tank be a brawler, so it must be more "sneaky" against the enemies. Another thing to note is the driver's hatch at the front of the tank. To avoid a frontally penetrating shot, always angle the driver's hatch away from the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

*Good sloped armour.
*High penetration solid shot rounds.
*Good manoeuvrability.
*Fast reverse speed.
*Small profile.

'''Cons:'''

*Sloped armour only on the front.
**Susceptible to large caliber HE.
*Only 44mm (4.4cm) of side armour.
*Cannon lacks armour-piercing rounds with high-explosive filler.
*No APDS rounds, unlike other British medium tanks at this rank.

== History ==


===Development===
Australia began designing a tank in November 1940 as the ''AC I'', and was intended to be a cruiser tank weighing between 16 to 20 tons with a [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder gun]]. With no prior experience in producing a domestic tank, Australia sent a task force to the United States to study the [[M3 Lee|M3 Medium]] design to understand the in-and-outs of a tank. They also received the aid of Colonel W.D. Watson MC in December 1940 from Britain, who has many years of tank designing experience. The overall mission ended up having the tank design to have a similar concept as the Canadian ''[[M4A5|Ram]]'' tank, being based off the the M3 Medium chassis and mated with a domestic design of their choice for the upper part along with the incorporation of a suspension system of horizontal rubber cylinder springs seen on many early-war French tanks notably the [[H.39]] and [[H.35]]. The Australian attached the chassis with a hull and turret with design similarities to the British [[Crusader Mk III|Crusader]] tanks. The design started to become less of a cruiser tank and more of a medium tank by American specifications due to the attempt to up-armour and up-gun the tank to keep up with German armour development.

The first design was completed in February 1942 as the Cruiser Tank Mark 1 (AC I) and designated the "Sentinel". The design was simplified by using existing parts of current tanks and using a cast hull and turret. The entire hull being casted would be the first in history as many tanks of the era did not use such techniques. Although originally specified for a 2-pounder, it was then asked for a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] armament but due to the manufacturing of such guns not begining at the time in Australia they would have to use the 2 pounder for the first 65 produced. Two Vickers machine gun were used as the coaxial and hull machine gun the later having an armoured mount to protect its water sleeve resulting in a rather lewd looking front of which is made fun of to this day. With the power of three Cadillac V8 Petrol engines. It was unorthodox, but powerful enough to propel the vehicle. 65 of these tanks were made by June 1943 before being succeeded by a more advanced design known as ''AC III'', also known as the "Thunderbolt". It had better armour and an improved firepower in the form of the 25-pounder howitzer. Despite the bigger gun, the 54-inch turret ring was never expanded to accommodate for the gun's larger size, so the crew experienced a slightly cramped turret interior for the benefit of having a better high-explosive charge and armour-piercing capability. Other differences in the design was the removal of the hull machine gun and a different set-up of the three Cadillac engines. One pilot model was built and plans were made for a production for 25 tanks for further trials, but the program was terminated.

Another attempt was made to increase Australian tank firepower with the '''AC IV''' design. It first started when the designers check to see if the turret could mount the massive 17-pounder in use by the British to fight the heavier and more protected German tanks. When the tests proved successful, the 17-pounder was chosen to be the gun for the ''AC IV'', with a new and larger turret and 70-inch turret ring to improve crew comfort. These tanks were only made for evaluation purposes only and were never mass-produced for equipping the armoured units. However it would be the only commonwealth tank ever to mount such a gun.

===Termination===
The ''AC IV'' design, along with the entire Australian Cruiser tank program, was terminated in July 1943, ending with only 65 tanks produced and a few prototype models. The reason was that the funds were better spent improving the infrastructure than building new tanks due to the large number of American tanks such as the [[M4|M4 Medium]] that were being supplied to Australia. The AC "Sentinel" were all put into storage and kept until the end of the war. The only use the Sentinel saw was in the film ''The Rats of Tobruk'' in 1943 when a squadron of ''AC I'' tanks were modified to resemble German tanks.

===Survivors===
After the war, the Australian government disposed most of the tanks in 1945, most were sold off by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission. Today, about six Sentinels survive in intact conditions across the world. One notably in the Bovington Tank Museum, and three in Australia in the RAAC Tank Museum, Treloar Technology Centre, and one in the United States in the Collings Foundation.

== Media ==
https://youtu.be/4yihmbBzke8

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/849/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> AC IV Thunderbolt]

{{Britain medium tanks}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

H.35

2019-10-24T09:07:56Z

U47243178: Added a bit more history and changed a few sentences

{{Specs-Card|code=fr_hotchkiss_h35}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_H.35.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (Hotchkiss light tank model 1935) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The H.35 was removed from its reserve status and hidden from the main tech tree during [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] after the ammo update, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles. During its session in the main tree, it was arguably the ''worst reserve vehicle in War Thunder''.

Combining a 17 year old gun from WWI, average armour, and sub-par engine sounds resulting in people not being very fond of the tank adding to eventually its removal from the main tree.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The armour is decent and it ''will'' protect you from incoming long-range shots... but nothing more than that. At close ranges, anything bigger than HMG fire can shred your tank very easily. If you're lucky enough to survive a shot, retreat and ask your allies for help.

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 34 mm (8-87°) ''Front plate'' 22 mm (75-85°) ''Upper glacis'' 34 mm (31°) ''Central glacis'' 34 mm (30°) ''Lower glacis'' || 34 mm (1-33°) 34 mm (1-2°) || 34 mm (31°) ''Top'' 34 mm ''Bottom'' (7-32°) || 22 mm
|-
| Turret || 45 + 25 mm (5°) ''Turret front'' 45 mm (28-30°) ''Left side'' 25 mm (10-19°) ''Gun mantlet'' 35 mm (9-88°) ''Vision port'' || 40 mm (1-28°) 35 mm (8-87°) ''Vision ports'' || 40 mm (8-63°) || 25 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 40 mm || 40 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 15 mm thick.
* Belly is 8mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 10mm thick.

=== Mobility ===

With its low speed, don't even dream of bold flanking manœuvres, you must rely on road and downhills in order to achieve a decent speed. Climbing hills and turning on the spot are also hard thing to achieve while driving this vehicle. The only thing "light" about this tank is the weight.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 10.6 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 31 (AB)
|-
|28 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|90
|100
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|71
|75
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|8.49
|9.43
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|6.70
|7.07
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|SA18 L/21 (37 mm)}}

With only 36 mm of penetration, poor post-penetration damage and a long reload time, this tank's main gun is the main failing of the H.35. With -13° of depression, it is actually a very depressing gun to shoot in a figurative and literal sense.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[SA18 L/21 (37 mm)|37 mm SA18 L/21]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 76 || -13°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 14.95 || 20.69 || 25.12 || 27.77 || 29.55
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 9.34 || 10.99 || 13.34 || 14.75 || 15.7
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 4.03 || 3.56 || 3.28 || 3.10
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 36 || 33 || 24 || 16 || 8 || 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Mle1937 || APCR || 600 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ° || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_H.35.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the H.35.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''76''' || 75 ''(+1)'' || 62 ''(+14)'' || 49 ''(+27)'' || 36 ''(+40)'' || 23 ''(+53)'' || 10 ''(+66)'' || 1 ''(+75)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 2,400 (150) || 1,350 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Playing the H.35 is a hard task. Having such a bad gun, it cannot reliably engage a fight without getting the first shot off; hence, one must stick with its teammates in order to survive an encounter. Never drag attention on yourself since anything bigger than HMG fire will shred you at normal combat ranges (~500 m).

====Tactics====

'''Hull down:'''

Since your turret armour is decent, a good way to use this tank can be to hide the hull behind a rock, an hill or any shell-proof prop and wait for the enemy to fall in your sights. This way, you will either be able to shoot at their weak side or have enough time to aim before they can react to your presence. Ensure yourself to pick a spot near a choke-point such as a capture point or a popular main road.

'''"Brawling":'''

In urban maps, narrow streets and crossroad allows for many flanking and close-quarter action: follow your team, always cover behind allied vehicles and don't bother stealing a score from them since it's about the only good shots you will get on an enemy with such a poor vehicle.

'''Fleeing:'''

Turn your back to the enemy and use your engine deck as a shield for the crew. Use this tactic anytime you are left alone and go find yourself another teammate. Don't use your reverse speed since it's too low : turn back and flee, your armour is as thick as on the front of your tank. Never stop to try a shot since your pursuers have a way better gun than yours.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Decent armour for its BR (at distances).
* Good depression of -13°.
* Tiny target.
* Thick and sloped turret makes good hull-down position.
* Coaxial MAC 31 MG.

'''Cons:'''

* Arguably the '''worst''' beginner ground vehicle: very frustrating to play.
* It has the worst APCR-shot in the entire game.
* APCR deals only punctual damage: unable to one-shot anything but other French light tanks.
* Reload speed is a little on the slow side for the caliber.
* Not very mobile for a light tank.
* Tracks are narrow, offering poor cross-country capability.
* HP/ton ratio is unsatisfying (8.49 HP/ton).
* Only two crew member allows for no survivability, and barely so with crew replenishment.

== History ==


Officially known as the Char Leger mle 1935 Hotchkiss (Hotchkiss Light Tank model 1935), this was a competitor with Renault's R.35 to replace the WWI-era FT-17 as France's infantry tank. While the infantry went with the R.35, the French cavalry adopted the H.35 to serve alongside the S.35 Somua. The R.35 and H.35 were very similar in construction and visual appearance, with the same turret and the SA 18 37mm main gun, a tank gun conversion of a 1916 infantry gun. Both tanks also used a cast hull, a novel idea in 1935. As with all French tanks, none were equipped with radios. The H.35, as a cavalry tank was heavier but also somewhat faster than the R.35.

In total 400 of the Hotchkiss model would be built, 300 for the cavalry and another 100 for the 13th and 38th independent tank battalions. Cavalry units equipped with the H.35 during the fall of France included the 4th Cuirassiers, the 11th (Motorized), 13th, 18th and 29th Dragoons, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armored Car Regiments, and the 5th Divisional Reconnaissance Group, in total comprising 16 squadrons of 16-20 tanks each. Another three H.35s were on trials with the Polish Army at the onset of war in September, 1939. They, along with 4 stray R.35s, fought in an ad hoc unit on the Ukrainian front until the fall of Poland.

Another 900 R.35s, using the same turret, the SA 18 gun and a very similar hull, were in service in 1940, in 20 tank battalions, making it the most common tank in French service during the war. In total, somewhere between 1400 and 2000 of the Renault model would be built. Another 190 of the R.35s were exported pre-war, to Poland (50), Yugoslavia (50), Turkey (50), and Romania (40). Most of those in Polish service were with the 21st Light Tank Battalion, which escaped to Romania without seeing combat; it is unclear how many of the Yugoslav-purchased tanks were even delivered before the France fell, but those that arrived served with that country's 2nd Tank Battalion, which saw limited or no action during the 1941 invasion; after that country fell those R.35s would have been turned over to the Romanians as well. The Romanians would upgrade their R.35s with captured Russian 45 mm tank guns and continue to use them through to 1944.

The SA 18-armed R.35 also continued in service with Vichy France until 1942, and were used in fighting in Syria and North Africa. Another 124 SA 18-armed R.35s were turned over by the Germans to Italy, where they fought and were lost in the invasion of Sicily in 1942. The Germans converted another 174 R.35s to tank destroyers (PanzerJager), generally armed with 47mm guns in the place of turrets and used primarily in France and secondary theatres. 110 of these were still in service at the start of 1944. Syria would enploy these tanks in the [[wikipedia:1947–1949_Palestine_war|1947-1949 Palistine War]] however they were vastly outdated and were enployed more for more of a fear factor than tatical use. They would also later be refit with a QF 2 pounder gun and used in the [[wikipedia:1958_Lebanon_crisis|1958 Lebanon Crisis]] and would be the last recorded use of the vechile.

== Media ==
When it was removed along with the other tanks it caused many Warthunder Youtubers and community members to request it be put back in the game which would eventually happen.

== 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;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
* ''other literature.''

{{France light tanks}}

A.C.IV

2019-10-24T08:56:30Z

U47243178: Fixed up a bit more text

{{Specs-Card|code=uk_ac4_thunderbolt}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_A.C.IV.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the ''AC IV Thunderbolt'' or the ''AC IV Sentinel'', is a premium Rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank on the British tree {{Battle-rating}}. It was released some time after [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. Armed with a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder gun]], it has a high firepower for the battle rating it is in, able to effectively fight any other tanks at the battle rating. The Thunderbolt is also a small and maneuverable tank able to exploit harsh terrain to target the enemy.

The AC IV is a relatively small medium tank in comparison to the common mainstay of the other countries, especially when compared to the American [[M4A2|Sherman]] tanks. The Sentinel also has a good maneuverability and power-to-weight ratio for the propulsion, able to accelerate to its max speed of roughly 30 km/h quickly and stay there on stable terrain. The tank has a great advantage of a decent reverse speed in comparison to other medium tanks of its caliber, with a reverse speed almost the same speed as forward. The addition of the 17-pounder gun also gives this tank a whopping high firepower for the size, so it can stand a chance against tanks of the same tier despite being out of the league in terms of armour.

The tank in the game is the version planned for serial production, so it has the hull of the AC III; unlike the actual prototype design developed, which used the hull from the AC I version.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The AC IV Thunderbolt's armour have a high tendency to bounce shells. This is obvious with the extreme slope on the from of the tank, and turret design. The armour itself is not thick, but thanks to the angle of it this tank can be very fierce competition to enemy vehicles.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50.8 mm (66-67°) ''Frontal glacis'' 50.8 mm (30°) ''Driver's port'' 50.8 mm (7-68°) ''Lower glacis'' || 44.45 mm (0-12°) || 22.22 mm (78°) ''Top'' 44.45 mm (21-52°) ''Bottom'' || 22.22 mm
|-
| Turret || 63.5 mm (4-47°) ''Turret front'' 25.4-63.5 mm (1-68°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-88°) || 63.5 mm (1-53°) || 35 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm || 35 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm.
* The rear bottom area has a track placed there, providing 20 mm of extra armour.
* The commander cupola is extended outwards from the left side of the turret, creating a vulnerable unsloped area vulnerable to weaker guns.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armour weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 26.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 53 (AB)
|-
|48 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|615
|757
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|351
|397
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|23.29
|28.67
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|13.29
|15.04
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 17-pounder]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 47 || -6°/+20° || ±180° || N/A
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 10.7 || 14.8 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 10.7 || 12.6 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 7.60 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 160 || 157 || 133 || 112 || 96 || 86
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 165 || 160 || 138 || 108 || 94 || 81
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 171 || 168 || 156 || 143 || 130 || 120
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 7.0 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 580 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity in m/s
! Projectile Mass in kg
! ''Screen radius in m''
! ''Screen time in s''
! ''Screen hold time in s:''
! ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
|-
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 754 || 8.4 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks A.C.IV.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the AC IV Thunderbolt]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |9th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''50''' || XX ''(+X)'' || XX ''(+X)'' || ''35 (+15)'' || ''45 (+5)'' || 10 ''(+40)'' || ''14 (+36)'' || 31 ''(+19)'' || 39 ''(+11)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 4,250 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Exploit the A.C. IV's maneuverability against the heavier tanks, plus the 17-pounder tank allows for a penetration through the enemy's armour to cause internal damages. The fast reverse speed makes the "shoot-and-scoot" tactic a viable method against the enemy, and should be the prime one as the armour of the Sentinel is not exactly the most durable at only 50 mm flat. However, the sloping nature of the armour could give the bouncing capability of the tank comparable to the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]], it's even arguably much better. So while the weight class is definitely against the Sentinel, a chance is always there to take out the opposition.

"Shoot-and-scoot" tactics are the best tactics to use with this vehicle. The Sentinel's armour does not let the tank be a brawler, so it must be more "sneaky" against the enemies. Another thing to note is the driver's hatch at the front of the tank. To avoid a frontally penetrating shot, always angle the driver's hatch away from the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

*Good sloped armour.
*High penetration solid shot rounds.
*Good manoeuvrability.
*Fast reverse speed.
*Small profile.

'''Cons:'''

*Sloped armour only on the front.
**Susceptible to large caliber HE.
*Only 44mm (4.4cm) of side armour.
*Cannon lacks armour-piercing rounds with high-explosive filler.
*No APDS rounds, unlike other British medium tanks at this rank.

== History ==


===Development===
Australia began designing a tank in November 1940 as the ''AC I'', and was intended to be a cruiser tank weighing between 16 to 20 tons with a [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder gun]]. With no prior experience in producing a domestic tank, Australia sent a task force to the United States to study the [[M3 Lee|M3 Medium]] design to understand the in-and-outs of a tank. They also received the aid of Colonel W.D. Watson MC in December 1940 from Britain, who has many years of tank designing experience. The overall mission ended up having the tank design to have a similar concept as the Canadian ''[[M4A5|Ram]]'' tank, being based off the the M3 Medium chassis and mated with a domestic design of their choice for the upper part along with the incorporation of a suspension system of horizontal rubber cylinder springs seen on many early-war French tanks notably the [[H.39]] and [[H.35]]. The Australian attached the chassis with a hull and turret with design similarities to the British [[Crusader Mk III|Crusader]] tanks. The design started to become less of a cruiser tank and more of a medium tank by American specifications due to the attempt to up-armour and up-gun the tank to keep up with German armour development.

The first design was completed in February 1942 as the Cruiser Tank Mark 1 (AC I) and designated the "Sentinel". The design was simplified by using existing parts of current tanks and using a cast hull and turret. The entire hull being casted would be the first in history as many tanks of the era did not use such techniques. Although originally specified for a 2-pounder, it was then asked for a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] armament but due to the manufacturing of such guns not begining at the time in Australia they would have to use the 2 pounder for the first 65 produced. Two Vickers machine gun were used as the coaxial and hull machine gun the later having an armoured mount to protect its water sleeve resulting in a rather lewd looking front of which is made fun of to this day. With the power of three Cadillac V8 Petrol engines. It was unorthodox, but powerful enough to propel the vehicle. 65 of these tanks were made by June 1943 before being succeeded by a more advanced design known as ''AC III'', also known as the "Thunderbolt". It had better armour and an improved firepower in the form of the 25-pounder howitzer. Despite the bigger gun, the 54-inch turret ring was never expanded to accommodate for the gun's larger size, so the crew experienced a slightly cramped turret interior for the benefit of having a better high-explosive charge and armour-piercing capability. Other differences in the design was the removal of the hull machine gun and a different set-up of the three Cadillac engines. One pilot model was built and plans were made for a production for 25 tanks for further trials, but the program was terminated.

Another attempt was made to increase Australian tank firepower with the '''AC IV''' design. It first started when the designers check to see if the turret could mount the massive 17-pounder in use by the British to fight the heavier and more protected German tanks. When the tests proved successful, the 17-pounder was chosen to be the gun for the ''AC IV'', with a new and larger turret and 70-inch turret ring to improve crew comfort. These tanks were only made for evaluation purposes only and were never mass-produced for equipping the armoured units. However it would be the only commonwealth tank ever to mount such a gun.

===Termination===
The ''AC IV'' design, along with the entire Australian Cruiser tank program, was terminated in July 1943, ending with only 65 tanks produced and a few prototype models. The reason was that the funds were better spent improving the infrastructure than building new tanks due to the large number of American tanks such as the [[M4|M4 Medium]] that were being supplied to Australia. The AC "Sentinel" were all put into storage and kept until the end of the war. The only use the Sentinel saw was in the film ''The Rats of Tobruk'' in 1943 when a squadron of ''AC I'' tanks were modified to resemble German tanks.

===Survivors===
After the war, the Australian government disposed most of the tanks in 1945, most were sold off by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission. Today, about six Sentinels survive in intact conditions across the world. One notably in the Bovington Tank Museum, and three in Australia in the RAAC Tank Museum, Treloar Technology Centre, and one in the United States in the Collings Foundation.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/849/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> AC IV Thunderbolt]

{{Britain medium tanks}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

A.C.IV

2019-10-24T08:55:13Z

U47243178: Added more detail to the development of the tank and fixed a few grammatical and spelling errors.

{{Specs-Card|code=uk_ac4_thunderbolt}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_A.C.IV.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the ''AC IV Thunderbolt'' or the ''AC IV Sentinel'', is a premium Rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank on the British tree {{Battle-rating}}. It was released some time after [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. Armed with a [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder gun]], it has a high firepower for the battle rating it is in, able to effectively fight any other tanks at the battle rating. The Thunderbolt is also a small and maneuverable tank able to exploit harsh terrain to target the enemy.

The AC IV is a relatively small medium tank in comparison to the common mainstay of the other countries, especially when compared to the American [[M4A2|Sherman]] tanks. The Sentinel also has a good maneuverability and power-to-weight ratio for the propulsion, able to accelerate to its max speed of roughly 30 km/h quickly and stay there on stable terrain. The tank has a great advantage of a decent reverse speed in comparison to other medium tanks of its caliber, with a reverse speed almost the same speed as forward. The addition of the 17-pounder gun also gives this tank a whopping high firepower for the size, so it can stand a chance against tanks of the same tier despite being out of the league in terms of armour.

The tank in the game is the version planned for serial production, so it has the hull of the AC III; unlike the actual prototype design developed, which used the hull from the AC I version.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The AC IV Thunderbolt's armour have a high tendency to bounce shells. This is obvious with the extreme slope on the from of the tank, and turret design. The armour itself is not thick, but thanks to the angle of it this tank can be a very fierce competition.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50.8 mm (66-67°) ''Frontal glacis'' 50.8 mm (30°) ''Driver's port'' 50.8 mm (7-68°) ''Lower glacis'' || 44.45 mm (0-12°) || 22.22 mm (78°) ''Top'' 44.45 mm (21-52°) ''Bottom'' || 22.22 mm
|-
| Turret || 63.5 mm (4-47°) ''Turret front'' 25.4-63.5 mm (1-68°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-88°) || 63.5 mm (1-53°) || 35 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm || 35 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm.
* The rear bottom area has a track placed there, providing 20 mm of extra armour.
* The commander cupola is extended outwards from the left side of the turret, creating a vulnerable unsloped area vulnerable to weaker guns.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armour weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 26.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 53 (AB)
|-
|48 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|615
|757
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|351
|397
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|23.29
|28.67
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|13.29
|15.04
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 17-pounder]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 47 || -6°/+20° || ±180° || N/A
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 10.7 || 14.8 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 10.7 || 12.6 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 7.60 || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 160 || 157 || 133 || 112 || 96 || 86
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 165 || 160 || 138 || 108 || 94 || 81
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 171 || 168 || 156 || 143 || 130 || 120
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 7.0 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 580 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity in m/s
! Projectile Mass in kg
! ''Screen radius in m''
! ''Screen time in s''
! ''Screen hold time in s:''
! ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
|-
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 754 || 8.4 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks A.C.IV.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the AC IV Thunderbolt]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |9th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''50''' || XX ''(+X)'' || XX ''(+X)'' || ''35 (+15)'' || ''45 (+5)'' || 10 ''(+40)'' || ''14 (+36)'' || 31 ''(+19)'' || 39 ''(+11)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 4,250 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Exploit the A.C. IV's maneuverability against the heavier tanks, plus the 17-pounder tank allows for a penetration through the enemy's armour to cause internal damages. The fast reverse speed makes the "shoot-and-scoot" tactic a viable method against the enemy, and should be the prime one as the armour of the Sentinel is not exactly the most durable at only 50 mm flat. However, the sloping nature of the armour could give the bouncing capability of the tank comparable to the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]], it's even arguably much better. So while the weight class is definitely against the Sentinel, a chance is always there to take out the opposition.

"Shoot-and-scoot" tactics are the best tactics to use with this vehicle. The Sentinel's armour does not let the tank be a brawler, so it must be more "sneaky" against the enemies. Another thing to note is the driver's hatch at the front of the tank. To avoid a frontally penetrating shot, always angle the driver's hatch away from the enemy.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

*Good sloped armour.
*High penetration solid shot rounds.
*Good manoeuvrability.
*Fast reverse speed.
*Small profile.

'''Cons:'''

*Sloped armour only on the front.
**Susceptible to large caliber HE.
*Only 44mm (4.4cm) of side armour.
*Cannon lacks armour-piercing rounds with high-explosive filler.
*No APDS rounds, unlike other British medium tanks at this rank.

== History ==


===Development===
Australia began designing a tank in November 1940 as the ''AC I'', and was intended to be a cruiser tank weighing between 16 to 20 tons with a [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder gun]]. With no prior experience in producing a domestic tank, Australia sent a task force to the United States to study the [[M3 Lee|M3 Medium]] design to understand the in-and-outs of a tank. They also received the aid of Colonel W.D. Watson MC in December 1940 from Britain, who has many years of tank designing experience. The overall mission ended up having the tank design to have a similar concept as the Canadian ''[[M4A5|Ram]]'' tank, being based off the the M3 Medium chassis and mated with a domestic design of their choice for the upper part along with the incorporation of a suspension system of horizontal rubber cylinder springs seen on many early-war French tanks notably the [[H.39]] and [[H.35]]. The Australian attached the chassis with a hull and turret with design similarities to the British [[Crusader Mk III|Crusader]] tanks. The design started to become less of a cruiser tank and more of a medium tank by American specifications due to the attempt to up-armour and up-gun the tank to keep up with German armour development.

The first design was completed in February 1942 as the Cruiser Tank Mark 1 (AC I) and designated the "Sentinel". The design was simplified by using existing parts of current tanks and using a cast hull and turret. The entire hull being casted would be the first in history as many tanks of the era did not use such techniques. Although originally specified for a 2-pounder, it was then asked for a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] armament but due to the manufacturing of such guns not begining at the time in Australia they would have to use the 2 pounder for the first 65 produced. Two Vickers machine gun were used as the coaxial and hull machine gun the later having an armoured mount to protect its water sleeve resulting in a rather lewd looking front of which is made fun of to this day. With the power of three Cadillac V8 Petrol engines. It was unorthodox, but powerful enough to propel the vehicle. 65 of these tanks were made by June 1943 before being succeeded by a more advanced design known as ''AC III'', also known as the "Thunderbolt". It had better armour and an improved firepower in the form of the 25-pounder howitzer. Despite the bigger gun, the 54-inch turret ring was never expanded to accommodate for the gun's larger size, so the crew experienced a slightly cramped turret interior for the benefit of having a better high-explosive charge and armour-piercing capability. Other differences in the design was the removal of the hull machine gun and a different set-up of the three Cadillac engines. One pilot model was built and plans were made for a production for 25 tanks for further trials, but the program was terminated.

Another attempt was made to increase Australian tank firepower with the '''AC IV''' design. It first started when the designers check to see if the turret could mount the massive 17-pounder in use by the British to fight the heavier and more protected German tanks. When the tests proved successful, the 17-pounder was chosen to be the gun for the ''AC IV'', with a new and larger turret and 70-inch turret ring to improve crew comfort. These tanks were only made for evaluation purposes only and were never mass-produced for equipping the armoured units. However it would be the only commonwealth tank ever to mount such a gun.

===Termination===
The ''AC IV'' design, along with the entire Australian Cruiser tank program, was terminated in July 1943, ending with only 65 tanks produced and a few prototype models. The reason was that the funds were better spent improving the infrastructure than building new tanks due to the large number of American tanks such as the [[M4|M4 Medium]] that were being supplied to Australia. The AC "Sentinel" were all put into storage and kept until the end of the war. The only use the Sentinel saw was in the film ''The Rats of Tobruk'' in 1943 when a squadron of ''AC I'' tanks were modified to resemble German tanks.

===Survivors===
After the war, the Australian government disposed most of the tanks in 1945, most were sold off by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission. Today, about six Sentinels survive in intact conditions across the world. One notably in the Bovington Tank Museum, and three in Australia in the RAAC Tank Museum, Treloar Technology Centre, and one in the United States in the Collings Foundation.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/849/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> AC IV Thunderbolt]

{{Britain medium tanks}}
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}