War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

USS Alaska

2022-11-27T11:31:53Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American battlecruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Drone Age"]].

The Alaska-class were major warships envisioned as a counter to the rumours of super-/battlecruisers under construction by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and so the Alaska-class was designed to be able to eliminate any possible cruiser and the rumoured small battlecruisers in a gunfight whilst having the speed to evade all but the fastest of battleships. As it turned out, the speculated Japanese warships were never even built and the Alaska-class never saw surface action against other warships, only taking part in escort and shore bombardment missions.

There has long been debate over whether the vessels should be classed as large cruisers or battlecruisers. People in favour of calling them large cruisers point to the fact that the ship is essentially an upscaled Baltimore class cruiser, that the ship has always been officially classed by the USN as large cruisers and that, typically, battlecruisers have the same calibre main armament as on contemporary battleships, which the Alaska-class does not.

People in favour of calling them battlecruisers argue that the origin of the design as a cruiser has no relevance on its combat capability, which far exceeds any conventional cruiser and is more in line with other capital ships. They argue that the large cruiser classification was invented purely for the Alaska-class and no other navy has used it because there is no need for it when the battlecruiser classification already exists, and that warships can often have misleading official classifications, such as the modern Japanese Izumo-class destroyers. They postulate that the theme of battlecruisers having contemporary battleship guns is just a trend, not a rule, as displayed by the in-game Kronshtadt, an extremely similar vessel to Alaska and yet everyone agrees that the Kronshtadt-class were battlecruisers.

Post war, and like the battlecruiser concept in general, they were viewed as obsolete due to being too combat ineffective compared to and against modern battleships while being seen as too resource and cost inefficient compared to cruisers. There was some thought given to converting them to missile ships but these plans fell through and, by the early 1960s, they were broken up for scrap.

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

''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
[[File:Alaska Armor and Internals.jpg|thumb|Armour and internal layout of USS Alaska]]

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Roof/Deck
|-
|Main Caliber Turret
|325 mm
|152.4 mm (front, cheeks)
133.35 mm (rear)
|133.35 mm
|127 mm
|-
|Auxiliary Caliber Turret
|25.4 mm
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|25.4 mm
|-
|Barbette
|279.4 mm (upper)
38.1 mm (lower)
|330.2 mm (front, upper)
304.8 mm (rear, upper)

38.1 mm (lower)
|279.4 mm (upper)
38.1 mm (lower)
|48.26 mm
|-
|Citadel
|15.87 mm (upper)
260.35 mm (middle)

50.8 mm (lower)
|28.56 mm (upper)
228.6 mm (middle)

127 - 177.8 mm (lower)

19.05 mm (inner)
|15.87 mm (upper)
260.35 mm (middle)

50.8 mm (lower)
|36.195 mm (upper)
107.95 mm (middle, magazine)

96.52 mm (middle, machinery)

19.05 mm (lower, magazines only)
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |269.99 mm
|127 mm
|}
Additional Notes: Entire superstructure except for the funnel has 19.05 mm of antifragmentation armor

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|12-inch/50 Mark 8 (305 mm)}}The main armament of the Alaska is composed of a total of 9x 305mm 50-calibre cannons, arranged in three triple turrets with two superfiring fore and one aft. The gun handling is not slow, but not especially fast for the size of the turrets. The maximum reload speed is quite competitive at 20 seconds, though most players of the ship won't have a top level crew and thus will have a somewhat slower reload.

The Alaska has access to two shell types for the main guns.

The armour-piercing shell is the main one you'll use for opposing capital ships and occasionally on cruisers that may have a lot of armour or are angled. The AP shell of the Alaska was designed as a so called 'super-heavy' shell, which means that it has a lot bit more mass than a normal AP shell. This means the shell has less muzzle velocity, intended to give the shells a sharper descent angle when coming down on an opposing vessel, a little like a mortar, with the hopes of going through deck armour, which tends to be relatively thin.

The problem with this is that the US didn't realise that the range needed to have the shells drop at a flat enough angle on the deck to effectively penetrate most deck armour was quite a bit further than you could physically aim with any real accuracy. Even ignoring that, warships in naval battles tend to always want to close the range anyway in order to be able to aim accurately and/or use torpedoes, which would rapidly diminish the possibility of penetrating deck armour. What this means is that you simply cannot use the shells for their intended purpose of hitting deck armour, meanwhile the lower muzzle velocity makes aiming your AP shells more difficult and shells hitting the side of an enemy vessel are at a sharper angle than they would otherwise have been, which makes it unnecessarily harder to penetrate enemy side armour. Not only that but, as is typical for US warships, the AP shell has a relatively poor bursting charge of less than 8kg. The only thing that saves the shell from being completely useless is the relatively high penetration statistics with it retaining a more than moderate level of penetration at range due to the heavy shells momentum.

The HE shell of the Alaska is a more normal naval shell and the 35kg of explosive power is fairly decent for its calibre. Although it's not too competitive compared to the real hard hitting HE shells at top tier naval, this shell will still enable you effectively dispatch lightly armoured vessels such as destroyers and small cruisers without difficulty, as well as being able to harass anything on the deck of opposing capital ships.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| 12-inch Mk.17 HC || HE || 68 || 68 || 68 || 68 || 68 || 68
|-
| 12-inch Mk.18 AP || APCBC || 621 || 582 || 524 || 475 || 434 || 374
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| 12-inch Mk.17 HC || HE || 808 || 426.38 || 0 || 0.1 || 35.31 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| 12-inch Mk.18 AP || APCBC || 762 || 517 || 0.035 || 17 || 7.73 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
| Common Mk.32 || Common || 124 || 103 || 77 || 58 || 46 || 37
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 150 || 125 || 93 || 71 || 56 || 45
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Common Mk.32 || Common || 792 || 24.49 || 0.01 || 6 || 1,150 || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 792 || 25 || 0.01 || 6 || 906.5 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="12" | Proximity-fused shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Arming distance (m)
! rowspan="2" | Trigger radius (m)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 457 || 23 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|OS2U-1}}

Located midships are two catapults with one OS2U-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the OS2U-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilize the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

Alaska is a versatile warrior capable of achieving multiple objectives. However, its generally unwise to spawn Alaska as your first ship (unless you are in a tight squad) and here are the main reasons: First, you have to face the most intense early-game combat and may not spare focus to do multi-tasking. Second, Alaska's low damage output won't help you and your teammate win the early fight. Third, Alaska is tanky indeed but to absorb damage in this ship is the least optimal use and Arizona suits this role much better than her.

After securing the early game, you may spawn Alaska as your second ship and pursue for the mid-late game. Depending on the situation, you may chase down weakened opposing capital ships; sail straight towards one objective and secure the others with your floatplane; repel air raid and deny irregular motorboat tactics with your powerful autocannon arrays. Eventually, you will claim a victory in this ship.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good survivability
* Excellent top speed and manoeuvrable
* Massive amount of AA defenses
* Two scout seaplanes

'''Cons:'''

* Full potential is locked behind high tier modifications (max top speed and floatplanes), stock ship is hardship
* Low damage output, she has difficulties in securing kills
* One deadly weak spot above waterline

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7814-development-uss-alaska-cb-1-en|[Devblog] USS Alaska (CB-1)]]

{{ShipManufacturer New York Shipbuilding Corp.}}
{{USA battlecruisers}}

File:Alaska Armor and Internals.jpg

2022-11-27T11:31:25Z

U61132522:

Armor and Internal Layout of USS Alaska

USS Pittsburgh

2022-11-27T10:09:36Z

U61132522:

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]].

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

The Pittsburgh is the final heavy cruiser in the US tech tree, and it has all the power the justify its lofty position. Covered from bow to stern in anti-fragmentation armor, it is incredibly resistant to the rain of high-explosive shells commonly encountered in battle. It further improves on the protection of the New Orleans, with the thicker turret sides making it much less likely for the turrets to be disabled. The barbette armor is also improved.

The greatest improvements lie in the thicker armored belt and new, fully enclosed 5"/38 twin mounts, the former of which renders its machinery spaces virtually impenetrable by enemy cruisers and the latter making them much more difficult to be disabled and set on fire than the treaty heavy cruisers that came before it.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Main Caliber Turret
|203 mm
|82.55 mm (front, cheeks)
38.1 mm (rear)
|38.1 mm
|76.2 mm
|-
|Auxiliary Caliber Turret
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|-
|Forward Magazine
|140 mm
|76 mm (upper)
102 mm (lower)
|
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|Citadel
|152 mm
|152 mm (upper)
102 mm (lower)
|152 mm
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|After Magazine
|
|76 mm (upper)
50.8 mm (lower)
|127 mm
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|Bridge
|165 mm
|50.8 mm
|139.7 mm
|50.8 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |160 mm
|
|}
Additional Notes: Both magazines and the citadel are protected by fuel tanks.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 12 (203 mm)}}

USS Pittsburgh, being a WW2 US cruiser, shoots super-heavy AP shells out of her 203 mm guns. These shells are heavier than others, weighing over 150 kg. Most other nations' shells weigh usually 110 kg. This gives them a longer flight time, but a steeper angle. The idea was that, at long ranges, the shells would penetrate battleship's decks from above instead of hitting the much thicker side armour. In spite of this, they still have more than enough penetration inside of 8 km to cleave through the belt, magazine, and barbette armor of even the most well-protected cruiser at 5.7 and above, allowing the Pittsburgh to quickly disarm and dispatch enemy cruisers in but a few well-aimed salvos.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| Mk.14 Common || Common || 110 || 98 || 80 || 66 || 56 || 43
|-
| Mk.21 APCBC || APCBC || 390 || 348 || 289 || 243 || 207 || 165
|-
| Mk.25 HC || HE || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61
|-
| Mk.17 SP Common || SP Common || 131 || 116 || 95 || 79 || 66 || 50
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| Mk.14 Common || Common || 823 || 117.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 4.84 || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Mk.21 APCBC || APCBC || 762 || 151.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 2.21 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Mk.25 HC || HE || 823 || 117.9 || 0 || 0.1 || 9.5 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Mk.17 SP Common || SP Common || 823 || 117.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 4.61 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

The secondary armament on the {{PAGENAME}} are six dual-purpose, dual-mounted 127 mm turrets, weapons that a majority of other Bluewater ships use and so players are quite familiar in their operation at this stage. These turrets are the {{PAGENAME}}'s first line of defence against PT boats and aircraft.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 150 || 125 || 93 || 71 || 56 || 45
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 792 || 25 || 0.01 || 6 || 906.5 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="12" | Proximity-fused shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Arming distance (m)
! rowspan="2" | Trigger radius (m)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 457 || 23 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|3 inch Mk.33 (76 mm)}}

USS Pittsburgh carries ten 3 inch Mk.33 automatic cannons in twin installation. As part of her AAA, the gun fires HE-VT shells in her default configuration and has no other ammo options. The gun has a rate of fire of 50 rpm and overheats in 35 seconds. Unlike the 40 mm Bofors, the 3-inch gun mount has no shield or surrounding parapet to defend against shrapnel; the side mounts can only rotate 180° so they can't shoot over the superstructure and cover another broadside, whereas the Bofors can rotate 360°. Overall, Pittsburgh's AA barrage is quite sparse, and she is completely exposed to air raid after all AA guns are overheated.

On the bright side, the AI gunners that man them can target larger opponents such as destroyers and cruisers, although the effect that this has on the Pittsburgh's damage output is minimal.

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

* Anti-fragmentation armour can help protect against cruiser-caliber HE shells
* Well-armoured hull increase its survivability
* Decent mobility
* Great overall firepower, with an access to super-heavy AP shell and large number of dual-purposes cannons
* Huge numbers of proximity fuse AA battery provide formidable anti-air defense

'''Cons:'''

* Dreadful stock grind thanks to its terrible default SAP shell
* No torpedo armaments
* Main magazine sits far above the waterline, can be detonated with a well-placed shot
* No scout planes, unlike her sister ship

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==


* [[USS Baltimore]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7312-development-uss-pittsburgh-the-longest-ship-in-the-world-en|[Devblog] USS Pittsburgh: The Longest Ship in the World]]

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Pittsburgh

2022-11-27T10:08:07Z

U61132522: Added protection table for the ship, minor edit to primary armament

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]].

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

The Pittsburgh is the final heavy cruiser in the US tech tree, and it has all the power the justify its lofty position. Covered from bow to stern in anti-fragmentation armor, it is incredibly resistant to the rain of high-explosive shells commonly encountered in battle. It further improves on the protection of the New Orleans, with the thicker turret sides making it much less likely for the turrets to be disabled. The barbette armor is also improved.

The greatest improvements lie in the thicker armored belt and new, fully enclosed 5"/38 twin mounts, the former of which renders its machinery spaces virtually impenetrable by enemy cruisers and the latter making them much more difficult to be disabled and set on fire than the treaty heavy cruisers that came before it.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Main Caliber Turret
|203 mm
|82.55 mm (front, cheeks)
38.1 mm (rear)
|38.1 mm
|76.2 mm
|-
|Auxiliary Caliber Turret
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|19.05 mm
|-
|Forward Magazine
|140 mm
|76 mm (upper)
102 mm (lower)
|
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|Citadel
|152 mm
|152 mm (upper)
102 mm (loweAdditional Notes: The sides of the magazines and machinery spaces are all protected by fuel tanks.dgr)
|152 mm
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|After Magazine
|
|76 mm (upper)
50.8 mm (lower)
|127 mm
|28.575 mm (upper)
63.5 mm (lower)
|-
|Bridge
|165 mm
|50.8 mm
|139.7 mm
|50.8 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |160 mm
|
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 12 (203 mm)}}

USS Pittsburgh, being a WW2 US cruiser, shoots super-heavy AP shells out of her 203 mm guns. These shells are heavier than others, weighing over 150 kg. Most other nations' shells weigh usually 110 kg. This gives them a longer flight time, but a steeper angle. The idea was that, at long ranges, the shells would penetrate battleship's decks from above instead of hitting the much thicker side armour. In spite of this, they still have more than enough penetration inside of 8 km to cleave through the belt, magazine, and barbette armor of even the most well-protected cruiser at 5.7 and above, allowing the Pittsburgh to quickly disarm and dispatch enemy cruisers in but a few well-aimed salvos.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| Mk.14 Common || Common || 110 || 98 || 80 || 66 || 56 || 43
|-
| Mk.21 APCBC || APCBC || 390 || 348 || 289 || 243 || 207 || 165
|-
| Mk.25 HC || HE || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61 || 61
|-
| Mk.17 SP Common || SP Common || 131 || 116 || 95 || 79 || 66 || 50
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| Mk.14 Common || Common || 823 || 117.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 4.84 || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Mk.21 APCBC || APCBC || 762 || 151.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 2.21 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Mk.25 HC || HE || 823 || 117.9 || 0 || 0.1 || 9.5 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Mk.17 SP Common || SP Common || 823 || 117.9 || 0.035 || 9 || 4.61 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

The secondary armament on the {{PAGENAME}} are six dual-purpose, dual-mounted 127 mm turrets, weapons that a majority of other Bluewater ships use and so players are quite familiar in their operation at this stage. These turrets are the {{PAGENAME}}'s first line of defence against PT boats and aircraft.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 1,000 m !! 2,500 m !! 5,000 m !! 7,500 m !! 10,000 m !! 15,000 m
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 150 || 125 || 93 || 71 || 56 || 45
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (s)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAC Mk.34 || HE || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| SP Common Mk.46 || SP Common || 792 || 25 || 0.01 || 6 || 906.5 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="12" | Proximity-fused shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Arming distance (m)
! rowspan="2" | Trigger radius (m)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| AAVT Mk.31 || HE-VT || 792 || 25 || 0 || 0.1 || 457 || 23 || 3,220 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|3 inch Mk.33 (76 mm)}}

USS Pittsburgh carries ten 3 inch Mk.33 automatic cannons in twin installation. As part of her AAA, the gun fires HE-VT shells in her default configuration and has no other ammo options. The gun has a rate of fire of 50 rpm and overheats in 35 seconds. Unlike the 40 mm Bofors, the 3-inch gun mount has no shield or surrounding parapet to defend against shrapnel; the side mounts can only rotate 180° so they can't shoot over the superstructure and cover another broadside, whereas the Bofors can rotate 360°. Overall, Pittsburgh's AA barrage is quite sparse, and she is completely exposed to air raid after all AA guns are overheated.

On the bright side, the AI gunners that man them can target larger opponents such as destroyers and cruisers, although the effect that this has on the Pittsburgh's damage output is minimal.

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

* Anti-fragmentation armour can help protect against cruiser-caliber HE shells
* Well-armoured hull increase its survivability
* Decent mobility
* Great overall firepower, with an access to super-heavy AP shell and large number of dual-purposes cannons
* Huge numbers of proximity fuse AA battery provide formidable anti-air defense

'''Cons:'''

* Dreadful stock grind thanks to its terrible default SAP shell
* No torpedo armaments
* Main magazine sits far above the waterline, can be detonated with a well-placed shot
* No scout planes, unlike her sister ship

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==


* [[USS Baltimore]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7312-development-uss-pittsburgh-the-longest-ship-in-the-world-en|[Devblog] USS Pittsburgh: The Longest Ship in the World]]

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS New Orleans

2022-08-25T08:47:26Z

U61132522: added protection table

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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

The USS Orleans is quite a survivable ship, and a quantum leap in protection over its other American treaty heavy predecessors. Chief among these changes is an increase in barbette protection from 37 mm to 127 mm and turret front armour from 63.5 mm to 203 mm. This resolves the biggest weakness of earlier US heavy cruisers, which was a tendency have their shell rooms and turrets ripped apart early in a fight, causing devastating fires, significant crew losses, and leaving them completely defenseless. Its turrets are still not as resistant as those on the Brooklyns and Clevelands, owing to the 38 mm sides curving around to form its cheeks.

The same cannot be said of its secondary armament, which are still relatively dated open 5"/25 single mounts and as a result will be knocked out very early in a match and is prone to being set on fire.
[[File:USS New Orleans Layout and Protection.png|right|thumb|350px|Armour and internal layout of the USS New Orleans]]
The New Orleans also has significantly improved protection for its engine room, which has the double effect of preventing engine room knock-outs (and associated crew losses and fires) and also making it more likely that you'll be able to turn around and escape from a sticky situation under your own power. Although main magazine protection is reduced somewhat, it is still strong enough and deep enough in the hull that ammo racks from cruiser calibre guns are extremely unlikely. As a nice little bonus, it maintains the strake of anti-fragmentation armour on its upper hull; a small plus compared to the Cleveland.

All in all, the USS New Orleans has everything in protection that the USS Portland, Northampton, and Pensacola lacked while keeping the same decent armament (and, an argument could be made for having better overall damage output due to the turrets spending less time blacked out in a game) and is comparable in durability to the USS Cleveland, making it a strong competitor on the high seas of War Thunder.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|203 mm
|38 mm
|38 mm
|70 mm
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|38.1 mm
|101.6 mm (upper)
76.2 mm (lower)
|N/A
|57.15 mm
|-
|Citadel
|76 mm
|127 mm
82.55 mm
|76 mm
|57.15 mm
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|N/A
|120.65 mm (upper)
76.2 mm (lower)
|38.1 mm
|57.15 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |127 mm
|N/A
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="4" |None
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm)}}

The main guns have a slow rotation and reload speed, with 17 seconds with a spaded crew, and 20 seconds stock. the guns also have somewhat moderate shells, but with that, the ship's main armament is poor in reload and rotation speed.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The 5-inch guns are highly effective at destroying aircraft at long range, and with the HE-VT shells unlocked, are even more effective at destroying aircraft at long range and killing unarmoured destroyers. However, the guns can't fire fast enough to kill destroyers or aircraft, and sometimes, the guns are targeted by stray shells, knocking them out.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V (20 mm)}}

The anti-aircraft armament is the shining sword with the New Orleans. The 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns are very effective at close range. These guns can fight back against aircraft, pesky torpedo boats, and even, in some cases, lower battle-rating destroyers. The Oerlikon and Bofors AA guns can pressure aircraft to stay away, while hidden torpedo boats who come in the sights of the secondary and tertiary armament will have second thoughts about attacking USS New Orleans.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships is one catapult for a SOC-1 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The USS New Orleans is a moderate top-tier ship. Being a step up from the three other heavy cruisers coming before it, the New Orleans is simply a USS Portland with much more anti-air capability. The downsides of the New Orleans are its below average shell dispersion, reload time, and rotation speed. The shells are somewhat moderate, and when the New Orleans is completely spaded, the heavy cruiser is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The silver lining about the ship is its huge anti-aircraft armament. In all, the ship has 28 Bofors and 24 Oerlikon AA guns, along with the eight 5"/25 guns that can act as dual-purpose weaponry.

When the enemy team starts spawning aircraft, most pilots will start heading towards the dreadnoughts on your team, so stay close to them and provide AA cover, pressuring aircraft to find different targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective AA against aircraft and small targets
* The 5-inch guns with HE-VT shells are effective against destroyers when guns are knocked out
* 8-inch guns are useful in close combat
* Very high amount of crew
* Very good anti-aircraft capability
* Able to support dreadnoughts in AA role
* Has anti-fragmentation armour
* Can take hits before sinking
* Fast when spaded
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* 8-inch guns have a slow reload speed
* Moderate speed when stock
* Stock time-fuzed Shells are poor against aircraft and naval targets
* Can't compete with fast-firing light cruisers
* Susceptible to torpedo damage
* No torpedo launchers
* Anti-fragmentation armour won't completely stop shells
* Guns rotate slowly

== History ==

[[File:USS New Orleans 1943.jpg|thumb|500x500px|USS New Orleans as seen in 1943 after her damage was repaired.]]
USS New Orleans (CA-32) was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy. As the last class of 10-thousand ton cruisers built for the US Navy (abiding by the conditions of the Washington Naval Treaty), she was initially classified as a light cruiser and subsequently reclassified due to her 8-inch calibre main armament. New Orleans had an extensive service history, and travelled abroad prior to the Second World War. During the war, she served extensively in the Pacific Theatre, surviving a crippling torpedo hit that almost sunk her. New Orleans was awarded 17 battle stars for her WWII service, making her one of the five most-decorated American vessels of WWII; her sister ships San Francisco and Minneapolis also made the list. She was decommissioned after the war, and scrapped in 1959.

=== Design and development ===
After the construction of the previous Portland, Northampton and Pensacola classes, the United States Navy (USN) began the construction of a new class of heavy cruiser - the New Orleans class. This was the last class of cruisers built to the 10-thousand-ton limit of the Washington naval treaty. The ships were intended to have a much heavier armour load than their predecessors, which were low in survivability. As a result, New Orleans' armour accounted for almost 15% of her total displacement, compared to 5-6% for the preceding ship classes. However, this resulted in a reduction in fuel stowage meaning that the New Orleans had a shorter range compared to her predecessors.

The ships themselves inherited the superstructure design of the preceding cruiser classes - however, the old tripod mast design was removed and replaced with a smoother forward superstructure. This change made the ships easily-distinguishable from their predecessors and was subsequently used on the Wichita, Cleveland and Baltimore classes of heavy cruisers. The ships, similar to the preceding Portland class, were built directly up to the 10 thousand ton limit; New Orleans herself displaced 9950 tons standard.

==== Technical specifications ====
New Orleans carried a main armament of nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple Mk 9 turrets, later upgraded to Mk 14 turrets during World War II. She also carried a secondary armament of eight single 5-inch 25 calibre guns for anti-aircraft defence. Rounding her armament off, New Orleans carried two 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns and eight 12.7 mm Browning machine guns for short-range Anti-aircraft armament. In the 1940s, her anti-aircraft armament was improved significantly with 24 x 40 mm Bofors guns in quad mounts and 28 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns in dual mounts.

Similar to other American cruisers, New Orleans didn't carry any torpedoes. Her engines developed 107 000 shaft horsepower giving her a top speed of 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h). Costing a total of 12 million dollars to build (non-inflation-adjusted), New Orleans was ordered in mid-1929 and laid down in March of 1931. She was eventually completed and commissioned on February 15th 1934.

=== Operational history ===
During her construction, New Orleans was reclassified as a heavy cruiser due to her 8-inch main armament. Thus, she was commissioned as CA-32. Following her commissioning, New Orleans sailed on a cruise to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, followed by a trip to the Panama canal to escort the Northampton-class cruiser USS Houston as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Hawaii. She later participated in exercises off of California and in the Atlantic, and participated in the first "Fleet week" where civilians could tour the naval vessel.

New Orleans was docked in the inner harbour during the Pearl harbour attack, without power as she was being refueled. Her crewmen frantically tried to raise steam and sail her away while her gunners fired at the attacking aircraft with small arms. As she had no electrical power, New Orleans' ammunition hoists were inoperational making her 5-inch AA guns nearly useless. Despite this, her crew members attempted to lift shells manually using a rope hoist. New Orleans suffered a near miss from a Japanese HE bomb, but was otherwise unscathed.

In early 1942, New Orleans sailed back to port in San Francisco to repair damage and receive a search radar, along with several 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She then returned to the Pacific, and subsequently saw combat action during the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, she tried to save the crippled carrier USS Lexington; she was responsible for evacuating crew members once it was apparent the old carrier could not be saved. She later escorted Yorktown during the Midway battle, but was detached to join the Enterprise battlegroup, and was not present when the Yorktown was crippled by Japanese bombers.

==== Battle of Tassafaronga ====
[[File:USS New Orleans battle damage.jpg|thumb|USS New Orleans steaming into Tulagi after her bow was sheared off by a torpedo.]]
In early November of 1942, New Orleans sailed for Fiji, and then returned to the Solomons for combat action. She was part of a heavy cruiser task force that engaged a Japanese transport squadron during the night of November 30th, in an engagement known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. During the battle, New Orleans, along with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers, spotted a Japanese troop convoy heading for the Solomons, escorted by eight destroyers. And thus began a short engagement limited by poor night-time visibility where the Japanese destroyer Takamani was sunk by gunfire. However, the rest of the Japanese destroyers were not fired upon, and launched a large number of Type 93 'Long Lance' heavy oxygen torpedoes.

At 23:27, Minneapolis was hit by two torpedoes in her engine rooms causing her to take heavy damage. New Orleans subsequently took evasive action, but was hit by a Type 93 that detonated her forward ammunition magazines. As a result, her bow was sheared off at the No. 1 turret and she was slowed to a speed of 2 knots. Subsequently, the cruisers Northampton and Pensacola were both hit, Northampton sinking and Pensacola taking severe damage.

==== Repairs and later service ====
[[File:Temporary bow fitted to USS New Orleans.jpg|thumb|New Orleans with a temporary bow allowing her to steam back to the United States for full repairs.]]
New Orleans, with her entire bow sheared off, limped back to Cockatoo dockyard in Australia; in fact, she sailed backwards (stern first) to avoid flooding the ship's frontal section. There, temporary repairs were made including the fitting of a 'stub bow' to cover the blown-off bow section. In March of 1943, she sailed for Puget Naval Yard where she was given a complete repair, and had a new bow section fitted. She also received a large anti-aircraft armament boost of 24 Bofors guns (6 x 4) and numerous more double Oerlikon cannons. Repairs completed, she returned to service in August of 1943.

New Orleans spent the entirety of 1944 in the Pacific theatre, providing heavy fire support for troop landings in the Marshall Islands. She later escorted the Essex-class carrier Lexington (named after the carrier that she attempted to save at the Battle of the Coral Sea) back to Pearl Harbour after she was torpedoed. She later escorted the American carrier task force during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she sank the light carrier Chiyoda with gunfire.

In early 1945, New Orleans returned to Mare Island for a refit, and then participated in the American invasion of Okinawa where she provided fire support for troops landing on the beaches. She returned to the Philippines in August of 1945, and was anchored at Subic Bay when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo. She then served in various duties after the war, repatriating American soldiers from China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. She returned to the United States in 1947 and was laid up in reserve, to be scrapped starting in 1959.

New Orleans was awarded 17 stars for her service, making her one of the most decorated ships in American history. In fact, she is tied for third place with three other vessels, two of which are her sister ships: USS San Francisco and USS Minneapolis. The only ships with more stars are the legendary USS Enterprise (20 stars) and the cruiser USS San Diego (18 stars). As well, five ships are named after sailors who perished on USS New Orleans during the battle of Tassafaronga: the destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876), and the destroyer escorts USS Hayter, USS Foreman, USS Swenning, and USS Haines.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Military Factory. (2017, May 30). USS New Orleans (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=uss-new-orleans-ca32-heavy-cruiser-united-states</nowiki>
* Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019, June 26). New Orleans II (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/new-orleans-ii.html</nowiki>
{{ShipManufacturer New York Navy Yard}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS New Orleans

2022-08-25T08:35:38Z

U61132522: described the effects of its armor protection

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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

The USS Orleans is quite a survivable ship, and a quantum leap in protection over its other American treaty heavy predecessors. Chief among these changes is an increase in barbette protection from 37mm to 127mm and turret front armor from 63.5 mm to 203 mm. This resolves the biggest weakness of earlier US heavy cruisers, which was a tendency have their shell rooms and turrets ripped apart early in a fight, causing devastating fires, significant crew losses, and leaving them completely defenseless. That being said its turrets are still not as resistant as those on the Brooklyns and Clevelands, owing to the 38 mm sides curving around to form its cheeks.

The same cannot be said of its secondary armament, which are still relatively dated open 5"/25 single mounts and as a result will be knocked out very early in a match and is prone to being set on fire.

The New Orleans also has significantly improved protection for its engine room, which has the double effect of preventing engine room knockouts (and associated crew loss and fires) and also making it more likely that you'll be able to turn around and escape from a sticky situation under your own power. Although main magazine protection is reduced somewhat, it is still strong enough and deep enough in the hull that ammo racks from cruiser caliber guns are extremely unlikely. As a nice little bonus, it maintains the strake of anti-frag armor on its upper hull; a small plus compared to the Cleveland.

All in all, the USS New Orleans has everything in protection that the USS Portland, Northampton, and Pensacola lacked while keeping the same decent armament (and, an argument could be made for having ''better'' overall damage output due to the turrets spending less time blacked out in a game) and is comparable in durability to the USS Cleveland, making it a strong competitor on the high seas of War Thunder.
[[File:USS New Orleans Layout and Protection.png|right|thumb|350px|Armour and internal layout of the USS New Orleans]]

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm)}}

The main guns have a slow rotation and reload speed, with 17 seconds with a spaded crew, and 20 seconds stock. the guns also have somewhat moderate shells, but with that, the ship's main armament is poor in reload and rotation speed.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The 5-inch guns are highly effective at destroying aircraft at long range, and with the HE-VT shells unlocked, are even more effective at destroying aircraft at long range and killing unarmoured destroyers. However, the guns can't fire fast enough to kill destroyers or aircraft, and sometimes, the guns are targeted by stray shells, knocking them out.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V (20 mm)}}

The anti-aircraft armament is the shining sword with the New Orleans. The 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns are very effective at close range. These guns can fight back against aircraft, pesky torpedo boats, and even, in some cases, lower battle-rating destroyers. The Oerlikon and Bofors AA guns can pressure aircraft to stay away, while hidden torpedo boats who come in the sights of the secondary and tertiary armament will have second thoughts about attacking USS New Orleans.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships is one catapult for a SOC-1 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The USS New Orleans is a moderate top-tier ship. Being a step up from the three other heavy cruisers coming before it, the New Orleans is simply a USS Portland with much more anti-air capability. The downsides of the New Orleans are its below average shell dispersion, reload time, and rotation speed. The shells are somewhat moderate, and when the New Orleans is completely spaded, the heavy cruiser is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The silver lining about the ship is its huge anti-aircraft armament. In all, the ship has 28 Bofors and 24 Oerlikon AA guns, along with the eight 5"/25 guns that can act as dual-purpose weaponry.

When the enemy team starts spawning aircraft, most pilots will start heading towards the dreadnoughts on your team, so stay close to them and provide AA cover, pressuring aircraft to find different targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective AA against aircraft and small targets
* The 5-inch guns with HE-VT shells are effective against destroyers when guns are knocked out
* 8-inch guns are useful in close combat
* Very high amount of crew
* Very good anti-aircraft capability
* Able to support dreadnoughts in AA role
* Has anti-fragmentation armour
* Can take hits before sinking
* Fast when spaded
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* 8-inch guns have a slow reload speed
* Moderate speed when stock
* Stock time-fuzed Shells are poor against aircraft and naval targets
* Can't compete with fast-firing light cruisers
* Susceptible to torpedo damage
* No torpedo launchers
* Anti-fragmentation armour won't completely stop shells
* Guns rotate slowly

== History ==

[[File:USS New Orleans 1943.jpg|thumb|500x500px|USS New Orleans as seen in 1943 after her damage was repaired.]]
USS New Orleans (CA-32) was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy. As the last class of 10-thousand ton cruisers built for the US Navy (abiding by the conditions of the Washington Naval Treaty), she was initially classified as a light cruiser and subsequently reclassified due to her 8-inch calibre main armament. New Orleans had an extensive service history, and travelled abroad prior to the Second World War. During the war, she served extensively in the Pacific Theatre, surviving a crippling torpedo hit that almost sunk her. New Orleans was awarded 17 battle stars for her WWII service, making her one of the five most-decorated American vessels of WWII; her sister ships San Francisco and Minneapolis also made the list. She was decommissioned after the war, and scrapped in 1959.

=== Design and development ===
After the construction of the previous Portland, Northampton and Pensacola classes, the United States Navy (USN) began the construction of a new class of heavy cruiser - the New Orleans class. This was the last class of cruisers built to the 10-thousand-ton limit of the Washington naval treaty. The ships were intended to have a much heavier armour load than their predecessors, which were low in survivability. As a result, New Orleans' armour accounted for almost 15% of her total displacement, compared to 5-6% for the preceding ship classes. However, this resulted in a reduction in fuel stowage meaning that the New Orleans had a shorter range compared to her predecessors.

The ships themselves inherited the superstructure design of the preceding cruiser classes - however, the old tripod mast design was removed and replaced with a smoother forward superstructure. This change made the ships easily-distinguishable from their predecessors and was subsequently used on the Wichita, Cleveland and Baltimore classes of heavy cruisers. The ships, similar to the preceding Portland class, were built directly up to the 10 thousand ton limit; New Orleans herself displaced 9950 tons standard.

==== Technical specifications ====
New Orleans carried a main armament of nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple Mk 9 turrets, later upgraded to Mk 14 turrets during World War II. She also carried a secondary armament of eight single 5-inch 25 calibre guns for anti-aircraft defence. Rounding her armament off, New Orleans carried two 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns and eight 12.7 mm Browning machine guns for short-range Anti-aircraft armament. In the 1940s, her anti-aircraft armament was improved significantly with 24 x 40 mm Bofors guns in quad mounts and 28 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns in dual mounts.

Similar to other American cruisers, New Orleans didn't carry any torpedoes. Her engines developed 107 000 shaft horsepower giving her a top speed of 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h). Costing a total of 12 million dollars to build (non-inflation-adjusted), New Orleans was ordered in mid-1929 and laid down in March of 1931. She was eventually completed and commissioned on February 15th 1934.

=== Operational history ===
During her construction, New Orleans was reclassified as a heavy cruiser due to her 8-inch main armament. Thus, she was commissioned as CA-32. Following her commissioning, New Orleans sailed on a cruise to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, followed by a trip to the Panama canal to escort the Northampton-class cruiser USS Houston as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Hawaii. She later participated in exercises off of California and in the Atlantic, and participated in the first "Fleet week" where civilians could tour the naval vessel.

New Orleans was docked in the inner harbour during the Pearl harbour attack, without power as she was being refueled. Her crewmen frantically tried to raise steam and sail her away while her gunners fired at the attacking aircraft with small arms. As she had no electrical power, New Orleans' ammunition hoists were inoperational making her 5-inch AA guns nearly useless. Despite this, her crew members attempted to lift shells manually using a rope hoist. New Orleans suffered a near miss from a Japanese HE bomb, but was otherwise unscathed.

In early 1942, New Orleans sailed back to port in San Francisco to repair damage and receive a search radar, along with several 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She then returned to the Pacific, and subsequently saw combat action during the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, she tried to save the crippled carrier USS Lexington; she was responsible for evacuating crew members once it was apparent the old carrier could not be saved. She later escorted Yorktown during the Midway battle, but was detached to join the Enterprise battlegroup, and was not present when the Yorktown was crippled by Japanese bombers.

==== Battle of Tassafaronga ====
[[File:USS New Orleans battle damage.jpg|thumb|USS New Orleans steaming into Tulagi after her bow was sheared off by a torpedo.]]
In early November of 1942, New Orleans sailed for Fiji, and then returned to the Solomons for combat action. She was part of a heavy cruiser task force that engaged a Japanese transport squadron during the night of November 30th, in an engagement known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. During the battle, New Orleans, along with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers, spotted a Japanese troop convoy heading for the Solomons, escorted by eight destroyers. And thus began a short engagement limited by poor night-time visibility where the Japanese destroyer Takamani was sunk by gunfire. However, the rest of the Japanese destroyers were not fired upon, and launched a large number of Type 93 'Long Lance' heavy oxygen torpedoes.

At 23:27, Minneapolis was hit by two torpedoes in her engine rooms causing her to take heavy damage. New Orleans subsequently took evasive action, but was hit by a Type 93 that detonated her forward ammunition magazines. As a result, her bow was sheared off at the No. 1 turret and she was slowed to a speed of 2 knots. Subsequently, the cruisers Northampton and Pensacola were both hit, Northampton sinking and Pensacola taking severe damage.

==== Repairs and later service ====
[[File:Temporary bow fitted to USS New Orleans.jpg|thumb|New Orleans with a temporary bow allowing her to steam back to the United States for full repairs.]]
New Orleans, with her entire bow sheared off, limped back to Cockatoo dockyard in Australia; in fact, she sailed backwards (stern first) to avoid flooding the ship's frontal section. There, temporary repairs were made including the fitting of a 'stub bow' to cover the blown-off bow section. In March of 1943, she sailed for Puget Naval Yard where she was given a complete repair, and had a new bow section fitted. She also received a large anti-aircraft armament boost of 24 Bofors guns (6 x 4) and numerous more double Oerlikon cannons. Repairs completed, she returned to service in August of 1943.

New Orleans spent the entirety of 1944 in the Pacific theatre, providing heavy fire support for troop landings in the Marshall Islands. She later escorted the Essex-class carrier Lexington (named after the carrier that she attempted to save at the Battle of the Coral Sea) back to Pearl Harbour after she was torpedoed. She later escorted the American carrier task force during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she sank the light carrier Chiyoda with gunfire.

In early 1945, New Orleans returned to Mare Island for a refit, and then participated in the American invasion of Okinawa where she provided fire support for troops landing on the beaches. She returned to the Philippines in August of 1945, and was anchored at Subic Bay when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo. She then served in various duties after the war, repatriating American soldiers from China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. She returned to the United States in 1947 and was laid up in reserve, to be scrapped starting in 1959.

New Orleans was awarded 17 stars for her service, making her one of the most decorated ships in American history. In fact, she is tied for third place with three other vessels, two of which are her sister ships: USS San Francisco and USS Minneapolis. The only ships with more stars are the legendary USS Enterprise (20 stars) and the cruiser USS San Diego (18 stars). As well, five ships are named after sailors who perished on USS New Orleans during the battle of Tassafaronga: the destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876), and the destroyer escorts USS Hayter, USS Foreman, USS Swenning, and USS Haines.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Military Factory. (2017, May 30). USS New Orleans (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=uss-new-orleans-ca32-heavy-cruiser-united-states</nowiki>
* Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019, June 26). New Orleans II (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/new-orleans-ii.html</nowiki>
{{ShipManufacturer New York Navy Yard}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

Admiral Hipper

2022-08-04T05:50:25Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = German heavy cruiser '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other Admiral Hipper-class cruiser
| link = Prinz Eugen
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_cruiser_admiral_hipper
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
On paper, the Admiral Hipper is one of the most well protected ships in the game, featuring strong armor covering much of the ship in a turtleback scheme. She also possesses on of the largest crew counts in the game. As a result, against more wild, undirected fire the Admiral Hipper is extremely resilient. However, she posseses a fatal and well-known weak spot: both frontal and rear magazines are massive and very easy to detonate even by smaller 6 inch shells. As a result, it is best to stick to long range engagements and frequently change your heading so as to prevent the enemy from precisely targeting it while making full use of your extremely high-penetrating shells

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}
{{main|20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)}}

''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}
{{main|10.5 cm SK C/33 AA (105 mm)}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}
{{main|3.7 cm SK C/30 (37 mm)|2 cm/65 C/38 (20 mm)|2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (20 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}
{{main|G7a (533 mm)}}

''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|Ar 196 A-3}}

Located amidships is a single catapult for an Arado Ar 196 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 50 kg bombs, and capping zones, the Ar 196 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). It is essentially the [[Ar 196 A-3|event aircraft]] except with smoke generators, so it will be a familiar unit for those who have the event version. Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to drop a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The Admiral Hipper is an immensely powerful heavy cruiser which shows very few signs of weakness. Like the other German cruisers, it's exceptionally strong, with great anti-torpedo protection and turtleback armour, giving it fantastic waterline armour. This, combined with a huge crew count, means the Hipper needs to take a huge amount of punishment to be sank. The Hipper's main armament - eight 8-inch guns in dual turrets - is also very effective, with a 12 second reload and fantastic armour penetration and muzzle velocity (enough in some cases to penetrate even battleship armour). It also boasts a strong secondary armament, a phenomenal anti-aircraft suite at both close and long range, and good torpedoes. The Hipper should be played as a long range brawler, able to dish it out and take damage from other heavy cruisers, while also combatting enemy aircraft with ease.

The main weakness for the Hipper comes from its status - everyone knows how dangerous it is. Most skilled players will know to target this ship first, and while the armour is good, it isn't enough to save it from other eight-inch guns at close range, or battleship guns at any range. Stay on the move, use cover, and keep an eye out for anything with guns bigger than yours, and you should stay alive. In the meantime, use your accurate guns to punish other cruisers from long range, and even battleships if you can flank them.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Phenomenal firepower from the main battery that can punish any cruiser at long range and even battleships that get too close
* Fantastic AA suite which can decimate aircraft even from long range
* Great armour protection against small calibre guns
* Huge crew size make it tough to sink, especially for light cruisers
* Very mobile despite its size, allows it to reposition with ease
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* Excessive listing at high speed or on a turn, resulting poor aiming quality. The situation worsens in arcade battle.
* The armour is weak in term of absolute thickness, meaning large calibre guns can overmatch your armour
* Main battery magazines are located above shell rooms, meaning that a detonation is likely to be fatal

== History ==

Following the signing of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935, Germany was permitted to build, among other things, heavy cruisers up to a total displacement of 50,000 tons. The previously developed Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser design was chosen for construction, with five ships being initially planned to be built.

The five ordered ships of the Admiral Hipper-class were laid down between July 1935 - August 1937. However, only the first three were actually fully constructed and commissioned into service between 1939 - 1940. The fourth ship - Seydlitz - was scuttled in 1945 still being incomplete (as a conversion into an aircraft carrier), while the fifth ship - Lützow - was also sold incomplete to the USSR in February 1940.

Admiral Hipper, named after an imperial German admiral, was the first ship of the class to see completion, being commissioned into service in April 1939. After passing sea trials, Admiral Hipper was assigned to her first combat mission - Operation Weserübung - the invasion of Denmark and Norway, where it took part in a battle with the British destroyer Glowworm and also participated in the sinking of the trawler Juniper (930 tons) and the military transport Orama (19,000 registered tons). Subsequently, Admiral Hipper steamed out into the Atlantic to intercept allied shipping in December 1940, but without significant success. The first campaign wasn't particularly successful, but during the second campaign in January and February of 1941, the Admiral Hipper attacked SLS-64, an unprotected convoy - this attack on ship count alone, was the most effective from both world wars.

Admiral Hipper was then transferred to Norway, where it took part in raids against the arctic convoys headed for the Soviet Union. As part of an operational group, it took part in Operation Rösselsprung (Knight's move) which, although not a success, resulted in the almost total destruction of the allied PQ-17 convoy by German submarines and aircraft. In December of 1942, during Operation Regenbogen (Rainbow) a battle took place in the Barents Sea which was unofficially labelled as "New Year's Battle" or "New Year's Shame" the ship was damaged and sent back to Germany for repair. The failure of the operation led to a historical decision by Hitler to order the scrapping of all large warships. Admiral Hipper was transferred to the reserves and at the beginning of 1945, arrived in Kiel where it was damaged during allied air strikes in May of the same year. The defenders on the partially disarmed ship showed no enthusiasm for its survival and as a result, the ship burned out and sank to the dock seabed. After the war, the ship was once again raised and taken apart for scrap up to 1952.

''- From [[wt:en/news/6346-development-admiral-hipper-commanding-the-high-seas-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Oq0Ws_mafAs|'''The Shooting Range #169''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Admiral Hipper.}}

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6346-development-admiral-hipper-commanding-the-high-seas-en|[Devblog] Admiral Hipper: Commanding the High Seas]]

{{ShipManufacturer Blohm and Voss}}
{{Germany heavy cruisers}}

USS Arizona

2022-07-30T02:34:43Z

U61132522: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_battleship_arizona_1931
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American battleship {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Wind of Change"]].

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

The Arizona is a very well armoured battleship. The vessel has a main armour belt of 343 mm, one of the thickest in game. The belt gets progressively thinner the further underwater it is, from 343 mm above the waterline, to 203 mm a little under the waterline and then 76 mm well below the waterline. Speaking of underwater protection, the Arizona also has torpedo bulges which are rated to protect from torpedo warheads of 250 kg or less.

The turrets are the most well armoured turrets in the game, with angled 457 mm plates on the turret faces, 228 mm on the sides and 330 mm on the barbettes. That being said, the turret roofs only have a relatively thin 127 mm of armour, which could be vulnerable to plunging fire at long range. The conning tower has 406 mm and even the lower part of the smoke funnel has 381 mm at its thickest point. The ship also has 120 mm across the whole deck and a secondary 38 mm deck below that. The fore and aft bulkheads on the vessel are both 330 mm when above the waterline and 203 mm below it.

All in all, the Arizona is quite resistant to fire from enemy capital ships, however the vessel is using an all or nothing armour scheme. This armour scheme was designed for fighting enemy capital ships at long range, but in war thunder you tend to be fighting numerous ships at relatively close range. As opposed to the distributed armour scheme, the all or nothing armour scheme means you're a little more squishy when it comes to taking fire from smaller vessels as their rapid fire guns can cause a lot of flooding and fire and can still damage modules which aren't behind the armour.

The magazines are also positioned somewhat poorly, and are located ''just'' below the waterline and against the exterior of the hull. This means that the Arizona can be quite easy to ammorack compared to many other battleships

{| class="wikitable"
!Armor
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|457.2 mm
|254 mm (front half)
228.6 mm (back half)
|228.6 mm
|127 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |330 mm
|
|-
|Citadel
|330 mm (upper)
203 mm (lower)
|343mm (upper)
203 mm (lower)
|330 mm (upper)
203 mm (lower)
|107.95 mm (upper)
25.4 mm (lower)
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |406mm
|
|}
Both the forward and aft magazines are located inside the large, expansive citadel

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

The ship is very fat and sluggish. The top speed of 38 km/h is slow, even for a battleship, and the manoeuvrability is about what you'd expect from such a vessel.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|14 inch/45 Mk.8 (365 mm)}}

The Arizona has 12 x 356 mm main cannons, split into 4 x triple turrets, two fore, two aft. The turrets are extremely slow, with a maximum traverse rate of 2°/second. The ship is painfully slow to respond to threats because of this. Now despite carrying 3 x 356 mm guns per turret, the cannons are crammed closer to one another than the triple turrets of other battleships with smaller main guns. This has the rather predictable effect of giving the turrets a long reload time. With a stock crew, the Arizona has a reload time of 65 seconds, 50 with a completely max level crew. This is by far the longest reload in the entire game. In the time it takes you to fire one salvo, the average enemy battleship will have fired two salvos, three if you're fighting a Scharnhorst. As well as giving you a terrible rate of shells/minute, the long reload also severely exacerbates any inaccuracy you have, as missing even a single salvo can grievously cut into your damage output.

Now, this wouldn't be such a problem if the guns were exceptionally powerful, but they're not. In fact, the performance of your 356 mm shells is actually about on par with some 305 mm shells of other nations, if not worse. Let's take a look at these shells.

You have access to a grand total of 2 shell types, HE and AP, you have no SAP at all.

The filler of the 356 mm HE shell is equivalent to just under 40 kg of TNT. This is over 13 kg less than British 305 mm HE and a whole 49 kg less than British 343 mm HE. It is only 1.38 kg more than Japanese 305 mm HE and 29 kg less than Japanese 356 mm SAP. It is 16 kg less than the best Soviet 305 mm HE and SAP.

So as you can see, it's a pretty terrible shell for its calibre.

The AP has impressive penetration with 645 mm at 1 km and 444 mm at 10 km, however that's where its good qualities come to an end. The 14 kg of filler is about average for a capital calibre AP shell and is inadequate at dealing with enemy capital ships, especially with the extra long reload. The shell just doesn't have the filler to competitively take on enemy battleships, but has so much penetration that it's useless against anything but a battleship. Shooting at cruisers and destroyers with this shell will result in a lot of shells overpenetrating and doing little damage.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/51 Mk.7 (127 mm)}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.11 (127 mm)|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Heavy armour over the most critical modules
* Torpedo protection

'''Cons:'''

* Inadequate AA
* Most of the auxiliary cannons are unprotected
* Extremely slow (low top speed, low acceleration, slow turret traverse speed)
* Extremely long reload for the main cannons
* Poor quality main calibre shells; Low damage output

== History ==


=== [[wt:en/news/7563-development-uss-arizona-bb-39-all-or-nothing-en|Devblog]] ===
After the design of the preceding Nevada-class battleships that employed the novel "all or nothing" armour scheme, the Navy sought a slightly larger, improved design to be ordered for construction in the fiscal year of 1913. As such, the Bureau for Construction & Repair came up with a number of design sketches to satisfy the Navy's requirement.

In April 1912, the final design of what was to become the Pennsylvania class was chosen with further work on refining the design continuing until September. The decision to order the design into construction was met with some political opposition over concerns that the design was too weak and expensive. Nonetheless, the class was approved for construction, with USS Pennsylvania being ordered in August 1912 while its sistership USS Arizona followed suit in March 1913.

USS Arizona was laid down in March 1914, launched in June 1915 and commissioned in October 1916. Due to oil shortages in Europe at the time, the ship didn't take part in hostilities during WWI, but instead escorted the American president Woodrow Wilson on his trip to Brest for the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 along with other warships. Subsequently, both Arizona and its sistership were transferred to the Pacific Fleet, undergoing substantial modernization in 1929 through 1931.

Throughout the 1930s, both ships took part in regular fleet exercises. However, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, USS Arizona was sunk following a catastrophic explosion of her fore magazines, after an aerial bomb managed to penetrate the ship's deck.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_battleship_arizona_1931 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|6kUe7pdqCC0|'''Best Battleships''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 05:31 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7563-development-uss-arizona-bb-39-all-or-nothing-en|USS Arizona (BB-39): All or Nothing!]]

{{ShipManufacturer Brooklyn Navy Yard}}
{{USA battleships}}

USS Arizona

2022-07-30T02:33:15Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_battleship_arizona_1931
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American battleship {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Wind of Change"]].

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

The Arizona is a very well armoured battleship. The vessel has a main armour belt of 343 mm, one of the thickest in game. The belt gets progressively thinner the further underwater it is, from 343 mm above the waterline, to 203 mm a little under the waterline and then 76 mm well below the waterline. Speaking of underwater protection, the Arizona also has torpedo bulges which are rated to protect from torpedo warheads of 250 kg or less.

The turrets are the most well armoured turrets in the game, with angled 457 mm plates on the turret faces, 228 mm on the sides and 330 mm on the barbettes. That being said, the turret roofs only have a relatively thin 127 mm of armour, which could be vulnerable to plunging fire at long range. The conning tower has 406 mm and even the lower part of the smoke funnel has 381 mm at its thickest point. The ship also has 120 mm across the whole deck and a secondary 38 mm deck below that. The fore and aft bulkheads on the vessel are both 330 mm when above the waterline and 203 mm below it.

All in all, the Arizona is quite resistant to fire from enemy capital ships, however the vessel is using an all or nothing armour scheme. This armour scheme was designed for fighting enemy capital ships at long range, but in war thunder you tend to be fighting numerous ships at relatively close range. As opposed to the distributed armour scheme, the all or nothing armour scheme means you're a little more squishy when it comes to taking fire from smaller vessels as their rapid fire guns can cause a lot of flooding and fire and can still damage modules which aren't behind the armour.

The magazines are also positioned somewhat poorly, and are located ''just'' below the waterline and against the exterior of the hull. This means that the Arizona can be quite easy to ammorack compared to many other battleships

{| class="wikitable"
!Armor
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|457.2 mm
|254 mm (front half)
228.6 mm (back half)
|228.6 mm
|127 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |330 mm
|
|-
|Citadel
|330 mm (upper)
203 mm (loweBoth forward and aft magazines are positioned inside the large expansive citadelmir)
|343mm (upper)
203 mm (lower)
|330 mm (upper)
203 mm (lower)
|107.95 mm (upper)
25.4 mm (lower)
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |406mm
|
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

The ship is very fat and sluggish. The top speed of 38 km/h is slow, even for a battleship, and the manoeuvrability is about what you'd expect from such a vessel.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|14 inch/45 Mk.8 (365 mm)}}

The Arizona has 12 x 356 mm main cannons, split into 4 x triple turrets, two fore, two aft. The turrets are extremely slow, with a maximum traverse rate of 2°/second. The ship is painfully slow to respond to threats because of this. Now despite carrying 3 x 356 mm guns per turret, the cannons are crammed closer to one another than the triple turrets of other battleships with smaller main guns. This has the rather predictable effect of giving the turrets a long reload time. With a stock crew, the Arizona has a reload time of 65 seconds, 50 with a completely max level crew. This is by far the longest reload in the entire game. In the time it takes you to fire one salvo, the average enemy battleship will have fired two salvos, three if you're fighting a Scharnhorst. As well as giving you a terrible rate of shells/minute, the long reload also severely exacerbates any inaccuracy you have, as missing even a single salvo can grievously cut into your damage output.

Now, this wouldn't be such a problem if the guns were exceptionally powerful, but they're not. In fact, the performance of your 356 mm shells is actually about on par with some 305 mm shells of other nations, if not worse. Let's take a look at these shells.

You have access to a grand total of 2 shell types, HE and AP, you have no SAP at all.

The filler of the 356 mm HE shell is equivalent to just under 40 kg of TNT. This is over 13 kg less than British 305 mm HE and a whole 49 kg less than British 343 mm HE. It is only 1.38 kg more than Japanese 305 mm HE and 29 kg less than Japanese 356 mm SAP. It is 16 kg less than the best Soviet 305 mm HE and SAP.

So as you can see, it's a pretty terrible shell for its calibre.

The AP has impressive penetration with 645 mm at 1 km and 444 mm at 10 km, however that's where its good qualities come to an end. The 14 kg of filler is about average for a capital calibre AP shell and is inadequate at dealing with enemy capital ships, especially with the extra long reload. The shell just doesn't have the filler to competitively take on enemy battleships, but has so much penetration that it's useless against anything but a battleship. Shooting at cruisers and destroyers with this shell will result in a lot of shells overpenetrating and doing little damage.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/51 Mk.7 (127 mm)}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.11 (127 mm)|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Heavy armour over the most critical modules
* Torpedo protection

'''Cons:'''

* Inadequate AA
* Most of the auxiliary cannons are unprotected
* Extremely slow (low top speed, low acceleration, slow turret traverse speed)
* Extremely long reload for the main cannons
* Poor quality main calibre shells; Low damage output

== History ==


=== [[wt:en/news/7563-development-uss-arizona-bb-39-all-or-nothing-en|Devblog]] ===
After the design of the preceding Nevada-class battleships that employed the novel "all or nothing" armour scheme, the Navy sought a slightly larger, improved design to be ordered for construction in the fiscal year of 1913. As such, the Bureau for Construction & Repair came up with a number of design sketches to satisfy the Navy's requirement.

In April 1912, the final design of what was to become the Pennsylvania class was chosen with further work on refining the design continuing until September. The decision to order the design into construction was met with some political opposition over concerns that the design was too weak and expensive. Nonetheless, the class was approved for construction, with USS Pennsylvania being ordered in August 1912 while its sistership USS Arizona followed suit in March 1913.

USS Arizona was laid down in March 1914, launched in June 1915 and commissioned in October 1916. Due to oil shortages in Europe at the time, the ship didn't take part in hostilities during WWI, but instead escorted the American president Woodrow Wilson on his trip to Brest for the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 along with other warships. Subsequently, both Arizona and its sistership were transferred to the Pacific Fleet, undergoing substantial modernization in 1929 through 1931.

Throughout the 1930s, both ships took part in regular fleet exercises. However, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, USS Arizona was sunk following a catastrophic explosion of her fore magazines, after an aerial bomb managed to penetrate the ship's deck.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_battleship_arizona_1931 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|6kUe7pdqCC0|'''Best Battleships''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 05:31 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7563-development-uss-arizona-bb-39-all-or-nothing-en|USS Arizona (BB-39): All or Nothing!]]

{{ShipManufacturer Brooklyn Navy Yard}}
{{USA battleships}}

USS New Orleans

2022-07-30T02:08:30Z

U61132522: added screenshots with armor value labels and xray

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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

''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
[[File:USS New Orleans Layout and Protection.png|center|thumb|742x742px|armor and internal layout of the USS New Orleans]]

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm)}}

The main guns have a slow rotation and reload speed, with 17 seconds with a spaded crew, and 20 seconds stock. the guns also have somewhat moderate shells, but with that, the ship's main armament is poor in reload and rotation speed.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The 5-inch guns are highly effective at destroying aircraft at long range, and with the HE-VT shells unlocked, are even more effective at destroying aircraft at long range and killing unarmoured destroyers. However, the guns can't fire fast enough to kill destroyers or aircraft, and sometimes, the guns are targeted by stray shells, knocking them out.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V (20 mm)}}

The anti-aircraft armament is the shining sword with the New Orleans. The 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns are very effective at close range. These guns can fight back against aircraft, pesky torpedo boats, and even, in some cases, lower battle-rating destroyers. The Oerlikon and Bofors AA guns can pressure aircraft to stay away, while hidden torpedo boats who come in the sights of the secondary and tertiary armament will have second thoughts about attacking USS New Orleans.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships is one catapult for a SOC-1 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The USS New Orleans is a moderate top-tier ship. Being a step up from the three other heavy cruisers coming before it, the New Orleans is simply a USS Portland with much more anti-air capability. The downsides of the New Orleans are its below average shell dispersion, reload time, and rotation speed. The shells are somewhat moderate, and when the New Orleans is completely spaded, the heavy cruiser is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The silver lining about the ship is its huge anti-aircraft armament. In all, the ship has 28 Bofors and 24 Oerlikon AA guns, along with the eight 5"/25 guns that can act as dual-purpose weaponry.

When the enemy team starts spawning aircraft, most pilots will start heading towards the dreadnoughts on your team, so stay close to them and provide AA cover, pressuring aircraft to find different targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective AA against aircraft and small targets
* The 5-inch guns with HE-VT shells are effective against destroyers when guns are knocked out
* 8-inch guns are useful in close combat
* Very high amount of crew
* Very good anti-aircraft capability
* Able to support dreadnoughts in AA role
* Has anti-fragmentation armour
* Can take hits before sinking
* Fast when spaded
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* 8-inch guns have a slow reload speed
* Moderate speed when stock
* Stock time-fuzed Shells are poor against aircraft and naval targets
* Can't compete with fast-firing light cruisers
* Susceptible to torpedo damage
* No torpedo launchers
* Anti-fragmentation armour won't completely stop shells
* Guns rotate slowly

== History ==

[[File:USS New Orleans 1943.jpg|thumb|500x500px|USS New Orleans as seen in 1943 after her damage was repaired.]]
USS New Orleans (CA-32) was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy. As the last class of 10-thousand ton cruisers built for the US Navy (abiding by the conditions of the Washington Naval Treaty), she was initially classified as a light cruiser and subsequently reclassified due to her 8-inch-calibre main armament. New Orleans had an extensive service history, and travelled abroad prior to the Second World War. During the war, she served extensively in the Pacific Theatre, surviving a crippling torpedo hit that almost sunk her. New Orleans was awarded 17 battle stars for her WWII service, making her one of the five most-decorated American vessels of WWII; her sister ships San Francisco and Minneapolis also made the list. She was decommissioned after the war, and scrapped in 1959.

=== Design and development ===
After the construction of the previous Portland, Northampton and Pensacola classes, the United States Navy (USN) began the construction of a new class of heavy cruiser - the New Orleans class. This was the last class of cruisers built to the 10-thousand-ton limit of the Washington naval treaty. The ships were intended to have a much heavier armour load than their predecessors, which were low in survivability. As a result, New Orleans' armour accounted for almost 15% of her total displacement, compared to 5-6% for the preceding ship classes. However, this resulted in a reduction in fuel stowage meaning that the New Orleans had a shorter range compared to her predecessors.

The ships themselves inherited the superstructure design of the preceding cruiser classes - however, the old tripod mast design was removed and replaced with a smoother forward superstructure. This change made the ships easily-distinguishable from their predecessors and was subsequently used on the Wichita, Cleveland and Baltimore classes of heavy cruisers. The ships, similar to the preceding Portland class, were built directly up to the 10 thousand ton limit; New Orleans herself displaced 9950 tons standard.

==== Technical specifications ====
New Orleans carried a main armament of nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple Mk 9 turrets, later upgraded to Mk 14 turrets during World War II. She also carried a secondary armament of eight single 5-inch 25 calibre guns for anti-aircraft defence. Rounding her armament off, New Orleans carried two 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns and eight 12.7mm Browning machine guns for short-range Anti-aircraft armament. In the 1940s, her anti-aircraft armament was improved significantly with 24 40mm Bofors guns in quad mounts and 28 20mm Oerlikon guns in dual mounts.

Similar to other American cruisers, New Orleans didn't carry any torpedoes. Her engines developed 107 000 shaft horsepower giving her a top speed of 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h). Costing a total of 12 million dollars to build (non-inflation-adjusted), New Orleans was ordered in mid-1929 and laid down in March of 1931. She was eventually completed and commissioned on February 15th 1934.

=== Operational history ===
During her construction, New Orleans was reclassified as a heavy cruiser due to her 8-inch main armament. Thus, she was commissioned as CA-32. Following her commissioning, New Orleans sailed on a cruise to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, followed by a trip to the Panama canal to escort the Northampton-class cruiser USS Houston as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Hawaii. She later participated in exercises off of California and in the Atlantic, and participated in the first "Fleet week" where civilians could tour the naval vessel.

New Orleans was docked in the inner harbour during the Pearl harbour attack, without power as she was being refueled. Her crewmen frantically tried to raise steam and sail her away while her gunners fired at the attacking aircraft with small arms. As she had no electrical power, New Orleans' ammunition hoists were inoperational making her 5-inch AA guns nearly useless. Despite this, her crew members attempted to lift shells manually using a rope hoist. New Orleans suffered a near miss from a Japanese HE bomb, but was otherwise unscathed.

In early 1942, New Orleans sailed back to port in San Francisco to repair damage and receive a search radar, along with several 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She then returned to the Pacific, and subsequently saw combat action during the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, she tried to save the crippled carrier USS Lexington; she was responsible for evacuating crew members once it was apparent the old carrier could not be saved. She later escorted Yorktown during the Midway battle, but was detached to join the Enterprise battlegroup, and was not present when the Yorktown was crippled by Japanese bombers.

==== Battle of Tassafaronga ====
[[File:USS New Orleans battle damage.jpg|thumb|USS New Orleans steaming into Tulagi after her bow was sheared off by a torpedo.]]
In early November of 1942, New Orleans sailed for Fiji, and then returned to the Solomons for combat action. She was part of a heavy cruiser task force that engaged a Japanese transport squadron during the night of November 30th, in an engagement known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. During the battle, New Orleans, along with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers, spotted a Japanese troop convoy heading for the Solomons, escorted by eight destroyers. And thus began a short engagement limited by poor night-time visibility where the Japanese destroyer Takamani was sunk by gunfire. However, the rest of the Japanese destroyers were not fired upon, and launched a large number of Type 93 'Long Lance' heavy oxygen torpedoes.

At 23:27, Minneapolis was hit by two torpedoes in her engine rooms causing her to take heavy damage. New Orleans subsequently took evasive action, but was hit by a Type 93 that detonated her forward ammunition magazines. As a result, her bow was sheared off at the No. 1 turret and she was slowed to a speed of 2 knots. Subsequently, the cruisers Northampton and Pensacola were both hit, Northampton sinking and Pensacola taking severe damage.

==== Repairs and later service ====
[[File:Temporary bow fitted to USS New Orleans.jpg|thumb|New Orleans with a temporary bow allowing her to steam back to the United States for full repairs.]]
New Orleans, with her entire bow sheared off, limped back to Cockatoo dockyard in Australia; in fact, she sailed backwards (stern first) to avoid flooding the ship's frontal section. There, temporary repairs were made including the fitting of a 'stub bow' to cover the blown-off bow section. In March of 1943, she sailed for Puget Naval Yard where she was given a complete repair, and had a new bow section fitted. She also received a large anti-aircraft armament boost of 24 Bofors guns (6 x 4) and numerous more double Oerlikon cannons. Repairs completed, she returned to service in August of 1943.

New Orleans spent the entirety of 1944 in the Pacific theatre, providing heavy fire support for troop landings in the Marshall Islands. She later escorted the Essex-class carrier Lexington (named after the carrier that she attempted to save at the Battle of the Coral Sea) back to Pearl Harbour after she was torpedoed. She later escorted the American carrier task force during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she sank the light carrier Chiyoda with gunfire.

In early 1945, New Orleans returned to Mare Island for a refit, and then participated in the American invasion of Okinawa where she provided fire support for troops landing on the beaches. She returned to the Philippines in August of 1945, and was anchored at Subic Bay when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo. She then served in various duties after the war, repatriating American soldiers from China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. She returned to the United States in 1947 and was laid up in reserve, to be scrapped starting in 1959.

New Orleans was awarded 17 stars for her service, making her one of the most decorated ships in American history. In fact, she is tied for third place with three other vessels, two of which are her sister ships: USS San Francisco and USS Minneapolis. The only ships with more stars are the legendary USS Enterprise (20 stars) and the cruiser USS San Diego (18 stars). As well, five ships are named after sailors who perished on USS New Orleans during the battle of Tassafaronga: the destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876), and the destroyer escorts USS Hayter, USS Foreman, USS Swenning, and USS Haines.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Military Factory. (2017, May 30). USS New Orleans (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=uss-new-orleans-ca32-heavy-cruiser-united-states</nowiki>
* Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019, June 26). New Orleans II (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/new-orleans-ii.html</nowiki>
{{ShipManufacturer New York Navy Yard}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS New Orleans

2022-07-30T02:05:04Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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

''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm)}}

The main guns have a slow rotation and reload speed, with 17 seconds with a spaded crew, and 20 seconds stock. the guns also have somewhat moderate shells, but with that, the ship's main armament is poor in reload and rotation speed.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The 5-inch guns are highly effective at destroying aircraft at long range, and with the HE-VT shells unlocked, are even more effective at destroying aircraft at long range and killing unarmoured destroyers. However, the guns can't fire fast enough to kill destroyers or aircraft, and sometimes, the guns are targeted by stray shells, knocking them out.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V (20 mm)}}

The anti-aircraft armament is the shining sword with the New Orleans. The 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns are very effective at close range. These guns can fight back against aircraft, pesky torpedo boats, and even, in some cases, lower battle-rating destroyers. The Oerlikon and Bofors AA guns can pressure aircraft to stay away, while hidden torpedo boats who come in the sights of the secondary and tertiary armament will have second thoughts about attacking USS New Orleans.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships is one catapult for a SOC-1 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The USS New Orleans is a moderate top-tier ship. Being a step up from the three other heavy cruisers coming before it, the New Orleans is simply a USS Portland with much more anti-air capability. The downsides of the New Orleans are its below average shell dispersion, reload time, and rotation speed. The shells are somewhat moderate, and when the New Orleans is completely spaded, the heavy cruiser is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The silver lining about the ship is its huge anti-aircraft armament. In all, the ship has 28 Bofors and 24 Oerlikon AA guns, along with the eight 5"/25 guns that can act as dual-purpose weaponry.

When the enemy team starts spawning aircraft, most pilots will start heading towards the dreadnoughts on your team, so stay close to them and provide AA cover, pressuring aircraft to find different targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective AA against aircraft and small targets
* The 5-inch guns with HE-VT shells are effective against destroyers when guns are knocked out
* 8-inch guns are useful in close combat
* Very high amount of crew
* Very good anti-aircraft capability
* Able to support dreadnoughts in AA role
* Has anti-fragmentation armour
* Can take hits before sinking
* Fast when spaded
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* 8-inch guns have a slow reload speed
* Moderate speed when stock
* Stock time-fuzed Shells are poor against aircraft and naval targets
* Can't compete with fast-firing light cruisers
* Susceptible to torpedo damage
* No torpedo launchers
* Anti-fragmentation armour won't completely stop shells
* Guns rotate slowly

== History ==

[[File:USS New Orleans 1943.jpg|thumb|500x500px|USS New Orleans as seen in 1943 after her damage was repaired.]]
USS New Orleans (CA-32) was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy. As the last class of 10-thousand ton cruisers built for the US Navy (abiding by the conditions of the Washington Naval Treaty), she was initially classified as a light cruiser and subsequently reclassified due to her 8-inch-calibre main armament. New Orleans had an extensive service history, and travelled abroad prior to the Second World War. During the war, she served extensively in the Pacific Theatre, surviving a crippling torpedo hit that almost sunk her. New Orleans was awarded 17 battle stars for her WWII service, making her one of the five most-decorated American vessels of WWII; her sister ships San Francisco and Minneapolis also made the list. She was decommissioned after the war, and scrapped in 1959.

=== Design and development ===
After the construction of the previous Portland, Northampton and Pensacola classes, the United States Navy (USN) began the construction of a new class of heavy cruiser - the New Orleans class. This was the last class of cruisers built to the 10-thousand-ton limit of the Washington naval treaty. The ships were intended to have a much heavier armour load than their predecessors, which were low in survivability. As a result, New Orleans' armour accounted for almost 15% of her total displacement, compared to 5-6% for the preceding ship classes. However, this resulted in a reduction in fuel stowage meaning that the New Orleans had a shorter range compared to her predecessors.

The ships themselves inherited the superstructure design of the preceding cruiser classes - however, the old tripod mast design was removed and replaced with a smoother forward superstructure. This change made the ships easily-distinguishable from their predecessors and was subsequently used on the Wichita, Cleveland and Baltimore classes of heavy cruisers. The ships, similar to the preceding Portland class, were built directly up to the 10 thousand ton limit; New Orleans herself displaced 9950 tons standard.

==== Technical specifications ====
New Orleans carried a main armament of nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple Mk 9 turrets, later upgraded to Mk 14 turrets during World War II. She also carried a secondary armament of eight single 5-inch 25 calibre guns for anti-aircraft defence. Rounding her armament off, New Orleans carried two 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns and eight 12.7mm Browning machine guns for short-range Anti-aircraft armament. In the 1940s, her anti-aircraft armament was improved significantly with 24 40mm Bofors guns in quad mounts and 28 20mm Oerlikon guns in dual mounts.

Similar to other American cruisers, New Orleans didn't carry any torpedoes. Her engines developed 107 000 shaft horsepower giving her a top speed of 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h). Costing a total of 12 million dollars to build (non-inflation-adjusted), New Orleans was ordered in mid-1929 and laid down in March of 1931. She was eventually completed and commissioned on February 15th 1934.

=== Operational history ===
During her construction, New Orleans was reclassified as a heavy cruiser due to her 8-inch main armament. Thus, she was commissioned as CA-32. Following her commissioning, New Orleans sailed on a cruise to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, followed by a trip to the Panama canal to escort the Northampton-class cruiser USS Houston as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Hawaii. She later participated in exercises off of California and in the Atlantic, and participated in the first "Fleet week" where civilians could tour the naval vessel.

New Orleans was docked in the inner harbour during the Pearl harbour attack, without power as she was being refueled. Her crewmen frantically tried to raise steam and sail her away while her gunners fired at the attacking aircraft with small arms. As she had no electrical power, New Orleans' ammunition hoists were inoperational making her 5-inch AA guns nearly useless. Despite this, her crew members attempted to lift shells manually using a rope hoist. New Orleans suffered a near miss from a Japanese HE bomb, but was otherwise unscathed.

In early 1942, New Orleans sailed back to port in San Francisco to repair damage and receive a search radar, along with several 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She then returned to the Pacific, and subsequently saw combat action during the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, she tried to save the crippled carrier USS Lexington; she was responsible for evacuating crew members once it was apparent the old carrier could not be saved. She later escorted Yorktown during the Midway battle, but was detached to join the Enterprise battlegroup, and was not present when the Yorktown was crippled by Japanese bombers.

==== Battle of Tassafaronga ====
[[File:USS New Orleans battle damage.jpg|thumb|USS New Orleans steaming into Tulagi after her bow was sheared off by a torpedo.]]
In early November of 1942, New Orleans sailed for Fiji, and then returned to the Solomons for combat action. She was part of a heavy cruiser task force that engaged a Japanese transport squadron during the night of November 30th, in an engagement known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. During the battle, New Orleans, along with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers, spotted a Japanese troop convoy heading for the Solomons, escorted by eight destroyers. And thus began a short engagement limited by poor night-time visibility where the Japanese destroyer Takamani was sunk by gunfire. However, the rest of the Japanese destroyers were not fired upon, and launched a large number of Type 93 'Long Lance' heavy oxygen torpedoes.

At 23:27, Minneapolis was hit by two torpedoes in her engine rooms causing her to take heavy damage. New Orleans subsequently took evasive action, but was hit by a Type 93 that detonated her forward ammunition magazines. As a result, her bow was sheared off at the No. 1 turret and she was slowed to a speed of 2 knots. Subsequently, the cruisers Northampton and Pensacola were both hit, Northampton sinking and Pensacola taking severe damage.

==== Repairs and later service ====
[[File:Temporary bow fitted to USS New Orleans.jpg|thumb|New Orleans with a temporary bow allowing her to steam back to the United States for full repairs.]]
New Orleans, with her entire bow sheared off, limped back to Cockatoo dockyard in Australia; in fact, she sailed backwards (stern first) to avoid flooding the ship's frontal section. There, temporary repairs were made including the fitting of a 'stub bow' to cover the blown-off bow section. In March of 1943, she sailed for Puget Naval Yard where she was given a complete repair, and had a new bow section fitted. She also received a large anti-aircraft armament boost of 24 Bofors guns (6 x 4) and numerous more double Oerlikon cannons. Repairs completed, she returned to service in August of 1943.

New Orleans spent the entirety of 1944 in the Pacific theatre, providing heavy fire support for troop landings in the Marshall Islands. She later escorted the Essex-class carrier Lexington (named after the carrier that she attempted to save at the Battle of the Coral Sea) back to Pearl Harbour after she was torpedoed. She later escorted the American carrier task force during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she sank the light carrier Chiyoda with gunfire.

In early 1945, New Orleans returned to Mare Island for a refit, and then participated in the American invasion of Okinawa where she provided fire support for troops landing on the beaches. She returned to the Philippines in August of 1945, and was anchored at Subic Bay when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo. She then served in various duties after the war, repatriating American soldiers from China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. She returned to the United States in 1947 and was laid up in reserve, to be scrapped starting in 1959.

New Orleans was awarded 17 stars for her service, making her one of the most decorated ships in American history. In fact, she is tied for third place with three other vessels, two of which are her sister ships: USS San Francisco and USS Minneapolis. The only ships with more stars are the legendary USS Enterprise (20 stars) and the cruiser USS San Diego (18 stars). As well, five ships are named after sailors who perished on USS New Orleans during the battle of Tassafaronga: the destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876), and the destroyer escorts USS Hayter, USS Foreman, USS Swenning, and USS Haines.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Military Factory. (2017, May 30). USS New Orleans (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=uss-new-orleans-ca32-heavy-cruiser-united-states</nowiki>
* Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019, June 26). New Orleans II (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/new-orleans-ii.html</nowiki>
{{ShipManufacturer New York Navy Yard}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS New Orleans

2022-07-30T02:01:24Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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

''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
[[File:USS New Orleans Layout and Protection.png|thumb|625x625px|armor and component layout of USS New Orleans]]

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm)}}

The main guns have a slow rotation and reload speed, with 17 seconds with a spaded crew, and 20 seconds stock. the guns also have somewhat moderate shells, but with that, the ship's main armament is poor in reload and rotation speed.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The 5-inch guns are highly effective at destroying aircraft at long range, and with the HE-VT shells unlocked, are even more effective at destroying aircraft at long range and killing unarmoured destroyers. However, the guns can't fire fast enough to kill destroyers or aircraft, and sometimes, the guns are targeted by stray shells, knocking them out.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V (20 mm)}}

The anti-aircraft armament is the shining sword with the New Orleans. The 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns are very effective at close range. These guns can fight back against aircraft, pesky torpedo boats, and even, in some cases, lower battle-rating destroyers. The Oerlikon and Bofors AA guns can pressure aircraft to stay away, while hidden torpedo boats who come in the sights of the secondary and tertiary armament will have second thoughts about attacking USS New Orleans.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships is one catapult for a SOC-1 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The USS New Orleans is a moderate top-tier ship. Being a step up from the three other heavy cruisers coming before it, the New Orleans is simply a USS Portland with much more anti-air capability. The downsides of the New Orleans are its below average shell dispersion, reload time, and rotation speed. The shells are somewhat moderate, and when the New Orleans is completely spaded, the heavy cruiser is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The silver lining about the ship is its huge anti-aircraft armament. In all, the ship has 28 Bofors and 24 Oerlikon AA guns, along with the eight 5"/25 guns that can act as dual-purpose weaponry.

When the enemy team starts spawning aircraft, most pilots will start heading towards the dreadnoughts on your team, so stay close to them and provide AA cover, pressuring aircraft to find different targets.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective AA against aircraft and small targets
* The 5-inch guns with HE-VT shells are effective against destroyers when guns are knocked out
* 8-inch guns are useful in close combat
* Very high amount of crew
* Very good anti-aircraft capability
* Able to support dreadnoughts in AA role
* Has anti-fragmentation armour
* Can take hits before sinking
* Fast when spaded
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* 8-inch guns have a slow reload speed
* Moderate speed when stock
* Stock time-fuzed Shells are poor against aircraft and naval targets
* Can't compete with fast-firing light cruisers
* Susceptible to torpedo damage
* No torpedo launchers
* Anti-fragmentation armour won't completely stop shells
* Guns rotate slowly

== History ==

[[File:USS New Orleans 1943.jpg|thumb|500x500px|USS New Orleans as seen in 1943 after her damage was repaired.]]
USS New Orleans (CA-32) was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy. As the last class of 10-thousand ton cruisers built for the US Navy (abiding by the conditions of the Washington Naval Treaty), she was initially classified as a light cruiser and subsequently reclassified due to her 8-inch-calibre main armament. New Orleans had an extensive service history, and travelled abroad prior to the Second World War. During the war, she served extensively in the Pacific Theatre, surviving a crippling torpedo hit that almost sunk her. New Orleans was awarded 17 battle stars for her WWII service, making her one of the five most-decorated American vessels of WWII; her sister ships San Francisco and Minneapolis also made the list. She was decommissioned after the war, and scrapped in 1959.

=== Design and development ===
After the construction of the previous Portland, Northampton and Pensacola classes, the United States Navy (USN) began the construction of a new class of heavy cruiser - the New Orleans class. This was the last class of cruisers built to the 10-thousand-ton limit of the Washington naval treaty. The ships were intended to have a much heavier armour load than their predecessors, which were low in survivability. As a result, New Orleans' armour accounted for almost 15% of her total displacement, compared to 5-6% for the preceding ship classes. However, this resulted in a reduction in fuel stowage meaning that the New Orleans had a shorter range compared to her predecessors.

The ships themselves inherited the superstructure design of the preceding cruiser classes - however, the old tripod mast design was removed and replaced with a smoother forward superstructure. This change made the ships easily-distinguishable from their predecessors and was subsequently used on the Wichita, Cleveland and Baltimore classes of heavy cruisers. The ships, similar to the preceding Portland class, were built directly up to the 10 thousand ton limit; New Orleans herself displaced 9950 tons standard.

==== Technical specifications ====
New Orleans carried a main armament of nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple Mk 9 turrets, later upgraded to Mk 14 turrets during World War II. She also carried a secondary armament of eight single 5-inch 25 calibre guns for anti-aircraft defence. Rounding her armament off, New Orleans carried two 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns and eight 12.7mm Browning machine guns for short-range Anti-aircraft armament. In the 1940s, her anti-aircraft armament was improved significantly with 24 40mm Bofors guns in quad mounts and 28 20mm Oerlikon guns in dual mounts.

Similar to other American cruisers, New Orleans didn't carry any torpedoes. Her engines developed 107 000 shaft horsepower giving her a top speed of 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h). Costing a total of 12 million dollars to build (non-inflation-adjusted), New Orleans was ordered in mid-1929 and laid down in March of 1931. She was eventually completed and commissioned on February 15th 1934.

=== Operational history ===
During her construction, New Orleans was reclassified as a heavy cruiser due to her 8-inch main armament. Thus, she was commissioned as CA-32. Following her commissioning, New Orleans sailed on a cruise to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, followed by a trip to the Panama canal to escort the Northampton-class cruiser USS Houston as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Hawaii. She later participated in exercises off of California and in the Atlantic, and participated in the first "Fleet week" where civilians could tour the naval vessel.

New Orleans was docked in the inner harbour during the Pearl harbour attack, without power as she was being refueled. Her crewmen frantically tried to raise steam and sail her away while her gunners fired at the attacking aircraft with small arms. As she had no electrical power, New Orleans' ammunition hoists were inoperational making her 5-inch AA guns nearly useless. Despite this, her crew members attempted to lift shells manually using a rope hoist. New Orleans suffered a near miss from a Japanese HE bomb, but was otherwise unscathed.

In early 1942, New Orleans sailed back to port in San Francisco to repair damage and receive a search radar, along with several 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She then returned to the Pacific, and subsequently saw combat action during the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, she tried to save the crippled carrier USS Lexington; she was responsible for evacuating crew members once it was apparent the old carrier could not be saved. She later escorted Yorktown during the Midway battle, but was detached to join the Enterprise battlegroup, and was not present when the Yorktown was crippled by Japanese bombers.

==== Battle of Tassafaronga ====
[[File:USS New Orleans battle damage.jpg|thumb|USS New Orleans steaming into Tulagi after her bow was sheared off by a torpedo.]]
In early November of 1942, New Orleans sailed for Fiji, and then returned to the Solomons for combat action. She was part of a heavy cruiser task force that engaged a Japanese transport squadron during the night of November 30th, in an engagement known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. During the battle, New Orleans, along with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers, spotted a Japanese troop convoy heading for the Solomons, escorted by eight destroyers. And thus began a short engagement limited by poor night-time visibility where the Japanese destroyer Takamani was sunk by gunfire. However, the rest of the Japanese destroyers were not fired upon, and launched a large number of Type 93 'Long Lance' heavy oxygen torpedoes.

At 23:27, Minneapolis was hit by two torpedoes in her engine rooms causing her to take heavy damage. New Orleans subsequently took evasive action, but was hit by a Type 93 that detonated her forward ammunition magazines. As a result, her bow was sheared off at the No. 1 turret and she was slowed to a speed of 2 knots. Subsequently, the cruisers Northampton and Pensacola were both hit, Northampton sinking and Pensacola taking severe damage.

==== Repairs and later service ====
[[File:Temporary bow fitted to USS New Orleans.jpg|thumb|New Orleans with a temporary bow allowing her to steam back to the United States for full repairs.]]
New Orleans, with her entire bow sheared off, limped back to Cockatoo dockyard in Australia; in fact, she sailed backwards (stern first) to avoid flooding the ship's frontal section. There, temporary repairs were made including the fitting of a 'stub bow' to cover the blown-off bow section. In March of 1943, she sailed for Puget Naval Yard where she was given a complete repair, and had a new bow section fitted. She also received a large anti-aircraft armament boost of 24 Bofors guns (6 x 4) and numerous more double Oerlikon cannons. Repairs completed, she returned to service in August of 1943.

New Orleans spent the entirety of 1944 in the Pacific theatre, providing heavy fire support for troop landings in the Marshall Islands. She later escorted the Essex-class carrier Lexington (named after the carrier that she attempted to save at the Battle of the Coral Sea) back to Pearl Harbour after she was torpedoed. She later escorted the American carrier task force during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she sank the light carrier Chiyoda with gunfire.

In early 1945, New Orleans returned to Mare Island for a refit, and then participated in the American invasion of Okinawa where she provided fire support for troops landing on the beaches. She returned to the Philippines in August of 1945, and was anchored at Subic Bay when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo. She then served in various duties after the war, repatriating American soldiers from China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. She returned to the United States in 1947 and was laid up in reserve, to be scrapped starting in 1959.

New Orleans was awarded 17 stars for her service, making her one of the most decorated ships in American history. In fact, she is tied for third place with three other vessels, two of which are her sister ships: USS San Francisco and USS Minneapolis. The only ships with more stars are the legendary USS Enterprise (20 stars) and the cruiser USS San Diego (18 stars). As well, five ships are named after sailors who perished on USS New Orleans during the battle of Tassafaronga: the destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876), and the destroyer escorts USS Hayter, USS Foreman, USS Swenning, and USS Haines.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

* Military Factory. (2017, May 30). USS New Orleans (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=uss-new-orleans-ca32-heavy-cruiser-united-states</nowiki>
* Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019, June 26). New Orleans II (CA-32). Retrieved January 10, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/new-orleans-ii.html</nowiki>
{{ShipManufacturer New York Navy Yard}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

File:USS New Orleans Layout and Protection.png

2022-07-30T01:59:02Z

U61132522:

Screenshots of New Orleans in armor and xray viewer, with armor values labeled

Article template for fleet

2022-07-29T23:38:54Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

== Description ==

''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.''

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

''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''

{| class="wikitable"
!Armor
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret (primaries)
|
|
|
|
|-
|Barbette (primaries)
|
|
|
|
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|
|
|
|
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|
|
|
|
|-
|Citadel
|
|
|
|
|-
|Bridge
|
|
|
|
|-
|Turret (secondary)
|
|
|
|
|}
''feel free to add or omit categories and/or values from the table tempate above when applying it to ship articles, as this was made largely with cruiser armor schemes in mind''

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Special armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Special}}

''Mortars, rocket launchers and missiles are also effective in skilled hands and can take an off-guard opponent by surprise. Evaluate the ammunition of this type of armament and rate its performance in combat. If there are no special armaments, remove this section.''

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}

''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.''

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

*

'''Cons:'''

*

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==

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

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

[[Category:Design templates]]

USS Cleveland

2022-07-29T23:29:05Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

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

Designed as a revised version of the [[USS Brooklyn|Brooklyn-class]] light cruisers with an emphasis on anti-air defense. The USS Cleveland is well-known for her extensive career throughout World War II, served in both the Atlantic and Pacific front. Success of the Cleveland-class has proven the concept of the "screening fleet" doctrine and her layout would have later inspired the "universal gun cruiser" design scheme of other ship in the later part of the war, most notably the [[USS Baltimore|Baltimore-class]] heavy cruisers.

In-game, the USS Cleveland may seems like a downgrade from the Brooklyns at the first glance, due to her placement in the tech tree and one less 152 mm turret. However, as with her real life counterpart, the Cleveland offers more versatility compared to her pure-bred "gun cruiser" predecessor (or successor in-game) with a hefty increase in auxiliary armaments in the form of twelve 127 mm dual-purpose guns and a large number of Bofors and Oerlikon autocannons. These secondary armaments are more than enough to make up for the 152 mm guns.

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


The Cleveland is exceptionally well armoured, with 127 mm protecting the citadel, 165 mm on the turret faces and very strong barbette protection. As a result, it can be very difficult to disable its primary armament. In addition, its secondary armament of 5"/38 cannons is housed in turrets, which although will not stand up to a direct hit will protect them from HE shrapnel, thus making the warship significantly more resilient to destroyer superstructure fire spam than most other cruisers. Although its frontal magazine only has 50 mm of armour protection and no fuel tanks, this is compensated for by the very deep placement of it. In contrast the rear magazine has both good armour and fuel tanks, making it extremely difficult to detonate.

However, the Cleveland's protection did have one big caveat. Unlike other post-treaty US cruisers, she doesn't have any anti-fragmentation hull armour at all, primarily to ease the production. This means the Cleveland is much more vulnerable to fire damage than other ship that does have one, thus she is somewhat prone to fire detonations, so putting them out quickly is a must.

Overall the Cleveland is well armoured for a cruiser, and if angled has the resilience needed to battle multiple enemies simultaneously for a long period of time.

{| class="wikitable"
! Armour !! Front !! Side !! Rear !! Deck/Roof
|-
| Main Turret (6"/47) || 165,1 mm 100 mm (gun mantlet) || 76,2 mm || 38 mm || 76.2 mm
|-
| Barbette main turrets || 152,4 mm 25,4 mm (underpart) || colspan="2" | 152,4 mm || N/A
|-
| Main Magazine (Front) || 127 mm || 50,8 mm || 95,25 mm || 50,8 mm
|-
| Main Magazine (Rear) || 127 mm || 119,4 mm (upper) 76,2 mm (lower) || 95,25 mm || 50,8 mm
|-
|Secondary Turret (5"/38) || 31,75 mm 25,4 mm (gun mantlet) || colspan="3" | 31,75 mm
|-
| Barbette Secondary || colspan="3" | 31,75 mm || N/A
|-
| AA Guns (20mm/70) || 12,7mm || N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
| Citadel || 95,25 mm || 127 mm (upper) 82,55 mm (lower) || 95,25 mm || 50,8 mm (central) 44.45 mm (Sides)
|-
| Bridge || colspan="3" | 152 mm || 57.15 mm
|-
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}


{{NavalMobility}}

The USS Cleveland's speed is in line with the rest of the US cruiser lines, and as such is faster than the cruisers of most other nations. This can be used to get to cap points and positions quickly, as well as rotate around the map. The USS Cleveland is also decently agile for a cruiser, allowing it to make quick course adjustments and tight turns whether it is to dodge torpedoes or turn around and retreat.

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

[[File:6"-47 Mk.16 Triple.png|thumb|259x259px|One of ''Cleveland''<nowiki/>'s 6-inch triple turrets.]]
{{main|6 inch/47 Mk.16 (152 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' carries a main armament of twelve 6"/47 Mk.16 guns in four triple turrets, two fore and two aft. As the standard main armament of American light cruisers, these guns are very effective anti-ship weapons. The guns are capable of firing at 10 rounds per minute (6-second reload), meaning that they have one of the highest fire rates for any 6 inch cannon (only the German triple 6-inch turrets fire faster at 12 rounds per minute). That means that you can output a crazy 120 six-inch shells per minute! The guns have good firing arcs and good ballistics as well for a gun of its size. However, they have a relatively slow turret traverse speed compared to its contemporaries.

The gun has access to four shell types - Mk.34 HC, Mk.35 AP, Mk. 34 HC with base fuse and Mk.34 HC-VT. Of these, the Mk. 35 AP is typically the best choice against armoured targets (i.e. heavy cruisers and battleships) as it is the only shell with good penetration values. After researching parts and FPE, the AP shell should be the first priority. The Mk.34 HC with base fuse could potentially be used against lighter-armoured cruisers, as it has superior penetration values compared to the original shell. In addition, unlike most HE shells which cause significant flooding but little internal damage, the base fuze of this shell means that the Cleveland can cause insane internal damage to destroyers; even a Porter-class, otherwise quite resilient for a destroyer can have its entire crew wiped out in two or three salvos. Typically, one should take ~50% Mk.35 AP, ~40% Mk. 34 HC with base fuse, and ~10% Mk.34 HC-VT in case you want to attempt to shoot down aircraft with the main guns - however this generally isn't recommended due to the turrets' slow rotation speed. The Mk.34 base fuse is superior to the original Mk.34 HC shell as it has better penetration values but retains the explosive mass.

The end result is a balanced warship that has both the penetration to hit the vitals of enemy cruisers and the DPS to challenge and melt down multiple destroyers and cruisers alike in rapid succession.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' is equipped with twelve 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12 guns mounted in six twin dual-purpose turrets. These guns are extremely effective against surface and air targets alike, and are capable of firing at an obscene 22 rounds per minute while using first-stage ammunition. The weapon also has a very good vertical and horizontal rotation speed, and is capable of engaging aircraft due to its high-angle capability (up to 85 degrees).

''Cleveland'' gets access to the standard three shell types - Mk.34 AAC, Mk.46 Common SP, and Mk.31 AAVT. The SP is typically the best pick for heavier-armoured targets such as cruisers, while the AAC shell works better against unarmoured targets due to its large explosive filler. The Mk.31 AAVT is a great option for dealing with air targets due to its proximity fuse - a single direct hit should be enough to destroy an incoming bomber.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' gets access to eight 40 mm Bofors guns in four twin mounts. These weapons are extremely potent anti-aircraft guns due to their accuracy and punching power. Though these weapons fire slower than the 20 mm Oerlikon or 12.7 mm AN-M2, they more than make up for it due to their hard-hitting 40 mm shells. These guns are capable of shredding aircraft and small boats from ranges of 2.5 km away, though effectiveness will drop off after that range due to the large bullet drop. The guns fire from 4-round clips that reload continuously, meaning that they are capable of continuous fire. However, note that they will eventually jam after firing too long.

''Cleveland'' also gets access to 13 single 20 mm Oerlikon mounts. The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior AN-M2 Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. However, note that the weapon is rather ineffective at long ranges, as its 20 mm shells lose velocity pretty fast after ~1.5 km. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|OS2U-1}}

Located on the stern are two catapults with one OS2U-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the OS2U-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Cleveland, being the multi role ship that she is, is quite versatile.

AA Boat: Cleveland's remarkable AA battery means she could easily devastate any plane that comes close to her, provided that your 5"/38 calibre guns have HE-VT ammo, otherwise aircraft could easily get into ordnance-dropping range.

Destroyer Hunter: Cleveland's primary armament of 12 x 6 inch guns allows her to get devastating salvos on her enemies, and with her base fuse ammunition she could easily sink an enemy DD with a couple salvos. Her secondary armament of 12 x 5 inch guns allows her to whittle down nearby DDs without you having to use your main guns.

Cruiser Killer: Cleveland's rapid fire main guns with excellent AP ammunition allow her to penetrate enemy light cruisers and some heavy cruiser's armour belts with ease, allowing her to slowly demolish their crew. While not as good at this as the [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)]] or [[USS Helena (CL-50)]], she is still exceptional in this role.

It should be noted that the Cleveland's 6 inch guns lose effectiveness at long range, so it is best used as a brawler in relatively shallow or closed waters, using islands to get into close range of enemies before using rapid cannon shots to quickly suppress and sink hostile vessels. In addition, as a consequence of having lower caliber guns and not having torpedos, the Cleveland is utterly hopeless against enemy battlecruisers and battleships. When encountering them, the best course of action is generally to turn tail, smoke up, and run.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 2 x triple-mount 6 inch and 2 x dual-mount 5 inch cannons can fire straight ahead, allowing decent firepower while only exposing a small silhouette towards the enemy
* Excellent armour
* Devastating AA suite
* Two scout seaplanes
* Does not carry any torpedoes (less external fire hazards!)

'''Cons:'''

* Lack of anti-fragmentation armour makes her more vulnerable from fire damage
* Does not carry any torpedoes (cannot deny chokepoints or easily destroy enemy capital ships)
* Gets ammoracked easily when stock

== History ==

[[File:USS Cleveland underway.jpg|thumb|450x450px|USS Cleveland underway, late 1942.]]
The USS Cleveland (CL-55) was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers built for the United States Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the earlier Brooklyn-class light cruisers, the ship carried an improved secondary and anti-aircraft armament layout which was used for most successive American cruiser classes. Cleveland saw extensive service during the Second World War in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; she was decommissioned after the war and eventually scrapped in 1960.

=== Design and development ===
The Cleveland class was designed as a follow-up to the previous [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)|Brooklyn]] class, with improved anti-aircraft protection, speed and range. After navy simulations found that the Brooklyn's anti-aircraft armament was woefully inadequate for fending off large amounts of enemy aircraft, the Cleveland class's design was modified to carry a heavily-improved anti-aircraft armament. The #3 turret of the Brooklyn was removed to accommodate a larger bridge and superstructure, which housed Cleveland's extensive fire control and radar systems. The secondary and anti-aircraft armament was also completely redesigned, focused on new 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The design was so successful that the Cleveland class would become the largest cruiser class ever built during WWII - a total of 52 ships were ordered, and 27 were completed to the Cleveland design. A further 13 ships were ordered under the improved Fargo class, while 9 ships were converted into light aircraft carriers. Cleveland, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on July 1st 1940, and following completion, was commissioned on June 15th 1942.

Cleveland's main armament consisted of twelve 6 inch (152 mm) Mark 16 guns in four triple mounts, two fore and two aft. Her secondary armament was heavily improved, with twelve 5 inch (127 mm) Mk 12 guns in six dual turrets. Compared to the last Brooklyn subclass, the ships gained two more Mk 12 twin mounts as the removed 6-inch turret cleared up a lot of space. The Cleveland was initially armed with four dual Bofors mounts and 13 Oerlikon automatic guns for anti-aircraft defence, but similar to other American cruisers at the time, lacked torpedo armament. Her total crew complement was 1255 officers and men, and she had a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60 km/h).

=== Operational history ===
Following her commissioning in June of 1942, Cleveland was immediately sent to join the Allied naval task force supporting the landings in North Africa. She remained there until November, when she was sent to the Pacific Theatre to support operations there. For most of late 1942 to early 1943, Cleveland was in the Guadalcanal area, where she escorted troop convoys and provided fire support. Later in 1943, she participated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where her radar-guided gunfire helped sink the Japanese cruiser Sendai.

In 1944, Cleveland participated in the Marinanas operation and later the battle of the Philippine Sea, which resulted in a total defeat for the Japanese naval force. She spent the latter part of 1944 supporting operations in the Philippines, based from Subic bay naval base. In July of 1945, she was sent to Okinawa, and performed patrols off of the east China sea until the Japanese surrender. After the end of the war, Cleveland repatriated allied prisoners, and later embarked on a training cruise that took her from Bermuda to Halifax. In 1947, Cleveland was inactivated, and eventually scrapped in 1960. She earned 13 battle stars for her WWII service.

=== [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1938, the U.S. sought an expansion of its navy, following the increase in geopolitical tensions across the globe at the time. As a result, two new 6,000 ton light cruisers were ordered whose specifications complied with the restrictions applied by the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936. In 1939, this design was revised, having its displacement increased to 8,000 tons and the general layout resembling a more compact Brooklyn-class cruiser.

Initially, plans were made for the construction of around 20 ships of this class. However, with the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, these plans were expanded to 52 ships and the design of the vessel had its displacement significantly increased again, since restrictions from previous treaties were no longer being taken into account. In reality however, 27 Cleveland-class cruisers would actually end up being built, with another 9 being converted into light aircraft carriers of the Independence-class.

USS Cleveland (CL-55), being the lead ship of the class, was laid down in July 1940 and saw completion in June 1942 when she also officially got commissioned into service with the USN. Upon entering service, USS Cleveland's first mission involved providing fire support to allied troops landing in Morocco in October 1942. Shortly after, USS Cleveland set course for the Pacific Theater in December, where the ship would serve until the end of WWII.

Although USS Cleveland took part in many operations during her service career, one of her more notable engagements with the enemy was the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where Cleveland among with some of her sister ships, successfully defeated a Japanese task force, bound to attack US forces stationed at Bougainville, during a decisive night battle. During the battle, Cleveland-class cruisers proved the effectiveness of their advanced fire control systems and showcased the class' versatility, dealing large damage to both Japanese surface vessels as well as aircraft.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, USS Cleveland was briefly part of the Allied occupation force in Japan, before sailing back to the U.S. in December that year. Following a brief overhaul in January, USS Cleveland was decommissioned in June 1946 and put into reserve in 1947. Ultimately, the ship was sold for scrap in February 1960, marking the end of her service career.

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 08.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==


* [[USS Baltimore]] and [[USS Pittsburgh]] - heavy cruiser with a design based from the Cleveland

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|[Devblog] USS Cleveland (CL-55): The Workhorse of the Navy]]

=== References ===

* Helgason, G. (1995). USS Cleveland. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2579.html</nowiki>
* Woodford, S. R. (2019, August 27). Cleveland II (CL-55). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cleveland-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer New York Shipbuilding Corp.}}
{{USA light cruisers}}

USS Northampton

2022-06-23T00:00:30Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */ added a more comprehensive protection table

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

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

USS Northampton's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Northampton has a main armour belt of just 3 inches (76 mm) of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 95 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Northampton's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. The turrets themselves only have 63mm in the front and even worse on the sides, meaning that even destroyers can penetrate and disable them. Finally, Northampton only has 872 crew members, which severely limits its effectiveness in battle.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|63.5 mm
|19.1 mm
|19.1 mm
|38.1 mm
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|63.5 mm
|95.25 mm
|N/A
|50.8 mm
|-
|Citadel
|38.1 mm
|76.2 mm
|38.1 mm
|25.4 mm
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|N/A
|95.25 mm
|50.8 mm
|50.8 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |38.1 mm
|N/A
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |31.8 mm
|N/A
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Northampton has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade - this is on par with most cruisers of other navies. The ship's turning circle and acceleration are nothing special, either.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

Northampton carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple mounts, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

Northampton carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuse is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuse shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}

Northampton carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Northampton also carries eight single 12.7 mm AN-M2 machine guns. The AN-M2 is a navalised anti-aircraft version of the popular Browning machine gun. This gun is rather ineffective at dealing significant damage to enemy aircraft, and is only effective within ~1.5-2 kilometres at most. As well, keep in mind that these guns have a long 12-second reload after the gun's magazine has been used.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Northampton isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Northampton's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets (the same arrangement as the USS Portland), have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is not competitive against most other cruisers at the Northampton's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Northampton's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 km, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Northampton does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Northampton is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Northampton lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block - this trait is shared by other American pre-war heavy cruisers including USS Pensacola and USS Portland. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms (38 mm of RHA), which can be detonated by stray shells. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Northampton does not have great anti-aircraft defence. As the next class of American heavy cruiser after the USS Pensacola, Northampton gets sixteen 28 mm "Chicago Piano" guns in four quadruple mounts as well as eight 12.7 mm AN-M2 Browning HMGs. These weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Hard-hitting broadside of nine 203 mm (8 inch) guns in triple turrets
** Guns fire powerful ammunition at relatively high muzzle velocities
** Guns have great firing angles with one superfiring pair and one lone turret at the rear
* Better anti-aircraft armament than its historical predecessor, USS Pensacola
* Two scout seaplanes.

'''Cons:'''

* Main gun effectiveness is heavily diminished by an extremely slow reload speed (20+ seconds) and poor accuracy
* Anti-aircraft defence is still terrible and fails to hit targets reliably at longer ranges
* Not very survivable, with weak armour protection and just 621 crew members
* No access to auxiliary armaments such as torpedoes

== History ==

The USS Northampton (CA-26) was the lead ship of the Northampton-class of heavy cruisers. Originally classified as a light cruiser due to her small size, she was later reclassified as a heavy cruiser because of her 8-inch armament. She served in the Pacific prior to the Second World War, and was escorting the USS Enterprise when the Japanese fleet attacked Pearl Harbour. She later served in the Guadalcanal campaign, participating in the Battle of Santa Cruz. However, she was sunk at the Battle of Tassafaronga, having been struck by Japanese torpedoes.<ref name=":0">Rickard, J. (2004)</ref><ref name=":1">US Navy Heritage Command. (2015)</ref>

=== Design and construction ===
The USS Northampton was the lead ship of the Northampton-class, the second American 'Treaty' heavy cruiser class following the [[USS Pensacola (CA-24)|Pensacola]]-class. Due to the limitations of the Washington naval treaty, they were very light at just 9000 tons standard - even lighter than their predecessors, the [[USS Pensacola (CA-24)|Pensacolas]].<ref name=":0" /> The armament scheme was revised to feature nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple turrets, which would be featured on every subsequent American heavy cruiser.<ref name=":0" /> Their anti-aircraft armament was initially sparse but would be refitted later on. As with all American heavy cruiser designs, they did not carry any torpedo armament. The Northampton-class were capable of making 32.7 knots (60 kph).<ref name=":0" />

The USS Northampton was laid down on April 12th of 1928, and launched on September 5th 1929. She was sponsored by Grace Coolidge, former first lady of the United states. After construction was completed, she was formally commissioned on May 17th 1930.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Northampton towing USS Hornet.jpg|thumb|380x380px|Northampton attempting to save the Crippled USS Hornet at the battle of Guadalcanal.]]

=== Service history ===
After her commissioning, the Northampton embarked on a shakedown cruise into the Mediterranean as part of the US Atlantic Fleet. Following the London Naval Treaty, the ship was reclassified as CA-26. In 1932, she moved to the Pacific fleet and was homeported at San Pedro; she would remain there until the start of the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, the Northampton was out at sea escorting the USS Enterprise with Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey on board. She subsequently escorted the aircraft carrier Hornet on the Doolittle raid and the carrier Enterprise during the Battle of Midway.<ref name=":1" /> She escorted the Hornet during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, and attempted to keep her afloat after the carrier was severely damaged by Japanese aircraft. Her attempts were unsuccessful, and the Hornet was finished off by torpedoes and gunfire.<ref name=":1" />

The Northampton engaged in her final action, the Battle of Tassafaronga on November 30th 1942. A force of several American heavy cruisers and destroyers encountered a group of eight Japanese destroyers, tasked with delivering food to the forces at Guadalcanal.<ref name=":1" /> Taken by surprise, the Japanese force lost one of the destroyers with heavy damage to others. However, they retaliated with a torpedo attack and hit several of the American heavy cruisers. Northampton was hit by two Japanese Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes, which tore large gashes in her hull. Crippled and sinking, the ship was abandoned. Northampton received a total of six battle stars for her service during the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

;Citations
<references />

;Bibliograhphy

* Rickard, J. (2004, March 10). USS Northampton CA-26. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from <nowiki>http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Northampton_CA26.html</nowiki>
* US Navy Heritage Command. (2015, August 13). Northampton II (CL-26). Retrieved November 18, 2020, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/northampton-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Cleveland

2022-06-22T23:54:52Z

U61132522: Added more comprehensive protection table

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

== Description ==

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

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


The Cleveland is exceptionally well armored, with 127 mm protecting the citadel, 165 mm on the turret faces and very strong barbette protection. As a result, it can be very difficult to disable its primary armament. In addition, its secondary armament of 5"/38 cannons is housed in turrets, which although will not stand up to a direct hit will protect them from HE shrapnel, thus making the warship significantly more resilient to destroyer superstructure fire spam than most other cruisers. Although its frontal magazine only has 50 mm of armor protection and no fuel tanks, this is compensated for by the very deep placement of it. In contrast the rear magazine has both good armor and fuel tanks, making it extremely difficult to detonate. The Cleveland is however somewhat prone to fire detonations, so putting them out quickly is a must.

Overall the Cleveland is well armored for a cruiser, and if angled has the resilience needed to battle multiple enemies simultaneously for a long period of time.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|165 mm
|76 mm
|38 mm
|76.2 mm
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|127 mm
|50.8 mm
|N/A
|50.8 mm
|-
|Citadel
|95.25 mm
|127 mm (upper belt)
82.55 (lower belt)
|95.25 mm
|50.8 mm
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|N/A
|119.4 mm (upper)
76.2 (lower)
|127 mm
|50.8 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |152.4 mm
|N/A
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |152 mm
|N/A
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}


{{NavalMobility}}

The USS Cleveland's speed is in line with the rest of the US cruiser lines, and as such is faster than the cruisers of most other nations. This can be used to get to cap points and positions quickly, as well as rotate around the map. The USS Cleveland is also decently agile for a cruiser, allowing it to make quick course adjustments and tight turns whether it is to dodge torpedoes or turn around and retreat.

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

[[File:6"-47 Mk.16 Triple.png|thumb|259x259px|One of ''Cleveland''<nowiki/>'s 6-inch triple turrets.]]
{{main|6 inch/47 Mk.16 (152 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' carries a main armament of twelve 6"/47 Mk.16 guns in four triple turrets, two fore and two aft. As the standard main armament of American light cruisers, these guns are very effective anti-ship weapons. The guns are capable of firing at 10 rounds per minute (6-second reload), meaning that they have one of the highest fire rates for any 6 inch cannon (only the German triple 6-inch turrets fire faster at 12 rounds per minute). That means that you can output a crazy 120 six-inch shells per minute! The guns have good firing arcs and good ballistics as well for a gun of its size. However, they have a relatively slow turret traverse speed compared to its contemporaries.

The gun has access to four shell types - Mk.34 HC, Mk.35 AP, Mk. 34 HC with base fuse and Mk.34 HC-VT. Of these, the Mk. 35 AP is typically the best choice against armoured targets (i.e. heavy cruisers and battleships) as it is the only shell with good penetration values. After researching parts and FPE, the AP shell should be the first priority. The Mk.34 HC with base fuse could potentially be used against lighter-armoured cruisers, as it has superior penetration values compared to the original shell. In addition, unlike most HE shells which cause significant flooding but little internal damage, the base fuze of this shell means that the Cleveland can cause insane internal damage to destroyers; even a Porter-class, otherwise quite resilient for a destroyer can have its entire crew wiped out in two or three salvos. Typically, one should take ~50% Mk.35 AP, ~40% Mk. 34 HC with base fuse, and ~10% Mk.34 HC-VT in case you want to attempt to shoot down aircraft with the main guns - however this generally isn't recommended due to the turrets' slow rotation speed. The Mk.34 base fuse is superior to the original Mk.34 HC shell as it has better penetration values but retains the explosive mass.

The end result is a balanced warship that has both the penetration to hit the vitals of enemy cruisers and the DPS to challenge and melt down multiple destroyers and cruisers alike in rapid succession.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' is equipped with twelve 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12 guns mounted in six twin dual-purpose turrets. These guns are extremely effective against surface and air targets alike, and are capable of firing at an obscene 22 rounds per minute while using first-stage ammunition. The weapon also has a very good vertical and horizontal rotation speed, and is capable of engaging aircraft due to its high-angle capability (up to 85 degrees).

''Cleveland'' gets access to the standard three shell types - Mk.34 AAC, Mk.46 Common SP, and Mk.31 AAVT. The SP is typically the best pick for heavier-armoured targets such as cruisers, while the AAC shell works better against unarmored targets due to its large explosive filler. The Mk.31 AAVT is a great option for dealing with air targets due to its proximity fuse - a single direct hit should be enough to destroy an incoming bomber.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' gets access to eight 40 mm Bofors guns in four twin mounts. These weapons are extremely potent anti-aircraft guns due to their accuracy and punching power. Though these weapons fire slower than the 20 mm Oerlikon or 12.7 mm AN-M2, they more than make up for it due to their hard-hitting 40 mm shells. These guns are capable of shredding aircraft and small boats from ranges of 2.5 km away, though effectiveness will drop off after that range due to the large bullet drop. The guns fire from 4-round clips that reload continuously, meaning that they are capable of continuous fire. However, note that they will eventually jam after firing too long.

''Cleveland'' also gets access to 13 single 20 mm Oerlikon mounts. The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior AN-M2 Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. However, note that the weapon is rather ineffective at long ranges, as its 20 mm shells lose velocity pretty fast after ~1.5 km. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|OS2U-1}}

Located on the stern are two catapults with one OS2U-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the OS2U-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Cleveland, being the multi role ship that she is, is quite versatile.

AA Boat: Cleveland's remarkable AA battery means she could easily devastate any plane that comes close to her, provided that your 5"/38 calibre guns have HE-VT ammo, otherwise aircraft could easily get into ordnance-dropping range.

Destroyer Hunter: Cleveland's primary armament of 12 x 6 inch guns allows her to get devastating salvos on her enemies, and with her base fuse ammunition she could easily sink an enemy DD with a couple salvos. Her secondary armament of 12 x 5 inch guns allows her to whittle down nearby DDs without you having to use your main guns.

Cruiser Killer: Cleveland's rapid fire main guns with excellent AP ammunition allow her to penetrate enemy light cruisers and some heavy cruiser's armour belts with ease, allowing her to slowly demolish their crew. While not as good at this as the [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)]] or [[USS Helena (CL-50)]], she is still exceptional in this role.

It should be noted that the Cleveland's 6 inch guns lose effectiveness at long range, so it is best used as a brawler in relatively shallow or closed waters, using islands to get into close range of enemies before using rapid cannon shots to quickly suppress and sink hostile vessels. In addition, as a consequence of having lower caliber guns and not having torpedos, the Cleveland is utterly hopeless against enemy battlecruisers and battleships. When encountering them, the best course of action is generally to turn tail, smoke up, and run.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 2 x triple-mount 6 inch and 2 x dual-mount 5 inch cannons can fire straight ahead, allowing decent firepower while only exposing a small silhouette towards the enemy
* Excellent armour
* Devastating AA suite
* Two scout seaplanes
* Does not carry any torpedoes (less external fire hazards!)

'''Cons:'''

* Does not carry any torpedoes (cannot deny chokepoints or easily destroy enemy capital ships)
* Gets ammoracked easily when stock

== History ==

[[File:USS Cleveland underway.jpg|thumb|450x450px|USS Cleveland underway, late 1942.]]
The USS Cleveland (CL-55) was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers built for the United States Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the earlier Brooklyn-class light cruisers, the ship carried an improved secondary and anti-aircraft armament layout which was used for most successive American cruiser classes. Cleveland saw extensive service during the Second World War in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; she was decommissioned after the war and eventually scrapped in 1960.

=== Design and development ===
The Cleveland class was designed as a follow-up to the previous [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)|Brooklyn]] class, with improved anti-aircraft protection, speed and range. After navy simulations found that the Brooklyn's anti-aircraft armament was woefully inadequate for fending off large amounts of enemy aircraft, the Cleveland class's design was modified to carry a heavily-improved anti-aircraft armament. The #3 turret of the Brooklyn was removed to accommodate a larger bridge and superstructure, which housed Cleveland's extensive fire control and radar systems. The secondary and anti-aircraft armament was also completely redesigned, focused on new 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The design was so successful that the Cleveland class would become the largest cruiser class ever built during WWII - a total of 52 ships were ordered, and 27 were completed to the Cleveland design. A further 13 ships were ordered under the improved Fargo class, while 9 ships were converted into light aircraft carriers. Cleveland, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on July 1st 1940, and following completion, was commissioned on June 15th 1942.

Cleveland's main armament consisted of twelve 6 inch (152 mm) Mark 16 guns in four triple mounts, two fore and two aft. Her secondary armament was heavily improved, with twelve 5 inch (127 mm) Mk 12 guns in six dual turrets. Compared to the last Brooklyn subclass, the ships gained two more Mk 12 twin mounts as the removed 6-inch turret cleared up a lot of space. The Cleveland was initially armed with four dual Bofors mounts and 13 Oerlikon automatic guns for anti-aircraft defence, but similar to other American cruisers at the time, lacked torpedo armament. Her total crew complement was 1255 officers and men, and she had a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60 km/h).

=== Operational history ===
Following her commissioning in June of 1942, Cleveland was immediately sent to join the Allied naval task force supporting the landings in North Africa. She remained there until November, when she was sent to the Pacific Theatre to support operations there. For most of late 1942 to early 1943, Cleveland was in the Guadalcanal area, where she escorted troop convoys and provided fire support. Later in 1943, she participated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where her radar-guided gunfire helped sink the Japanese cruiser Sendai.

In 1944, Cleveland participated in the Marinanas operation and later the battle of the Philippine Sea, which resulted in a total defeat for the Japanese naval force. She spent the latter part of 1944 supporting operations in the Philippines, based from Subic bay naval base. In July of 1945, she was sent to Okinawa, and performed patrols off of the east China sea until the Japanese surrender. After the end of the war, Cleveland repatriated allied prisoners, and later embarked on a training cruise that took her from Bermuda to Halifax. In 1947, Cleveland was inactivated, and eventually scrapped in 1960. She earned 13 battle stars for her WWII service.

=== [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1938, the U.S. sought an expansion of its navy, following the increase in geopolitical tensions across the globe at the time. As a result, two new 6,000 ton light cruisers were ordered whose specifications complied with the restrictions applied by the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936. In 1939, this design was revised, having its displacement increased to 8,000 tons and the general layout resembling a more compact Brooklyn-class cruiser.

Initially, plans were made for the construction of around 20 ships of this class. However, with the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, these plans were expanded to 52 ships and the design of the vessel had its displacement significantly increased again, since restrictions from previous treaties were no longer being taken into account. In reality however, 27 Cleveland-class cruisers would actually end up being built, with another 9 being converted into light aircraft carriers of the Independence-class.

USS Cleveland (CL-55), being the lead ship of the class, was laid down in July 1940 and saw completion in June 1942 when she also officially got commissioned into service with the USN. Upon entering service, USS Cleveland's first mission involved providing fire support to allied troops landing in Morocco in October 1942. Shortly after, USS Cleveland set course for the Pacific Theater in December, where the ship would serve until the end of WWII.

Although USS Cleveland took part in many operations during her service career, one of her more notable engagements with the enemy was the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where Cleveland among with some of her sister ships, successfully defeated a Japanese task force, bound to attack US forces stationed at Bougainville, during a decisive night battle. During the battle, Cleveland-class cruisers proved the effectiveness of their advanced fire control systems and showcased the class' versatility, dealing large damage to both Japanese surface vessels as well as aircraft.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, USS Cleveland was briefly part of the Allied occupation force in Japan, before sailing back to the U.S. in December that year. Following a brief overhaul in January, USS Cleveland was decommissioned in June 1946 and put into reserve in 1947. Ultimately, the ship was sold for scrap in February 1960, marking the end of her service career.

== Media ==


;Images
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</gallery>

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|[Devblog] USS Cleveland (CL-55): The Workhorse of the Navy]]

=== References ===

* Helgason, G. (1995). USS Cleveland. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2579.html</nowiki>
* Woodford, S. R. (2019, August 27). Cleveland II (CL-55). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cleveland-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer New York Shipbuilding Corp.}}
{{USA light cruisers}}

USS Atlanta

2022-06-22T23:49:56Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].

The Atlanta-class light cruisers is specifically designed by the United States Navy as a long-range "anti-air cruiser" and fulfil its roles as the first line of defence in the "screening fleet" doctrine. As such, the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with a large amount of dual-purpose 5-inch (127 mm) to provide a long-range ripples of anti-air shell at an enemy aircraft. Due to the small yet numerous guns, the Atlanta is specialized in close range combat and fire support, as it is capable of oversaturate the enemy ship using its fast rate of fire before they can fight back.
== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}

The Atlanta's protection is quite poor. While the ship is clad with with layers of anti-fragmentation armour (especially on the bow) and reasonable armour around the ship's internal modules, this is offset by low crew count, poor turret protection, and highly vulnerable ammunition storage.

Although the ammunition storage forward of the bridge does benefit from a layer of fuel storage in-between it and an incoming salvo, detonation of ammunition is commonplace thanks to the numerous fragile main turrets with highly vulnerable ready racks. The stern section of the Atlanta is especially vulnerable, as it has five main turrets cramped together and the rear magazine sits barely below the waterline.

Fire resistant characteristic is a mixed bag, as the Atlanta can endure prolonged fire damage with minimal crew loss, yet a fire in the vicinity of a turret has a high chance to cause a fatal ready rack detonation.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|31.75 mm
|31.75 mm
|31.75 mm
|31.75 mm
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|95.25 mm
|27.94 mm
|N/A
|31.75 mm
|-
|Citadel
|95.25 mm
|95.25 mm
|95.25 mm
|31.75 mm
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|N/A
|95.25 mm
|95.25 mm
|31.75 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |31.75mm
|N/A
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |63.5 mm
|N/A
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}


The Atlanta's handling is surprisingly sluggish when stock. Despite the relatively low weight for a light cruiser, the Atlanta struggles to manoeuvre due to her excessive hull length. Her rudder responsiveness is lethargic, and once a turn has begun, her speed dips into the 20-25 mph range. On some maps where scrambling to the island groups is necessary for lighter cruisers to evade enemy fire, the Atlanta can easily fall behind and find itself on the receiving end of heavy cruiser fire.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

The primary armament of the Atlanta is 16 x 5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm) guns in eight twin turrets, of which a maximum of 14 can be brought to bear on one target. These guns have a high rate of fire (up to 22 rounds per minute with maxed crew and first-stage ammo stowage). even with an untrained crew and have an acceptable quantity of high explosive per shell. The downside is a comparatively poor shell trajectory when compared to other cruisers; especially in fights over 8 km, the five-inch guns require more precise distance input compared to larger diameter guns.

The Atlanta gets access to four shell types - Mk.34 AAC, Mk. 32 Common, Mk.46 Common SP, and Mk.31 AAVT. The Common SP (essentially a common shell with slightly less explosive mass but better penetration) is typically the best pick for heavily-armoured targets such as cruisers, while the AAC shell works better against unarmoured targets due to its large explosive filler. The Mk.31 AAVT is a great option for dealing with air targets due to its proximity fuze - a single direct hit should be enough to destroy an incoming bomber.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)}}

Despite ostensibly being an anti-air cruiser, the only "true" anti-air secondaries on the Atlanta are three quad 1.1-inch "Chicago Piano" mounts. This is due to the Atlanta were designed to utilize its numerous dual-purpose 127 mm guns to provide a long-range anti-air defense.

The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 Gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN/M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options, with just the default HE-T belt available.

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}

{{main|Mk.15 (533 mm)}}

Torpedo armament consists of six total torpedoes, three per side. The port torpedo launcher face the bow of the ship, while the starboard faces aft. This does not seriously affect usage or arcs of fire.

== Usage in battles ==


The Atlanta is best saved for close maps like Arctic Port where her guns can eviscerate cruisers inside 6-8 km. On larger maps where cruisers engage at distances as far as 12-13 km, the Atlanta is a poor choice. She has neither the armour nor the guns to engage Hippers, Mogamis, Kirovs, or Brooklyns at longer ranges nor even the speed to place herself in a more advantageous position out of sight from the larger cruisers.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Huge amount of dual-purposes 5 inch guns provides excellent close to medium range firepower
* Due to its high fire rate, it can quickly suppress rushing enemies attempting to close the distance
* Great gun coverage, can utilize most guns while heavily angled
* Effective at long-range anti-air defence when used correctly

'''Cons:'''

* Poor survivability due to lack of armour and low crew count
* Lots of turrets means a lot of ammo racks being scattered around the ship
* Mediocre manoeuvrability
* Poor accuracy and weapon trajectory at longer range
* Unreliable anti-air armaments, have to rely on dual-purpose guns that is quite tricky to use at times

== History ==
[[File:USS Atlanta 1941.jpg|thumb|450x450px|The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51) steaming at high speed, probably during her trials, circa in November 1941.]]
USS Atlanta (CL-51) was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers built for the United States Navy during the Second World War. Designed as light anti-aircraft cruisers similar to the British [[HMS Dido|Dido]]-class, the Atlanta was commissioned in December of 1941 just after the American entry into the Second World War. She went on to see combat action in the Pacific Theatre, and participated in the Midway and Eastern Solomons conflicts. She was later abandoned and sunk after being hit by Japanese torpedoes and friendly fire at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

=== Design and development ===
The Atlanta class were designed as specialized anti-aircraft ships with armament specialized for anti-aircraft defence, similar to the British Dido-class. The ships were armed with a formidable main armament of sixteen 5-inch (127 mm) guns in eight dual mounts, with six on the centreline in two superfiring pairs and two more mounted on the beam. Despite their role, the ship’s secondary anti-aircraft armament was scarce, being limited to just three quadruple 28 mm ‘Chicago Piano’ mounts. As well, Atlanta carried two quadruple 533 mm torpedo tubes, which was unusual among American cruisers due to the doctrine of not fitting torpedo tubes to cruisers. Being a small cruiser, Atlanta displaced just 6718 tons standard and had a crew of 673. Her anti-aircraft design meant that she was an ineffective surface combatant, which would later become a fatal flaw when she was severely damaged at the Battle of Guadalcanal. Atlanta was laid down in April of 1940, and commissioned on Christmas Eve, 1941, days after the United States declared war on the Axis powers.

=== Operational history ===
After her shakedown cruise in Chesapeake bay, the Atlanta was immediately sent to the Pacific theatre, where ships of her role were badly needed. After stopping at Pearl harbour, she joined Task Force 16, under the command of Vice Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey, as they sailed to counter the imminent attack on Midway Atoll. At the Battle of Midway, she provided air cover for the carrier USS Hornet, while aircraft of the American force decimated the Japanese carrier group and sank all four Japanese fleet carriers.

Soon after the Midway conflict, Atlanta participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, where she covered the carrier USS Enterprise as she launched her airgroup against the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. Soon after, she proceeded to embark Rear Admiral Norman Scott, as she became the flagship of a convoy responsible for transporting troops to Guadalcanal. They were extensively attacked by enemy aircraft during the trip, but luckily, all three troop transports emerged without severe damage. Once the transports started unloading, Atlanta provided air cover as part of the larger TF 67, covered by several other cruisers.

Soon after, the Japanese aircraft broke off, and the cruiser force enjoyed a short period of inactivity before Japanese surface units were detected. TF 67 regrouped, now being composed of the heavy cruisers San Francisco (with commanding officer RAdm Daniel Callaghan onboard), Portland and Pensacola, the light cruisers [[USS Helena (CL-50)|Helena,]] Juneau, and Atlanta, along with several destroyers. They soon engaged the Japanese force in a night engagement that resulted in the sinking of the destroyer Akatsuki and crippling of [[IJN Yuudachi|Yuudachi]]. However, midway into the engagement, Atlanta was hit by a Japanese ‘Long Lance’ torpedo that destroyed her engine room and knocked out most functions. Just minutes after, she was mistaken for a Japanese vessel and was hit by at least 19 8-inch shells fired by the USS San Francisco, which destroyed her superstructure and killed most of her officers including her commanding officer, RAdm Scott. The next morning, the surviving crew were disembarked by crew transports, and the ship was scuttled. The naval battle of Guadalcanal would eventually result in the sinking of her sister ship Juneau, and heavy damage to multiple other ships. For her service, Atlanta received 5 battle stars, as well as a presidential unit citation for her bravery during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

=== [[wt:en/news/6334-development-uss-atlanta-the-explosive-air-traffic-controller-en|Devblog]] ===
Atlanta-class light cruisers came to being in the late 1930s, during which the US Navy was considering a multitude of different design proposals for new light cruisers, which would be in accordance with the limitations set by the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936.

Having realized that all outstanding requirements couldn't be met with a limited displacement design, the decision was eventually made to adopt a smaller light cruiser design to act as a destroyer leader. As a result, the proposed design of what would become the Atlanta-class was selected for construction, with an initial order for four ships being issued in April 1939, followed by a second order for four further vessels in September 1940.

USS Atlanta, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on 22 April 1940 in Kearny, New Jersey and was subsequently commissioned into service in December of the following year, shortly after the US' entry into WWII. Atlanta would soon receive its baptism by fire, taking part in the Battle of Midway in June 1942 while on screening duty for American aircraft carriers.

USS Atlanta also took part in heavy fighting during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, as well as the subsequent Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. During the latter, USS Atlanta received mortal damage during a Japanese night attack, both from enemy as well as friendly fire. Although the USS Atlanta made it through the night, it became clear the next morning that the damage was too severe to deal with and the order for scuttling was issued on 13 November 1942. Atlanta was subsequently struck from the Naval Register in January of the following year.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==


;Other anti-aircraft cruisers

* [[HMS Dido]]
* [[IJN Isuzu]]
* [[RN Etna]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6334-development-uss-atlanta-the-explosive-air-traffic-controller-en|[Devblog] USS Atlanta: The Explosive Air Traffic Controller]]

=== References ===

* Helgason, G. (1995). USS Atlanta. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2575.html</nowiki>
* Navy History and Heritage Command. (2019, August 20). Atlanta III (CL-51). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/atlanta-cl-51-iii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.}}
{{USA light cruisers}}

USS Portland

2022-06-22T23:43:00Z

U61132522: Added a more comprehensive protection table

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

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

USS Portland's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Portland has a main armour belt of just 57.15 mm of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 146 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Portland's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. Its main turrets have only 63 mm of armor on the front and even less on the sides, while its secondary armament is exposed and prone to shrapnel damage. All of these factors combined make for a vessel that can be quickly disabled and ravaged by lower caliber fast reloading cannons (Atlantas, Clevelands, and Brooklyns in particular are especially dangerous to the Portland), and it must be played cautiously. Portland has a crew of 1,033 crew members, which is about average for a cruiser; the ship's four engines are placed symmetrically in groups of two, meaning that a well-placed shot can knock out at least two engines.

{| class="wikitable"
!Armour
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!Deck/Roof
|-
|Turret
|63.5 mm
|19.1 mm
|19.1 mm
|38.1 mm
|-
|Magazine (Front)
|146 mm
|146 mm
|N/A
|54
|-
|Citadel
|50.8 mm
|57.15 mm
|50.8 mm
|63.5 mm
|-
|Magazine (Rear)
|N/A
|146 mm
|146 mm
|54 mm
|-
|Barbette
| colspan="3" |37 mm
|N/A
|-
|Bridge
| colspan="3" |32 mm
|N/A
|}

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Portland has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade, it is on par with most US cruisers and faster than many other nations' cruisers. The ship's acceleration are nothing special, either. However, its turn circle is decidedly poor.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

The Portland carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple turrets, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels. The exception is when facing against American destroyers such as the USS Moffett, in which case their extensive anti-fragmentation armor makes them extremely (some would say unreasonably) resilient to HE nose fuzed shells. When facing them it is best to use the Special Common shells to try and deal internal damage.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The Portland carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuze is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuze shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

Due to the nature of their open mountings, however, they are easily destroyed by enemy fire.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

Portland carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Portland also carries twelve single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The 20 mm Oerlikon Cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. The gun lacks belt options, but the loaded ammunition is still quite effective against light targets. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Portland isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Portland's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets, have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is uncompetitive against most other cruisers at the Portland's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Portland's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 kilometres, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Portland does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Portland is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Portland lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms, subpar protection for its main armament, and exposed secondaries, all of which result in a vessel that can be rapidly crippled by even concentrated destroyer fire. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Portland does not have great anti-aircraft defence. While the ship does get access to several 28 mm "Chicago Piano" and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts, these weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Improved armour protection from HE shrapnel compared to the Brooklyn
* Main guns hit relatively hard, being of a large calibre
* Thicker armour over main magazines than the Brooklyn
* Crew of 848 is above average
* Relatively good anti-aircraft protection for a pre-war American heavy cruiser
* Two scout seaplanes.

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload compared to most of its competition with minimum reload at 17.1 s
* Poor shell selection with primarily inter-war shells
* No torpedo armament
* Though strong among American CAs, anti-aircraft armament lacks hitting power and range making it relatively ineffective

== History ==


The Portland-class cruisers were the third heavy cruiser design that the Americans produced in the interwar years, following the Northampton-class. There were only two ships in this class, the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Interestingly the Portland-class was originally planned to be a light cruiser design, being re-designated as heavy cruisers only after the hulls had been laid down in 1931.

Ships of the class were propelled by 4 screws, powered at 107,000 horsepower. This gave the ship a fairly standard top speed of 32 knots and a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Firepower was provided from 3 triple 8" guns in Mk. 14 turrets. This design was carried over from the previous Northampton class. These 280 ton turrets allowed a maximum of 41 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. The turrets were used in conjunction with the Mk.34 fire director system by, at the latest, 1945.

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

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

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

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

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

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Portland

2022-06-22T23:33:44Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour|Barbette=}}

USS Portland's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Portland has a main armour belt of just 57.15 mm of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 146 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Portland's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. Its main turrets have only 63 mm of armor on the front and even less on the sides, while its secondary armament is exposed and prone to shrapnel damage. All of these factors combined make for a vessel that can be quickly disabled and ravaged by lower caliber fast reloading cannons (Atlantas, Clevelands, and Brooklyns in particular are especially dangerous to the Portland), and it must be played cautiously. Portland has a crew of 1,033 crew members, which is about average for a cruiser; the ship's four engines are placed symmetrically in groups of two, meaning that a well-placed shot can knock out at least two engines.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Portland has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade, it is on par with most US cruisers and faster than many other nations' cruisers. The ship's acceleration are nothing special, either. However, its turn circle is decidedly poor.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

The Portland carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple turrets, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels. The exception is when facing against American destroyers such as the USS Moffett, in which case their extensive anti-fragmentation armor makes them extremely (some would say unreasonably) resilient to HE nose fuzed shells. When facing them it is best to use the Special Common shells to try and deal internal damage.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The Portland carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuze is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuze shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

Due to the nature of their open mountings, however, they are easily destroyed by enemy fire.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

Portland carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Portland also carries twelve single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The 20 mm Oerlikon Cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. The gun lacks belt options, but the loaded ammunition is still quite effective against light targets. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Portland isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Portland's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets, have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is uncompetitive against most other cruisers at the Portland's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Portland's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 kilometres, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Portland does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Portland is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Portland lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms, subpar protection for its main armament, and exposed secondaries, all of which result in a vessel that can be rapidly crippled by even concentrated destroyer fire. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Portland does not have great anti-aircraft defence. While the ship does get access to several 28 mm "Chicago Piano" and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts, these weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Improved armour protection from HE shrapnel compared to the Brooklyn
* Main guns hit relatively hard, being of a large calibre
* Thicker armour over main magazines than the Brooklyn
* Crew of 848 is above average
* Relatively good anti-aircraft protection for a pre-war American heavy cruiser
* Two scout seaplanes.

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload compared to most of its competition with minimum reload at 17.1 s
* Poor shell selection with primarily inter-war shells
* No torpedo armament
* Though strong among American CAs, anti-aircraft armament lacks hitting power and range making it relatively ineffective

== History ==


The Portland-class cruisers were the third heavy cruiser design that the Americans produced in the interwar years, following the Northampton-class. There were only two ships in this class, the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Interestingly the Portland-class was originally planned to be a light cruiser design, being re-designated as heavy cruisers only after the hulls had been laid down in 1931.

Ships of the class were propelled by 4 screws, powered at 107,000 horsepower. This gave the ship a fairly standard top speed of 32 knots and a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Firepower was provided from 3 triple 8" guns in Mk. 14 turrets. This design was carried over from the previous Northampton class. These 280 ton turrets allowed a maximum of 41 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. The turrets were used in conjunction with the Mk.34 fire director system by, at the latest, 1945.

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

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

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

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

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

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

XM803

2022-06-21T08:16:14Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_xm_803
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]].

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


The XM-803's frontal armour is only effective versus full-calibre AP and APHE rounds and certain APDS rounds. Almost all large calibre (76 mm and up) have no trouble slicing through it, even when hitting the frontal armour at an angle. Large calibre HEAT-FS too has no problem going through, although the large fuel tank behind the frontal hull armour can sometimes absorb most damage. The fuel tank is also completely separate from the rest of the tank, and as a result often burns out without damaging the rest of the vehicle. Because the armour has a layer of air in it, it is very effective against HESH rounds. All the spalling generated by the HESH round when it hits the first plate will get absorbed by the plate behind it. One big weak spot on the turret it the left (when facing it) turret cheek. This is because this part of the turret is not protected by spaced armour and only consists of 177.8 mm thick CHA plate, which most chemical and kinetic energy projectiles can penetrate with ease.

'''Armour type:'''

* Spaced armour (Hull front, Turret front)
* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (64°) ''Front glacis'' 76 mm (63°) ''Lower glacis'' || 35 mm ''Top'' 25.4 mm ''Bottom'' || 25.4 mm (12°) ''Top'' 25.4 mm (67°) ''Bottom'' 5 mm (13°) ''Engine exhaust'' || 25.4 mm ''Front'' 5-12.7 mm ''Engine deck''
|-
| Turret || 38.1-203 mm (0-75°) || 12.7-38.1* mm (29-34°) || 12.7* mm (27-84°) || 25.4-76 mm ''Front'' 12.7 mm ''Rear turret''
|-
| Cupola || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Spaced armour* !! Front !! Sides !! Rear
|-
| Hull || 250 mm ''Kinetic'' 240 mm ''Chemical'' || N/A || N/A
|-
| Turret || 270-300 mm ''Kinetic'' 220-350 mm ''Chemical'' || '''38 mm sections:''' 200 mm ''Kinetic'' 220 mm ''Chemical'' '''12.7 mm sections:''' 50 mm ''Kinetic'' 60 mm ''Chemical'' || 30 mm ''Kinetic'' 40 mm ''Chemical''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Road wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 30 mm thick.
* A 6.35 mm RHA plate separates the engine from the crew compartment
* The crew is protected by a 6.35mm thick turret basket
* Hull spaced armour configuration is 38 mm RHA + 127 mm air + 51 mm RHA.
* Turret spaced armour configuration is 38 mm RHA + 127 mm air + 127 mm CHA.
* Turret rear side spaced armour configuration is 12.7 mm RHA + 38 mm air + 25.4 mm RHA
* Turret rear spaced armour configuration is 12.7 mm RHA + 38 mm air + 12.7 mm RHA.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,937|rbMinHp=1,106}}

The mobility of the {{PAGENAME}} is worse than that of the MBT-70. In its stock configuration, it has a horsepower/ton ratio of 21.39, while with all upgrades this increases to 24.08 HP/t. The top speed (both forward and reverse) is 64 km/h (40 mph) with 8 gears for both directions. The tank can reach its top speed quickly on flat roads, while on more difficult terrain the top speed drops by around 20 km/h. The tank has neutral steering and good turning ability on all terrains.

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

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[XM150E5 (152 mm)|152 mm XM150E5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 53 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 34.3 || 47.4 || 57.6 || 63.7 || 67.8 || rowspan="2" | 7.50 || rowspan="2" | 7.50 || rowspan="2" | 7.50 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 21.4 || 25.2 || 30.6 || 33.8 || 36.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| XM578E1 || APFSDS || 346 || 343 || 334 || 323 || 311 || 300
|-
| M409A1 || HEAT || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380
|-
| MGM-51C || ATGM || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| XM578E1 || APFSDS || 1,478 || 3.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 76° || 77° || 80°
|-
| M409A1 || HEAT || 754 || 18.9 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 3,730 || 62° || 69° || 73°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Range (m)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| MGM-51C || ATGM || 286 || 3,200 || 27.8 || 0 || 0.1 || 3,600 || 80° || 82° || 90°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| XM410E1 || 754 || 18.9 || 25 || 5 || 30 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|right|thumb|x200px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''53''' || 48 ''(+5)'' || 46 ''(+7)'' || 34 ''(+19)'' || 27 ''(+26)'' || 1 ''(+52)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Rack 5 is a first-stage ammo rack, meaning it depletes first but refills from the other racks in the order they are listed. As such, it is the last rack to deplete.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M85 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M85]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 626 || -9°/+65° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 6,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The XM-803, like the MBT-70, is a very good flanker. To get the most out of this tank you must use its high speed and acceleration to flank the enemy or set up ambushes. Its gun and ammunition are good enough to penetrate most lower BR tanks with ease, although when up-tiered you will have to resort to aiming for the weak spots of opponents. The HEAT round you get is free, and will easily penetrate tanks with plain steel armour, but it's lacking when facing tanks with composite armour, and it has a rather mediocre muzzle velocity, making aiming and leading at longer ranges more difficult. The APFSDS round has decent penetration and will penetrate most opponents with relative ease. It also has very high muzzle velocity, almost 1.5 km/s, making aiming even at longer ranges easy. The ATGM is very useful and free, it's very good at long ranges, and is very effective against stationary or slow-moving helicopters.

When faced with an enemy around a corner, one can attempt to bait shots by only exposing the frontal hull - opponents will often shoot this, only to find, much to their dismay, that there is nothing of value inside and you may not even have to use your fire extinguisher to put it out due to the fact that it is separate from the rest of the tank.

While the armour may seem impressive at first, it won't protect you against most guns at and around its battle rating. Most tanks at this rank have access to powerful APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds, which have no trouble penetrating you. Knowing this, you mustn't rely on your armour to protect you.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Effective ammunition choice (Stock ATGM, stock HEAT hell, powerful APFSDS)
* Can fire ATGMs without restriction, even when moving at full speed
* Good mobility and acceleration, high speed both forwards and backwards
* Top mounted .50 cal can allow you to damage low-flying aircraft
* Frontal Fuel tank behind the spaced armour which can sometimes absorb enemy chemical energy rounds
* Steady reload time thanks to the autoloader: losing a crew member will not impact the reload speed, and it still functions when putting out a fire
* Has smoke grenade launchers
* Turret mantlet is strong, can resist even certain APFSDS rounds
* Has hydropneumatic suspension
* Excellent dual zoom of 8x and 12x

'''Cons:'''

* The spaced armour is not composite armour and cannot provide adequate protection against most guns of its rank
* Frontal armour can be penetrated even by some APHE rounds
* Weak sides and LFP
* Hydropneumatic suspension only works for up and down
* Ammo racks are large, can be easily hit, and do not have blowout panels
* Vulnerable to the rear due to raised engine deck
* Only single use of smoke grenades is permitted before having to reload
* Cramped interior, loss of more than one crew member more likely when penetrated
* Poor roof armour protection on the ammo and engine section
* Chemical projectiles (HEAT and ATGM) will struggle a lot at this battle rating as vehicles with ERA protection are common, especially on Soviet vehicles.
* Stock grind can be painful, for the reason mentioned above.

== History ==

Once it became apparent that the MBT-70 project was doomed to fail in the early '70s due to high costs and reliability issues, the U.S. Congress decided to cut their losses on the project by cancelling the MBT-70, and instead, diverted funding to the development of a new project called XM803.

The XM803 was, in essence, envisioned to be a "budget version" of the MBT-70. Although the new vehicle would heavily be based on the MBT-70, inheriting many of its design solutions, it would also try to drastically reduce production costs by using more conventional and only American-made parts. Although this meant that the XM803 had to give up some of its high-tech equipment in favour of lower production costs, it was projected that the influence of these changes on the XM803's combat performance would be minimal.

Despite showing favourable performance and being seen as a promising design by the Army, the XM803 still remained a comparably expensive tank to produce even with the applied changes over the MBT-70. Moreover, neither the MBT-70 nor the XM803 seemed to offer any substantial increase in combat performance over the already in service M60 Patton to justify the high production cost. This ultimately led to the Congress cancelling work on the XM803 only a short while after the cancellation of the MBT-70. In the late 1970s, some funding of the two failed projects would, later on, find its way to support the development of an entirely new, but this time around, more conventional tank project. That tank, of course, being the legendary M1 Abrams itself.

''- From [[wt:en/news/5536-development-xm803-the-second-chance-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_xm_803 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yxrFP5uW_J8|'''The Shooting Range #104''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the XM-803.|ryfyneZ7390|'''The Shooting Range #106''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 12:39 discusses the XM-803.|WixKJ-k5ALU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[MBT-70]]
* [[KPz-70]]

;<nowiki>Similar vehicles with large-calibre gun/launcher systems:</nowiki>

* [[M551]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5536-development-xm803-the-second-chance-en|[Devblog] XM803: The Second Chance]]

{{TankManufacturer GM}}
{{USA medium tanks}}
[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

USS Cleveland

2022-06-21T08:05:56Z

U61132522: /* Primary armament */

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

== Description ==

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

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

The Cleveland is exceptionally well armored, with 127mm protecting the citadel, 165 on the turret faces and very strong barbette protection. As a result, it can be very difficult to disable its primary armament. In addition, it<nowiki>'s secondary armament of 5''</nowiki>/38 cannons is housed in turrets, which although will not stand up to a direct hit will protect them from HE shrapnel, thus making the warship significantly more resilient to destroyer superstructure fire spam than most other cruisers. Although its frontal magazine only has 50mm of armor protection and no fuel tanks, this is compensated for by the very deep placement of it. In contrast the rear magazine has both good armor and fuel tanks, making it extremely difficult to detonate. The Cleveland is however somewhat prone to fire detonations, so putting them out quickly is a must.

Overall the Cleveland is well armored for a cruiser, and if angled has the resilience needed to battle multiple enemies simultaneously for a long period of time.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}


{{NavalMobility}}The Cleveland's speed is in line with the rest of the US cruiser lines, and as such is faster than the cruisers of most other nations. This can be used to get to cap points and positions quickly, as well as rotate around the map. The Cleveland is also decently agile for a cruiser, allowing it to make quick course adjustments and tight turns whether it is to dodge torpedos or turn around and retreat.

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

[[File:6"-47 Mk.16 Triple.png|thumb|259x259px|One of ''Cleveland''<nowiki/>'s 6-inch triple turrets.]]
{{main|6 inch/47 Mk.16 (152 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' carries a main armament of twelve 6"/47 Mk.16 guns in four triple turrets, two fore and two aft. As the standard main armament of American light cruisers, these guns are very effective anti-ship weapons. The guns are capable of firing at 10 rounds per minute (6-second reload), meaning that they have one of the highest fire rates for any 6 inch cannon (only the German triple 6-inch turrets fire faster at 12 rounds per minute). That means that you can output a crazy 120 six-inch shells per minute! The guns have good firing arcs and good ballistics as well for a gun of its size. However, they have a relatively slow turret traverse speed compared to its contemporaries.

The gun has access to four shell types - Mk.34 HC, Mk.35 AP, Mk. 34 HC with base fuse and Mk.34 HC-VT. Of these, the Mk. 35 AP is typically the best choice against armoured targets (i.e. heavy cruisers and battleships) as it is the only shell with good penetration values. After researching parts and FPE, the AP shell should be the first priority. The Mk.34 HC with base fuse could potentially be used against lighter-armoured cruisers, as it has superior penetration values compared to the original shell. In addition, unlike most HE shells which cause significant flooding but little internal damage, the base fuze of this shell means that the Cleveland can cause insane internal damage to destroyers; even a Porter-class, otherwise quite resilient for a destroyer can have its entire crew wiped out in two or three salvos. Typically, one should take ~50% Mk.35 AP, ~40% Mk. 34 HC with base fuse, and ~10% Mk.34 HC-VT in case you want to attempt to shoot down aircraft with the main guns - however this generally isn't recommended due to the turrets' slow rotation speed. The Mk.34 base fuse is superior to the original Mk.34 HC shell as it has better penetration values but retains the explosive mass.

The end result is a balanced warship that has both the penetration to hit the vitals of enemy cruisers and the DPS to challenge and melt down multiple destroyers and cruisers alike in rapid succession.

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' is equipped with twelve 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12 guns mounted in six twin dual-purpose turrets. These guns are extremely effective against surface and air targets alike, and are capable of firing at an obscene 22 rounds per minute while using first-stage ammunition. The weapon also has a very good vertical and horizontal rotation speed, and is capable of engaging aircraft due to its high-angle capability (up to 85 degrees).

''Cleveland'' gets access to the standard three shell types - Mk.34 AAC, Mk.46 Common SP, and Mk.31 AAVT. The SP is typically the best pick for heavier-armoured targets such as cruisers, while the AAC shell works better against unarmored targets due to its large explosive filler. The Mk.31 AAVT is a great option for dealing with air targets due to its proximity fuse - a single direct hit should be enough to destroy an incoming bomber.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' gets access to eight 40 mm Bofors guns in four twin mounts. These weapons are extremely potent anti-aircraft guns due to their accuracy and punching power. Though these weapons fire slower than the 20 mm Oerlikon or 12.7 mm AN-M2, they more than make up for it due to their hard-hitting 40 mm shells. These guns are capable of shredding aircraft and small boats from ranges of 2.5 km away, though effectiveness will drop off after that range due to the large bullet drop. The guns fire from 4-round clips that reload continuously, meaning that they are capable of continuous fire. However, note that they will eventually jam after firing too long.

''Cleveland'' also gets access to 13 single 20 mm Oerlikon mounts. The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior AN-M2 Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. However, note that the weapon is rather ineffective at long ranges, as its 20 mm shells lose velocity pretty fast after ~1.5 km. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|OS2U-1}}

Located on the stern are two catapults with one OS2U-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the OS2U-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Cleveland, being the multi role ship that she is, is quite versatile.

AA Boat: Cleveland's remarkable AA battery means she could easily devastate any plane that comes close to her, provided that your 5"/38 calibre guns have HE-VT ammo, otherwise aircraft could easily get into ordnance-dropping range.

Destroyer Hunter: Cleveland's primary armament of 12 x 6 inch guns allows her to get devastating salvos on her enemies, and with her base fuse ammunition she could easily sink an enemy DD with a couple salvos. Her secondary armament of 12 x 5 inch guns allows her to whittle down nearby DDs without you having to use your main guns.

Cruiser Killer: Cleveland's rapid fire main guns with excellent AP ammunition allow her to penetrate enemy light cruisers and some heavy cruiser's armour belts with ease, allowing her to slowly demolish their crew. While not as good at this as the [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)]] or [[USS Helena (CL-50)]], she is still exceptional in this role.

It should be noted that the Cleveland's 6 inch guns lose effectiveness at long range, so it is best used as a brawler in relatively shallow or closed waters, using islands to get into close range of enemies before using rapid cannon shots to quickly suppress and sink hostile vessels. In addition, as a consequence of having lower caliber guns and not having torpedos, the Cleveland is utterly hopeless against enemy battlecruisers and battleships. When encountering them, the best course of action is generally to turn tail, smoke up, and run.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 2 x triple-mount 6 inch and 2 x dual-mount 5 inch cannons can fire straight ahead, allowing decent firepower while only exposing a small silhouette towards the enemy
* Excellent armour
* Devastating AA suite
* Two scout seaplanes
* Does not carry any torpedos (less external fire hazards!)

'''Cons:'''

* Does not carry any torpedoes (cannot deny chokepoints or cheese enemy capital ships)
* Gets ammoracked easily when stock

== History ==

[[File:USS Cleveland underway.jpg|thumb|450x450px|USS Cleveland underway, late 1942.]]
The USS Cleveland (CL-55) was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers built for the United States Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the earlier Brooklyn-class light cruisers, the ship carried an improved secondary and anti-aircraft armament layout which was used for most successive American cruiser classes. Cleveland saw extensive service during the Second World War in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; she was decommissioned after the war and eventually scrapped in 1960.

=== Design and development ===
The Cleveland class was designed as a follow-up to the previous [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)|Brooklyn]] class, with improved anti-aircraft protection, speed and range. After navy simulations found that the Brooklyn's anti-aircraft armament was woefully inadequate for fending off large amounts of enemy aircraft, the Cleveland class's design was modified to carry a heavily-improved anti-aircraft armament. The #3 turret of the Brooklyn was removed to accommodate a larger bridge and superstructure, which housed Cleveland's extensive fire control and radar systems. The secondary and anti-aircraft armament was also completely redesigned, focused on new 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The design was so successful that the Cleveland class would become the largest cruiser class ever built during WWII - a total of 52 ships were ordered, and 27 were completed to the Cleveland design. A further 13 ships were ordered under the improved Fargo class, while 9 ships were converted into light aircraft carriers. Cleveland, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on July 1st 1940, and following completion, was commissioned on June 15th 1942.

Cleveland's main armament consisted of twelve 6 inch (152 mm) Mark 16 guns in four triple mounts, two fore and two aft. Her secondary armament was heavily improved, with twelve 5 inch (127 mm) Mk 12 guns in six dual turrets. Compared to the last Brooklyn subclass, the ships gained two more Mk 12 twin mounts as the removed 6-inch turret cleared up a lot of space. The Cleveland was initially armed with four dual Bofors mounts and 13 Oerlikon automatic guns for anti-aircraft defence, but similar to other American cruisers at the time, lacked torpedo armament. Her total crew complement was 1255 officers and men, and she had a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60 km/h).

=== Operational history ===
Following her commissioning in June of 1942, Cleveland was immediately sent to join the Allied naval task force supporting the landings in North Africa. She remained there until November, when she was sent to the Pacific Theatre to support operations there. For most of late 1942 to early 1943, Cleveland was in the Guadalcanal area, where she escorted troop convoys and provided fire support. Later in 1943, she participated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where her radar-guided gunfire helped sink the Japanese cruiser Sendai.

In 1944, Cleveland participated in the Marinanas operation and later the battle of the Philippine Sea, which resulted in a total defeat for the Japanese naval force. She spent the latter part of 1944 supporting operations in the Philippines, based from Subic bay naval base. In July of 1945, she was sent to Okinawa, and performed patrols off of the east China sea until the Japanese surrender. After the end of the war, Cleveland repatriated allied prisoners, and later embarked on a training cruise that took her from Bermuda to Halifax. In 1947, Cleveland was inactivated, and eventually scrapped in 1960. She earned 13 battle stars for her WWII service.

=== [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1938, the U.S. sought an expansion of its navy, following the increase in geopolitical tensions across the globe at the time. As a result, two new 6,000 ton light cruisers were ordered whose specifications complied with the restrictions applied by the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936. In 1939, this design was revised, having its displacement increased to 8,000 tons and the general layout resembling a more compact Brooklyn-class cruiser.

Initially, plans were made for the construction of around 20 ships of this class. However, with the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, these plans were expanded to 52 ships and the design of the vessel had its displacement significantly increased again, since restrictions from previous treaties were no longer being taken into account. In reality however, 27 Cleveland-class cruisers would actually end up being built, with another 9 being converted into light aircraft carriers of the Independence-class.

USS Cleveland (CL-55), being the lead ship of the class, was laid down in July 1940 and saw completion in June 1942 when she also officially got commissioned into service with the USN. Upon entering service, USS Cleveland's first mission involved providing fire support to allied troops landing in Morocco in October 1942. Shortly after, USS Cleveland set course for the Pacific Theater in December, where the ship would serve until the end of WWII.

Although USS Cleveland took part in many operations during her service career, one of her more notable engagements with the enemy was the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where Cleveland among with some of her sister ships, successfully defeated a Japanese task force, bound to attack US forces stationed at Bougainville, during a decisive night battle. During the battle, Cleveland-class cruisers proved the effectiveness of their advanced fire control systems and showcased the class' versatility, dealing large damage to both Japanese surface vessels as well as aircraft.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, USS Cleveland was briefly part of the Allied occupation force in Japan, before sailing back to the U.S. in December that year. Following a brief overhaul in January, USS Cleveland was decommissioned in June 1946 and put into reserve in 1947. Ultimately, the ship was sold for scrap in February 1960, marking the end of her service career.

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 08.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|[Devblog] USS Cleveland (CL-55): The Workhorse of the Navy]]

=== References ===

* Helgason, G. (1995). USS Cleveland. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2579.html</nowiki>
* Woodford, S. R. (2019, August 27). Cleveland II (CL-55). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cleveland-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer New York Shipbuilding Corp.}}
{{USA light cruisers}}

USS Portland

2022-06-21T07:59:49Z

U61132522: /* General info */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

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

USS Portland's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Portland has a main armour belt of just 57.15 mm of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 146 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Portland's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. Its main turrets have only 63 mm of armor on the front and even less on the sides, while its secondary armament is exposed and prone to shrapnel damage. All of these factors combined make for a vessel that can be quickly disabled and ravaged by lower caliber fast reloading cannons (Atlantas, Clevelands, and Brooklyns in particular are especially dangerous to the Portland), and it must be played cautiously. Portland has a crew of 1,033 crew members, which is about average for a cruiser; the ship's four engines are placed symmetrically in groups of two, meaning that a well-placed shot can knock out at least two engines.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Portland has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade, it is on par with most US cruisers and faster than many other nations' cruisers. The ship's acceleration are nothing special, either. However, it's turn circle is decidedly poor.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

The Portland carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple turrets, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels. The exception is when facing against American destroyers such as Moffetts, in which case their extensive anti-fragmentation armor makes them extremely (some would say unreasonably) resilient to HE nose fuzed shells. When facing them it is best to use the Special Common shells to try and deal internal damage.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The Portland carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuze is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuze shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

Due to the nature of their open mountings, however, they are easily destroyed by enemy fire.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

Portland carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Portland also carries twelve single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The 20 mm Oerlikon Cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. The gun lacks belt options, but the loaded ammunition is still quite effective against light targets. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Portland isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Portland's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets, have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is uncompetitive against most other cruisers at the Portland's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Portland's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 kilometres, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Portland does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Portland is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Portland lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms, subpar protection for its main armament, and exposed secondaries, all of which result in a vessel that can be rapidly crippled by even concentrated destroyer fire. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Portland does not have great anti-aircraft defence. While the ship does get access to several 28 mm "Chicago Piano" and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts, these weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Improved armour protection from HE shrapnel compared to the Brooklyn
* Main guns hit relatively hard, being of a large calibre
* Thicker armour over main magazines than the Brooklyn
* Crew of 848 is above average
* Relatively good anti-aircraft protection for a pre-war American heavy cruiser
* Two scout seaplanes.

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload compared to most of its competition with minimum reload at 17.1 s
* Poor shell selection with primarily inter-war shells
* No torpedo armament
* Though strong among American CAs, anti-aircraft armament lacks hitting power and range making it relatively ineffective

== History ==


The Portland-class cruisers were the third heavy cruiser design that the Americans produced in the interwar years, following the Northampton-class. There were only two ships in this class, the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Interestingly the Portland-class was originally planned to be a light cruiser design, being re-designated as heavy cruisers only after the hulls had been laid down in 1931.

Ships of the class were propelled by 4 screws, powered at 107,000 horsepower. This gave the ship a fairly standard top speed of 32 knots and a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Firepower was provided from 3 triple 8" guns in Mk. 14 turrets. This design was carried over from the previous Northampton class. These 280 ton turrets allowed a maximum of 41 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. The turrets were used in conjunction with the Mk.34 fire director system by, at the latest, 1945.

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

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

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

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

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

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Northampton

2022-06-21T07:57:58Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

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

USS Northampton's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Northampton has a main armour belt of just 3 inches (76 mm) of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 95 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Northampton's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. The turrets themselves only have 63mm in the front and even worse on the sides, meaning that even destroyers can penetrate and disable them. Finally, Northampton only has 872 crew members, which severely limits its effectiveness in battle.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Northampton has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade - this is on par with most cruisers of other navies. The ship's turning circle and acceleration are nothing special, either.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

Northampton carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple mounts, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

Northampton carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuse is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuse shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}

Northampton carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Northampton also carries eight single 12.7 mm AN-M2 machine guns. The AN-M2 is a navalised anti-aircraft version of the popular Browning machine gun. This gun is rather ineffective at dealing significant damage to enemy aircraft, and is only effective within ~1.5-2 kilometres at most. As well, keep in mind that these guns have a long 12-second reload after the gun's magazine has been used.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Northampton isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Northampton's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets (the same arrangement as the USS Portland), have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is not competitive against most other cruisers at the Northampton's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Northampton's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 km, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Northampton does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Northampton is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Northampton lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block - this trait is shared by other American pre-war heavy cruisers including USS Pensacola and USS Portland. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms (38 mm of RHA), which can be detonated by stray shells. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Northampton does not have great anti-aircraft defence. As the next class of American heavy cruiser after the USS Pensacola, Northampton gets sixteen 28 mm "Chicago Piano" guns in four quadruple mounts as well as eight 12.7 mm AN-M2 Browning HMGs. These weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Hard-hitting broadside of nine 203 mm (8 inch) guns in triple turrets
** Guns fire powerful ammunition at relatively high muzzle velocities
** Guns have great firing angles with one superfiring pair and one lone turret at the rear
* Better anti-aircraft armament than its historical predecessor, USS Pensacola
* Two scout seaplanes.
* Low BR of 5.0 means it won't face battleships unless placed in a higher tier lineup

'''Cons:'''

* Main gun effectiveness is heavily diminished by an extremely slow reload speed (20+ seconds) and poor accuracy
* Anti-aircraft defence is still terrible and fails to hit targets reliably at longer ranges
* Not very survivable, with weak armour protection and just 621 crew members
* No access to auxiliary armaments such as torpedoes

== History ==

The USS Northampton (CA-26) was the lead ship of the Northampton-class of heavy cruisers. Originally classified as a light cruiser due to her small size, she was later reclassified as a heavy cruiser because of her 8-inch armament. She served in the Pacific prior to the Second World War, and was escorting the USS Enterprise when the Japanese fleet attacked Pearl Harbour. She later served in the Guadalcanal campaign, participating in the Battle of Santa Cruz. However, she was sunk at the Battle of Tassafaronga, having been struck by Japanese torpedoes.<ref name=":0">Rickard, J. (2004)</ref><ref name=":1">US Navy Heritage Command. (2015)</ref>

=== Design and construction ===
The USS Northampton was the lead ship of the Northampton-class, the second American 'Treaty' heavy cruiser class following the [[USS Pensacola (CA-24)|Pensacola]]-class. Due to the limitations of the Washington naval treaty, they were very light at just 9000 tons standard - even lighter than their predecessors, the [[USS Pensacola (CA-24)|Pensacolas]].<ref name=":0" /> The armament scheme was revised to feature nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple turrets, which would be featured on every subsequent American heavy cruiser.<ref name=":0" /> Their anti-aircraft armament was initially sparse but would be refitted later on. As with all American heavy cruiser designs, they did not carry any torpedo armament. The Northampton-class were capable of making 32.7 knots (60 kph).<ref name=":0" />

The USS Northampton was laid down on April 12th of 1928, and launched on September 5th 1929. She was sponsored by Grace Coolidge, former first lady of the United states. After construction was completed, she was formally commissioned on May 17th 1930.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Northampton towing USS Hornet.jpg|thumb|380x380px|Northampton attempting to save the Crippled USS Hornet at the battle of Guadalcanal.]]

=== Service history ===
After her commissioning, the Northampton embarked on a shakedown cruise into the Mediterranean as part of the US Atlantic Fleet. Following the London Naval Treaty, the ship was reclassified as CA-26. In 1932, she moved to the Pacific fleet and was homeported at San Pedro; she would remain there until the start of the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, the Northampton was out at sea escorting the USS Enterprise with Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey on board. She subsequently escorted the aircraft carrier Hornet on the Doolittle raid and the carrier Enterprise during the Battle of Midway.<ref name=":1" /> She escorted the Hornet during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, and attempted to keep her afloat after the carrier was severely damaged by Japanese aircraft. Her attempts were unsuccessful, and the Hornet was finished off by torpedoes and gunfire.<ref name=":1" />

The Northampton engaged in her final action, the Battle of Tassafaronga on November 30th 1942. A force of several American heavy cruisers and destroyers encountered a group of eight Japanese destroyers, tasked with delivering food to the forces at Guadalcanal.<ref name=":1" /> Taken by surprise, the Japanese force lost one of the destroyers with heavy damage to others. However, they retaliated with a torpedo attack and hit several of the American heavy cruisers. Northampton was hit by two Japanese Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes, which tore large gashes in her hull. Crippled and sinking, the ship was abandoned. Northampton received a total of six battle stars for her service during the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />

== Media ==


;Skins

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


=== References ===

;Citations
<references />

;Bibliograhphy

* Rickard, J. (2004, March 10). USS Northampton CA-26. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from <nowiki>http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Northampton_CA26.html</nowiki>
* US Navy Heritage Command. (2015, August 13). Northampton II (CL-26). Retrieved November 18, 2020, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/northampton-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Portland

2022-06-21T07:56:00Z

U61132522: /* Description */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

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

USS Portland's survivability is rather mediocre for an American heavy cruiser, and rather weak compared to the enemies it often faces in battle. Portland has a main armour belt of just 57.15 mm of RHA, which can be easily penetrated by SAP and AP shells above 127 mm calibre. The magazines are protected by 146 mm of armour and sit below the waterline, meaning that they are relatively survivable. However, Portland's ready-use shell rooms are directly below the turrets and thinly-protected, meaning that they can be detonated by enemy shells and cause severe damage. It's secondary armament is also exposed and prone to shrapnel damage. All of these factors combined make for a vessel that can be ravaged by lower caliber fast reloading cannons (Atlantas, Clevelands, and Brooklyns in particular are extremely dangerous to the Portland), and it must be played cautiously. Portland has a crew of 1,033 crew members, which is about average for a cruiser; the ship's four engines are placed symmetrically in groups of two, meaning that a well-placed shot can knock out at least two engines.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

Portland has decidedly average mobility for a cruiser, with a top speed of 60 km/h in Realistic battles and 70 km/h in Arcade, it is on par with most US cruisers and faster than many other nations' cruisers. The ship's acceleration are nothing special, either. However, it's turn circle is decidedly poor.

{{NavalMobility}}

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/55 Mark 9 (203 mm)}}

The Portland carries a main armament of nine 8"/55 Mk.9 guns in three triple turrets, two fore and one aft. These guns are the standard armament for American heavy cruisers, and pack an impressive punch. The guns have good ballistics, and can access four shell types: Mk.14 Common, Mk.19 APCBC, Mk.25 HC and Mk.17 SP Common. Of these shells, the Mk.17 Special Common shell is most effective against cruisers, as it has a great explosive mass and enough penetration for most cruiser main armour belts. The Mk.19 APCBC shell can be used against heavily-armoured targets, but has a relatively small explosive mass of 1.65 kg. Finally, the HC shell, with almost 10 kilograms of explosive filler, is highly effective against destroyers and unarmoured vessels. The exception is when facing against American destroyers such as Moffetts, in which case their extensive anti-fragmentation armor makes them extremely (some would say unreasonably) resilient to HE nose fuzed shells. When facing them it is best to use the Special Common shells to try and deal internal damage.

However, the guns have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they have the slowest reload speed of any 8-inch gun, with a fire rate of just three rounds per minute (20-second gun reload). This means that they fire much slower than their contemporaries, which typically have a fire rate of five rounds per minute (12-second reload). As well, the guns have the slowest horizontal turret rotation speed of any heavy cruiser, at just 3.1 degrees/second (comparatively, the Admiral Hipper's guns rotate at 6.8 degrees/second).

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)}}

The Portland carries a secondary armament of eight 5"/25 Mk.13 anti-aircraft guns, mounted on single open-mounts. These cannons are very effective medium-to-long range anti-aircraft guns, but are not effective against any armoured targets. They have access to just two shell types - Mk.36 AAC (HE-TF) and Mk.28 AAC (HE-VT). The former is a time-fuse shell (meaning that the fuze is set before the weapon is fired), while the latter is a proximity fuze shell that explodes automatically upon reaching the target. Both shells are ineffective against armoured targets, having ~35 mm of penetration. However, they are both capable of dealing with air and unarmoured targets quite effectively. The HE-VT shell is typically the better pick, as it offers greatly-improved efficiency against air targets.

The guns themselves are relatively good at short-range defence, being capable of firing at 20 rounds per minute (3-second reload). As well, they have very good vertical and horizontal firing angles. However, take note that the guns fire at a low muzzle velocity of 657 m/s which should be accounted for when manually aiming.

Due to the nature of their open mountings, however, they are easily destroyed by enemy fire.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 (28 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

Portland carries four quadruple 1.1 inch "Chicago Pianos". The 1.1 inch/75 Mk.1 gun, otherwise known as the "Chicago Piano" (because it was the size of a baby grand-piano), was the standard anti-aircraft armament for most American ships prior to the introduction of the 40 mm Bofors cannon. These guns are mediocre at best; though they have a good fire rate (similar to the AN-M2 Browning), they aren't too effective at dealing damage, and also jam rather quickly. As well, take note that the gun doesn't have ammunition options.

Portland also carries twelve single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The 20 mm Oerlikon Cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. The gun lacks belt options, but the loaded ammunition is still quite effective against light targets. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|SOC-1}}

Located amidships are two catapults with one SOC-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the SOC-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Portland isn't the easiest ship to play, especially given that it faces battleships often (which completely outclass it in every aspect except anti-aircraft protection) and many cruisers too (such as USS Brooklyn and USS Helena) which outclass it in terms of firepower. As such, the ship needs to be played carefully in order to succeed in battle.

Firstly, Portland's main battery is quite mediocre. The nine 203 mm guns, placed in triple turrets, have an extremely weak reload speed of 17.1 seconds with a completely spaded crew, and 20+ seconds with a stock crew. This reload speed is uncompetitive against most other cruisers at the Portland's BR, and severely limits the ship's damage potential. Furthermore, Portland's guns are inaccurate - and that is, very inaccurate. These weapons have a lot of trouble hitting things reliably beyond ranges of 8 kilometres, making the ship hard to play at longer ranges. These constraints mean that Portland does a lot better at closer ranges, where its main battery can hit targets reliably.

Secondly, Portland is not that survivable. Though it does have a relatively large crew size for a heavy cruiser, Portland lacks heavy armour, especially on its citadel, which houses the massive engine block. The ship also has little protection on its first stage shell rooms, subpar protection for its main armament, and exposed secondaries, all of which result in a vessel that can be rapidly crippled by even concentrated destroyer fire. Because of these constraints, you should try to use ground cover as much as possible to preserve survivability. In maps such as South Kvarken, with plenty of island covers, stay behind islands wherever possible. In open maps such as the conquest maps, your only hope will be to stay behind the front lines, and hope that enemies don't target you.

Finally, note that Portland does not have great anti-aircraft defence. While the ship does get access to several 28 mm "Chicago Piano" and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts, these weapons lack range and power, limiting their effectiveness to ranges of less than 2.5 kilometres. Indeed, the ship does carry eight 127 mm Mk 25 guns, capable of firing AA-VT (proximity fuze) ammunition, but these weapons are not capable of firing fast enough to be able to destroy faster incoming aircraft. Because of this, you should try to stay with allied ships, particularly ships with great anti-aircraft protection. This will help ensure that your ship will stay safe from enemy aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Improved armour protection from HE shrapnel compared to the Brooklyn
* Main guns hit relatively hard, being of a large calibre
* Thicker armour over main magazines than the Brooklyn
* Crew of 848 is above average
* Relatively good anti-aircraft protection for a pre-war American heavy cruiser
* Two scout seaplanes.

'''Cons:'''

* Long reload compared to most of its competition with minimum reload at 17.1 s
* Poor shell selection with primarily inter-war shells
* No torpedo armament
* Though strong among American CAs, anti-aircraft armament lacks hitting power and range making it relatively ineffective

== History ==


The Portland-class cruisers were the third heavy cruiser design that the Americans produced in the interwar years, following the Northampton-class. There were only two ships in this class, the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Interestingly the Portland-class was originally planned to be a light cruiser design, being re-designated as heavy cruisers only after the hulls had been laid down in 1931.

Ships of the class were propelled by 4 screws, powered at 107,000 horsepower. This gave the ship a fairly standard top speed of 32 knots and a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Firepower was provided from 3 triple 8" guns in Mk. 14 turrets. This design was carried over from the previous Northampton class. These 280 ton turrets allowed a maximum of 41 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. The turrets were used in conjunction with the Mk.34 fire director system by, at the latest, 1945.

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

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

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

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

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

{{ShipManufacturer Bethlehem Steel}}
{{USA heavy cruisers}}

USS Cleveland

2022-06-21T07:46:19Z

U61132522: /* Survivability and armour */

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

== Description ==

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

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

The Cleveland is exceptionally well armored, with 127mm protecting the citadel, 165 on the turret faces and very strong barbette protection. As a result, it can be very difficult to disable its primary armament. In addition, it<nowiki>'s secondary armament of 5''</nowiki>/38 cannons is housed in turrets, which although will not stand up to a direct hit will protect them from HE shrapnel, thus making the warship significantly more resilient to destroyer superstructure fire spam than most other cruisers. Although its frontal magazine only has 50mm of armor protection and no fuel tanks, this is compensated for by the very deep placement of it. In contrast the rear magazine has both good armor and fuel tanks, making it extremely difficult to detonate. The Cleveland is however somewhat prone to fire detonations, so putting them out quickly is a must.

Overall the Cleveland is well armored for a cruiser, and if angled has the resilience needed to battle multiple enemies simultaneously for a long period of time.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}


{{NavalMobility}}The Cleveland's speed is in line with the rest of the US cruiser lines, and as such is faster than the cruisers of most other nations. This can be used to get to cap points and positions quickly, as well as rotate around the map. The Cleveland is also decently agile for a cruiser, allowing it to make quick course adjustments and tight turns whether it is to dodge torpedos or turn around and retreat.

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

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

[[File:6"-47 Mk.16 Triple.png|thumb|259x259px|One of ''Cleveland''<nowiki/>'s 6-inch triple turrets.]]
{{main|6 inch/47 Mk.16 (152 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' carries a main armament of twelve 6"/47 Mk.16 guns in four triple turrets, two fore and two aft. As the standard main armament of American light cruisers, these guns are very effective anti-ship weapons. The guns are capable of firing at 10 rounds per minute (6-second reload), meaning that they have one of the highest fire rates for any 6 inch cannon (only the German triple 6-inch turrets fire faster at 12 rounds per minute). That means that you can output a crazy 120 six-inch shells per minute! The guns have good firing arcs and good ballistics as well for a gun of its size. However, they have a relatively slow turret traverse speed compared to its contemporaries.

The gun has access to four shell types - Mk.34 HC, Mk.35 AP, Mk. 34 HC with base fuse and Mk.34 HC-VT. Of these, the Mk. 35 AP is typically the best choice against armoured targets (i.e. heavy cruisers and battleships) as it is the only shell with good penetration values. After researching parts and FPE, the AP shell should be the first priority. The Mk.34 HC with base fuse could potentially be used against lighter-armoured cruisers, as it has superior penetration values compared to the original shell. Typically, one should take ~50% Mk.35 AP, ~40% Mk. 34 HC with base fuse, and ~10% Mk.34 HC-VT in case you want to attempt to shoot down aircraft with the main guns - however this generally isn't recommended due to the turrets' slow rotation speed. The Mk.34 base fuse is superior to the original Mk.34 HC shell as it has better penetration values but retains the explosive mass.

The end result is a balanced warship that has the DPS to both melt down enemy cruisers and obliterate destroyers

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|5 inch/38 Mk.12 (127 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' is equipped with twelve 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12 guns mounted in six twin dual-purpose turrets. These guns are extremely effective against surface and air targets alike, and are capable of firing at an obscene 22 rounds per minute while using first-stage ammunition. The weapon also has a very good vertical and horizontal rotation speed, and is capable of engaging aircraft due to its high-angle capability (up to 85 degrees).

''Cleveland'' gets access to the standard three shell types - Mk.34 AAC, Mk.46 Common SP, and Mk.31 AAVT. The SP is typically the best pick for heavier-armoured targets such as cruisers, while the AAC shell works better against unarmored targets due to its large explosive filler. The Mk.31 AAVT is a great option for dealing with air targets due to its proximity fuse - a single direct hit should be enough to destroy an incoming bomber.

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (40 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}

''Cleveland'' gets access to eight 40 mm Bofors guns in four twin mounts. These weapons are extremely potent anti-aircraft guns due to their accuracy and punching power. Though these weapons fire slower than the 20 mm Oerlikon or 12.7 mm AN-M2, they more than make up for it due to their hard-hitting 40 mm shells. These guns are capable of shredding aircraft and small boats from ranges of 2.5 km away, though effectiveness will drop off after that range due to the large bullet drop. The guns fire from 4-round clips that reload continuously, meaning that they are capable of continuous fire. However, note that they will eventually jam after firing too long.

''Cleveland'' also gets access to 13 single 20 mm Oerlikon mounts. The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon was the standard light anti-aircraft gun for several nations, including the United States, and replaced the prior AN-M2 Browning machine gun. This weapon is an effective short-range AA gun, and has great firing angles. However, note that the weapon is rather ineffective at long ranges, as its 20 mm shells lose velocity pretty fast after ~1.5 km. As well, the guns fire from a drum magazine that will need to be reloaded. Because of the magazine design, the gun will not jam with continuous fire.

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|OS2U-1}}

Located on the stern are two catapults with one OS2U-1 scout plane each which provide unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 100 lb bombs, and capping zones, the OS2U-1 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! With two scout planes one can risk a cap attempt at the beginning of the match, saving the second for any opportunity that presents itself.

== Usage in battles ==

USS Cleveland, being the multi role ship that she is, is quite versatile.

AA Boat: Cleveland's remarkable AA battery means she could easily devastate any plane that comes close to her, provided that your 5"/38 calibre guns have HE-VT ammo, otherwise aircraft could easily get into ordnance-dropping range.

Destroyer Hunter: Cleveland's primary armament of 12 x 6 inch guns allows her to get devastating salvos on her enemies, and with her base fuse ammunition she could easily sink an enemy DD with a couple salvos. Her secondary armament of 12 x 5 inch guns allows her to whittle down nearby DDs without you having to use your main guns.

Cruiser Killer: Cleveland's rapid fire main guns with excellent AP ammunition allow her to penetrate enemy light cruisers and some heavy cruiser's armour belts with ease, allowing her to slowly demolish their crew. While not as good at this as the [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)]] or [[USS Helena (CL-50)]], she is still exceptional in this role.

It should be noted that the Cleveland's 6 inch guns lose effectiveness at long range, so it is best used as a brawler in relatively shallow or closed waters, using islands to get into close range of enemies before using rapid cannon shots to quickly suppress and sink hostile vessels. In addition, as a consequence of having lower caliber guns and not having torpedos, the Cleveland is utterly hopeless against enemy battlecruisers and battleships. When encountering them, the best course of action is generally to turn tail, smoke up, and run.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* 2 x triple-mount 6 inch and 2 x dual-mount 5 inch cannons can fire straight ahead, allowing decent firepower while only exposing a small silhouette towards the enemy
* Excellent armour
* Devastating AA suite
* Two scout seaplanes
* Does not carry any torpedos (less external fire hazards!)

'''Cons:'''

* Does not carry any torpedoes (cannot deny chokepoints or cheese enemy capital ships)
* Gets ammoracked easily when stock

== History ==

[[File:USS Cleveland underway.jpg|thumb|450x450px|USS Cleveland underway, late 1942.]]
The USS Cleveland (CL-55) was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers built for the United States Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the earlier Brooklyn-class light cruisers, the ship carried an improved secondary and anti-aircraft armament layout which was used for most successive American cruiser classes. Cleveland saw extensive service during the Second World War in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; she was decommissioned after the war and eventually scrapped in 1960.

=== Design and development ===
The Cleveland class was designed as a follow-up to the previous [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)|Brooklyn]] class, with improved anti-aircraft protection, speed and range. After navy simulations found that the Brooklyn's anti-aircraft armament was woefully inadequate for fending off large amounts of enemy aircraft, the Cleveland class's design was modified to carry a heavily-improved anti-aircraft armament. The #3 turret of the Brooklyn was removed to accommodate a larger bridge and superstructure, which housed Cleveland's extensive fire control and radar systems. The secondary and anti-aircraft armament was also completely redesigned, focused on new 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. The design was so successful that the Cleveland class would become the largest cruiser class ever built during WWII - a total of 52 ships were ordered, and 27 were completed to the Cleveland design. A further 13 ships were ordered under the improved Fargo class, while 9 ships were converted into light aircraft carriers. Cleveland, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on July 1st 1940, and following completion, was commissioned on June 15th 1942.

Cleveland's main armament consisted of twelve 6 inch (152 mm) Mark 16 guns in four triple mounts, two fore and two aft. Her secondary armament was heavily improved, with twelve 5 inch (127 mm) Mk 12 guns in six dual turrets. Compared to the last Brooklyn subclass, the ships gained two more Mk 12 twin mounts as the removed 6-inch turret cleared up a lot of space. The Cleveland was initially armed with four dual Bofors mounts and 13 Oerlikon automatic guns for anti-aircraft defence, but similar to other American cruisers at the time, lacked torpedo armament. Her total crew complement was 1255 officers and men, and she had a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60 km/h).

=== Operational history ===
Following her commissioning in June of 1942, Cleveland was immediately sent to join the Allied naval task force supporting the landings in North Africa. She remained there until November, when she was sent to the Pacific Theatre to support operations there. For most of late 1942 to early 1943, Cleveland was in the Guadalcanal area, where she escorted troop convoys and provided fire support. Later in 1943, she participated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where her radar-guided gunfire helped sink the Japanese cruiser Sendai.

In 1944, Cleveland participated in the Marinanas operation and later the battle of the Philippine Sea, which resulted in a total defeat for the Japanese naval force. She spent the latter part of 1944 supporting operations in the Philippines, based from Subic bay naval base. In July of 1945, she was sent to Okinawa, and performed patrols off of the east China sea until the Japanese surrender. After the end of the war, Cleveland repatriated allied prisoners, and later embarked on a training cruise that took her from Bermuda to Halifax. In 1947, Cleveland was inactivated, and eventually scrapped in 1960. She earned 13 battle stars for her WWII service.

=== [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1938, the U.S. sought an expansion of its navy, following the increase in geopolitical tensions across the globe at the time. As a result, two new 6,000 ton light cruisers were ordered whose specifications complied with the restrictions applied by the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936. In 1939, this design was revised, having its displacement increased to 8,000 tons and the general layout resembling a more compact Brooklyn-class cruiser.

Initially, plans were made for the construction of around 20 ships of this class. However, with the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, these plans were expanded to 52 ships and the design of the vessel had its displacement significantly increased again, since restrictions from previous treaties were no longer being taken into account. In reality however, 27 Cleveland-class cruisers would actually end up being built, with another 9 being converted into light aircraft carriers of the Independence-class.

USS Cleveland (CL-55), being the lead ship of the class, was laid down in July 1940 and saw completion in June 1942 when she also officially got commissioned into service with the USN. Upon entering service, USS Cleveland's first mission involved providing fire support to allied troops landing in Morocco in October 1942. Shortly after, USS Cleveland set course for the Pacific Theater in December, where the ship would serve until the end of WWII.

Although USS Cleveland took part in many operations during her service career, one of her more notable engagements with the enemy was the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, where Cleveland among with some of her sister ships, successfully defeated a Japanese task force, bound to attack US forces stationed at Bougainville, during a decisive night battle. During the battle, Cleveland-class cruisers proved the effectiveness of their advanced fire control systems and showcased the class' versatility, dealing large damage to both Japanese surface vessels as well as aircraft.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, USS Cleveland was briefly part of the Allied occupation force in Japan, before sailing back to the U.S. in December that year. Following a brief overhaul in January, USS Cleveland was decommissioned in June 1946 and put into reserve in 1947. Ultimately, the ship was sold for scrap in February 1960, marking the end of her service career.

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
File:USS Cleveland WTWallpaper 08.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6744-development-uss-cleveland-the-workhorse-of-the-navy-en|[Devblog] USS Cleveland (CL-55): The Workhorse of the Navy]]

=== References ===

* Helgason, G. (1995). USS Cleveland. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2579.html</nowiki>
* Woodford, S. R. (2019, August 27). Cleveland II (CL-55). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cleveland-ii.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer New York Shipbuilding Corp.}}
{{USA light cruisers}}

M60A1 (AOS)

2022-01-04T09:15:19Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = American main battle tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other vehicles of the family
| link-1 = M60 (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M60 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m60a1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.61 "Road to Glory"]].

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


The M60A1 is well-protected for a medium tank of its battle rating. From the front, it can resist most types of full-calibre armour-piercing shells, even at the muzzle. Across the turret, line-of-sight armour thickness varies from approximately 200-440 mm, sufficient against all types of 105 mm APDS. Across its hull, line-of-sight protection ranges from 220 mm over the upper glacis, to 280 mm on the lower glacis. The upper glacis may be penetrated from 100 mm and 105 mm APDS from ranges inside of 1,000 m, while the lower glacis is completely immune to those shells. The M60A1's own 105 mm M728 APDS can defeat the upper glacis even at 2,500 m, but the lower glacis can reliably stop M728 at ranges exceeding 1,500 meters.

The M60A1 is at risk of being engaged with APFSDS, HEAT, and large-calibre (>105 mm) APDS shells, which may easily bypass its protection, despite being stronger than average. The M60A1 also features numerous weak spots that make it vulnerable to vehicles that would not normally be expected to penetrate its armour. In particular, the mantlet, commander's cupola, and turret ring are vulnerable to APCBC shells, which can instantly destroy the tank upon detonation inside of the vehicle. The sloped turret roof is easily defeated by APFSDS and the vehicle's own M728 APDS, but with some luck, it can cause HEAT-FS and HESH shells to bounce harmlessly off.

The vehicle's armour is optimized for head-on protection. The turret's line-of-sight thickness quickly decreases as more of its side profile is exposed. Likewise, the thin side armour of the hull may be easily overmatched and is also insufficient to protect against most armour-piercing autocannon shells, such as 35 mm DM23 APDS. The roof is resistant to most types of armour-piercing bullets or shells fired by aircraft, but specialized munitions such as German MK103 30 mm HVAP, or 50 mm AP, will penetrate the M60A1's 20-30 mm thick roof.

When facing an M60A1 head-on, a shell penetrating the left side of the turret may incapacitate the gunner and commander. A follow-up shot to the right side of the turret may strike the loader and first-stage ammo stowage, while a shell to the middle of the hull may incapacitate the driver. Shells aimed at the right side of the vehicle, when being faced head-on, present the greatest chance of setting off ammunition.

When facing an M60A1 from the side, shells penetrating the turret bustle, or hull between the front and middle return rollers, may strike the vehicle's large supply of first-stage ammunition. Some M60A1 drivers may select a reduced ammunition load, so although shells which strike the driver's compartment may incapacitate the driver, they cannot be guaranteed to set off ammunition. Otherwise, shells aimed at the turret between the bulbous rangefinder housing, and before the area where the 25mm flat roof plate meets the sloped 48 mm roof plate, have the greatest chance of incapacitating the entire turret crew.

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret, roof)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull roof - engine compartment, hul rear - engine grille)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 108 mm (65°) ''Front Glacis'' 137 mm (55°) ''Lower Glacis - Top'' 117 mm (55°) ''Lower Glacis - Bottom'' || 50 mm ''Front'' 45 mm ''Top'' 50.8 mm (cylindrical) ''Turret base'' 36-70 mm (18-34°) ''Middle'' 36 mm (60°) ''Bottom'' 19 mm (66-82°) ''Belly - Front half'' 13 mm (66-82°) ''Belly - Rear half'' 36 mm ''Rear'' || 25 mm (1°) ''Engine Grille'' 40 mm (26°) ''Lower plate'' 28 mm (59°) ''Lower glacis'' 36 mm ''Hull sides''|| 108 mm (25°) ''Front Glacis'' 36 mm (5°) ''Front'' 20 mm ''Engine compartment'' 76 mm ''Radiator cover''
|-
| Turret || 215.9 mm (spherical) ''Turret front - Loader side'' 230.9 mm (spherical) ''Turret front - Gunner side'' 45 mm (58°) - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' 114 mm (cylindrical) ''Turret ring'' || 52.3-142.2 mm (30-41°) ''Front half - Loader side'' 60.5-152.9 mm (18-33°) ''Front half - Gunner side'' 49.8 mm (19-29°) ''Rear half - Loader side'' 53.8 mm (18°) ''Rear half - Gunner side'' || 57 mm (11°) || 48 mm (16°) ''Front'' 25.4 mm ''Centre & Rear''
|-
| Cupola || 35 mm (0-30°) || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 26 mm (34-44°) || 26-35 mm (conical) ''Outer ring'' 30 mm ''Centre''
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick in the front, 13 in the rear.
* 15 mm RHA plate between the engine and crew compartment.
* Mudguards and storage boxes are 5 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,162|rbMinHp=663}}

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

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

{{main|M68 (105 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M68 (105 mm)|105 mm M68]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 63 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 21.4 || 29.7 || 36.0 || 39.8 || 42.4 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 13.4 || 15.8 || 19.1 || 21.1 || 22.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M728 || APDS || 260 || 258 || 250 || 240 || 231 || 222
|-
| M393A2 || HESH || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127
|-
| M456 || HEATFS || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M728 || APDS || 1,426 || 4.65 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°
|-
| M393A2 || HESH || 732 || 14.85 || 0.1 || 4 || 4,310 || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
| M456 || HEATFS || 1,173 || 10.5 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 1,270 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M416 || 730 || 11.4 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 50
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''63''' || 49 ''(+14)'' || 38 ''(+25)'' || 17 ''(+46)'' || 4 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+60)'' || No
|-
|}
Notes:

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.
* Racks 3*, 4* and 5* are first stage ammo racks. They total 37 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 4 - 5 - 1 - 2.
* If you pack 17 ''(+46)'' shells, it will keep the front hull and the turret rear empty of ammo.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from non-essential into ready racks. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
* When refilling from racks 1 and 2, the refill order of ready racks is 5 - 4 - 3.


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

{{main|M85 (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M85 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M85]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 900 (200) || 625 || -9°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,950 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Tank's Characteristics'''

The M60A1 (AOS) performs similarly to the earlier [[M60]], but with a number of differences. With the add-on stabilizer (AOS), the M60A1 is capable of firing on the move, allowing it to engage enemies much quicker and without having to stop the vehicle first. Overall, the gun handling of the M60A1 (AOS) is quite respectable. The turret traverse is good (although not outstanding) and the stabilizer allows firing on the move and much greater reactionary ability. The only letdown in this regard is the gun's elevation speed, which is slow but not exceptionally so. Just be aware that elevating or depressing the gun to get it on target may take more time than expected.

The M60A1 (AOS) cannot rely upon its armour as much as the previous M60 could, since the armour is negated by HEAT-FS ammunition that is common at the rank. It should be noted that it will stop most full-calibre rounds, meaning the commander must know which tanks use full-calibre rounds (mostly [[T-54/55 (Family)|T-54/55]], all French tanks with exception of the [[AMX-30 (Family)|AMX-30]]). Additionally, the armour is still relatively thick and is able to bounce and absorb even APDS depending on where it hits. Still, the armour should not be relied upon. A hull down position is highly recommended, due to the turret armour of the M60 being very tricky to penetrate without HEAT-FS, and even with it sometimes.

The mobility of the M60A1 (AOS) is surprisingly good, but not overwhelmingly so. It's turning ability is decent enough to allow quick enough reaction times, and the acceleration is quite good. The speed, on the other hand, is not great when compared to tanks it will face, such as the Leopard 1. Overall, the mobility is workable but not exceptional.

These characteristics allow the M60A1 (AOS) to utilize a number of tactics and strategies for success on the battlefield.

'''Long Range Combat''' '''(a.k.a. Sniping)'''

Due to the high accuracy of the M68 gun and the decent and high penetration of the APDS and HEAT-FS rounds respectively, the M60A1 (AOS) can be used effectively in a long range "sniping" role. The APDS will be viable against many, if not most, targets that will be seen. But, there are certain tanks, especially heavy tanks, that will require the HEAT-FS round to dispatch with ease. As such, a mix of both types of ammunition should be carried to be loaded at the commander's discretion. At long range, the M60A1 (AOS) can be a hard target to destroy, especially when hull-down. A hull-down ability should always be a priority when looking for a position to take. Access to a rangefinder allows decently quick and accurate measurement of range to the target, allowing the M60A1 (AOS) a higher chance of hitting the target with the first shot.

'''Supporting'''

The M60A1 (AOS) can be used very successfully in the supporting role as well, thanks to the stabilizer, good acceleration, and powerful armament. Staying behind the first line of friendly tanks prevents the enemy from firing upon it, while allowing the ability to support allied tankers where they need it. Staying back allows better situational awareness and reactionary ability. If an enemy tank begins a maneuver, the supporting tank can take action to destroy it while the frontline tanks are engaged in the brawling. Playing the supporting role allows the M60A1 (AOS) to avoid taking as much damage from enemies, whilst also supporting allies in the advance or defense. Additionally, the supporting role allows more time to retreat in the event of a strong enemy push, since the M60's reverse speed is not the greatest (although it's also not the worst). This strategy effectively limits the risks and maintains similar rewards.

'''Flanking'''

Flanking is a viable tactic, but due to the mediocre speed of the M60A1 (AOS) it may not be the most efficient tactic to take. The speed limits the ability of the M60A1 (AOS) to flank in a quick and efficient manner, but once a flanking position has been attained the M60A1 (AOS) can do a lot of damage. Because the speed is not the greatest, the commander will have to beware of any enemy flankers, since they are likely to get to flanking positions before the M60.

'''Brawling or Assaulting'''

Brawling is a tactic that can work out, but it is generally not advised. Due to the stabilizer and tricky armour profile, in a snapshot situation an enemy may not penetrate the M60's armour and the M60 may hit its target. On the other hand, brawling is just as risky as it is rewarding.

The M60A1 (AOS) can lead the charge towards the enemy as well, but this means that it will be the first tank to draw the enemy's fire. It can absolutely work, but it can just as easily end up in the M60's destruction and an enemy victory.

'''Summary'''

The M60A1 (AOS) can perform many battlefield roles, but it is best as a sniper or supporting tank as these tactics play the most to the strengths of the M60A1 and reduce the weaknesses as much as possible. A hull-down position is the best kind of position for it, as it increases the chances of surviving enemy shots by a significant margin. Overall, the M60A1 (AOS) is a very usable tank that, when played well, can decimate an enemy team.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful gun
** Very accurate gun at long ranges when upgraded
** Good stock shell (APDS)
** HEATFS and HESH shells available
* Decent turning capability
* Very good stock turret traverse speed
* Great off-road speed (but not as great as [[Leopard_I|Leopards]] and [[T-10M]]s)
* Sloped armour can be quite bouncy at range and mostly immune to contemporary APDS
* Once fully upgraded it offers very sharp handling and manoeuvrability
* Excellent acceleration when fully upgraded
* Gun comes with AOS ([[Gun stabilizer|Add-On-Stabilizer]])

'''Cons:'''

* Very high profile, made worse by the M19 commander's cupola
** Commander's cupola armour is very large and very thin, can be penetrated easily by APCBC and HEAT rounds
** Enemy shells can bounce off the turret roof (due to the angle) and could enter the cupola
** Commander's .50 cal HMG is slower in manoeuvrability and not as effective compared to earlier vehicles due to the cupola
** .50 cal coverage is limited due to commander's cupola
* Sides are at most 70 mm thick, they can be penetrated easily
* Turret ring can be penetrated by even autocannons
* Front is vulnerable to HEAT and the more powerful APHE ([[T-10M]], [[Maus]]) at close range
* No armour-piercing shells with explosive filler

== History ==

=== M60A1 ===

==== Development ====
In 1960, work was started to upgrade the M60 main battle tank, as the T95 project and the project to create composite armour ended. The prototypes fitted the T95E7 turret on the hull of the M60. In order to increase the room in the turret for the crew the gun used the M140 mount, which moved the gun forward 5 inches. The first two prototypes (Pilot 1 and 2) were ready in May 1961, and the third prototype (Pilot 3) was ready in June 1961. The prototypes were designated as the M60E1, and they were all built by Chrysler Defense. Pilot 1 was tested at Eglin Air Force Base, Pilot 2 was tested at Yuma Test Station, and Pilot 3 was tested at Fort Knox. The M60E1 was accepted for American service on 22 October 1962. The designation for production M60E1 tanks was Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60A1. Production began on 13 October 1962, with an order of 720 units by the Army.

==== Design ====
'''Hull'''

The upper glacis armour of the hull was upgraded from 3.67 inches to 4.29 inches at 65°. The steering wheel was replaced with a T-bar control, and the break and accelerator pedals were rearranged for easier usage by the driver. The tank was upgraded to the Continental AVDS-1790-2A engine and the CD-850-5 cross drive transmission, and it used the T97 track assembly. The first return roller was moved slightly, and shock absorbers were added to the second road wheel pair. The addition of the shock absorbers was due to the increased weight of the armour and new M60A1 turret.

'''Turret'''

The main feature of the M60A1 was a new turret, which was the turret of the T95E7 medium tank prototype. The new turret had more armour protection, and it also could had more room for the crew, because of the new M140 gun mount. A fume extractor was added to the rear of the turret bustle, on the left side; this would prevent fumes and smoke from accumulating inside the vehicle when the weapons were fired. The loader and gunner received padded seats, replacing the wire mesh seats which were uncomfortable. Ammunition for the main gun was increased to 63 rounds, with 15 rounds in the turret bustle, several rounds in the turret ring, and the rest stored in the hull. The turret was equipped with a new traversing mechanism, and an AN/VSS-1(V)1 IR searchlight was fitted above the gun mantlet. It received the M19 FCS, which consisted of the M17A1 coincidence rangefinder, M10A1 ballistic drive, and the mechanical M19E1 ballistic computer for the gunner. The M60A1 tank uses the M68E1 105 mm gun. The M68E1 gun shared the same firing characteristics as the M68, but had several design improvements including an updated gun hydraulic configuration, a stabilization upgrade for the gun (but not a full stabilizer), a gun elevation kill switch for the loader, an improved ballistic drive, and other component refinements.

=== M60A1 (AOS) ===
In 1972, the M60A1 (AOS) was introduced, which gave the tank an add-on stabilization (AOS) system. It was a kit that could be applied to M60A1 tanks with very little modification to the hydraulic gun control system. The AOS allows for stabilization of the gun vertically and of the turret horizontally. This allowed the gunner to track targets and control the gun and turret while the vehicle was moving; this increased the hit-on-the-move capability significantly. Before the AOS upgrade the fire-on-the-move accuracy at 2000 meters was practically 0%, whereas with the upgrade 70% accuracy was achieved. The AOS had three modes: power-with-stabilization-on, power-with-stabilization-off, and manual. Power-with-stabilization-on was the mode which stabilized the gun, power-with-stabilization-off allowed the turret to be controlled electrically when the stabilizer was not necessary, and the manual mode allowed the crew to still traverse the turret and elevate the gun if the electrical or hydraulic systems were inoperable.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=us_m60a1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|zoBPU0n65_A|'''The M60 family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:48 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|IRRJscJ8mrw|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Stock APDS Revisit''' - ''Napalmratte''|5TFgt0ka4Ww|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M60 (Family)]]

;Vehicles equipped with the same gun

* {{Specs-Link|us_magach_3}}
* [[XM-1 (Chrysler)]]
* [[XM-1 (GM)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4150-development-m60a1-facing-the-enemy-en/|[Devblog] M60A1: Facing the Enemy]]
* [[wikipedia:M60_tank|[Wikipedia] M60 tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/us/m60_patton.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> 105mm Gun Tank M60]

{{TankManufacturer Chrysler Defense}}
{{USA medium tanks}}

M48A1

2022-01-04T09:12:44Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m48a1_patton_III
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]].

A first glance towards the M48A1 can give lots of similarities towards the [[M60|M60]]. However, there are some aspects that can distinguish the M48 from the M60.

The M48A1 is probably most distinguished first by its rounded turret and gun, with the square-shaped gun mantlet covered by a cloth. The 90 mm gun has a cylinder muzzle brake going in a T-shape while a fume extractor sits only slightly behind the muzzle brake position.

The hull is distinguished compared to the successor M60 with its curved cast shape instead of straight welded plates.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Rear (low), Roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 85-200 mm (59-74°) ''Front glacis'' 63-200 mm (13-60°) ''Lower glacis'' || 76 mm (8-43°) ''Front'' 51 mm (0-43°) ''Rear'' || 35 mm (26-32°) ''Top'' 25 mm (61-62°) ''Bottom'' || 25.4-57 mm
|-
| Turret || 127 mm (12-76°) ''Turret front'' 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 69-100 mm (12-36°) || 51-55 mm (2-71°) || 25-69 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 70 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 38 mm in the front and 25 mm in the rear.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,255|rbMinHp=716}}

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

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

{{main|M41 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M41 (90 mm)|90 mm M41]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 321 || 316 || 292 || 265 || 240 || 218
|-
| T142E3 || HESH || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 185 || 182 || 170 || 155 || 142 || 130
|-
| M431 shell || HEATFS || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 1,249 || 5.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| T142E3 || HESH || 792 || 10.6 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,050 || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 853 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M431 shell || HEATFS || 1,216 || 5.8 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 712.64 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M313 || 821 || 10.7 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''60''' || 54 ''(+6)'' || 38 ''(+22)'' || 30 ''(+30)'' || 12 ''(+48)'' || 1 ''(+59)'' || No
|-
|}

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

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 900 (200) || 577 || -15°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,950 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M48A1 plays as a general medium tank, acting as a jack-of-all-trades in all of the tank's traits with average armour, firepower, and mobility.

The M48A1 front hull glacis and turret are the strong points of the tank and have the best chance on the tank to bounce off rounds. However, its lower glacis and side armour remain a significant weak point for the tank, so take extra caution when exposing those weak points.

One of the best ways to use this tank when a player does not have access to its HEATFS round is to refrain from using it as a brawler. This is because most of the shells that this tank has in its arsenal, do not have the ample firepower to eliminate most of the targets it faces at its BR. However, since the tank is incredibly mobile, it can be used as an excellent flanker. It can out-manoeuvre most of its medium tank rivals and expose their side armours.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very fast reload for the rank
* Semi-hemispherical design removes shot traps seen on [[M47|M47 Patton]]
* Better sloped armour than its predecessors
* Access to HEATFS when unlocked
* Strong roof armour of 57 mm on the hull

'''Cons:'''

* Quite under armoured for the rank
* Same ammunition stats as the M47, which may not be the best at the rank except the HEATFS round
** the HEATFS round suffers from poor post-penetration damage
* Slower turret traverse rate
* Painful stock grind due to having APCR as default ammo
* Turret roof armour is 25 mm at its thinnest, which can allow even air attacks with heavy machine guns to penetrate at preferential conditions
* Even 57mm APHE shells can penetrate the cupola and kill the turret crew

== History ==

===Development===
In February 1951, Ordnance opted for a new tank design to modernize the [[M46]] and [[M47]] in the U.S. inventory. The tank was designated the ''90 mm Gun Tank T-48'' and featured a new hemispherical turret, new hull, and an improved suspension. The new design was also the first to remove the hull machine gunner position in American tanks, reducing the total crew from the usual 5 to 4. Further testing and trials with the T-48 design proved its worth and in April 1953, Ordnance standardized the design as the '''90 mm Gun Tank M48 Patton''', which would be the third in the Patton series, all named after General George S. Patton.

Production started in 1952 with the original ''M48'' models. During the initial production run, several hundreds of the M48s were found to not be up to the standard protection ratings it should be, these were relegated to training tanks as the ''M48C''. The model was developed into the '''M48A1''' with a redesigned driver hatch and commander's cupola that integrates a .50 cal machine gun for the commander to use. Next variant was the ''M48A2'' with an improved power pack and transmission, along with a new rear plate and improved turret control. The M48A1 models improved with the M48A2 specifications in 1959, up to 1,019 were converted and are labelled the ''M48A3''. The last major model was the ''M48A5'', which is an upgrade of the M48 models in the 1970s with a [[M68_(105_mm)|105 mm Gun M68]], up to 2,069 converted. In total, about 12,000 M48 models were produced in all from the time period of 1952 to 1959.

===Combat usage===
The Americans mainly used the M48A3 Patton tanks in Vietnam, with 600 models deployed. Each battalion in the US Army and Marines armed with the M48 Patton had 57 tanks each. The Armored Cavalry Squadrons were initially armed with M48s before they were replaced by the lighter [[M551|M551 Sheridan]]. A flamethrower variant was developed from the M48, which became known as the ''M67A1 "Zippo"''. The M48 also strengthened the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces by supplementing their [[M41A1|M41A1 Walker Bulldog]] light tanks. The main armour conflicts between the North and South Vietnamese forces usually involved an armour mix of [[T-54_(1951)|T-54]]/[[PT-76B]] for the North and M48 Pattons/M41A1 Bulldogs for the South. In the conflicts, an incident on 23 April 1972 had an NVA anti-tank force with the new 9M14M Malyutka [[Anti-tank_guided_missiles|anti-tank guided missile]] destroy an M48 Patton, marking one of the early uses of the wide-spread infantry anti-tank missiles. Despite that, the M48s performed favourably in the Southern forces. Even after US forces withdrew from South Vietnam and North Vietnam started the Ho Chi Minh Offensive in 1975, the M48s left in the ARVN hands were able to hold back the assaulting [[T-34-85|T-34]] and T-54/55 tanks, only falling when supplies ran out. After the war, the Americans mainly replaced their main tanks with the [[M60|M60 Patton]].

Like with most of the American equipment, the M48s were supplied to NATO allies across the world to assist in their conflicts. They became involved in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and 1971 in the hands of Pakistan along with some [[M47|M47s]] against India's [[Centurion_Mk_3|Centurions]]. Its overall performance in the conflicts was that they performed very well in the battlefield, only failing due to the poor tactics used by the armour forces. The M48s also saw service in the Middle Eastern conflicts. It was notably used in the conflicts against Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 in the hands of the Israelis and Jordanian Army. The Israels upgraded their M48s with the 105 mm guns, about 5 years earlier than the Americans, and fight against the Egyptian Soviet-supplied armour. They also saw use in the Lebanese Civil War in the hands of nearly all sides involved. They were also used in Turkey's military in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The M48s were also used in Iranian hands in the Iran-Iraq war against Soviet-supplied weaponry in Iraq's hands. Morocco also received a hundred M48A5 Pattons from America in 1987. One of the most recent conflicts the M48s were used was in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 when assisting the stranded US Rangers and Delta Force in the city.

The M48s were used by 19 different countries in the world during its service life, of which 9 countries still use in varying quantities. Despite being rather outdated in the later part of the Cold War, which warranted its replacement by the M60, the M48 help supplemented the forces around the world in their conflicts. With many models remain in inventory across the world, it still proves a valuable weapon against countries without advanced anti-tank weaponry.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=us_m48a1_patton_III Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|HLOPy5uqghw|'''Honestly... Fun? {{PAGENAME}} Patton''' - ''Virus''|Xwid3UCLr5U|'''The Patton Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:00 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PI1jKRyi0Bg|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|ei-rg46KJlU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review - Pay or Die (and die anyways)''' - ''Napalmratte''|Fo-u51pqlrg|'''Tank Chats #108 - M48''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M48 Patton (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M60 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3751-development-m48a1-en|[Devblog] M48A1]]
* [[wikipedia:M48_Patton|[Wikipedia] M48 Patton]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/US/M48_Patton.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> 90mm Gun Tank M48 Patton III]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=29 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M48 Patton]

{{TankManufacturer Chrysler Defense}}
{{USA medium tanks}}

M48A1

2022-01-04T09:11:49Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m48a1_patton_III
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]].

A first glance towards the M48A1 can give lots of similarities towards the [[M60|M60]]. However, there are some aspects that can distinguish the M48 from the M60.

The M48A1 is probably most distinguished first by its rounded turret and gun, with the square-shaped gun mantlet covered by a cloth. The 90 mm gun has a cylinder muzzle brake going in a T-shape while a fume extractor sits only slightly behind the muzzle brake position.

The hull is distinguished compared to the successor M60 with its curved cast shape instead of straight welded plates.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Rear (low), Roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 85-200 mm (59-74°) ''Front glacis'' 63-200 mm (13-60°) ''Lower glacis'' || 76 mm (8-43°) ''Front'' 51 mm (0-43°) ''Rear'' || 35 mm (26-32°) ''Top'' 25 mm (61-62°) ''Bottom'' || 25.4-57 mm
|-
| Turret || 127 mm (12-76°) ''Turret front'' 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 69-100 mm (12-36°) || 51-55 mm (2-71°) || 25-69 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 70 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 38 mm in the front and 25 mm in the rear.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,255|rbMinHp=716}}

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

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

{{main|M41 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M41 (90 mm)|90 mm M41]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 321 || 316 || 292 || 265 || 240 || 218
|-
| T142E3 || HESH || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102 || 102
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 185 || 182 || 170 || 155 || 142 || 130
|-
| M431 shell || HEATFS || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 1,249 || 5.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| T142E3 || HESH || 792 || 10.6 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,050 || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 853 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M431 shell || HEATFS || 1,216 || 5.8 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 712.64 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M313 || 821 || 10.7 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''60''' || 54 ''(+6)'' || 38 ''(+22)'' || 30 ''(+30)'' || 12 ''(+48)'' || 1 ''(+59)'' || No
|-
|}

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

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 900 (200) || 577 || -15°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,950 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M48A1 plays as a general medium tank, acting as a jack-of-all-trades in all of the tank's traits with average armour, firepower, and mobility.

The M48A1 front hull glacis and turret are the strong points of the tank and have the best chance on the tank to bounce off rounds. However, its lower glacis and side armour remain a significant weak point for the tank, so take extra caution when exposing those weak points.

One of the best ways to use this tank when a player does not have access to its HEATFS round is to refrain from using it as a brawler. This is because most of the shells that this tank has in its arsenal, do not have the ample firepower to eliminate most of the targets it faces at its BR. However, since the tank is incredibly mobile, it can be used as an excellent flanker. It can out-manoeuvre most of its medium tank rivals and expose their side armours.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very fast reload for the rank
* Semi-hemispherical design removes shot traps seen on [[M47|M47 Patton]]
* Better sloped armour than its predecessors
* Access to HEATFS when unlocked
* Strong roof armour of 57 mm on the hull

'''Cons:'''

* Quite under armoured for the rank
* Same ammunition stats as the M47, which may not be the best at the rank except the HEATFS round
** the HEATFS round suffers from poor post-penetration damage
* Slower turret traverse rate
* Painful stock grind due to having APCR as default ammo
* Turret roof armour is 25 mm at its thinnest, which can allow even air attacks with heavy machine guns to penetrate at preferential conditions

== History ==

===Development===
In February 1951, Ordnance opted for a new tank design to modernize the [[M46]] and [[M47]] in the U.S. inventory. The tank was designated the ''90 mm Gun Tank T-48'' and featured a new hemispherical turret, new hull, and an improved suspension. The new design was also the first to remove the hull machine gunner position in American tanks, reducing the total crew from the usual 5 to 4. Further testing and trials with the T-48 design proved its worth and in April 1953, Ordnance standardized the design as the '''90 mm Gun Tank M48 Patton''', which would be the third in the Patton series, all named after General George S. Patton.

Production started in 1952 with the original ''M48'' models. During the initial production run, several hundreds of the M48s were found to not be up to the standard protection ratings it should be, these were relegated to training tanks as the ''M48C''. The model was developed into the '''M48A1''' with a redesigned driver hatch and commander's cupola that integrates a .50 cal machine gun for the commander to use. Next variant was the ''M48A2'' with an improved power pack and transmission, along with a new rear plate and improved turret control. The M48A1 models improved with the M48A2 specifications in 1959, up to 1,019 were converted and are labelled the ''M48A3''. The last major model was the ''M48A5'', which is an upgrade of the M48 models in the 1970s with a [[M68_(105_mm)|105 mm Gun M68]], up to 2,069 converted. In total, about 12,000 M48 models were produced in all from the time period of 1952 to 1959.

===Combat usage===
The Americans mainly used the M48A3 Patton tanks in Vietnam, with 600 models deployed. Each battalion in the US Army and Marines armed with the M48 Patton had 57 tanks each. The Armored Cavalry Squadrons were initially armed with M48s before they were replaced by the lighter [[M551|M551 Sheridan]]. A flamethrower variant was developed from the M48, which became known as the ''M67A1 "Zippo"''. The M48 also strengthened the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces by supplementing their [[M41A1|M41A1 Walker Bulldog]] light tanks. The main armour conflicts between the North and South Vietnamese forces usually involved an armour mix of [[T-54_(1951)|T-54]]/[[PT-76B]] for the North and M48 Pattons/M41A1 Bulldogs for the South. In the conflicts, an incident on 23 April 1972 had an NVA anti-tank force with the new 9M14M Malyutka [[Anti-tank_guided_missiles|anti-tank guided missile]] destroy an M48 Patton, marking one of the early uses of the wide-spread infantry anti-tank missiles. Despite that, the M48s performed favourably in the Southern forces. Even after US forces withdrew from South Vietnam and North Vietnam started the Ho Chi Minh Offensive in 1975, the M48s left in the ARVN hands were able to hold back the assaulting [[T-34-85|T-34]] and T-54/55 tanks, only falling when supplies ran out. After the war, the Americans mainly replaced their main tanks with the [[M60|M60 Patton]].

Like with most of the American equipment, the M48s were supplied to NATO allies across the world to assist in their conflicts. They became involved in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and 1971 in the hands of Pakistan along with some [[M47|M47s]] against India's [[Centurion_Mk_3|Centurions]]. Its overall performance in the conflicts was that they performed very well in the battlefield, only failing due to the poor tactics used by the armour forces. The M48s also saw service in the Middle Eastern conflicts. It was notably used in the conflicts against Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 in the hands of the Israelis and Jordanian Army. The Israels upgraded their M48s with the 105 mm guns, about 5 years earlier than the Americans, and fight against the Egyptian Soviet-supplied armour. They also saw use in the Lebanese Civil War in the hands of nearly all sides involved. They were also used in Turkey's military in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The M48s were also used in Iranian hands in the Iran-Iraq war against Soviet-supplied weaponry in Iraq's hands. Morocco also received a hundred M48A5 Pattons from America in 1987. One of the most recent conflicts the M48s were used was in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 when assisting the stranded US Rangers and Delta Force in the city.

The M48s were used by 19 different countries in the world during its service life, of which 9 countries still use in varying quantities. Despite being rather outdated in the later part of the Cold War, which warranted its replacement by the M60, the M48 help supplemented the forces around the world in their conflicts. With many models remain in inventory across the world, it still proves a valuable weapon against countries without advanced anti-tank weaponry.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=us_m48a1_patton_III Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|HLOPy5uqghw|'''Honestly... Fun? {{PAGENAME}} Patton''' - ''Virus''|Xwid3UCLr5U|'''The Patton Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:00 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PI1jKRyi0Bg|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|ei-rg46KJlU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review - Pay or Die (and die anyways)''' - ''Napalmratte''|Fo-u51pqlrg|'''Tank Chats #108 - M48''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* [[M48 Patton (Family)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[M60 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3751-development-m48a1-en|[Devblog] M48A1]]
* [[wikipedia:M48_Patton|[Wikipedia] M48 Patton]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/US/M48_Patton.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> 90mm Gun Tank M48 Patton III]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=29 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M48 Patton]

{{TankManufacturer Chrysler Defense}}
{{USA medium tanks}}

T95E1

2022-01-04T09:10:52Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t95e1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]].

Presenting a 90 mm smoothbore cannon, it is currently the first tank in the American tree line that uses APFSDS ammunition.

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

'''Armour type:''''

* Cast homogeneous armour
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Top side hull, Top rear hull, Rear hull roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 95 mm (64-71°), 51 mm (67-86°) ''Front glacis'' 127 mm (43-45°) ''Lower glacis'' || 101.6 mm ''Top - Front'' 50.8-72.6 mm ''Top - Crew compartment'' 32 mm ''Top - Engine compartment'' 19 mm (65°) ''Bottom - Front & Crew compartment'' 13 mm (65°) ''Bottom - Engine compartment'' || 19 mm (18°) ''Top'' 25 mm (4-64°) ''Bottom'' || 95 mm (19°) ''Front glacis'' 51 mm (11°) ''Driver compartment'' 25 mm (3°) ''Engine compartment''
|-
| Turret || 178 mm (6-78°) ''Turret front'' 178 mm (1-71°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 76-178 mm (24-52°) || 51 mm (4-39°) || 51 mm ''Front'' 38 mm ''Rear''
|-
| Cupola || 100 mm ''Cupola front'' 105 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 70 mm || 50 mm || 38 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, torsion bars and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=868|rbMinHp=495}}

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

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

{{main|T208E9 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[T208E9 (90 mm)|90 mm T208E9]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 34.3 || 47.4 || 57.6 || 63.7 || 67.8 || rowspan="2" | 11.05 || rowspan="2" | 9.78 || rowspan="2" | 9.01 || rowspan="2" | 8.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 21.4 || 25.2 || 30.6 || 33.8 || 36.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| T320 || APFSDS || 300 || 297 || 279 || 260 || 244 || 239
|-
| T340E14H || HE || 14 || 14 || 14 || 14 || 14 || 14
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| T320 || APFSDS || 1,570 || 3.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 76° || 77° || 80°
|-
| T340E14H || HE || 1,143 || 8.2 || 0 || 0.1 || 1,010 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| T339E14 || 1,143 || 8.2 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 37 ''(+13)'' || 23 ''(+27)'' || 9 ''(+41)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Racks 3 and 4 are first stage ammo racks. They total 22 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 and 2 into racks 4 then 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

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

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,700 (200) || 577 || -5°/+40° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The T95E1's playstyle consists of mostly setting up ambushes and/or on the frontlines. The APFSDS shell has more than enough power to destroy most tanks that it will face; however, on a uptier against [[Leopard A1A1]]'s, [[T-62M-1]]'s, and generally any 8.7 to 9.0 MBT, you will need to play more cautiously, thus the ambushing tactics come into play. You must be extremely aware of what is around you and be quicker than your enemy on the gun because the lack of stabilizers will make shooting on the move very difficult.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Stock APFSDS able to penetrate most enemies frontally
* Excellent post-penetration spalling from APFSDS
* Sloped frontal armor can bounce multiple shots with ease, but upper glacis and turret front bounce shots to each other
* Very good stock horizontal turret traverse
* Good gun depression of -10°, allows for some hull-down tactics
* High velocity firing makes long-range fighting easier, especially in the large maps
* Has a Smoothbore gun, with excellent recoil mount that decreases the recoil
* Acceptable top speed of 56 kph
* The smoke shell (T339E14) has high velocity which helps you save allies at a long distance.

'''Cons:'''

* Poor acceleration and low top speed cross-country
* Low reverse speed relative to other American medium tanks
* A prominent weak spot in the form of commander's cupola
* No ammunition choices other than APFSDS or HE
* No stabiliser - unable to accurately fire on the move
* Front armour vulnerable against sabot and HEAT rounds
* Limited accuracy of smoothbore cannon at long range
* Engine deck prevents the turret depression
* Rear hull armor can be penetrated with .50 cals and therefore, engine and transmission are prone to damage
* Large ammo racks to the sides of driver, front hull penetration could lead to easy ammo detonation.
* Like with most Abrams series tanks, the engine deck is slightly raised, meaning that you will not be able to depress the gun over the rear of the tank.
* Cannot be taken into 9.0 line-ups due to lacking night vision

== History ==

In the early 1950s, the US began looking for a replacement for the M48 series. In September 1954, the T95 was selected for development; construction of pilot models began in 1957. The T95E1 differed from the T95 in the inclusion of a recoil system mount and the omission of a two-plane stabilizer, and was completed in early 1958.

The T95 program was shut down in July 1960 when it became clear that both the engine power and smoothbore cannon's accuracy were unsatisfactory and would provide no significant improvements over the M48 already in service. However, further development of the turret design contributed significantly to the turret used later on the M60A1.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t95e1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4752-t95e1-the-contender-en|[Devblog] T95E1: The Contender]]

{{USA medium tanks}}

M103

2022-01-04T09:09:00Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m103
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. The pinnacle of US heavy armour, armed with a monstrous 120mm gun and a nigh impenetrable gun mantlet, it can become an almost unstoppable foe if played correctly.

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

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 114.3 mm (55-66°) || 50.8 mm ''Upper'' 44.44 mm ''Lower''|| 38 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
| Turret || 127 - 350 mm || 76.2 - 93 mm || 51 mm || 38 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 30 mm thick.
* '''Hull armour:''' After the fantastic T32, the M103's armour situation is generally a letdown. Its side armour is nearly nonexistent, same applying to the rear. The M103's turret size was also increased while reducing the armour down from 152mm to ~85mm average. But all hope is not lost - the M103's armour design did improve. Unlike its predecessor, it features slopes and angles everywhere, making the M103 a difficult target to destroy from the front. It is also reassuring to know that the frontal chassis is no longer a big weak spot; it is relatively minor and can reliably bounce shots right into the armoured gun mantlet.
* '''Turret armour:''' The M103's turret fares better. It is designed to take on tanks from the front, as the line of sight thickness exceeds 300mm on many occasions and where it doesn't the angle will result in bounces. However, this only works when facing straight at the enemy. Any slight angling miscalculation and the Line of Sight armour becomes useless.
* '''Weak spots:''' The worst part of the M103 is its true weak spots. As mentioned previously, the upper glacis and lower gun mantlet tend to bounce shots into each other, often with deadly results. Furthermore, the bottom turret cheeks are not as well angled as the rest of the turret (~176mm) and can even be penetrated by the [[KwK 43 (88 mm)|long 88 mm KwK 43]]. The biggest issue present is the abnormally large turret ring. It is visible all around the tank, and with merely 127 mm of armour it attracts many shots. This, in combination with the "shot trap", presents a very deadly scenario: Either the enemy hits the turret ring and incapacitates the entire crew with one APHE shell, or the shell strikes the mantlet/glacis and still does massive damage to either the driver's compartment or the gun breech. ''Keep the turret ring hidden!'' Another small weakness is that the M103's belly armour is only 38.1 mm thick, meaning most high-explosive rounds used by the Rank V tanks, HESH, can be splashed under the M103 and actually penetrate it with the explosion alone.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,046|rbMinHp=716}}

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

It comes without question that this tank, whose sole defining aspect is its gun, should rely first on parts to keep the barrel smoking. For the second upgrade, which also unlocks other tier two upgrades, "Turret Drive" is recommended. The M103 has no mobility problems and therefore tracks can generally be neglected. However, its second tier unlocks are very useful. "FPE" is beneficial against the fires caused by the engine, but the 380 mm penetration HEAT shells and "Adjustment of Fire" for better accuracy are nothing to ignore. When choosing upgrades, ask this question: ''Is the normal APBC shot enough? Would I have benefited from being able to put out a fire? Does better accuracy help me to get more targets?'' Choose wisely! After all these three modules are researched, there is not a lot left. "Elevation Mechanism" is always nice, same for "Engine" and "Transmission".

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

{{main|M58 (120 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M58 (120 mm)|120 mm M58]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 33 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M358 shot || APBC || 301 || 298 || 286 || 272 || 258 || 245
|-
| M356 shell || HE || 39 || 39 || 39 || 39 || 39 || 39
|-
| M469 shell || HEATFS || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M358 shot || APBC || 1,067 || 23.1 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M356 shell || HE || 762 || 22.84 || 0 || 0.1 || 4,650 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M469 shell || HEATFS || 1,143 || 23.81 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 2,670 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M357 || 762 || 22.9 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 50
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo part
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''33''' || style="text-align:right" | ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 12 ''(+21)'' 24 ''(+9)'' || 1 ''(+32)'' 14 ''(+19)''||   10 ''(+23)'' ||   1 ''(+32)'' || No
|-
|}

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+45° || ±60°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Coaxial || 4,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Armed with an extremely large 120 mm cannon, the tank boasts superior firepower rivalling many other Rank V vehicles. One thing must be said from the start: The full name of the M103 is "'''''120 mm Gun Tank''''' '''M103'''" and not "[[T32|'''''Heavy tank''''' '''T32''']]". As the title already hinted, this tank is all about the cannon, a ''Gun tank''. This defines the general play style of the tank in both [[Arcade Battles|arcade]] and [[Realistic Battles|realistic mode]]: it is a sniper with the sole role of making the enemy's life as miserable and short-lived as possible. The cannon can compete against the armour of the [[Maus]]!

One thing to note is that the M103's play style is very different from its predecessor T32. Aside from the increase in firepower with the 120 mm cannon, the armour on the M103 is actually slightly weaker than the T32. The M103's gun mantlet is still good with ~300 mm line of sight thickness, but any other spot on the tank is weaker. The tank's upper glacis is, however, a major improvement and mostly a ricochet zone. If impacted, the shells usually travel straight into the turret or gun. Against later Soviet and German tanks, the front of the M103 is vulnerable. Even by using the "hull down" tactic as with the T32, the tank can still be penetrated. However, half-turret down will net better results. The sides, as on most US tanks, are still very thin and vulnerable with no major changes from previous models.

However, the armour of the M103 is not all bad; while it is not thick, the way it angles will deflect many shots. A badly placed shot will easily ricochet, or be swallowed by the line of sight thickness. A head-on engagement is the M103's greatest strength as its frontal armour performs similarly to the [[IS-3]]'s frontal pike nose. Due to the shape of the hull, it being boat-like, you may bounce some low caliber shells off the lower side of your hull.

With range, the advantages of the M103 increase while its disadvantages recede. It is, therefore, the perfect tank for large, open maps like Mozdok and Kursk, where flanking tanks can easily be spotted and dealt with

===Tactics===
The M103 is best played at medium to long range, making use of its 120 mm cannon to devastate enemies at a long distance. The vehicle's armour is more about slope than actual thickness, so the long distance also helps to mitigate the M103's rather large armour gaps. The tank also has good gun depression, so making use of hills is advised wherever possible. If on a city map, and have no long-range opportunities, stay close to teammates and move up only as warranted. The 120 mm has a fairly long reload, and in close quarters, can get the M103 destroyed during the downtime. As such, keep a back-up plan an escape route handy, as a missed, bounced, or non-lethal shot can leave the M103 exposed to enemy return fire.

The M103 also comes with a smoke round in case it's needed, but unless it's used to cover a pre-engagement advance, it's best to keep it in reserve only. The long reload of the gun can make loading a smoke round a fatal error, should the M103 get caught mid-reload, or worse, have to cease a reload halfway through to load a more suitable round.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Access to one of the most powerful solid shot rounds in the game.
* Decent gun depression.
* Very fast turret traverse rate for a heavy tank.
* Good mobility for a heavy tank - it easily reaches its top speed even when off-road once spaded.
* Equipped with a rangefinder.
* Ballistically well-shaped turret and hull front with thick effective armour.
* Massive APBC shell can have surprisingly good post-penetration

'''Cons:'''

* Limited ammunition capacity (33 rounds)
* Long reload time.
* Large and vulnerable turret ring.
* Very weak side and rear turret and hull armor.
* Uncapped APBC shell performs poorly against sloped armor.
* Poor post-penetration with HEAT-FS.

== History ==

===Development===
The '''M103''' tank was designed to counter the Soviet heavy tanks being produced at the time, namely the [[IS-3]] and the [[T-10M]] heavy tanks, which prove rather impervious to Western tank designs such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]] and [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]]. The problem facing the designers at the time was to produce a versatile tank system capable of engaging heavy tanks like the IS-3 and fortifications.

The result of the request for such of a vehicle was the experimental ''T34 heavy tank'', which was a variant of the then-experimental ''[[T29|T29 Heavy tank]]'' except mounting the much larger 120 mm T53 cannon rather than a 105 mm T5E2 cannon. Further development began on this tank in 1948, where multiple changes were made to the design to fit a more versatile tank system. The end result was the now named ''T43 Heavy Tank'', which began to see the doubt in its success as the Korean War was undergoing at the time that placed the [[M26|M26 Pershing]] back in the spotlight. The T43 managed to survive due to an order request of 80 units by the Army to reinforce their depleted armoured forces. The USMC even sought a replacement that could serve for a long period of time and ordered 220 of the vehicle in 1951. Changes were made to the armour protection and the gun was updated to the newer 120 mm T123E1 cannon. After being sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground and approved, it was accepted under the ''T43E1'' designation.

The [[M58 (120 mm)|120 mm T123E1 cannon]] (adopted as the M58 gun) was a very large cannon, and the ammo could penetrate about 340 mm of armour up to 1,000 yards. However, the ammo's large size restricted the number that could be held in the tank turret and hull. The design also had a 7.62 mm machine gun and a .50 cal machine gun could be installed on the turret to provide anti-aircraft and anti-personnel fire. The heavy weight of the design at 59 tons caused the Continental AV1790 engine to be insufficient in propelling the tank. Thus, the tank's speed was only about 34 km/h (21 mph). Despite the weight, it was still 10 tons lighter than its predecessors and retained about the same armour protection ratings. The production of the T43E1 tank was designated as the '''M103''' tank and was produced at Chrysler Newark for a total of 300 units produced.

===Deployment===
The M103 was fielded in Europe in only one battalion in January 1958. The 889th Tank Battalion (later as the 2nd Battalion, 33rd Armor Regiment) was organized to four companies of six platoons each. Each platoon had three M103 heavy tanks for eighteen tanks per company. The United States Marine Corps had one M103 company of about seventeen tanks assigned to each of its three Marine tank battalions in regulars and reserves.

The M103 never saw combat during its service life from 1957 to 1974 and the US Heavy Tank Battalions began to be deactivated around 1963 with the arrival of the [[M60|M60 Main Battle Tank]], which proved to be much better in the long terms compared to the M103. The Marines kept their M103s until they began receiving the M60 tanks to replace them. The removal of the heavy tank units in the US military was the time of turnover from the traditional classification of weight between a tank to the new concept of "main battle tanks" and "airborne vehicles". These ushers in the new age of main battle tanks that can serve in a multi-purpose role against armour and fortifications, starting in the M60 tank, then in its successor the M1 Abrams. The M1 Abrams, while having the same calibre as the M103, was much more powerful due to its new ammunition types and design, and was a statement on the advancement of technology that came in about thirty years difference between the two tank designs.

Today, only a few M103 samples are left intact around America in various bases and museums.

=== In-game description ===
By the end of the Second World War the M26 Pershing was the primary heavy tank for the American armed forces, though it was later redesignated a medium tank. The US at the same time was working on new heavy tanks, creating the T29, T30, T34, and T32 prototypes.

Having released the first T43 pilot model for testing in the summer of 1951, the Detroit Tank Arsenal (Chrysler) introduced a large number of changes to the project. The three subsequent pilot models were designated T43E1s, and worth noting among the significant changes made was the new 120 mm M58 (T123) cannon. New barrel production technology boosted pressure in the chamber as well as initial velocity. The M103's hull and turret were built as intricate, bulky molded pieces with flat welded armour plates on the bottom. The traditional design featured the power unit and transmission in the rear.

After testing began in 1953 for the pilot and production models, 98 changes were made to the design. In April 1956 the tank was standardized and sent to production as the 120 mm Gun Full-Tracked Combat Tank M103. In all, 74 of the first 80 T43E1 tanks were updated to meet M103 standards.

Operations in Europe uncovered yet another list of problems plaguing the tank: difficult working conditions for the crew, an underpowered engine that overworked both it and the transmission, a barrel that quickly showed wear when frequently firing armour-piercing rounds, and much more.

The Marine Corps later ordered a final modernization for the tank: after the basic M60 was accepted, its diesel engine and fire control system were adapted. The new model was designated the M103A2.

== Media ==


;Skins

*[http://live.warthunder.com/?q=%23m103 Skins and camouflages for the M103 from live.warthunder]
**[http://live.warthunder.com/post/109541/ '''"Old Wolf"''' by ''STALINGRAD34RUS'']
**[http://live.warthunder.com/post/117847/ '''"M103 "Junk Yard Dog" D14 of the USMC (historical)"''' by ''Skydread'']
**[http://live.warthunder.com/post/96110/ '''"Grey camouflage"''' by ''Naserati'' Scale: 175% + Rotation 135%]
**[http://live.warthunder.com/post/105522/ '''"United States Marine Corps"''' by ''STALINGRAD34RUS'']

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|BYXEADQGFpA|Tank overview & introduction '''"M103 Tank Review : Projecting Power"''' by ''CornyBros''|9ffxZDfz6rA|Gameplay video with focus on HEAT shells '''"Best Penetrating Tank Round! M103 New HEAT Ammo!"''' by ''BaronVonGamez''}}

== See also ==


* [[Conqueror|Conqueror Mk 2]] - British counterpart of the heavy tanks, using the same gun design.

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/680/|[Devblog] Steel Generals: M103 Heavy Tank]]
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/731/|[Devblog] Developers about the M103 Heavy Tank]]

{{USA heavy tanks}}

T26E1-1

2022-01-04T09:07:07Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = American heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other T26
| link = T26E5
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t26e4_superpershing
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. The tank takes the basis of a normal [[M26|M26 Pershing]], then increases its armour with welded-on metal slabs and up-guns it with a [[T15E1 (90 mm)|T15E1 cannon]], which is nearly identical to the one in the [[T32]]. This gives the tank a much appreciated armour protection and firepower for the battle rating and is comparable with the premium [[M26E1]].

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof, Turret appliqué armour)
* Structural steel (Hull appliqué armour, Rear turret counterweight)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 101.6 (42-46°) + 38.1 (47°) + 38.1 mm (57°) ''Front glacis'' 162.5 (25-60°) + 38.1 (47°) + 38.1 mm (57°) '' Upper front glacis'' 76.2 mm (53°) + 38.1 (41°) + 38.1 mm (48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 76.2 mm ''Front'' 50.8 mm (0-2°) ''Rear''|| 50.8 mm (4°) ''Top'' 22.2 mm (68°) ''Lower'' || 22.2 mm
|-
| Turret || 101.6 mm (1-55°) ''Turret front'' 114.3 (1-84°) + 80 mm (3°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 76.2 mm (2-54°) || 76.2 (0-79°) + 100 mm (3°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* The left turret side has a few tracks welded on, providing an additional 30 mm of armour where they are.
* The "ear flaps" on the turret provide 38.1 mm of armour. The steel on the gun mantlet gives an additional 80 mm of armour.
* Front glacis have sheets of 38.1 mm armour added on, sloped at varying angles.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=646|rbMinHp=442}}

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

As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top-priority. Following that both types of shells should be researched. Either Adjustment of Fire or Suspension should be researched as the second module in tier II, depending on play-style. If undecided - choose Adjustment of Fire. Mandatory modifications in tier III are T44 shot and Crew Replenishment. After that: Filters -> Engine -> Transmission for improved mobility, in that particular order due to the efficiency in {{rp}}RP/hp increase. Further modifications at will.

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

{{main|T15E1 (90 mm)}}

The {{PAGENAME}} utilizes a very powerful 90 mm T15E1 cannon, nearly identical to the gun on the [[T32]]. The gun's greatest weakness is its reload time, allowing more than sufficient time for the enemy to move out of their cover, aim, and take a shot. Therefore, staying in cover between shots and near friendlies might be preferable. A mix of T41 APCBC and T44 APCR shells is recommended as a typical load-out.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[T15E1 (90 mm)|90 mm T15E1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 42 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 16.25 || rowspan="2" | 14.38 || rowspan="2" | 13.25 || rowspan="2" | 12.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
For less mobile tanks usually a mix shells is recommended, with the Super Pershing being no different. For Arcade Battles, 15 shells is typically sufficient, majority APCBC with roughly 3-5 APCR shells dedicated to enemies with better armour. The APCBC shell is a good default for a majority of targets, it typically should be loaded when venturing towards the unknown.

* T43 shot - {{Annotation|APBC|Armour-Piercing Ballistic Capped}} - Acceptable performance against majority of targets
* T42 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - Usable nearly exclusively against soft targets. Due to long reload time it's typically safer to use other shells than committing to the HE
* T41 - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - Deadliest round, very wide post-penetration effect.
* T44 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Penetration increased by 1/3, suitable against more armoured targets, however it has the narrowest cone of post-penetration shrapnel.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| T43 shot || APBC || 211 || 208 || 193 || 177 || 162 || 148
|-
| T42 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
| T41 || APCBC || 224 || 221 || 206 || 188 || 172 || 157
|-
| T44 shot || APCR || 336 || 330 || 304 || 274 || 248 || 223
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| T43 shot || APBC || 975 || 10.9 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| T42 shell || HE || 975 || 10.6 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| T41 || APCBC || 975 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| T44 shot || APCR || 1,143 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''42''' || 32 ''(+8)'' || 28 ''(+14)'' || 24 ''(+18)'' || 20 ''(+22)'' || 16 ''(+26)'' || 12 ''(+30)'' || 8 ''(+34)'' || 4 ''(+38)'' || 0 ''(+42)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes:'''

* Recommended ammo load is 15 to remove most ammo from the hull floor, leaving rack 9 intact.
* Ammo rack 1 is a ready rack, and takes priority in being filled at the beginning of the battle, then fills racks 9 through 2.
* Full reload speed will be realized as long as ammo exists in the ready rack. If the ready racks is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will load ammo from racks 2-9 into rack 1, as long as there is ammo in racks 2-9. Firing will interrupt the loading of the ready racks.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,500 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} plays like a slow, pretty well-armoured tank destroyer, and should be played as such, keeping enemies in front, with friends on the flanks. Its frontal protection is not that reliable, especially against long 88 mm guns, at the same time its very unconventional, giving a large number of smaller weak spots. Therefore, it's recommended to stay on the move, or even rotating turret left and right to increase chances of deflecting the shot. Unlike with [[T34]] simply staying hull-down is not viable due to weak spots at top of the turret and bottom turret cheeks - it's best to hide an entire body between shots, letting allies lure the attention of the enemy team.

It's also one of the weakest tanks when played solo, owning it to low mobility, very weak side armour and a very long reload time. With 76 mm it can be penetrated by every tank it encounters and a number of anti-aircraft guns. Therefore an additional situational awareness is required to always have allies in proximity, in fact: if need be, tactical retreats might be worth a risk, as if left alone a single hit without mobility kill on a hostile unit can mean a near-certain death.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The {{PAGENAME}}, or Super Pershing, is an up-gunned M26 Pershing with a lot of spaced armour added to the front of the tank.
* The added spaced armour makes this tank very resilient to common guns like the Tiger II's 88 mm and even large caliber HE shells.
* Is armed with the same powerful 90 mm gun that is found on both T32 and M26E1 tanks.
* The T41 APCBC shell is comparable to the Tiger II's default APCBC shell. It has high accuracy, velocity, penetration, and damage potential.
* The T44 APCR shell can penetrate up to 336 mm, rivalling or even beating some rank VI APFSDS ammunition.
* Despite all the added armour and new 90 mm gun, the tank still gets an impressive 10 degrees of gun depression.
* The turret armour coupled with the gun depression give this tank great potential when it comes to shooting over hills and prolonged hull down fighting.
* Has a roof mounted .50 cal machine gun.

'''Cons:'''

* Despite all the add-on armour, the lower plate is still susceptible to being penetrated by contemporary guns.
* The hull machine gun port is small, but still a weak spot that is easily penetrated.
* The spaced armour doesn't really help against HEAT, APDS, or Soviet 122 mm AP shells.
* All the added armour coupled with the weak engine give this tank terrible acceleration and hill climbing capabilities.
* The vertical aiming drive can be damaged by simply shooting the two springs on the turret roof with mere machine guns.
* The turret spaced armour doesn't cover the weakly armoured corners of the lower turret. Can be easily penetrated by contemporary guns.
* The 90 mm shells are massive and take up a huge amount of the crew compartment. Any shell that penetrates the hull or left side of the turret housing the 10-round first stage ammo rack will likely destroy the vehicle.
* Even with an ace crew, the gun will take 12.5 seconds to reload. Trading shots with a Tiger II is not a good idea.
* While the 90 mm is a good gun, it's frankly inferior to the Tiger II's 88 mm in virtually ever metric other than explosive filler mass.
* Extremely high repair cost means that earning a profit on this vehicle can be difficult

== History ==

===Development===
The [[M26|M26 Pershing]] helped the American armoured forces by bringing in the heavy 90 mm Gun M3 into service on a tank mount. The gun was similar in performance to the German's [[Tiger E|Tiger Is]] [[KwK 36 (88 mm)|8.8 cm KwK 36]] cannon, but Army Ordnance wanted something to match the more powerful [[KwK 43 (88 mm)|8.8 cm KwK 43]] cannon on the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]]. The development to match this cannon made the [[T15E1 (90 mm)|T15 90 mm gun]]; the gun was 73 calibers long, compared to the 90 mm Gun M3's 53 calibers length. The first produced guns were called the T15E1 and had large, fixed ammunition. To test the gun's viability in the tank, the gun was mounted onto the very first production T26, T26E1 tank serial #1, registration #0103292, with the conversions being done by the Wellman Engineering Company. This upgraded tank was titled the '''T26E1-1''' by means of a painted-on designation on the turret's left side to distinguish the design, although this title was not official, and few if any sources refer to it as such. The extreme length of the T15E1 gun barrel caused the manufacturers to add a very prominent counter balance on the mantlet, which could be seen on the left side of the turret when facing it. The T26E1-1 tank was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds on 12 January 1945 for testing purposes.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref>

In March 1945, following the Aberdeen tests, the T26 tanks mounting the T15 gun was officially classified as the T26E4. As such, the mentioned T26E1-1 would be classified as the first of the T26E4 models, with an initial procurement plan for 1,000 more units. The first T26E4 (henceforth referred to as T26E1-1) would be the only M26 model with the T15 gun to see service in Europe. Among the troops, the T26E1-1 in Europe would be known by its eponymous name '''"Super Pershing"''' when compared alongside to the normal M26 Pershing.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref>

===Combat usage===
The T26E1-1 "Super Pershing" was sent to Europe and arrived in 15 March 1945 and assigned to the 3rd Armored Division. In its introduction, the "Super Pershing" was given additional armour by the maintenance crew in hopes to keep it up to date against the heavier German tanks. The front hull had two large pieces of metal welded onto it, each 38 mm in thickness, with a space in between the metal pieces. These metal pieces were sloped more than the hull armour it was over. An additional armour piece was welded on the turret mantlet, the metal was taken from a Panther turret and was about 80 mm thick when welded onto the turret.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> The T15E1 gun has much promise to the crew when using the tank as the gun could reliably penetrate the frontal hull of a [[Panther G|Panther]] tank, a feat not many other American tank gun could claim at the time.

The T26E1-1's performance in battle is largely written in the accounts of John P. Irwin, who was the tank gunner of the only active "Super Pershing" in the war. He mentions of three prominent combat actions with the T26E1-1, each one destroying the enemy with little difficulty. Records show that the T26E1-1 destroyed a total of three tanks and captured one after an extended firefight that left the opposing tank out of ammunition. Though it was hoped to have the T26E1-1 fight a Tiger II for a rather explosive comparison, the T26E1-1 never saw a Tiger II during its tour in Europe. After the war, the T26E1-1 was most likely scrapped in the post-war demobilization as the final image of the tank was it lying in a vehicle dump in Kassel, Germany.

===Legacy and similar vehicles===
The T26E1-1 continued as an idea long after the war was over, with the next development arming the long 90 mm cannon in the T26E3 tank models, but the cannons used the new two-piece ammunition gun T15E2 rather than the one-piece one in the T15E1 when it was found that the long 50 inch rounds made loading prohibitive in the M26 turret. 25 of these tanks were built and were designated the T26E4. Another development was to convert normal M26 Pershings to mounting the T54 cannon, another development of the T15E1 which featured shorter ammunition. These tanks were redesignated the [[M26E1|M26E1]], but work was halted due to issues with the guns and a cut in project funds.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref>

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t26e4_superpershing Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|sVCOipttDmg|'''The Shooting Range #265''' - ''Round Study'' section at 08:02 discusses how to penetrate the {{PAGENAME}}.|QoK9_NmswCo|'''The Shooting Range #35''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:27 discusses the T26E1-1.}}

== See also ==


* [[M26 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/879/|[Devblog] T26E1-1 Super Pershing: Under a Panther Mask]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{USA heavy tanks}}

T25

2022-01-04T09:05:57Z

U61132522: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t25
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]]. The T25 is, for all intents and purposes, a prototype [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]] with nearly the same design, turret, and gun.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull side, rear and roof, turret roof, cupola roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 76.2 mm (47°) ''Front Glacis'' 63.5 mm (56°) ''Lower Glacis''|| 50.8 mm ''Front half'' 38.1 mm ''Rear half'' || 38.1 mm (7-22°) || 19.05 mm
|-
| Turret || 76.2 mm (1-80°) ''Turret front'' 88.9 mm (7-80°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-31°) || 63.5 mm (1-3°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 76.2 mm (spherical) || 76.2 mm ''Outer ring'' 25.4 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Machine gun port on hull is a weak spot due to flat armour.
* An internal plate (19.05 mm) separates the crew compartment from the engine compartment.
* The turret ring is protected by an additional 35 mm lip (21°).

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


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

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

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

{{main|M3 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 162 || 160 || 148 || 135 || 123 || 113
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 173 || 170 || 159 || 145 || 133 || 121
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 287 || 281 || 259 || 234 || 211 || 191
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 822 || 10.61 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 813 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 1,021 || 7.62 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 49 ''(+1)'' || 41 ''(+9)'' || 33 ''(+17)'' || 25 ''(+25)'' || 17 ''(+33)'' || 9 ''(+41)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 500 (200) || 576 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,500 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The T25 is a medium tank, but the mobility can give the impression that it is a quick heavy tank when driving it. Its top speed is on par with the [[Comet I|Comet]], but it accelerates slower. The T25 is respectably mobile and is one of the first American tanks to have neutral steering, which allows for excellent and light low-speed handling and useful in tight urban maps. The T25's saving grace is its 90 mm cannon, on par to the Tiger's [[KwK 36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK 36 gun]].

When using this tank, use it as what it is - a medium tank. It has many of the very desirable qualities for a medium tank - containing elements of a tank destroyer, a medium tank, and a heavy tank into one powerful package. Its hull armor is poor, even with it sloped in the front and can be penetrated by virtually any common APHE round within its battle rating bracket. This can be helped by slight angling. It's turret mantlet can be trolly at times, but should not by any means be relied on. In spite of its weight, its wide tracks combined with neutral steering gives it superior tactical mobility off-road to tanks such as the Sherman and M36, but can be outrun by most of its counterparts - including the better armored and extremely common Panther and T-44. This off-road maneuverability and -10 degrees of gun depression must be exploited to the maximum to accomplish small flanks, reach sneaky locations, and thus ambush enemies from the side. Side shots will be the T25 player's bread and butter; at 6.3 the M82 shell will require significant skill aiming at weak spots, and is wholly unable to penetrate some common opponents from the front such as the Tiger 2H. Thankfully, the M82 has a massive 137 g of explosive filler and even the most poorly aimed penetrating shots can and will eliminate the enemy's entire crew compartment. In the event that a more thickly armored target such as the Tiger 2H is encountered from the front, APCR with 260mm of flat penetration will be required - however it can be unreliable due to poor performance against slopes and low post penetration damage, making M82 still the first choice. The T25 is a jack of all trades, master of none; its mobility and armor protection are inferior to its 6.3 counterparts and firepower only comparable, but in the hands of a skilled player it can still wreak havoc upon an enemy team. The T25 gives a glimpse of American medium tank gameplay after the Sherman series.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 90 mm gun, same gun mounted on the M26 and the M36 GMC
* Mounts a .50 cal machine gun on top for anti-aircraft defense and soft targets such as R3s
* Unlike following 90 mm M3 vehicles, no first-stage ammo rack = no reload time penalty. This can be helpful during prolonged fights, and extra valuable in the assault mode
* Lower profile than the [[M4A3 (76) W |M4 Sherman]] tanks
* Much more maneuverable and faster than the M26 Pershing
* Can immediately research the M82 shell upon purchase
* Has neutral steering
* Similar play style to that of the M26 Pershing
* .50 cal AA machine gun that can rotate a full 360 degree

'''Cons:'''

* 90 mm cannon is notorious for having a longer reload time than its competitors
* At battle rating 6.3 the M82 shell struggles or simply cannot penetrate many peers from the front
* Armour is woefully inadequate at its rank
* Slow, can't keep up with T-34, T-44, and Panthers, even Tiger IIs on some terrains
* Stock shell is bad
* Somewhat high repair cost

== History ==

=== T20 series ===
After the [[M4|M4 Sherman]] was adopted as the United States military's standard tank, work began on a new tank design to be the successor of the M4 Sherman. U.S. Ordnance Department got to work in spring of 1942, which would lead up to the [[T20]] tank designs. The T20, along with its variants like the T22 and T23, were all marginal improvements over the M4 Sherman with a more powerful [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1 gun]], a rear transmission design, and having a much lower profile. While the Ordnance Dept. tinkered around with these designs with various components, the Armored Board rejected the few designs offered to them for being maintenance extensive, as well as not seeing a need to replace their abundant and well-suited M4 Shermans on the field. While the tanks were rejected, they did provide some technical upgrades to the current Sherman designs. An example of this is the horizontal-volute suspension system (HVSS)that eventually became the suspension of the "E8" Shermans such as the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3E8]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> Another example is the T23 turret, which would become the main turret on Shermans mounting the 76 mm cannon on the "E6" program.

Though the Armored Board rejected the tanks for immediate combat use, the Ordnance Dept. continued their development. The T20s were not completely disregarded, as one of the models, the T23, was seen as promising enough that an initial order of 250 tanks was placed in May 1943. As tests continued, the order was modified. 50 of the tanks were to be adapted to use a [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm gun]] as its main armament. Forty of them were to be simple T23 upgrades with the new turret, but ten were to also have additional armour on the hull. These two 90 mm tanks asked are designated the '''T25''' and T26 respectively.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Development of the T25===
The first T25 was made by adding a 90 mm gun turret onto the T23. This converted T23 first arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground on 21 January 1944, and a second one arrived at Fort Knox on 29 April. Both models had a horizontal-volute suspension system with 23-inch tracks. This original T25 was roughly 3 tons heavier than the T23 and carried the 90 mm gun T7, the prototype of the 90 mm M3. Other changes from the T23 consists of a narrower and longer driver hatch to adapt to the gun mantlet of the new turret, as well as smaller changes in the interior for increased ammo storage. The transmission was still that of the T23 with the electric transmission with a Ford GAN engine.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

Another variant of the T25 was developed by the Ordnance Dept when they discovered that the electric drive on the T25 and T26 added too much weight to the overall design. This variation changed the transmission on the two tanks to a Torqmatic transmission design, essentially an improved T20's transmission design, as well as torsion bar suspension. These variants were designated with an "E1" name to T25E1 and T26E1. It was decided that the "E1" tanks were to be the standard production model with them to go along with the orders. Production and deliveries of the T25E1 and T26E1 were carried out between February to May 1944. The T25E1 and T26E1 participated in a series of tests at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Fort Knox to determine their combat suitability and design flaws. Testing for the E1 tanks lasted from their arrival in February to summer of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Rejection and fate===
By summer of 1944, Operation Overlord commenced and battle reports coming in from the troops are taken in for any suggestions on future tank development. The troops in Normandy were running into anti-tank defences able to destroy their [[M4|M4 Shermans]] with ease, and now they called for a tank with more powerful armament and increased armour. This new perspective caused an unfortunate setback for the T25 in comparison to its up-armoured brother T26. As such, priority on the T25 declined as priority work went into the T26 and into fixing its faults. Only 42 tanks, 2 T25 and 40 T25E1s, were produced between January and May of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T25 and T25E1 tanks continued on in the Armored Board and Ordnance Dept. as test pieces for other projects. The T25 in Armored Board stayed in testing until the 28th of September, 1944, before their focus also switched to the T26 series. The Ordnance Dept. converted a T25E1 tank into a T26E3 variant to test for various modifications that would go onto the redesigning of the T26E1 into the T26E3. The T25E1 was also tested with various of guns like a 90 mm gun T14. There was also a proposal to mount a [[T5E1 (105 mm)|105 mm T5E1 gun]], but this never passed the concept drawing stages.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T26 and T26E1 models, now the main focus of the Ordnance Dept. and Armored Board, had the defects found from field testing fixed by late 1944. This polished variant was designated the T26E3. This tank, with an order of 250 already made since January of 1944, went on into production that November, with 40 tanks delivered by the end of the year. The T26E3, in a bid for further testing, was sent to Europe for combat evaluation on the field against German armour. The T26E3 would provide sterling service against German heavy tanks like the [[Panther G|Panther]] and [[Tiger E|Tiger I]]. The T26E3 tank was then finally accepted and standardized on March 1945 in Army Ground Forces as the [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

=== In-game description ===
An experimental medium tank built at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in January, 1944. Only two of them were ever built. They were never used in combat. One of the precursors to the M26 medium tank, armed with a 90 mm gun and comparable armour.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t25 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yHuUGzezChI|'''Best after-party picks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:08 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|tcZDGE16F8s|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[M26 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/814/|[Devblog] T25 Medium Tank and Panzerwerfer 42 Auf.Sf - with developer's answers]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{USA medium tanks}}

T25

2022-01-04T08:47:21Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t25
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]]. The T25 is, for all intents and purposes, a prototype [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]] with nearly the same design, turret, and gun.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull side, rear and roof, turret roof, cupola roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 76.2 mm (47°) ''Front Glacis'' 63.5 mm (56°) ''Lower Glacis''|| 50.8 mm ''Front half'' 38.1 mm ''Rear half'' || 38.1 mm (7-22°) || 19.05 mm
|-
| Turret || 76.2 mm (1-80°) ''Turret front'' 88.9 mm (7-80°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-31°) || 63.5 mm (1-3°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 76.2 mm (spherical) || 76.2 mm ''Outer ring'' 25.4 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Machine gun port on hull is a weak spot due to flat armour.
* An internal plate (19.05 mm) separates the crew compartment from the engine compartment.
* The turret ring is protected by an additional 35 mm lip (21°).

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


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

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

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

{{main|M3 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 162 || 160 || 148 || 135 || 123 || 113
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 173 || 170 || 159 || 145 || 133 || 121
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 287 || 281 || 259 || 234 || 211 || 191
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 822 || 10.61 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 813 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 1,021 || 7.62 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 49 ''(+1)'' || 41 ''(+9)'' || 33 ''(+17)'' || 25 ''(+25)'' || 17 ''(+33)'' || 9 ''(+41)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 500 (200) || 576 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,500 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The T25 is a medium tank, but the mobility can give the impression that it is a quick heavy tank when driving it. Its top speed is on par with the [[Comet I|Comet]], but it accelerates slower. The T25 is respectably mobile and is one of the first American tanks to have neutral steering, which allows for excellent and light low-speed handling and useful in tight urban maps. The T25's saving grace is its 90 mm cannon, on par to the Tiger's [[KwK 36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK 36 gun]].

When using this tank, use it as what it is - a medium tank. It has many of the very desirable qualities for a medium tank - containing elements of a tank destroyer, a medium tank, and a heavy tank into one powerful package. Its armour is above average, being on par with a Tiger I, because of it being sloped. When angled, the tank is extremely tough, but do not expect the armour to save the T25 every time - the common [[IS-2]] is extremely dangerous. Its hide may be thick, but once upgraded, it can keep up with things like Panthers, but don't expect to win any running races soon! Its speed is what surprises many players, as American tanks are not known for their speed. This speed can allow flanking manoeuvres and to get to positions impossible for most American tanks. This leads into its tank destroyer capability - the part that makes the T25 very effective. It has access to the famed M82 APCBC rounds, which matches Russian tanks on post-penetration effect, owing to the round's massive 137 g of explosive filler. And for good measure, it has the same penetration as a Tiger 1's 88 mm APCBC rounds. It even has access to very powerful APCR rounds for its BR, but the T25 will not usually need 260 mm of penetration. Its various qualities make it a jack of all trades, with its only weakness being mobility and thin side armour. The T25 gives a glimpse of American medium tank gameplay after the Sherman series.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 90 mm gun, same gun mounted on the M26 and the M36 GMC
* Mounts a .50 cal machine gun on top for anti-aircraft defense and soft targets such as R3s
* Unlike following 90 mm M3 vehicles, no first-stage ammo rack = no reload time penalty. This can be helpful during prolonged fights, and extra valuable in the assault mode
* Lower profile than the [[M4A3 (76) W |M4 Sherman]] tanks
* Much more maneuverable and faster than the M26 Pershing
* Can immediately research the M82 shell upon purchase
* Has neutral steering
* Similar play style to that of the M26 Pershing
* .50 cal AA machine gun that can rotate a full 360 degree

'''Cons:'''

* 90 mm cannon is notorious for having a longer reload time than its competitors
* At battle rating 6.3 the M82 shell struggles or simply cannot penetrate many peers from the front
* Armour is woefully inadequate at its rank
* Slow, can't keep up with T-34 and Panthers, even Tiger IIs on some terrains
* Stock shell is bad

== History ==

=== T20 series ===
After the [[M4|M4 Sherman]] was adopted as the United States military's standard tank, work began on a new tank design to be the successor of the M4 Sherman. U.S. Ordnance Department got to work in spring of 1942, which would lead up to the [[T20]] tank designs. The T20, along with its variants like the T22 and T23, were all marginal improvements over the M4 Sherman with a more powerful [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1 gun]], a rear transmission design, and having a much lower profile. While the Ordnance Dept. tinkered around with these designs with various components, the Armored Board rejected the few designs offered to them for being maintenance extensive, as well as not seeing a need to replace their abundant and well-suited M4 Shermans on the field. While the tanks were rejected, they did provide some technical upgrades to the current Sherman designs. An example of this is the horizontal-volute suspension system (HVSS)that eventually became the suspension of the "E8" Shermans such as the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3E8]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> Another example is the T23 turret, which would become the main turret on Shermans mounting the 76 mm cannon on the "E6" program.

Though the Armored Board rejected the tanks for immediate combat use, the Ordnance Dept. continued their development. The T20s were not completely disregarded, as one of the models, the T23, was seen as promising enough that an initial order of 250 tanks was placed in May 1943. As tests continued, the order was modified. 50 of the tanks were to be adapted to use a [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm gun]] as its main armament. Forty of them were to be simple T23 upgrades with the new turret, but ten were to also have additional armour on the hull. These two 90 mm tanks asked are designated the '''T25''' and T26 respectively.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Development of the T25===
The first T25 was made by adding a 90 mm gun turret onto the T23. This converted T23 first arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground on 21 January 1944, and a second one arrived at Fort Knox on 29 April. Both models had a horizontal-volute suspension system with 23-inch tracks. This original T25 was roughly 3 tons heavier than the T23 and carried the 90 mm gun T7, the prototype of the 90 mm M3. Other changes from the T23 consists of a narrower and longer driver hatch to adapt to the gun mantlet of the new turret, as well as smaller changes in the interior for increased ammo storage. The transmission was still that of the T23 with the electric transmission with a Ford GAN engine.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

Another variant of the T25 was developed by the Ordnance Dept when they discovered that the electric drive on the T25 and T26 added too much weight to the overall design. This variation changed the transmission on the two tanks to a Torqmatic transmission design, essentially an improved T20's transmission design, as well as torsion bar suspension. These variants were designated with an "E1" name to T25E1 and T26E1. It was decided that the "E1" tanks were to be the standard production model with them to go along with the orders. Production and deliveries of the T25E1 and T26E1 were carried out between February to May 1944. The T25E1 and T26E1 participated in a series of tests at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Fort Knox to determine their combat suitability and design flaws. Testing for the E1 tanks lasted from their arrival in February to summer of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Rejection and fate===
By summer of 1944, Operation Overlord commenced and battle reports coming in from the troops are taken in for any suggestions on future tank development. The troops in Normandy were running into anti-tank defences able to destroy their [[M4|M4 Shermans]] with ease, and now they called for a tank with more powerful armament and increased armour. This new perspective caused an unfortunate setback for the T25 in comparison to its up-armoured brother T26. As such, priority on the T25 declined as priority work went into the T26 and into fixing its faults. Only 42 tanks, 2 T25 and 40 T25E1s, were produced between January and May of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T25 and T25E1 tanks continued on in the Armored Board and Ordnance Dept. as test pieces for other projects. The T25 in Armored Board stayed in testing until the 28th of September, 1944, before their focus also switched to the T26 series. The Ordnance Dept. converted a T25E1 tank into a T26E3 variant to test for various modifications that would go onto the redesigning of the T26E1 into the T26E3. The T25E1 was also tested with various of guns like a 90 mm gun T14. There was also a proposal to mount a [[T5E1 (105 mm)|105 mm T5E1 gun]], but this never passed the concept drawing stages.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T26 and T26E1 models, now the main focus of the Ordnance Dept. and Armored Board, had the defects found from field testing fixed by late 1944. This polished variant was designated the T26E3. This tank, with an order of 250 already made since January of 1944, went on into production that November, with 40 tanks delivered by the end of the year. The T26E3, in a bid for further testing, was sent to Europe for combat evaluation on the field against German armour. The T26E3 would provide sterling service against German heavy tanks like the [[Panther G|Panther]] and [[Tiger E|Tiger I]]. The T26E3 tank was then finally accepted and standardized on March 1945 in Army Ground Forces as the [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

=== In-game description ===
An experimental medium tank built at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in January, 1944. Only two of them were ever built. They were never used in combat. One of the precursors to the M26 medium tank, armed with a 90 mm gun and comparable armour.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t25 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yHuUGzezChI|'''Best after-party picks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:08 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|tcZDGE16F8s|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[M26 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/814/|[Devblog] T25 Medium Tank and Panzerwerfer 42 Auf.Sf - with developer's answers]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{USA medium tanks}}

T25

2022-01-04T08:46:06Z

U61132522: /* Pros and cons */, M82 performance at 6.3

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_t25
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]]. The T25 is, for all intents and purposes, a prototype [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]] with nearly the same design, turret, and gun.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull side, rear and roof, turret roof, cupola roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 76.2 mm (47°) ''Front Glacis'' 63.5 mm (56°) ''Lower Glacis''|| 50.8 mm ''Front half'' 38.1 mm ''Rear half'' || 38.1 mm (7-22°) || 19.05 mm
|-
| Turret || 76.2 mm (1-80°) ''Turret front'' 88.9 mm (7-80°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (0-31°) || 63.5 mm (1-3°) || 25.4 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 76.2 mm (spherical) || 76.2 mm ''Outer ring'' 25.4 mm ''Centre''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Machine gun port on hull is a weak spot due to flat armour.
* An internal plate (19.05 mm) separates the crew compartment from the engine compartment.
* The turret ring is protected by an additional 35 mm lip (21°).

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


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

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

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

{{main|M3 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 162 || 160 || 148 || 135 || 123 || 113
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 173 || 170 || 159 || 145 || 133 || 121
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 287 || 281 || 259 || 234 || 211 || 191
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M77 shot || AP || 822 || 10.61 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 813 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 1,021 || 7.62 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 49 ''(+1)'' || 41 ''(+9)'' || 33 ''(+17)'' || 25 ''(+25)'' || 17 ''(+33)'' || 9 ''(+41)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Note''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 500 (200) || 576 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,500 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The T25 is a medium tank, but the mobility can give the impression that it is a quick heavy tank when driving it. Its top speed is on par with the [[Comet I|Comet]], but it accelerates slower. The T25 is respectably mobile and is one of the first American tanks to have neutral steering, which allows for excellent and light low-speed handling and useful in tight urban maps. The T25's saving grace is its 90 mm cannon, on par to the Tiger's [[KwK 36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK 36 gun]].

When using this tank, use it as what it is - a medium tank. It has many of the very desirable qualities for a medium tank - containing elements of a tank destroyer, a medium tank, and a heavy tank into one powerful package. Its armour is above average, being on par with a Tiger I, because of it being sloped. When angled, the tank is extremely tough, but do not expect the armour to save the T25 every time - the common [[IS-2]] is extremely dangerous. Its hide may be thick, but once upgraded, it can keep up with things like Panthers, but don't expect to win any running races soon! Its speed is what surprises many players, as American tanks are not known for their speed. This speed can allow flanking manoeuvres and to get to positions impossible for most American tanks. This leads into its tank destroyer capability - the part that makes the T25 very effective. It has access to the famed M82 APCBC rounds, which matches Russian tanks on post-penetration effect, owing to the round's massive 137 g of explosive filler. And for good measure, it has the same penetration as a Tiger 1's 88 mm APCBC rounds. It even has access to very powerful APCR rounds for its BR, but the T25 will not usually need 260 mm of penetration. Its various qualities make it a jack of all trades, with its only weakness being mobility and thin side armour. The T25 gives a glimpse of American medium tank gameplay after the Sherman series.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 90 mm gun, same gun mounted on the M26 and the M36 GMC
* Mounts a .50 cal machine gun on top for anti-aircraft defense
* Unlike following 90 mm M3 vehicles, no first-stage ammo rack = no reload time penalty. This can be helpful during prolonged fights, and extra valuable in the assault mode
* It is a middle ground between the M26 and the M4A3 (76) W
* Lower profile than the [[M4A3 (76) W |M4 Sherman]] tanks
* Much more maneuverable and faster than the M26 Pershing
* Can immediately research the M82 shell upon purchase
* Has neutral steering
* Similar play style to that of the M26 Pershing
* .50 cal AA machine gun that can rotate a full 360 degree

'''Cons:'''

* 90 mm cannon is notorious for having a longer reload time than its competitors
* At battle rating 6.3 the M82 shell struggles or simply cannot penetrate many peers from the front
* Armour is woefully inadequate at its rank
* Slow, can't keep up with T-34 and Panthers, even Tiger IIs on some terrains
* Stock shell is bad

== History ==

=== T20 series ===
After the [[M4|M4 Sherman]] was adopted as the United States military's standard tank, work began on a new tank design to be the successor of the M4 Sherman. U.S. Ordnance Department got to work in spring of 1942, which would lead up to the [[T20]] tank designs. The T20, along with its variants like the T22 and T23, were all marginal improvements over the M4 Sherman with a more powerful [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1 gun]], a rear transmission design, and having a much lower profile. While the Ordnance Dept. tinkered around with these designs with various components, the Armored Board rejected the few designs offered to them for being maintenance extensive, as well as not seeing a need to replace their abundant and well-suited M4 Shermans on the field. While the tanks were rejected, they did provide some technical upgrades to the current Sherman designs. An example of this is the horizontal-volute suspension system (HVSS)that eventually became the suspension of the "E8" Shermans such as the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3E8]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt">Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series'' U.S.A.: Feist Publications, 1971</ref> Another example is the T23 turret, which would become the main turret on Shermans mounting the 76 mm cannon on the "E6" program.

Though the Armored Board rejected the tanks for immediate combat use, the Ordnance Dept. continued their development. The T20s were not completely disregarded, as one of the models, the T23, was seen as promising enough that an initial order of 250 tanks was placed in May 1943. As tests continued, the order was modified. 50 of the tanks were to be adapted to use a [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm gun]] as its main armament. Forty of them were to be simple T23 upgrades with the new turret, but ten were to also have additional armour on the hull. These two 90 mm tanks asked are designated the '''T25''' and T26 respectively.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Development of the T25===
The first T25 was made by adding a 90 mm gun turret onto the T23. This converted T23 first arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground on 21 January 1944, and a second one arrived at Fort Knox on 29 April. Both models had a horizontal-volute suspension system with 23-inch tracks. This original T25 was roughly 3 tons heavier than the T23 and carried the 90 mm gun T7, the prototype of the 90 mm M3. Other changes from the T23 consists of a narrower and longer driver hatch to adapt to the gun mantlet of the new turret, as well as smaller changes in the interior for increased ammo storage. The transmission was still that of the T23 with the electric transmission with a Ford GAN engine.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

Another variant of the T25 was developed by the Ordnance Dept when they discovered that the electric drive on the T25 and T26 added too much weight to the overall design. This variation changed the transmission on the two tanks to a Torqmatic transmission design, essentially an improved T20's transmission design, as well as torsion bar suspension. These variants were designated with an "E1" name to T25E1 and T26E1. It was decided that the "E1" tanks were to be the standard production model with them to go along with the orders. Production and deliveries of the T25E1 and T26E1 were carried out between February to May 1944. The T25E1 and T26E1 participated in a series of tests at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Fort Knox to determine their combat suitability and design flaws. Testing for the E1 tanks lasted from their arrival in February to summer of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

===Rejection and fate===
By summer of 1944, Operation Overlord commenced and battle reports coming in from the troops are taken in for any suggestions on future tank development. The troops in Normandy were running into anti-tank defences able to destroy their [[M4|M4 Shermans]] with ease, and now they called for a tank with more powerful armament and increased armour. This new perspective caused an unfortunate setback for the T25 in comparison to its up-armoured brother T26. As such, priority on the T25 declined as priority work went into the T26 and into fixing its faults. Only 42 tanks, 2 T25 and 40 T25E1s, were produced between January and May of 1944.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T25 and T25E1 tanks continued on in the Armored Board and Ordnance Dept. as test pieces for other projects. The T25 in Armored Board stayed in testing until the 28th of September, 1944, before their focus also switched to the T26 series. The Ordnance Dept. converted a T25E1 tank into a T26E3 variant to test for various modifications that would go onto the redesigning of the T26E1 into the T26E3. The T25E1 was also tested with various of guns like a 90 mm gun T14. There was also a proposal to mount a [[T5E1 (105 mm)|105 mm T5E1 gun]], but this never passed the concept drawing stages.<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

The T26 and T26E1 models, now the main focus of the Ordnance Dept. and Armored Board, had the defects found from field testing fixed by late 1944. This polished variant was designated the T26E3. This tank, with an order of 250 already made since January of 1944, went on into production that November, with 40 tanks delivered by the end of the year. The T26E3, in a bid for further testing, was sent to Europe for combat evaluation on the field against German armour. The T26E3 would provide sterling service against German heavy tanks like the [[Panther G|Panther]] and [[Tiger E|Tiger I]]. The T26E3 tank was then finally accepted and standardized on March 1945 in Army Ground Forces as the [[M26 (Family)|M26 Pershing]].<ref name="PershingHunnicutt" />

=== In-game description ===
An experimental medium tank built at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in January, 1944. Only two of them were ever built. They were never used in combat. One of the precursors to the M26 medium tank, armed with a 90 mm gun and comparable armour.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_t25 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|yHuUGzezChI|'''Best after-party picks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:08 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|tcZDGE16F8s|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[M26 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/814/|[Devblog] T25 Medium Tank and Panzerwerfer 42 Auf.Sf - with developer's answers]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{USA medium tanks}}