M551 - Revision history

U44629479: Edits

2024-03-25T17:39:43Z

Edits

U22067555: /* References */

2024-02-12T01:10:55Z

‎References

U91965995: Removed non-functional hyperlink

2024-02-07T02:40:22Z

Removed non-functional hyperlink

U28580205 at 03:07, 5 February 2024

2024-02-05T03:07:27Z

U91965995: Added hyphen to XM803 to enable proper hyperlinking

2024-01-28T01:06:42Z

Added hyphen to XM803 to enable proper hyperlinking

U91965995: Overhaul of the article to improve the information quality of the article

2024-01-27T07:25:13Z

Overhaul of the article to improve the information quality of the article

U17577377 at 13:08, 5 December 2023

2023-12-05T13:08:23Z

U74396666: New Description Project - USA Priority: M551 "Sheridan" Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (AR/AAV)

2023-11-27T05:14:53Z

New Description Project - USA Priority: M551 "Sheridan" Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (AR/AAV)

U120654901: /* Ammo racks */

2023-04-24T17:16:23Z

‎Ammo racks

U38088265: /* Ammunition */ Converted to transclusion

2023-02-08T16:18:42Z

‎Ammunition: Converted to transclusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 25 March 2024
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		+	{{About
		+	\| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
		+	\| usage = the premium version
		+	\| link = M551(76)
		+	}}
	{{Specs-Card		{{Specs-Card
	\|code=us_m551		\|code=us_m551

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 12 February 2024
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	{{USA light tanks}}		{{USA light tanks}}
		+	{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}

−	~~{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}~~
	[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]		[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 '''Pros:'''
-* Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or [[Anti-Tank Guided Missiles|guided missiles]]
+* Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or ATGMs
 * Very fast turret traverse
 * High shell caliber means a successful, accurate hit can secure kills handily
@@ Line 153: / Line 153: @@
 * Poor mobility when stock
 * Poor shell velocity and ballistics limit its effective range when not using the ATGM
 * It can see tanks equipped with explosive reactive armour such as the [[T-55AM-1]] that can counter your shells.
 == History ==

@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
-The Sheridan is best described as being a very one-of-a-kind tank. Most light tanks at or above these BRs either carry a normal high-velocity anti-tank weapon or an autocannon meant for versatile use; The Sheridan falls under neither, with its 152mm gun/launcher being by far the most standout feature of the tank. However, this uniqueness means it has problems other tanks normally wouldn't struggle with at its Battle Rating, such as poor shell velocity, a long reload and the inability to handle certain map positions due to its chemical-only weapons kit. Despite its many shortcomings, if mastered, the Sheridan can offer either a high damage brawler playstyle or a long-range supporting playstyle and become a valuable part of the US 8.3 lineup.
+The Sheridan is best described as being a very one-of-a-kind tank. Most light tanks at or above these BRs either carry a normal high-velocity anti-tank weapon or an autocannon meant for versatile use; the Sheridan falls under neither, with its 152mm gun/launcher being by far the most standout feature of the tank. However, this uniqueness means it has problems other tanks normally wouldn't struggle with at its Battle Rating, such as poor shell velocity, a long reload and the inability to handle certain map positions due to its chemical-only weapons kit. Despite its many shortcomings, if mastered, the Sheridan can offer either a high damage brawler playstyle or a long-range supporting playstyle and become a valuable part of the US 8.3 lineup.
 The Sheridan's stock performance is, for a lack of a better word, underwhelming. It lacks the long range potential other tanks at least somewhat have, while also suffering from a long reload and two chemical round types that are at best situationally advantageous but at worst inconsistent and may fail to kill tanks on penetration. The mobility when stock can feel sluggish, especially on inclines, and as the shells are low velocity with high drop your mid to long range abilities are also severely lacking. Priority should be given to mobility upgrades and the MGM-51B Shillelagh ATGM, as this adds much-needed long range engagement capabilities.
@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 When stock, your best tactic will be to ambush a sightline in an urban map. This, however, does '''not''' mean that you should stay in one spot, waiting for an opportunistic shot while watching paint dry. The Sheridan is still a light tank, so you can use terrain to maneuver around people or at the very least scout them to mark them on the minimap for your team. Even if you can't get your gun on them, marking enemies on the map and getting Scouting bonuses helps win the game for the team as well as speeds up your grind, so it may be worth a shot. Another reason why holding an opportunistic shot angle and never moving is inadvisable is the Sheridan's overall lack of consistency. The long reload, lacking armor and sometimes inconsistent spalling can lead to enemies not fully disabled or destroyed when they round the corner, which will surely result in your demise. This is also a very easy way to get revenge bombed, as you are staking out a singular spot without moving around at all. You should try and find more unorthodox spots slightly behind the front lines, which will let you fall back if you're being overrun and will also let your long reload be less of an issue, while also relocating every two or three shells to make sure the enemy team never realizes where exactly you're on the map.
-When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably ''avoid'' urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine; Just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the [[M60A2]], [[XM-803]], [[MBT-70]] and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.
+When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably ''avoid'' urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine, just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the [[M60A2]], [[XM-803]], [[MBT-70]] and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.
-This much 'mediocrity' may make the reader ask the question: "Why should I play the Sheridan?". To that, the best answer is probably multiple factors rolled into one: The Sheridan is a light tank, so it can scout enemy vehicles and get the cost of an aircraft spawn down. It also fires conventional, high caliber rounds, as well as the option for a missile that can be fired on the move through a stabilized cannon, meaning it can face enemies head on moreso than the [[M3 Bradley]] can. The round is capable of obliterating lightly armored enemy light tanks and SPAAs handily, and the missile means it can take care of long range engagements while not being as extreme as the [[M901]] with only ATGMs as its defense. Urban combat, while preferably avoided, is also not too lacking, as long as the map isn't full of fences or bushes, and even then your roof mounted .50 caliber MG can make short work of obstacles to shoot your main gun. The Sheridan isn't really a specialist at anything outside of long range ATGM firing; The M60A2 arguably has a better hull and turret, with armor that can withstand most light autocannon fire and a laser rangefinder to shoot at range, but the Sheridan's scouting and flanking roles ultimately mean it's a vehicle that can fill a niche in most situations once spaded.
+This much 'mediocrity' may make the reader ask the question: "Why should I play the Sheridan?". To that, the best answer is probably multiple factors rolled into one: The Sheridan is a light tank, so it can scout enemy vehicles and get the cost of an aircraft spawn down. It also fires conventional, high caliber rounds, as well as the option for a missile that can be fired on the move through a stabilized cannon, meaning it can face enemies head on moreso than the [[M3 Bradley]] can. The round is capable of obliterating lightly armored enemy light tanks and SPAAs handily, and the missile means it can take care of long range engagements while not being as extreme as the [[M901]] with only ATGMs as its defense. Urban combat, while preferably avoided, is also not too lacking, as long as the map isn't full of fences or bushes, and even then your roof mounted .50 caliber MG can make short work of obstacles to shoot your main gun. The Sheridan isn't really a specialist at anything outside of long range ATGM firing. The M60A2 arguably has a better hull and turret, with armor that can withstand most light autocannon fire and a laser rangefinder to shoot at range, but the Sheridan's scouting and flanking roles ultimately mean it's a vehicle that can fill a niche in most situations once spaded.
 Long story short, the Sheridan is not an easy vehicle to be effective in, but with the Shillelagh and some clever map utilization can be a surprisingly solid supporting vehicle for the US 8.3 lineup.
@@ Line 151: / Line 151: @@
 * ATGMs reload several seconds slower than normal ammunition
 * Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition in total
-* Poor mobility stock
+* Poor mobility when stock
 * Poor shell velocity and ballistics limit its effective range when not using the ATGM
-* At its BR it can see tanks equipped with explosive reactive armour such as the [[T-55AM-1]] that can counter your shells.
+* It can see tanks equipped with explosive reactive armour such as the [[T-55AM-1]] that can counter your shells.
 == History ==

@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 When stock, your best tactic will be to ambush a sightline in an urban map. This, however, does '''not''' mean that you should stay in one spot, waiting for an opportunistic shot while watching paint dry. The Sheridan is still a light tank, so you can use terrain to maneuver around people or at the very least scout them to mark them on the minimap for your team. Even if you can't get your gun on them, marking enemies on the map and getting Scouting bonuses helps win the game for the team as well as speeds up your grind, so it may be worth a shot. Another reason why holding an opportunistic shot angle and never moving is inadvisable is the Sheridan's overall lack of consistency. The long reload, lacking armor and sometimes inconsistent spalling can lead to enemies not fully disabled or destroyed when they round the corner, which will surely result in your demise. This is also a very easy way to get revenge bombed, as you are staking out a singular spot without moving around at all. You should try and find more unorthodox spots slightly behind the front lines, which will let you fall back if you're being overrun and will also let your long reload be less of an issue, while also relocating every two or three shells to make sure the enemy team never realizes where exactly you're on the map.
-When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably ''avoid'' urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine; Just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the [[M60A2]], [[XM803]], [[MBT-70]] and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.
+When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably ''avoid'' urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine; Just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the [[M60A2]], [[XM-803]], [[MBT-70]] and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.
 This much 'mediocrity' may make the reader ask the question: "Why should I play the Sheridan?". To that, the best answer is probably multiple factors rolled into one: The Sheridan is a light tank, so it can scout enemy vehicles and get the cost of an aircraft spawn down. It also fires conventional, high caliber rounds, as well as the option for a missile that can be fired on the move through a stabilized cannon, meaning it can face enemies head on moreso than the [[M3 Bradley]] can. The round is capable of obliterating lightly armored enemy light tanks and SPAAs handily, and the missile means it can take care of long range engagements while not being as extreme as the [[M901]] with only ATGMs as its defense. Urban combat, while preferably avoided, is also not too lacking, as long as the map isn't full of fences or bushes, and even then your roof mounted .50 caliber MG can make short work of obstacles to shoot your main gun. The Sheridan isn't really a specialist at anything outside of long range ATGM firing; The M60A2 arguably has a better hull and turret, with armor that can withstand most light autocannon fire and a laser rangefinder to shoot at range, but the Sheridan's scouting and flanking roles ultimately mean it's a vehicle that can fill a niche in most situations once spaded.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''M551 "Sheridan" {{Annotation|AR|Armored Reconnaissance}}/{{Annotation|AAV|Airborne Assault Vehicle}}''' was a light tank developed by the U.S. and named after American Civil War hero General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to be air-dropped and amphibious. It was equipped with the innovative but problematic 152 mm M81 tank gun, which could fire both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Despite the use of advanced technologies for its time, the performance was disappointing. It saw extensive combat in the Vietnam War, where its shortcomings became evident, especially its low survivability and reliability. It was later used in the National Training Centre as a simulated Soviet armoured opposition force (OPFOR) to train US military units on simulated tank-on-tank armoured combat in a desert environment. They were retired in 2003.
+The '''M551 "Sheridan" {{Annotation|AR|Armored Reconnaissance}}/{{Annotation|AAV|Airborne Assault Vehicle}}''' was a light tank developed by the U.S. and named after American Civil War hero General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to be air-dropped and amphibious. It was equipped with the innovative but problematic 152 mm M81 tank gun, which could fire both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Despite the use of advanced technologies for its time, the performance of the vehicle was lackluster and below expectations. It saw extensive combat in the Vietnam War, where its shortcomings became evident, especially its low survivability and reliability. It was later used in the National Training Centre as a simulated Soviet armoured opposition force (OPFOR) to train US military units on simulated tank-on-tank armoured combat in a desert environment. The last Sheridans were retired from the NTC in 2003.
-Introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]], the M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV is very challenging to operate due to its lack of armour. Despite having high penetration, the conventional rounds it received have a high shell drop at range. Players should research and unlock the MGM-51 Shillelagh ATGM as soon as possible. The MGM-51 Shillelagh ATGM is a significant improvement over conventional rounds, capable of destroying almost anything with a single shot and greatly extending the engagement range beyond that of most of its opponents. Players should still be cautious of enemy vehicles due to their weak armour and use cover as much as possible to ensure their survival.
+Introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]], the M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV is a very unorthodox vehicle at its BR. With a stock 152mm HE and HEAT shell on a low velocity, high shell drop gun, the Sheridan initially has limited engagement range and effectiveness. The MGM-51 Shillelagh ATGM is a significant improvement over conventional rounds, capable of destroying almost anything with a single penetration and greatly extends the engagement range of the Sheridan to a max of over 3 kilometers. Players should still be cautious of enemy vehicles due to the Sheridan's weak armour, and use cover as much as possible to ensure their survival.
 == General info ==
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 * Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
-Against most opponents, the M551 can be destroyed with a single shot. It's best to just stay in one spot along a road and wait for an enemy to pass by where so that they present their vulnerable side armour and vitals to target at. Once the ATGMS are unlocked then the player can stay out of range from everything but ATGMs.
+Against most opponents, the M551 can be destroyed with a single shot. Some APHE shells may fail to fuse on you if you are side-on to them, but most will fuse on the annoyingly thick-enough side armor of 19mm at any other angle and devastate your vehicle. The tank may, however, still survive glancing shots to the turret as the vehicle has 4 crew members and can afford to lose one or two crew so long as the spall doesn't hit your ammunition.
 === Mobility ===
@@ Line 118: / Line 118: @@
 == Usage in battles ==
 <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
-Stay in the back, everything will knock out the tank in one hit. Use the M551's speed and manoeuvrability to get around enemies. Don't be afraid to get in real close to the enemy, because with only HEAT, the 152 mm's effective range is very limited. Once ATGMs are usable, the Sheridan becomes an extremely formidable sniper. Able to fire on target, destroy a target, then move position for another opportunity. In Arcade, the Sheridan is an easy target for everyone, but in realistic and simulator its speed makes it a very hard target to hit.
+The Sheridan is best described as being a very one-of-a-kind tank. Most light tanks at or above these BRs either carry a normal high-velocity anti-tank weapon or an autocannon meant for versatile use; The Sheridan falls under neither, with its 152mm gun/launcher being by far the most standout feature of the tank. However, this uniqueness means it has problems other tanks normally wouldn't struggle with at its Battle Rating, such as poor shell velocity, a long reload and the inability to handle certain map positions due to its chemical-only weapons kit. Despite its many shortcomings, if mastered, the Sheridan can offer either a high damage brawler playstyle or a long-range supporting playstyle and become a valuable part of the US 8.3 lineup.
 === Pros and cons ===
@@ Line 127: / Line 138: @@
 '''Pros:'''
-* Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or [[Anti-tank guided missiles|guided missiles]]
+* Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or [[Anti-Tank Guided Missiles|guided missiles]]
 * Very fast turret traverse
-* The ATGM usually knocks out tanks in one hit
+* High shell caliber means a successful, accurate hit can secure kills handily
-* Rather small profile in comparison to other Rank V vehicles
+* Able to fulfill many roles effectively with its available set of weaponry.
-* Can unlock NVD (Night Vision Devices) as a Tier 4 modification.
+* The ATGM is extremely effective against heavily armored targets.
 '''Cons:'''
@@ Line 139: / Line 149: @@
 * No kinetic rounds, only chemical rounds are available (which detonates on obstacles such as fences and therefore cannot shoot through them)
 * Low ammunition storage at only 30 rounds
-* ATGMs reload several seconds longer than normal ammunition
+* ATGMs reload several seconds slower than normal ammunition
-* Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition total
+* Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition in total
-* All non-ATGM shells have low velocity; the absence of a rangefinder worsens this problem
+* Poor mobility stock
-* At his BR it can find some tanks equipped with reactive armour that neutralizes the ATGM
+* Poor shell velocity and ballistics limit its effective range when not using the ATGM
 == History ==

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 ! 4th<br>rack empty
 ! 5th<br>rack empty
 ! Visual<br>discrepancy
 |-
-| '''30''' || 28&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 14&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+29)'' || No
+| '''30''' || 28&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 14&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 8&nbsp;''(+22)''
 |-
 |}
@@ Line 180: / Line 182: @@
 === References ===
 ;Citations
 <references />

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ==== Ammunition ====
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+{{:M81 (152 mm)/Ammunition|M409A1, M657A2, MGM-51B Shillelagh}}
 ==== [[Ammo racks]] ====