Difference between revisions of "M4A1 (FL10)"

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{{About
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| about = premium gift French medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| other
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| usage-1 = other M4 Shermans
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| link-1 = M4 Sherman (Family)
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| usage-2 = other uses
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| link-2 = M4 (Disambiguation)
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}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
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|code = fr_m4a1_sherman_fl_10
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|code=fr_m4a1_sherman_fl_10
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|store = 5956
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
 
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{{About
 
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| about = French premium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
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| usage = other uses
 
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| link = M4 (Disambiguation)
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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<!--''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''M4A1 Sherman (FL10)''' is an up-gunned modification of the [[M4A1 (France)|M4A1]], which is the first variant of the early-generation [[M4 Sherman (Family)|Medium Tank M4 (Sherman) family]]. The M4A1 (FL10) was one of the last major upgrades made to the [[M4A1|M4A1 variant]] in the mid-1950s, created by the French in an attempt to modernise and potentially export their remaining fleet of M4 Shermans. The most straightforward option to improve the tank was to replace the main gun, as was already being done in France at the time with the M-50 and [[M-51]] for the Israelis. However, attempting to modify the Sherman turret would be time-consuming and expensive; as a result, the FL10 Type-A early production turret of the [[AMX-13]] was directly installed on the M4A1. This turret was lighter and less armoured than the standard M4A1, with the same main armament as on the AMX-13 and M-50: a high velocity 75 mm SA50 L/57 tank gun. This modification would serve as the prototype for similar future ventures, including installation of the FL10 turret on the Egyptian M4A4 fleet, which later saw action in two of the Arab-Israeli conflict's major battles: the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six-Day War.
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{{break}}
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} French medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. This medium tank was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. It combines the turret of the AM-13 (BR 6.0) with the hull of the M4A1 Sherman (BR 3.3) and therefore epitomizes the glass cannon role at a BR of 4.7.
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Introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]] initially as a premium pack, the M4A1 (FL10) has been substantially modified to provide a significant improvement in firepower over the standard M4A1. The high-velocity 75 mm SA50 L/57 tank gun was inspired by salvaged components of the 75 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 42 L/70 tank gun from damaged German [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther medium tanks]] during the German conquest of France. With an autoloader, the M4A1 (FL10) is capable of firing once every 5 seconds. Due to its weak armour, players should try to flank their opponents early in battle. Utilizing the M4A1 (FL10) autoloader advantage during combat, players will have little trouble destroying multiple opponents in a matter of seconds due to the quick reload.
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The M4A1 (FL10) was removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/7154-shop-may-sale-in-the-gaijin-store-en|2021 May sale]]. It was made available for purchase again in-game with Golden Eagles for the [[wt:en/news/7775-special-bastille-day-en|2022 "Bastille Day" mini-event]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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<!--Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
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If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.-->
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'''Armour type:'''
  
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The armour is generally inadequate for BR 4.7, as it uses the M4A1 hull from 3.3. Turret shots will typically knock out both your breech and the two crew there, hull shots will typically send you right back to the hangar.
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* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull sides - bottom,  turret sides, rear and roof, belly)
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* Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, transmission carter, MG port, hull sides - top, hull rear and roof, turret base, turret front, gun mantlet, cupola)
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 40 mm (18-40°) ''Turret base'' <br> 19.5 mm (67-86°) ''Front glacis - Upper section'' <br>  63.5 mm (40-62°) ''Front glacis - Centre section'' <br> 63.5 mm + 25.4 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' <br>  38.1 mm (spherical) ''Front glacis - Sides'' <br> 63.5 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 40 mm (12-31°) ''Turret base - front'' <br> 20 mm (13°) ''Turret base - rear'' <br> 38.1 mm (0-18°) ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (16°) ''Upper plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (16°) ''Lower plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (53°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm (38-50°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19.5 mm (0-32°) Turret area'' <br> 19.5 mm (8°) ''Engine bay - centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (18°) ''Engine bay - sides
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|-
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| Turret || 40 mm (32-47°) ''Turret front'' <br> 60 mm (conical) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 40 mm (15-75°) ''Barrel shroud'' || 20 mm (0-30°) ''Turret'' || 20 mm ''Turret bustle'' <br> 20 mm (17-22°) ''Pivot ball'' <br> 10 mm (77-90°) ''Turret underside'' || 10 mm
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|-
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| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 20 mm (conical) ''Base'' <br> 10 mm (spherical) ''Dome'' || 20 mm (conical) ''Outer ring'' <br> 10 mm (spherical) ''Centre''
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
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* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick, and torsion bars are 10 mm thick.
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* The belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.
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The armour is overall weak for the battle rating. Turret shots will typically knock out both your breech and the two crew members there, penetrating hull shots will typically send you right back to the hangar.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}
  
 
Fairly decent mobility due to the Sherman chassis with an upgraded engine. Flanking is possible and rewarding.
 
Fairly decent mobility due to the Sherman chassis with an upgraded engine. Flanking is possible and rewarding.
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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<!--Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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{{main|SA50 (75 mm)}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|SA50 L/57 (75 mm)}}
  
 
The gun is fantastic, capable of penetrating everything in its BR spread (3.7-5.7) frontally, except for some higher BR German casemate tank destroyers and the Sherman Jumbo. The autoloader enables firing every 5 seconds, even with only a skeleton crew left.
 
The gun is fantastic, capable of penetrating everything in its BR spread (3.7-5.7) frontally, except for some higher BR German casemate tank destroyers and the Sherman Jumbo. The autoloader enables firing every 5 seconds, even with only a skeleton crew left.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[SA50 L/57 (75 mm)|75 mm SA50 L/57]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 28.56 || 39.53 || 48.00 || 53.08 || 56.47 || rowspan="2" | 5.00 || rowspan="2" | 5.00 || rowspan="2" | 5.00 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 17.85 || 21.00 || 25.50 || 28.20 || 30.00
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|-
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|}
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==== Ammunition ====
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{{:SA50 L/57 (75 mm)/Ammunition|POT-51A, OE Mle 1951}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated: 2.1.0.110''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! 7th<br>rack empty
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! 8th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''60''' || 56&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 52&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 42&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+28)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+37)'' || 13&nbsp;''(+47)'' || 7&nbsp;''(+53)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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Notes:
 +
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* Shells in racks 1, 2, 7* and 8* are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
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* Shells in racks 3, 4, 5, and 6 are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack only after both shells in the set have been shot or loaded.
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* Racks 7* and 8* (autoloader magazines) are first stage ammo racks. They total 12 shells.
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** These racks get filled first when loading up the tank and are also emptied first.
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** The depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 8 - 1 - 2 up to 6.
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** As it is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
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** Once autoloader magazines have been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
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** Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 6 into rack 8* then 7*. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
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{{main|MAC 31 (7.5 mm)}}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 4,950 (150) || 551 || N/A || N/A
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|-
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|}
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The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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<!--''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 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).''-->
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
Depending on the layout of the map, match battle rating and player's own playstyle the FL10 can be used as a sniper, a flanker or a close-quarter brawler. Details about playstyles are as follows:
 
Depending on the layout of the map, match battle rating and player's own playstyle the FL10 can be used as a sniper, a flanker or a close-quarter brawler. Details about playstyles are as follows:
  
 
;Sniper
 
;Sniper
  
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*Using FL10 as a sniper is a conservative, but commonly rewarding playstyle. The FL10 boasts a highly potent 76 mm cannon, with an equally impressive round, capable of penetrating 180+ mm of steel equivalent. Given the fast reload of the cannon due to the use of the autoloader, it is possible to perform quick follow-up shots on target at range. This tactic is recommended in matches where it is possible to position oneself in a good position early in the match (e.g. overlooking a point). Be wary of the gun's average depression, however, as this will require to expose the hull during firing.
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*Using FL10 as a sniper is a conservative, but commonly rewarding playstyle. The FL10 boasts a highly potent 75 mm cannon, with an equally impressive round, capable of penetrating 180+ mm of steel equivalent. Given the fast reload of the cannon due to the use of the autoloader, it is possible to perform quick follow-up shots on target at range. This tactic is recommended in matches where it is possible to position oneself in a good position early in the match (e.g. overlooking a point). Be wary of the gun's average depression, however, as this will require to expose the hull during firing.
  
 
;Flanker
 
;Flanker
  
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*Depending on your knowledge of the map and likely enemy routes,  FL10 can be effectively used as a flanker. The FL10 inherits a relatively mobile chassis of an M4 medium tank making some flanking maneuvres possible. In this role, FL10 can be used to assume an ambush position on the flanks. It is important to note, that FL10 is not the most agile vehicle at its battle rating, however, provided a good early-game position, fast reload and good penetration it can effectively engage an enemy from the flanks and counter enemy flankers. It is advised to retreat immediately if you're spotted as FL10 is unlikely to withstand being fired upon due to mediocre armour and 4 crew members.
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*Depending on your knowledge of the map and likely enemy routes,  FL10 can be effectively used as a flanker. The FL10 inherits a relatively mobile chassis of an M4 medium tank making some flanking manoeuvres possible. In this role, FL10 can be used to assume an ambush position on the flanks. It is important to note, that FL10 is not the most agile vehicle at its battle rating, however, provided a good early-game position, fast reload and good penetration it can effectively engage an enemy from the flanks and counter enemy flankers. It is advised to retreat immediately if you're spotted as FL10 is unlikely to withstand being fired upon due to mediocre armour and 4 crew members.
  
 
;Brawler
 
;Brawler
  
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*Using FL10 as a close-quarter brawler is a high risk/high reward tactic that is likely to result in either multiple kills or an early return to the hangar. It is important to fire the first shot on the enemy, as, given the poor armour of the tank, you are commonly unable to withstand even one hit. Here, it is advised to disable the enemy's gun/turret first to prevent them from returning fire. It is important to note, that FL10 lacks the stabiliser found on the American Sherman counterparts, putting the player at a further disadvantage when fighting in close quarters.  
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*Using FL10 as a close-quarter brawler is a high risk/high reward tactic that is likely to result in either multiple kills or an early return to the hangar. It is important to fire the first shot on the enemy, as, given the poor armour of the tank, you are commonly unable to withstand even one hit. Here, it is advised to disable the enemy's gun/turret first to prevent them from returning fire. It is important to note, that FL10 lacks the stabiliser found on the American Sherman counterparts, putting the player at a further disadvantage when fighting in close quarters.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a 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 - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".-->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a 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:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Good penetration and excellent rate of fire
+
* 4 smoke grenades.
−
* Improved engine makes for decent mobility
+
* Improved engine gives good mobility.
−
* Smoke grenades
+
* Potent gun with a high penetration power.
−
* The best shell is free (like many later French tanks)
+
* Quick rate of fire thanks to the autoloader (12 shells).
 +
* The best shell is available as stock shell (like many French tanks at ranks III and higher).
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Lackluster reverse speed; disengaging from the fight if damaged or out of ammunition can be difficult
+
* Overall thin armour and only 4 crew members limit your survivability.
 +
* Turret armour too thin to stop 20 mm or HMG fire from strafing aircraft.
 +
* Lacklustre reverse speed: disengaging from the fight when damaged or out of ammunition can be difficult.
 
* Oscillating turret means that from a full stop, the M4A1 (FL10) usually takes longer to level the gun compared to conventional turrets
 
* Oscillating turret means that from a full stop, the M4A1 (FL10) usually takes longer to level the gun compared to conventional turrets
−
* Poor turret elevation makes engaging aeroplanes difficult
+
* Limited turret elevation makes engaging low-flying aircraft difficult.
−
* Poor armour and only 4 crew
+
* Restocking the autoloader magazines is very slow.
−
* Vulnerable to .50 cal ground target belts through the turret roof armor
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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In the mid-1950s, while M4 tanks were being replaced in the French Army because of their obsolescence, attempts at modernizing the Shermans were conducted to export those tanks instead of scrapping them. The M4 FL10 by the company Batignolles-Chatillon was such an attempt: born from the assembly of a FL10 turret (designed for the AMX-13) and the hull of a M4 Sherman (all variants of Sherman were used: M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4 but the in-game variant is a M4A1).
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 +
The FL10 turret offered new combat capability to the Sherman with a crew of only 4 members and the autoloader. While the AMX hull had a low profile, the Sherman one stood very high, making it an obvious target. The M4 FL10 was produced in a small number: 24 units only.
 +
 
 +
In 1955, Egypt requested a similar modification to their existing fleet of M4A4s. They were fielded during the Suez Crisis in 1956 and the Six-Day War in 1967. 12 tanks were captured by the IDF in 1956.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_m4a1_sherman_fl_10 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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 +
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|DVvmY2wcnBY|'''Should You Buy: M4A1 (FL10)''' - ''ConeOfArc''|Uuqj-QGASRw|'''Should You Buy the M4A1 (FL10)?''' - ''Sako Sniper''|ih6xhSZlTgQ|'''The Shooting Range #78''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:32 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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;Other French hybrid vehicles
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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 +
* [[AMX-13-M24]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''-->
 
  
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* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5162-development-m4a1-fl10-the-charming-sherman-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M4A1 FL10 - The Charming Sherman]
+
* [[wt:en/news/5162-development-m4a1-fl10-the-charming-sherman-en|[Devblog] M4A1 FL10 - The Charming Sherman]]
  
 
{{France medium tanks}}
 
{{France medium tanks}}
 
{{France premium ground vehicles}}
 
{{France premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 06:15, 19 November 2023

This page is about the premium gift French medium tank M4A1 (FL10). For other M4 Shermans, see M4 Sherman (Family). For other uses, see M4 (Disambiguation).
M4A1 (FL10)
fr_m4a1_sherman_fl_10.png
GarageImage M4A1 (FL10).jpg
M4A1 (FL10)
France flag.png France
III Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.7 5.0 5.0
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:2 980 Specs-Card-Eagle.png

Description

The M4A1 Sherman (FL10) is an up-gunned modification of the M4A1, which is the first variant of the early-generation Medium Tank M4 (Sherman) family. The M4A1 (FL10) was one of the last major upgrades made to the M4A1 variant in the mid-1950s, created by the French in an attempt to modernise and potentially export their remaining fleet of M4 Shermans. The most straightforward option to improve the tank was to replace the main gun, as was already being done in France at the time with the M-50 and M-51 for the Israelis. However, attempting to modify the Sherman turret would be time-consuming and expensive; as a result, the FL10 Type-A early production turret of the AMX-13 was directly installed on the M4A1. This turret was lighter and less armoured than the standard M4A1, with the same main armament as on the AMX-13 and M-50: a high velocity 75 mm SA50 L/57 tank gun. This modification would serve as the prototype for similar future ventures, including installation of the FL10 turret on the Egyptian M4A4 fleet, which later saw action in two of the Arab-Israeli conflict's major battles: the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six-Day War.

Introduced in Update "Starfighters" initially as a premium pack, the M4A1 (FL10) has been substantially modified to provide a significant improvement in firepower over the standard M4A1. The high-velocity 75 mm SA50 L/57 tank gun was inspired by salvaged components of the 75 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 42 L/70 tank gun from damaged German Panther medium tanks during the German conquest of France. With an autoloader, the M4A1 (FL10) is capable of firing once every 5 seconds. Due to its weak armour, players should try to flank their opponents early in battle. Utilizing the M4A1 (FL10) autoloader advantage during combat, players will have little trouble destroying multiple opponents in a matter of seconds due to the quick reload.

The M4A1 (FL10) was removed from the store after the 2021 May sale. It was made available for purchase again in-game with Golden Eagles for the 2022 "Bastille Day" mini-event.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull63 / 38 / 38
Turret40 / 20 / 20
Crew4 people
Visibility122 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull sides - bottom, turret sides, rear and roof, belly)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, transmission carter, MG port, hull sides - top, hull rear and roof, turret base, turret front, gun mantlet, cupola)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 40 mm (18-40°) Turret base
19.5 mm (67-86°) Front glacis - Upper section
63.5 mm (40-62°) Front glacis - Centre section
63.5 mm + 25.4 mm (spherical) MG port
38.1 mm (spherical) Front glacis - Sides
63.5 mm (cylindrical) Transmission housing 		40 mm (12-31°) Turret base - front
20 mm (13°) Turret base - rear
38.1 mm (0-18°) Top
38.1 mm Bottom 		38.1 mm (16°) Upper plate
38.1 mm (16°) Lower plate
38.1 mm (53°) Lower glacis 		63.5 mm (38-50°) Front glacis
19.5 mm (0-32°) Turret area
19.5 mm (8°) Engine bay - centre
19.5 mm (18°) Engine bay - sides
Turret 40 mm (32-47°) Turret front
60 mm (conical) Gun mantlet
40 mm (15-75°) Barrel shroud 		20 mm (0-30°) Turret 20 mm Turret bustle
20 mm (17-22°) Pivot ball
10 mm (77-90°) Turret underside 		10 mm
Cupola 20 mm (conical) Base
10 mm (spherical) Dome 		20 mm (conical) Outer ring
10 mm (spherical) Centre

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick, and torsion bars are 10 mm thick.
  • The belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.

The armour is overall weak for the battle rating. Turret shots will typically knock out both your breech and the two crew members there, penetrating hull shots will typically send you right back to the hangar.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB43 / 6 km/h
RB and SB39 / 6 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight30.3 t
Engine power
AB763 hp
RB and SB400 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB25.2 hp/t
RB and SB13.2 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 43 6 30.3 620 763 20.46 25.18
Realistic 39 6 354 400 11.68 13.2

Fairly decent mobility due to the Sherman chassis with an upgraded engine. Flanking is possible and rewarding.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB1 339 Sl icon.png
RB1 536 Sl icon.png
SB1 907 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts250 000 Sl icon.png
Aces630 Ge icon.png
Research Aces870 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 90 / 140 / 170 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 160 / 160 / 160 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement fr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support

Armaments

Main armament

75 mm SA50 L/57 cannon
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition60 rounds
First-order12 rounds
Reload5.0 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 9°
Main article: SA50 L/57 (75 mm)

The gun is fantastic, capable of penetrating everything in its BR spread (3.7-5.7) frontally, except for some higher BR German casemate tank destroyers and the Sherman Jumbo. The autoloader enables firing every 5 seconds, even with only a skeleton crew left.

75 mm SA50 L/57 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 60 -6°/+9° ±180° N/A 28.56 39.53 48.00 53.08 56.47 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Realistic 17.85 21.00 25.50 28.20 30.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
POT-51A APBC 182 178 162 143 127 113
OE Mle 1951 HE 15 15 13 12 11 10
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
POT-51A APBC 1,000 6.4 - - - 47° 60° 65°
OE Mle 1951 HE 753 6.2 0.2 0.1 675 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M4A1 (FL10)
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
60 56 (+4) 52 (+8) 42 (+18) 32 (+28) 23 (+37) 13 (+47) 7 (+53) 1 (+59) No

Notes:

  • Shells in racks 1, 2, 7* and 8* are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Shells in racks 3, 4, 5, and 6 are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack only after both shells in the set have been shot or loaded.
  • Racks 7* and 8* (autoloader magazines) are first stage ammo racks. They total 12 shells.
    • These racks get filled first when loading up the tank and are also emptied first.
    • The depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 8 - 1 - 2 up to 6.
    • As it is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
    • Once autoloader magazines have been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
    • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 6 into rack 8* then 7*. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

Machine guns

7.5 mm MAC 31 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition4 950 rounds
Belt capacity150 rounds
Reload5.0 s
Fire rate551 shots/min
Main article: MAC 31 (7.5 mm)
7.5 mm MAC 31
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,950 (150) 551 N/A N/A

The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

Depending on the layout of the map, match battle rating and player's own playstyle the FL10 can be used as a sniper, a flanker or a close-quarter brawler. Details about playstyles are as follows:

Sniper
  • Using FL10 as a sniper is a conservative, but commonly rewarding playstyle. The FL10 boasts a highly potent 75 mm cannon, with an equally impressive round, capable of penetrating 180+ mm of steel equivalent. Given the fast reload of the cannon due to the use of the autoloader, it is possible to perform quick follow-up shots on target at range. This tactic is recommended in matches where it is possible to position oneself in a good position early in the match (e.g. overlooking a point). Be wary of the gun's average depression, however, as this will require to expose the hull during firing.
Flanker
  • Depending on your knowledge of the map and likely enemy routes, FL10 can be effectively used as a flanker. The FL10 inherits a relatively mobile chassis of an M4 medium tank making some flanking manoeuvres possible. In this role, FL10 can be used to assume an ambush position on the flanks. It is important to note, that FL10 is not the most agile vehicle at its battle rating, however, provided a good early-game position, fast reload and good penetration it can effectively engage an enemy from the flanks and counter enemy flankers. It is advised to retreat immediately if you're spotted as FL10 is unlikely to withstand being fired upon due to mediocre armour and 4 crew members.
Brawler
  • Using FL10 as a close-quarter brawler is a high risk/high reward tactic that is likely to result in either multiple kills or an early return to the hangar. It is important to fire the first shot on the enemy, as, given the poor armour of the tank, you are commonly unable to withstand even one hit. Here, it is advised to disable the enemy's gun/turret first to prevent them from returning fire. It is important to note, that FL10 lacks the stabiliser found on the American Sherman counterparts, putting the player at a further disadvantage when fighting in close quarters.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 4 smoke grenades.
  • Improved engine gives good mobility.
  • Potent gun with a high penetration power.
  • Quick rate of fire thanks to the autoloader (12 shells).
  • The best shell is available as stock shell (like many French tanks at ranks III and higher).

Cons:

  • Overall thin armour and only 4 crew members limit your survivability.
  • Turret armour too thin to stop 20 mm or HMG fire from strafing aircraft.
  • Lacklustre reverse speed: disengaging from the fight when damaged or out of ammunition can be difficult.
  • Oscillating turret means that from a full stop, the M4A1 (FL10) usually takes longer to level the gun compared to conventional turrets
  • Limited turret elevation makes engaging low-flying aircraft difficult.
  • Restocking the autoloader magazines is very slow.

History

In the mid-1950s, while M4 tanks were being replaced in the French Army because of their obsolescence, attempts at modernizing the Shermans were conducted to export those tanks instead of scrapping them. The M4 FL10 by the company Batignolles-Chatillon was such an attempt: born from the assembly of a FL10 turret (designed for the AMX-13) and the hull of a M4 Sherman (all variants of Sherman were used: M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4 but the in-game variant is a M4A1).

The FL10 turret offered new combat capability to the Sherman with a crew of only 4 members and the autoloader. While the AMX hull had a low profile, the Sherman one stood very high, making it an obvious target. The M4 FL10 was produced in a small number: 24 units only.

In 1955, Egypt requested a similar modification to their existing fleet of M4A4s. They were fielded during the Suez Crisis in 1956 and the Six-Day War in 1967. 12 tanks were captured by the IDF in 1956.

Media

Skins
Videos
Should You Buy: M4A1 (FL10) - ConeOfArc
Should You Buy the M4A1 (FL10)? - Sako Sniper
The Shooting Range #78 - War Machines section at 00:32 discusses the M4A1 (FL10).

See also

Other French hybrid vehicles

External links


France medium tanks
M4 Derivatives  M4A1 (FL10) · M4A4 (SA50)
AMX-50  AMX M4 · AMX-50 (TOA100) · AMX-50 (TO90/930)
AMX-30  AMX-30 · AMX-30 (1972) · AMX-30B2 · AMX-30B2 BRENUS · AMX-30 ACRA · AMX-30 Super
AMX-32/40  AMX-32 · AMX-32 (105) · AMX-40
Leclerc  Leclerc · Leclerc S2 · Leclerc SXXI · Leclerc AZUR
Other  D2 · S.35 · Lorraine 40t
Germany  Panther "Dauphiné"
USA  ▄M4A1 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▄M4A4 · ▄M26

France premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  AMD.35 (SA35) · H.39 "Cambronne" · LVT-4/40 · AMX-13 (SS.11) · AMX-13-M24 · E.B.R. (1954) · E.B.R. (1963) · VBCI-2 (MCT30)
Medium tanks  M4A1 (FL10) · Panther "Dauphiné" · AMX-30 · AMX-30 Super · AMX-50 (TO90/930)
Heavy tanks  B1 ter · 2C bis · Somua SM
Tank destroyers  Lorraine 155 Mle.50

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