Difference between pages "TBD-1" and "Somua SM"

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{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
−
|code=tbd-1_1938
+
|code=fr_somua_sm
−
|cockpit=cockpit_tbd-1_1938.jpg
+
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_001.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_005.jpg}}
 +
|store=9313
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft 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.'' -->
+
<!-- ''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.'' -->
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was originally developed as part of a competition between AMX and SOMUA to produce a heavily armoured tank that shared similar components and parts, due to the French army forcing both companies to work under identical specifications. The order to build a prototype was given in 1946, but the vehicle was only delivered in October 1951, weighing 56 tonnes but still lacking an engine. In contrast, the [[AMX-50 (Family)|AMX-50]], the SOMUA SM's direct competitor, had already been tested, and a variant of the AMX-50 with a 120 mm cannon was already being designed. Ultimately, the SOMUA SM was not tested until 1953, by which point the [[AMX-50 Surbaissé]] had already been delivered for testing, and the [[AMX-50 (TOA100)]] had been deemed insufficient due to its armament. These delays would doom the project, leading to eventual cancellation of the project and scrapping of the only constructed prototype.
−
{{break}}
 
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American torpedo bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]].
 
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is the first usable bomber in the U.S. aircraft line up. While the likes of the OS2Us and the SB2Us are capable of bombing, they cannot do what the {{PAGENAME}} can do and that is to carry a torpedo or optionally upwards of 1,600 lbs (725 kg) of bombs. The Devastator is adept at bombing either naval or land-based targets. On maps with naval ships, torpedoes require the little naval bomber to release from a very low altitude, a maximum of 340 ft ( 104 m) or 820 ft (250 m) depending on the torpedo used. For those pilots who prefer utilizing bombs, they can be just as easily used on ships as on land-based vehicles except to ensure greater accuracy; this requires the aircraft to be quite low to the ground.
+
Introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a [[wt:en/news/6852-news-meet-major-update-raining-fire-en|premium pack]] in the Gaijin store, the '''{{Specs|name}}''' will be a familiar tank to French players; it possesses the excellent [[SA47 L/58 (100 mm)|100 mm SA47 L/58]] autoloaded cannon that is equipped on both the [[Lorraine 40t]] and [[AMX-50 (TOA100)]], while featuring similar mobility. Unlike the tanks previously mentioned, however, the Somua SM possesses decent armour, capable of bouncing almost all APCBC and even some APDS rounds aimed to its hull and upper turret front. The armour on the Souma SM, combined with the slightly larger ready rack for the gun compared to the Lorraine and AMX-50, allows the player to use the tank more aggressively.
  
−
The lone offensive machine gun does not offer much, but can be effectively used to pick off damaged ground targets or even getting a luck shot on an enemy fighter. The lone rear-facing dorsal machine gun is not a miracle worker, though it does a good job of making it difficult for enemy fighters to sit on the {{PAGENAME}}’s tail. The aircraft is quite manoeuvrable and can quickly whip around to attempt a second bombing run on a target if there are any bombs left over. Though state-of-the-art when developed, this bomber was quickly outdated, but that did not stop it being utilised at the beginning of World War II. While in War Thunder this bomber might seem to be an easy target for new pilots, those with some practice under their belt can utilise this as a very effective early bomber, racking up destroyed ground vehicles and anti-aircraft artillery targets.
+
== General info ==
 +
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
The upper glacis of the hull and the turret (aside from an area beneath the gun) are the only well-protected areas, which will give you good protection against most conventional rounds, especially from far ranges. However, the rest of the armour is very weak and can be easily penetrated by pretty much everything, and you will still be vulnerable against HEAT-FS, ATGMs, APFSDS and such. Your best bet is to flank the enemy and take them out with your auto-loading gun before they can get a hit on you. If an enemy spots you, face them so they can only hit the front of the tank, and hope that they don't hit the very weak bottom portion of your turret. Try not to angle your tank as the sides can easily be penetrated. Since you have 5 crew members, with 2 in the front of the hull and 3 in the turret, and come equipped with a handy autoloader, you can take a few hits and lose a couple of crew members without much effect on combat performance. Additionally, the Somua SM features Commander Aiming, which allows your Commander to take over control of the gun quickly in the case that your Gunner is knocked out.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
−
== General info ==
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof)
−
=== Flight Performance ===
+
* Cast homogeneous armour (oscillating turret, turret base, cupola)
−
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
 
  
−
The TBD-1 Devastator is a very slow but useful aircraft. It has a max speed of 327 kph in Arcade Battles and 312 kph in Realistic battles. The TBD-1 devastator has a pretty decent turn time for a bomber, making it viable for the most extreme of the pilots to use it as a basic dogfighter. It’s slow speed makes the aircraft vulnerable to enemy fighter attacks, so be sure to have fighter escort!
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
{{break}}
 
−
[[File:TBD-1 an trn 26 003.png|400px|thumb|right|Torpedo runs are a speciality of the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]
 
−
{{break}}
 
−
[[File:TBD-1 an trn 26 001.png|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' setting up for a torpedo run against Japanese warships in the Pacific.]]
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,500 m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
−
|-
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
|-
 
−
| 298 || 287 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.8 || 20.5 || 4.3 || 4.3 || 150
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
+
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,500 m)
+
| Hull || 150 mm (55°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 60 mm (55°) ''Lower glacis'' || 40 mm (25°) ''Top'' <br> 40 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (30°) || 5 - 20 mm
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! AB
+
| Turret || 120 mm ''Turret front'' and ring <br> 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 - 60 mm ''Top'' 
−
! RB
+
120 mm ''Bottom''
−
! AB
+
| 40 mm || 30 mm
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 327 || 312 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 18.3 || 19.0 || 8.3 || 6.1 || 150
+
| Cupola || 30 mm || 30 mm || 30 mm || 30 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 +
* Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
 +
 +
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
Although heavier and not as mobile as the [[AMX-50]] or [[Lorraine 40t]], the Somua SM is still pretty mobile for a heavy tank. You will still want to flank the enemy as much as possible and take them out quickly with your auto-loading gun, but don't be afraid to take a few hits from the front. However, your reverse speed is pretty slow and will not save you, so watch out for that.
 +
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1291|rbMinHp=884}}
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
−
====Details====
+
== Armaments ==
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
−
|-
+
=== Main armament ===
−
! colspan="5" | Features
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
−
|-
+
<!-- ''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.'' -->
−
! Combat flaps
+
{{main|SA47 L/58 (100 mm)}}
−
! Take-off flaps
 
−
! Landing flaps
 
−
! Air brakes
 
−
! Arrestor gear
 
−
|-
 
−
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓    <!-- ✓ -->
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | Limits
+
! colspan="5" | [[SA47 L/58 (100 mm)|100 mm SA47 L/58]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
+
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
−
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
+
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
−
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps<br>(km/h)
+
!Autoloader
−
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! +
+
! ''Arcade''
−
! -
+
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A ||24.3||33.6||40.8||45.1||48.0|| rowspan="2" | 4.00
 
|-
 
|-
−
|{{Specs|1=destruction|2=body}}||{{Specs|1=destruction|2=gear}} || 212 || ~8 || ~2
+
! ''Realistic''
 +
|17.9||21.0||25.5||28.2||30.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:SA47 L/58 (100 mm)/Ammunition|100 mm Obus de rupture, 100 mm Obus explosif}}
 +
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.1.16''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
+
! Full<br>ammo
−
|-
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
−
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
−
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
+
! 3rd<br>rack empty
−
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
+
! 4th<br>rack empty
−
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
+
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| < 465 || < 400 || < 380 || > 323
+
| '''50''' || 46&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 39&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 25&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 18&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 14&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 10&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+41)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+49)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 +
* Shells are modelled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 +
* Rack 9* (autoloader magazine) is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 9 shells.
 +
** This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
 +
* As it is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
 +
* Once the autoloader magazine has 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 8 into rack 9*. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
 +
* The depletion order at full capacity is: 9 - 1 - 2 - up to 8.
 +
 +
=== Machine guns ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
{{main|MAC 31 (7.5 mm)}}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
+
! colspan="5" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Optimal altitude
+
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
−
! 100% Engine power
 
−
! WEP Engine power
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 2,620 m || 900 hp || 963 hp
+
| Coaxial || 4,800 (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.
  
−
=== Survivability and armour ===
+
== Usage in battles ==
−
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
Try to play the Somua SM quite aggressively because it has a very strong autoloader. Hardly anyone else on the battlefield owns an autoloader like the French do at this battle rating.
  
−
* 12.7 mm steel - behind the engine
+
It's best to find a good, but safe position close to the front to get good shots onto targets. If encountering an enemy tank with good turret armor like a Tiger II, try to shoot the weak spots. Though the gun should be sufficient for front penetration, the {{PAGENAME}} can drive around to hit the target's side armour do to its semi-good mobility. If the enemy tank tries to drive away, shoot it in the tracks to immobilise it.
−
* 12.7 mm steel - behind pilot's head
 
−
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in each wing)
 
  
−
== Armaments ==
+
Though the 4-second autoloader is the {{PAGENAME}}'s greatest asset, try not to fire too quickly as the autoloader can only carry 8 rounds at a time. Refilling the autoloader can take a long time. Once the 8 shots are depleted, look for a safe position behind the terrain or other cover and wait until the autoloader is refilled with shells.
−
=== Offensive armament ===
 
−
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
−
[[File:TBD-1 an trn 26 004.png|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' blitzing ground artillery with a mix of 100 and 500 lb bombs.]]
 
−
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 
  
−
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
+
A {{PAGENAME}}'s main worry on the battlefield is its own armour, as while the hull front is somewhat good, everywhere else is easy to penetrate by most tank shells being shot at the {{PAGENAME}}. This is especially the case when encountering tanks with HEAT rounds, as then nowhere on the tank is safe from a penetration. Always make sure that no one shoots the {{PAGENAME}} from the side because the damage can be very serious due to the ammunition stowage.
  
−
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg)
+
When fighting at the front lines, always try to drive with other tanks so that the {{PAGENAME}} does not get as much focus. Attacking the enemies while they are attacking allies is the best way to catch them off guard with the 100 mm cannon. With its autoloader, the {{PAGENAME}} can be a deadly machine by picking off the enemies one by one before they can react.
  
−
=== Suspended armament ===
+
Plan carefully your moves as there is no good way to get out of a bad position without having either to expose its weak sides or to reverse at a very slow speed.
−
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
−
{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|Mk.13/44|Mk.13}}
 
−
 
 
−
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 
−
 
 
−
* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
 
−
* 1 х Mk.13 torpedo
 
−
* 1 х Mk.13/44 torpedo
 
−
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 6 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
 
−
 
 
−
=== Defensive armament ===
 
−
<!-- ''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available, remove this subsection.'' -->
 
−
{{main|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
 
−
 
 
−
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is defended by:
 
−
 
 
−
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, dorsal turret (600 rpg)
 
−
 
 
−
== Usage in battles ==
 
−
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a 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. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
−
[[File:TBD-1 an trn 26 002.png|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' scoring a direct torpedo hit on a Japanese ship.]]
 
−
The first thing a pilot will notice about the TBD in gameplay is its "rubber-banding" tendency to return to a stable speed of about 250 km/h. The aircraft has mediocre energy retention, especially in a turn or when coming out of a dive. However, it is a stable and easy plane to fly, even in Realistic Battles. Strangely enough, the TBD has awesome acceleration from a standing start. The acceleration peters off after about 140 km/h (just above its stall speed) but makes it a nice plane to take-off, especially from carriers. The armament on this plane is very bad and will get shot down if engaged with a fighter. The TBD is a very attractive target for fighters so climb to an altitude of 5000 meters. When dropping bombs, decrease your throttle to 50% as the bombs are more accurate when flying slow.
 
−
 
 
−
This aircraft is best used in a ground strike role, carpet bombing ground targets with a large quantity of smaller bombs available out of the box, and in this role, it performs respectably. It features a single 12.7 mm MG attached to the starboard side of the engine, with a generous ammo load, but although the TBD has a good turning radius it is not recommended to engage as a fighter. A rear gunner also wields a 7.7 mm MG, and although its horizontal coverage is laughable, it is a welcome addition to a low-flying pilot with the ability to keep his enemies in his gunner's (or main gun's) sights.
 
−
 
 
−
It is important to note that the TBD suffers from extremely fragile flaps and gear, at least in Realistic and Simulator Battles; even combat flaps will break off at any speed above about 210 km/h, while the gear rip at about 180.
 
−
 
 
−
===Manual Engine Control===
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
 
−
! colspan="3" | Radiator
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 
−
|-
 
−
! Oil
 
−
! Water
 
−
! Type
 
−
|-
 
−
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Controllable<br>Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
===Modules===
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! colspan="1" | Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 
−
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 
−
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Fuselage repair
 
−
| Radiator
 
−
|
 
−
| Turret 7 mm
 
−
| ITC mk.III
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
|
 
−
| Compressor
 
−
| Airframe
 
−
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
 
−
| Improved torpedo
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Wings repair
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Offensive 12 mm
 
−
| SBC mk.I
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
|
 
−
| Engine injection
 
−
| Cover
 
−
| New 12 mm MGs
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== 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".'' -->
+
<!-- ''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:'''
  
−
* Easily capable of flying back to base with one wing
+
* Great 100 mm gun
−
* Low stall speed
+
* Equipped with a huge 9-shell autoloader, making this one of the best tanks to attack multiple enemies at once
−
* Has a bombsight
+
*Unlike most French tanks, the SOMUA has good frontal armour; the upper turret and upper plate are basically immune to all conventional rounds
−
* Has an arrestor hook for carrier landing
+
* Due to the frontal armour and nine shot autoloader, the tank is not only great at flanking and ambushing, but also very good at brawling
−
* Very stable and easy to fly
+
* The strong upper turret coupled with the eight degrees of gun depression makes this tank great at hull-down fighting and cresting ridgelines
−
* Very manoeuvrable for a bomber
+
* Due to how tall this tank is and how high the gun is placed, it can shoot over obstacles that many tanks have trouble seeing over
−
* Very good turn and roll rate
+
* Quick and manoeuvrable for a heavy tank
−
* Carries a decent quantity of bombs without requiring any research
+
* This tank has a high level of survivability thanks to the spacious crew compartment and a five-man crew
−
* Great standing acceleration
+
* Good set of optics with 6x magnification
−
* Cockpit offers somehow decent visibility
+
* The APCBC round has a tendency to cause lots of spalling upon penetration
−
* Excellent low-speed handling, great aircraft for pilots to learn how to use torpedoes
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Prone to wing snapping when pulling 3 G's flying at mid-range to high speeds
+
* Absolutely huge tank. Longer, wider, and taller than a Tiger II. Finding proper concealment is difficult
−
* Armaments are extremely underwhelming, with a single 12.7 mm in front and a 7.62 mm in the rear
+
* The neck of the turret a prime weak spot that's hard to effectively hide
−
* Low sustainable "cruise" speed (200-250 km/h)
+
* The lower plate is as weak as British lower plates. Any APHE shell that enters here will likely knock out the whole crew
−
* Slow
+
* Will face a lot of enemies that fire APDS and HEAT, the upper turret and upper plate just can't absorb those kinds of shells
−
* Very bad energy retention
+
* Terrible side armour, side-scraping or angling the tank is extremely hazardous
−
* Bombs are mounted on external pylons
+
* Is much slower than the Lorraine and AMX-50
−
* A dive bomber without any air brakes
+
* Mediocre elevation angles thanks to the inherent nature of oscillating turrets
−
* Poor overall armament with limited defensive coverage
+
* Once the autoloader is expended, reloading the magazine takes a considerable amount of time
−
* No gun sight in cockpit other than a scope with an extremely limited (and very shaky) field of view
+
* Because of the 4.0s reload, you can quite easily empty the 9 round magazine
−
* Does not come with its Navy Blue camouflage unlike other US Navy planes
 
−
* Fragile flaps and landing gear
 
−
* Gunner has no armour protection
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, 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>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
At the end of WW2, the French army realized that they needed a new modern heavy tank. The SOMUA Company competed with AMX to design a new heavy tank for France, and they were given the order to build a prototype in 1946. The hull of the tank was based off the German Tiger II, and the tank used an oscillating turret armed with an auto-loading 100 mm gun. Because the two companies were forced to make a new design with the same requirements, the Somua SM design looked similar to the AMX 50, and both tanks had equipped the 100 mm gun. The prototype was delivered in October of 1951 but was still lacking an engine and some other parts. Due to delays, the prototype was not tested until 1953, but it was already too late. The SOMUA's design was rejected in favour of the AMX 50.
  
−
The active-duty life of the {{PAGENAME}} Devastator was a relatively short one in which it went from being the Navy’s most advanced aircraft in service to being outdated only three years later and then removed from active service within five years. Though seeing limited action during WWII and recorded performance as abysmal later was vindicated when documentation recorded that the U.S. Mk. 13 torpedo, one of the main suspended armaments of this aircraft was to share much of this blame as their failure rate (sinking, not-exploding, running cold, not running true, porposing) was extremely high.
+
=== [[wt:en/news/6825-development-somua-sm-heavy-weight-fighter-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
In 1946, at the same time when AMX was given the order to develop what would eventually become the AMX-50 tank, SOMUA was instructed to come up with a competing design that would act as an alternative to the AMX.
  
−
The Devastator had a strong start as a winner of a U.S. Navy competition for a new carrier-based bomber. This aircraft included many firsts for the Navy as the {{PAGENAME}} was a monoplane manufactured from all metal (no fabric covering for any surfaces), and hydraulically folding wings to allowing stowage of more aircraft on the carrier. The Devastator had a crew of three, the pilot would fly the aircraft and operate the single forward-facing machine gun while the bombardier who sat in the centre of the cockpit would lay prone on the bottom of the aircraft and would aim the Norden bombsight located under the pilot’s seat through a window in the belly of the aircraft. The third crew member was the radio operator/rear gunner who also operated a single machine gun in the dorsal turret to fend off any attacking enemy aircraft.
+
Due to both companies being issued identical technical requirements by the French Army and taking much inspiration from the German "King Tiger" at the same time, both designs turned out to be very similar. In fact, SOMUA's design stood out from AMX's only in increased mass, coming as a result of heavier protection, and in its more simple running gear.
  
−
A total of 129 {{PAGENAME}} units were purchased and delivered to the U.S. Navy and were farmed out to several aircraft carriers such as the notable Enterprise, Lexington, Wasp and Hornet. Unfortunately, the Navy realized by 1940 that the Devastator was not the frontline bomber it needed and its replacement the Grumman TBF Avenger was not yet at a stage where it could be operational. Though outclassed by many Japanese fighters, the {{PAGENAME}} was still pressed into active service, however, as an example, 41 were deployed during the Battle of Midway with only four returning to the carriers. Though other factors contributed such as miscommunication and uncoordinated sorties, the Devastators flew without fighter cover and were easily picked off when lining up for torpedo runs often flying in a straight line at around 115 mp/h (185 km/h). Ship batteries also had an easy time bearing down on these slow and predictable torpedo runs.  Though, the attacks were not a complete waste, as the Devastator attacks tied up the Imperial Japanese Navy and their protective fighters which allowed the late-arriving SBD dauntless dive bombers to inflict massive damage on the IJN carriers with very little resistance allowing them to carry out more effective attacks.
+
The SOMUA SM, as it became known, was presented for the first time to army officials in October 1951, albeit without its engine installed. At the same time, prototypes of the AMX-50 had already been tested. By 1953, SOMUA had completed the construction of its SM tank, subsequently conducting trials.
  
−
The Battle of Midway showed the technological age of the Devastator and the Navy elected to withdraw the remaining {{PAGENAME}}s from active service and relegate them to training duty for both pilots and mechanics, while others were used by firefighters to practice extinguishing aircraft fires. All surviving Devastators are unsalvageable wrecks (the U.S. Navy will not relinquish ownership and thus cannot be salvaged) with one sitting in the Atlantic Ocean off of Miami, Florida USA, another in the Pacific Ocean just off of the coast of Mission Beach, California USA, two more in Jaluit Lagoon in the Marshall Islands and seven resting near the USS Lexington on the ocean floor of the Coral Sea.
+
During testing however, several design issues were revealed. Because of this and the fact that the upgunned version of the AMX-50 with a 120mm gun was already available, the decision was made to cancel further work on the project. As a result, the SOMUA SM never left the prototype stage and the only constructed vehicle was scrapped shortly after the project's cancellation.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_somua_sm Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Somua SM Devblog Images" heights="150">
 +
File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
 +
File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
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File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
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File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
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File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
 +
File:Somua SM WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
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</gallery>
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|KSaBs_8yOno|'''Premium Vehicles: Somua SM''' - ''War Thunder Wiki''|cj5yjwMfmAM|'''The Shooting Range #217''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|vQQSE0uTjnM|'''Should You Buy The {{PAGENAME}}?''' - ''Sako Sniper''|5aOvTs0novk|'''Frenchtastic - {{PAGENAME}} new French Heavy''' - ''Napalmratte''|wXLZaDh0uEQ|'''Should You Buy: {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''ConeOfArc''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!--''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.''-->
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
* [[AMX-50_Surbaisse|AMX-50 Surbaissé]]
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[AMX-50_Surblinde|AMX-50 Surblindé]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
  
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [[wt:en/news/6825-development-somua-sm-heavy-weight-fighter-en|[Devblog] SOMUA SM: Heavy Weight Fighter]]
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
−
{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
+
{{France heavy tanks}}
−
{{USA bombers}}
+
{{France premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 02:36, 17 April 2024

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Somua SM
fr_somua_sm.png
GarageImage Somua SM.jpg
StoreImage Somua SM 001.jpg
StoreImage Somua SM 005.jpg
Somua SM

Description

The Somua SM was originally developed as part of a competition between AMX and SOMUA to produce a heavily armoured tank that shared similar components and parts, due to the French army forcing both companies to work under identical specifications. The order to build a prototype was given in 1946, but the vehicle was only delivered in October 1951, weighing 56 tonnes but still lacking an engine. In contrast, the AMX-50, the SOMUA SM's direct competitor, had already been tested, and a variant of the AMX-50 with a 120 mm cannon was already being designed. Ultimately, the SOMUA SM was not tested until 1953, by which point the AMX-50 Surbaissé had already been delivered for testing, and the AMX-50 (TOA100) had been deemed insufficient due to its armament. These delays would doom the project, leading to eventual cancellation of the project and scrapping of the only constructed prototype.

Introduced in Update "Raining Fire" as a premium pack in the Gaijin store, the Somua SM will be a familiar tank to French players; it possesses the excellent 100 mm SA47 L/58 autoloaded cannon that is equipped on both the Lorraine 40t and AMX-50 (TOA100), while featuring similar mobility. Unlike the tanks previously mentioned, however, the Somua SM possesses decent armour, capable of bouncing almost all APCBC and even some APDS rounds aimed to its hull and upper turret front. The armour on the Souma SM, combined with the slightly larger ready rack for the gun compared to the Lorraine and AMX-50, allows the player to use the tank more aggressively.

General info

Survivability and armour

The upper glacis of the hull and the turret (aside from an area beneath the gun) are the only well-protected areas, which will give you good protection against most conventional rounds, especially from far ranges. However, the rest of the armour is very weak and can be easily penetrated by pretty much everything, and you will still be vulnerable against HEAT-FS, ATGMs, APFSDS and such. Your best bet is to flank the enemy and take them out with your auto-loading gun before they can get a hit on you. If an enemy spots you, face them so they can only hit the front of the tank, and hope that they don't hit the very weak bottom portion of your turret. Try not to angle your tank as the sides can easily be penetrated. Since you have 5 crew members, with 2 in the front of the hull and 3 in the turret, and come equipped with a handy autoloader, you can take a few hits and lose a couple of crew members without much effect on combat performance. Additionally, the Somua SM features Commander Aiming, which allows your Commander to take over control of the gun quickly in the case that your Gunner is knocked out.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (oscillating turret, turret base, cupola)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 150 mm (55°) Front glacis
60 mm (55°) Lower glacis 		40 mm (25°) Top
40 mm Bottom 		40 mm (30°) 5 - 20 mm
Turret 120 mm Turret front and ring
200 mm Gun mantlet 		40 - 60 mm Top

120 mm Bottom

40 mm 30 mm
Cupola 30 mm 30 mm 30 mm 30 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Although heavier and not as mobile as the AMX-50 or Lorraine 40t, the Somua SM is still pretty mobile for a heavy tank. You will still want to flank the enemy as much as possible and take them out quickly with your auto-loading gun, but don't be afraid to take a few hits from the front. However, your reverse speed is pretty slow and will not save you, so watch out for that.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade Expression error: Unexpected * operator. 1291 Expression error: Unexpected round operator. __.__
Realistic 884 Expression error: Unexpected round operator. __.__

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: SA47 L/58 (100 mm)
100 mm SA47 L/58 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Autoloader
Arcade 50 -8°/+15° ±180° N/A 24.3 33.6 40.8 45.1 48.0 4.00
Realistic 17.9 21.0 25.5 28.2 30.0

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
Obus de rupture APCBC 273 270 257 242 228 215
Obus explosif HE 30 30 28 26 24 22
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Obus de rupture APCBC 1,000 15 - - - 48° 63° 71°
Obus explosif HE 1,000 14.8 0.2 0.1 1.4 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

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
50 46 (+4) 39 (+11) 32 (+18) 25 (+25) 18 (+32) 14 (+36) 10 (+40) 9 (+41) 1 (+49) No
Ammo racks of the Somua SM

Notes:

  • Shells are modelled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Rack 9* (autoloader magazine) is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 9 shells.
    • This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
  • As it is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
  • Once the autoloader magazine has 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 8 into rack 9*. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
  • The depletion order at full capacity is: 9 - 1 - 2 - up to 8.

Machine guns

Main article: MAC 31 (7.5 mm)
7.5 mm MAC 31
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,800 (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.

Usage in battles

Try to play the Somua SM quite aggressively because it has a very strong autoloader. Hardly anyone else on the battlefield owns an autoloader like the French do at this battle rating.

It's best to find a good, but safe position close to the front to get good shots onto targets. If encountering an enemy tank with good turret armor like a Tiger II, try to shoot the weak spots. Though the gun should be sufficient for front penetration, the Somua SM can drive around to hit the target's side armour do to its semi-good mobility. If the enemy tank tries to drive away, shoot it in the tracks to immobilise it.

Though the 4-second autoloader is the Somua SM's greatest asset, try not to fire too quickly as the autoloader can only carry 8 rounds at a time. Refilling the autoloader can take a long time. Once the 8 shots are depleted, look for a safe position behind the terrain or other cover and wait until the autoloader is refilled with shells.

A Somua SM's main worry on the battlefield is its own armour, as while the hull front is somewhat good, everywhere else is easy to penetrate by most tank shells being shot at the Somua SM. This is especially the case when encountering tanks with HEAT rounds, as then nowhere on the tank is safe from a penetration. Always make sure that no one shoots the Somua SM from the side because the damage can be very serious due to the ammunition stowage.

When fighting at the front lines, always try to drive with other tanks so that the Somua SM does not get as much focus. Attacking the enemies while they are attacking allies is the best way to catch them off guard with the 100 mm cannon. With its autoloader, the Somua SM can be a deadly machine by picking off the enemies one by one before they can react.

Plan carefully your moves as there is no good way to get out of a bad position without having either to expose its weak sides or to reverse at a very slow speed.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great 100 mm gun
  • Equipped with a huge 9-shell autoloader, making this one of the best tanks to attack multiple enemies at once
  • Unlike most French tanks, the SOMUA has good frontal armour; the upper turret and upper plate are basically immune to all conventional rounds
  • Due to the frontal armour and nine shot autoloader, the tank is not only great at flanking and ambushing, but also very good at brawling
  • The strong upper turret coupled with the eight degrees of gun depression makes this tank great at hull-down fighting and cresting ridgelines
  • Due to how tall this tank is and how high the gun is placed, it can shoot over obstacles that many tanks have trouble seeing over
  • Quick and manoeuvrable for a heavy tank
  • This tank has a high level of survivability thanks to the spacious crew compartment and a five-man crew
  • Good set of optics with 6x magnification
  • The APCBC round has a tendency to cause lots of spalling upon penetration

Cons:

  • Absolutely huge tank. Longer, wider, and taller than a Tiger II. Finding proper concealment is difficult
  • The neck of the turret a prime weak spot that's hard to effectively hide
  • The lower plate is as weak as British lower plates. Any APHE shell that enters here will likely knock out the whole crew
  • Will face a lot of enemies that fire APDS and HEAT, the upper turret and upper plate just can't absorb those kinds of shells
  • Terrible side armour, side-scraping or angling the tank is extremely hazardous
  • Is much slower than the Lorraine and AMX-50
  • Mediocre elevation angles thanks to the inherent nature of oscillating turrets
  • Once the autoloader is expended, reloading the magazine takes a considerable amount of time
  • Because of the 4.0s reload, you can quite easily empty the 9 round magazine

History

At the end of WW2, the French army realized that they needed a new modern heavy tank. The SOMUA Company competed with AMX to design a new heavy tank for France, and they were given the order to build a prototype in 1946. The hull of the tank was based off the German Tiger II, and the tank used an oscillating turret armed with an auto-loading 100 mm gun. Because the two companies were forced to make a new design with the same requirements, the Somua SM design looked similar to the AMX 50, and both tanks had equipped the 100 mm gun. The prototype was delivered in October of 1951 but was still lacking an engine and some other parts. Due to delays, the prototype was not tested until 1953, but it was already too late. The SOMUA's design was rejected in favour of the AMX 50.

Devblog

In 1946, at the same time when AMX was given the order to develop what would eventually become the AMX-50 tank, SOMUA was instructed to come up with a competing design that would act as an alternative to the AMX.

Due to both companies being issued identical technical requirements by the French Army and taking much inspiration from the German "King Tiger" at the same time, both designs turned out to be very similar. In fact, SOMUA's design stood out from AMX's only in increased mass, coming as a result of heavier protection, and in its more simple running gear.

The SOMUA SM, as it became known, was presented for the first time to army officials in October 1951, albeit without its engine installed. At the same time, prototypes of the AMX-50 had already been tested. By 1953, SOMUA had completed the construction of its SM tank, subsequently conducting trials.

During testing however, several design issues were revealed. Because of this and the fact that the upgunned version of the AMX-50 with a 120mm gun was already available, the decision was made to cancel further work on the project. As a result, the SOMUA SM never left the prototype stage and the only constructed vehicle was scrapped shortly after the project's cancellation.

Media

Skins
Images
  • Somua SM Devblog Images
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 001.jpg
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 002.jpg
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 003.jpg
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 004.jpg
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 005.jpg
  • Somua SM WTWallpaper 006.jpg
Videos
Premium Vehicles: Somua SM - War Thunder Wiki
The Shooting Range #217 - Metal Beasts section at 00:30 discusses the Somua SM.
Should You Buy The Somua SM? - Sako Sniper
Frenchtastic - Somua SM new French Heavy - Napalmratte
Should You Buy: Somua SM - ConeOfArc

See also

External links


France heavy tanks
B1  B1 bis · B1 ter
2C  2C · 2C bis
ARL-44  ARL-44 (ACL-1)
AMX-50  Somua SM · AMX-50 Surbaissé · AMX-50 Surblindé
USA  ▄M4A3E2

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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