Difference between revisions of "Achilles"

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This page is about the British tank destroyer Achilles. For the premium version, see Achilles (65 Rg.).

Achilles

Gun Carrier (3-in)

Avenger

Achilles

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.3	3.3

Class:

Tank destroyer

Research:11 000

Purchase:22 000

Description

The Achilles was the name given by the British to the American M10 Tank Destroyers. Britain received about 1,650 M10s from the US. It was so called for both the 3-inch gun variant (Achilles I/II) and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (Achilles Ic / IIc), though in most usage, the vehicle was called the 17pdr M10, or 17pdr SP M10, or even the "Firefly", despite that name being used for a different design. Around 1943, M10s were converted to increase its firepower against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the Tiger I and the Panthers. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder variants by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, after the Sherman Firefly.

It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour" along with the rest of the initial British Ground Forces Tree. The Achilles is based on the American M10, but carries 17-pounder as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. At its BR, the Achilles has plenty of firepower, especially once the Mk.8 APCBC shot modules is unlocked. The 17-pdr is enough to deal with the Panzer III and IV, since it lacks APHE shells try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage. The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Russians, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage the 17-pdr will cause is unreliable due to the lack of APHE. The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable of carrying the player, gun, and event team where it needs to go. Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles quickly. The frontal turret armour may be able to bounce or survive some hits from heavier weapons, but this is inconsistent at best. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull51 / 25 / 25

Turret57 / 25 / 25

Crew5 people

Visibility87 %

Armour type:

Rolled homogeneous armour
Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
Structural steel (Counterweight)

Armour	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	38.1 mm (55°) Front glacis 50.8 mm (7-55°) Transmission area	19.05 mm (38°) Top hull 25.4 mm Bottom hull	19.05 (28-33°) Top Hull 25.4 mm (7-52°) Bottom hull	19.05 mm Front 9.5 mm Rear
Turret	25.4 mm (66-88°) Turret front 57.15 mm (0-47°) Gun mantlet	25.4 mm (22-46°)	25.4 mm (0-29°) Turret rear 50 mm (0-50°) Counterweight	N/A

Notes:

Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick while the bogies are 10 mm thick.
Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
Hull rear sides are protected by attached grousers that give 20 mm of extra armour.
Tracks placed on the front transmission area provide 30 mm extra armour.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB45 / 6 km/h

RB and SB42 / 5 km/h

Number of gears5 forward

1 back

Weight29.9 t

Engine power

AB782 hp

RB and SB410 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB26.2 hp/t

RB and SB13.7 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)		Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Game Mode	Forward	Reverse	Stock	AoA	Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	45	6	29.5	0.32	582	782	19.68	26.15
Realistic	42	5	29.5	0.32	363	410	12.27	13.71

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB687 → 910

RB825 → 1 093

SB1 002 → 1 328

Total cost of modifications10 400

13 860

Talisman cost750

Crew training6 300

Experts22 000

Aces210

Research Aces220 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

50 / 80 / 100 %

124 / 124 / 124 %

Modifications

Mobility

Protection

Firepower

Tracks Research: 520 Cost: 690 85
Suspension Research: 470 Cost: 620 75	Brake System Research: 470 Cost: 620 75
Filters Research: 870 Cost: 1 200 140
Transmission Research: 840 Cost: 1 100 135	Engine Research: 840 Cost: 1 100 135

Improved Parts

Research:

520

Cost:

690

85

Improved FPE

Research:

470

Cost:

620

75

Crew Replenishment

Research:

870

Cost:

1 200

140

Add-on Armor

Research:

840

Cost:

1 100

135

76mm_britain_17pdr_APC_ammo_pack Research: 520 Cost: 690 85	Horizontal Drive Research: 520 Cost: 690 85
76mm_britain_17pdr_APCBC_ammo_pack Research: 470 Cost: 620 75	Adjustment of Fire Research: 470 Cost: 620 75
Elevation Mechanism Research: 870 Cost: 1 200 140
76mm_britain_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 840 Cost: 1 100 135

Armaments

Main armament

76 mm QF 17-pounder cannon

Ammunition50 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 30°

Main article: QF 17-pounder (76 mm)

76 mm QF 17-pounder					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	50	-10°/+30°	±180°	N/A	4.0	5.5	6.7	7.4	7.8	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic	50	-10°/+30°	±180°	N/A	2.7	3.1	3.8	4.2	4.5	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
Ammunition	Type of warhead	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Shot Mk.6	AP	171	168	155	139	126	113
Shell Mk.1	HE	20	20	18	16	15	13
Shot Mk.4	APC	171	168	155	139	126	113
Shot Mk.8	APCBC	190	187	172	155	140	126

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	0%	50%	100%
Shot Mk.6	AP	883	7.71	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
Shell Mk.1	HE	883	6.98	0.2	0.1	580	79°	80°	81°
Shot Mk.4	APC	883	7.71	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°
Shot Mk.8	APCBC	883	7.71	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
17pdr Shell SS Mk.1	229	8.44	13	5	20	50

The ammo is mostly solid shot. The benefit is it provides greater penetration, but at a cost of less damage upon penetration. Knock-outs with a single shell are far more difficult to pull off compared to APHE shells. Knowledge of the internal layout of the target vehicle is essential to success. The Shot Mk.8 APCBC round should be your default round. The Shell Mk.1 HE round isn't worth taking, as most vehicles at this BR save for very few will be entirely immune to it, and the few that are are vulnerable enough to your M2HB machine gun that HE shells aren't needed.

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Achilles

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
50	48 (+2)	45 (+5)	34 (+16)	23 (+27)	12 (+38)	1 (+49)	Yes

Turret empty: 45 (+5)

Optics

Achilles Optics
Which ones	Default magnification	Maximum magnification
Main Gun optics	x1.85	x3.5
Comparable optics	M10 GMC

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 70°

Horizontal guidance-60° / 60°

Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	400 (200)	577	-10°/+70°	±60°

Usage in battles

The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot where to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks!

Keep in mind the low fire rate (compared to other 17-pdr AFVs). Once the Achilles have destroyed (or damaged) the enemy, the best thing to do is to relocate. Don't stay in the same spot for too long: the Achilles has weak armour and an open top. Artillery barrages will cripple the tank destroyer and the crew.

Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes, it is really slow. Therefore, changes to the play style must be taken. If an enemy needs to be targeted quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.

The Achilles performs very well on large maps with plenty of vegetation or terrain variations to hide. On maps like this, the Achilles can find a good hiding place and wait for enemy tanks to drive into the sights. Even the most heavily armoured tanks in the BR range cannot withstand the APCBC round. It is this tanks most redeeming factor. A well positioned Achilles can deal massive damage to an opposing team, and can even hold out an entire section of the map if it is protected from air support and can get the jump on attacking enemies. Remember to change position regularly as the Achilles will become easy prey for enemy aircraft if the situation is compromised.

Also, remember to use the .50 cal. It can disorientate enemy tanks and potentially give a few extra seconds breathing room in a bad situation. It is also useful against SPAA and low flying aircraft. Be aware that if the commander is knocked out, access to the .50 cal will be lost.

Enemies worth noting:

R3 T20 FA-HS: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to one shot it as the crew are all lined up.

8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.: also known as the "flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Good gun (17-pounder!)
High level of penetration. Will often pass through the front of lighter vehicles and leave through the back
Good speed
5 crew members
.50 cal Heavy machine gun on top to fight lightly armoured tanks and aircraft
Sloped armour makes incoming rounds more likely to ricochet
Spare tracks that provided some limited protection on the front and the rear section of the side armour
Good gun depression

Cons:

Hull armour is rather thin
Gun mantlet is weak, T-34s with stock ammo can penetrate at 500 m
Big ammo racks
Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
Very slow turret traverse
Will have trouble penetrating some sloped armour before the Shot Mk.8 is purchased
Lack of explosive filler for AP shells
Handling is poor on some rough terrain before mobility modifications are researched
Reverse speed is bad
Low ammo reserve for Commander's machine gun (300 rds total)
Add-on armour upgrade is less useful than the one on the M10 GMC with less tracks on the side armour

History

Development

The M10 tank destroyer was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the M6A1 Heavy Tank and the body from the M4A2 Sherman, this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.

British use

These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the Achilles and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (Achilles I/II) and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (Achilles Ic / IIc). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the 17pdr M10, or 17pdr SP M10, or even the "Firefly", despite that name being used for a different design.

The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the Tiger I and the Panthers. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this more substantial cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, after the Sherman Firefly.

Combat usage

The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed it as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the StuG III in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German Tiger or Panther tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on Churchills while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.

The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of Panzer IVs and Panthers from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.

Media

Skins

Skins and camouflages for the Achilles from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Achilles - She's British, She's Great - Krebs

Tank Chats #137 - Achilles - The Tank Museum - The Tank Museum

External links

[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles

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Sherman Firefly	Sherman Firefly · Sherman IC "Trzyniec"
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Centurion	Centurion Mk 1 · Centurion Mk.2 · Centurion Mk 3 · Centurion Action X · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk 10
Challenger*	Challenger Mk.2 · Challenger Mk.3 · Challenger DS
Tank Destroyers
Achilles	Achilles · Achilles (65 Rg.)
Centurion-based	Conway · FV4005
Export
Sherman Firefly	Sherman Ic · ▄Sherman Vc
Centurion	Centurion Mk.5/1 · Strv 81 · Strv 81 (RB 52) · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Strv 101 · Strv 104 · Strv 105 · Sho't
See also	US Ordnance Department · Israeli Ordnance Corps · Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
	*By successor, the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment
	**Swedish modernizations incorporating innovations from the Israeli Sho't Kals.

Britain tank destroyers
Infantry tank derivatives	Archer · Gun Carrier (3-in)
Light tank derivatives	Alecto I
M10 Achilles	Achilles · Achilles (65 Rg.)
Centurion derivatives	FV4005 · Conway
ATGM	Swingfire · Striker
Other	Tortoise · ▄M109A1
Canada	QF 3.7 Ram
South Africa	G6 · ZT3A2

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Difference between revisions of "Achilles"

Latest revision as of 20:07, 21 December 2023

Contents

Description

General info

Survivability and armour

Mobility

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition

Ammo racks

Optics

Machine guns

Usage in battles

Pros and cons

History

Development

British use

Combat usage

Media

See also

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Specs-Card|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles}}
 {{About
 | about = British tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 | usage = the premium version
 | link = Achilles (65 Rg.)
+}}
+{{Specs-Card
+|code=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles
+|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}_AddArmour.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 }}
 == Description ==
-<!--''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.''-->
+<!-- ''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_Achilles.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+The '''Achilles''' was the name given by the British to the American [[M10 GMC|M10]] Tank Destroyers. Britain received about 1,650 M10s from the US. It was so called for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''), though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design. Around 1943, M10s were converted to increase its firepower against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder variants by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, after the [[Sherman Firefly]].
-{{break}}
-The '''{{specs|name}}''' (nickname '''{{specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. This tank destroyer was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree.
-The Achilles is based on the American [[M10 GMC|M10]], but carries [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. Thanks to a well assigned BR, the Achilles won't feel in the wrong game even when facing higher rank tanks. For a Battle Rating 4.0, the Achilles plenty of firepower, especially once the Mk.8 APCBC shot modules is unlocked, which is more effective against the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]] sloped armour. The 17-pdr cuts through the enemy [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]] (the shots enter the front and exit from the rear) so try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage (first shot to the turret to disable enemy firepower). The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Russians, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage the 17-pdr will cause is unreliable (sometimes 2 or more shots are required to destroy a T-34, sometimes one shot is enough). The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable of carrying the player, gun, and event team where it needs to go.
+It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the rest of the initial British Ground Forces Tree. The Achilles is based on the American [[M10 GMC|M10]], but carries [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounder]] as the main armament, making it an effective tank destroyer. At its BR, the Achilles has plenty of firepower, especially once the Mk.8 APCBC shot modules is unlocked. The 17-pdr is enough to deal with the [[Pz.III M|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV H|IV]], since it lacks APHE shells try to aim vital points to cause the maximum damage. The T-34 is a bigger problem due to its sloped armour. When facing Russians, the first shot should always be to the gunner. The Mk.8 APCBC is quite able to penetrate the T-34 glacis even from a distance but keep in mind that the damage the 17-pdr will cause is unreliable due to the lack of APHE. The M10 mobility is not outstanding, but the Achilles is pretty capable of carrying the player, gun, and event team where it needs to go. Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles quickly. The frontal turret armour may be able to bounce or survive some hits from heavier weapons, but this is inconsistent at best. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.
-Protection is not good. The sloped armour and the track links added to the front will protect the Achilles from some low calibre shots, but the vast majority of enemies will be able to destroy the Achilles quickly. Side armour is paper thin. The high profile and the very slow turret traverse (man-powered) are not suitable for close range combat so avoid deep flanking tactics.
 == General info ==
 === Survivability and 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?''
+{{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.'' -->
-''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 '''Armour type:'''
@@ Line 44: / Line 42: @@
 === 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.'' -->
-{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 582|rbMinHp= 363|AoAweight= 0.32}}
+{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.32}}
+=== Modifications and economy ===
+{{Specs-Economy}}
 == Armaments ==
+{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 === Main armament ===
+{{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.'' -->
 {{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}
@@ Line 62: / Line 66: @@
 |-
 ! ''Arcade''
-| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 3.96 || 5.48 || 6.66 || 7.37 || 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
+| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 4.0 || 5.5 || 6.7 || 7.4 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
 |-
 ! ''Realistic''
-| 2.68 || 3.15 || 3.83 || 4.23 || 4.50
+| 2.7 || 3.1 || 3.8 || 4.2 || 4.5
 |-
 |}
 ==== Ammunition ====
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+{{:QF 17-pounder (76 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.6, Shell Mk.1, Shot Mk.4, Shot Mk.8, 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1}}
-! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
-|-
+The ammo is mostly solid shot. The benefit is it provides greater penetration, but at a cost of less damage upon penetration. Knock-outs with a single shell are far more difficult to pull off compared to APHE shells. Knowledge of the internal layout of the target vehicle is essential to success. The Shot Mk.8 APCBC round should be your default round. The Shell Mk.1 HE round isn't worth taking, as most vehicles at this BR save for very few will be entirely immune to it, and the few that are are vulnerable enough to your M2HB machine gun that HE shells aren't needed.
-! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
-! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
-! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
-|-
-! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
-|-
-| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
-|-
-| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
-|-
-| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
-|-
-| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126
-|-
-|}
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
-! colspan="11" | Shell details
-|-
-! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
-! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
-! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
-! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
-! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
-! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
-! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
-! rowspan="2" | Normalization at 30°<br>from horizontal
-! colspan="3" | Ricochet
-|-
-! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
-|-
-| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
-|-
-| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 580 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
-|-
-| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 48° || 63° || 71°
-|-
-| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
-|-
-|}
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
-! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
-|-
-! Ammunition
-! Velocity<br>(m/s)
-! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
-! Screen radius<br>(m)
-! Screen deploy time<br>(s)
-! Screen hold time<br>(s)
-! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
-|-
-| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 754 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
-|-
-|}
 ==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
@@ Line 146: / Line 97: @@
 Turret empty: 45&nbsp;''(+5)''
-===== Optics =====
+==== Optics ====
-<!-- ''Explain how the optic's status can affect the tank's gameplay in any unique or meaningful way. A comparison to rival tanks of the rank is welcome.''
-''If you are having problems with it, refer to the [[Optics|optics gallery]] page for examples.'' -->
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 ! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
@@ Line 160: / Line 106: @@
 |-
 ! Main Gun optics
-| x1.85 || x3.5 <!--Sometimes the actual value may not be known and here it should be referenced if the optic values are an estimate such as with an "X8.3 (estimated)" notation or something else that way the user will then be able to look to the comparable optics section and see a referenced optic which will have actual in-game data to back up the claim.-->
+| x1.85 || x3.5
 |-
 ! Comparable optics
@@ Line 168: / Line 114: @@
 === 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|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}
@@ Line 177: / Line 124: @@
 ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 |-
-| Pintle || 300 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
+| Pintle || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
 |-
 |}
 == Usage in battles ==
-<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but 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).''-->
+<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 The Achilles is best used for sniping and shoot and scoot tactics. Find a good spot where to shoot at enemies, aim carefully (RB need a good use of mils range estimation) and enjoy the fireworks!
@@ Line 189: / Line 136: @@
 Another thing to think about is the turret traverse. Yes, it is ''really'' slow. Therefore, changes to the play style must be taken. If an enemy needs to be targeted quickly, do not rely on the turret. Instead, traverse the entire tank so that the hull is facing the enemy head-on, similar to turretless, casemate style tank destroyers. To avoid situations like this, stay way back, avoiding urban areas and other areas where the Achilles will be flanked easily.
 The Achilles performs very well on large maps with plenty of vegetation or terrain variations to hide. On maps like this, the Achilles can find a good hiding place and wait for enemy tanks to drive into the sights. Even the most heavily armoured tanks in the BR range cannot withstand the APCBC round. It is this tanks most redeeming factor. A well positioned Achilles can deal massive damage to an opposing team, and can even hold out an entire section of the map if it is protected from air support and can get the jump on attacking enemies. Remember to change position regularly as the Achilles will become easy prey for enemy aircraft if the situation is compromised.
 Also, remember to use the .50 cal. It can disorientate enemy tanks and potentially give a few extra seconds breathing room in a bad situation. It is also useful against SPAA and low flying aircraft. Be aware that if the commander is knocked out, access to the .50 cal will be lost.
+'''Enemies worth noting:'''
+[[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this vehicle is the exact opposite tank when comparing to an Achilles: extremely high top speed, great traverse and fast gun rotation. A well-manoeuvred R3 can easily circle around the Achilles and shoot AP shells through the thin side, while the Achilles struggles to get the gun on target even when traversing the hull with the gun. If you know an R3 is around, you better turn your hull towards the possible direction and be ready to engage. Move the hull with the gun to target quicker. Even if you miss, the M2 Browning can still penetrate the R3 and knock out its crews. Note that a side shot on the R3 does not guarantee a kill as the crew are pretty separated. The R3 can run away and repair for another attack. A frontal shot, however, is likely to one shot it as the crew are all lined up.
+[[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]]: also known as the "flak truck", it is rather hard to knock out due to the fact that its armour is so thin that almost every shell will over-penetrate, dealing almost no critical damage. Plus this vehicle mostly face their side to the targets, making it even harder to kill them as the crew are all far apart. So it can usually take quite some hits and take out the shooters one by one. As the shooter, aim for the left side of its turret first to disable its gunner first, then knock out the rest of its crew (right turret & driving compartment). Do not hope that the M2 HB can kill the crews, the flak truck's armour is too thick for any MG to penetrate.
 === Pros and cons ===
-<!--''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".''-->
+<!-- ''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:'''
@@ Line 210: / Line 164: @@
 * Hull armour is rather thin
 * Gun mantlet is weak, T-34s with stock ammo can penetrate at 500 m
 * Big ammo racks
 * Open top turret makes it vulnerable to artillery and strafing planes
 * Very slow turret traverse
@@ Line 221: / Line 175: @@
 == History ==
-<!--''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><ref></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
+<!-- ''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).'' -->
 ===Development===
 The [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] was developed in 1942 to fulfil the anti-tank doctrine established by the US military. The doctrine, creating the tank destroyer force, was established with the objective to stop German blitzkrieg tactics by attacking the tanks. Unlike the other armoured fighting vehicles in the theatre, the tank destroyers were made to be placed in reserves to counter any breach in the front lines by taking out the enemy with ambushes. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun; armour was not a concern due to the emphasis in speed. The design ended up taking a turret design developed from the [[M6A1|M6A1 Heavy Tank]] and the body from the [[M4A2|M4A2 Sherman]], this with the 3-inch 1918 gun, provided the backbone of the American tank destroyer force in much of World War II. In total, 6,706 M10s and its variants were produced between September of 1942 to 1943 of the same month.
 ===British use===
-These M10s were given out to America’s allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achillies Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''“Firefly”'', despite that name being used for a different design.
+These M10s were given out to America's allies, though the British were the most well-known of these users, receiving about 1,650 M10s from the Americans from 1943 onward. The British designated the M10s under their service as the '''Achilles''' and unlike popular usage, was called that for both the 3-inch gun variant (''Achilles I/II'') and the variant mounting the 17-pounder (''Achilles Ic / IIc''). Though in most usage, the vehicle was called the ''17pdr M10'', or ''17pdr SP M10'', or even the ''"Firefly"'', despite that name being used for a different design.
-The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 meters away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this more substantial cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, coming before the [[Sherman Firefly|Sherman Firefly]].
+The British first received the M10s with the 3-inch cannons, which were much more powerful than the British tank armament at the time, giving them an edge in many tank confrontations in the North African Campaign. It was around 1943 that conversion is done onto the M10 to increase its firepower capabilities against the gradually upgraded German tank designs such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panthers]]. The conversion used one of the best Allied anti-tank guns at the time, the 17-pounder, which could penetrate about 140 mm of armour at 500 m away with APCBC rounds, and 209 mm at the same distance with APDS rounds (Armour-Penetrating Discarding Sabot). The conversion is done onto the M10 also required a counterweight to be placed on the 17-pounder to compensate the heavier weight of the 17-pounder compared to the 3-inch gun. This gave the M10 Achilles a much more defining profile and attempts were made to hide this more substantial cannon length with optical illusion. Aside from the gun conversion, the M10 Achilles also had an extra 17 mm of armour welded onto the front and sides of the hull for added protection, plus a 20 mm shield on the top of the turret to compensate for the open-turret design. About 1,000 M10 Achilles with the 17-pounders were ordered, but by D-Day, only 124 were available, and 816 were done by the end of the year. The low number of these converted Achilles made meant that any lost units were hard to replace with a 17-pounder one, and the disgruntled crew would be issued an M10 with a 3-inch gun instead. In the end, about a total of 1,000 Achilles were converted into 17-pounder ones by the end of World War II, making the M10 Achilles the second-most numerous design to mount the 17-pounder, after the [[Sherman Firefly]].
 ===Combat usage===
 The British doctrine with the Achilles differed from the Americans who saw it as a reserve tank destroyer. The British viewed it as a mobile anti-tank gun, thus the Achilles served in a role akin to the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] in German service, moving the 17-pounder into position to take a shot on incoming German [[Tiger E|Tiger]] or [[Panther G|Panther]] tanks. These Achilles were used more with Churchill tank units rather than the medium tanks due to the lack of 17-pounder equipped on [[Churchill Mk III|Churchills]] while the medium tanks have the Firefly available for use. Disadvantages with the M10 Achilles design were carried over from the original, the slow turret traverse speed, high profile, and open-top turret made it a rather harder vehicle to use than a regular tank, but it still had its advantages and was still suitable for the role it had.
 The Achilles were deployed on D-Day onward in artillery forces in anti-tank regiments in armoured divisions. A typical anti-tank regiment would have four batteries, two with towed 17-pounders, one equipped with 17-pounder Achilles, and another with regular M10s with the 3-inch gun (though replaced with another Achilles unit once more were available). A notable event with the Achilles was during Operation Charnwood, where Achilles in the 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment fought off a German counterattack comprising of [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IVs]] and Panthers from the 12th Panzer Regiment were routed by the Achilles 17-pounder fires, destroying about 13 German tanks with the loss of four Achilles knocked out and four more damaged.
 == 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.'' -->
-Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles Achilles] in Warthunder Live.
+;Skins
+* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
+;Videos
+{{Youtube-gallery|sd29LKNd0ro|'''Achilles - She's British, She's Great''' - ''Krebs''|icR4UKOLr5A|'''Tank Chats #137 - Achilles - The Tank Museum''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}
 == 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.''-->
+* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
-* [[Achilles (65 Rg.)]] - Gift version, representing the 65th Anti-Tank Regiment.
+* [[Achilles (65 Rg.)]] - Gift version, representing the 65th Anti-Tank Regiment
 * [[M10 GMC]] - Original American configuration of the M10 platform.
 == 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;''
-* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
+* ''other literature.'' -->
-* ''other literature.''-->
-* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> 17pdr SP Achilles]]
+* [[Wikipedia:17pdr_SP_Achilles|[Wikipedia] 17pdr SP Achilles]]
+{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}
 {{Britain tank destroyers}}