Difference between revisions of "M2A4"
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[[File:GarageImage_M2A4.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | [[File:GarageImage_M2A4.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | ||
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| − | The ''' | + | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. The first iteration of the "Stuart" series, it is a simple design with a 37 mm tank gun and speed on its side. |
== General info == | == General info == | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === 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 | + | <!--''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.''--> | ||
| Line 77: | Line 77: | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
=== Main armament === | === Main armament === | ||
| − | <!--''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 | + | <!--''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|M5 (37 mm)}} | {{main|M5 (37 mm)}} | ||
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|} | |} | ||
| − | ==Usage in | + | ==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 M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very maneuverable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank. | The M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very maneuverable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank. | ||
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===Pros and cons=== | ===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. | + | <!--''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 can be substituted with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''--> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
* Fast and agile | * Fast and agile | ||
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== History == | == 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 | + | <!--''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 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''--> |
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role. | The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role. | ||
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== Media == | == Media == | ||
| − | <!--'' | + | <!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''--> |
[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23m2a4 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the M2A4 from live.warthunder.com.] | [http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23m2a4 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the M2A4 from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
| − | == | + | == See also == |
| − | + | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | |
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | * ''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.'' | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | == | + | == 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;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
| − | * ''other literature.'' | + | * ''encyclopedia page on the tank;'' |
| + | * ''other literature.''--> | ||
| + | [https://warthunder.com/en/news/2917/current/ Official War Thunder forum article: [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> M2A4 Light Tank] | ||
{{USA light tanks}} | {{USA light tanks}} | ||
Revision as of 07:07, 11 March 2019
Contents
Description
The Light Tank M2A4 is a reserve rank I American light tank
with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals". The first iteration of the "Stuart" series, it is a simple design with a 37 mm tank gun and speed on its side.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
- Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 25.4 mm (19°) Front plate 15.8 mm (69°) Front Glacis 25.4 mm (20°) Lower glacis |
25.4 mm | 25.4 mm Top 25.4 mm (18°) Bottom |
6.35 mm |
| Turret | 25.4 mm (11°) Turret front 25.4 mm (12-65°) Gun mantlet |
25.4 mm | 25.4 mm | 6.35 mm |
| Armour | Sides | Roof | ||
| Cupola | 25.4 mm | 6.35 mm |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 10 mm thick.
Mobility
| Mobility characteristic | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weight (tons) | Add-on Armor weight (tons) |
Max speed (km/h) |
| 11.5 | N/A | 63 (AB) |
| 57 (RB/SB) | ||
| Engine power (horsepower) | ||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded |
| Arcade | 406 | 500 |
| Realistic/Simulator | 232 | 262 |
| Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | ||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded |
| Arcade | 35.30 | 43.48 |
| Realistic/Simulator | 20.17 | 22.78 |
Armaments
Main armament
| 37 mm M5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||
| 103 | -6°/+19° | ±180° | |||
| Turret rotation speed (°/s) | |||||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. |
| Arcade | 19.52 | 27.01 | __.__ | __.__ | 38.59 |
| Realistic | 12.20 | 14.35 | 17.42 | 19.27 | 20.50 |
| Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||
| Stock | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. | ||
| 3.77 | 3.33 | 3.07 | 2.90 | ||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack | |||||
| 10m | 100m | 500m | 1000m | 1500m | 2000m | ||
| M74 shot | AP | 66 | 65 | 55 | 46 | 38 | 31 |
| M51 shot | APC | 66 | 65 | 55 | 46 | 38 | 31 |
| Shell details | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity in m/s |
Projectile Mass in kg |
Fuse delay
in m: |
Fuse sensitivity
in mm: |
Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent): |
Normalization At 30° from horizontal: |
Ricochet: | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | |||||||
| M74 shot | 792 | 0.87 | N/A | N/A | N/A | -1° | 47° | 60° | 65° |
| M51 shot | 792 | 0.87 | N/A | N/A | N/A | +4° | 48° | 63° | 71° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | 69 (+34) | 35 (+68) | 1 (+102) | No |
Machine guns
| 7.62 mm M1919A4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coaxial mount | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||||||||||||||||
| 5,250 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Pintle mount | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||||||||||||||||
| 3,000 (250) | 500 | -10°/+45° | ±90° | |||||||||||||||||
| Hull mount (#1) | Hull mount (#2) | Hull mount (#3) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||||||||
| 5,250 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A | 5,250 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A | 5,250 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Usage in battles
The M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very maneuverable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank.
The M2A4 is most comparable to a cross between a BT-5 and T-26. The M2 has slightly less mobility than the BT-5, while being a larger target and having better armour, like the T-26. The M2A4 also has a fast-firing 37 mm M5 cannon that can fire M74 or M51 shot, as well as the M61 shell.
Its gun has better accuracy than the majority of tanks on its rank, and its APC ammo retains its penetration at most ranges. This ability to hit rapidly from range and still penetrate in part makes up for the somewhat anemic damage of the 37mm gun.
Like all tanks of this rank, it is lightly armoured and can be damaged or knocked out by any other vehicle from anywhere on the map. A useful tactic is to make use of its speed by engaging at range and then relocating when the fire get to heavy around you.
Modules
| Tier | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Tracks | Parts | Horizontal Drive | M51 shot | |
| II | Suspension | Brake System | FPE | Adjustment of Fire | |
| III | Filters | Crew Replenishment | Elevation mechanism | ||
| IV | Transmission | Engine | Artillery Support | ||
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fast and agile
- Acceptable gun
- Fair armour all around
- Machine gun secondary armament allow for flexibility in taking out exposed SPAA and Tank Destroyers
- Roof mounted 30.Cal is quite effective at taking out unarmoured aircraft
Cons:
- Uneasy handling, prone to slide at high speeds
- Quite flammable, even when hit from the front
- Terrible steering, not adequate under gear 2
- Driving this straight into a wall at a fast speed can result in a crew knock out
- Can struggle to destroy larger vehicles due to lack of explosive filler
History
Development
The M2 Light Tank series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.
The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon, but the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks were brought up by multiple theorists, to which the British were the first to incorporate with the cruiser tanks. Limitation in American development lead to the establishment of light tanks as the combat cars. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes T1 Light Tank and the T2 medium tank and decide to use them as the basis for the light tank design.
Modifications made onto the experimental tanks, mostly installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) that would be the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the M2A1 Light Tank. The main version used before the war was designated the M2A2, which had two turrets, both with a .50 caliber M2 Browning as its armament. However, the Spanish Civil War showed that this kind of tank is insufficient in tank warfare, so the design was revised with one turret with a 37 mm cannon and improved armour, this would become the M2A4, which would be the main light tank variant in US service before World War II broke out.
Combat usage
Although the M2 light tanks were promising in their introduction, they were soon succeeded by the M3 and M5 light tanks. The M2 light tanks were seen by armament as a stopgap solution for the dire need of tanks and a development project for tank improvements. By December 1941, the M2 light tanks were being used for training only in the US Army, but the Marine Corps used them in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific due to the lack of M3 light tanks available.
Britain ordered some M2 light tanks in early 1941 in part of the Lend-Lease Act, but only 36 were delivered before switching to the improved M3 light tanks.
A unique feature on the M2 Light tank was the number of machine guns it could house. Aside from the coaxial and the bow gunner's ball mounted one, two machine guns were fixed facing forward on the sides of the hull, fired by the driver. Another M1919 Browning machine gun could be mounted on the turret top for anti-aircraft use.
Media
Skins and camouflages for the M2A4 from live.warthunder.com.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the vehicles;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Official War Thunder forum article: [Vehicle Profile] M2A4 Light Tank
| USA light tanks | |
|---|---|
| LVT | LVT(A)(1) · ○LVT(A)(1) · LVT(A)(4) |
| M2 | M2A2 · M2A4 · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) |
| M3/M5 Stuart | M3 Stuart · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC) · M5A1 · M5A1 TD · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) |
| M22 Locust | M22 |
| M24 Chaffee | M24 · M24 (TL) |
| M18 Hellcat | M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat |
| M41 Walker Bulldog | M41A1 |
| M551 Sheridan | M551 · M551(76) |
| M3 Bradley | M3 Bradley · M3A3 Bradley |
| Wheeled | M8 LAC · T18E2 · M1128 · M1128 Wolfpack |
| Other | M8A1 GMC · T92 · T114 · HSTV-L · CCVL · XM8 · XM800T · AGS |
