Difference between revisions of "XM803"

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(I've added some information about the armour, mobility and ammunition. I've changed the ammunition data, which wasn't updated to the new penetration calculation information)
(Edits.)
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[[File:GarageImage XM-803.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:GarageImage XM-803.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
{{break}}
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]].  
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]].  
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 48: Line 48:
 
''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.''
  
−
The XM308's frontal armour is only effective versus full-caliber AP and APHE rounds and certain APDS rounds. Almost all large caliber (76 mm and up) have no trouble slicing through it, even when hitting the frontal armour at an angle. Large caliber HEAT-FS too, has no problem going through, although the large fuel tank behind the frontal hull armour can sometimes absorb most damage. Because the armour has a layer of air in it, it is very effective against HESH rounds. All the spalling generated by the HESH round when it hits the first plate will get absorbed by the plate behind it. One big weakspot on the turret it the left (when facing it) turret cheek. This is because this part of the turret is not protected by spaced armour and only consists of 177.8 mm thick CHA plate, which most chemical and kinetic energy projectiles can penetrate with ease.
+
The XM308's frontal armour is only effective versus full-calibre AP and APHE rounds and certain APDS rounds. Almost all large calibre (76 mm and up) have no trouble slicing through it, even when hitting the frontal armour at an angle. Large calibre HEAT-FS too has no problem going through, although the large fuel tank behind the frontal hull armour can sometimes absorb most damage. Because the armour has a layer of air in it, it is very effective against HESH rounds. All the spalling generated by the HESH round when it hits the first plate will get absorbed by the plate behind it. One big weak spot on the turret it the left (when facing it) turret cheek. This is because this part of the turret is not protected by spaced armour and only consists of 177.8 mm thick CHA plate, which most chemical and kinetic energy projectiles can penetrate with ease.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
Line 248: Line 248:
 
''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 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 XM308, like the MBT-70, is a very good flanker. To get the most out of this tank you must use its high speed and acceleration to flank the enemy or set up ambushes. Its gun and ammunition is good enough to penetrate most lower BR tanks with ease, although when uptiered you will have to resort to aiming for the weak spots of opponents. The HEAT round you get is free, and will easily penetrate tanks with plain steel armour, but it's lacking when facing tanks with composite armour, and it has rather mediocre muzzle velocity, making aiming and leading at longer ranges more difficult. The APFSDS round has decent penetration, and will penetrate most opponents with relative ease. It also has very high muzzle velocity, almost 1.5 km/s, making aiming even at longer ranges easy. The ATGM is very useful and free, it's very good at long ranges, and is very effective against stationary or slow moving helicopters.
+
The XM308, like the MBT-70, is a very good flanker. To get the most out of this tank you must use its high speed and acceleration to flank the enemy or set up ambushes. Its gun and ammunition are good enough to penetrate most lower BR tanks with ease, although when up-tiered you will have to resort to aiming for the weak spots of opponents. The HEAT round you get is free, and will easily penetrate tanks with plain steel armour, but it's lacking when facing tanks with composite armour, and it has a rather mediocre muzzle velocity, making aiming and leading at longer ranges more difficult. The APFSDS round has decent penetration and will penetrate most opponents with relative ease. It also has very high muzzle velocity, almost 1.5 km/s, making aiming even at longer ranges easily. The ATGM is very useful and free, it's very good at long ranges, and is very effective against stationary or slow-moving helicopters.
  
−
While the armour may seem impressive at first, it won't protect you against most guns at and around its battle rating. Most tanks at this rank have acces to powerful APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds, which have no trouble penetrating you. Knowing this, you mustn't rely on your armour to protect you.
+
While the armour may seem impressive at first, it won't protect you against most guns at and around its battle rating. Most tanks at this rank have access to powerful APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds, which have no trouble penetrating you. Knowing this, you mustn't rely on your armour to protect you.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 257: Line 257:
  
 
* Stock ammunition consists of the good MGM 51C "Shillelagh" Guided Missile, means no ammo costs for using it, plus a decent but inferior HEAT Shell.
 
* Stock ammunition consists of the good MGM 51C "Shillelagh" Guided Missile, means no ammo costs for using it, plus a decent but inferior HEAT Shell.
−
* Has access to APFSDS Shells with 346 mm of penetrating Power on a 90° angled armour plate @ 10m.
+
* Has access to APFSDS Shells with 346 mm of penetrating Power on a 90° angled armour plate @ 10m
 
* Good mobility and acceleration, high speed both forwards and backwards
 
* Good mobility and acceleration, high speed both forwards and backwards
 
* Top mounted 50 cal can allow you to damage low-flying aircraft
 
* Top mounted 50 cal can allow you to damage low-flying aircraft
 
* Frontal Fuel tank behind the spaced armour which can sometimes absorb enemy chemical energy rounds
 
* Frontal Fuel tank behind the spaced armour which can sometimes absorb enemy chemical energy rounds
−
* Since this tank has an autoloader, loosing a crewmember will not impact the reload speed, and it still functions when putting out a fire
+
* Since this tank has an autoloader, losing a crewmember will not impact the reload speed, and it still functions when putting out a fire
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
 
* Long reload on the gun (10 seconds) which cannot be improved since it is an autoloader
 
* Long reload on the gun (10 seconds) which cannot be improved since it is an autoloader
−
* The spaced armor is not composite armor and cannot provide adequate protection against most guns of its rank
+
* The spaced armour is not composite armour and cannot provide adequate protection against most guns of its rank
 
* Weak sides and LFP
 
* Weak sides and LFP
 
* Ammo racks are large and can be easily hit, and does not have blowout panels
 
* Ammo racks are large and can be easily hit, and does not have blowout panels
Line 277: Line 277:
 
Once it became apparent that the MBT-70 project was doomed to fail in the early ‘70s due to high costs and reliability issues, the U.S. Congress decided to cut their losses on the project by cancelling the MBT-70, and instead, diverted funding to the development of a new project called XM803.
 
Once it became apparent that the MBT-70 project was doomed to fail in the early ‘70s due to high costs and reliability issues, the U.S. Congress decided to cut their losses on the project by cancelling the MBT-70, and instead, diverted funding to the development of a new project called XM803.
  
−
The XM803 was, in essence, envisioned to be a “budget version” of the MBT-70. Although the new vehicle would heavily be based on the MBT-70, inheriting many of its design solutions, it would also try to drastically reduce production costs by using more conventional and only American-made parts. Although this meant that the XM803 had to give up some of its high-tech equipment in favor of lower production costs, it was projected that the influence of these changes on the XM803’s combat performance would be minimal.
+
The XM803 was, in essence, envisioned to be a “budget version” of the MBT-70. Although the new vehicle would heavily be based on the MBT-70, inheriting many of its design solutions, it would also try to drastically reduce production costs by using more conventional and only American-made parts. Although this meant that the XM803 had to give up some of its high-tech equipment in favour of lower production costs, it was projected that the influence of these changes on the XM803’s combat performance would be minimal.
  
−
Despite showing favorable performance and being seen as a promising design by the Army, the XM803 still remained a comparably expensive tank to produce even with the applied changes over the MBT-70. Moreover, neither the MBT-70 nor the XM803 seemed to offer any substantial increase in combat performance over the already in service M60 Patton to justify the high production cost. This ultimately led to the Congress cancelling work on the XM803 only a short while after the cancellation of the MBT-70. In the late 1970s, some funding of the two failed projects would later on find its way to support the development of an entirely new, but this time around, more conventional tank project. That tank of course being the legendary M1 Abrams itself.
+
Despite showing favourable performance and being seen as a promising design by the Army, the XM803 still remained a comparably expensive tank to produce even with the applied changes over the MBT-70. Moreover, neither the MBT-70 nor the XM803 seemed to offer any substantial increase in combat performance over the already in service M60 Patton to justify the high production cost. This ultimately led to the Congress cancelling work on the XM803 only a short while after the cancellation of the MBT-70. In the late 1970s, some funding of the two failed projects would, later on, find its way to support the development of an entirely new, but this time around, more conventional tank project. That tank, of course, being the legendary M1 Abrams itself.
  
 
''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5536-development-xm803-the-second-chance-en Devblog]''
 
''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5536-development-xm803-the-second-chance-en Devblog]''

Revision as of 11:18, 18 October 2019

XM803
us_xm_803.png
XM803
USA flag.png USA
VI Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.7 9.0 9.0
Class:
Research:190 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:520 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage XM803.jpg


The Tank, Combat, Full-Tracked, 152-mm Gun/Launcher XM803 is a Rank VI American light tank with a battle rating of 8.7 (AB) and 9.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X".

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?

Armour type:

  • Spaced armour (Hull front, Turret front)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 38.1 mm (64°) Front glacis
76 mm (63°) Lower glacis 		35 mm Top
25.4 mm Bottom 		25.4 mm (12°) Top
25.4 mm (67°) Bottom
5 mm (13°) Engine exhaust 		25.4 mm Front
5-12.7 mm Engine deck
Turret 38.1-203 mm (0-75°) 12.7-38.1* mm (29-34°) 12.7* mm (27-84°) 25.4-76 mm Front
12.7 mm Rear turret
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 25.4 mm 25.4 mm
Spaced armour* Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 250 mm Kinetic
240 mm Chemical 		N/A N/A N/A
Turret 270-300 mm Kinetic
220-350 mm Chemical 		38 mm sections:
200 mm Kinetic
220 mm Chemical
12.7 mm sections:
50 mm Kinetic
60 mm Chemical 		30 mm Kinetic
40 mm Chemical 		N/A

Notes:

  • Road wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 30 mm thick.
  • A 6.35 mm RHA plate separates the engine from the crew compartment
  • The crew is protected by a 6.35mm thick turret basket
  • Hull spaced armour configuration is 38 mm RHA + 127 mm air + 51 mm RHA.
  • Turret spaced armour configuration is 38 mm RHA + 127 mm air + 127 mm CHA.
  • Turret rear side spaced armour configuration is 12.7 mm RHA + 38 mm air + 25.4 mm RHA
  • Turret rear spaced armour configuration is 12.7 mm RHA + 38 mm air + 12.7 mm RHA.

If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.

The XM308's frontal armour is only effective versus full-calibre AP and APHE rounds and certain APDS rounds. Almost all large calibre (76 mm and up) have no trouble slicing through it, even when hitting the frontal armour at an angle. Large calibre HEAT-FS too has no problem going through, although the large fuel tank behind the frontal hull armour can sometimes absorb most damage. Because the armour has a layer of air in it, it is very effective against HESH rounds. All the spalling generated by the HESH round when it hits the first plate will get absorbed by the plate behind it. One big weak spot on the turret it the left (when facing it) turret cheek. This is because this part of the turret is not protected by spaced armour and only consists of 177.8 mm thick CHA plate, which most chemical and kinetic energy projectiles can penetrate with ease.

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
51.7 N/A 71 (AB)
64 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 1,937 2,356
Realistic/Simulator 1,106 1,245
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 37.47 45.57
Realistic/Simulator 21.39 24.08

The mobility of the vehicle is worse than that of the MBT-70. In its stock configuration, it has a horsepower/ton ratio of 21.39, while with all upgrades this increases to 24.08 HP/T. The top speed (both forward and reverse) is 64 km/h (40 mph) with 8 gears for both directions. The tank can reach its top speed quickly on flat roads, while on more difficult terrain the top speed drops by around 20 km/h. The tank has neutral steering and good turning ability on all terrains.

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: XM150E5 (152 mm)
152 mm XM150E5
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
53 -10°/+20° ±180° Two-plane
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 34.3 47.3 57.4 63.5 67.6
Realistic 21.4 29.5 35.9 39.7 42.2
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
XM578E1 APFSDS 346 343 334 323 311 300
M409A1 HEAT 380 380 380 380 380 380
MGM-51C ATGM 431 431 431 431 431 431
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%
XM578E1 1,478 3.7 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 76° 77° 78°
M409A1 754 18.9 0.0 0.1 3,730 +0° 62° 69° 73°
MGM-51C 323 27.8 0.0 0.01 3,600 +0° 80° 82° 90°
Smoke characteristic
Ammunition Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Screen radius
in m 		Screen time
in s 		Screen hold time
in s: 		Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent):
XM410E1 754 18.9 25 5 30 50
Ammo racks
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
53 48 (+5) 46 (+7) 39 (+14) 27 (+26) 1 (+52) No

Machine guns

Main articles: M85 (12.7 mm), M73 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M85
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,000 (200) 577 -9°/+65° ±180°
7.62 mm M73
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
6,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

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).

The XM308, like the MBT-70, is a very good flanker. To get the most out of this tank you must use its high speed and acceleration to flank the enemy or set up ambushes. Its gun and ammunition are good enough to penetrate most lower BR tanks with ease, although when up-tiered you will have to resort to aiming for the weak spots of opponents. The HEAT round you get is free, and will easily penetrate tanks with plain steel armour, but it's lacking when facing tanks with composite armour, and it has a rather mediocre muzzle velocity, making aiming and leading at longer ranges more difficult. The APFSDS round has decent penetration and will penetrate most opponents with relative ease. It also has very high muzzle velocity, almost 1.5 km/s, making aiming even at longer ranges easily. The ATGM is very useful and free, it's very good at long ranges, and is very effective against stationary or slow-moving helicopters.

While the armour may seem impressive at first, it won't protect you against most guns at and around its battle rating. Most tanks at this rank have access to powerful APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds, which have no trouble penetrating you. Knowing this, you mustn't rely on your armour to protect you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Stock ammunition consists of the good MGM 51C "Shillelagh" Guided Missile, means no ammo costs for using it, plus a decent but inferior HEAT Shell.
  • Has access to APFSDS Shells with 346 mm of penetrating Power on a 90° angled armour plate @ 10m
  • Good mobility and acceleration, high speed both forwards and backwards
  • Top mounted 50 cal can allow you to damage low-flying aircraft
  • Frontal Fuel tank behind the spaced armour which can sometimes absorb enemy chemical energy rounds
  • Since this tank has an autoloader, losing a crewmember will not impact the reload speed, and it still functions when putting out a fire

Cons:

  • Long reload on the gun (10 seconds) which cannot be improved since it is an autoloader
  • The spaced armour is not composite armour and cannot provide adequate protection against most guns of its rank
  • Weak sides and LFP
  • Ammo racks are large and can be easily hit, and does not have blowout panels
  • Vulnerable to the rear due to raised engine deck
  • Cramped interior, loss of more than one crew member more likely when penetrated
  • Does not have access to the roof-mounted 20 mm like the MBT-70 which could be very useful in certain situations

History

Once it became apparent that the MBT-70 project was doomed to fail in the early ‘70s due to high costs and reliability issues, the U.S. Congress decided to cut their losses on the project by cancelling the MBT-70, and instead, diverted funding to the development of a new project called XM803.

The XM803 was, in essence, envisioned to be a “budget version” of the MBT-70. Although the new vehicle would heavily be based on the MBT-70, inheriting many of its design solutions, it would also try to drastically reduce production costs by using more conventional and only American-made parts. Although this meant that the XM803 had to give up some of its high-tech equipment in favour of lower production costs, it was projected that the influence of these changes on the XM803’s combat performance would be minimal.

Despite showing favourable performance and being seen as a promising design by the Army, the XM803 still remained a comparably expensive tank to produce even with the applied changes over the MBT-70. Moreover, neither the MBT-70 nor the XM803 seemed to offer any substantial increase in combat performance over the already in service M60 Patton to justify the high production cost. This ultimately led to the Congress cancelling work on the XM803 only a short while after the cancellation of the MBT-70. In the late 1970s, some funding of the two failed projects would, later on, find its way to support the development of an entirely new, but this time around, more conventional tank project. That tank, of course, being the legendary M1 Abrams itself.

- From Devblog

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

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


USA medium tanks
M2  M2
M3  M3 Lee · ▃Grant I
M4  M4 · Calliope · M4A1 · M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (105) · M4A3 (76) W · M4/T26
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26 T99 · M26E1
M46/47/48 Patton  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47 · M48A1 · T54E1 · T54E2
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A2 · M60A3 TTS · M728 CEV · 120S
MBT-70  MBT-70 · XM803
M1 Abrams  XM1 (Chrysler) · XM1 (GM)
  M1 Abrams · M1 KVT · IPM1
  M1A1 · M1A1 HC · M1A1 Click-Bait
  M1A2 Abrams · M1A2 SEP · M1A2 SEP V2
Other  T95E1
Australia  M1A1 AIM
Canada  M4A5
Israel  ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Merkava Mk.1 · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.3D
Turkey  M60 AMBT

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