TAM 2C

TAM 2C

Radkampfwagen 90

PUMA

TAM 2C

Radkampfwagen 90

PUMA

Germany

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.0	10.3	10.3

Class:

Light tank

Research:150 000

Purchase:830 000

Description

The Tanque Argentino Mediano 2C is a rank VII German light tank with a battle rating of 10.0 (AB) and 10.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Raining Fire".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

LWS

Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions

Armourfront / side / back

Hull32 / 15 / 11

Turret30 / 25 / 15

Crew4 people

Visibility84 %

The armour is composed of welded steel, providing protection up to 32 mm.

The front can defend against 12.7 mm machine gun ammo, but the side armour is only proof against standard machine guns of 7.62 mm. However, most enemies that can be faced will usually have a 12.7 mm machine gun or larger in their possession, making it so even a burst of bullets could riddle the TAM with holes. With this in mind, take caution when flanking a tank with a disabled gun to get a side shot, as you can easily lose a few crew members to machine gunfire. This becomes less of an issue after unlocking the APFSDS round when side shots are rarely as necessary.

The TAM also is hull-breakable, and so rounds that hit have a chance of instantly destroying the vehicle.

Armor Composition:

• Rolled Homogeneous Armor
• Cast Homogeneous Armor - Gunner's Optics Port (Turret Roof)
• Structural Steel - Fenders
• Structural Steel of Chassis - Suspension
• Tracks

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	11 mm - 32 mm (77°) Upper Glacis 32 mm (29° - 60°) Lower Glacis	15 mm	11 mm	5 mm - 32 mm
Turret	30 mm - 50 mm (6° - 35°) Turret front 30 mm + 30 mm (51° - 63°) Mantlet Front 25 mm (7° - 10°) Mantlet Sides	25 mm Crew Compartment 15 mm Bustle	15 mm	11 mm - 30 mm
Cupola	35 mm			11 mm

Notes:

• Main Gun - 25 mm
• Machine Guns - 5 mm
• Tracks and Suspension - 20 mm
• Fenders - 4 mm
• There is a 25 mm ring around the gun where it meets the mantlet.
• The mantlet covers most of the turret front
• Sideskirts - 4 mm

Mobility

Reverse gearbox

Forward and backward movement is possible at the same maximum speed

Speedforward / back

AB84 / 84 km/h

RB and SB75 / 75 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

8 back

Weight30.5 t

Engine power

AB1 374 hp

RB and SB720 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB45.0 hp/t

RB and SB23.6 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	84	84	30.5	1,116	1,374	36.59	45.05
Realistic	75	75		637	720	20.89	23.61

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 552 → 5 946

RB3 415 → 5 716

SB4 581 → 7 668

Total cost of modifications248 800

407 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

140 / 180 / 230 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 350 Suspension Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 310 Brake System Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 310 Filters Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 410 Transmission Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440 Engine Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440	Improved Parts Research: 3 300 Cost: 17 000 350 Improved FPE Research: 3 000 Cost: 15 000 310 Crew Replenishment Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 410 Smoke grenade Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440	Horizontal Drive Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 350 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 350 105mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 350 Adjustment of Fire Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 310 Airstrike Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 310 LWS/LR Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 310 Elevation Mechanism Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 410 NVD Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 410 Scout UAV Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 410 Artillery Support Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440 Improved optics Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440 105mm_DM33_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 440

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Thermal imager

Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

105 mm FMK.4 Modelo 1L cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition50 rounds

First-order29 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 18°

The main armament of the TAM 2C is FMK.4 Model 1L, is a licensed variant of the British L7A1 105mm. It has access to the powerful DM63, with a penetration of up to 436 mm. This is enough to destroy any tank, however ones with high angled upper frontal plate (UFP) it will be a challenge but flank and shoot from the side.

105 mm FMK.4 Modelo 1L					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	50	-7°/+18°	±180°	Two-plane	32.4	44.8	54.4	60.2	64.0	8.70	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					20.2	23.8	28.9	32.0	34.0

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
DM12	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400
DM502	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
DM33	APFSDS	408	405	398	389	379	370
DM63	APFSDS	436	434	426	416	406	396

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM12	HEATFS	1,173	10.50	0.05	1.0	1,270	65°	72°	77°
DM502	HESH	732	14.85	0.40	0.1	4,310	73°	77°	80°
DM33	APFSDS	1,455	3.79	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°
DM63	APFSDS	1,455	4.30	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the TAM (identical)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
50	41 (+9)	30 (+20)	21 (+11)	1 (+49)	No

Machine guns

7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 001 shots/min

7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40 machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 001 shots/min

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.

7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
	___ (___)	___	__°	__°
	___ (___)	___	__°	__°

Usage in battles

For the stock grind, it is recommended to get to a vantage point and use your binoculars to scout enemies, only taking easy shots. This can net quite a bit of RP if successful, the only problem is that such maps are rare. This vehicle requires much map knowledge to play, as it has poor gun handling and depression. Combined with the high repair cost, the stock grind is terrible. However, once you get DM33 you can get a bit more adventurous, but one must still exercise caution as the TAM 2C has poor survivability. Try not to ever expose much of yourself from cover. The 3rd generation thermals allow you to see enemies that few others on your team can see, as the TAM 2C is the only German ground vehicle to get 3rd gen thermals, or anything higher than 1st gen in the gun sight. It is recommended not to push corners, as the TAM has little armour, the engine is in the front (so you are immobilized at best) and the turret is mounted on the back of the tank, so you have to expose a lot of the vehicle in order to peek. The Laser Warning System (LWS) allows you to know when you are "painted" by laser rangefinders or designators, so you can duck back into cover whenever you are seen by an enemy. Finally, the DM63 APFSDS lets you to be much more risk-taking as you can now penetrate things like the Abrams's LFP, and more reliably penetrate the turret weakspots on Russian tanks like the T-80U. The machine guns, although with a lower rate of fire than the MG3 on most other German tanks of the BR, can elevate higher than the gun, so you can engage helicopters better.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful DM63 APFSDS round making it competitive at its battle rating.
• Decent mobility allowing it to flank and retreat.
• Excellent reverse speed, as fast in reverse as it is forwards.
• High quality thermals in gunner and commander's sights.
• Large first stage ammo stowage allows for enough rounds for the entire match.

Cons:

• Extremely poor armour makes it vulnerable to hullbreak and heavy machine guns.
• Fixed 12.0x magnification in gunner's sight, leading to poor FOV and tunnel vision.
• Mediocre gun depression, only -7°.
• Very poor stock grind with expensive module RP costs.
• Stock DM12 HEAT-FS is incredibly inadequate at its battle rating.

History

A TAM 2C of the Argentine army.

The TAM 2C was a modernized variant of the TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano), the primary main battle tank (MBT) of the Argentine army. Initially designed in the 1980s, the TAM 2C originated as an upgraded variant of the original TAM, with improved weaponry, protection and equipment. The 2C variant prototype was initially unveiled in 2013, and the final production contract between the Argentine army and contractors was signed in 2015. In total, 74 TAMs will be upgraded to the 2C standard, which started in 2018.

Design and Development

In 2010, the Argentine army began the process of acquiring a new main battle tank to replace it’s fleet of ageing TAM vehicles, developed in the 1980s. A number of foreign tanks were considered, including the German Leopard 2 , French Leclerc, Israeli Merkava and the Russian T-90. However, at the end, they chose to upgrade the existing TAM vehicles rather than proceeding with a new tank, due to budget restraints and the fact that most MBTs would’ve had trouble traversing Argentina’s rough terrain. Several foreign firms bidded for the modernization, which was eventually given to Israel’s Elbit Systems.

The TAM was given many upgrades, primarily to it’s equipment. The vehicle received a new electrical turret drive allowing for faster turret traverse, as well as a set of NVD (thermal imager) devices for the commander and driver. The vehicle received an upgraded set of laser rangefinders, more accurate than those fitted on the original TAM. Additionally, racks were added to the rear of the vehicle for stowing crew belongings, and an APU unit was added to provide power when the engine was turned off.

In terms of armament, the TAM 2C retained the 105 mm gun fitted on the TAM. However, it received a new stabilization system that would turn off when the gun was being loaded. This made loading much easier, as the previous system would cause the gun to continuously change elevation while traversing rough terrain, which prevented the gun from being loaded properly. The TAM 2C also received a new APFSDS round with much-improved penetration, and a new HEAT-FS round.

The original armour scheme of the TAM was retained, with a maximum of 50 mm of armour on the upper glacis. Mobility also stayed the same, with no upgrades to the engine block. However, the TAM 2C lost the ability to carry the TAM’s extra rear fuel tanks, as the space was occupied by the new APU unit.

Production

The first TAM 2C prototype was unveiled in 2013, having been upgraded by Elbit systems. After technical evaluations, the vehicle was accepted for service, and the Argentine government signed a contract with Elbit for the modernization of 74 TAM vehicles. In total, the modernization of these vehicles will cost $110 million dollars. While expensive, this is tiny compared to the cost of acquiring a completely new MBT. The first TAM was reportedly upgraded to 2C standard in 2017, with initial production starting in 2018.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the TAM 2C from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #224 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the TAM 2C.

TAM 2C - Tank Review - Napalmratte

Should You Grind The TAM 2C? - Sako Sniper

TAM 2C - Hard Hitting Lightweight Ft. DM63 - JustinPlaysYT

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

References:

• Army Recognition. (2017, July 04). TAM 2C main battle tank technical data pictures 80407176. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.armyrecognition.com/argentina_army_tanks_heavy_armoured_vehicles_uk/tam_2c_main_battle_tank_technical_data_pictures_80407176.html
• Lucian, S., & Muñozsays, J. (2018, February 14). TAM 2C Main Battle Tank. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/argentina/tam-2c-main-battle-tank