Difference between pages "A-4B" and "M6A1"

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{{Specs-Card|code=a_4b}}
+
{{Specs-Card|code=us_m6a1}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
+
<!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.-->
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
[[File:GarageImage_M6A1Heavy.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{Break}}
 
{{Break}}
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy 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"]]. A rather unusual tank design mounting two cannons in the turret, however, it has a durable frontal armour for the battle rating it occupies.
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is an excellent aircraft for pilots who like to perform multiple roles without having to switch up aircraft. Possessing options to carry up to 5,000 lbs in bombs, 133 unguided rockets or five 20 mm autocannons with a total of 2,350 rounds of ammunition in what is effectively a "hot rod" of the jet world allows pilots to maximize their playstyle.  
+
The M6A1 is one of the most unique tanks in the game, with its large hull and being as tall as a Tiger I. Another interesting feature is that it is one of the most manoeuvrable heavy tanks in the game with a powerful Wright G-200 engine (the same engine powering the [[B-17E|B-17 ''Flying Fortress'' bomber]]) with a max speed of 35 km/h, making it very mobile in a battle situation. The tank has two 12.7 mm's in the hull which can be used but cannot be angled sideways. The M6A1 is one of the first American tanks as well in the game to have the transmission at the rear of the tank.
  
−
[[File:A-4B an trn 26 006.png|350px|thumb|left|A view of the suspended ordnance racks. Just one of the many options for the {{PAGENAME}}.]]
+
Something to keep in mind is the shell arc of the secondary 37 mm cannon. Its shell will usually hit the same spot on distances up to 1400 m (~1 mile). But do not forget that the gun is offset to the left in close combat, or it will not hit the target.
  
−
Though the manoeuvrability suffers when fully loaded, this jet attacker operates well at mid and lower altitudes, especially when unloading bombs and rockets on ground-based targets. The Skyhawk's air-to-air capabilities are not forgotten; however, as in actual usage, the missiles and internal 20 mm autocannons were more for defensive purposes or for taking out targets of opportunity. With the sheer amount of rockets when loaded, especially the Mighty Mouse variants, it is best to fire them off in salvos to ensure maximum damage inflicted.
+
== 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?
  
−
This aircraft's nickname is "Scooter" for a reason, though not the fastest aircraft in the battle, with its petite size and massive payload, it is not uncommon for the {{PAGENAME}} to scoot behind enemy lines and rain down destruction on ground targets before anyone realizes what is going on. Though small in size, the Skyhawk should not be underestimated and considered a significant threat.
+
If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.-->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
−
== General info ==
+
* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Transmission area, Turret)
−
=== Flight performance ===
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
−
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
 
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
+
|-
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
+
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
+
|-
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
+
| Hull || 82.5 mm (5-35°) ''Front'' <br> 101.6 mm (5-35°) ''Transmission''|| 44.4 mm || 44.4 mm || 25.4 mm
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
+
| Turret || 250 mm (6-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 50.8 + 50.8 mm (7-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 82.5 mm (0-12°) || 82.5 mm (0-68°) || 25.4 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Stock
+
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
−
| 874 || 865 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.7 || 39.0 || 41.8 || 39.3 || rowspan="2" | 900
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Upgraded
+
| Cupola || 82.5 mm || 25.4 mm
−
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 17 mm thick.
 +
* Frontal armour plate is unevenly curved for better ricochet chances and efficient armour thickness.
 +
* Side skirts are 25 mm thick rolled homogeneous armour and will trigger fuses on APHE projectiles.  In most cases, APHE shells set off before reaching the main hull and destroying the ammo stack beneath. Still, both skirts and hull are not sturdy enough to withstand a regular AP shell.
 +
 +
=== 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= 1033|rbMinHp= 708|<!--AoAweight=(optional) -->}}
 +
 +
== Armaments ==
 +
=== 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 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|M7 (76 mm)}}
  
−
==== Details ====
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="6" | Features
+
! colspan="7" | [[M7 (76 mm)|76 mm M7]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
!Stabilizer
 
|-
 
|-
−
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X    <!-- ✓ -->
+
| colspan="4" | 75 || -10°/+30° || ±180°
 +
|Vertical
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="2" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 10.70 || 14.80 || 18.00 || 19.90 || colspan="2" | 21.20
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 10.70 || 12.60 || 15.30 || 16.92 || colspan="2" | 18.0
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 7.67 || 6.78 || 6.25 || 5.90
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
===== Ammunition =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| M62 Shell || APCBC || 127 || 125 || 116 || 106 || 97 || 89
 +
|-
 +
| M42A1 Shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
 +
|-
 +
| M79 Shot || AP || 155 || 154 || 131 || 107 || 88 || 72
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="7" | Limits
+
| M62 Shell || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
+
| M42A1 Shell || 800 || 5.8 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 390 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
−
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
+
|-
−
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
+
| M79 Shot || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
−
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
+
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks {{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the M6A1.]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 615 || ___ || 410 || ~8 || ~3
+
|| '''75''' || 40&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 4&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+74)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
=== Additional armament ===
 +
<!--Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.-->
 +
{{main|M3 (37 mm)}}
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
+
! colspan="6" | [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm M3]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
|-
−
| < 650 || < 700 || < 670 || N/A
+
| colspan="4" | 202 || N/A || N/A  
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert Qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace Qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 3.77 || 3.33 || 3.07 || 2.90
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
=== Survivability and armour ===
+
===== Ammunition =====
−
<!--''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''-->
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| M74B1 || AP || 90 || 89 || 69 || 50 || 37 || 27
 +
|-
 +
| M63 Shell || HE || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
 +
|-
 +
| M51B1/B2 || APC || 79 || 78 || 69 || 59 || 51 || 43
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| M74B1 ||883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| M63 Shell || 807 || 0.73 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 38 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| M51B1/B2 || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}}, designed to be a light-weight attack aircraft was half the weight of the Navy's design spec requirements. This initial weight savings meant that the plane did not have to skimp on pilot protection. Since the primary role of the aircraft is as an attacker, the pilot protection from the front and the underside is critical. From the front, the windshield portion of the canopy contains 50 mm bulletproof glass. Protective armour from the ground or naval based targets comes in the form of a 2.54 mm steel "tub" which the pilot's seat is situated in. The protective shield surrounds the pilot on all four sides (front, back, left and right) and makes up for most of the floor panelling, leaving room for the controls to go through. While the pilot is not invulnerable, the armour will provide a buffer for lighter calibre fire or shrapnel effects from missiles. The pilot does remain vulnerable to fighter aircraft approaching from above the cockpit.
+
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''202''' || 85&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 161&nbsp;''(+41)'' || 121&nbsp;''(+81)'' || 81&nbsp;''(+121)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+161)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+201)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
There are three fuel tanks in the aircraft of which the two in the wings are non-self-sealing and pose a fire hazard if they catch on fire, however, the fuel tank situation directly behind the pilot is self-sealing.
+
=== Machine guns ===
 +
<!--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)}}
  
−
* 50 mm bulletproof glass
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
−
* 2.54 mm Steel-plated "tub"
+
|-
−
* Self-sealing fuel tank behind the pilot
+
! colspan="7" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
−
* Non-self-sealing fuel tanks in the wings
+
|-
−
 
+
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
−
== Armaments ==
+
|-
−
=== Offensive armament ===
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
−
<!--''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''-->
+
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
−
[[File:A-4B an trn 26 007.png|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' set up for air-to-air combat with its suspended centerline gunpod and AIM-9B Sidewinders.]]
+
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
−
 
+
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
−
{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)}}
+
|-
−
 
+
| colspan="4" | 1,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is outfitted with the following offensive armament:
+
|-
−
 
+
! colspan="7" | ''Hull mount #1''
−
* 2 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons (100 RPG)
+
|-
−
 
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
−
=== Suspended armament ===
+
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
−
<!--''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''-->
+
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
−
[[File:A-4B an trn 26 003.png|400px|thumb|right|The 133 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets effectively turns into a 70 mm autocannon which will not jam or overheat when fired as a salvo.]]
+
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
−
 
+
|-
−
{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|AIM-9B}}
+
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+35° || ±15°
−
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|AGM-12B Bullpup|Mk 11 mod 5 (20 mm)}}
+
|-
−
 
+
! colspan="7" | ''Hull mount #2''
−
The {{PAGENAME}} can choose from a wide assortment of suspended armament combinations:
+
|-
−
 
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
−
* 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
+
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
−
* 9 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,500 lb total)
+
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
−
* 5 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,000 lb total)
+
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
−
* 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
+
|-
−
* 3 x AGM-12B Bullpup rockets
+
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+35° || ±15°
−
* 133 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
+
|-
−
* 28 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
+
|}
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles
 
−
* 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
 
−
* 16 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
 
−
* 16 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 1 AGM-12B Bullpup rocket
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 57 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles + 12 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
 
−
* 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 autocannons (750 RPG, 2,250 total rounds)
 
−
* 1 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 autocannon (750 RPG) + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
+
<!--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 {{PAGENAME}} while designated by the U.S. Navy as an attacker can work as a multi-role aircraft. Though the variety of armament leans heavily to the attacker side, this aircraft also has a fighter side which can feel more like a hotrod compared to some of the other fighters out there such as the [[F-4C Phantom II|F-4]] coming in at 14-tonnes more massive.
 
−
 
 
−
;Attacker
 
−
[[File:A-4B an trn 26 004.png|400px|thumb|right|Zuni rockets streaking towards their target.]]
 
−
The Douglas Aircraft Company built the {{PAGENAME}} from the ground up to be a small, fast and effective as an attack aircraft. While conventional wisdom would dictate that a larger aircraft would be necessary to carry enough suspended ordnance into battle to be effective, the Skyhawk shatters that myth. With only three hardpoints to attach ordnance to, specialized racks can extend the number of suspended weapons which the aircraft can carry. For instance, if using this aircraft to take out a mobile vehicle or anti-aircraft artillery, strapping on 18 x 250 lb bombs provides an opportunity to hit targets which may spread out or to divide ordnance between different clusters of targets. When attacking more heavily armoured targets or bases, the {{PAGENAME}} can choose to load up on 5 x 1,000 lb bombs or a single 2,000 lb bomb which creates considerable damage against ground targets.
 
−
 
 
−
Though bombs do a considerable amount of damage where they land, they are not the end-all answer to ground attack. Unguided rockets provide another option to the attacker-role of the aircraft. This aircraft has the option of loading up on 133 FFAR Mighty Mouse or 28 Zuni unguided rockets. When the pilot selects to fire these rockets in salvo mode, they have effectively turned their rockets into a large calibre autocannon which will not overhead or jam and continue to fire off rockets until the rocket tubes deplete of their ordnance. A salvo of Mighty Mouse rockets can also be extremely effective against aircraft or helicopters which may have a hard time getting out of the way when fired at from shorter distances. On domination maps, a salvo of rockets can make quick work of aircraft attempting to capture a runway.  Bullpup rockets are another option; however, with only three loaded at a time, it is essential to be selective with the targets.  To help with stabilizing the {{PAGENAME}} in a dive and while lining up targets, fuselage-mounted airbrakes can assist in preventing speed build up and stabilize the aircraft, however, once exiting an attack point, it is important to retract the airbrakes to allow for the aircraft to gain speed.
 
−
 
 
−
;Fighter
 
−
 
 
−
Typically the {{PAGENAME}} was not used as a fighter; however, it carried armament which allowed it to defend itself or take on targets of opportunity. Always at its disposal is two 20 mm autocannons each with 100 rounds, however, these won't last too long in an extended engagement. Other options which allow the aircraft to flex its offensive muscles include AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles or suspended 20 mm gun pods. The AIM-9B provides the Skyhawk with a bit more reach allowing it to hit aircraft which may be faster or out of range of the guns. Typically, when launched from less than a mile away, the missile does not track to the target and instead fly off.  For those pilots who enjoy fighting with aircraft guns, then the option to attach gun pods may be the way to go. Whether it is a single centerline gun pod or the addition of two more on each of the wing pylons, each suspended gun pod each contain 750 rounds of 20 mm ammunition.
 
  
−
Due to the diversity of weapons options afforded to the {{PAGENAME}} and their various configurations, pilots can customize their payloads to meet both their playstyle and missions. For those who want to unload the maximum damage against ground targets can choose solely to load up on bombs or rockets, while those opting for air-to-air can choose missiles and guns. Some pilots may want to take a smaller ground-attack load while affording some air-to-air protection with missiles. There is no right or wrong selection; it all depends on the fighting style of the pilot.
+
The M6A1 is at first a powerful machine with a 76 mm gun able to penetrate the front of most Rank III tanks. Once, bought make sure to stay behind cover as much as possible as one good hit can knock out the 76 mm gun. Another note is that with all multi-gun tanks, the secondary gun should be fired separately to maximize the efficiency of the shells. Since the tank is at Rank III, beware of [[IS-1]]s,[[Panther D|Panther]]s, [[Tiger H1|Tiger]]s and [[M4A3E2|Jumbos]] as they can all easily penetrate the weak frontal armour. Make sure to keep the rear safe as the M6A1's engine is very large for a heavy and is likely to set fire on the first hit. The M6A1 is only as powerful as to how the player uses it to its advantages.  
  
 
=== Modules ===
 
=== Modules ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
−
! Tier
+
!Tier
−
! colspan="2"|Flight performance
+
! colspan="2" |Mobility
−
! Survivability
+
!Protection
−
! colspan="3" | Weaponry
+
! colspan="2" |Firepower
 
|-
 
|-
−
| I
+
|I
−
| Fuselage repair
+
|Tracks||
−
| Compressor
+
|Parts
−
|  
+
|Horizontal Drive||M51B1/B2
−
| Offensive 20 mm cannons
 
−
| Mk81
 
−
| AGM-12B Bullpup
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| II
+
|II
−
| New boosters
+
|Suspension||Brake System
−
|  
+
|FPE
−
| Airframe
+
|Adjustment of Fire||M79 shot
−
|  
 
−
| Mk82
 
−
| LAU-3/A
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| III
+
|III
−
| Wings repair
+
|Filters||
−
| Engine
+
|Crew Replenishment
−
|
+
|Elevation Mechanism||
−
| New 20 mm cannons
 
−
| Mk83
 
−
| LAU-10/A
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| G-suit
 
−
|  
 
−
| Cover
 
−
| Gunpod Mk 4 mod 0
 
−
| Mk84
 
−
| AIM-9B
 
 
|-
 
|-
 +
|IV
 +
|Transmission||Engine
 +
|
 +
|||
 
|}
 
|}
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''-->
+
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
 +
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
 +
* Great main 76 mm gun with a secondary to ward off some low-priority threats
 +
* Good gun depression
 +
* Reload rate isn't generally affected when losing crew members
 +
* Has .50 cal AA machine gun, as well as a dual-mount .50 cal in front
 +
* First standard heavy tank in the US tree, which can dish out and take punishment equally
 +
* Lower portion of the hull sides are protected by additional 25.4 mm armour sheet
 +
* Adequate roof armour of 25 mm means aerial strafing will be of a little issue without large-calibre weaponry
 +
* Rear mounted transmission means it is not affected with a frontal penetration
 +
* Big hull increases the chance of surviving after a penetrating hit
 +
* Good acceleration and power-to-weight ratio
 +
* Good hill-climbing abilities
 +
* Very good cross country performance due to large tracks
  
−
'''Pros:'''
+
'''Cons:'''
−
* Small aircraft profile
 
−
* Wide variety armament options for air-to-ground, air-to-air or a mix of both
 
−
* Pilot protection with cockpit armour and bullet-proof windscreen
 
−
* Very manoeuvrable with minimal suspended ordnance (or after ordnance has been expended)
 
−
* 20 mm autocannons mounted in the wing roots, convergence adjustment may come into play for extreme distance shots
 
  
−
'''Cons:'''
+
* Lots of weak armour points, such as gun mantlet, upper side armour, driver port, MG port, and front armour cheeks
−
* Air-to-ground ordnance mounted under the wings negatively affect roll rate
+
* Armour profile overall is quite flat, no angling benefits
−
* Fully loaded with ordnance makes it difficult to evade if necessary
+
* Ammo is stored in the lower side armour
−
* Average speed, can reach Mach 1 in an extended dive with WEP
+
* All automotive module mounted in the rear, easily prone to damage, set ablaze, or exploded when shot
−
* Requires air-brakes to land on an aircraft carrier
+
* Slow top speed
−
* High stall speed
+
* Mediocre turn speed
 +
* Pretty large in general, will stand out in the battlefield
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
+
<!--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 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
−
[[File:A-4B an trn 26 002.png|400px|thumb|right|]]
+
===Development===
−
At a time when military aircraft were becoming more substantial in size to hold larger engines, more weapons, essential fuel and new technology, Douglas Aircraft's concept of the A-4 Skyhawk seemed counter-intuitive. The A-1 Skyraider, while a potent aircraft was starting to age out of the service as faster jets began to supplant the propeller-driven attacker. In the early 1950s, the U.S. Navy began its search for the next generation attacker and put out a requirement for an attacker with a maximum cost of $1 million and a maximum empty weight of 20,000 lbs (9,071 kg) and could carry enough ammunition to at least compete with the older but beefy A-1.
+
When World War II broke out, limited development in the United States meant that the military possessed very few tanks and so development hastened and eventually gave them tanks such as the [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee]] and [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. On May 20, 1940, the US Army Ordinance Corps began to work on a 50-ton heavy tank for their army. Initially, it was going to have a multi-turret design, two turrets with the 75 mm gun and one secondary turret with a 37 mm gun with a coaxial machine gun, then one more with a 20 mm gun with coaxial. Plus, four .30 cal machine guns were to be put on ball mounts on the front glacis and rear corners of the hull. This project was approved on June 11, 1940, and moved on as the ''Heavy Tank T1''. However at the same time, similar concepts in Europe of heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Soviet [[T-35]] and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] tanks were falling out of favour due to lack of combat effectiveness and unfavourable performance for their cost, and the US did the same in October so the design was changed.
  
−
Ed Heinemann, a designer at Douglas Aircraft Company, responded with the XA4D-1 attack aircraft. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Heinemann's design focused on an attack aircraft which would be minimal in size and weight along with being a simple aircraft to maintain. Douglas Aircraft succeeded in winning the contract and what became known by nicknames such as "Scooter" or "Bantam Bomber", the XA4D-1 (later changed to A-4) was a winning solution to the Navy's needs. The resulting attack aircraft came in at just over $850,000 each while weighing half of what was the Navy's original specification, owing to weight savings with the wings, being as short as they were, there was no need for them to fold to save space while stowed on an aircraft carrier. "Scooter" was an appropriate nickname for the A-4 as its original prototype set a world speed record in 1955 with a speed of 695.163 mph (1,118.756 km/h).
+
The tank now had one turret with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun alongside a coaxial 37 mm gun. The turret housed three crew members and was powered by an electrical traverse system. The commander's cupola was copied from the M3 Lee, featuring a hatch with it sown machine gun. Two .50 cal machine guns now protruded from the bow mount (fired by bow gunner) and two .30 cal machine guns as well (fired by the driver). The entire tank held six crew members, the commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver, loader #1, and loader #2. While the construction of the vehicle was feasible, the engine was not enough to power the vehicle reliably due to heavy 57-ton weight.
  
−
The A-4 though small in size, did not differ much in design from other military aircraft of the day. The wing was a low-mounted delta shape which had single forge spars which spanned to both wingtips for extra strength. Tricycle configuration for the landing gear allowed the nose to remain relatively low for excellent pilot visibility mainly when operating on the deck of an aircraft carrier. A single turbo-jet engine mounted at the rear of the aircraft was fed by two air intakes located just behind the cockpit on each side of the fuselage. Offensive weapons for this aircraft consisted of two 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, each one located in a wing root. Only 100 rounds are available for each gun. Still, a single fuselage centerline hardpoint and a hardpoint under each wing allow for utilisation of a wide variety of missiles, rockets, bombs and gun pods.
+
In 1941 to 1942, three prototypes were constructed with the different transmission, one with electrical and the rest with a torque converter. The ones with the torque converters were designated the '''Heavy Tank M6''' and '''M6A1'''. The electrical transmission design designated '''M6A2''', was never approved by Ordinance, but was to be manufactured anyway. It was hoped that 115 of these tanks could be built for further testing and production started in December 1942 with design changes. The commander's cupola now featured a regular hatch rather than the machine gun one, which was removed along with one of the machine gun in the front hull. By the time the M6 was ready for production, the Army was moving forward and interest waned on these heavy tanks with the [[M4|M4 Sherman's]] performance in the war. The M6's armour was only slightly thicker than the Sherman's and the 3-inch gun didn't offer too much improvement over the 75 mm gun, plus it had a large profile and low ergonomics, not to mention mechanical issues.
  
−
At the start of the Vietnam War, the A-4 Skyhawk was the primary light bomber for the Navy. A total of 542 A-4Bs were built and delivered to the Navy. Upgrades over the A-4A consisted of improved navigation equipment and flight control systems. AGM-12 Bullpup missiles were also a new weapon for this aircraft. The Skyhawk also utilised the AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles; however, these were mostly used as a defensive weapon and rarely for offensive purposes.  
+
===Production and cancellation===
 +
In early 1942, the M6 production was set for 250 a month but was cut down in September from 5,000 to a mere 100 when manufacturing focus moved to planes. By the end of 1942, Sherman's performance in the war proved its role in the war was more adaptable than the M6 heavy tank while remaining cheaper and lighter for transportation and supplying. This caused the M6 production to lower even more to just 40, before being shut down. Though testing with a 90 mm gun found the M6 to be a good gun mount, the poor layout of the tank restricted it, and the project was shut down before further development could be made.
  
−
The A-4 is a rugged little attack aircraft which remained in service with both the U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps for over 20 years before being retired. However, more than sixty years after initial operations began, the Skyhawk is only now still in service with the Brazilian Navy.  
+
In August 1944, the Ordinance Corps planned to modify some of the M6 heavy tanks with more armour and heavier armament to breach fortified areas. These were to be the '''M6A2E1''' and weighed 77 tons with a 190 mm front armour and a 105 mm gun. Eisenhower rejected these as impractical and cancelled it. The M6 was found to be obsolete by December 1944 with only 40 units produced and never seeing combat service. They served as a propaganda piece during the war and were all scrapped after it except one, which is put on display at Aberdeen, Maryland at the United States Army Ordinance Museum. During development, the M6 turret was modified to become the turret for the [[M10 GMC|M10 Tank Destroyer]].
 +
 
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
"At the end of May 1940 the US infantry chief of staff responsible for armor put together requirements for future tanks in light of what was happening in Europe: the German army was relentlessly moving toward France and using armor with great success along the way. The Wehrmacht's use of new Pz.IV tanks with 75 mm guns instantaneously made the American tanks and their 37 mm cannons obsolete.
 +
 
 +
The new tank type had to be heavy (around 50 short tons), with 76 mm and 37 mm cannons arranged side-by-side in the turret. It had four machine guns (two heavy caliber and two rifle caliber), a Wright G-200 engine, a Hydromatic transmission, and a top speed of 25 mph. The green light was given for the construction of four prototypes in February 1941.
 +
 
 +
The prototypes developed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were designed with different transmissions and hulls in the interests of finding the best option for full-scale production. Two modifications at most were permitted, and on April 13, 1942, the T1E2 and T1E3 were standardized as the M6 and M6A1. The latter added a welded hull, Wright G-200 engine, and torque converter to the M6.
 +
 
 +
Mass production was scheduled for November 1942, though a report by General Jacob Devers on December 7 indicated that the M6s would enjoy only limited tactical use due to their size. Moreover, two M4s equipped with 75 mm and 76 mm weapons could be built in place of two heavy tanks. As a result, the Armored Corps hurried to revoke the contract.
 +
 
 +
Between 1942 and 1943 the Baldwin Locomotive Works ended up producing 12 M6 heavy tanks. They did not join the army or see combat."
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
+
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
−
;Images
 
−
<gallery mode="packed">
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 001.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 002.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 003.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 004.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 005.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 006.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 007.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B WTWallpaper 008.jpg
 
−
File:A-4B an trn 26 001.png
 
−
File:A-4B an trn 26 005.png
 
−
</gallery>
 
−
 
 
−
;Videos
 
−
{{Youtube-gallery|NWhJ5-ar0aU|'''THE HAWK OF THE SKIES...Literally''' - ''Sgt.Vittie''|2-a9gkeZNc0|'''Maximum Rush /// A-4B Skyhawk''' - ''DEFYN''}}
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
* ''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.''
  
Line 241: Line 370:
 
<!--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;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
* ''other literature.''-->
 
* ''other literature.''-->
  
−
* [[wt:en/news/6597-development-douglas-a-4b-skyhawk-a-story-of-simplicity-en|[Devblog] Douglas A-4B Skyhawk: A Story of Simplicity]]
+
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/3209/current/ Official War Thunder forum article: [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> Heavy Tank M6A1]
−
* [[wikipedia:Douglas_A-4_Skyhawk|[Wikipedia] Douglas A-4 Skyhawk]]
 
  
−
{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
+
{{USA heavy tanks}}
−
{{USA jet aircraft}}
 

Revision as of 15:50, 17 April 2020

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
M6A1
us_m6a1.png
M6A1
USA flag.png USA
III Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.7 5.0 5.0
Class:
Research:26 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:76 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage M6A1.jpg


The Heavy Tank M6A1 is a rank III American heavy tank with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB) and 5.0 (RB/SB). It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals". A rather unusual tank design mounting two cannons in the turret, however, it has a durable frontal armour for the battle rating it occupies.

The M6A1 is one of the most unique tanks in the game, with its large hull and being as tall as a Tiger I. Another interesting feature is that it is one of the most manoeuvrable heavy tanks in the game with a powerful Wright G-200 engine (the same engine powering the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber) with a max speed of 35 km/h, making it very mobile in a battle situation. The tank has two 12.7 mm's in the hull which can be used but cannot be angled sideways. The M6A1 is one of the first American tanks as well in the game to have the transmission at the rear of the tank.

Something to keep in mind is the shell arc of the secondary 37 mm cannon. Its shell will usually hit the same spot on distances up to 1400 m (~1 mile). But do not forget that the gun is offset to the left in close combat, or it will not hit the target.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Transmission area, Turret)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 82.5 mm (5-35°) Front
101.6 mm (5-35°) Transmission		 44.4 mm 44.4 mm 25.4 mm
Turret 250 mm (6-65°) Turret front
50.8 + 50.8 mm (7-62°) Gun mantlet 		82.5 mm (0-12°) 82.5 mm (0-68°) 25.4 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 82.5 mm 25.4 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 17 mm thick.
  • Frontal armour plate is unevenly curved for better ricochet chances and efficient armour thickness.
  • Side skirts are 25 mm thick rolled homogeneous armour and will trigger fuses on APHE projectiles. In most cases, APHE shells set off before reaching the main hull and destroying the ammo stack beneath. Still, both skirts and hull are not sturdy enough to withstand a regular AP shell.

Mobility

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 38 5 56.8 1033 1,526 18.19 26.87
Realistic 36 5 708 800 12.46 14.08

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: M7 (76 mm)
76 mm M7
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
75 -10°/+30° ±180° Vertical
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 10.70 14.80 18.00 19.90 21.20
Realistic 10.70 12.60 15.30 16.92 18.0
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
7.67 6.78 6.25 5.90
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M62 Shell APCBC 127 125 116 106 97 89
M42A1 Shell HE 7 7 7 7 7 7
M79 Shot AP 155 154 131 107 88 72
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%
M62 Shell 792 7 1.2 20 63.7 +4° 48° 63° 71°
M42A1 Shell 800 5.8 0.1 0.5 390 +0° 79° 80° 81°
M79 Shot 792 6.8 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the M6A1.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
75 40 (+35) 4 (+71) 1 (+74) Yes

Additional armament

Main article: M3 (37 mm)
37 mm M3
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
202 N/A N/A
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
M74B1 AP 90 89 69 50 37 27
M63 Shell HE 2 2 2 2 2 2
M51B1/B2 APC 79 78 69 59 51 43
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%
M74B1 883 0.87 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
M63 Shell 807 0.73 0.1 0.5 38 +0° 79° 80° 81°
M51B1/B2 883 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 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
202 85 (+12) 161 (+41) 121 (+81) 81 (+121) 41 (+161) 1 (+201) Yes

Machine guns

Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,000 (200) 576 -10°/+50° ±120°
Hull mount #1
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
3,000 (200) 576 -10°/+35° ±15°
Hull mount #2
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
3,000 (200) 576 -10°/+35° ±15°

Usage in battles

The M6A1 is at first a powerful machine with a 76 mm gun able to penetrate the front of most Rank III tanks. Once, bought make sure to stay behind cover as much as possible as one good hit can knock out the 76 mm gun. Another note is that with all multi-gun tanks, the secondary gun should be fired separately to maximize the efficiency of the shells. Since the tank is at Rank III, beware of IS-1s,Panthers, Tigers and Jumbos as they can all easily penetrate the weak frontal armour. Make sure to keep the rear safe as the M6A1's engine is very large for a heavy and is likely to set fire on the first hit. The M6A1 is only as powerful as to how the player uses it to its advantages.

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Horizontal Drive M51B1/B2
II Suspension Brake System FPE Adjustment of Fire M79 shot
III Filters Crew Replenishment Elevation Mechanism
IV Transmission Engine

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great main 76 mm gun with a secondary to ward off some low-priority threats
  • Good gun depression
  • Reload rate isn't generally affected when losing crew members
  • Has .50 cal AA machine gun, as well as a dual-mount .50 cal in front
  • First standard heavy tank in the US tree, which can dish out and take punishment equally
  • Lower portion of the hull sides are protected by additional 25.4 mm armour sheet
  • Adequate roof armour of 25 mm means aerial strafing will be of a little issue without large-calibre weaponry
  • Rear mounted transmission means it is not affected with a frontal penetration
  • Big hull increases the chance of surviving after a penetrating hit
  • Good acceleration and power-to-weight ratio
  • Good hill-climbing abilities
  • Very good cross country performance due to large tracks

Cons:

  • Lots of weak armour points, such as gun mantlet, upper side armour, driver port, MG port, and front armour cheeks
  • Armour profile overall is quite flat, no angling benefits
  • Ammo is stored in the lower side armour
  • All automotive module mounted in the rear, easily prone to damage, set ablaze, or exploded when shot
  • Slow top speed
  • Mediocre turn speed
  • Pretty large in general, will stand out in the battlefield

History

Development

When World War II broke out, limited development in the United States meant that the military possessed very few tanks and so development hastened and eventually gave them tanks such as the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman. On May 20, 1940, the US Army Ordinance Corps began to work on a 50-ton heavy tank for their army. Initially, it was going to have a multi-turret design, two turrets with the 75 mm gun and one secondary turret with a 37 mm gun with a coaxial machine gun, then one more with a 20 mm gun with coaxial. Plus, four .30 cal machine guns were to be put on ball mounts on the front glacis and rear corners of the hull. This project was approved on June 11, 1940, and moved on as the Heavy Tank T1. However at the same time, similar concepts in Europe of heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Soviet T-35 and the German Neubaufahrzeug tanks were falling out of favour due to lack of combat effectiveness and unfavourable performance for their cost, and the US did the same in October so the design was changed.

The tank now had one turret with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun alongside a coaxial 37 mm gun. The turret housed three crew members and was powered by an electrical traverse system. The commander's cupola was copied from the M3 Lee, featuring a hatch with it sown machine gun. Two .50 cal machine guns now protruded from the bow mount (fired by bow gunner) and two .30 cal machine guns as well (fired by the driver). The entire tank held six crew members, the commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver, loader #1, and loader #2. While the construction of the vehicle was feasible, the engine was not enough to power the vehicle reliably due to heavy 57-ton weight.

In 1941 to 1942, three prototypes were constructed with the different transmission, one with electrical and the rest with a torque converter. The ones with the torque converters were designated the Heavy Tank M6 and M6A1. The electrical transmission design designated M6A2, was never approved by Ordinance, but was to be manufactured anyway. It was hoped that 115 of these tanks could be built for further testing and production started in December 1942 with design changes. The commander's cupola now featured a regular hatch rather than the machine gun one, which was removed along with one of the machine gun in the front hull. By the time the M6 was ready for production, the Army was moving forward and interest waned on these heavy tanks with the M4 Sherman's performance in the war. The M6's armour was only slightly thicker than the Sherman's and the 3-inch gun didn't offer too much improvement over the 75 mm gun, plus it had a large profile and low ergonomics, not to mention mechanical issues.

Production and cancellation

In early 1942, the M6 production was set for 250 a month but was cut down in September from 5,000 to a mere 100 when manufacturing focus moved to planes. By the end of 1942, Sherman's performance in the war proved its role in the war was more adaptable than the M6 heavy tank while remaining cheaper and lighter for transportation and supplying. This caused the M6 production to lower even more to just 40, before being shut down. Though testing with a 90 mm gun found the M6 to be a good gun mount, the poor layout of the tank restricted it, and the project was shut down before further development could be made.

In August 1944, the Ordinance Corps planned to modify some of the M6 heavy tanks with more armour and heavier armament to breach fortified areas. These were to be the M6A2E1 and weighed 77 tons with a 190 mm front armour and a 105 mm gun. Eisenhower rejected these as impractical and cancelled it. The M6 was found to be obsolete by December 1944 with only 40 units produced and never seeing combat service. They served as a propaganda piece during the war and were all scrapped after it except one, which is put on display at Aberdeen, Maryland at the United States Army Ordinance Museum. During development, the M6 turret was modified to become the turret for the M10 Tank Destroyer.

In-game description

"At the end of May 1940 the US infantry chief of staff responsible for armor put together requirements for future tanks in light of what was happening in Europe: the German army was relentlessly moving toward France and using armor with great success along the way. The Wehrmacht's use of new Pz.IV tanks with 75 mm guns instantaneously made the American tanks and their 37 mm cannons obsolete.

The new tank type had to be heavy (around 50 short tons), with 76 mm and 37 mm cannons arranged side-by-side in the turret. It had four machine guns (two heavy caliber and two rifle caliber), a Wright G-200 engine, a Hydromatic transmission, and a top speed of 25 mph. The green light was given for the construction of four prototypes in February 1941.

The prototypes developed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were designed with different transmissions and hulls in the interests of finding the best option for full-scale production. Two modifications at most were permitted, and on April 13, 1942, the T1E2 and T1E3 were standardized as the M6 and M6A1. The latter added a welded hull, Wright G-200 engine, and torque converter to the M6.

Mass production was scheduled for November 1942, though a report by General Jacob Devers on December 7 indicated that the M6s would enjoy only limited tactical use due to their size. Moreover, two M4s equipped with 75 mm and 76 mm weapons could be built in place of two heavy tanks. As a result, the Armored Corps hurried to revoke the contract.

Between 1942 and 1943 the Baldwin Locomotive Works ended up producing 12 M6 heavy tanks. They did not join the army or see combat."

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, 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 heavy tanks
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6  T1E1 · M6A1 · M6A2E1
T26  T26E1-1 · T26E5
T29/30/34  T29 · T30 · T34
T32  T32 · T32E1
M103  M103
Others  T14

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