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| − | {{Specs-Card|code=us_m551}}
| + | Protection scale for Density Visualisation. |
| − | | + | [[Category:Armor]] |
| − | == Description ==
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| − | <!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
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| − | [[File:GarageImage_M551Sheridan.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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| − | {{break}}
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| − | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. The tank was added in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]].
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| − | | |
| − | == General info ==
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| − | === Survivability and armour ===
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| − | <!--''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?''
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| − | | |
| − | ''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
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| − | '''Armour type:'''
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| − | | |
| − | * Aluminum Alloy 7039
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| − | * Rolled homogeneous armour (Turret)
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| − | * Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
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| − | | |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Armour !! Front (Slope Angle°) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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| − | |-
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| − | | Hull || 25.4 mm (70°), 12.7 mm (87°) ''Front Glacis'' <br> 31.7 mm (33°) ''Lower Glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (2-80°) ''Driver's port'' || 19 + 2 mm ''Top'' <br> 25.4 mm (0-56°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (49-50°) ''Top'' <br> 19 mm (32-55°) ''Bottom'' || 19 mm <br> 12.7 mm ''Engine grilles''
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| − | |-
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| − | | Turret || 25.4 mm (6-78°) ''Turret front'' <br> 31.7 mm (1-81°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (50-55°) || 25.4 mm (46-54°) || 19 mm
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
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| − | |-
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| − | | Cupola || 31.7 mm || 31.7 mm
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | '''Notes:'''
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| − | | |
| − | * Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
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| − | Against most opponents, the M551 can be destroyed with a single shot. It's best to just stay in one spot along a road and wait for an enemy to pass by where so that they present their vulnerable side armour and vitals to target at. Once the ATGMS are unlocked then the player can stay out of range from everything but ATGMs.
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| − | | |
| − | === Mobility ===
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| − | <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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| − | | |
| − | {{tankMobility|abMinHp= 465|rbMinHp= 265|<!--AoAweight=(optional) -->}}
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| − | | |
| − | == Armaments ==
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| − | === Main armament ===
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| − | <!--''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.''-->
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| − | {{main|M81 (152 mm)}}
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| − | | |
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="6" | [[M81 (152 mm)|152 mm M81]]
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
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| − | |-
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| − | | colspan="3" | 30 || -8°/+19° || ±180° || Two-plane
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
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| − | |-
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Mode
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Stock
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
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| − | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
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| − | |-
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| − | | ''Arcade'' || 46.24 || 52.71 || 64.00 || 70.78 || 75.29
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| − | |-
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| − | | ''Realistic'' || 23.80 || 28.00 || 34.00 || 37.60 || 40.00
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
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| − | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
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| − | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
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| − | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
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| − | |-
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| − | | 15.6 || 13.8 || 12.72 || 12.0
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | ===== Ammunition =====
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| − | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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| − | ! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
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| − | |-
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| − | ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
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| − | ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
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| − | ! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! 10m
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| − | ! 100m
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| − | ! 500m
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| − | ! 1000m
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| − | ! 1500m
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| − | ! 2000m
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| − | |-
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| − | | M409A1 || HEAT || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380 || 380
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| − | |-
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| − | | M657A2 || HE || 45 || 45 || 44 || 43 || 42 || 42
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| − | |-
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| − | | MGM-61B Shillelagh || ATGM || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431 || 431
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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| − | ! colspan="10" | Shell details
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| − | |-
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| − | ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
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| − | ! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
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| − | ! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
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| − | ! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
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| − | ''in m:''
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| − | ! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
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| − | ''in mm:''
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| − | ! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
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| − | ! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
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| − | ! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! 0%
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| − | ! 50%
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| − | ! 100%
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| − | |-
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| − | | M409A1 || 682 || 18.9 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 3,730 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°
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| − | |-
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| − | | M657A2 || 682 || 22 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 4,300 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
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| − | |-
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| − | | MGM-61B Shillelagh || 323 || 27.8 || 0.0 || 0.01 || 3,600 || +0° || 80° || 82° || 90°
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | ===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
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| − | [[File:Ammoracks_M551.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the M551 Sheridan.]]
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| − | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br /> rack empty
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br /> rack empty
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br /> rack empty
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| − | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
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| − | |-
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| − | || '''30''' || 28 ''(+2)'' || 26 ''(+4)'' || 21 ''(+9)'' || 14 ''(+16)'' || 1 ''(+29)'' || style="text-align:center" | No
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | === Machine guns ===
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| − | <!--''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.''-->
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| − | {{main|Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}
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| − | | |
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="7" | [[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
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| − | |-
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| − | | colspan="4" | 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="7" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
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| − | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
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| − | |-
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| − | | colspan="4" | 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | == Usage in battles ==
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| − | <!--''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).''-->
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| − | The ''Sheridan'', even with the ability to fire ATGMS, is an extremely difficult tank to use due to it having no armour. Even some high-power MGs can penetrate the armour easily. The stock heat round while having high pen drops like a rock at range and bounces ALOT. Immediately upon reaching the tier 2 modifications research the ATGM missiles. Once those are unlocked the ''Sheridan'' becomes a fast and mobile missile platform that out ranges most vehicles in game. With only the stock HEAT always aim for ammo racks. This is pretty much the only way to destroy the heavier tanks. The mobile AAs will be the M551's biggest problems. While the ''Sheridan'' can drive circles around most of its heavy opponents, the fast anti-air turret can keep up with the M551, able to tear the armour to pieces. The ATGMs are a vast improvement over the HEAT rounds, one shotting pretty much everything and extending the ''Sheridan'' range past that of most of its opponents.
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| − | Stay in the back, everything will one shot the tank. Use the M551's speed and maneuverability to get around enemies. Don't be afraid to get in real close to the enemy, because with only HEAT, the 152 mm's effective range is very limited. Once ATGMs are usable, the ''Sheridan'' becomes an extremely formidable sniper. Able to fire on target, destroy a target, then move position for another opportunity. In Arcade, the ''Sheridan'' is an easy target for everyone, but in realistic and simulator its speed makes it a very hard target to hit.
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| − | ===Modules===
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| − | {| class="wikitable"
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| − | !Tier
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| − | ! colspan="2" |Mobility
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| − | !Protection
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| − | ! colspan="3" |Firepower
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| − | |-
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| − | |I
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| − | |Tracks||
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| − | |Parts
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| − | |Horizontal Drive||||
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| − | |-
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| − | |II
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| − | |Suspension||Brake System
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| − | |FPE
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| − | |Adjustment of Fire||Airstrike||MGM-51B Shillelagh
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| − | |-
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| − | |III
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| − | |Filters||
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| − | |Crew Replenishment
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| − | |Elevation Mechanism||Smoke grenade||
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| − | |-
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| − | |IV
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| − | |Transmission||Engine
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| − | |
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| − | |Artillery Support||Improved optics||NVD
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | === Pros and cons ===
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| − | <!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
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| − | '''Pros:'''
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| − | | |
| − | * Dual-purpose cannon, firing regular shells or [[Anti-tank guided missiles|guided missiles]]
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| − | * Very fast turret traverse
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| − | * Missiles in RB have a point-to-aim guidance system
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| − | * Rather small profile in comparison to other Rank V vehicles
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| − | * Can have NVD (Night Vision Devices) as a Tier 4 Modification.
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| − | | |
| − | '''Cons:'''
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| − | * Virtually no armour
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| − | * Uses only chemical rounds, no kinetic rounds (AP) available
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| − | * Low ammunition storage (30)
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| − | * ATGM has a reload several seconds longer than normal ammunition
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| − | * Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition total
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| − | * Can be hull broken with 100 mm HEAT shells
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| − | * Considering the low-velocity shells, absence of rangefinder is noticeable.
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| − | | |
| − | == History ==
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| − | <!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
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| − | {{main|M551/History|l1=History of the M551}}
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| − | ===Development===
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| − | In the post-war period, U.S. Army specified for a new light tank that is light enough for air-transportation and have a large cruising range. The first resulting light tank, the [[M41A1|M41 ''Walker Bulldog'']], did not meet these specifications and the following development such as the [[T92]] were cancelled after the discovery of the amphibious Soviet [[PT-76B|PT-76]] tank, which added a requirement for the light tank to also be amphibious. A new tank design began development, using aluminum alloy to save weight, a fabric screen for flotation, and a controversial [[M81 (152 mm)|152 mm gun/launcher]] for firepower with the Shillelagh missiles. However, the design's lightweight and mobility made it favorable and so the tank was approved for Army standard in May 1966 and designated the '''M551 ''Sheridan'''''. Between 1966 to 1970, 1,662 ''Sheridans'' were produced at a program cost of $1.3 billion.<ref name="ZalogaM551">Zaloga, 2009</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Deployment===
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| − | The ''Sheridan'' first saw service in June 1967 n the 1/63rd Armor Regiment at Fort Riley. The first air usage of the ''Sheridan'' came from the 1/17th Cavalry at Fort Bragg. Its first overseas deployment was to South Korea in November 1968 and Europe in January 1969. 800 ''Sheridans'' were deployed worldwide by 1971. Troubles with the 152 mm Gun/Launcher plagued the M551's early service life as attempts were made to fix the issues in the weapon's ammo propellant and ability to fire missiles.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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| − | The ''Sheridan's'' tank's first combat would be seen in Vietnam under the urging of General Creighton Abrams. The tank first arrived in January 1969 modified for the environment in a configuration dubbed "Two-Box M551" with many complex mechanical instrument boxes removed (save for two), as well as the ability to fire the Shillelagh missiles disabled and the production of a fletchette ammunition for the 152 mm gun/launcher. First impressions of the ''Sheridan'' were positive due to the weapon's effectiveness in anti-infantry and bunker busting roles, as well as the mobility able to maintain speed with the M113 armoured personnel carriers. However, experience soon soured when the lack of armour became apparent compared to the [[M48A1|M48 Pattons]] employed in the theater, with the M551 vulnerable to mines and the numerous hand-held anti-tank weaponry.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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| − | Post-Vietnam, the M551 Sheridans underwent a product improvement program (PIP) that upgraded the design. The next combat operation would be in ''Operation Just Cause'' in Panama, featuring the first and only time tanks were parachuted into a combat zone. Inserted with the 82nd Airborne Division, the M551 proved a popular psychological weapon against the opposing forces. After Panama, the M551 were also deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War in both Operation ''Desert Shield'' and ''Desert Storm'', where in the latter they fought Iraqi units equipped with [[T-55A|T-55s]] and [[T-72A|T-72s]] in the only time in the M551's history that the gun-launched Shillelagh missiles were used against an enemy.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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| − | Back in the United States, the M551 also found use in the U.S. Army's National Training Center at the Mojave desert in California, where they are dressed up to look like Soviet vehicles to play as the "opposing forces" to train the army units on tactics in the battlefield. After the Gulf War, the Sheridan's combat career came to an end and so they remained in service at the National Training Center until 2004. The ''Sheridans'' were retired without any replacement in the airborne tank role. Though attempts had been made in the late 1990's for a replacement, the Army decided that an airborne tank was simply not worth the cost for a specialized vehicle.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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| − | == Media ==
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| − | <!--''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''-->
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| − | [http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23M551 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the M551 from live.warthunder.com.]
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| − | | |
| − | ==References==
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| − | '''Citations:'''
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| − | <references />
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| − | | |
| − | '''Bibliography'''
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| − | | |
| − | * Zaloga Steven. ''M551 Sheridan: US Airmobile Tanks 1941-2001'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2009
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| − | | |
| − | == See also ==
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| − | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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| − | | |
| − | * ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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| − | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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| − | | |
| − | == External links ==
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| − | <!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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| − | * ''topic on the official game forum;''
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| − | * ''encyclopedia page on tank;''
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| − | * ''other literature.''-->
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| − | [http://warthunder.com/en/news/3736-development-m551-sheridan-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M551 Sheridan]<br />
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| − | {{USA light tanks}}
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| − | | |
| − | [[Category:ATGM vehicles]]
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