In the early stages of the Vietnam War, the US short-range air defense primarily consisted of the M42 “Dusters”. However, the 40mm Bofors guns were becoming less adequate due to rapid advances in aviation technology. To improve on this, the 20 mm Vulcan cannon used on American jets was utilized as the basis of a new short-range air defense gun, modified into the M168 gun. Mounted on the M113 APC chassis, the M163 VADS (Vulcan Air Defense System) is equipped with a loadout that, while insufficient compared to other long-distance tracking SPAA like the Gepard or the ZSU-23-4, is sufficient enough as a short-range SPAA that can rip and tear through aircraft with its 20mm M168 Vulcan Gun.
The XM803 stands as a daring experiment in American tank design, conceived from the ambitious MBT-70 program. Initially envisioned as a next-generation main battle tank to replace the aging M60 family, the XM803 was engineered to combine overwhelming firepower with exceptional mobility. Outfitted with a cutting-edge 152 mm XM150E6 gun/launcher, advanced targeting systems, and a two-plane gun stabilizer paired with an autoloader, it promised to redefine battlefield engagement. Yet, in its quest to balance performance and cost, the XM803 sacrificed armor protection and crew survivability making it a high risk, high reward vehicle that rewards skilled, hit-and-run tactics with its incredible mobility and firepower.
The M44 is a Tank Destroyer introduced in Update 2.43, "Storm Warning", and resides in many tech trees. This vehicle currently sits in Rank III. The M44's 155mm cannon is feared by many due to its higher-than-average HE velocity and quick traverse, although it is also just as vulnerable due to its open-top design.
The M60A1 (AOS) represents an important evolutionary step in the American main battle tank lineage. Introduced as an improvement over the standard M60, the AOS (Add-On Stabilization) variant features a two-plane gun stabilizer, significantly enhancing its ability to fire accurately on the move. While it retains the powerful 105 mm M68 cannon of its predecessor, it also introduces an improved turret design with better-angled armor compared to the hemispherical turret of the standard M60. However, its large silhouette and underwhelming mobility make it vulnerable in fast-paced engagements. In the right hands, though, it can be a highly effective frontline vehicle.
The AS-20 Nord is a French guided Air-to-Surface missile, roughly analogous to the U.S. AGM-12 Bullpup in that both are early MCLOS missiles that you use your Alt + WASD keys to control on PC. Used to give aircraft like the G.91 their long-ranged 'teeth' but also giving them their notoriety as well, let’s dive into the intricacies of Nords and how to use them effectively!
Throughout the past century of tank development, a large range of ammunition types have been produced and seen combat. As time progressed, technology improved and rounds also improved in terms of lethality, accuracy and ballistic performance. Despite this, most rounds can be categorised under one of two primary categories: kinetic rounds and chemical rounds; and further under a variety of subcategories.
The T-10M was the final variant of the T-10 series of tanks and the last Soviet heavy tank, which was adopted in 1961. It was a overhaul of the of the series incorporating some of the most advanced features at the time such as the T2S-29-14 “Udar” fire control system featuring a automatic lead calculator, which made it a very formidable enemy.
