In the years following WWII, the US Airborne units looked to improve their anti-tank capabilities. The result was the M56, an unarmored tank destroyer. When deployed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Scorpion saw combat service in Vietnam, before eventually being replaced by the M551 Sheridan.
Credit: bomberpilot1784
| Pros | Cons |
| A power-to-weight ratio of 28.6 hp/t | Poor survivability and fully exposed crew |
| Good reverse speed and high acceleration allows for a speedy retreat after firing | Poor survivability is made worse by the small crew count of three |
| Low profile can improve survivability | Lacks an MG to clear away light obstructions |
| Powerful cannon, boasting APCBC and HEAT-FS shells that can out reload many tanks at your BR. | Powerful engine is hampered by a maximum speed of 45 km/h |
Armor and Survivability
The M56 is an unarmored TD. The only resemblance to armor plating is the blast shield, offering a meager 5 mm of protection. For context, a 7.62 mm round will pass through it at a range of up to 500 m. The hull is also entirely unarmored, though the transmission and engine can offer protection against weaker kinetic rounds.
When it comes to survivability, the M56 is a little better off. Positioned hull-down means that rounds will often pass through your blast plate, doing minimal damage, or in some rare cases, being absorbed by the breach.
When caught in the open, the M56 is extremely vulnerable to the Triple “A"s: auto-cannons, aircraft, and artillery. Of course, avoiding direct enemy fire completely is the best solution to any tank’s survivability and the Scorpion’s low profile and small size makes that task easy.
Be especially careful when engaging tanks armed with auto-cannons as they can and will shred you from any practical range.
Credit: Caff_
Mobility
The Scorpion tips the scales at a mere 7 tons while packing 200 hp. As such, the M56 sports the acceleration of a light tank, with 28.6 hp/ton, but is hampered by a poor top speed of 28.0 miles/hour (45 kilometers/hour). While this is still faster than most medium and heavy tanks, you will often find yourself falling behind light tanks. When it comes to evacuating an area, the reverse speed is an excellent 11.8 miles/hour (19 kilometers/hour).
Credit: bomberpilot1784
Armament and Ammunition
The powerful M54 cannon is the true highlight of the M56 and is what gives this TD such a punch. The wide selection of ammunition includes HEAT-FS and allows the M56 to engage any target, at any range, with ease.
The reload for the 90mm cannon is also extremely good at 7.8 seconds basic and 6.0 seconds aced. It’s worth noting that the gunner also doubles as the loader, meaning that the loss of a crew member will not affect reload times.
Your gun handling is good, if slightly less important due to your turret-less design. The horizontal and vertical drive speeds both come in at 4.2 degrees/second basic and 6.0 degrees/second aced. The maximum depression is -10 degrees and your horizontal guidance is a very good +/- 30 degrees.
| Ammo Name | Ammo Type | Maximum Pen (10 m @ 0 deg.) | Information |
| M332 | APCR | 291 mm | Stock round with poor post-penetration damage. |
| M82 | APCBC | 185 mm | Primary round with good penetration and catastrophic post-pen damage. |
| M431 | HEAT-FS | 320 mm | Penetration is the same at all ranges but damage can be slightly inconsistent. Will detonate on contact with obstacles. |
| M71 | HE | 20 mm | Stock HE Round with decent explosive mass. |
| T142E3 | HESH | 102 mm | A high explosive round with more TNT compared to M71. |
| M313 | Smoke | 5 mm | A smoke round which can blind opponents and cover allied tanks. |
Credit: Habsonik
Gameplay and Enemies To Note
Suggested Ammo Selection:
- 16 rounds of M82 APCBC: your primary round with good pen and catastrophic post-pen damage. I take this as my primary round over HEAT-FS due to its slightly more reliable nature.
- 8 rounds of M431 HEAT-FS: use this round when forced to engage heavily armored targets or when engaging at large distances.
- 4 rounds of T142E3 HESH: great for handling light targets or over-pressuring hull-down tanks with cupola shots.
- 1 rounds of M313 Smoke: while not as practical as smoke-grenades, the smoke round is still useful for blinding select opponents, providing personal cover, or cover for teammates.
When selecting rounds, keep in mind that the lack of an MG means HEAT-FS can become useless in certain situations, as it will detonate on contact with trees, fences, etc.
The M56 is a vehicle that excels on open maps and medium to long ranges. Use your acceleration to quickly reach strategic lanes of fire or to setup an early game ambush. Once behind cover, take advantage of the M54 cannon to one-shot enemies, while using your low profile to remain an elusive target.
When it comes to engaging at point-blank (such as in a village or city area) the primary weakness of the M56 becomes even more apparent. The exposed crew means that an enemy can quickly and efficiently machine gun you without so much as using their main cannon. This does not mean that you should avoid these maps entirely though, as the small size of the vehicle allows for strategic ambushes in unexpected positions.
In addition, its worth noting that the things which make the Scorpion a strong TD remain relevant in up-tiers. The cannon is practically the same as many 7.7 and 8.0 tanks, with a competitive reload and ammo. Unlike vehicles that rely on BR dependent factors such as armor, the M56 performs equally well at 6.7 or 7.7.
I put a list of “enemies to note” below, but in the case of the M56, everything is a threat. Just keep your eyes open for tanks with auto-cannons and vehicles sporting high caliber HE shells. Master this powerful TD and it will not disappoint!
- PzH 2000: The combination of superior reload, laser rangefinder, and HE-VT rounds is something to worry about.
- Wiesel 1A4: Thermals and an auto-cannon. Need I say more?
- BTR-80A: A very fast light tank with good firepower and almost no armor. Be careful though as your APCBC will often fail to fuse on the thin armor.
- SU-100P: the Scorpion’s Russian equivalent. Its armor is very light though and I find that HEAT-FS does a wonderful job of over-pressuring it.
Lineup
Your lineup is a very important aspect of a tank and allows you to stay in matches longer, maximizing rewards. Fortunately, USA boasts a very strong lineup alongside the M56, with lots of tank and CAS options. I would suggest running at least two heavy tanks, such as the T34 and T26E1-1, for down-tiers; the armor and firepower found on these heavy tanks is extremely effective. In an up-tier, mobility can often be key to success, with the M56 performing especially well, as discussed above. For CAS, you have one of the most extensive Aviation Ranks in the game, with many of the vehicles able to carry at least a pair of bombs. The F4U-4B and F8F-1B are some of the best option, in my opinion.
As a side-note, the M56 + M50 is a really great combo, with one excelling at sniping and the other at CQC.
Credit: Caff_
To conclude, the M56 Scorpion is a must have for any American player, excelling across different terrain and remaining perfectly viable in up-tiers and even higher BRs.
I hope you enjoyed the article and look for another article about something fun!
