M247

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Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
us_m247.png
GarageImage M247.jpg
ArtImage M247.png
M247
AB RB SB
9.0 9.0 9.0
Class:
Research:190 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:520 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

The M247 Sergeant York Division Air Defense (DIVAD) was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed by Ford Aerospace in the late 1970s. A new turret with twin 40 mm M266 Bofors autocannons guided by radar has been fitted, using the chassis of the M48 Patton main battle tank. The vehicle bears the name of the well-known World War I soldier, Sergeant Alvin York. Although numerous off-the-shelf technologies were used to facilitate quick and inexpensive development, several technical issues and significant cost overruns led to the project's cancellation in 1985. A total of just 50 units were manufactured.

Introduced in Update 1.81 "The Valkyries", the M247 Sergeant York DIVAD is an extremely capable vehicle for the anti-aircraft role. Armed with proximity-fused 40 mm ammunition, this vehicle is capable of shredding any aircraft within a 2.0 km radius. Semi-armour-piercing rounds are also available, but they are only effective against lightly armoured targets. Players can go with teammates while keeping the skies clear, engaging enemy aircraft long before they can drop their bombs on teammates.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull110 / 76 / 35
Turret25 / 12 / 12
Crew3 people
Visibility192 %

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour (hull)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull sides - rear bulge, hull roof, turret)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 85-200 mm (59-74°) Front glacis
63-200 mm (13-60°) Lower glacis
76 mm (8-43°) Front
51 mm (0-43°) Rear
35 mm (26-32°) Top
25 mm (61-62°) Bottom
57 mm
Turret 25.4 mm (15-76°) Turret front (Upper)
12.7 mm (40-69°) Turret front (Lower)
25.4 mm (0-87°) Gun mantlet
12.7-25.4 mm (0-19°) Upper
12.7 mm (40-69°) Lower
12.7 mm (18°) 12.7 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 38 mm thick in the front half and 25 mm in the rear.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB53 / 9 km/h
RB and SB49 / 8 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
2 back
Weight49.4 t
Engine power
AB1 431 hp
RB and SB750 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB29.0 hp/t
RB and SB15.2 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 53 9 49.4 1,065 1,431 21.56 28.97
Realistic 49 8 663 750 13.42 15.18

The M247's turret is installed on the hull of an M48 medium tank, because of this they have roughly similar mobility. The M247 is about 3 tons heavier than the M48A1 (49.3 tons vs. 46.4 tons), and has a slightly weaker engine, which translates into a slightly more sluggish machine compared to the M48A1. The M48A1 has a max engine power of 810 hp, while the M247's engine power is 750 hp. For a vehicle this heavy, it has fairly good mobility. When spaded, it can comfortably hit a top speed of 45 km/h on flat terrain, while in cross-country you will have a top speed of around 25 km/h. While going backwards, the top speed is somewhat less impressive: about -9 km/h.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB5 165 → 7 685 Sl icon.png
RB4 339 → 6 456 Sl icon.png
SB5 114 → 7 609 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications157 400 Rp icon.png
262 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 600 Ge icon.png
Crew training150 000 Sl icon.png
Experts520 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces950 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
160 / 210 / 240 % Sl icon.png
220 / 220 / 220 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_SGT_YORK_HE_ammo_pack
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_SGT_YORK_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods night vision device.png
NVD
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_SGT_YORK_HE_prox_ammo_pack
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

2 x 40 mm M266 automatic cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition500 rounds
Belt capacity125 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Fire rate300 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 85°
Main article: M266 (40 mm)
40 mm M266 automatic Cannon (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 560 (280) 300 -10°/+85° ±180° Two-plane 79.2 109.7 133.2 147.3 156.7 6.50 5.75 5.30 5.00
Realistic 53.6 63.0 76.5 84.6 90.0

Ammunition

  • Default: SAPHEI · HEF-I*
  • M811 Fuze Delay: SAPHEI
  • M811: HEF-I* - Unlike the M822 HE-VT* shells, these require direct hits on aircraft to do significant damage, but if you experience problems with the M822 detonating too early, this belt may be your best choice. This belt does not have tracers, which may make it harder to hit with, but at the same time it will be more difficult for enemy helicopters to detect your shots.
  • M822: HE-VT* - Proximity-fused shells that absolutely obliterate aircraft when they make contact, though if they detonate too early, they will do little to no damage. Somewhat unreliable in if they detonate within range of the target, but when they do the target will quickly take considerable damage if not destroyed. The only ammunition for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns that which can cause enough shrapnel damage to bring down planes and helicopters even with near misses. This round should be the go-to anti-air ammunition, although the M811 is a good backup if the M822 is problematic for the gunner.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
SAPHEI 38 36 30 24 19 15
HEF-I* 12 12 10 8 6 6
HE-VT* 12 12 10 8 6 5
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
SAPHEI 1,100 0.86 1.2 9 262.35 79° 80° 81°
HEF-I* 1,100 0.86 0.1 0.1 262.35 79° 80° 81°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Arming
distance (m)
Trigger
radius (m)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HE-VT* 1,100 0.86 0.1 0.1 500 4 190.8 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M247
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
1 0 (+1) No

Notes:

  • With a single ammunition rack, you can bring only 1 type of ammunition in battle.

Usage in battles

The M247 Sgt. York is a very deadly SPAA, The M247 is deadly to some lightly armoured vehicles but even deadlier to Aircraft. When using the M247 you can easily shred some lightly armoured vehicles like the Leopard 1. Where the speciality of the M247 is its Proximity fused 40 mm rounds. They will shred any aircraft within a 2.0 km radius. You can play the vehicle mostly in 2 ways. You can push and try defending caps from the enemies and keeping the skies clear, or stay back behind cover and keep the skies clear for your allies while using your AP rounds to fend off enemy vehicles.

Generally, enemy tanks should be avoided, your rounds don't have the penetration to deal with all but the lightest of targets. Avoid confrontations if possible and only engage targets that you have a chance of penetrating such as SPAA or light tanks. They can be easily dealt with from the side and the front in some cases. If confrontations become unavoidable pop smoke to try and escape, you cannot deal with anything more armoured than a light tank.

Ammunition

The recommended ammunition belts:

  • M822 for Anti-Air
  • M811 Fuze Delay for Anti-Tank

M822 is exclusively proximity fuze rounds, making it extremely potent against air threats, not requiring a direct hit to get a kill. Unfortunately, the low penetration of the round makes it unable to perform Anti-Tank duties. If you expect to meet enemy armour switch to the M811 belt, the extra penetration of the rounds allows it to be able to take care of light tanks and SPAA, but struggles against more heavily armoured opponents.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Has access to 12 smoke grenades
  • The hull has adequate protection against most light tank calibre rounds
  • Can retract and extend both search and tracking radars to reduce the silhouette
  • Twin stabilized 40 mm cannons have a high rate of fire
  • Large ammunition count ensures that you will have plenty to fire throughout a match
  • Potent proximity ammunition for anti-aircraft use
  • The HE-VT belt has no tracers making it near impossible for enemy aircraft to see and dodge the incoming shells
  • Radar allows for a high range of detection and very accurate tracking, with a 10 km tracking and 40 km detection range
  • Has access to night vision devices, a laser rangefinder, commander sights, and commander fire control

Cons:

  • Weak survivability
    • Vulnerable to enemy armour, artillery strikes and air attacks
    • The turret armour is only 5 mm thick, which is easy to penetrate even for rifle-calibre MGs
    • Only three crew members
  • Radar is tall and can expose your position
  • The M247 is sluggish especially when stock, and will usually not be able to keep up with MBTs
  • The high rate of fire can deplete the ammo quickly without proper trigger discipline
    • 5-minute long restock time on a capture point after depleting ammo
  • Completely lacks any armour-piercing rounds in any belt, giving it very poor defensive capabilities against ground vehicles, even lightly-armoured ones
  • The gunner sight optics only has one zoom setting (12.0x with a sight FOV of 6) meaning that you may struggle to engage tanks and lock/eliminate aircraft
  • No IRST mode and cannot lock onto targets when the radar is off

History

The M247 "Sergeant York" was designed in the late 1970's as a purpose-built SPAAG. It was designed to fight alongside the M1 Abrams and M2/M3 Bradley, in order to provide cover against aircraft. There were other SPAA vehicles in service at the time; these were the M163 Vulcan and the MIM-72/M48 Chaparral. The former being a 20 mm rotary cannon mounted on an armoured personnel carrier, and the latter being a heavily modified armoured personnel carrier chassis with a surface-to-air missile launcher. Neither of those two vehicles were designed as SPAA's, and so, did not have the necessary performance to be adequate at their job. The M247 was designed as a replacement for both of the previous vehicles.

Designs from a multitude of companies were entered into the competition. Only two were selected for testing: the Ford XM-247 with twin Bofors 40 mm cannons and the General Dynamics XM-246 with twin Oerlikon 35 mm cannons. The two prototypes were tested, and the XM-247 was selected as the winner, although the XM-246 had outscored it in all the shooting tests. The M247, as it was soon designated, ran into many problems. The radar was extremely deficient; it had a hard time distinguishing trees from planes, and if the guns were pointed too high, they would get in the radar's way and confuse it even more. In addition, it took too long for the radar to pick up a target and for the guns to actually take aim. In addition, the turret traverse speed was much too slow, the vehicle it's self was too sluggish to keep up the M1s and M2s, and it was unreliable in cold weather. Eventually, the program was cancelled after more testing, where it was proven the system could not even shoot down stationary drones. There was still a need for an anti-aircraft vehicle that could keep up with modern vehicles, so Oerlikon Canada created the ADATS anti-aircraft missile system. This was not as successful as hoped, and was only accepted into Canadian service. The void was eventually filled by the M6 Linebacker, an M2 Bradley with Stinger missiles instead of TOW missiles. The Linebacker was capable of keeping up with modern armoured forces, which was the reason for its acceptance, even though the Stingers were not as effective as the ADATS missiles[1].

Media

Skins

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links

References


Ford Motor Company
Armoured cars  M8 Greyhound
SPAAGs  M247 Sergeant York
Export  ␗M8 LAC

USA anti-aircraft vehicles
M3 Half-track derivatives  M13 MGMC · M15 CGMC · M16 MGMC
M24 derivative  M19A1
M41 derivative  M42
Radar SPAAG  M163 · M247
Missile SPAA  Imp.Chaparral · LAV-AD · XM975