M50

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Rank VI Israel | Premium | Golden Eagles
Merkava Mk.2D Pack
M50
us_m50_ontos.png
GarageImage M50.jpg
ArtImage M50.png
M50
AB RB SB
6.7 6.7 6.7
Research:63 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:200 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Rifle, Multiple, 106-mm, Self-Propelled, M50, also known by the nickname Ontos, is a rank IV American tank destroyer with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.71 "New E.R.A.".

The M50 "Ontos" is pretty much a bulky carrier of recoilless rifles, carrying a payload of six shells of devastating HEAT and HESH shells. With six launchers pointing forwards, a well-emplaced M50 can point itself downrange and once a target comes into its sights, unleash all shells until the target is annihilated.

A stealthy and pouncing game style is needed to make the most of the hard-hitting guns and the thin armour of the Ontos.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull13 / 13 / 13
Turret0 / 0 / 0
Crew2 people
Visibility72 %
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 10-13 (70°) Front glacis
13 mm (45-66°) Lower glacis
13 mm (43°) Top
13 mm Bottom
13 mm (36°) Top
13 mm Bottom
13 mm
Cupola 13 mm 13 mm 13 mm 13 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 20 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB53 / 18 km/h
RB and SB49 / 17 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight8.3 t
Engine power
AB277 hp
RB and SB145 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB33.4 hp/t
RB and SB17.5 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 18 8.3 206 277 24.82 33.37
Realistic 49 17 128 145 15.42 17.47

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 571 → 4 674 Sl icon.png
RB4 060 → 5 314 Sl icon.png
SB5 802 → 7 594 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications52 800 Rp icon.png
90 700 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 700 Ge icon.png
Crew training57 000 Sl icon.png
Experts200 000 Sl icon.png
Aces800 Ge icon.png
Research Aces520 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
120 / 200 / 240 % Sl icon.png
172 / 172 / 172 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 100 Sl icon.png
120 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 100 Sl icon.png
120 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 100 Sl icon.png
120 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 100 Sl icon.png
120 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 100 Sl icon.png
120 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition18 rounds
Belt capacity6 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
16.9 → 13.0 s
Fire rate120 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
Horizontal guidance-40° / 40°
Main article: M40A1C (106 mm)

The turret displacement is limited without being a huge handicap as it allows to cover a wide area (±40°) without having to reposition the hull. And in the case your guns reach a stop, repositioning the hull is quickly done.

The targeting process is manual and in average twice slower than tanks with turrets at the same tier or battle rating. However, the recoilless nature of the guns eliminates the need for retargetting between shots as the recoil is minimal. The short delay between shots eliminates the need for repositioning as it does not leave the target any time to retaliate.

An aspect to consider is the offset of the guns from the central target sight: at close range its impact is minimal but becomes noticeable when firing at specific weak spots on targets at a distance. Using the scouting MGs can help you assess the off-set but will reveal your position. Given the rifles layout of the Ontos, it is recommended to fire by salvos of 3 shells to guarantee a good balance between rate of fire and accuracy.

Like for a SPAA belt, you have to fire all 6 rifles before being allowed to start the reloading process. Your ammo capacity of 18 shells total (or 3 belts of 6) is limited, which will impact your combat performance as you're very likely to have to disengage in order to restock during a battle.

106 mm M40A1C (x6) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 18 -10°/+20° ±40° N/A 15.9 21.9 26.6 29.5 31.3 16.90 14.95 13.78 13.00
Realistic 10.7 12.6 15.3 16.9 18.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M344A1 HEAT 433 433 433 433 433 433
M361A1 HESH 152 152 152 152 152 152
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M344A1 HEAT 503 7.96 0 0.01 1.65 65° 72° 77°
M361A1 HESH 498 7.95 0.1 4 5.04 73° 77° 80°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M50
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
18 14 (+4) (+18) No

Note:

  • Individual tube reload is not possible. You have to empty all 6 rifles first in order to reload 6 new projectiles.

Additional armament

4 x 12.7 mm M8C machine gun
Ammunition480 rounds
Belt capacity20 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.2 → 2.5 s
Fire rate300 shots/min
Main article: M80 (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M80
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 120 (5) 300 N/A N/A
Coaxial 120 (5) 300 N/A N/A
Coaxial 120 (5) 300 N/A N/A
Coaxial 120 (5) 300 N/A N/A

Machine guns

Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,000 (250) 500 -5°/+50° ±70°

Usage in battles

M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps

Obviously the M50 is not a main battle tank, with its thin armour even Reserve units are a threat. Stealth and guile is the tactic, using its high mobility and small size to get in ambush or outflank an enemy push fast. Memorize shooting spots, be it concealed ambush points or sheltered ranged locations overlooking active routes. The most important tactic is learn how to operate it. Define a separate keybind for the trigger of the spotting gun and learn the firing sequence. There is nothing worse than sighting a perfect target, but firing the gun into a rock because it is on the wrong side. Also keep in mind the turret has only 80 degrees of traverse (±40°), a consideration during tactical manoeuvres. Still, compared to other anti-tank guns this traverse is much wider, and also has a respectable -10 depression. Add that -10 degrees and angled position to the already extremely sloped front glacis armour and one could be bouncing large calibre AP rounds. Don't forgot to spot enemies too, make them feel the pressure, not you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Six recoilless 106 mm rifles
  • The guns can be fired within 0.5 seconds of each other, allowing rapid fire on one helpless target
  • Stock shells of HEAT and HESH
  • The HEAT shell is really effective, literally point and shoot
  • Four heavy machine guns coaxial to guns - can be used for spotting to adjust aim and estimate ranges
  • Nice 53 km/h (33 mph) speed, can get to ambush or sniping positions early game or rush capture point
  • Quite effective in urban fighting since low-velocity shells do not matter in close quarter combat

Cons:

  • No armour whatsoever (can be easily destroyed by heavy MG rounds or via air strafing)
  • Only 18 rounds - can't miss and be wasteful
  • Only 2 crew members - one shot is most likely to put you out of action
  • Spotting machine guns are hard to utilize, firing only in unison with the guns as default or separately with key bindings
  • Pintle mounted machine gun is quite ineffective against even aircraft found at this rank
  • Use of spotting gun and main gun needs practice to be proficient and successful
  • Guns are very loud and will bring the enemy's notice to your location
  • Extremely hard to use for new players, not user friendly

History

It was such a strange "tank" the only word the US Army could think of for this strange thing was, well, "Thing", except someone was clever and used the Greek word, ὄντος (really, truly [exists]). Due to mountainous and difficult terrain of Korea brought the US Army revisited the idea of a light tank. It was quite an ingenious design made very quickly. The prototype was based on an M56 Scorpion ATG chassis, used a common truck engine, and mounted six very powerful M40A1C recoilless rifle guns and be light enough for air transport. The prototype was finished in 1952 and by 1955 completed its testing where it fulfilled its design requirements, but the Army simply did not like this monstrosity and decided against it. The US Marines on the other hand was not as picky and loved this highly mobile light tank with a huge punch, so ordered 297 in 1955. The design was reworked with a new chassis, new running gear with wide thread (ditching the M56 design), better internal layout, and other minor improvements that made the Ontos a unique one off design. While it had a few flaws, it was reliable enough to accomplish its mission.

The key to the M50's offensive power is the 106 mm M40A1C recoilless rifle firing devastating HEAT or HESH (later an anti-infantry "beehive") rounds with its integrated M8C .50 cal spotting rifle using a 10 or 20 round magazine. It should be noted the M8C is a shorter round (12.7x77 mm, M48A2 Spotter-Tracer (S) bullets only) that the better known .50 AN/M2 BMG (12.7x99 mm). Every M40 produced had the M8C, but on the M50 the lowest 2 barrels have this spotting rifle removed leaving an empty mounting post. If wanted (but not recommended) all 6 guns can be fired at once delivering far more destructive offensive load than any tank then or today. The nature of recoilless rifles is a powerful blow back, during a test firing all 6 simultaneously it knocked bricks out of a building and shattered a few car windows. In between is mounted a single pintle-mounted .30 calibre M1919A4 machine gun for anti-infantry use.

The first combat use of the Ontos occurred in 1964 Dominican Republic Civil War where it reported destroyed an AMX-13 and an old Swedish L-60 (the only time it was used for purpose built, destroying tanks). But it was the following year when it was deployed to Vietnam did it shine.

Vietnam was extremely hostile to tanks not due to enemies but the environment. Jungle, swamp, rice fields, mountains, rivers, a limited road network with small bridges; it was a nightmare for regular tanks but the Ontos could glide over them with ease. Enemy Vietnamese troops rarely used tanks and few anti-tank guns so there was little threat from them, the paper thin armour was more than enough to resist small arms and heavy MG fire most often encountered. The significant vulnerability of reloading the 6 guns was largely moot as the fearsome reputation of this 6 shooter beast often cleared out enemy positions soon after it started shooting. Unfortunately its age was its greatest enemy. Over 10 years old and long out of production breakdowns became more frequent, some were cannibalized for parts and the turrets where mounted to fixed positions as point defence. Despite its unprecedented success in Vietnam its limited numbers, scattered deployment, breakdowns, and frequent rotation, it did not gain as much fame as it could have. More of footnote today, this unusual tank was the perfect vehicle for very difficult conflict.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Allis-Chalmers
Tank destroyers  M50 Ontos

USA tank destroyers
M10  M10 GMC
M36  M36 GMC · M36B2
T95  T28 · T95
M109  M109A1
ATGM  LOSAT · M901 · ADATS
Wheeled  M3 GMC · T55E1
Other  M8 HMC · M50 · M56
China  ▃LVT(A)(4) (ZIS-2)