https://wiki.warthunder.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=U50095228&feedformat=atomWar Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T09:01:15ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conqueror&diff=157753Conqueror2023-03-09T11:16:26Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Corrected peneration capability.</p>
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<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_conqueror_mk_2<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}_AddArmour.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the initial British ground tree. Designed to combat the Soviet [[IS-3]], the Conqueror gives the British line a much-needed vehicle with an emphasis on armour and firepower, with a [[M58 (120 mm)|120 mm L1A2 cannon]] capable of defeating all of the Rank V competition it will face.<br />
<br />
The Conqueror was the tank the [[Caernarvon]] hull was designed for. The Caernarvon itself only being a stop-gap measure, with most models being upgraded to Conquerors once the type was approved for production. The Conqueror augments this hull with a significantly upgraded turret design housing the 120 mm L1A2 cannon.<br />
<br />
The Conqueror deviates from most earlier British designs, favouring firepower and armour. This, combined with its somewhat limited mobility, results in the Conqueror proving to be one of, if not the single most effective sniper and support tank at its rank. Despite this, it can be put to good use in close-range engagements.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
[[File:Conqueror trapshot mantlet .png|thumb|400x400px|A basic weak spot of the Conqueror; the gun mantlet. The area is hit because of Conqueror's poor depression. It can be targeted by large-calibre HE, APDS and Sabot shells. -''The shown camouflage is known as 'Phalanx', part of the 'Night vision' trophy.'']]<br />
The Conqueror utilises the same hull as the Caernarvon does, with respectable frontal armour capable of shrugging off rounds from many adversaries. Unfortunately, this hull suffers from similarly weak side and rear armour - and as such angling, the vehicle can prove extremely dangerous if it exposes the side too much. The Conqueror replaces the Caernarvon's Centurion-based turret with a fresh design, providing much better crew spacing and protection. The turret is not without its weaknesses, however; the commander's cupola protrudes quite significantly and APHE or HESH shells may disable internal turret components or crew members. There is also a weak section directly behind the mantlet at the top of the turret, penetration of which will disable crew or the breech/horizontal turret drive.<br />
Trap shots are possible, it is likely to get shot with a high calibre HE, capable of damaging the tank by hitting the base of the turret and exploding into the driver and/or ammo rack just below it. Unlike with similar tank [[M103]] though, for most heavy tanks HE can only penetrate the driver hatch, taking them out, and damage the gun breech on a good hit. SPG calibre HE (like 152 mm of [[Object 268]]) will definitely destroy the roof armour and ammo rack, resulting in a knock-out, unless only a few shells are being carried (which is highly impractical). Non-HE shells are less likely to ricochet and do significant internal damage like this, but it is still possible to push them into the tank.<br />
<br />
The frontal track guards are also very vulnerable at particular angles and can be exploited even when sides are not exposed to instantly destroy the tank using nearly any gun, like with [[Churchill Mk VII]]. The more realistic scenario, however, is high calibre HESH hitting the ground next to them and setting the tank on fire or outright destroying it. Fortunately, most tanks which are capable of this and are going out of their way to use HESH instead of HEAT are British and can only be your opponent in AB, in RB the likelihood of receiving such hit is greatly reduced.<br />
<br />
The Conqueror has a researchable add-on armour package which improves the vehicle's survivability to HEAT rounds and by a small amount to kinetic rounds.<ref name="dtic" /><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)<br />
* Structural steel (Side skirts)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 130 + 20 mm (59°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 51 + 6 mm || 38 mm ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (60°) ''Bottom'' || 44 mm ''Front'' <br> 17 mm ''Crew hatch'' <br /> 17 mm ''Rear''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 152-313 mm (0-68°) ''Turret front'' <br> 89-200 mm (0-78°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 89-233 mm (1-48°) || 50 mm (1-34°) || 51 mm <br> 31 mm ''Square area near gun'' <br> 17 mm ''Crew hatches''<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 203 mm (0-17°) || 70 mm (12-14°) || 51 mm <br> 17 mm ''Crew hatch''<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Front of turret vary in armour thickness, from 152 mm to 313 mm, but it is all very sloped due to turret design.<br />
* The front of the turret roof has an additional armour plate of 31 mm in thickness.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,046|rbMinHp=716|AoAweight=1.1}}<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} has reasonable mobility, despite its weight, thanks to a powerful engine and favourable gearbox ratios. It does suffer from a somewhat limited top speed of 34 km/h, however it reaches this speed fairly easily on-road and on smooth off-road surfaces. The vehicle has surprisingly responsive hull traverse due to the engine power and neutral steering capability. The {{PAGENAME}} has a reasonable reverse speed for a British vehicle, however it shouldn't be relied on too heavily.<br />
<br />
When the add-on armour package is researched and equipped, the vehicle's weight will increase by 1.1 tonnes, resulting in a minor decrease in mobility.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The 120 mm L1A2 is a powerful gun, derived from the M58 mounted on the M103 heavy tank. Unlike the M103's selection of HEAT or AP, the Conqueror instead utilises HESH and APDS ammunition, and again unlike the M103, mounts a two-plane stabiliser. The L1A2 exhibits excellent accuracy and long-range performance, although due to the sub-par post-penetration effects of APDS in some cases multiple rounds are required to secure a knock-out, particularly at range where critical components or ammunition is less reliably hit.<br />
<br />
Despite this, the Conqueror performs admirably as a sniper, covering capture points or thoroughfares, and should primarily rely on APDS with careful thought as to placement. HESH may prove useful against lighter vehicles or in cases where a target's side armour is exposed, but otherwise should not be relied on for anything besides pure luck. It's important to remember that the Conqueror has a reasonably long reload of 19.4 seconds at base; and as such careful consideration should be made as to what to prioritise disabling first.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 35 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 13.2 || 18.3 || 22.2 || 24.5 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.80 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.7 || 11.4 || 13.9 || 15.3 || 16.3<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{{:Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)/Ammunition|Shot L1G, Shell L1TK}}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.19.0.76''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>type<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| rowspan="2" | '''35''' || Projectiles || 34&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 29&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 27&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 22&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+34)'' || rowspan="2" | No<br />
|-<br />
| Propellants || 35&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 34&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 33&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+3)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 1&nbsp;(''+34)'' || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The first propellant rack contains only a single charge of propellant, so even when bringing a full load of 35 rounds this rack will always be empty as the first round loaded into the gun upon spawn.<br />
* It is advised to take 22 rounds into combat if you wish to maximise available shots but remove the propellant charges racked just beside the driver if considering the weak spot that is the lower front plate of the Conqueror.<br />
* The propellant portion of the ready rack is comprised of a single charge rack and a seven-charge rack. As these spaces make up the 8 round ready rack ammo count they are considered as a single rack for the purposes of deciding how much ammo to take. However if a player were to take only 7 rounds the single rack to the left of the loader would be empty of a charge.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Conqueror sports two machine guns, one of which is pintle-mounted and may prove itself a deterrent to some close air support. The machine guns may on occasion prove useful for destroying incoming ATGMs, given a bit of luck.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 3,750 (250) || 500 || -10°/+30° || ±180°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
The Conqueror can be effectively played as a sniper, or a steady breakthrough tank, providing the vehicle's slow reload and weak lower front plate are considered. This heavy tank should not be played in a brawling role. It will easily be flanked and disposed by the side armour plates. Commanders are advised to remain on some of these roles:<br />
<br />
'''Sniper Role'''<br />
<br />
When used in a sniper role, the Conqueror should utilise extreme ranges with some form of cover available, in case the situation goes awry. Ensure awareness is maintained for light flanking vehicles or enemy sniping vehicles on off-angles that may be able to disable the Conqueror through side armour. Play conservatively, avoiding wasting shots, having to wait for the long reload time, and avoid exposing the hull where possible.<br />
<br />
Remember the rangefinder and if possible find locations that cover the hull of the Conqueror.<br />
<br />
'''Breakthrough Role'''<br />
<br />
The Conqueror may be utilised in a breakthrough role, although it should be played conservatively with allies and with a level of map awareness at all times. The stabilised gun allows the conqueror to comfortably fire on the move - a rare piece of equipment at the rank - this gives it a distinct advantage over most targets it will face at close range, with the ability to reliably hit targets without waiting for the suspension sway to subside. However, the vehicle's slow reload means that calculated shots are a requirement, and wasting any round may have dire results.<br />
<br />
As usual, keep in mind that the vehicle's sides and lower front plate are particularly vulnerable and exposing either to enemy fire will often result in the Conqueror's destruction. If the advance seems to be failing, or the Conqueror is on risk to be flanked. Remember the good reverse speed, this along smoke cover will grant second chances.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* APDS round is extremely powerful and accurate, with a maximum of 487 mm of penetration at 10 m/0°<br />
* HESH ammo may have surprising results, and can prove particularly effective against light or side armour<br />
* The L1A2 cannon is fully two-plane stabilised, allowing it to be fired accurately on the move<br />
* Coaxial machine gun has ballistic performance similar to the HESH round and may be used for ranging<br />
* Turret and upper front plate are very sloped and armoured, with very few weak points<br />
* Add-on armour offers more protection in the form of spaced armour to the turret cheeks and upper plate<br />
* Well-spaced crew make the vehicle unlikely to be affected by crew knock-out in a single hit<br />
* Reasonably good mobility despite weight and huge gun<br />
* Rangefinder allows for accurate distance measuring up to 1,300 m<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* HESH is not reliable against any vehicle with semi-decent armour; requires high skills and knowledge of the enemy<br />
* Long reload time (19.4 second base) for British standards, although relatively standard for calibre<br />
* Only 7.62 mm machine guns<br />
* Particularly weak side armour and lower front plate; will be commonly targeted areas<br />
* Only 17 mm of protection on the wide engine deck will be targeted by planes<br />
* Top speed is limited at only 34 km/h; it faces really mobile enemies such as the [[Leopard (Family)|Leopards]]<br />
* Penetrations in the turret ring area often results in ammunition detonation; ammo racks are strewn all-around<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
===Development===<br />
In 1944, General Staff started a project called ''A45 Infantry Support Tank'', which started around the same time as the development of the [[Centurion Mk 1|A41 Centurion]] cruiser tank. This project, after the war, was redesignated from a typical "Infantry Tank" and instead focused on a new role of a "Universal Tank" design in the form of the FV 200 series. The "Universal Tank" concept was to design a vehicle that would have a mobility comparable to that of cruiser tanks, but with the armour and firepower of heavy tanks. The FV 200 series designation was adopted and was to serve as a line of vehicles that used the same hull and chassis in different roles like armour recovery vehicles and self-propelled guns. The first tank of this series was to be the FV 201, which would be 55 tons and use the 20-pounder gun.<br />
<br />
In 1949, a new requirement for the project called for the use of a 120 mm gun, possibly in response to the reveal of the Soviet [[IS-3]] heavy tank in the Berlin Victory Parade in 1945. This new requirement would delay the initial deadlines for the tank as no gun of that calibre had been developed yet. As a interim development before such a gun could be made, the FV 201 hull was mounted with a turret from the Centurion tank and this created the FV 221 [[Caernarvon]], with Mark I for a 17-pounder armament and a Mark II for a 20-pounder armament. However, the success of the lighter Centurion tank made the Caernarvon unsuitable in a "Main Battle Tank" role. Further development on the Caernarvon, with emphasis on the armour and armament, would develop the '''FV 214 Conqueror''' tanks, some were straight up conversions of Caernarvon Mark IIs. About 185 Conquerors were produced in Mk.1 and Mk.2 variants from 1955 to 1959.<br />
<br />
===Design===<br />
The FV 214 Conqueror, also known as the "Tank, Heavy No. 1, 120 mm Gun, Conqueror", was intended to provide a mobile, long-range anti-tank support for the lighter and more numerous Centurion tanks stationed in Germany. As a response to the heavy [[IS-3]] tank in Soviet service, the tank's armament and armour is taken up and beyond extreme to typical NATO armour development. The armour, with a frontal plate of about seven inches (178 mm), made the tank one of the most protected tanks stationed in West Germany. The abundance of armour made the tank heavy, weighing 64 tons, and this impeded the tank's top speed and made it mechanically unreliable. However, the tank was very mobile in cross-country terrain, seen as equal as the lighter and faster Centurion tank.<br />
<br />
The gun was the very large 120 mm cannon, the largest calibre tank gun available when it was introduced. The gun was American-developed, the same 120 mm cannon that would arm the [[M103|M103]] heavy tank. The gun uses a two-piece ammunition and the tank allowed for a ammo stowage of 35 rounds. Another notable feature of the Conqueror aside from its large cannon and thick armour was the unique and rotatable commander's cupola. In the cupola was the Conqueror's fire control system and had many features that made it ahead of its time. Being able to be rotated independent from the turret, plus with a coincidence rangefinder, the commander could align the cupola to a target, measure its range, and direct the gunner to the designated target. While the gunner located and engage the target, the commander could go and find a different target to designate and range.<br />
<br />
===Usage===<br />
The Conqueror were all stationed in West German in the armoured regiments stationed there. Each regiment received 9 Conquerors and were organized in groups of three as tank troops to support the Centurions in any conflict that arise from the tense situation of the Cold War. As history played out, the Cold War never became "hot" and no hostile conflicts arise in the borders of Germany, thus the Conquerors never saw any use aside from training as they were all exclusively stationed on the German borders. The Conqueror's intention to provide a long-range anti-tank capability for the Centurions, became less significant when the Centurions began to arm themselves with the more powerful 105 mm L7 gun, such as the [[Centurion Mk 10]]. The lower tactical value of the Conqueror and further development on heavy tanks in Britain had the Conquerors replaced in 1966 with the much more powerful and armoured, yet lighter, [[Chieftain Mk 3|FV 4201 Chieftain tank]].<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_conqueror_mk_2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 6:21 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|94S5XQwnX2I|'''The Shooting Range #108''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|JmaDhygkvDg|'''Tank Chats #145 <nowiki>| Conqueror |</nowiki> The Tank Museum''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Related Development<br />
<br />
* [[Caernarvon]]<br />
* [[Conway]]<br />
<br />
;Shared operational history<br />
<br />
* [[Centurion Mk 10]]<br />
* [[Caernarvon]]<br />
<br />
;Analogues of other nations<br />
<br />
* [[IS-7]]<br />
* [[IS-4M]]<br />
* [[T-10M]] / [[T-10A]]<br />
* [[M103]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/850/|[Devblog] Сenturion Mk III and Conqueror Mk II]]<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/870|[Devblog] Conqueror Armor Investigation]]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<references><br />
<ref name="dtic">[https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a474293.pdf Trials against Conqueror tanks with additional ballistic protection - Part 2 The use of large hollow charge warheads.pdf]</ref><br />
</references><br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147251Conway2022-12-07T12:03:13Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Removed pro.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Conway possesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the aforementioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very sluggish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes mobile to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most notable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devastating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is significantly superior in offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to retreat before you're reloaded.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
* Incredibly high pennetration APDS rounds<br />
* Autocannon-proof turret<br />
* Fully traversible turret (As opposed to FV4005)<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147250Conway2022-12-07T12:02:41Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added additional pros.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Conway possesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the aforementioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very sluggish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes mobile to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most notable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devastating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is significantly superior in offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to retreat before you're reloaded.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
* Incredibly high pennetration APDS rounds<br />
* Responsive turret<br />
* Autocannon-proof turret<br />
* Fully traversible turret (As opposed to FV4005)<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147249Conway2022-12-07T11:58:35Z<p>U50095228: /* Main armament */ Grammar</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Conway possesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the aforementioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very sluggish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes mobile to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most notable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devastating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is significantly superior in offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to retreat before you're reloaded.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147248Conway2022-12-07T11:57:31Z<p>U50095228: /* Mobility */ Grammar</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Conway possesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the aforementioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very sluggish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes mobile to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most noteable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devestating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is the significantly superior on offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to reltreat before you're reloaded.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147247Conway2022-12-07T11:56:34Z<p>U50095228: /* Mobility */ Organizing</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Conway posesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the afformentioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very slugish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes moble to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most noteable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devestating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is the significantly superior on offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to reltreat before you're reloaded.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147246Conway2022-12-07T11:55:42Z<p>U50095228: Improvements and additions to the entire article, mainly /Mobility/, /Armaments/ and /Ammunition/.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}The Conway posesses standard mobility. The chassis is identical to that of the Centurion mk.III tank, but with a heavier turret, causing slightly worse mobility than the afformentioned MBT. When stock, the Conway can be very slugish, especially up hills, but with tracks, brakes and engine modules researched it becomes moble to an acceptable degree, but still not enough to be an ambusher.<br />
<br />
The Conway has a fair top speed, but shines significantly with its -12km/h reverse speed, allowing the Conway to peak, fire and swiftly retreat into cover.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The most noteable attribute of the Conway is the incredible 120mm OQF Tk. L1A2 cannon. The gun is capable of firing devestating APDS rounds with over 300mm of penetration, even beyond 2km, as well as slower HESH rounds useful for overpressuring or indirect fire against entrenched targets.<br />
<br />
Both ammunition types for the 120mm cannon are available stock, and you will most of the time make use of the APDS round, as it is the significantly superior on offensive capability compared to the more specialized HESH round (Which functions like HE on similar tanks).<br />
<br />
The Conway suffers from bad gun depression angles as well as a long reload. If you do not take out your enemy in one shot, they have plenty of time to reltreat before you're reloaded.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The Shot L1G is the main round used by the Conway. The round velocity (almost 1,500m/s) is completely unrivaled at the vehicle's BR. This will be the main shell used in-battle. The Shot L1G has incredibly high penetration, enough to go through Tiger IIs, IS-3s and even Mauses indiscriminently, however suffers from low spalling due to the sub-callibre projectile. This means a penetration does not guarantee a kill if vital enemy components are not hit. Due to this it is recommended to aim for ammunition and crew in enemy vehicles, instead of focusing on armour weakpoints.<br />
<br />
The Shell L1TK is an auxiliary round for the Conway. The significantly slower HESH round packs a punch, but is mostly only suitable for very favourable situations. The long reload of the Conway means switching over to HESH can take very long (up to almost 20 seconds with full crew), at which point the situation the HESH was suitable may have faded. Switching to HESH can also make the vehicle vulerible to threats from long range.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=147245Conway2022-12-07T11:38:05Z<p>U50095228: /* Description */ Clarification</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. However the incredibly high-velocity APDS, faster turret traverse and faster reload differ distinctly from the KV-2. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=32pdr_OQF_(94_mm)&diff=13907232pdr OQF (94 mm)2022-09-27T10:53:22Z<p>U50095228: /* Description */ 32-pdr OQF 94mm cannon page update considerably with information on gun properties, pros and cons.</p>
<hr />
<div>== Description ==<br />
''The 32pdr OQF (94mm) is a heavy British anti-tank cannon featured exclusively in the Tortoise Heavy Assault Tank in-game. The Gun features excellent ballistics and penetration with a good reload and decent spalling. In British fashion, the gun trades post-pen damage for high pennetration capabilities.''<br />
<br />
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===<br />
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' --><br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|uk_a39_tortoise}}<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
''The 32pdr OQF (94mm) is as the title suggests a 94mm cannon (3.7-in). It fires high velocity full calibre solid shot rounds with a good reload. The gun features a weigthed muzzle brake that is easy for the enemy to shoot, disabling your cannon.''<br />
<br />
=== Available ammunition ===<br />
''The 32pdr cannon in-game features 2 shells that it recieves stock on the Tortoise. The first round is Shot Mk.1 which is a full-bore solid-shot APCBC round with more than 250mm of penetration (256mm point-blank range). Shot mk.1 features good spalling after penetrating enemy armour. The second round for the 32pdr cannon is Shell Mk.1, a Full-Bore High-Explosive round with 13mm of peneration at any range. The shell carries 920 grams of TNT and is capable of overpressuring thin armour and exposed crew.''<br />
<br />
=== Comparison with analogues ===<br />
''The 32pdr OQF (94mm) is used as an anti-tank gun the same way the German 88mm Pak/43 which originated as an anti-aircraft gun, was converted to fit as an anti-tank gun fitted to - ammong other vehicles - the Tiger II. The 32mm OQF (94mm) can be found on the in-game Heavy Assault Tank (A39) Tortoise.''<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''<br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* High Penetration<br />
* Good Spalling<br />
* Incredibly Accurate<br />
* Above-par reload<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Lack of High-Explosive filler in main round<br />
* Impractical HE round<br />
* Longer reload than medium-calibre cannons<br />
* Easy-to-hit Muzzle Brake<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''<br />
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{Britain tank cannons}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Tank cannons]]</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Tortoise&diff=139071Tortoise2022-09-27T10:20:26Z<p>U50095228: /* Armaments */ Additional information on armaments</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a39_tortoise<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] along with the initial British ground tree. A huge casemate structure made as an assault vehicle akin to the American's [[T95]], the Tortoise presents thick raw sloped armour with a unique heavy punching 94 mm cannon.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
The Tortoise, as its name suggests, sacrifices speed to survivability.. With its cast 152 mm sloped armour, the Tortoise can survive most head on encounters. The area around the gun mantlet is 215 mm thick with a flat surface under the gunner's optics. It has a 55 mm plate (75°) under the gun and a 170 mm semi-rounded LFP. Sides are 152 mm thick. The engine deck's side armour is 101.6 mm thick with an asymmetry on the left. Rear armour is 100-110 mm thick flat plates. At this BR, there are not many tanks that can penetrate such thick material from the front. If used correctly, this vehicle should only get out of battles with a few 75, 88 and 122 mm scratches.<br />
<br />
If, by any chance, an enemy gets through this massive steel casing, there is no less than 7 spaced out crew members to soak up damage. Most of the time, the AA gunner's cupola gets penetrated, since it is only 100 mm flat armour. AP (and APDS) shells will only disable the AA defences while any APHE shell may incapacitate the driver and 1 or 2 loaders. If unlucky, it will detonate the massive ammo rack lying on the floor. Another common angle of attack is the machine gunner's port. Once again, AP shots will knock-out 2-3 non-essential crew members (machine gunner, commander, loader) and APHE shells may even eliminate the gunner. Sometimes, when getting too exposed, the 170 mm almost flat LFP gets shot at. This will usually disable the gunner, transmission and even ignite an ammo rack if there's enough explosive. A few highly penetrating tanks may shoot through the flat 215 mm surface underneath the gunner's optics. This usually means an instant knock-out for the Tortoise if it happens to be an [[IS-2]], [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II (H)]] since there are ammo racks all around the gunner. Any penetrating hit to the side usually means an instant elimination (if not immediate, the following shot should be the last). The cannon barrel is often targeted by players: its large and thin muzzle brake tends to be damaged easily. Note that some large HE shells may tear through the top armour, wrecking havoc in the crew compartment.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Side hull, Rear hull, Hull roof, Superstructure roof)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 55 mm (75°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 170 mm (3-71°) ''Lower glacis'' || 110 + 50.8 mm || 100 mm (10-45°) || 25 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Superstructure || 215 mm (0-59°), 152 mm (0-45°) ''Front armour'' <br /> 96 + 80 + 152 mm ''Gun mantlet''|| 152 mm || 110 mm (0-7°) || 50.8 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 101.6 mm || 101.6 mm || 101.6 mm || 25 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Tracks on the side of the Tortoise give an additional 30 mm of armour.<br />
* The steel boxes on the side of the rear of the Tortoise grant only an extra 5 mm of armour.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 923|rbMinHp= 575}}<br />
<br />
Such a great armour plays heavily on mobility. With a max speed of 20 km/h in both directions, neutral steering and wide tracks, this tank has good enough mobility to get into position and fire on the enemy. It is not advised to travel up to the frontlines since it will only expose weak spots, make flanking easier, and take a really long time due to poor max speed.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|32pdr OQF (94 mm)}}<br />
<br />
Unlike other British Rank IV tanks, the Tortoise does not have access to APDS or HESH ammunition, it relies on pure AP solid shots. Fortunately, these large calibre rounds are roughly similar to [[20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)|20-pounder cannon's]] APDS, meaning the learning curve from the [[Charioteer Mk VII]] is not too steep. Plus, these 94 mm shells are stock rounds in the Tortoise.<br />
<br />
The main APCBC round for the Tortoise features superb penetration with 250+ mm at close range. While you're still outpenned by some other opponents, the ~11-9 second reload and incredible accuracy means you will usually be able to get a shot off before the enemy at BR 6.7 since a lot of tanks there make use of large callibre guns with long reloads (Tiger II, IS-2, FV4005, etc...). Shot Mk.1 als features excellent post-pen damage due to its large calibre.<br />
<br />
Due to the stable gun platform provided by an incredibly heavy chassis, as well as the decent gun traverse, the Tortoise is able to halt, stabilize and fire its gun before enemies are able to.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[32pdr OQF (94 mm)|94 mm 32pdr OQF]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±20° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 8.81 || 12.19 || 14.80 || 16.37 || 17.41 || rowspan="2" | 11.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.89 || rowspan="2" | 9.12 || rowspan="2" | 8.60<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 5.95 || 7.00 || 8.50 || 9.40 || 10.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 || APCBC || 256 || 253 || 241 || 226 || 212 || 199<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 1,043 || 12.7 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 920 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 || APCBC || 929 || 14.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.7.0.176''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''60''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 41&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 59&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+29)'' <br> 35&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+39)'' <br> 31&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+49)'' <br> ''1 (+59)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' <br> N/A || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Note''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The secondary armament on this tank is a MG turret with twin-mounted [[BESA (7.92 mm)|BESA]] machine guns, good for dealing with low-flying planes and even some bombers, although these MGs lack the power of cannons for aircraft encountered in mixed battles at this BR. Since this turret is the main weak spot on this tank's frontal armour, it is often disabled in the first few shots.<br />
<br />
Of note, 6 of the vehicle's smokegrenades are located on this machine gun turret, and even if it's disabled (locking it in the direction it was facing) the grenades will still fire like normal.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 3,375 (225) || 600 || -6°/+20° || ±180°<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 3,375 (225) || 600 || -6°/+20° || ±180°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
The A39 Tortoise was created with the intention of serving as a "heavy assault tank" to break through the Siegfried Line. It plays more as a tank destroyer that's best used at long range. Therefore, to maximize the potential of the Tortoise, one must stay at long distances and snipe enemies with the very accurate [[Ordnance QF 32-pounder (94 mm)|32 pdr OQF]] cannon, while making sure to choose good cover, so as to not allow the enemy to target the Tortoise's weak spots: the MG turret and gunner's cupola, the flat areas of the mantlet armour, and the lower front plate (LFP) if it is left exposed. With its slow speed and reload rate, this is not a frontline tank; it will easily be outflanked if used in shorter range engagements. In summary, the Tortoise is best used in a defensive capacity - either to defend capture points, or important strategic areas on the map (i.e. areas where enemies love to camp).<br />
<br />
The Tortoise is a true sniper tank destroyer: the farther, the better. Its biggest vulnerability is that it moves extremely slowly, so it's not recommended for frontline combat. It plays much better as an entrenched shooter that can change a game by picking cover with a good field of fire, and then denying enemy entry or egress of an area. The cannon lacks an AP shell with HE filler, making general knowledge of tank internals a must. With good gun depression, it can be near-invincible when taking a good hull-down position, and can retreat back into cover easily enough due to its good reverse speed.<br />
<br />
Some tips for specific combat environments:<br />
<br />
;Plains<br />
<br />
This type of terrain is mostly devoid of any structures that could possibly provide cover. The terrain itself will provide the main form of cover. Maps such as [[Kursk (Ground Forces)|Kursk]], [[Mozdok (Ground Forces)|Mozdok]] and [[Jungle]] can be described as such. Find decent cover that provides a good view of the battlefield and field of fire, then set up a kill zone to deny entry into an area. Scout with binoculars so as to not needlessly expose yourself, then pop out at the right time to fire at any worthwhile targets of opportunity. Overextend tactics work well with this tank: line up a shot, take it, and fall back behind cover. Do not bother to move from a good position if possible: the Tortoise can take many shots before going down, and its dreadful top speed make it counterintuitive to play in an offensive capacity. Reposition the tank only if the enemy line gets too close or if there is a flanker in the vicinity.<br />
<br />
;Urban<br />
<br />
These kind of grounds are all about buildings, terrain variation is almost nonexistent. Maps such as [[Abandoned_Factory_(Ground_Forces)|Abandoned Factory]], [[Port Novorossiysk]] and [[Advance to the Rhine]] are urban battlefields. This is the most tricky scenario to face with the Tortoise. Pick an alley and cover it from one end or ambush near a capture point, if feeling lucky. Always try to stay near allied cover.<br />
<br />
;Rural<br />
<br />
Rural maps are a mix of the two former: a small urban map surrounded by plains. Maps such as [[Fields of Poland]], [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]] and [[Normandy (Ground Forces)|Normandy]] are rural environments. Stay around the town and never get in, cover alleys from afar, make the enemy fear to turn any corner. Try to get as far as possible to the town and keep an eye for flankers.<br />
<br />
;Hilly terrain<br />
<br />
These maps feature high terrain deformation with steep hills and even walls. Maps such as [[Ash River]], [[Karelia]] and [[Frozen Pass]] falls under this designation. Use the same tactics as with plains while being extra careful since flanking is easier on these kind of maps. Stick to the rear of allied armour or play as a bullet magnet, leaving light tanks a way to flank the enemy without getting too much attention. Make sure to hide weak spots behind props such as rocks or walls, leaving only the gun mantlet exposed.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Good frontal armour and adequately thick side armour <br />
* Angling the tank at near-45 degrees increases protection<br />
* 94 mm 32-pdr OQF cannon offers both high penetration power and post-penetration spalling damage<br />
* Highest penetrating round (Shot Mk. 1 APCBC) has a forgiving and predictable trajectory<br />
* 7-man crew means that it will usually take several HEAT or APDS rounds to knock out the Tortoise (even penetrating APHE shells likely will not destroy the tank in a single hit)<br />
* Goes as fast in reverse as it does when travelling forward<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Given its enormous size, the tank is nearly impossible to fully conceal.<br />
* Lack of speed and manoeuvrability: it is extremely slow given its enormous weight. You will not be able to run away from threats.<br />
* The Tortoise lacks AP shells with any explosive filler. However, unlike most other British tanks at this battle rating, no APDS shells are available for the 32-pounder.<br />
* Obvious weak spot: The MG turret on top of the tank is massive and is weakly armoured, which players will readily take advantage of: if an APHE round were to penetrate, it would likely kill the loader (and possibly the driver).<br />
* The top left corner of the tank is big and flat; APHE rounds with high penetration can punch right through, killing the commander and gunner.<br />
* Due to the casemate design, cover and fields of fire must be chosen carefully to minimize exposition of the Tortoise's weaknesses.<br />
* The lower front plate (LFP) is somewhat flat and presents a possible weak spot for enemies to shoot at if exposed.<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
Years before the invasion of Normandy, there were men among the Allied planners worrying about the heavily-defended fortification lines such as the Siegfried Line blocking the path from France to Germany. One of the proposed methods was to develop extremely heavily armoured vehicles capable of destroying any fortification it comes across and any resistance the German had. Britain and America both worked on this project in order to develop these super-heavy tanks.<br />
<br />
The British began to develop a new type of vehicle to counter this threat, the Assault Tanks that focuses all effort on armour. The first development for such a tank began in 1943 as the [[Excelsior|A33 Excelsior]] tank, though this was cancelled with better reliability of the [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill infantry tank]]. The Secretary of State for War and the Minister of Supply sent out specifications for the Assault Tanks in April 1943, to which the Nuffield Organisation react with 18 designs for the specifications between May 1943 to February 1944, named ''AT1'' to ''AT18''. Each design was more armoured than its predecessor, but design ''AT16'' was approved by the Tank Board in February 1944. It was proposed that 25 vehicles would be produced and thus work began throughout the rest of the war. Six units were produced before production came to an end.<br />
<br />
===Design===<br />
The ''AT16'' was renamed the '''A39 Tortoise Heavy Assault Tank''' during its production life. The Tortoise is a fixed casemate design. Though classified as an Assault Tank, it was in reality a self-propelled/assault gun. The fixed casemate superstructure limited the gun traverse, but the front armour is very thick at 225 mm. This large amount of armour came at the increased weight of 80 tons and a height of 10 feet. The gun is the 96 mm 32-pounder gun that provided effective explosive and armour-piercing capabilities, good enough to destroy a [[Panther G|Panther]] tank at 1,000 yards away. The Tortoise is powered by a Meteor engine with an all-speed transmission system for equal speed forward and reverse. The suspension is a bogie system, with each bogie having a pair of wheels that are linked to a transverse torsion bar. The vehicle holds a crew of six people, two of which are loaders for the 32-pounder gun.<br />
<br />
===Cancellation===<br />
By the time the few prototypes of the vehicles were made, World War II in Europe ended in May 1945. The rapid demilitarization and lack of need for such a vehicle reduced the original order amount to just 6 vehicles, which were built. One was sent to Germany for evaluation trials, where the Tortoise proved itself as being mechanically reliable and its 32-pounder a great asset on the battlefield. Its undoing was its 80 ton weight, which gave it a low speed and a logistical nightmare to transport around the region.<br />
<br />
In the end, the super heavy tanks designs made by the Americans ([[T28]]) and the British (Tortoise) only proved that such needs for tanks were unnecessary. The Siegfried Line and other such fortifications were taken out by use of the standard issued medium tanks such as the [[M4|M4 Shermans]], proving that affordable, mass-produced vehicles could dominate the modern battlefield. The only positive note that these heavy tanks provided was that it showed the true extent of American and British industrial capabilities, being able to produce these massive monsters.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a39_tortoise Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|-WGV2ECr-TA|'''The Shooting Range #252''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:25 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|B2woWvJK4ew|'''Top 7 most armoured vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:18 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|FafvSJDEfwA|'''Tank Chats #15 Tortoise''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''--><br />
<br />
* [[T28]] / [[T95]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Nuffield}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=138101Churchill I2022-09-19T08:47:07Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Minor corrections</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]]. As the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and has low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE shells, however, due to their inefficiency, it is recommended to use smoke rounds to cover your team's advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously its armour. the 89 to 178 mm of the front hull together with the 63.5 mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However overangling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89 mm all around except 114 mm on the front. On the front, there is also a 50 mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offers superb frontal protection. The turret front has a couple of small weak spots in the front where the turret MG and sight are placed: the armour is only 50 mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with a calibre of 20 mm or larger.<br />
<br />
The 5 crew members of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however, due to the packed crew in the turret, an APHE shell will knock the crew entirely if it goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50 mm internal mantlet that can be either a weak spot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8 mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
As a heavy infantry support tank. the Churchill I is slow and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28 km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmission. The Churchill I has a very poor reverse speed (-3 km/h), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short brakes can be used to pivot the tank much faster (keybinds can be defined in-game in the Controls menu: Controls > Ground vehicles > Short brakes).<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
The 40 mm QF 2-pounder has poor penetration even with its best round at its BR (89 mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500 m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and its inaccuracy. From the side, the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The 2-pounder's best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the 2-pounder's reload speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration. The 2-pounder is equipped with a shoulder stabilizer allowing for stable fire at slow speeds.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The hull-mounted 76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-topped vehicles. The smoke round is self-explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the 76 mm howitzer to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0 || 0.1 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a playstyle similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It is best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it is very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, its gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate an unangled Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is subpar against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually due to the lack of post-penetration damage of the 2-pounder. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 76 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The StuG III G is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The 234/2 has a 50 mm and the 234/4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At medium to long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily with the 76 mm howitzer or even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS-5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34s aim for their turret weak spots or at the sides. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its less angled 75 mm sides.<br />
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'''Japanese'''<br />
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* Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
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=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* The Churchill's size and shoulder stabilizer eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76 mm howitzer can be used to smoke out enemy positions at long ranges or cover allied retreats<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40 mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]], etc.) will penetrate flat faces with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Turret and hull roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
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== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavourable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favour of the [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
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== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
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== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
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{{TankManufacturer Vauxhall}}<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=A13_Mk_I&diff=138099A13 Mk I2022-09-19T08:20:43Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */ Clarified possible biasses and the use of the main armament</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = A13 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_13_mk1<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve British light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. This tank is representative of later Rank II-III British tanks: good mobility, flat and thin frontal armour, bad reverse speed and minimal post-penetration damage.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
[[File:A13 Mk 1 Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 14 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 14 mm (0-62°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 14 mm (64°) ''Lower glacis'' || 7 + 7 mm || 14 mm (0-62°) || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 14 mm (0-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 14 mm (1-63°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 14 mm (21°) || 14 mm (2°) || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
[[File:A13 Mk 1 Screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick while the torsion bars in between the side armour are 10 mm thick.<br />
* There is a 14 mm thick armour plate between the engine bay and the driving compartment.<br />
<br />
The A13 Mk I's armour is only strong enough to provide protection against rifle-calibre machine guns. Even tanks or SPAAs armed with heavy machine guns will be able to penetrate the thin, flat armour from close range, and aircraft with HMGs or cannons will be able to strafe you and inflict serious or fatal damage. Additionally, the four crew members are packed such that a single explosive shell to the turret or front of the hull will knock out all of them. To make matters worse, they are completely surrounded by ammo, making getting ammo-racked a serious risk. The best strategy for survival is to avoid exposing yourself and shoot to disable enemies immediately whenever possible, as you will likely not be able to survive return fire from a skilled opponent. Should you take a hit and survive, consider using your smoke grenades to disengage and find cover quickly.<br />
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The {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with smoke grenades. Use your forward-launching smoke to create a wall of smoke in a strategic place. It can be used to cover your allies when capturing a point, or to cover your movement when flanking in a street (urban environment). However, you can only carry two smoke grenades, and firing the smoke grenade launcher uses both of them so it is best to save them for a crucial moment.<br />
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=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=527|rbMinHp=301}}<br />
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The A13 Mk I is quite a fast light tank on flat ground without obstacles, but it suffers from the gearbox's poor ratios in rougher terrain. Turning and climbing, and especially turning and climbing simultaneously, can feel slippery or stuttery. Despite this shortcoming, you are more than fast enough to act as a flanker or spotter, and you can easily get around to the side of unaware or slow opponents and take them by surprise.<br />
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Even though the A13 has good mobility, it sometimes handles strangely: it loses speed on turns, does not accelerate quite as fast as its overpowered engine should allow and hill-climbing is difficult. All of these flaws come from the gearbox, which has bad and uneven ratios, resulting in a kick when changing speeds. Know that you should always keep an eye on the "gear" counter top-left of your screen (activate it in the options menu) since it provides you crucial information on how your tank will react to your commands. With a bit of practice, one should swiftly master these peculiarities.<br />
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=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
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== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 87 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Shoulder-stop, Vertical || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The QF 2-pounder is a very versatile gun, capable of a high fire rate and fair accuracy at close range. The A13 Mk I mounts it in a good turret, which has solid traverse speed and excellent gun depression, as well as a shoulder stabilizer that allows for accurate fire when coming to a stop and at slow speeds. The QF has only two main drawbacks - a lack of post-penetration damage, as the only shells with good penetration have no explosive filler, and poor accuracy at longer ranges. These can be overcome by keeping engagements around the 100-200 m range and aiming accurately, first taking out the enemy's weapon and then knocking out their crew or detonating their ammunition with follow-up shots, which are asissted by the weapons incredibly fast reload speed.<br />
<br />
Since the 40 mm QF 2-pounder is used on most British tanks at Rank I, it is important to know it well. This cannon has a major disadvantage at distance since its projectiles lose around 20 mm of penetration for every 500 m they travel. As if this was not enough, it has poor accuracy. Even with the ''Adjustment of fire'' modification, one should target large components (crew, engine, transmission) or, as distance increases (500 m or more), the general centre of the foe. Firing it, you will easily notice its other flaw: it does almost no post-penetration damage, which means you can't exclusively aim at the centre of mass of enemy vehicles, instead going for turret then hull or the other way around.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, this cannon has five major advantages: reload speed, close-quarter penetration, a primitive stabilizing system, lots of ammo and awesome gun depression. Its fast reloading speed allows you to compensate for its poor accuracy. Missed a shot? Why not take another even before you can re-position! The cannon's close quarters penetration, which is one of the best at its tier, is also a plus. Your enemies will only block your shot if you happen to hit a steeply-angled plate of armour. The primitive shoulder-stabilizer allows the tank to fire on the move as well. That being said, it works best at low speeds and on relatively flat road, but it still allows the cannon to be much more precise than the comparable [[BT-7]] with its [[20-K (45 mm)|20-K]]. Last but not least, small shells means more shells. The A13 can bring up to 87 shells into the game, much more than you need to knock out 3-4 tanks. This allows you to try and suppress an enemy and keep it in cover by constantly firing near it (at this rank, this tactic can prove effective against new players). Finally, its good gun depression enables it to fire over hills, - combined with it's excellent vertical traverse rate - exposing only a small bit of the turret, shooting and disappearing swiftly. Proper use of these features allows this tank to compete well at its BR.<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* Shot Mk.1 AP/T - Stock armour-piercing solid shot. Decently effective against most vehicles at this tier, but loses penetration very quickly at range.<br />
* Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T - Ballistic-capped solid shot, best penetrating shell available for the A13 Mk I. Very effective against most vehicles at this tier, and much better at maintaining penetration at range than Mk. 1 shot. However, it becomes much less effective beyond 500 m.<br />
* Shot Mk.1 APHV/T - AP solid shot with a higher velocity than the previous ones. Easier to aim but loses penetration extremely quickly at range.<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T - APHE shell containing an explosive filler and which is likely to knock out anything it penetrates in a single shot. Although it penetrates less than the other shells, it is devastating against tanks with weaker armour but will encounter difficulty with the tougher tanks at this battle rating.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.77.2.128''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''87''' || 78&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 75&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 66&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 62&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 60&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 56&nbsp;''(+31)''<br />
|-<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! 11th<br>rack empty<br />
! 12th<br>rack empty<br />
! 13th<br>rack empty<br />
! 14th<br>rack empty<br />
! 15th<br>rack empty<br />
! 16th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 51&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+56)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+86)'' || No<br />
|}<br />
'''Note''':<br />
<br />
* Centre hull empty: 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[AMR.35 ZT3]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,500 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The Vickers machine gun is mostly only useful for spotting other tanks for teammates or knocking out crew in open-top vehicles. As a rifle-calibre MG it cannot damage other tanks, and the very low fire rate of 390 RPM as well as having only 20 degrees of turret elevation makes it difficult to use effectively against aircraft.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
[[File:A13 Mk I Screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
This vehicle's role is that of a light tank in the truest sense, sporting an exceptionally forgiving gun, great mobility and virtually no armour to speak of.<br />
<br />
This tank has a very active playstyle and should only be used in the front lines if played agressively. Otherwise, use your mobility to your advantage: Spot, flank and provide artillery support for your teammates, blind your enemies with well-placed smokes screens in key avenues. Make sure to prioritize targeting secluded enemies in flanking tactics so you can take full advantage of the element of surprise and outflank your opponent. However due to your fast reload rate and good penetration, should the enemy prove numerous, you can still dsipatch them. Never expose yourself for too long as even anti-aircraft guns are a potential threat to your non-angled armour. The [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|QF 2-pounder]] has an lacking long-range accuracy so you must get close to your enemies to actually land a shot where you expect. Load up this agile (but reluctant) cat with ammo and flank your enemies with a constant flow of bullets.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Exceptional gun characteristics for its rank<br />
* Fast with a good HP per ton ratio<br />
* Has a "shoulder lock", which is a primitive form of stabilisation; this makes stopping and firing a useful tactic as the 2-pdr doesn't bounce as much as a non-stabilised gun<br />
* Brings lots of ammo to the fight (87 rounds max)<br />
* Has forward-launching smoke launchers<br />
* Adequate turret traverse speed<br />
* -15° gun depression ensures great terrain adaptability<br />
* Four crewmen and a three-man turret<br />
* Fast reload, makes engaging multiple targets at once possible<br />
* Very effective in a flanker and scout role<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Extremely thin armour, can be frontally penetrated by HMG<br />
* Loses speed when turning<br />
* Wiggles when trying to turn on 5th gear<br />
* The Vickers MG has a slow rate of fire, ineffective at hitting fast/small targets like [[AS 42]]<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The British development on their cruiser tanks, tanks that focus on mobility to exploit breakthroughs beyond enemy lines, took a turn in 1936 after General Giffard LeQuesne Martel became the Assistant Director of Mechanization at the British War Office, the head of the army in the government. Martel, an advocate of the tanks, and developer of the concept of "tankettes", witnessed a tank demonstration in 1936 that had Soviet designs. The one that attracted his attention was the [[BT-5|BT light tank]]. The BT's use of the Christie suspension had Martel argue for the usage of the same suspension in their tank designs, to which the British government complied with the purchase and licensing of the system from the Nuffield Organization.<br />
<br />
The acquired vehicle from the purchase of the Christie suspension was labelled as the ''A13E1'' and became part of the design development under the designation ''Cruiser Mk III (A13)''. The General Staff requested for the vehicle to have 30 mm of armour, a 2-pounder gun, and a road speed of 48 km/h. The original vehicle was extensively reworked due to many interior and mechanical issues. Until the tank design was finished, the British Army adopted the ''Cruiser Mk I (A9)'' tank for use, but these tanks were delayed due to the A13's near completion. The first prototype was delivered in 1937 under the name ''A13E2'', this featured the turret from the A9 cruiser tank, with a 2-pounder and a Vickers machine gun. The armour on the prototype was 15 mm and the design could reach a top speed under a governor of 48 km/h (64 km/h ungoverned). The last and revised design was the ''A13E3'' that became adopted by the British Army and ordered into production in 1939. The General Staff specification number for the tank was the '''A13 Mk. I, Cruiser Tank Mark III'''. 65 of these tanks were ordered from the Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited, to which 30 were built before the War Office decided to upgrade the A13 Mk.I with more armour than the '' [[A13 Mk II|A13 Mk.II, Cruiser Tank Mk IV]]''. Some of the A13 Mk.I Cruiser Mk III was also converted into Mk IV to stay modernized.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The A13 first saw combat in the Battle of France under the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. The A13 encountered many troubles during its employment, the crew having little to no training with the new tanks due to their rushed adoption into service. The tanks were in poor condition and some were even missing parts. The A13s were used in the 1st Armoured Division, but many were either destroyed by the superior German armoured forces or abandoned at Calais during the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk, which forced the units to leave behind their heavier equipment.<br />
<br />
After the disaster at France, the A13 were still used to support the war. Some were sent to Greece to support their defence against Germany in the Battle of Greece, but a majority were sent to North Africa as part of the Western Desert Campaign near Libya under the 7th Armoured Division. Compared to the time in France, the A13s in North Africa fared much better, ironing out most of its initial defects, and was even more suited to the environment than other tank designs. The A13 was popular with the crew for its high speed, reliability, and a powerful 2-pounder cannon that could engage a majority of Axis tanks in 1941. However, there was an insufficient number of A13s available for use, so tank units were mixed with the faster cruiser tanks and slower infantry tanks, which caused tactical and logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all of the tanks. Another deficiency with the tank and every other British tank with the 2-pounder was the lack of high-explosive shell issued to the tankers, which made them vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which caused a majority of British tank losses in the North African Campaign. Still, the A13 fared very well with its armour and armament until late 1941 where better armoured [[Pz.III L|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] began to appear on the battlefield.<br />
<br />
Due to its growing obsolescence on the battlefield, the A13 was replaced in 1941 by the better armoured [[Crusader Mk II|A15 Crusader tank]].<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_13_mk1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|4_cJ1CpEatw|'''Best gun depression''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:33 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|53LWccCMijo|'''The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III, A13 Mk I''' - ''SirKittalot''|tx2MxpbY0b4|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|TPM-URpAYus|'''Mark IV (A13) Mk.1, British Tier-1, Reserve Light Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|mjacUnmi2iY|'''David Fletcher's Tank Chats #1: The A13 Cruiser''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Nuffield}}<br />
{{Britain light tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=A13_Mk_I&diff=138098A13 Mk I2022-09-19T08:15:37Z<p>U50095228: /* Armaments */ Removed unnecessary clutter and general clarification.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = A13 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_13_mk1<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve British light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. This tank is representative of later Rank II-III British tanks: good mobility, flat and thin frontal armour, bad reverse speed and minimal post-penetration damage.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
[[File:A13 Mk 1 Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 14 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 14 mm (0-62°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 14 mm (64°) ''Lower glacis'' || 7 + 7 mm || 14 mm (0-62°) || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 14 mm (0-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 14 mm (1-63°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 14 mm (21°) || 14 mm (2°) || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
[[File:A13 Mk 1 Screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick while the torsion bars in between the side armour are 10 mm thick.<br />
* There is a 14 mm thick armour plate between the engine bay and the driving compartment.<br />
<br />
The A13 Mk I's armour is only strong enough to provide protection against rifle-calibre machine guns. Even tanks or SPAAs armed with heavy machine guns will be able to penetrate the thin, flat armour from close range, and aircraft with HMGs or cannons will be able to strafe you and inflict serious or fatal damage. Additionally, the four crew members are packed such that a single explosive shell to the turret or front of the hull will knock out all of them. To make matters worse, they are completely surrounded by ammo, making getting ammo-racked a serious risk. The best strategy for survival is to avoid exposing yourself and shoot to disable enemies immediately whenever possible, as you will likely not be able to survive return fire from a skilled opponent. Should you take a hit and survive, consider using your smoke grenades to disengage and find cover quickly.<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with smoke grenades. Use your forward-launching smoke to create a wall of smoke in a strategic place. It can be used to cover your allies when capturing a point, or to cover your movement when flanking in a street (urban environment). However, you can only carry two smoke grenades, and firing the smoke grenade launcher uses both of them so it is best to save them for a crucial moment.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=527|rbMinHp=301}}<br />
<br />
The A13 Mk I is quite a fast light tank on flat ground without obstacles, but it suffers from the gearbox's poor ratios in rougher terrain. Turning and climbing, and especially turning and climbing simultaneously, can feel slippery or stuttery. Despite this shortcoming, you are more than fast enough to act as a flanker or spotter, and you can easily get around to the side of unaware or slow opponents and take them by surprise.<br />
<br />
Even though the A13 has good mobility, it sometimes handles strangely: it loses speed on turns, does not accelerate quite as fast as its overpowered engine should allow and hill-climbing is difficult. All of these flaws come from the gearbox, which has bad and uneven ratios, resulting in a kick when changing speeds. Know that you should always keep an eye on the "gear" counter top-left of your screen (activate it in the options menu) since it provides you crucial information on how your tank will react to your commands. With a bit of practice, one should swiftly master these peculiarities.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 87 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Shoulder-stop, Vertical || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The QF 2-pounder is a very versatile gun, capable of a high fire rate and fair accuracy at close range. The A13 Mk I mounts it in a good turret, which has solid traverse speed and excellent gun depression, as well as a shoulder stabilizer that allows for accurate fire when coming to a stop and at slow speeds. The QF has only two main drawbacks - a lack of post-penetration damage, as the only shells with good penetration have no explosive filler, and poor accuracy at longer ranges. These can be overcome by keeping engagements around the 100-200 m range and aiming accurately, first taking out the enemy's weapon and then knocking out their crew or detonating their ammunition with follow-up shots, which are asissted by the weapons incredibly fast reload speed.<br />
<br />
Since the 40 mm QF 2-pounder is used on most British tanks at Rank I, it is important to know it well. This cannon has a major disadvantage at distance since its projectiles lose around 20 mm of penetration for every 500 m they travel. As if this was not enough, it has poor accuracy. Even with the ''Adjustment of fire'' modification, one should target large components (crew, engine, transmission) or, as distance increases (500 m or more), the general centre of the foe. Firing it, you will easily notice its other flaw: it does almost no post-penetration damage, which means you can't exclusively aim at the centre of mass of enemy vehicles, instead going for turret then hull or the other way around.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, this cannon has five major advantages: reload speed, close-quarter penetration, a primitive stabilizing system, lots of ammo and awesome gun depression. Its fast reloading speed allows you to compensate for its poor accuracy. Missed a shot? Why not take another even before you can re-position! The cannon's close quarters penetration, which is one of the best at its tier, is also a plus. Your enemies will only block your shot if you happen to hit a steeply-angled plate of armour. The primitive shoulder-stabilizer allows the tank to fire on the move as well. That being said, it works best at low speeds and on relatively flat road, but it still allows the cannon to be much more precise than the comparable [[BT-7]] with its [[20-K (45 mm)|20-K]]. Last but not least, small shells means more shells. The A13 can bring up to 87 shells into the game, much more than you need to knock out 3-4 tanks. This allows you to try and suppress an enemy and keep it in cover by constantly firing near it (at this rank, this tactic can prove effective against new players). Finally, its good gun depression enables it to fire over hills, - combined with it's excellent vertical traverse rate - exposing only a small bit of the turret, shooting and disappearing swiftly. Proper use of these features allows this tank to compete well at its BR.<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* Shot Mk.1 AP/T - Stock armour-piercing solid shot. Decently effective against most vehicles at this tier, but loses penetration very quickly at range.<br />
* Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T - Ballistic-capped solid shot, best penetrating shell available for the A13 Mk I. Very effective against most vehicles at this tier, and much better at maintaining penetration at range than Mk. 1 shot. However, it becomes much less effective beyond 500 m.<br />
* Shot Mk.1 APHV/T - AP solid shot with a higher velocity than the previous ones. Easier to aim but loses penetration extremely quickly at range.<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T - APHE shell containing an explosive filler and which is likely to knock out anything it penetrates in a single shot. Although it penetrates less than the other shells, it is devastating against tanks with weaker armour but will encounter difficulty with the tougher tanks at this battle rating.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.77.2.128''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''87''' || 78&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 75&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 66&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 62&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 60&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 56&nbsp;''(+31)''<br />
|-<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! 11th<br>rack empty<br />
! 12th<br>rack empty<br />
! 13th<br>rack empty<br />
! 14th<br>rack empty<br />
! 15th<br>rack empty<br />
! 16th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 51&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+56)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+86)'' || No<br />
|}<br />
'''Note''':<br />
<br />
* Centre hull empty: 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[AMR.35 ZT3]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,500 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The Vickers machine gun is mostly only useful for spotting other tanks for teammates or knocking out crew in open-top vehicles. As a rifle-calibre MG it cannot damage other tanks, and the very low fire rate of 390 RPM as well as having only 20 degrees of turret elevation makes it difficult to use effectively against aircraft.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
[[File:A13 Mk I Screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|A13 Mk I on [[Jungle]]]]<br />
This vehicle's role is that of a light tank in the truest sense, sporting an acceptable gun, great mobility and virtually no armour to speak of.<br />
<br />
This tank has a very active playstyle and should not be used in the front lines. Instead, use your mobility to your advantage: Spot, flank and provide artillery support for your teammates, blind your enemies with well-placed smokes screens in key avenues. Make sure to only target secluded enemies in flanking tactics so you can take full advantage of the element of surprise and outflank your opponent. Never expose yourself for too long because even anti-aircraft guns are a potential threat to your non-angled armour. The [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|QF 2-pounder]] has an awfully long-range accuracy so you must get close to your enemies to actually land a shot where you expect. Load up this agile (but reluctant) cat with ammo and flank your enemies with a constant flow of bullets.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Good gun for its rank<br />
* Fast with a good HP per ton ratio<br />
* Has a "shoulder lock", which is a primitive form of stabilisation; this makes stopping and firing a useful tactic as the 2-pdr doesn't bounce as much as a non-stabilised gun<br />
* Brings lots of ammo to the fight (87 rounds max)<br />
* Has forward-launching smoke launchers<br />
* Adequate turret traverse speed<br />
* -15° gun depression ensures great terrain adaptability<br />
* Four crewmen and a three-man turret<br />
* Fast reload, makes finishing off a target both quicker and easier<br />
* Very effective in a flanker and scout role<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Extremely thin armour, can be frontally penetrated by HMG<br />
* Loses speed when turning<br />
* Wiggles when trying to turn on 5th gear<br />
* The Vickers MG has a slow rate of fire, ineffective at hitting fast/small targets like [[AS 42]]<br />
* Not effective at anything other than how it was historically used; ill-advised to engage heavier vehicles in close quarters<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The British development on their cruiser tanks, tanks that focus on mobility to exploit breakthroughs beyond enemy lines, took a turn in 1936 after General Giffard LeQuesne Martel became the Assistant Director of Mechanization at the British War Office, the head of the army in the government. Martel, an advocate of the tanks, and developer of the concept of "tankettes", witnessed a tank demonstration in 1936 that had Soviet designs. The one that attracted his attention was the [[BT-5|BT light tank]]. The BT's use of the Christie suspension had Martel argue for the usage of the same suspension in their tank designs, to which the British government complied with the purchase and licensing of the system from the Nuffield Organization.<br />
<br />
The acquired vehicle from the purchase of the Christie suspension was labelled as the ''A13E1'' and became part of the design development under the designation ''Cruiser Mk III (A13)''. The General Staff requested for the vehicle to have 30 mm of armour, a 2-pounder gun, and a road speed of 48 km/h. The original vehicle was extensively reworked due to many interior and mechanical issues. Until the tank design was finished, the British Army adopted the ''Cruiser Mk I (A9)'' tank for use, but these tanks were delayed due to the A13's near completion. The first prototype was delivered in 1937 under the name ''A13E2'', this featured the turret from the A9 cruiser tank, with a 2-pounder and a Vickers machine gun. The armour on the prototype was 15 mm and the design could reach a top speed under a governor of 48 km/h (64 km/h ungoverned). The last and revised design was the ''A13E3'' that became adopted by the British Army and ordered into production in 1939. The General Staff specification number for the tank was the '''A13 Mk. I, Cruiser Tank Mark III'''. 65 of these tanks were ordered from the Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited, to which 30 were built before the War Office decided to upgrade the A13 Mk.I with more armour than the '' [[A13 Mk II|A13 Mk.II, Cruiser Tank Mk IV]]''. Some of the A13 Mk.I Cruiser Mk III was also converted into Mk IV to stay modernized.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The A13 first saw combat in the Battle of France under the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. The A13 encountered many troubles during its employment, the crew having little to no training with the new tanks due to their rushed adoption into service. The tanks were in poor condition and some were even missing parts. The A13s were used in the 1st Armoured Division, but many were either destroyed by the superior German armoured forces or abandoned at Calais during the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk, which forced the units to leave behind their heavier equipment.<br />
<br />
After the disaster at France, the A13 were still used to support the war. Some were sent to Greece to support their defence against Germany in the Battle of Greece, but a majority were sent to North Africa as part of the Western Desert Campaign near Libya under the 7th Armoured Division. Compared to the time in France, the A13s in North Africa fared much better, ironing out most of its initial defects, and was even more suited to the environment than other tank designs. The A13 was popular with the crew for its high speed, reliability, and a powerful 2-pounder cannon that could engage a majority of Axis tanks in 1941. However, there was an insufficient number of A13s available for use, so tank units were mixed with the faster cruiser tanks and slower infantry tanks, which caused tactical and logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all of the tanks. Another deficiency with the tank and every other British tank with the 2-pounder was the lack of high-explosive shell issued to the tankers, which made them vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which caused a majority of British tank losses in the North African Campaign. Still, the A13 fared very well with its armour and armament until late 1941 where better armoured [[Pz.III L|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] began to appear on the battlefield.<br />
<br />
Due to its growing obsolescence on the battlefield, the A13 was replaced in 1941 by the better armoured [[Crusader Mk II|A15 Crusader tank]].<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_13_mk1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|4_cJ1CpEatw|'''Best gun depression''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:33 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|53LWccCMijo|'''The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III, A13 Mk I''' - ''SirKittalot''|tx2MxpbY0b4|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|TPM-URpAYus|'''Mark IV (A13) Mk.1, British Tier-1, Reserve Light Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|mjacUnmi2iY|'''David Fletcher's Tank Chats #1: The A13 Cruiser''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Nuffield}}<br />
{{Britain light tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Lvkv_9040C&diff=138094Lvkv 9040C2022-09-19T07:47:34Z<p>U50095228: /* Description */ Clarified translation from Swedish.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = Swedish SPAA '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = CV90 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=sw_lvkv_90c<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish SPAA {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]]. Its name translates directly to "Air Defense Cannon Carriage/Wagon".<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
The Armor of the {{PAGENAME}} is best considered to be non-existent. This turns out to work to its benefit however, as the lack of armor can often prevent the vehicle from being outright destroyed upon a first strike, leaving the player a few seconds to retaliate. The turret, hull, and front upper plate all boast a few mm of composite armor which does help against smaller caliber machine guns, however you are still very vulnerable to enemy CAS, IFVs, and MBTs. <br />
<br />
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations --><br />
<!-- Example: *Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) --><br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Cupola roof)<br />
* Composite screen (Hull front, Hull sides, Turret front<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || (75-85)*+20+10 mm (78°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 485*+20 mm (29-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 160*+6+10 mm ''Top'' <br> 80*+10 mm ''Bottom'' || 20 mm (16-17°) <br> 10 mm ''Sponsons'' || 20 mm <br> 6 mm ''Sponsons''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 495*+20 mm (1-52°) ''Turret front'' <br> 35 mm (1-89°) ''Gun mantlet'' || (200-280)*+20 mm (7-21°) || 20 mm (9°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 20 mm || 20 mm || 20 mm || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>Composite screens</small><br />
<br />
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of --><br />
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. --><br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=781|rbMinHp=486}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|akan m/70B (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="6" | [[akan m/70B (40 mm)|40 mm akan m/70B]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 234 || rowspan="2" | 300 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+50° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 30.7 || 42.5 || 51.7 || 57.1 || 60.8 || rowspan="2" | 0.20 || rowspan="2" | 0.20 || rowspan="2" | 0.20 || rowspan="2" | 0.20<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 20.8 || 24.4 || 29.7 || 32.8 || 34.9<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/90 || APFSDS || 143 || 142 || 137 || 130 || 123 || 116<br />
|-<br />
| slsgr m/90 || HE || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5<br />
|-<br />
| kulsgr m/90 || HE-VT* || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/90 || APFSDS || 1,465 || 0.5 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| slsgr m/90 || HE || 988 || 0.96 || 0 || 0.1 || 174.4 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| kulsgr m/90 || HE-VT* || 1,015 || 0.88 || 0 || 0.1 || 190.8 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Strf_9040C.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the [[Strf 9040C]] (identical)]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.9.0.62''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''234''' || 186&nbsp;''(+48)'' || 138&nbsp;''(+96)'' || 90&nbsp;''(+144)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+162)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+110)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+234)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|ksp 58 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[ksp 58 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ksp 58]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 600 || -8°/+20° || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
''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 instead 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).''<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Capable at destroying jets with its fused HE and tanks with its APFSDS<br />
* A [[Strf 9040C|Stridsfordon 90C]] with radar and lock-on ability to engage jets and helicopters at longer distances<br />
* Very well protected SPAA<br />
* Not limited to AA role and can flank and destroy tanks easily thanks to its 40 mm APFSDS<br />
* Good mobility<br />
* Low profile unlike other SPAAs<br />
* Access to second generation thermals for the gunner<br />
* Good gun elevation, higher than the [[Lvrbv 701]]<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Due to its limited magazine (only 24 shells) it can not engage multiple targets without emptying the magazine<br />
* When the magazine is emptied, it takes time to reload - holding down the trigger is not recommended. Fire in short bursts to avoid spooking the pilot/tanker and conserve ammunition<br />
* While reloading the magazine it will be an easy prey for enemy air units<br />
* The HE-VT shell is a tier II modification<br />
* The stock HE shell needs a direct hit on an aerial vehicle to destroy it - smart pilots know not to fly in a straight line, making it very difficult to take them down<br />
* Doesn't have SAMs so can't engage helicopters at long ranges<br />
* An easy target for enemy helicopters with long range Vikhr and Hellfire ATGMs<br />
* Does not get access to the scouting abilities the Strf 9040C and [[Strf 9040 BILL]] have<br />
* Rather slow turret traverse<br />
* No CITV<br />
* 40 mm HE-VT is rather weak - multiple hits are required to down an enemy aircraft<br />
* 40 mm HE-VT needs to travel a certain distance to activate the fuse - helicopters at close range require a direct hit to take down<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_lvkv_90c Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer BAE Systems AB}}<br />
{{Sweden anti-aircraft vehicles}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=133044Conway2022-07-04T23:00:59Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added "one-shot"ability of 120mm APDS.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays very similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. It can be played as an usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPGs. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case a light vehicle is stalking you, it's better to just load HESH, provoke the enemy, then hopefully blast them away. Heavily-armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS than HESH regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weak spots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Large calibre APDS still often leads to one-shots<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=129833Conway2022-06-01T11:02:40Z<p>U50095228: /* Description */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays very similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It has sub-par armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, killing some, severely damaging most. It can be played as a usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance. Extraordinarily, it is also able to take a heavy tank in a 1v1 as well. If used together with good knowledge on enemy tank layouts, one-shots will be easy to make.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Notes:<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPG's. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case if light vehicle is stalking you, sometimes it's better to just load HESH, provoke, then hopefully blast enemy away. Heavily armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS, than HESH, regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weakspots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Capable of one-shots due to the large caliber APDS<br />
* immune to autocannon fire up to 45mm<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=129830Conway2022-06-01T10:58:04Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
The Conway plays very similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It lacks armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. It can be played as a usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance. Extraordinarily, it is also able to take a heavy tank in a 1v1 as well.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The turret front can shrug off smaller calibre rounds at long range and is resistant to HMGs, unlike the FV4005.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right'' <br> 30 mm ''Left'' || 30 mm || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Notes:<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPG's. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case if light vehicle is stalking you, sometimes it's better to just load HESH, provoke, then hopefully blast enemy away. Heavily armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS, than HESH, regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weakspots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity of the APDS shells<br />
* Capable of one-shots due to the large caliber APDS<br />
* immune to autocannon fire up to 45mm<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Unreliable armour profile<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells<br />
* Long reload time<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}}<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=SAV_20.12.48&diff=128812SAV 20.12.482022-05-16T08:10:24Z<p>U50095228: /* Main armament */ Added the description and practical application of the sgr M/50Z shell.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=sw_sav_fm48<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
|store=7247<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
[[File:SAV 20.12.48 firing POV.png|thumb|300px|A SAV 20.12.48 firing]]<br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]].<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} was a private venture by Bofors to design a next generation assault gun for both export purposes and indigenous use following WWII. The main goal was to make a light and manoeuvrable armoured vehicle with a 12 cm autocannon, capable of dealing with both soft targets and enemy tanks. A prototype was built during the late 1940s but no one was willing to buy it in a world that was littered in cheap surplus military vehicles and the project was scrapped.<br />
<br />
In-game it is a very fast vehicle with a low silhouette and can easily manoeuvre around the map and flank enemies. It is armed with the aforementioned 12 cm autocannon of Bofors design and has a fire rate of 50 rounds per minute, meaning a reload speed of 1.2 seconds between shots, which is the highest in the game for its calibre. The gun's velocity however is subpar and requires good aim and close quarters combat to be effective. Another result of the low velocity is subpar penetration, but because of the vehicle's high mobility, coupled with the gun's high fire rate and powerful ammunition, it has no trouble taking on any type of vehicle that it may come across during conventional matches.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
[[File:Destroyed SAV 20.12.48.png|thumb|300px|A destroyed SAV 20.12.48]]<br />
<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
The SAV 20.12.48 is very lightly armoured, sacrificing protection for mobility. The highly sloped glacis is 30 mm thick, and can sometimes cause rounds to ricochet, but it is not reliable in any sense of the word. The rest of the tank is vulnerable to even heavy machine guns, and the open top is extremely vulnerable to strafing aircraft. Ammunition is stored in two primary deposits at the back of the crew compartment and is easily hit if the vehicle is penetrated.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations --><br />
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) --><br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of --><br />
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. --><br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
[[File:SAV 20.12.48 moving.png|thumb|300px|A SAV 20.12.48 on its way]]<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=568|rbMinHp=354}}<br />
<br />
The SAV 20.12.48 has excellent mobility for a tank destroyer, featuring a high top speed as well as a fast reverse. The result is a highly agile tank destroyer that is capable of taking positions or retreating into cover quickly.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
[[File:SAV 20.12.48 top view.png|thumb|300px|Top view of the SAV 20.12.48]]<br />
<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|automatkanon (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The '''120 mm automatkanon''' is a potentially devastating weapon. It is fitted with an automatic loader that is fed by a six-round clip, for a total of seven shots ready to go once fully loaded (including one in the gun barrel). The autoloader has an extremely fast reload of only 1.2 s, allowing the Sav 20.12.48 to engage up to seven targets in under 10 s. Once the clip has been expended, a new round must be loaded into the clip before the autoloader may be cycled and the gun made ready to fire. However, this process only takes a few seconds. The gun also has a good amount of gun depression, allowing the Sav 20.12.48 to abuse hills when combined with the high reverse speed.<br />
<br />
The primary shell is the '''hpgr m/50''' APCBC round. With nearly 1 kg of explosive filler, it is extremely deadly and almost guaranteed to one-shot anything if it penetrates the crew compartment. Its penetration is quite respectable; although not quite enough to frontally penetrate everything the Sav 20.12.48 can encounter, it has more than enough penetration to kill most tanks from the side. It has a relatively low muzzle velocity, however, and is thus hard to hit with at long range.<br />
<br />
In addition the SAV 20.12.48 has a capable HE shell; '''sgr M/50Z''', with over 2 kilograms of TNT equivalent and 28mm of pen. This shell is capable of penetrating and overpressuring the roofs of may of the vehicles you will encounter and are a great alternative if the APHE doesn't cut it. It is especially potent in taking out hull-down opponents who attempt to hide their usual weakspots.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[automatkanon (120 mm)|120 mm automatkanon]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 62 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.2 || 18.3 || 22.2 || 24.6 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 1.20 || rowspan="2" | 1.20 || rowspan="2" | 1.20 || rowspan="2" | 1.20<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| hpgr M/50 || APCBC || 95 || 94 || 89 || 84 || 79 || 75<br />
|-<br />
| sgr M/50Z || HE || 28 || 28 || 28 || 28 || 28 || 28<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| hpgr M/50 || APCBC || 525 || 23.5 || 1.2 || 19 || 890 || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| sgr M/50Z || HE || 525 || 23.5 || 0 || 0.1 || 2,250 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] --><br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''62''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
[[File:SAV 20.12.48 ambush.png|thumb|300px|A SAV 20.12.48 ready to ambush]]<br />
The combination of high mobility, powerful explosive filler APCBC shells, and autoloader make the Sav 20.12.48 an extremely dangerous tank destroyer to face. It is fast enough to quickly setup ambush positions near where the enemy team is likely to pass by, and a careless team can quickly find itself losing up to seven tanks in less than 10 s to the Sav 20.12.48 lying in ambush. Ideally, the Sav 20.12.48 would also be in a hull down position, where most of the tank can be hidden since the gun is mounted near the top of the vehicle and the high reverse speed allows it to back into cover quickly.<br />
<br />
The vehicle itself is very fragile, however, and if it is caught out of position it is very easily destroyed. It is also very vulnerable to aircraft due to the open top, and has no means of defending itself from aircraft.<br />
<br />
It can also be very tempting to fire off all seven rounds at once, but as with all autoloaders, trigger discipline is a very important skill to develop in order to use the vehicle to its full potential.<br />
<br />
Most of the heavy tanks that the SAV 20.12.48 is able to face are largely resistant to your shells, especially if they're angled. If you see a KV-1 or Churchill, disengage and let your allies with better firepower take these out.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Highly lethal APCBC explosive filler shells<br />
* Good mobility and high reverse speed<br />
* Can fire seven rounds within 9 s using the autoloader<br />
* Excellent gun depression<br />
* Small silhouette, especially when hull down<br />
* High hp/ton ratio - not many enemy or allied vehicles are as quick to accelerate or able to reach high speeds as quickly<br />
* Penetration usually is a one-shot due to the high amount of explosive filler in the APCBC shells<br />
* Extremely effective in an ambush role - an SAV 20.12.48 left unchecked can destroy an entire flank in rapid succession<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Very thin armour<br />
* Open crew compartment, highly vulnerable to strafing aircraft<br />
* Must reload at least one round into clip before the gun can be fired<br />
* Low shell velocity<br />
* Sustained firing decreases accuracy<br />
* Struggles to penetrate heavy tanks like the KV-1 and Churchill series of tanks, even at close range or from the sides<br />
* Magazine can quickly be depleted - replenishing the entire magazine takes up a lot of time<br />
* Only 3 crew members - low survivability<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
[[File:SAV 20.12.48 firing.png|thumb|300px|A SAV 20.12.48 firing]]<br />
=== [[wt:en/news/6510-development-sav-20-12-48-nordic-sledgehammer-en|Devblog]] ===<br />
In 1948, Bofors began work on developing a new self-propelled gun as part of a private venture in an effort to realize a long-lasting goal of establishing itself as a manufacturer of armored fighting vehicles, alongside its already proven reputation in arms production.<br />
<br />
To do so, Bofors came up with a design for a new SPG, which incorporated a 12cm cannon, whose design was heavily inspired by those used on destroyer vessels, along with a highly effective autoloading mechanism. The design was ready by the end of 1948 and a single prototype was constructed in the following year.<br />
<br />
However, while test results didn't seem to impress the Swedish military enough to consider placing an order for the vehicle, the factor that certainly sealed the vehicle's fate for good was its price. Namely, being developed with the use of its own funding, Bofors had to demand a high production price for the vehicle, a price deemed too high by the Swedish military considering the vehicle's most probable role being an infantry support vehicle.<br />
<br />
As a result of the lacking interest, the SAV 20.12.48 never went into production. Despite its failure, the project wasn't a complete loss for Bofors, as some of the experiences gained during its development later found application in other vehicles, such as the far more successful Strv 103.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_sav_fm48 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Images<br />
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150"><br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 01.jpg|<br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 02.jpg|<br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 03.jpg|<br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 04.jpg|<br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 05.jpg|<br />
File:SAV 20.12.48 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|1Wx-xUnIqyI|'''The Shooting Range #182''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|xF4-TcnyWw0|'''Best tank destroyers''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:17 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PosWOnOGkSo|'''Best experimental vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 7:08 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/6510-development-sav-20-12-48-nordic-sledgehammer-en|[Devblog] SAV 20.12.48: Nordic Sledgehammer]]<br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer AB Bofors}}<br />
{{Sweden tank destroyers}}<br />
{{Sweden premium ground vehicles}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Excelsior&diff=128135Excelsior2022-05-02T10:09:16Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Removed "Low ammo Count" for the OQF 75mm with 80 rounds.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_33_excelsior<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
|market=A.33+Heavy+Assault+Tank+%27Excelsior%27<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|name}}''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]] during the 2017 World War Two: Chronicle Event, unlocked after obtaining 11 Chronicle Awards. Based off the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] chassis, the Excelsior provides a substantial armour upgrade with speed.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 114 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 55 mm (74°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 114 mm (18°), 55 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 39 + 25.4 mm || 32 mm (1°) ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (18-62°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 114 mm (1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 63.5 mm (1-41°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm || 63.5 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=811|rbMinHp=555}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF Mk.V (75 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm OQF Mk.V]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 80 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 91 || 88 || 78 || 67 || 57 || 49<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 103 || 100 || 89 || 77 || 66 || 57<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 618 || 6.53 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 666 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.3.0.117''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''80''' || 55&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 50&nbsp;''(+30)'' || 48&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 46&nbsp;''(+34)'' || 29&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 12&nbsp;''(+68)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+79)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Racks 6 and 7 are first stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
[[File:A.33 Excelsior Simulator Optics .gif|thumb|300x300px|A.33 Optics placement in Simulator Mode.]]<br />
When in simulator mode the gun will fire slightly low and to the left of the aimed position due to the sight being offset, this should be kept in mind and accounted for when engaging targets.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" width="50%" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[Churchill Mk I]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 2,500 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 2,500 (225) || 600 || ±10° || ±10°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
The A 33 Excelsior is a fast moving highly manoeuvrable, well armoured heavy tank offering great speed of up to 40 km/h. It excels at flanking and catching the enemy of guard. To get the best from this tank in battle, use it speed and manoeuvrability to your advantage. Since the Excelsior is a heavy tank it armour offers up to 114 mm of protection and if angled it can further increase it to offer over 210 mm. Allowing the tank to become immune to virtually all enemy rounds. However, the thickest parts of the armour plate is on the front of the tank and front of the turret, so it is important to keep the front pointed towards the enemy in combat.<br />
<br />
Combined with the 75 mm cannon, which has a reload of up to five seconds, it is able to cause mayhem on the battlefield. load M61 Shot round and fire away, always aim for the sides and rear of the enemy tanks, this is the weakest parts, when at range. However, when fighting tiger tanks get as close as you can, approach from the rear and shoot the rear of the turret, it will knock the tigers turret out allowing you to head to its side and knock it out with some precision shots.<br />
<br />
The A 33 Excelsior, does not have any turret mounted machine guns, its roof armour is only 25 mm thick allowing enemy aircraft to cause havoc. To evade the aircraft use smoke and head towards any additional smoke rounds which you may fire, this will prevent the aircraft from following you and allowing you to evade them.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Decent front armour thickness<br />
* Quite fast<br />
* Hull machine gun works<br />
* -12 degrees of gun depression<br />
* Premium SL and RP rewards<br />
* Access to smoke<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Front armour is non-sloping<br />
* Large ammo rack in turret ring makes for easy detonation<br />
* Very slow reverse<br />
* Shells have no HE filler<br />
* Weak side armour<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Prompt===<br />
The early combat experience of the [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill infantry tank]] raised concerns on its reliability and speed, with a suggestion that production be halted while development focus on an "universal tank" for the British armoured forces to replace the cruiser and infantry tanks. However, until such a design could be formulated, they still needed a tank for the assault role the infantry tanks would take.<br />
<br />
Rolls-Royce Company, the company producing the prototype [[Cromwell_V|A27 Cromwells]], suggested that the Tank Board use the A27 as an interim design with stronger armour, suspension, and armament. The suggestion was supported with the English Electric Company, whom plan to upgrade the A27 with thicker armour and elements from the American [[M6A1|M6 heavy tank]].<br />
<br />
===Development and Cancellation===<br />
On 07 May 1942<ref name="TMuseumValiant">Newsome, Bruce. "TANK INFANTRY A38, VALIANT (E1952.39)." Tankmuseum.org. The Tank Museum, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180721133452/http://www.tankmuseum.org/museum-online/vehicles/object-e1952-39 Web Archive]</ref>, Tank Board approved for the production of these uparmoured A27 under the designation '''A33''', though it would also have the name '''Excelsior'''. English Electric Company were in charge of producing the uparmoured A27 models and produced two prototypes. The first had the M6 suspension system and a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pdr]] cannon. The second had a wider track, different armoured skirts, additional frontal armour, and a [[Ordnance QF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm gun]]. Both used the same V12 Meteor engine as the A27.<br />
<br />
Reliability issues with the Churchill were soon ironed out by 1943, to the point it became a very successful infantry support vehicle and multiple variations were made based off the chassis. The A33 Excelsior, meant to replace the Churchill, was no longer needed and the project was dropped in 1943.<br />
<br />
Today, the second prototype can be seen at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=heavy_tank&vehicle=uk_a_33_excelsior Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|j1Hl_niR_RU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Vehicles equipped with the same gun<br />
<br />
* [[Valentine XI]]<br />
* [[Cromwell V]] / [[Cromwell V (RP-3)]]<br />
* [[Churchill VII]]<br />
<br />
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role<br />
<br />
* [[Churchill III]] / [[Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''<br />
* ''other literature.''--><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4669-development-ww2-chronicles-vehicles-a33-excelsior-gb-en|[Devblog] WW2 Chronicles vehicles: A33 Excelsior (GB)]]<br />
<br />
=== References ===<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}<br />
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Conway&diff=127798Conway2022-04-25T09:40:24Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added a few Pros about the turret's design.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_fv4004_conway<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]]. It is armed with a cannon developed to take on the heavy Soviet [[IS-3]] tank. It excels in fighting the top-rank heavies.<br />
<br />
This tank plays very similarly to the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. It lacks armour on all sides and has a very large-calibre gun, able to penetrate everything it faces, severely damaging most. It can be played as a usual tank destroyer, excelling at it with its high velocity APDS rounds, sniping from a distance. Extraordinarily, it is also able to take a heavy tank in a 1v1 as well.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 76.2 mm (58°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (47-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm || 38 mm (8-12°) || 29 mm <br> 8-14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 132 mm (19°) ''Turret front'' <br> 140 mm (7-61°) ''Gun Mantlet''|| 95 mm (0-6°) ''Front''<br> 47 mm (2°) ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm ''Rear'' || 30 mm ''Border'' <br> 20 mm ''Hatch'' || 17 mm<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 47 mm || 47 mm ''Right side'' 30 mm ''Left & Rear'' || 47 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Turret sides are angled, causing inaccurate shots to bounce.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=902|rbMinHp=562}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
The first upgrades to research are "Parts" and "FPE" for increased survivability. Once you got these two, go for "Adjustment of Fire" and "Elevation Mechanism", since these modules increase the accuracy of the gun.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 (120 mm)|120 mm Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+10° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.8 || 21.9 || 26.6 || 29.5 || 31.3 || rowspan="2" | 19.37 || rowspan="2" | 17.14 || rowspan="2" | 15.79 || rowspan="2" | 14.90<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 362 || 361 || 359 || 354 || 339 || 321<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot L1G || APDS || 1,493 || 7.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell L1TK || HESH || 792 || 15.87 || 0.1 || 4 || 3,970 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.1.138''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! Ammo<br>part<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''20''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 18&nbsp;''(+2)'' <br> 20&nbsp;''(+0)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+3)'' <br> 14&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 5&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 5&nbsp;''(+15)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+19)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Notes:<br />
<br />
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.<br />
* Projectile and propellant racks 4 are first-stage ammo racks.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
As a tank destroyer, you might want to go for heavy tank hunt. In this case, you should check the battle rating of opposing team. Despite having heavy gun, your best bet in uptier would be long range flank sniping. This is due to APDS doing less damage to crew and components, the thicker the armour it penetrated was, thus doing minimal damage through heavy tank's frontal armour. As such, you are less dangerous to superheavy tanks (especially the ones from 8.0) from front, compared to [[FV4005|FV 4005]], which many players will mistake you for. You still can penetrate most of breakthrough tanks, forcing them to retreat or slip up at critical moment. Since APDS is super high velocity, you can snipe across the map with little issue, and do fatal damage from sides.<br />
<br />
To everything else you are extremely dangerous, and, if detected, have some presence factor. This can be beneficial and bad at same time, since you can scare off heavy tanks and attract medium and light tanks, and even other SPG's. Your turret might hold off a few stray shots from distant or weak opponents, but your hull is still quite fragile, and reload times are still too long, so there is no room for mistakes at close range duels. For these reasons, if possible, adversaries must be kept away from you, so their guns are inadequate at fighting you, your hull must be kept hidden, and enemy SPG and "sniper" oriented medium tanks must be neutralized on sight.<br />
<br />
In case if light vehicle is stalking you, sometimes it's better to just load HESH, provoke, then hopefully blast enemy away. Heavily armoured vehicles are still more vulnerable to APDS, than HESH, regardless of range, unless you hit them at specific weakspots with it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful 120 mm gun.<br />
* Excellent long range support thanks to the high muzzle velocity for the APDS shells<br />
* Turret is MG-proof as opposed to FV4005<br />
* Turret front can shrug off smaller caliber rounds at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Weak armour overall.<br />
* Low mobility<br />
* Tall profile<br />
* Only carries a maximum of 20 shells.<br />
* Long reload time.<br />
* Insufficient gun depression<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
When the [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]] tanks entered service in British service in 1945, the British didn't take into account the sudden appearance of the Soviet [[IS-3]]. The IS-3 tank showed the Western Allies needed to reconsider their tank inventories, which at the time the IS-3 was introduced only composed of mostly [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Sherman]], [[M26]] Pershing, and Centurions. The British, recognizing the need for a bigger gun to fight the IS-3, started producing the [[Conqueror]]. However, development takes time and the Conqueror would not be ready until 1955. As an interim project until it is done, the British took a [[Centurion Mk 3]] tank and upgraded with a new turret made from rolled plate that can mount the 120 mm L1 gun, the same gun meant for the Conqueror. This vehicle, designated the FV4004 Conway was to have the heavy armament, yet the same manoeuvrability as the base Centurion. One of such vehicle was made in this matter before the whole thing was cancelled in 1951. The sole piece made is now stored at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
Another attempt at this kind of mounting with the Centurion was the [[FV4005]], which was meant to be a tank destroyer with a larger 183 mm gun. The project started in 1951 and developed in July 1955. The gun was mounted in a similar fashion as the Conway on a lightly armoured turret. This was a limited production and by August 1957, the whole project was disassembled. The FV4005 also has survived in the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_fv4004_conway Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|q-HxA831aUk|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/872/|[Devblog] FV4004 Conway: IS Hunter]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=127499Churchill I2022-04-18T21:11:21Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */ minor term correction.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]]. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE shells, however due to their inefficiency, it is recommended use smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously its armour. the 89 to 178 mm of the front hull together with the 63.5 mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However overangling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89 mm all around except 114 mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50 mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret front has a couple small weak spots in the front where the turret MG and sight are placed: the armour is only 50 mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with a calibre of 20 mm or larger.<br />
<br />
The 5 crew members of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, an APHE shell will knock the crew entirely if it goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50 mm internal mantlet that can be either a weak spot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8 mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
As a heavy infantry support tank. the Churchill I is slow and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28 km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmission. The Churchill I has a very poor reverse speed (-3 km/h), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short brakes can be used to pivot the tank much faster (keybinds can be defined in-game in the Controls menu: Controls > Ground vehicles > Short brakes).<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
The 40 mm QF 2-pounder has poor penetration even with its best round at its BR (89 mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500 m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and its inaccuracy. From the side, the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The 2-pounder's best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the 2-pounder's reload speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration. The 2-pounder is equipped with a shoulder stabilizer allowing for stable fire at slow speeds.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The hull-mounted 76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-topped vehicles. The smoke round is self-explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the 76 mm howitzer to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It is best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it is very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, its gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The StuG III G is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its less angled 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76 mm cannon can be used to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40 mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]], etc.) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Pvkv_m/43_(1946)&diff=125933Pvkv m/43 (1946)2022-03-31T07:54:13Z<p>U50095228: General article improvement in terminology and wording.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=sw_pvkv_m43_1946<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Pvkv_m43_(1946).jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
Survivability is bad for multiple reasons. <br />
<br />
It's most likely that the SPG won't survive even one direct hit due to how the crew is allocated. Additionally, if the driver gets taken out, or even worse, an engine or transmission is damaged, the {{PAGENAME}} can only shoot in a small area in front of the tank due to the turretless design. <br />
[[File:Hulldown in Pvkv m-43 (1946).jpg|thumb|right|Stay away from enemies, occasionally check your front to avoid getting suddenly obliterated, keep sniping.]]<br />
The frontal armour has a maximum effective thickness of around 80 mm of rolled homogeneous armour when fighting head-on, which won't save from any ammunition at its BR. On the side, the SPG have 30 mm maximum protection, and on the rear 25 mm. Lower frontal plate armour is exactly the same as the [[Strv m/42 EH]], since they both share the same hull. Because the vehicle is open topped, no matter what the user does it will always be very vulnerable to the aircraft and HE. Even 7 mm MGs can destroy it in one or two precise bursts.<br />
<br />
To survive, the {{PAGENAME}} must stay as far away from enemies as possible to reduce their shells' penetration power while also angling in both horizontal and vertical plane to increase its raw armour value. Easiest way to do that is to find a hill which still allows the gun to fire down, but angles the SPG as high as possible, then angle to the left as much as the gun allows the SPG to do so (since it can turn further to the right), and then attack. At about 800 m range it becomes difficult for the light tanks to just blast through the frontal armour, at about 1,200 m range, when angled in both dimensions, armour will be able to sometimes deflect even German APHE (as long as it's not launched by a heavy SPG, which are unstoppable by design). <br />
<br />
In AB, to further push disadvantage, it's a good idea to relocate between shots, so that the enemy has problems aiming at the SPG. In RB, it's usually unnecessary as any enemy will have terrible zoom and will probably miss at least once before landing any kind of a hit.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363}}<br />
<br />
The mobility of the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is nearly identical to the [[Strv m/42 EH]]. Driving forward, it can easily reach 40 km/h, even on rough terrain, so you will likely be one of the first vehicles at the cap. While shining when moving forward, the tank destroyer is slow in reverse, with a maximum speed of -5 km/h.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|pvkan m/43 (75 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The main gun is the 75 mm pvkan m/43 cannon. While having excellent penetration and velocity, the reload is, considering the calibre and the open top, pretty long at 8.7 seconds with unskilled crew. In comparison, the German 75 mm guns only take about 6.5 seconds to reload. <br />
<br />
The gun accuracy is pathetic until all accuracy modifications are researched, being reliable only up until ~600 m range until then.<br />
<br />
The tank destroyer has no turret, it can only move the gun in about 33° arc in front of the tank, with 7 more degrees possible to the right. The gun depression of -15° is great, and the elevation of 20° is average.<br />
<br />
The gunsight has an excellent magnification of 8x-16x, which is amazing! Most opponent will have around 1.5x-3x, making it well equipped for sniping.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[pvkan m/43 (75 mm)|75 mm pvkan m/43]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 43 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | -13°/+20° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 7.0 || 9.8 || 11.8 || 13.1 || 13.9 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 4.8 || 5.6 || 6.8 || 7.5 || 8.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
The stock shell is the '''slpprj m/41''' uncapped AP shot with decent penetration, but poor post-penetration values. Also, it tends to ricochet.<br />
<br />
Once you unlock the '''slpgr m/43''' APCBC shell, which is unfortunately a Tier IV modification, you have almost the best regular ammunition at the battle rating. The shell is similar to the one used by the [[Pvkv II]], though it has slightly less penetration because of the lower muzzle velocity. Though its a bit slower, it still can penetrate any heavy tank within BR range on direct hit, and at point blank range it usually can penetrate tanks relying on angled armour (but not always). Also the shell does high post penetration damage, because of the 110 g TNT filler.<br />
<br />
The HE '''sgr m/38''' is useful when dealing with open topped SPG at the rank, as they tend to sustain or bounce kinetic shots. Avoid using it on [[Sturer Emil]] or the likes of it without the element of surprise, as it has superior gun depression and will annihilate the {{PAGENAME}} before it can even fire.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/41 || AP || 139 || 136 || 121 || 104 || 90 || 78<br />
|-<br />
| sgr m/38 || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
| slpgr m/43 || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 132 || 116 || 102 || 89<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/41 || AP || 815 || 6.63 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| sgr m/38 || HE || 840 || 6.43 || 0 || 0.1 || 690 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| slpgr m/43 || APCBC || 890 || 6 || 1.2 || 14 || 110 || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks Pvkv m-43 (1963).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.13.0.154''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''43''' || 42&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+27)'' ||7&nbsp;''(+36)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+42)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|ksp m/36 (8 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Pvkv m/43 1946 has a 8 mm ksp m/36 machine gun mounted on a ring above the commander, where it can traverse 360°, and elevate 65°.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[ksp m/36 (8 mm)|8 mm ksp m/36]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 648 || -20°/+65° || ±180°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
The Pvkv m/43 (1946) is an excellent sniper due to its amazing gunsight zoom, great gun depression and deadly cannon. This tank destroyer unfortunately cannot perform as well when played as a regular tank, as it lacks the agility, gun traverse, and armour to flank or confidently take hits. Thus, to best utilise its sniper potential, the player must memorise various spots for sniping on different maps. <br />
<br />
Good spots particularly for the Pvkv m/43 (1946) often have the following characteristics: <br />
<br />
* Is at a good distance from the front line (around 800-1,200 m): obviously, the long range is to take full advantage of the superior gunsight zoom of 16x max. With this sight, the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is able to observe distant environment with unmatched clarity. The further it is from the target area, the harder it is for the enemies to effectively spot, aim and hit the player, while the player can still comfortably aim. <br />
* Has a slope(hill): hills or light inclines allow the Pvkv m/43 (1946) to perform hull-down when fighting. The Pvkv m/43 (1946) has -15° gun depression which is generally enough to depress the gun behind most hills. When hull-down, the tank destroyer presents a much smaller profile, increasing its concealment; it also significantly betters the frontal protection, as the frontal armour of angled 70 mm is now at a greater angle, allowing it to deflect more shells. When used in conjunction with range, the Pvkv m/43 (1946) will be able to resist certain cannons like the US 75 mm M3 and the Soviet's 76 mm F-34.<br />
* Overlooks a crucial passageway: this is the key to success for not only the Pvkv m/43 (1946), but for all long-range snipers in general. Such spots that afford a view on popular passageways will most certainly guarantee target supplies and can even strategically cut off the opponents' supports, leading to a victory. If the player gets to battle position quickly, destroying passing enemies will prevent them from getting to good positions/cap points on time at the start of a match. In later stages of a match, a sniper at such position usually means that any enemies going to the frontline to support will most likely be destroyed before reaching their destination, allowing friendlies to push deeper and strengthen their defence. Of course, it is vital to practice gunnery -- the targets will usually be busy driving far away at full speed! Missing a shot due to poor lead can result in some allies being destroyed by the target you failed to destroy. <br />
* Has vegetations/hard covers: plants can partially cover up the Pvkv m/43 (1946), delaying the time before enemies spot you in RB/SB. Hard covers give a safety shelter in case the player is being targeted. Vegetation can also sometimes prevent HE/HEAT from reaching the SPG, which is great, considering that the {{PAGENAME}} is open-topped and would otherwise instantly explode.<br />
<br />
There will often be situations where the player needs to either push forward with the team or to retreat under attack. This is when good map-reading skills come into play: the great spots you fought at earlier might become dangerous when the tide changes. For example, a corner at the friendly side can become quite menacing as a few enemy pushes to there. Therefore you must practice how to quickly find new spots at anywhere on the map, as well as to correctly identify which new area/passageway to ambush. The Pvkv m/43 (1946)'s mobility allows you to change position in time. Custom battles provide a great place to practice such skills. <br />
<br />
As the match progresses, you might lose the opportunity to pick on targets far away and instead have to enter close quarter combat. Although the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is now more vulnerable, with the right ambush position you will still be able to fight. However, one aspect to note is that the high gunsight zoom can become a problem in a face-to-face standoff. Most players are likely to subconsciously enlarge the zoom after entering sniper mode, and due to the high zoom, you will only be able to see an extremely limited part of the target. It will be more awkward if the target is moving. Therefore you need to not always use 16x zoom to adapt CQC. <br />
<br />
'''Enemies worth noting''': <br />
<br />
* [[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this is a well known car, famous for its insane speed. It can appear at unexpected positions very early in the match and can be quite annoying to deal with. If an R3 charges at you from the front, your frontal armour can resist all its shells. Try your best to get your gun on target and finish it off before it can flank to your side. If, unfortunately, it gets to your flank, reverse and traverse the hull to aim your cannon to it while getting some separation. Note that the R3 is quite likely to get slowed down/stopped by obstacles like fences and trees due to its light weight, thus if you are at an urban/forest area the R3 may get stuck while circling, gifting you a few precious seconds to target it. In the worst case scenario, the R3 will tear through the Pvkv m/43 (1946)'s poor side/rear armour with its rapid firing autocannon and take out all your crew in an instant. <br />
* [[KV-1E]] / [[KV-IB (Germany)|▀KV-IB]]: although the Pvkv m/43 (1946) carries a powerful cannon, there are still tougher nuts to crack, such as these two. They are uparmoured KV-1 models, featuring ~105 mm hull and turret armour on the front and parts of the sides. Armour of this thickness can be quite challenging to penetrate given that the Pvkv m/43 (1946) might usually be shooting over long distances. If the KV-1 is angling, hold your fire to avoid exposing your position. Only shoot if their armour is facing you without any angles, this is when you have the best chance to score successful penetrations. When shooting up close, try targeting the gun mantlet which is not covered by additional armour plates. Upon penetration, the KV-1 will often get crippled if not destroyed in one shot.<br />
* [[Sturer Emil]]/[[Dicker Max]] (AB): These SPGs have better adaptability with terrain and generally it's impossible to attack them before they saw and attacked you. Their ammunition can breach even the strongest angled heavy tanks, let alone the pathetic armour of the {{PAGENAME}}. They also have a tendency to survive a single HE hit due to how they are constructed. Attack only if they look somewhere else, otherwise hide immediately and ask for an airstrike.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent gun for its BR once fully upgraded<br />
* Very effective APCBC round with high velocity and adequate amount of explosive filler<br />
* High magnification of x8.0-x16.1 - most tanks at the battle rating only have x1.5-x3.0<br />
* Very good gun depression <br />
* Machine gun can elevate to 90° and has a high ammo capacity of 2,000 rounds<br />
* Trajectory of machine gun follows both APCBC and AP rounds trajectories close enough up to ~500 m<br />
* Decent mobility<br />
* Technically can survive SPG fire from 1.2 km if angled<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Turretless design combined with poor reverse gear<br />
* Low survivability and ineffective armour for head-on fights<br />
* Machine gun performs poorly against lightly armoured vehicles and aircraft due to its low calibre<br />
* Low versatility - the ultra high zoom can be annoying in close quarters and can make you vulnerable to flanking<br />
* Long reload relative to its opponents<br />
* Open top means enemy planes are able to strafe the vehicle and easily knock out the crew regardless of what you do<br />
* Ridiculously bad stock experience due to the poor gun accuracy and poor stock shell, which tends to bounce off popular tanks even when it hits<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
During World War 2, the need for tank destroyers became evident, and Germany had great success with the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] and StuG IV. Because of the success of those platforms, Sweden decided to create a tank destroyer similar in concept to the StuG's. Landsverk created a design in 1942, based on the chassis of the [[Strv m/42 EH|Strv m/42]]. It was chosen by the Swedish military and was given the designation Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43, or '''Pvkv m/43''' for short.<br />
<br />
The Pvkv m/43 used the chassis of the Strv m/42, but with a casemate superstructure replacing the turret. The superstructure was located at the front of the vehicle, and the glacis was sloped. It had an open tarp to keep the weight down, and used a tarp to protect the crew from the elements. The Pvkv m/43 had a crew of 4, and was initially armed with a 75 mm luftvärnskanonen m/36 antiaircraft gun, modified with a longer barrel for increased armour penetration. The gun could traverse 15 degrees to the left and right. It had a Ksp m/39 machine gun as the secondary armament. It was powered by a Volvo A8B engine producing 360 hp. The gearbox was different than the gearbox of the Strv m/42, and the drive wheels had to be reinforced to handle the increased weight of the vehicle. The Swedish military ordered 87 Pvkv m/43 in 1942, but deliveries were delayed and the last vehicle was delivered in 1948.<br />
<br />
In 1954, the vehicle was given an armoured roof to better protect the crew. Other improvements included a muzzle break, a gun rest, and a gas ejector. The Strv m/41 was retired from service in 1957, which allowed the two Scania-Vabis L603 engines per vehicle to be used in the Pvkv m/43. The two L603 engines produced less horsepower (320 hp) than the Volvo A8B, but were much more reliable. In 1970, the Pvkv m/43 was retired from service, and the guns were used in static fortifications until 1995.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_pvkv_m43_1946 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Pansarvärnskanonvagn_m/43|[Wikipedia] Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43]]<br />
<br />
=== References ===<br />
<br />
;Bibliography<br />
<br />
* Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43. (2020, April 6). In ''Wikipedia''. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pansarv%C3%A4rnskanonvagn_m/43&oldid=949440407<br />
<br />
{{Sweden tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Pvkv_m/43_(1946)&diff=125931Pvkv m/43 (1946)2022-03-31T07:48:16Z<p>U50095228: /* Mobility */ Removed Hyperboli.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=sw_pvkv_m43_1946<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Pvkv_m43_(1946).jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
Survivability is bad for multiple reasons. <br />
<br />
It's most likely that the SPG won't survive even one direct hit due to how the crew is allocated. Additionally, if the driver gets taken out, or even worse, an engine or transmission is damaged, the {{PAGENAME}} can only shoot in a small area in front of the tank due to the turretless design. <br />
[[File:Hulldown in Pvkv m-43 (1946).jpg|thumb|right|Stay away from enemies, occasionally check your front to avoid getting suddenly obliterated, keep sniping.]]<br />
The frontal armour has a maximum effective thickness of around 80 mm of rolled homogeneous armour when fighting head-on, which won't save from any ammunition at its BR. On the side, the SPG have 30 mm maximum protection, and on the rear 25 mm. Lower frontal plate armour is exactly the same as the [[Strv m/42 EH]], since they both share the same hull. Because the vehicle is open topped, no matter what the user does it will always be very vulnerable to the aircraft and HE. Even 7 mm MGs can destroy it in one or two precise bursts.<br />
<br />
To survive, the {{PAGENAME}} must stay as far away from enemies as possible to reduce their shells' penetration power while also angling in both horizontal and vertical plane to increase its raw armour value. Easiest way to do that is to find a hill which still allows the gun to fire down, but angles the SPG as high as possible, then angle to the left as much as the gun allows the SPG to do so (since it can turn further to the right), and then attack. At about 800 m range it becomes difficult for the light tanks to just blast through the frontal armour, at about 1,200 m range, when angled in both dimensions, armour will be able to sometimes deflect even German APHE (as long as it's not launched by a heavy SPG, which are unstoppable by design). <br />
<br />
In AB, to further push disadvantage, it's a good idea to relocate between shots, so that the enemy has problems aiming at the SPG. In RB, it's usually unnecessary as any enemy will have terrible zoom and will probably miss at least once before landing any kind of a hit.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=582|rbMinHp=363}}<br />
<br />
The mobility of the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is nearly identical to the [[Strv m/42 EH]]. Driving forward, it can easily reach 40 km/h, even on rough terrain, so you will likely be one of the first vehicles at the cap. While shining when moving forward, the tank destroyer is slow in reverse, with a maximum speed of 5 km/h.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|pvkan m/43 (75 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The main gun is the 75 mm pvkan m/43 cannon. While having excellent penetration and speed values, the reload is, considering the calibre and the open top, pretty long at 8.7 seconds with unskilled crew. In comparison, the German 75 mm guns only take about 6.5 seconds to reload. <br />
<br />
The gun accuracy is pathetic until all accuracy modifications are researched, but it will fire in targets direction up until ~600 m range.<br />
<br />
The tank destroyer has no turret, it can only move the gun in about 33° arc in front of the tank, with 7 more degrees possible to the right. The gun depression of -15° is great, however the elevation of 20° is only below average.<br />
<br />
The gunsight has an excellent magnification of 8x-16x, which is amazing! Most opponent will have around 1.5x-3x.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[pvkan m/43 (75 mm)|75 mm pvkan m/43]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 43 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | -13°/+20° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 7.0 || 9.8 || 11.8 || 13.1 || 13.9 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 4.8 || 5.6 || 6.8 || 7.5 || 8.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
The stock shell is the '''slpprj m/41''' uncapped AP shot with decent penetration, but poor post-penetration values. Also, it tends to ricochet.<br />
<br />
Once you unlock the '''slpgr m/43''' APCBC shell, which is unfortunately a Tier IV modification, you have almost the best regular ammunition at the battle rating. The shell is similar to the one used by the [[Pvkv II]], though it has slightly less penetration because of the lower muzzle velocity. Though its a bit slower, it still can penetrate any heavy tank within BR range on direct hit, and at point blank range it usually can penetrate tanks relying on angled armour (but not always). Also the shell does high post penetration damage, because of the 110 g TNT filler.<br />
<br />
The HE '''sgr m/38''' is useful when dealing with open topped SPG at the rank, as they tend to sustain or bounce kinetic shots. Avoid using it on [[Sturer Emil]] or the likes of it without the element of surprise, as it has superior gun depression and will annihilate the {{PAGENAME}} before it can even fire.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/41 || AP || 139 || 136 || 121 || 104 || 90 || 78<br />
|-<br />
| sgr m/38 || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
| slpgr m/43 || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 132 || 116 || 102 || 89<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| slpprj m/41 || AP || 815 || 6.63 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| sgr m/38 || HE || 840 || 6.43 || 0 || 0.1 || 690 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| slpgr m/43 || APCBC || 890 || 6 || 1.2 || 14 || 110 || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks Pvkv m-43 (1963).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.13.0.154''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''43''' || 42&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+27)'' ||7&nbsp;''(+36)''|| 1&nbsp;''(+42)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|ksp m/36 (8 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Pvkv m/43 1946 has a 8 mm ksp m/36 machine gun mounted on a ring above the commander, where it can traverse 360°, and elevate 65°.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[ksp m/36 (8 mm)|8 mm ksp m/36]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 648 || -20°/+65° || ±180°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
''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 instead 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).''<br />
<br />
The Pvkv m/43 (1946) is an excellent sniper due to its amazing gunsight zoom, great gun depression and deadly cannon. This tank destroyer unfortunately cannot perform as well when played as a regular tank, as it lacks the agility, gun traverse, and armour to flank or confidently take hits. Thus, to best utilise its sniper potential, the player must memorise various spots for sniping on different maps. <br />
<br />
Good spots particularly for the Pvkv m/43 (1946) often have the following characteristics: <br />
<br />
* Is at a good distance from the front line (around 800-1,200 m): obviously, the long range is to take full advantage of the superior gunsight zoom of 16x max. With this sight, the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is able to observe distant environment with unmatched clarity. The further it is from the target area, the harder it is for the enemies to effectively spot, aim and hit the player, while the player can still comfortably aim. <br />
* Has a slope: slopes allow the Pvkv m/43 (1946) to perform hull-down when fighting. The Pvkv m/43 (1946) has -15° gun depression which is generally enough to depress the gun behind most hills. When hull-down, the tank destroyer presents a much smaller profile, increasing its concealment; it also significantly betters the frontal protection, as the frontal armour of angled 70 mm is now at a larger angle, allowing it to deflect more shells. When used in conjunction with range, the Pvkv m/43 (1946) will be able to resist certain cannons like the US 75 mm M3 and the Soviet's 76 mm F-34.<br />
* Overlooks a crucial passageway: this is the key to success for not only the Pvkv m/43 (1946), but for all long-range snipers in general. Such spots that afford a view on popular passageways will most certainly guarantee target supplies and can even strategically cut off the opponents' supports, leading to a victory. If the player gets to battle position quickly, destroying passing enemies will prevent them from getting to good positions/cap points on time at the start of a match. In later stages of a match, a sniper at such position usually means that any enemies going to the frontline to support will most likely be destroyed before reaching their destination, allowing friendlies to push deeper and strengthen their defence. Of course, it is vital to practice gunnery -- the targets will usually be busy driving far away at full speed! Missing a shot due to poor lead can result in some allies being destroyed by the target you failed to destroy. <br />
* Has vegetations/hard covers: plants can partially cover up the Pvkv m/43 (1946), delaying the time before enemies spot you in RB/SB. Hard covers give a safety shelter in case the player is being targeted. Vegetation can also sometimes prevent HE/HEAT from reaching the SPG, which is great, considering that the {{PAGENAME}} is open-topped and would otherwise instantly explode.<br />
<br />
There will often be situations where the player needs to either push forward with the team or to retreat under attack. This is when good map-reading skills come into play: the great spots you fought at earlier might become dangerous when the tide changes. For example, a corner at the friendly side can become quite menacing as a few enemy pushes to there. Therefore you must practice how to quickly find new spots at anywhere on the map, as well as to correctly identify which new area/passageway to ambush. The Pvkv m/43 (1946)'s mobility allows you to change position in time. Custom battles provide a great place to practice such skills. <br />
<br />
As the match progresses, you might lose the opportunity to pick on targets far away and instead have to enter close quarter combat. Although the Pvkv m/43 (1946) is now more vulnerable, with the right ambush position you will still be able to fight. However, one aspect to note is that the high gunsight zoom can become a problem in a face-to-face standoff. Most players are likely to subconsciously enlarge the zoom after entering sniper mode, and due to the high zoom, you will only be able to see an extremely limited part of the target. It will be more awkward if the target is moving. Therefore you need to not always use 16x zoom to adapt CQC. <br />
<br />
'''Enemies worth noting''': <br />
<br />
* [[R3 T20 FA-HS]]: this is a well known car, famous for its insane speed. It can appear at unexpected positions very early in the match and can be quite annoying to deal with. If an R3 charges at you from the front, your frontal armour can resist all its shells. Try your best to get your gun on target and finish it off before it can flank to your side. If, unfortunately, it gets to your flank, reverse and traverse the hull to aim your cannon to it while getting some separation. Note that the R3 is quite likely to get slowed down/stopped by obstacles like fences and trees due to its light weight, thus if you are at an urban/forest area the R3 may get stuck while circling, gifting you a few precious seconds to target it. In the worst case scenario, the R3 will tear through the Pvkv m/43 (1946)'s poor side/rear armour with its rapid firing autocannon and take out all your crew in an instant. <br />
* [[KV-1E]] / [[KV-IB (Germany)|▀KV-IB]]: although the Pvkv m/43 (1946) carries a powerful cannon, there are still tougher nuts to crack, such as these two. They are uparmoured KV-1 models, featuring ~105 mm hull and turret armour on the front and parts of the sides. Armour of this thickness can be quite challenging to penetrate given that the Pvkv m/43 (1946) might usually be shooting over long distances. If the KV-1 is angling, hold your fire to avoid exposing your position. Only shoot if their armour is facing you without any angles, this is when you have the best chance to score successful penetrations. When shooting up close, try targeting the gun mantlet which is not covered by additional armour plates. Upon penetration, the KV-1 will often get crippled if not destroyed in one shot.<br />
* [[Sturer Emil]]/[[Dicker Max]] (AB): These SPGs have better adaptability with terrain and generally it's impossible to attack them before they saw and attacked you. Their ammunition can breach even the strongest angled heavy tanks, let alone the pathetic armour of the {{PAGENAME}}. They also have a tendency to survive a single HE hit due to how they are constructed. Attack only if they look somewhere else, otherwise hide immediately and ask for an airstrike.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent gun for its BR once fully upgraded<br />
* Very effective APCBC round with high velocity and adequate amount of explosive filler<br />
* High magnification of x8.0-x16.1 - most tanks at the battle rating only have x1.5-x3.0<br />
* Very good gun depression <br />
* Machine gun can elevate to 90° and has a high ammo capacity of 2,000 rounds<br />
* Trajectory of machine gun follows both APCBC and AP rounds trajectories close enough up to ~500 m<br />
* Decent mobility<br />
* Technically can survive SPG fire from 1.2 km if angled<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Turretless design combined with poor reverse gear<br />
* Low survivability and ineffective armour for head-on fights<br />
* Machine gun performs poorly against lightly armoured vehicles and aircraft due to its low calibre<br />
* Low versatility - the ultra high zoom can be annoying in close quarters and can make you vulnerable to flanking<br />
* Long reload relative to its opponents<br />
* Open top means enemy planes are able to strafe the vehicle and easily knock out the crew regardless of what you do<br />
* Ridiculously bad stock experience due to the poor gun accuracy and poor stock shell, which tends to bounce off popular tanks even when it hits<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
During World War 2, the need for tank destroyers became evident, and Germany had great success with the [[StuG III G|StuG III]] and StuG IV. Because of the success of those platforms, Sweden decided to create a tank destroyer similar in concept to the StuG's. Landsverk created a design in 1942, based on the chassis of the [[Strv m/42 EH|Strv m/42]]. It was chosen by the Swedish military and was given the designation Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43, or '''Pvkv m/43''' for short.<br />
<br />
The Pvkv m/43 used the chassis of the Strv m/42, but with a casemate superstructure replacing the turret. The superstructure was located at the front of the vehicle, and the glacis was sloped. It had an open tarp to keep the weight down, and used a tarp to protect the crew from the elements. The Pvkv m/43 had a crew of 4, and was initially armed with a 75 mm luftvärnskanonen m/36 antiaircraft gun, modified with a longer barrel for increased armour penetration. The gun could traverse 15 degrees to the left and right. It had a Ksp m/39 machine gun as the secondary armament. It was powered by a Volvo A8B engine producing 360 hp. The gearbox was different than the gearbox of the Strv m/42, and the drive wheels had to be reinforced to handle the increased weight of the vehicle. The Swedish military ordered 87 Pvkv m/43 in 1942, but deliveries were delayed and the last vehicle was delivered in 1948.<br />
<br />
In 1954, the vehicle was given an armoured roof to better protect the crew. Other improvements included a muzzle break, a gun rest, and a gas ejector. The Strv m/41 was retired from service in 1957, which allowed the two Scania-Vabis L603 engines per vehicle to be used in the Pvkv m/43. The two L603 engines produced less horsepower (320 hp) than the Volvo A8B, but were much more reliable. In 1970, the Pvkv m/43 was retired from service, and the guns were used in static fortifications until 1995.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_pvkv_m43_1946 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Pansarvärnskanonvagn_m/43|[Wikipedia] Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43]]<br />
<br />
=== References ===<br />
<br />
;Bibliography<br />
<br />
* Pansarvärnskanonvagn m/43. (2020, April 6). In ''Wikipedia''. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pansarv%C3%A4rnskanonvagn_m/43&oldid=949440407<br />
<br />
{{Sweden tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=125599Challenger2022-03-28T18:10:12Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */ Re-added "unless you have enough time to neutral-steer around before the enemy can return fire". If Colok76286 wishes to remove it, I'd be happy to discuss its inclusion. No2</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The armour on the Challenger is not to be relied on as it is both very thin and poorly angled. The turret armour is capable of bouncing or absorbing a few shots, however this is not to be relied upon. The hull has the same poor armour as the Cromwell, but due to the vehicle's neutral steering capability, should an enemy go for the front plate you can angle it adequately against contemporary medium cannons, however exposing your side is a death sentence, especially against APHE projectiles.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
The lengthened Cromwell chassis provides the Challenger with excellent mobility. The vehicle is able to reach its top speed of 52 km/h fairly quickly. The Challenger is responsive both at low and high speeds. The centre of gravity is quite high, to the point that one track will lift up when making a significant enough turn. The Challenger has an awful reverse speed, it should not be relied upon. In most situations it's more viable to use the neutral steering capability of the vehicle to completely turn around and drive in the other direction.<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Challenger features the 76 mm QF 17-pounder, a weapon more than capable of dealing with all adversaries the Challenger will encounter, even Soviet heavy tanks (IS-1, KV-85, etc.) and German tanks like the Panthers and Tiger Is. <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
While the highest penetrating round available to the Challenger is the Shot SV Mk.1, this round is both inaccurate and does very little spall damage. Because of this it is recommended to use the Shot Mk.8 the majority of the time as its penetration is sufficient, and as it is able to knock out enemies with a single shot due to great spalling. The Shot SV Mk.1 can still be brought for long range engagements.<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice unless you have enough time to neutral-steer around before the enemy can return fire.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock the better AP shell and the APDS as soon as possible. With these rounds, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral steering capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 Challenger. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''Challenger - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''Challenger Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=125538Challenger2022-03-28T13:19:53Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */ Re-added "unless you have enough time to neutral-steer around before the enemy can return fire". If Colok76286 wishes to remove it, I'd be happy to discuss its inclusion.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The armour on the Challenger is not to be relied on as it is both very thin and poorly angled. The turret armour is capable of bouncing or absorbing a few shots, however this is not to be relied upon. The hull has the same poor armour as the Cromwell, but due to the vehicle's neutral steering capability, should an enemy go for the front plate you can angle it adequately against contemporary medium cannons, however exposing your side is a death sentence, especially against APHE projectiles.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
The lengthened Cromwell chassis provides the Challenger with excellent mobility. The vehicle is able to reach its top speed of 52 km/h fairly quickly. The Challenger is responsive both at low and high speeds. The centre of gravity is quite high, to the point that one track will lift up when making a significant enough turn. The Challenger has an awful reverse speed, it should not be relied upon. In most situations it's more viable to use the neutral steering capability of the vehicle to completely turn around and drive in the other direction.<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Challenger features the 76 mm QF 17-pounder, a weapon more than capable of dealing with all adversaries the Challenger will encounter, even Soviet heavy tanks (IS-1, KV-85, etc.) and German tanks like the Panthers and Tiger Is. <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
While the highest penetrating round available to the Challenger is the Shot SV Mk.1, this round is both inaccurate and does very little spall damage. Because of this it is recommended to use the Shot Mk.8 the majority of the time as its penetration is sufficient, and as it is able to knock out enemies with a single shot due to great spalling. The Shot SV Mk.1 can still be brought for long range engagements.<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice, <s>unless you have enough time to turn around before the enemy can return fire</s>.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock the better AP shell and the APDS as soon as possible. With these rounds, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral steering capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 Challenger. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''Challenger - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''Challenger Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Valentine_XI&diff=125535Valentine XI2022-03-28T13:03:40Z<p>U50095228: Overhaul of the entire page, updating information on M61 shell as well as adding detail on armour layout, mobility and gun characteristics. Also updating the Pros & Cons section.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_valentine_mk_11<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]].<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
Rank 1 guns will have difficulty penetrating this tank because their penetration is generally around 60 mm or below, and the {{PAGENAME}}'s frontal armour is 60-65mm. Sometimes vehicles with a larger calibre gun (eg. [[Na-To]], [[Marder III H]]) will make short work of this tank because of their high penetration for their battle rating via turret, flat plates or with overpressure. The hull side of the Valentine XI is also reduced to 50 mm comparing to the Valentine I's 60 mm, which worsens its protection against vehicles with penetration values between 50-60mm, for example [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]] and [[Pz.35(t)]]. This leads to the Valentine XI's armour only being effective against low rank tanks and some SPAAs when facing the enemy flat. The Valentine's crew is also low in number (3) and closely sat, reducing its survivability further more against all penetrating shots, especially those in the turret which can immediately kill 2/3 crew members. The Valentine XI does have access to 2 smoke grenade launchers (launched, so use them to conceal yourself if your armour seems to not hold up.<br />
<br />
When facing the {{PAGENAME}} in battle if in possession of a gun unable to penetrate the {{PAGENAME}} from the front, flanking around to the sides or rear could also work. Once towards the {{PAGENAME}}'s rear, repeat this process by running circles around this vehicle and setting it on fire repeatedly until it burns down, especially since the turret is well armoured all around with 60mm minimum.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (66-68°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 20 mm (72°), 60 mm (22°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm (57-58°) ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (65°), 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 17 mm || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-66°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm || 65 mm (1-57°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Note:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 15 mm thick, while tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
The top speed of the {{PAGENAME}} is very limited at 25 km/h as it was designed as an infantry tank. This speed can only be reached after accelerating on flat, hard ground for quite a long while. Any hill or imperfect road condition will reduce the speed to around 20 km/h which is only comparable to heavy tanks like [[B1 bis|B1]]. Medium counterparts such as [[Pz.IV E]] and [[Strv m/41 S-I|Strv m/41]] will easily overtake you on any terrain. The speed drops significantly when turning on the move. <br />
<br />
The hull traverse speed is awful especially when stock: the tank must move forward or backward a bit in order to really turn the hull. The reverse speed might be the slowest in game, at only -2 km/h (in line with British tanks). This of course will not let you get out of any danger quickly, and you will either be saved by your armour, small size, or you will be destroyed. Overall, the low speed, slow acceleration, poor traverse and reverse all make the Valentine XI bad at getting to places, repositioning, or escaping in time, greatly limiting its flexibility on the battlefield. Due to this it is recommended to use the {{PAGENAME}} for slow advances on an enemy location, or hull down where you do not need to rely on your mobility.<br />
<br />
A slight remedy for the poor turret traverse is to use track brakes when turning from a stationary position. The Settings for the Short Brakes can be found in the settings via: (Controls > Ground vehicles > Short brakes).<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
Suggested research order:<br />
<br />
# Tracks, Brake System, Filter, etc: A stock Valentine XI has poor mobility, so it might be a good idea to research the mobility modifications first.<br />
# Parts and FPE: They allow you to stay in a fight longer by repairing damaged parts and putting out a fire.<br />
# M61 APCBC: The Valentine XI will start encountering classic WW2 tanks like T-34 and M4 which are more spacious. An accurate AP with good velocity will be very useful to deal with them. If you intend to snipe with the {{PAGENAME}}, this shell can be useful to research first.<br />
# Others<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
<br />
The Valentine XI is armed with a 75mm OQF Mk.V cannon. The cannon has an adequate reload speed of ~6 seconds which is on par with most guns of this calibre. This is slower than the Valentine I's 3-second reload as we've moved from a 40mm cannon to a 75mm one, so the player must get used to disabling if not destroying the target with a single shot, which will be easier as the gun is very accurate. The gun has a good gun depression of -12° which means the Valentine XI can fight in most uneven environments. The turret rotation of ~12°/s is average, allowing the Valentine XI to target opponents in time, but not really fast enough to quickly respond to agile flankers. This tank loses the horizontal shoulder stabiliser of the Valentine I, meaning that it must fully stop and wait for the gun to stop wobbling prior to shooting, which delays the shot and may or may not be fatal. This is moderately remedied by the good suspension, but requires the player to have better situational awareness in order to stabilise the cannon in time.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm OQF Mk.V]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.2 || 21.1 || 25.6 || 28.3 || 30.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.5 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The 75 mm OQF Mk.V behaves quite similarly to the American 75mm M3 cannon, and they use the same ammo too.<br />
<br />
* The stock M72 AP is a solid shot with average penetration (~90mm) and velocity, being able to frontally penetrate most opponents. Its shrapnel can often knock out all crew in cramped tanks, for example [[T-80]], but not necessarily spacious ones like the [[M3 Lee]].<br />
<br />
* The M61 is an APCBC with better penetration (~100mm). This makes it the first choice ammo of the Valentine XI.<br />
<br />
* The M48 HE is not as effective, as it lacks enough explosive filler to damage a tank with overpressure, and most players will also not have the time to switch ammo just to shoot at lightly armoured targets. However if they do, this HE can deal considerable shrapnel damage to unprotected vehicles like the [[GAZ-MM (72-K)|GAZ-MM 72-K]].<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 91 || 88 || 78 || 67 || 57 || 49<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 103 || 100 || 89 || 77 || 66 || 57<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 618 || 6.53 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 666 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''45''' || 37&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 28&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 10&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+44)'' || Yes<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 1,574 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The small calibre of the BESA machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
The Valentine - despite its historical role as an infantry tank - holds a fine balance between offensive firepower and defensive armour, leaving something to be desired for mobility. The Valentine is defended by a reasonably-effective armour setup, with a strong armour setup in the turret. But, the armour around the chassis is lacking. It's reasonably well-sloped, and angling can greatly increase its protective capabilities. The lower glacis is small, but particularly poorly protected. This means that a hull-down playstyle can be very effective in this vehicle, since it hides the tank's weak spots while only exposing the stronger turret armour. This is also more easily accomplished due to the vehicle's small size.<br />
<br />
Such a passive playstyle is also helped by the tank's cannon. It does good damage, and has a reasonable reload rate. However, it does not have access to AP shells, so one-shot kills are rare, unless you know where to shoot. Again, this bodes poorly for close-up one on one combat. At range, on the other hand, the gun can focus on gradually destroying key components in enemy vehicles while retaining its good penetration values. Finally, the tank's small profile makes it even harder to hit at long range, and the weakspots in particular are very hard to hit accurately.<br />
<br />
Of course, a long-range sniping playstyle isn't the end all and be all for this tank. It is certainly possible to fight closer to the enemy. When doing this, it is important to keep three things in mind. Firstly, since the gun usually won't kill enemy tanks in one shot, focus on disabling the enemy's gun, mobility or both before aiming for anything else. This will give the player time to destroy the enemy without worrying about return fire. Secondly, this vehicle only has three crew members; it is very likely that a penetrating shell will destroy the vehicle outright. Therefore, be cautious of exposing this tank in areas without cover, and when there are few teammates nearby. Lastly, like many British tanks, the Valentine has poor mobility. It is often too slow to flank around the enemy, and its slow top speed can leave it stuck in messy situations with no way out. The tank's reverse speed is especially lacking--be sure that the way is clear before advancing, or else you may find yourself coming under fire with no way out.<br />
<br />
=== Enemies worth noting: ===<br />
<br />
* [[ZiS-30]]: This is a deadly Soviet machine. Despite the small chassis, it carries a deadly 57mm cannon with a penetration of around 140 mm, which is more than enough to pierce the Valentine XI's armour at any distance. It is also quite narrow and short, so it is difficult to spot especially when camouflaged. Therefore, its great gun and unnoticeable size will usually be used to their advantage. If it's planning an ambush, unfortunately there's no way to detect it unless it shoots first and reveals its location. Once it has been spotted, aim for these two main areas: if it's facing you, shoot at the right side of its gun mantlet to deactivate its gunner; if you are outside its horizontal gun traverse range, target the frontal hull to disable its driver or transmission so it cannot turn the hull around to aim at you.<br />
* [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]: The Valentine will start seeing more advanced tanks like the T-34. The T-34 has superior speed and agility, well-sloped armour, and great firepower, resulting in it being able to control the fight and destroy the Valentine easily. But with an upgraded 75 mm gun, the Valentine XI is able to fight back. Aim at the T-34's unsloped areas on its turret front to knock out its turret crew. Do not shoot its hull unless you are facing the armour perpendicularly and up close (<500m). If fighting in uneven terrain, make sure to utilise your great gun depression and hull down. The T-34 has bad gun depression and thus cannot perform as good in hilly environments.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Powerful 75mm gun with fast reload, deadly and accurate shells<br />
* Strong armour against low rank tanks like [[Pz.38(t) A|Pz.38(t)]], and against mid-rank rank [[Pz.III J|Pz.IIIs]] when angled<br />
* Rear-mounted transmission and engine will not get destroyed easily, keeping the Valentine mobile<br />
* Great -12° gun depression, useful on uneven maps<br />
* Small size making weakspots difficult to hit.<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Small three man crew will get knocked out easily<br />
* Quite slow, can't relocate quickly<br />
* Loses the vertical stabiliser. Targeting will take longer compared to [[Valentine I]]<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The experiences taken from the development of the A9, A10 cruiser tanks and the A11 infantry tank prompted Vickers-Armstrong to begin development of a new tank. As a private venture, the design did not receive any designations from the British General Staff during its creation. The designing of the tank focused on the tank having the weight of a cruiser, but with the armour comparable to the infantry tanks. The basis was to have the vehicle with 60 mm of frontal armour and a 2-pounder gun in a two-man turret. To make it as light as possible, it was small and featured a cramped interior. The design used features taken from the A9 and A10 tanks so the design was easier to produce and cheaper to make. Vickers unveiled the design to War Office at February 10, 1938. While they initially viewed it unfavourably for its tiny two-man turret, they took it in April 1939 due to the growing tense situation in Europe with Nazi Germany, with the first order coming in May 1940 after the losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Forces in the Battle of France. The name '''Valentine''' was given to the tank sometime between its introduction to War Office and its adoption. The origin of the name is disputed, some say it was due to its introduction on February 14 in 1938 or 1940, other say it was the middle name of Sir John V. Carden, who helped design the Valentine's predecessors. Other sources say it is a name from the Vickers' company full name (Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & [Newcastle-upon] Tyne), and David Fletcher from Bovington Tank Museum say that "Valentine" was a code name used by the company for its development.<br />
<br />
The Valentine was put into service as quickly as possible under the designation ''Tank, Infantry, Mk.III''. Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon, and Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company were all involved in the construction of this vehicle. During World War II, Canada was also contracted to build the Valentine to build up their own tank forces. The United Kingdom produced a total of 6,855 Valentines during the war between the three company while Canada built 1,420 Valentine tanks in their factories, for a total of 8,275 tanks produced, making the Valentine the most produced British tank in the entire war.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Valentine is one of the most modified British tank in World War II, up to eleven variants were made during its entire production life.<br />
<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk I|Mark I]]'': The first one, it was built with a rivet construction, a 135 hp petrol engine, and a 2-pounder, but was not sent to combat due to mechanical problems.<br />
#''Mark II'': Uses a 131 hp diesel engine and has an auxiliary fuel tank added to the left hull.<br />
#''Mark III'': Has a slightly thinner side armour (60 mm to 50 mm) and a modified turret design, giving room for a loader in the tank, freeing the commander to do his job.<br />
#''Mark IV'' A modified Mk.II using an American 138 hp GMC diesel engine and an American-produced transmission, making the tank more reliable.<br />
#''Mark V'': The same as Mk.IV, except using the Mk.III as the basis.<br />
#''Mark VI'': A Canadian built Valentine, using Canadian and American parts and a GMC diesel engine, plus later switching the BESA machine gun into a Browning machine gun.<br />
#''Mark VII'': A Canadian Mk.VI with a new radio set and a modified interior. Another Mk.VII named the ''Mark VIIA'' has jettisonable fuel tanks and new tracks, oil cooler, and headlights.<br />
# ''Mark VIII'': Uses a British AEC diesel engine and a modified turret to use the 6-pounder. The modification eliminated the coaxial machine gun from the design.<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk IX|Mark IX]]'': A Mk.V modified to take the 6-pounder as well, but with an armour reduction. Later version also had a stronger 165 hp GMC diesel engine installed.<br />
#''Mark X'': Features another modified turret design using the 6-pounder, but made it able to use a coaxial machine gun again and still uses the 165 hp diesel engine. Uses a welded construction<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk XI|Mark XI]]'': The Mk.X using the QF 75 mm gun instead of a 6-pounder, with the 210 hp diesel engine. However, these tanks only served as a command tank in the battlefield. Uses a welded construction<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Valentine mostly saw service in the North African Campaign, where the crew reported on it very favourably as a reliable and well-protected tank. The first unit who saw action with the Valentine was the 8th Royal Tank Regiment in Operation Crusader, where it was in the process of replacing the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]]. The reliability is expressed when some Valentine were reported to have travelled a distance of 4,800 kilometers by the time the British reached Tunisia. The Valentine tanks soon saw wide-spread use by mid-1941 when they were issued out widely to armoured regiments due to the lack of cruiser tanks available to fill in the ranks.<br />
<br />
However, the biggest weakness of the Valentine tank is the lack of high-explosive rounds for the 2-pounder, a weakness suffered by every other tank using the 2-pounder. This and the 2-pounder's growing deficiency against tank armour was remedied by the usage of the 6-pounder on the Valentine after the Mark VIII version, and then the QF 75 mm gun. However, these larger guns were harder to mount on the small Valentine turret and made for a cramped interior, even removing the established loader's position made in an enlarge turret for the 2-pounder. By the time these larger guns were introduced for the tank, better tanks were being introduced, such as the [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill heavy tanks]] from Britain and the [[M4|M4 Shermans]] from the Americans. Despite the better tanks, the Valentine's low height is able to exploit small cover on the battlefield and take up a good hull-down position behind hills.<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun, but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
<br />
By 1944, the Valentine is mostly taken out from the front-line services and replaced by the newer tanks. A few were retained for special purposes and command vehicles for [[Archer]] units, which is a tank destroyer based off the Valentine chassis. The tank continue to see use in the Pacific in limited numbers until May 1945 in the 3rd New Zealand Division, some had their armaments changed to the larger 3-inch howitzer to use it stronger high-explosive ammunition against the Japanese. New Zealand kept the normal and modified Valentines all the way until 1955. The last known combat usage of the Valentine was on Cyprus in early 1960s when a turret-less Valentine was used by the Greek militia, added with a make-shift armour and a machine gunner position with a Bren gun.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
About forty Valentines and vehicles based off the Valentine chassis exist in various conditions in the world. Valentines in running condition exist in the Bovington Tank Museum and in private hands in New Zealand and United Kingdom. The Valentines survivors can be seen in UK, Canada, Belgium, France, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_valentine_mk_11 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|AyHrqzC-3ng|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|iTdclDWLd2w|'''{{PAGENAME}}, British Tier-2, Medium Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Valentine_XI&diff=125531Valentine XI2022-03-28T12:31:40Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added angeling armour Pro.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_valentine_mk_11<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]].<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
Rank 1 guns will have difficulty penetrating this tank because their penetration is generally around 60 mm or below, and the {{PAGENAME}}'s frontal armour is 60-65mm. Sometimes vehicles with a larger calibre gun (eg. [[Na-To]], [[Marder III H]]) will make short work of this tank by simply shooting through the driver's hatch, turret, or with overpressure. The hull side of the Valentine XI is also reduced to 50 mm comparing to the Valentine I's 60 mm, which worsens its protection against vehicles with penetration values between 50-60mm, for example [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]] and [[Pz.35(t)]]. This leads to the Valentine XI's armour only being effective against low rank tanks and some SPAAs. If in possession of a gun unable to penetrate the {{PAGENAME}} from the front, flanking around to the sides or rear could also work. Once towards the {{PAGENAME}}'s rear, repeat this process by running circles around this vehicle and setting it on fire repeatedly until it burns down.<br />
<br />
The Valentine's crew is also low in number (3) and closely sat, reducing its survivability further more against all penetrating shots. The Valentine XI does have access to 2 smoke grenade launchers, so use them to conceal yourself if your armour seems to not hold up.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (66-68°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 20 mm (72°), 60 mm (22°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm (57-58°) ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (65°), 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 17 mm || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-66°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm || 65 mm (1-57°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Note:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 15 mm thick, while tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
The top speed of the {{PAGENAME}} is very limited at 25 km/h. This speed can only be reached after accelerating on flat, hard ground for quite a long while. Any hill or imperfect road condition will reduce the speed to around 20 km/h which is only comparable to heavy tanks like [[B1 bis|B1]]. Medium counterparts such as [[Pz.IV E]] and [[Strv m/41 S-I|Strv m/41]] will easily overtake you on any terrain. The speed drops significantly when turning on the move.<br />
<br />
The hull traverse speed is awful especially when stock: the tank must move forward or backward a bit in order to really turn the hull. The reverse speed might be the slowest in game, at only -2 km/h. This of course will not let you get out of any danger quickly, and you will either be saved by your armour or get destroyed. Overall, the low speed, slow acceleration, poor traverse and reverse all make the Valentine XI bad at getting to places, repositioning, or escaping in time, greatly limiting its flexibility on the battlefield.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
Suggested research order:<br />
<br />
# Tracks, Brake System, Filter, etc: A stock Valentine XI has poor mobility, so it might be a good idea to research the mobility modifications first.<br />
# Parts and FPE: They allow you to stay in a fight longer by repairing damaged parts and putting out a fire.<br />
# M61 APCBC: The Valentine XI will start encountering classic WW2 tanks like T-34 and M4 which are more spacious. An explosive AP will be very useful to deal with them.<br />
# Others<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
<br />
The Valentine XI is armed with a 75mm OQF Mk.V cannon. The cannon has an adequate reload speed of ~6 seconds which is on par with most guns of this calibre. This is slower than the Valentine I's 3-second reload so the player must get used to disabling if not destroying the target with a single shot. The gun has a good gun depression of -12° which means the Valentine XI can fight in most uneven environments. The turret rotation of ~12°/s is average, allowing the Valentine XI to target opponents in time, but not really fast enough to quickly respond to agile flankers. This tank loses the horizontal shoulder stabiliser of the Valentine I, meaning that it must fully stop and wait for the gun to stop wobbling prior to shooting, which delays the shot and may or may not be fatal. This requires the player to have better situational awareness in order to stabilise the cannon in time.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm OQF Mk.V]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.2 || 21.1 || 25.6 || 28.3 || 30.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.5 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The 75 mm OQF Mk.V behaves quite similarly to the American 75mm M3 cannon, and they use the same ammo too.<br />
<br />
* The stock M72 AP is a solid shot with average penetration (~90mm) and velocity, being able to frontally penetrate most opponents. Its shrapnel can often knock out all crew in cramped tanks, for example [[T-80]], but not necessarily spacious ones like the [[M3 Lee]].<br />
<br />
* The M61 is an APCBC with better penetration (~100mm) and explosive filler meaning it can both frontally penetrate and one-shot most tanks. This makes it the first choice ammo of the Valentine XI.<br />
<br />
* The M48 HE is not as effective, as it lacks enough explosive filler to damage a tank with overpressure, and most players will also not have the time to switch ammo just to shoot at lightly armoured targets. However if they do, this HE can deal considerable shrapnel damage to unprotected vehicles like the [[GAZ-MM (72-K)|GAZ-MM 72-K]].<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 91 || 88 || 78 || 67 || 57 || 49<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 103 || 100 || 89 || 77 || 66 || 57<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 618 || 6.53 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 666 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''45''' || 37&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 28&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 10&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+44)'' || Yes<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 1,574 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The small calibre of the BESA machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
Two features dictate the Valentine's playstyle: its mobility, and its armour. The Valentine is defended by a reasonably-effective armour setup, with a strong armour setup in the turret. But, the armour around the chassis is lacking. It's reasonably well-sloped, and angling can greatly increase its protective capabilities, but it is still not perfect. The lower glacis is particularly poorly protected. This means that a hull-down playstyle can be very effective in this vehicle, since it hides the tank's weak spots while only exposing the stronger turret armour.<br />
<br />
Such a passive playstyle is also helped by the tank's cannon. It does good damage, and has a reasonable reload rate. However, it does not have access to APHE shells, so one-shot kills are rare. Again, this bodes poorly for close-up one on one combat. At range, on the other hand, the gun can focus on gradually destroying key components in enemy vehicles while retaining its good penetration values. Finally, the tank's small profile makes it even harder to hit at long range, and the weakspots in particular are very hard to hit accurately.<br />
<br />
Of course, a long-range sniping playstyle isn't the end all and be all for this tank. It is certainly possible to fight closer to the enemy. When doing this, it is important to keep three things in mind. Firstly, since the gun usually won't kill enemy tanks in one shot, focus on disabling the enemy's gun before aiming for anything else. This will give the player time to destroy the enemy without worrying about return fire. Secondly, this vehicle only has three crew members; it is very likely that a penetrating shell will destroy the vehicle outright. Therefore, be cautious of exposing this tank in areas without cover, and when there are few teammates nearby. Lastly, like many British tanks, the Valentine has poor mobility. It is often too slow to flank around the enemy, and its slow top speed can leave it stuck in messy situations with no way out. The tank's reverse speed is especially lacking--be sure that the way is clear before advancing, or else you may find yourself coming under fire with no way out.<br />
<br />
=== Enemies worth noting: ===<br />
<br />
* [[ZiS-30]]: This is a deadly Soviet machine. Despite the small chassis, it carries a deadly 57mm cannon with a penetration of around 140 mm, which is more than enough to pierce the Valentine XI's armour at any distance. It is also quite narrow and short, so it is difficult to spot especially when camouflaged. Therefore, its great gun and unnoticeable size will usually be used to their advantage. If it's planning an ambush, unfortunately there's no way to detect it unless it shoots first and reveals its location. Once it has been spotted, aim for these two main areas: if it's facing you, shoot at the right side of its gun mantlet to deactivate its gunner; if you are outside its horizontal gun traverse range, target the frontal hull to disable its driver or transmission so it cannot turn the hull around to aim at you.<br />
* [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]: The Valentine will start seeing more advanced tanks like the T-34. The T-34 has superior speed and agility, well-sloped armour, and great firepower, resulting in it being able to control the fight and destroy the Valentine easily. But with an upgraded 75 mm gun, the Valentine XI is able to fight back. Aim at the T-34's unsloped areas on its turret front to knock out its turret crew. Do not shoot its hull unless you are facing the armour perpendicularly and up close (<500m). If fighting in uneven terrain, make sure to utilise your great gun depression and hull down. The T-34 has bad gun depression and thus cannot perform as good in hilly environments.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Powerful 75mm gun with fast reload and deadly shells<br />
* Strong armour against low rank tanks like [[Pz.38(t) A|Pz.38(t)]], and against higher rank Pz.IIIs when angled.<br />
* Rear-mounted transmission will not get destroyed easily, keeping the Valentine mobile<br />
* Great -12° gun depression, useful in slopy maps<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Small three man crew will get knocked out easily<br />
* Quite slow, can't relocate quickly<br />
* Loses the vertical stabiliser. Targeting will take longer<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The experiences taken from the development of the A9, A10 cruiser tanks and the A11 infantry tank prompted Vickers-Armstrong to begin development of a new tank. As a private venture, the design did not receive any designations from the British General Staff during its creation. The designing of the tank focused on the tank having the weight of a cruiser, but with the armour comparable to the infantry tanks. The basis was to have the vehicle with 60 mm of frontal armour and a 2-pounder gun in a two-man turret. To make it as light as possible, it was small and featured a cramped interior. The design used features taken from the A9 and A10 tanks so the design was easier to produce and cheaper to make. Vickers unveiled the design to War Office at February 10, 1938. While they initially viewed it unfavourably for its tiny two-man turret, they took it in April 1939 due to the growing tense situation in Europe with Nazi Germany, with the first order coming in May 1940 after the losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Forces in the Battle of France. The name '''Valentine''' was given to the tank sometime between its introduction to War Office and its adoption. The origin of the name is disputed, some say it was due to its introduction on February 14 in 1938 or 1940, other say it was the middle name of Sir John V. Carden, who helped design the Valentine's predecessors. Other sources say it is a name from the Vickers' company full name (Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & [Newcastle-upon] Tyne), and David Fletcher from Bovington Tank Museum say that "Valentine" was a code name used by the company for its development.<br />
<br />
The Valentine was put into service as quickly as possible under the designation ''Tank, Infantry, Mk.III''. Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon, and Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company were all involved in the construction of this vehicle. During World War II, Canada was also contracted to build the Valentine to build up their own tank forces. The United Kingdom produced a total of 6,855 Valentines during the war between the three company while Canada built 1,420 Valentine tanks in their factories, for a total of 8,275 tanks produced, making the Valentine the most produced British tank in the entire war.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Valentine is one of the most modified British tank in World War II, up to eleven variants were made during its entire production life.<br />
<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk I|Mark I]]'': The first one, it was built with a rivet construction, a 135 hp petrol engine, and a 2-pounder, but was not sent to combat due to mechanical problems.<br />
#''Mark II'': Uses a 131 hp diesel engine and has an auxiliary fuel tank added to the left hull.<br />
#''Mark III'': Has a slightly thinner side armour (60 mm to 50 mm) and a modified turret design, giving room for a loader in the tank, freeing the commander to do his job.<br />
#''Mark IV'' A modified Mk.II using an American 138 hp GMC diesel engine and an American-produced transmission, making the tank more reliable.<br />
#''Mark V'': The same as Mk.IV, except using the Mk.III as the basis.<br />
#''Mark VI'': A Canadian built Valentine, using Canadian and American parts and a GMC diesel engine, plus later switching the BESA machine gun into a Browning machine gun.<br />
#''Mark VII'': A Canadian Mk.VI with a new radio set and a modified interior. Another Mk.VII named the ''Mark VIIA'' has jettisonable fuel tanks and new tracks, oil cooler, and headlights.<br />
# ''Mark VIII'': Uses a British AEC diesel engine and a modified turret to use the 6-pounder. The modification eliminated the coaxial machine gun from the design.<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk IX|Mark IX]]'': A Mk.V modified to take the 6-pounder as well, but with an armour reduction. Later version also had a stronger 165 hp GMC diesel engine installed.<br />
#''Mark X'': Features another modified turret design using the 6-pounder, but made it able to use a coaxial machine gun again and still uses the 165 hp diesel engine. Uses a welded construction<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk XI|Mark XI]]'': The Mk.X using the QF 75 mm gun instead of a 6-pounder, with the 210 hp diesel engine. However, these tanks only served as a command tank in the battlefield. Uses a welded construction<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Valentine mostly saw service in the North African Campaign, where the crew reported on it very favourably as a reliable and well-protected tank. The first unit who saw action with the Valentine was the 8th Royal Tank Regiment in Operation Crusader, where it was in the process of replacing the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]]. The reliability is expressed when some Valentine were reported to have travelled a distance of 4,800 kilometers by the time the British reached Tunisia. The Valentine tanks soon saw wide-spread use by mid-1941 when they were issued out widely to armoured regiments due to the lack of cruiser tanks available to fill in the ranks.<br />
<br />
However, the biggest weakness of the Valentine tank is the lack of high-explosive rounds for the 2-pounder, a weakness suffered by every other tank using the 2-pounder. This and the 2-pounder's growing deficiency against tank armour was remedied by the usage of the 6-pounder on the Valentine after the Mark VIII version, and then the QF 75 mm gun. However, these larger guns were harder to mount on the small Valentine turret and made for a cramped interior, even removing the established loader's position made in an enlarge turret for the 2-pounder. By the time these larger guns were introduced for the tank, better tanks were being introduced, such as the [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill heavy tanks]] from Britain and the [[M4|M4 Shermans]] from the Americans. Despite the better tanks, the Valentine's low height is able to exploit small cover on the battlefield and take up a good hull-down position behind hills.<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun, but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
<br />
By 1944, the Valentine is mostly taken out from the front-line services and replaced by the newer tanks. A few were retained for special purposes and command vehicles for [[Archer]] units, which is a tank destroyer based off the Valentine chassis. The tank continue to see use in the Pacific in limited numbers until May 1945 in the 3rd New Zealand Division, some had their armaments changed to the larger 3-inch howitzer to use it stronger high-explosive ammunition against the Japanese. New Zealand kept the normal and modified Valentines all the way until 1955. The last known combat usage of the Valentine was on Cyprus in early 1960s when a turret-less Valentine was used by the Greek militia, added with a make-shift armour and a machine gunner position with a Bren gun.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
About forty Valentines and vehicles based off the Valentine chassis exist in various conditions in the world. Valentines in running condition exist in the Bovington Tank Museum and in private hands in New Zealand and United Kingdom. The Valentines survivors can be seen in UK, Canada, Belgium, France, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_valentine_mk_11 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|AyHrqzC-3ng|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|iTdclDWLd2w|'''{{PAGENAME}}, British Tier-2, Medium Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Valentine_XI&diff=125530Valentine XI2022-03-28T12:29:42Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Driver's port is not modelled (armour-wise) on the Valentine XI and has no effect on its survivability.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_valentine_mk_11<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was released along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]].<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
Rank 1 guns will have difficulty penetrating this tank because their penetration is generally around 60 mm or below, and the {{PAGENAME}}'s frontal armour is 60-65mm. Sometimes vehicles with a larger calibre gun (eg. [[Na-To]], [[Marder III H]]) will make short work of this tank by simply shooting through the driver's hatch, turret, or with overpressure. The hull side of the Valentine XI is also reduced to 50 mm comparing to the Valentine I's 60 mm, which worsens its protection against vehicles with penetration values between 50-60mm, for example [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Chi-Ha]] and [[Pz.35(t)]]. This leads to the Valentine XI's armour only being effective against low rank tanks and some SPAAs. If in possession of a gun unable to penetrate the {{PAGENAME}} from the front, flanking around to the sides or rear could also work. Once towards the {{PAGENAME}}'s rear, repeat this process by running circles around this vehicle and setting it on fire repeatedly until it burns down.<br />
<br />
The Valentine's crew is also low in number (3) and closely sat, reducing its survivability further more against all penetrating shots. The Valentine XI does have access to 2 smoke grenade launchers, so use them to conceal yourself if your armour seems to not hold up.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (66-68°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 20 mm (72°), 60 mm (22°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm (57-58°) ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (65°), 60 mm ''Bottom'' || 17 mm || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-66°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm || 65 mm (1-57°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Note:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and bogies are 15 mm thick, while tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
The top speed of the {{PAGENAME}} is very limited at 25 km/h. This speed can only be reached after accelerating on flat, hard ground for quite a long while. Any hill or imperfect road condition will reduce the speed to around 20 km/h which is only comparable to heavy tanks like [[B1 bis|B1]]. Medium counterparts such as [[Pz.IV E]] and [[Strv m/41 S-I|Strv m/41]] will easily overtake you on any terrain. The speed drops significantly when turning on the move.<br />
<br />
The hull traverse speed is awful especially when stock: the tank must move forward or backward a bit in order to really turn the hull. The reverse speed might be the slowest in game, at only -2 km/h. This of course will not let you get out of any danger quickly, and you will either be saved by your armour or get destroyed. Overall, the low speed, slow acceleration, poor traverse and reverse all make the Valentine XI bad at getting to places, repositioning, or escaping in time, greatly limiting its flexibility on the battlefield.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
Suggested research order:<br />
<br />
# Tracks, Brake System, Filter, etc: A stock Valentine XI has poor mobility, so it might be a good idea to research the mobility modifications first.<br />
# Parts and FPE: They allow you to stay in a fight longer by repairing damaged parts and putting out a fire.<br />
# M61 APCBC: The Valentine XI will start encountering classic WW2 tanks like T-34 and M4 which are more spacious. An explosive AP will be very useful to deal with them.<br />
# Others<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
<br />
The Valentine XI is armed with a 75mm OQF Mk.V cannon. The cannon has an adequate reload speed of ~6 seconds which is on par with most guns of this calibre. This is slower than the Valentine I's 3-second reload so the player must get used to disabling if not destroying the target with a single shot. The gun has a good gun depression of -12° which means the Valentine XI can fight in most uneven environments. The turret rotation of ~12°/s is average, allowing the Valentine XI to target opponents in time, but not really fast enough to quickly respond to agile flankers. This tank loses the horizontal shoulder stabiliser of the Valentine I, meaning that it must fully stop and wait for the gun to stop wobbling prior to shooting, which delays the shot and may or may not be fatal. This requires the player to have better situational awareness in order to stabilise the cannon in time.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm OQF Mk.V]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.2 || 21.1 || 25.6 || 28.3 || 30.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.5 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
The 75 mm OQF Mk.V behaves quite similarly to the American 75mm M3 cannon, and they use the same ammo too.<br />
<br />
* The stock M72 AP is a solid shot with average penetration (~90mm) and velocity, being able to frontally penetrate most opponents. Its shrapnel can often knock out all crew in cramped tanks, for example [[T-80]], but not necessarily spacious ones like the [[M3 Lee]].<br />
<br />
* The M61 is an APCBC with better penetration (~100mm) and explosive filler meaning it can both frontally penetrate and one-shot most tanks. This makes it the first choice ammo of the Valentine XI.<br />
<br />
* The M48 HE is not as effective, as it lacks enough explosive filler to damage a tank with overpressure, and most players will also not have the time to switch ammo just to shoot at lightly armoured targets. However if they do, this HE can deal considerable shrapnel damage to unprotected vehicles like the [[GAZ-MM (72-K)|GAZ-MM 72-K]].<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 91 || 88 || 78 || 67 || 57 || 49<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 103 || 100 || 89 || 77 || 66 || 57<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| M61 shot || APCBC || 618 || 6.53 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 666 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''45''' || 37&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 28&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 10&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+44)'' || Yes<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 1,574 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The small calibre of the BESA machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
Two features dictate the Valentine's playstyle: its mobility, and its armour. The Valentine is defended by a reasonably-effective armour setup, with a strong armour setup in the turret. But, the armour around the chassis is lacking. It's reasonably well-sloped, and angling can greatly increase its protective capabilities, but it is still not perfect. The lower glacis is particularly poorly protected. This means that a hull-down playstyle can be very effective in this vehicle, since it hides the tank's weak spots while only exposing the stronger turret armour.<br />
<br />
Such a passive playstyle is also helped by the tank's cannon. It does good damage, and has a reasonable reload rate. However, it does not have access to APHE shells, so one-shot kills are rare. Again, this bodes poorly for close-up one on one combat. At range, on the other hand, the gun can focus on gradually destroying key components in enemy vehicles while retaining its good penetration values. Finally, the tank's small profile makes it even harder to hit at long range, and the weakspots in particular are very hard to hit accurately.<br />
<br />
Of course, a long-range sniping playstyle isn't the end all and be all for this tank. It is certainly possible to fight closer to the enemy. When doing this, it is important to keep three things in mind. Firstly, since the gun usually won't kill enemy tanks in one shot, focus on disabling the enemy's gun before aiming for anything else. This will give the player time to destroy the enemy without worrying about return fire. Secondly, this vehicle only has three crew members; it is very likely that a penetrating shell will destroy the vehicle outright. Therefore, be cautious of exposing this tank in areas without cover, and when there are few teammates nearby. Lastly, like many British tanks, the Valentine has poor mobility. It is often too slow to flank around the enemy, and its slow top speed can leave it stuck in messy situations with no way out. The tank's reverse speed is especially lacking--be sure that the way is clear before advancing, or else you may find yourself coming under fire with no way out.<br />
<br />
=== Enemies worth noting: ===<br />
<br />
* [[ZiS-30]]: This is a deadly Soviet machine. Despite the small chassis, it carries a deadly 57mm cannon with a penetration of around 140 mm, which is more than enough to pierce the Valentine XI's armour at any distance. It is also quite narrow and short, so it is difficult to spot especially when camouflaged. Therefore, its great gun and unnoticeable size will usually be used to their advantage. If it's planning an ambush, unfortunately there's no way to detect it unless it shoots first and reveals its location. Once it has been spotted, aim for these two main areas: if it's facing you, shoot at the right side of its gun mantlet to deactivate its gunner; if you are outside its horizontal gun traverse range, target the frontal hull to disable its driver or transmission so it cannot turn the hull around to aim at you.<br />
* [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]: The Valentine will start seeing more advanced tanks like the T-34. The T-34 has superior speed and agility, well-sloped armour, and great firepower, resulting in it being able to control the fight and destroy the Valentine easily. But with an upgraded 75 mm gun, the Valentine XI is able to fight back. Aim at the T-34's unsloped areas on its turret front to knock out its turret crew. Do not shoot its hull unless you are facing the armour perpendicularly and up close (<500m). If fighting in uneven terrain, make sure to utilise your great gun depression and hull down. The T-34 has bad gun depression and thus cannot perform as good in hilly environments.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Powerful 75mm gun with fast reload and deadly shells<br />
* Strong armour against low rank tanks like [[Pz.38(t) A|Pz.38(t)]]<br />
* Rear-mounted transmission will not get destroyed easily, keeping the Valentine mobile<br />
* Great -12° gun depression, useful in slopy maps<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Small three man crew will get knocked out easily<br />
* Quite slow, can't relocate quickly<br />
* Loses the vertical stabiliser. Targeting will take longer<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The experiences taken from the development of the A9, A10 cruiser tanks and the A11 infantry tank prompted Vickers-Armstrong to begin development of a new tank. As a private venture, the design did not receive any designations from the British General Staff during its creation. The designing of the tank focused on the tank having the weight of a cruiser, but with the armour comparable to the infantry tanks. The basis was to have the vehicle with 60 mm of frontal armour and a 2-pounder gun in a two-man turret. To make it as light as possible, it was small and featured a cramped interior. The design used features taken from the A9 and A10 tanks so the design was easier to produce and cheaper to make. Vickers unveiled the design to War Office at February 10, 1938. While they initially viewed it unfavourably for its tiny two-man turret, they took it in April 1939 due to the growing tense situation in Europe with Nazi Germany, with the first order coming in May 1940 after the losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Forces in the Battle of France. The name '''Valentine''' was given to the tank sometime between its introduction to War Office and its adoption. The origin of the name is disputed, some say it was due to its introduction on February 14 in 1938 or 1940, other say it was the middle name of Sir John V. Carden, who helped design the Valentine's predecessors. Other sources say it is a name from the Vickers' company full name (Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & [Newcastle-upon] Tyne), and David Fletcher from Bovington Tank Museum say that "Valentine" was a code name used by the company for its development.<br />
<br />
The Valentine was put into service as quickly as possible under the designation ''Tank, Infantry, Mk.III''. Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon, and Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company were all involved in the construction of this vehicle. During World War II, Canada was also contracted to build the Valentine to build up their own tank forces. The United Kingdom produced a total of 6,855 Valentines during the war between the three company while Canada built 1,420 Valentine tanks in their factories, for a total of 8,275 tanks produced, making the Valentine the most produced British tank in the entire war.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Valentine is one of the most modified British tank in World War II, up to eleven variants were made during its entire production life.<br />
<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk I|Mark I]]'': The first one, it was built with a rivet construction, a 135 hp petrol engine, and a 2-pounder, but was not sent to combat due to mechanical problems.<br />
#''Mark II'': Uses a 131 hp diesel engine and has an auxiliary fuel tank added to the left hull.<br />
#''Mark III'': Has a slightly thinner side armour (60 mm to 50 mm) and a modified turret design, giving room for a loader in the tank, freeing the commander to do his job.<br />
#''Mark IV'' A modified Mk.II using an American 138 hp GMC diesel engine and an American-produced transmission, making the tank more reliable.<br />
#''Mark V'': The same as Mk.IV, except using the Mk.III as the basis.<br />
#''Mark VI'': A Canadian built Valentine, using Canadian and American parts and a GMC diesel engine, plus later switching the BESA machine gun into a Browning machine gun.<br />
#''Mark VII'': A Canadian Mk.VI with a new radio set and a modified interior. Another Mk.VII named the ''Mark VIIA'' has jettisonable fuel tanks and new tracks, oil cooler, and headlights.<br />
# ''Mark VIII'': Uses a British AEC diesel engine and a modified turret to use the 6-pounder. The modification eliminated the coaxial machine gun from the design.<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk IX|Mark IX]]'': A Mk.V modified to take the 6-pounder as well, but with an armour reduction. Later version also had a stronger 165 hp GMC diesel engine installed.<br />
#''Mark X'': Features another modified turret design using the 6-pounder, but made it able to use a coaxial machine gun again and still uses the 165 hp diesel engine. Uses a welded construction<br />
#''[[Valentine Mk XI|Mark XI]]'': The Mk.X using the QF 75 mm gun instead of a 6-pounder, with the 210 hp diesel engine. However, these tanks only served as a command tank in the battlefield. Uses a welded construction<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Valentine mostly saw service in the North African Campaign, where the crew reported on it very favourably as a reliable and well-protected tank. The first unit who saw action with the Valentine was the 8th Royal Tank Regiment in Operation Crusader, where it was in the process of replacing the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]]. The reliability is expressed when some Valentine were reported to have travelled a distance of 4,800 kilometers by the time the British reached Tunisia. The Valentine tanks soon saw wide-spread use by mid-1941 when they were issued out widely to armoured regiments due to the lack of cruiser tanks available to fill in the ranks.<br />
<br />
However, the biggest weakness of the Valentine tank is the lack of high-explosive rounds for the 2-pounder, a weakness suffered by every other tank using the 2-pounder. This and the 2-pounder's growing deficiency against tank armour was remedied by the usage of the 6-pounder on the Valentine after the Mark VIII version, and then the QF 75 mm gun. However, these larger guns were harder to mount on the small Valentine turret and made for a cramped interior, even removing the established loader's position made in an enlarge turret for the 2-pounder. By the time these larger guns were introduced for the tank, better tanks were being introduced, such as the [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill heavy tanks]] from Britain and the [[M4|M4 Shermans]] from the Americans. Despite the better tanks, the Valentine's low height is able to exploit small cover on the battlefield and take up a good hull-down position behind hills.<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun, but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
<br />
By 1944, the Valentine is mostly taken out from the front-line services and replaced by the newer tanks. A few were retained for special purposes and command vehicles for [[Archer]] units, which is a tank destroyer based off the Valentine chassis. The tank continue to see use in the Pacific in limited numbers until May 1945 in the 3rd New Zealand Division, some had their armaments changed to the larger 3-inch howitzer to use it stronger high-explosive ammunition against the Japanese. New Zealand kept the normal and modified Valentines all the way until 1955. The last known combat usage of the Valentine was on Cyprus in early 1960s when a turret-less Valentine was used by the Greek militia, added with a make-shift armour and a machine gunner position with a Bren gun.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
About forty Valentines and vehicles based off the Valentine chassis exist in various conditions in the world. Valentines in running condition exist in the Bovington Tank Museum and in private hands in New Zealand and United Kingdom. The Valentines survivors can be seen in UK, Canada, Belgium, France, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_valentine_mk_11 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|AyHrqzC-3ng|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|iTdclDWLd2w|'''{{PAGENAME}}, British Tier-2, Medium Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=ARL-44&diff=125526ARL-442022-03-28T09:33:47Z<p>U50095228: /* Mobility */ Edited mobility to fit current performance.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
|about= French tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
|usage= the heavy tank version<br />
|link= ARL-44 (ACL-1)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=fr_arl_44<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. As a rank III turreted tank destroyer, it performs very well in its role. With a very good gun and appreciable armour, this tank is deemed to be a long-range sniper on the battlefield. Its only downside lies with its mobility: it is slower than most tanks at this BR.<br />
<br />
The ARL-44 bears very distinctive characteristics, with a WWI-style track system (similar to the Churchill) which runs across the whole side of its chassis. This tank is a mix of different inspirations, mainly late war German tank technology such as the [[Panther D|Panther series]] or the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]], from which it takes its sloped frontal armour and tall profile. As France was reviving from WW2, its engineers were hard at work to catch up with tank technology, the ARL-44 series was a training ground for them. This is why this tank has rather weird design choices, coming from both experience and experimentation. This final iteration of the series is comparable to the famous King Tiger in aesthetics and the Panther performance-wise, while not as good.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, cupola)<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 120 mm (48°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 100 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' <br> 50 mm ''Hull compartment between the tracks'' <br> 50 mm (63°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm <br> 25 mm ''Tracks cover'' || 35 mm (32°) ''Rear glacis'' <br> 35 mm (20°) ''Hull compartment between the tracks'' || 20 mm <br> 5 mm ''Radiator vents'' <br> 5 mm (18°) ''Engine access panel''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 110 mm (0-70°) ''Turret front'' <br> 66 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (14°) || 20 mm (8°) || 20 mm (11°) ''Front'' <br> 10 mm ''Rear''<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 60 mm (spherical)<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies are 10 mm thick.<br />
* An additional 25 mm RHA plate separates the engine from the crew compartment.<br />
<br />
In spite of its armour the {{PAGENAME}} still has weak spots easy to target. Avoid showing your sides and/or your back to enemy tanks and you should be mostly fine. Because of the large weak spots like the turret cheeks or the hull between the tracks, it is better to stay as far as possible from the frontline, using the very powerful gun to knock down enemies.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=852|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
While the {{PAGENAME}} Suffers from poor traction and a low top speed for a tank destroyer, the powerful engine and good transmission allows the {{PAGENAME}} to accelerate quickly and turn effectively despite its immense size. The vehicle has decent mobility even in close quarters, however at these ranges your armour is ineffective and your gun impractical, so it is ill-advised to fight at close range, even if you have the mobility to support it.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|SA45 (90 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[SA45 (90 mm)|90 mm SA45]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 37 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.2 || 18.3 || 22.2 || 24.6 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | 11.50 || rowspan="2" | 10.60 || rowspan="2" | 10.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The gun is clearly the biggest quality of the {{PAGENAME}} as it can take down anything at this battle rating from a good distance. Keep in mind that your reload rate is rather slow. The shells have no explosive filler but every penetrating shot carries a very large amount of shrapnel. Destroying enemies with one shot is thus a frequent occurrence, even if this tanks only has solid shots.<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 90 mm Obus de rupture || APC || 215 || 212 || 201 || 188 || 175 || 164<br />
|-<br />
| 90 mm Obus explosif || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 90 mm Obus de rupture || APC || 1,000 || 10.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| 90 mm Obus explosif || HE || 700 || 11.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 945 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.9.0.17''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''37''' || 25&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 13&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+36)'' || Yes<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.<br />
* The visual discrepancy concerns the crossed out shells: they are modeled but missing when in-game. <br />
* Turret empty: 25&nbsp;''(+12)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|MAC 31 (7.5 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[MAC 31 (7.5 mm)|7.5 mm MAC 31]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 5,000 (150) || 551 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
<br />
;Combat tactics<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} is a not a well enough armoured vehicle to play as a frontline or support tank and should be played as a sniper: take advantage of your very good gun to disable enemies with well placed shots while staying at a distance guaranteeing your survivability. Your frontal glacis is strong enough to resist most enemy guns beyond 800 m but there are obvious weak spots your opponents will prioritize: the turret cheeks, the MG port, the turret cupola and the lower glacis to a lesser extent. Staying far (between 800 m and 1,000 m) will make it difficult for enemy players to target your weak spots with accuracy and will give you time to react on incoming shots.<br />
<br />
Your gun has a very good penetration power allowing you to stay at a distance but the lack of explosive filler is detrimental to your performance as you'll need two to three shells to take down enemies. Your reload time is a bit longer than most opponents, so aim precisely and make every shot count. Make sure to target modules and crew positions to maximise the damage. Disabling the enemy gunner on your first shot will also be critical to win engagements as the enemy vehicle could return fire before your second shot. Use the "sight distance control" feature to increase your chances of successfully hitting enemy tanks from long distance.<br />
<br />
Refrain from fighting in close quarters: your sides are weak and your turret traverse speed is too slow to react to an unexpected encounter. Staying at a distance from the frontline will also prevent from being taken in a pincer move. Your mobility is rather poor, with a rigid suspension, outdated tracks, a long and cumbersome chassis and a poor traction. Terrain irregularities will make you slow down and hinder your progress. Position your hull carefully when getting to a shooting spot to avoid hull twitching that will impact your targeting process.<br />
<br />
;Notable enemies<br />
<br />
* Tank destroyers with powerful guns that can penetrate you from afar: Sturer Emil, Panzer IV/70(V), Nashorn, Waffenträger, VFW, ISU-122, ISU-122S, Charioteer Mk VII or ISU-122 (China). The IS-2 and the IS-2 (China) can be added to the list as they sport as gun identical in performance to the ISU-122<br />
* Tanks firing HEAT/HEATFS shells that can defeat your frontal glacis: PT-76B, PT-76 (China) or Ikv 103.<br />
* Tanks firing APDS shots that can defeat your frontal glacis: Challenger, Comet I, Iron Duke IV, Centurion Mk 1, Sherman Vc (Italy), Pvkv m/43 (1963) or Strv 74.<br />
* Tanks whose cannon is powerful enough to penetrate your frontal glacis once closer to your vehicle (500 m distance): M36 GMC, Tiger H1, Tiger E, Panther D, Panther A, T-34-85, SU-85M, IS-1, KV-85, Chi-Ri II, M4A3 (76) W HVSS, T-34-85 (S-53) (China), T-34-85 Gai or M36 (China).<br />
<br />
;How to defeat a {{PAGENAME}}<br />
<br />
[[File:ARL-44 weakspot.png|thumb|As seen in this picture, this weak spot only has less than 100 mm effective thickness, meaning that even 3.7 tanks can easily penetrate there, let alone 5.7 tanks with better penetration and more explosives]]<br />
<br />
* Behind the track and the front sprocket wheel, there is a thin, vertical armour plate of only 50 mm thick. Behind that is the 3rd ammo rack. Thus if an ARL-44 is facing you frontally, shoot at either of the two front sprocket wheels. An average gun with at least 110 mm penetration (at 0°) on a shell with explosive filler (e.g. an [[M10 (Family)|M10]] tank destroyer) will certainly punch through the track, wheel, the armour, then ultimately explode inside the hull. The spot is quite small from a distance.<br />
* Do not attack the {{PAGENAME}} frontally unless you have enough armour to afford it.<br />
* Sneak around it and target the turret from the back or the side. The {{PAGENAME}} has a slow turret traverse and flat side and rear armour, making it especially vulnerable to flanking.<br />
* If you have no other option than to attack it frontally, blind it with smoke before closing the gap. Target the turret cheeks or the cupola as they are weak spots.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Mobility is good as long as you don't push it<br />
** Good acceleration at low speed<br />
** Good hull turning rate<br />
* Frontal armour is thick with 120 mm of sloped armour on the glacis.<br />
* Complex side armour negates occasional HEAT shells.<br />
* Potent gun<br />
** Very high penetration power<br />
** Good spalling<br />
** High muzzle velocity round: easy to aim at distances<br />
* Can be played a little like a heavy tank when facing weaker enemies.<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Large silhouette<br />
** Angling often doesn't help<br />
* Overall weak turret armour<br />
** Turret armour is underwhelming at 100-110 mm of flat armour. Most 75 mm guns can penetrate at range.<br />
** Weak gun mantlet is only 60 mm flat armour<br />
** Turret back is only 20 mm thick, vulnerable to HMG fire.<br />
* Hull armour has many weak spots<br />
** Extremely thin roof armour (10 mm on the turret and 5 mm on the engine deck). Strafing planes are deadly.<br />
** Side vulnerable to solid shots.<br />
** Weak lower plate is only 50 mm, a major shot trap.<br />
** A hit to a track from the front has a high chance of both knocking out the track and some crew members. High calibre guns may be able to one shot.<br />
* Moving can be unpleasant with the outdated suspension<br />
** Tracks have poor ground traction<br />
** Hill climbing is hard<br />
** Struggles reaching top speed<br />
* Wall of ammo behind the upper glacis plate, penetrating it can result in an ammo rack<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
Development of the ARL-44 began shortly after the Liberation of France in 1944. The established provisional government was keen on restoring France's influence and power to what it used to be before the war. This involved, among other things, the revival of all French military branches. The situation was looking particularly desperate for the army, as most indigenous equipment and tanks were manufactured in the 1930s and the most advanced in use at the time was equipment left behind by the Germans. The French Ministry of War decided to remedy this issue by starting the production of a so called "transitional tank". This project was intended to bolster the number of indigenous tanks in use with the army, reuse existing tank parts and, most importantly, provide French engineers with a base on which they could "experiment" on to gain valuable experience for future tank development. Thus, in November 1944, the decision was made to design a heavy tank with relatively modest specifications. Staff from several design and manufacturing state companies were assigned to the project and work on what would become the ARL-44 began.<br />
<br />
Initially, the new tank was required, apart from using existing tank parts, to have a weight of 30 tonnes, a top armour thickness of 60mm and a primary gun of the 75mm caliber. As the engineers were limited to using existing parts for their new machine, it very quickly became apparent that the amount of innovation that was possible for the new machine was equally limited. Thus, the ARL-44 soon took on the resemblance of a Char B1, with the exception of the turret and gun. The end of the war in 1945 didn't stop development however, quite the opposite in fact. The design went through several changes, from increasing the armour thickness to the installation of a new engine and the new 90mm French cannon, despite the fact that there was no longer a for such a vehicle. At that point, the further development and subsequent limited production run of the ARL-44 was only used for "propaganda" purposes, with the aim of increasing the morale of the French people in the post-war period. In the end, only 60 ARL-44s were constructed and no sooner than they were introduced into service, they were also decommissioned due to, unsurprisingly, unsatisfactory performance, at the beginning of the 1950s. Despite this, the project did fulfill one of its major goals - generate experience for a new generation of French tank designers. Thanks to experiences gained from projects like the ARL-44, France would build its first true modern MBT only a decade later, serving as proof that the ARL-44 was not in vain after all.<br />
<br />
''- From [[wt:en/news/5205-development-arl-44-a-battleship-in-disguise-en|Devblog]]''<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_arl_44 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|CFmL0qG0bB4|'''The Shooting Range #231''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:35 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|kKzzN3pzLSI|'''The Shooting Range #86''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:25 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|r1xtL64mP7I|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role<br />
<br />
* [[Panther A]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/5205-development-arl-44-a-battleship-in-disguise-en|[Devblog] ARL-44 - A Battleship in Disguise]]<br />
* [[wikipedia:ARL_44|[Wikipedia] ARL 44]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/France/ARL-44.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> ARL-44]<br />
<br />
{{France tank destroyers}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=123330Challenger2022-02-17T19:02:36Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */ Added/clarified the possibility of using neutral-steer for hit-n-run tactics.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The armour on the Challenger is not to be relied on as it is both very thin and poorly angled. The turret armour is capable of bouncing or absorbing a few shots, however this is not to be relied upon. The hull has the same poor armour as the Cromwell, but due to the vehicle's neutral steering capability, should an enemy go for the front plate you can angle it adequately against contemporary medium cannons, however exposing your side is a death sentence, especially against APHE projectiles.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
The lengthened Cromwell chassis provides the Challenger with excellent mobility. The vehicle is able to reach its top speed of 52 km/h fairly quickly. The Challenger is responsive both at low and high speeds. The centre of gravity is quite high, to the point that one track will lift up when making a significant enough turn. The Challenger has an awful reverse speed, it should not be relied upon. In most situations it's more viable to use the neutral steering capability of the vehicle to completely turn around and drive in the other direction.<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Challenger features the 76 mm QF 17-pounder, a weapon more than capable of dealing with all adversaries the Challenger will encounter, even Soviet heavy tanks (IS-1, KV-85, etc.) and German tanks like the Panthers and Tiger Is. <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
While the highest penetrating round available to the Challenger is the Shot SV Mk.1, this round is both inaccurate and does very little spall damage. Because of this it is recommended to use the Shot Mk.8 the majority of the time as its penetration is sufficient, and as it is able to knock out enemies with a single shot due to great spalling. The Shot SV Mk.1 can still be brought for long range engagements.<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice unless you have enough time to neutral-steer around before the enemy can return fire.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock the better AP shell and the APDS as soon as possible. With these rounds, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral steering capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 Challenger. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''Challenger - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''Challenger Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=123329Churchill I2022-02-17T18:47:06Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Removed "76mm only HE" con as it is not valid.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]]. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE shells, however due to their inefficiency, it is recommended use smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously its armour. the 89 to 178 mm of the front hull together with the 63.5 mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However overangling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89 mm all around except 114 mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50 mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret front has a couple small weak spots in the front where the turret MG and sight are placed: the armour is only 50 mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with a calibre of 20 mm or larger.<br />
<br />
The 5 crew members of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, an APHE shell will knock the crew entirely if it goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50 mm internal mantlet that can be either a weak spot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8 mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
As a heavy infantry support tank. the Churchill I is slow and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28 km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmission. The Churchill I has a very poor reverse speed (-3 km/h), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short brakes can be used to pivot the tank much faster (keybinds can be defined in-game in the Controls menu: Controls > Ground vehicles > Short brakes).<br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
The 40 mm QF 2-pounder has poor penetration even with its best round at its BR (89 mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500 m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and its inaccuracy. From the side, the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The 2-pounder's best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the 2-pounder's reload speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration. The 2-pounder is equipped with a shoulder stabilizer allowing for stable fire at slow speeds.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The hull-mounted 76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-topped vehicles. The smoke round is self-explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the 76 mm howitzer to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It is best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it is very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, its gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The StuG III G is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76 mm cannon can be used to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40 mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]], etc.) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell (Family)|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[Gun Carrier (3-in)]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=122742Challenger2022-02-11T10:07:01Z<p>U50095228: /* Usage in battles */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun in the same turret as seen on the TOG II* (not featured in-game).<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The armour on the Challenger is not to be relied on as it is both very thin and poorly angled. The turret armour is capable of bouncing or absorbing a few shots if you're lucky, however this is not to be relied upon. The hull has the same poor armour as the Cromwell, but due to the vehicle's neutral-steer capability, should an enemy go for the front plate you can angle it adequately against contemporary medium cannons, however exposing your side is a death-sentence, especially against APHE projectiles.{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Cromwell chassis (although lengthened) provides the Challenger with excellent mobility. The vehicle is able to reach its top speed of 52km/h fairly quickly. The Challenger is responsive both at low and high speeds, enough even that it will lift up onto one track given a significant enough turn to ether direction. The Challenger has (as is the tradition of WW2 British tanks) an awful reverse speed, it should not be relied upon. In mist situations it's more viable to use the neutral steer capability of the vehicle to completely turn around and drive in the other direction.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The Challenger features the [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76.2 mm QF 17-pounder]], a cannon which is very common in this part of the British ground tech-tree. The weapon is more than capable of dealing with all adversaries you encounter, even Russian heavies (IS-1, KV-85, etc..) and German tanks like the Panthers and Tiger Is. <br />
<br />
While the highest penning round available to the Challenger is the Shot SV Mk.1, this round is both inaccurate and does very little spall damage. Because of this it is recommended to use the Shot Mk.8 the majority of the time as it's pen is sufficient, and as it is able to one-shot a lot of enemies due to great spalling. Shot SV Mk.1 can still be brought for longer range engagements.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76.2 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed, manoeuvrability, turret traverse, reload, getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice unless you have enough time to turn around before the enemy can return fire.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock APDS or the top AP round as soon as possible. With these round, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces. Hitting ammo racks often equals a detonation and it performs well at long range.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral steering capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 {{PAGENAME}}. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the A30 {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=122741Challenger2022-02-11T10:05:53Z<p>U50095228: Overall improvement to the article with added info about Mobility, Firepower and minor changes to Usage in Battle.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun in the same turret as seen on the TOG II* (not featured in-game).<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The armour on the Challenger is not to be relied on as it is both very thin and poorly angled. The turret armour is capable of bouncing or absorbing a few shots if you're lucky, however this is not to be relied upon. The hull has the same poor armour as the Cromwell, but due to the vehicle's neutral-steer capability, should an enemy go for the front plate you can angle it adequately against contemporary medium cannons, however exposing your side is a death-sentence, especially against APHE projectiles.{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Cromwell chassis (although lengthened) provides the Challenger with excellent mobility. The vehicle is able to reach its top speed of 52km/h fairly quickly. The Challenger is responsive both at low and high speeds, enough even that it will lift up onto one track given a significant enough turn to ether direction. The Challenger has (as is the tradition of WW2 British tanks) an awful reverse speed, it should not be relied upon. In mist situations it's more viable to use the neutral steer capability of the vehicle to completely turn around and drive in the other direction.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The Challenger features the [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76.2 mm QF 17-pounder]], a cannon which is very common in this part of the British ground tech-tree. The weapon is more than capable of dealing with all adversaries you encounter, even Russian heavies (IS-1, KV-85, etc..) and German tanks like the Panthers and Tiger Is. <br />
<br />
While the highest penning round available to the Challenger is the Shot SV Mk.1, this round is both inaccurate and does very little spall damage. Because of this it is recommended to use the Shot Mk.8 the majority of the time as it's pen is sufficient, and as it is able to one-shot a lot of enemies due to great spalling. Shot SV Mk.1 can still be brought for longer range engagements.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76.2 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability, getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice unless you have enough time to turn around before the enemy can return fire.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock APDS or the top AP round as soon as possible. With these round, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces. Hitting ammo racks often equals a detonation and it performs well at long range.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral steering capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 {{PAGENAME}}. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the A30 {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Challenger&diff=122738Challenger2022-02-11T09:24:26Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added Pro: Neutral Steer</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a30_challenger<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' <br> 38 mm ''Top hull'' <br> 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 14 mm ''Engine deck''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' <br> 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.<br />
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.<br />
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.<br />
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly-armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.<br />
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.<br />
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.11.0.71''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
|-<br />
| '''48''' || 46&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />
|-<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! 8th<br>rack empty<br />
! 9th<br>rack empty<br />
! 10th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| 32&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 30&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+13)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x3 || x6<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.<br />
<br />
With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.<br />
<br />
In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability, getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.<br />
<br />
Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice.<br />
<br />
When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock APDS as soon as possible. With this round, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces. Hitting ammo racks often equals a detonation and it performs well at long range.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available<br />
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder<br />
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time<br />
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground<br />
* Responsive neutral-steer capability<br />
* Fast turret traverse<br />
* Wide gun depression and elevation<br />
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret<br />
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas<br />
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation<br />
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks<br />
* APDS has high muzzle velocity<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon)<br />
* No explosive filler in any AP shells<br />
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully)<br />
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles<br />
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed<br />
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good<br />
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately<br />
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.<br />
<br />
The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.<br />
<br />
The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.<br />
<br />
Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.<br />
<br />
An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.<br />
<br />
The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 {{PAGENAME}}. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the A30 {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=M4A4_(SA50)&diff=122688M4A4 (SA50)2022-02-10T07:49:53Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */ Added Con: Longer reload to temporary cannons</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = French medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| other<br />
| usage-1 = other M4 Shermans<br />
| link-1 = M4 Sherman (Family)<br />
| usage-2 = other uses<br />
| link-2 = M4 (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=fr_m4a4_cn_75_50<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. This tank is the equivalent to the British [[Sherman Firefly]], it trades its top-mounted HMG and additional armour for a better main gun: the SA50 L/57 cannon, which is the same gun as the [[AMX-13]], providing an interesting perspective to what's coming next in terms of firepower. That being said, the rest of this tank is 100% Sherman, with all its good and bad.<br />
<br />
As with any Sherman design, this tank is quite iconic of this vehicle's family: tall profile, sloped frontal armour, front-mounted transmission, plane radial engine power station, rounded turret with complex gun mantlet, it has got it all. the only difference from purely American Sherman is its long gun featuring a muzzle-break.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (turret, gun mantlet, cupola, transmission carter, MG port)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 50.8 mm (56°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 50.8 mm (8-17°) ''Viewports'' <br> 34 + 25.4 mm (spherical) ''MG port'' <br> 50.8 mm (3°) ''Radio antenna bulge'' <br> 50.8 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 38.1 mm <br> 38.1 + 25.4 mm ''Ammo racks'' || 38.1 mm (21°) ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 50.8 mm (34°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19.5 mm ''Centre'' <br> 25.4 mm ''Centre - Turret base''<br> 25.4 mm (7°) ''Engine bay - centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (23°) ''Engine bay - sides''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 76 mm (7-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 63-100 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 51 mm (0-80°) ''Protruding gun mantlet'' || 51 mm (0-68°) || 51 mm (3-68°) || 25.4 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 63.5 mm (conical) || 63.5 mm ''Outer ring'' <br> 25.4 mm ''Centre''<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, while bogies are 10 mm thick and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
With its sloped frontal armour, many low calibre shells will just bounce off the Sherman, any actual anti-tank gun you will face at this BR will easily go through this relatively thin armour at average combat ranges. Keep in mind not to linger too long is front of SPAAs as there is two very convenient flat plates in front of the driver and machine gunner. As for the turret, some angles may deflect shots but don't count on it. Side and rear armour plates are vulnerable to anything bigger than HMG rounds since they are only 38 mm thick. In sum, this armour is there to provide occasional protection from poorly aimed shots and autocannon fire, but nothing more.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=713|rbMinHp=407}}<br />
<br />
The Sherman chassis, with all its good and bad takes this tank around the battlefield. It will carry its user wherever it likes but it takes some time to do so. Don't count on it for hasty retreats as both reverse speed and hull turning are slow when this tank is stopped. As long as it is not required to do back-flips and drifting, this chassis does the job.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|SA50 L/57 (75 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[SA50 L/57 (75 mm)|75 mm SA50 L/57]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 62 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.9 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.62 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The Sherman's turret was not made for such a huge gun. this is why this tank has an elongated mantlet: to provide space for the long SA50 L/57 cannon. Originally, this tank was provided with a vertical stabiliser but it was disabled with this new gun mount as the strain was too great for this piece. Thus, unlike most Sherman, the French M4A4 SA50 does not have a stabilized gun, but what a gun it is ! This main armament performs a bit better than its British counter part, the [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|QF 17-pounder]] as it has superior penetration rates at all ranges. With such a gun, sniping is an easy task as only [[Panther D|early Panthers]] will be able to defeat it (they still have weak spots, thought).<br />
<br />
With such firepower, there is also concerns: as said above, this gun is not stabilized, which makes target acquisition quite slow. This specific Sherman's main weakness being its lack of top-mounted MG, leaving it mostly vulnerable to strafing planes.<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| POT-51A || APC || 182 || 178 || 162 || 143 || 127 || 113<br />
|-<br />
| 75 mm HE || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
| PCOT-51P || APCBC || 202 || 198 || 180 || 159 || 141 || 125<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| POT-51A || APC || 1,000 || 6.4 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| 75 mm HE || HE || 753 || 6.2 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 675 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| PCOT-51P || APCBC || 1,000 || 6.4 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.1.0.113''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
| '''62''' || 57&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 51&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 42&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 33&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+45)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+61)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Notes:<br />
<br />
* As they are modeled by sets of 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.<br />
* Flank racks empty: 33&nbsp;(+29) shells.<br />
* The top rows of all 4 floor racks deplete successively, followed by all bottom rows.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
Experienced Sherman commanders will like this tank as it drastically increases this old boy's lethality. This tank is a very good representative of the medium tanks line, with average mobility, sufficient armour and enjoyable firepower. Get into position, manage to avoid shots doing so and ensure any role an average tank could do: sniper, brawler, flanker, etc.<br />
<br />
With good overall characteristics, this vehicle can play many roles on the battlefield, here is some of them:<br />
<br />
'''Brawler:'''<br />
<br />
This tank has bad armour for the BR and you assume it. Using its good turret turning speed and close-quarter penetration rates, it should blast through almost anything it looks at. This tactic is very efficient in urban combat, where long range precision shots are not required, only reaction time and situation awareness can save you. Make sure to surprise your enemies while avoiding being targeted yourself can grant you with a few points. The most important thing about this tactic is to know when to pull off, as enemies will be aware of a rampaging Sherman in the area and will take advantage of it as soon as they got the opportunity. This is a high risk/high stakes game-play.<br />
<br />
'''Sniper:'''<br />
<br />
To be used in open maps, preferably against lower BR vehicles. Keeping a good distance from your enemie's gun, use your own cannon to penetrate them from any range. Even if your armour is not the best, it should block most incoming round, which have lost most of their energy from traveling for so long. Make sure to reposition every 2-3 shots as you may get spotted by a big gun. This tactic is even more effective when hulled-down: this tank has -10° of depression, make good use of them.<br />
<br />
Use your imagination: any tactic that do not rely too much on armour is a good one when using this tank. Want to follow the team? No problem. Want to find a good ambush spot? Go for it.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent 75mm gun, arguably better than the legendary 17-pounder due to the penetration and accuracy of the gun. <br />
* Outstanding penetration on the default APCBC at all ranges.<br />
* Unlike the Sherman Firefly, the SA50 gets 10 degrees of gun depression. Makes cresting ridgelines a good tactic. <br />
* Set of optics wth 7.5x magnification. <br />
* The gun mantlet is both large and V-shaped. Can reliably stop or bounce incoming fire. <br />
* Due to all the pros listed above, the SA50 is one of the best pound-for-pound snipers and ridgeline shooters in the game. <br />
* Plays very similarly to the M4 76 variants, but faces vehicles which are at a lower BR.<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Bad overall armor layout: doesn't have any add-on tracks lining the sides like the Firefly.<br />
* Doesn't have access to any shells with explosive filler. <br />
* Sub-par rate of fire for the battle rating. <br />
* No roof mounted .50 cal HMG like on other Shermans at the same BR.<br />
* Longer reload compared to contemporary cannons<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Israeli M4 Shermans===<br />
During the Cold War, the Israelis received stocks of [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks to equip their armoured force. They were obtained from the British, French, and scrap yards across Europe.<ref name="ZalogaIsraeli">Zaloga 2008, "Chapter 11: Cold War Sherman"</ref> Their designations on the Shermans were based on their armaments, leading to names such as the ''Sherman M-1'' with the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1 gun]], the ''Sherman M-3'' with the [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3 gun]], and the ''Sherman M-4'' with the [[M4 (105 mm)|105 mm M4 howitzer]], regardless of Sherman hull and engine model types. Sherman tanks equipped with the horizontal volute suspension system (HVSS) were given the added name "Super" in the designation.<ref name="ShermanTankIsraeli">Jeeps_Guns_Tanks 2015, ''#34''</ref><br />
<br />
The M4 Shermans were seen as adequate in the early 1950s conflicts, but the Soviet arms trade with the neighboring Arab countries in the 1950s caused the Israelis to focus on uparming their existing Sherman inventory. Their program was a 1954 joint venture with France to arm the Sherman with the 75 mm SA50 gun from the [[AMX-13]] light tank. The modifications to hold the 75 mm SA50 gun required the extension of the Sherman turret front and rear to make room for the gun and add a counterweight for the heavier front weight. With the success of this modification, the Israelis chose the 75 mm SA50 gun to be the new armament for the M4 Sherman inventory. The first fifty tanks with the 75 mm SA50 guns were added into a M4A4 Sherman hull converted to use a R975 radial engine by the French, these tanks designated as the '''M-50 Sherman''' by Israel. These used a vertical-volute suspension system (VVSS), but the added weight of the gun inhibited the M-50's flotation and mobility, so this was shifted to use the HVSS and the Cummins diesel engine. These two variants are distinguished by engine type as the ''M-50 Continental'' and the ''M-50 Cummins.'' Other hulls outside the M4A4 were also used in the conversions.<ref name="ShermanTankIsraeli" /><br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The M-50 Sherman was used by Israeli during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six-Day War. The 1956 Suez Crisis against Egypt was a curious case as the Egyptians also send their M4 Sherman inventory through a similar uparm program by adding the [[M4A1 (FL10)|AMX-13 turret onto their M4 Shermans]], giving them their own usage of the 75 mm SA50 gun on the M4 Sherman tanks.<ref name="ZalogaIsraeli" /><br />
<br />
Its use in the 1967 war was interleaved with the more powerful M-51 Sherman, a similar upgun program with the French 105 mm Modèle F1 from the [[AMX-30 (1972)|AMX-30]] tank.<ref name="ShermanTankIsraeli" /> Though the early M-50 Continentals were retired by 1972, the<br />
the M-50 Cummins and M-51 served together up until the early 1980s, having to fight more modern Soviet tanks such as the [[T-55A|T-54/55]] tanks in the 1973 Yom-Kippur War. The Israeli gave away several of the M-50 Shermans to Lebanon to aid supporting militia groups in the Lebanese Civil War, in this conflict two were captured by Palestine, which they used against during the 1982 Lebanon War.<ref name="ChadM-50">Chad 2011</ref> About 50 M-50 were given to Chile in late 1980s, rearmed with an IMI-OTO 60 mm Hyper Velocity Medium Support gun, which they used until 1999 when they replaced them with the [[Leopard I|Leopard 1]] tanks. The Israelis cleared their stocks of M-50 and M-51 by this time, sold to collections, used as range targets, or repurposed to other usage such as engineer vehicles.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=france&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=fr_m4a4_cn_75_50 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|OoKX7cxoQbM|'''{{PAGENAME}}, French, Tier-3, Medium Tank / Israeli M50 Mk.I''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|8uZ8yzvdPFY|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis<br />
<br />
* [[M4 Sherman (Family)]]<br />
<br />
;Vehicles equipped with the same gun<br />
<br />
* [[AMX-13]]<br />
* [[AMX-13 (SS.11)]]<br />
* [[AMX-13 (HOT)]]<br />
* [[M4A1 (FL10)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/5186-development-m4a4-sa50-the-desert-warrior-en|[Devblog] M4A4 (SA50) - The Desert Warrior]]<br />
* [[wikipedia:Super_Sherman|[Wikipedia] Super Sherman]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/israel/m50-51_super-sherman.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> M-50]<br />
<br />
===References===<br />
'''Citations'''<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
'''Bibliography'''<br />
<br />
* Chad. "Palestinian Armor." Military In the Middle East. WordPress, 12 Jan. 2011. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. [https://milinme.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/palestinian-armor/ Website].<br />
* Jeeps_Guns_Tanks. "#34 Israeli Shermans: The Most Powerful Shermans Ever To See Action." The Sherman Tank Site. WordPress, 20 Dec. 2015. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. [http://www.theshermantank.com/m50/israeli-shermans-the-most-powerful-shermans-ever-to-see-action/ Website].<br />
* Zaloga Steven. Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II Stackpole Books, 2008<br />
<br />
{{France medium tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=User:U50095228&diff=120952User:U500952282022-01-17T12:47:30Z<p>U50095228: I created a description for my own user profile.</p>
<hr />
<div>User ZETH_27 edits articles to add additional information about vehicles, it's properties; advantages and disadvantages.<br />
<br />
The user focuses mainly on low-tier (1.0-5.0BR) ground vehicles of nations: Great Britain, France and Sweden.</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120951Churchill I2022-01-17T12:43:34Z<p>U50095228: /* Secondary armament*/ Added subheading for clarification.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Churchill I as an heavy tank is slow, and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmisssion. As with most British tanks, the Churchill I has practically no reverse gear (3 km/h in reverse), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral-steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short-brakes (keybindings can be assigned in controls in-game) can be used to pivot the tank much faster.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] has poor penetration even with it's best round at it's BR (89mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and it's inaccuracy. From the side the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s reload-speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]] is equipped with a shoulder stabilizer allowing for stable fire at slow speeds.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
=== Secondary armament ===<br />
The Hull-mounted [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and Smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-top vehicle. The smoke round is self explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm Howitzer]] to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120950Churchill I2022-01-17T12:41:15Z<p>U50095228: /* Main armament */ Functionality of stabilizer.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Churchill I as an heavy tank is slow, and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmisssion. As with most British tanks, the Churchill I has practically no reverse gear (3 km/h in reverse), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral-steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short-brakes (keybindings can be assigned in controls in-game) can be used to pivot the tank much faster.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] has poor penetration even with it's best round at it's BR (89mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and it's inaccuracy. From the side the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s reload-speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]] is equipped with a shoulder stabilizer allowing for stable fire at slow speeds.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
The Hull-mounted [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and Smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-top vehicle. The smoke round is self explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm Howitzer]] to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120949Churchill I2022-01-17T12:39:03Z<p>U50095228: /* Main armament */ Grammar corrections.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Churchill I as an heavy tank is slow, and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmisssion. As with most British tanks, the Churchill I has practically no reverse gear (3 km/h in reverse), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral-steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short-brakes (keybindings can be assigned in controls in-game) can be used to pivot the tank much faster.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] has poor penetration even with it's best round at it's BR (89mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and it's inaccuracy. From the side the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able to fire 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire only one. It is advised to use the [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s reload-speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
The Hull-mounted [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and Smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-top vehicle. The smoke round is self explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm Howitzer]] to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120948Churchill I2022-01-17T12:37:39Z<p>U50095228: /* Armaments */ Added armaments description as well as possible applications of different munitions and their specific attributes.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Churchill I as an heavy tank is slow, and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmisssion. As with most British tanks, the Churchill I has practically no reverse gear (3 km/h in reverse), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral-steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short-brakes (keybindings can be assigned in controls in-game) can be used to pivot the tank much faster.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] has poor penetration even with it's best round at it's BR (89mm point blank). You will still be able to penetrate most light or medium vehicles frontally at close range, but at ranges greater than 500m the cannon becomes mostly ineffective due to both its lack of penetration and it's inaccuracy. From the side the round will usually go through, even at medium ranges. The [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s best attribute is its reload speed. Because of this you will in most cases be able fore 2 rounds in the same times as the enemy can fire one. It is advised to use the [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder]]'s reload-speed to methodically take out key components within the enemy vehicle. This will also be necessary as the only round with explosive filler that he gun has, has terrible penetration.<br />
<br />
The gun has excellent elevation and depression angles as well as a turret with decent traverse speeds, however in a lot of situations the hull may be in the way of the gun, keep this in mind when engaging on uneven or hilly terrain.<br />
<br />
The Hull-mounted [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] has only 2 types of rounds available to it: HE and Smoke. This is due to the fact that it was intended to be used against infantry. In the game, the HE round can be used to overpressure the roof or floor of light or open-top vehicle. The smoke round is self explanatory, and can be used to fire smoke at a great distance compared to smoke dischargers. The smoke rounds can be used to "smoke out" enemy positions by firing on them with the [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm Howitzer]] to force them to move from a good position, or to cover advancing allies from enemy fire.{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120947Churchill I2022-01-17T12:00:48Z<p>U50095228: /* Mobility */ Added mobility to Churchill I, including little known short-brake technique.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
The Churchill I as an heavy tank is slow, and will not be the first to reach the frontline. It was a top speed of 28km/h (30 km/h in AB) and will reach that top speed fairly quickly due to a good engine and transmisssion. As with most British tanks, the Churchill I has practically no reverse gear (3 km/h in reverse), so it should not be relied on for peaking a hill or corner. The Churchill I can neutral-steer allowing for good positioning, however the neutral steering is very slow. Short-brakes (keybindings can be assigned in controls in-game) can be used to pivot the tank much faster.{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120944Churchill I2022-01-17T10:39:58Z<p>U50095228: /* Survivability and armour */ Smoke can assist in survivablility.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
The abundance of smoke munitions on the vehicle (roof-mounted smoke grenades as well as howitzer-fired smoke rounds) allows for increased survivability in most situations.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120943Churchill I2022-01-17T10:38:43Z<p>U50095228: /* Survivability and armour */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120942Churchill I2022-01-17T10:38:06Z<p>U50095228: /* General info */ Removed a space.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm/89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120941Churchill I2022-01-17T10:37:40Z<p>U50095228: /* Survivability and armour */ Added survivability and armour.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}The main attribute of the Churchill I is obviously it's armour. the 89mm /89x2mm (178mm) of the front hull together with the 63.5mm of side armour means that this tank performs very well when angled. However over-angling can reveal the thinly armoured engine in the back. The very big tracks also aid in protection as they can soak up a lot of shells. Do not let the enemy get to your rear as all tanks at the Churchill I's BR can go through.<br />
<br />
The Turret of the Churchill I is very well armoured overall, it has 89mm all around except 114mm on the front. On the front there is also a 50mm thick mantlet plate below the main plate that when combined offer superb frontal protection. The turret-face has a couple small weak-spots in the front where the turret MG and Sight are placed. here the armour is only 50mm thick and can be penetrated by any opposing tank. Always keep the turret in motion when at close range.<br />
<br />
The roof armour of the turret and hull are both very thin and can be easily strafed by aircraft with 20mm or above armaments.<br />
<br />
The 5 crewmembers of the Churchill allow for decent survivability, however due to the packed crew in the turret, APHE will kill it entirely if a shell goes through. If this happens you'll have to wait for the hull-gunner (presuming they're still alive) to take up the gunner's position.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120940Churchill I2022-01-17T10:24:24Z<p>U50095228: Added use of Smoke for hull-mounted howitzer.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is able to fire HE, however due to it's inefficiency, it is recommended to be used with smoke rounds to cover your teams advance or to smoke out enemy positions.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Churchill_I&diff=120939Churchill I2022-01-17T10:22:16Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = British heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Churchill (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or just '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] along with the [[Vickers MBT]] and [[Chieftain Mk 5]] as an expansion to the British tech tree. Like the original model of the Churchill infantry tank, it has the substantial frontal armour able to withstand enemy shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I is one of the more capable heavy tanks at rank II. The tank has excellent frontal armour that can absorb and bounce shots. Tanks such as the [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III]], [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]], [[M4|M4 Sherman]], and even the dreaded [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]] can be blocked if angled. Very few tanks can deal with the Churchill Mk I effectively from the front, such as the [[M10 GMC|M10]] or [[Achilles]]. Its 2-pounder gun, however, is sub-par in dealing damage for its battle rating. It is of small calibre and low penetration and damage. Use its very fast reload to make follow-up shots to finish off enemies. Its secondary howitzer is also nearly useless as it only has HE shells.<br />
<br />
The Churchill Mk I, despite being a heavy tank, is quite fast and can turn just as swiftly via neutral steering. However, a driver must be skilled to utilise this to the tank's advantage, as turning while in forward motion is slower than the neutral steer, which the enemy can take advantage of when flanking. The Churchill's engine is also easily damaged due to its large appearance.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver viewport, Machine gun area, Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 89 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 89 + 89 mm ''Front plate (MG Port)'' <br> 38 mm (63°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (19°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 mm ''Overall side armour'' <br> 76.2 mm ''Side hatch'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Side edge'' || 50.8 mm <br> 25.4 mm (68°) ''Bottom'' || 15.87 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 89 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 89 mm (0-30°) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 18 mm (76°) ''Roof area'' || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 18 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 19 mm thick.<br />
* A 8 mm Structural steel plate separates the engine and crew compartment.<br />
* 50mm internal mantlet that can be either a weakspot or an extra layer of armour<br />
* The 8mm engine vents on the side of the tank lead directly to the engine and fuel tanks<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=452|rbMinHp=310}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 150 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.42 || 26.88 || 32.64 || 36.10 || 38.40 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 89 || 86 || 77 || 66 || 57 || 50<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 75 || 58 || 41 || 30 || 21<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! 6th<br>rack empty<br />
! 7th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''150''' || 110&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 80&nbsp;''(+70)'' || 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+114)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+124)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+134)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+149)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Centre & turret empty: 58&nbsp;''(+92)'' shells.<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[T-34 (1940)]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Additional armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I (76 mm)|76 mm OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 58 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+9° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.0 || 17.0 || 20.0 || 23.0 || 24.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.7 || rowspan="2" | 6.3<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.9 || 10.0 || 13.0 || 14.0 || 15.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Mark II || HE || 210 || 6.02 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 606 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| 3-inch Smoke || 210 || 3.18 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Churchill_Mk_I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''58''' || 45&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+57)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes''':<br />
<br />
* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.<br />
* Minimal load: 16&nbsp;''(+42)'' shells.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[BESA (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm BESA]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 4,950 (225) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''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 instead 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).'' --><br />
This tank can use a play style similar to the Matilda or a weaker Churchill III. It's best played up close, to make use of the armour and also gun. Since the tank is rather boxy, it's very good at angling. Unlike the Churchill III, it's gun isn't capable of taking on most other tanks of its rank. Its main role in the battlefield is to soak up and take shots, with its thick armour, that can withstand most tanks of its rank. In RB mode you will most likely have the Americans on your team, with the M10s and Shermans providing support for you. Main enemies for this tank would be the M10, the Achilles, and most Panzer IVs and StuGs.<br />
<br />
The Churchill has heavy armour, especially when it is angled, but this certainly does not mean that it is invincible. In fact, there are a lot of guns around BR 3.0 that can destroy the Churchill, even at long range.<br />
<br />
'''Germans'''<br />
<br />
* Almost every RB/SB battle the British will be facing them. By far the most lethal tanks are the Panzer IVs with the long barrel 75 mm. They can penetrate the Churchill Mk I frontally at long range. Later versions of the Panzer IV also have armour which the Churchill's 40 mm will really struggle to penetrate at long range, putting the Churchill at a big disadvantage. The same applies to any vehicle armed with the long barrel 75 mm gun, including the [[StuG III F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] and [[Marder III H]].<br />
* The [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.]] "Flak Truck" is a massive threat. The 88 mm gun will easily penetrate the Churchill, and the explosive mass will knock out all your crew. Your 40 mm is almost useless against the Flak Truck as it will have to take each crew member out individually. Luckily, the Churchill Mk I has access to the 75 mm howitzer, which provides well needed explosive firepower. Aim for the ammo box at the back to quickly dispatch the Flak Truck.<br />
* Watch out for tanks armed with HEAT (such as Panzer III/IVs with the short-barreled 75 mm), as it has up to 100 mm penetration. The [[StuG III G]] is also dangerous, with a powerful HE round and a high penetration HEAT round. Luckily, these tanks will have to close in to shorter ranges to effectively attack the Churchill Mk I, as their guns have poor ballistics. This means that Churchill's 40 mm gun will be more effective. Also, watch out for the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] or [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]]. These are vehicles based on the Puma armoured car. The /2 has a 50 mm and the /4 has a 75 mm gun. Both are excellent flanking vehicles, extremely fast and potent. They will easily outflank the slow Churchill, and destroy you from your less-armoured sides.<br />
<br />
'''Soviets'''<br />
<br />
* At long range, the [[ZiS-30]] proves to be a real threat. it has a high penetration gun and is great at ambushing. Luckily, it has light armour and can be destroyed easily even with machine guns.<br />
* Soviet armour is a bigger threat. Tanks like the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] are highly resistant to the 2-pdr gun due to their steep sloping armour. The L-11 gun on the [[T-34 (1940)]] will struggle to penetrate the Churchill, but the F-34 gun found on post-1940 versions is much more effective. Below 500 m, the F-34 guns can destroy the Churchill with its potent BR-350B APHEBC rounds or APCR rounds (though they do less damage). An even bigger threat is the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]] type tanks. A Churchill vs a [[KV-1 (L-11)]] can end in a stalemate situation, as both tanks will struggle to penetrate the other frontally. However, later KV-1 models have the ZiS 5 gun, which is pretty much identical to the F-34 gun found on the T-34. There is also the German premium KV-1B which has upgraded armour but a weaker gun, which is a dangerous opponent and quite common despite being a premium vehicle.<br />
* When fighting the T-34's aim for their turret weakspots. On the T-34 (1940) and [[T-34 (1941)|(1941)]], aim for the flat spot on their sloped turret cheeks, or shoot below at the shot trap. This will either disable their turret crew or destroy them. When fighting the KV-1 frontally, you cannot do much damage against it unless you manage to get a lucky shot through their turret cheeks. Otherwise, let your teamates distract it, or use smokes, and flank so that you can shoot its thinner 75 mm sides.<br />
<br />
'''Japanese''' Be careful of the [[Ho-Ro]] with its massive howitzer, or the [[Chi-Nu]] with its powerful 75 mm gun. However, they don't have much armour and you will be able to destroy both relatively easily.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Excellent armour<br />
* Almost immune to small calibre guns<br />
* Well armoured sides and a strong mantlet<br />
* Extremely fast-firing 40 mm gun, you will pretty much always get another shot off before your enemy does<br />
* The Churchill can fire APHE shells which have potent post-penetration damage<br />
* Its size eliminates any recoil from the gun, making it easy to fire a second shot without losing any accuracy<br />
* Ability to pivot steer<br />
* 76mm canno able to smoke out enemy positions at any range<br />
* Large suspension sides have side hits more likely to break tracks than penetrate the hull<br />
* Incredibly hard to dislodge or destroy when properly angled<br />
* Works well as the spearhead of an assault when capturing a point, absorbing damage<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* 40mm gun is ineffective against anything with sloped armour<br />
* Shell Mk.1 AP/T with explosive mass has a low penetration of 66 mm<br />
* 76mm gun only has HE, making it virtually useless against all but lightly armoured SPAAs<br />
* Will lose a lot of speed when making a sharp turn in motion<br />
* Has difficulties engaging other heavy tanks<br />
* Up-gunned Panzer IVs ([[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G]]) will penetrate your armour with ease<br />
* Poor mobility when compared to other heavy tanks from other nations<br />
* Terrible reverse speed<br />
* Slow, will take a lot of time just to reach the combat zone from spawn points<br />
* Frontal 50 mm weak spot (machine gun port)<br />
* Roof armour is somewhat thin<br />
* Priority target by planes due to size and bad reverse speed<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The General Staff specification ''A20'' was implemented before World War II and was meant to replace the [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] and [[Valentine Mk XI|Valentine]] infantry tanks. The specification was based around the British infantry tank doctrine and with the expectation that the coming war would be based off the World War I trench warfare, thus the tank was needed to travel across unfavorable terrain and able to destroy enemy defenses and infantry obstacles. As speed and heavy firepower was not taken with priority, the vehicle was to have two 2-pounder gun on side sponson mounts with a coaxial machine gun, with another machine gun and smoke dischargers on the front hull, armour was about 60 mm on the turret. Four prototypes were made by June 1940 by Harland and Wolff. The front hull would see an upgrade in armament with a 3-inch howitzer during the prototype stages, the 43 ton tank had a 300 hp Meadows engine from the Covenanter tank and was made the tank underpowered. The A20 project was cancelled with the Battle of France, which saw the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk that left a majority of their heavy equipment behind.<br />
<br />
The Battle of France proved that the coming World War II was not going to be a stagnant battlefield like the trench warfare from World War I. The entire concept had to be redesigned and was done so by Henry Merrit, the director of Tank Design at Woolwich Arsenal. His new concept, the '''A22''' or '''Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill''', was given to Vauxhall Motors in June 1940. War Office requested that the A22 be ready to enter production within the year due to growing pressure of a German invasion of Britain. The designs were ready in July 1940 and the first prototypes were made by December of the same year, production soon followed in June 1941. The rushed development was acknowledged in the company to being the cause of many faults and defects in the tank, but the demand by the government was so great that it must be carried out, with the expectation that the issues will be fixed during production. The Churchill tank suffered from an under-powered engine, weak armament, and mechanical issues. The weak armament from a 2-pounder was fixed with the arming of a 6-pounder on the Churchill, but the other issues caused poor performance of the Churchill in the battlefield. In fact, the Churchill production was almost cancelled in favor of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] due to its issues, but its usage in the Second Battle of El Alamein proved its value and kept it in service.<br />
<br />
The Churchill would carry on the rest of the war as one of the most versatile tank design in British service, serving in many specialist roles other than its tank role. Altogether, a total of 7,568 Churchill units produced from 1941 to 1945, with 5,968 as tanks.<br />
<br />
===Variants===<br />
The Churchill, used in a multitude of roles, is made into many different variants. 12 different kinds of tank variants were produced for combat roles, with 11 more variants in specialized roles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, a bridge-layer, mine clearer, a [[3 inch Gun Carrier]], flamethrower tank, and an armoured recovery vehicle.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The Churchill tank was first used in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. While it was really a test on how an opposed landing would work, the 60 Churchill tanks to support the Canadian units suffered from mechanical issues, and those that did work are not able to penetrate past the sea wall due to impassable defenses. None of the Churchill tanks that landed returned from the beaches and with a 70% casualty rate, the raid's attempt to establish a beachhead was a failure.<br />
<br />
The next use of the Churchill was in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein. At this point, the Churchills have been upgraded to the '''Mk.III''' variants with 6-pounders as their main armament. The detachment, code named "King Force", help supported the 7th Motor Brigade in their attack. The Churchills were fired upon by many German anti-tank weapons, but none were taken out with only one receiving note worthy damage. "King Force", as a test bed for the feasibility of Churchills operating in the desert environment, was disbanded with the establishment of the 25th Army Tank Brigade with the Churchills to see action in February 1943 in Tunisia. In the German offensive Operation Ochsenkpf, two Churchill Mk.III from the 51st Royal Tank Regiment came across an entire German transport column that they ambushed. The end result was a loss of twelve artillery pieces, 25 wheeled vehicles, two [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]]s and 200 casualties on the German side with no losses for the British. The Churchill also played a key role in the Battle of Longstop Hill, where Churchill tanks in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment faced off with Germany's newest heavy tank [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. Though suffering losses, a lucky 6-pounder shot from the Churchill ended up jamming the Tiger's turret and turret ring that injured the crew, forcing them to abandon the tank. The Tiger tank was captured by the British for intelligence purpose on Germany's armoured forces. The Tiger Tank is named Tiger 131.<br />
<br />
After the North African campaign, the Churchill began to see widespread usage in the British army as a support unit for the infantry. The Churchill saw much more operation hours than any other British tank in service. It was at this point that the Churchill Mk.III began a conversion into the 75 mm guns that were used on the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. These conversions, known as NA75, proved to be more efficient than the Shermans and were used more effectively. Some Churchills were also converted into close support vehicles with 95 mm howitzers as their main armaments. In response to the growing German anti-tank firepower in the later years of World War II, the Churchill tanks were also upgraded in armour by a large degree, though their engines were also upgraded to compensate for the additional weight. The [[Churchill Mk VII|Churchill Mk.VII]], for example, has armour ranging up to 152 mm thick in the front, in comparison to the Mk.III 89 mm thick front hull. The Churchills also saw service in Europe during Operation Overlord. At the time, it was considered that the Churchill would become severely outdated with the growing tank technology, so an experimental program under specification A43, otherwise known as the [[Black Prince|Black Prince]], to uparmour and upgun the Churchill. While this experimented seem fruitful, the development of more agile tanks with the same level of protection and armament such as the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] rendered the project obsolete.<br />
<br />
The Churchills were also given out to the Allies to help combat the Axis forces. The Australian Army received a handful of Churchills for testing alongside the M4 Sherman with the Matilda II as the basis, to which proved that the Churchill was superior in jungle warfare. Of the 510 Churchills ordered by the Australians in the war, only 46 arrived in time and were not used in the Pacific War, the rest were cancelled with the end of World War II. The USSR also used the Churchills given by the British as part of the Lend-Lease act. 301 Churchills were sent, but 43 were lost to the sea by German naval forces. Of those that arrived, the Soviets gave the Churchills to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of Prokhorovka during the Kursk Offensive.<br />
<br />
After World War II, the Churchill stuck around in the British Army until the Korean War, where the British sent the Churchill Crocodile Squadron (C squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment) to Korea to fight with the Allied coalition. They fought as gun tanks in battle such as the Third Battle of Seoul. The Churchills were instrumental in some victories and were widely praised by both British and American forces and historians. After the Korean war, the Churchills remains in combat service until 1952, with the specialized bridge-layer variant staying until the 1970s. The Irish Army also received three Churchill tanks in 1948 and another in 1949 as rentals until 1954, where they were purchased after trials with the vehicles. Despite running out of spare parts for the Churchill, the Irish Army took them in and experimented with using different engines to keep them functional, though this ended with a failure and by 1967, only one was still functional. All were retired in 1969 and one was preserved at the Curragh Camp.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_22_mk_1_churchill_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight Brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:32 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|zGxTG16T4Bs|'''Churchill Mk I- Out of place''' - ''Oxy''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Matilda (Family)]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/news/4793-vehicle-profile-a22-churchill-mk-i-first-of-its-breed-en|[Vehicle Profile] A22 Churchill Mk I - "First of Its Breed"]]<br />
<br />
{{Britain heavy tanks}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=MK-IX_%22Valentine%22_(USSR)&diff=120778MK-IX "Valentine" (USSR)2022-01-14T14:53:46Z<p>U50095228: Removed driver's port con as it is not valid.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=ussr_valentine_mk_9<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]] as a special Valentine's Day vehicle. This is a Lend-Lease Valentine, shipped to the USSR by the British. The tank was made available to purchase in-game with Golden Eagles ({{GE}}) for specific mini-events like the [[wt:en/news/6583-special-valentine-s-day-en|2020 Valentine's Day]] and the [[wt:en/news/7042-special-lunar-new-year-and-valentine-s-day-en|2021 Valentine's Day]] events.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!--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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--><br />
<br />
The armour on the MK-IX "Valentine" is quite mediocre head on, but slightly above par when angled. The maximum base armour thickness of the hull is 60 mm and is laid out flat on the designs, while the sloping portions are of thinner 30 mm armour plates. This gives an average thickness of ~60 mm of armour when facing the MK-IX "Valentine" flat from the front. However if angled, the armour has an effective thickness of 80mm, as such this is heavillty advised. The turret is more well protected than the hull, with its front armoured with 65 mm armour plates and sloped with its circular shape, but the cast construction of the gun mantlet can lead to some enemies attacking the gun breech to disable the Valentine's firepower, if they do not aim for the hull directly.<br />
<br />
The mediocre armour construction means that there will be multiple types of enemies the MK-IX "Valentine" can encounter that can easily penetrate through the armour, especially if the opponent is firing at a close range and have a good knowledge on the MK-IX "Valentine"'s weak spots. These armour vulnerabilities adds up with the Valentine's fault of not being a particularly fast vehicle. This means any exposure from cover can be a long one that enemies can take the time to line up their next shot towards an armours weak point.<br />
<br />
The Valentines biggest advantage when it comes to survival is its small size. Because of this, the majority of enemies will have difficulties hitting your weakspots and penning you at medium and long ranges. At close range this advantage is largelly nullified and the enemy can easilly shoot the exposed 30mm thick driver's hatches. even if you are angled.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogenous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogenous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (65-67°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 60 mm (24°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm || 17 mm (51-54°) ''Top'' <br> 60 mm (1°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm (40-89°)<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-73°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (1-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (0-1°) || 65 mm (2-58°) || 20 mm (76-89°)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
The [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] is a potent gun at it's BR. Although it lacks explosive filler, due to the high pen of most rounds and the quick reload (especially compared to other Russian tanks) you will be able to pen most enemies frontally. It is advised to bring more ammo than expected as you will take a few shots to completely destroy an enemy. Since the ammo is largely stored in the same place, the exact number of shells you bring doesnt matter.<br />
<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 53 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 101 || 97 || 82 || 66 || 53 || 43<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 108 || 104 || 87 || 70 || 57 || 46<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 110 || 106 || 89 || 72 || 59 || 48<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 122 || 118 || 101 || 84 || 70 || 58<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 815 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 853 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 853 || 2.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 801 || 3.23 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 655 || 2.72 || 0 || 0.1 || 590 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Valentine_Mk_IX.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''53''' || 43&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+52)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!--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 instead 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).--><br />
The MK-IX Valentine fits in a niche battle rating in the Soviet line-up with its own unique traits. Its armour is a considerable improvement from preceding medium tanks like the [[T-28]]. The firepower with the 57 mm gun gives penetration values similar to the tank destroyers like the [[ZiS-30]], along with a faster reloading rate, superior gun depression and an enclosed turret with good armour. However, its mobility is a downgrade compared to anything available to the Soviets, even the ~30 ton heavier [[KV-1]] can move faster than the Valentine on the battlefield. As such, finding a place for the Valentine in the Soviet line-up can be tricky.<br />
<br />
The Valentine's excelling role is in a methodical march towards its objective, as its mobility precludes any attempt to make a speedy flanking manouvre. Teammates are more than likely to reach and capture the point before the Valentine will, but this does not mean the Valentine should not participate in the effort.<br />
<br />
One must use the Valentine wisely to not expose it too long in the open when traveling to the objective; make the most of any cover available, which will be easy due to it's small size. It is in these periods that the Valentine is most vulnerable to a concealed enemy a distance away taking a shot at the Valentine's armour straight at the front or from the sides. Angling the armour during movement through contested areas is a must as the flat surfaces present easy weak points for any frontal enemy to attack at, and the guns at this rank are more than likely to penetrate even at slightly angled armour plates. **Always angle**. Whether uptiered or downtiered, the main concerning enemy unit are tank destroyers, as their guns have a high chance of penetrating the Valentine's armour no matter how the vehicle is angled.<br />
<br />
Once a position is taken however, the Valentine can plant itself securely at the location at suitable firing positions and make use of the fast-firing and potent 57 mm gun to take out any enemy assault units. The green paint on the Valentine can assist in concealment on foliage-rich environment for a good ambush position. Whether from behind cover or a hull-down position, the Valentine can end up victorious in an engagement if it hits with the first shot. However, due to the poor mobility, the Valentine's movement is restricted. This means it is important to make sure the enemy's ability to fire back and/or move is knocked out in the first shot so it is not required to retreat back into cover during the brief reloading period, then out again to fire, especially since that whole manouvre can take more time than simply reloading in place while exposing the tank to return fire. The poor mobility also means the Valentine needs to be aware of any flanking vehicles coming up, as the Valentine would not be able to react fast enough to the new threat.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* The 57 mm gun has good stock shells to do significant damages upon penetrating<br />
* Heavily sloped upper glacis can bounce a few shots<br />
* +80mm of armour on hull when angled at ~35 degrees.<br />
* Low profile allows it to hide behind more obstacles in the battlefield<br />
* Turret is angled aand complex, allowing it to bounce some shots<br />
* Fast reload speed<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* No machine gun<br />
* Side armour is very weak<br />
* Slow top speed (22 km/h)<br />
* No explosive filler in shells<br />
* Only three tightly sitting crew members (crew can be knocked out very easily)<br />
* Thin top armour makes it vulnerable to air attacks<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
{{main|Valentine_IX#History|l1=History of the Valentine IX}}<br />
<br />
;Valentine in the USSR<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_valentine_mk_9 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|yIUl_8XgPCU|'''Should You Buy: {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''ConeOfArc''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Other British lend-lease vehicles<br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2A_F96}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{USSR medium tanks}}<br />
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=MK-IX_%22Valentine%22_(USSR)&diff=120777MK-IX "Valentine" (USSR)2022-01-14T14:47:11Z<p>U50095228: /* Pros and cons */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=ussr_valentine_mk_9<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]] as a special Valentine's Day vehicle. This is a Lend-Lease Valentine, shipped to the USSR by the British. The tank was made available to purchase in-game with Golden Eagles ({{GE}}) for specific mini-events like the [[wt:en/news/6583-special-valentine-s-day-en|2020 Valentine's Day]] and the [[wt:en/news/7042-special-lunar-new-year-and-valentine-s-day-en|2021 Valentine's Day]] events.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!--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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--><br />
<br />
The armour on the MK-IX "Valentine" is quite mediocre head on, but slightly above par when angled. The maximum base armour thickness of the hull is 60 mm and is laid out flat on the designs, while the sloping portions are of thinner 30 mm armour plates. This gives an average thickness of ~60 mm of armour when facing the MK-IX "Valentine" flat from the front. However if angled, the armour has an effective thickness of 80mm, as such this is heavillty advised. The turret is more well protected than the hull, with its front armoured with 65 mm armour plates and sloped with its circular shape, but the cast construction of the gun mantlet can lead to some enemies attacking the gun breech to disable the Valentine's firepower, if they do not aim for the hull directly.<br />
<br />
The mediocre armour construction means that there will be multiple types of enemies the MK-IX "Valentine" can encounter that can easily penetrate through the armour, especially if the opponent is firing at a close range and have a good knowledge on the MK-IX "Valentine"'s weak spots. These armour vulnerabilities adds up with the Valentine's fault of not being a particularly fast vehicle. This means any exposure from cover can be a long one that enemies can take the time to line up their next shot towards an armours weak point.<br />
<br />
The Valentines biggest advantage when it comes to survival is its small size. Because of this, the majority of enemies will have difficulties hitting your weakspots and penning you at medium and long ranges. At close range this advantage is largelly nullified and the enemy can easilly shoot the exposed 30mm thick driver's hatches. even if you are angled.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogenous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogenous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (65-67°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 60 mm (24°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm || 17 mm (51-54°) ''Top'' <br> 60 mm (1°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm (40-89°)<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-73°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (1-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (0-1°) || 65 mm (2-58°) || 20 mm (76-89°)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
The [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] is a potent gun at it's BR. Although it lacks explosive filler, due to the high pen of most rounds and the quick reload (especially compared to other Russian tanks) you will be able to pen most enemies frontally. It is advised to bring more ammo than expected as you will take a few shots to completely destroy an enemy. Since the ammo is largely stored in the same place, the exact number of shells you bring doesnt matter.<br />
<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 53 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 101 || 97 || 82 || 66 || 53 || 43<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 108 || 104 || 87 || 70 || 57 || 46<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 110 || 106 || 89 || 72 || 59 || 48<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 122 || 118 || 101 || 84 || 70 || 58<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 815 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 853 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 853 || 2.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 801 || 3.23 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 655 || 2.72 || 0 || 0.1 || 590 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Valentine_Mk_IX.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''53''' || 43&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+52)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!--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 instead 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).--><br />
The MK-IX Valentine fits in a niche battle rating in the Soviet line-up with its own unique traits. Its armour is a considerable improvement from preceding medium tanks like the [[T-28]]. The firepower with the 57 mm gun gives penetration values similar to the tank destroyers like the [[ZiS-30]], along with a faster reloading rate, superior gun depression and an enclosed turret with good armour. However, its mobility is a downgrade compared to anything available to the Soviets, even the ~30 ton heavier [[KV-1]] can move faster than the Valentine on the battlefield. As such, finding a place for the Valentine in the Soviet line-up can be tricky.<br />
<br />
The Valentine's excelling role is in a methodical march towards its objective, as its mobility precludes any attempt to make a speedy flanking manouvre. Teammates are more than likely to reach and capture the point before the Valentine will, but this does not mean the Valentine should not participate in the effort.<br />
<br />
One must use the Valentine wisely to not expose it too long in the open when traveling to the objective; make the most of any cover available, which will be easy due to it's small size. It is in these periods that the Valentine is most vulnerable to a concealed enemy a distance away taking a shot at the Valentine's armour straight at the front or from the sides. Angling the armour during movement through contested areas is a must as the flat surfaces present easy weak points for any frontal enemy to attack at, and the guns at this rank are more than likely to penetrate even at slightly angled armour plates. **Always angle**. Whether uptiered or downtiered, the main concerning enemy unit are tank destroyers, as their guns have a high chance of penetrating the Valentine's armour no matter how the vehicle is angled.<br />
<br />
Once a position is taken however, the Valentine can plant itself securely at the location at suitable firing positions and make use of the fast-firing and potent 57 mm gun to take out any enemy assault units. The green paint on the Valentine can assist in concealment on foliage-rich environment for a good ambush position. Whether from behind cover or a hull-down position, the Valentine can end up victorious in an engagement if it hits with the first shot. However, due to the poor mobility, the Valentine's movement is restricted. This means it is important to make sure the enemy's ability to fire back and/or move is knocked out in the first shot so it is not required to retreat back into cover during the brief reloading period, then out again to fire, especially since that whole manouvre can take more time than simply reloading in place while exposing the tank to return fire. The poor mobility also means the Valentine needs to be aware of any flanking vehicles coming up, as the Valentine would not be able to react fast enough to the new threat.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* The 57 mm gun has good stock shells to do significant damages upon penetrating<br />
* Heavily sloped upper glacis can bounce a few shots<br />
* +80mm of armour on hull when angled at ~35 degrees.<br />
* Low profile allows it to hide behind more obstacles in the battlefield<br />
* Turret is angled aand complex, allowing it to bounce some shots<br />
* Fast reload speed<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* No machine gun<br />
* Side armour is very weak<br />
* Slow top speed (22 km/h)<br />
* Drivers port and the area around it is a major weak spot<br />
* No explosive filler in shells<br />
* Only three tightly sitting crew members (crew can be knocked out very easily)<br />
* Thin top armour makes it vulnerable to air attacks<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
{{main|Valentine_IX#History|l1=History of the Valentine IX}}<br />
<br />
;Valentine in the USSR<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_valentine_mk_9 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|yIUl_8XgPCU|'''Should You Buy: {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''ConeOfArc''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Other British lend-lease vehicles<br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2A_F96}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{USSR medium tanks}}<br />
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}</div>U50095228https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=MK-IX_%22Valentine%22_(USSR)&diff=120776MK-IX "Valentine" (USSR)2022-01-14T14:45:16Z<p>U50095228: Few and far between improvements as to what is possible to do with the Valentine in battle.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Valentine (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=ussr_valentine_mk_9<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]] as a special Valentine's Day vehicle. This is a Lend-Lease Valentine, shipped to the USSR by the British. The tank was made available to purchase in-game with Golden Eagles ({{GE}}) for specific mini-events like the [[wt:en/news/6583-special-valentine-s-day-en|2020 Valentine's Day]] and the [[wt:en/news/7042-special-lunar-new-year-and-valentine-s-day-en|2021 Valentine's Day]] events.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!--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? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--><br />
<br />
The armour on the MK-IX "Valentine" is quite mediocre head on, but slightly above par when angled. The maximum base armour thickness of the hull is 60 mm and is laid out flat on the designs, while the sloping portions are of thinner 30 mm armour plates. This gives an average thickness of ~60 mm of armour when facing the MK-IX "Valentine" flat from the front. However if angled, the armour has an effective thickness of 80mm, as such this is heavillty advised. The turret is more well protected than the hull, with its front armoured with 65 mm armour plates and sloped with its circular shape, but the cast construction of the gun mantlet can lead to some enemies attacking the gun breech to disable the Valentine's firepower, if they do not aim for the hull directly.<br />
<br />
The mediocre armour construction means that there will be multiple types of enemies the MK-IX "Valentine" can encounter that can easily penetrate through the armour, especially if the opponent is firing at a close range and have a good knowledge on the MK-IX "Valentine"'s weak spots. These armour vulnerabilities adds up with the Valentine's fault of not being a particularly fast vehicle. This means any exposure from cover can be a long one that enemies can take the time to line up their next shot towards an armours weak point.<br />
<br />
The Valentines biggest advantage when it comes to survival is its small size. Because of this, the majority of enemies will have difficulties hitting your weakspots and penning you at medium and long ranges. At close range this advantage is largelly nullified and the enemy can easilly shoot the exposed 30mm thick driver's hatches. even if you are angled.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogenous armour (Hull, Turret)<br />
* Cast homogenous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 60 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' <br> 30 mm (65-67°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 60 mm (24°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm || 17 mm (51-54°) ''Top'' <br> 60 mm (1°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm (40-89°)<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm (0-73°) ''Turret front'' <br> 65 mm (1-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 60 mm (0-1°) || 65 mm (2-58°) || 20 mm (76-89°)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.<br />
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=256|rbMinHp=146}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
The [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] is a potent gun at it's BR. Although it lacks explosive filler, due to the high pen of most rounds and the quick reload (especially compared to other Russian tanks) you will be able to pen most enemies frontally. It is advised to bring more ammo than expected as you will take a few shots to completely destroy an enemy. Since the ammo is largely stored in the same place, the exact number of shells you bring doesnt matter.<br />
<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''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.'' --><br />
{{main|6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.III]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 53 || rowspan="2" | -12°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 9.52 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 101 || 97 || 82 || 66 || 53 || 43<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 108 || 104 || 87 || 70 || 57 || 46<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 110 || 106 || 89 || 72 || 59 || 48<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 122 || 118 || 101 || 84 || 70 || 58<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 815 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 853 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 853 || 2.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 801 || 3.23 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 655 || 2.72 || 0 || 0.1 || 590 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Valentine_Mk_IX.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''53''' || 43&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 32&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+52)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Optics ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]<br />
|-<br />
! Which ones<br />
! Default magnification<br />
! Maximum magnification<br />
|-<br />
! Main Gun optics<br />
| x1.85 || x3.5<br />
|-<br />
! Comparable optics<br />
| colspan="2" | [[M4A1]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!--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 instead 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).--><br />
The MK-IX Valentine fits in a niche battle rating in the Soviet line-up with its own unique traits. Its armour is a considerable improvement from preceding medium tanks like the [[T-28]]. The firepower with the 57 mm gun gives penetration values similar to the tank destroyers like the [[ZiS-30]], along with a faster reloading rate, superior gun depression and an enclosed turret with good armour. However, its mobility is a downgrade compared to anything available to the Soviets, even the ~30 ton heavier [[KV-1]] can move faster than the Valentine on the battlefield. As such, finding a place for the Valentine in the Soviet line-up can be tricky.<br />
<br />
The Valentine's excelling role is in a methodical march towards its objective, as its mobility precludes any attempt to make a speedy flanking manouvre. Teammates are more than likely to reach and capture the point before the Valentine will, but this does not mean the Valentine should not participate in the effort.<br />
<br />
One must use the Valentine wisely to not expose it too long in the open when traveling to the objective; make the most of any cover available, which will be easy due to it's small size. It is in these periods that the Valentine is most vulnerable to a concealed enemy a distance away taking a shot at the Valentine's armour straight at the front or from the sides. Angling the armour during movement through contested areas is a must as the flat surfaces present easy weak points for any frontal enemy to attack at, and the guns at this rank are more than likely to penetrate even at slightly angled armour plates. **Always angle**. Whether uptiered or downtiered, the main concerning enemy unit are tank destroyers, as their guns have a high chance of penetrating the Valentine's armour no matter how the vehicle is angled.<br />
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Once a position is taken however, the Valentine can plant itself securely at the location at suitable firing positions and make use of the fast-firing and potent 57 mm gun to take out any enemy assault units. The green paint on the Valentine can assist in concealment on foliage-rich environment for a good ambush position. Whether from behind cover or a hull-down position, the Valentine can end up victorious in an engagement if it hits with the first shot. However, due to the poor mobility, the Valentine's movement is restricted. This means it is important to make sure the enemy's ability to fire back and/or move is knocked out in the first shot so it is not required to retreat back into cover during the brief reloading period, then out again to fire, especially since that whole manouvre can take more time than simply reloading in place while exposing the tank to return fire. The poor mobility also means the Valentine needs to be aware of any flanking vehicles coming up, as the Valentine would not be able to react fast enough to the new threat.<br />
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=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise 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 - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
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'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* The 57 mm gun has good stock shells to do significant damages upon penetrating<br />
* Heavily sloped upper glacis can bounce a few shots<br />
* Low profile allows it to hide more obstacles in the battlefield<br />
* Turret is angled and can bounce some shots<br />
* Fast reload speed<br />
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'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* No machine gun<br />
* Side armour is very weak<br />
* Slow top speed (22 km/h)<br />
* Drivers port and the area around it is a major weak spot<br />
* No explosive filler in shells<br />
* Only three tightly sitting crew members (crew can be knocked out very easily)<br />
* Thin top armour makes it vulnerable to air attacks<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
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{{main|Valentine_IX#History|l1=History of the Valentine IX}}<br />
<br />
;Valentine in the USSR<br />
<br />
Some Valentines were sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program, most of the Valentines came from Canada's production lines. The Valentines saw use from the time of Battle of Moscow in 1941 all the way until the end of the war, though the Valentines saw use more as a second-line tank due to its relative weakness. It was criticized for its slow speed and weak gun but was liked for its small size, reliability, and armour protection and thus the Soviet Supreme Command continue asking for it and its production to continue until the end of the war.<br />
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== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_valentine_mk_9 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|yIUl_8XgPCU|'''Should You Buy: {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''ConeOfArc''|xIrVVhdC9ac|'''Tank Chats #11 Valentine''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Other British lend-lease vehicles<br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_a_12_mk_2_matilda_2A_F96}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wikipedia:Valentine_tank|[Wikipedia] Valentine tank]]<br />
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/Tank_Infantry_MkIII_Valentine.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Valentine, Infantry Tank Mk.III]<br />
<br />
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}<br />
{{USSR medium tanks}}<br />
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}</div>U50095228