Difference between revisions of "Super Hellcat"
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| − | {{Specs-Card|code=us_m18_super_hellcat}} | + | {{About |
| + | | about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| + | | usage = other versions | ||
| + | | link = M18 Hellcat (Family) | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{Specs-Card | ||
| + | |code=us_m18_super_hellcat | ||
| + | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}} | ||
| + | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | <!--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.--> | + | <!-- ''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.'' --> |
| − | [[ | + | Following the introduction of the [[M36 GMC]] into the American tank destroyer units, there was a desire to implement as many 90 mm guns as possible to improve the overall American anti-tank firepower. One proposed method was to install the 90 mm gun into the [[M18 GMC]] to utilize the M18's great mobility. The design came about by simply placing the M36 turret onto the M18 hull. This configuration, nicknamed "Super Hellcat", proved suitable but World War II ended prior to the design entering production and issuance. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | Introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]], the '''{{Specs|name}}''' (or the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''') presents the firepower advantage from the M36 with the mobility of the M18. The 90 mm would allow the Super Hellcat more firing opportunities, penetrating more armour that the original's 76 mm may not be able to go through. The biggest benefit is the availability of the M82 shell, which coupled with the Super Hellcat's great ability to flank around the enemy can allow the shell to penetrate frequently into the enemy tank's side armour, utilizing its potent post-penetration damage to quickly neutralize the targets in as little as one shot. | |
== General info == | == General info == | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and armour === | ||
| − | <!--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? | + | {{Specs-Tank-Armour}} |
| − | + | <!-- ''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.'' --> | |
| − | If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--> | ||
'''Armour type:''' | '''Armour type:''' | ||
| Line 31: | Line 38: | ||
=== Mobility === | === Mobility === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Tank-Mobility}} | ||
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --> | <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --> | ||
| − | {{tankMobility|abMinHp= | + | {{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}} |
| + | |||
| + | === Modifications and economy === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Economy}} | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
| + | {{Specs-Tank-Armaments}} | ||
=== Main armament === | === Main armament === | ||
| − | <!--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.--> | + | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}} |
| + | <!-- ''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.'' --> | ||
{{main|M3 (90 mm)}} | {{main|M3 (90 mm)}} | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" |
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|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | ! colspan="5" | [[M3 (90 mm)|90 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds) |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer |
| + | ! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced | ||
| + | ! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! ''Arcade'' |
| − | + | | rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50 | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | ! ''Realistic'' |
| + | | 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | + | ==== Ammunition ==== | |
| − | { | + | {{:M3 (90 mm)/Ammunition|T33 shot, M82 shot (M26), M304 shot, M71 shell}} |
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| − | | T33 shot | ||
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| − | + | ==== [[Ammo racks]] ==== | |
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] |
| − | {| class="wikitable | + | <!-- '''Last updated: 2.13.0.66''' --> |
| + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Full<br>ammo |
| − | ! | + | ! 1st<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 2nd<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 3rd<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 4th<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 5th<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 6th<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 7th<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! Visual<br>discrepancy |
| − | |||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''45''' || | + | | '''45''' || 41 ''(+4)'' || 36 ''(+9)'' || 31 ''(+14)'' || 26 ''(+19)'' || 19 ''(+26)'' || 12 ''(+33)'' || 1 ''(+44)'' || No |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | '''Notes''': | ||
| − | + | * Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded. | |
| + | * Rack 7 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 11 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank. | ||
| + | * This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 1 - 2 - etc. until 6. | ||
| + | * Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-6 into rack 7. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack. | ||
| + | * Side racks empty: 26 ''(+19)'' shells. | ||
=== Machine guns === | === Machine guns === | ||
| − | <!--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.--> | + | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}} |
| + | <!-- ''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.'' --> | ||
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}} | {{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}} | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! colspan=" | + | ! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]] |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Pintle || 800 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60° | |
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | <!--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).--> | + | <!-- ''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).'' --> |
| − | The | + | The Super Hellcat should be very familiar to those who play the [[M18 GMC]]. It is very fast, equipped with a hard-hitting cannon, but at a cost of armour. Thus, the M18 Super Hellcat is a mobile hit-and-run vehicle, popping out from behind a cover and blasting the enemy with a shot before retreating. Change up the firing location often to avoid being hit if someone has located the Super Hellcat's position. The Hellcat won't hold the line by standing and absorbing shots, but it can if it is picking off each attacker one by one like a sniper. |
| − | The main focus of gaining the Super Hellcat is the 90 mm upgrade, and it is absolutely beautiful. The main round recommended using well be the M82 APCBC round, the reason being reliable one shot knock-outs. The M82 has enough penetration to penetrate a [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] through the front plate. | + | The main focus of gaining the Super Hellcat is the 90 mm upgrade, and it is absolutely beautiful. The main round recommended using well be the M82 APCBC round, the reason being reliable one shot knock-outs. The M82 has enough penetration to penetrate a [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] through the front plate. |
In an offensive and defensive position, the Hellcat should still remain behind cover and be constantly changing firing positions. Once a shot was fired, retreat back to cover and wait out until the next round is reloaded. In an offence, pop out from the cover occasionally and snipe at the enemy. In a defence, remain behind cover and catch the enemy off guard as they approach by letting them shoot a different target first and hit them while they are reloading. Another way is to let them move right into the Hellcat's line of sight, which should at best expose their sides, allowing for a shot to land an M82 APCBC round into them. | In an offensive and defensive position, the Hellcat should still remain behind cover and be constantly changing firing positions. Once a shot was fired, retreat back to cover and wait out until the next round is reloaded. In an offence, pop out from the cover occasionally and snipe at the enemy. In a defence, remain behind cover and catch the enemy off guard as they approach by letting them shoot a different target first and hit them while they are reloading. Another way is to let them move right into the Hellcat's line of sight, which should at best expose their sides, allowing for a shot to land an M82 APCBC round into them. | ||
| − | A more aggressive play style is as a flanker and a point-capturer. The Hellcat's great speed can allow it to get around an enemy concentration and shoot them on the sides while they are focused at allies in front of them. They may eventually catch on to Hellcat's presence, and the Hellcat should take a more conservative action by returning back to the shoot-and-scoot tactic behind cover. The Hellcat's speed can also be used to rush towards the point. Though not recommended due to exposing the Hellcat's to enemy fire, the speed can ensure the Hellcat will be the first on the point, with a | + | A more aggressive play style is as a flanker and a point-capturer. The Hellcat's great speed can allow it to get around an enemy concentration and shoot them on the sides while they are focused at allies in front of them. They may eventually catch on to Hellcat's presence, and the Hellcat should take a more conservative action by returning back to the shoot-and-scoot tactic behind cover. The Hellcat's speed can also be used to rush towards the point. Though not recommended due to exposing the Hellcat's to enemy fire, the speed can ensure the Hellcat will be the first on the point, with a 90 mm gun to defend itself. If lucky, the enemy team is too slow and the Hellcat will capture the point. If unlucky, the enemy will swarm the point, outnumber and constrict the Hellcat and destroy it. Thus it is not recommended to play as a point-capturer. |
| − | With good shots, the cheeks of a [[ | + | With good shots, the cheeks of a [[Tiger II (P)]] can be hit. Penetrating the Panther series (up to the [[Panther II]]) will require a clean shot to the mantlet and for the Panther II, a hit the flat of the turret. Same principles apply on Soviet mediums like the [[T-44]], hit the cheeks and turret ring. For Soviet heavy tanks, hit the lower glacis or the turret cheeks. Using the standard AP shot as a primary round isn't recommended as the fragmentation is minimal, same goes for APCR, which should be used only on the toughest enemies. Despite that, AP is useful against some enemies like the [[Tiger II (H)]] as the regular APCBC can penetrate the flat sides of the turret front. Use AP if there is a clean shot on the flat part of Tiger II (H) turret as it cant be penetrated by APCBC but if the turret is angled even a little AP well bounce so then use APCR same on Soviet heavy tanks. Little hint when using AP or APCR on German/Soviet heavy tanks aim for the right side to hit the gunner and commander, giving precious seconds to escape. AP and APCR isn't recommended to shoot the angled front plates of the German Panther and Tiger II's as the angle is steep enough to absorb the shot unless at point-blank range. The reload with a max reloading skill is 9.5 seconds which gives it a decent rate of fire. |
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=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | <!--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".--> | + | <!-- ''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".'' --> |
| + | |||
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
* Fantastic 90 mm gun with a very lethal M82 APCBC round | * Fantastic 90 mm gun with a very lethal M82 APCBC round | ||
* Pintle .50 cal machine gun is effective for anti-air purposes | * Pintle .50 cal machine gun is effective for anti-air purposes | ||
| + | * High mobility | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
* Despite being on the same chassis as the regular hellcat, the super hellcat has, for some reason, very slow acceleration | * Despite being on the same chassis as the regular hellcat, the super hellcat has, for some reason, very slow acceleration | ||
| − | * | + | * Open-topped vehicle with paper-thin armour, vulnerable to overpressure |
| − | |||
* Exposed crew, watch out for machine gun and artillery | * Exposed crew, watch out for machine gun and artillery | ||
| − | * A penetrating round, even if inflicting minimum crew damages, | + | * A penetrating round, even if inflicting minimum crew damages, has a high chance of disabling the transmission or engine |
* Ammunition always stored in hull sides | * Ammunition always stored in hull sides | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | <!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the | + | <!-- ''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).'' --> |
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
During World War II, the [[M18 GMC|M18 "Hellcat"]] tank destroyer was very effective in its role in American service. Despite that, an attempt to upgrade the vehicle with a better gun took effect around 1944. Instead of the 76 mm gun that it originally had, it would take the 90 mm gun that was going into service at the time. | During World War II, the [[M18 GMC|M18 "Hellcat"]] tank destroyer was very effective in its role in American service. Despite that, an attempt to upgrade the vehicle with a better gun took effect around 1944. Instead of the 76 mm gun that it originally had, it would take the 90 mm gun that was going into service at the time. | ||
| − | The attempt to construct this focused on the turret to mount the heavier and larger gun. The M18's turret was then replaced with the turret from the [[ | + | The attempt to construct this focused on the turret to mount the heavier and larger gun. The M18's turret was then replaced with the turret from the [[M36 GMC]] to mount the 90 mm gun. Tests with this variant showed that the installation of the new turret did not hinder the speed performance of the M18, but the recoil of the 90 mm gun would cause the tank to bounce back heavily when fired, going back by at least 2 feet even with the muzzle brake attached on the 90 mm gun. The recoil force would also shake the entire tank hull and crew inside. The modified M18 mounting the 90 mm gun was nicknamed the '''"Super Hellcat"''' |
===Testing and cancellation=== | ===Testing and cancellation=== | ||
| − | Despite the drawbacks, it was deemed an acceptable vehicle to use on the battlefield. The 90 mm gun would provide a very large firepower advantage over the 76 mm gun the M18 had originally, which could not penetrate the front of the [[Panther G|Panther tank]] unless in close range with HVAP ammo. The 90 mm could take out most of the late war German tank designs with ease. However, the war ended before the "Super" | + | Despite the drawbacks, it was deemed an acceptable vehicle to use on the battlefield. The 90 mm gun would provide a very large firepower advantage over the 76 mm gun the M18 had originally, which could not penetrate the front of the [[Panther G|Panther tank]] unless in close range with HVAP ammo. The 90 mm could take out most of the late war German tank designs with ease. However, the war ended before the "Super Hellcat" could be deployed for combat use, and the project was cancelled along with the disbanding of the tank destroyer doctrine. |
| − | + | {{break}} | |
| − | An experimental version of the M18 antitank vehicle armed with a | + | {{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}} |
| + | {{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}} | ||
| + | An experimental version of the M18 antitank vehicle armed with a 90 mm M3 cannon. Only one model was ever built. The impetus for the creation of this model was that 76mm guns had been shown to be ineffective against German heavy tanks on the Western Front. The re-equipping project was carried out on the Aberdeen training ground, which is where the vehicle's gun was also fired. Based on the results, the gun was equipped with a massive muzzle break. | ||
| + | {{Navigation-End}} | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
| − | <!--Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.--> | + | <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> |
| + | |||
| + | ;Skins | ||
| + | * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m18_super_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ;Videos | ||
{{Youtube-gallery|ChdDCA2ob2Y|'''The Shooting Range #171''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Super Hellcat.}} | {{Youtube-gallery|ChdDCA2ob2Y|'''The Shooting Range #171''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Super Hellcat.}} | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ||
| − | |||
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | * ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | ||
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| − | <!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as: | + | <!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' |
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
| − | + | * ''other literature.'' --> | |
| − | * ''other literature.''--> | + | |
| − | [[wt:en/devblog/current/791/|[Devblog | + | * [[wt:en/devblog/current/791/|[Devblog] T-34-100 and Super Hellcat]] |
| − | {{USA | + | {{TankManufacturer Buick}} |
| + | {{USA light tanks}} | ||
{{USA premium ground vehicles}} | {{USA premium ground vehicles}} | ||
Latest revision as of 16:59, 16 May 2023
| This page is about the American light tank Super Hellcat. For other versions, see M18 Hellcat (Family). |
Contents
Description
Following the introduction of the M36 GMC into the American tank destroyer units, there was a desire to implement as many 90 mm guns as possible to improve the overall American anti-tank firepower. One proposed method was to install the 90 mm gun into the M18 GMC to utilize the M18's great mobility. The design came about by simply placing the M36 turret onto the M18 hull. This configuration, nicknamed "Super Hellcat", proved suitable but World War II ended prior to the design entering production and issuance.
Introduced in Update 1.51 "Cold Steel", the M18 90-mm Gun Motor Carriage (or the Super Hellcat) presents the firepower advantage from the M36 with the mobility of the M18. The 90 mm would allow the Super Hellcat more firing opportunities, penetrating more armour that the original's 76 mm may not be able to go through. The biggest benefit is the availability of the M82 shell, which coupled with the Super Hellcat's great ability to flank around the enemy can allow the shell to penetrate frequently into the enemy tank's side armour, utilizing its potent post-penetration damage to quickly neutralize the targets in as little as one shot.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armourfront / side / back
Hull12 / 12 / 12
Turret76 / 31 / 25
Crew5 people
Visibility82 %
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
- Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 12.7 mm (63°) | 12.7 mm | 12.7 mm | 8.0 mm |
| Turret | 31.75 mm Turret front 76.2 mm Gun mantlet |
31.75 mm | 25.4 mm | N/A |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
Mobility
Speedforward / back
AB90 / 29 km/h
RB and SB81 / 26 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
2 back
Weight22.0 t
Engine power
AB763 hp
RB and SB400 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB34.7 hp/t
RB and SB18.2 hp/t
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 90 | 29 | 22 | 620 | 763 | 28.18 | 34.68 |
| Realistic | 81 | 26 | 354 | 400 | 16.09 | 18.18 | |
Modifications and economy
Repair cost
AB2 010 
RB2 417
SB3 115
Crew training10 000
Experts340 000
Aces890 
Research Aces1 140 000 
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
2 × 120 / 150 / 200 % 2 × 178 / 178 / 178 % | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Main armament
90 mm M3 cannon
Ammunition45 rounds
First-order11 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.7 → 7.5 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
| 90 mm M3 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 45 | -10°/+20° | ±180° | N/A | 22.8 | 31.6 | 38.4 | 42.5 | 45.2 | 9.75 | 8.63 | 7.95 | 7.50 |
| Realistic | 14.3 | 16.8 | 20.4 | 22.6 | 24.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| T33 shot | APBC | 175 | 172 | 160 | 146 | 134 | 122 |
| M82 shot | APCBC | 185 | 182 | 169 | 155 | 142 | 130 |
| M304 shot | APCR | 287 | 281 | 259 | 234 | 211 | 191 |
| M71 shell | HE | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| T33 shot | APBC | 853 | 10.91 | - | - | - | 47° | 60° | 65° | |||
| M82 shot | APCBC | 853 | 10.91 | 1.2 | 14 | 137.2 | 48° | 63° | 71° | |||
| M304 shot | APCR | 1,021 | 7.62 | - | - | - | 66° | 70° | 72° | |||
| M71 shell | HE | 823 | 10.55 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1,210 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the Super Hellcat
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
7th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 41 (+4) | 36 (+9) | 31 (+14) | 26 (+19) | 19 (+26) | 12 (+33) | 1 (+44) | No |
Notes:
- Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
- Rack 7 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 11 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
- This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 1 - 2 - etc. until 6.
- Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-6 into rack 7. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
- Side racks empty: 26 (+19) shells.
Machine guns
Ammunition800 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 70°
Horizontal guidance-60° / 60°
| 12.7 mm M2HB | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Pintle | 800 (200) | 577 | -10°/+70° | ±60° |
Usage in battles
The Super Hellcat should be very familiar to those who play the M18 GMC. It is very fast, equipped with a hard-hitting cannon, but at a cost of armour. Thus, the M18 Super Hellcat is a mobile hit-and-run vehicle, popping out from behind a cover and blasting the enemy with a shot before retreating. Change up the firing location often to avoid being hit if someone has located the Super Hellcat's position. The Hellcat won't hold the line by standing and absorbing shots, but it can if it is picking off each attacker one by one like a sniper.
The main focus of gaining the Super Hellcat is the 90 mm upgrade, and it is absolutely beautiful. The main round recommended using well be the M82 APCBC round, the reason being reliable one shot knock-outs. The M82 has enough penetration to penetrate a Tiger I through the front plate.
In an offensive and defensive position, the Hellcat should still remain behind cover and be constantly changing firing positions. Once a shot was fired, retreat back to cover and wait out until the next round is reloaded. In an offence, pop out from the cover occasionally and snipe at the enemy. In a defence, remain behind cover and catch the enemy off guard as they approach by letting them shoot a different target first and hit them while they are reloading. Another way is to let them move right into the Hellcat's line of sight, which should at best expose their sides, allowing for a shot to land an M82 APCBC round into them.
A more aggressive play style is as a flanker and a point-capturer. The Hellcat's great speed can allow it to get around an enemy concentration and shoot them on the sides while they are focused at allies in front of them. They may eventually catch on to Hellcat's presence, and the Hellcat should take a more conservative action by returning back to the shoot-and-scoot tactic behind cover. The Hellcat's speed can also be used to rush towards the point. Though not recommended due to exposing the Hellcat's to enemy fire, the speed can ensure the Hellcat will be the first on the point, with a 90 mm gun to defend itself. If lucky, the enemy team is too slow and the Hellcat will capture the point. If unlucky, the enemy will swarm the point, outnumber and constrict the Hellcat and destroy it. Thus it is not recommended to play as a point-capturer.
With good shots, the cheeks of a Tiger II (P) can be hit. Penetrating the Panther series (up to the Panther II) will require a clean shot to the mantlet and for the Panther II, a hit the flat of the turret. Same principles apply on Soviet mediums like the T-44, hit the cheeks and turret ring. For Soviet heavy tanks, hit the lower glacis or the turret cheeks. Using the standard AP shot as a primary round isn't recommended as the fragmentation is minimal, same goes for APCR, which should be used only on the toughest enemies. Despite that, AP is useful against some enemies like the Tiger II (H) as the regular APCBC can penetrate the flat sides of the turret front. Use AP if there is a clean shot on the flat part of Tiger II (H) turret as it cant be penetrated by APCBC but if the turret is angled even a little AP well bounce so then use APCR same on Soviet heavy tanks. Little hint when using AP or APCR on German/Soviet heavy tanks aim for the right side to hit the gunner and commander, giving precious seconds to escape. AP and APCR isn't recommended to shoot the angled front plates of the German Panther and Tiger II's as the angle is steep enough to absorb the shot unless at point-blank range. The reload with a max reloading skill is 9.5 seconds which gives it a decent rate of fire.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fantastic 90 mm gun with a very lethal M82 APCBC round
- Pintle .50 cal machine gun is effective for anti-air purposes
- High mobility
Cons:
- Despite being on the same chassis as the regular hellcat, the super hellcat has, for some reason, very slow acceleration
- Open-topped vehicle with paper-thin armour, vulnerable to overpressure
- Exposed crew, watch out for machine gun and artillery
- A penetrating round, even if inflicting minimum crew damages, has a high chance of disabling the transmission or engine
- Ammunition always stored in hull sides
History
Development
During World War II, the M18 "Hellcat" tank destroyer was very effective in its role in American service. Despite that, an attempt to upgrade the vehicle with a better gun took effect around 1944. Instead of the 76 mm gun that it originally had, it would take the 90 mm gun that was going into service at the time.
The attempt to construct this focused on the turret to mount the heavier and larger gun. The M18's turret was then replaced with the turret from the M36 GMC to mount the 90 mm gun. Tests with this variant showed that the installation of the new turret did not hinder the speed performance of the M18, but the recoil of the 90 mm gun would cause the tank to bounce back heavily when fired, going back by at least 2 feet even with the muzzle brake attached on the 90 mm gun. The recoil force would also shake the entire tank hull and crew inside. The modified M18 mounting the 90 mm gun was nicknamed the "Super Hellcat"
Testing and cancellation
Despite the drawbacks, it was deemed an acceptable vehicle to use on the battlefield. The 90 mm gun would provide a very large firepower advantage over the 76 mm gun the M18 had originally, which could not penetrate the front of the Panther tank unless in close range with HVAP ammo. The 90 mm could take out most of the late war German tank designs with ease. However, the war ended before the "Super Hellcat" could be deployed for combat use, and the project was cancelled along with the disbanding of the tank destroyer doctrine.
| Archive of the in-game description | |
|---|---|
|
An experimental version of the M18 antitank vehicle armed with a 90 mm M3 cannon. Only one model was ever built. The impetus for the creation of this model was that 76mm guns had been shown to be ineffective against German heavy tanks on the Western Front. The re-equipping project was carried out on the Aberdeen training ground, which is where the vehicle's gun was also fired. Based on the results, the gun was equipped with a massive muzzle break. | |
Media
- Skins
- Videos
The Shooting Range #171 - Metal Beasts section at 00:32 discusses the Super Hellcat.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the vehicles;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
| Buick Division of General Motors | |
|---|---|
| Tank Destroyers | M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat |
| Export | ␗M18 GMC · ▄M18 |
| Note | Buick is a division of General Motors (GM). |
| USA light tanks | |
|---|---|
| LVT | LVT(A)(1) · ○LVT(A)(1) · LVT(A)(4) |
| M2 | M2A2 · M2A4 · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) |
| M3/M5 Stuart | M3 Stuart · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC) · M5A1 · M5A1 TD · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) |
| M22 Locust | M22 |
| M24 Chaffee | M24 · M24 (TL) |
| M18 Hellcat | M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat |
| M41 Walker Bulldog | M41A1 |
| M551 Sheridan | M551 · M551(76) |
| M3 Bradley | M3 Bradley · M3A3 Bradley |
| Wheeled | M8 LAC · T18E2 · M1128 · M1128 Wolfpack |
| Other | M8A1 GMC · T92 · T114 · HSTV-L · CCVL · XM8 · XM800T · AGS |
| USA premium ground vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light tanks | LVT(A)(4) · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) · M3A1 (USMC) · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · M8 LAC · M8A1 GMC |
| M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat · T18E2 · M551(76) · T114 · M1128 Wolfpack | |
| Medium tanks | ▃Grant I · M4A5 · Calliope · T20 · M26 T99 · M26E1 · M46 "Tiger" · T54E1 · T54E2 · ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · M728 CEV |
| XM1 (GM) · XM1 (Chrysler) · M1 KVT · M1A1 Click-Bait | |
| Heavy tanks | T14 · Cobra King · M6A2E1 · T29 · T30 |
| Tank destroyers | T28 · T55E1 |
