Difference between revisions of "M551"

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{{Specs-Card|code=us_m551}}
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{{About
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| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = the premium version
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| link = M551(76)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=us_m551
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The '''M551 "Sheridan" {{Annotation|AR|Armored Reconnaissance}}/{{Annotation|AAV|Airborne Assault Vehicle}}''' was a light tank developed by the U.S. and named after American Civil War hero General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to be air-dropped and amphibious. It was equipped with the innovative but problematic 152 mm M81 tank gun, which could fire both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Despite the use of advanced technologies for its time, the performance of the vehicle was lackluster and below expectations. It saw extensive combat in the Vietnam War, where its shortcomings became evident, especially its low survivability and reliability. It was later used in the National Training Centre as a simulated Soviet armoured opposition force (OPFOR) to train US military units on simulated tank-on-tank armoured combat in a desert environment. The last Sheridans were retired from the NTC in 2003.
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Introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]], the M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV is a very unorthodox vehicle at its BR. With a stock 152mm HE and HEAT shell on a low velocity, high shell drop gun, the Sheridan initially has limited engagement range and effectiveness. The MGM-51 Shillelagh ATGM is a significant improvement over conventional rounds, capable of destroying almost anything with a single penetration and greatly extends the engagement range of the Sheridan to a max of over 3 kilometers. Players should still be cautious of enemy vehicles due to the Sheridan's weak armour, and use cover as much as possible to ensure their survival.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''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 helpfull for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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'''Armour type:'''
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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* Aluminum Alloy 7039
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* Rolled homogeneous armour (Turret)
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* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope Angle°) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 25.4 mm (70°), 12.7 mm (87°) ''Front Glacis'' <br> 31.7 mm (33°) ''Lower Glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (2-80°) ''Driver's port'' || 19 + 2 mm ''Top'' <br> 25.4 mm (0-56°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (49-50°) ''Top'' <br> 19 mm (32-55°) ''Bottom'' || 19 mm <br> 12.7 mm ''Engine grilles''
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|-
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| Turret || 25.4 mm (6-78°) ''Turret front'' <br> 31.7 mm (1-81°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (50-55°) || 25.4 mm (46-54°) || 19 mm
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|-
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| Cupola || 31.7 mm || 31.7 mm || 31.7 mm || 31.7 mm
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
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* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
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Against most opponents, the M551 can be destroyed with a single shot. Some APHE shells may fail to fuse on you if you are side-on to them, but most will fuse on the annoyingly thick-enough side armor of 19mm at any other angle and devastate your vehicle. The tank may, however, still survive glancing shots to the turret as the vehicle has 4 crew members and can afford to lose one or two crew so long as the spall doesn't hit your ammunition.  
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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== Weaponry ==
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=465|rbMinHp=265}}
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=== Main weaponry ===
 
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''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 flexibilty 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.''
 
  
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=== Additional weaponry ===
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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''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 how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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{{Specs-Economy}}
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== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
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=== Main armament ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|M81 (152 mm)}}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M81 (152 mm)|152 mm M81]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 30 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 38.1 || 52.7 || 64.0 || 70.8 || 75.3 || rowspan="2" | 15.60 || rowspan="2" | 13.80 || rowspan="2" | 12.72 || rowspan="2" | 12.00
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 23.8 || 28.0 || 34.0 || 37.6 || 40.0
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|-
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|}
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==== Ammunition ====
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{{:M81 (152 mm)/Ammunition|M409A1, M657A2, MGM-51B Shillelagh}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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!6th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''30''' || 28&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 14&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 8&nbsp;''(+22)''
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|1&nbsp;''(+29)''|| No
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|-
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|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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''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 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).''
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 +
|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
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|-
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|}
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== Usage in battles ==
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
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The Sheridan is best described as being a very one-of-a-kind tank. Most light tanks at or above these BRs either carry a normal high-velocity anti-tank weapon or an autocannon meant for versatile use; the Sheridan falls under neither, with its 152mm gun/launcher being by far the most standout feature of the tank. However, this uniqueness means it has problems other tanks normally wouldn't struggle with at its Battle Rating, such as poor shell velocity, a long reload and the inability to handle certain map positions due to its chemical-only weapons kit. Despite its many shortcomings, if mastered, the Sheridan can offer either a high damage brawler playstyle or a long-range supporting playstyle and become a valuable part of the US 8.3 lineup.
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The Sheridan's stock performance is, for a lack of a better word, underwhelming. It lacks the long range potential other tanks at least somewhat have, while also suffering from a long reload and two chemical round types that are at best situationally advantageous but at worst inconsistent and may fail to kill tanks on penetration. The mobility when stock can feel sluggish, especially on inclines, and as the shells are low velocity with high drop your mid to long range abilities are also severely lacking. Priority should be given to mobility upgrades and the MGM-51B Shillelagh ATGM, as this adds much-needed long range engagement capabilities.
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Tactics with the Sheridan differ quite a bit when stock compared to when equipped with the Shillelagh. The MGM-51B Shillelagh is a barrel-launched ATGM, a rarity for a US vehicle only found elsewhere on the M60A2 Starship, another 8.3 vehicle in the common US 8.3 lineup. Players of the M60A2 may note the lack of a laser rangefinder on the Sheridan, which is a downside compared to the Starship which does come equipped with the module. This means that even when spaded, the Sheridan struggles to engage at range with its conventional shell types, whereas the M60A2 can do so with all shell types at its disposal. When the Sheridan is stock, you will have to avoid long sightlines and go for closer, urban skirmishes. However, even this is to the detriment of the vehicle as the Sheridan lacks any armor to survive autocannon or anti-tank cannon fire as well as high caliber MGs, which can sometimes lead to frustrating encounters with tanks like the [[SU-122-54]] disabling your tank before you even get to fire due to 14.5mm MG fire. All this is to say, the Sheridan is not an easy vehicle to spade, nor for the faint of heart.
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When stock, your best tactic will be to ambush a sightline in an urban map. This, however, does '''not''' mean that you should stay in one spot, waiting for an opportunistic shot while watching paint dry. The Sheridan is still a light tank, so you can use terrain to maneuver around people or at the very least scout them to mark them on the minimap for your team. Even if you can't get your gun on them, marking enemies on the map and getting Scouting bonuses helps win the game for the team as well as speeds up your grind, so it may be worth a shot. Another reason why holding an opportunistic shot angle and never moving is inadvisable is the Sheridan's overall lack of consistency. The long reload, lacking armor and sometimes inconsistent spalling can lead to enemies not fully disabled or destroyed when they round the corner, which will surely result in your demise. This is also a very easy way to get revenge bombed, as you are staking out a singular spot without moving around at all. You should try and find more unorthodox spots slightly behind the front lines, which will let you fall back if you're being overrun and will also let your long reload be less of an issue, while also relocating every two or three shells to make sure the enemy team never realizes where exactly you're on the map.
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When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably ''avoid'' urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine, just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the [[M60A2]], [[XM-803]], [[MBT-70]] and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.
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This much 'mediocrity' may make the reader ask the question: "Why should I play the Sheridan?". To that, the best answer is probably multiple factors rolled into one: The Sheridan is a light tank, so it can scout enemy vehicles and get the cost of an aircraft spawn down. It also fires conventional, high caliber rounds, as well as the option for a missile that can be fired on the move through a stabilized cannon, meaning it can face enemies head on moreso than the [[M3 Bradley]] can. The round is capable of obliterating lightly armored enemy light tanks and SPAAs handily, and the missile means it can take care of long range engagements while not being as extreme as the [[M901]] with only ATGMs as its defense. Urban combat, while preferably avoided, is also not too lacking, as long as the map isn't full of fences or bushes, and even then your roof mounted .50 caliber MG can make short work of obstacles to shoot your main gun. The Sheridan isn't really a specialist at anything outside of long range ATGM firing. The M60A2 arguably has a better hull and turret, with armor that can withstand most light autocannon fire and a laser rangefinder to shoot at range, but the Sheridan's scouting and flanking roles ultimately mean it's a vehicle that can fill a niche in most situations once spaded.
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 +
Long story short, the Sheridan is not an easy vehicle to be effective in, but with the Shillelagh and some clever map utilization can be a surprisingly solid supporting vehicle for the US 8.3 lineup. 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''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:'''
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*
+
 
 +
* Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or ATGMs
 +
* Very fast turret traverse
 +
* High shell caliber means a successful, accurate hit can secure kills handily
 +
* Able to fulfill many roles effectively with its available set of weaponry.
 +
* The ATGM is extremely effective against heavily armored targets.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
+
* Very thin armour
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* No kinetic rounds, only chemical rounds are available (which detonates on obstacles such as fences and therefore cannot shoot through them)
 +
* Low ammunition storage at only 30 rounds
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* ATGMs reload several seconds slower than normal ammunition
 +
* Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition in total
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* Poor mobility when stock
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* Poor shell velocity and ballistics limit its effective range when not using the ATGM
 +
* It can see tanks equipped with explosive reactive armour such as the [[T-55AM-1]] that can counter your shells.
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
{{main|M551/History|l1=History of the M551}}
  
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guids, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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===Development===
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In the post-war period, U.S. Army specified for a new light tank that is light enough for air-transportation and have a large cruising range. The first resulting light tank, the [[M41A1|M41 ''Walker Bulldog'']], did not meet these specifications and the following development such as the [[T92]] were cancelled after the discovery of the amphibious Soviet [[PT-76B|PT-76]] tank, which added a requirement for the light tank to also be amphibious. A new tank design began development, using aluminum alloy to save weight, a fabric screen for flotation, and a controversial [[M81 (152 mm)|152 mm gun/launcher]] for firepower with the Shillelagh missiles. However, the design's lightweight and mobility made it favorable and so the tank was approved for Army standard in May 1966 and designated the '''M551 ''Sheridan'''''. Between 1966 to 1970, 1,662 Sheridans were produced at a program cost of $1.3 billion.<ref name="ZalogaM551">Zaloga, 2009</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Deployment===
 +
The Sheridan first saw service in June 1967 in the 1/63rd Armor Regiment at Fort Riley. The first air usage of the Sheridan came from the 1/17th Cavalry at Fort Bragg. Its first overseas deployment was to South Korea in November 1968 and Europe in January 1969. 800 Sheridans were deployed worldwide by 1971. Troubles with the 152 mm Gun/Launcher plagued the M551's early service life as attempts were made to fix the issues in the weapon's ammo propellant and ability to fire missiles.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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The Sheridan's tank's first combat would be seen in Vietnam under the urging of General Creighton Abrams. The tank first arrived in January 1969 modified for the environment in a configuration dubbed "Two-Box M551" with many complex mechanical instrument boxes removed (save for two), as well as the ability to fire the Shillelagh missiles disabled and the production of a fletchette ammunition for the 152 mm gun/launcher. First impressions of the Sheridan were positive due to the weapon's effectiveness in anti-infantry and bunker busting roles, as well as the mobility able to maintain speed with the M113 armoured personnel carriers. However, experience soon soured when the lack of armour became apparent compared to the [[M48A1|M48 Pattons]] employed in the theater, with the M551 vulnerable to mines and the numerous hand-held anti-tank weaponry.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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Post-Vietnam, the M551 Sheridans underwent a product improvement program (PIP) that upgraded the design. The next combat operation would be in Operation Just Cause in Panama, featuring the first and only time tanks were parachuted into a combat zone. Inserted with the 82nd Airborne Division, the M551 proved a popular psychological weapon against the opposing forces. After Panama, the M551 were also deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War in both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where in the latter they fought Iraqi units equipped with [[T-55A|T-55s]] and [[T-72A|T-72s]] in the only time in the M551's history that the gun-launched Shillelagh missiles were used against an enemy.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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Back in the United States, the M551 also found use in the U.S. Army's National Training Center at the Mojave desert in California, where they are dressed up to look like Soviet vehicles to play as the "opposing forces" to train the army units on tactics in the battlefield. After the Gulf War, the Sheridan's combat career came to an end and so they remained in service at the National Training Center until 2004. The Sheridans were retired without any replacement in the airborne tank role. Though attempts had been made in the late 1990's for a replacement, the Army decided that an airborne tank was simply not worth the cost for a specialized vehicle.<ref name="ZalogaM551" />
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== Media ==
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m551 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|YuBjyMQLRy0|'''Airmobile tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:53 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
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== See also ==
 +
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
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== Read 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;''
 
* ''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.''
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''ETC.''
 
  
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== Sources ==
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== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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 +
* [[wt:en/news/3736-development-m551-sheridan-en|[Devblog] M551 Sheridan]]
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 +
=== References ===
 +
 
 +
;Citations
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
;Bibliography
 +
 
 +
* Zaloga Steven. ''M551 Sheridan: US Airmobile Tanks 1941-2001'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2009
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{{USA light tanks}}
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{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}
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[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

Latest revision as of 17:39, 25 March 2024

RANK 5 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
This page is about the American light tank M551. For the premium version, see M551(76).
M551
us_m551.png
GarageImage M551.jpg
ArtImage M551.png
M551
USA flag.png USA
VI Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.0 8.3 8.3
Class:
Research:135 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:380 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV was a light tank developed by the U.S. and named after American Civil War hero General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to be air-dropped and amphibious. It was equipped with the innovative but problematic 152 mm M81 tank gun, which could fire both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Despite the use of advanced technologies for its time, the performance of the vehicle was lackluster and below expectations. It saw extensive combat in the Vietnam War, where its shortcomings became evident, especially its low survivability and reliability. It was later used in the National Training Centre as a simulated Soviet armoured opposition force (OPFOR) to train US military units on simulated tank-on-tank armoured combat in a desert environment. The last Sheridans were retired from the NTC in 2003.

Introduced in Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows", the M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV is a very unorthodox vehicle at its BR. With a stock 152mm HE and HEAT shell on a low velocity, high shell drop gun, the Sheridan initially has limited engagement range and effectiveness. The MGM-51 Shillelagh ATGM is a significant improvement over conventional rounds, capable of destroying almost anything with a single penetration and greatly extends the engagement range of the Sheridan to a max of over 3 kilometers. Players should still be cautious of enemy vehicles due to the Sheridan's weak armour, and use cover as much as possible to ensure their survival.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull31 / 25 / 19
Turret25 / 25 / 25
Crew4 people
Visibility88 %

Armour type:

  • Aluminum Alloy 7039
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Turret)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope Angle°) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25.4 mm (70°), 12.7 mm (87°) Front Glacis
31.7 mm (33°) Lower Glacis
25.4 mm (2-80°) Driver's port 		19 + 2 mm Top
25.4 mm (0-56°) Bottom 		12.7 mm (49-50°) Top
19 mm (32-55°) Bottom 		19 mm
12.7 mm Engine grilles
Turret 25.4 mm (6-78°) Turret front
31.7 mm (1-81°) Gun mantlet 		25.4 mm (50-55°) 25.4 mm (46-54°) 19 mm
Cupola 31.7 mm 31.7 mm 31.7 mm 31.7 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.

Against most opponents, the M551 can be destroyed with a single shot. Some APHE shells may fail to fuse on you if you are side-on to them, but most will fuse on the annoyingly thick-enough side armor of 19mm at any other angle and devastate your vehicle. The tank may, however, still survive glancing shots to the turret as the vehicle has 4 crew members and can afford to lose one or two crew so long as the spall doesn't hit your ammunition.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB77 / 17 km/h
RB and SB70 / 15 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight15.2 t
Engine power
AB572 hp
RB and SB300 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB37.6 hp/t
RB and SB19.7 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 77 17 15.2 465 572 30.59 37.63
Realistic 70 15 265 300 17.43 19.74

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 251 → 4 889 Sl icon.png
RB3 734 → 5 615 Sl icon.png
SB4 559 → 6 856 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications111 700 Rp icon.png
194 200 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 300 Ge icon.png
Crew training110 000 Sl icon.png
Experts380 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces830 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
120 / 160 / 200 % Sl icon.png
208 / 208 / 208 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
8 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
8 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
152mm_usa_MGM61B_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods scout streak.png
Scout UAV
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

152 mm gun/launcher M81
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition30 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
15.6 → 12.0 s
Vertical guidance-8° / 19°
Main article: M81 (152 mm)
152 mm M81 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 30 -8°/+19° ±180° Two-plane 38.1 52.7 64.0 70.8 75.3 15.60 13.80 12.72 12.00
Realistic 23.8 28.0 34.0 37.6 40.0

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
M409A1 HEAT 380 380 380 380 380 380
M657A2 HE 38 38 38 38 38 38
MGM-51B Shillelagh ATGM 431 431 431 431 431 431
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M409A1 HEAT 682 18.9 0.05 0.1 3.73 62° 69° 73°
M657A2 HE 682 22 0 0.1 4.3 79° 80° 81°
Missile details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Range
(m) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
MGM-51B Shillelagh ATGM 286 3,200 27.8 0 0.1 3.6 80° 82° 90°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M551
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
30 28 (+2) 26 (+4) 21 (+9) 14 (+16) 8 (+22) 1 (+29) No

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 28°
Horizontal guidance-60° / 60°
7.62 mm M73 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), M73 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,000 (200) 577 -10°/+70° ±60°
7.62 mm M73
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The Sheridan is best described as being a very one-of-a-kind tank. Most light tanks at or above these BRs either carry a normal high-velocity anti-tank weapon or an autocannon meant for versatile use; the Sheridan falls under neither, with its 152mm gun/launcher being by far the most standout feature of the tank. However, this uniqueness means it has problems other tanks normally wouldn't struggle with at its Battle Rating, such as poor shell velocity, a long reload and the inability to handle certain map positions due to its chemical-only weapons kit. Despite its many shortcomings, if mastered, the Sheridan can offer either a high damage brawler playstyle or a long-range supporting playstyle and become a valuable part of the US 8.3 lineup.

The Sheridan's stock performance is, for a lack of a better word, underwhelming. It lacks the long range potential other tanks at least somewhat have, while also suffering from a long reload and two chemical round types that are at best situationally advantageous but at worst inconsistent and may fail to kill tanks on penetration. The mobility when stock can feel sluggish, especially on inclines, and as the shells are low velocity with high drop your mid to long range abilities are also severely lacking. Priority should be given to mobility upgrades and the MGM-51B Shillelagh ATGM, as this adds much-needed long range engagement capabilities.

Tactics with the Sheridan differ quite a bit when stock compared to when equipped with the Shillelagh. The MGM-51B Shillelagh is a barrel-launched ATGM, a rarity for a US vehicle only found elsewhere on the M60A2 Starship, another 8.3 vehicle in the common US 8.3 lineup. Players of the M60A2 may note the lack of a laser rangefinder on the Sheridan, which is a downside compared to the Starship which does come equipped with the module. This means that even when spaded, the Sheridan struggles to engage at range with its conventional shell types, whereas the M60A2 can do so with all shell types at its disposal. When the Sheridan is stock, you will have to avoid long sightlines and go for closer, urban skirmishes. However, even this is to the detriment of the vehicle as the Sheridan lacks any armor to survive autocannon or anti-tank cannon fire as well as high caliber MGs, which can sometimes lead to frustrating encounters with tanks like the SU-122-54 disabling your tank before you even get to fire due to 14.5mm MG fire. All this is to say, the Sheridan is not an easy vehicle to spade, nor for the faint of heart.

When stock, your best tactic will be to ambush a sightline in an urban map. This, however, does not mean that you should stay in one spot, waiting for an opportunistic shot while watching paint dry. The Sheridan is still a light tank, so you can use terrain to maneuver around people or at the very least scout them to mark them on the minimap for your team. Even if you can't get your gun on them, marking enemies on the map and getting Scouting bonuses helps win the game for the team as well as speeds up your grind, so it may be worth a shot. Another reason why holding an opportunistic shot angle and never moving is inadvisable is the Sheridan's overall lack of consistency. The long reload, lacking armor and sometimes inconsistent spalling can lead to enemies not fully disabled or destroyed when they round the corner, which will surely result in your demise. This is also a very easy way to get revenge bombed, as you are staking out a singular spot without moving around at all. You should try and find more unorthodox spots slightly behind the front lines, which will let you fall back if you're being overrun and will also let your long reload be less of an issue, while also relocating every two or three shells to make sure the enemy team never realizes where exactly you're on the map.

When equipped with the MGM-51B, the story flips itself on its head. You now want to preferably avoid urban engagements, as the missile has a natural dip when firing as well as its hard to control nature when fired close up, and trying to fire a SACLOS projectile while on the move at a potentially moving target 300 meters away is by no means an easy task. You now want to find long, open sightlines with low foliage cover as any foliage in front of you may prematurely detonate your shells, wasting a reload cycle. Hiding in foliage on reload is fine, just don't try firing into a bush or at an enemy behind one if possible, and the shells will usually hit their mark. The Shillelagh is an unorthodox weapon for US players, as the M60A2, XM-803, MBT-70 and the M551 are just about the only vehicles that use this ammunition type in the tech tree. The missile is fairly large, but handles fairly well with a mostly negligible dip when being fired. The motor on the missile burns out in just a few seconds, so to an enemy the missile looks more akin to a slow HEAT shell slowly flying towards them instead of an ATGM with a bright red motor. With a range of 3.2 kilometers, you can reach almost any target you can see on any ground map so long as the line of sight is clear, and you can even hit helicopters that are blissfully unaware of the incoming low-visibility missile if the stars align. Overall, the Shillelagh lets you exploit long range engagements through the use of a mouse-guided missile, and can greatly improve the versatility of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the Shillelagh takes longer to load than the regular HE or HEAT rounds, so keep this in mind if you need a shell quickly.

This much 'mediocrity' may make the reader ask the question: "Why should I play the Sheridan?". To that, the best answer is probably multiple factors rolled into one: The Sheridan is a light tank, so it can scout enemy vehicles and get the cost of an aircraft spawn down. It also fires conventional, high caliber rounds, as well as the option for a missile that can be fired on the move through a stabilized cannon, meaning it can face enemies head on moreso than the M3 Bradley can. The round is capable of obliterating lightly armored enemy light tanks and SPAAs handily, and the missile means it can take care of long range engagements while not being as extreme as the M901 with only ATGMs as its defense. Urban combat, while preferably avoided, is also not too lacking, as long as the map isn't full of fences or bushes, and even then your roof mounted .50 caliber MG can make short work of obstacles to shoot your main gun. The Sheridan isn't really a specialist at anything outside of long range ATGM firing. The M60A2 arguably has a better hull and turret, with armor that can withstand most light autocannon fire and a laser rangefinder to shoot at range, but the Sheridan's scouting and flanking roles ultimately mean it's a vehicle that can fill a niche in most situations once spaded.

Long story short, the Sheridan is not an easy vehicle to be effective in, but with the Shillelagh and some clever map utilization can be a surprisingly solid supporting vehicle for the US 8.3 lineup.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Dual-purpose cannon which can fire either regular shells or ATGMs
  • Very fast turret traverse
  • High shell caliber means a successful, accurate hit can secure kills handily
  • Able to fulfill many roles effectively with its available set of weaponry.
  • The ATGM is extremely effective against heavily armored targets.

Cons:

  • Very thin armour
  • No kinetic rounds, only chemical rounds are available (which detonates on obstacles such as fences and therefore cannot shoot through them)
  • Low ammunition storage at only 30 rounds
  • ATGMs reload several seconds slower than normal ammunition
  • Can only hold 10 ATGM ammunition in total
  • Poor mobility when stock
  • Poor shell velocity and ballistics limit its effective range when not using the ATGM
  • It can see tanks equipped with explosive reactive armour such as the T-55AM-1 that can counter your shells.

History

Main article: History of the M551

Development

In the post-war period, U.S. Army specified for a new light tank that is light enough for air-transportation and have a large cruising range. The first resulting light tank, the M41 Walker Bulldog, did not meet these specifications and the following development such as the T92 were cancelled after the discovery of the amphibious Soviet PT-76 tank, which added a requirement for the light tank to also be amphibious. A new tank design began development, using aluminum alloy to save weight, a fabric screen for flotation, and a controversial 152 mm gun/launcher for firepower with the Shillelagh missiles. However, the design's lightweight and mobility made it favorable and so the tank was approved for Army standard in May 1966 and designated the M551 Sheridan. Between 1966 to 1970, 1,662 Sheridans were produced at a program cost of $1.3 billion.[1]

Deployment

The Sheridan first saw service in June 1967 in the 1/63rd Armor Regiment at Fort Riley. The first air usage of the Sheridan came from the 1/17th Cavalry at Fort Bragg. Its first overseas deployment was to South Korea in November 1968 and Europe in January 1969. 800 Sheridans were deployed worldwide by 1971. Troubles with the 152 mm Gun/Launcher plagued the M551's early service life as attempts were made to fix the issues in the weapon's ammo propellant and ability to fire missiles.[1]

The Sheridan's tank's first combat would be seen in Vietnam under the urging of General Creighton Abrams. The tank first arrived in January 1969 modified for the environment in a configuration dubbed "Two-Box M551" with many complex mechanical instrument boxes removed (save for two), as well as the ability to fire the Shillelagh missiles disabled and the production of a fletchette ammunition for the 152 mm gun/launcher. First impressions of the Sheridan were positive due to the weapon's effectiveness in anti-infantry and bunker busting roles, as well as the mobility able to maintain speed with the M113 armoured personnel carriers. However, experience soon soured when the lack of armour became apparent compared to the M48 Pattons employed in the theater, with the M551 vulnerable to mines and the numerous hand-held anti-tank weaponry.[1]

Post-Vietnam, the M551 Sheridans underwent a product improvement program (PIP) that upgraded the design. The next combat operation would be in Operation Just Cause in Panama, featuring the first and only time tanks were parachuted into a combat zone. Inserted with the 82nd Airborne Division, the M551 proved a popular psychological weapon against the opposing forces. After Panama, the M551 were also deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War in both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where in the latter they fought Iraqi units equipped with T-55s and T-72s in the only time in the M551's history that the gun-launched Shillelagh missiles were used against an enemy.[1]

Back in the United States, the M551 also found use in the U.S. Army's National Training Center at the Mojave desert in California, where they are dressed up to look like Soviet vehicles to play as the "opposing forces" to train the army units on tactics in the battlefield. After the Gulf War, the Sheridan's combat career came to an end and so they remained in service at the National Training Center until 2004. The Sheridans were retired without any replacement in the airborne tank role. Though attempts had been made in the late 1990's for a replacement, the Army decided that an airborne tank was simply not worth the cost for a specialized vehicle.[1]

Media

Skins
Videos
Airmobile tanks discusses the M551 at 3:53 - War Thunder Official Channel

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

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Zaloga, 2009
Bibliography
  • Zaloga Steven. M551 Sheridan: US Airmobile Tanks 1941-2001 Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2009


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

Cadillac Division of General Motors
Light Tanks 
M24 Chaffee*  M24
M551 Sheridan  M551
  *Designed in collaboration with U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
Export  ▅M24 · ␗M24 · ▄M24
Note  Cadillac is a division of General Motors (GM).

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