Difference between revisions of "Independent"

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_a1e1_independent}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=uk_a1e1_independent
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''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.''
+
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
The '''A1E1 Independent''' was an experimental British multi-turreted tank. Its development began in 1922 and was heavily influenced by the experience of World War I tank design, particularly in its numerous anti-infantry armament, weak armour, and large size in order to cross trenches. It was designed with reference to the French [[2C|Char 2C]], but was lighter and more manoeuvrable; the multi-turret concept would go on to influence a number of other tank designs, including the Soviet [[T-28]] and [[T-35]], and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]]. The first and only prototype of the A1E1 was built in 1926 and remained in service until 1935. However, at the start of World War II, the tank was returned to service and used as a static pillbox in case of German invasion of the British Isles. It survived the war and is now on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.
 +
 
 +
Introduced in [[Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters"]], the Independent is relatively survivable due to its large crew complement, but limited by its thin armour and large silhouette. Despite its size, it is surprisingly mobile and responsive, though not particularly fast. Firepower-wise, the Independent only has access to an APHE shell, with rather lacklustre penetration but adequate post-penetration damage.
  
 
== 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 helpfull 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.'' -->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 28 mm (0-27°) || 13 mm ''Top'' <br> 13 + 10 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm (0-58°) || 8 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Main turret || 28 mm (6-48°) ''Turret front'' <br> 20 mm (6°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 28 mm || 28 mm || 8 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Secondary turrets || 13 mm (0-3°) || 13 mm || 13 mm || 8 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 20 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
{{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.'' -->
  
−
== Weaponry ==
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=478|rbMinHp=327}}
−
=== Main weaponry ===
 
−
''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.''
 
  
−
=== Additional weaponry ===
+
=== Modifications and economy ===
−
''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.''
+
{{Specs-Economy}}
 +
 
 +
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 +
=== Main armament ===
 +
{{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|Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The QF 3-pounder is a somewhat unique weapon, being one of the few guns you will come across in the British tree capable of firing shells with explosive filler, indeed armour-piercing high explosive (APHE) is the only ammo type available for it. The explosive filler gives the QF 3-pounder somewhat better damage than that of the far more common [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|QF 2-pounder]], however this comes at the cost of significantly worse penetration. The reload rate is also slightly slower than the QF 2-pounder, however it still fairly quick with a shortest possible reload of 3.0 seconds (compared to 2.8 seconds for the QF 2-pounder).
 +
 
 +
The penetration of the QF 3-pounder is adequate although being lower than that of the QF 2-pounder you may find some targets harder to deal with than you were expecting. Although having fairly good damage the gun is often still not powerful enough to kill some larger tanks with a single shot.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)|47 mm Ordnance QF 3-pounder]] || 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" | 201 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 8.1 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 3.90 || rowspan="2" | 3.45 || rowspan="2" | 3.18 || rowspan="2" | 3.00
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 5.9 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)/Ammunition|Shell Mk.I}}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 +
{| 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
 +
|-
 +
| '''201''' || 181&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 166&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 151&nbsp;''(+50)'' || 136&nbsp;''(+65)'' || 121&nbsp;''(+80)'' || 106&nbsp;''(+95)'' || 91&nbsp;''(+110)''
 +
|-
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! 10th<br>rack empty
 +
! 11th<br>rack empty
 +
! 12th<br>rack empty
 +
! 13th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| 76&nbsp;''(+125)'' || 61&nbsp;''(+140)'' || 46&nbsp;''(+155)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+170)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+185)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+200)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Note''':
 +
 
 +
* Turret empty: 181&nbsp;''(+20)'' shells.
 +
 
 +
==== Optics ====
 +
The Independent has poor optics, a default magnification of x1.85 is the joint worst in the game (many other tanks have x1.85 optics, but no tank has less); and the maximum magnification of x3.5 is only marginally better than the minimum possible value of x3 (for balance reasons all tanks have at least x3 maximum magnification). Although the optics are objectively poor they are somewhat typical for tanks of this era, and many of the tanks the Independent will face have the same (or very similar) magnification values.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
 +
|-
 +
! Which ones
 +
! Default magnification
 +
! Maximum magnification
 +
|-
 +
! Main Gun optics
 +
| x1.85 || x3.5
 +
|-
 +
! Comparable optics
 +
| colspan="2" | [[Nb.Fz.]]
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== 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|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Front left || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -130°/+40°
 +
|-
 +
| Front right || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -40°/+130°
 +
|-
 +
| Rear left || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -3°/+15° || 0°/+130°
 +
|-
 +
| Rear right || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -3°/+15° || -160°/0°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== 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).'' -->
 +
 
 +
'''Gameplay Overview:'''
 +
 
 +
The A1E1 Independent is a large and somewhat slow tank that has a fairly unique playstyle. The multiple turret design is rare, with only a few other vehicles having this feature. Unfortunately, the independent's turrets are only armed with machine guns, meaning they will not be useful against most enemies. However, the large size and multiple turret design allows the Independent to survive large amounts of enemy fire. This is not because it has armour capable of bouncing enemy shells, but because it is exceptionally difficult for enemies to knock out all of the crew. The crew count can be considered a sort of health bar, while on low crew the Independent will be easily destroyed. The firepower is decent, but may struggle in many scenarios. The 3 pounder cannon is one of few guns in the British tree that fires APHE, but it suffers from low velocity and an unreliable fuze. The independent is best used as a heavy tank, trying to get close to enemy tanks, and tank damage for friendly tanks.
 +
 
 +
'''Close Range Engagements:'''
 +
 
 +
At close range the Independent is at an advantage against most foes. The survivability allows it to tank multiple hits from enemies. So long as you are able to destroy the enemy tank within the first few shots, you have the advantage.
  
−
== Usage in the battles ==
+
'''Long Range Engagements:'''
−
''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).''
+
 
 +
Long range engagements are not the strong suit of the Independent. The Independent's gun is unreliable at range, and some enemies will be able to slowly incapacitate the Independent's crew, until it is destroyed. At range, make sure to use cover and not overexpose the tank, as your crew members are your most valuable asset.The turret armour may be able to bounce shots at range.
 +
 
 +
'''Notable Enemies:'''
 +
 
 +
There are several tanks that the Independent may encounter near its BR that pose a serious threat to it. These tanks are dangerous because they are able to quickly destroy the Independents' biggest asset, the large crew count. One example is the [[Ho-Ro]] which can knock out the entire tank in a single hit due to its large artillery cannon. Similarly, the Panzer II series can quickly cut through the crew of an Independent with their [[KwK30 (20 mm)|KwK30]] and [[KwK38 (20 mm)|KwK38]] cannons.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''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".''
+
<!-- ''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:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* 47 mm gun is adequate
 +
* Large ammo reserve
 +
* It has explosives in the AP rounds, very rare in British vehicles
 +
* Like other large tanks (e.g. T-35, T-28 and SMK) it is a very complex vehicle to destroy with plenty of turrets, big tracks and curvy/angled parts to soak up rounds and 8 crew members to boot
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
+
* Very long tank, hard to hide side from flankers and manoeuvre in tight corners
−
''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.''
+
* Only one ammo type
 +
* Armour is quite thin
 +
* Vulnerable to 20 mm autocannons. In many ways they are more effective than normal cannons due to their high rate of fire
 +
* APHE is inconsistent due to vehicles the Independent will be facing in general have less than 25 mm of armour
 +
* Crew members are near each other, making a single penetrating shot deadly
 +
* Gun is blocked by the 4 MG turret when aiming down, reducing the angle of firing.
 +
 
 +
== 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).'' -->
 +
===Development===
 +
During the interwar period, British General Staff requested for a heavy tank design in 1924. The project, undertaken by an engineer named Walter Gordon Wilson, was designed by the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group. The finished prototype model was delivered to War Office in 1926. The design of the tank, named '''"Independent"''', was a multi-turreted design with a total of five turrets. The one in the center held a 3-pounder 47 mm gun while the other smaller turrets at the main turret's corner held Vickers machine guns. The tank can hold 8 crew members, a driver, four machine gunners, and three in the turret. It was around 28 tons and 25 feet long, despite being only 8 feet wide. This length caused some early problems as the tracks were too thin for the width, causing the rear sprocket wheels to peel the vehicle design as it continues to turn. W.G. Wilson attempted to fix this with an epicyclic steering system, but the tracks still wore out quickly. A unique feature on the Independent was a small opening on the left side of the tank that allowed for the placement of a stretcher for wounded crew members inside the tank to be pulled out from. <ref name="TankMuseumA1E1YT">The Tank Museum. ''Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent. (3:00)'' YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSwd7IcY9KA Video]</ref>
 +
 
 +
During the development and testing process, the Independent design was a item of espionage by the international community. Plans of the design ended up in the Soviet Union and in Germany, with a British officer named Norman Baillie-Stewart court-martialled for supplying secrets to the Germans, including the Independent plans. This espionage influenced several tank designs from these countries, with the [[T-28]] and [[T-35]] in the Soviet Union and the [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] in Germany.
 +
 
 +
===Cancellation===
 +
The Independent was tested by War Office all the way until 1935, but it was a troublesome design. Most of the tests focused on its automotive performance, not even passing along to gunnery trials. The Independent was also used in a officer school for recommendations and examinations. The only model built, the prototype, was deemed worn out in 1935 as the War Office saw no need to spend more money on the design when other vehicles were being produced. They retired the Independent and sent the model to the Bovington Tank Museum, where it sits today for display.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
−
== Read also ==
+
;Skins
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a1e1_independent Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|gR3JPNt0iPw|'''Heavyweight brits''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:14 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|RyA5KcS2hAw|'''Multi-turreted Tanks'''  discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:37  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|x8LVKOlnQdE|'''The Shooting Range #31''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 06:37 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|wSwd7IcY9KA|'''Tank Chats #24 Vickers A1E1 Independent''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}
 +
 
 +
== 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;''
 
* ''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.'' -->
−
''ETC.''
+
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 +
 
 +
* [[2C]]
 +
* [[Nb.Fz.]]
 +
* [[T-35]]
 +
* [[Ro-Go]]
  
−
== Sources ==
+
== 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;''
−
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
 
−
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/4253-development-a1e1-independent-a-land-ironclad-en/|[Devblog] A1E1 Independent - A Land Ironclad]]
 +
 
 +
=== References ===
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
{{Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs}}
 +
{{Britain heavy tanks}}
 +
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 08:22, 17 August 2024

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
Independent
uk_a1e1_independent.png
GarageImage Independent.jpg
ArtImage Independent.png
Independent
Britain flag.png Britain
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.3 1.3 1.3
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:2 100 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game

Description

The A1E1 Independent was an experimental British multi-turreted tank. Its development began in 1922 and was heavily influenced by the experience of World War I tank design, particularly in its numerous anti-infantry armament, weak armour, and large size in order to cross trenches. It was designed with reference to the French Char 2C, but was lighter and more manoeuvrable; the multi-turret concept would go on to influence a number of other tank designs, including the Soviet T-28 and T-35, and the German Neubaufahrzeug. The first and only prototype of the A1E1 was built in 1926 and remained in service until 1935. However, at the start of World War II, the tank was returned to service and used as a static pillbox in case of German invasion of the British Isles. It survived the war and is now on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

Introduced in Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters", the Independent is relatively survivable due to its large crew complement, but limited by its thin armour and large silhouette. Despite its size, it is surprisingly mobile and responsive, though not particularly fast. Firepower-wise, the Independent only has access to an APHE shell, with rather lacklustre penetration but adequate post-penetration damage.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull28 / 13 / 13
Turret28 / 28 / 28
Crew8 people
Visibility103 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 28 mm (0-27°) 13 mm Top
13 + 10 mm Bottom 		13 mm (0-58°) 8 mm
Main turret 28 mm (6-48°) Turret front
20 mm (6°) Gun mantlet 		28 mm 28 mm 8 mm
Secondary turrets 13 mm (0-3°) 13 mm 13 mm 8 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB35 / 5 km/h
RB and SB32 / 4 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight31.7 t
Engine power
AB706 hp
RB and SB370 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB22.3 hp/t
RB and SB11.7 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 35 5 31.7 478 706 15.08 22.27
Realistic 32 4 327 370 10.32 11.67

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB3 621 Sl icon.png
RB567 Sl icon.png
SB1 277 Sl icon.png
Crew training2 300 Sl icon.png
Experts15 000 Sl icon.png
Aces115 Ge icon.png
Research Aces320 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 40 / 40 / 60 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement uk.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism

Armaments

Main armament

47 mm Ordnance QF 3-pounder cannon
Shoulder stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition201 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.9 → 3.0 s
Vertical guidance-4° / 20°
Main article: Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)

The QF 3-pounder is a somewhat unique weapon, being one of the few guns you will come across in the British tree capable of firing shells with explosive filler, indeed armour-piercing high explosive (APHE) is the only ammo type available for it. The explosive filler gives the QF 3-pounder somewhat better damage than that of the far more common QF 2-pounder, however this comes at the cost of significantly worse penetration. The reload rate is also slightly slower than the QF 2-pounder, however it still fairly quick with a shortest possible reload of 3.0 seconds (compared to 2.8 seconds for the QF 2-pounder).

The penetration of the QF 3-pounder is adequate although being lower than that of the QF 2-pounder you may find some targets harder to deal with than you were expecting. Although having fairly good damage the gun is often still not powerful enough to kill some larger tanks with a single shot.

47 mm Ordnance QF 3-pounder Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 201 -4°/+20° ±180° Shoulder 8.1 11.2 13.6 15.0 16.0 3.90 3.45 3.18 3.00
Realistic 5.9 7.0 8.5 9.4 10.0

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
Shell Mk.I APHE 49 47 38 29 22 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%
Shell Mk.I APHE 563 1.65 1.2 9 16.5 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Independent
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty
201 181 (+20) 166 (+35) 151 (+50) 136 (+65) 121 (+80) 106 (+95) 91 (+110)
8th
rack empty 		9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		11th
rack empty 		12th
rack empty 		13th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
76 (+125) 61 (+140) 46 (+155) 31 (+170) 16 (+185) 1 (+200) No

Note:

  • Turret empty: 181 (+20) shells.

Optics

The Independent has poor optics, a default magnification of x1.85 is the joint worst in the game (many other tanks have x1.85 optics, but no tank has less); and the maximum magnification of x3.5 is only marginally better than the minimum possible value of x3 (for balance reasons all tanks have at least x3 maximum magnification). Although the optics are objectively poor they are somewhat typical for tanks of this era, and many of the tanks the Independent will face have the same (or very similar) magnification values.

Independent Optics
Which ones Default magnification Maximum magnification
Main Gun optics x1.85 x3.5
Comparable optics Nb.Fz.

Machine guns

4 x 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun
Ammunition16 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate390 shots/min
Main article: Vickers (7.7 mm)
7.7 mm Vickers
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Front left 4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -130°/+40°
Front right 4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -40°/+130°
Rear left 4,000 (250) 390 -3°/+15° 0°/+130°
Rear right 4,000 (250) 390 -3°/+15° -160°/0°

Usage in battles

Gameplay Overview:

The A1E1 Independent is a large and somewhat slow tank that has a fairly unique playstyle. The multiple turret design is rare, with only a few other vehicles having this feature. Unfortunately, the independent's turrets are only armed with machine guns, meaning they will not be useful against most enemies. However, the large size and multiple turret design allows the Independent to survive large amounts of enemy fire. This is not because it has armour capable of bouncing enemy shells, but because it is exceptionally difficult for enemies to knock out all of the crew. The crew count can be considered a sort of health bar, while on low crew the Independent will be easily destroyed. The firepower is decent, but may struggle in many scenarios. The 3 pounder cannon is one of few guns in the British tree that fires APHE, but it suffers from low velocity and an unreliable fuze. The independent is best used as a heavy tank, trying to get close to enemy tanks, and tank damage for friendly tanks.

Close Range Engagements:

At close range the Independent is at an advantage against most foes. The survivability allows it to tank multiple hits from enemies. So long as you are able to destroy the enemy tank within the first few shots, you have the advantage.

Long Range Engagements:

Long range engagements are not the strong suit of the Independent. The Independent's gun is unreliable at range, and some enemies will be able to slowly incapacitate the Independent's crew, until it is destroyed. At range, make sure to use cover and not overexpose the tank, as your crew members are your most valuable asset.The turret armour may be able to bounce shots at range.

Notable Enemies:

There are several tanks that the Independent may encounter near its BR that pose a serious threat to it. These tanks are dangerous because they are able to quickly destroy the Independents' biggest asset, the large crew count. One example is the Ho-Ro which can knock out the entire tank in a single hit due to its large artillery cannon. Similarly, the Panzer II series can quickly cut through the crew of an Independent with their KwK30 and KwK38 cannons.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 47 mm gun is adequate
  • Large ammo reserve
  • It has explosives in the AP rounds, very rare in British vehicles
  • Like other large tanks (e.g. T-35, T-28 and SMK) it is a very complex vehicle to destroy with plenty of turrets, big tracks and curvy/angled parts to soak up rounds and 8 crew members to boot

Cons:

  • Very long tank, hard to hide side from flankers and manoeuvre in tight corners
  • Only one ammo type
  • Armour is quite thin
  • Vulnerable to 20 mm autocannons. In many ways they are more effective than normal cannons due to their high rate of fire
  • APHE is inconsistent due to vehicles the Independent will be facing in general have less than 25 mm of armour
  • Crew members are near each other, making a single penetrating shot deadly
  • Gun is blocked by the 4 MG turret when aiming down, reducing the angle of firing.

History

Development

During the interwar period, British General Staff requested for a heavy tank design in 1924. The project, undertaken by an engineer named Walter Gordon Wilson, was designed by the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group. The finished prototype model was delivered to War Office in 1926. The design of the tank, named "Independent", was a multi-turreted design with a total of five turrets. The one in the center held a 3-pounder 47 mm gun while the other smaller turrets at the main turret's corner held Vickers machine guns. The tank can hold 8 crew members, a driver, four machine gunners, and three in the turret. It was around 28 tons and 25 feet long, despite being only 8 feet wide. This length caused some early problems as the tracks were too thin for the width, causing the rear sprocket wheels to peel the vehicle design as it continues to turn. W.G. Wilson attempted to fix this with an epicyclic steering system, but the tracks still wore out quickly. A unique feature on the Independent was a small opening on the left side of the tank that allowed for the placement of a stretcher for wounded crew members inside the tank to be pulled out from. [1]

During the development and testing process, the Independent design was a item of espionage by the international community. Plans of the design ended up in the Soviet Union and in Germany, with a British officer named Norman Baillie-Stewart court-martialled for supplying secrets to the Germans, including the Independent plans. This espionage influenced several tank designs from these countries, with the T-28 and T-35 in the Soviet Union and the Neubaufahrzeug in Germany.

Cancellation

The Independent was tested by War Office all the way until 1935, but it was a troublesome design. Most of the tests focused on its automotive performance, not even passing along to gunnery trials. The Independent was also used in a officer school for recommendations and examinations. The only model built, the prototype, was deemed worn out in 1935 as the War Office saw no need to spend more money on the design when other vehicles were being produced. They retired the Independent and sent the model to the Bovington Tank Museum, where it sits today for display.

Media

Skins
Videos
Heavyweight brits discusses the Independent at 1:14 - War Thunder Official Channel
Multi-turreted Tanks discusses the Independent at 3:37 - War Thunder Official Channel
The Shooting Range #31 - Metal Beasts section at 06:37 discusses the Independent.
Tank Chats #24 Vickers A1E1 Independent - The Tank Museum

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links

References

  1. ↑ The Tank Museum. Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent. (3:00) YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.Video


Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
Ships 
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Invincible-class  HMS Invincible*
Kongō-class  IJN Kongo**
Tanks 
Light Tanks  VFM5*** · Vickers Mk.11***
Light Tank Mk VI  Light AA Mk I
Light Tank Mk VII  Tetrarch I
Light Tank Mk VIII  Alecto I
Tank, Infantry, Valentine  Valentine I · Valentine IX · Valentine XI · Archer
Vickers MBT  Vickers Mk.1 · Vickers Mk.3 · Vickers Mk.7***
Heavy Tanks  Independent****
Export  ▂МК-IX "Valentine" · Vickers Mk.E****
See also  Vickers-Armstrongs Aircraft Limited
  *Previously Armstrong Whitworth
  **Built for Japan
  ***Vickers Defence Systems
  ****Previously Vickers Limited

Britain heavy tanks
Matilda  Matilda III · Matilda Hedgehog
Churchill  Churchill I · Churchill III · Churchill VII · Churchill Crocodile · Churchill NA75 · Black Prince
Post-war  Caernarvon · Conqueror
Other  Independent · Excelsior · TOG II

Britain premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II 1939 · AEC Mk II · Crusader "The Saint" · Rooikat 105
Medium tanks  A.C.I · Grant I · Cromwell V (RP-3) · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" · A.C.IV · Comet I "Iron Duke IV"
  Centurion Mk.2 · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk.5/1 · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet · Centurion Action X
  Vijayanta · Khalid · Challenger DS · Challenger 2 OES
Heavy tanks  Independent · Matilda Hedgehog · Excelsior · TOG II · Churchill Crocodile · Black Prince
Tank destroyers  Alecto I · Achilles (65 Rg.) · QF 3.7 Ram

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