Difference between revisions of "SPz 12-3 LGS"

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The '''SPz 12-3 LGS''' is based on the HS.30, a German Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which was also the first IFV in the world. Unfortunately, being the first in any field has consequences, and the HS.30 was quickly outpaced by first the Soviet Union's [[BMP-1]] and a mere 4 years later (from the SPz 12-3 LGS's deployment) by the [[Marder IFV (Family)|Marder]] family of IFVs in the Bundeswehr. Due to performance shortfalls and a rocky development history, the vehicle's initial 10,680 strong order was drastically slashed to just 2,176 vehicles, of which the SPz 12-3 LGS was a part of. The most notable change from the HS.30 to the SPz 12-3 LGS is the very noticeable 106 mm recoilless rifle that takes up the infantry compartment, which augmented the vehicle's lethality against enemy armoured vehicles with its high-penetration chemical rounds. The SPz 12-3 LGS was produced starting 1965 as a conversion of the HS.30, but all HS.30-derived vehicles were all but retired by the 1980 mark as the Bundeswehr transitioned to the Marder series of IFVs as well as the Raketenjagdpanzer series of tank destroyers in a transition to more effective, reliable vehicles.
 
The '''SPz 12-3 LGS''' is based on the HS.30, a German Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which was also the first IFV in the world. Unfortunately, being the first in any field has consequences, and the HS.30 was quickly outpaced by first the Soviet Union's [[BMP-1]] and a mere 4 years later (from the SPz 12-3 LGS's deployment) by the [[Marder IFV (Family)|Marder]] family of IFVs in the Bundeswehr. Due to performance shortfalls and a rocky development history, the vehicle's initial 10,680 strong order was drastically slashed to just 2,176 vehicles, of which the SPz 12-3 LGS was a part of. The most notable change from the HS.30 to the SPz 12-3 LGS is the very noticeable 106 mm recoilless rifle that takes up the infantry compartment, which augmented the vehicle's lethality against enemy armoured vehicles with its high-penetration chemical rounds. The SPz 12-3 LGS was produced starting 1965 as a conversion of the HS.30, but all HS.30-derived vehicles were all but retired by the 1980 mark as the Bundeswehr transitioned to the Marder series of IFVs as well as the Raketenjagdpanzer series of tank destroyers in a transition to more effective, reliable vehicles.
  
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was introduced in [[Update "La Royale"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season XII, "Armour Breaking Ambusher"]]. Equipped with a 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon and a 106 mm M40A1 recoilless rifle, it is able to engage both light and heavy armour effectively with high levels of versatility. While the hull is noticeably more sluggish compared to its upsized brethren such as the [[JPz 4-5]] due to an underpowered engine, it is also a much smaller vehicle and can easily hide the hull behind cover to ambush unsuspecting enemies. However, as the gun depression of the M40A1 is only -6 degrees, the vehicle doesn't have ''as'' much flexibility as other 106 mm recoilless rifle carriers at a similar BR, such as the [[M50]] and its -10 degree gun depression. Still, it is enough to utilize most spots on the map by only showing the upper right corner of your hull to fire, greatly increasing your survivability by not being seen in the first place until it's too late. Armour is adequate enough to stop low powered autocannons at range, but any serious enemy fire will easily penetrate your thin armour without much issue, so it's best to use the map to play around this weakness.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was introduced in [[Update "La Royale"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season XII, "Armour Breaking Ambusher"]]. Equipped with a 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon and a 106 mm M40A1 recoilless rifle, it is able to engage both light and heavy armour effectively with high levels of versatility. While the hull is noticeably more sluggish compared to its upsized brethren such as the [[JPz 4-5]] due to an underpowered engine, it is also a much smaller vehicle and can easily hide the hull behind cover to ambush unsuspecting enemies. The gun depression of the M40A1 is -17 degrees, giving the vehicle more flexibility than other 106 mm recoilless rifle carriers at a similar BR, such as the [[M50]] and its -10 degree gun depression. It is enough to utilize most spots on the map by only showing the upper right corner of your hull to fire, greatly increasing your survivability by not being seen in the first place until it's too late. Armour is adequate enough to stop low powered autocannons at range, but any serious enemy fire will easily penetrate your thin armour without much issue, so it's best to use the map to play around this weakness.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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The protection of the SPz 12-3 is fairly poor. The armour is insufficient to protect itself against close up heavy machine gun fire, with the majority of the hull and portions of the turret easily ripped to shreds from any angle. However, the poor armour protection can sometimes be a benefit, as rounds may pass through without fusing the shell's explosive filler. It is best to assume any hit you take will be fatal, and you should play around this fact accordingly to increase your potency on the battlefield.
 
The protection of the SPz 12-3 is fairly poor. The armour is insufficient to protect itself against close up heavy machine gun fire, with the majority of the hull and portions of the turret easily ripped to shreds from any angle. However, the poor armour protection can sometimes be a benefit, as rounds may pass through without fusing the shell's explosive filler. It is best to assume any hit you take will be fatal, and you should play around this fact accordingly to increase your potency on the battlefield.
  
−
The SPz 12-3's crew compartment is a bit strange in terms of layout, with 3 of the crew being cramped together in the front of the vehicle near the turret, and the other two being behind them with ammunition between the two compartments. This can allow some glancing shots - mostly lower caliber rounds or rounds with relatively low spall such as APDS rounds - to be taken, although the abundance of ammunition inside the vehicle somewhat diminishes this upside.
+
The SPz 12-3's crew compartment is a bit strange in terms of layout, with 3 of the crew being cramped together in the front of the vehicle near the turret, and the other two being behind them with ammunition between the two compartments. This can allow some glancing shots - mostly lower calibre rounds or rounds with relatively low spall such as APDS rounds - to be taken, although the abundance of ammunition inside the vehicle somewhat diminishes this upside.
  
 
The one redeeming quality in terms of survivability this vehicle has is its extremely small profile. This enables the SPz 12-3 to very easily hide behind objects, and even operate its gun from behind fairly low obstacles with little risk of being destroyed, as the recoilless rifle sits well above the squishy body of this light tank.
 
The one redeeming quality in terms of survivability this vehicle has is its extremely small profile. This enables the SPz 12-3 to very easily hide behind objects, and even operate its gun from behind fairly low obstacles with little risk of being destroyed, as the recoilless rifle sits well above the squishy body of this light tank.
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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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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|M40A1 (106 mm)}}
 
{{main|M40A1 (106 mm)}}
 +
 +
The SPz 12-3 LGS comes equipped with a 106 mm recoilless rifle - sporting fairly hefty damage but with a noticeable reload and slow traverse rate - traits that limit your reactiveness as lining up a shot takes longer than most contemporaries. This lends the vehicle more to an ambush playstyle to play around the gun, using slight inclines to 'lob' the shells at your enemies exploiting the somewhat high drop the shells have after launch. It is preferable to use the HEAT ammo over the HESH ammunition, as the HESH rounds are more fickle with damage and are less flexible overall.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 28 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+13° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 9.5 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__
+
| rowspan="2" | 28 || rowspan="2" | -17°/+65° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 9.5 || 13.2 || 16.0 || 17.7 || 18.8 || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | 11.50 || rowspan="2" | 10.60 || rowspan="2" | 10.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
−
| 5.9 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
+
| 5.9 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
The SPz 12-3 LGS uses the same recoilless rifle as widely used by multiple NATO countries, Players can utilize either the M344A1 or M361A1 projectiles as their primary ammunition. The M344A1 is a shaped charge ammunition with high penetration. This is sufficient to go through anything it faces at its BR, However the damage can be mediocre as the jet travels in straight line inside the vehicle. On the other hand, the M361A1 is a high-explosive squash head round. The penetration may look disappointing when compared to the M344A1 but the main ability of M361A1 lies with its ability to ignore angled armour. However, when the M361A1 comes into contact with spaced armour, it will do no damage because of the rounds mechanism. Both rounds are chemical energy ammunition with very sensitive fuses, so the rounds can explode early if they come in contact with objects such as fences, bushes or trees. Players should take care when aiming. This also mean ERA will be able to resist it and spaced armour will be able to reduce its effectiveness. However, spaced armour is rare while ERA is not common at this BR. Both rounds also have low muzzle velocity at 503 m/s and 498 m/s. Sniping at long distance can be a problem and should be avoided due to poor muzzle velocity.
+
The SPz 12-3 LGS uses the same 106 mm recoilless rifle, widely used by multiple Western-aligned countries at this BR. Players can utilize either the M344A1 or M361A1 projectiles as their primary ammunition - M344A1 is a shaped charge ammunition with high penetration, while M361A1 is a HESH round that can go through even high angled plates of thin thickness. M344A1 is sufficient at penetrating anything the SPz 12-3 LGS faces at its BR, but the damage can be mediocre as the jet travels in a straight line inside the vehicle. M361A1 on the other hand lacks the raw penetration of the HEAT round, but doesn't care about angles so if you shoot at an armored plate with a thickness lower than your shell's penetration, however angled, the shell will be able to do critical damage to the enemy. However, when M361A1 comes into contact with spaced armour, it will do no damage because of how HESH works. Both rounds are chemical in nature with very sensitive fuses, so the rounds can explode early if they come in contact with objects such as fences, bushes, ERA, tracks or spaced armor - meaning players should be aware of their surroundings when shooting an enemy. Both rounds also have low muzzle velocity at 503 m/s and 498 m/s and a noticeable shell drop, which can be a blessing and a curse at the same time as it's hard to get used to but also allows you to lob shells on arcing trajectories over small obstacles. Sniping at range isn't impossible but is generally not recommended due to the innately slow muzzle velocity and significant shell drop.
  
 
{{:M40A1 (106 mm)/Ammunition|M344A1, M361A1}}
 
{{:M40A1 (106 mm)/Ammunition|M344A1, M361A1}}
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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 about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|MK20-1 (20 mm)}}
 
{{main|MK20-1 (20 mm)}}
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 +
The SPz 12-3 LGS comes equipped with a 20 mm autocannon, capable of moderate traverse both in the vertical and horizontal axes. It has moderate penetration and slews slower than expected, meaning it's more ideal against enemy open top or light vehicles than enemy aircraft. Against an enemy plane it is better to try and 'pre-aim' to a spot the plane will be passing rather than trying to actively adjust your aim, as the slew rate is below average and will most likely be unable to keep up with a close up aircraft in at least one axis. It is also a very helpful tool to destroy fences and trees for the 106 mm main gun, letting you stay in less ideal spots that other players may not expect to pounce on them at an opportune moment.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 600 (120) || rowspan="2" | 900 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±100° || rowspan="2" | - || 29 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | 9.10 || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__
+
| rowspan="2" | 600 (120) || rowspan="2" | 900 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±100° || rowspan="2" | - || 29 || 39 || 48 || 53 || 56 || rowspan="2" | 9.1 || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.4 || rowspan="2" | 7
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
−
| 18 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
+
| 18 || 21 || 25 || 28 || 30
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
The SPz 12-3 LGS is also armed with a secondary autocannon with a high fire rate and able to shred light vehicles. The MK20-1 comes with 2 belts, DM51A1 and DM43. Your primary belt should be DM43 as it contains 3 HVAP rounds for 1 HEI-T round in the belt. While the DM51A1 can be used to destroy extremely light or open-topped vehicles with the HEI-T rounds in the belt. Technically, players are also able to utilize the MK20-1 to shoot at low-flying aircraft, however this should be avoided due to the poor vertical traverse and poor turret rotation speed of the gun.
+
The MK20-1 comes with 2 belts, DM51A1 and DM43. Your primary belt should be DM43 as it contains 3 HVAP rounds for 1 HEI-T round in the belt. While the DM51A1 can be used to destroy extremely light or open-topped vehicles with the HEI-T rounds in the belt. Players are also able to utilize the MK20-1 to shoot at low-flying aircraft, however this should be a last resort due to the poor vertical traverse and poor turret rotation speed of the gun. It is to be noted that the autocannon cannot switch belts immediately like on the [[Marder IFV (Family) | Marder IFV]]s due to the lack of a dual feed system, so caution is to be exercised when firing the gun with a loose trigger finger.
  
−
* '''DM51A1:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}
+
* '''DM51A1:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}
−
* '''DM43:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
+
* '''DM43:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
  
−
<!-- {{:MK20-1 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HVAP-T, HEFI-T}} -->
+
{{:MK20-1 (20 mm)/Ammunition|HVAP-T, HEFI-T*}}
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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|M80 (12.7 mm)}}
+
{{main|M8C (12.7 mm)}}
−
The SPz 12-3 LGS is also equipped with a spotting machine gun attached to the recoilless rifle. It doesn't have much use in an offensive capability.
+
 
 +
The SPz 12-3 LGS is also equipped with a spotting machine gun attached to the recoilless rifle. Due to the gun's fixed mount and very low ammunition count per clip, it is only useful for knocking down fences or killing exposed crew in case the 20 mm autocannon is unavailable.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | [[M80 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M80]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[M8C (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M8C]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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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).'' -->
−
In this vehicle, every other vehicle is a major threat to your existence. Cover, concealment, scouting, and striking first are essential if you want to effectively use this vehicle. Although it may be small and pack a punch like its Italian cousin, the [[FIAT 6614]], you will not be able to speed across the map and take up positions quickly. Lying in wait, traveling beneath cover, and striking from the sides will get you the most success. The recoilless rifle mounted on this vehicle will afford you some amount of leeway in terms of shot placement, but be aware that the drop on projectiles is quite significant, and ranging may be necessary if you are not familiar with the shot arc, even at relatively close ranges.
 
  
−
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with roof height obstacles and terrain. These will allow you to occupy useful positions to fire from as your weapon sits high above the roof and can expose itself worry-free while the rest of your tank remains protected behind these objects.
+
The SPz 12-3 LGS is a versatile ambusher with many tools available to it. Think of the vehicle as a Swiss Army Knife of sorts - it has various tools at its disposal that let it perform many things despite its other shortcomings. It may not be the best choice for every map or situation, but on most maps it can offer at least some kind of strength in its role respective to other vehicles in your lineup.
 +
 
 +
The armour is probably the weakest aspect of the vehicle, something which is painfully obvious for all vehicles on similar hulls. The HS.30 was the world's first IFV, and as such the pioneering nature of the vehicle in the field does little to help your survivability on the battlefield. More akin to APCs of the time like the [[M113 (Family)|M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier]] than the [[BMP (Disambiguation)|BMP]]s or [[Marder IFV (Family)|Marder IFV]]s in armour, your best survival tactic is to just avoid enemy fire entirely. The vehicle's low profile thankfully helps with this a lot, letting you use low mounds or roads as basic cover in times of need. Try and position yourself so that the vehicle can reverse out to get your gun on target, which also allows you to scoot off quickly after firing to evade return fire completely.
 +
 
 +
Mobility is slightly disappointing, with the vehicle sporting a HP/ton between that of the Tiger and Panther at around 13.75 HP/ton, which is surprisingly low considering the modified and improved [[JPz 4-5|Kanonenjagdpanzer]] hull has a HP/ton of near 20. This means that the SPz 12-3 LGS won't be leading the vanguard to the enemy frontlines; rather, you will be moving alongside your medium and heavy tanks as the second line of defense. As such, it is important to keep in mind that the best ambushing positions are likely to already have been taken by both your enemy and your own team's light vehicles. Playing slightly more laid-back also helps as your reload is slower than average, so this lets you retreat safely without the threat of being run over.
 +
 
 +
Firepower is the real standout of the vehicle - if you could call it that. The 106 mm Recoilless Rifle is hard to master at ranges past a few hundred meters, but it also has fairly good damage, causes overpressure easily on open top vehicles and the arcing trajectory sometimes enables shots that would be troublesome with contemporary tank guns. The 20 mm autocannon also allows you to knock down terrain obstructions on the map - something its similar cousins such as the [[FIAT 6614]] or [[Type 60 SPRG (C)]] noticeably lack - while also letting you conserve ammunition / act as a fallback against light vehicles and the occasional plane. The cannon can also be used to disable an enemy's tracks or barrel when retreating, and the 106 mm can launch over small hills as enemies try and push up to overrun you. The long reload and sometimes inconsistent spalling of the HEAT round are, however, downsides you should keep in mind at all times.
 +
 
 +
Overall, while the vehicle isn't the most versatile, it is still a surprisingly capable vehicle that overcomes a fair few problems similar vehicles of its type have. It does noticeably lose out on ''some'' areas, for example size and gun angles for the Type 60 and mobility for the FIAT 6614, but the 20 mm autocannon turret and low profile generally lend itself well to ambush plays. Some tricks, like positioning the gun to one side and reversing out a mild incline to 'shoot'n scoot', can add to the versatility of the vehicle, but at the end of the day the SPz 12-3 LGS performs best on fairly close quarters, shrub-free maps. Hiding behind concrete piles with the gun just barely sticking out, shooting a critically damaging shot before scooting off to another position on the map, you can be a thorn in the enemy's side and cause all sorts of problems when masterfully played. Just remember at all times that your gun may not deal a one-hit kill all the time, and that if you do miss your armour is lacking and your gun's reload fairly long, and the vehicle will allow some very unique playstyles for the German tree.
  
 
=== 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".'' -->
 +
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* 106 mm recoilless rifle with rounds that have high penetration, able to go through most vehicles at this BR
+
* 106 mm recoilless rifle can effortlessly cleave through enemy armour with HEAT
−
* Decently mobile. You will be able to reach your position within few minutes of the match
+
* 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon will shred and destroy lightly-armoured vehicles, aircraft and enemy track/barrels
−
* 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon will shred and destroy lightly-armoured vehicles. The autocannon can also be used to quickly shred cannon, tracks and such
+
* 20 mm cannon also lets you destroy shrubs and fences, clearing the way for your main gun
−
* The recoilless rifle is lifted high above the vehicle. Combined with the vehicle's small size, it allows the vehicle to utilize position that can cover the entire the vehicle while letting the gun sticking out
+
* The recoilless rifle is lifted high above the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to exploit positions that can cover the entire vehicle while having the gun sticking out, usually to one side
 +
* Hull is very small and low to the ground
 +
* 106 mm recoilless rifle has a staggering 17° of gun depression and 65° of elevation
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Poor armour, getting hit by chemical energy shells of any type will instantly overpressure your vehicle. It is also extremely vulnerable to aircraft or machine gun fire from the side.
+
* Poor survivability against anything above light MG fire
−
* The 20 mm MK20-1 cannon has poor turret traverse speed and horizontal traverse, fighting aircraft with it can be difficult.
+
* The 20 mm MK20-1 cannon has a sluggish traverse rate, limiting effectiveness against aircraft
−
* The 106 mm recoilless rifle rounds has a poor muzzle velocity, sniping can be difficult or entirely out of question on some maps
+
* 106 mm recoilless rifle rounds have poor muzzle velocity and high shell drop
−
* The recoilless rifle rounds only has chemical energy shells, fences and trees can trigger the rounds early and ERA/spaced armour can reduce the rounds' effectiveness.
+
* Bushes and fences can catch the 106 mm HEAT rounds if unattended to with the 20 mm
 +
* Reload is fairly lengthy, can be very punishing
 +
* Somewhat low ammunition count of 17 rounds
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==

Latest revision as of 22:10, 23 November 2024

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SPz 12-3 LGS
germ_spz_12_3.png
GarageImage SPz 12-3 LGS.jpg
SPz 12-3 LGS
Germany flag.png Germany
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Description

The SPz 12-3 LGS is based on the HS.30, a German Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which was also the first IFV in the world. Unfortunately, being the first in any field has consequences, and the HS.30 was quickly outpaced by first the Soviet Union's BMP-1 and a mere 4 years later (from the SPz 12-3 LGS's deployment) by the Marder family of IFVs in the Bundeswehr. Due to performance shortfalls and a rocky development history, the vehicle's initial 10,680 strong order was drastically slashed to just 2,176 vehicles, of which the SPz 12-3 LGS was a part of. The most notable change from the HS.30 to the SPz 12-3 LGS is the very noticeable 106 mm recoilless rifle that takes up the infantry compartment, which augmented the vehicle's lethality against enemy armoured vehicles with its high-penetration chemical rounds. The SPz 12-3 LGS was produced starting 1965 as a conversion of the HS.30, but all HS.30-derived vehicles were all but retired by the 1980 mark as the Bundeswehr transitioned to the Marder series of IFVs as well as the Raketenjagdpanzer series of tank destroyers in a transition to more effective, reliable vehicles.

The Schützenpanzer 12-3 mit Leichtgeschütz was introduced in Update "La Royale" as a reward for Battle Pass: Season XII, "Armour Breaking Ambusher". Equipped with a 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon and a 106 mm M40A1 recoilless rifle, it is able to engage both light and heavy armour effectively with high levels of versatility. While the hull is noticeably more sluggish compared to its upsized brethren such as the JPz 4-5 due to an underpowered engine, it is also a much smaller vehicle and can easily hide the hull behind cover to ambush unsuspecting enemies. The gun depression of the M40A1 is -17 degrees, giving the vehicle more flexibility than other 106 mm recoilless rifle carriers at a similar BR, such as the M50 and its -10 degree gun depression. It is enough to utilize most spots on the map by only showing the upper right corner of your hull to fire, greatly increasing your survivability by not being seen in the first place until it's too late. Armour is adequate enough to stop low powered autocannons at range, but any serious enemy fire will easily penetrate your thin armour without much issue, so it's best to use the map to play around this weakness.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 15 / 20
Turret30 / 15 / 15
Crew5 people
Visibility84 %

The protection of the SPz 12-3 is fairly poor. The armour is insufficient to protect itself against close up heavy machine gun fire, with the majority of the hull and portions of the turret easily ripped to shreds from any angle. However, the poor armour protection can sometimes be a benefit, as rounds may pass through without fusing the shell's explosive filler. It is best to assume any hit you take will be fatal, and you should play around this fact accordingly to increase your potency on the battlefield.

The SPz 12-3's crew compartment is a bit strange in terms of layout, with 3 of the crew being cramped together in the front of the vehicle near the turret, and the other two being behind them with ammunition between the two compartments. This can allow some glancing shots - mostly lower calibre rounds or rounds with relatively low spall such as APDS rounds - to be taken, although the abundance of ammunition inside the vehicle somewhat diminishes this upside.

The one redeeming quality in terms of survivability this vehicle has is its extremely small profile. This enables the SPz 12-3 to very easily hide behind objects, and even operate its gun from behind fairly low obstacles with little risk of being destroyed, as the recoilless rifle sits well above the squishy body of this light tank.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 30 mm (55°) Upper glacis
20 mm (45°) Lower glacis 		15 mm (34°) Top
15 mmBottom 		20 mm (55°) Upper glacis
20 mm (45°) Lower glacis		 30 mm (35°) Front glacis
10 mm Crew and engine compartments
20 mm (35°) Rear glacis
Turret 30 mm (55°) Turret front
30 mm (cylindrical) Gun mantlet 		15 mm (14-17°) 15 mm (14-15°) 30 mm (35°) Turret front
10 mm (6°) Turret rear)

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, tracks, and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 11 mm thick.
  • Track undersides are 10 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB62 / 15 km/h
RB and SB56 / 13 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
2 back
Weight16.0 t
Engine power
AB420 hp
RB and SB220 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB26.3 hp/t
RB and SB13.8 hp/t

The SPz 12-3 LGS is slightly underwhelming as a vehicle in terms of mobility. The later JPz 4-5 and RakJPz 2/RakJPz 2 (HOT) hulls have significantly better mobility as well as a reverse gearbox, while the LGS has a HP/ton between that of the Tiger 1 and Panther series of vehicles at best and is not suited to flanking across the map early on. The vehicle's top speed is adequate at 56 km/h, and the reverse gear also isn't lacking at a sufficient 13 km/h speed. Overall, the vehicle will carry you to where you need to be, but it is always best to assume enemy light tanks have already taken the most advantageous positions by the time you reach similar spots.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 62 15 16 341 420 21.31 26.25
Realistic 56 13 195 220 12.19 13.75

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 161 Sl icon.png
RB2 638 Sl icon.png
SB3 608 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts440 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 340 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 120 / 160 / 210 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 190 / 190 / 190 % 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 ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics

Armaments

Main armament

106 mm Recoilless Rifle M40A1
Ammunition28 rounds
First-order20 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
13.0 → 10.0 s
Vertical guidance-17° / 65°
Main article: M40A1 (106 mm)

The SPz 12-3 LGS comes equipped with a 106 mm recoilless rifle - sporting fairly hefty damage but with a noticeable reload and slow traverse rate - traits that limit your reactiveness as lining up a shot takes longer than most contemporaries. This lends the vehicle more to an ambush playstyle to play around the gun, using slight inclines to 'lob' the shells at your enemies exploiting the somewhat high drop the shells have after launch. It is preferable to use the HEAT ammo over the HESH ammunition, as the HESH rounds are more fickle with damage and are less flexible overall.

106 mm M40A1 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 28 -17°/+65° ±180° - 9.5 13.2 16.0 17.7 18.8 13.00 11.50 10.60 10.00
Realistic 5.9 7.0 8.5 9.4 10.0

Ammunition

The SPz 12-3 LGS uses the same 106 mm recoilless rifle, widely used by multiple Western-aligned countries at this BR. Players can utilize either the M344A1 or M361A1 projectiles as their primary ammunition - M344A1 is a shaped charge ammunition with high penetration, while M361A1 is a HESH round that can go through even high angled plates of thin thickness. M344A1 is sufficient at penetrating anything the SPz 12-3 LGS faces at its BR, but the damage can be mediocre as the jet travels in a straight line inside the vehicle. M361A1 on the other hand lacks the raw penetration of the HEAT round, but doesn't care about angles so if you shoot at an armored plate with a thickness lower than your shell's penetration, however angled, the shell will be able to do critical damage to the enemy. However, when M361A1 comes into contact with spaced armour, it will do no damage because of how HESH works. Both rounds are chemical in nature with very sensitive fuses, so the rounds can explode early if they come in contact with objects such as fences, bushes, ERA, tracks or spaced armor - meaning players should be aware of their surroundings when shooting an enemy. Both rounds also have low muzzle velocity at 503 m/s and 498 m/s and a noticeable shell drop, which can be a blessing and a curse at the same time as it's hard to get used to but also allows you to lob shells on arcing trajectories over small obstacles. Sniping at range isn't impossible but is generally not recommended due to the innately slow muzzle velocity and significant shell drop.

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

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the SPz 12-3 LGS
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
28 25 (+3) 21 (+7) 1 (+27) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear from the rack after having been loaded into the breech.
  • Rack 3 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 20 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
  • This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 1 - 2.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 and 2 into rack 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Additional armament

20 mm MK20-1 cannon
Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity120 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.1 → 7.0 s
Fire rate900 shots/min
Vertical guidance-6° / 20°
Horizontal guidance-100° / 100°
Main article: MK20-1 (20 mm)

The SPz 12-3 LGS comes equipped with a 20 mm autocannon, capable of moderate traverse both in the vertical and horizontal axes. It has moderate penetration and slews slower than expected, meaning it's more ideal against enemy open top or light vehicles than enemy aircraft. Against an enemy plane it is better to try and 'pre-aim' to a spot the plane will be passing rather than trying to actively adjust your aim, as the slew rate is below average and will most likely be unable to keep up with a close up aircraft in at least one axis. It is also a very helpful tool to destroy fences and trees for the 106 mm main gun, letting you stay in less ideal spots that other players may not expect to pounce on them at an opportune moment.

20 mm MK20-1 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 600 (120) 900 -6°/+20° ±100° - 29 39 48 53 56 9.1 8.1 7.4 7
Realistic 18 21 25 28 30

Ammunition

The MK20-1 comes with 2 belts, DM51A1 and DM43. Your primary belt should be DM43 as it contains 3 HVAP rounds for 1 HEI-T round in the belt. While the DM51A1 can be used to destroy extremely light or open-topped vehicles with the HEI-T rounds in the belt. Players are also able to utilize the MK20-1 to shoot at low-flying aircraft, however this should be a last resort due to the poor vertical traverse and poor turret rotation speed of the gun. It is to be noted that the autocannon cannot switch belts immediately like on the Marder IFVs due to the lack of a dual feed system, so caution is to be exercised when firing the gun with a loose trigger finger.

  • DM51A1: HEFI-T* · HEFI-T* · HEFI-T* · HVAP-T
  • DM43: HVAP-T · HVAP-T · HVAP-T · HEFI-T*

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HVAP-T 57 52 37 24 15 10
HEFI-T* 7 6 5 3 2 2
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HVAP-T 1,100 0.11 - - - 66° 70° 72°
HEFI-T* 1,100 0.13 0.1 0.1 11.05 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
5 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Machine guns

12.7 mm M8C machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition120 rounds
Belt capacity10 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.2 → 2.5 s
Fire rate300 shots/min
Main article: M8C (12.7 mm)

The SPz 12-3 LGS is also equipped with a spotting machine gun attached to the recoilless rifle. Due to the gun's fixed mount and very low ammunition count per clip, it is only useful for knocking down fences or killing exposed crew in case the 20 mm autocannon is unavailable.

12.7 mm M8C
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 120 (5) 300 - -

Usage in battles

The SPz 12-3 LGS is a versatile ambusher with many tools available to it. Think of the vehicle as a Swiss Army Knife of sorts - it has various tools at its disposal that let it perform many things despite its other shortcomings. It may not be the best choice for every map or situation, but on most maps it can offer at least some kind of strength in its role respective to other vehicles in your lineup.

The armour is probably the weakest aspect of the vehicle, something which is painfully obvious for all vehicles on similar hulls. The HS.30 was the world's first IFV, and as such the pioneering nature of the vehicle in the field does little to help your survivability on the battlefield. More akin to APCs of the time like the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier than the BMPs or Marder IFVs in armour, your best survival tactic is to just avoid enemy fire entirely. The vehicle's low profile thankfully helps with this a lot, letting you use low mounds or roads as basic cover in times of need. Try and position yourself so that the vehicle can reverse out to get your gun on target, which also allows you to scoot off quickly after firing to evade return fire completely.

Mobility is slightly disappointing, with the vehicle sporting a HP/ton between that of the Tiger and Panther at around 13.75 HP/ton, which is surprisingly low considering the modified and improved Kanonenjagdpanzer hull has a HP/ton of near 20. This means that the SPz 12-3 LGS won't be leading the vanguard to the enemy frontlines; rather, you will be moving alongside your medium and heavy tanks as the second line of defense. As such, it is important to keep in mind that the best ambushing positions are likely to already have been taken by both your enemy and your own team's light vehicles. Playing slightly more laid-back also helps as your reload is slower than average, so this lets you retreat safely without the threat of being run over.

Firepower is the real standout of the vehicle - if you could call it that. The 106 mm Recoilless Rifle is hard to master at ranges past a few hundred meters, but it also has fairly good damage, causes overpressure easily on open top vehicles and the arcing trajectory sometimes enables shots that would be troublesome with contemporary tank guns. The 20 mm autocannon also allows you to knock down terrain obstructions on the map - something its similar cousins such as the FIAT 6614 or Type 60 SPRG (C) noticeably lack - while also letting you conserve ammunition / act as a fallback against light vehicles and the occasional plane. The cannon can also be used to disable an enemy's tracks or barrel when retreating, and the 106 mm can launch over small hills as enemies try and push up to overrun you. The long reload and sometimes inconsistent spalling of the HEAT round are, however, downsides you should keep in mind at all times.

Overall, while the vehicle isn't the most versatile, it is still a surprisingly capable vehicle that overcomes a fair few problems similar vehicles of its type have. It does noticeably lose out on some areas, for example size and gun angles for the Type 60 and mobility for the FIAT 6614, but the 20 mm autocannon turret and low profile generally lend itself well to ambush plays. Some tricks, like positioning the gun to one side and reversing out a mild incline to 'shoot'n scoot', can add to the versatility of the vehicle, but at the end of the day the SPz 12-3 LGS performs best on fairly close quarters, shrub-free maps. Hiding behind concrete piles with the gun just barely sticking out, shooting a critically damaging shot before scooting off to another position on the map, you can be a thorn in the enemy's side and cause all sorts of problems when masterfully played. Just remember at all times that your gun may not deal a one-hit kill all the time, and that if you do miss your armour is lacking and your gun's reload fairly long, and the vehicle will allow some very unique playstyles for the German tree.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 106 mm recoilless rifle can effortlessly cleave through enemy armour with HEAT
  • 20 mm MK20-1 autocannon will shred and destroy lightly-armoured vehicles, aircraft and enemy track/barrels
  • 20 mm cannon also lets you destroy shrubs and fences, clearing the way for your main gun
  • The recoilless rifle is lifted high above the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to exploit positions that can cover the entire vehicle while having the gun sticking out, usually to one side
  • Hull is very small and low to the ground
  • 106 mm recoilless rifle has a staggering 17° of gun depression and 65° of elevation

Cons:

  • Poor survivability against anything above light MG fire
  • The 20 mm MK20-1 cannon has a sluggish traverse rate, limiting effectiveness against aircraft
  • 106 mm recoilless rifle rounds have poor muzzle velocity and high shell drop
  • Bushes and fences can catch the 106 mm HEAT rounds if unattended to with the 20 mm
  • Reload is fairly lengthy, can be very punishing
  • Somewhat low ammunition count of 17 rounds

History

Anti-tank modifications on the Swiss-developed HS.30 armoured personnel carriers began to be introduced to the Bundeswehr in 1966. They were built as the long-chassis APC SPz 12-3 (SPz lg) with a roof-mounted rotary mount with an American M40A1 106mm recoilless rifle. This modification was a fighting vehicle with 5 men crew to control both the 20-mm automatic gun and anti-tank rifle. Since 1971, the anti-tank SPz 12-3 vehicles have been gradually withdrawn from the regular formations of the German army and replaced with the Marder infantry fighting vehicles. A small batch of SPz 12-3 was handed over to the Peruvian army, the rest of the vehicles were dismantled, used as targets at training grounds, or placed in museums.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #367 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the SPz 12-3 LGS.
Battle Pass: Armour Breaking Ambusher discusses the SPz 12-3 LGS at 2:37 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Related development

External links


Germany light tanks
Pz.II  Pz.II C · Pz.II C (DAK) · Pz.II C TD · Pz.II F · Pz.Sfl.Ic
Sd.Kfz.234  Sd.Kfz.234/1 · Sd.Kfz.234/2 · Sd.Kfz.234/2 TD
Marder  Marder A1- · Marder 1A3 · Begleitpanzer 57 · DF105
SPz PUMA  PUMA · PUMA VJTF
Wheeled  Sd.Kfz.221 (s.Pz.B.41) · Class 3 (P) · Radkampfwagen 90 · Boxer MGS
Other  Ru 251 · SPz 12-3 LGS
Argentina  TAM · TAM 2C · TAM 2IP · JaPz.K A2
Czechoslovakia  Pz.35(t) · Pz.38(t) A · Pz.38(t) F · Pz.38(t) n.A. · Sd.Kfz. 140/1
France  Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK
Lithuania  Vilkas
USA  leKPz M41
USSR  SPz BMP-1

Germany premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  Pz.II C (DAK) · Pz.Sfl.Ic · Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK · Sd.Kfz. 140/1 · Sd.Kfz.234/1 · Ru 251 · SPz 12-3 LGS · TAM 2IP
Medium tanks  Nb.Fz. · Pz.III N · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r) · Ersatz M10
  mKPz M47 G · Turm III · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4M
Heavy tanks  ▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill · ▀KV-IB · ▀KW I C 756 (r) · ▀KW II 754 (r)
  VK 45.01 (P) · ␠Tiger · Pz.Bef.Wg.VI P · Tiger II (H) Sla.16
Tank destroyers  Sd.Kfz.234/3 · Sd.Kfz.234/4 · Sd.Kfz.251/10 · Sd.Kfz.251/22 · 15 cm Pz.W.42
  Brummbär · Panzer IV/70(A) · VFW · Bfw. Jagdpanther G1 · Elefant · 38 cm Sturmmörser

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