VFM5

VFM5

Vickers Mk.11

Vickers Mk.7

VFM5

Vickers Mk.11

Vickers Mk.7

Britain

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Light tank

Research:220 000

Purchase:620 000

Show in game

Description

The Vickers/FMC VFM5 is a rank VI British light tank with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "New Power".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull38 / 44 / 25

Turret51 / 38 / 13

Crew4 people

Visibility81 %

The VFM5 has little to no armour protection from anything larger than 7.62 mm rounds, the M2 .50 cal being able to penetrate its sides. The most protected section of the tank is the front of the hull towards the more extreme angles around the driver's ports, which is up to 160 mm of effective thickness, however this is halved by APFSDS, not that it would matter either way. HEATFS is even more effective, the thickness against chemical rounds dropping to approximately 23 mm.

The tank can survive a shot, however shots to the turret have a higher chance, as long as the spalling created by the shell is blocked by the cannon breech. Shots to the left side of the turret (or the right side looking front-on) will likely detonate the ready-rack ammunition. Side shots can be survived as long as they are to the hull due to large amounts of empty space. To increase your chance of survival of side shots, a player should take no more than 30 rounds to ensure the room below the turret is ammunition-free. As one would expect from a tank of this type, taking shots should not be attempted under any circumstances.

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	38.1 mm (79°) Upper Glacis 38.1 mm (Various Angles) Driver's Hatch 38.1 mm +6.35 mm (Curved) Lower Glacis	25.4 mm + 6.35 Upper 44 mm Lower	25.4 mm	5 - 25.4 mm
Turret	50.8 mm (37-43°) Turret front 38.1 mm (37-43°) Gun mantlet 25.4 mm Gunner Optics	38.1 mm + 6.35 mm	12.7 mm +12.7 mm	25.4 mm
Cupola	25.4 mm	25.4 mm	25.4 mm	25.4 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB78 / 17 km/h

RB and SB70 / 15 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

2 back

Weight19.8 t

Engine power

AB1 097 hp

RB and SB575 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB55.4 hp/t

RB and SB29.0 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	78	17	19.8	868	1,097	43.84	55.4
Realistic	70	15		495	575	25	29.04

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 618 → 5 553

RB3 541 → 5 435

SB4 535 → 6 961

Total cost of modifications186 300

307 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 170 / 220 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Suspension Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Brake System Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Filters Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Transmission Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440	Improved Parts Research: 2 300 Cost: 12 000 310 Improved FPE Research: 2 600 Cost: 14 000 350 Crew Replenishment Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Smoke grenade Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440	Horizontal Drive Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 105mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Adjustment of Fire Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Airstrike Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Elevation Mechanism Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Laser rangefinder Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Scout UAV Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Artillery Support Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 Improved optics Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 105mm_usa_M735_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

105 mm LRF cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition41 rounds

First-order7 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

105 mm LRF					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	41	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	38.1	52.7	64.0	70.8	75.3	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
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
M456A2	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400
M393A2	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
C76A1	APFSDS	353	349	342	333	324	314
DM33	APFSDS	408	405	398	389	379	370

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%
M456A2	HEATFS	1,174	10.5	0.05	0.1	1.27	65°	72°	77°
M393A2	HESH	732	11.2	0.1	4	4.31	73°	77°	80°
C76A1	APFSDS	1,509	3.6	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°
DM33	APFSDS	1,455	3.79	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the VFM5

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
41	36 (+5)	30 (+11)	19 (+22)	8 (+33)	1 (+40)	No

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-5° / 25°

Horizontal guidance-120° / 100°

7.62 mm L8A2 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition4 600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 001 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	600 (200)	576	-5°/+25°	-120°/+100°

7.62 mm L8A2
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	4,600 (200)	600	N/A	N/A

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).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Equips the renowned 105 mm L7 cannon
• Good mobility
• 10X gunner zoom is good for sniping

Cons:

• Lightly armoured
• Stock HEATFS, a bad thing considering enemies can be well-protected against chemical warheads
• Non-sabot APHE rounds from most SPAA's will ricochet off the hull into the lower turret, damaging or knocking out the turret crew

History

The VFM 5, also known as Vickers Mk.5, was a light tank built by Vickers. It was based on the hull of the American Close Combat Vehicle Light (CCV-L), which was built by VFM, but with a new turret and main armament. It was primarily designed for export.

Development

The CCV-L was first revealed by FMC at AUSA in October 1985. Vickers Defense Systems and FMC formed a cooperative agreement later that year to design an export version of the tank. It had been designed as a cheaper version of the CCV-L, and it was designated as the VFM 5. After the prototype was completed in 1986, it was displayed at the British Army Equipment Exhibition of the same year. No production orders were received.

Design

The hull was nearly unmodified from the CCV-L, made of welded aluminum armour with applique steel armour available for the front and sides.

The layout of the VFM 5 was conventional. The driver was located in the front, the fighting compartment in the center, and the engine compartment at the rear.

The driver sat in the center of the front of the hull. His seat was adjustable, with a folding backrest to allow access to the fighting compartment. His hatch was opened by use of hinges on the rear, and it had five periscopes for viewing to the front and sides. When necessary, the center, forward facing periscope could be replaced with a passive periscope for night operations.

The turret is different from that of the CCV-L. The turret had a crew of three, and it was constructed in the same way as the hull, with welded aluminum armour and applique steel plates. The turret was mounted on a high-accuracy low-friction turret ring that is tilted down 3° at the front.

The main armament of the VMF 5 was a 105 mm Low Recoil Force gun, fitted with an integral muzzle break and a rigid thermal sleeve. 41 rounds of 105 mm ammunition were carried. 22 rounds were stored in the front of the hull, 11 on each side of the driver. 19 rounds were stored in the fighting compartment, located below the turret ring. Unlike the CCV-L, the VFM 5 features a loader, rather than an automatic loading system.

A Marconi fire-control system (FCS) is used, which includes computerized fire-control systems and a two-axis gun stabilizer. The turret traversed electronically 360°, while the gun elevated from -10° to +20°.

The secondary armament consisted of a coaxial 7.62 mm L8 machine gun. A total of 2,600 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition were carried in boxes of 200 rounds. Additionally, a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun could be pintle-mounted at the leader's hatch. 500 rounds could be carried if the 12.7 mm machine gun was fitted.

A bank of six smoke grenade launchers was located on each side of the turret, for a total of twelve smoke or fragmentation grenades. They were fired electronically by the bank's commander from the interior.

The gunner's primary sight was a NANOQUEST telescopic sight with a zoom of x10. It incorporated a laser rangefinder and muzzle reference system. The gunner also had a NANOQUEST periscope for wide-angle observation. A thermal imaging system was available as an option.

The commander had a rear-opening, single piece hatch with fiver periscopes. He also had a Pilkington PE/Raven II day/night sight with magnification of x1 and x8, as well as image intensification for night operations.

The loader also had a single piece, rear-opening hatch with a single AFV No 3 Mk 1 periscope with 360° of rotation.

The suspension of the VFM 5 is a torsion bar type. There are six road wheels on each side of the chassis and a shock absorber at each road wheel. 38 cm double-pin tracks are used.

The engine is a General Motors (GM) Detroit Diesel Model 6V-92 TA 6-cylinder, producing 550 horsepower. A General Electric (GE) HMPT-500-3 transmission is used, with three forward gears and one reverse gear. The powerpack is cooled by a water radiator and oil cooler. Easy access to the engine is provided by a rear hull ramp, which the engine can be slid down for maintenance or replacement. Access covers are located on the engine compartment roof for easy maintenance as well.

The engine compartment is protected by an automatic fire-suppression system, and one can also be fitted for the crew compartment. Handheld extinguishers are also provided.

Devblog

In 1985, Vickers formed a consortium with the American FMC company in order to develop a modern, yet cost-effective light tank for the export market. To achieve this, development and production costs had to be kept as low as possible. As a result, the decision was made to combine the CCVL hull developed by FMC for the US Army's AGS project with a Vickers-built turret, housing a modified low-recoil version of the widely used L7 cannon.

The first prototype was built in 1986 and subsequently revealed to the public at the British Army Equipment Exhibition that year. However, despite its modern equipment, excellent mobility and low weight thanks to the wide use of aluminum alloys, the VFM 5 failed to attract any attention from potential international operators at first.

However, testing and further refinement of the vehicle's design continued into the late 1980's and early 1990's, just at that time negotiations were held with Malaysia to supply the tank to the national armed forces, but it ultimately never came to a production agreement. In the end, only a single prototype of the VFM 5 was ever constructed.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the VFM5 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• VFM 5 Devblog Images
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Videos

The Shooting Range #234 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the VFM5.

See also

Related development

• XM8

External links

• [Devblog] VFM 5: Private Venture

Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
Ships
Tribal-class	HMS Eskimo · HMCS Haida
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