T77E1

Description

The T77E1 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun mounted on the M24 light tank chassis used by the U.S. Army during World War II. It was armed with six 12.7 mm M2HB machine guns. This anti-aircraft vehicle began development in July 1943 using the hull of the M24, which was still in development and designated as the T24. This SPAA was designated as the Carriage, Motor, Multiple, Cal. .50 Gun, T77, and was armed with four 12.7 mm machine guns. This design was approved for a mock-up by the end of 1943. Though after inspecting this mock-up, officials requested that an additional two machine guns be added to the vehicle. The first T77 was completed in July 1945, and a second prototype was also made and designated as the T77E1. Though after these two prototypes were built, World War II had already ended and the T77 never saw active service and were soon presumably scrapped.

The T77E1 was introduced in Update "Firebirds", and as it's based off the M24's light tank hull, it is a very light and mobile vehicle. The .50 cal armament can potentially be useful against armored targets on the ground, though it is not ideal to engage with tanks at its battle rating and its thin, though angled armor. With some good precision, you can easily be able to take down enemy aircraft with your numerous amount of machine guns this vehicle is equipped with.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	25.4 mm (60°) (upper glacis) 25.4 mm (44°) (lower glacis)	25.4 mm (12°) (front portion) 19.05 mm (12°) (back portion)	19 mm	12.7 mm
Turret	12.7 mm	12.7 mm	12.7 mm	12.7 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.

The T77E1 uses the M24's chassis, which is lightly armored all around and can be potentially susceptible to enemy fire if used closer into the battlefield. Though this vehicle is armored on top, it is still vulnerable to planes strafing and close air support, especially planes with autocannons or bombs.

Mobility

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)		Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse	Stock	AoA	Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	38	16	18.4	0	420	488.8	22.83	26.57
Realistic	35	14.4			262	286.8	14.24	15.59

As is the M24, the T77E1 is pretty fast and mobile. Though the acceleration can be slow, the top speed of this vehicle is high, as well as its reverse speed, both of which may allow you to pull out of a rough situation very quickly and easily. Though using this tank against ground targets might not be the best decision, if you do find yourself in a fight with one, flanking enemies and using this vehicle's mobility to its advantage may help you to get the best outcome in a battle.

Modifications and economy

Crew training

Experts

Aces

Research Aces

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

/ /  %

/ /  %

Modifications

Armaments

Main armament

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun (x6)						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	6600 (1100)	575	-10°/+85°	±180°	N/A	57.2	-	-	-	81.8	15.6	-	-	12.0
Realistic						38.7	-	-	-	55.2

Ammunition

• Common: API-T · I · AP - This is the stock ammunition belt for this vehicle; works fairly well against enemy aircraft up until you research the next few ammo belts.
• API: API-T · AP-I - This ammo belt uses mainly armor-piercing incendiary rounds, which can be useful for setting aircraft on fire and may serve well against very lightly armored ground vehicles.
• AP: AP · API-T - This belt prioritizes armor-piercing bullets over armor-piercing incendiary rounds and can be useful against lightly armored ground targets if utilized correctly despite its seemingly nonexistent post-penetration effects.
• APIT: API-T - This belt only uses armor-piercing incendiary bullets, which can be useful against ground targets, but can also set aircraft on fire easily if used well enough due to its incendiary effects.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
AP	31	29	21	14	9	6

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
						0%	50%	100%
AP	894	0.05	-	-	-	47°	56°	65°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	7th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

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

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".

History

Development

During World War II, the U.S. Army mainly utilized self-propelled anti-aircraft guns based off the M3 half-track, such as the M13 and M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriages (MGMC). These half-tracks were effective and used multiple .50 cals (12.7 mm machine guns) on a power-operated turret. Even though these half-tracks were useful, the U.S. Army ideally wanted full-tracked vehicles so as to have the potential mobility of a tank. Attempts at a full-tracked anti-aircraft vehicle included four .50 cals mounted on a Mark 17 gun mount and fitted onto the hull of an M3 Stuart light tank, which at the time was widely used by the Allies in World War II. This design, developed in 1942, was rejected, however.

With the development of the T24 prototype light tank (later standardized and redesignated as the M24 Chaffee), work had already began and developing an anti-aircraft vehicle based off the T24 in July 1943 and was designated Carriage, Motor, Multiple, Cal. .50 Gun, T77. The M24 proved to be very effective in Europe later on during World War II and so an anti-aircraft vehicle based off this design seemed to be doing well and solid. Initially, the T77 was to be mounted with four 12.7 mm machine guns on the T89 quadruple gun mount, developed by the United Shoe Machinery Corporation with some help from the U.S. Army Air Forces. This mount was fully powered and could be operated remotely to reduce muzzle flash from preventing the gunner to see clearly. By the end of 1943, the design was approved for a mock-up to be made, which was finished by December and inspected by military officials, who requested that an additional two more 12.7 mm machine guns be added to the vehicle.

On April 1944, two prototypes of the T77 were ordered after these changes were made. One of the two prototypes were finally completed in July 1945 and had a crew layout similar to the original M24 Chaffee light tank, albeit without a tank loader, as well as a hull-mounted .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine gun that a machine gunner could operate, just like on the original Chaffee. The hull design and armour of the T77 was practically the same as that of the M24, the only notable difference overall being the turret, obviously equipped with the machine guns, as well as the circular hatches that the gunner and commander sat into. After the first T77 was completed, it was taken to the Aberdeen Proving Ground for further evaluation and testing. The second prototype – designated the T77E1 – was also completed and had an advanced fire control system, as well as clear acrylic domes covering the gunner and commander hatches, contrast to the first prototype.

These two prototypes would have been a good design that could have potentially entered service, though this never did take place as World War II ended before the T77 or T77E1 could see active service, and both prototypes were presumably scrapped.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the T77E1 on live.warthunder.

Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• M24 (Family)

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• M19A1

External links

• [Development] T77E1: The Last Cowboy + Skink & Ram II News

USA anti-aircraft vehicles
M3 Half-track derivatives	M13 MGMC · M15 CGMC · M16 MGMC
M24 derivative	M19A1
M41 derivative	M42
Radar SPAAG	M163 · M247
Missile SPAA	ADATS · Imp.Chaparral · LAV-AD · XM975