Difference between revisions of "Object 268"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_object_268}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=ussr_object_268
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.''
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]]. The Object 268 is a self-propelled gun based on the T-10M heavy tank featuring a 152 mm M-64 cannon.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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Overall, the armour protection of the {{PAGENAME}} can be called reasonable, but not amazing. The hull, as it is a T-10 hull, has very good protection for most kinetic rounds it will face at the battle-rating, at least as long as most of them are being APDS and APCBC.
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 +
The tank destroyer  should not be angled because angle is already built-in into tank via hull pike and turret "cheeks". Angling from even 10 degrees negates the sloped armour. When not angled, the pike is able to deflect and stop APDS and full calibre kinetic rounds and cheeks often block direct shots at the ammo racks, as at various angles hull protection reaches up to 200 mm effective thickness. However, chemical rounds such as HEAT and ATGM will have no issues penetrating the entire construction and any chemical hit to the top will be able to reach ammo racks in the back.
 +
 
 +
Moving to the turret, the area around the gun is poorly armoured even against APDS. It may visually resemble the [[Tiger II (H)]]'s turret, but it is not likely to stop APCBC shells directly fired at it, and should not be relied on to stop APDS, HEAT shells and ATGMs at all.
 +
 
 +
Overall, this makes the {{PAGENAME}} very inconvenient to fight head-on with kinetic shells, particularly during a surprise attack, as it will win snapshot contests against many tanks despite not having a stabiliser. However, it will absolutely lose against vehicles equipped with HEAT shells and is very likely to lose to experienced tankers, as the way to disable and destroy the {{PAGENAME}} are basically one and the same: fire at the gun, worst case its gun will break, best case its ammo rack will explode.
 +
 
 +
It also has the same smoke screen barrels as the [[ASU-85]] and the [[SU-122-54]], which can be used to hide from aircraft or to break aim assist for the enemy in AB.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 120 mm (57°) ''Front glacis''<br>120 mm (49°) ''Lower glacis''<br>40/60 mm (78-79°) ''Driver's port''
 +
| 80 mm (0-42°)
 +
| 60 mm (52-56°)
 +
| 30 mm (84-90°) ''Engine Deck''<br>5 mm (13-14°) ''Vents''
 +
|-
 +
| Superstructure || 187 mm (0-27°) ''Turret front''<br>157 mm (50-61°) ''Gun mantlet''
 +
| 100 mm (20°) || 50 mm (13-14°) || 30 mm (81-89°)
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 40 mm || 40 mm
 +
|40 mm
 +
|40 mm
 +
|}
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 
 +
Mobility-wise, as it is a T-10 with a heavier gun and turret, it lacks speed as well as agility. However, the horsepower generated by the engine makes this a beast when moving obstacles and even dead tanks.
 +
 
 +
The mass can be seen as a pro and a con. Due to heavy mass, it has more traction and will not be flipped by explosions or rammed so easily by other tanks. However, the mass drastically reduces the top speed as well as the acceleration. Overall, it is a heavier, slower and less agile T-10.
 +
 
 +
In arcade mode, it might reach 54 km/h offroad when spaded, but overall it is slower than medium tanks.
 +
 
 +
Depending on current upgrades, to freely turn around it needs to reach forward gear 5, 4, or 3. The higher the gear, the faster it can turn around, so keep this in mind when flanked. The reverse gear is not good enough to turn around when flanked.
 +
 
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,065|rbMinHp=663}}
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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<!--Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|M-64 (152 mm)}}
 
{{main|M-64 (152 mm)}}
  
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The Object 268 is fitted with the 152mm M-64 cannon, a very fearsome weapon at this BR with three potent rounds that are capable of destroying virtually any vehicle in the game, so as long as the operator is skilled in its use. The ammunition loadout consists of HE, APCBC and HEAT, all three of which are excellent solutions to various situations in a battle.
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The Object 268 is fitted with the 152 mm M-64 cannon, a very fearsome weapon at this BR with three potent rounds that are capable of destroying virtually any vehicle in the game, as long as the operator is skilled in its use. The ammunition loadout consists of HE, APHEBC and HEAT, all three of which are excellent solutions to various situations in a battle.
 +
 
 +
This 152 mm cannon has an usually long reload time for such a cannon. It is still faster to reload than the IS-3, which means it can fire more often.
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 +
The BR-540B APHEBC shell is arguably the best shell due to having higher angled penetration than the ones on the [[SU-122-54]], allowing it to annihilate tanks with a similar armour level to a [[T-54 (1951)]] at close range. When at long range, HEAT or HE shells should be used instead.
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The OF-540 HE shell is decent enough at this tank's BR, as most enemy tanks once again have weak roof armour and can be destroyed by hitting their top machine gun, so the {{PAGENAME}} can countersnipe with it. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to hit such a small target without a rangefinder, and even with it, the shot can be quite impossible in RB.
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The BP-540 HEAT projectile can be used just like APHEBC, but it will not knock out tanks in a single shot, despite having stats very similar to ATGMs. The HEAT shell on this tank is only marginally better in penetration statistics than the APHEBC and deals far less post-penetration damage. Overall it deals more damage than HEATFS round on the [[SU-122-54]], but has poor penetration and should be carried around only for long range engagements.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M-64 (152 mm)|152 mm M-64]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 35 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±6° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 7.0 || 9.8 || 11.8 || 13.1 || 13.9 || rowspan="2" | 22.23 || rowspan="2" | 19.67 || rowspan="2" | 18.13 || rowspan="2" | 17.10
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 4.8 || 5.6 || 6.8 || 7.5 || 8.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:M-64 (152 mm)/Ammunition|OF-540, BR-540B, BP-540}}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.1.16''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
 +
! Ammo<br>type
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! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''35''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 29&nbsp;''(+6)'' <br> 33&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 27&nbsp;''(+8)'' <br> 30&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 18&nbsp;''(+17)'' <br> 27&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+34)'' <br> 18&nbsp;''(+17)'' || ''N/A'' <br> 13&nbsp;''(+22)'' || ''N/A'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+34)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
'''Notes''':
  
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This 152mm cannon has an excellent reload speed at 22.2s stock and 18.0s with an Ace crew, which means it has massively increased firepower compared to the similarly-tiered IS-3, which has a reload rate of 27.7s stock and 24.0s Aced.  
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* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
 +
* Projectiles and propellant bags are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 +
* For the projectiles:
 +
** Rack 4 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 17 projectiles and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
 +
** This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 1 - 2 - 3.
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* For the propellant bags:
 +
** Racks 5 and 6 are first stage ammo racks. They total 17 charges and get filled first when loading up the tank.
 +
** These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
 +
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammunition from other racks into ready racks. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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<!--Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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<!-- ''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|KPVT (14.5 mm)}}
 
{{main|KPVT (14.5 mm)}}
  
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The Object 268 is armed with a single 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun, it is highly effective in dispatching lightly armoured vehicles and defending from air attacks. And can even potentially damage or destroy enemy gun barrels. However, this machine gun is loaded with measly 25 round belts, which only allows for small bursts, punctuated with a lengthly reload.
+
The Object 268 is armed with a single 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun manned by the commander. It is effective in dispatching lightly armoured vehicles when used manually and is very useful when defending from air attacks.
 +
 
 +
This machine gun is loaded with 50-round belts, which only allows for a few short bursts punctuated with a lengthy reload.
 +
 
 +
It can damage enemy gun barrels, but to fully deteriorate some guns, HMG will have to spend 2 belts worth of ammo, assuming they do not turn the gun away, so usually it is used to damage tracks of enemy heavy tanks so that they can't run away. However, since people often panic when they see their gun turning orange from being shot by MG and try to turn away, firing MG at the gun can be used with conjunction with smoke screen to prevent people from aiming for the tank's weak spots.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[KPVT (14.5 mm)|14.5 mm KPVT]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 500 (50) || 600 || -5°/+85° || ±180°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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<!--Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).-->
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
The Object 268 is far from being a frontline tank, especially when in uptier, meaning it has to stay away from the enemy's line of sight (LoS) due to the long reload time and relatively exposed weak spots. This does not mean it should be taken all the way through the outskirts of a map to get into position (can be done but not recommended on all maps). It should be used as a sniper in long range maps and a support vehicle in the rest.
  
−
The Object 268 is an excellent single-direction brawler, as its frontal armour can withstand most shells at its BR, it is capable of locking down an entire street, which dissuades any enemy advances in the area. Although it is best used in urban maps as a brawler, it can also function as a mobile pillbox in rural maps, drawing enemy fire and covering a wide area of the map to deny enemy movements.
+
It is able to defend itself pretty well if a good defensive position is found or set. Its armour makes it very inconvenient for most kinetic ammunition tanks to quickfire at it, so ambushes are a viable strategy. All close quarters combat (CQC) should be avoided, however, as the lack of turret and slow hull turn rate invites enemy tanks to flank you from all sides, and front is the only side you can defend yourself from them.
 +
 
 +
The only exception is if you can dictate the situation and your HMG is still functional, so that you can choose which way the enemy comes at you, and then detrack them so that they can't escape or rush you down. For example, some places in CQC environments (urban areas, city ravines, etc) can be used as choke point (holding a full street waiting for someone to push if that street is the only access point) due to its powerful gun and decent armour. This tank faces almost nothing that can be a too hard cookie to crack.
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 +
In AB, if you lay down an ambush, pay attention to ongoing air battles. If there is an incoming enemy plane (even a fighter) you should drop a smoke canister to avoid being marked on a map via "radio communication" skill. The fewer the people know where exactly you are and have direct aim assist support towards you, the better.
 +
 
 +
'''List of opponents important notes when facing frontally:'''
 +
 
 +
* [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]/[[M48 Patton (Family)|M48]]/[[M26 (Family)|Pershing]]: all front can be penetrated by both rounds
 +
* [[M60 (Family)|M60]]: gun mantlet and upper front plate can be penetrated by BR540B.
 +
* [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]]: gun mantlet can be penetrated by all rounds as well as hull (aim at right side of the turret if the tank is facing at you for a safe reload)
 +
* [[Centurion (Family)|Centurion]]: all front can be penetrated with all rounds
 +
* [[M103]]: hull has to be penetrated by BP540, center of mass shot has to be done frontally as the hull and turret are curvy, hull is impenetrable by all rounds
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* [[T32]]/[[T32E1]]: gun mantlet and hull have to be penetrated by BP540, aim at lower half of the frontal glacis to fire at ammunition rack
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* [[Maus]]/[[E-100]]: gun mantlet has to be penetrated by BP540 hull is impenetrable by all rounds.
 +
* [[Jagdtiger]]: gun mantlet has to be penetrated by BP540, hull can be penetrated by both rounds
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* [[Leopard 1 (Family)|Leopard 1]]/[[AMX-30 (Family)|AMX-30]]: all front can be penetrated with BR540B and higher penetration rounds
 +
* [[T95]]: gun mantlet and hull have to be penetrated by BP540
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. 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".-->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
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* Excellent frontal protection, the armour is more than 250mm thick in most places and can deflect virtually any kinetic energy projectile at its BR with ease.
+
* Reasonable frontal protection, the armour is more than 200 mm thick in most places and can deflect virtually any kinetic energy projectile at its BR if opponents don't aim well, there is no need to waste time angling like with the previous SPGs
−
* Single frontal weakspot is relatively small and easy to conceal with bushes.
+
* Single frontal weak spot is relatively small and can be concealed with bushes in RB
−
* Excellent firepower, with a fast-firing 152mm and a 14.5mm machine gun, which is perfect for dealing with light tanks and dissuading enemy air support.
+
* Excellent firepower, with a fast-firing 152 mm and a 14.5 mm machine gun it can defeat most tanks one on one if not taken out immediately
−
* Impressive mobility in a straight line.
+
* Impressive mobility in a straight line
−
* Great blend of firepower and protection allows this vehicle to function as a mobile pillbox, locking down areas of the map.
+
* All ammunition types remain effective at long ranges, solving an issue that persists with many Soviet tanks at this BR
−
* All ammunition types remain effective at long ranges, solving an issue that persists with many Russian tanks at this BR.
+
* Side armour of the casemate can reach up to 100 mm, which can afford the tank to engage targets from multiple directions without having to worry about autocannon tanks and SPAA destroying it instantly
−
* Side armour of the casemate is an excellent 100mm. Which allows you to engage targets from multiple directions with relative ease, without having to worry about exposing weaker side armour.
+
* The original reload speed is retained with the loss of one loader
−
* The original reload speed is retained with the loss of one loader.
+
* Has access to a unlockable "Rangefinder" modification, increasing its already impressive performance at longer ranges in RB
−
* Has access to a researchable Range Finder modification, increasing its already impressive performance at longer ranges.
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Large and boxy profile makes the Object 268 relatively easy to spot.
+
* Weak spot next to the gun is a flat 187 mm area, and is usually lethal if penetrated, making it a no-brainer to fire at the tank's gun to disable or destroy it with the same move, especially in AB
−
* Unimpressive turning ability makes it difficult to deal with flanking enemies at closer ranges, and nearly impossible to counter targets directly behind the vehicle.
+
* Any HEAT-based tank will obliterate Object 268 without even trying to aim
−
* Large ammo racks on the sides and rear of the vehicle's casemate make flanking shots extremely lethal and usually unforgiving.
+
* Large and boxy profile makes the Object 268 relatively easy to spot
−
* Firing the cannon kicks up a massive dust cloud, making the vehicle easy to spot when its firing from a concealed position.
+
* Unimpressive turning ability makes it difficult to deal with flanking enemies at closer ranges, and nearly impossible to counter targets directly behind the vehicle
−
* The 14.5mm KPV machine gun cannot point directly to the vehicle's left side, as its traverse is blocked by the rangefinder and cupola.
+
* Large ammo racks on the sides and rear of the vehicle's casemate make flanking shots extremely lethal and very unforgiving when user forgets to un-angle
−
* Small weakspot next to the gun is only 187mm thick, and is usually lethal if penetrated.
+
* Firing the cannon kicks up a massive dust cloud, making the vehicle easy to spot when its firing from a concealed position
 +
* The top-mounted 14.5 mm KPV machine gun cannot point directly to the vehicle's left side, as its traverse is blocked by the rangefinder and cupola, however it is still more versatile than the one on the [[SU-122-54]], as it has an overall better firing arc
 +
* Shells have low velocity for its battle rating
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''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 ===
 +
The '''Object 268''' self-propelled gun was one of the many derivative designs of the ''T-10'' heavy tank. The concept began on 2 July 1952 at the Leningrad Kirov Plant on the order of the Council of Ministers USSR.<ref name="Kinnear1" /> The Object 268 would follow in the same line of doctrine as had the earlier Soviet self-propelled guns of World War II, the ''SU-100'', ''-122'', and ''-152''. This contrasted with the Western concept of a self-propelled gun being used as an artillery piece rather than the Soviet usage as a tank destroyer.<ref name="Kinnear1" /> There had been earlier attempts at converting a heavy tank to a self-propelled gun, using the chassis of the ''IS-4'' and ''IS-7'', but those had not been fully developed and were cancelled. The IS-4 production was running too slowly and the IS-7 had been too complex to manufacture in large numbers.<ref name="Kinnear2" /> The Leningrad Kirov Plant worked to produce an SPG on the T-10 chassis by combining it with the 152 mm M-48 cannon, which had high velocity and was much more powerful than earlier 152 mm cannons. Drawing work led to the ''Object 730'' SPG which would be paired with the M-53 cannon, a parallel development to the M-48.<ref name="Kinnear3" />
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 +
The Object 730 SPG had five different variants drawn up with each one being unique. Version No.1 was a front mounted casemate design which would be developed into the Object 268. Version No.2 had a rear casemate with the main armament using a drum magazine at the rear of the fighting compartment and the engine at the front of the vehicle.<ref name="Kinnear4" /> Version No.3 abandoned the casemate design and used a conventional turret with all ammunition being stored in the rear of the turret.<ref name="Kinnear4" /> Version No.4 was a slightly modified No.2 with a lengthened hull, addition of a second loader (bringing the crew to five) and a new cupola with a rangefinder and machine gun.<ref name="Kinnear5" /> Version No.5, likewise, was a reworked No.3 to also bring the crew to five and the addition of a 14.5 mm KPV machine gun, along with it using the same engine as would be used in the T-10M.<ref name="Kinnear6" /> Versions No.4 and 5 were rejected due to being too drastic of changes to the base design, and it was decided to go with a slightly modified Version No.1 with the same engine as the T-10M.<ref name="Kinnear7" />
 +
 
 +
=== Final Design and Prototype ===
 +
The final design for the Object 268 was presented to the committee in June 1953 using technical drawings and a scale model, which was approved on 25 August by A.I. Radzievsky.<ref name="Kinnear7" /> This would be armed with the 152 mm M-64 cannon along with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun on the roof of the casemate, along with a stereoscopic rangefinder. While the crew was kept at five (having two loaders), it was intended to have a crew of four as soon as an automated loading mechanism could be made for the M-64 cannon.<ref name="Kinnear7" /> The main armament was being slowly developed due to being lower priority than 122 mm development, but the M-64 was created by taking the M-53 cannon and slightly shortening it while still maintaining a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s.<ref name="Kinnear8" /> The final drawings for the Object 268 were finalized in June 1954, reviewed in August and construction on prototypes had begun in March 1955.
 +
 
 +
Work continued on the M-64 cannon, with the prototype being completed in December 1955 and one being sent to Leningrad for installation into the Object 268 in February 1956. The prototype Object 268 was finally completed in March 1956 and was also still modified from the final drawings, as it was decided to use flat steel plates for the roof and rear of the casemate rather than the originally planned rounded plates as well modifications to allow the main armament to be installed and removed.<ref name="Kinnear9" />
 +
 
 +
=== Completed Vehicle and Cancellation ===
 +
The completed Object 268 prototype was armed with the 152.4 mm M-64 cannon, built at the Leningrad plant, using the TSh-2A "Sharik" sight for direct fire and the ZiS-3 panoramic sight.<ref name="Kinnear10" /> A TKD-09 stereoscopic rangefinder was mounted on the roof of the casemate along with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun in a rotating ring above the gunner's hatch.<ref name="Kinnear10" /> Full ammunition load was 35 rounds, with AP and HE-FRAG being available. The range at which a target could be engaged in direct fire was 900 m with a maximum indirect fire range of 13,000 m.<ref name="Kinnear10" /> The hull of the Object 268 was 120 mm thick of RHA and the casemate was 187 mm. The engine used was the V-12-6 generating 750 HP, as well as using the same transmission as the T-10. Weight of the tank was 50 tonnes with a maximum speed of 48 km/h.
 +
 
 +
The Object 268 was ultimately cancelled, largely due to internal problems associated with the development of Soviet tanks. By the time the prototype was completed and trials had finished it was approaching the end of 1957 and even further development had been done. These designs had specifications and characteristics that were more advanced that the Object 268 and would have been so well protected that the M-64 cannon would have difficulty in taking them out.<ref name="Kinnear11" /> It was expected that the Western tank development would also be able to defend against the Object 268, and the T-10 heavy tank had already begun production which could have caused issues if tank plants were made to manufacture a different version at the same time. In addition, a major shift in Soviet doctrine to incorporate more usage of anti-tank guided missiles, which had just been created in the Soviet Union in 1956.<ref name="Kinnear11" /> The Object 268 was not accepted for mass production and further development of the Object 268 was halted, with only the single prototype having been made. It remains in the Kubinka tank polygon and museum.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_object_268 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|xF4-TcnyWw0|'''Best tank destroyers''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:35 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|JXG_ov-Prr0|'''Object 268 - Tank Review''' - ''Napalmratte''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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<!-- ''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;''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
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* [[T-10M]] - Object 268 was developed on the hull of the T-10
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* [[ISU-152]] - Object 268 was intended as the successor to the ISU-152
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.''
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 +
=== References ===
 +
;Citations
 +
<references>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear1">James Kinnear and Stephen L. Sewell, ''Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants'' (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2017), p. 113.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear2">ibid. p. 114.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear3">ibid. p. 114-115.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear4">ibid. p. 115.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear5">ibid. p. 116.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear6">ibid. p. 117.</ref>
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<ref name="Kinnear7">ibid. p. 118.</ref>
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<ref name="Kinnear8">ibid. p. 119.</ref>
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<ref name="Kinnear9">ibid. p. 121.</ref>
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<ref name="Kinnear10">ibid. p. 122-123.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Kinnear11">ibid. p. 124-125.</ref>
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</references>
 +
 
 +
;Bibliography
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* Kinnear, James and Stephen L. Sewell. ''Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2017.
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer ChTZ}}
 
{{USSR tank destroyers}}
 
{{USSR tank destroyers}}

Latest revision as of 16:42, 29 January 2023

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
Object 268
ussr_object_268.png
GarageImage Object 268.jpg
Object 268
USSR flag.png USSR
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
7.3 7.0 7.0
Class:
Research:95 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:270 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Object 268 is a rank V Soviet tank destroyer with a battle rating of 7.3 (AB) and 7.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica". The Object 268 is a self-propelled gun based on the T-10M heavy tank featuring a 152 mm M-64 cannon.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull120 / 80 / 60
Turret187 / 100 / 50
Crew4 people
Visibility93 %

Overall, the armour protection of the Object 268 can be called reasonable, but not amazing. The hull, as it is a T-10 hull, has very good protection for most kinetic rounds it will face at the battle-rating, at least as long as most of them are being APDS and APCBC.

The tank destroyer should not be angled because angle is already built-in into tank via hull pike and turret "cheeks". Angling from even 10 degrees negates the sloped armour. When not angled, the pike is able to deflect and stop APDS and full calibre kinetic rounds and cheeks often block direct shots at the ammo racks, as at various angles hull protection reaches up to 200 mm effective thickness. However, chemical rounds such as HEAT and ATGM will have no issues penetrating the entire construction and any chemical hit to the top will be able to reach ammo racks in the back.

Moving to the turret, the area around the gun is poorly armoured even against APDS. It may visually resemble the Tiger II (H)'s turret, but it is not likely to stop APCBC shells directly fired at it, and should not be relied on to stop APDS, HEAT shells and ATGMs at all.

Overall, this makes the Object 268 very inconvenient to fight head-on with kinetic shells, particularly during a surprise attack, as it will win snapshot contests against many tanks despite not having a stabiliser. However, it will absolutely lose against vehicles equipped with HEAT shells and is very likely to lose to experienced tankers, as the way to disable and destroy the Object 268 are basically one and the same: fire at the gun, worst case its gun will break, best case its ammo rack will explode.

It also has the same smoke screen barrels as the ASU-85 and the SU-122-54, which can be used to hide from aircraft or to break aim assist for the enemy in AB.

Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 120 mm (57°) Front glacis
120 mm (49°) Lower glacis
40/60 mm (78-79°) Driver's port 		80 mm (0-42°) 60 mm (52-56°) 30 mm (84-90°) Engine Deck
5 mm (13-14°) Vents
Superstructure 187 mm (0-27°) Turret front
157 mm (50-61°) Gun mantlet 		100 mm (20°) 50 mm (13-14°) 30 mm (81-89°)
Cupola 40 mm 40 mm 40 mm 40 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB55 / 11 km/h
RB and SB51 / 10 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
2 back
Weight50.0 t
Engine power
AB1 431 hp
RB and SB750 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB28.6 hp/t
RB and SB15.0 hp/t

Mobility-wise, as it is a T-10 with a heavier gun and turret, it lacks speed as well as agility. However, the horsepower generated by the engine makes this a beast when moving obstacles and even dead tanks.

The mass can be seen as a pro and a con. Due to heavy mass, it has more traction and will not be flipped by explosions or rammed so easily by other tanks. However, the mass drastically reduces the top speed as well as the acceleration. Overall, it is a heavier, slower and less agile T-10.

In arcade mode, it might reach 54 km/h offroad when spaded, but overall it is slower than medium tanks.

Depending on current upgrades, to freely turn around it needs to reach forward gear 5, 4, or 3. The higher the gear, the faster it can turn around, so keep this in mind when flanked. The reverse gear is not good enough to turn around when flanked.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 55 11 50 1,065 1,431 21.3 28.62
Realistic 51 10 663 750 13.26 15

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 949 → 6 547 Sl icon.png
RB4 855 → 6 423 Sl icon.png
SB6 815 → 9 016 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications76 500 Rp icon.png
129 500 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training78 000 Sl icon.png
Experts270 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces670 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 210 / 250 % Sl icon.png
190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
5 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
5 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 600 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
152mm_ussr_M64_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods tank rangefinder.png
Rangefinder
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png

Armaments

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

Main armament

152 mm М-64 cannon
Ammunition35 rounds
First-order24 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
22.3 → 17.1 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 15°
Horizontal guidance-6° / 6°
Main article: M-64 (152 mm)

The Object 268 is fitted with the 152 mm M-64 cannon, a very fearsome weapon at this BR with three potent rounds that are capable of destroying virtually any vehicle in the game, as long as the operator is skilled in its use. The ammunition loadout consists of HE, APHEBC and HEAT, all three of which are excellent solutions to various situations in a battle.

This 152 mm cannon has an usually long reload time for such a cannon. It is still faster to reload than the IS-3, which means it can fire more often.

The BR-540B APHEBC shell is arguably the best shell due to having higher angled penetration than the ones on the SU-122-54, allowing it to annihilate tanks with a similar armour level to a T-54 (1951) at close range. When at long range, HEAT or HE shells should be used instead.

The OF-540 HE shell is decent enough at this tank's BR, as most enemy tanks once again have weak roof armour and can be destroyed by hitting their top machine gun, so the Object 268 can countersnipe with it. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to hit such a small target without a rangefinder, and even with it, the shot can be quite impossible in RB.

The BP-540 HEAT projectile can be used just like APHEBC, but it will not knock out tanks in a single shot, despite having stats very similar to ATGMs. The HEAT shell on this tank is only marginally better in penetration statistics than the APHEBC and deals far less post-penetration damage. Overall it deals more damage than HEATFS round on the SU-122-54, but has poor penetration and should be carried around only for long range engagements.

152 mm M-64 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 35 -5°/+15° ±6° N/A 7.0 9.8 11.8 13.1 13.9 22.23 19.67 18.13 17.10
Realistic 4.8 5.6 6.8 7.5 8.0

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
OF-540 HE 49 49 49 49 49 49
BR-540B APHEBC 239 237 225 211 198 186
BP-540 HEAT 250 250 250 250 250 250
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%
OF-540 HE 750 43.56 0.3 0.1 5,860 79° 80° 81°
BR-540B APHEBC 760 48.96 1.2 19 739.2 48° 63° 71°
BP-540 HEAT 770 27.4 0.05 0.1 4,800 62° 69° 73°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo 		Ammo
type 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
35 Projectiles
Propellants 		29 (+6)
33 (+2) 		27 (+8)
30 (+5) 		18 (+17)
27 (+8) 		1 (+34)
18 (+17) 		N/A
13 (+22) 		N/A
1 (+34) 		No
Ammo racks of the Object 268

Notes:

  • The Object 268 uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
  • Projectiles and propellant bags are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • For the projectiles:
    • Rack 4 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 17 projectiles and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
    • This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 1 - 2 - 3.
  • For the propellant bags:
    • Racks 5 and 6 are first stage ammo racks. They total 17 charges and get filled first when loading up the tank.
    • These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammunition from other racks into ready racks. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

Machine guns

14.5 mm KPVT machine gun
Ammunition500 rounds
Belt capacity50 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Vertical guidance-5° / 85°
Main article: KPVT (14.5 mm)

The Object 268 is armed with a single 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun manned by the commander. It is effective in dispatching lightly armoured vehicles when used manually and is very useful when defending from air attacks.

This machine gun is loaded with 50-round belts, which only allows for a few short bursts punctuated with a lengthy reload.

It can damage enemy gun barrels, but to fully deteriorate some guns, HMG will have to spend 2 belts worth of ammo, assuming they do not turn the gun away, so usually it is used to damage tracks of enemy heavy tanks so that they can't run away. However, since people often panic when they see their gun turning orange from being shot by MG and try to turn away, firing MG at the gun can be used with conjunction with smoke screen to prevent people from aiming for the tank's weak spots.

14.5 mm KPVT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 500 (50) 600 -5°/+85° ±180°

Usage in battles

The Object 268 is far from being a frontline tank, especially when in uptier, meaning it has to stay away from the enemy's line of sight (LoS) due to the long reload time and relatively exposed weak spots. This does not mean it should be taken all the way through the outskirts of a map to get into position (can be done but not recommended on all maps). It should be used as a sniper in long range maps and a support vehicle in the rest.

It is able to defend itself pretty well if a good defensive position is found or set. Its armour makes it very inconvenient for most kinetic ammunition tanks to quickfire at it, so ambushes are a viable strategy. All close quarters combat (CQC) should be avoided, however, as the lack of turret and slow hull turn rate invites enemy tanks to flank you from all sides, and front is the only side you can defend yourself from them.

The only exception is if you can dictate the situation and your HMG is still functional, so that you can choose which way the enemy comes at you, and then detrack them so that they can't escape or rush you down. For example, some places in CQC environments (urban areas, city ravines, etc) can be used as choke point (holding a full street waiting for someone to push if that street is the only access point) due to its powerful gun and decent armour. This tank faces almost nothing that can be a too hard cookie to crack.

In AB, if you lay down an ambush, pay attention to ongoing air battles. If there is an incoming enemy plane (even a fighter) you should drop a smoke canister to avoid being marked on a map via "radio communication" skill. The fewer the people know where exactly you are and have direct aim assist support towards you, the better.

List of opponents important notes when facing frontally:

  • Panther/M48/Pershing: all front can be penetrated by both rounds
  • M60: gun mantlet and upper front plate can be penetrated by BR540B.
  • Tiger II: gun mantlet can be penetrated by all rounds as well as hull (aim at right side of the turret if the tank is facing at you for a safe reload)
  • Centurion: all front can be penetrated with all rounds
  • M103: hull has to be penetrated by BP540, center of mass shot has to be done frontally as the hull and turret are curvy, hull is impenetrable by all rounds
  • T32/T32E1: gun mantlet and hull have to be penetrated by BP540, aim at lower half of the frontal glacis to fire at ammunition rack
  • Maus/E-100: gun mantlet has to be penetrated by BP540 hull is impenetrable by all rounds.
  • Jagdtiger: gun mantlet has to be penetrated by BP540, hull can be penetrated by both rounds
  • Leopard 1/AMX-30: all front can be penetrated with BR540B and higher penetration rounds
  • T95: gun mantlet and hull have to be penetrated by BP540

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Reasonable frontal protection, the armour is more than 200 mm thick in most places and can deflect virtually any kinetic energy projectile at its BR if opponents don't aim well, there is no need to waste time angling like with the previous SPGs
  • Single frontal weak spot is relatively small and can be concealed with bushes in RB
  • Excellent firepower, with a fast-firing 152 mm and a 14.5 mm machine gun it can defeat most tanks one on one if not taken out immediately
  • Impressive mobility in a straight line
  • All ammunition types remain effective at long ranges, solving an issue that persists with many Soviet tanks at this BR
  • Side armour of the casemate can reach up to 100 mm, which can afford the tank to engage targets from multiple directions without having to worry about autocannon tanks and SPAA destroying it instantly
  • The original reload speed is retained with the loss of one loader
  • Has access to a unlockable "Rangefinder" modification, increasing its already impressive performance at longer ranges in RB

Cons:

  • Weak spot next to the gun is a flat 187 mm area, and is usually lethal if penetrated, making it a no-brainer to fire at the tank's gun to disable or destroy it with the same move, especially in AB
  • Any HEAT-based tank will obliterate Object 268 without even trying to aim
  • Large and boxy profile makes the Object 268 relatively easy to spot
  • Unimpressive turning ability makes it difficult to deal with flanking enemies at closer ranges, and nearly impossible to counter targets directly behind the vehicle
  • Large ammo racks on the sides and rear of the vehicle's casemate make flanking shots extremely lethal and very unforgiving when user forgets to un-angle
  • Firing the cannon kicks up a massive dust cloud, making the vehicle easy to spot when its firing from a concealed position
  • The top-mounted 14.5 mm KPV machine gun cannot point directly to the vehicle's left side, as its traverse is blocked by the rangefinder and cupola, however it is still more versatile than the one on the SU-122-54, as it has an overall better firing arc
  • Shells have low velocity for its battle rating

History

Development

The Object 268 self-propelled gun was one of the many derivative designs of the T-10 heavy tank. The concept began on 2 July 1952 at the Leningrad Kirov Plant on the order of the Council of Ministers USSR.[1] The Object 268 would follow in the same line of doctrine as had the earlier Soviet self-propelled guns of World War II, the SU-100, -122, and -152. This contrasted with the Western concept of a self-propelled gun being used as an artillery piece rather than the Soviet usage as a tank destroyer.[1] There had been earlier attempts at converting a heavy tank to a self-propelled gun, using the chassis of the IS-4 and IS-7, but those had not been fully developed and were cancelled. The IS-4 production was running too slowly and the IS-7 had been too complex to manufacture in large numbers.[2] The Leningrad Kirov Plant worked to produce an SPG on the T-10 chassis by combining it with the 152 mm M-48 cannon, which had high velocity and was much more powerful than earlier 152 mm cannons. Drawing work led to the Object 730 SPG which would be paired with the M-53 cannon, a parallel development to the M-48.[3]

The Object 730 SPG had five different variants drawn up with each one being unique. Version No.1 was a front mounted casemate design which would be developed into the Object 268. Version No.2 had a rear casemate with the main armament using a drum magazine at the rear of the fighting compartment and the engine at the front of the vehicle.[4] Version No.3 abandoned the casemate design and used a conventional turret with all ammunition being stored in the rear of the turret.[4] Version No.4 was a slightly modified No.2 with a lengthened hull, addition of a second loader (bringing the crew to five) and a new cupola with a rangefinder and machine gun.[5] Version No.5, likewise, was a reworked No.3 to also bring the crew to five and the addition of a 14.5 mm KPV machine gun, along with it using the same engine as would be used in the T-10M.[6] Versions No.4 and 5 were rejected due to being too drastic of changes to the base design, and it was decided to go with a slightly modified Version No.1 with the same engine as the T-10M.[7]

Final Design and Prototype

The final design for the Object 268 was presented to the committee in June 1953 using technical drawings and a scale model, which was approved on 25 August by A.I. Radzievsky.[7] This would be armed with the 152 mm M-64 cannon along with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun on the roof of the casemate, along with a stereoscopic rangefinder. While the crew was kept at five (having two loaders), it was intended to have a crew of four as soon as an automated loading mechanism could be made for the M-64 cannon.[7] The main armament was being slowly developed due to being lower priority than 122 mm development, but the M-64 was created by taking the M-53 cannon and slightly shortening it while still maintaining a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s.[8] The final drawings for the Object 268 were finalized in June 1954, reviewed in August and construction on prototypes had begun in March 1955.

Work continued on the M-64 cannon, with the prototype being completed in December 1955 and one being sent to Leningrad for installation into the Object 268 in February 1956. The prototype Object 268 was finally completed in March 1956 and was also still modified from the final drawings, as it was decided to use flat steel plates for the roof and rear of the casemate rather than the originally planned rounded plates as well modifications to allow the main armament to be installed and removed.[9]

Completed Vehicle and Cancellation

The completed Object 268 prototype was armed with the 152.4 mm M-64 cannon, built at the Leningrad plant, using the TSh-2A "Sharik" sight for direct fire and the ZiS-3 panoramic sight.[10] A TKD-09 stereoscopic rangefinder was mounted on the roof of the casemate along with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun in a rotating ring above the gunner's hatch.[10] Full ammunition load was 35 rounds, with AP and HE-FRAG being available. The range at which a target could be engaged in direct fire was 900 m with a maximum indirect fire range of 13,000 m.[10] The hull of the Object 268 was 120 mm thick of RHA and the casemate was 187 mm. The engine used was the V-12-6 generating 750 HP, as well as using the same transmission as the T-10. Weight of the tank was 50 tonnes with a maximum speed of 48 km/h.

The Object 268 was ultimately cancelled, largely due to internal problems associated with the development of Soviet tanks. By the time the prototype was completed and trials had finished it was approaching the end of 1957 and even further development had been done. These designs had specifications and characteristics that were more advanced that the Object 268 and would have been so well protected that the M-64 cannon would have difficulty in taking them out.[11] It was expected that the Western tank development would also be able to defend against the Object 268, and the T-10 heavy tank had already begun production which could have caused issues if tank plants were made to manufacture a different version at the same time. In addition, a major shift in Soviet doctrine to incorporate more usage of anti-tank guided missiles, which had just been created in the Soviet Union in 1956.[11] The Object 268 was not accepted for mass production and further development of the Object 268 was halted, with only the single prototype having been made. It remains in the Kubinka tank polygon and museum.

Media

Skins
Videos
Best tank destroyers discusses the Object 268 at 2:35 - War Thunder Official Channel
Object 268 - Tank Review - Napalmratte

See also

  • T-10M - Object 268 was developed on the hull of the T-10
  • ISU-152 - Object 268 was intended as the successor to the ISU-152

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 James Kinnear and Stephen L. Sewell, Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2017), p. 113.
  2. ↑ ibid. p. 114.
  3. ↑ ibid. p. 114-115.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ibid. p. 115.
  5. ↑ ibid. p. 116.
  6. ↑ ibid. p. 117.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 ibid. p. 118.
  8. ↑ ibid. p. 119.
  9. ↑ ibid. p. 121.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 ibid. p. 122-123.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 ibid. p. 124-125.
Bibliography
  • Kinnear, James and Stephen L. Sewell. Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2017.


Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant (Челябинский тракторный завод)
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Heavy Tanks 
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IS-1/2  IS-1 · IS-2 · IS-2 (1944) · IS-2 "Revenge" · IS-2 No.321
T-10  T-10A · T-10M
Other IS Tanks  IS-3 · IS-4M
Tank Destroyers 
KV Derivatives  SU-152
IS Derivatives  ISU-152 · ISU-122 · ISU-122S · Object 268
Export 
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ISU  ␗ISU-152 · ␗ISU-122
IFVs  SPz BMP-1
See Also  Leningrad Kirov Plant

USSR tank destroyers
SU-76M  SU-76M · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A
SU-57B  SU-57B · SU-76D
T-34 Derivatives  SU-122 · SU-85 · SU-85M · SU-100 · SU-122P
Heavy Tank Derivatives  SU-100Y · ISU-122 · ISU-122S · SU-152 · ISU-152 · Object 268
SU-100P and Derivatives  SU-100P · Object 120
Wheeled  YaG-10 (29-K)
Airborne  ASU-57 · ASU-85
Rocket  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
ATGM  IT-1 · Shturm-S · Object 775 · Khrizantema-S
Artillery  2S1 · 2S3M
Other  SU-5-1 · ZiS-30 · SU-122-54
USA  SU-57

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