Difference between revisions of "M4A5"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_M4A5.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''M4A5 Ram II''' is a premium Rank II American medium tank with a battle rating of 3.7. It was introduced in [[Update 1.61 "Road to Glory"]]. The first Canadian tank added into War Thunder, the Ram II was an attempt by the Canadians to produce their own turreted tank with the [[Medium Tank M3 Lee|M3 Medium]] chassis. The Ram can be called a "hybrid" between the M3 medium tanks and the [[Medium Tank M4 Sherman|M4 Sherman]].
 +
 
 +
The M4A5 is quite a hybrid of a variety of traits among the British and American ground forces tree. The Ram is made up of the transmission, suspension, and engine from the American [[Medium Tank M3 Lee|M3 Lee]], the turreted platform of a [[Medium Tank M4 Sherman|M4 Sherman]], and the [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|6-pounder]] gun from the British. Thus, in its place in Rank 2, the play style is akin to the M3 Lee's mobility with the power of a turreted tank. It should then be played like like any standard American medium tank, with extra caution on the weak points presented on the front armour right next to the front machine gun turret.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
  
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
*Cast homogenous armour
 +
*Rolled homogenous armour (Machine gun turret, Transmission, Lower side hull, Rear engine, Roof)
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides  !! Rear (Slope angle)  !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 88.9 mm (26-66°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 50.8 mm (0-58°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 50.8 mm (12-87°) ''Driver's port'' || 63.5 mm (0-67°) ''Upper'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Lower'' || 38.1 mm (0-64°) ''Top'' <br. 38.1 mm (0-52°) || 38.1 mm <br> 25.4 mm ''Engine deck''
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 60.325 mm (22-26°) ''Turret front'' <br> 69.85 (0-71°) + 38.1 mm ''Gun shield'' <br> 44.45 + 63.5 mm''Gun mantlet'' || 69.85 - 76.2 mm (0-70°) || 69.85 mm (0-58°) || 38.1 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Machine gun turret || 63.5 + 50.8 mm || 63.5 mm || 63.5 mm || 50.8 mm
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 22.2 + 50.8 mm || 25.4 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 17 mm thick.
 +
* 8 mm RHA plate separating the engine and crew compartment.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="2" | 29.5 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 44 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|40 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|620
 +
|763
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|354
 +
|400
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|21.02
 +
|25.86
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|12.00
 +
|13.56
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
 +
{{main|Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm OQF 6-pounder Mk.III]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | 92 || -7.5°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 11.9 || 16.5 || 20.0 || 22.1 || 23.5
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 11.9 || 14.0 || 17.0 || 18.8 || 20.0
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 5.20 || 4.60 || 4.24 || 4.00
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== Ammunition =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 101 || 100 || 83 || 67 || 51 || 45
 +
|-
 +
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 112 || 111 || 92 || 74 || 57 || 50
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 94 || 92 || 83 || 72 || 63 || 52
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 113 || 112 || 100 || 90 || 84 || 80
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.5 || AP || 807 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| Shell Mk.10 || HE || 655 || 2.7 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 590 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.5 HV || AP || 853 || 2.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.8 || APC || 853 || 2.9 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
| Shot Mk.9 || APCBC || 801 || 3.2 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
[[File:Ammoracks_M4A5.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the M4A5 Ram II.]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''92''' || XX&nbsp;''(X+)'' || &nbsp;''(+)'' || &nbsp;''(+)'' || &nbsp;''(+)'' || &nbsp;''(+)'' || &nbsp;''(+)'' || style="text-align:left" | no
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
<!--''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|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 1,480 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 1,480 (250) || 500 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Hull turret''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 1,480 (250) || 500 || -8°/+60° || -120°/+50°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the 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 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 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 and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
* Strong frontal armour, especially the upper glacis, 100+ mm of effective thickness.
−
 
+
* Well armoured at the rank.
 +
* Lots of camouflages to unlock.
 +
* 63.5 mm of side armour, works well when angled.
 +
* 57 mm gun that can handle every foe it encounters.
 +
* Has .30 cal anti-aircraft defence.
 +
* Somehow adequate top armour.
 +
* Great mobility.
 +
* One of the few tanks that has all it's machine guns modeled and working properly.
 +
* Relatively cheap in GE price.
 +
* Relatively easy to play in matches.
 +
* Extremely good at taking hits and creating distractions.
 +
* Very hard for contemporary enemy tanks to knock it out in one hit.
 +
* This tank will feel like home for M4A3E2 Jumbo players because of its similar play style.
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
* Front armour has some weak spots due to unusual slopes
 +
* Driver hatch is a prominent weak point on front armour.
 +
* Armour protecting the transmission is only 50.8 mm thick.
 +
* Only the upper hull sides are 63.5 mm thick, the lower part is still only 38.1 mm
 +
* Gun mantlet has average thickness.
 +
* 57 mm gun lacks explosive filler.
 +
* Reverse speed is bad.
 +
* Very cramped turret, a single shot will likely disable all 3 crew members.
 +
* Most ammo racks are located below the turret and underneath the upper hull where it's only protected by 38.1 mm unangled armour.
 +
* Unlike the usual Shermans with top-mounted .50 cal, this only has 0.30 cal.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
 +
===Development===
 +
The aftermath of the Battle of France left the British military decimated as most of their equipments had to be left behind in their withdrawal at Dunkirk. Desperate for military equipment, especially tanks, they requested from the U.S. to help produce the necessary vehicles to supplement the armoured forces. Another firm assisting the British in armoured productions was Canada via the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Angus Shops with a contract to build 300 [[Valentine Mk.I|Valentine tanks]]. Later, Canada themselves ordered 488 Valentines to build up their own tank forces, but realize that they need a cruiser tank to attack and exploit breakthroughs. Complications between adapting British designs to North American standards and difference in material quality cause the Canadians to seek an American-derived cruiser tank rather than a British design.
 +
 
 +
The current standard U.S. Tank at the time was the interim design [[Medium Tank M3 Lee|M3 Lee]]. With the 75 mm gun on a sponson rather than its own turret, the M3 Medium tank currently isn’t a suitable candidate as the standard cruiser tank. In 1941, the Canadian Interdepartmental Tank Committee decided to use the M3 chassis as a foundation for a new and better, locally-produced design. The British took interest on this redesigning of the M3 Medium tank and sent a tank expert L.E.Carr to assist in the designing of the hull and turret. The hull itself was to be cast and the turret was designed around the expectations to mount the [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|6-pounder]] or the 75 mm gun. The name for the design was the '''Ram'''. The US would designate the Canadian models as the '''M4A5'''
 +
 
 +
Throughout the Ram’s designing and testings, the Canadians ran into problems of inexperience around building a tank and lacking the necessary production lines to begin producing tank parts. Deriving the Ram off the M3 Medium required parts like the transmission and engine that were currently being produced in America, which were always in low numbers given American tank production at the time. America assisted in the production of the Ram by producing the pilot models and the Canadian Tank Arsenal was to be built by Montreal Locomotive Works, themselves a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company who had experience building M3 tanks for the Americans.
 +
 
 +
The first prototype was produced in June 1941 and featured a full 360 traversable turret with a cast steel body, featuring the same powertrain and engine as the M3 it was derived from.  The Ram was also adapted for British specifications with adaption to a right-hand drive and weaponry. Overall the Ram was also shorter than the M3. It also featured the side doors and an machine gun turret on the front, but these were later removed in later productions. Production for the Ram started in November. Though intended to be fitted with the 6-pounder, the first 50 Rams produced used a 2-pounder due to lack of guns or mounts available for the Canadians. These were labeled ''Ram Mk.I''. By February 1942, the Ram design switched back to the 6-pounder, which was designated the '''Ram Mk.II''', which production continued until July 1943. During that time span, about 2,032 Rams and its variants were produced.
 +
 
 +
===Combat history===
 +
Unfortunately, around the time the Ram became battle-worthy for the front-lines, the Americans started their mass-production of the [[Medium Tank M4 Sherman|M4 Shermans]]. The M4 Sherman was by all mean similar in automotive performances, but benefited by the mass-production of the American industry. The Sherman quickly made the Ram, which only saving grace was giving the M3 Medium a turret, unnecessary. In March 1942, the Canadian government made the decision to switch all production lines to produce the [[Medium Tank M4A1 Sherman|M4A1]], with the Ram production only continuing until the proper machinery was ready, which then the Ram design remained idle. The Ram never saw combat usage and was only used as a training vehicle in Britain until mid-1944.
 +
 
 +
The Ram never saw combat as a tank, but its variants had a better record. Many Ram tanks were converted into armoured personnel carriers known as the ''Kangaroo'', flamethrower vehicles known as the ''Badger'', artillery observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, armoured recovery vehicles, and anti-tank gun tractor. Its most combat-oriented variant was the ''Sexton'' self-propelled gun with the 25-pounder howitzer developed to support the infantry, though the Sexton was also produced by the chassis from the Grizzly design.
 +
 
 +
After World War II, the Netherlands were free to take possession of any Ram tanks in army dumps on their territory. The Dutch used these tanks to equip their first tank units, the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions. The Rams were in poor state from low maintenance and disuse so they received additional Rams from Britain in slightly better conditions in 1947.  By 1950, most of the Rams were broken down and only 50 were available for use between the two battalions. They were all replaced, along with Shermans in their inventory, by the [[Centurion Mk.3|Centurion]] tank in 1952, supplied by the Americans. The Rams only usage past that was as static pill boxes on the IJssel line facing the Soviets in the Cold War.
 +
 
 +
===Legacy===
 +
The Ram unfortunately went down in history as one of Canada’s war design failures, with the M4 Sherman being produced in parallel by the U.S. overtaking it. It is also a testament to the disparity in the industrial base between the two countries. The Ram could still be attributed to kick starting Canadian production lines to be able to produce the M4A1 Shermans, which were designated the ''Grizzly''.
 +
 
 +
About 6 Ram tanks still survive today, with only 3 being the original tank design.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 42: Line 290:
  
 
== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
[http://warthunder.com/en/news/4164-development-m4a5-canadian-cadet-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M4A5: Canadian Cadet]<br/>
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
−
''ETC.''
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 51: Line 296:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{USA medium tanks}}
 +
{{USA premium ground vehicles}}

Revision as of 05:44, 22 November 2018

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
M4A5
us_m4a5_ram_2.png
M4A5
USA flag.png USA
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
3.7 3.7 3.7
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:1 150 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage M4A5.jpg


The M4A5 Ram II is a premium Rank II American medium tank with a battle rating of 3.7. It was introduced in Update 1.61 "Road to Glory". The first Canadian tank added into War Thunder, the Ram II was an attempt by the Canadians to produce their own turreted tank with the M3 Medium chassis. The Ram can be called a "hybrid" between the M3 medium tanks and the M4 Sherman.

The M4A5 is quite a hybrid of a variety of traits among the British and American ground forces tree. The Ram is made up of the transmission, suspension, and engine from the American M3 Lee, the turreted platform of a M4 Sherman, and the 6-pounder gun from the British. Thus, in its place in Rank 2, the play style is akin to the M3 Lee's mobility with the power of a turreted tank. It should then be played like like any standard American medium tank, with extra caution on the weak points presented on the front armour right next to the front machine gun turret.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Cast homogenous armour
  • Rolled homogenous armour (Machine gun turret, Transmission, Lower side hull, Rear engine, Roof)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear (Slope angle) Roof
Hull 88.9 mm (26-66°) Front glacis
50.8 mm (0-58°) Lower glacis
50.8 mm (12-87°) Driver's port 		63.5 mm (0-67°) Upper
38.1 mm Lower 		38.1 mm (0-64°) Top <br. 38.1 mm (0-52°) 38.1 mm
25.4 mm Engine deck
Turret 60.325 mm (22-26°) Turret front
69.85 (0-71°) + 38.1 mm Gun shield
44.45 + 63.5 mmGun mantlet 		69.85 - 76.2 mm (0-70°) 69.85 mm (0-58°) 38.1 mm
Machine gun turret 63.5 + 50.8 mm 63.5 mm 63.5 mm 50.8 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 22.2 + 50.8 mm 25.4 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 17 mm thick.
  • 8 mm RHA plate separating the engine and crew compartment.

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
29.5 N/A 44 (AB)
40 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 620 763
Realistic/Simulator 354 400
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 21.02 25.86
Realistic/Simulator 12.00 13.56

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)
57 mm OQF 6-pounder Mk.III
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
92 -7.5°/+20° ±180° Vertical
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 11.9 16.5 20.0 22.1 23.5
Realistic 11.9 14.0 17.0 18.8 20.0
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
5.20 4.60 4.24 4.00
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
Shot Mk.5 AP 101 100 83 67 51 45
Shell Mk.10 HE 9 9 9 9 9 9
Shot Mk.5 HV AP 112 111 92 74 57 50
Shot Mk.8 APC 94 92 83 72 63 52
Shot Mk.9 APCBC 113 112 100 90 84 80
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent): 		Normalization At 30°
from horizontal: 		Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
Shot Mk.5 AP 807 2.8 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
Shell Mk.10 HE 655 2.7 0.1 0.1 590 +0° 79° 80° 81°
Shot Mk.5 HV AP 853 2.8 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
Shot Mk.8 APC 853 2.9 N/A N/A N/A +4° 48° 63° 71°
Shot Mk.9 APCBC 801 3.2 N/A N/A N/A +4° 48° 63° 71°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the M4A5 Ram II.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
92 XX (X+)  (+)  (+)  (+)  (+)  (+) no

Machine guns

Main article: Browning (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm M1919A4
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,480 (250) 500 N/A N/A
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,480 (250) 500 -10°/+70° ±60°
Hull turret
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,480 (250) 500 -8°/+60° -120°/+50°

Usage in the battles

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Strong frontal armour, especially the upper glacis, 100+ mm of effective thickness.
  • Well armoured at the rank.
  • Lots of camouflages to unlock.
  • 63.5 mm of side armour, works well when angled.
  • 57 mm gun that can handle every foe it encounters.
  • Has .30 cal anti-aircraft defence.
  • Somehow adequate top armour.
  • Great mobility.
  • One of the few tanks that has all it's machine guns modeled and working properly.
  • Relatively cheap in GE price.
  • Relatively easy to play in matches.
  • Extremely good at taking hits and creating distractions.
  • Very hard for contemporary enemy tanks to knock it out in one hit.
  • This tank will feel like home for M4A3E2 Jumbo players because of its similar play style.

Cons:

  • Front armour has some weak spots due to unusual slopes
  • Driver hatch is a prominent weak point on front armour.
  • Armour protecting the transmission is only 50.8 mm thick.
  • Only the upper hull sides are 63.5 mm thick, the lower part is still only 38.1 mm
  • Gun mantlet has average thickness.
  • 57 mm gun lacks explosive filler.
  • Reverse speed is bad.
  • Very cramped turret, a single shot will likely disable all 3 crew members.
  • Most ammo racks are located below the turret and underneath the upper hull where it's only protected by 38.1 mm unangled armour.
  • Unlike the usual Shermans with top-mounted .50 cal, this only has 0.30 cal.

History

Development

The aftermath of the Battle of France left the British military decimated as most of their equipments had to be left behind in their withdrawal at Dunkirk. Desperate for military equipment, especially tanks, they requested from the U.S. to help produce the necessary vehicles to supplement the armoured forces. Another firm assisting the British in armoured productions was Canada via the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Angus Shops with a contract to build 300 Valentine tanks. Later, Canada themselves ordered 488 Valentines to build up their own tank forces, but realize that they need a cruiser tank to attack and exploit breakthroughs. Complications between adapting British designs to North American standards and difference in material quality cause the Canadians to seek an American-derived cruiser tank rather than a British design.

The current standard U.S. Tank at the time was the interim design M3 Lee. With the 75 mm gun on a sponson rather than its own turret, the M3 Medium tank currently isn’t a suitable candidate as the standard cruiser tank. In 1941, the Canadian Interdepartmental Tank Committee decided to use the M3 chassis as a foundation for a new and better, locally-produced design. The British took interest on this redesigning of the M3 Medium tank and sent a tank expert L.E.Carr to assist in the designing of the hull and turret. The hull itself was to be cast and the turret was designed around the expectations to mount the 6-pounder or the 75 mm gun. The name for the design was the Ram. The US would designate the Canadian models as the M4A5

Throughout the Ram’s designing and testings, the Canadians ran into problems of inexperience around building a tank and lacking the necessary production lines to begin producing tank parts. Deriving the Ram off the M3 Medium required parts like the transmission and engine that were currently being produced in America, which were always in low numbers given American tank production at the time. America assisted in the production of the Ram by producing the pilot models and the Canadian Tank Arsenal was to be built by Montreal Locomotive Works, themselves a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company who had experience building M3 tanks for the Americans.

The first prototype was produced in June 1941 and featured a full 360 traversable turret with a cast steel body, featuring the same powertrain and engine as the M3 it was derived from. The Ram was also adapted for British specifications with adaption to a right-hand drive and weaponry. Overall the Ram was also shorter than the M3. It also featured the side doors and an machine gun turret on the front, but these were later removed in later productions. Production for the Ram started in November. Though intended to be fitted with the 6-pounder, the first 50 Rams produced used a 2-pounder due to lack of guns or mounts available for the Canadians. These were labeled Ram Mk.I. By February 1942, the Ram design switched back to the 6-pounder, which was designated the Ram Mk.II, which production continued until July 1943. During that time span, about 2,032 Rams and its variants were produced.

Combat history

Unfortunately, around the time the Ram became battle-worthy for the front-lines, the Americans started their mass-production of the M4 Shermans. The M4 Sherman was by all mean similar in automotive performances, but benefited by the mass-production of the American industry. The Sherman quickly made the Ram, which only saving grace was giving the M3 Medium a turret, unnecessary. In March 1942, the Canadian government made the decision to switch all production lines to produce the M4A1, with the Ram production only continuing until the proper machinery was ready, which then the Ram design remained idle. The Ram never saw combat usage and was only used as a training vehicle in Britain until mid-1944.

The Ram never saw combat as a tank, but its variants had a better record. Many Ram tanks were converted into armoured personnel carriers known as the Kangaroo, flamethrower vehicles known as the Badger, artillery observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, armoured recovery vehicles, and anti-tank gun tractor. Its most combat-oriented variant was the Sexton self-propelled gun with the 25-pounder howitzer developed to support the infantry, though the Sexton was also produced by the chassis from the Grizzly design.

After World War II, the Netherlands were free to take possession of any Ram tanks in army dumps on their territory. The Dutch used these tanks to equip their first tank units, the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions. The Rams were in poor state from low maintenance and disuse so they received additional Rams from Britain in slightly better conditions in 1947. By 1950, most of the Rams were broken down and only 50 were available for use between the two battalions. They were all replaced, along with Shermans in their inventory, by the Centurion tank in 1952, supplied by the Americans. The Rams only usage past that was as static pill boxes on the IJssel line facing the Soviets in the Cold War.

Legacy

The Ram unfortunately went down in history as one of Canada’s war design failures, with the M4 Sherman being produced in parallel by the U.S. overtaking it. It is also a testament to the disparity in the industrial base between the two countries. The Ram could still be attributed to kick starting Canadian production lines to be able to produce the M4A1 Shermans, which were designated the Grizzly.

About 6 Ram tanks still survive today, with only 3 being the original tank design.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read also

[Devblog] M4A5: Canadian Cadet

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


USA medium tanks
M2  M2
M3  M3 Lee · ▃Grant I
M4  M4 · Calliope · M4A1 · M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (105) · M4A3 (76) W · M4/T26
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26 T99 · M26E1
M46/47/48 Patton  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47 · M48A1 · T54E1 · T54E2
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A2 · M60A3 TTS · M728 CEV · 120S
MBT-70  MBT-70 · XM803
M1 Abrams  XM1 (Chrysler) · XM1 (GM)
  M1 Abrams · M1 KVT · IPM1
  M1A1 · M1A1 HC · M1A1 Click-Bait
  M1A2 Abrams · M1A2 SEP · M1A2 SEP V2
Other  T95E1
Australia  M1A1 AIM
Canada  M4A5
Israel  ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Merkava Mk.1 · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.3D
Turkey  M60 AMBT

USA premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  LVT(A)(4) · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) · M3A1 (USMC) · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · M8 LAC · M8A1 GMC
  M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat · T18E2 · M551(76) · T114 · M1128 Wolfpack
Medium tanks  ▃Grant I · M4A5 · Calliope · T20 · M26 T99 · M26E1 · M46 "Tiger" · T54E1 · T54E2 · ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · M728 CEV
  XM1 (GM) · XM1 (Chrysler) · M1 KVT · M1A1 Click-Bait
Heavy tanks  T14 · Cobra King · M6A2E1 · T29 · T30
Tank destroyers  T28 · T55E1

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