MO-4

MO-4

Pr.206-M

OD-200

MO-4

Pr.206-M

OD-200

USSR

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.0

Class:

Motor gun boat

Boat

Research:2 900

Purchase:700

Show in game

Description

The MO-4 Type is a rank I Soviet motor gun boat with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced during Update 1.79 "Project X" when the Soviet fleet was implemented into the game. MO stands for Malyj Okhotnik, Russian for Small Hunter.

General info

Survivability and armour

MO-4 has the following structural layout:

• Hull: 38 mm, wood
• Superstructure: 10 mm, wood

The MO-4 is not armoured at all, and can be easily destroyed by even a rank 1 ship at close range. Ammo stores lay in the front and rear of the ship while the fuel tanks are in the center, meaning that an enemy shot will have a good chance of hitting a critical component. The silver lining of the MO-4's survivability is that the engines are below the water line, and so they are somewhat harder to hit.

Mobility

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	49	19
	Upgraded	67	26
RB/SB	Stock	43	17
	Upgraded	50	19

The MO-4 has a displacement of 52 tons.

Armament

Primary armament

This ship has access to two manual 45 mm cannons that can use AP ammo (for use against armoured boats) and three types of HE ammo. The default one and one of the unlockable ones (OR-73A and F-73 respectively) can be used to hit distant targets due to their greater muzzle velocity. The O-240 HE shell has greater explosive filler, but lower muzzle velocity, and so is more effective at closer range.

However, these guns leave the crew exposed due to the lack of armour, so even enemy machine guns can incapacitate these guns. As such, try to stay at range to prevent this from happening.

Secondary armament

The anti-air armaments of the MO-4 consist of a total of two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns. These guns should be primarily against the aircraft, which are relatively easy to take down at BR 2.0, but they can also be used against the lightly-armoured boats that are still present at this battle rating (such as the LS 3). The guns are positioned in the middle section of the ship, which should pose no problems against aircraft because at least one gun can be placed onto the enemy aircraft, but it can be hard to attack boats directly in front of the ship.

Special armament

One big firepower improvement on the MO-4 is the ability to equip the M-8 rockets. With a total of 64 rockets (32 on the deck ready to use), this ship can destroy almost anything, armoured or not, at very close range. While this ship should not be used at close range due to the lack of protection, rockets can be used in a last ditch effort to defeat rushing enemies or if in need of a quick-reacting weapon to surprise-attack someone. Do not underestimate the psychological effect of the rockets on newer player that may try to run away seeing/hearing them.

Usage in battles

The MO-4 has dangerous long-range firepower at a very low battle rating, but limited defense against fast and evasive enemies and air power. Accordingly, the MO-4 should fight conservatively at the longest possible range the crew's gunnery skill could reach. At this battle rating, very few opponents will have large-caliber guns that can compete at range, and even fewer players will be able to target them effectively, so use that to the ship's advantage.

Since the MO-4 does not have good anti-air defense, with only two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns for the job, it should be used as a first spawn ship; otherwise stay close to allies with good anti-air defenses to extend its lifespan.

Do not forget to use the M-8 rockets when in a bind, they could pull the MO-4 through desperate situations.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Two large 45 mm cannons on bow and stern of the ship
• Two secondary 12.7 mm DShK machine guns possess good field of range, provide some air cover
• Four rocket pods on the bow of the ship deal huge damage up close, and swivel to allow rockets to be fired in all directions except directly backward

Cons:

• Primary cannons have a low rate of fire
• Turrets have low turning speed
• Crew are incapacitated very easily due to lack of armour
• Good speed requires the purchase of all seakeeping modules
• Wooden hull can catch on fire easily

History

The MO-4 (produced from 1937-43, approximately 250 built) was the most-produced variant of the MO series of ships, succeeding the MO-1 (1935), MO-2 (1935-36), and MO-3 (1937) versions. Originally designed for anti-sub operations, the MO series also filled a multitude of roles including mine laying and sweeping, escorting convoys, and supporting amphibious landings. They remained in service until the end of WWII.

Media

The Shooting Range #112 - Pages of History section at 09:36 discusses the MO-4.

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the ship;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Wikipedia] MO-class small guard ship