Difference between revisions of "PT-76B"

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m (Mobility: Added cons with obstacles)
(Inflated "Mobility" P&C list into paragraph to avoid confusion with the P&C List in "Usage in Battles", while consolidating a few points. Updated page template w/ new design)
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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 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.-->
 
[[File:GarageImage_PT-76B.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:GarageImage_PT-76B.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
{{break}}
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== 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 helpful 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 helpful 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:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
  
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=== 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 manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.-->
 +
The PT-76B has a good overall mobility on land thanks to its light weight. The {{PAGENAME}} can get its maximum speed of 49 km/h (AB) / 44 km/h (RB) easily due to its good acceleration. Controlling the light tank at maximum speed is possible due to the fact that its top speed is quite low for a light tank (the ubiquitous [[M41A1]], for example, has a top speed of 72 km/h). The PT-76B is also quite agile, being able to turn quickly in response to any events up the path. However, the vehicle does not have any neutral steer capability, so it will be difficult for the PT-76B to turn when not moving forwards. These forward mobility traits of the PT-76B can be interrupted severely by moderate obstacles such as medium trees, wooden fences, concretes plots/barriers or stone walls; these will cause the PT-76B to lose considerable amount of speed, or even be brought to a halt, especially in Realistic Battles
 +
 
 +
The maximum reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -6 km/h (RB), which is quite slow to allow overextend tactic (pop from behind cover, shoot, retreat behind cover), or for withdrawing from dangerous situation that the vehicle may have inadvertently driven itself into.
 +
 
 +
The amphibious feature of the PT-76B makes the vehicle more versatile, broadening the flanking/sneaking potential and options on a map, but this should only be exploited across smaller bodies of water. In water, it reaches 12 km/h (AB) / 9 km/h (RB) moving forward while the reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -5 km/h (RB). These slow speeds mean that once out floating in the water, the PT-76B can be a sitting duck if spotted due to the of any lack of cover or concealment. While firing from the water is an option due to the vehicle's stabilizer, the water waves and recoil can create a wobbly vehicle platform to get a good shot. To add to that, when planning an amphibious trip, it is best to ensure the destination could be reached in a straight line as the vehicle turns poorly and slowly in the water and so any course corrections would take more time, time which leaves the PT-76B exposed to being spotted.
 +
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
! rowspan="2" | Game Mode
 
! rowspan="2" | Game Mode
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| 44 || 212 || 240 || 15.14 || 17.14
 
| 44 || 212 || 240 || 15.14 || 17.14
 
|}
 
|}
The PT-76B has a good overall mobility thanks to its light weight. On land, the maximum reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -6 km/h (RB). In water, it reaches 12 km/h (AB) / 9 km/h (RB) moving forward while the reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -5 km/h (RB).
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
* Good acceleration, making the tank reach its maximum speed easily.
 
* Turning while moving is very quick.
 
* Amphibious capability increases flanking/sneaking potential but only for short bodies of water.
 
* Gun stabilizer compensates the instability of the tank in water.
 
 
'''Cons:'''
 
* Max forward speed is a bit slow for a light tank.
 
* No neutral steering, making it difficult for the PT-76B to turn when not moving.
 
* Reverse speed on land is too slow to allow overextend tactic (pop from behind cover, shoot, retreat behind cover)
 
* Very wobbly in water, especially in RB and when firing broadside.
 
* Turning in water is very slow due to vehicle size.
 
* Moderate obstacles (medium trees, wooden fences, concretes plots/barriers or stone walls) make you lose a lot of speed and may even bring you to a halt, especially in RB.
 
* Travelling long distances in water is a mistake because of the very slow amphibious speed and lack of cover.
 
  
 
== 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 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.''-->
+
<!--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|D-56-TS (76 mm)}}
 
{{main|D-56-TS (76 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | [[D-56-TS (76 mm)|76 mm D-56-TS]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[D-56-TS (76 mm)|76 mm D-56-TS]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
+
! Mode
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
+
! Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
+
! Vertical
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
+
! Horizontal
|-
+
! Stabilizer
| colspan="3" | 40 || -4°/+31° || ±180° || Two-plane
+
! Stock
|-
+
! Upgraded
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
+
! Full
|-
+
! Expert
! style="width:4em" |Mode
+
! Aced
! style="width:4em" |Stock
+
! Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
+
! Full
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
+
! Expert
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
+
! Aced
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| ''Arcade'' || 11.9 || 16.5 || __._ || __._ || __._
 
|-
 
| ''Realistic'' || 11.9 || 14.0 || __._ || __._ || __._
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
+
! ''Arcade''
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
+
| rowspan="2" | 40 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 11.9 || 16.5 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || rowspan="2" | 11.1 || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 11.1 || __._ || __._ || __._
+
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 11.9 || 14.0 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
+
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 10m
 
! 10m
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=== 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|SGMT (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|SGMT (7.62 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | [[SGMT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm SGMT]]
+
! colspan="6" | [[SGMT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm SGMT]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
+
! Mount
 +
! Total Ammo
 +
! Shots per Belt
 +
! {{Annotation|Fire rate|Shots per minute}}
 +
! Vertical guidance
 +
! Horizontal guidance
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
| Coaxial || 1,000 || 250 || 600 || colspan="2" | Not Applicable (Fixed)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 1,000 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
== Usage in battles ==
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but 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 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).-->
 +
 
 
As the PT-76B doesn't have much armour, avoid directly confronting enemy tanks. In order to defeat heavy/medium tanks, watch them and fire when they are not aiming or focusing on you. Use the light tank's manoeuvrability and fire rate to deliver pin-point hits onto the enemy's flanks, then retreat back in to cover before they can get a fix on the firing location. The PT-76B is also helpful in scouting enemy positions for its allies so they could bring in more firepower. As previously mentioned, this tank does not have the armour nor the crew to take on enemies head-on, so try to remain stealthy. It functions great as a scout tank in [[Simulator Battles]].
 
As the PT-76B doesn't have much armour, avoid directly confronting enemy tanks. In order to defeat heavy/medium tanks, watch them and fire when they are not aiming or focusing on you. Use the light tank's manoeuvrability and fire rate to deliver pin-point hits onto the enemy's flanks, then retreat back in to cover before they can get a fix on the firing location. The PT-76B is also helpful in scouting enemy positions for its allies so they could bring in more firepower. As previously mentioned, this tank does not have the armour nor the crew to take on enemies head-on, so try to remain stealthy. It functions great as a scout tank in [[Simulator Battles]].
  
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=== 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".''-->
+
<!--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:'''
  
*Access to HEAT-FS shells with excellent penetration at 5.3
+
* Access to HEAT-FS shells with excellent penetration at 5.3
*Great manoeuvrability
+
* Great manoeuvrability in terms of acceleration and turning
*Has a two-plane [[Gun_stabilizer|gun stabilizer]] (the only non-Rank V USSR tank with it!)
+
* Has a two-plane [[Gun_stabilizer|gun stabilizer]] (the only non-Rank V USSR tank with it!)
*Stabilizer works while shooting on water
+
* Amphibious capabilities
*Amphibious capabilities
+
* Stabilizer works while shooting on water
*Excellent [[Scouting|scout tank]] to spot targets for allies
+
* Excellent [[Scouting|scout tank]] to spot targets for allies
*Low profile
+
* Low profile
*Fast turret rotation
+
* Fast turret rotation
*Lack of turret rotational inertia
+
* Lack of turret rotational inertia
*Has night vision devices (NVD)
+
* Has night vision devices (NVD)
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
*Very thin armour all-around, even heavy machine guns can pen through the front
+
* Very thin armour all-around, even heavy machine guns can pen through the front
*Stock round is APCR, requires aiming of weak points until better rounds are unlocked
+
* Stock round is APCR, requires aiming of weak points until better rounds are unlocked
*Inadequate reload speed
+
* Inadequate reload speed
*Efficiency will be greatly reduced with a loss crew member
+
* Efficiency will be greatly reduced with a loss crew member
*Shooting from the water will shake the whole vehicle, but not the aim
+
* Shooting from the water will shake the whole vehicle, but not the aim
*Performs rather poorly in AB due to inability to hide nametag
+
* Performs rather poorly in AB due to inability to hide nametag
*Prone to [[Damage_mechanics#Hull-break|hull break]]
+
* Prone to [[Damage_mechanics#Hull-break|hull break]]
*Driving on the water is quite slow, forwards at 10 kph and reverse at -7 kph
+
* Lightweight vehicle means it is more heavily affected in collisions with large terrain obstacles
*Relatively slow reverse rate on land and on water
+
* Relatively slow light tank compared to its encountered peers like the [[M41A1]]
*Vulnerable to aircraft strafes
+
* No neutral steering, making it difficult for the PT-76B to turn when not moving
 +
* Slow reverse rate on land and in water
 +
* Driving on the water is quite slow, forwards at 10 kph and reverse at -7 kph, which can leave the vehicle exposed to enemy fire
 +
* Vulnerable to aircraft strafes
  
 
== 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 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></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>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
 
The purpose of light tanks fell into disuse in the course of World War II. The light tanks of every nation found themselves to be too lightly armoured and under-gunned to be of any use in the battlefield. Their mobility, which they once held with utility, was overtaken by the advancing mechanics of tanks that allow the heavier tanks to reach speed and mobility that light tanks used to monopolize. The utility of light tanks fell to specialized roles, mostly as a reconnaissance vehicle. The Soviet Union developed a light-weight vehicle for this role, with an additional requirement that the vehicle also is amphibious in operation. The amphibious operation would grant the tank a greater degree of movement over different terrain.
 
The purpose of light tanks fell into disuse in the course of World War II. The light tanks of every nation found themselves to be too lightly armoured and under-gunned to be of any use in the battlefield. Their mobility, which they once held with utility, was overtaken by the advancing mechanics of tanks that allow the heavier tanks to reach speed and mobility that light tanks used to monopolize. The utility of light tanks fell to specialized roles, mostly as a reconnaissance vehicle. The Soviet Union developed a light-weight vehicle for this role, with an additional requirement that the vehicle also is amphibious in operation. The amphibious operation would grant the tank a greater degree of movement over different terrain.
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== Media ==
 
== Media ==
<!--''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''-->
+
<!--Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.-->
 
{{Youtube-gallery|8Zol0mmU-9s|Why this advanced tank is matched with WW2 Vehicles? ▶️ PT-76B}}
 
{{Youtube-gallery|8Zol0mmU-9s|Why this advanced tank is matched with WW2 Vehicles? ▶️ PT-76B}}
  
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
[[wt:en/devblog/current/843/|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> PT-76B - with developer's answers]]
+
''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;''
== Sources ==
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 +
* ''other literature.''-->
 +
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/843/|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> PT-76B - with developer's answers]]
  
 
{{USSR light tanks}}
 
{{USSR light tanks}}

Revision as of 17:46, 29 January 2020

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
PT-76B
ussr_pt_76b.png
PT-76B
AB RB SB
5.0 5.3 5.3
Class:
Research:40 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:135 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage PT-76B.jpg


The PT-76B is a Rank III Soviet light tank with a battle rating of 5.0 (AB) and 5.3 (RB/SB). It is the first amphibious tank to be implemented in the game, being introduced with Update 1.53 "Fire Storm" (although the amphibious feature was not implemented until 1.55 "Royal Armour"). The PT-76B, as a light tank, has paper-thin armour but also has a powerful main gun that can engage most tanks at its battle rating.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 10 mm (80°) Top
13 mm (44°) Bottom
13 mm Top
10 mm Bottom
6 mm (1°) Top
6 mm (46°) Bottom
6 mm
Turret 15 mm (32-35°) Turret front
15 mm (19-32°) Gun mantlet
15 mm (35°) 15 mm (34-35°) 6 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 10 mm 6 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick.
  • Tracks are 15 mm thick.

Pretty much every tank in the game will be able to destroy the PT-76B with relative ease due to the ultra-thin armour of it. Avoid tanks with access to heavy machine guns on their turrets such as most American tanks, the IS-2 1944, etc.

Also, keep well clear of enemy SPAA. 12.7mm guns and above will absolutely wreck this tank. In particular, the Wirbelwind is a big threat. It has good penetration at range and will literally saturate the vehicle with autocannon shells. Just a short burst from the quad 20 mm guns will finish the PT-76B off.

Mobility

The PT-76B has a good overall mobility on land thanks to its light weight. The PT-76B can get its maximum speed of 49 km/h (AB) / 44 km/h (RB) easily due to its good acceleration. Controlling the light tank at maximum speed is possible due to the fact that its top speed is quite low for a light tank (the ubiquitous M41A1, for example, has a top speed of 72 km/h). The PT-76B is also quite agile, being able to turn quickly in response to any events up the path. However, the vehicle does not have any neutral steer capability, so it will be difficult for the PT-76B to turn when not moving forwards. These forward mobility traits of the PT-76B can be interrupted severely by moderate obstacles such as medium trees, wooden fences, concretes plots/barriers or stone walls; these will cause the PT-76B to lose considerable amount of speed, or even be brought to a halt, especially in Realistic Battles

The maximum reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -6 km/h (RB), which is quite slow to allow overextend tactic (pop from behind cover, shoot, retreat behind cover), or for withdrawing from dangerous situation that the vehicle may have inadvertently driven itself into.

The amphibious feature of the PT-76B makes the vehicle more versatile, broadening the flanking/sneaking potential and options on a map, but this should only be exploited across smaller bodies of water. In water, it reaches 12 km/h (AB) / 9 km/h (RB) moving forward while the reverse speed is -7 km/h (AB) / -5 km/h (RB). These slow speeds mean that once out floating in the water, the PT-76B can be a sitting duck if spotted due to the of any lack of cover or concealment. While firing from the water is an option due to the vehicle's stabilizer, the water waves and recoil can create a wobbly vehicle platform to get a good shot. To add to that, when planning an amphibious trip, it is best to ensure the destination could be reached in a straight line as the vehicle turns poorly and slowly in the water and so any course corrections would take more time, time which leaves the PT-76B exposed to being spotted.

Game Mode Mobility characteristics Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Max Speed (km/h) Weight (t) AoA Weight Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 49 14.0 N/A 372 458 26.57 32.71
Realistic 44 212 240 15.14 17.14

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: D-56-TS (76 mm)
76 mm D-56-TS Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 40 -4°/+30° ±180° Two-plane 11.9 16.5 __.__ __.__ __.__ 11.1 __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 11.9 14.0 __.__ __.__ __.__
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
BR-354N APCR 147 146 127 110 93 76
53-BR-354 APHE 98 96 88 79 71 63
OF-350M HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
BK-354M HEATFS 200 200 200 200 200 200
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%
BR-354N APCR 950 3.02 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 66° 70° 72°
53-BR-354 APHE 662 6.3 1.2 20 49.28 -1° 47° 60° 65°
OF-350M HE 680 6.2 0.05 0.1 621 +0° 79° 80° 81°
BK-354M HEATFS 700 7 0.0 0.1 1,260 +0° 65° 72° 75°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the PT-76B.
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
40 15 (+25) (+37) (+39) Yes

Machine guns

Main article: SGMT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm SGMT
Mount Total Ammo Shots per Belt Fire rate Vertical guidance Horizontal guidance
Coaxial 1,000 250 600 Not Applicable (Fixed)

Usage in battles

As the PT-76B doesn't have much armour, avoid directly confronting enemy tanks. In order to defeat heavy/medium tanks, watch them and fire when they are not aiming or focusing on you. Use the light tank's manoeuvrability and fire rate to deliver pin-point hits onto the enemy's flanks, then retreat back in to cover before they can get a fix on the firing location. The PT-76B is also helpful in scouting enemy positions for its allies so they could bring in more firepower. As previously mentioned, this tank does not have the armour nor the crew to take on enemies head-on, so try to remain stealthy. It functions great as a scout tank in Simulator Battles.

While the PT-76B has amphibious capabilities, it is not necessary to use them all the time. Keep in mind that the PT-76B can only go about 10 km/h in the water, so utilize the ability to travel on land as well. Instead, use the water to make an escape or take a shortcut. As an example, drive into the water if an enemy has spotted you, and take cover behind an off-shore rock. Driving through a river to flank the enemy is also possible if a bridge is not nearby. Take caution that reversing in the water is slow, if not nonexistent, which may get the PT-76B stuck if driven into an obstacle. Also make sure to check the map, as some maps like Eastern Europe have rivers with no way to get back onto land, or at least not many.

Otherwise, avoid directly confronting an enemy. Instead, take cover and scout. Another good tactic to use is watching the enemy - find a spot where they can't engage you and watch them. Wait for the right moment; when the enemy is reloading, aiming somewhere else, not noticing the PT-76, is attacking an ally, etc, quickly check to make sure no other enemy can target you and send a shell towards your enemy! Try to snipe at the enemy, but make sure to avoid all enemy fire, as all tanks can penetrate the PT-76's armour (even the GAZ-AAA (4M) technically has enough penetration to get through the tank's rear armour!).

The amphibious capabilities are a huge helper to the vehicle, allowing it to reach unusual sniper areas that vehicles without said capabilities could not reach (e.g. hiding behind the rocks near the jetty on Normandy). The incredible stabiliser also allows the PT-76B to simply sit in the water and blast away at enemies without them even realizing where the shots are from. Make sure to relocate after knocking out enemies or being spotted, however, as they will know the PT-76B's location and likely broadcast it to other players, most often resulting in the PT-76B being destroyed.

The HEAT-FS shell is powerful in terms of penetration, but the post-penetration damage is lacking compared to other Soviet shells. Not to say that the BK-350M is weak (It's actually quite amazing for a HEAT shell), but oftentimes, 2 or more shots will be needed to destroy an enemy, particularly the more spacey vehicles like the Tiger 1 and Panther. It would be wise, therefore, to look up crew and module locations on enemy vehicles in order to make your shots as lethal as possible.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Access to HEAT-FS shells with excellent penetration at 5.3
  • Great manoeuvrability in terms of acceleration and turning
  • Has a two-plane gun stabilizer (the only non-Rank V USSR tank with it!)
  • Amphibious capabilities
  • Stabilizer works while shooting on water
  • Excellent scout tank to spot targets for allies
  • Low profile
  • Fast turret rotation
  • Lack of turret rotational inertia
  • Has night vision devices (NVD)

Cons:

  • Very thin armour all-around, even heavy machine guns can pen through the front
  • Stock round is APCR, requires aiming of weak points until better rounds are unlocked
  • Inadequate reload speed
  • Efficiency will be greatly reduced with a loss crew member
  • Shooting from the water will shake the whole vehicle, but not the aim
  • Performs rather poorly in AB due to inability to hide nametag
  • Prone to hull break
  • Lightweight vehicle means it is more heavily affected in collisions with large terrain obstacles
  • Relatively slow light tank compared to its encountered peers like the M41A1
  • No neutral steering, making it difficult for the PT-76B to turn when not moving
  • Slow reverse rate on land and in water
  • Driving on the water is quite slow, forwards at 10 kph and reverse at -7 kph, which can leave the vehicle exposed to enemy fire
  • Vulnerable to aircraft strafes

History

Development

The purpose of light tanks fell into disuse in the course of World War II. The light tanks of every nation found themselves to be too lightly armoured and under-gunned to be of any use in the battlefield. Their mobility, which they once held with utility, was overtaken by the advancing mechanics of tanks that allow the heavier tanks to reach speed and mobility that light tanks used to monopolize. The utility of light tanks fell to specialized roles, mostly as a reconnaissance vehicle. The Soviet Union developed a light-weight vehicle for this role, with an additional requirement that the vehicle also is amphibious in operation. The amphibious operation would grant the tank a greater degree of movement over different terrain.

Prototypes of the tank started in the late 1940s, one was Object 740 developed by N. Shashmurin at the VNII-100 research institute of the Chelyabinsk Tank Factory in Leningrad. The vehicle was more successful than the others for using a simple design and good cross-country travel. The amphibious operation, the water-jet propulsion, was considered a breakthrough at the time. A prototype of this vehicle began to be built in 1950 at the Kirov Plant and adopted on August 6, 1951, after trials. This vehicle became designated as the PT-76 and production began at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory. An upgrade was made in 1957 that replaced the initial D-56T gun with a D-56TM with a muzzle brake and fume extractor, as well as new observations and radios for the expense of a taller profile. Another upgrade in 1959 was made that added the D-56TS gun with stabilization and NBC protection capabilities on the PT-76B. Production lasted from 1951 to 1969 for a total of about 12,000 PT-76 built.

Combat usage

The PT-76 saw use in the Soviet Union, who used it as their standard reconnaissance tank and in naval operations. The PT-76 stayed stationed at various bases during the Cold War but did not see much combat with the Soviet Union, staying until it was replaced by the infantry fighting vehicle BMP-1. Despite its replacement, the PT-76 stayed in reconnaissance companies and battalions and in the naval infantry units, as well as having a much better gun than the BMP-1. The PT-76 may still be in Russian service today in reserves as some have been reported to been used during the war in Chechnya. The PT-76 also served in various specialized roles such as an anti-aircraft mount.

The PT-76 was exported in large numbers to up to 25 different countries allied with the Soviet Union. Of these, Vietnam has the best combat record due to the Vietnam War, the PT-76 was a large part of the North Vietnamese Army's armoured force during the conflict. The PT-76 first successful action in Vietnam was in the Battle of Lang Vei in February 1968, where 13 PT-76s of the NVA 202nd Armoured Regiment fought against up to 500 defenders of the camp. The PT-76s were able to overrun the camp despite the defender's use of M40 recoilless rifles and M72 rocket launchers, which accounted for three PT-76 kills. Another combat engagement was in the Battle of Ben Het when the NVA 202nd Armoured Regiment was ordered to attack the base there. The PT-76 detonated a mine on the border of the camp, alerting to their presence. Several M48 Pattons of the 1/69th armour battalion was sent to engage the tanks, but one got hit by a PT-76 round and had two crewmen killed. By dawn after sporadic firefights between the Pattons and NVA tanks, the scene revealed two knocked out PT-76s and a BTR-50 APC. It was in 1972 where the PT-76 served as the testbed of an important American weapons development. Two helicopters on May 9 were scouring the countryside for enemy targets for its new armaments, it was at this time that the NVA attacked a camp at Ben Het. The helicopters responded, firing the experimental XM26 launchers at PT-76s and accounted for three PT-76 destroyed. This was the first combat usage of what would be the TOW anti-tank missile.

Aside from Vietnam, the PT-76 also served in the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistani Wars, the Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War on both sides, the Angolan Civil War in Cuban and MPLA service, in the Iran-Iraq War in Iraqi service, and the Yugoslav wars.

In-game description

The first experimental model of the PT-76B light aquatic tank received the factory title of “Object 740” and was assembled at the ChKZ in February, 1950. It immediately began factory testing. Following state-run tests and the elimination of defects discovered during the testing process, “Object 740” was recommended for acceptance into the arsenal of the Soviet Army. Serial production of the tank took place at the STZ from 1952 to 1953.

Tanks from the base batch released in 1952 underwent experimental field use. As a result, further refinements were made to the vehicle’s joints and components. Following field testing and experimental use, “Object 740,” now called the PT-76, was accepted into the arsenal by a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers: (#3636-1447) on August 6, 1952.

During the process of serial release various changes were made to the design of the vehicle to enhance its combat capabilities and technical characteristics. Vehicles with these modifications were produced until 1959, however, an updated DT-56TM cannon was installed on the tank in 1956. During the production run 1,896 PT-76B tanks were built. Of these, over 1,200 vehicles had the DT-56T cannon.

Media

See also

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;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


USSR light tanks
T-26  T-26 · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26-4 · T-26E
BT  BT-5 · RBT-5 · BT-7 · BT-7 TD · BT-7M · BT-7A (F-32)
T-50  T-126 · T-50
T-70  T-70 · T-80
PT-76  PT-76B · PT-76-57 · Object 906
BMP  BMP-1 · BMP-2 · BMP-2M · BMP-3
BMD  BMD-4
2S25  2S25 · 2S25M
Wheeled  BA-11 · BTR-80A
Other  T-60 · Object 685 · 2S38
China  ▂Type 62