Difference between revisions of "M50"

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(Small fix in History. ~P51)
(Readded previous edits)
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| Hull || 10-13 (70°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 13 mm (45-66°) ''Lower glacis'' || 13 mm (43°) ''Top'' <br> 13 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm (36°) ''Top'' <br> 13 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm
 
| Hull || 10-13 (70°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 13 mm (45-66°) ''Lower glacis'' || 13 mm (43°) ''Top'' <br> 13 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm (36°) ''Top'' <br> 13 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof  
+
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cupola || 13 mm || 13 mm
 
| Cupola || 13 mm || 13 mm
Line 71: Line 71:
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 16.90 || 14.95 || 13.78 || 13.00  
+
| 16.90 || 14.95 || 13.78 || 13.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 90: Line 90:
 
! 2000m
 
! 2000m
 
|-
 
|-
−
| M344A1 || HEAT || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381  
+
| M344A1 || HEAT || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381 || 381
 +
|-
 +
| M361A1 || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152
 
|-
 
|-
−
| M361A1 || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152
 
−
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
Line 117: Line 117:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| M361A1 || HESH || 498 || 10 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 5,040 || +0° || 73° || 77° || 80°
 
| M361A1 || HESH || 498 || 10 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 5,040 || +0° || 73° || 77° || 80°
−
|-  
+
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 125: Line 125:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
|| '''18''' || 10&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+18)'' || style="text-align:left" | No  
+
|| '''18''' || 10&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+18)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
Six shells are loaded per reload.  
+
Six shells are loaded per reload.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
Line 169: Line 169:
  
 
== Usage in 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 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).''
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
[[File:M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.jpg|thumb|310x310px|M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps]]
 
[[File:M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.jpg|thumb|310x310px|M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps]]
 +
 +
Obviously the M50 is not a main battle tank, with its thin armour even Reserve units are a threat! Stealth and guile is the tactic, using its high mobility and small size to get in ambush or outflank an enemy push fast. Memorize shooting spots, be it concealed ambush points or sheltered ranged locations overlooking active routes. The most important tactic is '''''learn how to operate it!''''' Keymap a separate trigger for the spotting gun and learn the firing sequence! Nothing worse than sight a perfect target, but the gun on the wrong side is fired into a rock!
  
 
=== Modules ===
 
=== Modules ===
Line 199: Line 201:
 
|Improved optics||
 
|Improved optics||
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
 
<!--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".-->
Line 207: Line 210:
 
* Stock shells of HEAT and HESH
 
* Stock shells of HEAT and HESH
 
* The HEAT shell is really effective, literally point and shoot
 
* The HEAT shell is really effective, literally point and shoot
−
* Four heavy machine guns coaxial to guns - Can be used for spotting
+
* Four heavy machine guns coaxial to guns - Can be used for spotting
 
* 33 mph/53 kph nice speed, can get to ambush or sniping positions early game or rush capture point
 
* 33 mph/53 kph nice speed, can get to ambush or sniping positions early game or rush capture point
 +
* Spotting Gun allow you to instantly adjust aim, improve accuracy.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
Line 215: Line 219:
 
* Only 18 rounds - can't miss and be wasteful
 
* Only 18 rounds - can't miss and be wasteful
 
* Only 2 crew members - One shot is most likely to put you out of action
 
* Only 2 crew members - One shot is most likely to put you out of action
−
* Spotting machine guns are hard to utilise, firing only in unison with the guns as default or separately with key bindings
+
* Spotting machine guns are hard to utilize, firing only in unison with the guns as default or separately with key bindings
 
* Pintle mounted machine gun is quite ineffective against even aircraft found at this rank
 
* Pintle mounted machine gun is quite ineffective against even aircraft found at this rank
 +
* Use of Spotting Gun and main gun needs practice to be proficient and successful.
  
 
== 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 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).-->
 
It was such a strange “tank” the only word the US Army could think of for this strange thing was, well, “Thing”, except someone was clever and used the Greek word, '''ὄντος''' (really, truly [exists]).  Due mountainous and difficult terrain of Korea brought the US Army revisited the idea of a light tank.  It was quite an ingenious design made very quickly.  The prototype was based on an M56 Scorpion ATG chassis, used a common truck engine, and mounted six very powerful M40A1C recoilless rifle guns and be light enough for air transport.  The prototype was finished in 1952 and by 1955 completed its testing where it fulfilled its design requirements, but the Army simply did not like this monstrosity and decided against it.  The US Marines on the other hand was not as picky and loved this highly mobile light tank with a huge punch, so ordered 297 in 1955.  The design was reworked with a new chassis, new running gear with wide thread (ditching the M56 design), better internal layout, and other minor improvements that made the Ontos a unique one off design.   While it had a few flaws, it was reliable enough to accomplish its mission.
 
It was such a strange “tank” the only word the US Army could think of for this strange thing was, well, “Thing”, except someone was clever and used the Greek word, '''ὄντος''' (really, truly [exists]).  Due mountainous and difficult terrain of Korea brought the US Army revisited the idea of a light tank.  It was quite an ingenious design made very quickly.  The prototype was based on an M56 Scorpion ATG chassis, used a common truck engine, and mounted six very powerful M40A1C recoilless rifle guns and be light enough for air transport.  The prototype was finished in 1952 and by 1955 completed its testing where it fulfilled its design requirements, but the Army simply did not like this monstrosity and decided against it.  The US Marines on the other hand was not as picky and loved this highly mobile light tank with a huge punch, so ordered 297 in 1955.  The design was reworked with a new chassis, new running gear with wide thread (ditching the M56 design), better internal layout, and other minor improvements that made the Ontos a unique one off design.   While it had a few flaws, it was reliable enough to accomplish its mission.
  
Line 225: Line 231:
 
The first combat use of the Ontos occurred in 1964 Dominican Republic  Civil War where it reported destroyed an AMX-13 and an old Swedish L-60 (the only time it was used for purpose built, destroy tanks). But it was the following year when it was deployed to Vietnam . 
 
The first combat use of the Ontos occurred in 1964 Dominican Republic  Civil War where it reported destroyed an AMX-13 and an old Swedish L-60 (the only time it was used for purpose built, destroy tanks). But it was the following year when it was deployed to Vietnam . 
  
−
Vietnam was extremely hostile to tanks, not due to enemies but the environment.  Jungle, swamp, rice fields, mountains, rivers, a limited road network with small bridges; it was a nightmare for regular tanks but the Ontos could glide over them with ease.  Enemy Vietnamese troops rarely used tanks and few anti-tank guns so there was little threat from them, the paper thin armor was more than enough to resist small arms and heavy MG fire.  The significant vulnerability of reloading the 6 guns was largely moot as the fearsome reputation of this 6 shooter beast often cleared out enemy positions soon after it started shooting.  Unfortunately its age was its greatest enemy.  Over 10 years old and long out of production breakdowns became more frequent, some were cannibalized for parts and the turrets where mounted to fixed positions as point defense.  Despite its unprecedented success in Vietnam its limited numbers, scattered deployment, breakdowns, and frequent rotation it did not gain as much fame as it could have. More of footnote today, this unusual tank was the perfect vehicle for very difficult conflict.<!--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).-->
+
Vietnam was extremely hostile to tanks, not due to enemies but the environment.  Jungle, swamp, rice fields, mountains, rivers, a limited road network with small bridges; it was a nightmare for regular tanks but the Ontos could glide over them with ease.  Enemy Vietnamese troops rarely used tanks and few anti-tank guns so there was little threat from them, the paper thin armor was more than enough to resist small arms and heavy MG fire.  The significant vulnerability of reloading the 6 guns was largely moot as the fearsome reputation of this 6 shooter beast often cleared out enemy positions soon after it started shooting.  Unfortunately its age was its greatest enemy.  Over 10 years old and long out of production breakdowns became more frequent, some were cannibalized for parts and the turrets where mounted to fixed positions as point defense.  Despite its unprecedented success in Vietnam its limited numbers, scattered deployment, breakdowns, and frequent rotation it did not gain as much fame as it could have. More of footnote today, this unusual tank was the perfect vehicle for very difficult conflict.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 242: Line 248:
 
* ''other literature.''-->
 
* ''other literature.''-->
  
−
* [[wt:en/news/4905-gamescom-m50-ontos-something-out-of-the-ordinary-en|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M50 Ontos - Something Out of The Ordinary]]
+
* [[wt:en/news/4905-gamescom-m50-ontos-something-out-of-the-ordinary-en|[Devblog] M50 Ontos - Something Out of The Ordinary]]
  
 
{{USA tank destroyers}}
 
{{USA tank destroyers}}

Revision as of 21:11, 23 April 2020

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
M50
us_m50_ontos.png
M50
USA flag.png USA
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.7 6.7 6.7
Class:
Research:63 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:200 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage M50.jpg


The Rifle, Multiple, 106-mm, Self-Propelled, M50, also known by the nickname Ontos, is a rank IV American tank destroyer with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.71 "New E.R.A".

The M50 "Ontos" is pretty much a bulky carrier of recoilless rifles, carrying a payload of six shells of devastating HEAT and HESH shells. With six launchers pointing forwards, a well-emplaced M50 can point itself downrange and once a target comes into its sights, unleash all shells until the target is annihilated.

A stealthy and pouncing game style is needed to make the most of the hard-hitting guns and the thin armour of the Ontos.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 10-13 (70°) Front glacis
13 mm (45-66°) Lower glacis 		13 mm (43°) Top
13 mm Bottom 		13 mm (36°) Top
13 mm Bottom 		13 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 13 mm 13 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and torsion bars are 20 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 53 18 8.3 206 277 24.82 33.37
Realistic 49 17 128 145 15.42 17.47

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: M40A1C (106 mm)
106 mm M40A1C
Capacity (Belt capacity) Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
18 (6) -10°/+20° ±40° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 10.7 12.6 15.3 16.9 18.0
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
16.90 14.95 13.78 13.00
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M344A1 HEAT 381 381 381 381 381 381
M361A1 HESH 152 152 152 152 152 152
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%
M344A1 HEAT 502 10 0.0 0.1 1,650 +0° 62° 69° 73°
M361A1 HESH 498 10 0.4 0.1 5,040 +0° 73° 77° 80°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the M50.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
18 10 (+8) 0 (+18) No

Six shells are loaded per reload.

Machine guns

Main articles: M8C (12.7 mm), Browning (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M8C
Coaxial mount (x4)
Capacity (Belt capacity each) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
480 (4) 300 N/A N/A
7.62 mm M1919A4
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,000 (250) 500 -5°/+50° ±70°

Usage in battles

M50 Ontos at the National Museum of the Marine Corps

Obviously the M50 is not a main battle tank, with its thin armour even Reserve units are a threat! Stealth and guile is the tactic, using its high mobility and small size to get in ambush or outflank an enemy push fast. Memorize shooting spots, be it concealed ambush points or sheltered ranged locations overlooking active routes. The most important tactic is learn how to operate it! Keymap a separate trigger for the spotting gun and learn the firing sequence! Nothing worse than sight a perfect target, but the gun on the wrong side is fired into a rock!

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Horizontal Drive
II Suspension Brake System FPE Adjustment of Fire Airstrike
III Filters Crew Replenishment Elevation Mechanism
IV Transmission Engine Improved optics

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Six recoilless 106 mm rifles
  • The guns can be fired within 0.5 seconds of each other, allowing rapid fire on one helpless target
  • Stock shells of HEAT and HESH
  • The HEAT shell is really effective, literally point and shoot
  • Four heavy machine guns coaxial to guns - Can be used for spotting
  • 33 mph/53 kph nice speed, can get to ambush or sniping positions early game or rush capture point
  • Spotting Gun allow you to instantly adjust aim, improve accuracy.

Cons:

  • No armour whatsoever (can be easily destroyed by heavy MG rounds or via air strafing)
  • Only 18 rounds - can't miss and be wasteful
  • Only 2 crew members - One shot is most likely to put you out of action
  • Spotting machine guns are hard to utilize, firing only in unison with the guns as default or separately with key bindings
  • Pintle mounted machine gun is quite ineffective against even aircraft found at this rank
  • Use of Spotting Gun and main gun needs practice to be proficient and successful.

History

It was such a strange “tank” the only word the US Army could think of for this strange thing was, well, “Thing”, except someone was clever and used the Greek word, ὄντος (really, truly [exists]).  Due mountainous and difficult terrain of Korea brought the US Army revisited the idea of a light tank.  It was quite an ingenious design made very quickly.  The prototype was based on an M56 Scorpion ATG chassis, used a common truck engine, and mounted six very powerful M40A1C recoilless rifle guns and be light enough for air transport.  The prototype was finished in 1952 and by 1955 completed its testing where it fulfilled its design requirements, but the Army simply did not like this monstrosity and decided against it.  The US Marines on the other hand was not as picky and loved this highly mobile light tank with a huge punch, so ordered 297 in 1955.  The design was reworked with a new chassis, new running gear with wide thread (ditching the M56 design), better internal layout, and other minor improvements that made the Ontos a unique one off design.   While it had a few flaws, it was reliable enough to accomplish its mission.

The key to the M50’s offensive power is the 106mm M40A1C recoilless rifle firing devastating HEAT or HESH rounds with its integrated M8C .50 cal spotting rifle using a 10 or 20 round magazine. It should be noted the M8C is a shorter round (12.7x77mm, M48A2 Spotter-Tracer (S) bullets only) that the better known .50 AN/M2 BMG (12.7x99mm).  Every M40 produced had the M8C, but on the M50 the lowest 2 barrels have this spotting rifle removed leaving an empty mounting post.   If wanted (but not recommended) all 6 guns can be fired at once delivering far more destructive offensive load than any tank then or today.  The nature recoilless rifles is a powerful blow back, during a test firing all 6 it knocked bricks out of a building and shatters a few car windows.  At the top mounted a single .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun for anti-infantry use.

The first combat use of the Ontos occurred in 1964 Dominican Republic  Civil War where it reported destroyed an AMX-13 and an old Swedish L-60 (the only time it was used for purpose built, destroy tanks). But it was the following year when it was deployed to Vietnam . 

Vietnam was extremely hostile to tanks, not due to enemies but the environment.  Jungle, swamp, rice fields, mountains, rivers, a limited road network with small bridges; it was a nightmare for regular tanks but the Ontos could glide over them with ease.  Enemy Vietnamese troops rarely used tanks and few anti-tank guns so there was little threat from them, the paper thin armor was more than enough to resist small arms and heavy MG fire.  The significant vulnerability of reloading the 6 guns was largely moot as the fearsome reputation of this 6 shooter beast often cleared out enemy positions soon after it started shooting.  Unfortunately its age was its greatest enemy.  Over 10 years old and long out of production breakdowns became more frequent, some were cannibalized for parts and the turrets where mounted to fixed positions as point defense.  Despite its unprecedented success in Vietnam its limited numbers, scattered deployment, breakdowns, and frequent rotation it did not gain as much fame as it could have. More of footnote today, this unusual tank was the perfect vehicle for very difficult conflict.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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


USA tank destroyers
M10  M10 GMC
M36  M36 GMC · M36B2
T95  T28 · T95
M109  M109A1
ATGM  LOSAT · M901
Wheeled  M3 GMC · T55E1
Other  M8 HMC · M50 · M56
China  ▃LVT(A)(4) (ZIS-2)

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