MO-4
Contents
Description
The MO-4 is a small submarine hunter built by the Soviet navy during WW2. It was the fourth development of the MO class, and around 250 vessels were built during the war. The MO-4 saw extensive duty during WW2, performing various roles such as anti-submarine operations, convoy escort, as well as supporting landing operations. The further development of the MO class led to the creation of the BMO class, with 66 vessels being built in 1945.
This vessel was introduced during Update 1.79 "Project X" when the Soviet fleet was implemented into the game. It is equipped with two 45 mm cannons and two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns, which are effective for destroying enemy boats and lightly armoured targets. It can also be equipped with 64 M-8 rockets, which are powerful enough to destroy anything at close range, regardless of whether the enemy is armoured or not. Additionally, you can equip it with BB-1 depth charges to deter or destroy enemy vessels attempting to approach from behind.
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 centre, 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) | |
| Forward | Reverse | ||
| AB | Stock | 49 | 19 |
| Upgraded | 67 | 26 | |
| RB/SB | Stock | 43 | 17 |
| Upgraded | 50 | 19 | |
The MO-4 is relatively mobile for a ship of its size, with a top speed of 50 km/h in RB and 67 km/h in AB. While this is far slower than the MTBs at the same BR, it is quite adequate for a ship of its size, and is enough to get the MO-4 where it needs to be. Furthermore, the MO-4 is relatively snappy in terms of controls and turns relatively quickly, meaning that it is overall quite nimble.
Modifications and economy
| Seakeeping | Unsinkability | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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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.
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 100 m | 1,000 m | 2,000 m | 3,000 m | 4,000 m | 5,000 m | ||
| OR-73A HET | HE | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| O-240 HE | HE | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| BR-240 | APHE | 86 | 62 | 44 | 31 | 22 | 16 |
| F-73 | HE | 23 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay | Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| OR-73A HET | HE | 835 | 1.41 | 0 | 0.1 | 56.98 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
| O-240 HE | HE | 343 | 2.14 | 0 | 0.1 | 181.72 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
| BR-240 | APHE | 835 | 1.42 | 1 m | 1.5 | 27.72 | 47° | 60° | 65° | |||
| F-73 | HE | 835 | 1.41 | 0.015 s | 0.1 | 113.96 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
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 1.7, 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.
- Universal: AP-I · API-T · IAI
- 12.7 mm HE belts: IAI · IAI · IAI · API-T
- 12.7 mm APIT belts: API-T · AP-I · IAI · AP-I
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | ||||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| AP-I | 30 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 15 | |
| API-T | 29 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 14 | |
| IAI | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| AP-I | 850 | 0.05 | - | - | - | 47° | 56° | 65° | ||||
| API-T | 850 | 0.05 | - | - | - | 47° | 56° | 65° | ||||
| IAI | 850 | 0.05 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 47° | 56° | 65° | ||||
Additional 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 defence 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-calibre 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.
The MO-4 has two 45 mm cannons, with one on the bow and one on the stern. These weapons are not fully automatic, but pack a very significant punch for the battle rating. Indeed, they are very capable of ripping apart any vessels at the MO-4's BR, from larger patrol ships to smaller MTBs. Note that these weapons have a longer effective range than most other weapons that the MO-4 commonly faces, meaning that the ship can be used in a "sniper" playstyle. This means that the ship should stay 2-3 km away from any enemies, and snipe enemy light vessels using its powerful armament. This way, the MO-4 can make good use of its powerful armament without being heavily damaged by enemy vessels.
Since the MO-4 does not have good anti-air defence, 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 defences to extend its lifespan. The two DShK machine guns aren't good at longer ranges due to their short effective range (~1.5 km) but are highly effective against enemy vessels at short ranges. These weapons can put out a decent amount of damage when used correctly. Finally, note that the MO-4 gets access to M-8 unguided rockets. These weapons aren't effective against fast light vessels, but are highly effective against larger, slower vessels. Feel free to use these weapons when necessary, especially if being overwhelmed at closer ranges. The rockets pack a massive punch and will easily destroy any ships the MO-4 faces.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Two large 45 mm cannons on the bow and stern of the ship
- Two secondary 12.7 mm DShK machine guns possess a 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 sea keeping modules
- Wooden hull can easily catch on fire
History
The MO-4 (Russian: Малый Охотник, Malyj Okhotnik, English: Small Hunter) was a class of small submarine chasers built by the Soviet navy during the Second World War. The ships were designed for anti-submarine warfare as well as coastal patrol, though their duties varied during the course of the Second World War. The MO-4 class was the most numerous variant of the basic MO design, with approximately 250 ships built. The ships were built between 1937 and 1943, and served extensively during the Second World War.
The MO-4 was the 4th development of the MO class of guard ships, following the MO-1, MO-2 and MO-3 classes. However, in terms of production size, it dwarfed the previous classes, with roughly 250 ships produced compared to roughly 40 ships of the previous three classes. The MO-4s sported a main armament of two 45 mm 21-K cannons, one each mounted fore and aft of the bridge. As well, the ship carried two single DShK heavy machine guns. The MO-4 class sub-chasers were not fitted with torpedo armament, but rather, depth charges for it's anti-submarine role.
The MO-4 class of sub chasers saw extensive duty during the Second World War, not only in its anti-submarine role, but in various other roles as well. The ships were designed to be small and versatile, and as such, they were used for a variety of purposes including convoy escort and landing support. Two MO type sub chasers (MO-103 and MO-144) sank one U-Boat each, while other MO-4 boats destroyed small surface ships and aircraft. The MO-4 class would also lend its design to the later BMO (the B standing for "armoured"), of which 66 were produced in 1945.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
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
| USSR boats | |
|---|---|
| Motor torpedo boats | D-3 · G-5 · G-5 (ShVAK) · Pr.123-bis · Pr.123K (A-10bis) · Pr.123K · Pr.183 |
| Motor gun boats | TKA-412 · MO-4 · OD-200 · Pr.253L · Pr.183 BM-21 · Ya-5M |
| Motor torpedo gun boats | Pr. 206 · Pr.206-M · MPK Pr.12412 · MPK Pr.12412P · MPK Pr.11451 |
| Gunboats | Groza |
| Armoured gun boats | BMO · MBK-161 early · MBK-161 late · MBK pr.186 · MBK pr.186 (MK 85) · Pr.1124 early · Pr.1124 late · Pr.1124 MLRS |
| Pr.191 · Pr.191M · Pr.1204 · Pr.1204 late | |
