M48A2 C
This page is about the German medium tank M48A2 C. For other versions, see M48 Patton (Family). |
Contents
Description
The M48A2 C is a rank V German medium tank with a battle rating of 7.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour (hull roof, hull rear - engine vents, turret roof, turret ring)
- Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)
Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hull | 85-200 mm (59-74°) Front glacis 63-200 mm (13-60°) Lower glacis |
76 mm (5-45°) Front 51 mm (0-44°) Rear |
35 mm Top 25 mm (32-62°) Bottom |
57 mm (0-58°) 30 mm Engine access panel 12.7 mm (76°) Engine vents |
Turret | 83.2-173 mm (0-48°) Turret front 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) Gun mantlet |
69-100 mm (12-36°) | 51-55 mm (2-71°) 25.4 mm (75-82°) Underpart of the turret |
25-69 mm |
Cupola | 70 mm |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
- The turret ring is 70 mm thick.
The armour of the M48A2 C is identical to the M48A1. The ammo rack in the turret is removed and the shape of the front hull ammo racks are improved. The front armour is able to handle almost most APHE shells it might face, but struggles against HEATFS and APDS rounds. The lower front plate is a weak spot. The sides are decently armoured, but not thick enough to make angling the hull a valid tactic. Some thin vents on the top of the hull are vulnerable to strafing runs by enemy aircraft, which may cause engine fires. Overall, the M48A2 C has excellent armour protection for its tier.
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 | 54 | 10 | 47.8 | 1,279 | 1,574 | 26.76 | 32.93 |
Realistic | 49 | 9 | 730 | 825 | 15.27 | 17.26 |
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Main armament
90 mm M41 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
Arcade | 64 | -9°/+19° | ±180° | N/A | 22.8 | 31.6 | 38.4 | 42.5 | 45.2 | 9.75 | 8.63 | 7.95 | 7.50 |
Realistic | 14.3 | 16.8 | 20.4 | 22.6 | 24.0 |
Ammunition
Penetration statistics | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
M332 shot | APCR | 321 | 316 | 292 | 265 | 240 | 218 |
M82 shot | APCBC | 185 | 182 | 170 | 155 | 142 | 130 |
M431 shell | HEATFS | 320 | 320 | 320 | 320 | 320 | 320 |
DM502 | HESH | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 |
M71 shell | HE | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Shell details | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile Mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||
0% | 50% | 100% | |||||||
M332 shot | APCR | 1,249 | 5.7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 66° | 70° | 72° |
M82 shot | APCBC | 853 | 10.94 | 1.2 | 14 | 137.2 | 48° | 63° | 71° |
M431 shell | HEATFS | 1,216 | 5.8 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 712.64 | 65° | 72° | 77° |
DM502 | HESH | 853 | 10.6 | 0.1 | 4 | 3,050 | 73° | 77° | 80° |
M71 shell | HE | 823 | 10.55 | 0 | 0.1 | 925 | 79° | 80° | 81° |
Smoke shell characteristics | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammunition | Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile Mass (kg) |
Screen radius (m) |
Screen deploy time (s) |
Screen hold time (s) |
Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
M313 | 821 | 10.7 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 50 |
Ammo racks
Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | 57 (+7) | 46 (+18) | 28 (+36) | 21 (+43) | 1 (+63) | No |
Notes:
- As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired both shells in the set.
- Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They totals 27 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
- These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
- Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready racks 4 and 5. If the ready rack is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
- Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into racks 5 then 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
- If you pack 21 (+43) shells, it will keep the front hull and the turret bustle empty of ammo.
Machine guns
12.7 mm M2HB | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
Pintle | 900 (200) | 577 | -10°/+60° | ±180° |
7.62 mm M73 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
Coaxial | 5,950 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A |
Usage in battles
Stock Gameplay:
The stock grind of the M48A2 C is problematic since the M332 APCR shot is the only stock ammunition provided, excluding the HE shell. Because of the lacklustre performance of APCR shots against angles, and the limited post-penetration damage it inflicts, players need to aim very carefully. Players may find the most success through flanking, and assisting teammates disable enemy armour. Sticking close to allies is near mandatory, as being caught off guard with the APCR is often times a death sentence. Players should prioritize unlocking the M82 APCBC round immediately, as it improves the tank's offensive capability significantly. Along with the M48A2 C's decent manoeuvrability while stock, flanking with the APCBC shell is a viable, and quite effective, option.
Spaded Gameplay:
The M48A2 C is a powerful tank. The M431 HEATFS round has adequate penetration, and in the event that a round with higher post penetration effects is needed, the M82 APCBC is also available. The gun and reload rate are comparable to other main battle tanks of the battle rating, although the M48A2 C relies on its HEATFS round for most situations. The armour on the M48A2 C is adequate, able to bounce enemy shells depending on the angle. The night vision image intensifier equipment and IR lamp can be a big advantage during night battles, but M48A2 C players should be careful not to expose themselves using their own IR lamp. The M48A2 C does not excel spectacularly in any way, but it is an adequate medium tank that is well suited to most situations.
Close Range Engagements:
The M48A2 C is capable at close range, but it is not exceptional. It has decent acceleration and gun handling, meaning it will do decently. Additionally the armour can prove useful even at close range. The only issue for the M48A2 C at close range is the post penetration on the HEATFS round. Generally using the APCBC round is more effective at close ranges.
Long Range Engagements:
The M48A2 C is very capable at long range. The HEATFS round will easily penetrate almost any enemy tank at any range. The biggest issues the M48A2 C will face in regards to long range engagements is the velocity and drop on the HEATFS round. Once this can be accounted for, it will perform very well. Additionally, the armour is even more effective at long range.
Gameplay summary:
Although the M48A2 C is very difficult to play when stock, it is an adequate frontline tank while spaded. The good HEATFS round gives it a strong position in the German tech tree. The M48A2 C is a true main battle tank, and will perform well in any situation. The one disadvantage the M48 may suffer from is a lack of a stabilizer on the main gun. While most tanks which it faces also lack stabilization, those that have it will have a big advantage over the M48A2 C.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Decent frontal hull armour, impenetrable UFP for most conventional ammo
- Good firepower
- Good mobility
- Has a commander's .50 calibre machine gun
- APCBC round with devastating high-explosive filler for great damage upon penetration
- Surprisingly survivable, two crew members often survive a shot
- Gun mantlet tend to stop conventional rounds
- More favourable matchmaking compared to other 90-mm armed M48 Pattons
Cons:
- Difficult APCR stock grind
- Turret armour isn't reliable
- Commander's cupola weak spot
- Ineffective armour in an uptier
- No stabilizer
- Ammunition explosions are common as most of the shells are in the front next to the driver
History
In the mid 1950's, West Germany received several version of the M48 Patton III tank from the US. In 1958, one of these versions was the M48A2 Patton III. This version included a 750 HP engine and a 90mm M41 cannon, as well an M85 .50 caliber machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola, and a coaxially mounted 7.62mm machine gun. In the same year, these tanks would receive an upgraded 825 HP engine, as well as other minor changes and would be designated as the M48A2 C in German service. This version saw service until the 1970's were it was replaced by the M48A2 GA2.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Related development
External links
Germany medium tanks | |
---|---|
Pz.III | Pz.III B · Pz.III E · Pz.III F · Pz.III J · Pz.III J1 · Pz.III J1 TD · Pz.III L · Pz.III M · Pz.III N |
Pz.IV | Pz.IV C · Pz.IV E · Pz.IV F1 · Pz.IV F2 · Pz.IV G · Pz.IV H · Pz.IV J · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J |
Pz.V | VK 3002 (M) · Panther A · Panther D · Panther F · Panther G · Ersatz M10 · Panther II |
M48 upgrades | M48A2 G A2 · M48 Super |
Leopard 1 | Leopard I · Leopard A1A1 · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 1A5 · C2A1 · Turm III |
Leopard 2 | PT-16/T14 mod. · Leopard 2K · Leopard 2AV |
Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4M · Leopard 2 PL · Leopard 2A5 · Leopard 2 PSO · Leopard 2A6 · Leopard 2A7V | |
Trophies | ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r) |
Other | Nb.Fz. · KPz-70 |
USA | mKPz M47 G · M48A2 C |
USSR | ◊T-72M1 |