SIDAM 25
| This page is about the Italian SPAA SIDAM 25. For the version equipped with Mistral SATCP missiles, see SIDAM 25 (Mistral). |
Contents
Description
The Sistema Italiano Difesa Aerea Mobile, 25mm (shortened to SIDAM 25) is a rank VI Italian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a battle rating of 8.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".
The SIDAM 25 is an optronics-aimed SPAA equipped with 4 x 25 mm Oerlikon KBA cannons with the ability to fire HEI-T* and APDS rounds. Because of the high fire density, this SPAA is able to destroy planes within seconds and just needing a few rounds to hit their target. The M792 belt rounds (HEI-T*) contain a TNT equivalent of 54.4 grams in each projectile, and have a high muzzle velocity of 1,100 m/s, making target leading much easier. However, because of the lack of armour-penetrating rounds in the standard belts, your maximum penetration remains 3 mm until you get the M791 belt (APDS). Once the M791 belt is unlocked, defeating tanks will be much easier, given the 81 mm of penetration at 10 metres, and a muzzle velocity of 1,345 m/s. The potential is however severely limited by the maximum capacity of 660 rounds (165 per gun). Overall, be very careful with your ammunition considering the fire rate and the small ammunition capacity. 4 x 550 rpm and a maximum of 660 rounds means you have about 18 seconds of continuous fire available.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Aluminium Alloy 7039
- Structural steel
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 38 mm (46°), 29 mm (46°) Front glacis 38 mm (25°) Lower glacis |
44 mm Top 32 mm Bottom |
38 mm (10°) | 38 mm (89°) Front 38 mm (89°) Rear |
| Turret | 38 mm (24°) Turret front 25 mm (1°) Gun mantlet |
25 mm (0°) | 25 mm (1°) | 25 mm (89°) |
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 | 70 | 17 | 14.3 | 301 | 404 | 21.05 | 28.25 |
| Realistic | 65 | 15 | 188 | 212 | 13.15 | 14.83 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Main armament
With only 60 APDS rounds available to fire, it is recommended to use them sparingly and only against Light tanks/SPAA.
| 25 mm Oerlikon KBA (x4) | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 660 (150) | 550 | -5°/+87° | ±180° | Two-plane | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | _.__ | _.__ | _.__ | _.__ |
| Realistic | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | __.__ | |||||||||
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 | ||
| M792 | HEI-T | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| M791 | APDS | 81 | 80 | 76 | 70 | 66 | 61 |
| 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% | |||||||
| M792 | HEI-T | 1,100 | 0.50 | N/A | 0.1 | 54.4 | 79° | 80° | 81° |
| M791 | APDS | 1,345 | 0.13 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75° | 78° | 80° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| __ | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ |
Sensors
The SIDAM 25 is equipped with a 3JB10 optronic tracking system, with no search radar. The tracking system does not trigger the radar warning receiver fitted to some helicopters.
|
Although the tracker can track targets in an elevation range of -20°/+85° once locked on, it can only initially lock on to targets between -20°/+20° in elevation. |
| 3JB10 - Optronic Tracking System | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Tracking Range |
Minimum Tracking Range |
Azimuth Tracking Angle |
Elevation Tracking Angle |
Minimum target speed |
| 5,000 m | 100 m | 360° | -20°/+85° (lock between -20°/+20°) |
1 m/s (3.6 km/h) |
Usage in battles
The SIDAM-25 can be quite deadly when used right, players who have unlocked this machine will get to experience for the first time inside the tree, an anti air vehicle with firepower that rivals or in some instances, is more effective than other nations counterparts. The best way to play with the Sidam-25 is to play very defensively. Due to it being based on top the widespread chassis known as the M113, the Sidam sadly does not have the best performance on or off road, even a small incline will seriously impact your overall mobility when using the vehicle. It is best to stick to flat grounds where your vehicle can be much easier to control. The M113 also does not have the best survivalbility, so in that the Sidam also sadly suffers in that area, so it is best to stick with more protected teammates or to flat out stay away from any type of enemy ground vehicles. Artillery will also be able to pressure damage you so in that case you should try your best to move away and avoid getting hit by it in the first place. In case any vehicles breach your defenses you do have access to a small amount of APDS rounds, they might be able to deal with lightly armored vehicles, and for the more heavier and protected vehicles, the APDS will at times penetrate and damage enemy tanks. The Sidam-25's APDS can penetrate up to 81mm of armor. Do keep in mind that the APDS is a tier 3 modification so you'll have to research it before having access to it. Due to the very low amount you have access to it is highly advised you use it strictly only for self defense, going on the attack with APDS will not usually work out for you, especially on the Sidam considering the factors i mentioned earlier, being slow, and not having very good mobility, not being very survivable, and overall being a very big target are all downsides for the Sidam-25. You can negate the APDS shortage by being close to a capture point, as not only will it replenish your main ammunition to keep you focused on shooting down air targets, but it will allow you to be a bit more wild with the APDS, as you'll be able to quickly replenish it easily, to allow you to last longer on the battlefield. So overall for the Sidam, the best tactic is to try your best to remain or at least be near a capture point. In the Anti-Air sector, you sadly do not have access to a radar, unlike other nation counterparts at you battle-rating. What you do have access to however is an optronic tracking system, which allows targets to be tracked, and provides one of the most most accurate lead indicators for any vehicle. This will allow you to predict flight paths of any enemy air vehicles you'll be facing. Another great thing about the optronic system, is that it cannot be detected by radar trackers on enemy helicopters, making it much easier for you to target them, and hopefully take them out with a quick barrage of you main gun. Speaking of which, the Sidam's main armament consists of 4 25mm guns, they have a combined firepower of 2200 rounds per minuite. More than enough to deal with most of the aircraft you'll face, to help you also have access to a stabilizer, which will furthermore aid you in firefights against both ground and air vehicles.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Has an optronic tracking system allowing targets to be tracked and providing a lead indicator
- Optronic system cannot be detected by radar trackers on enemy helicopters, making it much easier for you to target them
- 550 RPM on the 25 mm guns, a combined 2200 RPM
- Two-axis stabilizer which is very stable
- Incredibly quick turret traverse and gun elevation
- APDS can penetrate 81 mm, plenty to defend against enemy vehicles (once it is unlocked)
Cons:
- Thin armour, very susceptible to over-pressure
- Relatively poor zoom/magnification, harder to spot small targets at range (especially scout helicopters)
- APDS rounds are a tier 3 modification - until then, anti-armour work is not possible given the low penetration of the HE rounds
- Can only carry 60 APDS rounds
- Not very mobile compared to other tanks and SPAA at its rank, has a hard time scaling hills
- No search radar - only optronic targeting, meaning you need to have a visible target to lock on, and a clear line-of-sight to track it
- Can only lock-on to targets -20°/+20° in elevation
- Not very mobile
History
The SIDAM-25 was made during the cold war (the SIDAM system started in about 1980 and first two prototypes were trialed in 1983), Italy wanted to find a suitable anti-air vehicle that would be on par with the soviet unions and Warsaw pact ones. But also NATO ones such as the German Gepard and the American M163 VADS. Its primary goal was to take out out low flying aircraft but it was provided a secondary capability against lightly armored targets thanks to the types of ammunition it had access to, such as APDS, HEI and SAPHEI. There had been some contenders on what the next anti air vehicle would be, but the Italian Ministry of defense ended up supporting the SIDAM-25 and started to place orders for the vehicle. The Sidam-25 would be based on the American M113 chassis then built under license, mainly it was chosen as it had local production and allowed for a cheap supply of parts and easy maintenance and training. However, to carry the impressive quad system, a large array of modifications had to be carried out including the removal of the single fuel tank replaced with twin tanks either side of the new engine and updated suspension to cope with the increased weight. Although to the outsiders it may look like a decent SPAA (which it is in a way, on a good day), but the actual production version lacked radar and any form of night vision/thermal vision. Why you may ask yourself? Well the issue was not that it wasn't planned, infact the SIDAM-25 was advertised at the time to be able to utilize night vision and the thermal vision, however there was an issue, cost. The SIDAM-25 project ended up costing Italy too much, so they had to remove things from the actual prototypes such as, night vision and the thermal imaging, it ended up having an entirely different turret (the one currently in game). In retrospect Italy could've acquired the OTOMATIC with that money, which although it would lead to less units, it would've been great if they went for quality over quantity. Sadly the SIDAM-25 lived a short life, In total 276 of such systems were produced from 1985, they'd slowly be taken out of active service and put in storage. Most of them have been used for its main armament, and installed unto the Italian army 'Freccia IFV' which uses the same 25mm the Sidam once used. The Sidam-25 would only ever be exported to a private military collector in Belgium, in an estimated 40 units. There was also plans on installing the Sidam quad mount unto another Oto-Melara project, the C-13, however due to political reasons that would not end up happening. In terms of Sidam upgrades, modernization plans for the SIDAM 25 were drawn up in late 1994. The Italian engineers proposed the up-arming of the vehicle with Matra Mistral surface-to-air missiles in order to give it better long-range capabilities and improve its performance as a whole. Sadly, the Mistral program which aimed to upgrade the Italian Sidams would not be picked up.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Other vehicles based off the M113 platform
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| Italy anti-aircraft vehicles | |
|---|---|
| R3 Capraia | R3 T20 FA-HS |
| SIDAM 25 | SIDAM 25 · SIDAM 25 (Mistral) |
| Wheeled | AS 42 · CM52 |
| Tracked | M42 Contraereo · Leopard 40/70 · OTOMATIC |
| Hungary | ◔ZSU-57-2 · ◔ZSU-23-4 |
