TCM-20
Contents
Description
The TCM-20 was an Israeli SPAA built on the chassis of the M3 half-track. After World War II, the Israel Defence Forces used various weaponry imported from the USA, including M3 half-tracks equipped with the M45 machine gun mount. However, the firepower of the .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns used in them was no longer satisfactory for the military. In 1969, to increase the firepower of these vehicles, Israeli forces modified the machine gun mount, replacing the machine guns with two Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm cannons repurposed from decommissioned IAF aircraft. Production continued throughout the 1970s, with a total of 370 to 500 units produced. Besides the M3 half-track, the gun mounts were also installed on the Soviet BTR-152.
Introduced in Update "Fire and Ice" alongside the initial Israeli ground tree, the TCM-20 is a compact SPAA with good manoeuvrability, and armed with fast-firing 20 mm cannons which allows it to effectively deal with both late piston-engine and early jet aircraft at low altitudes. Furthermore, the presence of armour-piercing belts makes the TCM-20 an effective hunter of lightly armoured vehicles. However, the TCM-20 itself has rather light armour.
General info
Survivability and armour
The M3 half-track has been a staple of the US Army since the 1940s as one of the most widely-used half-tracks during the WWII alongside the Wehrmacht's Sd.Kfz series; these vehicles are a universal chassis which could be converted for different missions i.e. anti-aircraft. In Israel's case, the overall appearance of the TCM-20 is very similar to the M13 MGMC, but the larger guns and additional .30 cal M1919A4 gives its identity away. The vehicle is not rated for even rifle-calibre firearms at close distance. The thickest armour plate is the windshield, but do not expect it to stop HMG fire, even from afar. The engine block may absorb oncoming fire when head-on with enemies. In most cases, never, ever run into enemy fire lines or become targeted by aircraft, as these will end your career quickly; do also beware of high explosive shells or shrapnel, sometimes even close-calls could bring an end to the TCM-20.
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 6.35 mm (28-83°) 12.7 mm (1-27°) Driver windshield |
6.35 mm | 6.35 mm | N/A |
| Turret | 6.35 mm (0-77°) Turret front | 6.35 mm | N/A | N/A |
Notes:
- Tracks are 15 mm thick
- Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, with the bogie being 10 mm thick.
- Belly armour is 6.35 mm thick.
Mobility
M3 half-tracks share the same White 160AX petrol engine which could output up to 148 hp and the transmission could ensure its mobility both forwards and backwards; it can still retain the speed of all-wheel vehicles while crossing complicated terrain with ease.
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 83 | 19 | 10 | 210 | 282 | 21 | 28.2 |
| Realistic | 76 | 18 | 131 | 148 | 13.1 | 14.8 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Main armament
The modified M55 turret (now called TCM-20) houses two HS.404 20 mm autocannon, the same gun used in many early French aircraft, with the same configuration and ammo count. Thanks to the flat ballistic of HS.404, players will soon get to grips with the performance of the cannons. Not only can it take out aircraft as it was intended, it also ensures that light vehicles will have to think twice before appearing in front of a TCM-20, the rate of fire and penetration will make sure they will not get away with ease.
| 20 mm HS.404 (x2) | 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 | 720 (60) | 700 | -10°/+90° | ±180° | - | 63.4 | 87.8 | 106.6 | 117.8 | 125.4 | 3.90 | 3.45 | 3.18 | 3.00 |
| Realistic | 42.8 | 50.4 | 61.2 | 67.7 | 72.0 | |||||||||
Ammunition
- Default: AP-T · HEF-I · AP-T
- HET: HEFI-T · HEF-I · HEF-I
- APT: AP-T
| 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-T | 38 | 35 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 5 | |
| HEF-I | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| HEFI-T | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 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-T | 830 | 0.14 | - | - | - | 47° | 60° | 65° | ||||
| HEF-I | 838 | 0.12 | 0 | 0.1 | 6 | - | - | - | ||||
| HEFI-T | 838 | 0.12 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5 | 79° | 80° | 81° | ||||
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ |
Machine guns
To compensate for the lack of continuous firepower against infantry, TCM-20 installed a M1919A4 for the commander to suppress enemies; while it is ineffective against enemy armoured vehicles, there might be some occasions where enemies have exposed crews and the .30 cal could make short work of them.
| 7.62 mm M1919A4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Commander | 1,000 (250) | 500 | -10°/+10° | -10°/+10° |
Usage in battles
For players who have played the M13 MGMC in the US tech tree, it can be said that the TCM-20 is an successor to M13 to some extent, especially with its iconic twin gun configuration. However, when enemy aircraft get too close, they will find out the major difference: they would soon be shattered by the 20 mm HS.404 autocannons, recalling the memories from being chased by aircraft with these cannons. Such an "upgrade" is very welcomed as the 20 mm calibre is still more than enough to take out strafing fighters with ease, with overall 720 rounds onboard at 120 rounds per load, if players get used to the relatively straight ballistics and not being trigger-happy, the overall efficiency could be on-par with other SPAAs in other tech trees with their respective advantages. Most of all, the M3 chassis ensures that the TCM-20 can get to where it is needed as soon as possible thanks to its 72 km/h top speed, making it a viable option to flank enemies in some occasions; while the 13 km/h reverse speed could still make sure it can retreat to cover if masses of enemies/menacing aircraft rushing to where the vehicle is. As said, TCM-20 is still a half-track based SPAAG with minimal protection; in fact rifle-calibre firearms can harm the crew at around 200 m from the sides, let along HMGs and autocannons at even higher penetration, so be extra careful on where players should appear - rushing or running into a heated frontline is certainly a death sentence to the TCM-20. Overall, the TCM-20 is still a good AA half-track to handle different types of vehicles, whether it's on wheels, tracks or flying ones.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Devastating 20 mm autocannon which works well against aircraft
- Rather mobile, can swiftly changes its position if needed
- Quick turret traverse speed for target acquisition
- Spare .30 cal machine gun for occasion unprotected crews of enemy vehicles
Cons:
- Lightly protected up to rifle calibre firearms, also prone to overpressure
- Relatively small ammo pool per load (60 per gun)
- Insufficient penetration due to the battle rating
History
Devblog
During the 1960s, Israeli engineers took to modifying the American M45 anti-aircraft turret in service with the IDF at the time, in order to increase its effectiveness against fast modern aircraft. As a result, the engineers replaced the original quadruple 12.7 mm machine guns with a pair of HS.404 20 mm cannons salvaged from obsolete French jet fighters of the IAF. This new anti-air turret became known as the TCM-20 of which several hundred were converted from the original M45 design.
As the anti-air platform was just a towed turret, the IDF began to seek ways of increasing its mobility. The answer was to equip the turret to light armored vehicles in service with the IDF at the time. After some initial models were fitted to captured Soviet vehicles, a more permanent solution was found in equipping the widely used M3 halftrack with the TCM-20 turret.
After entering service with the IDF in 1969, TCM-20 immediately had its baptism by fire by taking part in the ongoing War of Attrition. The TCM-20 SPAAG also took part in the subsequent Yom Kippur War as well as in the Invasion of Lebanon in 1982. During the latter conflict, the vehicle also saw extensive use in the ground support role. Following the introduction of more advanced SPAAGs into IDF service, TCM-20 was slowly being phased out of IDF service before ultimately being retired in the early 1990s.
Media
- Skins
See also
External links
| Israel anti-aircraft vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Half-track | TCM-20 |
| M163 derivatives | Hovet · Machbet · Imp.Chaparral |
| Captured | ZSU-57-2 · ZSU-23-4 |
