SIDAM 25 (Mistral)
| This page is about the Italian SPAA SIDAM 25 (Mistral). For the version without Mistral SATCP missiles, see SIDAM 25. For other versions, see M113 (Family). |
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Contents
Description
The SIDAM 25 is an Italian anti-air platform developed by OTO Melara during the Cold War. Based on the M113A1 platform, the SIDAM 25 was primarily designed to fulfill the short-range air defense needs of the Italian army. The Italian army initially showed interest in the OTOMATIC anti-air platform; however, due to factors such as cost, the SIDAM 25 was chosen instead. One of its main drawbacks was that it lacked a radar system unlike other anti-air platforms of the era. A total of 275 systems were ordered. In the late 2010s, the SIDAM 25 began to be phased out, with most units being used to arm the Freccia IFV with a 25 mm cannon. The SIDAM 25 (Mistral) was a sole prototype created to test the capability of the Mistral SAM on the SIDAM 25 platform, and as a last ditch effort for OTO Melara to upgrade the SIDAMs so they could remain in service and not be completely obsolete.
Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", the SIDAM 25 is equipped with 4 x 25 mm Oerlikon KBA cannons able to fire both HEI-T* and APDS rounds. The high fire density of this SPAA allows it to destroy planes within seconds, often requiring only a few hits to bring down the target. The HEI-T rounds in the M792 belt contain a TNT equivalent of 54.4 grams in each projectile, with a high muzzle velocity of 1,100 m/s, making it easier to lead targets. However, the standard belts lack armour-penetrating rounds, so your maximum penetration remains at 3 mm until you unlock the M791 belt (APDS). Once the M791 belt is unlocked, defeating tanks becomes much easier, thanks to the 81 mm of penetration at 10 metres and a muzzle velocity of 1,345 m/s. The potential of the platform is however severely limited by the maximum capacity of 660 rounds (165 per gun). It is important to be very careful with your ammunition considering the fire rate and the small ammunition capacity, giving approximately 18 seconds of continuous fire. However, once your rounds hit their target, there is little that can survive. Helicopters and aircraft will be brought down with ease if you remain undetected. The platform's mobility is just sufficient to reach desired positions, but its large size makes it difficult to go unnoticed on the battlefield. The SIDAM 25 also lacks sufficient armour protection, as heavy machine guns can easily penetrate it. The 6 surface-to-air Mistral missiles can prove highly effective against low-flying aircraft and helicopters that venture too close to the battlefield. However, these aircraft often possess countermeasures that can prevent the missile from hitting its target. To maximize the chances of a successful hit, it is advisable to launch the missile while the target is preoccupied, or pair the missile with your main cannons to increase the likelihood of hitting the target.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Aluminium Alloy 7039
| 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°) |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick and 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 | 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
The SIDAM 25 (Mistral) is armed with 4 x 25 mm cannons, with the main purpose of destroying aircraft. Like almost all SPAA armaments, these cannons are not designed to disable or destroy tanks. It is capable of destroying other SPAA, and some SPGs, but it is limited in its anti-tank effectiveness. It carries 660 rounds in total, giving 165 rounds per cannon.
| 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 | 105.7 | 146.3 | 177.6 | 196.4 | 208.9 | 1.30 | 1.15 | 1.06 | 1.00 |
| Realistic | 71.4 | 84.0 | 102.0 | 112.8 | 120.0 | |||||||||
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 | ||
| M792 | HEI-T* | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| M791 | APDS | 80 | 78 | 73 | 66 | 60 | 55 |
| 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 | 0.19 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 54.4 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
| M791 | APDS | 1,330 | 0.13 | - | - | - | 75° | 78° | 80° | |||
Ammo racks
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| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 (+8) | No |
Additional armament
The SIDAM also possesses 6 surface-to-air (SAM) launchers, for its Mistral missiles. These can be guided by the Optical tracking system onto the target and have an approximate effective range of 4 km. However jets will most likely to evade the missiles if fired from this range, so it is suggested that you wait to fire these at a closer range than 4 km where it will be more difficult for them to react and evade.
| Mistral SATCP missile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity (Belt) | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | |
| 6 (6) | -5°/+87° | ±180° | Two-plane | |
Ammunition
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Range (m) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Arming distance (m) |
Trigger radius (m) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg) |
Ricochet | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| Mistral SATCP | SAM | 850 | 6,000 | 18.7 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 2 | 1.78 | 79° | 80° | 81° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 (+6) | No |
- It is not possible to select how many missiles are taken into battle.
- Missiles launch from left to right.
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 in 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 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 ground where your vehicle can be much easier to control. The M113 also does not have the best survivability, 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 armoured 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 81 mm of armour. 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 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, the SIDAM 25 sadly does not have access to a radar, unlike other nations' counterparts at the 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 warning receivers on enemy aircraft, 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 x 25 mm guns, they have a combined firepower of 2200 rounds per minute; more than enough to deal with most of the aircraft you'll face. You also have access to a two-plane stabilizer, which will furthermore aid you in firefights against both ground and air vehicles.
In terms of the Matra Mistral launchers it has access to, although at times these can prove to be a great asset, they also positioned on the top of the turret, leaving them very exposed. Much like most anti-aircraft and missile vehicles, if these missiles are hit while still in the launchers, they will most likely detonate and cause damage to the vehicle. They are best used when low flying aircraft are inbound, or when they have just pulled up from a dive. Do not attempt to try and take out fast moving planes as they will prove very difficult for the missiles to track. Also considering it only has a maximum range of 5.5 km, other similar missile SPAAs will still outperform you from long ranges.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Equipped with Mistral infrared SAMs
- Cannons have relatively high rate of fire (550 RPM on the 25 mm guns, a combined 2200 RPM)
- The APDS belt can go through most tanks' side armour
- Has an optronic tracking system allowing targets to be tracked and providing a lead indicator
- Optronic system cannot be detected by RWR on enemy aircraft, making it much easier for you to target them
Cons:
- Armour is extremely inadequate, heavy machine guns even from afar can cut right trough
- Vulnerable to overpressure damage
- Without the HEI-T ammo belt the main cannons are rather inadequate against most top-tier aircraft
- Limited APDS ammunition: the SIDAM can only carry 60 rounds
- Missiles can only be utilized for anti-air attacks
- Missiles have an absolute maximum range of 5.5 km
- Missiles can be defeated by flares
- Missile launchers are highly exposed on the top of the tank
- Does not have a search radar
- Doesn't have thermals or even NVD
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 Union's and Warsaw Pact, as well as NATO vehicles 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 armoured 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. The SIDAM 25 was advertised at the time to be able to utilize night vision and 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 onto the Italian army 'Freccia IFV' which uses the same 25 mm 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 on 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.
Devblog
Modernization plans for the SIDAM 25 were drawn up in late 1994, when Italian engineers proposed the up-arming of the vehicle with Mistral surface-to-air missiles in order to give it better long-range capabilities and improve its performance as a whole.
The missiles were to be distributed between two launchers, with each launcher containing three missiles. As such, the vehicle could then utilize the missiles against targets at long range, whilst preserving the cannon armament for close-range engagements.
The modernization of the SIDAM 25s with Mistral SAMs was expected to begin in the early 2000s, alongside some other potential upgrades as well.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
External links
| OTO Melara | |
|---|---|
| Light Tanks/IFVs | |
| Centauro | Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · VRCC |
| Dardo | Dardo · VCC-80/30 · VCC-80/60 |
| Other | C13 T90 · R3 T106 FA |
| MBTs | |
| OF-40 | OF-40 · OF-40 Mk.2A · OF-40 (MTCA) |
| Ariete | Ariete (P) · Ariete · Ariete PSO · Ariete AMV |
| Other | M47 (105/55) |
| Tank Destroyers | M113A1 (TOW) |
| SPAA | R3 T20 FA-HS · SIDAM 25 · SIDAM 25 (Mistral) · OTOMATIC |
| Patrol Boats | |
| Sparviero-class | Sparviero* |
| See Also | OTO |
| *Built by OTO Melara in La Spezia under the Alinavi S.p.A. consortium | |
| 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 |
