Difference between revisions of "FV4005"

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_fv4005}}
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{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=uk_fv4005
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]].
 +
 
 +
The FV4005 holds the distinction of being the single largest cannon available in War Thunder Ground Forces at 183 mm, as well as having the longest reload with a stock time of 38.9 seconds. It can only fire HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) shells and has a limited turret rotation of ±45°.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
The FV4005 Stage II has essentially negligible armour, due to the gigantic turret providing only 14 mm of protection from any given angle. Due to this and the vehicle's crew being largely based in the turret, the FV4005 is extremely vulnerable to even .50 calibre machine guns, and any large calibre explosives or kinetic shells can and will hull break it.
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
The only redeeming trait in regards to survivability is that the crew may survive some side-on attacks due to the sheer size of the gun breech. Regardless, an FV4005 player should not count on surviving anything bar the lightest of machine gun fire.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 76.2 mm (61°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50.8 (12°) + 6 mm  || 38 mm (6°) ''Top'' <br> 38 mm (13°) ''Bottom'' || 38 mm <br> 29 mm ''Engine deck''
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 14 mm (10°) ''Turret front'' <br> 14 mm (12-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 14 mm (0-8°) || 14 mm (1°) || 14 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Tracks and suspension wheels are both 20 mm thick.
 +
* Spaced armour plates are placed on the side of the Centurion chassis, giving an additional 6 mm of side armour.
 +
* The rear has a steel rack providing an additional 15 mm of protection.
 +
 
 +
'''Crew:'''
 +
 
 +
* Commander
 +
* Gunner
 +
* Loader x2
 +
* Driver
 +
 
 +
Total: 5 crew members
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=923|rbMinHp=575}}
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} doesn't represent anything special in terms of mobility; the vehicle utilises a Centurion hull and retains most of the same characteristics, including the somewhat sub-par reverse speed. Hull traverse times are reasonable, but not exceptional, and maximum forwards speed is a limited 28 km/h in RB/SB.
 +
 
 +
Due to the vehicle's limited mobility, players should play conservatively, avoiding flanking routes and any areas where there is no immediate escape route available. The Tracks upgrade is particularly valuable on the {{PAGENAME}}, as due to its limited turret traverse distance the improved hull traverse will on occasion be a saving grace.
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|QF L4A1 (183 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The FV4005 Stage II sports the largest cannon available in War Thunder Ground Forces, the 183 mm QF L4A1, with the longest base reload time of any vehicle at 38.9 seconds. The L4A1 is restricted to the use of HESH only, due to the weapon originally being envisaged as an anti-emplacement howitzer. Despite this, HESH can be used to great effect against almost any possible target, provided shots are placed well - ideally on angled side armour (while ensuring the armour isn't angled enough to bounce). Despite the size and weight of the round, it has reasonable ballistics at 716 m/s velocity.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[QF L4A1 (183 mm)|183 mm QF L4A1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 12 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±45° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.85 || 21.94 || 26.64 || 29.46 || 31.34 || rowspan="2" | 38.87 || rowspan="2" | 34.38 || rowspan="2" | 31.69 || rowspan="2" | 29.90
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 10.71 || 12.60 || 15.30 || 16.92 || 18.00
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 +
|-
 +
| Shell L1 || HESH || 228 || 228 || 228 || 228 || 228 || 228
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Important note:''' HESH round performance improves, within reason, when targets are angled. This is due to the 'squash head' the rounds are tipped by - on larger angles the head will 'squash' further and result in more internal damage. However, the improvements with angling are limited once the rounds reach their ricochet angles - past 73° of angling the rounds have a chance to bounce. As such it's best to limit rounds to less than 70° where possible.
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 +
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 +
|-
 +
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| Shell L1 || HESH || 716 || 72 || 0.4 || 2 || 21,760 || 73° || 77° || 80°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Important note:''' This particular HESH shell has a slow fuse, which does not react to literally every obstacle it hits, unlike with the normal HEAT, HE or HESH, sometimes allowing FV4005 to fire through some foliage, flimsy fences and the likes. While it does not look very useful at first, it can be especially beneficial in Arcade mode or in some specific sniper setup, as AB players are often extremely uncomfortable with firing without aim assist confirmation, which is easily prevented by obstacles such as a weak metal fence built around a capture point, while you can learn the gun ballistics and train yourself to fire by using distance indicators and tank profile (use "select" hotkey, which is by default set to mouse wheel, to see hostile tank overall size and position) instead, to surprise them and thus avoid return fire.
  
=== Additional armament ===
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! Ammo<br>type
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''12''' || ''Projectiles''<br>''Propellants'' || 7&nbsp;''(+5)''<br> 11&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+11)'' <br> 9&nbsp;''(+3)'' || N/A<br> 7&nbsp;''(+5)'' || N/A<br> 5&nbsp;''(+7)'' || N/A<br> 3&nbsp;''(+9)'' || N/A<br> 1&nbsp;''(+11)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
Notes:
 +
* The FV4005 has extremely limited ammunition, with a maximum of 12 rounds. Despite this, it's no mean feat to run out of ammo due to the extended reload time.
 +
* Projectiles and propellant bags are modeled individually and disappear as soon as they're loaded/fired.
 +
* Projectiles racks empty from back to front.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The FV4005's coaxial machine gun is of limited value; it should be used to clear small obstacles or if possible crew members in open-top vehicles. It can be used as a ranging machine gun while keeping in mind that the main weapon's ballistics do not follow the machine gun's trajectory exactly as the MG has a slightly higher round velocity.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The main in-game use of this tank is the elimination of hull-down tanks (similar to [[T30]]), super-armoured heavy tanks in general (similar to [[IS-7]]), well-armoured SPG's (similar to [[Ho-Ri_Production|Ho-Ri]]) and the likes of them. Meanwhile, you still can help your team by hiding around and eliminating reckless rushers in 1 hit, when they aren't looking.
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
Your main goal in between your hunts is to survive and stay hidden, as you only have enough armour to stop 7.62 mm machine guns, and your reloading time is exceptionally long, especially if you lose either of the loaders. Contrary to popular belief, if you aim poorly with FV4005 it '''does not''' one-shot anything out of existence anyway. You should first get out of your cover (or wait for the enemy to get into your firing lines), then take aim at the enemy, and '''only then''' fire. HESH shell will do the rest for you if your aim and weak spot suggestion was correct.
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
 
 +
Weak spots depend on the mode you play in. As an example, for most Soviet tanks, the frontal weak spot is the left side of the hull (for you - right side). It's also possible to target the back of their turrets in Realistic battle. However, if you fire at back of the turret of IS-2 in arcade mode, it may '''still''' survive with just 1 crew member (driver with very high "vitality" level), go into "last stand" mode, turn it's turret and fire back at you. As such, try to aim at places, from which spalling can definitely hit every last crew member.
 +
 
 +
Likewise, in Arcade mode, it's not enough to just eliminate crew in your turret, and your driver is hidden in the decently armoured hull. However, if your FV4005 is attacked by explosives from 105+ mm gun, it will likely hull break. If the gun breech is hit and damaged, there is also a chance that the shell inside will also be destroyed, and you won't be able to avenge yourself even if you manage to repair before a follow up shot.
 +
 
 +
Going into sniper duels without preparations, like rangefinding and adjusting the gun beforehand, with this tank is ill-advised, as any sniper tank needs significantly less time to aim at you, due to the fact that your turret cannot turn freely, your enormous profile, and faster flying ammunition types. They also can destroy you in 1 hit as well, by hitting your ammo, or even by causing the turret to hull break without engaging it directly, particularly noticeable with ATGM tanks like [[Type 60 ATM]].
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Armed with the gigantic 183 mm cannon. This is the biggest gun mounted on any tank in the game.
 +
* 183 mm HESH will cause the spalling of enemy armour that is 254 mm thick or less. Devastating to even the most heavily armoured tanks.
 +
* Has the hull of a centurion. So the upper plate is actually strong.
 +
* Large gun breech can potentially protect some of the turret crew from incoming fire and shrapnel.
 +
* The co-axial machine gun has a very similar trajectory to the 183 mm gun, making it ideal for ranging.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Huge turret with only 14 mm of armour all around. Can be shredded by .50 cal machine guns and auto cannons, can be hull broken.
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Lots of ammo lining the entire turret which can be detonated with little effort.
 +
* 4 of the 5 crew are in turret. An APHE penetration or high calibre HE shells hit will likely one-shot the tank.
 +
* HESH is inherently unreliable, a hit to a wrong spot on certain enemy tank chassis or armour may do no damage at all despite shell's potential, while a close miss might annihilate enemy tank regardless
 +
* Carries only 12 shells.
 +
* Due to the thin turret armour and sheer size of the tank, is a prime target for AA guns and all aircraft at the BR.
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
Work started on a 180 mm self-propelled gun in 1950 by Nuffield Mechanizations & Aero. Designated the ''FV215B'', the plan was to mount the gun onto the Conqueror hull.<ref name="Ware pg79">Ware 2012a, p. 79</ref> It was intended for the three trial vehicles to be built from the span of 1951-1955. The project was cancelled in early 1957 with no prototypes produced.<ref name="Ware pg80">Ware 2012a, p. 80</ref>
 +
 
 +
During the development phase of the FV215B, another project was done on the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]].<ref name="Ware pg80" /> Labeled the '''FV4005''', it was an attempt to mount the 180 mm on the Centurion hull. The design phase is distinctive in two parts, Stage I and II. Stage I had the gun mounted on an open-topped hull. The gun had a concentric recoil system and an auto-loader. '''Stage II''' had the gun encased in a lightly armoured, splinter-proof turret with a conventional recoil system and manual loading.<ref name="Ware pg78">Ware 2012a, p. 78</ref><ref name="Ware pg109">Ware 2012b, p. 109</ref>
 +
 
 +
In December 1952, the 180 mm gun was increased into a 183 mm gun mounting. Though a single prototype was made for testing, the project never passed basic feasibility. In August 1957, the project was abandoned as well.<ref name="Ware pg78" /><ref name="Ware pg109" /> The lone prototype is currently stationed outside at Bovington Tank Museum.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
== Read also ==
+
;Skins
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=uk_fv4005 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|Akto0OJJEgI|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|PosWOnOGkSo|'''Best experimental vehicles''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 6:37 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
''ETC.''
+
 
 +
* [[Conway]] - A vehicle built under a similar principle of a large gun on a Centurion chassis.
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/4540-development-fv4005-big-box-surprise-en|[Devblog] FV4005 - Big Box Surprise]]
 +
* [[Wikipedia:Centurion_(tank)#Fighting_Vehicle_numbers|[Wikipedia] Centurion (tank) - Fighting Vehicle numbers]]
 +
 
 +
=== References ===
 +
'''Citations'''
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
'''Bibliography'''
 +
 
 +
* Ware Pat. ''Images of War: British Tanks: 1945 to the Present Day'' Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2012a
 +
* Ware Pat. ''Images of War Special: The Centurion Tank'' Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2012b
 +
 
 +
{{Britain tank destroyers}}

Revision as of 13:12, 29 December 2020

VTOL | Rank 5 USA
AV-8A Harrier Pack
uk_fv4005.png
GarageImage FV4005.jpg
FV4005
AB RB SB
6.3 6.3 6.7
Research:46 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:155 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The FV4005 Stage II is a rank IV British tank destroyer with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB) and 6.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.67 "Assault".

The FV4005 holds the distinction of being the single largest cannon available in War Thunder Ground Forces at 183 mm, as well as having the longest reload with a stock time of 38.9 seconds. It can only fire HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) shells and has a limited turret rotation of ±45°.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull76 / 51 / 38
Turret14 / 14 / 14
Crew5 people
Visibility273 %

The FV4005 Stage II has essentially negligible armour, due to the gigantic turret providing only 14 mm of protection from any given angle. Due to this and the vehicle's crew being largely based in the turret, the FV4005 is extremely vulnerable to even .50 calibre machine guns, and any large calibre explosives or kinetic shells can and will hull break it.

The only redeeming trait in regards to survivability is that the crew may survive some side-on attacks due to the sheer size of the gun breech. Regardless, an FV4005 player should not count on surviving anything bar the lightest of machine gun fire.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 76.2 mm (61°) Front glacis
76.2 mm (44°) Lower glacis
50.8 (12°) + 6 mm 38 mm (6°) Top
38 mm (13°) Bottom
38 mm
29 mm Engine deck
Turret 14 mm (10°) Turret front
14 mm (12-61°) Gun mantlet
14 mm (0-8°) 14 mm (1°) 14 mm

Notes:

  • Tracks and suspension wheels are both 20 mm thick.
  • Spaced armour plates are placed on the side of the Centurion chassis, giving an additional 6 mm of side armour.
  • The rear has a steel rack providing an additional 15 mm of protection.

Crew:

  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Loader x2
  • Driver

Total: 5 crew members

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB31 / 11 km/h
RB and SB28 / 10 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
2 back
Weight59.5 t
Engine power
AB1 240 hp
RB and SB650 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB20.8 hp/t
RB and SB10.9 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 31 11 59.5 923 1,240 15.51 20.84
Realistic 28 10 575 650 9.66 10.92

The FV4005 doesn't represent anything special in terms of mobility; the vehicle utilises a Centurion hull and retains most of the same characteristics, including the somewhat sub-par reverse speed. Hull traverse times are reasonable, but not exceptional, and maximum forwards speed is a limited 28 km/h in RB/SB.

Due to the vehicle's limited mobility, players should play conservatively, avoiding flanking routes and any areas where there is no immediate escape route available. The Tracks upgrade is particularly valuable on the FV4005, as due to its limited turret traverse distance the improved hull traverse will on occasion be a saving grace.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 557 → 3 163 Sl icon.png
RB2 909 → 3 598 Sl icon.png
SB4 250 → 5 257 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications40 700 Rp icon.png
79 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 400 Ge icon.png
Crew training45 000 Sl icon.png
Experts155 000 Sl icon.png
Aces630 Ge icon.png
Research Aces440 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 160 / 200 % Sl icon.png
160 / 160 / 160 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
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Brake System
Research:
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Cost:
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Filters
Research:
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Cost:
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165 Ge icon.png
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Transmission
Research:
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Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
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Engine
Research:
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Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
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Improved Parts
Research:
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Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
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Improved FPE
Research:
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Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
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Crew Replenishment
Research:
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Cost:
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Horizontal Drive
Research:
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Cost:
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Adjustment of Fire
Research:
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Cost:
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Elevation Mechanism
Research:
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Cost:
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Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition12 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
38.9 → 29.9 s
Vertical guidance-7° / 15°
Horizontal guidance-45° / 45°
Main article: QF L4A1 (183 mm)

The FV4005 Stage II sports the largest cannon available in War Thunder Ground Forces, the 183 mm QF L4A1, with the longest base reload time of any vehicle at 38.9 seconds. The L4A1 is restricted to the use of HESH only, due to the weapon originally being envisaged as an anti-emplacement howitzer. Despite this, HESH can be used to great effect against almost any possible target, provided shots are placed well - ideally on angled side armour (while ensuring the armour isn't angled enough to bounce). Despite the size and weight of the round, it has reasonable ballistics at 716 m/s velocity.

183 mm QF L4A1 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 12 -7°/+15° ±45° N/A 15.85 21.94 26.64 29.46 31.34 38.87 34.38 31.69 29.90
Realistic 10.71 12.60 15.30 16.92 18.00

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
Shell L1 HESH 228 228 228 228 228 228

Important note: HESH round performance improves, within reason, when targets are angled. This is due to the 'squash head' the rounds are tipped by - on larger angles the head will 'squash' further and result in more internal damage. However, the improvements with angling are limited once the rounds reach their ricochet angles - past 73° of angling the rounds have a chance to bounce. As such it's best to limit rounds to less than 70° where possible.

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%
Shell L1 HESH 716 72 0.4 2 21,760 73° 77° 80°

Important note: This particular HESH shell has a slow fuse, which does not react to literally every obstacle it hits, unlike with the normal HEAT, HE or HESH, sometimes allowing FV4005 to fire through some foliage, flimsy fences and the likes. While it does not look very useful at first, it can be especially beneficial in Arcade mode or in some specific sniper setup, as AB players are often extremely uncomfortable with firing without aim assist confirmation, which is easily prevented by obstacles such as a weak metal fence built around a capture point, while you can learn the gun ballistics and train yourself to fire by using distance indicators and tank profile (use "select" hotkey, which is by default set to mouse wheel, to see hostile tank overall size and position) instead, to surprise them and thus avoid return fire.

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
Ammo
type
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
12 Projectiles
Propellants
(+5)
11 (+1)
(+11)
(+3)
N/A
(+5)
N/A
(+7)
N/A
(+9)
N/A
(+11)
No
Ammo racks of the FV4005

Notes:

  • The FV4005 has extremely limited ammunition, with a maximum of 12 rounds. Despite this, it's no mean feat to run out of ammo due to the extended reload time.
  • Projectiles and propellant bags are modeled individually and disappear as soon as they're loaded/fired.
  • Projectiles racks empty from back to front.

Machine guns

Ammunition3 750 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: L3A1 (7.62 mm)

The FV4005's coaxial machine gun is of limited value; it should be used to clear small obstacles or if possible crew members in open-top vehicles. It can be used as a ranging machine gun while keeping in mind that the main weapon's ballistics do not follow the machine gun's trajectory exactly as the MG has a slightly higher round velocity.

7.62 mm L3A1
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,600 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The main in-game use of this tank is the elimination of hull-down tanks (similar to T30), super-armoured heavy tanks in general (similar to IS-7), well-armoured SPG's (similar to Ho-Ri) and the likes of them. Meanwhile, you still can help your team by hiding around and eliminating reckless rushers in 1 hit, when they aren't looking.

Your main goal in between your hunts is to survive and stay hidden, as you only have enough armour to stop 7.62 mm machine guns, and your reloading time is exceptionally long, especially if you lose either of the loaders. Contrary to popular belief, if you aim poorly with FV4005 it does not one-shot anything out of existence anyway. You should first get out of your cover (or wait for the enemy to get into your firing lines), then take aim at the enemy, and only then fire. HESH shell will do the rest for you if your aim and weak spot suggestion was correct.

Weak spots depend on the mode you play in. As an example, for most Soviet tanks, the frontal weak spot is the left side of the hull (for you - right side). It's also possible to target the back of their turrets in Realistic battle. However, if you fire at back of the turret of IS-2 in arcade mode, it may still survive with just 1 crew member (driver with very high "vitality" level), go into "last stand" mode, turn it's turret and fire back at you. As such, try to aim at places, from which spalling can definitely hit every last crew member.

Likewise, in Arcade mode, it's not enough to just eliminate crew in your turret, and your driver is hidden in the decently armoured hull. However, if your FV4005 is attacked by explosives from 105+ mm gun, it will likely hull break. If the gun breech is hit and damaged, there is also a chance that the shell inside will also be destroyed, and you won't be able to avenge yourself even if you manage to repair before a follow up shot.

Going into sniper duels without preparations, like rangefinding and adjusting the gun beforehand, with this tank is ill-advised, as any sniper tank needs significantly less time to aim at you, due to the fact that your turret cannot turn freely, your enormous profile, and faster flying ammunition types. They also can destroy you in 1 hit as well, by hitting your ammo, or even by causing the turret to hull break without engaging it directly, particularly noticeable with ATGM tanks like Type 60 ATM.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Armed with the gigantic 183 mm cannon. This is the biggest gun mounted on any tank in the game.
  • 183 mm HESH will cause the spalling of enemy armour that is 254 mm thick or less. Devastating to even the most heavily armoured tanks.
  • Has the hull of a centurion. So the upper plate is actually strong.
  • Large gun breech can potentially protect some of the turret crew from incoming fire and shrapnel.
  • The co-axial machine gun has a very similar trajectory to the 183 mm gun, making it ideal for ranging.

Cons:

  • Huge turret with only 14 mm of armour all around. Can be shredded by .50 cal machine guns and auto cannons, can be hull broken.
  • Lots of ammo lining the entire turret which can be detonated with little effort.
  • 4 of the 5 crew are in turret. An APHE penetration or high calibre HE shells hit will likely one-shot the tank.
  • HESH is inherently unreliable, a hit to a wrong spot on certain enemy tank chassis or armour may do no damage at all despite shell's potential, while a close miss might annihilate enemy tank regardless
  • Carries only 12 shells.
  • Due to the thin turret armour and sheer size of the tank, is a prime target for AA guns and all aircraft at the BR.

History

Work started on a 180 mm self-propelled gun in 1950 by Nuffield Mechanizations & Aero. Designated the FV215B, the plan was to mount the gun onto the Conqueror hull.[1] It was intended for the three trial vehicles to be built from the span of 1951-1955. The project was cancelled in early 1957 with no prototypes produced.[2]

During the development phase of the FV215B, another project was done on the Centurion.[2] Labeled the FV4005, it was an attempt to mount the 180 mm on the Centurion hull. The design phase is distinctive in two parts, Stage I and II. Stage I had the gun mounted on an open-topped hull. The gun had a concentric recoil system and an auto-loader. Stage II had the gun encased in a lightly armoured, splinter-proof turret with a conventional recoil system and manual loading.[3][4]

In December 1952, the 180 mm gun was increased into a 183 mm gun mounting. Though a single prototype was made for testing, the project never passed basic feasibility. In August 1957, the project was abandoned as well.[3][4] The lone prototype is currently stationed outside at Bovington Tank Museum.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

  • Conway - A vehicle built under a similar principle of a large gun on a Centurion chassis.

External links

References

Citations

  1. Ware 2012a, p. 79
  2. 2.0 2.1 Ware 2012a, p. 80
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ware 2012a, p. 78
  4. 4.0 4.1 Ware 2012b, p. 109

Bibliography

  • Ware Pat. Images of War: British Tanks: 1945 to the Present Day Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2012a
  • Ware Pat. Images of War Special: The Centurion Tank Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2012b


Britain tank destroyers
Infantry tank derivatives  Archer · Gun Carrier (3-in)
Light tank derivatives  Alecto I
M10 Achilles  Achilles · Achilles (65 Rg.)
Centurion derivatives  FV4005 · Conway
ATGM  Swingfire · Striker
Other  Tortoise · ▄M109A1
Canada  QF 3.7 Ram · ADATS (M113)
South Africa  G6 · ZT3A2