Difference between pages "M4A3 (76) W" and "M2A2"

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m (the pros)
 
(Usage in battles: slightly rewritten the text. Mind that i'm playing AB, so it may be inconsistent in RB (though it should).)
 
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{{Specs-Card|code=us_m4a3e8_76w_sherman}}
+
{{Specs-Card|code=us_m2a2}}
 
{{About
 
{{About
| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| and
+
| usage = other uses
| usage = similar vehicles
+
| link = M2 (Disambiguation)
| link-1 = M4A3 (105)
 
| link-2 = M4A3 (76) W (Japan)
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
<!--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.-->
+
<!--''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.''-->
[[File:GarageImage_M4A3(76)WSherman.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
+
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (also known as the '''M4A3E8''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. This tank gives the M4 Sherman the best upgrades possible, with a new suspension and a high-penetrating [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm cannon]] with access to APCR rounds.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}} is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"|Update 1.49 (1.70.1945) "Weapons of Victory"]].
  
Compared to the previous Shermans, this one presents better mobility than the last few due to the new horizontal volute suspension system (HVSS). The suspension, like in real life, also seems to give the vehicle a much smoother ride across terrain, making it easier to acquire targets while on the move due to the stability. Another feature about this Sherman is the access to the HVAP rounds (APCR) for the 76 mm gun. The HVAP rounds give the tank a much greater firepower boost to fight the tanks at its rank.
+
The most common and most used American tank in pre-war years. The M2A2 was armed with a .50 and .30 calibre machine gun. The Spanish Civil War showed that tanks with MG main armament were ineffective. This led to the upgrade to the [[M2A4]]. In the game, the M2A2 is lightning fast, with very weak armour and a subpar armament.
  
 
== 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 helpful for survival in combat?
+
<!-- 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.-->
 
If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.-->
 
+
The whole armour is made out of '''rolled homogeneous armour ''' plates. Tracks provide 15 mm of armour.
'''Armour type:'''
 
 
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Gun mantlet, Transmission area)
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 31: Line 25:
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 63.5-107.9 mm (13-77°) ''Transmission housing'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (22°) ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm (13-44°) ''Bottom''|| 19.5 mm
+
| Hull || 15.8 mm (20°) ''Driver port'' <br> 15.8 mm (71°) ''Front Glacis'' <br> 15.8 mm (18-59°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 12.7 mm || 6.35 mm (2-61°) || 6.35 mm  
 
|-
 
|-
| Turret || 63.5 mm (10-62°) ''Turret front'' <br> 88.9 mm (1-74°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 63.5 mm (1-72°) || 63.5 mm (0-80°) || 25.4 mm
+
| Turret || 15.8 mm (0-) ''Turret front'' <br> 15.8 mm () ''Gun mantlet' || 15.8 mm (0-) || 15.8 mm () || 6.35 mm  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof  
 
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof  
 
|-
 
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm (55-56°) || 25.4 mm
+
| Cupola || 15.8 mm () || 6.35 mm
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
'''Notes:'''
 
  
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
+
=== Mobility ===
 +
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''-->
  
=== Mobility ===
 
<!--Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.-->
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
+
! colspan="3" |Mobility characteristic
 
|-
 
|-
! Weight (tons)
+
!Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
+
! colspan="1" |Add-on Armor
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
+
weight (tons)
 +
! colspan="1" |Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 33.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | 0.6 || colspan="1" | 46 (AB)  
+
| rowspan="2" |8.7 || rowspan="2" colspan="1" |N/A|| colspan="1" |80 (AB)
 
|-
 
|-
|41 (RB/SB)
+
|72 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
+
! colspan="3" |Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
+
! colspan="1" |Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|''Arcade''
|775
+
|308
|954
+
|379
 
|-
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|442
+
|232
|500
+
|262
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
+
! colspan="3" |Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
+
! colspan="1" |Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|''Arcade''
|23.20
+
|35.40
|28.56
+
|43.56
 
|-
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|13.23
+
|26.67
|14.97
+
|30.11
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== 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 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.-->
+
<!-- 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: {{main|Name of the weapon}}. 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|M1 (76 mm)}}
+
{{main|Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! colspan="6" |[[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]]
+
! colspan="2" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
|-
+
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate<br>(shots/min)
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="3" | 71 || -10°/+25° || ±180° || Vertical
+
| colspan="2" | 1,400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+20° || -170°/+20° || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Line 113: Line 104:
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.46 || 45.18
+
| ''Arcade'' || 18.90 || 19.76 || __.__ || __.__ || 28.24
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.4 || 22.60 || 24.00
+
| ''Realistic'' || 8.93 || 10.5 || __.__ || __.__ || 15.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
Line 124: Line 115:
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
|-
| 7.67 || 6.78 || 6.25 || 5.90
+
| 10.4 || __.__ || __.__ || 8.00
|-
 
|}
 
 
 
===== Ammunition =====
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 
|-
 
! 10m
 
! 100m
 
! 500m
 
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
|-
 
| M62 shell || APCBC || 148 || 146 || 133 || 119 || 106 || 95
 
|-
 
| M42A1 shell || HE || 8 || 8 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
 
|-
 
| M79 shot || AP || 134 || 132 || 121 || 109 || 99 || 89
 
|-
 
| M93 shot || APCR || 221 || 215 || 203 || 181 || 154 || 124
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 
''in m:''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 
''in mm:''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 
|-
 
! 0%
 
! 50%
 
! 100%
 
|-
 
| M62 shell || 792 || 7.0 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
| M42A1 shell || 800 || 5.84 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 390 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
| M79 shot || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
| M93 shot || 1036 || 4.26 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +1.5° || 66° || 70° || 72°
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
 
|-
 
! Ammunition
 
! Velocity <br /> in m/s
 
! Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 
! ''Screen radius <br /> in m''
 
! ''Screen time <br /> in s''
 
! ''Screen hold time <br /> in s:''
 
! ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 
|-
 
| M88 || 274 || 3.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
 
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks M4A1 (76) W.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the M4A1 (76) W Sherman (Identical to M4A3 (76) W).]]
+
[[File:Ammoracks {{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo racks|Ammo rack]] of M2A2|x250px]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
Line 201: Line 126:
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
|| '''71''' || 57&nbsp;''(+14)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+28)'' || 29&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 15&nbsp;''(+56)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+70)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
+
|| '''7''' || 4 ''(+3)'' || 6 ''(+1)'' || style="text-align:center" | No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== 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.-->
+
<!--''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|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
+
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
The M2A2 is armed with a secondary 30 cal. machine gun in a separate turret. This leads to it and the main turret to be unable to rotate 360 degrees. The 30 cal can be somewhat useful against very lightly armoured AA vehicles and can be used as a distraction for enemy tanks.
 +
 
 +
== 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 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 M2A2 is a strange vehicle as a twin-turreted machine-gun armament only vehicle. It is, however, fast, and could be sped around as a scout tank to get on the enemy's side. Your main turret, which uses 12.7 mm (.50) MG  can only fire forward and to the left, with secondary turret (which sports standard 7.62 mm (.30) MG, which can only really scare SPAA trucks) firing to the right.
 +
 
 +
The .50 cal main armament makes it necessary to rush as close to enemy as possible, as it could only penetrate ~20 mm at standard ranges, meaning that it is only really effective against the reserve tanks, and even so, the machine guns often may only be effective when shot at the flat sides or even only at the engine deck.
 +
 
 +
Avoid any "medium" and "heavy" tanks like [[M13/40 (Family)|M13/40]] or [[R.35 (SA38)]], as they will resist even pure AP belt fired point blank. Avoid messing with tanks of BR 2.0, as even lightly armoured tanks of that rank are only vulnerable from the sides and only from about 100 m away or closer. If you absolutely have to attack them, drive in circles around them and shoot at their weakspots, like engines or turret neck, whenever you get a chance.
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
Mostly your targets will be "[[AB41|scout]]" and "[[A13 Mk II|sniper]]" tanks, as you can do serious damage to them. To avoid getting annihilated while attacking them from the front, you can fire at their turret while approaching them. Quite often, even if you can't penetrate them as is, they will un-angle themselves, trying to fire at you by turning their flat turret armour parts towards your fire, dooming themselves. If it didn't penetrate, you already lost and shouldn't have attacked them in the first place.
|-
 
! colspan="7" | [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 600 (200) || 576 || -10°/+30° || ±60°
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
== Usage in battles ==
+
Overall, it is best to not go around the map without a buddy with a cannon to provide a substantial upgrade in firepower, should it come face to face with the enemy.
<!--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).-->
 
Playing as the M4A3 can be tricky since it features armour that can't stop most calibers at its rank such as the German 8.8 cm or the Soviet 85 mm, including the fact that it isn't the fastest tank. The M4A3 plays more of a support role, use its' powerful 76 mm as you assist your teammates during an advance or defense. The number one rule of this tank is to never fight alone with it, always be with a teammate and use cover when available since it will give you a great advantage.  
 
  
Use manual transmission, as using "Cruise Control 1" will give you a speed that is 1 km/h above the speed the stabilizer works at. A gear level of 2 will land you at 9 km/h but allows the stabilizer to do its job.  
+
Another way to use the M2A2 is as an SPAA. The turrets have decent gun elevation so hitting aircraft is quite easy. The .30 and .50 cal machine guns are very good at destroying any planes at its BR or at least will cripple them. It is recommended to turn the hull with the turrets so you can fire both guns and will not end up only firing one.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!--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".-->
+
<!--''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".''-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
*Single-plane gun stabilizer.
+
* Very fast, can reach 60 km/h on a road in AB
*Decent 76 mm gun.
+
* Can sacrifice speed to make a fast turn
*Better maneuverability than its predecessor.
+
* Accurate in the long run
*Easy to use if you played the M4 Shermans before it.
+
* High and stable fire rate
*Very fast turret traverse.
 
*Quick reload for the 76 mm Gun.
 
*Wet ammo storage - Which reduces greatly ammo rack chances, is indicated by the "W" in its name, this also means tightly packed ammo only placed under the turret.
 
*Top-mounted .50 cal useful against fighters and open topped/light vehicles.
 
*Access to APCR shells.
 
*Great cross terrain performances due to larger tracks, same as the [[M4A3 (105)|M4A3 (105)]].
 
*it was in a movie
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
*All-around armour is very weak against most cannons.
+
* Armour is only sufficient to protect itself against machine gun fire
*76 mm gun, while adequate when top rank, is lacking against opponents.
+
* Pathetic armament, which can be used only against anti-air vehicles and some light tanks, and some sides or rears of medium tanks, but not all
*Doesn't like being uptiered against big tanks such as the [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II (P)]] and [[IS-2 (1944)|IS-2 1944]].
+
* Two non-fully rotating turrets
*Tall profile.
+
* In an event in which the .50 gunner is knocked out, the .30 machine gun can't do much to protect the tank
 +
* Cramped crew
 +
* Any high speed collision can result in the driver and co-drivers knockout, or worse the entire crew
 +
* Terrible steering, not adequate under gear 2
 +
* Can get stuck when driving up the hills without track upgrade
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!--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 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. 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).-->
+
<!--''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 "/ 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
The [[M4|M4 Sherman]] has become a proven and well-respected tank design by 1944. It was highly reliable, adequately armoured, and could be produced in a very large number with a dedicated support arm to ensure that all of the ones in the field could be kept operational. It was also by 1944 that the Sherman's faults were becoming a more defining trait than its advantages, namely with the increased prevalence of German anti-tank weaponry and tanks, such as the [[Panther A|Panther]] tank. The German anti-tank abilities, ranging from rocket launchers, anti-tank guns, mines, and tank guns, all became more capable of penetrating the frontal armour or disabling the Sherman. This resulted in an increased Allied tank attrition rate of nearly double during the Normandy Campaign than that of the Allies' previous campaigns. Criticisms were raised on the Sherman's inability to destroy the heavier tanks with its [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm gun]], the tendency of catching fire easily when a penetrating round hits an ammo stowage bin scattered in the Sherman interior, and the lack of mobility on the muddy terrain due to the track design. The first and second criticism was addressed with the [[M1 (76 mm)|high-velocity 76 mm gun]] and a "wet stowage" ammo containers, but mobility became a big issue especially once the Allied front in France reached the Siegfried Line on the border of Germany, where the ground became very muddy in the fall season. An attempt to fix this was improvising "extensions" on the tracks, but these were difficult to add and there were never enough to go around. The problem had to be addressed in the manufacturing plant and Ordnance Department set to work finding a better solution to fix the track flotation for better mobility.
+
The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.  
  
The result was to be the basis of the next generation of Sherman models. Under the ''E8'' program, new suspension was trialed on the Sherman, one was the horizontal-volute suspension system (HVSS) taken from the ''[[T20]]'' program. The trials showed that the new suspension gave the Sherman a ground pressure that is even less than the heavier Panther, and this model was approved for production in March 1944, beginning in August 1944. Despite the time of production, the distance of the Atlantic Ocean between the American factories and Europe cause the delivery time of the first batch of the new models to be three months, meaning they would not see service until December 1944 the soonest. Nevertheless, the new Sherman, dubbed the '''M4A3 (76) W HVSS Sherman''' on papers and shortened as the '''M4A3E8''', was considered the best overall Sherman design with its new upgrades.
+
The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon, but the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks was brought up by multiple theorists, to which the British were the first to incorporate with the ''cruiser tanks''. Limitation in American development leads to the establishment of light tanks as the ''combat cars''. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes ''T1 Light Tank'' and the ''T2 medium tank'' and decide to use them as the basis for the light tank design.
  
===Design===
+
Modifications made onto the experimental tanks, mostly installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) that would be the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the '''M2A1 Light Tank'''. The main version used before the war was designated the '''M2A2''', which had two turrets, both with a .50 calibre M2 Browning as its armament. However, the Spanish Civil War showed that this kind of tank is insufficient in tank warfare, so initially the design was revised with improved armour up to 22 mm ('''M2A3''') and then with one turret with a 37 mm cannon, this would become the [[M2A4|'''M2A4''']], which would be the main light tank variant in US service before World War II broke out.
Aside from the enlarged T23 turret, the Sherman interior layout was largely unchanged from the original design. The driver and bow gunner still sat in the front, the three-man turret crew in the center, and the engine compartment in the back. The exterior was changed with the new horizontal-volute suspension system (HVSS), which presented a different bogie system with larger road wheels that allow the usage of a wider track for better mobility cross-country. The new suspension system helped defeat the problems the Sherman's original tracks had with sinking in the mud from poor flotation and poor traction on slippery terrain. Another advantage the HVSS gave was the ability to change out individual road wheels on the bogie rather than replace the entire bogie, easing maintenance and repairs. The suspension was also reported to be a very smooth ride in comparison with the vertical-volute suspension system (VVSS), leading tankers to nickname the tank the ''"Easy Eight"'' from the tank's experimental designation ''M4A3E8'', with the E8 corresponding to the usage of the HVSS.
 
  
The M4A3(76)W HVSS ran on a gasoline Ford GAA V8 engine, which was the standard engine used in all M4A3 Sherman variants. The tank construction was welded and had a frontal armour plate sloping at a 47 degree angle. The (76) in the name indicated that the tank was armed with the more powerful 76 mm gun as a counter to the heavier German armour. The "W" designation on the Sherman indicated that the vehicle had the "wet stowage" feature in response to complaints that the Sherman can easily catch fire due to exploding ammunition. The "wet stowage" encased the ammo containers in a liquid mixture that would douse the flames when penetrated or block flaming shrapnels due to penetrating shots from hitting the ammunition. The containers also placed all the ammunition in the bottom center of the tank, reducing the likeliness of it being hit by a shell as the penetrating shell must go through every armour and obstacle to hit the tank center. This feature was only present after February 1944 and severely decreased the rate of Sherman fires. The "HVSS" indicated the usage of the horizontal-volute suspension system on the tank. The M4A3E8 started production in August 1944 and its production life ended around the end of World War II, probably September 1945. M4A3(76)W HVSS production consisted of 4,542 tanks out of the total 49,234 Shermans produced in its production life.
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===Combat usage===
 +
Although the M2 light tanks were promising in their introduction, they were soon succeeded by the [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5]] light tanks. The M2 light tanks were seen by armament as a stopgap solution for the dire need of tanks and a development project for tank improvements. By December 1941, the M2 light tanks were being used for training only in the US Army, but the Marine Corps used them in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific due to the lack of M3 light tanks available.
  
===Combat usage===
+
Britain ordered some M2 light tanks in early 1941 in part of the Lend-Lease Act, but only 36 were delivered before switching to the improved M3 light tanks.
As a newly developed Sherman late in the war, the M4A3E8 did not see much use in the European theater until near the end of the war. Earlier deployment of such tanks did not take priority as military commanders did not take the 76 mm gun with much enthusiasm as the 75 mm gun could fire a much better high-explosive round to fight softer targets, which consists of more than half of the engagements the Shermans typically face. Another reason why these tanks did not see service earlier was the lack of battle need. The 75 mm gun was doing its job well and there were already a few [[M4A1 (76) W|76 mm Shermans]] going around fine with the older VVSS. These opinions changed with the Battle of the Bulge, where the German offensive with large numbers of their heavy tanks such as the [[Panther G|Panthers]] and [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II's]] decimated armoured units stationed in the Ardennes. The M4A3E8 saw its first service in the Battle of the Bulge in low numbers, but their prevalence increased after December 1944 when the Battle of the Bulge urged many military commanders, even Eisenhower, to request further deliveries of Shermans to only be armed with the 76 mm cannons. The new units deploying in Europe afterwards had exclusively 76 mm Shermans and as standardization in the suspension went on, the HVSS became more and more common in the European theater.
 
  
When World War II ended, many tank units and their Shermans were decommissioned and put out of service, distributed out to NATO allies. Of the 10,000 Shermans the US Army had in 1945, only about 3,202 units were left by 1950 with almost half unserviceable. The need of such tanks returned with the advent of the Korean War in 1950, which had the US military scrounge up whatever tanks they had in their storage to assist the South Koreans and their troops on the ground. This allowed them to build up units with the M4A3E8 and the heavier, but better armed [[M26|M26 Pershing]], building up around five tank battalions. The 8072nd Tank Battalion was raised from Shermans from the occupational forces of Japan and were the first to be sent to Korea in July 1950. By the end of the year, 1,326 tanks were on the ground, of which half were the M4A3E8. The M26 Pershing and M4A3E8 served alongside in the tank battles ensuing from August to October 1950. The most common enemy tank the Allies faced were the Soviet-supplied [[T-34-85]] medium tank. Between the M4A3E8 and the T-34-85, they were nearly identical in statistics as both were able to take each other out easily. Of the two, the Shermans prevailed with the better crew training and gun optics, allowing for an edge in a combat scenario. After these months, tank-vs-tank combat dropped significantly and the tank soon returned to the role of infantry support. It was this role that the Sherman won out against the M26 Pershing as the Pershing suffered from mechanical issues due to weighing ten tons more than a Sherman, but used the same engine. The Sherman was a proven design and was easier to maintain, more mobile, and reliable. It wasn't until the [[M46|M46 Patton]], an upgraded Pershing with improved reliability, that the Shermans were formally replaced in US service.
+
A unique feature on the M2 Light tank was the number of machine guns it could house. Aside from the coaxial and the bow gunner's ball mounted one, two machine guns were fixed facing forward on the sides of the hull, fired by the driver. Another M1919 Browning machine gun could be mounted on the turret top for anti-aircraft use.
  
While the Shermans were finally replaced in American service, many other countries that received the Shermans still used them all the way to the turn of the century. The most famous is Israel, who received a large handful of Shermans from the British to fight for its war of independence in 1948. When the Soviet started aiding the Middle East countries with tanks like the [[T-34-85]], [[PT-76B|PT-76]], and even the [[T-54 (1951)|T-54s]], Israel launched a program with cooperation with France to upgrade the Shermans. The result was the implementation of the AMX-13's 75 mm gun, based off the [[Panther G|Panther]]'s [[KwK 42 (75 mm)|gun]], onto the Sherman turret. Another program in the 1960s attached the larger 105 mm Modèle F1 French gun from their AMX-30 into the Sherman. The upgraded 75 mm and 105 mm Shermans were designated the ''M-50'' and ''M-51'' respectively, both more well known as the ''"Super Sherman"'' abroad. These tanks served in the Middle East conflicts that Israel had to deal with such as the 1956 Suez Crisis, 1967 Six-Day War, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where the "Super Shermans" proved itself as adequate against the superior and more modern Soviet tanks. These Shermans serve as a symbol of how desperate Israel's situation is with their neighbors, and also an example of how the Sherman is a proven design able to keep up with the arms race with adequate upgrades in its armaments.
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=== In-game description ===
 +
The M2A2 light tank developed and built by Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). A total of 239 of these tanks were built in 1935. The M2A2 was used to train tank operators, who gave it the unofficial nickname “Mae West.” It was never used in combat.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!--''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''-->
 
<!--''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''-->
[https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=#m4a3 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the M4A3 series from live.warthunder.com.]
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[https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=us_m2a2 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the M2A2 from live.warthunder.com.]
 
 
== Media ==
 
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''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.''
  
 
== External links ==
 
== 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;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on tank;''
* ''other literature.''
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* ''other literature.''-->
 +
* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/776/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M2A2 / 4M GAZ-AAA / BF109B-1]
  
{{USA medium tanks}}
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{{USA light tanks}}

Revision as of 09:01, 22 July 2019

Rank 6 USA
F-5C Pack
M2A2
us_m2a2.png
M2A2
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:2 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:700 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game
This page is about the American light tank M2A2. For other uses, see M2 (Disambiguation).

Description

GarageImage M2A2.jpg


The Light Tank M2A2 is a Rank I American light tank with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.49 (1.70.1945) "Weapons of Victory".

The most common and most used American tank in pre-war years. The M2A2 was armed with a .50 and .30 calibre machine gun. The Spanish Civil War showed that tanks with MG main armament were ineffective. This led to the upgrade to the M2A4. In the game, the M2A2 is lightning fast, with very weak armour and a subpar armament.

General info

Survivability and armour

The whole armour is made out of rolled homogeneous armour plates. Tracks provide 15 mm of armour.

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 15.8 mm (20°) Driver port
15.8 mm (71°) Front Glacis
15.8 mm (18-59°) Lower Glacis
12.7 mm 6.35 mm (2-61°) 6.35 mm
Turret 15.8 mm (0-2°) Turret front
15.8 mm (2°) Gun mantlet'
15.8 mm (0-1°) 15.8 mm (2°) 6.35 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 15.8 mm (2°) 6.35 mm

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor

weight (tons)

Max speed (km/h)
8.7 N/A 80 (AB)
72 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 308 379
Realistic/Simulator 232 262
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 35.40 43.56
Realistic/Simulator 26.67 30.11

Armaments

Main armament

12.7 mm M2HB
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/min)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
Stabilizer
1,400 (200) 577 -10°/+20° -170°/+20° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 18.90 19.76 __.__ __.__ 28.24
Realistic 8.93 10.5 __.__ __.__ 15.00
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
10.4 __.__ __.__ 8.00
Ammo racks
Ammo rack of M2A2
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
7 4 (+3) 6 (+1) No

Machine guns

Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)

The M2A2 is armed with a secondary 30 cal. machine gun in a separate turret. This leads to it and the main turret to be unable to rotate 360 degrees. The 30 cal can be somewhat useful against very lightly armoured AA vehicles and can be used as a distraction for enemy tanks.

Usage in battles

The M2A2 is a strange vehicle as a twin-turreted machine-gun armament only vehicle. It is, however, fast, and could be sped around as a scout tank to get on the enemy's side. Your main turret, which uses 12.7 mm (.50) MG can only fire forward and to the left, with secondary turret (which sports standard 7.62 mm (.30) MG, which can only really scare SPAA trucks) firing to the right.

The .50 cal main armament makes it necessary to rush as close to enemy as possible, as it could only penetrate ~20 mm at standard ranges, meaning that it is only really effective against the reserve tanks, and even so, the machine guns often may only be effective when shot at the flat sides or even only at the engine deck.

Avoid any "medium" and "heavy" tanks like M13/40 or R.35 (SA38), as they will resist even pure AP belt fired point blank. Avoid messing with tanks of BR 2.0, as even lightly armoured tanks of that rank are only vulnerable from the sides and only from about 100 m away or closer. If you absolutely have to attack them, drive in circles around them and shoot at their weakspots, like engines or turret neck, whenever you get a chance.

Mostly your targets will be "scout" and "sniper" tanks, as you can do serious damage to them. To avoid getting annihilated while attacking them from the front, you can fire at their turret while approaching them. Quite often, even if you can't penetrate them as is, they will un-angle themselves, trying to fire at you by turning their flat turret armour parts towards your fire, dooming themselves. If it didn't penetrate, you already lost and shouldn't have attacked them in the first place.

Overall, it is best to not go around the map without a buddy with a cannon to provide a substantial upgrade in firepower, should it come face to face with the enemy.

Another way to use the M2A2 is as an SPAA. The turrets have decent gun elevation so hitting aircraft is quite easy. The .30 and .50 cal machine guns are very good at destroying any planes at its BR or at least will cripple them. It is recommended to turn the hull with the turrets so you can fire both guns and will not end up only firing one.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very fast, can reach 60 km/h on a road in AB
  • Can sacrifice speed to make a fast turn
  • Accurate in the long run
  • High and stable fire rate

Cons:

  • Armour is only sufficient to protect itself against machine gun fire
  • Pathetic armament, which can be used only against anti-air vehicles and some light tanks, and some sides or rears of medium tanks, but not all
  • Two non-fully rotating turrets
  • In an event in which the .50 gunner is knocked out, the .30 machine gun can't do much to protect the tank
  • Cramped crew
  • Any high speed collision can result in the driver and co-drivers knockout, or worse the entire crew
  • Terrible steering, not adequate under gear 2
  • Can get stuck when driving up the hills without track upgrade

History

Development

The M2 Light Tank series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.

The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon, but the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks was brought up by multiple theorists, to which the British were the first to incorporate with the cruiser tanks. Limitation in American development leads to the establishment of light tanks as the combat cars. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes T1 Light Tank and the T2 medium tank and decide to use them as the basis for the light tank design.

Modifications made onto the experimental tanks, mostly installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) that would be the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the M2A1 Light Tank. The main version used before the war was designated the M2A2, which had two turrets, both with a .50 calibre M2 Browning as its armament. However, the Spanish Civil War showed that this kind of tank is insufficient in tank warfare, so initially the design was revised with improved armour up to 22 mm (M2A3) and then with one turret with a 37 mm cannon, this would become the M2A4, which would be the main light tank variant in US service before World War II broke out.

Combat usage

Although the M2 light tanks were promising in their introduction, they were soon succeeded by the M3 and M5 light tanks. The M2 light tanks were seen by armament as a stopgap solution for the dire need of tanks and a development project for tank improvements. By December 1941, the M2 light tanks were being used for training only in the US Army, but the Marine Corps used them in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific due to the lack of M3 light tanks available.

Britain ordered some M2 light tanks in early 1941 in part of the Lend-Lease Act, but only 36 were delivered before switching to the improved M3 light tanks.

A unique feature on the M2 Light tank was the number of machine guns it could house. Aside from the coaxial and the bow gunner's ball mounted one, two machine guns were fixed facing forward on the sides of the hull, fired by the driver. Another M1919 Browning machine gun could be mounted on the turret top for anti-aircraft use.

In-game description

The M2A2 light tank developed and built by Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). A total of 239 of these tanks were built in 1935. The M2A2 was used to train tank operators, who gave it the unofficial nickname “Mae West.” It was never used in combat.

Media

Skins and camouflages for the M2A2 from live.warthunder.com.

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;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


USA light tanks
LVT  LVT(A)(1) · ○LVT(A)(1) · LVT(A)(4)
M2  M2A2 · M2A4 · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)
M3/M5 Stuart  M3 Stuart · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC) · M5A1 · M5A1 TD · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD)
M22 Locust  M22
M24 Chaffee  M24 · M24 (TL)
M18 Hellcat  M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat
M41 Walker Bulldog  M41A1
M551 Sheridan  M551 · M551(76)
M3 Bradley  M3 Bradley · M3A3 Bradley
Wheeled  M8 LAC · T18E2 · M1128 · M1128 Wolfpack
Other  M8A1 GMC · T92 · T114 · HSTV-L · CCVL · XM8 · AGS