Imp.Chaparral

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Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the US SPAA Imp.Chaparral. For the other version, see Imp.Chaparral (Israel).
Imp.Chaparral
us_mim_72_chaparral.png
GarageImage Imp.Chaparral.jpg
ArtImage Imp.Chaparral.png
Imp.Chaparral
AB RB SB
9.3 9.3 9.3
Class:
Research:220 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:620 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Chaparral was an SPAA used by the United States between 1969 and the early 2000s. It was a cheap way to adapt an already existing and trusted platform like the M113 to provide close- to medium-range air defence. For this, the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile was used, with different seekers and engines being installed over the years in order to provide better target acquisition, range, and reliability. The Chaparral also saw medium success in international markets, serving with Ecuador, Chile, Egypt, Morocco, Taiwan, and Israel. Its only confirmed kill was a MiG-17 shot down by Israel over the Golan Heights.

Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the Chaparral comes with the benefit of using IR-guided missiles, these can be flared away with countermeasures and a couple of manoeuvres, but it makes it so that no radar is required, which means no ground clutter or lock warning for the pilots. Many jets at the BR lack countermeasures, so its most major opponents are modern ground attack aircraft like the A-10 and Su-25 that have armament capable of outranging the Chaparral and also have countermeasures. The other problem the Chaparral suffers is the lack of a gun; since it has no cannon or HMG, it is not able to shoot down helicopters or jets that are too close for the missile to get a lock.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull0 / 0 / 0
Turret0 / 0 / 0
Crew5 people
Visibility107 %

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.

Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull ___ mm ___ mm Top
___ mm Bottom
___ mm ___ - ___ mm
Turret ___ - ___ mm Turret front
___ mm Gun mantlet
___ - ___ mm ___ - ___ mm ___ - ___ mm
Cupola ___ mm ___ mm ___ mm ___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB67 / 16 km/h
RB and SB62 / 15 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
2 back
Weight13.7 t
Engine power
AB525 hp
RB and SB275 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB38.3 hp/t
RB and SB20.1 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 67 16 13.7 206 525 15.04 38.32
Realistic 62 15 128 275 9.34 20.07

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB5 163 → 7 408 Sl icon.png
RB4 508 → 6 468 Sl icon.png
SB4 804 → 6 893 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications181 600 Rp icon.png
303 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 700 Ge icon.png
Crew training175 000 Sl icon.png
Experts620 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 010 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
160 / 210 / 250 % Sl icon.png
226 / 226 / 226 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
127mm_MIM72C_aam_ammo_pack
Research:
9 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

AAM MIM-72
Ammunition12 rounds
Belt capacity4 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
19.5 → 15.0 s
Fire rate60 shots/min
Vertical guidance-9° / 90°
Main article: MIM-72
MIM-72 missile Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 12 (4) -9°/+90° ±180° - 79.3 109.7 133.2 147.3 156.7 19.50 17.25 15.90 15.00
Realistic 53.6 63.0 76.5 84.6 90.0

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%
MIM-72C SAM 720 6,000 86.3 1 0.3 0 5 4.31 79° 80° 81°
MIM-72E SAM 720 6,000 86.3 1 0.3 0 5 4.31 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
3 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Usage in battles

The first and most noticeable jump from the M247 to the Chaparral is the lack of radar. The lack of radar can take some getting used to but is not a downside; the lack of a radar renders you invisible to almost any jet that does not have a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). Even though searching for targets is more difficult, it also makes you more difficult to be found. Thanks to the IR locking, the target will not detect the lock nor the missile launch and, thanks to the smokeless missile motor, means that there is only a split second window after firing where you can be detected. This also means that you can reload the missile rack by locking onto the sun and firing your last missile in relative safety.

There are several ways to avoid missing;

  • Avoid firing the missile before the target has fired flares, chances are they've been locked by another SPAA and are trying to avoid them. This leaves you the perfect window to fire and cripple them.
  • Avoid firing when the target has lots of energy, the less energy the target has means a higher chance you will hit them. Try firing after they've finished an evasive maneuverer.
  • In rear aspect, the missiles functionally ignore flares which means that you will be able to lock and fire before they have chance to avoid it. Try to pre-emptively aim in rear aspect so that you can destroy the aircraft after they've passed overhead.
  • Don't fire at distant targets travelling transversally, the missiles tend to overcorrect and have a decent chance to miss their target.

As this is the first missile-centric SPAA, actively engaging targets takes a lot less time and effort as the missiles themselves do much of the work for you. Four missiles give plenty of chance to destroy a target in the event that the missile is evaded.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • IRST tracking (undetected by RWR)
  • Infrared missile guidance provides more stealthy attacks compared to missiles that rely on radar (fire and forget, no painting to alert enemy RWR)
  • Harder-hitting and more manoeuvrable missiles compared to its successor LAV-AD
  • Can perform scout functions for extra team assistance
  • Thermal imaging to assist with target acquisition

Cons:

  • Missile armament lacks IRCCM
  • Absolutely no defensive armament, strictly anti-air
  • No armour
  • Lacks search radar (must rely on visual and sound to find enemies)

History

MIM-72 Chaparral at Redstone Arsenal

The Chaparral was an anti-aircraft system developed by the United States during the 1960s to offer short-range air defence capabilities to soldiers and armoured units. The Chaparral employs variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile instead of traditional radar-guided missiles and it was meant to be used together with the M163 VADS.

The Chaparral's predecessor was the Mauler, developed during the Advanced Air Defence Program and using the MIM-46 Mauler missile. It was equipped with a total of 9 missiles and no gun, the system was mounted in the M113 chassis and also had 2 radars available. The Mauler was abandoned in 1963 after many problems were discovered with the system, but many of its characteristics were inherited by the Chaparral.

For example, the attempts to modify the M113 to add an SPAA system to it continued in the following years, with the MIM-72 Chaparral going into service in 1969. The Chaparral was a cheap and quick solution to the lack of short-medium range air defence options in the army. This was result of the Provisional Advanced Air Defence program, that evaluated the AIM-9 missile as an option for ground-based AA platforms. However issues started to appear when it was evident that the AIM-9 would not have enough time to react if the enemy aircraft was too close, thus, an M113 was equipped with an M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannon and a radar was to be used in complement to the Chaparral. A separated radar set was developed to be used with both the Chaparral and Vulcan system, however this system is transported by a separate unarmed vehicle and was not suited for frontline combat.

Different versions of the Chaparral appeared in later years, especially during the 1970s and '80s. The Chaparral was seen as a cheap alternative for air defence platforms and was exported to several nations. Most upgrades consisted in improvements to the fire control system and armament, with better missiles adapted to be used in the Chaparral. All-aspect seekers were installed in 1974, and even a naval version was exported to Taiwan after not being of interest to the army.

The MIM-72D was an export variant with improved warhead, the MIM-72E was used during the 1970s and '80s and included a smokeless engine. The most modern variant was the MIM-72G, that used the seeker of the FIM-92 Stinger missile, with deliveries of this new version starting in 1982, and all missiles being modified with the new seeker. After 1981, the system started to be phased out from the regular army, but it was still used during the Gulf War. In the end, all systems were handed over to the US national guard.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development

External links


USA anti-aircraft vehicles
M3 Half-track derivatives  M13 MGMC · M15 CGMC · M16 MGMC
M24 derivative  M19A1
M41 derivative  M42
Radar SPAAG  M163 · M247
Missile SPAA  Imp.Chaparral · LAV-AD · XM975