Difference between revisions of "M24 (Japan)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=jp_m24_chaffee}}
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{{About
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|about= light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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|usage= other variants
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|link= M24 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=jp_m24_chaffee
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== 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.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_M24_Japan.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was, together with the [[M4A3 (76) W (Japan)|M4A3 (76) W]], provided by the Americans to the Japanese to rebuild Japan's military in self defense due to the outbreak of the Korean war. Generally liked by its new Japanese crews, the Chaffee was rather inadequate for its service time within the JGSDF, only offering a short barrel 75 mm, it was already outdated facing tanks such as the [[T-34-85]].
{{break}}
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The '''Light Tank M24 SDF''' is a Rank III Japanese light tank with a battle rating of 3.3. It was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update_1.65_"Way_of_the_Samurai"|Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]]. This Japanese vehicle is identical to the American [[M24|M24 Chaffee]].
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It was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]]. This Japanese vehicle is identical to the American [[M24]] Chaffee. Facing relatively low ranking opponents, the M24 can be used to peak performance playing as a nimble light tank, with the firepower of Sherman 75s. Packing the very competent M61 APCBC shell, smoke grenades, .50 cal MG, very forgiving reverse speed, and scout abilities, the M24 is a very versatile tank capable of outflanking and combating most tanks it faces.
  
 
== 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?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The M24 Chaffee has thin armour on all sides, and can only effectively resist machine gun fire or very low-penetrating guns like 20 mm autocannon. Its crews are also very close to each other, increasing the chance of it getting knocked out by a single shot. The V-shaped gun mantlet might bounce some small calibre shells if you are lucky enough. However, don't rely on it as the rest of the tank is still poorly protected. Common guns like the 75 mm M1 or 76 mm F-34 / ZiS-5 can easily destroy the M24 with one shot.
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 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
*Rolled homogeneous armour
 
*Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' <br> 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' <br> 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm  
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| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' <br> 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' <br> 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
 
|-
 
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' <br> 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm  
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| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' <br> 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
 
|-
 
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
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| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
|-
 
| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 
'''Notes:'''
 
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
 
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
 
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
 
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
* Gun barrel is 20 mm thick.
 
* Gun breech is 300 mm thick in structural steel
 
  
 
=== 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.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
|-
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!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=459|rbMinHp=262}}
|-
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! Weight (tons)
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The M24 (Japan) travels at an average of 40 km/h on/off-road which is the average light tank speed. It also responds fast when reversing. Thanks to its short and wide tracks it is able to turn quickly. However the acceleration is poor, making it to feel sluggish when performing short manoeuvres.
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
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!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
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=== Modifications and economy ===
|-
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{{Specs-Economy}}
|rowspan="2" | 18.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 63 (AB)
 
|-
 
|56 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|459
 
|565
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|262
 
|296
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|24.94
 
|30.71
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|14.24
 
|16.09
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{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.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''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|M6 (75 mm)}}
 
{{main|M6 (75 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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The 75 mm M6 gun has two types of AP, one HE and one smoke shell to choose from. The M61 shot, which is an APCBC, is generally better than the M72 AP. It has 63.7 g of explosive filler which brings a deadly blast once penetrated, has better penetration (104 mm max) and it has a slightly lower chance of ricocheting. With the M61 shot, the Chaffee is able to knock out plenty of tanks at its BR with a single shot like the M4, T-34, Crusader or even the KV-1.
|-
 
! colspan="6" | [[M6_(75_mm)|75 mm M6]]
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 48 || -10°/+15° || ±180°
 
|-
 
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 
|-
 
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| ''Arcade'' || 14.28 || 19.80 || 24.0 || 26.60 || 28.20
 
|-
 
| ''Realistic'' || 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.4 || 22.60 || 24.00
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| 8.45 || 7.47 || 6.89 || 6.50
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
===== Ammunition =====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
 
|-
 
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
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! colspan="5" | [[M6 (75 mm)|75 mm M6]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 
 
|-
 
|-
! 10m
+
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! 100m
+
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! 500m
+
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
 
|-
 
|-
| M72 shot || AP || 110 || 109 || 92 || 76 || 62 || 51
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! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.46 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" | 7.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.89 || rowspan="2" | 6.50
 
|-
 
|-
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10
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! ''Realistic''
|-
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| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
| M61 shot || APCBC || 90 || 88 || 81 || 73 || 65 || 59
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| 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%
 
|-
 
| M72 shot || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
| M48 shell || 463 || 6.3 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 666 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
| M61 shot || 618 || 6.8 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| 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):''
 
|-
 
| M89 || 381 || 6.9 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
* M61 shells are for: <br>
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==== Ammunition ====
Heavy tanks like [[KV-1 (L-11)]]s and [[KV-2_(1939)|KV-2]]s or possibly [[M4|Sherman]]s if in a mixed game.
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{{:M6 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, M64}}
Medium tanks with applique armour such as the [[Pz.III M|Panzer III Ausf. M]] and etc.
 
  
* M72 shells are for: <br>
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
Medium tanks and Light tanks like [[Pz.III J1|Panzer III Ausf. J1]] or the [[T-50]].
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[[File:Ammoracks_M24.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
[[File:Ammoracks M24.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo racks|Ammo rack]] of the M24 Chaffee|x250px]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
 
|-
 
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
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! Full<br>ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
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! 1st<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
|| '''48''' || 25&nbsp;''(+23)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || style="text-align:center" | No  
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| '''48''' || 25&nbsp;''(+23)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || 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.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''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|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The two machine guns on the M24 Chaffee are the .50 cal M2HB and the 7.62 mm M1919A4. The roof-mounted .50 cal can traverse 360 degrees and has great depression & elevation, posting a big threat to any plane that is flying too close to the M24. It has an unbelievable penetration of 31 mm at 10 m, meaning it can easily penetrate plenty of lightly armoured vehicles and even the side of some low rank medium tanks (e.g. Sd.Kfz.234 series, side of Pz.III/IV). The 7.62 mm, on the other hand, can only efficiently damage exposed crews due to its low penetration.
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
 
! colspan="7" | [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
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! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 1,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
+
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
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| Coaxial || 2,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 1,800 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
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== 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).''-->
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<!-- ''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 M24 (Japan) is a very good tank with a fairly interesting play style. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive maneuverability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking maneuvers. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.
 
  
The tank offers a 75 mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the [[M4|''Sherman'']]'s 75mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.
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The M24 (Japan) is a very good tank with a fairly interesting playstyle. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive manoeuvrability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking manoeuvres. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.
  
'''Do not:''' Continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.
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The tank offers a 75 mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the [[M4|Sherman]]'s 75 mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.
 +
 
 +
Do not continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.
  
 
Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.
 
Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.
 +
 +
'''<big>Enemies worth noting</big>''':
 +
 +
* [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]] series (mixed ground battles) - The M24, although agile, is still not the fastest tank at its rank. When your opposite team has Germany, you might want to reconsider the option of capping a point straight away, since the German Sd.Kfz.234 series are very likely to be there first. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] (also known as the Puma) is a turreted 8-wheel vehicle with a small profile, extremely high on-road speed and a powerful 50 mm gun. But it cannot turn in place, has a very slow turret traverse and only 8 mm of side hull armour, so a good tactic is to circle with it and utilise your stabiliser, fast turret and the piercing .50 cal. In an intense brawl, you might miss your shots. Don't worry, your reliable .50 cal got you! It can penetrate the sides, or even the front of the puma easily. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/3]] and [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]], although being equally deadly, are turretless. You can use some quick turns to avoid their guns or tear through the thin armour plate protecting their gunners with your .50 cal.
 +
* [[KV-1]], [[KV-1E]], [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] - The famous KV series can cause a bit of troubles too. They are well know for their well-protected hull and turrets. The M24 can manoeuvre to point-blank range, line up your gun so it's pointing dead flat at the armour and fire. The 104 mm penetration of the M61 shell should punch a hole in the KV's armour with ease. If you are close enough but do not have the space to manoeuvre, shoot their gun barrel to prevent them from getting a shot off, then go for their turret ring or the vertical part on their gun mantlet, which is only 90 mm. For the KV-1E, do not fire at its turret from the front and side, as they are 105 mm thick and will never get penetrated. For the KV I C 756, aim for the cupola (50 m) or the gun mantlet (50 mm) to knock out the turret crew or the gun breech. Don't shoot at anywhere else, the shell won't penetrate.
 +
* [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to kill at range. Again, manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the idea distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret at you, only go for the turret. For the Mk I Churchills, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III and the German Churchill, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when you are facing their hull without any angles should you shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.
 +
* [[M4A2]]/[[M4A4 (1st PTG)|A4]] - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over 3 nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation you play they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of your short 75 mm gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed kill most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenseless.
 +
* [[StuG III G]], [[StuH 42 G]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]] - These German tank destroyers could either be lethal ambushes or heavily armoured "heavy tanks". They have low profiles which make them harder to be recognised especially in vegetative/hilly environments. Additionally they have extremely thick frontal protection for their BRs. Specifically, the StuG and StuH can have a greatest frontal thickness of 100 mm with extra tracks, making them almost invincible for the M24's short 75 mm gun. Therefore M24 ought to stay away from direct battle with them as they are hard to be frontally penetrated and can without much of a stretch destroy the M24. Luckily, all 3 don't have a turret and are inadequately protected in terms of side armour, so flanking become an effective way to finish them off. Nonetheless, know that StuG and StuH can turn their hull quite fast in response to flankers, so be careful when circling them.
  
 
=== 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".''-->
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<!-- ''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:'''
* Low profile.
+
 
* The best cannon for light tanks in its rank.
+
* Decent mobility: good top speed and great turning ability
* Very agile.
+
* Uses the same gun as the 75 mm Shermans: various shell types, great penetration & damage and excellent gun depression. M61 shell can one shot common tanks like the T-34 series, M4A1, Cromwell or even the KV-1.
* Very fast reverse, thanks to the 4-speed reverse gear.
+
* Fast turret traverse allows it to track agile targets easily
* Fast turret traverse.
+
* Low profile allows it to easily hide behind small bushes or rocks, increasing survivability
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics.
+
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics
* Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense.
+
* Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense and some anti tank ability (e.g. GAZ trucks, SU-76M, [[ZSD63]])
 +
* 13 smoke grenades allow escaping from dangerous situation for many times
 +
* Effective even in uptiers if used for flanking shots or hunting soft targets
 +
* Very fast reverse allowing it to retreat from danger quickly
 +
 
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
* Thin armour on all sides.
+
 
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches.
+
* Low survivability: all-round thin armour and closely packed crews. Can get knocked out with a single shot by common opponents
* Vulnerable to nearby explosions.
+
* Acceleration is rather sluggish, especially on soft terrains
* Reload is quite slow for its caliber.
+
* On-road top speed is still inferior to some wheeled vehicles like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]]
 +
* Shells drop dramatically at long distances, making distant / moving targets hard to shoot at
 +
* Reload time is pretty slow for a light tank
 +
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches
  
 
== 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 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.''-->
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
 
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
 
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5 Stuart]] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against newer German tanks like the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the [[M4|Shermans]]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.
 
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5 Stuart]] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against newer German tanks like the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the [[M4|Shermans]]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.
  
In April 1943, Ordnance with Cadillac started on a project for the new light tank, designation ''Light Tank T24''. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to keep light. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the '''Light Tank M24''' and as the '''Chaffee''' by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.
+
In April 1943, Ordnance with Cadillac started on a project for the new light tank, designation Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to keep light. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the "Chaffee" by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.
 +
 
 +
===Japanese service===
 +
[[File:M24 (NSF).jpg|right|thumb|Parade of "Special vehicles", 1953]]
 +
After the defeat of Japan during WWII, American forces occupied Japan and established a new government and abolished any Japanese military force. This would change in the 1950s with the outbreak of the Korean conflict and many of the American forces were moved to South Korea, leaving Japan undefended. This in turn allowed Japan to re-establish a force only to defend itself with, which started out as the NPR (National Police Reserve). Even though by legal status only a police force, it was modeled and trained after the United States Army.
 +
 
 +
In 1952, the NPR would grow larger and would be renamed into the NSF (National Safety Force) as the Police Reserve started to look more and more like a small army, this together with their "{{Annotation|special vehicles|特車}}" being US tanks such as the M24 Chaffee and M4 Sherman.
 +
 
 +
On July 1st, 1954, after the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act [Act No. 165 of 1954], Japan was officially allowed to have legal military force under the name of the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Forces). Along with equipment transferred over from the NPR/NSF, more equipment was shipped over from America to supply the newly established Self Defense Force to have a built up reserve.
 +
 
 +
While the M24 was already outdated for the Cold War against the Soviet's [[T-34-85]], they would still see limited use in the SDF considering no active war was being fought and Japan still had to develop its own tank arsenal.
  
===Japanese Service===
+
Only until 1974, with the introduction of the [[Type 74 (Family)|Type 74]], would the M24s be completely be phased out as a relic of the past.
In July 1st, 1954, Japan set up its post-war military force, the Japan Self-Defense Forces with the purpose of defending Japan should it come under conflict in the ongoing Cold War between America and the Soviet Union. To jump start the remilitarization, America gave the newly formed JSDF several M24 Chaffees along with some [[M4A3 (76) W (Japan)|M4A3E8 Shermans]]. The M24 would soon be retired once it was found that they were unable to contend against the Soviet's [[T-34-85]], leading to a limited use until replaced by more capable tanks.
 
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=jp_m24_chaffee Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|9CJA4MHCzbg|'''{{PAGENAME}} SDF, Japanese, Tier-3, Light Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}
  
== Read 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.'' -->
''ETC.''
+
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 +
* [[AMX-13 (FL11)]]
  
== 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;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}
 
{{Japan light tanks}}
 
{{Japan light tanks}}

Revision as of 08:43, 23 May 2023

Rank VI Israel | Premium | Golden Eagles
Merkava Mk.2D Pack
This page is about the light tank M24 (Japan). For other variants, see M24 (Family).
jp_m24_chaffee.png
GarageImage M24 (Japan).jpg
ArtImage M24 (Japan).jpg
▅M24
AB RB SB
3.3 3.7 3.7
Class:
Research:18 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:47 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Light Tank M24 SDF was, together with the M4A3 (76) W, provided by the Americans to the Japanese to rebuild Japan's military in self defense due to the outbreak of the Korean war. Generally liked by its new Japanese crews, the Chaffee was rather inadequate for its service time within the JGSDF, only offering a short barrel 75 mm, it was already outdated facing tanks such as the T-34-85.

It was introduced along with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai". This Japanese vehicle is identical to the American M24 Chaffee. Facing relatively low ranking opponents, the M24 can be used to peak performance playing as a nimble light tank, with the firepower of Sherman 75s. Packing the very competent M61 APCBC shell, smoke grenades, .50 cal MG, very forgiving reverse speed, and scout abilities, the M24 is a very versatile tank capable of outflanking and combating most tanks it faces.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull25 / 25 / 19
Turret25 / 25 / 25
Crew5 people
Visibility97 %

The M24 Chaffee has thin armour on all sides, and can only effectively resist machine gun fire or very low-penetrating guns like 20 mm autocannon. Its crews are also very close to each other, increasing the chance of it getting knocked out by a single shot. The V-shaped gun mantlet might bounce some small calibre shells if you are lucky enough. However, don't rely on it as the rest of the tank is still poorly protected. Common guns like the 75 mm M1 or 76 mm F-34 / ZiS-5 can easily destroy the M24 with one shot.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25.4 mm (60°) Front glacis
25.4 mm (44°) Lower glacis
25.4 mm (13°) Front
12.7 mm (13°) Rear
12.7 mm (71-74°) Top
19 mm (1-43°) Bottom
12.7 mm
Turret 38.1 mm (8-40°) Turret front
38.1 mm (1-45°) Gun mantlet
25.4 mm (17-26°) 25.4 mm 12.7 mm
Cupola 38.1 mm 38.1 mm 38.1 mm 38.1 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB63 / 26 km/h
RB and SB57 / 24 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight18.4 t
Engine power
AB565 hp
RB and SB296 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB30.7 hp/t
RB and SB16.1 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 63 26 18.4 459 565 24.95 30.71
Realistic 57 24 262 296 14.24 16.09

The M24 (Japan) travels at an average of 40 km/h on/off-road which is the average light tank speed. It also responds fast when reversing. Thanks to its short and wide tracks it is able to turn quickly. However the acceleration is poor, making it to feel sluggish when performing short manoeuvres.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB833 → 1 197 Sl icon.png
RB957 → 1 375 Sl icon.png
SB1 131 → 1 625 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications19 640 Rp icon.png
32 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost980 Ge icon.png
Crew training13 000 Sl icon.png
Experts47 000 Sl icon.png
Aces330 Ge icon.png
Research Aces280 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
60 / 80 / 110 % Sl icon.png
136 / 136 / 136 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement jp.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
740 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_us_M89_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
1 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 100 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition48 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.4 → 6.5 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 15°
Main article: M6 (75 mm)

The 75 mm M6 gun has two types of AP, one HE and one smoke shell to choose from. The M61 shot, which is an APCBC, is generally better than the M72 AP. It has 63.7 g of explosive filler which brings a deadly blast once penetrated, has better penetration (104 mm max) and it has a slightly lower chance of ricocheting. With the M61 shot, the Chaffee is able to knock out plenty of tanks at its BR with a single shot like the M4, T-34, Crusader or even the KV-1.

75 mm M6 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 48 -10°/+15° ±180° Vertical 22.85 31.62 38.40 42.46 45.18 8.45 7.47 6.89 6.50
Realistic 14.28 16.80 20.40 22.56 24.00

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
M72 shot AP 91 88 78 67 57 49
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M61 shot APCBC 104 102 93 84 75 68
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%
M72 shot AP 619 6.3 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M48 shell HE 463 6.3 0.2 0.1 666 79° 80° 81°
M61 shot APCBC 618 6.79 1.2 14 63.7 48° 63° 71°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Screen radius
(m)
Screen deploy
time (s)
Screen hold
time (s)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M64 603 6.9 9 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M24 (Japan)
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
48 25 (+23) (+47) No

Machine guns

Ammunition400 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 70°
Horizontal guidance-60° / 60°
Ammunition3 750 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min

The two machine guns on the M24 Chaffee are the .50 cal M2HB and the 7.62 mm M1919A4. The roof-mounted .50 cal can traverse 360 degrees and has great depression & elevation, posting a big threat to any plane that is flying too close to the M24. It has an unbelievable penetration of 31 mm at 10 m, meaning it can easily penetrate plenty of lightly armoured vehicles and even the side of some low rank medium tanks (e.g. Sd.Kfz.234 series, side of Pz.III/IV). The 7.62 mm, on the other hand, can only efficiently damage exposed crews due to its low penetration.

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,000 (200) 577 -10°/+70° ±60°
7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The M24 (Japan) is a very good tank with a fairly interesting playstyle. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive manoeuvrability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking manoeuvres. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.

The tank offers a 75 mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the Sherman's 75 mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.

Do not continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.

Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.

Enemies worth noting:

  • Sd.Kfz.234 series (mixed ground battles) - The M24, although agile, is still not the fastest tank at its rank. When your opposite team has Germany, you might want to reconsider the option of capping a point straight away, since the German Sd.Kfz.234 series are very likely to be there first. The Sd.Kfz.234/2 (also known as the Puma) is a turreted 8-wheel vehicle with a small profile, extremely high on-road speed and a powerful 50 mm gun. But it cannot turn in place, has a very slow turret traverse and only 8 mm of side hull armour, so a good tactic is to circle with it and utilise your stabiliser, fast turret and the piercing .50 cal. In an intense brawl, you might miss your shots. Don't worry, your reliable .50 cal got you! It can penetrate the sides, or even the front of the puma easily. The Sd.Kfz.234/3 and Sd.Kfz.234/4, although being equally deadly, are turretless. You can use some quick turns to avoid their guns or tear through the thin armour plate protecting their gunners with your .50 cal.
  • KV-1, KV-1E, KW I C 756 (r) - The famous KV series can cause a bit of troubles too. They are well know for their well-protected hull and turrets. The M24 can manoeuvre to point-blank range, line up your gun so it's pointing dead flat at the armour and fire. The 104 mm penetration of the M61 shell should punch a hole in the KV's armour with ease. If you are close enough but do not have the space to manoeuvre, shoot their gun barrel to prevent them from getting a shot off, then go for their turret ring or the vertical part on their gun mantlet, which is only 90 mm. For the KV-1E, do not fire at its turret from the front and side, as they are 105 mm thick and will never get penetrated. For the KV I C 756, aim for the cupola (50 m) or the gun mantlet (50 mm) to knock out the turret crew or the gun breech. Don't shoot at anywhere else, the shell won't penetrate.
  • Churchill heavy tanks - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to kill at range. Again, manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the idea distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret at you, only go for the turret. For the Mk I Churchills, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III and the German Churchill, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when you are facing their hull without any angles should you shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.
  • M4A2/A4 - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over 3 nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation you play they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of your short 75 mm gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed kill most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenseless.
  • StuG III G, StuH 42 G, Jagdpanzer 38(t) - These German tank destroyers could either be lethal ambushes or heavily armoured "heavy tanks". They have low profiles which make them harder to be recognised especially in vegetative/hilly environments. Additionally they have extremely thick frontal protection for their BRs. Specifically, the StuG and StuH can have a greatest frontal thickness of 100 mm with extra tracks, making them almost invincible for the M24's short 75 mm gun. Therefore M24 ought to stay away from direct battle with them as they are hard to be frontally penetrated and can without much of a stretch destroy the M24. Luckily, all 3 don't have a turret and are inadequately protected in terms of side armour, so flanking become an effective way to finish them off. Nonetheless, know that StuG and StuH can turn their hull quite fast in response to flankers, so be careful when circling them.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent mobility: good top speed and great turning ability
  • Uses the same gun as the 75 mm Shermans: various shell types, great penetration & damage and excellent gun depression. M61 shell can one shot common tanks like the T-34 series, M4A1, Cromwell or even the KV-1.
  • Fast turret traverse allows it to track agile targets easily
  • Low profile allows it to easily hide behind small bushes or rocks, increasing survivability
  • Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics
  • Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense and some anti tank ability (e.g. GAZ trucks, SU-76M, ZSD63)
  • 13 smoke grenades allow escaping from dangerous situation for many times
  • Effective even in uptiers if used for flanking shots or hunting soft targets
  • Very fast reverse allowing it to retreat from danger quickly

Cons:

  • Low survivability: all-round thin armour and closely packed crews. Can get knocked out with a single shot by common opponents
  • Acceleration is rather sluggish, especially on soft terrains
  • On-road top speed is still inferior to some wheeled vehicles like the Sd.Kfz.234/2
  • Shells drop dramatically at long distances, making distant / moving targets hard to shoot at
  • Reload time is pretty slow for a light tank
  • Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches

History

Development

As early as 1942, the light tanks M3 and M5 Stuart have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against newer German tanks like the Panzer III and Panzer IV. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the Shermans. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.

In April 1943, Ordnance with Cadillac started on a project for the new light tank, designation Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to keep light. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the B-25 Mitchell bomber without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the "Chaffee" by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.

Japanese service

Parade of "Special vehicles", 1953

After the defeat of Japan during WWII, American forces occupied Japan and established a new government and abolished any Japanese military force. This would change in the 1950s with the outbreak of the Korean conflict and many of the American forces were moved to South Korea, leaving Japan undefended. This in turn allowed Japan to re-establish a force only to defend itself with, which started out as the NPR (National Police Reserve). Even though by legal status only a police force, it was modeled and trained after the United States Army.

In 1952, the NPR would grow larger and would be renamed into the NSF (National Safety Force) as the Police Reserve started to look more and more like a small army, this together with their "special vehicles" being US tanks such as the M24 Chaffee and M4 Sherman.

On July 1st, 1954, after the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act [Act No. 165 of 1954], Japan was officially allowed to have legal military force under the name of the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Forces). Along with equipment transferred over from the NPR/NSF, more equipment was shipped over from America to supply the newly established Self Defense Force to have a built up reserve.

While the M24 was already outdated for the Cold War against the Soviet's T-34-85, they would still see limited use in the SDF considering no active war was being fought and Japan still had to develop its own tank arsenal.

Only until 1974, with the introduction of the Type 74, would the M24s be completely be phased out as a relic of the past.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Cadillac Division of General Motors
Light Tanks 
M24 Chaffee*  M24
M551 Sheridan  M551
  *Designed in collaboration with U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
Export  ▅M24 · ␗M24 · ▄M24
Note  Cadillac is a division of General Motors (GM).

Japan light tanks
Type 89  I-Go Ko
Type 95  Ha-Go · Ha-Go Commander
Type 98  Ke-Ni
Other  Ka-Mi
IFV  Type 89
Wheeled  Type 87 RCV (P) · Type 87 RCV · Type 16 (P) · Type 16 (FPS) · Type 16
USA  ▅M24 · ▅M41A1