M42 (Italy)

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This page is about the Italian SPAA '. For other usages, see M42 (Disambiguation).
M42 Contraereo
it_m15_42_contraereo.png
GarageImage M42 (Italy).jpg
M42 Contraereo
AB RB SB
3.7 3.7 3.7
Class:
Research:18 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:47 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Semovente M42 Contraereo (shortened as just M42 Contraereo, also nicknamed "Quadruplo") is a rank III Italian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 25 / 25
Turret15 / 15 / 15
Crew3 people
Visibility91 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, turret frame)
  • Gun steel (guns)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 50 mm (12°) Upper plate
25 + 30 mm (12°) MG bulge
25 mm (80°) Front glacis
30 mm (15°) Lower plate
25 mm (8°) Top
25 mm Bottom
30 mm (9-12°) MG bulge
25 mm Upper part
25 mm (15°) Lower part
25 mm (10°) Front glacis
25 mm Crew compartment
8 mm (15°) Rear section - Engine
5-25 mm (8°) Rear section - Radiator vents
Turret 15 mm Turret front
25 + 15 mm Turret ring
15 mm (14°)
25 + 15 mm Turret ring
15 mm (17°)
25 + 15 mm Turret ring

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies 10 mm thick.
  • The belly is 14 mm thick and mudguards are 4 mm thick.
  • The turret is reinforced with a 10 mm thick framing supporting the quadruple gun mount.
  • The hull-mounted MG has been removed and the port has been obturated.

The M42 (Italy) is based off the M15/42 hull, with an opened top turret surrounding the crew members. The gunner does have an exposed spot in the front, and if shown to the enemy, can be machine-gunned easily without them to have to fire their main cannon. The turret may protect you from small rifle-calibre bullets, but .50 calibre and up, especially on the M4 Sherman will be able to penetrate your turret from anywhere, as it is generally weak against them. The hull armour is decent, still keeping the armour from the M15/42 hull, but don't expect to tank a lot of shots, as most of your enemies will have better calibre weapons, mostly encountering 75 mm and Russian 76.2 mm cannons. You may be able to bounce some smaller calibre shells like the 37 mm cannons but don't rely on your hull armour as your turret will most likely be targeted by the enemy. You have a small crew count of 3 members, and with two in the turret, and having okay armour, you'll usually die in one hit.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB42 / 4 km/h
RB and SB39 / 4 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight15.5 t
Engine power
AB353 hp
RB and SB185 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB22.8 hp/t
RB and SB11.9 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 42 4 15.5 263 353 16.97 22.77
Realistic 39 4 164 185 10.58 11.94

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 103 → 1 492 Sl icon.png
RB890 → 1 204 Sl icon.png
SB1 389 → 1 879 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications19 610 Rp icon.png
32 300 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
80 / 90 / 130 % Sl icon.png
136 / 136 / 136 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
990 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 600 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
890 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 500 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
890 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 500 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 600 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 600 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
990 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 600 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
890 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 500 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement it.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
990 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 600 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20mm_Breda_HE_ammo_pack
Research:
990 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 600 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
890 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 500 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20mm_Breda_APHE_ammo_pack
Research:
890 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 500 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 600 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20mm_kwk_30_APCR_ammo_pack
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 600 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition640 rounds
Belt capacity160 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
15.6 → 12.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Vertical guidance-5° / 90°
20 mm Scotti-IF 20/70 mod.41 (x4) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 3,024 (12) 600 -5°/+90° ±180° N/A 52.8 73.1 88.8 98.2 104.5 5.20 4.60 4.24 4.00
Realistic 35.7 42.0 51.0 56.4 60.0

Ammunition

  • Default: API-T · HEFI-T* · HEFI-T* · HEFI-T* - The standard belt fits the anti-aircraft role.
  • Granata mod.35: HEFI-T* - This belt is perfect for shooting at aircraft.
  • Perforante mod.35: API-T - This belt is adapted to destroy lightly armoured targets.
  • PzGr 40: HVAP-T · API-T - This is the most powerful belt that can help you even take on armoured targets, although you lose almost all your penetrating power above 500 m so use it in CQC.
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
Default API-T/HEFI-T* 38 36 27 19 14 10
Granata mod.35 HEFI-T* 2 2 2 2 2 2
Perforante mod.35 API-T 38 36 27 19 14 10
PzGr 40 HVAP/API-T 64 63 27 19 14 10
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%
Granata mod.35 HEFI-T* 830 0.14 0.0 0.1 3 79° 80° 81°
Perforante mod.35 API-T 832 0.14 1.2 9 1.7 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M42 (Italy)
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
252 204 (+48) 4 (+248) No

Notes:

  • Belts are modeled in boxes contaning 12 belts each.

Usage in battles

In Realistic battles, the Quadruplo is best used in the support role when tank hunting, sticking with teammates, assisting them and potentially distracting the enemy. Your best bet of killing any tank, usually a Sherman, Cromwell or T-34, is from the side as the HVAP will pierce through their side armour, killing the tank. Light tanks such as M24s, Stuarts and Crusaders are able to be penetrated from the front, but usually this is only in close range engagements. T-50 and other slightly armoured light tanks will be tougher to kill, but you're still able to flank them. You can kill basically any SPAA you see, as you'll usually encounter trucks or armoured cars. Ambush and surprise tactics are good options to kill tanks effectively, as the enemy will stroll past you, usually showing their side armour. Aggressive play styles are suggested to get the most out of the Quadruplo, similar to playing a Wirbelwind when tank hunting. Try not to expose yourself too much and move from cover to cover, as one hit from a tank shell, usually APHE, will knock you out in one shot, or the machine guns pierce your turret armour and kill both your gunner and commander. When it comes to shooting down planes in the Quadruplo, it is best to get their attention so they try to strafe you, or surprise them as they come closer to you, when you have a good shot as they won't have enough reaction time to evade your shots if they connect. Be mindful that you are open-topped, and you're less likely to survive a strafe run. It should also be noted that shooting continuously will sway the hull back and forth, which will make your aim go up and down. Despite the guns having a high fire rate, and being close together, the Quadruplo has a lower ammo count per belt with 12 in each gun, having 48 loaded in total at any time (essentially a discount Wirbelwind). It is easy to burn through it, so make sure you have a good shot on the aircraft you are trying to shoot down as you'll only have about 3-4 seconds of continuous fire before needing to reload.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • PzGr 40 shells are great at penetrating tanks from the sides and knocking out modules
  • High mobility when spaded
  • Great armour for a SPAA
  • Guns have a very high rate of fire
  • Guns are placed very close together

Cons:

  • PzGr 40 is tier IV modification
  • Performance is inadequate when stock
  • Gap in the gunner's position of the turret armour
  • Turret can be penetrated by .50 cals heavy machine guns
  • High rate of fire makes it more difficult to adjust fire against planes
  • 2 of 3 crew members crammed inside the turret
  • Low magazine count for the guns (12 rounds per belt)
  • Hull rocks back and forth when firing causing some rounds to miss

History

Main article: History of the M15/42
Development

The Semovente da 20/70 quadruplo was a SPAA developed to provide protection to Italian armoured units after the experience gathered in combat in North Africa. As a stop-gap solution, it was based on the M15/42 for the chassis and the Scotti-IF 20/70 mod.41 for the gun. The gun was the AA gun found in Italian infantry units and had to be adapted to accept belts with disintegrating links. The single prototype was captured by German forces upon Italy's surrender in September, 1943.

Combat usage

The M15/42 Carro contraero never saw combat. There are however claims it served as an inspiration for the German Wirbelwind AA tank, which first saw service in mid-1944.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Italy anti-aircraft vehicles
R3 Capraia  R3 T20 FA-HS
SIDAM 25  SIDAM 25 · SIDAM 25 (Mistral)
Wheeled  AS 42 · CM52
Tracked  M42 Contraereo · Leopard 40/70 · OTOMATIC
Hungary  ◔ZSU-57-2 · ◔ZSU-23-4