Difference between revisions of "M6A1"

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{{Specs-Card|code=us_m6a1}}
+
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=us_m6a1
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
+
<!-- ''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_M6A1Heavy.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy 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"]]. A rather unusual tank design mounting two cannons in the turret, however, it has a durable frontal armour for the battle rating it occupies.
  
The '''Heavy Tank M6A1''' is a Rank III American heavy tank with a battle rating of 4.7. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. A rather unusual tank design mounting two cannons in the turret, however it has a durable frontal armour for the battle rating it occupies.
+
The M6A1 is one of the most unique tanks in the game, with its large hull and being as tall as a Tiger I. Another interesting feature is that it is one of the most manoeuvrable heavy tanks in the game with a powerful Wright G-200 engine (the same engine powering the [[B-17E|B-17 ''Flying Fortress'' bomber]]) with a max speed of 35 km/h, making it very mobile in a battle situation. The tank has two 12.7 mm's in the hull which are effective for taking out lightly armored vehicles such SPAAs. The M6A1 is one of the first American tanks as well in the game to have the transmission at the rear of the tank.
  
The M6A1 is a one of the most unique tanks in the game, with it large hull and being as tall as a Tiger I. Another interesting feature is that it is one of the most maneuverable heavy tanks in the game with a powerful Wright G-200 engine (the same engine powering the [[B-17E|B-17 ''Flying Fortress'' bomber]]) with a max speed of 35 km/h, making it very mobile in a battle situation. The tank has two 12.7 mm's in the hull which can be used but cannot be angled sideways. The M6A1 is one of the first American tanks as well in the game to have the transmission at the rear of the tank.
+
Something to keep in mind is the shell arc of the secondary 37 mm cannon. Its shell will usually hit the same spot on distances up to 1400 m (~1 mile). But do not forget that the gun is offset to the left in close combat, or it will not hit the target.
 
 
Some thing to keep in mind is the shell arc of the secondary 37 mm cannon. Its shell will usually hit the same spot on distances up to 1400 m (~1 mile). But do not forget that the gun is offset to the left in close combat, or it will not hit the target.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Transmission area, Turret)
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Transmission area, Turret)
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
 +
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
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| Turret || 250 mm (6-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 50.8 + 50.8 mm (7-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 82.5 mm (0-12°) || 82.5 mm (0-68°) || 25.4 mm
 
| Turret || 250 mm (6-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 50.8 + 50.8 mm (7-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 82.5 mm (0-12°) || 82.5 mm (0-68°) || 25.4 mm
 
|-
 
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof  
+
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cupola || 82.5 mm || 25.4 mm
 
| Cupola || 82.5 mm || 25.4 mm
Line 33: Line 35:
 
|}
 
|}
 
'''Notes:'''
 
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 17 mm thick.
 
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 17 mm thick.
* Front armour is rounded so have variable slope angle along the surface.
+
* Frontal armour plate is unevenly curved for better ricochet chances and efficient armour thickness.
 +
* Side skirts are 25 mm thick rolled homogeneous armour and will trigger fuses on APHE projectiles.  In most cases, APHE shells set off before reaching the main hull and destroying the ammo stack beneath. Still, both skirts and hull are not sturdy enough to withstand a regular AP shell.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
|-
+
 
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,033|rbMinHp=708}}
|-
+
 
! Weight (tons)
+
=== Modifications and economy ===
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
+
{{Specs-Economy}}
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" | 56.8 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 37 (AB)
 
|-
 
|35 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|1,033
 
|1,272
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|708
 
|800
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|18.19
 
|22.39
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|12.46
 
|14.08
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|M7 (76 mm)}}
 
{{main|M7 (76 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | [[M7 (76 mm)|76 mm M7]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[M7 (76 mm)|76 mm M7]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
+
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
+
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
+
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 75 || -10°/+30° || ±180°
+
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 75 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 14.57 || 20.16 || 24.48 || 27.07 || 28.80 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.79 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
+
! ''Realistic''
|-
+
| 10.71 || 12.60 || 15.30 || 16.92 || 18.00
! 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'' || 10.70 || 14.80 || 18.00 || 19.90 || 21.20
 
|-
 
| ''Realistic'' || 10.70 || 12.60 || 15.30 || 16.92 || 18.0
 
|-
 
! 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.
 
|-
 
| 7.67 || 6.78 || 6.25 || 5.90
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== Ammunition =====
+
==== Ammunition ====
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
+
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
+
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
 +
|-
 +
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 +
|-
 +
| M62 shell || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 133 || 119 || 106 || 95
 
|-
 
|-
! 10m
+
| M42A1 shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
! 100m
 
! 500m
 
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
 
|-
 
|-
| M62 Shell || APCBC || 127 || 125 || 116 || 106 || 97 || 89
+
| M79 shot || AP || 134 || 132 || 121 || 109 || 99 || 89
 
|-
 
|-
| M42A1 Shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
 
|-
 
| M79 Shot || AP || 155 || 154 || 131 || 107 || 88 || 72
 
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
Line 145: Line 93:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
+
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
+
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
+
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
''in m:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
''in mm:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
+
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
+
|-
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
+
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| M62 shell || APCBC || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
|-
! 0%
+
| M42A1 shell || HE || 800 || 5.84 || 0 || 0.1 || 390 || 79° || 80° || 81°
! 50%
 
! 100%
 
 
|-
 
|-
| M62 Shell || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
+
| M79 shot || AP || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
|-
| M42A1 Shell || 800 || 5.8 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 390 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
| M79 Shot || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== [[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] =====
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks M4.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] of the M4 Sherman|x250px]]
+
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
+
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
+
! Full<br>ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br /> rack empty
+
! 3rd<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
+
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
|| '''75''' || 40&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 4&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+74)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes  
+
| '''75''' || 40&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 4&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+74)'' || Yes
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
<!--''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|M3 (37 mm)}}
 
{{main|M3 (37 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
 
! colspan="6" | [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm M3]]
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 202 || N/A || N/A
+
! colspan="4" | [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm M3]] || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
+
| 202 || N/A || N/A || {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 3.77 || 3.33 || 3.07 || 2.90
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert Qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace Qualif.
 
|-
 
| 3.77 || 3.33 || 3.07 || 2.90
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== Ammunition =====
+
==== Ammunition ====
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
+
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
+
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
 
|-
 
|-
! 10m
+
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
! 100m
 
! 500m
 
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
 
|-
 
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 90 || 89 || 69 || 50 || 37 || 27
+
| M74B1 || AP || 79 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 45 || 37
 
|-
 
|-
| M63 Shell || HE || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
+
| M63 shell || HE || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3
 
|-
 
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APC || 79 || 78 || 69 || 59 || 51 || 43 
+
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 87 || 84 || 73 || 60 || 50 || 41
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 232: Line 163:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
+
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
+
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
+
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
''in m:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
''in mm:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
+
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 
 
|-
 
|-
! 0%
+
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
! 50%
 
! 100%
 
 
|-
 
|-
| M74B1 ||883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
+
| M74B1 || AP || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
|-
| M63 Shell || 807 || 0.73 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 38 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
+
| M63 shell || HE || 807 || 0.73 || 0 || 0.1 || 38 || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
|-
| M51B1/B2 || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
+
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== [[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] =====
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks M4.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] of the M4 Sherman|x250px]]
+
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
+
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
+
! Full<br>ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br /> rack empty
+
! 3rd<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br /> rack empty
+
! 4th<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br /> rack empty
+
! 5th<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br /> rack empty
+
! 6th<br>rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
+
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
|| '''202''' || 85&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 161&nbsp;''(+41)'' || 121&nbsp;''(+81)'' || 81&nbsp;''(+121)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+161)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+201)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes  
+
| '''202''' ||190 (+12)|| 161&nbsp;''(+41)'' || 121&nbsp;''(+81)'' || 81&nbsp;''(+121)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+161)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+201)'' || Yes
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
 +
<!-- ''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)}}
  
{| 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''
 
|-
 
! 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" | 1,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | ''Hull mount #1''
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (200) || 576 ||  -10°/+35° || ±15°
+
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Hull mount #2''
+
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
| Hull || 3,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+35° || ±15°
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (200) || 576 || -10°/+35° || ±15°
+
| Hull || 3,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+35° || ±15°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
== 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).''-->
+
<!-- ''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 M6A1 is at first a powerful machine with a 76 mm gun able to penetrate the front of most Rank III tanks. Once, bought make sure you stay behind cover as much as possible as one good hit can knock out your 76 mm gun. Another note is that with all multi-gun tanks, the secondary gun should be fired separately to maximize efficiency of the shells. Since the tank is at Rank III, beware of [[IS-1]]s,[[Panther D|Panther]]s, [[Tiger H1|Tiger]]s and [[M4A3E2|Jumbos]] as they can all easily penetrate your weak frontal armour. Make sure you keep your rear safe as the M6A1's engine is very large for a heavy and is likely to set fire on first hit. The M6A1 is only as powerful as to how player uses it to its advantages.  
+
Although this is a heavy tank, and able to bounce some shells, its armour will not protect it from all incoming fire. Enemies to specifically watch out for are the [[IS-1]], [[Panther tank (Family)|Panthers]], [[Tiger E|Tigers]], and [[M4A3E2|Jumbo]] Shermans, as they can all easily penetrate this vehicle's weak frontal armour. Make sure to protect the rear flank too: M6A1's engine is very large and prone to catching on fire when hit.
 +
 
 +
But despite the imperfect armour layout, the M6A1 does bring an impressive cannon to the battle.  The powerful 76 mm gun is able to penetrate the front of most Rank III tanks and can destroy most enemy targets in a single shot.  The secondary cannon is weaker than the 76 mm, but can be effective.  When engaging targets from the side, this smaller gun should have no trouble penetrating and destroying an enemy unit.  And as with all multi-gun tanks, the secondary gun should be fired separately from the main cannon to maximize efficiency and facilitate aim.  By firing the secondary cannon, it is occasionally possible to bait the enemy into advancing out of cover and revealing a weak-spot--they will not expect that you have another shell loaded in the main gun.  Additionally, the vehicle mounts three 12.7 mm machine guns, which can be very effective in dealing with enemy aircraft if positioned correctly.
 +
 
 +
In most situations, the M6A1 driver will find that a slower play-style suits this tank best. The vehicle is large, turret rotation is slow, and enemies will be eager to flank it.  As such, the support of teammates is necessary for an effective attack.  In a defensive situation, the M6A1 is effective when located behind a ridge or other cover.  This will help to obscure the tank's large profile and allow the player to ambush advancing enemies.
 +
 
 +
The M6A1 is often compared to the M4A3E2 Jumbo Sherman.  Although less armoured than its higher-tiered counterpart, the M6A1 is arguably better than the Jumbo during the early game and at range.  While the M4A3E2 may have trouble dealing with enemy heavy tanks such as the [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1]], this vehicle is very-well suited for engaging those targets.  The M6A1 may be thought of as a Jumbo Sherman that was traded some of its armour protection in exchange for a more lethal armament.
  
 
=== 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:'''
* Great main gun.
+
 
* Very fast reload times, you will fire twice with the 37mm for every 76mm shot.
+
* Great main 76 mm gun and ammunition capable of consistent 1 hit kills
* Very good gun depression.
+
* Great secondary 37 mm gun with good reload speed and decent penetration
* Good power-to-weight ratio.
+
* Good gun depression
* Good acceleration.
+
* Reload rate isn't generally affected when losing crew members
* Good climb abilities.
+
* Has .50 cal AA machine gun, as well as a dual-mount .50 cal in front
* Secondary gun has the same shell arc as main gun.
+
* First standard heavy tank in the US tree, which can dish out and take punishment equally
* Very good cross country performance due to large tracks.
+
* Lower portion of the hull sides are protected by additional 25.4 mm armour sheet
* Big hull increases chance of surviving after a penetrating hit.
+
* Adequate roof armour of 25 mm means aerial strafing will be of a little issue without large-calibre weaponry
* Surprisingly still can fire both cannons with only skeleton crew.
+
* Rear mounted transmission means it is not affected with a frontal penetration
* Reload rate isn't generally affected when losing crew members.
+
* Big hull increases the chance of surviving after a penetrating hit
* Lower portion of the hull sides are protected by additional 25.4 mm armour sheet.
+
* Good acceleration and power-to-weight ratio
* Can be independent from teammates, but works wonderfully when supported.
+
* Good hill-climbing abilities
* First heavy tank in the US tree that can dish and take punishment equally.
+
* Very good cross country performance due to large tracks
* Rear mounted transmission.
+
 
* Adequate roof armour.
 
* Now has .50 cal AA machine gun.
 
* Provides a good learning curve to the Maus.
 
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
* Slow top speed.
+
 
* Mediocre turn speed.
+
* Lots of weak points, such as gun mantlet, upper side armour, driver port, MG port, and front armour cheeks
* Pretty large in general, will stand out in the battlefield.
+
* Armour profile overall is quite flat, no angling benefits
* Gun mantlet is weak.
+
* Ammo is stored in the lower side armour
* Weak upper side armour with only ~40mm
+
* All automotive module mounted in the rear, easily prone to damage, set ablaze, or exploded when shot
* Ammo is stored in the lower side armour!
+
* Slow top speed
* Drivers and MG-port are frontal weak spots.
+
* Mediocre turn speed
* Large engine and transmission mounted in the rear.
+
* Pretty large in general, will stand out in the battlefield
* Rear compartment of the vehicle is filled with fuel tanks that can easily set ablaze or explode altogether when shot.
 
* Tank cannot be angled as it exposes the cheeks.
 
  
 
== 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===
When World War II broke out, limited development in United States meant that the military possessed very few tanks and so development hastened and eventually gave them tanks such as the [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee]] and [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. On May 20, 1940, the US Army Ordinance Corps began to work on a 50-ton heavy tank for their army. Initially, it was going to have a multi-turret design, two turrets with the 75 mm gun and one secondary turret with a 37 mm gun with a coaxial machine gun, then one more with a 20 mm gun with coaxial. Plus, four .30 cal machine guns were to be put on ball mounts on the front glacis and rear corners of the hull. This project was approved on June 11, 1940 and moved on as the ''Heavy Tank T1''. However at the same time, similar concepts in Europe of heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Soviet [[T-35]] and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] tanks were falling out of favour due to lack of combat effectiveness and unfavourable performance for their cost, and the US did the same in October so the design was changed.
+
When World War II broke out, limited development in the United States meant that the military possessed very few tanks and so development hastened and eventually gave them tanks such as the [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee]] and [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. On May 20, 1940, the US Army Ordinance Corps began to work on a 50-ton heavy tank for their army. Initially, it was going to have a multi-turret design, two turrets with the 75 mm gun and one secondary turret with a 37 mm gun with a coaxial machine gun, then one more with a 20 mm gun with coaxial. Plus, four .30 cal machine guns were to be put on ball mounts on the front glacis and rear corners of the hull. This project was approved on June 11, 1940, and moved on as the ''Heavy Tank T1''. However at the same time, similar concepts in Europe of heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Soviet [[T-35]] and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] tanks were falling out of favour due to lack of combat effectiveness and unfavourable performance for their cost, and the US did the same in October so the design was changed.
  
The tank now had one turret with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun alongside a coaxial 37 mm gun. The turret housed three crew members and was powered by an electrical traverse system. The commander's cupola was copied from the M3 Lee, featuring a hatch with it sown machine gun. Two .50 cal machine guns now protruded from the bow mount (fired by bow gunner) and two .30 cal machine guns as well (fired by driver). The entire tank held six crew members, the commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver, loader #1, and loader #2. While the construction of the vehicle was feasible, the engine was not enough to power the vehicle reliably due to heavy 57 ton weight.
+
The tank now had one turret with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun alongside a coaxial 37 mm gun. The turret housed three crew members and was powered by an electrical traverse system. The commander's cupola was copied from the M3 Lee, featuring a hatch with it sown machine gun. Two .50 cal machine guns now protruded from the bow mount (fired by bow gunner) and two .30 cal machine guns as well (fired by the driver). The entire tank held six crew members, the commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver, loader #1, and loader #2. While the construction of the vehicle was feasible, the engine was not enough to power the vehicle reliably due to heavy 57-ton weight.
  
In 1941 to 1942, three prototypes were constructed with different transmission, one with electrical and the rest with a torque converter. The ones with the torque converters were designated the '''Heavy Tank M6''' and '''M6A1'''. The electrical transmission design, designated '''M6A2''', was never approved by Ordinance, but was to be manufactured anyway. It was hoped that 115 of these tanks could be built for further testing and production started in December 1942 with design changes. The commander's cupola now featured a regular hatch rather than the machine gun one, which was removed along with one of the machine gun in the front hull. By the time the M6 were ready for production, the Army were moving forward and interest waned on these heavy tanks with the [[M4|M4 Sherman's]] performance in the war. The M6's armour was only slightly more thicker than the Sherman's and the 3-inch gun didn't offer too much improvement over the 75 mm gun, plus it had a large profile and low ergonomics, not to mention mechanical issues.
+
In 1941 to 1942, three prototypes were constructed with the different transmission, one with electrical and the rest with a torque converter. The ones with the torque converters were designated the '''Heavy Tank M6''' and '''M6A1'''. The electrical transmission design designated '''M6A2''', was never approved by Ordinance, but was to be manufactured anyway. It was hoped that 115 of these tanks could be built for further testing and production started in December 1942 with design changes. The commander's cupola now featured a regular hatch rather than the machine gun one, which was removed along with one of the machine gun in the front hull. By the time the M6 was ready for production, the Army was moving forward and interest waned on these heavy tanks with the [[M4|M4 Sherman's]] performance in the war. The M6's armour was only slightly thicker than the Sherman's and the 3-inch gun didn't offer too much improvement over the 75 mm gun, plus it had a large profile and low ergonomics, not to mention mechanical issues.
  
 
===Production and cancellation===
 
===Production and cancellation===
In early 1942, the M6 production was set for 250 a month, but was cut down in September from 5,000 to a mere 100 when manufacturing focus moved to planes. By the end of 1942, the Sherman's performance in the war proved its role in the war was more adaptable than the M6 heavy tank, while remaining cheaper and lighter for transportation and supplying. This caused the M6 production to lower even more to just 40, before being shut down. Though testing with a 90 mm gun found the M6 to be a good gun mount, the poor layout of the tank restricted it, and the project was shut down before further development could be made.
+
In early 1942, the M6 production was set for 250 a month but was cut down in September from 5,000 to a mere 100 when manufacturing focus moved to planes. By the end of 1942, Sherman's performance in the war proved its role in the war was more adaptable than the M6 heavy tank while remaining cheaper and lighter for transportation and supplying. This caused the M6 production to lower even more to just 40, before being shut down. Though testing with a 90 mm gun found the M6 to be a good gun mount, the poor layout of the tank restricted it, and the project was shut down before further development could be made.
  
In August 1944, the Ordinance Corps planned to modify some of the M6 heavy tanks with more armour and heavier armament to breach fortified areas. These were to be the '''M6A2E1''' and weighed 77 tons with a 190 mm front armour and a 105 mm gun. Eisenhower rejected these as impractical, and cancelled it. The M6 was found to be obsolete by December 1944 with only 40 units produced and never seeing combat service. They served as a propaganda piece during the war and were all scrapped after it except one, which is put on display at Aberdeen, Maryland at the United States Army Ordinance Museum. During development, the M6 turret was modified to become the turret for the [[M10 GMC|M10 Tank Destroyer]].
+
In August 1944, the Ordinance Corps planned to modify some of the M6 heavy tanks with more armour and heavier armament to breach fortified areas. These were to be the '''M6A2E1''' and weighed 77 tons with a 190 mm front armour and a 105 mm gun. Eisenhower rejected these as impractical and cancelled it. The M6 was found to be obsolete by December 1944 with only 40 units produced and never seeing combat service. They served as a propaganda piece during the war and were all scrapped after it except one, which is put on display at Aberdeen, Maryland at the United States Army Ordinance Museum. During development, the M6 turret was modified to become the turret for the [[M10 GMC|M10 Tank Destroyer]].
 +
 
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
At the end of May 1940 the US infantry chief of staff responsible for armor put together requirements for future tanks in light of what was happening in Europe: the German army was relentlessly moving toward France and using armor with great success along the way. The Wehrmacht's use of new Pz.IV tanks with 75 mm guns instantaneously made the American tanks and their 37 mm cannons obsolete.
 +
 
 +
The new tank type had to be heavy (around 50 short tons), with 76 mm and 37 mm cannons arranged side-by-side in the turret. It had four machine guns (two heavy caliber and two rifle caliber), a Wright G-200 engine, a Hydromatic transmission, and a top speed of 25 mph. The green light was given for the construction of four prototypes in February 1941.
 +
 
 +
The prototypes developed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were designed with different transmissions and hulls in the interests of finding the best option for full-scale production. Two modifications at most were permitted, and on April 13, 1942, the T1E2 and T1E3 were standardized as the M6 and M6A1. The latter added a welded hull, Wright G-200 engine, and torque converter to the M6.
 +
 
 +
Mass production was scheduled for November 1942, though a report by General Jacob Devers on December 7 indicated that the M6s would enjoy only limited tactical use due to their size. Moreover, two M4s equipped with 75 mm and 76 mm weapons could be built in place of two heavy tanks. As a result, the Armored Corps hurried to revoke the contract.
 +
 
 +
Between 1942 and 1943 the Baldwin Locomotive Works ended up producing 12 M6 heavy tanks. They did not join the army or see combat.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
== Read also ==
+
;Skins
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=heavy_tank&vehicle=us_m6a1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|Yssg5uKGS-A|'''The Shooting Range #236''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:39 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|5jWKY14-ZGg|'''How to use secondary cannon if it doesn't penetrate? M6A1''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|jEc5FmgDMdo|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
''ETC.''-->
 
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/3209/current/ Official War Thunder forum article: [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> Heavy Tank M6A1]
 
  
== Sources ==
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== 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.''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/3209--en|[Vehicle Profile] Heavy Tank M6A1]]
  
 
{{USA heavy tanks}}
 
{{USA heavy tanks}}

Revision as of 16:26, 29 April 2021

RANK 6 BRITAIN
Rooikat 105 PACK
M6A1
us_m6a1.png
GarageImage M6A1.jpg
M6A1
AB RB SB
4.7 5.0 5.0
Class:
Research:26 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:76 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Heavy Tank M6A1 is a rank III American heavy tank with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB) and 5.0 (RB/SB). It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals". A rather unusual tank design mounting two cannons in the turret, however, it has a durable frontal armour for the battle rating it occupies.

The M6A1 is one of the most unique tanks in the game, with its large hull and being as tall as a Tiger I. Another interesting feature is that it is one of the most manoeuvrable heavy tanks in the game with a powerful Wright G-200 engine (the same engine powering the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber) with a max speed of 35 km/h, making it very mobile in a battle situation. The tank has two 12.7 mm's in the hull which are effective for taking out lightly armored vehicles such SPAAs. The M6A1 is one of the first American tanks as well in the game to have the transmission at the rear of the tank.

Something to keep in mind is the shell arc of the secondary 37 mm cannon. Its shell will usually hit the same spot on distances up to 1400 m (~1 mile). But do not forget that the gun is offset to the left in close combat, or it will not hit the target.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull101 / 69 / 44
Turret101 / 82 / 82
Crew6 people
Visibility122 %

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour (Front, Transmission area, Turret)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Roof)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 82.5 mm (5-35°) Front
101.6 mm (5-35°) Transmission
44.4 mm 44.4 mm 25.4 mm
Turret 250 mm (6-65°) Turret front
50.8 + 50.8 mm (7-62°) Gun mantlet
82.5 mm (0-12°) 82.5 mm (0-68°) 25.4 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 82.5 mm 25.4 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 17 mm thick.
  • Frontal armour plate is unevenly curved for better ricochet chances and efficient armour thickness.
  • Side skirts are 25 mm thick rolled homogeneous armour and will trigger fuses on APHE projectiles. In most cases, APHE shells set off before reaching the main hull and destroying the ammo stack beneath. Still, both skirts and hull are not sturdy enough to withstand a regular AP shell.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB38 / 5 km/h
RB and SB36 / 5 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
1 back
Weight56.8 t
Engine power
AB1 526 hp
RB and SB800 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB26.9 hp/t
RB and SB14.1 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 38 5 56.8 1,033 1,526 18.19 26.87
Realistic 36 5 708 800 12.46 14.08

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 373 → 1 698 Sl icon.png
RB1 507 → 1 864 Sl icon.png
SB2 101 → 2 598 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications24 600 Rp icon.png
44 800 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training22 000 Sl icon.png
Experts76 000 Sl icon.png
Aces400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces320 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
70 / 110 / 130 % Sl icon.png
142 / 142 / 142 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
1 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
1 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_usa_m3_APC_ammo_pack
Research:
1 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
1 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
76mm_usa_M79_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
1 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 000 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition75 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
7.6 → 5.9 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 30°
Main article: M7 (76 mm)
76 mm M7 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 75 -10°/+30° ±180° Vertical 14.57 20.16 24.48 27.07 28.80 7.67 6.79 6.25 5.90
Realistic 10.71 12.60 15.30 16.92 18.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M62 shell APCBC 149 146 133 119 106 95
M42A1 shell HE 7 7 7 7 7 7
M79 shot AP 134 132 121 109 99 89
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%
M62 shell APCBC 792 7 1.2 14 63.7 48° 63° 71°
M42A1 shell HE 800 5.84 0 0.1 390 79° 80° 81°
M79 shot AP 792 6.8 N/A N/A N/A 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M6A1
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
75 40 (+35) (+71) (+74) Yes

Additional armament

Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition202 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.7 → 2.9 s
Main article: M3 (37 mm)
37 mm M3 Reloading rate (seconds)
Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Full Expert Aced
202 N/A N/A Vertical 3.77 3.33 3.07 2.90

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
M74B1 AP 79 76 65 54 45 37
M63 shell HE 3 3 3 3 3 3
M51B1/B2 APCBC 87 84 73 60 50 41
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%
M74B1 AP 883 0.87 N/A N/A N/A 47° 60° 65°
M63 shell HE 807 0.73 0 0.1 38 79° 80° 81°
M51B1/B2 APCBC 883 0.87 N/A N/A N/A 48° 63° 71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M6A1
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
202 190 (+12) 161 (+41) 121 (+81) 81 (+121) 41 (+161) (+201) Yes

Machine guns

Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 50°
Horizontal guidance-120° / 120°
Ammunition6 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 35°
Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,000 (200) 577 -10°/+50° ±120°
Hull 3,000 (200) 577 -10°/+35° ±15°
Hull 3,000 (200) 577 -10°/+35° ±15°

Usage in battles

Although this is a heavy tank, and able to bounce some shells, its armour will not protect it from all incoming fire. Enemies to specifically watch out for are the IS-1, Panthers, Tigers, and Jumbo Shermans, as they can all easily penetrate this vehicle's weak frontal armour. Make sure to protect the rear flank too: M6A1's engine is very large and prone to catching on fire when hit.

But despite the imperfect armour layout, the M6A1 does bring an impressive cannon to the battle. The powerful 76 mm gun is able to penetrate the front of most Rank III tanks and can destroy most enemy targets in a single shot. The secondary cannon is weaker than the 76 mm, but can be effective. When engaging targets from the side, this smaller gun should have no trouble penetrating and destroying an enemy unit. And as with all multi-gun tanks, the secondary gun should be fired separately from the main cannon to maximize efficiency and facilitate aim. By firing the secondary cannon, it is occasionally possible to bait the enemy into advancing out of cover and revealing a weak-spot--they will not expect that you have another shell loaded in the main gun. Additionally, the vehicle mounts three 12.7 mm machine guns, which can be very effective in dealing with enemy aircraft if positioned correctly.

In most situations, the M6A1 driver will find that a slower play-style suits this tank best. The vehicle is large, turret rotation is slow, and enemies will be eager to flank it. As such, the support of teammates is necessary for an effective attack. In a defensive situation, the M6A1 is effective when located behind a ridge or other cover. This will help to obscure the tank's large profile and allow the player to ambush advancing enemies.

The M6A1 is often compared to the M4A3E2 Jumbo Sherman. Although less armoured than its higher-tiered counterpart, the M6A1 is arguably better than the Jumbo during the early game and at range. While the M4A3E2 may have trouble dealing with enemy heavy tanks such as the KV-1, this vehicle is very-well suited for engaging those targets. The M6A1 may be thought of as a Jumbo Sherman that was traded some of its armour protection in exchange for a more lethal armament.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great main 76 mm gun and ammunition capable of consistent 1 hit kills
  • Great secondary 37 mm gun with good reload speed and decent penetration
  • Good gun depression
  • Reload rate isn't generally affected when losing crew members
  • Has .50 cal AA machine gun, as well as a dual-mount .50 cal in front
  • First standard heavy tank in the US tree, which can dish out and take punishment equally
  • Lower portion of the hull sides are protected by additional 25.4 mm armour sheet
  • Adequate roof armour of 25 mm means aerial strafing will be of a little issue without large-calibre weaponry
  • Rear mounted transmission means it is not affected with a frontal penetration
  • Big hull increases the chance of surviving after a penetrating hit
  • Good acceleration and power-to-weight ratio
  • Good hill-climbing abilities
  • Very good cross country performance due to large tracks

Cons:

  • Lots of weak points, such as gun mantlet, upper side armour, driver port, MG port, and front armour cheeks
  • Armour profile overall is quite flat, no angling benefits
  • Ammo is stored in the lower side armour
  • All automotive module mounted in the rear, easily prone to damage, set ablaze, or exploded when shot
  • Slow top speed
  • Mediocre turn speed
  • Pretty large in general, will stand out in the battlefield

History

Development

When World War II broke out, limited development in the United States meant that the military possessed very few tanks and so development hastened and eventually gave them tanks such as the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman. On May 20, 1940, the US Army Ordinance Corps began to work on a 50-ton heavy tank for their army. Initially, it was going to have a multi-turret design, two turrets with the 75 mm gun and one secondary turret with a 37 mm gun with a coaxial machine gun, then one more with a 20 mm gun with coaxial. Plus, four .30 cal machine guns were to be put on ball mounts on the front glacis and rear corners of the hull. This project was approved on June 11, 1940, and moved on as the Heavy Tank T1. However at the same time, similar concepts in Europe of heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Soviet T-35 and the German Neubaufahrzeug tanks were falling out of favour due to lack of combat effectiveness and unfavourable performance for their cost, and the US did the same in October so the design was changed.

The tank now had one turret with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun alongside a coaxial 37 mm gun. The turret housed three crew members and was powered by an electrical traverse system. The commander's cupola was copied from the M3 Lee, featuring a hatch with it sown machine gun. Two .50 cal machine guns now protruded from the bow mount (fired by bow gunner) and two .30 cal machine guns as well (fired by the driver). The entire tank held six crew members, the commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver, loader #1, and loader #2. While the construction of the vehicle was feasible, the engine was not enough to power the vehicle reliably due to heavy 57-ton weight.

In 1941 to 1942, three prototypes were constructed with the different transmission, one with electrical and the rest with a torque converter. The ones with the torque converters were designated the Heavy Tank M6 and M6A1. The electrical transmission design designated M6A2, was never approved by Ordinance, but was to be manufactured anyway. It was hoped that 115 of these tanks could be built for further testing and production started in December 1942 with design changes. The commander's cupola now featured a regular hatch rather than the machine gun one, which was removed along with one of the machine gun in the front hull. By the time the M6 was ready for production, the Army was moving forward and interest waned on these heavy tanks with the M4 Sherman's performance in the war. The M6's armour was only slightly thicker than the Sherman's and the 3-inch gun didn't offer too much improvement over the 75 mm gun, plus it had a large profile and low ergonomics, not to mention mechanical issues.

Production and cancellation

In early 1942, the M6 production was set for 250 a month but was cut down in September from 5,000 to a mere 100 when manufacturing focus moved to planes. By the end of 1942, Sherman's performance in the war proved its role in the war was more adaptable than the M6 heavy tank while remaining cheaper and lighter for transportation and supplying. This caused the M6 production to lower even more to just 40, before being shut down. Though testing with a 90 mm gun found the M6 to be a good gun mount, the poor layout of the tank restricted it, and the project was shut down before further development could be made.

In August 1944, the Ordinance Corps planned to modify some of the M6 heavy tanks with more armour and heavier armament to breach fortified areas. These were to be the M6A2E1 and weighed 77 tons with a 190 mm front armour and a 105 mm gun. Eisenhower rejected these as impractical and cancelled it. The M6 was found to be obsolete by December 1944 with only 40 units produced and never seeing combat service. They served as a propaganda piece during the war and were all scrapped after it except one, which is put on display at Aberdeen, Maryland at the United States Army Ordinance Museum. During development, the M6 turret was modified to become the turret for the M10 Tank Destroyer.

In-game description

At the end of May 1940 the US infantry chief of staff responsible for armor put together requirements for future tanks in light of what was happening in Europe: the German army was relentlessly moving toward France and using armor with great success along the way. The Wehrmacht's use of new Pz.IV tanks with 75 mm guns instantaneously made the American tanks and their 37 mm cannons obsolete.

The new tank type had to be heavy (around 50 short tons), with 76 mm and 37 mm cannons arranged side-by-side in the turret. It had four machine guns (two heavy caliber and two rifle caliber), a Wright G-200 engine, a Hydromatic transmission, and a top speed of 25 mph. The green light was given for the construction of four prototypes in February 1941.

The prototypes developed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were designed with different transmissions and hulls in the interests of finding the best option for full-scale production. Two modifications at most were permitted, and on April 13, 1942, the T1E2 and T1E3 were standardized as the M6 and M6A1. The latter added a welded hull, Wright G-200 engine, and torque converter to the M6.

Mass production was scheduled for November 1942, though a report by General Jacob Devers on December 7 indicated that the M6s would enjoy only limited tactical use due to their size. Moreover, two M4s equipped with 75 mm and 76 mm weapons could be built in place of two heavy tanks. As a result, the Armored Corps hurried to revoke the contract.

Between 1942 and 1943 the Baldwin Locomotive Works ended up producing 12 M6 heavy tanks. They did not join the army or see combat.

Media

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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 heavy tanks
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6  T1E1 · M6A1 · M6A2E1
T26  T26E1-1 · T26E5
T29/30/34  T29 · T30 · T34
T32  T32 · T32E1
M103  M103
Others  T14