T18E2

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T18E2
us_t18_e2.png
GarageImage T18E2.jpg
ArtImage T18E2.png
T18E2
AB RB SB
3.0 3.0 3.0
Show in game
MARKET

Description

With the British seeking new armoured cars, the US Ordnance Corps issued specifications for a heavily armoured car. Delivered in 1942 by the Yellow Coach Company, the armoured car that would be the T18 was a heavy 8x8 suspension armoured car armed with a 37 mm anti-tank cannon. The 37 mm was not considered effective by the time, so the design was improved to the T18E2 variant with a 57 mm anti-tank cannon. However, the heavy armoured car's heavy weight and consequential mobility disadvantages, as well as its expensive price, led to a declining interest in the T18E2. As such, only a limited number was built and transferred to the British, which used them in limited fashion during the North Africa campaign.

The T18E2 was introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm" in the 2018 "Chronicles of World War II" that took place between the 14th of April till the 10th of May of the same year. It was obtainable by earning 6 "Chronicle awards" in ground vehicles. Players that earned the T18E2 gained access to an impressively-armoured car, capable of withstanding 37 mm and even 50 mm fire. The high-penetrating 57 mm M1 cannon in the T18E2 also benefits from a single-plane stabilizer for a better shooting platform after moving. The combination of its good ballistics, high armor penetration, high-explosive shell, and high rate of fire makes the "Boarhound" an extremely dangerous opponent in firefights. The only drawback of the vehicle is its poor off-road capability: while on paved roads the "Boarhound" has decent acceleration dynamics and high speed, on rough terrain, especially in mud or water obstacles, the armored car's mobility starts to fall behind even heavy tanks.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull50 / 31 / 25
Turret38 / 38 / 38
Crew5 people
Visibility84 %

The T18E2 is a heavy armoured car that favours protection over the high mobility common to the class. The T18E2's hull is solidly protected from heavy machine guns and artillery shrapnel, but most opponents at this battle rating can penetrate it without trouble. Despite sufficient armour to protect the crew, the transmission located under the floor armour is very susceptible to damage from artillery.

The vehicle carries a full complement of 5 crew members. A driver and MG gunner sit together in the forward driving compartment, while the Gunner, Loader, and Commander sit in close proximity in the rather small turret in the fighting compartment. Altogether, a well placed APHE round can be enough to knock out all of the crew members in the vehicle but may survive multiple solid shots of AP or APCR rounds, especially from the side. However, the crew is positioned deceptively high off the ground above an armoured floor, and so shots to the very lower glacis frequently only damage the transmission.

Armour type:

  • Cast Homogeneous armour (turret, hull front and sides)
  • Rolled Homogeneous armour (hull rear and hull roof)
  • Structural Steel (fender, various boxes along the hull, and vents on engine compartment)
  • Wheels
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 51 mm (0-40°) Lower glacis & upper hull
32 mm + 51 mm (0-61°) Machine Gun Port
38 mm (10-16°) Driver's Port
32 mm (49-81°) Upper Glacis
25 mm (72-75°) Small hatch on upper glacis
32 mm (0°) Side
25 mm (0°) Hatches
25 mm (0-16°) Main
13 mm (16-58°) Upper & Lower
19 mm Driving compartment
13 mm (83-90°) Fighting/engine compartment

5 mm (84°) Vents

Turret 51 mm + 38 mm (0-49°) Gun Mantlet
38 mm (4-30°) Turret front
38 mm (0-39°) 38 mm (0-33°) Rear
25 mm (10°) Hatch
19 mm Roof
13 mm Hatches

Notes:

  • Floor armour is only 10 mm thick, though the suspension mounting found between each pair of wheels is reinforced with 13 mm of armour underneath the vehicle.
  • Turret ring armour is 25 mm thick.
  • Structural steel boxes and drums of 5 mm thick dot the exterior of the car, which can add some precious little armour thickness.
  • Wheels are 10 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB89 / 37 km/h
RB and SB80 / 33 km/h
Number of gears7 forward
2 back
Weight24.0 t
Engine power
AB477 hp
RB and SB250 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB19.9 hp/t
RB and SB10.4 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 89 37 24 387 477 16.13 19.88
Realistic 80 33 221 250 9.21 10.42

In RB/SB mode, the T18E2 is a very sluggish vehicle, especially compared to other armoured cars. Despite its listed top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph), most drivers will only see up to 65 km/h (40 mph) on paved roads and 39 km/h (24 mph) cross country depending on terrain. Even so, with its low power to weight ratio of 10.41 hp/ton (in comparison to 14.44 hp/ton of the M3 Lee), it takes driving relatively straight for a long while for it to reach these speeds. Best stick to paved roads when you can if you need to be somewhere quick and avoid muddy terrain altogether like that found at White Rock Fortress, where mud can drag your speed down to as low as 8 km/h (5 mph), leaving you vulnerable if trying to cross potential fire zones quickly.

The T18E2 also possesses a very high top reverse speed of -36 km/h (-20 mph), though again because of its low acceleration, will take some time to possibly reach this. However, in comparison to other tanks, the reverse acceleration and eventual speed is still acceptable for quick retreats. This can even mitigate the disadvantage that the vehicle requires a large turn radius to turn around.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB800 Sl icon.png
RB458 Sl icon.png
SB1 317 Sl icon.png
Crew training4 800 Sl icon.png
Experts32 000 Sl icon.png
Aces210 Ge icon.png
Research Aces440 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 50 / 60 / 80 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new wheels.png
Tires
Mods new car suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Mods tank ammo.png
57mm_us_APCBC_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics

Armaments

Main armament

Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition64 rounds
First-order24 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
5.2 → 4.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
Main article: M1 (57 mm)
57 mm M1 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 64 -10°/+20° ±180° Vertical 17.1 23.7 28.8 31.8 33.9 5.20 4.60 4.24 4.00
Realistic 10.7 12.6 15.3 16.9 18.0

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
M70 AP 118 114 97 80 66 54
M86 APCBC 122 118 103 87 73 62
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%
M70 AP 900 2.85 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M86 APCBC 822 3.29 1.2 9 41.16 48° 63° 71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T18E2
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
64 52 (12+) 40 (24+) 24 (+40) 12 (+52) (+63) No

Notes:

  • Recommended load is 24 (+40) to keep the hull empty of ammo.
  • 1st and 2nd ammo racks are ready racks, and takes priority in being filled at the beginning of the battle, then fills 5, 4, then 3.
  • Full reload speed will be realized as long as ammo exists in either ready rack. If both ready racks are empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will load ammo from racks 3-5 into 2 then 1, as long as there is ammo in racks 3-5. Firing will interrupt the loading of the ready racks.

Machine guns

Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Though this is an armoured car, this is best played as a tank destroyer, as the gun is arguably the best feature on this tank. Even with your sluggish speeds, you should be able to keep up with most medium tanks and provide support to them, letting them soak up damage while you dish out it back with your great gun.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Quick-firing 57 mm cannon that can fire as quick as 4 seconds with an ace crew
  • High penetration APHE shell can make short work of foes
  • Large ready-rack of 24 shells
  • Can scout targets like other Rank II light tanks
  • Good speeds can be reached on paved roads
  • Armour will protect it from heavy machine guns from nearly any angle
  • Carries a smoke mortar, able to shoot up to 14 smoke grenades
  • Possesses a vertical gun stabilizer to increase accuracy at low speeds

Cons:

  • Transmission is easily knocked out by artillery shrapnel
  • Slows down substantially when crossing muddy terrain or deep snow
  • Very sluggish acceleration, will take a while to reach high speeds
  • Large turning radius, can be problematic in narrow streets or environments
  • Any calibre bigger than 14.5 mm will likely tear through the car at close range
  • Only possesses AP and APHE, no HE available
  • Lacks a .50 calibre machine gun unlike most other US vehicles
  • Slower turret traverse rate than other US tanks

History

T18

Development

The US Army Ordnance Corps released a requirement in 1941 for a medium armoured car and a heavy armoured car to be exported to Britain. Ford built the T17 Deerhound and T17E1 Staghound for the medium requirement. Development for the heavy armoured car was headed by the Yellow Coach Company.

The prototype for the heavy armoured car was displayed in 1942, and the design became the T18. It was being designed for the British Army, who wanted them for the war in North Africa, where the mobility of armoured cars would be beneficial at the time.

Design

The T18 used an 8x8 wheeled chassis with four total axles, the front two paired together and the rear two paired together. The vehicle had a length of 20.4 feet, a width of 10 feet, and a height of 8.5 feet. It weighed around 30 tons, and was operated by a crew of five, with the driver and co-driver/machine gunner in the hull front and the commander, gunner, and loader in the turret.

The three-man turret was located on the centre of the hull. The main armament consisted of a 37 mm M6 anti-tank gun. A coaxial 7.62 mm M1919A4 was mounted in the turret, and a second M1919 machine gun was ball-mounted in the hull front for use by the co-driver/machine gunner.

Armour protection of the T18 was from 9.5 mm to 50.8 mm, quite good for an armoured car, but increased weight substantially.

The T18 was powered by two GMC 6-cylinder engines, each producing 125 horsepower, for a total of 250 horsepower. The T18 could reach speeds of 50 miles per hour and had a range of 250 miles.

T18E2 Boarhound

Development

Before the T18 had been delivered to the British Army, it was seen in the North African theatre that the 37 mm had become insufficient against the latest German panzers. As such, it was decided to replace the 37 mm M6 gun with a 57 mm M1 anti-tank gun (a license-produced version of the QF 6-pounder). Sixty 57 mm projectiles were carried, and 2,500 rounds of machine gun ammunition were carried as well. The vehicle with the 57 mm gun was designated as the T18E2.

Production and Service

The T18E2 was designated by the British Army as the Boarhound, and 2,500 Boarhounds were planned to be acquired. By the time deliveries began, the war in North Africa was coming to a close, and the Boarhound also had poor off-road mobility. These factors, in addition to a high unit cost, caused the British Army to cut the order short at just 30 units. Very few Boarhounds saw combat, and none saw heavy combat. They were mostly used for convoy escort, base defence, or reconnaissance.

Media

Skins
Videos

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks  T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart  M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart  M5A1
Medium tanks  M3 Lee
M4 Sherman  M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
  M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes  T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks  M103
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy  M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing  T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes  T14
T29  T29 · T30 · T34
T-32  T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers  M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC  M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC  M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes  T28 · T95
SPAAGs 
Production  M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured  ␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart  Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant  ▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman  Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing  M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton  mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC  ␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC  ␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC  ▅M19A1
M42 MGMC  ▅M42 · ␗M42
  *The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.

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

USA premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  LVT(A)(4) · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) · M3A1 (USMC) · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · M8 LAC · M8A1 GMC
  M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat · T18E2 · M551(76) · T114 · M1128 Wolfpack
Medium tanks  ▃Grant I · M4A5 · Calliope · T20 · M26 T99 · M26E1 · M46 "Tiger" · T54E1 · T54E2 · ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · M728 CEV
  XM1 (GM) · XM1 (Chrysler) · M1 KVT · M1A1 Click-Bait
Heavy tanks  T14 · Cobra King · M6A2E1 · T29 · T30
Tank destroyers  T28 · T55E1