M2 Medium Tank
- For the light tank, see M2 Light Tank.
M2 Medium Tank
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[Client Values; Actual values in
31,000  Cost |
| 35575 HP Hit Points |
| 20.47/21.57.11/23.5 t Weight Limit |
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Radio Operator
- Radio Operator
- Loader
| 340400 hp Engine Power |
| 43/18 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3540 deg/s Traverse |
| 16.6156.26 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| NoNo Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 25.4/25/2538/25/25 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR/HE
AP/APCR/HE Shells |
18/800/10
18/800/10 Shell Cost |
| 40/40/5040/40/50 HP Damage |
| 48/70/1956/78/19 mm Penetration |
|
24 r/m ▲
26.09 r/m Standard Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
|
960 ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1043.6 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Standard Gun |
|
0.46 m ▲
0.42 m With 50% Crew: 0.57 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.52 m |
| 2.1 s 1.7 s Aim time |
| 4039 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -10°/+25°-20°/+40° Elevation Arc |
| 240210 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 2020 % Chance of Fire |
| 280 m 370 m View Range |
| 265 m 615 m Signal Range |
III
31000
The M2 Medium Tank is an American tier 3 medium tank.
The only medium tank to be adopted by the US Army during the interwar period. The vehicle was equipped with a 37 mm gun and six 7.62 mm machineguns, four of which were mounted on rotating fire units. The two non-rotating machineguns were placed on the front of the hull. Despite unimpressive combat characteristics, the M2A1 became a milestone for American tank development from the time of its inception by virtue of being easily adaptable for mass production. In 1940, 94 vehicles were produced.
It has the improved 37mm and a very powerful 75mm howitzer, which requires the M2M7 turret. At first, with the 37mm, the M2 can feel a bit handicapped fire-power wise. Once armed with the 75mm howitzer, it is a force to be reckoned with. This, coupled with its good mobility, makes the M2 a fun tank to play and the grind to M3 Lee* should be quick and painless. *The M3 Lee and M2 Medium are now Collector Vehicles, meaning they are still able to be bought from the Store for credits, but they are no longer in the tech tree.
The M2 Medium Tank marks the end of its American medium line.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | 37 mm Gun M5 | 48/70/19 | 40/40/50 | 24 | 0.46 | 2.1 | 78 | 2000 | |
| III | 37 mm Gun M6 | 56/78/19 | 40/40/50 | 26.09 | 0.42 | 1.7 | 82 | 8350 | |
| III | 75 mm Howitzer M3 | 38/92/19 | 175/110/50 | 13.04 | 0.55 | 2.3 | 138 | 5400 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | Wright R-975EC2 | 400 | 20 | 515 | 11600 | |
| III | Wright Continental R-975C2 | 340 | 20 | 549 | 9200 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | T48 | 21.5 | 35 | B/2 | 4800 | 670 | |
| III | T49 | 23.5 | 40 | B/2 | 4800 | 2100 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | SCR 210 | 325 | 80 | 1980 | |
| IX | SCR 506 | 615 | 110 | 33600 | |
| II | SCR 200 | 265 | 40 | 0 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Speed and traverse is very good for a medium tank
- 2nd turret yields almost unheard of view range at its tier
- Frontal hull armor is sloped and can occasionally bounce shells
- Excellent signal range
- Insanely good gun elevation and depression with 2nd turret ( +40/-20 respectively )
Cons:
- Very low HP for some odd reason ( only 210 when fully upgraded ), 375 as of 1.9
- Outside of the UFP, the armor sucks, especially vs. higher tier tanks
- 2nd turret is open top ( Arty will be all over you )
- The MG housings behind the UFP are very obvious weakspots
- Statistically a very poor performer in higher tier matches, though 9.18 MM has negated this somewhat
Performance
Firepower wise when equipped with the 75mm howitzer, the M2 Medium tank shines. It can one shot or heavily damage most tanks its tier and below, and have some capability of fighting higher tier tanks frontally (Although flanking is always the best choice.) The 75mm HEAT shell has enough penetration to hurt most tier 5 (4 as of 9.18, tier III can no longer see tier V) vehicles with good aim. The M-6 37mm gun does offer upgraded penetration, accuracy, and rate of fire, but at Tier 3 these traits are negated by the rather low damage per shot versus the raw damage the 75mm gun offers.
The gun depression is extremely excellent, allowing the M2 MT to take up very effective hull-down positions, which is extremely important. In a tier 3 match this will allow you to bounce most small caliber fire.
Armor wise, it has decent frontal armor, but with the second turret being an open top, it becomes very vulnerable to enemy arty and HE (most notably, enemy M2 MT's), so avoid slugging fights where possible and try to end them quickly with the 75mm gun, or your low reload speed may put you in a situation where you will be outgunned quickly by faster firing enemies or their artillery support. Also be aware that the MG ports are large weakspots.
One interesting thing to note is that this tank is the poster child for the Relaying skill. It has the highest signal range for tier 3, excellent view range, and it has two Radio Operators. Tier 3 is low enough that your team can genuinely benefit from Relaying skill. However, since this is still a medium tank, it is not well suited for actively scouting behind enemy lines. Instead, stay back a bit and let the Relaying skill passively boost the signal range of everyone around you. Also of note is that with Binocs, you can have the maximum allowable view range at tier 3. This can be quite powerful on maps like Province and Malinovka. When bottom tier, act as a support tank. Take flanking shots and support bigger allies.
Early Research
- The SCR 210 and SCR 506 radios carry over from the T2 Medium Tank and can be installed immediately.
- First research the turret for improved frontal armor and much improved view range.
- Next research either the 37 mm Gun M-6 or the 75 mm Howitzer M3, depending on you wanting damage and derpeffect or RoF and penetration.
- You don't need more weight capacity, but get the upgraded suspension for the improved traverse speed.
- Go from there.
Suggested Equipment
Gallery
Historical Info
The M2's unique features included an unusually large number of machine guns, bullet deflector plates, and sloped armor on the hull front (glacis plate). The main armament was a 37 mm gun, with 32 mm armor. The M2A1 had a 51 mm gun mantlet. For combat it was a poor design, with thin armor, inadequate main armament and a high profile. The four sponson-mounted machine guns proved to be completely unnecessary.
The M2 was already obsolete when it entered service. It compared poorly with the latest European tanks, such as the French S-35, German Panzer III and Soviet BT-7, which could easily withstand 37 mm hits.
The 37 mm main armament of the M2 was equivalent to the 37 mm in the Panzer III, but the BT-7 (45 mm) and the S-35 (47 mm) had more powerful guns. By 1941, Germany had upgunned the Panzer III with a 50 mm L/42 gun, and the Soviets had fielded the vastly superior T-34, with a 76 mm gun and a sloped 52 mm glacis plate. Given this, the M2 was essentially a stopgap measure until more capable tanks like the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman came along in 1942-43. Although 18 M2s and 94 M2A1s were produced, the Ordnance office recommended in 1942 that they should only be used for training purposes, and they were never sent overseas to combat areas.
Historical Gallery
Historical Accuracy Errata
The only changes to the M2 Medium Tank were an enlarged turret, automotive improvements and thicker armour. There were no plans to replace its original 37 mm gun. Thus the 75 mm howitzer configuration is fake.
- The open-topped turret configuration on the M2 is also fake.
- Historical early M2 turret is missing.
- Historical twin 37 mm M2A1 guns are also missing. This experimental configuration was known as the T5 Phase I (Early).
