M53/M55

M53/M55

USA | SPG | Tier IX

Battle Tier

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Overview
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[Client Values; Actual values in

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Specifically, the mismatch in crew values caused by commander's 10% crew skill bonus. Outside of a crew of 1 commander only, 100% crew is a fiction. The client values, given for 100% crew, will normally be taken into battle with 110% crew skill members aside from specific functions, causing their actual performance to deviate from the expected client value. These differences are taken into account in tooltip boxes.

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3,550,000   Cost

45090 HP Hit Points

44.61/44.735.21/48 t Weight Limit

Crew

1. Commander (Radio Operator)
2. Driver
3. Gunner
4. Gunner
5. Loader
6. Loader

Mobility

770810 hp Engine Power

56.3/14 km/h Speed Limit

2224 deg/s Traverse

17.2623 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio

YesYes Pivot

Armor

// mm Hull Armor

Armament

{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING|| {{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING|ARMOR_PIERCING|| HE/HE {{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING|| {{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING|ARMOR_PIERCING|| HE/HE Shells

1120/1320/1290 1870/2310/2190 Shell Cost

600/750/420900/1100/600 HP Damage

39/49/28252/65/314 mm Penetration

| |}} | |}} 2.14 r/m  ▲ Standard Gun Reload Times Nominal: 28 s 50% Crew: 34.69 s 75% Crew: 30.29 s 100% Crew: 26.85 s Rammer: 24.17 s Vents: 26.26 s Both: 23.63 s Both and BiA: 23.12 s Both and Max Crew %: 22.16 s See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information. | |}} | |}} 1.43 r/m  ▲ Standard Gun Reload Times Nominal: 42 s 50% Crew: 52.03 s 75% Crew: 45.43 s 100% Crew: 40.27 s Rammer: 36.24 s Vents: 39.38 s Both: 35.44 s Both and BiA: 34.67 s Both and Max Crew %: 33.24 s See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information. Rate of Fire

| |}} | |}} 1284 ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 1 (600 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1284 50% Crew: 1038 75% Crew: 1188 100% Crew: 1338 100% Crew Vents: 1368 Rammer: 1488 Both: 1518 Both and BiA: 1554 Both and Max Crew %: 1620 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1884 50% Crew: 1638 75% Crew: 1788 100% Crew: 1938 100% Crew Rammer: 2088 Vents: 1968 Both: 2118 Both and BiA: 2154 Both and Max Crew %: 2220 See here, here, or here for more information. ▼ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 2 (750 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1605 50% Crew: 1297.5 75% Crew: 1485 100% Crew: 1672.5 100% Crew Vents: 1710 Rammer: 1860 Both: 1897.5 Both and BiA: 1942.5 Both and Max Crew %: 2025 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2355 50% Crew: 2047.5 75% Crew: 2235 100% Crew: 2422.5 100% Crew Rammer: 2610 Vents: 2460 Both: 2647.5 Both and BiA: 2692.5 Both and Max Crew %: 2775 See here, here, or here for more information. ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 3 (420 Damage): Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 898.8 50% Crew: 726.6 75% Crew: 831.6 100% Crew: 936.6 100% Crew Vents: 957.6 Rammer: 1041.6 Both: 1062.6 Both and BiA: 1087.8 Both and Max Crew %: 1134 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1318.8 50% Crew: 1146.6 75% Crew: 1251.6 100% Crew: 1356.6 100% Crew Rammer: 1461.6 Vents: 1377.6 Both: 1482.6 Both and BiA: 1507.8 Both and Max Crew %: 1554 See here, here, or here for more information. | |}} | |}} 1287 ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 1 (900 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1287 50% Crew: 1035 75% Crew: 1188 100% Crew: 1341 100% Crew Vents: 1368 Rammer: 1494 Both: 1521 Both and BiA: 1557 Both and Max Crew %: 1629 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2187 50% Crew: 1935 75% Crew: 2088 100% Crew: 2241 100% Crew Rammer: 2394 Vents: 2268 Both: 2421 Both and BiA: 2457 Both and Max Crew %: 2529 See here, here, or here for more information. ▼ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 2 (1100 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1573 50% Crew: 1265 75% Crew: 1452 100% Crew: 1639 100% Crew Vents: 1672 Rammer: 1826 Both: 1859 Both and BiA: 1903 Both and Max Crew %: 1991 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2673 50% Crew: 2365 75% Crew: 2552 100% Crew: 2739 100% Crew Rammer: 2926 Vents: 2772 Both: 2959 Both and BiA: 3003 Both and Max Crew %: 3091 See here, here, or here for more information. ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 3 (600 Damage): Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 858 50% Crew: 690 75% Crew: 792 100% Crew: 894 100% Crew Vents: 912 Rammer: 996 Both: 1014 Both and BiA: 1038 Both and Max Crew %: 1086 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1458 50% Crew: 1290 75% Crew: 1392 100% Crew: 1494 100% Crew Rammer: 1596 Vents: 1512 Both: 1614 Both and BiA: 1638 Both and Max Crew %: 1686 See here, here, or here for more information. Damage Per Minute

| |}} 0.63 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 0.78 m With 75% Crew: 0.681 m With 100% Crew: 0.604 m With BiA: 0.591 m With BiA and Vents: 0.578 m Maximum possible: 0.554 m For more details, see Crew | |}} 0.75 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 0.929 m With 75% Crew: 0.811 m With 100% Crew: 0.719 m With BiA: 0.703 m With BiA and Vents: 0.688 m Maximum possible: 0.659 m For more details, see Crew Accuracy

| |}} 4.5 s  ▲ With 50% Crew: 5.575 s With 75% Crew: 4.867 s With 100% Crew: 4.315 s With GLD: 3.923 s With BiA: 4.22 s With BiA and Vents: 4.128 s With both and GLD: 3.753 s Maximum possible: 3.597 s For more details, see Crew or Equipment | |}} 5.2 s  ▲ With 50% Crew: 6.442 s With 75% Crew: 5.625 s With 100% Crew: 4.986 s With GLD: 4.533 s With BiA: 4.876 s With BiA and Vents: 4.77 s With both and GLD: 4.337 s Maximum possible: 4.157 s For more details, see Crew or Equipment Aim time

1010 deg/s Gun Traverse Speed

60° Gun Arc

-5°/+65°-5°/+65° Elevation Arc

4020 rounds Ammo Capacity

General

2012 % Chance of Fire

300 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 235.7 m With 75% Crew: 267.9 m With 100% Crew: 300 m With Recon and Situational Awareness: 315.2 m With Coated Optics: 330 m With Binocular Telescope: 375 m Maximum possible: 429.5 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment 300 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 235.7 m With 75% Crew: 267.9 m With 100% Crew: 300 m With Recon and Situational Awareness: 315.2 m With Coated Optics: 330 m With Binocular Telescope: 375 m Maximum possible: 429.5 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment View Range

| |}} 500 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 392.8 m With 75% Crew: 446.5 m With 100% Crew: 500 m With 100% Signal Boost: 600 m When affected by 100% Relaying: 550 m Maximum possible: 719.5 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment | |}} 750 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 589.3 m With 75% Crew: 669.7 m With 100% Crew: 750 m With 100% Signal Boost: 900 m When affected by 100% Relaying: 825 m Maximum possible: 1079.2 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment Signal Range

Values are Stock - click for TopValues are Top - click for Stock

M40/M43

M53/M55

T92 HMC

Additional Statistics
(Top Configuration)

Camouflage

• Stationary: 6.3%
• When Moving: 3.1%
• When Firing: 0.5%

Terrain Resistance

• On Hard Ground: 1.15
• On Medium Ground: 1.34
• On Soft Ground: 2.21

Dispersion Change Values

• Turret Contribution
• Rotation: 0.63
• Shot Recoil: 5.75
• Suspension Contribution
• Acceleration: 0.36
• Turning: 0.36

With 100% Crew

IX

3550000

The M53/M55 is an American tier 9 self-propelled gun.

SPG on a modified chassis of the M47 medium tank. The prototype was produced in 1952, and in 1956 the SPG entered service in two variants: the M55 for the Army and the M53 for the Marines.

The M53/M55 is an unique vehicle in the American SPG branch. The most noticeable features are the turret and the mobility.

The turret has an impressive gun arc of 60°, which helps aiming without moving the vehicle itself. The mobility is very good, having a high top speed and a nice power to weight ratio. This gives the M53/M55 the mobility to relocate, flee from danger or bring support where needed. Futhermore, the gun has a nice mixture of accuracy, reload, and alpha damage. Also the gun has a good gun depression and elevation in comparison to the other SPG's. The main downsides of the M53/M55 is that it's quite large, which makes it easy to hit and having a bad camouflage. Another downside is when coming from the M40/M43, is that the radioman is replaced by a second gunner, resulting in breaking the Brothers in Arms perk.

The M53/M55 leads to the T92 HMC.

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 ()
VIII	155 mm Gun M46	39/49/282	600/750/420	2.14	0.63	4.5		3264	125000
IX	8-inch Howitzer M47	52/65/314	900/1100/600	1.43	0.75	5.2		2776	240000

Engines

Tier	Engine	Engine Power (hp)	Chance of Fire on Impact (%)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
X	Continental AV-1790-7B	810	12		1171	100000
VIII	Ford GAC	770	20		839	59000

Suspensions

Tier	Suspension	Load Limit (т)	Traverse Speed (gr/sec)	Rmin		Weight (kg)	Price ()
VIII	T97/T108	44.7	22	0		23000	31000
IX	M53/M55	48	24	0		23000	64000

Radios

Tier	Radio	Signal Range (m)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
VIII	AN/PRC-10	500		12	22000
X	AN/PRC-25	750		9	54000

Compatible Equipment

                

Compatible Consumables

                       

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Gun range: stock: 1400 m, top: 1290 m.
• Very wide firing arc; gun is mounted on a "pseudo-turret" much like the GW Panther.
• Very good speed, acceleration, and traverse, inferior only to French artillery.
• Good mix of accuracy, reload, and alpha, along with high shell arc on the upgraded gun.
• Upgraded gun weighs less than the stock gun, meaning researching the suspension is not required to mount it.

Cons:

• Poor alpha damage with the stock gun. It's only competitive against tier 8 and below.
• Large profile and horrific camouflage.
• Different Crew setup than the rest of the line (radioman replaced for a second gunner).

Performance

Initially, moving from the M40/M43 to the M53/M55 is very disappointing, as you have to re-research the 203mm howitzer, so stock you are a faster-reloading, more mobile M12. When fully upgraded, however, the M53/55 becomes a highly mobile, hard hitting artillery piece that is able to greatly influence the game. It has enough mobility to outrun some slower mediums and is able to easily re-position in order to fire on targets that are safe from other positions. Due to it's outstanding all-around performance, the M53/55 sees use in Clan Wars over the T92, which was rendered obsolete by the Conqueror Gun Carriage.

With the SPG rebalance, the stock gun is a viable alternative to the 203mm. While it features lower alpha damage and pen, the DPM is the same, and the improved rate of fire, aim time, and accuracy may help you keep targets tracked and stunned for longer, allowing your teammates to finish them off.

Early Research

• The AN/PRC-25 radio is the only module to carry over from the M44.
• First, research the 8-inch Howitzer M47, as it is lighter than the stock gun.
• Next, research the Suspension.
• Finally, research the Continental AV-1790-7B Engine.

Suggested Equipment

  

Gallery

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Historical Info

M-55 8-inch Self-Propelled Howitzer (right) with the M53 155mm Self-Propelled Gun

The M55 was an American fully enclosed and armored self-propelled artillery based on the M53 155 mm assault gun. It had a 203.2 mm howitzer which could traverse 30° left or right, carrying only 10 rounds of ammunition. The gun had a maximum range of 16,916 meters (10.51 miles) with a rate of fire of one round every two minutes. The M55 armor was light, 25 mm maximum, but sufficient to protect the crew from indirect artillery hits or small arms fire.

Development history

M53 & M55 self-propelled howitzers were quite unique vehicles. While borrowing the chassis, hull and automotive components of the M46/M47 Patton tanks, its internal arrangement was reversed to accommodate a rear-set fully-enclosed turret emplacement. The engine and transmission were now fitted to the front of the hull (as opposed to the rear) with the driver being relocated to the front-left of the turret (as in the M53). The track-and-wheel system involved seven double-tired road wheels per side along with the drive sprocket which was mounted at the front of the hull. One notable feature of the running gear was its lack of a track idler at the rear which gave the track link system of the M55 a very identifiable quality. Three track return rollers guided the upper track sections. The gunner crew operated under the protection of an enclosed armored structure which provided security against small arms fire or artillery spray as the steel armor protection was 25mm at its thickest. The complete crew numbered six and included the driver, vehicle commander, gunner and at least two loaders. The primary design characteristic of the M55 was its boxy turret emplacement, which was a turret in name only. Traverse was limited to 30-degrees to the left or right and little else, requiring the vehicle to be itself turned in the direction of fire more often than not. The 203mm M47 howitzer was of good strategic value, able to lob all manner of shells at the enemy position up to 17,000 meters.

M55_howitzer,_rear_view. Note the stabilising dozer

However, due to the large projectiles, the rate-of-fire was limited to just one round per two minutes and stowage aboard the vehicle meant that only 10 rounds could be carried - thusly limiting its tactical value (the M53 managed 20 x 155mm shells). Defense was through a Browning .50 caliber M2HB anti-aircraft/anti-infantry heavy machine gun mounted on a pintle at the commander's cupola.

Power for the M55 vehicle was served through a Continental AV-1790-5B 12-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine outputting at 810 horsepower. This was mated to an Allison CD-850-4 transmission system that featured two forward and one reverse gears. The vehicle, therefore, could manage up to 30 miles per hour on ideal surfaces and featured an operational range out to 160 miles. As improvements were brought into the Patton tank lines, the M53 and M53 vehicles adopted some of these measures including the AV-1790-7B engines and CD-850-4B transmissions. Similarly, the original stick steering control arrangement later gave way to a conventional steering wheel design. Some M55s were utilized operational during the American involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) though they were eventually removed from inventory within time. The M53 and M55 shared some commonality of parts themselves, able to utilized the same ammunition racks and M86 gun mounts which made for some logistical friendliness. Beyond its use in the United States military, the Belgian Army became the only other notable operator of the M55 vehicle. The last M55 was retired from active service (with the Belgian Army) in the 1970s.

click to read more...

Historical Gallery

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  M55E1 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage, Aberdeen Proving Ground

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  M55 inch Self-Propelled Howitzer

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  M55 howitzer rear view

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  M55 Howither on display at Aberdeen Proving Grounds

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  M55 8-inch SP Howitzer, Vietnam. The name painted on the barrel appears to be BIGFOOT

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  M-55 8-inch Self-Propelled Howitzer (right) with the M53 155mm Self-Propelled Gun

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  M53 155mm self-propelled Howitzer, Elgin AFB, FL, 1979

Sources and External Links

Sources

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m55-8.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M55_Self_Propelled_Howitzer

https://www.battletanks.com/m55.htm

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=619

USA

Self-Propelled Guns

ja:Tank:A88 M53 55