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M2 Medium Tank

M2 Medium Tank

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For the light tank, see M2 Light Tank.





M2_med (Stock)

AnnoM2_med.png
Totals
31000 Price
180 Hit Points
20.43 / 21.5 kgWeight
Crew
  1. Commander
Armor
32/18/13Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
25.4/25/25Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
340 h.p.Engine Power
43 km/hSpeed Limit
35 deg/secTraverse Speed
Firepower
40 Standard Shell Damage
48 mmStandard Shell Penetration
2.5 Time for Complete Loading
40 deg/secTurret Traverse Speed
Communication
280 mView Range
265 mSignal Range
M2 Medium Tank
III
M2 Medium Tank
31000
The only American medium tank adopted in the interwar period, with a total of 146 vehicles in two variants. Manufactured from 1939 through 1941. The M2 medium tank never saw action.

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.

M2 Medium

Stock

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret II M2M19 950 25.4/25/25 40 280
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun II 37 mm Gun M5 78 48/70/19 40/40/50 24 0.46 2.1
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Wright Continental R-975C2 549 340 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis II T48 4800 21.5 35
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio II SCR 200 0 265

T5 Medium

Attack

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret II M2M19 950 25.4/25/25 40 280
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun III 37 mm Gun M6 82 56/78/19 40/40/50 26.09 0.42 1.7
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Wright Continental R-975C2 549 340 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis II T48 4800 21.5 35
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IV SCR 210 0 325

T5E2 Medium

Recon

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret III M2M7 1350 38/25/25 39 370
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun III 37 mm Gun M6 82 56/78/19 40/40/50 26.09 0.42 1.7
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine IV Wright R-975EC2 515 400 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis III T49 4800 23.5 40
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IX SCR 506 0 615

M2A1 Medium

Attack

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret III M2M7 1350 38/25/25 39 370
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun III 75 mm Howitzer M3 138 38/91.4/19 175/110/50 13.04 0.55 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine IV Wright R-975EC2 515 400 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis III T49 4800 23.5 40
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IX SCR 506 0 615

Compatible Equipment

Medium Spall Liner
Camouflage Net
Coated Optics
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Enhanced Vertical Coil Springs 2 Class
Improved Ventilation Class 2
Medium-Caliber Tank Gun Rammer
Binocular Telescope
Toolbox
"Wet" Ammo Rack Class 1

Compatible Consumables

Automatic Fire Extinguisher
Case of Cola
100-octane Gasoline
105-octane Gasoline
Manual Fire Extinguisher
Large First Aid Kit
Large Repair Kit
Small First Aid Kit
Small Repair Kit

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • Can use the 75 mm Howitzer M3 which has high damage
  • Good speed and traverse for a medium tank
  • Excellent view range with 2nd turret
  • Good hull angle on the front allows some bounces
  • Excellent signal range


Cons:


  • 75 mm Howitzer M3 isn't very accurate
  • 37mm isn't very powerful at Tier 3
  • Lowest HP total at Tier III, of any tank
  • Low armour on the side and rear
  • 2nd Turret is open top, makes it vulnerable to HE.


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 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, and allows you to passive scout even in a tier 5 match.


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.
  • You don't need more weight capacity, but get the upgraded suspension for the improved traverse speed.
  • Go from there.


Historical Info

The Medium Tank M2 was a United States Army tank that was first produced in 1939 by the Rock Island Arsenal, just prior to the commencement of the war in Europe. Production was 18 M2 tanks, and 94 slightly improved M2A1 tanks, for a total figure of 112.

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

Sources and External Links

USA
Light Tanks IT1 Cunningham IIM2 Light Tank IIT1E6-X IIT1E6-X1 IIT2 Light Tank IIT7 Combat Car IIIM22 Locust IIIM3 Stuart IIIMTLS-1G14 IVM5 Stuart VM24 Chaffee VIT21 VIT37 VIIM41 Walker Bulldog VIIT71 VIIIM41B Brazilian Bulldog VIIIT49
Medium Tanks IIT2 Medium Tank IIIM2 Medium Tank IVM3 Lee VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VM4 Sherman VM7 VRam II VIM4A3E8 Sherman VISherman Fury VIM4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo VIIT20 VIIT23E3 VIIIM26 Pershing VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT69 VIIIT95E2 IXM46 Patton IXT54E1 XM48A1 Patton
Heavy Tanks VT14 VT1 Heavy Tank VIM6 VIIT29 VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT32 VIIIT34 IXM103 XT110E5 XT57 Heavy Tank
Tank Destroyers IIT18 IIIT82 IVM8A1 IVT40 VM10 Wolverine VT67 VIM18 Hellcat VIM36 Jackson VIIT25/2 VIIT25 AT VIIIT28 VIIIT28 Prototype IXT30 IXT95 XT110E3 XT110E4
Self-Propelled Artillery IIT57 IIIM7 Priest IIISexton I IVM37 VM41 VIM44 VIIM12 VIIIM40/M43 IXM53/M55 XT92
Medium Tanks
USA IIT2 Medium Tank IIIM2 Medium Tank IVM3 Lee VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VM4 Sherman VM7 VRam II VIM4A3E8 Sherman VISherman Fury VIM4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo VIIT20 VIIT23E3 VIIIM26 Pershing VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT69 VIIIT95E2 IXM46 Patton IXT54E1 XM48A1 Patton
UK IVickers Medium Mk. I IIVickers Medium Mk. II IIIVickers Medium Mk. III IVMatilda VMatilda Black Prince VICromwell VICromwell Knight VIIComet VIIICenturion Mk. I IXCenturion Mk. 7/1 XFV4202
Germany IIIPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A IIIPz.Kpfw. S35 739 (f) IVPz.Kpfw. III IVPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. D IVVK 20.01 (D) VPz.Kpfw. III/IV VPz.Kpfw. IV VPz.Kpfw. IV Hydrostat VPz.Kpfw. V/IV VPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H VT-25 VIPz.Kpfw. IV Schmalturm VIVK 30.01 (P) VIVK 30.01 (D) VIVK 30.02 (M) VIIPanther/M10 VIIPz.Kpfw. V Panther VIIVK 30.02 (D) VIIIPanther mit 8,8 cm L/71 VIIIIndien-Panzer VIIIPanther II IXE-50 IXLeopard prototyp A XE-50 Ausf. M XLeopard 1
France IIID2 IXLorraine 40 t XBat.-Châtillon 25 t
USSR IVT-28 VMatilda IV VT-34 VIA-43 VIT-34-85 VISpectre VIT-34-88 VIIA-44 VIIKV-13 VIIT-43 VIIT-44-122 VIIIObject 416 VIIIT-44 IXObject 430 Version II IXT-54 XObject 140 XObject 430 XT-62A
China VType T-34 VIType 58 VIIT-34-1 VIIIT-34-2 VIIIT-34-3 IXWZ-120 X121
Japan IIChi-Ni IIIType 97 Chi-Ha IVType 1 Chi-He VType 3 Chi-Nu VType 3 Chi-Nu Kai VIType 4 Chi-To VIIType 5 Chi-Ri VIIISTA-1 IXType 61 XSTB-1
Czechoslovakia
Sweden
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