Ram II
Ram-II (Stock)
1750 Price |
610 Hit Points |
27.04 / 31 kgWeight |
- Commander
76.2/63/38Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm) |
76.2/76.2/51Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm) |
440 h.p.Engine Power |
38 km/hSpeed Limit |
37 deg/secTraverse Speed |
75 Standard Shell Damage |
105 mmStandard Shell Penetration |
2.29 Time for Complete Loading |
38 deg/secTurret Traverse Speed |
330 mView Range |
570 mSignal Range |
Better armored but with a lighter gun than the M4 Sherman, the Ram-II is durable for its tier and plays like a faster Matilda Black Prince or Churchill III. The QF 6 Pounder Mk IIIA has a very high rate of fire, allowing the Ram-II to handle multiple smaller threats more easily than other tanks of its tier. However, its penetration is not very good, though it is enough against most tanks of its tier. This, combined with increased armor and more health, leads to greater survivability than the M4 Sherman.
ARL V39 (75)
Stock
Level | Turret | Weight (t) | Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) | Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) | View Range (m) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
V | Ram II D1 | 4800 | 76.2/76.2/51 | 38 | 330 |
Level | Gun | Weight (t) | Average Penetration (mm) | Rate of Fire | Dispersion at 100 m | Aiming Time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IV | QF 6-pdr Mk. IIIA | 450 | 105/170 | 75/75 | 26.2 | 0.43 | 2.29 |
Level | Engine | Weight (t) | Engine Power (h.p.) | Chance of Fire on Impact | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
V | Wright Continental R-975C3 | 569 | 440 | 20 |
Level | Suspension | Weight (t) | Load Limit | Traverse Speed (deg/s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
V | VVSS WE210 | 8300 | 31 | 37 |
Level | Radio | Weight (t) | Signal Range (m) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
IX | British Wireless set N19 | 0 | 570 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptionally high rate of fire, allowing for very good damage per minute.
- Large HP pool for a tier 5 medium tank.
- Good maneuverability and acceleration.
- Thicker frontal and side armor than the M4.
- Crew slots match those of all American medium tanks except the M3 Lee and M2 Medium Tank.
Cons:
- Poor alpha damage.
- Mediocre aim time, penetration and poor accuracy.
- Very distinct and obvious weakspots.
- Lower top speed than the M4.
- Poor view range.
Performance
This tank has good armor, a rapid-fire gun, and good maneuverability, but it's not very fast. It's very effective at taking on lower tier opponents and can do fairly well against its own tier, it can often win, either by using its superior armor or its better agility; all the while pounding away with its 6pdr (one shot every 2 seconds approximately). However the low penetration of its gun leaves it relatively ineffective against higher tier opponents. This can be compensated for somewhat by using premium shells, but whether it's worth it or not is up to you. Typically you see the Ram-II serving a support role. Its high rate of fire makes it good at taking out enemy scouts that try to take out friendly artillery. In some higher tier matches, it may serve in a scouting role.
The Ram-II has a glaring weak spot on the front armor, in the form of the small machine gun turret. Knowing this, it is best to keep the hull hidden behind solid cover when engaging enemies. Also, like the T26E4 Super Pershing, there is a weakspot where the axles join the hull which quickly leads to engine damage and fire if you opponent can hit it. Try to keep it hidden if at all possible.
The Ram-II's matchmaking is not as good as its heavier counterpart, the T14. With this in mind, the QF 6 Pounder will quickly become obsolete if put in higher tier matches, as it cannot penetrate anything with 120+mm armor. Instead of frontal attacks, hit enemy tanks on the flank or on any prominent weak spot in these situations. Sniping is negated due to the relative inaccuracy of the tank.
Compared to the M7, the Ram-II trades speed for a huge increase in survivability and keeps roughly the same firepower. It functions much like the T1 Heavy Tank: as a slow support tank that utilizes its high rate of fire to pound away at enemy armor. It is also comparable to a faster, lighter Churchill III.
Historical Info
On 5 September 1940, the CMHQ affirmed this and suggested that Canada plan to produce the new British Cruiser Tank Mk VI Crusader, which was also being produced in the United Kingdom at the time, with first deliveries to units scheduled for December 1940. However, based on previous difficulties encountered with Canadian manufacture of British Valentine infantry tanks, the NDHQ decided that Canadian production should concentrate on the American Medium Tank M3, suitably modified to reflect British military practice. The British had already made heavy commitments to purchase the M3 via orders by the British Purchasing Commission, plus the heavy components, most notably the engine and transmission, were readily available from the United States. Later that month, discussions between the Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply (DMS) and the British Purchasing Commission resulted in the decision that all British tanks would be built in the United States, not in Canada, but the British Purchasing Commission agreed to obtain transmissions, engines, and machine guns at Canada's expense from the United States for the Canadian tanks.
At the time the decision was reached, only Canadian Pacific Railway's Angus Shops in Montreal had any experience assembling tanks. It was proposed that four other Canadian companies be approached to produce the M3. One of them was the Montreal Locomotive Works. Its parent organisation, the American Locomotive Company in the United States, was at the time engaged in production of the M3 for the United States Army, and expressed its willingness to provide invaluable assistance to the Canadian company should it receive an order to produce the M3. This made it the obvious choice for producing the M3 and in October 1940, the DMS authorised the Montreal Locomotive Works to build the Tank Arsenal, which was to be capable of producing two tanks a day. The first 300 tanks were to be identical to the vehicles being produced by the American Locomotive Company, while modifications were to be implemented from late 1941 onward.
Unfortunately, during the first week of January 1941, British and Canadian representatives inspected the Medium Tank M3 hull, and was considered to be very disappointing. The vehicle was judges to be too tall and cumbersome, while its right sponson-mounted gun was considered unsatisfactory for a tank. It was apparent that the M3 tank, as approved by the United States Ordnance, was not satisfactory to the British and Canadians, and it was decided that the Canadians would develop and produce a tank utilising the M3's mechanical components, but with a more conventional layout. In order to ease coordination, Canadian tank production was placed under the U.S. Ordnance Department.
The first pilot model of the so-called Modified M3 Cruiser Tank came off the assembly line on 30 June 1941. The U.S. War Department had expressed keen interest in the new Canadian tank, and requested that one be loaned to the U.S. Ordnance Department for study. The pilot model was thus sent to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to undergo trials on 18 June 1941, and returned to Montreal in October 1941. It was planned that 99 tanks, including the pilot model, were to be built by the end of 1941. On 4 October 1941, the Canadian Corps Commander recommended that the name "Ram" be adopted for the Modified M3 Cruiser Tank in accordance with War Office policy to give names to existing, and all future tank types in order to prevent confusion. The interim 2-pounder gun tank were to be known as the Ram I, while the definitive 6-pounder gun tank was to be known as Ram II. This was approved by the NDHQ, and the policy also established that future tanks produced in Canada would be named after animals.
By February 1942, 50 Ram I tanks had been produced before production switched over to the Ram II. Each Ram I tank cost between $50,000 and $100,000. In early 1942, the U.S. War Department asked the British if they were prepared to accept the Ram tank as Lend-Lease tanks. Having received their acceptance, the U.S. placed an order for 1,351 Ram tanks through War Supplies Limited (a Canadian Crown Company set up in May, 1941 to negotiate munitions orders placed by the United States in Canada). Unfortunately for the Ram, the British Tank Commission changed their minds on 26 March 1942 and decided that the Montreal Locomotive Works should produce the new American Medium Tank M4A1 instead for British use, and early in 1943, the U.S. order for 1,351 Ram tanks was cancelled. Having been freed from the British requirements, the Ram tanks were instead distributed to meet the needs of the Canadian Army. The Ram tank programme was rearranged, and a production order was placed for 1,899 Ram tanks to be completed at a rate of 150 a month by 15 June 1943, whereupon the Montreal Locomotive Works would concentrate production on the M4 Grizzly. A total of 1,948 (1,949 according to the DMS) Ram tanks were produced, of which 1,671 were shipped to the U.K., while 277 stayed in Canada.
The Ram cruiser tank never actually saw combat during World War II as a battle tank, but served in the valuable role of training the very first Canadian armoured divisions. The Ram was eventually modified, and saw combat as the Ram Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, the Badger flamethrower tank, and also served as the basis of the widely-used Sexton self-propelled gun. Following the end of World War II, the Ram tanks in Dutch territory were given to the Royal Netherlands Army, and used to equip the very first Dutch tank units, where they served until replaced by Centurions in 1952.