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Ram II

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Ram-II (Stock)

AnnoRam-II.png
Totals
1750 Price
610 Hit Points
27.04 / 31 kgWeight
Crew
  1. Commander
Armor
76.2/63/38Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
76.2/76.2/51Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
440 h.p.Engine Power
38 km/hSpeed Limit
37 deg/secTraverse Speed
Firepower
75 Standard Shell Damage
105 mmStandard Shell Penetration
2.29 Time for Complete Loading
38 deg/secTurret Traverse Speed
Communication
330 mView Range
570 mSignal Range
Ram II
V
Ram II
1750
Developed on the basis of the M3 and produced in Canada from 1942 through the summer of 1943. None of the 1,849 vehicles were ever used in action, although some were used for training purposes.

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)
turret 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
gun 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
engine V Wright Continental R-975C3 569 440 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis V VVSS WE210 8300 31 37
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IX British Wireless set N19 0 570

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:


  • 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

The idea for producing cruiser tanks in Canada first arose on 15 July 1940 during a conversation between Maj. Gen. V.V. Pope, Deputy Director Staff Duties (AFVs), British War Office and Col. E.I.N. Burns, General Staff Branch, National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) Ottawa. During this conversation, Col. Burns was informed by Maj. Gen. Pope that the British Armoured Divisions would be reequipped solely with cruiser tanks, as opposed to the mix of infantry and cruiser tanks used previously, and that it would be excellent if Canada could produce such tanks. A month later, on 15 August 1940, the first Canadian Armoured Corps was formed, and on 27 August 1940, the NDHQ requested that the Canadian Military Headquarters (CMHQ) in London confirm that it was indeed official War Policy to equip British Armoured Divisions solely with cruiser tanks, and, if so, proposed that they be produced in Canada if possible.

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.


Historical Gallery

Sources and External Links

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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
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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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USA IIT1E6-X IIT1E6-X1 IIT2 Light Tank IIT7 Combat Car IIIM22 Locust IIIMTLS-1G14 IIISexton I VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VRam II VT14 VISherman Fury VIIT23E3 VIIIM41B Brazilian Bulldog VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT34 VIIIT95E2
UK IIISexton I VExcelsior VMatilda Black Prince VICromwell Knight VITOG II* VIIAT 15A
Germany IIPz.Kpfw. 38H 735 (f) IIIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J IIIPz.Kpfw. S35 739 (f) IIIT-15 IVPz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f) VPz.Kpfw. IV Hydrostat VPz.Kpfw. V/IV VT-25 VIDicker Max VIPz.Kpfw. IV Schmalturm VIIE-25 VIIPanther/M10 VIIIPanther mit 8,8 cm L/71 VIII8,8 cm PaK 43 Jagdtiger VIIILöwe
France IIIFCM 36 PaK 40 V105 leFH18B2 VIF224 AMX Chaffee VIIIFCM 50 t VIIIFCM 50 t Liberté
USSR IITetrarch IIIBT-SV IIIM3 Light IIISU-76I IIIT-127 IVValentine II VChurchill III VKV-220 VMatilda IV VSU-85I VISU-100Y VIT-34-88 VIISU-122-44 VIIT-44-122 VIIIIS-6 VIIIKV-5
China VIType 64 VIIIT-34-3 VIII112
Japan VType 3 Chi-Nu Kai
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