T14
The T14 is an American tier 5 premium heavy tank. Classified as a heavy tank the T14 is actually a stock, up-armored, M4 Sherman. It was part of a failed joint project between the United States and the United Kingdom. While it is the weakest heavy tank for its tier, it is quite capable of making short work of any medium tank equal or below its tier. It has good maneuverability for a heavy tank, although it is slow to accelerate and climb in hilly terrain. Its primary weakness is the gun penetration as it can struggle to damage heavy tanks its tier or above. However the T14 has more favorable MatchMaking since patch 7.2, so difficult opponents should appear far less often.
A21 T14/ModulesA21 T14/EquipmentA21 T14/Consumables
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good slope on frontal armor
- Strong turret armor
- The presence of screens that absorb damage
Cons:
- Poor damage, penetration, and accuracy of the gun
- Terrible agility, especially if you add any heavy equipment
- Weak front armor for a heavy tank
- Only has five crew instead of six, so its use in training your other heavy tank crews is limited
Combat Effectiveness
In comparison with the M4, the T14 offers a very nice armor upgrade in the sides, rear, and especially in the turret. Oddly however, the front armor is the same, although it supposedly has a better slope. In comparison with the T1 Heavy, the front armor is a good deal weaker. The speed and maneuverability are roughly equivalent to the T1. Therefore, the T14 should always use a hull down position whenever the terrain allows for it. Its main weakness is that it cannot use a 76mm gun. While both the M4 and the T1 can upgrade to the 76 mm M1A1, the T14 is stuck with the 75mm. The T14 should pretty much always operate as a support tank. Being a premium tank helps make up for some of these weaknesses, especially since the 7.2 patch.
Suggested Equipment
Historical Info
The pilot model was not produced by 1944, by which time the British Churchill tank had been in service for two years and was greatly improved over it's initial model. The T14 project never came to fruition. US efforts of working on a similarly well-armored tank with a higher speed for use other than as infantry support led to the T20 tank.
Design and development
In 1941, the head of the United States Ordnance Department traveled to Britain to discuss designing a well-armed and armored combat vehicle, one that was stronger than the British Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) "Churchill", then under production.
The tank design would have a 6 pdr or a US 75 mm gun sharing many parts with the M4 Sherman, but with armor twice as thick as that of the M4 at 100 mm thick.[1]
The British initially ordered 8,500 in 1942. Testing of the pilot model, which was completed in 1944, showed the vehicle to be much too heavy for practical use. By this time, the British Army was already using the Churchill and further production of the T14 was halted. Only 2 were built; one tested in the US and the other sent to Britain.[2] The example sent to Britain survives in the Bovington tank museum.[2]
- Steven J. Zaloga, Tony Bryan, Jim Laurier M26/M46 Pershing Tank 1943-53 p6
- a b Forty, George (1995). World War Two Tanks. Osprey. pp. 133–139. ISBN 1855325322.
Bibliography
- David Fletcher The Uiversal Tank: British Armour in the Second World War
External links
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