M551 Sheridan

The M551 Sheridan is a tier 5 Light Tank originating from the United States, and is sold by Marat Shishkin. It can be unlocked from the FV101 Scorpion 90 and leads to the Stingray and the Begleitpanzer 57.

Features

 * Invisible movement: motion does not reduce camouflage factor.
 * High caliber : the high caliber weaponry deals an increased damage

Player Recommendations
With a high caliber main gun, the M551 Sheridan is the archetype of a hit and run flanker. High alpha damage per shot means heavy firepower over a short period, but the slow reload and weak armor can leave it exposed if caught in the open.

Pros

 * Extremely powerful 152mm cannon
 * Good gun depression
 * Good camouflage

Cons

 * Long reload
 * Poor shell velocity
 * No AP rounds

Upgrade Suggestions
Upgrading to the Improved Laser Rangefinder and Improved Ready Racks is extremely important, as the long reload makes accuracy vital. The 6V53T Supercharged Diesel Engine and Rapid-fire Smoke Launchers Mk.2 will allow for faster and safer flanking moves against an enemy strong point.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Advanced Muzzle Reference System
 * Advanced Fire Control
 * Augmented Optics
 * Improved Gun Breech

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Sabrina Washington, for improvements to camo rating, view range, and accuracy
 * Driver: Smooth Ride, Off-Road Driving
 * Gunner: Sharpshooter, Quick Draw
 * Loader: Rapid Fire, Explosive Shells

History
Class: Light Tank Developed: 1950-1966 Service: 1967-1996 Vehicles Built: 1662 Operators: USA The epitome of a modern light tank is the M551 Sheridan. Born from the late 1950s program to replace the 76mm Gun Tank M41 Walker Bulldog, the first prototype was built in 1962 with the production running from 1966 to 1970 and with over 1600 vehicles built. Its purpose was to provide the American military with an air-transportable fire support vehicle that could also perform scout duties. The Sheridan featured several typical elements for this class of vehicles. It had powerful weaponry – a 152mm gun-launcher. By the time this weapon was introduced, it was capable of knocking out practically every main battle tank it would encounter on the battlefield. Apart from firing standard HE shells, it was also capable of launching Shillelagh missiles. The Sheridan was also very light for a tank (it weighed only 15 tons) and fast with its maximum speed reaching 70 kilometers per hour. Powered by a 300 horsepower Detroit Diesel engine, it was agile and accelerated rather quickly. In the end however, these qualities could not compensate for its very thin aluminum armor. The Sheridan was used during the Vietnam War and it did achieve certain level of success, but it was extremely vulnerable to RPG hits and mine detonations. On the other hand, it could also get to places where other vehicles would not and was able to provide valuable firepower in the muddy terrain where regular main battle tanks were not available. Its rate of fire was however very low – it could only fire around 2 rounds per minute. Its raw firepower on the other hand was (thanks to high-explosive and flechette rounds) quite high. Since the end of the Vietnam War, the Sheridan Light Tank participated in two other major conflicts (the Panama invasion and the Gulf War) and survived in the U.S. Army service until 1996 when it was finally phased out, mostly because there was generally nothing better available to replace it with.