M41A3 Light Tank (Republic of China)

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Hello everyone! Today ill be suggesting the M41A3 Walker Bulldog, the final American variant of this early cold-war light tank. 

 

 

History:

The M41 started its life as a replacement to the M24 in the armored recon role with a ability of being easily air transported, the 23 ton 76mm cannon armed light tank was a major increase in power for US light tanks.  At the outbreak of the Korean War, the now protracted development period suddenly was rushed as an urgency to produce the M41 arose, with production beginning in 1951. The M41A1 followed shortly after, providing a increase of ammunition stowage, due to a more compact turret traverse and elevation mechanism. In 1955, a program began to modernize the M41 and M41A1, with the engines receiving fuel injection increasing the efficiency and range of the M41. The modernization also came with the introduction of a new HEATFS shell, the M496 shell. The American modernization of the M41A1 was known as the M41A3. In 1958 approximately 700 M41A3's were supplied to the Republic of China, making it the largest operator of the type outside of the United States. The M41A3 would become the main tank of the Republic of China Army, and Marine Corps for the majority of the Cold War. Sometime around 1986 the Republic of China received new ammunition for their M41A3's. The AAI Corporation developed the M464 76mm APFSDS round capable of penetrating most of the PRC tanks frontally at what was anticipated to be the standard engagement ranges on the small and mountainous areas controlled by the Republic of China. Due to the M41A3's obsolescence, the tank has for the majority been phased out of service since the late-2000's. However a small amount of M41A3's continues its service on the small outer islands of the ROC's control to this day. 

 

 

 

In-Game:

A familiar tank, found in the US and Japanese tree. The M41A3 was the final variant produced by the US, featuring a new HEATFS round, more efficient engine, and a turret mounted floodlight (US Only). Taiwan is one of two nations that use the M464 APFSDS round, which would be fairly unique to this M41. (The other nation is Denmark) With the M464 the M41A3 may be able to fill the BR 7.0 gap in the far left Chinese line.

 

 

Specifications:

 

General characteristics :

Crew: 4

Length: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)

Width: 9 ft 10 in (3 m)

Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)

Weight: 23 tons

Powerplant: Continental AOS-895-3 six-cylinder gasoline engine making 500 HP (372 kW) @ 2800 RPM

 

Performance & Armor:

Maximum speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)

Reverse speed: 11 mph (18 km/h)

Torque: 960 lb ft (1,302 N m) @ 2400 RPM

HP/Ton ratio: 21.7 HP/Ton

Range: 100 mi (161 km)

Neutral Steering: Yes

Hull armor:

- - Front: 25.4 - 31.7mm

- - Side: 19 - 25.4mm

- - Rear: 12.7 - 19mm

Turret armor:

- - Front: 31.7mm

- - Side: 25.4mm

- - Rear: 25.4mm

 

Armament:

1x M32A1 76mm cannon:

- - Vertical guidance: +20/-10

- - Rate of fire per gun: 10 RPM 

- - Traverse speed: 36 degrees per second

- - Rounds carried: 65

- - Stabilization: No

Shells:

- - M352 HE (12mm penetration)

- - M361 Smoke

- - M339 AP (173mm @ 0 degrees, 100 m)

- - M319 APCR (200mm @ 0 degrees, 100 m)

- - M331A2 APDS (231mm @ 0 degrees, 100 m)

- - M496 HEATFS (254mm @ 0 degrees, 100 m)

- - M464 APDSFS (280mm @ 0 degrees, 100 m)

1x M1919 7.62mm machine gun

- - Rounds carried: 4900

1x M2HB 12.7mm machine gun

- - Rounds carried: 2175

 

Other:

IR Night vision driver lamps

 

 

Sources:

Spoiler

 

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41轻型坦克

https://www.nownews.com/news/20180214/2702814/

https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20180606003193-260417?chdtv

 

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Miki_Hoshii

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[eleks12 1,079]

Would be a nice premium, filler or event tank. +1

[chaffee90 234]

We need M41D too

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

13 minutes ago, chaffee90 said:

We need M41D too

I have a suggestion in the works for tonight (12 hours from now)

[Milocat 4,857]

I love the Bulldog, so I absolutely support getting it in the Chinese tree.  +1 from me.

[Wolf_89 2,525]

Yes pls. As long as we see the M41D in the tree.

Or add the Type 64 Prototype. M41 with what looks like add on armor on at least the turret.

Spoiler

 

[Admiral_Aruon 2,264]

i'm all for it with or without the M464 APFSDS.

 

without it, it's either a strong 6.3 or an uptier-shy 6.7.

with it, depending on what the M464 shell pens at 100m or point blank, especially with APFSDS being great against angled surfaces, the M41A3 could go anywhere from 7.0 to the dreaded 8.0.

[Wolf_89 2,525]

Since the M41A3 is already in the German tree. It should be easy for them to modify that model.

To make a ROC M41A3. And then make M464 APDSFS shell.

[ACOMETS 977]

7.7 if with APFSDS or 8.0

Edited September 30, 2020 by ACOMETS

[tiger7742 260]

+1, looks pretty nice

[xXGaijinedXx 499]

M64 and M41D Were passed to the developers for consideration, i hope this one as well +1 and +1 for the new shell.

[Cpt_Jack_Irons 464]

+1 would like to see it ingame

 

[CakeJuniorMan 176]

+1, this tank would be great! 

[hienapunk 1,065]

Its crazy Taiwan doesn't have her M41's.

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

Big +1 for me! current M41D is too disappointing. This should compensate for a better Taiwanese bulldog experience.

[hienapunk 1,065]

On 15/01/2022 at 17:39, NAYEONnaise said:

Big +1 for me! current M41D is too disappointing. This should compensate for a better Taiwanese bulldog experience.

 

Taiwan needs as much stuff as it can get especially since it looks like m64 is going to be wasted on the battlepass when it really should be a tech tree vehicle.

Edited January 19, 2022 by hienapunk

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

22 minutes ago, hienapunk said:

 

Taiwan needs as much stuff as it can get especially since it looks like m64 is going to be wasted on the battlepass when it really should be a tech tree vehicle.

We're basically on the same boat with the EBRs, cope.

[hienapunk 1,065]

Just now, NAYEONnaise said:

We're basically on the same boat with the EBRs, cope.

 

Yeah.

 

The ebrs should all be main tree too. I'd be fine with battlepass if they filled it with weird one off prototypes, but the fact that they stick mass produced types that belong in the main tree and make you pay to get them really makes me hate it.

[Milocat 4,857]

7 minutes ago, hienapunk said:

 

Yeah.

 

The ebrs should all be main tree too. I'd be fine with battlepass if they filled it with weird one off prototypes, but the fact that they stick mass produced types that belong in the main tree and make you pay to get them really makes me hate it.

 

The real kicker is that half of the vehicles from each battlepass are not available after it's over, not even on the marketplace.  For existing players like us, it isn't a big deal because we can participate in the battlepass but it's really an insult to new players.

[candypnlp 16]

How about the M41A3 Kai？It was modernized with upgrade kit purchased from Germany.It upgrade sighting, fire-control system and engine.

[霧 丹爪モ匕口丂 靄 466]

7 hours ago, candypnlp said:

How about the M41A3 Kai？It was modernized with upgrade kit purchased from Germany.It upgrade sighting, fire-control system and engine.

Why not both? Cuz I want to see more Taiwanese vehicles in this TT 

[安東星一般兵 188]

At present, his experience in the game is too bad. The current BR is too high. Br7.3 and 7.7 may be more suitable for him

 

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.