Long post incoming!
I’ve long been tinkering with the idea of a US “Vietnam War” pack. Well, two, actually.
The vehicles in that conflict had very distinguished looks and a few useful modifications to them.
The first pack would be around BR ~7.7. Simply nickname ['Nam], or ['Nam, Baby!]
1. M48A3 Patton BR: 7.7 - 8.0 (Realistic/Arcade)
Spoiler
This is basically the M48A2, but with a diesel engine.
Modifications often seen were added track links on the turret, usually two or three 2-piece links hanging of the hand railing on each side. Sometimes even more track links were carried, and in one case even a small “pillbox”-like structure was built on top of the turret using sandbags! Sandbags were also used at other times, but these don’t have much of an effect in-game on other vehicles with them, so it’s not as useful as the track armor. Though when used, they were often placed on top of the track links on the turret to cover the top portion of the turret sides. Some can also be seen on the upper front hull of the tanks, probably acting like a ricochet catcher for rifle rounds hitting the front.
Other modifications seen:
- Commander .50 cal MG moved outside to a pintle-mount.
- .50 cal replaced by a dual .50 cal MG setup.
- .50 cal MG added to loader’s hatch. (sometimes it was the commander’s Mg that was moved there)
- Dozer blade.
- Spare road wheel carried on the upper left rear of the turret.
- Extra storage boxes (either wood or metal) placed on the outside of the turret bustle-rack.
- Storing extra MG ammo and supplies in boxes on the front fenders.
there’s also the infamous, heavily-armed, “Reaper” tank. But I think that one might deserve an implementation of its own.
2. M551 Sheridan (Early + Vietnam-ization) BR: 7.3 - 7.7 (Realistic/Arcade, estimated for Vietnam variant)
Spoiler
The Sheridan is not the most liked vehicle, and it’s not hard to see why. It only has two offensive rounds, a mediocre HEAT-round and a face-planting ATGM (MGM 51B Shillelagh), coupled with a long reload, weak armor and a pretty high battle rating, to cap it all off.
The battle rating will be the main problem, as the other vehicles sit at 7.3 - 7.7 BR. So to fix this, we can introduce a few changes to the tank that will have both pros and cons but in general lower its BR to about 7.7 - better in line with the M48A3.
(I) First change: Get rid of the Shillelagh ATGM. While a powerful missile, this alone is probably the biggest reason for the high battle rating, while also being a very wonky weapon to use due to the large initial drop-off of the missile when fired before it realigns itself with the sight. This has become worse due to update changes to ATGMs in the game, and has raised the skill ceiling of the vehicle without really affecting its BR. Those who can use it can make the vehicle very deadly, which is also a reason for its high BR.
Sheridans in Vietnam were mostly, if not completely, unarmed with the Shillelagh ATGM. Relying instead on more conventional rounds, such as HE, HEAT, Canister and Smoke rounds. (anecdote of not using ATGMs in Vietnam: The Noble (but Doomed) M551 Sheridan in Vietnam - The Armory Life)
(II) Change number two: Early HEAT-rounds. When the vehicle was being used in Vietnam, the high humidity would cause problems with the combustible “casing”, and so a rubber sleeve (like a rubber “sock”) was introduced that covered the propellant charge and had to be rolled off before loading, which added extra time to the reload speed. By using this lore, we can artificially buff the reload speed to be faster for our specific Vietnam variant, with the claim that it uses the “early ammunition” that didn’t have the protective rubber sleeve on it, thus reducing reload time. If this change actually proves to be too good, you could decrease the ammunition health on the stowage ammo, since it’s a bit more exposed without the rubber protection. Basically trading ammo health for faster reload speed. Or just adjust the reload time, as usual, but still being better than the current one in the game.
to be clear, I am aware that reload time is used as a balance mechanic, but seeing as we want to create some flavor without having to tie both Sheridans reload speeds to eachother, I think this would provide a pretty neat solution to buff the dreadful reload speed (especially now that we don’t have the ATGMs). It’s also a great buff so the vehicle doesn’t become too weak, either. And will be one of the highlights to play it.
Another slight improvement is the removal of the large ATGM damage models, in the internal ammo stowage. This would mainly effect the front right side, and spall from turret hits onto the tops of the standing ATGMs in the turret basket. So, an overall lesser chance for ammunition cook-off.
(III) Change number three: Vietnam-ization. In Vietnam, troops would often modify their vehicles in various ways to suit their needs, and obviously we could represent these modifications in the game, and not just cosmetically.
The first of these is the “RPG-screen” placed at the front of the tank. This was simply a steel or wood frame with a chain-link fence stretched out on it that could catch or pre-detonate incoming RPG-rounds and reduce their effectiveness. While in-game this would not do much, beyond very specific scenarios, it would increase survivability by a few percent for barely any weight gain. Plus, it’s an iconic modification and look that we don’t have in the game.
The second mod would be a dual .50 cal setup on the commander cupola. This was another modification that could be seen on multiple vehicles in Vietnam, including the Sheridan. Again, it doesn’t do too much that a single .50 cal can’t, but you do get more fire volume and can de-track enemy tanks faster and mow down light skin vehicles a bit more efficiently.
A different, but similar modification, was to place a .50 cal or M60 machine gun in front of the loader’s hatch. In the game this would do the same as the aforementioned dual .50 cal for the commander, but if the commander or loader are taken out by enemy fire, the other one can still fire one of the .50 cals. A huge help if some little light skin vehicle tries to push up on you in the middle of a reload and your commander (or loader) is unconscious.
Thirdly, I’ve seen some Sheridans in Vietnam with track links on their turrets, as well as the prototype model of the Sheridan. This doesn’t improve survivability by a whole lot, but adds a bit more protection against HMGs and autocannons. Hunnicutt also mentions that steel plates would be installed an the hull sides at the front to protect against mines. In the game, this could add some ballistic protection against HMGs and smaller autocannons for the driver and the ammunition stored there.
Other “Vietnam-izations” would be mostly cosmetical. Troops would often stack boxes, tarps, barbed wire rolls, C-rations and other equipment on the rear portion of the turret, and it would really give a lived-in look typical for the time and place. But, in terms of protection, it should be noted that these extra boxes can provide a stand-off distance that decreases the chance of overpressure by CE-rounds, especially HEAT-rounds, around this BR (though the penetrative jet still remains).
M551 “Two-Box” modification: “With the obvious shortcomings of the Shillelagh missile, all but two of the guidance and fire control components of the missile system were removed (the power supply and rate sensor were retained. These were needed for stabilized turret operation.). The resulting additional space was filled with two separate boxes, one for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition (coaxial machine gun), and one for 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, and the missile stowage was redesigned to accept conventional rounds” - Wikipedia/Hunnicutt.
With all these changes, you could create a pretty cool Vietnam War composite variant of the Sheridan with some unique flavor.
Some other modification:
- Mine protection kit - Not very useful in War Thunder, but was common in Vietnam. Could protect against rounds bouncing off the ground underneath. Adds some protection for the driver’s side, since some of it was attached to the front hull sides.
- Custom turret bustle-racks - The racks and supplies could help reduce effectiveness of HMG and autocannon fire, and decrease the chance of overpressure from CE-rounds. These racks also extended to cover the rear 180 degrees of the turret.
- Wooden storage boxes or dual jerry cans on turret front top sides (above smoke launchers) - Could help reduce effectiveness of HMG and autocannon fire and early HEAT rounds.
- Track links of the right side UFP.
- Search light - mounted to the left above the main gun. If modeled, could add some obstruction to incoming rounds.
- Loader’s MG - Either an M60 or a .50 cal.
M551 with an extra M2 .50 cal for the loader.
3. M163 VADS BR: 7.3 - 7.7 (Realistic/Arcade)
Spoiler
M163 VADS BR: 7.3 (Realistic), 7.7 (Arcade)
For AA, there’s really only one candidate, and thats the M163. Not everyone’s favorite, but it did serve in Vietnam, mostly as a fire support vehicle for infantry.
Other candidates are the M728 CEV (165mm HESH lobber) with an extra MG, or the Australian Centurion Mk.5 (brothers in arms, but might not be suitable for the US TT).
The second battlepack would be one at a lower BR, and focused on fire support/TD vehicles. Nicknamed [Jungle Heat], or [Jungle Fire].
Avg. BR: 6.7 (Realistic), 6.3 (Arcade).
M41A3 Walker-Bulldog - ARVN crewed, could have APDS and/or HEAT-shells for balancing. 6.7 (Realistic), 6.3 (Arcade). Modifications seen were sand bags around turret, UFP covered with ammo boxes, road wheel, wooden brake blocks and/or sandbags.
M50 Ontos - with add-on track armor. BR: 6.7 (Realistic/Arcade). Extra track links were often carried over the front.
M56 Scorpion - Bits and bobs on it. BR: 6.7 (Realistic), 6.0 (Arcade).
If you wanted a lower BR, you could use the M109 (155mm howitzer SPG). BR: 6.0. Already in the game, but this version also has tracklinks on the turret “cheeks”, which would be useful against MG fire.
Second vehicle could be the M108, which is an M109 but with a smaller 105mm howitzer, but can fire a cold war HEAT-round, with around 400mm of pen. Also had track links on turret “cheeks”. A similar analogue to the M108 SPH this would be the Soviet 2S1, already in the game at BR 5.7.
