- For PC
- For MAC
- For Linux
- OS: Windows 10 (64 bit)
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.2 GHz
- Memory: 4GB
- Video Card: DirectX 11 level video card: AMD Radeon 77XX / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660. The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64 bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600 and better
- Memory: 16 GB and more
- Video Card: DirectX 11 level video card or higher and drivers: Nvidia GeForce 1060 and higher, Radeon RX 570 and higher
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i5, minimum 2.2GHz (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 6 GB
- Video Card: Intel Iris Pro 5200 (Mac), or analog from AMD/Nvidia for Mac. Minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i7 (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 8 GB
- Video Card: Radeon Vega II or higher with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Most modern 64bit Linux distributions
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.4 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 660 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months; the minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Ubuntu 20.04 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Memory: 16 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 1060 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD (Radeon RX 570) with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
Today we’ll be taking a look at the XM246, an experimental SPAA with a pair of 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannons on the hull of the M48 Patton tank, coming in the Hornet’s Sting major update.
XM246: An SPAA for the USA at Rank VI
At a glance:
- Fast-firing 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannons!
- Search and tracking radar.
- Large turret, but with a good rotation speed.
The U.S. Army looked to replace their M163 and MIM-72 anti-aircraft systems through the Advanced Radar-directed Gun Air Defense System (ARGADS) competition. This competition aimed to develop an anti-aircraft system equipped with a radar, mounted on a tank chassis to be able to accompany ground formations. Later, the competition was relaunched under the new name of Division Air Defense (DIVAD), where the M48 tank, that remained in large quantities in army warehouses, was used as the chassis.
Two companies built experimental prototypes: Ford Aerospace with their XM247 and 40 mm Bofors guns (the future M247 Sergeant York), as well as General Dynamics with their XM246 prototype, armed with 35 mm Oerlikon cannons. Despite a convincing advantage in the number of targets hit during test firing, the XM246 did not win the competition and was withdrawn from further testing.
Introducing the XM246!
Meet the XM246, a new anti-aircraft vehicle for the USA that features familiar guns and chassis, positioned at rank VI between the M163 and M247, capable of providing more anti-air firepower for several lineups. Descending into the particulars!
The very concept of the XM246 may seem familiar to many of you — a medium tank chassis with 35 mm Oerlikon cannons, so it must be the Gepard, right? Well they’re both similar in many ways, but there’s still some differences. Firstly, the guns are positioned closer together in the center of the turret rather than spread apart. Next is the large looking tracking radar that’s located at the front left of the turret and the search radar on top of the turret, both enclosed in a dome. Lastly is the ammunition, where the XM246 lacks the APDS belt, however it won’t stop this vehicle from being able to penetrate lightly armored tanks at close range with the other belts!
As for mobility, the XM246 uses the M48 Patton chassis as did its competitor in the ARGADS competition, the M247. This chassis is capable of reaching a max speed of 48 km/h, allowing it to move around on roads fairly quickly and off-road at a decent pace.
Rounding off, the XM246 sits in a good middle ground between the high rate of fire but short range of the M163 and the slower rate of fire but long range of the M247. The radar on the XM246 will tell you the lead point for firing at targets at long range, and the fire rate of 550 RPM per barrel will compensate for any inaccuracy thanks to the high rate of fire down range. As with all other SPAAs, the XM246 will also be quite effective as a support vehicle by taking out enemy tracks, gun barrels and lightly armored targets. Don’t count on your armor protection though, as the armor is pretty thin all-over and will be penetrated by most enemy tanks.
That’s it for this one. The XM246 is coming in the Hornet’s Sting major update and will provide good firepower for taking out enemy aircraft in several lineups. Keep an eye on the news for more dev blogs coming your way!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
You can greatly speed up the research of the XM246 with these packs:
- RDF/LT (Rank VII, USA)
- Premium account for 20 days
- 2500 Golden Eagles
- M1A1 HC "Click-Bait" (Rank VII, USA)
- Premium account for 20 days
- 2500 Golden Eagles
Comments (28)
Comments will be premoderatedIt is kind of funny that despite the XM246 hitting 19 drones and the XM247 only hitting 9, that the XM247 was selected instead, only to become one of the most embarrassing failures in US equipment procurement.
Gepard has apds and is much faster yet its at the same br. Why?
When my friend saw this devblog, he said one word - "tumors". Poor Gepard has got blobs growing on him, someone call a doctor :(
So, basically, a worse Gepard at the same BR.
It's so ugly. I love it and want it.
Now the USSR and Israel are the only nations without Swiss 35/25/20 mm Oerlikon canons.
On the topic of no APDS, remember that you will get to fight Germany in this thing. Germany has so many light vehicles compared to the US and USSR. It's why the US Weasel (XM800T) can do pretty well cause unlike the Weasel where you are fighting the either of the heavier US and USSR teams usually, the US gets to potentially face German teams, meaning that light 20mm has more chances to do well. That same logic will likely apply with this thing , although it is gonna be slower due to the chassis.
ARGADS? i thought the competition was the DIVAD
If we aren't getting APDS belts are we at least getting day one HE-VT belts?
Also can we get either the HEMTT A3 with a C-RAM with self-contained radar/ search and tracking systems on the truck body or the DE M-SHORAD with the laser made to defend against drones, rockets, artillery, and mortars, for specificaly anti-ordinance defense and Anti-CAS past the ADATs or do you have plans for top-tier spaas for the US tech tree that aren't anti-tank like the ADATS or manually guided and too slow SAMs for anti-jet work like the roland at top tier due to MACH 2+ jets?
Submit a complaint