M3 (90 mm)

The M3 (90 mm) on the M36B2 gun mantlet.

Description

The 90 mm M3 is an American anti-tank cannon mainly equipping the M36 Jackson and the M26 Pershing families. Put into service in 1944 shortly before the end of WW2, it also served in the Korean War and until the 1960s.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.

Available ammunition

Comparison with analogues

The 90 mm M3 is broadly similar to the German 88 mm Flak 18 and Soviet 85 mm M1939; in-game the 90 mm M3 has impressive performance that is somewhat inferior in penetration relative to the German 88 mm and inferior in explosive damage relative to the Soviet 85 mm. The 90 mm M3 is a considerable improvement for US tankers accustomed to fighting heavier late-war tanks with the 75 mm and 76 mm.

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

Pros:

• The 90 mm M3 is a substantial improvement over the 76 mm gun and offers US tankers a weapon roughly comparable the German 88 mm Flak 18 and Soviet 85 mm.
• The 90 mm M3 is a weapon used on numerous US late-war and postwar tank designs, ensuring that users become intimately familiar with its capabilities and experts in its effective employment due to frequent usage as they progress through Rank VI and Rank V.
• M82 shot has a large amount of high-explosive filler - frequently kills enemy vehicles with one shot.
• Notable step up from the preceding 76 mm M1 - enemies like the Tiger I and Panther series are easier to destroy at range.
• Offers a large selection of shells: AP, APCBC, HE, smoke and APCR to engage any type of enemy.

Cons:

• By the time you get this thing, the Germans are fielding tanks and tank destroyers toting the 75 mm Kwk42 L/70 (AKA the long 75) and even some vehicles with the 88 mm KwK43/PaK43 L/71 (AKA the long 88), the Soviets are fielding similarly heavy armour and numerous vehicles with the legendary 122 mm gun.
• The 90 mm M3 is unlikely to frontally penetrate most of the opposing vehicles you'll face, and the extra power relative to the 76 mm is somewhat irrelevant when taking side shots.
• Requires the use of APCR to engage heavily armoured tanks like the Tiger II (H) from the front.
• Lacking in firepower compared to the German 88 mm KwK43/PaK43, British 84 mm QF 20-pounder and Soviet 122 mm D-25T - flanking is frequently required to effectively engage enemy tanks.
• Reload is noticeably longer than on the 76 mm M1.

History

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Media

Images

• 

  The M3 (90 mm) on the T25 gun mantlet.

• 

  The M3 (90 mm) on the M36 GMC gun mantlet.

• 

  The M3 (90 mm) on the T26E5 gun mantlet.

See also

• M3A1 (90 mm) - Successor installed on the M46 Patton
• Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm) - Italian variant of the M3A1
• T15E1 (90 mm) - Experimental gun developed to remedy the lack of penetration of the M3 against heavy German armour

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.