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M551 Sheridan IRL

The M551 Sheridan seen during the Vietnam Conflict

The M551 Sheridan Tank (or simply Sheridan) is a light tank developed during the 1960s and in service with the U.S. Armed Forces from 1969 to 1996. Officially known as the Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle M551, the Sheridan saw extensive use during the later years of the Vietnam War. Later on, it was rarely used by U.S. forces, with only a few being deployed during the Panama conflict in 1989-90 and during the Gulf War of 1990-91.


Battlefield Vietnam[]

"The Sheridan tank was a vehicle born of the helicopter age. Its all aluminum hull made it comparatively very light, allowing it to be airlifted to remote locations by large cargo helicopters. This made deployment a much faster process as opposed to transporting the tanks over land to their destination. Its light weight had its drawbacks however. The aluminum did not have the protective qualities of steel and therefore was more easily penetrated. Its low weight also made it less stable when the main gun was fired. Given the often uneven terrain it encountered, instability was something the crew had to be constantly aware of."

Fall of Lang Vei loading screen

The Sheridan is a light tank featured in Battlefield Vietnam, issued to the American and South Vietnamese factions. It appears on most of the maps. Performance wise, being a light tank, the Sheridan is similar to the PT-76. It has a main cannon with 30 rounds to fire, a co-axial machine gun with 400 rounds in reserve and a mounted machine gun with 400 rounds in reserve.

What's probably the most unusual aspect of this tank is its ability to be airlifted by helicopters like the UH-1 and ACH-47, although doing so may require some practice.

Its main gun is highly effective against other vehicles, capable of destroying another tank in 3 or 4 direct hits. It can also kill infantry fairly easily, although the round's small blast radius can make it difficult. The driver also commands a co-axial machine gun for infantry, which can kill fairly quickly with good accuracy. Another player can take control of the mounted M2 Browning atop the turret, but this will generally attract many players as the one on the machine gun is a very open and immobile target. It's a generally safe way to travel, combining a good balance between speed and armor.

Gallery[]

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