M7

Modules

Tier	Gun	Penetration (mm)	Damage (HP)	Rate of fire (rounds/minute)	Dispersion (m/100m)	Aiming time (s)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
IV	QF 6-pdr Mk. III	105/170/38	75/75/175	20	0.43	2.3		450	30500
IV	75 mm Gun M2L	90/125/38	110/110/175	11.54	0.44	1.9		1237	23000
IV	75 mm Gun M3L	92/127/38	110/110/175	12.5	0.38	1.9		1437	30000

Tier	Engine	Engine Power (hp)	Chance of Fire on Impact (%)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
IV	Wright Continental R-975EC2L	480	20		515	14100
V	Wright Continental R-975C1L	600	20		516	21500

Tier	Suspension	Load Limit (т)	Traverse Speed (gr/sec)	Rmin		Weight (kg)	Price ()
IV	VVSS T48	24.5	46	B/2		4000	4450
V	VVSS T48A	25.5	48	B/2		4000	8000

Tier	Radio	Signal Range (m)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
X	SCR 528	745		80	54000
VI	AN/GRC-3	410		120	21600

Compatible Equipment

Compatible Consumables

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Amongst all Tier V lights . . .

- 6-pounder gun has very good AP penetration and the best APCR pen, still competitive as a damage dealer in Tier VII battles

- Generous ammo loadout -- 185 rounds -- and potential damage is second-best

- The best frontal turret armor of all Tier V lights (which at 52mm isn't saying much) and decent frontal hull armor -- enough to attenuate HE damage -- and its rounded silhouette can pull off some bounces

- Excellent terrain resistances, the ground itself doesn't slow it down much

Cons:

- Troublesome gun selection: 75mm M3L has a very low shell speed while the 6-pounder has low accuracy

- Poor gun handling, blooms quite a bit after moving and firing

- 6-pdr can't fully utilize its DPM due to mediocre accuracy; DPM is below average

- No HE shell available for the 6-pdr -- only AP and APCR

- Below average concealment (but still respectable for a light)

- Relatively bulky size, easier to hit than most lights

- Second-slowest light tank in its class

Performance

The M7's "terrible armor" and "low penetration" results in it being somewhat dismissed. However in the proper hands this American light excels in many roles.

The M7's top main gun -- the QF 6-pdr Mk. III -- offers the third-highest in class (Tier V lights) penetration and the best special-ammo pen of 170mm. This level of reliability even beats most same-tier mediums and allows the M7 to remain competitive when facing heavies and even in Tier VII match-ups. The aim time is faster than the rate of fire so a gun laying drive really isn't needed on repeat shots on the same target. And a better than 21 rounds per minute rate of fire -- a less than three-second reload -- gives the M7 below average DPM, but it's still workable and doesn't leave you feeling like you're gun is too slow. The Mk. III's cyclic is fast enough to seriously consider having the Deadeye perk on your gunner. And a generous loadout of 185 rounds gives the M7 the second-highest potential damage: over 13,000.

Accuracy of the gun is acceptable, with Improved Ventilation and full Brothers in Arms you can get dispersion down to 0.39, enough to get some sniping done; further down to 0.37 with Improved Aiming. Alpha damage is a distant fourth to the two Tier V French lights -- AMX ELC bis, AMX 13 (FL 11) -- and the Chaffee but certainly not bad. But gun handling is poor -- only the Covenanter suffers worse bloom when moving/turning the hull; only the AMX 13 (FL 11) has worse bloom when turning its turret. But overall the 6-pounder gun is excellent; its shortcomings can be addressed with the right perks and equipment.

However the 75mm Gun M3L is a viable choice as well -- somewhat worse pen and concealment upon firing but you gain more alpha, better aim time, and more accuracy. Damage per minute is also worse but due to these last three stats being better effective DPM may be higher depending on your play style. It's definitely worth trying out both guns but because of the M3L's significantly lower special ammo pen you may start to feel useless in Tier VII matchups, making the Mk. III gun the safer bet.

In general the armor isn't much to talk about but the M7 does have the best frontal turret armor in class and both turret and hull are well rounded, with some angling allowing the tank to pull off some occasional bounces (increasing the tank's effective health over the long run by about 10%, depending on play style). Health is average but the M7 is a relatively large target, about the size of a VK 16.02 Leopard.

Of course concealment is the M7's main defense but unfortunately it has one of the worst concealment values in class, but still within a reasonable light tank range and it's still workable -- just perks and a camo paint job alone will get you above the 30% mark; with equipment even more so, depending on how much view range and/or gun handling you're willing to sacrifice. (Like all Tier V lights the M7 is -- ironically, given its heritage -- a true light tank, not losing any concealment when it moves.)

Most Tier V lights have a base view range of 360m (the best) and the M7 is no exception. If you want to get any scouting done then a Binocular Telescope is recommended -- this alone will get you up to 450m of view range with nothing else but a fully trained commander. Going the Coated Optics route just isn't as good for passive scouting, even with all the relevant perks and equipment, but bribing the crew with a Case of Cola will get you to 457m. The tank lacks in the top speed department and it's a big target, so passive scouting -- if you're not going a pure sniper path -- is recommended.

Mobility-wise it isn't quite as fast as the other lights in its class (with the exception of the embarrassingly sluggish AMX 13 (FL 11)). But with decent specific engine power the M7 has good acceleration -- it's a sprinter, not a marathon runner -- and can get up to speed and out of (or into) trouble quickly.

With a one-of-everything crew setup -- Commander, Gunner, Driver, Radio Operator, Loader -- the Super Chaffee is the sole perfect premium crew trainer for your M7 crew. But as a "universal donor" the M7 can supply crew to any premium American light if you're will to leave one or two crew members behind; the only consideration is that you may be leaving some perks behind too, such as Situational Awareness.

Overall the M7 is a versatile light that can do just about anything a light is expected to -- scouting, sniping, and flanking. Something of a failure in real life, but in the game it can perform well.

Early Research

Sadly nothing gets carried over from the M5 Stuart (from back when the M7 was still on the Tech Tree), but if you own the Chaffee then you might have the SCR 528 [sic] radio, purchase and mount it immediately.

You desperately need to upgrade your firepower -- by Tier V standards the 75mm M2L is seriously under-powered -- so research the 6-pounder as soon as possible, it will give you a much-needed boost in penetrating power and damage. Free-xp up to it if you can; this lets you not only mount one of the best guns but it's also significantly lighter than either of the 75's.

With the 6-pdr the stock suspension allows setting up modules and equipment on the M7 in any order you like, there's now plenty of weight capacity to go around. The R-975C1L engine provides a bit better mobility, or improve your scouting/sniping ability with the SCR 528 radio. After both of these get the suspension upgrade and wrap up with the final 75mm gun to elite the tank for better crew training, and don't forget to turn on Accelerate Crew Training (and then try the M3L to see if you like it better).

Suggested Equipment

Documented Tank and Crew Builds

Scout: For a pure scouting role a Binocular Telescope is a must, then add Low Noise Exhaust and maybe a Camouflage Net on top of that for extra sneakiness. Perk priorities should be Concealment, Recon/Situational Awareness, and Brothers in Arms, then pick your favorite sniper perks.

Sniper: You're ideally further away from targets so the exhaust and camo net can probably be exchanged for Improved Ventilation and Improved Aiming but the binos should be retained -- a blind sniper is a dead sniper, scouts can't always be relied on, and as a light you'll usually be expected to scout for the team in the mid-to-late battle if you live that long. Perks priority is Deadeye (only needs the gunner to study), Concealment, Brothers in Arms, and Recon/Situational Awareness. Play like a fragile but mobile tank destroyer into the middle game, maneuvering as necessary to evade fire and/or line up shots, and scout as necessary in the late battle to detect enemies for your team.

Hybrid: The M7 is flexible enough that a hybrid setup has a lot of merit, scouting and sniping when and where you can. Binocular Telescope, Improved Ventilation, and Low Noise Exhaust System are a good bet. Perks order should be Deadeye, Concealment, Brothers in Arms, Recon/Situational Awareness, and Snap Shot.