How Bad Is The M551 Sheridan?

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Despite all of the failings of the M551 Sheridan, I do have a strange fondness for it from a historic perspective. From a gameplay perspective, the M551 in War Thunder is absolutely despicable. Compared to similar vehicles at that battle rating, the Sheridan really doesn't have much going for it. Sure, it has a stabilizer, but there are plenty of other stabilized vehicles with significantly better weapons that are either the same BR or slightly higher. I don't know why Gaijin insists on keeping it where it is, but it is good for one thing: absolutely wrecking light vehicles. Assuming overpressure works, anyway.
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#warthunder​​​​​​​​​​​​ #tanks​​​​​​​​​​​​ #tankhistory

[@rare_kumiko]

That was way funnier than your usual videos. Loved it.

[@MB-cv5pz]

Intro was awesome XD

[@skybuprofen9834]

"why does my heart suddenly feel funny?"

[@geroni211]

The "mind your own business" and crew pronouns jokes were hilarious

[@MB-cv5pz]

@@geroni211 Yeah they were awesome

[@cartermorris4339]

“The Sheridan is simply to caked up” had me dead.

[@BruceLeeroy94]

Pro tips to use the sherridan: 1. Switch to gunner optic. Not barrel camera. 2. Raise gun sight distance to the max (if the enemy is close, don't max it) 3. Enjoy quasi javalin missiles while being able to fire more hull down.

[@Sandycheeks6699]

Holy shit, I'm gonna try this out. Thanks man!

[@stormyprawn]

I wish i could see this in action but no one has made a video doing this yet

[@BruceLeeroy94]

@@stormyprawn Ill make one in a few minutes for you ^_^

[@ilikewhenitgoeswub]

How do you switch to gunner's optic?

[@aarona2183]

@@BruceLeeroy94 Definitely will watch that!

[@SnappingTurtle991]

I have never laughed so hard at a spookston video well done xD

[@meerbee2910]

for real. this is the funniest video he's made. I lost it when he said "shell the size of a kindergartner."

[@reasonableq419]

I thought the best joke was changing your pronouns to was were

[@meerbee2910]

@@reasonableq419 that one was also really funny. I would love to see more of these kinds of comedic videos from Spookston

[@SnappingTurtle991]

@@meerbee2910 I think the best part had to be when he told people to mind their own business when it came to how he honored his friends hard work xD

[@JunkieCS]

“And the heavy’s going to stare at you a bit before turning your pronouns to was/were” I laughed my ass off at this lol

[@warbrain1053]

"now your pronouns are "was/were"" will be my new after kill sentence

[@Trashpanda115]

hi jumklr

[@thisTG]

Was kinda surprised by this video, because I really enjoyed the Sheridan and found it very effective. Then I remembered that was before volumetric shells were introduced.

[@steveshumate1983]

I really like it. It’s quirky and fun. Maybe not particularly great but I’ve always enjoyed it and can do well if played carefully. Of course the puma is basically immune to it so good luck if you run into one of those

[@Mashiroasli]

Same

[@soldier22881]

this is the second free to play game to introduce something "volumentric" and not being fun or working to fix issues. (lookin at you mechwarrior online volumetric scaling)

[@wotwott2319]

​@@soldier22881honestly, volumetric scaling is only one of many, MANY problems that game has lmao.

[@trophy3552]

Was just playing this like 15 mins ago, I wasted like 5 missiles trying to shoot down a heli that was literally hovering.

[@IceAxe1940]

How's the M60? I'm currently grinding the M48A1 trying to unlock the M60 is it any better or just lackluster as the M48.

[@jPlanerv2]

@@IceAxe1940 slow, big, ok gun, armor means nothing on its br..... t54 better

[@risangajinugraha7758]

@@IceAxe1940 APDS is a nice additional, and you have lightly buffed armor. Overall similar to M48 but with slightly bigger gun, APDS, and there is no APCR stock suffering nightmare

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

@@IceAxe1940 Its a good vehicle if played right, but has its drawbacks, its Tall, Loud, and takes a while to get to its decent top speed. But the armour is good against kinetic rounds, and trolls sabot from time to time. The gun is a 6.7/10. the tank is a 6/10 no stabilizer sucks

[@imwilllliwmi]

@@IceAxe1940 The M60A1 AOS is a lot better so you can look forward to that. M60 is meh imo but US 8.0 is pretty good.

[@157RANDOM]

I've always liked the Sheridan for some reason. Like yea, it is/was of questionable value but I have a soft spot for it. We have 2 at the museum where I volunteer and one is in running condition. In War Thunder I play the Sheridan and Starship together, which makes for a fun time if you get a good match

[@okonkwojones]

It’s pretty cute, with that stubby, giant gun. + that < sloping on the turret is interesting

[@birbfromnotcanada]

The Sheridan is one of my favorite tanks, I really think it looks nice and it did it’s job (being air-transportable and carrying a big gun)

[@insectinvasion4201]

I’m def new to higher tiers and want to know what the starship is

[@initialyeet3951]

@@insectinvasion4201 M60A2

[@okonkwojones]

@@insectinvasion4201 m60 with the sheridan derp gun/launcher. It looks really damn weird, hence “starship”

[@CrabbyPattyMoox]

Great video as always! But I think you missed one thing: the high explosive shell. The standard HEAT round is so bad at doing damage I've resorted to only using the HE. High explosive does wonders against light tanks, and when you see something with armor on it, just remind yourself that HEAT wouldn't have done anything either.

[@alexvicario835]

Just bring HE and missiles, honestly the ATGM is underrated IMO, I have a blast with it and with the motor going out quickly it’s very sneaky

[@SkylordAh]

@@alexvicario835 its also one of the fastest atgms in the game

[@alexey_chekhovich]

This reminder about heat though. Are you doing it already in the hangar? Or before they shoot you back?

[@Aahmpower]

The way you just roasted the Sheridan makes this video even better, we should see more of these!

[@ivanmonahhov2314]

And it was even worse than he describes. The combustible casing absorbed moisture from the air in Vietnam . this bloated the casing making it unloadable. The missle is radio guided , but the transmitter was placed poorly so guidance would be possible at ranges over 800meters. Also it really loved mines.

[@daniel_f4050]

I never expected to hear the sentence “Just get the Starship, it’s outright better….” I’m not even sure my brain can process that concept. An M60 hull with the world’s weirdest looking turret, topped off by a cupola the size of Rhode Island? 😵‍💫 Nope. That thing can’t possible be better than anything beyond those inter-war land battleships.

[@danielschakelaar2168]

to start off it's survivability is ridicolous, i never ever get one shot in that thing and it's turret armor is able to resist APDS and HEAT-FS (and even some APFSDS), very trolly armor. Besides that, it has a laser rangefinder and better reload rate so you can just play artillery. and i'ts mobility is decent

[@Youhoooop9242]

Hey, at least it’s not made out of aluminum (and gets a laser rangefinder)

[@awacsrazgriz967]

The M60A2 is probably the most fun ive had in the US tree since the M6. that thing is just ridiculous in terms of survivability. i cant recall ever getting one shotted in it apart from an AVRE shooting HESH at me.

[@Nel_34]

Please do more of this! Tank roasting would be such a fun series to do

[@patrickread5455]

I've been wondering about why the only Autobot tank in Transformers is one of these things. I think I see why now. If you want to go look him up his name is warpath

[@Decepticon272]

His name is KABLAM!

[@vikingz4568]

@@Decepticon272 nice fall of cybertron reference there xD

[@vikingz4568]

I could imagine warpath transforming into one of those toptier leopards tho

[@jasonscarborough94]

Its most likely because Gen 1 GI Joe's "main battle tank" was designed to look like the Sheridan

[@JustAnotherRandomPersonOnline]

@@jasonscarborough94 Hmmmmmmmmmmm... Ummmm. Maybe because the paradropped everywhere and that's the only thing they had? I haven't watched GI Joe anything since I was like, younger then 12. I had even forgotten that GI Joe was a thing, whatever happened to it?

[@mr.randomguy1401]

I like the slightly more aggressive Spookston

[@JustAnotherRandomPersonOnline]

Right? I didn't know that seeing Spookston roast tanks was what I needed in life.

[@giacomogalli2448]

But does it release flammable gas in the fighting compartment?

[@nomcarver4436]

“Dollar store heat round” classic. Also now I know I shouldn’t grind for this as I was thinking about it before as a funny looking tank. Thanks Spookston

[@habe1717]

Spookston doesn't really seem to know what he's doing with the Sheridan. He spends most of the video talking about the bad post-pen damage, but he only uses HEAT instead of the ATGM which has noticeably better post-pen damage and is much easier to use.

[@nomcarver4436]

@@habe1717 not saying much if you depend on an atgm rather than your main gun

[@habe1717]

@@nomcarver4436 Huh? The ATGM is the main gun.

[@NayuzAqua]

​@@habe1717 the ATGM isn't that good either.

[@seasickmuffin8451]

i like how this video was a change compared to others, it made me laugh a lot. thank you spookston

[@FritzMcYeet]

"I'll reverse out that tunnel and flank them" *clank* "I've made a fatal miscalculation" the deadpan delivery on that is fucking masterclass

[@jerrysmooth24]

My uncle drove one of these during Operation Paul Bunyan in Korea its weird how often people think war thunder is reality when it comes to historic vehicles sometimes its like showing a real gun to a fps player the way a lot of us perceive AFV's

[@Gary_The_Metro]

If war thunder was truly realistic no one would have fun in WW2 BR's lol. The only ones who'd have some decent bit of reliability would be the sherman players and even they would have issues. The tiger and panther players would never even leave their spawn area

[@buscadiamantes1232]

What you forgot to mention is while the Starship is "slower", it has a reasonable explanation on why in the form of ACTUAL ARMOR. The Sheridan is slow while being a light tank with no armor

[@casematecardinal]

Yeah and with so many fast autocannon toting germans and Russians around life is pain.

[@habe1717]

Sheridan? Slow? Are you sure you're thinking of the right vehicle?

[@casematecardinal]

@@habe1717 for what it is up against regularly, yes

[@Two-EyedShockwave]

​@@habe1717 In general the Sheridan has decent mobility but for a light tank it is slow

[@NayuzAqua]

​@@habe1717 for a light is sure slow. Ik it's been 2 years, sorry but I had to comment lol

[@tonsonlorencedanield]

I think its a cute tank, but yeah i was disappointed when i got it

[@fantasticgoatac4780]

I like this new, evil mode spookstone.

[@atom7216]

0:18 good job my friend🇺🇦

[@freudegger]

always good to see those scumbags getting destroyed)) Слава Україні!

[@City1Tiger]

Glory to Z 🇷🇺

[@normalicious9734]

04:01 "The Sheridan is simply too caked-up" lmao

[@steveshumate1983]

I’m confused by this. I’ve found it not too bad and pretty fun! The missile has always been effective for me. The starship has always been way worse for me. The armor doesn’t matter at all at the BR and it has al the downsides of the Sheridan without the fun flanking ability or spotting

[@BulletRain100]

I found the Sheridan much more fun when you just use the missiles. It's much easier to get the shot to hit where it needs to, and that alone makes it more worthwhile than the HEAT round in spite of the downsides to the missile.

[@deandarvin553]

It's one of my top performing tanks for this reason. Unfortunately its repair cost makes it nearly unplayable

[@thebestofthesovietunion705]

3:56 "I made a fatal miscalculation" hahahaha

[@Charlie18tc]

I was a TC on a Sheridan in the 70's. Most of the problems you described I never experienced in 2 1/2 years. In gunnery we could normally acquire a target at range and get off the first round in under 10 seconds with a follow-up round under 6. This was faster than the T54/55 and T60 we were up against. The big round caused extensive spauling in the enemy turret but a well place shot could separate the turret from the hull, remove the engine, or blow off road wheels. The missile system was problematic with an unsatisfactory failure rate. But at range uo to 3000 meters it would disassemble a tank into its major component parts. The downside was lack.of engine protection from the rear. An rpg would slice right thru it. Lastly, the mission was to locate, fix the enemy in place long enough for the mbt to move forward then to move to the rear and protect the flanks. The M551 was never intended to go Mano e Mano with mbt.

[@ryeo9907]

2:44 *laughs in kelvin* Nah they deserve celsius room temp iqs.

[@reverencerx873]

The motor burning out early makes it hard for people to see the missile coming. Great for long range missile yeets. I have little issues with the damage of Shillelaghs.

[@hilltopy]

I start with the ATGMs and switch to HEAT when I need to reload faster, makes this thing works pretty well for me most of the time.

[@atace2803]

I actually love the m551 but I usually use atgms as the main round instead of heat

[@matura93]

Probably because of the bullet drop?

[@jaek__]

I honestly despise those fucking ATGMs.

[@phatphlanks5651]

It would b cool to see some live commentary of you playing arcade lol

[@clonescope2433]

Some real-life perspective of it from an outsider to the vehicle. My uncle served in Vietnam, she said there was a few things more impressive then the biggest shotgun that is a 152mm beehive round, and went on roads and not trying to be a bulldozer they are fairly agile for a tracked vehicle especially compared to the dozers he had to operate.

[@jace8785]

Wait, ur uncle is a she?

[@saxreaper]

@@jace8785 sometimes autocorrect can be fun. probably

[@matoi4294]

as a pretty average war thunder player i must say i had much fun and many good matches with this tank

[@worldtraveler600]

Someone must have already mentioned this in the comments, but at least one nice thing about the Shillelagh missiles in WT is how the motor burns out fast. Turns out it makes it harder for your target to notice/shoot it down if they didn't see it launch. Not a huge advantage, but a little benefit if you are relying on the missiles at range.

[@fishmansf4]

I love the "he'll turn your pronouns into was/were" joke.

[@PrometheanGOld4]

That photoshopped face was the icing on the cake

[@MberEnder]

I agree with Thinky. The Sheridan is my favorite tank. Partly because I like unusual tanks (the STRV 103 is my second favorite).

[@XealotCoils]

Us: So Spook, what's it like playing the Sheridan? Spookston: Gives me conniptions.

[@Josh_Exitcamper]

They used to para-drop this thing during the Vietnam war…it got massacred most of the time.

[@AveragePootis]

"Turns your pronouns to was/were" I CANT LMAO

[@drexsol2312]

1:58 bamboo has the most broken hit box in the game. 47mm HE will never go through it or pass it.

[@durnaxe8708]

It's all about that HEAT nerf. The Sheridan USED to be amazing when HEAT rounds did what they were supposed to do. The Sheridan used to 1 shot nearly any tank it looked at. Now HEAT rounds are such hot fucking garbage they aren't worth bringing and the Sheridan can't do much after this anymore. Basically the Sheridan did what the Centurian AVRE does now, only it traded armor for speed.

[@aquelequepesca]

3:33 savage

[@janburja6890]

Was/were 🗿

[@habe1717]

This video is pretty confusing. I have no idea why you would only use the HEAT. The ATGM: A) Lets you accurately hit whatever important components you want at any range(Thus making bad post-pen less of an issue) B) has better post-pen damage. It's funny that you spend the whole video complaining about the post-pen damage, but at the same time you're shooting yourself in the foot by using the shell with worse post-pen damage and accuracy.

[@duongnhdn]

Amateur tip to use this tank: - Dont.

[@CelaLare]

"turning your pronouns from was to were" 💀💀💀

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

In my experience the atgm is more "reliable" and does more post pen damage but you can't really use it in cqc. Also it has the most inconsistent damage model ive ever seen in the entire game. One game apds goes through your whole tank, hitting ammo and crew and nothing happens and another game you get "crew knocked out" if something hits your fuel tank or engine even if it doesn't start a fire or destroy the module

[@hrunchtayt1587]

Love it. Good change in format!

[@rowan5690]

Do people actually drive around in this game with the Nazi "Z" painted on their vehicles? Why aren't they banned?

[@The2flame]

Was just about to buy this tank, thank you for saving me the crew training cost since the snail still forces me to buy the tank before having everything behind it...

[@chrisreardon7185]

“I’m making a video trash talking his all time favourite vehicle” as mates do, you two love eachother ❤️

[@animaltown1234]

As a Russian player at that BR I’m offended but…yea we do have the same IQ as irl Russian tank crews in ukraine

[@Frenchdefense9404]

This thing used to be OP in WoTB.

[@thelehm6942]

I don't know what kind of crank you did, but keep it up, make me laugh more than usual.

[@Just_Adrian_]

I also love repaying my friends by trash talking what they love, it's one of my favorite things to do

[@vaguevtx5090]

I think the sheridan plays a strong role of scout fragging. Light vehicles stand no chance and heavier vehicles still have no chance against ATGMS

[@arsarma1808]

Bruh some people dom their husbandos so hard even their favorite tanks take flak...

[@tacomas9602]

I like the Sheridan a LOT, I've played it on WoT many times and appreciated it IRL when I saw one up close, even though it was in moderately meh condition. In War Blunder tho I absolutely dislike the gun. I hate the Heat rounds.

[@alexpivniouk8421]

"high explosive round the size of a kindergartner" had me giggling like one

[@JP12345]

This is the most rapid fire comidic video Spookston ever produced and I love it

[@friedrichwilhelmviktoralbe349]

"the size of a kindergartner" - me who's smaller than the shell...

[@JumpOnYourDump]

So if you already don't like the Sheridan, what's your take on the AMX-30 ACRA, considering it is quite similar.

[@deez5877]

at a higher BR without stabs and with 15 seconds to reload 💀

[@Ghent_Halcyon]

Single handly one of the most funny videos you have.

[@shakal_]

thing looks gorgeus, too bad itll take me like a year at best to get it :(

[@duncanmcgee13]

Lmao i just watched the Megaprojects video on this vehicle

[@jacksonlarson6099]

Did Spookston drink some liquid sarcasm before this?

[@Sandycheeks6699]

The script for this was seriously good, I laughed multiple times in only 4 ½ minutes. Great job!

[@akiraalder]

LMAOOO this video was great!

[@zeusz3237]

I love the Sheridan ingame. It is not strong, bugs make it worse, but for some reason it us very fun. Might be one of my favourite lighr tanks actually.

[@sunny_bean]

I actually like the Sheridan for some reason

[@Solawk]

I'm now genuinely concerned how the Starship is better than the Sheridan if it's the same gun on a bulkier chassis with only an addition of probability of surviving a hit on the turret?

[@MineCraftMichael432]

Laser rangefinder and actual armour

[@Solawk]

@@MineCraftMichael432 Thanks, fair enough then, Sheridan is more yolo-oriented I guess

[@ArneHerz]

The Starship also has a LRF, which helps al LOT with those slow shells.

[@pauld6967]

The Sheridan is fine when you use it as intended. Scout, hide & spot for teammates, shoot from ambush positions only if necessary to save yourself (or maybe if you caught the flank of a solo enemy) and relocate after firing. Shoot and scoot. Don't to go toe to toe in a slugfest and don't get suckered into urban fighting.

[@casematecardinal]

Or just punked over and over by way more capable vehicles that have autocannons or tanks that have so much as a heavy machine gun

[@michaelsoland3293]

You went off in this video and it’s amazing!

[@monticore1626]

The starship might be my favourite mbt at the moment

[@VEpsilon]

This was hilarious from start to finish, definitely keep the humour if you feel like it

[@UsualGuyFromRussia]

1:35 Bruh, this is war thunder moment.

[@kik0826]

Hehe i like that The hunter Call of the Wild reference xd

[@stevenhussey9228]

personally i love the m551 sheridan cause of its 152mm gun but yes the HEAT round sucks in war thunder but i did ( quote did ) have a family member drive and shoot the m551 and he loved it the ATGM it shot he loved he killed 4 tank in one battle and alot of infantry vehicles but out of all of it he loved when they dropped from a C-130 thanks Spookston also have a great day

[@james.kayaks]

I'm pretty sure the only time the Shillelagh was used in combat was against bunkers, never enemy armor.

[@chargerrolix3251]

Keep up the good work :)

[@nightshade4873]

this should be called "Spookston roasts"

[@jirkasvitil2762]

This ironic style is the best, keep It up.

[@ravenouself4181]

I still don't understand why HEAT shells don't do explosive damage like HE shells. Like, bruh, HIGH EXPLOSIVE anti-Tank.

[@astronautdyno3120]

i love this new video format its more causal

[@Jayray-zk5iq]

Love the content and the memes! Always entertaining to watch your vids

[@rubymaster6349]

Fucking legendary video as always

[@Brukawski]

ah yes the m48 also has the same issue with its heat, its hitbox is overly big for no reason leading to the same type of engagment like the one you had in the video the problem is that its also not stabilized and faces bmp1 and marders that literally sit on a cap hull down firing infinite missiles whitch i very fun to deal with, you go from playing war thunder to The Binding of Isaac also 90mm heat is just no very effective atleat on the m48 and its aphe in not great either but atleast its there

[@deef_evil5274]

Dude you should do the m22 locust next

[@danielschakelaar2168]

Honestly, i played and spaded it a few weeks ago and had plenty of fun, and i don't know what's happening here but for me the HEAT worked very well. It's also fun to use as support (spotting and helping with repairs)

[@Real_Simajiphu]

I must disagree, Sheridan is great when using missile. I use it as my main ammunition. It's very stealthy because they can't see clearly your missile until too late. Personally I don't use HEAT at all.

[@Astrell]

Never thought this tank was bad, in fact it's the tank I've got the most RP from. Faster than most other vehicles, no armour is best armour, and the rocket normally 1 hits.

[@skiesgz2633]

nah dollar tree is crazy tho XD

[@Buzz-vq5gz]

I started using the HE after the overpressure update and it’s a whole new world.

[@wacky_duck1095]

0:29 the fuck, how does that work? Also, you are depending your statements on a shitty buggy game.

[@FSXflyermaster]

Spookston the tank memelord

[@Just_Adrian_]

I really like the new video style

[@Rubensky44]

the commentary on this is so good

[@generalyapwt]

The Sturmepanzer's heat round cant even kill a Merkeva from the back of yhe turret, shot the thing a few times and only thing was HIT, i switched to HE and killed

[@LsNgDLckLdng]

3:38 😭😂

[@ChlorideOG]

Was my first American vehicle that I got an ATGM and I only used the rockets and luckily never failed to kill unless it was something big but still got my first Maus kill with the dang thing

[@inkmime]

Seeing a BMP take 20kg of explosive filler to the face and live is fucking cursed as shit