The Somua SM is a French Tier VIII Premium heavy tank with an autoloader. It is to the AMX 50 B line what the AMX M4 mle. 49/Liberté is to the AMX M4 mle. 54 line – similar gameplay with a couple of differences to pay attention to, but all in all a great choice if you're a fan of that type of gameplay.
Gameplay
The AMX 50 100 is famed for two specific traits: the autoloader and the good mobility, allowing it to keep up with medium tanks. The Somua SM's mobility is on par with other heavy tanks but far weaker than the other French vehicles. What it got instead is improved frontal armour, both on the hull and the turret, allowing it to surprise its opponents with unexpected bounces. The side armour is quite tough as well, angle your tank a little bit to increase the effective armour value.
Let's have a look at the most prominent feature of the Somua SM, its gun. With five shots in the magazine and a fairly quick reload time between those rounds, you can seriously damage or even destroy same-tier vehicles in a short amount of time. A downside of it is the mediocre accuracy; forget about sniping at distant targets. Compared to the AMX 50 100, the reload time of the magazine isn't that long. Retreating into cover isn't that difficult because while the forward top speed is average, the backward top speed is pretty neat.
Equipment
Recommended Setup | ||
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As with any autoloader in the game, it relies on landing as many hits as possible, which is why we're focusing on stabilisation and aiming speed. The Improved Ventilation will grant useful bonuses for accuracy, aiming time, and reload speed.
Crew Skills
COMMANDER | |||
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GUNNER | |||
DRIVER | |||
LOADER |
As with most vehicles, Repair is the go-to skill, especially for vehicles with autoloaders. In the end, the last thing you need is destroyed tracks while you are retreating to reload. Snap Shot, Smooth Ride, and Brothers in Arms will all contribute to making your gun more reliable.
Adrenaline Rush
Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.
Band of Brothers
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.
Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.
Call for Vengeance
Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Clutch Braking
Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Concealment
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Controlled Impact
Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Deadeye
Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Designated Target
Keeps targetes vehicles visible for two more seconds.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Eagle Eye
Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Firefighting
Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Intuition
Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.
Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Jack of All Trades
Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Mentor
Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Off-Road Driving
Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Preventative Maintenance
Reduces the chance of taking fire.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Recon
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Relaying
Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Repair
Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Safe Stowage
Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Signal Boosting
Increases the signal range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Situational Awareness
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Sixth Sense
Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Smooth Ride
Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Snap Shot
Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Additional Grousers
Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.
Binocular Telescope
Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.
Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.
Camouflage Net
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.
Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.
Coated Optics
Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.
Tank Gun Rammer
Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.
Spall Liner
Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.
Toolbox
Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.
Cumulative with the Repair skill.
Improved Ventilation
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Vertical Stabilizer
Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.
"Wet" Ammo Rack
Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.