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M163

M163

Japan · SPAA · Rank 5

Battle Ratings

Arcade7.7
Realistic7.3
Simulator7.3

These are archived ratings; check the game for current values. The history below shows recorded ratings and announced changes.

Vehicle Overview

Nation
Japan
Class
SPAA
Rank
5
Acquisition Type
Tech Tree

View official War Thunder Wiki entry ↗

Battlefield Role

Find cover from enemy tanks while keeping a clear view of the sky. Move after firing if you have given away your position.

Strengths

Keep enemy aircraft off your teammates. Learn the range and limits of your guns, radar or missiles.

When to spawn

Bring it when aircraft or helicopters are threatening your team.

Common Mistakes

  • Repeating the same peek. Once an enemy has your range, move to another angle before firing again. A second shot from the same opening is easier to anticipate.
  • Chasing tanks while aircraft attack. Keep a covered firing position and scan the sky between bursts. A ground target is not worth giving an aircraft a free approach.

Survivability and Armor

Crew
4 persons

Your crew and equipment are vulnerable to ground fire. Check nearby roads and corners while watching the sky.

Keep exposed sides and the fighting compartment behind cover. Check the incoming round and impact angle in Protection Analysis before relying on the armor.

Ammunition

Default · AP-I/HEI-T/API-T

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

20 mm HEFI-T · HEI-T/HEF-I/API-T/HEF-I

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

20 mm API-T · AP-I/API-T/HEF-I/API-T

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

Ready Rack and Carry Load

Maximum capacity
2,200 rounds

Carry enough for the route and resupply plan. A listed first-stage capacity alone does not establish a safe spawn load or prove that another rack is empty.

Mobility

Maximum forward speed
64 km/h
Maximum reverse speed
15 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio
18.9 hp/t
Engine power
212 hp
Weight
11.2 t

Top speed is not cross-country pace. Check the reverse route before taking a firing position.

Optics

Gunner

Night equipment
Night vision device
Magnification
6.0×

Commander

Night equipment
Not Equipped

Driver

Night equipment
Night vision device

Armaments

Primary weapon
20 mm M168 cannon
Reload
26 → 20 s
Fire rate
3,000 shots/min

Economy

Crew training
78,000 SL
Expert crew
270,000 SL
Ace crew
1,100 GE
Ace crew research
670,000 RP
Reward multiplier · SL (AB/RB/SB)
140/180/250%
Reward multiplier · RP
190%
Total cost of modifications · RP
77,500 RP
Total cost of modifications · SL
130,000 SL

Battle Rating History

M163 · confirmed changes
DateGame modeBattle rating
No confirmed battle rating changes are recorded.
Archived rating records
Recorded snapshots
Date / sourceArcadeRealisticSimulator
October 8, 2026Site profile snapshot7.77.37.3
September 25, 2025Observed · Wiki archive ↗7.77.37.3
Sources and data checks

Vehicle data checked October 8, 2026. Crew optics checked October 22, 2026. Speeds use Realistic Battles values. Reload depends on crew skills and qualification; damage can reduce performance. Unknown equipment is not a confirmed absence.

Community discussion

M163 vehicle guide · 0 comments

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