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M36

M36

Japan · Tank destroyer · Rank 4

Battle Ratings

Arcade5.7
Realistic5.7
Simulator5.7

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

Vehicle Overview

Nation
Japan
Class
Tank destroyer
Rank
4
Acquisition Type
Tech Tree

View official War Thunder Wiki entry ↗

Battlefield Role

Watch a crossing from cover and leave room to pull back. If your gun has limited traverse, avoid close fights that force you to turn the whole vehicle.

Strengths

Your gun or missiles can make an open crossing dangerous for the enemy.

When to spawn

Bring it when you have a useful lane to watch from cover. Leave an isolated position if the enemy starts taking control of the map.

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.
  • Firing without a retreat. Choose cover you can reach during the reload. Do not cross into an enemy firing lane just to finish a damaged target.

Survivability and Armor

Crew
5 persons

Watch for enemies coming around your side. Open-top vehicles also need protection from aircraft, artillery and explosive shells.

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

M318 shot · APBC

Use against armor and aim for crew or critical modules. A penetration alone may leave the enemy able to return fire.

M71 shell · HE

Use against exposed crews, aircraft where applicable and lightly protected targets. Avoid spending the shot on heavy frontal armor.

M82 shot · APCBC

Use against armor and aim for crew or critical modules. A penetration alone may leave the enemy able to return fire.

M304 shot · APCR

Reserve for a flat armor plate your other rounds cannot penetrate. Avoid steep angles and aim directly at a crew member or critical module.

M332 shot · APCR

Reserve for a flat armor plate your other rounds cannot penetrate. Avoid steep angles and aim directly at a crew member or critical module.

M348 shell · HEATFS

Use against armor where the jet can reach the crew. Composite armor and ERA can defeat it; fences and other obstacles may trigger the shell before impact.

M313 · Smoke

Place smoke between the enemy and a crossing or retreat route. It blocks sight; it does not stop incoming fire.

Ready Rack and Carry Load

First-stage capacity
11 rounds
Maximum capacity
47 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
48 km/h
Maximum reverse speed
6 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio
16.7 hp/t
Engine power
500 hp
Weight
29.9 t

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

Optics

Gunner

Night equipment
Unknown
Magnification
4.3×–5.0×

Commander

Night equipment
Unknown

Driver

Night equipment
Unknown

Armaments

Primary weapon
90 mm M3A1 cannon
Secondary weapons
12.7 mm M2HB machine gun · 7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)
Reload
9.1 → 7 s

Economy

Crew training
45,000 SL
Expert crew
155,000 SL
Ace crew
630 GE
Ace crew research
440,000 RP
Reward multiplier · SL (AB/RB/SB)
100/160/210%
Reward multiplier · RP
160%
Total cost of modifications · RP
40,200 RP
Total cost of modifications · SL
77,900 SL

Battle Rating History

M36 · confirmed changes
DateGame modeBattle rating
No confirmed battle rating changes are recorded.
Archived rating records
Recorded snapshots
Date / sourceArcadeRealisticSimulator
October 8, 2026Site profile snapshot5.75.75.7
November 26, 2024Observed · Wiki archive ↗5.75.75.7
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

M36 vehicle guide · 0 comments

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