A metal cored wire for submerged arc welding, the wire comprising a steel sheath with a core comprising powders of: carbon in a range of about 0.3 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. %; silicon in a range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. %; manganese in a range of about 9.0 wt. % to about 30 wt. %; chromium in an amount less than about 8 wt. %; nickel in an amount less than about 6 wt. %; molybdenum in an amount less than about 6 wt. %; tungsten in an amount less than about 5 wt. %; copper in an amount less than about 4 wt. %; niobium in an amount less than about 2 wt. %; vanadium in an amount less than about 2 wt. %; titanium in an amount less than about 2 wt. %; nitrogen in an amount less than about 0.4 wt. %; boron in an amount less than about 1 wt. %; at least one of: (i) sulfur in an amount less than about 0.3 wt. %; (ii) phosphorous in an amount less than about 0.03 wt. %; or a combination thereof; and the balance with iron.