World of tanks Soviet tanks. Changes to the branch of Soviet art. Why are changes being made to the ST branches?

The Soviet development branch presents the equipment of all available classes in World of Tanks. You will have to start pumping up Soviet tanks with the pre-war MS-1.

The USSR research tree presents such legendary tanks as the T-34, KV-1, IS-1, T-54 and self-propelled guns SU-85, SU-100, SU-152, ISU-152.

Top combat vehicles in the Soviet development branch in World of tanks steel anti-tank self-propelled guns Object 261 and Object 268; medium tanks - T-62A, Object 430, Object 140; heavy tanks IS-4, IS-7; self-propelled artillery installation object 261.

The Soviet development branch in World of tanks is shown in the following figure. Click on the picture to enlarge

For heavy tanks of the Soviet WoT development branch are characterized by good one-time damage, mediocre accuracy and small downward angles of gun depression, and, as a rule, good all-round armor.

• Branch with top IS-7 It has good mobility for heavy tanks.
• In the development branch ending with IS-4 tanks are better armored.

Soviet tank destroyers They delight their owners with good one-time damage, while the guns of these combat vehicles are quite slanted.

Majority Soviet medium tanks, have good mobility and a low silhouette.

Soviet tanks boast good armor, moreover, located at rational angles, with guns capable of inflicting high damage in one shot. However, they are not very accurate. USSR tanks rarely lose much to their opponents in terms of performance, but they also rarely take a significant lead.

Soviet tanks are universal soldiers on the WoT battlefield and are suitable for both beginners and more experienced players.

Today we are talking about the rebalance of USSR equipment.

In update 9.22 we will bring back to life the most unpopular tanks of the nation by adding new technology and changing the USSR research tree. Why is this necessary? “Object 263” and its “younger comrades” rarely participated in battles, like the Soviet Tier X ST “Object 430”, which is not surprising. They were not easy to play. In addition, cars of different levels differed too much in gameplay.

We plan to rework the mentioned vehicle branches to breathe life into the listed vehicles and make playing them consistent and understandable. In addition, in version 9.22 you will find new gameplay on Tier VIII-X heavy tanks with a rear turret.

Now let’s take a closer look at the changes and the reasons that led to them.

Medium tanks

Branch A -43 does not give any idea what kind of machine you will be able to play on at level X. After getting acquainted with all the advantages and disadvantages of ST with a rear turret at levels VII-IX, it was logical to expect similar gameplay at the top of the line. However, instead you received a classic melee medium tank and were disappointed. Naturally, the popularity of the branch fell.

If you are in the process of exploring the branch that leads to Object 430, keep in mind that this machine with the 9.22 output will “move” to another branch (which will be upgraded from the T-44). Please take this information into account.

What makes you give this thread a second chance? Perhaps what it lacked was gameplay consistency. This is what we focused on in update 9.22, moving “Object 430” to level IX. There he will form a mini-branch of well-armored assault STs with high one-time damage, pumped up from the T-44. And at level X a completely new car will appear: “Object 430U”.

The newcomer can boast of compact dimensions, decent mobility and good armor. He will easily enter the enemy’s flank, disable his equipment thanks to the high one-time damage, and get out from under fire unharmed.

The rear-mounted turret trio will eventually receive a top that will inherit the turret's strong armor and offer a logical post "Object 430 Option II" gameplay

New branch of heavy tanks

Until recently, Great Britain and Germany were the only nations where Tier X tanks had a rear turret. Some of you liked these cars, while others preferred a more traditional option. However, few would claim that the FV 215b, Pz.Kpfw. VII and VK 72.01 (K) (which was awarded for playing on the Global Map) were uninteresting. In update 9.22, Soviet equipment will join this group: a new gaming experience awaits you from classic Soviet “heavy” vehicles at levels VIII-X (a branch studied from the IS). Classic, but with a rear turret.

The highly armored IS-M, Object 705 and Object 705A will receive higher one-time damage than usual for Soviet heavy tanks. This value is compensated by the aiming parameters: these vehicles are not suitable for long-range firefights. Their element is fighting at medium and close range. However, this is not the main thing - the rear location of the tower is important. In combination with durable armor, good mobility (for this type of equipment) and a powerful weapon, it will allow you to easily “out-tank” the enemy.

Use the advantages of your vehicle and you will be able to effectively support the attack or send breaking enemy tanks into the Hangar. The gameplay of these TTs is a cross between playing Pz.Kpfw. VII and IS-7, but at the same time it remains unchanged as the branch is studied. The same cannot be said about firepower: from the 122 mm gun at Tier VIII to the powerful 152 mm gun of the Object 705A.

Players love the agile T-10 Assault, which quickly shifts the focus of the attack, demolishing everything in its path. However, no matter how good it was, it did not fit into the IS-3 and IS-7 group, so we replaced it with the Object 257. Don't worry, T-10 won't leave the game. Over the years, it has repeatedly proven its effectiveness, so it will receive a mini-branch, where at level X there will be a car with similar gameplay. We continue to work on this newcomer, so we'll tell you about it later.

Alternative branch of tank destroyer

We have long planned to put this branch of tank destroyers in order. Simply changing the machine parameters did not give the expected result. We are well aware of the problem, and we have found a new solution for it: rebalancing the branch for medium-close combat assault tank destroyers.

Concept

• High forward/backward speed combined with average maneuverability will allow these vehicles to quickly reach and occupy key positions, as well as escape from fire.
• Good frontal armor is ideal for blocking enemy projectiles, but the armor on the sides and lower frontal part is quite thin.
• Average one-time damage and a long reload will compensate for mobility and security.
• Accuracy and aiming time are designed for effective close-to-medium range combat and are not suitable for long-range fire.
• Not the most comfortable gun declination angles are caused by design features.

Rebalancing the branch in accordance with the given concept required some structural changes. We started by moving the Object 263 down a level, where it can shine with its DPM and armor (which remains the same as at Tier X!). The next step is to select the appropriate vehicle for Tier X, and this role was suited to "Object 268 Option 4". It received good speed, armor and an extremely effective gun with a caliber of 152 mm and an average one-time damage of 650 units.

"Object 263" and "Object 268 Option 4" demonstrated excellent results in internal tests. The vehicles “tanked” damage well and performed well in the role of assault tank destroyers - fast, armored, with moderate one-time damage and not too high damage per minute for a tank destroyer.

You were against moving “Object 263” to level IX, and we could not ignore it. Therefore, we left both cars for another iteration of closed internal testing. “Object 263” has not changed, but we have reduced the one-time damage "Object 268 Option 4" from 750 to 650 units, maintaining the previous damage per minute value to smooth out the sharp change in one-time damage and reload speed between Tier VIII and X vehicles.

The last (and probably the most difficult) task was to configure vehicles at the middle levels to serve as assault tank destroyers for close and medium combat. The SU-122-54 did not fit into this concept due to the traditional location of the wheelhouse. Here we were faced with a difficult choice: the car was clearly not suitable for the branch in terms of gameplay, but it was important from a historical point of view. We moved it down one level to see how it would perform there. Unfortunately, the vehicle demonstrated low efficiency in blocking damage even at level VIII and still did not fit into the gameplay concept of the branch. Therefore, we decided to remove the SU-122-54 from the game and create a branch entirely of vehicles with a rear turret.

The second iteration of the super test strengthened our belief that the concept we chose for the branch would give these tank destroyers what they were missing. These should be armored, fast vehicles with good one-time damage, the purpose of which is to lead the charge and provide interesting gameplay. The last assumption is based on supertest data. We want you to test this hypothesis yourself, determine if any other changes are needed, and together we will make best solution. Let's wait for the start of the general test of update 9.22 and find out how ready the vehicles of this branch are for battle!

During the general test of version 9.22, which is coming soon, we will be monitoring your feedback and statistics. We want to make sure that the modified machines perform the way we expect them to.

IN game World of Tanks the most important thing is tanks. Here are presented real-life combat vehicles, each of which has its own unique history. This is partly why this game is so popular in the world. Every player finds a good tank for himself in World of Tanks and calls it ideal. But in this review we will look at the most attractive cars that are fun to play and fight for the victory of your team.

It is quite difficult to select the 10 best World of Tanks tanks. After all, each car is good in its own way. Some tanks will be very fast, some will be powerful, and some will combine both high speed and power. And what criteria are used to determine the efficiency of the unit? However, each level has its own most successful combat vehicles, which we will try to highlight.

Let us immediately note that we will begin our review of good tanks in World of Tanks right from the fifth level, since below this level frivolous combat vehicles are used. They can hardly be called effective and interesting. In the WOT game, serious battles begin from the fifth level and above.

Level 5

To summarize, there are only 3 best tanks in World of Tanks at level 5. The first of them is the Soviet KV-1 unit. This is a fairly well-known Soviet machine, which had great success on the battlefields against fascist Germany. This tank has a solid historical component, powerful all-round armor and versatile weapons. All this gave the tank a serious reputation in the game. Almost every older generation gamer considers it their duty to buy this tank and upgrade it to the maximum.

The second best tank in World of Tanks 2017 is also the Soviet T-34. It also has a rich history. It is believed that the T-34 combat vehicles changed the course of the war. In the game, this tank is valued for its high maneuverability, as well as for its 57 mm ZiS-4 gun, which easily penetrates armor but causes little damage. In the WOT game there are two popular development branches for medium and heavy tanks. At the fifth level, gamers have the opportunity to purchase similar combat vehicles.

There is also a cool one, but it’s quite difficult to get. In the game, users call it an “imba,” that is, a machine that is out of balance. Has all-round armor. It can barely be penetrated by a level 5 cannon. Even “sixes” often cannot damage the armor of the KV-220 tank.

Level 5 Bonus

A bonus at the fifth level is the T67 combat vehicle - this is an American anti-tank self-propelled gun with high speed of movement, stealth, low silhouette, and most importantly, high armor penetration. The unit easily destroys tanks of its level with one shot.

Level 6

At the sixth level, the best tanks in World of Tanks are represented by one Soviet and two British combat vehicles. It’s worth starting with the legendary T-34-85, monuments to which are in many Russian cities.

The T-34-85 is a Soviet medium tank that has maneuverability and a good gun that can penetrate tough armor. High accuracy, rate of fire, and maneuverability make the unit popular. His demand is also explained by his rich combat history, but this does not play a role in his fighting qualities, which are at their best. With the right tactics, positioning, and ammo, many experienced players have won victories in this Tier 6 tank against more powerful Tier 8 tanks.

The second good tank in World of Tanks at level 6 is the English Cromwell. The car is good for extras. Unlike the Soviet T-34-85, the British Cromwell has no armor at all, which is why the vehicle has enormous speed and a high-speed gun. All this gives a significant advantage to the player who can “light up” enemy tanks for his team without any problems.

The third tank of the level is the Sherman Firefly. This combat vehicle has a cool OQF 17-pdr Gun Mk. VII, which allows you to effectively fight even against older tanks of the 8th level.

Level 6 Bonus

The bonus at this level is the Soviet KV-2 tank with very powerful armor and an M-10 152 mm cannon. This vehicle is capable of fighting even with level 10 units, not to mention combat vehicles of its own level. However, getting this tank is quite difficult. Therefore, it is extremely rare in the game, which cannot be said about the T-34-85. This is one of the most popular models, which is in the arsenal of almost every player.

Level 7

According to many gamers, the seventh level of the game is the most balanced. Consequently, it is difficult to single out equipment that would have significant advantages over other combat vehicles.

The first good tank in World of Tanks at level seven is the IS or IS-2. Both cars are almost identical to each other. Therefore, we will add them to this list. The IS is one of the most popular tanks in the game and is quite famous due to its powerful gun, mobility and armored turret. If such a tank of the seventh level finds itself in a battle with equal vehicles and tanks of a lower level, then the allied team has an easy time - the IS always goes straight into battle. And often this ends well. If the IS gets into battle with tanks of a higher level, then shooting from cover is a good tactic that also brings results.

The second unit is the Tiger I. This German heavy tank took part in World War II. It also has a rich history, and in-game its execution is simply stunning. The vehicle has 1500 hit points and is equipped with a Kw.K gun. 43 L/71. Playing on such a tank is pleasant and fun. But if a vehicle gets into battle with tanks of a higher level, then tactics need to be developed as for anti-tank artillery.

The third best vehicle is the T29 heavy tank with powerful armor that sometimes even level 9 vehicles cannot penetrate. Of course, it has its advantages, but there are also weaknesses. A good balance between armor, mobility and damage makes this vehicle almost universal and convenient for use on the battlefield, which explains the popularity of the tank.

Premium tank level 7

At level 7, the best premium tank in World of Tanks is the so-called “Gatling gun”, or “flea” - this is the German E-25 anti-tank self-propelled gun. It's a very small car and hard to get into. It causes a lot of problems for clumsy and “blind” vehicles such as Soviet TT tanks. The E-25 does little damage. However, the rate of fire and accuracy infuriate opponents who fall under the gun of this “flea.” Unfortunately, this car has become so popular that it is no longer even on sale. However, there are no fewer of them on the battlefield, because those players who managed to buy it or win it for completing tasks actively use it to “farm” money.

The seventh level is so rich in cool tanks that the following vehicles are worth highlighting separately:

1. T-34-1.
2. Spähpanzer SP I C.
3. LTTB.
4. M41 Walker Bulldog.

All these models should also be on this list.

Level 8

At this level, there are already quite serious tanks that take part in company battles, global maps, and fortified areas.

In World of Tanks, the best Tier 8 tank is the IS-3. This vehicle is ideal for all of the above battle modes due to its frontal armor on the turret and hull, high-quality gun, low silhouette and mobility. All this makes such a tank successful on the battlefield.

In second place is the FCM 50t - a very difficult machine to play on which beginners will constantly lose. It is a slow and large tank without armor that is easy to destroy. However, experienced players set records with this tank again and again. As an analogue, we can offer AMX Chasseur de chars. This car has even weaker armor. However, the camouflage factor of this tank is high, making it difficult to detect. The model also has a very high speed, which is guaranteed by the Maybach HL 295 F engine with 1200 horsepower. Among the best medium tanks in World of Tanks, the AMX Chasseur de chars deserves attention first of all. You just need to know how to play it, and such a machine cannot be recommended for combat to a beginner.

The AMX 50100 is the next best Tier 8 tank and is often found in company battles and fortified areas. Such a combat vehicle is capable of destroying any tank of its class in 1-2 shots and quickly “escaping” from the scene of the crime. This is exactly how most players try to use the machine. The biggest drawback of the tank is its long reload time, lasting 50 seconds. During this time, the tank is “meat” for the enemy. The second weak point is the lack of armor. However, this is typical for many French cars.

Level 8 Bonus

Bonus tanks of the eighth level are the British-made Charioteer tank destroyer and the Japanese medium tank STA 1. These are hidden combat vehicles that are perfectly camouflaged. Therefore, it is appropriate to use them as support for allied tanks that are fighting on the main battlefield.

Level 9

The improved tank VK 45.02 (P) Ausf is an imba (that is, an unbalanced vehicle), which, with its new durable armor, represents one of the best tanks at later levels. The technique perfectly holds back the enemy’s onslaught and can be at the forefront of the attack. However, it is important for her not to “glow”. After all, the sides of the tank are very weak, and a shell hit from the side will be fraught with bad consequences. But mobility partly solves this problem.

The second model is the German medium tank E 50. This is a universal vehicle that can suddenly open up in an unexpected area of ​​the map, coming from behind enemy lines. It can also be used as a heavy tank for frontal attack. Thanks to high mobility and a powerful, accurate gun, playing the “epis” (as this model is called by players) is a lot of fun. This machine gives the player many options for combat, and he himself decides which tactics to choose. This opens up great opportunities for an experienced gamer, but even a beginner will find it quite pleasant to drive this tank. However, if a player has reached level 9, then he can hardly be called a beginner.

M103 is the third best heavy tank of tier 9. This American example has high armor at the front, which can withstand hits from large calibers. Therefore, it is appropriate to use it in battle as the main penetrating force. And if the map allows, then due to its good mobility the tank allows you to play “cat and mouse” with enemies.

Level 9 Bonus

The bonus vehicle at level 9 is the Soviet medium tank T-54. The developers deteriorated this vehicle several times, reducing the thickness of the hull armor. However, this tank is still very popular and a worthy contender for the title of best. High speed, low silhouette and mobility - these are the advantages of the car.

Level 10

At the last, 10th, level there are the best tanks, which are to some extent the result of the technical development of each nation. All cars of this level have their own “chips” and have good characteristics. Naturally, there are even imbats such as ART-SAU, PT 10 and Waffenträger auf which must be replaced.

In general, it is almost impossible to single out the best World of Tanks tier 10 tank. After all, we are always talking about extremes. There are huge “cast iron walls” that are difficult to break through, there are powerful drum heavy vehicles, as well as diverse medium tanks. Consequently, the player will have to make a choice and determine for himself which tank is better in World of Tanks. After all, the excellent balancing of the game does not allow us to select the best car, which would be superior to others in all (or at least half) of the parameters. Therefore, among the “dozens” it is impossible to single out just one tank.

Conclusion

Each player determines the best combat vehicle for yourself to the best of your abilities and playing style. Some people like to butt heads with heavy tanks, while others prefer to quickly move around the map in order to find targets for their team. The developers very carefully worked out the characteristics of all combat vehicles in the game and eliminated situations where most players choose the same unit, forgetting about the others.

Hello, fellow tankers! Today we will look at the Soviet branch of tank development (in the game World of Tanks), or rather, I will describe to you all its pros and cons in as much detail as possible from my point of view and, perhaps, help you decide on the choice of nation. This will not be, but a personal opinion, so there is no need to vehemently prove that I “didn’t write the guide based on guides.”

Popularity of USSR tanks in World of Tanks

Cons of the Soviets are inaccurate guns (mostly). The guns also have low armor penetration compared to American, French and German vehicles (for example, when comparing the IS, T29 and Tiger, the IS has 30 times less armor penetration than its two “classmates”). A significant disadvantage is the overview of Soviet heavy tanks. They are quite “blind” and on large open maps they take damage without even knowing where they are being shot from.

Speed ​​cannot be considered either a plus or a minus, because... Different branches have different speeds.

General

• Fri-Sau
• Heavily armored light tanks
• Maneuverable light tanks
• Medium armored light tanks
• Self-propelled guns (artillery)

Fri-Sau

TB/M/SB light tanks (conventionally designated in my own way)

The T-26 – T-46 line is one of the most popular, because has ramifications for T-50 - T-50-2 and for heavy tanks. By switching to Soviet “fireflies” you will get enormous speed with which you can highlight the enemy to your allies. And the T-50-2 is one of the best and most popular tanks in World of Tanks.

Next comes the T-28 branch, which will carry the first heavy tank - KV-1, the former legendary KV. From it there is a transition to the KV-2 (with a powerful 152 mm gun), T-150 (heavily armored tank) and KV-1S (the most popular Tier 6 tank). From KV-2 you can switch to artillery and T-150. The Kv-1s leads to faster but less armored heavy tanks, while the T-150 leads to slower and more armored tanks.

self-propelled guns

Bottom line

There are slightly fewer Soviet vehicles in World of Tanks than German ones, but there are also a lot of them. There are seven

Heavy tanks

On the fifth level is KV-1, which is already a heavy tank. Its armor is indeed very good: the thickness of the sides and forehead of the hull reaches 75 mm, while the all-round armor of the turret is generally 110 mm. The KV-1 easily penetrates the driver's hatch, but it can only be targeted at close range. Moreover, the diamond greatly increases the armor given, so it must be constantly used. A great advantage is also decent damage per minute (1900 units). Unfortunately, the KV-1 is passed by most players when they first get acquainted with the game, so it is in many ways an underrated vehicle.

At the sixth level there is a division between branches, so you can choose from three heavy Soviet tanks at once. First, perhaps, it is worth mentioning KV-2, which is not included in a full-fledged branch, but from it you can open level seven artillery. The KV-2 is sometimes called a “heavy tank without a level,” and in a sense this is true. The fact is that you can install a very powerful M-10 high-explosive bomb with a caliber of 152 mm on it. High-explosive shells from this weapon remove 200-300 HP from even well-armored level eight enemies. Single-level tanks can often be sent to the hangar with one hit. Such power is balanced by simply gigantic dispersion, long reload time and long mixing. Even more famous KV-1S, which received the nickname "Kvass". This tank combines good dynamics, weak but ricochet armor and a very powerful weapon. A regular projectile penetrates 175 mm and deals 390 damage. The sub-caliber is capable of penetrating 217 mm. Among the tank's shortcomings, it should be noted the poor location of the tanks in the forehead and poor visibility. But this is more than offset by the huge one-time damage. Playing Kvass is easy and simple: you need to roll out after a long reload and exchange with the enemy.

T-150, perhaps most similar to the KV-1: the armor of the forehead and sides of the hull has increased to 90 mm, which allows the effective use of a diamond, as on the fifth level. The top gun has a one-time damage of 300 units, but reloads faster than the KV-1S. Mobility is somewhat worse, but this is the price to pay for good armor. In general, the T-150 is a classic heavy tank without any bright features, so it looks somewhat faded compared to the KV-2 and KV-1S.

Its continuation at the seventh level is KV-3. The front armor of the hull increased to 120 mm, the thickness of the sides remained the same. The weak point in the frontal projection is the large mask. The upper and lower parts have a rounded shape, but it penetrates into the area near the gun without any problems. The gun can be supplied from the T-150 or a slightly improved version of the gun found on the KV-1S (only reloading has improved). The KV-3 is a good tank, but in the modern realities of the game, when everything is decided by dynamics and a powerful weapon, it looks somewhat outdated.

Its analogue from another branch is IP, which is similar in appearance to the KV-1S. The gun is the same, but the reload speed has increased significantly. One of the shortcomings is poor visibility, but the booking has improved noticeably. The IS has 120 mm in the forehead; even tanks at a higher level may not penetrate the upper frontal part. But the “shelf” above it, which has no slope, is vulnerable. The dynamics have decreased, but not very much. Penetration of 175 mm is often not enough against level nine vehicles, but one-time damage of 390 units is still the best at the level, except for land mines.

And on the eighth level of this branch there is the famous IS-3, which is an excellent tank for close and medium range combat. The armor may not make an impression at first, for example, there is only 110 mm in the front of the hull. But Soviet engineers used several tricks. Firstly, the forehead of the hull is made in the shape of a “pike nose”, which significantly increases the reduced armor and increases the chance of ricochet. Secondly, above the tracks there are bulwarks, which are armor with a strong slope and screens. Sometimes the bulwark does not penetrate even a level ten tank destroyer. The forehead of the streamlined tower is also a very strong point. But the roof of the tower, which is only 30 mm thick, is easily broken through. The top gun penetrates 225 mm with a regular shell, and the one-time damage remains unchanged (390 units). But the accuracy has improved noticeably. The IS-3 also has good dynamics for a heavy tank, but the visibility remains one of the worst at the level (350 meters). The IS-3 is not only an excellent tank for random battles; in Team Battles it often forms the basis of a strike group.

KV-4, which is on the eighth level in another branch of heavy Soviet vehicles, is not such a wonderful machine. Its main problem is its large size and weak dynamics, which make it an easy target on open maps. Thick armor only saves you from enemies of the same level; tanks of a higher level can penetrate it without any problems. The weak point of the KV-4 is its large turret, which a skilled enemy can penetrate even with a not very powerful gun.

A further continuation of IS-3 in another branch is IS-8, which is already at the ninth level. But it is frankly poorly armored for a heavy tank. Although the forehead of the hull has the shape of a “pike nose”, its thickness is 120 mm, which is only 10 mm more compared to the IS-3. The sides generally became thinner (80 mm). The only strong place is the forehead of the tower, but the roof of the tower is still easily broken through. But the maximum speed has noticeably improved (50 km/h), which allows you to quickly change direction if necessary. The gun is one of the best: a regular shell penetrates 258 mm of armor, a cumulative shell penetrates 340 mm, and the one-time damage is 440 units.

An analogue from another branch of heavy Soviet tanks is ST-1. His weapon is the same, only the reload speed and aiming speed are slightly worse. But the cardinal differences lie in the booking. The ST-1 is a real heavy tank: the thickness of the sides and front of the hull is 140 mm, which makes the diamond shape extremely effective. The forehead of the turret is not penetrated even by cumulative shells, while the gun moves down 8 degrees, so playing on hilly terrain is a pleasure. The dynamics are, of course, low, but they are noticeably better compared to the KV-4.

A somewhat strange situation has developed with the top Soviet heavy tanks. On the one hand, they have large quantity players, on the other hand, are often criticized. IS-4, which opens with ST-1, at first glance, is distinguished by good armor, like its predecessor. But while the ST-1’s turret roof is virtually impenetrable, the IS-4’s is only 30 mm thick. The lower frontal part is also easy to sew. U IS-7, which opens with the IS-8, the weak point is the gun: it has an extremely long aiming time (3.4 seconds), and penetration with a conventional projectile is only 250 mm. In general, these are not the worst vehicles at their level, but there are more interesting tanks. Although it is worth noting that good armor forgives many mistakes, so the IS-4 and IS-7 are well suited for beginners who are leveling up their first branch in World of Tanks.

Medium tanks

It starts with T-34-85. This is a further development of the T-34: the dynamics remained approximately the same, but the turret forehead became even stronger. The rounded shape of the gun mantlet allows the T-34-85 to often fend off shells and tanks at a higher level if played through the turret. Unfortunately, this is not so easy to do due to not the best vertical aiming angles (the gun goes down 7 degrees). The top gun penetrates 144 mm with a regular shell and deals 180 damage per shot. These are good indicators for the sixth level; we are also pleased with the good accuracy (0.37) and acceptable convergence (2.3 seconds). It’s not for nothing that the T-34-85 is considered one of the best vehicles at the sixth level; it is a universal tank that can shine, shoot from afar, and act aggressively on the first line.

T-43, which inherited the gun from its predecessor. Its characteristics are identical, only the reload speed has increased. Of course, 144 mm is already not enough for the seventh level; some tanks of the ninth level will be difficult to penetrate even into the side. Sub-caliber ones with a penetration of 194 mm may also not be enough. But the T-43 is distinguished by its small size, which means a high stealth coefficient, and good dynamics. But still, this is not the best tank at its level; its weak weapon does not allow it to deal much damage in high-level battles.

It is worth mentioning separately KV-13, which is also on the seventh level and is a transitional link between medium and heavy tanks. Externally, it is very similar to the T-43, but the armor is noticeably better. The upper frontal part is 120 mm thick and is located at a good angle. A tank shell at a higher level can also ricochet off it. The dynamics, when compared with the T-43, did not suffer much, and the visibility was slightly reduced. Overall, the KV-13 is a very interesting machine. Ricochet armor combined with good dynamics allows you to act aggressively.

Next comes T-44, the favorite tank of the Serb himself and the famous “Helicopter”, which was a real imbue when introduced into the game. But now it is a well-balanced car. The penetration of the top LB-1 gun is only 175 mm with a conventional shell, which is almost the lowest figure at the level. Accuracy (0.35) is not bad, but stabilization on the move leaves much to be desired. But the T-44 boasts good dynamics and a low silhouette; its camouflage is one of the best among tier 8 medium tanks. By the way, you can install a weapon with a one-time damage of 390 units, but this is not recommended. Its damage per minute is simply terrible, and it takes forever to come down. Overall, the T-44 is a good tank, but low penetration can make life very difficult.

But T-54 is perhaps the best tier 9 medium tank. From the T-44 it inherited a low silhouette and good dynamics, while the armor was noticeably improved. The thickness of the upper frontal part is 120 mm at a good angle, the turret has a streamlined shape, which greatly increases the armor provided. Unfortunately, she was heavily nerfed in one of the patches. If before the T-54 practically did not penetrate the front of the tower, now this happens not so rarely. The top-end D-10T2S gun has a penetration of only 201 mm with a conventional shell, but premium cumulative ones penetrate as much as 330 mm! If you don’t skimp on silver and constantly use them, you can easily penetrate even heavy tanks of the tenth level directly in the forehead.

At level ten, the T-54 unlocks two tanks at once: T-62A And About. 140. Only very good players will notice the differences between them. At Ob. 140 is 1 degree better at downward vertical aiming angles, but the roof of the tower is often breached. The T-62A has 0.1 better accuracy and aiming, but slightly worse stabilization on the move. But these are such small differences that the average player is unlikely to notice them. In general, we can say that the T-62A is a little better suited for positional firefights, while the Ob. 140 – for dynamic play.

About. 140

Alternative branch starts with A-43, which at the sixth level occupies a middle position between a medium and light tank. It can be successfully driven with active light, this is facilitated by both a high maximum speed (55 km/h) and good power-to-weight ratio (18.5 hp per ton). But the guns came from the fifth level, and poor elevation angles make playing on hilly terrain simply impossible. There is no need to talk about reservations, there are practically none.

From the seventh level, vehicles with a rear-mounted turret begin. In reality, such projects were designed to provide better protection for the crew, but in the game the rear location of the turret is a disadvantage, and it is difficult to extract anything positive from it. At the seventh level of the alternative branch of Soviet medium tanks is A-44. The rear position of the turret simply means terrible elevation angles (this also applies to further tanks in the branch). The engine is located in the front, so the tank often burns. The upper frontal part and the forehead of the turret can withstand blows well, although the lower frontal part can also be penetrated by tanks at a lower level without much difficulty. Only a narrow strip has the thickness of 150 mm stated in the specifications. It’s worth mentioning separately about the A-44 gun; it evokes extremely controversial feelings. This is a gun with a T-150, which penetrates 165 mm with a regular projectile and deals as much as 300 units of one-time damage. For a level seven medium tank, such one-time damage is simply enormous. But the aiming time is 3.4 seconds, which, with terrible accuracy (0.45), makes long-range shooting almost useless. But even in close combat this creates serious problems; even when firing almost point-blank, a projectile can fly off, for example, into a caterpillar. You have to stop and move, and this almost always means taking damage. It’s not for nothing that the A-44 is considered a real “cactus” by many players.

On the eighth level is About. 416. The turret is still located in the rear of the hull, and it has limited rotation angles (75 degrees in both directions), so it can be difficult to spin the enemy and cause damage to him. But Ob. 416 are two big pluses. Firstly, it has a very low silhouette, so camouflage is even better than the T-44. Secondly, a powerful weapon, which is in many ways similar to the one on the T-54. Cumulative projectiles with a penetration of 330 mm are available, and one-time damage is 320 units. And this is at the eighth level. But the turret with limited rotation makes it very difficult to play on this tank, Ob. The 416 doesn't perform well in dynamic firefights, although it can be used effectively from disguise.

About. 416

Next comes About. 430 Option II, whose turret rotates 90 degrees in both directions, this is enough for most situations. The elevation angles are still terrible, but the armor has noticeably improved. If you hide the lower frontal part or even the entire body, you can tank well. You don’t have to install a top-end gun: its reload speed, accuracy and aiming speed are worse, and penetration with a conventional shell is only 18 mm higher. At the same time, cumulative ammunition with a penetration of 330 mm is available on the stock gun.

About. 430, whose turret is located in the middle of the hull, like medium tanks from another branch. Unfortunately, he loses in comparison with Ob. 140 and T-62A. At Ob. 430 has worse mobility, rate of fire, aiming speed and stabilization on the move. This should be compensated for by a low silhouette and improved armor, but in practice all three tanks can easily penetrate the hull; the difference of 20 mm in the thickness of the upper frontal part does not play a special role. About. 430 is a little lower, but just a little, it doesn’t give much advantage. Therefore Ob. 430 is rarely seen in battles: it is worse than its Soviet counterparts, and it is pumped through tanks with a rear turret, which require a special approach. There are persistent rumors that it is planned to be abolished in the future.

About. 430

Tank destroyer

Next comes SU-85. The visibility of 280 meters can be a little shocking, which makes this tank destroyer very “blind”. In open areas without allied illumination, the SU-85 can be simply defenseless. The top gun is similar to that installed on the T-34-85 and T-43, only the rate of fire differs. The small size is also pleasing; the SU-85 perfectly copes with the role of an “ambush sniper”. The thickness of the forehead is only 45 mm, but the armor is located at a good angle, so that opponents at a lower level often do not penetrate it.

SU-100, which is on the sixth level, is a logical continuation of the SU-85. The visibility has increased to 350 meters, and the thickness of the forehead reaches 75 mm. Mobility remained at the same level, as did the size. There are two weapons available to choose from. One has a one-time damage of 390 units, but takes a long time to come down, while the other deals an average of 250 units of damage per shot, but it comes down much faster. The penetration rate of a conventional shell for both guns is 175 mm. Overall, the SU-100 is a worthy tank destroyer at its level. The choice of tactics largely depends on the weapon. The fact that it has high one-time damage makes the SU-100 a good support vehicle, while the other gun is more suitable for ambush tactics.

At the seventh level, a division into two branches occurs. We will start the review with the one that leads to the famous and very popular in random battles Ob. 268. At the seventh level of this branch there is SU-152, which is made on the basis of the KV-1. This means very weak armor, although the gun mantlet may not be able to penetrate even Tier 9 tanks. But this is the only strong point for this tank destroyer. But it has a low silhouette, that is, its stealth factor is simply excellent. There is also a choice between two weapons. The top one has very low penetration for a level seven tank destroyer: only 175 mm for a regular projectile. But it has high both one-time damage (390 units) and damage per minute (more than 3000 units!). But you can also play with a stock high explosive; cumulative shells with a penetration of 250 mm and one-time damage of 700 units are a formidable weapon.

On the eighth level there is the famous ISU-152. From its predecessor, it inherited weak armor (except for the almost impenetrable gun mantlet) and a low silhouette. But ISU-152 is famous for its top gun BL-10, which can penetrate 286 mm with a regular shell, and the one-time damage is 750 units. This is the most penetrating and powerful weapon at level eight. The price to pay for such power is long aiming times, mediocre accuracy, and low damage per minute. But even a few effective shots from the BL-10 can radically change the course of the battle.

ISU-152

About. 704, which is located on the ninth level, is equipped with exactly the same weapon, but with improved accuracy, aiming speed and reloading. The armor has also become better: although the stated figures are not amazing (for example, the thickness of the front of the hull is 120 mm), the armor is located at rational angles, which greatly increases the chance of a ricochet; the gun mantlet remains just as impenetrable. Mobility has noticeably improved, allowing you to change flanks faster. Overall, Ob. The 704 is a decent machine for its level.

About. 704

Finally ends the thread About. 268, which is made on the basis of the IS-8: the forehead of the hull is also made in the shape of a “pike nose”. Overall, Ob. 268 is distinguished by very ricochet armor: other tank destroyers often cannot penetrate it. On the other hand, there are situations when a given tank destroyer can easily be penetrated by Tier 8 vehicles. The one-time damage is still 750 units, and penetration by a regular projectile has increased to 303 mm. The cumulative one is generally capable of penetrating 395 mm of armor. By the standards of Soviet machines, the accuracy is also excellent (0.33). About. 268 is a universal vehicle: with its low silhouette, it can successfully play the role of an “ambush sniper,” and its rebound armor allows it, in some cases, to lead an attack and push through flanks. In general, the branch of Soviet tank destroyers that leads to Ob. 268, is extremely popular in random battles. For many players, this is the first branch they level up in World of Tanks. Good stealth and high one-time damage make playing on these machines very comfortable.

About. 268

The same cannot be said about the alternative branch; most players believe that it consists almost entirely of real “cacti”. But first things first.

On the seventh level is SU-100M1, which is distinguished by good dynamics and an accurate weapon. One-time damage is 250 units, penetration with a regular projectile is 175 mm. This tank destroyer is poorly armored, although the armor is located at rational angles. It is also very difficult to penetrate the gun mask. A serious problem on the SU-100M1 is weak angles of both vertical and horizontal aiming. This greatly complicates the game; from many positions it is simply impossible to shoot normally, since the gun does not go down at all.

This also applies SU-101, level eight cars. This tank destroyer's gun moves down only 2 degrees. Even a small bump results in the gun pointing to the sky; on hilly terrain you have to expose your entire body for a shot and expose yourself greatly. Another serious disadvantage is the low penetration of a top-end gun by a conventional shell (only 219 mm), and this is for a level eight tank destroyer! We often have to use cumulative ones, which penetrate 330 mm. One-time damage is only 320 units. The good dynamics are good (the specific power is almost 20 hp), but this tank destroyer has much more disadvantages.

SU-101

Next comes SU-122-54, which was created on the basis of the T-54 medium tank. From him, this tank destroyer received good mobility and a low silhouette. The gun is similar to that installed on the IS-8 and ST-1: 258 mm of penetration with a conventional projectile, and one-time damage is 440 units. For heavy tanks these are good indicators, but for a tier 9 tank destroyer this is frankly not enough. The gun's accuracy is quite good (0.35), but stabilization on the move leaves much to be desired, so playing actively is not very good: you have to stop and move to shoot, and weak armor rarely deflects shells.

SU-122-54

Finally, on the tenth level is About. 263. This is a largely underrated machine that most players simply don’t get the hang of, so Ob. 263 is rarely seen in battles. Although this tank destroyer has several big advantages. Firstly, good dynamics. Secondly, decent frontal armor. Even single-level tank destroyers often cannot penetrate this vehicle into the wheelhouse. But the lower frontal part is thin, so it breaks through with eighth levels. Premium shells can also be used to easily sew a gun mantlet, behind which there is no main armor. The sides, which are only 80 mm thick, are also vulnerable. However, Ob. 263 has a low silhouette, which, combined with good mobility, allows you to take comfortable positions at the beginning of the battle and fire unnoticed.

About. 263

The artillery branch of the Soviet nation turned out to be somewhat contradictory. Worth noting SU-26, which is only on the third level, but stands out due to its 360-degree rotating cabin. Once upon a time, this self-propelled gun was a real imbo, but after several nerfs it turned into just a machine that is comfortable to play on. Next comes SU-5, which no longer has a wheelhouse with full rotation, but the howitzer is capable of throwing shells even over high obstacles, but the landmines fly slowly, and the firing range is very limited. The fifth level car is, in general, passable. And from the sixth level, the concept of Soviet self-propelled guns changes noticeably. Next come vehicles with huge one-time damage, which is compensated by long aiming, long reloads and simply terrible accuracy. This is aggravated by poor horizontal aiming angles. But on the tenth level it is About. 261, which shoots accurately (0.66), and also shoots quickly (6.5 seconds). Thus, the branch turned out to be contradictory; when moving to the next level, you will have to get used to the greatly changed characteristics.

About. 261

Light tanks