Howdy, This is gonna be a small tutorial on the do’s and don’ts of the 2S38.
This will mainly focus on what the vehicle is, how it operates, and what you should do with it. If you want to know just how to play it, go towards the bottom.
(This is just a guideline on what you should be able to do with it)
First, A short history of what it is and where it came from.
The Russian “Derivatsiya-PVO” also known as the 2s38 is a modified BMP-3 chassis with a AU-220M turret featuring a powerful 57mm gun. First produced by Kurganmash, it’s a ongoing Tech demonstrator fire support vehicle capable of engaging both flying and ground targets.
The 2s38 we currently have in game is from its 2020 model.
Armament and Equipment:
Spoiler
Our current 2s38 is outfitted with a 57 mm 2A90 cannon along with a 2-plane stabilizer and an .5 second auto loader. With a grand total of 148 rounds centered below the main gun, it’s has a good variety of different shell types at its disposal. (It also has a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun, though it generally doesn’t do much)
It’s has a multitude of support equipment such as:
A Laser range finder, Laser warning system, A Track irst, scout uav, smoke and ess, a dozer blade, and duel control system. It also carries gen 3 thermal’s and night vision.
(Tnt equivelent shall be shown as =)
It’s current Shell types are:
3UBM22: An APFSDS shell featuring 225mm of penetration. A Decent all around shell that does well against an mbt’s side armor, weakpoints, and barrels.
BR-281U: An APCBC shell with an TNT = to 20g. This shell while not having as much penetration as the Apfsds (around 151mm) will still do fairly well against the sides of mbt’s and lighter vehicles. This shell generally makes killing tanks at very inconvenient spots possible, dealing damage to the crew within.
OR-281U: A basic HE shell with 235g’s = TNT. This makes it fairly decent at killing very light vehicles. Usually a direct counter to open top vehicles and Light spaa.
3UO8: This is an HE-VT shell with about the same TNT amount as the OR shell.
This little thing will be your main defense against aerial targets.
Having a trigger radius of 6m with a 1000m/s muzzle velocity, This shell does decently well against fixed wing aircraft and is very good against helicopters.
Pro’s and Cons:
Spoiler
Pros:
Decent gun handling
Decent all around offense
Very good fire rate
amphibious
Main weapon will not overheat with continuous fire (Even when the red circle fills up, it will not jam)
Cons:
Moderate mobility
Large Profile
5 degrees of Depression
low crew amount
All crew together
Little armor
General Use/Best position:
Using your 2s38. This tank all in all is a support vehicle/SPAA.
While it has the ability to destroy many MBT’s from the front (And with good results), your mobility and large profile will make it very easy for the mbt’s to notice and destroy you before you do any noticeable damage to them.
Edit: Also, Due to the shape and size of the 2s38, the front of the tank is more susceptible to being one shot and destroyed. This is due mainly to the fuel tanks being directly in front of your crew and ammo being right in the center, making it your most vulnerable area.
Your best use for this vehicle will be right behind the front lines and flanking. Allowing more armored allies to take the damage and attention of your opponents. If you have no friendlies, your best bet is to either attack from the flanks or focus on slowing the enemy until more of your team gets back. (Either by being a snapping turtle, attacking then immediately retreating, or by ambushing enemies)
(Here’s a replay that show’s a bit on each of these. Gaijin Entertainment - Single Sign On)
(While this isn’t a perfect tutorial, it should help with you getting the hang of this. If theres anything wrong or that should to be added. LMK) (Also, Next one will prolly be the Abrams tanks so pm me if you got any good sources and such for it.)