Response to new changes and reaffirming suggestions from the original version:
All commentary is for RB.
Planned:
(CN) F-104G
10.7 → 10.3
While it may be less effective compared to other versions, the F-104 family as a whole seems to be consistently getting downtiers due to poor weapons or defensive abilities. However, this is another example of the ongoing issue of BR compression, as the flight performance of the F-104s generally make them untouchable (especially the early models).
M48 Reload buff
8 rpm → 9 rpm
This is fine, as it brings the tank in-line with other M48/M60 style tanks, most of which also fire at 9 rpm. However, this brings me to my next point:
Suggested:
CM11
12 rpm → 9 rpm
There is absolutely no reason for this vehicle to have a 5 second reload when literally all other M48/M60 tanks with 90mm and 105mm guns have a 6.67 second reload. The turret layout is nearly identical to a vehicle like a Magach 3 or M 48 A2 G A2, both of which are also re-gunned M48s turrets.
B-26C (France)
4.7 → 4.3
It is identical to the American version, which is moving down this update.
T-55AM-1, T-55AMD-1
8.7 → 9.0
These vehicles are very similar to the ZTZ88B and A and should be considered a contemporary of the Leopard 1 A1 or Type 69-IIG, not to mention the gun-launched missile capability. Many vehicles at 8.0 and even some 8.3 vehicles struggle significantly to fight them, as their additional armor and APS can make them extremely tough to kill. It also is another example of why the previous decompression changes need to be considered again.
M113A1 (TOW) (CN)
Rank V → Rank VI
It should be placed at Rank VI, similar to the Italian and Israeli versions, and put in a folder with the CM25.
I will also reemphasize the fact that 2 major rounds of decompression for tanks have been more or less erased. The April 2023 BR changes, which moved most 9.7+ tanks up one BR, was undone by the August 2023 changes, which did the exact same for most 8.0+ tanks. Now, tanks that used to be at 8.7 and 9.7 are now at 9.0 and 10.0, which means only a small handful of vehicles actually saw any benefit from these changes. Those changes made in August were also somewhat undone by October 2023’s changes, which moved several 5.7+ vehicles up, although not too many vehicles from the 7.0-8.0 itself moved. However, this just created additional compression, particularly within the 6.0-7.3 region. After all the shuffles of the last year or so, the only lasting benefits of these decompression updates has been to a handful of 4.7-5.7 vehicles and a few 7.7-8.3 vehicles.
Battle ratings in Ground (and Air, too) need to be expanded farther few of the long-term issues have actually been corrected.