Why does the relatively small turreted Heavy tank, have the same reload rate, with the same gun, as the entirely open topped, Dual loadered, Easy access, supposed to be fast firing AA piece?
RAM 3.7 only has 1 loader - the spare machine gunner is in the position that one of the gun traverser’s occupies - 1 is layer for line (traverse), the other is layer for elevation.
The arrangement was considered not very good, with no actual ready ammo racks - it actually needed 7 crew, plus pictures show more handling ammo off the vehicle.
The TOG gets 2 loaders who were actually loaders, with a ready ammo rack.
The VFW doesn’t get a Ready Rack, and gets a 4 second ace reload, with heavier shells, and a even worse ammo rack layout. AND gets Timed fuse. And one of the loaders is actually a gunner so.
Reloads for manually loaded guns are balance based. As long as the reload is physically possible that is.
The timed fuse shell is dead weight. You have to range find to set the fuse. Would only work well against a heli hovering within range finding distance.
The VFW is only .3 above the Ram, Yet gets better shells, mobility, and survivability because atleast its entire crew isn’t exposed to small caliber MG fire from the front.
These 2 tanks aren’t using the same gun for starters.
Secondly there are many factors to reload not just how much space is available. Shell type, weight, ammunition placement, ready rack or lap loading, loader number or load assist, ergonomics, breach design, smoke or gas evacuation systems etc.
And lastly reload is a soft stat gaijin use to balance tanks as they see fit.
Point being that its not always clear if a tank would be easier or faster to reload because of simple obsevation and historical accuracy also has little impact in this game.
