TURM III is one of the most “overpowered” tanks in the game…a autoloading 105mm gun! With awesome 20mm cannon.
But a closer look reveals that it is not that strong.
Lack of laser rangefinder, poor APDS shells, very low ammo for 20mm, poor gun elevation (look up) are just some features of it. But I want to talk about the damage model.
This is the internal layout of the TURM III. Very vulnerable to APDS and APFSDS. Ammo are likely to be hit even if APHE does not trigger.
Most of the times, the TURM III’s hull and turret triggers APHE explosions.
Meanwhile, the hull of the DF105/TAM will eat up APHE explosions.
And we know from in game that it is also very bouncy with 75 degs. Something that is not afforded to the TURM III.
We can then, compare the two tanks’ critical hitting spots with APHE/early APDS.
To be fair the Soviet Heavies, other than IS-7 and Object 279, just aren’t up to the task in RB. In AB they perform better because vehicles have buffed stats. But with the introduction of new open maps, they struggle too.
how can the IS7 and Object 279 stand upto it?
three words HEAVY MACHINE GUN… the 14.7mm gun on the IS7 and Object 2797 can punch through the armor up past 500m till somewhere between 1000m…
the Obj 279 has a stabilizer so its HMG is always on point even mounted in the turret, the IS-7’s is in a pintle mount so its practically stabilized despite the turret not being stabilized…
Well of course it does if you shoot the damn engine. And the DF105 is neither stabilised nor does it have an actual AP round so HEAT is all you get. Turm can go up without issue
Could it go up, sure, by how much that’s the question.
Lets sum it up:
mobility, on par with Leo 1;
armour, less than half all round compared to Leo 1;
firepower, same round as Leo 1, with 5 sec reload, stabilised, the selling point of the vehicle;
-12/+12 elevation, one of the best down, but pathetic when you need to point up. leo1(-9/+20);
coax 30mm, slightly better then 20mmm on the Marder1, with way less ammo. useless against air because you can’t point up;
+Optics, gunner has almost half the magnification compared to the other Leo 1’s, no NVD;
No smoke rounds, no RF/LRF,
So you get a vehicle which “Suffers” the same as the Type 90, good mobility with great reload is the ultimate flanker. If you’re aware of its presence very easy to take out due to the non-existant armour.
My experience with it is from GFAB, where you should consider that everyone should be aware of your presence. the Ac i find a gimmick since i can count on one hand the Kills i’ve gotten with it.
now for the uptier:
8.7 should be no problem;
9.0 maybe, at that BR most have DM23 or equivalent, NVD, Stab, LRF, smoke, etc;
9.3 would be to much, DM33 or better, TVD, plus the rest; (in GER TT at that BR TAM2IP & Leo/L44), which are better;
Definitely not fine at 8.3BR - The thing should be at 8.7BR minimum, and 9.0BR maximum until we see some more decompression and retiering of some vehicles.
To start, you have a 30mm, not a 20mm. Your 30mm has the best ammo type in the game, SAP. Literally everything in that BR range is ‘vulnerable to apds’. You have poor gun elevation, but the best gun depression of the BR. You have a large ammo rack, but you also have the most lethality at your br by a LOT. You kill anything with an autocannon faster than the return because your own autocannon is that much stronger AND you have a main gun. If your opponent flubs their first shot, your 30mm barrels them in half a sec. And >1/2 your competition at 8.3 doesn’t have a stab.
You are THE most lethal vehicle at your BR. Bar none. At 8.7 you would STILL be one of the best vehicles. Only at 9.0 would you ever be considered average.
And ammo rack… hah, thats never been a BR determining factor in this game. Look at the PTZ89 with its ENTIRE turret being an ammo rack with -5 and no thermals at 9.0. A huge portion of the time if you are hit once in any tank at 8.3+ you are dead. Either OHK or so disabled you can’t react.