Considering the IS-3 model in-game also gets the BR-471D round, that is apparently from the 50’s, I suppose there is justification for remodeling the IS-3 to reflect the most common configuration from the time period of the round.
An earlier model without this round could possibly fill the 7.0 slot. I disagree that it could be premium as you stated in your post. We don’t need to repeat the mistake of the T-10A by locking a service variant behind a paywall, when there are already plenty of prototype variants of the IS-3 and T-10 to set aside for premiums.
I was just made of aware of another possible improvement for the IS-3M over a base model relating to ammunition changes.
After testing from the mid-late 50’s, the Soviets transitioned to semi-combustible propellent charges for the 122 mm gun. T-10’s and IS-3’s were updated by 1961 to accept the new cartridges.
These shaved off 5~6 kg of weight from the complete cartridges, left little for the loader to remove from the breech after firing, and reduced the build-up of fumes in the fighting compartment.
These new cartridges should allow for better fire rates in-game. I couldn’t say by exactly how faster much since Soviet 122 mm reloads are already exaggerated “for balance”, but you get the idea.
It’s worth nothing that the HEAT-FS and APDS rounds were both exclusively manufactured with this style of casing.
In my opinion, the current IS-3 in War Thunder should be reworked to represent the fully modernised IS-3M standard, both visually and in terms of ammunition. Giving it improved ammunition would justify an increase in its battle rating, but the current slot could then be filled by a proper early-production IS-3 I.e the one that was on the Berlin Victory Parade for example. The structural and reliability problems that plagued the original IS-3 have little relevance in War Thunder, so it is genuinely surprising to me that Gaijin chose to model what appears to be some kind of intermediate postwar configuration rather than either the definitive 1945/6 vehicle or the later IS-3M. In fact, I have yet to find clear photographic evidence of the exact combination of features represented by the in-game model. If anyone can identify the precise production year or modernisation standard that the current War Thunder IS-3 is supposed to represent, I would genuinely like to know.
I have nothing against that. It is common in War Thunder (and not only in this game) for certain vehicles to have a mismatch between different variants represented as one and if they go for IS-3M, it would be ideal to see a re-do of the initial IS-3 model (Early Version, 1944 or however the USSR decided to manage their variant production) if IS-3M comes to the game.
I’m not opposed to this vehicle. However, what I am strongly opposed to is this
The IS-3 is the post-war heavy tank, the culmination of technological development throughout the war, the titan of '45 that browned the pants of western generals everywhere. Removing it and replacing it with a less iconic and less historically significant version from the 60s is, in my opinion, an enormously terrible idea. But even worse is making the IS-3 a premium and forcing players to shill out real money to get such an iconic and significant vehicle.
If the IS-3M is added it would need to be either foldered under the IS-3, or it should be the premium. Either way, it’d be most certainly 7.7.
Bro, we don’t have the original version in the game… The iconic one you speak of is what I am trying to solve here. What we have in the game IS the less iconic version
Other than that, they don’t have to make the iconic/original one premium, they could just put it in before the IS-3M.
How it would actually go is that they’d make the 1940s IS-3 an event reward or pack vehicle, realize they shot themselves in foot paywalling a mass produced vehicle, then put some one-off prototype Object 785326 at the same BR in the TT.
I would love to have the 1945 version before the one in game, they probably could even make it relevant by not giving it BR-412B or something as the top shell. Imagine like
IS-3 (1945): 7.0, BR-412B
IS-3 (Late): 7.3, BR-412D (in game version rn)
IS-3M: 7.7, BR-412D, HEAT-FS* (suggested tank)
*Presuming this is historically accurate.
But yeah, I would love to see more tank variants of existing production vehicles in game, with varying ammunition choices and upgrades/downgrades, so you can essentially customize your BR to what you want to play (do you want '45 IS-3 with weaker capabilities, or do you want IS-3M where tank itself is less relevant performance-wise, but better ammunition?) This also would benefit lineups to encourage players to have more staying power in a match.
But yeah I would love to see more IS-2s, IS-3s, IS-4s in the tech tree, and Object tanks and reskins as premiums and events.
Right, I did some more digging, and unless I’m mistaken again, the IS-3 currently represented in-game appears to be 1953 modernization standard, or the IS-3 obr. 1953.
Development
IS-3 sample No.1 / Kirovets-1
IS-3 sample No.2 / Object 703
Production/service configurations
3. IS-3 orb.1945
4. IS-3 orb. 1946
5. IS-3 obr. 1953 (Likely the in-game version)
6. IS-3 obr. 1960 (Most features of this suggestion were implemented)
7. IS-3M obr. 1962/63 (New propellent charge racks + new radios + M designation given)
8. IS-3M obr. 1970+ (Minor upgrades in the 70s)
