A Polish article from the Military University of Land Forces states that, in training, Leopard 2 loaders were able to achieve drastically different results than those we currently see in-game, at a max of 6 seconds with an aced crew.
These results indicated a highest-achievable time for Leopard 2 loaders after 2 months of training, of 4.38 seconds and an average of 5 seconds while on the move, which makes the current 6 seconds rather questionable.
The article provided an analysis on the simulation systems used for the training of Leopard 2 crew members, and in this case specifically the loader.
Below you can see the given values during testing achieved by the loaders in the simulation for the amount of time it took for reloads:
Given recent changes that were made to tanks of other nations, Leopard 2’s in particular sit rather far behind with their reloading time in-game, unless, which isn’t at all always the case, a player has a fully aced-crew. This should therefore be taken into consideration.
Of course you can reload very fast if you (as a loader) hold the next shell in your arms. But then it defeats the purpose of an isolated ammo compartment.
Also the game does not simulate the difficulty of loading when the tank is on the move through rough terrain, or loader fatigue.
And also the sweet spot of the ammunition which normally consist of 5 rounds before the loader has a harder time getting to the ammunition even in the isolated ammo compartment
These results are easily achievable in a Leopard 2 including the aspect of opening & closing the blast door. That’s not the issue. The Abrams does it, the Leopard can as well. Just because the reload is fast doesn’t mean the loader is ‘holding the round in his arms’ ← this also defeats the point of the military simulation used for training.
It’s a common myth in western tanks that is often thrown up as an argument for keeping the reload time nerfed. Opening and closing the blast door adds maybe half if not a fraction of a second onto it in total, especially considering the fact how some loaders can achieve 3-4 seconds with an open blast door.
Additionally, the aspect of it being done on the move is simply to add onto the literacy of the 5 seconds. I know it’s not simulated in-game, this is just to prove my point.
