I’m struggling to understand the balance logic where multiple 9.3 MBTs such as the Leopard 1A5 or OF-40 (MTCA) are equipped with DM33 (~420 mm penetration), while the Leopard 2A4 at 10.7 is restricted to DM23 with noticeably lower penetration. At this BR, the Leopard 2A4 frequently faces vehicles with stronger composite armor and access to significantly higher-penetration ammunition, particularly among Soviet/Russian and Chinese MBTs. This issue becomes even more apparent during regular uptiers to 11.7, where the Leopard 2A4 is placed in one of its weakest positions, expected to fight top-tier vehicles with only ~400 mm of penetration, making the ammunition choice feel inconsistent and underpowered for its matchmaking environment.
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Leopard 1A5, M60TTS, etc, have no armour - so they get a good round. How hard is this to understand?
ive long been a supporter of adding the tranche 8 of the Leopard 2A4 with the better armour and the DM33 at 11.0.
its time germany started getting a legit 11.0 lineup
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The 2a4 armour doesn’t really standup too well at its BR.
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Meanwhile M1 at the same BR with M774:
I will never understand why people keep asking for better ammo, as if it wouldnt come with a BR increase. Tanks with “bad” rounds for their BR are usually better than tanks with “good” rounds anyway.
@Sp0w0ky-w-天使 should be glad that the Leopard 2A4 doesnt have the DM33.
The M1 is the better of the 2 however.
I just checked, and it’s curious. Based on production dates, the M1 Abrams should be using the M833 as its best ammunition. Another curious thing is that it ceased production in the same year (1985) that the T-72B began production.
Actually, if you look at it, practically all NATO tanks from the 80s and 90s don’t use the ammunition of their era: the Leopard 1A5 with the DM63, the M60A1 RISE and 3TTS with the M833 and M900, the AMX-30B2 Brenus with the OFL105G2, the STRV103C with the SLPPrJ M/90S, etc.
The TT gap is like 10.7 to 12.7 for lineups. Really dumb.
Same for the 2010s and 2020s. M1A2 SEP and SEPv2 should be using M829A3, which, even according to Gaijin, wouldn’t change much gameplay wise… but at least it would be historically accurate.
That’s fine though; Leopard 1A5s have been in service well into the 2000s, and even nowadays, in which cases it has used DM63.
Same goes for A1 RISE P and A3TTS with M833 and M900; A1 rise fought in Iraq in 1991 with M833 and A3TTs remains in service even today with M900.
I don’t think M1 having its historical M833 shell choice would harm anyone, though. It’s not all that much better than M774, it’s just more historical. Same situation as SEP/v2 and M829A3 over A2.
A 20mm difference in penetration, a whole world difference in accuracy.
Because that’s what’s balanced.
Point being?
It’s all about pros and cons that keep things balanced.
You wouldn’t expect those Russian/Soviet MBTs to have equal acceleration, reverse speed, turret traverse, gun depression, neutral steering, etc. to the Leopard 2A4 either, right?
Virtually everything struggles more in full up-tiers, I’m not certain what your point is here.
M774*
M833 entered service 3 years after the M1 did.
You’re absolutely right. It’s also important to remember that the M833 entered service while the M1 was already in service, so even though the M1 initially used the M774, it eventually came to use the M833.
The M1 with the M774 would be the natural enemy of the T-72A (1982), T-80B, and T-64B. The M1 with the M833 would be the natural enemy of the T-72B, T-80BV, and T-64BV.
P.S. The T-64B in the game is actually the 1985 T-64BV.
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the t90A sit on 11.0 with laser warning system and 3bm60. russian bias
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M1 Abrams(1979)+M774(1980)=Br 10.7
T-90A(2004)+3BM60(2016)=Br 11.0
Ugh, I think I’m going to throw up.