That “Way” is doing a lot of heavy lifting for more explosive filler and 12mm more pen. Anything the M10s gun can go through, the long 75 can go through too.
The arbitrary role the game assigns them matters a whole lot less than how they function in battle. Both are dedicated snipers, using their powerful guns to engage at long range where their armor doesn’t matter. The difference is, the F2 has a turret drive, which not only means it’s better at range because it can cover a wider field of fire easier, but it also gives it the flexibility to push in and play at closer ranges if that’s what’s needed.
This is correct, however the Panzer 4s are a cleaner comparison since they are literally the same kind of tank in the same kind of role, but better.
There absolutely is a comparison because of the role they fill. The Na-To gives up literally all other attributes in order to have a strong gun. It’s slow, unarmored, huge, highly vulnerable to CAS, with no turret, just so that it has a strong gun. Meanwhile, a gun with very similar capabilities is available on the Panzer IVs, who don’t give up anywhere close to the same amount.
You’re really upselling a couple mm of difference in penetration when, again, almost anything a Na-To can go through, a Panzer IV could have as well.
The explosive filler is a nice to have advantage, but it’s hardly crippling to the Panzer IV. Good shots will still oneshot, ammo will always cook off if you hit it, and turret shots will consistently cripple the tank you’re fighting. It’s far from a solid shot level disadvantage.
The Na-To is noticably slower than the M10, at 12 hp/t to 13.4. At best, it’s reverse speed is merely average, rather than poor as on the M10. All for the low low price of any armor that’s strong enough to resist a .50 cal. And size. And a .50 cal. And a turret.
Until you put that M4 into a medium range engagement against a T-34 who knows what’s he’s doing, at which point you cannot really win. The M4’s gun is not consistent against armored targets at medium ranges, while it’s armor is not difficult to get through either.
Meanwhile, a Panzer IV in that situation is laughing, because it punched right through that T-34 at medium range, a range at which it’s small profile and volumetric hellhole of a hull can and will bounce the return shot.
Yes, the M4’s advantages are more universally applicable in the state of the game today. In a close quarters fight, it and most other mediums have substantial advantages over the Panzer IV. But if you put the Panzer IV into a situtation where it can leverage it’s strengths and cover it’s weaknesses, it’s just as good or better than all other 3.3s.
