As a player who has been playing War Thunder since 2016, and as someone who primarily plays the American ground forces, I feel deeply concerned and perplexed about the current state of the American ground forces. This article aims to explore the current situation of the U.S. ground forces in War Thunder and why it has come to this state.
To demonstrate my qualification to discuss this issue and proceed with the following points, I will first share my personal experience and lineup.
As one of the earliest nations introduced in War Thunder ground forces, or rather, a “major nation,” the U.S. has always been known for its unique vehicles and large player base. However, in recent years, with updates and changes to the game mechanics, American top-tier vehicles have increasingly found themselves in awkward situations, often feeling powerless. I’ve heard many complaints from players saying that American players are unwilling to use ground vehicles and that they are often considered “noobs.” This confuses me, so I decided to start discussing this point: why are players reluctant to use ground vehicles?
The M1 series main battle tanks still make up the core of my top-tier lineup, but with each update, their stats and performance in the game environment have worsened. Weak frontal armor and poorly designed internal layouts make M1 tanks easy to disable or destroy in most engagements. Although the M829A2 is one of the most powerful shells in the game, as a “major nation,” the U.S. often faces swarms of Leopard 2s, T-90s, and T-80s. It is nearly impossible to ensure every shot effectively damages these tanks, especially with the introduction of spall liners and detailed armor mechanics, which often result in penetrating hits failing to cause significant damage. Meanwhile, the M1 series has not received any armor upgrades or internal layout optimizations with updates. On the contrary, the detailed internal layout changes seem to be the final nail in the coffin. Although the recent reduction of reload time to 5 seconds for the M1 series and better shells for models like the M1A1HC are welcome improvements, they are still far from enough to save the M1 lineup.
Next is the HSTV-L and light tanks. As one of the few top-tier American light tanks, the HSTV-L used to perform quite well, boasting a good automatic cannon and excellent mobility. However, since the “Firebirds” major update, the HSTV-L was given a massive “Horizontal aiming drive,” which significantly reduced its combat effectiveness. It can now even be disabled by a 12.7mm machine gun targeting that thing.
Then there’s the ADATS anti-air system. A few updates ago, ADATS was still classified as a tank destroyer due to its 20mm cannon and highly effective missile launcher with 900mm penetration. However, the lack of a stabilizer and the need to stop to fire missiles severely hinders its performance. Additionally, its fire control and radar systems are mediocre, with limited functionality in adverse weather and a maximum radar range of just 10km. This leaves it completely outclassed in top-tier battles by missiles with 20km range and jets exceeding Mach 1.2. By comparison, the Tunguska, with better fire control and armament, sits at BR 10.7, while ADATS is placed at 11.7. This disparity raises serious questions. Whether compared to the ITO-90M or the Pantsir-S1, the ADATS is often at a clear disadvantage.
In summary, when a vehicle is at a disadvantage in most scenarios, players will naturally prefer other, more enjoyable ways to play the game. This often means using vehicles like the HSTV-L or other light tanks to quickly earn the points needed to spawn aircraft, or simply returning to the hangar to queue for the next match. It’s well known that U.S. aircraft remain some of the most devastating CAS (close air support) options in War Thunder. As previously mentioned, players typically opt for the most enjoyable experience, which is why most American players tend to prioritize aircraft like the F-16C and F-15E. However, the high spawn costs often deter players. To earn enough spawn points for aircraft (a maximum of 896), without relying on light tanks, you must destroy at least 3-4 vehicles or capture and assist in the first 3-4 minutes of the match. This is extremely challenging for an average player, especially given the disadvantage most ground vehicles face. Even when you finally earn enough points to deploy an F-16C or F-15E, the enemy often has better SPAA (self-propelled anti-aircraft) systems and countermeasures in place. The most frustrating part is that when you finally take to the skies in your F-16C/F-15E, a Pantsir-S1 might already have launched a near-unavoidable missile at you, often without triggering RWR alerts (a 70-point SPAA trading for an 896-point aircraft – what a “deal,” isn’t it?).
When most players opt for air vehicles instead of ground vehicles, the balance of victory in ground battles inevitably tips in favor of the enemy. The remaining ground players are left with limited options. As the saying goes, “Tanks are the cornerstone of ground battles; everything is built upon this foundation. When the cornerstone crumbles, so does the victory structure.”
Additionally, to achieve a “better gaming experience,” players often invest considerable time, effort, and even money to master various weapons and loadouts. Meanwhile, the Pantsir-S1 can effortlessly shoot you down with just a mouse click. This disparity is understandably unacceptable for most players.
Such scenarios occur almost universally in any top-tier match, with virtually no exceptions.
