Good day everyone.
I just wanted to bring this up because the irony of Gaijin’s arguments when it comes to what does or does not have amphibious capability is pretty laughable. So, for those who are newer to the game, the M163s used to be amphibious but that was removed in 2022. From the Wind of Thunder Changelog (War Thunder "Wind of Change" - Changelog - Updates - Game - War Thunder) “M163 - amphibious ability has been revoked, since the vehicle requires preparation before entering water. Source: TM 9-2350-300-10 - Operator’s Manual (Crew) for Gun, Air Defense Artillery, Self-Propelled, 20-mm, M163”. There’s been a few vehicles that have lost this capability, such as the Swedish IKV 90, based upon similar arguments.
However, why is this argument not the same for the new event vehicle, the T86? This required someone to exit the vehicle to properly adjust the rudders and then raise the engine exhaust cover manually which would appear to take longer than setting up a 5-post screen net around an engine port to prevent water entering the engine bay.
Honestly, this should apply to every amphibious vehicle as EVERY single one requires inspections and proper setup before entering a body of water to ensure watertight integrity, which is even called out by Russian Operation Manuals for their IFVs such as the BMP-1 and BMP-2.
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If you consider the T86 being a beach landing vehicle, specialized to be operated in water and compare to a vehicle that needs prior and complex preparation compared to the T86, BMPs and so on to cross calm body of waters, I don’t see even a reason for this argument.
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Well, the argument is against Gaijin’s contradictory reason for removing or not removing amphibious capability. With their current argument, the T86 shouldn’t be amphibious or should reinstate the M163’s and IKV 91’s capability. The BMP argument I made was just based upon the fact the BMP 1 and 2 have a pretty lengthy list they must run through before treading water that are important such as installing the drain plug, ensuring watertight integrity with doors and hatches before entering.
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My favorite quote of all time
“The M163 is no longer amphibious”
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I think they should make it so every vehicle that could be amphibious should be, but all of them should have a preparation time before being able to stay afloat. The time could vary based on the extent of the preparation and all parts required for it would be added restricting gun traverse for most vehicles.
With this system they could also add the deep-wading ability to all tanks which have it.
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at the moment, amphibious vehicles are a gimmick. Even mere lakes have intense waves somehow that rock your IFV etc. around violently
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it doesnt, it’s a lie spread by the developers, wether its intentional or not i’ll leave it up to you to decide
the only preperation that the m163 (That is not already modeled in game) needs is a small curtain to be placed over the engine deck
I have made multiple reports on it using the m163 manual and also pictures of other m163 variants floating without said curtain but they refuse to fix it
according to the developers, lacking this makes the m163 sink like a brich
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Maybe it’s time to have the keybind made to allow the change/transition and end up being in ‘water mode’ or something and being ‘slow’ and needing to be in water.
Then each vehicle could have a time-delay set specific to what needs to be done to let it go amphibious, and that could be penalized by crew loss.
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Honestly would be love that and would open a LOT more up for mechanics for the game.
The funny part is, there’s PLENTY of videos of M163 APCs swimming in rivers without them, full of crew and with armored MG turrets. Makes 0 sense on how Gaijin takes a Tech Manual at full value when it comes to US stuff but ignores it with Russian tech.
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To be completely fair, however, he does bring up a good point.
There is a noticeable inconsistency/double standard for certain amphibious-capable vehicles not getting their floating capabilities because of special flotation devices or extra preparation requirements being needed. Meanwhile, some other amphibious vehicles get theirs regardless or are straight up removed.
Ex: The Japanese Ka-Mi light tank does require add-on pontoons for high seas and traversability, yet in-game it can just float in any depth or current body of water currently in-game with just its 2 propellers attached to the rear with no problem.
Also a user had previously reported that the M163 could still float even without the curtain equipment
But the report got denied, which is so ridiculous with all the sources and data provided that it could swim without the curtains being needed already.
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