For now, I think it is.
We’ll have to wait 'til their Abrams blog and the likely CC reaction about it, my bet is on that scenario.
But again: for the rest of the weekend? I think it’s wrapped up.
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Huge shoutout to @Hike_DK, @SPANISH_AVENGER, and the whole team involved in that massive hull armor report! That was an incredible, bulletproof piece of work.
Unfortunately, the Bug Reporting Manager just closed the report with a completely baffling excuse, claiming that “all the extra weight went into the turret” and dismissing the documentation as too vague. This logic completely defies both official sources and basic vehicle physics.
First, it directly contradicts the official US Army eARMOR Journal (Summer 2021), which explicitly states that the armor survivability upgrades were applied to both the turret and the hull. Secondly, the SEPv3 introduced the UAAPU (Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit), which is physically located inside the hull (rear left sponson). That system alone accounts for hundreds of kilograms. How can the tracker team claim that “all extra weight went into the turret” when major mechanical subsystems were added to the hull? This is a textbook case of moving the goalposts and ignoring their own 2021 Post-War Protection Policy. Since they blocked it on the tracker, we need to keep the discussion and exposure alive right here in this thread.
@Ge_Low-psn Regarding your thermal report getting closed as “Not a bug report”—don’t let that trick discourage you. The tech mods on the tracker are notorious for doing this during Dev Servers. They strictly define a “bug” as broken game code. If a vehicle is historically missing a system (like 3Gen FLIR or LWS) before it hits the live server, they usually shut it down as “not a bug” and say it should be filed as a “Historical Inaccuracy” once the patch goes live.
Since Hike_DK and the team just proved how to successfully bundle sources, we should collaborate and do the exact same thing for the 3Gen FLIR system next. The Army Recognition source you posted, combined with the official DOT&E and Weapon Systems Handbooks, gives us a 100% unclassified paper trail. Let’s keep pushing them on the hull armor here, and then drop a bulletproof report for the thermals the second the patch hits the live server!
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I highly encourage anyone to who interested in producing sources to support or bring more realism to Warthunder to collaborate with your fellow players, form groups, discord channels; whatever makes it easier to communicate and work togather
And yes, working with a team makes all the difference.
We’ll continue to work through this report as we’re looking to work with a Technical moderator, and I’d personally like to work on future reports as well.
The Team:
@TheRealSteve @crispy100001-psn @HondaCivici @HandlerOne
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Thank you so much for the invite! To be completely honest, I don’t always have the free time to deep-dive into private source research myself, but you can 100% count on me for active support.
Whenever you guys need visibility, community backing, or immediate upvotes on the tracker to keep the pressure on the devs, I’m your guy. I’d love to join the Discord just to stay in the loop and help boost your work whenever a new report goes live.
Let’s keep pushing together!
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Now that the initial hull armor report faced that absurd rejection on the tracker, we shouldn’t lose our momentum. If anything, it proves we need to widen the front line and pressure Gaijin on multiple technical fronts where the SEPv3 is completely ahistorical on the Dev Server.
While the armor fight continues right here, we should start collaborating and prepping bulletproof data for the next wave of reports. Here are three major technical pillars of the SEPv3 that are currently completely ignored in-game, which would make perfect targets for future reports:
1. Lethality Upgrades: The Ammunition Data Link (ADL) & XM1147 AMP Round
Right now, the Dev Server treats the SEPv3’s gun like a carbon copy of older variants, giving it the outdated M830A1. Historically, a core feature of the SEPv3 upgrade is the integration of the Ammunition Data Link (ADL) in the breech block.
- The Goal: We need to push for the inclusion of the XM1147 AMP (Advanced Multi-Purpose) smart round. The ADL allows the tank’s fire control system to digitally program this round for airburst, point-detonate, or delay modes.
- The Evidence: The U.S. Army Weapon Systems Handbooks explicitly list the ADL and AMP compatibility as a defining capability of the SEPv3. Leaving it out completely strips the tank of its modern versatility.
2. Tactical Mechanics: UAAPU & True “Silent Watch”
In War Thunder, turning your engine off to ambush someone drains your battery in a matter of seconds, turning off your thermals. But the SEPv3 was specifically redesigned to solve this.
- The Goal: Report the missing battery-regeneration capability during engine-off operations. The SEPv3 features the UAAPU (Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit) tucked away inside the hull. It generates enough power to run the entire electronics suite, including the 3Gen FLIR and air conditioning, without turning on the massive, loud AGT1500 gas turbine.
- The Evidence: DOT&E reports explicitly highlight the UAAPU as the primary system for “improved Silent Watch capability.” In-game, the SEPv3 should have a virtually infinite battery life when the main engine is off, keeping its thermal sights active with a minimal thermal and acoustic signature.
3. Fire Control Reality: M829A4 System Compatibility
While Gaijin loves to gatekeep the M829A4 APFSDS due to “balancing reasons,” we can attack this from a purely objective, technological standpoint.
- The Goal: Establish that the SEPv3’s fire control system and ADL were specifically designed from the ground up to communicate with and fire the M829A4. This round was developed to counter heavy modern ERA (like Relikt/Malachit) by mechanically destabilizing it before the core penetrates.
- The Strategy: Even if the exact penetration values are classified, the system compatibility is public record. Forcing Gaijin to acknowledge that the tank is built for this round shifts the burden onto them. They would have to openly admit they are artificially nerfing the tank for balance, rather than hiding behind the “no sources” excuse.
If anyone has the time or the archives open to start digging for the unclassified PDFs on these three systems, let’s start bundling the data. We have the momentum, we have an incredible team forming, so let’s keep pushing until they get this tank right
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I have no idea what’s the goal here.
I could be totally wrong here and I’m definitely not 100% sure if Gaijin will actually budge, but the goal behind this kind of strategy is usually transparency and removing their favorite shield.
Right now, whenever we ask for historical buffs, Gaijin hides behind the excuse of ‘insufficient data’ or ‘sources are too vague/unreliable.’ They use this to shut down reports before they even reach the developers.
By submitting a bulletproof report on system compatibility, we block that exit. If we prove 100% that the SEPv3 is technologically hardwired for the M829A4, they can no longer say the source is missing. They are forced to officially classify the missing round as a ‘soft balance choice’ rather than a ‘historical reality.’
Once a nerf is officially labeled as artificial balancing, the community has a much stronger leverage point. We can then argue on the balancing front (comparing it directly to what Spall Liners, Relikt, or modern shells other nations get) instead of running around in circles chasing classified PDFs. At least, that’s the logic behind it from my point of view!
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Ngl this game in the malaise era. Because why is every tech tree becoming an everything tech tree? I used to be so excited for updates… The hype isn’t the same either, ima ring way less action but more disappointment.
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The decadence era, truly
SEP V3
SEP V2
okay so… against Kinetic and Chemical rounds only gain like 100-200mm more protection, even so i think the extra plate make it easier to aim, is it worth the time?
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the report shot down yesterday was genuinely the most concise and well made report ive ever read.
the tech mod that denied it didnt even read it.
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We are still here. every time they touch a chally it gets worse, abrams hull improvements are more likely than us getting fair modelling. they will crack eventually
i mean the british does benefit from this forum discussion since they are getting a sep 3 but the chally has been delt a shitty hand im grinding britian rn and im looking foward to the black night
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That’s the thing, you don’t.
Tanks had their shells withheld for years due to balance and they’ll just add them as they deem fit.
That’s not how it works.
Anyone know where gaijin gets its sources for ignoring this:
and claiming “All the extra weight went into the turret.” with no elaboration
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Because as far as i know everything, Google, GPT, Statistics, Historians, Comparisions, Budget Reports, Statements e v e r y t h i n g, says the SEPv3 has improved hull armor infact the only people who seem to say it doesnt is gaijin…
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I think Gaijin acknowledged the fact hull has been improved. They’re just unsure where and by how much.
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But to deny the most detailed abrams report with “all the extra weight went into the turret” is also indirectly saying that the hull armor wasnt improved?
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People have already found sources that say hull was improved and all of that was reported days ago. They’re surely aware of that fact and as such that reply makes no sense.
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there’s only 1 real place the hull can be improved with DU/better composite armor
(and by extension, although it hardly matters and I don’t have a direct source for this, gaijin probably did model the 82.5° UFP as being too thin, if what I read before was correct it was increased to 51mm on the M1A2 from 38mm)