After finishing the American ground tree, I’ve decided to revisit the USSR to finish the left over grind on the T-90M. However, I’ve come to realise how miserable this nation is.
For starters, the T-80BVM is possibly the worst modernisation known to man. The lack of CITV creates a huge disadvantage for any map that doesnt have the spawns placed in neighboring homes. The reload speed is also the slowest of any top tier tank (especially on the T-72/T-90). It’s turret traverse, while mediocre, also gets ran around in circles by other western MBTs. It’s dart is pretty decent, though.
The armor is also extremely lackluster. It’s turret is extremely nimble compared to other tanks, and while I get that it’s impossible to armor a driver’s port, any western tanker with an IQ above body temperature can aim for your LFP or any other weakspot. The T-90M solves some of the T-80’s apparent weakspots (most notably around the tracks and the turret), however the LFP and driver’s port still remain.
Speed is another apparent issue on these tanks. The T-90M for example, has an extremely sad acceleration, and mediocre top speed, with its reverse gear being an absolute joke.
So I ask the USSR mains out there this, how do you make this nation enjoyable? Do you still find russian tanks fun and/or viable?
Its just a low skill floor low skill ceiling TT after like 9.7 that isnt like unplayable or downright bad, just frustrating to play sometimes in a mobility meta that we have, and dealing with bad gun depression and handling.
Pretty similar thread up recently this is kinda how I feel.
Spoiler
CAS is great, still have the best spaa at high tiers and probably still will continue to after the update but you get owned in the pantsir against brained players, think the 2s6 is better br for br. SPAA just isnt in a good spot anymore.
T14 could end the frustration since it has reverse and gun depression similsr to nato, newer t80 variants have 24km reverse.
Lots of potential for new light tanks and tds.
T series tanks would fare better at realistic tank engagement distances, but thats without modern fcs being modeled, right now with how the game is played you want to be fast and mobile with good depression stay behind hard cover and expose yourself for as little as possible when taking shots. No mbt in game is partically hard to kill with mouse aim at average engagement ranges of around 400m, they all are basically just as vulnerable as each other, bad players just going to have a worse time against russian tanks in general (why there is always cry threads about them) but things like the 2a7 kinda remove that niche from russia.
With the USSR, you have to learn and master the usage of the passive advantages the vehicles have.
I know it sounds hella counterintuitive, but you need to know how to angle yourself to make your armor as trolly as possible, and guesstimate which situations you can make the most.
Don’t compare them to NATO stuff, it just holds no use as the playstyle is different. Also, at top tier, the only real threat to any T series is the Leo 2A7s/Strv-122s. The rest either lacks hull armor, mobility or their profiles are big enough to be troublesome. As a whole, even 3BM42 is capable to deal with almost any NATO hull from 10.0 onwards.
9.7 was extremely fun. 10.3 was remotely tolerable. I strongly believe putting some sort of restrictions on premiums would immediately up the win rates across all nations. (However, we both know Gaijin wouldn’t do that)
I find CAS to be a hit or miss. Sometimes it gets me, other times I rarely see an aircraft above the battlefield. Thankfully, the next major update introduces some well needed SPAA options, finally creating some breathing air for ground-only lineups.
I’m also really hoping the T14 finally adds some variation to Russian ground, as playing nearly the same exact tank with the same exact weaknesses makes for an extremely bland and repetitive gameplay loop.
Overall, I find the T-series tanks to be amazing brawlers, but unforunately they immediately start getting dunked on by NATO tanks as soon as the engagement distance crosses 600 meters.
I know it sounds hella counterintuitive, but you need to know how to angle yourself to make your armor as trolly as possible, and guesstimate which situations you can make the most.
While I do agree with you, don’t forget that the T-80 is extremely nimble without its ERA. Getting shot in the tracks or anywhere without ERA will most likely one shot you on the spot.
I don’t like making comparions either, but I feel that russians have fallen behind greatly on the tank side of things. While the different doctrines that dictate tank design greatly differ and therefore make huge differences in the survivability of tanks, I still believe that russian vehicles have an extremely slim chance of winning without CAS being there to support them mainly due to their lack of crew survivability.
Trust me t14 would be probably much more frustrating to play due to almost non-existent Armor on the turret its turret was designed to Barely survive a 30mm sabot rounds so I’m pretty sure that artillery in game would be able to damage or straight up destroy the breach
There is less you can pull off in T series, the spots that favor low profile tanks over NATO are very few and are usually hard to realize deadspace areas on the map that most people won’t even be able to recognize as being in cover, and you still have to deal with bad reverse in those spots.
Off the top of my head on poland C cap around the outskirts there is some deadspace areas that look like you are completely out in the open but actually invisible in a T series, whereas it wont work in a higher profile tank. And honestly the lower profile is completely cucked by having a giant dshka sticking up, thankfully most players are too ignorant to carry around HE.
I also don’t know why people say they are good brawlers, closer you are the easier it is to breach/lfp whatever weakspot, and the most important thing for brawling is reaction time, your gun handling kneecaps your reaction time in these tanks, your ability to reposition quicky to a threat rear/side aspect is kneecapped by your reverse/turning speed, I do not like brawling in these at all. If I want to play a good brawling tank i’ll just play a light tank like the 2s38 that can handle 1vX has great reaction times and the only way to push a light tank like that is to fly around the corner as fast as possible and pray you get your shot off before he disables your gun or hits your ammo.
IDK how many times I’ve been in a t series in an urban map, took a shot at some guy pushing me, then immedietely got pushed by someone peaking around a corner 3rd person behind me or to my side and slower reload coupled with not being able to move the gun around fast enough means im cooked. Sure if its fast enough it wont matter what MBT you are in but I’ve had plenty of times where I just need a little more turret rotation and I would have got a shot in.
