Vehicle: Sherman III/IV BR Change: 3.7 → 4.0 or 4.3 (GRB) Reason: It has the best Sherman hull and engine, yet sits at the same BR as the slower and weaker M4, M4A1s, and M4A4s. While BR 2.7 tanks still have a chance against the M4, M4A1, and M4A4 with their numerous frontal weakspots, they have no real options against a Sherman III/IV. It is much more comparable to the M4A2, but sacrificing the addon armor and .50 for a higher horsepower engine and wet ammo stowage.
The M4, M4A1, and M4A4 all have large weakspots on the hull that are easy to target in case the sherman is angling, but the III/IV is able to angle care-free. The III/IV also uniquely has the late type uparmored final drive housing, preventing the easy transmission kills that can be dealt to the other shermans at 3.7. The 500 horsepower engine provides a notable boost in mobility as well, giving the III/IV a decisive edge against the other shermans at this BR (especially the M4A4s and M4A1s).
The combination of stabilizer, powerful gun, good mobility, good ammo layout, and strong armor come together to make an extremely effective tank. It is much more comparable to the slower and tougher M4A2 or the M4A1 (75) W with its very nice turret and late-type cast hull.
If the M4 and M4A4 are moved to 4.0, the Sherman III/IV would be more at home at 4.3 think. If the other shermans remain 3.7, then this should not go passed 4.0.
Vehicle: M26, M26A1 (all nations) BR Change: 6.7 → 6.3 (GRB) Reason: While the 90mm is good, it struggles frontally vs many other 6.7 vehicles while also struggling to flank like a medium either due to its heavy-like mobility. It does not belong at the same BR as the T26E1-1, M26E1, and T26E5 that have the armor or firepower to compete at 6.7. The T-44 has the mobility and armor to force itself into positions to make the 85mm gun work while the Centurion Mk 2 has a full stabilizer(!) and APDS to work around. The Type 61 and ST-A3 have better mobility and HEAT-FS.
Compared to the ST-A1 and ST-A2 at 6.3, the M26 would have much stronger armor while the Japanese tanks would maintain their much better mobility and their HEAT-FS.
Vehicle: T25 BR Change: 6.3 → 6.0 (GRB) Reason: Decent gun and reverse speed, but mediocre otherwise. It would be more appropriate at 6.0, giving space for the M26 Pershing to move down too.
This tank is quite comparable to the ST-A1 and ST-A2 as they use the same gun, have armor that’s only effective against underpowered guns, and having good reverse speeds and gun depression. The ST-A1 and ST-A2 are fine at 6.3 thanks to their greater mobility and HEAT-FS allowing them to be very adaptable. The T25 at 6.3 finds itself in a much more precarious position, not quite having the mobility to outmaneuver its foes nor enough armor to do much that its Japanese peers cannot. It would feel more at home at 6.0 alongside the M4/T26 and Tiger 1 E. The M4/T26 is slightly less sluggish and has a stronger turret to work with in exchange for worse speed limits and poor reverse speed. The Tiger 1 E would be very comparable to the T25. The T25 would have better depression and penetration while the Tiger has the brutal Pzgr. shell and better side armor.
Vehicle: AS90 BR Change: 7.0 → 7.3 or 7.7 (GRB) Reason: While this lacks the LRF of the PzH 2000, it still has the same incredibly oppressive fire rate paired with extremely high shell velocity. Both the shell velocity and reload rate set it apart from the other SPGs at this BR. Most of the others at this BR or the BRs above it have a 7.5 second reload at best. While its turret traverse is not exactly fast, it’s still slightly better than most of its peers.
This should only move up to 7.7 if the PzH 2000 is also moved up
Vehicle: PzH 2000 (all nations) BR Change: 7.7 → 8.0 or 8.3 (GRB) Reason: This is a menace of a SPG. Its combination of an insanely fast reload, LRF, massive damage, and high shell velocity allow it to completely shut down parts of a map. It’s just rough being in a slow WW2 relic trying to go up against a monster like this. It’s a more refined AS90 and is oppressive for all the same reasons and more.
This post here lays out a number of possible buffs that could be given to the PzH 2000 to ease its transition into a more suitable, higher battlerating.
Vehicle: Chi-Nu II BR Change: 4.3 → 4.0 (GRB) Reason: Basically just a late model Pz IV with even less armor and uncapped APHE, but you get a lot more explosive filler. Its current position is less problematic now that the Pz IV seems to be going up, but the Chi-Nu II still feels more like 4.0 material.
The gun is quite potent with its high pen and large HE filler, but the shells are uncapped and can be fickle as a result. You have no armor to work with at all and your mobility is quite mediocre, leaving this to run as a pure sniper or support tank.
The Pz IV H does not have as much explosive filler, but its armor can give it lucky bounces and allow it to bully some weaker tanks and its capped shell is much more dependable. The Pz IV also does not store any ammo in the turret, aiding its survivability. The sideskirts on the Pz IV are also quite good against many of the howitzer tanks and HEAT you will face at this BR.
Overall, these two tanks are fairly equal to eachother and should sit at the same battle rating.
Sd.Kfz.234/2: 3.7 up to 4.0, and make it Rank III.
Many players take this as high as 6.3 as their light tank. It’s one of those vehicles that has a decent gun no matter what BR it’s in and Rank III would make it viable for events.
Vehicle: Chi-Ri BR Change: 5.7 → 5.0 (GRB) Reason: Sure, it has an autoloader, but it doesn’t actually reload much faster than any other tank. It is still stuck with the same uncapped ammo from the same gun as the Chi-Nu II and struggles massively in uptiers. It has little hope of performing at all when it is the size of a barn, has merely average mobility, poor armor, and a relatively weak gun. There just really isn’t anything going for this tank currently. The Chi-Ri exists for its high RoF, high damage gun. If that doesn’t work, this tank doesn’t work.
While I feel this is more of a sidegrade to the Chi-To than anything, dropping this to 5.0 would still be a massive help. In a full uptier, its gun would still be something that other tanks need to worry about. In a full downtier, its large size and weak armor would still leave it vulnerable to crafty enemies. Even its RoF wouldn’t be too oppressive as it is only half a second faster than the Sherman’s 75mm.
It is superior to the Cromwell V thanks to the shoulder stab, rate of fire, and penetration. The BR increase would be further justified once my bug report on the 6-Pdr is implemented. It should have the 6-Pdr Mk V which would improve penetration. There is also the option to add the missing 6-Pdr APCR and APDS ammo.
