M1A2T = SEP V2 - TUSK??? Is gaijin joking? The U.S. does not export any M1s equipped with depleted uranium armor, so why is their armor the same??? When will they stop buffing a country that boasts false weapon data and start adding correct equipment data for other countries?
I’m pretty sure the armor configuration in game is based on export armor so most of them get copy paste armor. There have been documented armor improvements in the turret but no one knows what changed and by how much, meaning Gaijin won’t change anything. As for the turret ring, it needs volumetric but it requires tweaking the model and for Gaijin that takes a while.
Depleted Uranium can be substituted by different materials to achieve high levels of protection too.
There aren’t many countries which utilize DU in their composites, yet they still achieve high levels of protection in their domestic tank designs.
Clearly DU is not a necessity, my guess it that it’s a matter of convenience due to the US employing dozens of nuclear reactors, which grants a ready supply of DU.
Tungsten alloys are often used as an alternative, but as far as I recall it’s quite costly.
One only invests without regard for cost when it’s for their own use, right? If the depleted uranium armor removed from the export version M1 is replaced by other materials for protection, the Americans will either develop a new generation of tanks or continue upgrading their own tank armor. Export and domestic versions must maintain a significant difference to prevent enemies from finding weaknesses.
Oh trust me, costs are most certainly a concern for the domestic Abrams variants as well.
One of the most primary concerns throughout the Abrams’ program history was and still is affordability.
Both export and domestic armour solution evolve and improve over time.