A1A1 can easily fight this? It has better soft stats in general with a gun that can pen the t72
I wouldnt say easily. Cards were stacked against A1A1 (as nowadays A1A1 cant naturally face TURMS unless its uptiered to 9.3).
A1A1 had marginally better mobility (19.6 hp/t vs. 18.1 hp/t, which is what, 8% increase?), reverse speed, gun depression and slightly better zoom on optics. And yeah, faster reload if aced (my 150lvl german crew with Expert qualification gets reload time down to 7.1s, which is exactly the same as TURMS).
TURMS had better shell, thermals, LRF. Reload time thats not dependent on loader skill (or loader being alive).
At mid to long range engagements, TURMS would likely spot A1A1 first due to thermals, and woulkd likely fire first due to LRF.
Not to mention the armor advantage being heavily in favor of TURMS, as DM23 was unable to penetrate most of the TURMS UFP and turret, with usuall exceptions like drivers viewport and mantlet. Compare that to the protection A1A1 offered against 3BM42 and…yeah.
Could A1A1 win against TURMS? Yes, but it wasnt due to tank qualities but due to player.
A1A1 in uptiers against TURMS required specific playstyle during which was A1A1 at disadvantage the entire time, not to mention it was heavily map dependent. You cant exactly fight the ridgeline and flank the TURMS on map like Advance to Rhine.