For instance the M1A2 only has 72mm of steel and 64mm of composite on the turret side, giving ~190 mm LOS of KE protection. The SEPv3 has marginally better protection with 280mm giving ~300mm LOS of KE protection.
The consequence is that they can be ammo racked from 30* off angle from the front.
The 2A5 series of Leopards and up have 35mm and 45mm of steel with 230mm of composite. Despite having less composite than the SEPv3, it offers 340mm of LOS KE protection. The consequence of which is that while even the SEPv3 has ~560mm of protection on 30* off angle ammo rackable shots, the 2A5 series and up has ~670mm on off angle shots past the turret cheeks.
I don’t play ground much and have just recently been playing top tier ground with my M1A2 and Strv 122, and the difference in protection especially with spall liners is palpable.
On the subject, the Leclerc has the biggest side arrays in game with 80mm of steel and 250mm of composite, yet offers the worst protection at only 181mm on the side. What’s up with that???
I think gameplay that has the tanks working in their natural habitat, behind defilade with just the turret exposed should be incentivized over the CQC hold W gameplay, so tanks should have very strong turrets. It’s a shame that so many are made of paper at top tier.
I think some vehicles should have their gameplay changed. Gaijin loves finding excuses and making stuff up, so I think the Leclercs should have their time to be the most heavily armored tanks at top tier. Give them lots of spall liners, and have the most liberal estimates for their composite multiplers. Give them like Strv 122 levels of protection. They have the worst top tier rounds, with the worst CAS options. It’d be completely fair.