(YouTube video description contains primary source documents)
CONTEXT: The IS-2’s 122mm D-25T cannon firing APHE BR-471 (or APHEBC BR-471B, Peter Samsonov of Tank Archives calls the 471 a “pointed” shell despite the 471B being the capped variant, timestamp 3:19) was capable of penetrating the upper frontal plate of the Tiger II at shell velocities corresponding to 200m range (timestamp 4:16).
IN-GAME: I think it’s clear to many players that the Tiger II has an inherent advantage over the IS-2 1944. Using this historical context, we can allow the IS-2’s 122mm D-25T to barely penetrate the UFP of both Tiger IIs. Whether it’s an adjustment to the shell’s penetration relative to an armor plate’s angle, how much the explosive filler adds to penetration post-kinetic penetration value, or some other means, this can help balance these two vehicles out in combat. While both vehicles would now be vulnerable to each other by the same relative armor area (assuming no angling), the Tiger II still has a much faster reload advantage, so there is no justifiable argument that this would tip the scales and make the IS-2 overpowered.
Would you like to see the 122mm D-25T’s lethality against the Tiger II UFP increase to historical levels?
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Bring it up on the WT forums first if you want caracteristics for shells changed.
As for the 122 beeing able to front pen the KT UFP it might just boil down to armor quality issues degrading the armor and nothing with the 122mm shells. So artificially buffing changing the 122mm should not be the solution.
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That would be perfect if it happens. I actually came across this when I was researching armor test data of the Tiger 2 with Soviet sources.
Putting aside the shortage of rare metals on Germany’s part, the 122mm gun genuinely had the capability to deal with it. In reality, a heavy projectile flying at that speed alone could give tank crew severe concussions and render them combat ineffective, let alone an armor-piercing shell packed with explosive filler.
The big difference between the game and real life is this: in-game, if a shot can’t penetrate, the system simply deals zero damage at all. In reality, even the 122mm HE round could strip off outer plating and concuss or kill the driver and co-driver inside.
If the game adjusted it that way, it’d be great. The 122mm wouldn’t be completely helpless against the Tiger 2 anymore.
We’ll probably have to wait for War Thunder to update its mechanics first though. For now, let’s just push the vote. I think most players would be in favor.
The key is how many people actually vote. I’m gonna copy the poll link, save it in my bookmarks, and keep sharing it to get more votes over time.
There is no photographic evidence that any Tiger II would have ever been frontally penetrated…
Tank Archives is very nice for researching rare Soviet tanks and I have read countless articles from the site, but its so unfathomably biased that its not a source to be used for balance suggestions.
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