History
T57 HT
A project of a heavy tank with an oscillating turret and automatic loading, developed from 1951. Experimental turrets for 120-mm and 155-mm guns were manufactured by 1957. However, the project was deemed unsuccessful and development was discontinued.
AMX 50 B
Developed starting in 1951 by DEFA, the state weapons design bureau. By 1958, the AMX 50 B had received a number of improvements, including a low-profile cast hull and torsion-bar suspension. A new oscillating turret with a 120-mm gun was also mounted on the vehicle. Despite the fact that the Maybach engine power provided just 1,000 horsepower, specialists from the German Gruppe M company were looking for a solution that would allow the vehicle to reach a speed of up to 65 km/h. Only one finished prototype of this variant was built.
Firepower
In terms of firepower, the T57 clearly has the advantage over the AMX 50 B, with a damage per minute of 556 extra damage. This is due to the superior reload time of the T57 HT, which is 4.8s faster than the AMX 50 B at only 22.93s (with Brothers in Arms perk and Ventilation), whereas the AMX 50 B has a reload time of 27.52s (with Brothers in Arms perk and Ventilation). It is really outstanding for its amazing burst and damage per minute potential. To add insult to injury, the inter-clip reload of the T57 HT is only 2s, while the AMX 50 B has a 0.5s longer reload at 2.5s.
However, the AMX 50 B has greater effective staying power at 56 rounds of ammo (if you manage to stay alive till the end, of course). You will never – or seldom – encounter the problem of lack of ammo in the AMX 50 B, compared to only 36 rounds of ammo in the T57 HT. There were a few times that I have nearly run out of ammo in the T57 HT in Random Battles. With the short reload time of the T57 HT, you can even unload 1 or 2 shots and get back to cover before starting your reload to keep the enemy guessing on the number of shells you have left. Use the fast reload time to your advantage. With proper management and timing of your reload, you will be wrecking the enemy.
Weapon Handling
What the AMX 50 B lacks in terms of firepower compared to the T57 HT, it makes up for in spades with its superior weapon handling. With a better aim time of 2.4s, dispersion of 0.18 for moving and tank traversal, and a dispersion of 0.10 for turret traversal, the AMX 50 B will shoot and aim faster in every way. Even though the accuracy of both tanks are the same at 0.34, the AMX 50 B excels in a second-line support tank/sniper role. This is also due to its 2.5s inter-clip reload time.
In contrast, The T57 HT is better at brawling because of its weaker weapon handling. Getting closer to the enemy will make sure that the longer aim time and dispersion is negated somewhat. This is where the 2s inter-clip reload comes in handy, allowing you to unload all 4 shells in 6s. With regard to the gold ammo that both tanks carry, the T57 HT uses HEAT shells, as compared to the APCR used in the AMX 50 B. This makes the AMX 50 B more lethal when engaging tanks with spaced armour.
Movement
Once again, the AMX 50 B excels in nearly every way compared to the T57 HT in movement. The AMX 50 B is 30km/h faster than the T57 HT at 65km/h, making it one of the most flexible heavy tanks in game. It is even faster than some Tier 10 mediums – speed is the AMX 50 B’s greatest strength. Being able to relocate is a very valuable asset, something the T57 HT lacks.
The reverse speed of the AMX 50 B is also much better than the T57 HT’s, coming in at 20km/h. This makes the AMX 50 B better at taking a shot or two and quickly reversing out to avoid getting hit. This will help in preserving its health. For the T57 HT, it’s inferior in this aspect as it only has 12km/h reversing speed, and coupled with a longer aim time of its gun, I normally try to unload all 4 shots before reversing out of the way.
Armour & Health
Getting back into the game, the T57 HT has more armour compared to the AMX 50 B. Still, the T57 HT is not really bouncy when shot by other Tier 10 tanks. You can get some bounces when angled, of course. However, the armor is unreliable at best. Obviously its strength is not its armour, though you still can pull off some miracle bounces.
It’s more or less the same with the AMX 50 B. Having less armour, it can still pull off bounces if angled right because of its sharp slope on the upper hull. But with both tanks, their armour is not to be relied upon to save your skin.
Conclusion
So there you have it – both tanks’ strengths and weaknesses are laid out. Which one is more suitable for you? My advice would be to get both, as both are equally good after the balancing of both tanks, and each excels in a certain style of play. The T57 HT now excels at brawling and being right up there near the frontline of the battle, whereas the AMX 50 B excels at sniping and providing support from further away. Both tanks’ strengths can be summed up as below:
T57 HT
- Better armour
- Better damage per minute
- Better inter-clip reload
AMX 50 B
- Better movement
- Better weapon handling
- More ammo
- Gold ammo is APCR
Either way, you would not regret grinding to either one of these forces of destruction!
