Supertest: Changes to SPGs and Vehicles with HE Shells

What Will Be Tested During the Supertest?

Please note: The Supertest is a closed test where preliminary tests of vehicles require fine-tuning and verification of the effectiveness of balance changes that are carried out.

On May 18, the following nine vehicles will go to the Supertest:

In addition, we will test the system changes to damage per shot of AP shells for all SPGs, as well as selective improvements to particular vehicles. After being tested in the Supertest and adjusted accordingly, the suggested changes will most likely be added to the first Common Test of Update 1.13, and everyone will be able to check them.

Changes to Vehicles With HE Shells

T49

For 152 mm Gun-Launcher XM81 (conventional), decreased gun dispersion from 0.6 to 0.57
For 152 mm Gun-Launcher XM81 (conventional), decreased dispersion on the XM551 test bed turret traverse from 0.38 to 0.35

XM551 Sheridan

For 152 mm Gun-Launcher XM81 (conventional), decreased gun dispersion from 0.53 to 0.51
For 152 mm Gun-Launcher XM81 (conventional), decreased dispersion on the XM551 test bed turret from 0.4 to 0.35

High-tier American light tanks currently have high damage per shot for their type and an extremely small chance to hit the target accurately.

The suggested changes will help to reduce the time required for making an accurate shot. And we believe that this will be just enough to take advantage of the new mechanics of causing damage with HE shells. Either use your patience and cunning, or be bold and try your luck behind enemy lines!

Type 5 Heavy

For 15 cm/45 41st Year Type, increased penetration of the Common Type 91 shell from 240 to 252
For 15 cm/45 41st Year Type, decreased gun dispersion from 0.5 to 0.47
For 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type, decreased gun dispersion from 0.4 to 0.38

Type 4 Heavy

For 15 cm/45 41st Year Type, increased penetration of the Common Type 91 shell from 240 to 252
For 15 cm/45 41st Year Type, decreased gun dispersion from 0.52 to 0.49
For 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type, decreased gun dispersion from 0.42 to 0.4

These steel Japanese beasts stand out for their toughness, slowness, and relentlessness. Everyone knows what to expect from their HE shells—an accurate shot will bring bad news for the enemy and success for your team. Now we are planning to slightly increase the expected effectiveness of their armor-piercing shells for the 15 cm gun. Their armor penetration will allow them to perform better in close-range encounters.

The Common Type 91 AP shell has been added to the existing HE and Premium HE shell selections for the 15 cm/45 41st Year Type gun on the Type 4 and 5 Heavy tanks as part of overall changes to HE shell mechanics.

In addition, we will adjust their accuracy so that in close combat, when looking down on the weak spots of opponents who are much smaller than they are, these vehicles will be able to fire both HE and AP shells more accurately.

KV-2/KV-2 (R)

Increased the V-5 engine power from 600 to 640
For 152 MM М-10, decreased aiming time from 4.0 to 3.8
Increased the KV-2 MOD. 1941 traverse speed from 18 to 20
Decreased dispersion during movement of KV-2 MOD. 1941 from 0.28 to 0.26
Decreased dispersion on hull traverse of KV-2 MOD. 1941 from 0.28 to 0.26
Increased the МТ-2 traverse speed from 16 to 17
For 122 MM U-11, 152 MM М-10, and 107 MM ZIS-6 guns, decreased dispersion on the МТ-2 turret traverse from 0.16 to 0.15

The Soviet steel giant and its Imperial Guard version can do a lot without demanding much in return. In the discussion of each of the Sandboxes related to HE shells, the feedback on the KV-2 and its counterpart was the central theme. These vehicles are popular and dear to the heart of every tanker.

The statistics showed that no significant changes in their efficiency were introduced. The difference in the values of damage caused during the first test of HE shells with the live server was less than 6%. During the second test, this difference was even narrower, and almost halved to 3%. Your feedback and survey results prove the importance of this vehicle for many players.

To preserve its uniqueness, we will make small changes to improve its gameplay and keep its battle performance level with the current one on the live server.

Wheeled Vehicles

Panhard EBR 105

For 105 mm D. 1504 (EBR), decreased penetration of the OE-105-Mle. 60 D. 1504 (EBR) shell from 105 mm to 75 mm

Panhard EBR 90/Panhard AML Lynx 6x6

For 90 MM CN 90 F3, 90 MM D. 921 F1, and 90 MM D. 921 guns, decreased penetration of the OE shell from 90 mm to 75 mm

Out of all the vehicles listed above, wheeled vehicles showed the greatest change in the firing effectiveness of their HE shells. This was due to a number of factors—the gun accuracy and stabilization, plus the speed and maneuverability of the vehicles themselves.

This increase in performance proved to be excessive and requires fixing. To avoid increasing the effectiveness of wheeled vehicles, we will test the reduction of the HE shell armor penetration for all researchable vehicles. 75 mm penetration should become a standard for the entire branch.

Artillery

Within the Supertest, SPGs will receive two directions of change:

The increased damage of AP shells. According to the statistics of particular vehicles (mostly heavy SPGs with high-caliber guns), the result of hitting and causing damage did not correspond to the effort expended. It is hard to time the shot and hit the target with an AP shell when driving the Т92 or G.W. E 100. Such efforts should be rewarded. Therefore, as a part of testing, we will improve damage per shot of AP shells for a number of SPGs to make their effectiveness correspond to other vehicles of their type.
Some SPGs will receive a small reduction in damage for AP and alternative shells as an adjustment to their effectiveness. These small changes should keep the vehicle effectiveness at an appropriate level. For example, for the 155 mm shells from the American SPG branch (M12, M40/M43, and M53/M55), the damage value for alternative and AP shells will be decreased by 50 HP and 30 HP respectively.

What About Other Vehicles?

In addition to the specified changes, there are a number of other vehicles that can be considered vehicles with HE-based gameplay. For example, the Polish B.U.G.I., FV4005, and some Sherman variants.

Based on analysis of the data collected during the Sandbox tests and on the live server, we can now say that no changes are required for them. There are a number of reasons for this: either their effectiveness has not changed, or the share of HE shell damage is excessively small in the total damage caused by a particular vehicle.

Such a complex change of in game mechanics affects almost all aspects of the game. It therefore requires close examination in the Supertests of particular vehicles, as well as all vehicles in the Common Test.

We will continue to analyze after we deliver Update 1.13 in June, so please be aware that further tweaks and adjustments are likely.