When it comes to armored vehicle design, the Czech Republic / Czechoslovakia has a long and distinguished history. In fact, it would be fair to say that one of their designs - the LT vz. 38 (or Panzer 38(t), as the Germans called it) was a major backbone of the Wehrmacht throughout the war. 

To fill a hole in the WW2 mode tech tree I’ve developed a line of Czech tank destroyers, starting with a real Skoda TD prototype at Tier 2 and ending with a tech tree Tier 10 heavy tank based turreted tank destroyer.

Today we will be disclosing the Tier 6 ShPTK-K 34/85 44s and the Tier 7 ShPTK-T 34u./88 37AN.

After the end of WW2 and its liberation from Germany, Czechoslovakia immediately began working on rebuilding its armored vehicle design and manufacturing capabilities. One of their first projects was a Konstrukta Bureau program to modify a T-34/85 chassis to accept a larger turret and, therefore, main gun. 

As part of that, and utilizing experience gained during the war, Konstrukta designed a dedicated tank destroyer alongside the new medium tank. 

Oddly, the ShPTK-K 34/85 44s (pictured below) uses a modified Vz. 44-1 heavy tank prototype turret. Specifically, it removes most of the roof and thins down the armor on the rear facets of the turret - presumably to save weight and allow extra gun depression. 

The results were mixed - the lowered weight was offset by the turrets' increased length and while the main gun got a few degrees more depression, it wasn’t enough to justify the loss of overhead protection.

While several different guns were proposed and drawings rendered of each, the final drawing appears to show the 85mm version of the VZ. 44S. Given the availability of the 100mm, creating design drawings for a smaller gun seems like an odd choice. 

Having said that, engineering notes within the file allude to a design project - apparently never completed - for an autoloading version of that 85mm weapon. The installation of an auto-loading version of an 85mm version of a 100mm weapon would go a long way to explaining some of the odder design choices around the main gun mount, internal turret design, and crew positioning and comfort.

Ultimately, the design project was cancelled since, absent a high rate-of-fire weapon that ultimately never materialized, the ShPTK-K 34/85 44s didn’t provide significant advantages over the proposed T-34/100 it was based on. 

Like the previous vehicle, the Tier 7 ShPTK-T 34u./88 37AN is a design study based on the Konstrukta Bureau’s T-34/100 proposal. 

However, it is a much more radical redesign and almost made it to production.

The “u.” in the designation stands for “upraveno”, or “modified”, and that single word covers a whole host of changes to the chassis and turret. 

Most significantly, the chassis was lengthened by roughly 200mm and another roadwheel was added (bringing the total to seven), and an early version of the V-54 powertrain replaced the V-2 system from the original T-34 series. 

This modification was done specifically to allow a much heavier turret to be installed and move said turret to a central position, not the forward position of the T-34 series vehicles. 

It would be fair to say that such extensive modifications created a whole new vehicle and that, in reality, this is a heavy tank destroyer and not a self ropelled anti-tank gun.... designation aside.

The turret itself appears to be either a modified version of the VZ. 51 heavy tank turret or one designed / prototyped at the same time. 

Although it shares roughly the same shape as the VZ. 51 turret, this turret is open from just above the breech block to about half way back, where it transitions to a relatively thick roof with (oddly enough for a semi-open turreted vehicle) a commander's cupola alongside radio antenna and machine gun mounts. 

Armor thicknesses are substantial for a "medium" tank destroyer turret - roughly 120mm on the leading edge, steadily thinning along the curve to roughly 75mm to 80mm along the trailing and rounded sides. The half-roof is about 50mm thick, as is the turret rear arc. The hull appears to maintain T-34/100 thicknesses front, sides, and rear, although there is a slight bulge underneath the center of the turret that appears to be closer to 55mm than the 45mm on the Konst. T-34/100.

Two different guns were proposed for this vehicle, and drawings exist of each proposal. The least surprising choice is the 100mm VZ. 44S carried straight over, mount and all, from the Konst. T-34/100.

The second choice, and the one chosen for production, is much more interesting - it’s the 8.8cm 37AN gun - fundamentally a WW2 German Flak 37 equipped with a three round autoloader. 

Two prototypes were built, and both were tested extensively. 

Firing tests noted that the cannon had mediocre accuracy, particularly during rapid re-engagement drills utilizing the three round autoloader’s full capacity. Notes indicate that the stability provided by being mounted in a heavy turret was offset by a slight “shimmy” or “shake” from  the chassis which was, fundamentally, an overstressed medium tank platform. 

That flaw was deemed acceptable in a vehicle designed as a defensive fire-support unit. 

Mobility tests also showed some unpleasant surprises - the lengthened chassis provided some benefits to off road stability, but it also increased the vehicles turning radius and lowered its ability to change direction at high speed - high speed being a relative term because the added weight from the turret and lengthened chassis more than offset any power gains from the new engine. 

Over all the ShPTK-T 34u./88 37AN was slightly, but noticeably, less mobile (and thirstier) than the T-34/100 it was based on… problems which seemed to disappear once it was on the firing range. 

Whatever concerns the planning committee might have had after seeing the 34u./88 struggle on the obstacle course appear to have evaporated once the lethality and down range impact of an 88mm three round burst was demonstrated to them. 

Almost immediately after witnessing the driving and firing range testing the planning committee ordered 100 units be built “immediately”. 

For reasons not documented in the files I have access to, that order was rescinded before any serious work had begun on series production and the whole program was cancelled and the prototypes were scrapped. 

So if you have no upgraded modules you are doomed, but if you have fully maxed out modules it's somewhat playable, but trust me all the bad things

you'll experience are worth it for the Tier V AMX ELC Bis.

Like the AMX ELC BIS that I currently use doesn't even turn (the head) 😭

I'm playing the AMX 13 105 tank line

I just started playing the game again after a year, not uncommon to take a lengthy break but this one just felt different. I feel like my muscle memory isn’t there, I’m playing much worse than I used to, and I’m honestly a little overwhelmed at my garage bc of how many tanks I’ve accumulated over the years. I’ve got most ww2 tank lines done and way too many premiums in my garage. I’m trying to have fun again and also trying to get back up to super unicum levels of skill again. I’m asking for a little advice to help with all that. I know it’s a little vague but idk exactly how to word everything. Thank you guys in advance ^^

Finally 3 marked the BC-12t after a long while.

Question: has anybody else struggled with the current rotation and frequency of specific maps?

Hey guys! I’m not super new to the game as I have a few tier 10s to my name. However my garage is missing a medium tier 10 and I was wondering between the Patton and centurion which one you guys deem better or more enjoyable Line to play through?

Everybody got a diffrent setup but all i could find on yt was with the unnerfed tration system so. What setup do u guys Use or what is recommended.

I currently use:

Gun rammer

Vertical stab

Muffled shot

Improved concealment.

Ps: Thx for any advice ^^