U.S. tanks are getting weaker the higher I get (BR 3.3-6.7), what I'm doing wrong?

[Cabal]

Hello folks,

I've experienced some heavy drawbacks using U.S. tanks in the given BR. I think I'm doing something massively wrong.

The first opposing and indestructible killer tank I got to know is the T-34 (BR ~3.0) which has been replaced by literally every german Tiger tank in BR 5.3-5.7.

These guys feel indestructible, have powerful ammo and are very mobile. The U.S. feel like this:

Weak armor (I get mostly killed with one shot from every angle), weak ammo (need minimum 2-4 shots to kill T-34's and especially Tigers... nobody has this time or the chance to take so many shots while one shot from them pop you) and a bad mobility (slow driving, turning... etc.)

How to utilize my tanks in an urban environment and other terrains and increase my survival? I feel so massively underpowered.

My brain can't figure out any advantages over such massive disadvantage these U.S. tanks have. I felt this the most at BR 3.3 which got worse at BR 5.3-5.7 now.

EDIT: I'm at 6.7 know and nothing has changed.
EDIT: 7.3 and nothing really changed as well.

Greetings,
Cab

[Toblm]

Utilize the mobility and stabilizers on most US tanks to get in advantageous positions such that you dont need to count on the dubious protection of your armor and can make effective side shots.

As for 2-4 shots, if you are using an AP flavored round that isnt surprising. Raw pen isnt the only aspect of a round one needs to account for. M61 and M62 rounds with filler are important to use when you know they will pen, they are much more likely to get a 1 shot.

[L127-49]

Thats the tier system.

Gaijin wants you to believe it puts tanks of similar performance against one another.

It doesn't. I'm not sure what 'performance' means in Gaijin-speak.

It also doesn't account for the MASSIVE discrepancy between player experience levels and tank upgrades. You can be in any particular tank and a level 100 player with hundreds of hours playtime can be in the same tank and the outcome is almost always predictable.

You'll have a tough time as the Yanks but if you can find a battle rank you can enjoy playing at I'd just play that rank.

CAS (close air support) has gotten ridiculous at higher BR anyhow and with the addition of drones Gaijin has further ♥♥♥♥-the-bed so to speak.

Try angling so that your tanks have the most armor and components between you and the enemy without sacrificing your crew. Hint: sometimes this may mean driving in reverse!

Best of luck to you,
L1

[Dead]

well, what do you expect? American WWII tanks are perhaps the worst mass-produced tanks during the II conflict.

Try flanking your opponents, taking advantage of the mobility of vehicles such as M18 and similar models, or try to memorize where to shoot to inflict as much damage as possible. However, don't expect to ever challenge a Tiger / Panther or, worse, an IS-1/2 head-on

[Ihatetrainyards]

Originally posted by Cabal:

Hello folks,

I've experienced some heavy drawbacks using U.S. tanks in the given BR. I think I'm doing something massively wrong.

The first opposing and indestructible killer tank I got to know is the T-34 (BR ~3.0) which has been replaced by literally every german Tiger tank in BR 5.3-5.7.

These guys feel indestructible, have powerful ammo and are very mobile. The U.S. feel like this:

Weak armor (I get mostly killed with one shot from every angle), weak ammo (need minimum 2-4 shots to kill T-34's and especially Tigers... nobody has this time or the chance to take so many shots while one shot from them pop you) and a bad mobility (slow driving, turning... etc.)

How to utilize my tanks in an urban environment and other terrains and increase my survival? I feel so massively underpowered.

My brain can't figure out any advantages over such massive disadvantage these U.S. tanks have. I felt this the most at BR 3.3 which got worse at BR 5.3-5.7 now.

Greetings,
Cab

US is particularly bad at 5.7 and gets outclassed by germany in literally everything on top of getting screwed over by gaijin constantly (t25 being 6.3 instead of 5.7, Pershing vs Panther, Jumbo at 6.3 etc).
Urban maps are your best bet with US 5.7 lineups, the stabilizer practically ensures first shot so use that to snipe destroy gunbarrels or gunners, then machine gun the tracks if you can't reload in time before they reverse behind cover.
Non-urban maps like Kuban I guess you would sit behind hills and use your binoculars to check behind hills and peek during a good opportunity.
In hueg maps like Kursk and Maginot there's practically nothing you can do besides praying for a painless death.

If possible at all I recommend you queue in a squad with a german player so you get matched against soviet tanks (I used this trick when grinding 5.7, made my life a lot easier).

[Ihatetrainyards]

Originally posted by Dead:

well, what do you expect? American WWII tanks are perhaps the worst mass-produced tanks during the II conflict.

Try flanking your opponents, taking advantage of the mobility of vehicles such as M18 and similar models, or try to memorize where to shoot to inflict as much damage as possible. However, don't expect to ever challenge a Tiger / Panther or, worse, an IS-1/2 head-on

Nah mate, statistically american tanks were the best, Unfortunately this game just doesn't take into account a lot of the features that made american tanks so good and soviet/german tanks so bad.

[Zodee]

it will be even better when later on the other nation will have the upgraded version of american tank such as the italian m47-105

[Cyber7even]

You just bad, sherman is a best WW2 medium tank in the game

[Ihatetrainyards]

Originally posted by Cyber7even:

You just bad, sherman is a best WW2 medium tank in the game

Laughs in Panther A

[Cryptid]

I'm really am glad i didn't bother moving past 7.0 with US tanks, with the exception of very few like the AGS.. US tanks are just fodder.

[Space Marine]

The US M4A1, M4 and M4A2 Shermans (3.3, 3.7 and 4.0, respectively) are pretty good. You have a good speed, good armor if you angle a bit and best of all a stabilizer. Those 3 Shermans are deadly in good hands, and you'll be able to pen most enemies you face. If you do end up in a fight head on, the first shot decides where you live or die.

Up to 5.3 to 5.7 is a bit tough. The 76mm Shermans are pretty good, has good firepower and the stabilizer as well, but you'll face a lot of enemies where you can have a hard time defeating, such as Panthers and Tigers. Different from the previous lineup, you really can't fight head on with a 76mm Sherman, so your best choice is to flank and shoot weakspots.

The Tank Destroyers are good, the M18, M36 and M36B2 are your solution to long range maps, especially the M36B2 with its HEAT-FS.
The M18 is mostly for flanking and finding good positions before the enemy comes in force.
M36 is almost the same, but it can't spot. The 90mm gun packs a punch and should do wonders against enemy vehicles

The 75mm Jumbo in an actual 5.3 match is a beast. If it gets uptiered, then you lose your advantage, as you'll face a lot of Jagdpanthers, Waffenträgers and King Tigers. You'll basically be playing the regular M4A2, as your armor won't make a difference and your gun won't either. (Note: APCR For Jumbo is GOOD, you can pen the Tiger's hull armor from a safe distance, usually disabling their engines or killing their crew one by one)

[Cabal]

Thanks everyone for helpful hints! I appreciate it!

If a head-on fight errupts, I know I lost and can pretty sure let go of my controls. This weakness (which I accept) makes me go naturally flank these tanks (my only tactic) or attack them from behind... it takes a lot of time driving around.

But even that doesn't yield the desired results either reg. Tigers and T-34s. I checked their protection incl. using certain ammo on these opponents in the analysis but still practically it's almost impossible to destroy them for me.

So if unavoidable head-ons are a no go as well as attacking their sides or even backs giving them a lot of time to turn their disadvantage into a sure kill... what am I here for the moment I spawn in a U.S. tank?

[Ihatetrainyards]

Originally posted by Cabal:

Thanks everyone for helpful hints! I appreciate it!

If a head-on fight errupts, I know I lost and can pretty sure let go of my controls. This weakness (which I accept) makes me go naturally flank these tanks (my only tactic) or attack them from behind... it takes a lot of time driving around.

But even that doesn't yield the desired results either reg. Tigers and T-34s. I checked their protection incl. using certain ammo on these opponents in the analysis but still practically it's almost impossible to destroy them for me.

So if unavoidable head-ons are a no go as well as attacking their sides or even backs giving them a lot of time to turn their disadvantage into a sure kill... what am I here for the moment I spawn in a U.S. tank?

A 76 sherman shouldn't be having any problems against T-34's, are you using the M61 shot or M79?

[Toblm]

Originally posted by Ihatetrainyards:

Originally posted by Cabal:

Thanks everyone for helpful hints! I appreciate it!

If a head-on fight errupts, I know I lost and can pretty sure let go of my controls. This weakness (which I accept) makes me go naturally flank these tanks (my only tactic) or attack them from behind... it takes a lot of time driving around.

But even that doesn't yield the desired results either reg. Tigers and T-34s. I checked their protection incl. using certain ammo on these opponents in the analysis but still practically it's almost impossible to destroy them for me.
S

A 76 sherman shouldn't be having any problems against T-34's, are you using the M61 shot or M79?

Even against Tiger II and even using the M79 the 76mm Shermans are more than capible of side shooting successfully. Unless you have a god awful angle. Though with the M79 you do have to be more careful to hit something worthwhile.

[Rose]

Originally posted by Toblm:

Originally posted by Ihatetrainyards:

A 76 sherman shouldn't be having any problems against T-34's, are you using the M61 shot or M79?

Even against Tiger II and even using the M79 the 76mm Shermans are more than capible of side shooting successfully. Unless you have a god awful angle. Though with the M79 you do have to be more careful to hit something worthwhile.

^^ Tigers, Panthers, Russian ♥♥♥♥ most anything you face you should be able to side pen in 76mm US tanks, filler is important use APHE and tbh I always just avoid AP with no filler it's bad post pen damage

[Dead]

Originally posted by Ihatetrainyards:

Originally posted by Dead:

well, what do you expect? American WWII tanks are perhaps the worst mass-produced tanks during the II conflict.

Try flanking your opponents, taking advantage of the mobility of vehicles such as M18 and similar models, or try to memorize where to shoot to inflict as much damage as possible. However, don't expect to ever challenge a Tiger / Panther or, worse, an IS-1/2 head-on

Nah mate, statistically american tanks were the best, Unfortunately this game just doesn't take into account a lot of the features that made american tanks so good and soviet/german tanks so bad.

Nah man I don't think so, there are clear technical archives even on Wikipedia about the American models of the Second World War.

The same guy designer of the M4 series limited himself to finding as a point of merit of his project that I quote "cheap to mass produce and easily modifiable"