The tank destroyer class is something between classic tanks and self-propelled guns. From the former he received tracks, and from the latter he received a powerful and penetrating artillery piece. But in most cases, tank destroyers do not have a rotating turret. This class of combat vehicles is good for defending a base, as well as supporting the main offensive front from the second line.

We have studied absolutely all anti-tank self-propelled artillery units presented at the moment (beginning of May 2016) and are now ready to tell you which of them are the best.

Tier II - T18 (USA) (PS4 and Xbox One only)

One rather funny trick came out with the public's favorite baby T18 not long ago. First, it was transferred to the self-propelled gun class at the end of 2015, and after some time it was completely removed from the PC version of World of Tanks. However, on PS4 and Xbox One the T18 remained unchanged - in the same class and at the same level.

In general, thanks to its frontal armor, as if smelted from repainted mithril, and also thanks to the super-powerful short-barreled high-explosive weapon, this tank destroyer is capable of demoralizing and almost putting to flight any of its “classmates.”

Advantages:

• a gun that takes out everything armored in one or two shots;
• armor in the forehead is almost impossible to penetrate;
• good dynamics coupled with a large mass provide excellent ramming potential.

Flaws:

• review of a measly 240 m,
• weapon accuracy is low.

Level III - Marder II (Germany)

In most cases, the key to success at low levels is high one-time damage and high armor penetration of the gun. “Kunitsa-2” has all this. Let's add to this good camouflage coupled with good dynamics and we get, if not "imba", then a very pleasant car to drive. There is really one fly in the ointment - there is almost no armor, but for experienced players this will not be a problem.

Advantages:

• high-power weapon at level 2,
• wide UGN (horizontal aiming angles),
• high camouflage coefficient,
• good dynamics.

Flaws:

• weak reservation.

• Level IV - Hetzer (Germany)

This little “scarab” is a level 4 thunderstorm. Having “imbalous” frontal armor at level 4, the “Instigator” also has decent weapons. Armed with a howitzer and a full load of “cumulative” ammunition, “classmates” become for us like ducks from Duck Hunt. There is an alternative 75 mm gun, which also has a right to life: unlike the “high explosive”, you don’t lose money on it in terms of silver and at the same time are able to show good results in terms of damage. True, the review let us down - only 260 meters... It’s not even funny...

Advantages:

• thick frontal armor,
• choice of two guns: a 105 mm gun with high damage or a 75 mm gun with a high rate of fire and penetration.
• small dimensions and silhouette contribute to good camouflage.

Flaws:

• weak armor on the sides (20 mm) and stern (8 mm),
• extremely uneven UGN of -5/+15 deg.,
• very poor visibility of 260 meters.

Level V - T67 (USA)

T67 is a tank that combines the features of LT and PT at level 5. From light tanks we got excellent dynamics and, thanks to their small size, high camouflage. Although not the most powerful, the AT gun has a fast reload and rate of fire. True, the ammunition (45 shells) may sometimes be insufficient.

Advantages:

• wonderful dynamics,
• rapid fire gun,
• tower,
• wide UVN (vertical aiming angles) of -10/+20 deg.

Flaws:

• small ammunition,
• very weak reservation.

Tier VI - M18 Hellcat (USA)

At the 6th level is the M18 Hellcat, also known as the “Witch”. Like its predecessor, the T67, it has a slowly rotating turret, which houses an excellent gun with a penetration of 243 mm. It also has high levels of camouflage and dynamics, allowing you to quickly change flanks and shoot enemies without “glowing” at the same time. In general, “Helkat” can be described simply - an improved T67 at level 6 in every way.

Advantages:

• tower;
• a weapon that allows you to fight even 9 levels;
• good mixing and accuracy;
• excellent dynamics;
• high camouflage rates.

Flaws:

• small ammunition,
• "plasterboard" armor.

Level VII - SU-152 (USSR)

SU-152 is a “St. John’s wort”, frightening everyone with its weapon at the 7th level. And there is something to scare, the 152-mm ML-20 gun. If you played on the KV-2, then you know what 152 millimeters are capable of when used correctly. The tactics of use are the same - full ammunition of landmines. True, it will be a little more difficult to play without a tower.

Advantages:

• high one-time damage,
• armored gun mantlet,
• tolerable dynamics.

Flaws:

• thin hull armor,
• small review,
• long recharge.

Level VIII - Rhm.-Borsig Waffenträger (Germany)

The Rhm.-Borsig Waffenträger is distinguished by its compact size, excellent viewing radius, and excellent weapon. The favorite tactic of players on this combat vehicle is to quietly eliminate opponents one by one. The Borshchik's very good camouflage performance helps them in this.

Advantages:

• powerful and fast-firing weapons,
• one of the best camouflage indicators in the game.

Flaws:

• very thin armor,
• narrow UVN,
• mediocre dynamics.

Level IX - Waffenträger auf Pz. IV (Germany)

A good option for hanging “cradles” from an ambush. The Waffentryager is poorly protected, but very, very biting. And also, thanks to its compact dimensions, it hides well in thickets. Therefore, do not skimp on loading his guns with gold shells and just enjoy the game. Just beware of enemy self-propelled guns!

Advantages:

• biting weapon,
• very wide UVN,
• good maximum speed and hull turning ability,
• almost invisible on the battlefield.

Flaws:

• there is simply no armor,
• the ammunition rack is extremely vulnerable.

Level X - ???

Unfortunately, problems arise with identifying a clear leader among tank destroyers at this level. The community simply hasn’t been able to decide for many years which of the level 10 pets in the game is the best. Absolutely all the cars here are good in their own way, they have their significant advantages and some not very significant disadvantages. Therefore, if you have upgraded the tank destroyer branch to the very end, then you will be indispensable in any high-level platoon as a support fighter.

In this review we will present the TOP best tank destroyers in World of Tanks. In our case, we will talk about vehicles that are the most invisible to the enemy and are the best at being camouflaged.

10th place

In tenth place is the M18 Hellcat. This tank destroyer has been nerfed, as you know, it is not as mobile as before, although the speed is still very acceptable when moving forward. But now the Helkat goes back very slowly, and the same applies to turns. But as a “bush” vehicle, this self-propelled gun performs well - it has a high camouflage coefficient, it has a turret, you can easily target enemies. There is a good breakout, especially the gold one. The alpha strike remained the same - 240 - which is quite normal for the sixth level. There is fast mixing and good accuracy. The stabilization is generally not bad, although the developers have nerfed the DPM.

Overall, the Hellcat remains a machine that can shoot well from afar, from the bushes, and rarely lights up, especially at level 6, where opponents have poor vision. Of course, the M18 doesn’t bend like it used to, you won’t be able to have fun driving around, riding and dismantling opponents, but it’s quite possible to attack from cover.

9th place

Despite the fact that the ISU-152 has been in World of Tanks for a long time, it can still bend perfectly due to its gigantic alpha strike of 750 units and good penetration. Accuracy is generally good. Of course, the ISU’s camouflage is not the best, but at level 8 it is quite enough to fire a shot and only then become visible and go for cover. But, because The alpha of the ISU-152 is gigantic, absolutely any enemy will feel this shot.

In general, the ISU is not the most mobile vehicle, with cardboard armor, unless you shoot at the gun mantlet. However, this self-propelled gun remains a powerful vehicle at level 8.

8th place

Object 704 takes 8th place. The vehicle is an improved version of the ISU-152, the gun is the same, with a huge alpha strike, but the DPM is slightly higher, the accuracy is better, and the aiming is faster. In addition, the Object 704 has stronger armor, there are sharp slopes of the armor, so it often results in ricochets and non-penetration. Object 704 - faster than ISU-152, camouflage is also improved. The same applies to the review.

The tactics for the 704th are as follows: we shoot from afar from the bushes, inflict huge damage and roll back to cover.

7th place

Another fast tank destroyer with a turret is the T67. This vehicle at level 5 is famous for its excellent camouflage, turret, good visibility and a gun with high DPM and good penetration. The most successful tactics for the T67 are similar to the previous ones: hide in the bushes, shoot damage, use your excellent speed to drive forward, take a new position, and take out enemies using your excellent air defense weapons and imperceptible camouflage. And no one sees you.

This tank destroyer has such good camouflage that during almost the entire battle it can hide in the bushes and very rarely glow. Enemies stupidly don’t see the T67, and if they do, the speed of the self-propelled gun is quite enough to change position.

6th place

If you don’t want to worry about choosing a tactic, it’s best to take the Object 268. This tank destroyer is quite simple - it leaves, inflicts huge damage on the enemy and drives back. Most often you are in the bushes, waiting for light and dealing damage. This tank destroyer is not boring, it is quite mobile, you can go on the attack, the camouflage is excellent, you can play from cover, while rarely shining and causing a lot of damage. The gun is accurate, with high penetration, high DPM, good accuracy and fast aiming. What else is needed to shoot damage at someone else’s light?

Object 268 is an excellent choice for this purpose.

5th place

We have reached the middle of our TOP of the best tank destroyers in World of Tanks; the SU-122-44 is in fifth place. This tank destroyer has excellent DPM, 3,000 damage per minute for level 7 is a lot. You will be able to dismantle your opponents so quickly that you will be surprised by it. There is also a large alpha strike (390) and generally fast mixing.

Accuracy and average penetration are poor. This tank destroyer is fast, nimble, and you can easily go on the attack and take non-standard positions. Its camouflage is good, although visibility is very poor, so you mainly shoot at someone else's light and are not illuminated yourself.

4th place

The fourth place is occupied by the British tank destroyer Charioteer. This machine is very fast and can take non-standard positions, and sometimes even play it a little aggressively. This tank destroyer has good camouflage, so in general you can take any position and shoot damage from there.

There is a turret from which you can easily shoot at the enemy from the corner, however, the air defense of this self-propelled gun is so-so. The gun is good, accurate, rapid-fire, with excellent penetration, and has high-explosive shells. This tank destroyer is suitable for those who like to play fun and aggressively.

3rd place

Let's move on to the top three. In third place is the tank destroyer Waffentrager auf Pz. IV. It is thanks to this tank destroyer that you will understand how easy it is to inflict damage on the enemy in World of Tanks if you have good camouflage, a turret, excellent visibility and a powerful, accurate weapon. Waffen has all this. The main thing is to take a competent position, have a way to retreat, but otherwise everything is simple - you will be able to inflict a huge amount of damage in someone else's light, while your opponents will not see you. And thanks to the tower and good mobility, you can attack opponents even in close combat.

2nd place

In second place in our TOP is Rhm.–Borsig Waffentrager. At one time, this tank destroyer made a revolution; this had never happened before. "Borsig" can stand in the bushes the entire battle, deal a huge amount of damage and rarely glow.

This tank destroyer has two very powerful, accurate guns, one of them with a large alpha strike, the other more accurate. Borsig's camouflage is even better than that of the Pz. IV, and it is much better than the ISU-152. In addition, Borsig has good dynamics and a turret, which makes it easy to target the enemy and shoot a lot of damage from any position. Until now, it is one of the most powerful, it is pleasant to play due to its ability to deal a lot of damage.

1 place

Finally, the title of the best tank destroyer in the game World of Tanks is occupied by the E-25. This vehicle has the best camouflage of all the tank destroyers discussed above. The E-25 has such good camouflage that it can drive up close to enemies, stand in the bushes, shoot damage at them and not glow. In addition, there is remarkable dynamics and maneuverability, so you can take non-standard positions. There is a great weapon with good accuracy, fast aiming, good penetration and a very high DPM. You'll get so close to your enemies that they won't even know how they ended up in the hangar.

In addition, the E-25 has a good air defense, so you can play well on uneven terrain. In general, just a gorgeous tank destroyer.

Every World of Tanks player thinks about what type of tanks will be the most effective. Some people prefer light tanks, as they are very fast and agile, allowing them to confuse slower opponents, spot other people's tanks, break through to the base, and perform other useful functions. However, many people choose TTs as they have thick armor and powerful weapons, which attracts many newbies. But don't think that heavy tanks are the best in the game - they also have their drawbacks. Some gamers believe that a medium tank is the ideal option because it includes the advantages of both LT and TT. However, do not forget that along with the advantages you also get disadvantages. In general, all tanks have their pros and cons, and if you develop a competent strategy, you can fight all types of opponents. But for some reason, everyone very often forgets about artillery, although this type of combat vehicle also plays an incredibly important role in this game. It can hardly be said that there is a best tank destroyer in World of Tanks, because everyone, again, has pros and cons, some advantages and disadvantages that you need to know about and which you need to be able to use or hide.

Tank destroyer

Anti-tank units are key figures on the battlefield, but they are periodically underestimated, although they do a huge amount of grunt work. The best tank destroyer in World of Tanks is the one that can inflict a large amount of damage and “survive” until the end of the battle. Naturally, this requires considerable skill not only from you, but also from your partners, because you will not have enough firepower to fend off the attack of enemy vehicles in close combat. You need to understand that a self-propelled gun is a static object that fires at distant objects, but cannot protect itself nearby. So if you have self-propelled guns on your team, you need to build your strategy taking into account the fact that somewhere on your back lines there will be artillery that will help you a lot, but at the same time need constant defense. If you are planning to play as an artillery tank, then you should immediately take into account that you will have a significantly lower efficiency rate compared to other tanks. The whole point here is that efficiency points are partially awarded for capturing an enemy base and for returning your own base - naturally, an artillery installation cannot do this. However, the best tank destroyer in World of Tanks can bring a lot of benefits to the team. And this is even without participating in battles for bases.

French and British branches

If you need the best tank destroyer in World of Tanks, then you are unlikely to find it in this thread. However, as in the others, that’s why it doesn’t exist. Each of them has its own features that you can learn to use. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that French self-propelled guns, even at low levels, can cause inconvenience to the enemy, but at the same time, beginners are not recommended to take such tanks, because they have a number of features that will significantly complicate your life, and playing for self-propelled guns is already difficult It's too easy. Naturally, to understand all the subtleties you need a more detailed review of tank destroyers of each model. In this article you will find only basic information that will show you that all settings are equal if you play well. As for the British branch, these vehicles have excellent armor, powerful guns, and everything necessary for a high-quality anti-tank installation. But there is one problem - in fact, this is not really artillery. British tank destroyers are more like a mixture of an artillery mount and a regular tank. You won't be able to succeed with them in an ambush, you need fights at close range, which is a bit at odds with the very idea of ​​AT.

German branch

If you need high-quality and powerful artillery, choose these tank destroyers. German installations will give a head start to all others, as they are very accurate and have high damage. They are well protected and can generally represent a standard self-propelled gun. This line was one of the first to be introduced into the game and has since remained one of the best, so you should definitely try these tank destroyers. German vehicles can set up incredible ambushes, but there are also other branches that are worth considering.

American branch

As for American tank destroyers, there is a rather strange set. Turret mounts are more reminiscent of a medium tank, as is the case with the British variants, but turretless ones have a lot of armor, too much, and therefore are extremely clumsy, so they are not suitable for everyone. It is clear that artillery cannot be particularly mobile - but so much so!

If you choose the Soviet branch of tank destroyers, then you may have certain problems, since the vehicles here are not very friendly to the player. But the first branch really is the standard of an anti-tank weapon, and it is recommended to try it for those who are just starting their journey and would like to try themselves as a sniper.

Players who choose an anti-tank self-propelled gun are rarely unhappy in the sandbox. Among tanks of the first, second and even third tier, the starting “petashki” stand out favorably with firepower and the ability to penetrate any armor. Yes, you have to pay with slowness and the lack of a tower, but this is taken for granted.

But at the next level everything changes. The player begins to be thrown towards the “big guys” driving around in “thirty-fours” or KVs, which are virtually invulnerable to fire from third-level tank destroyers. In addition, serious artillery appears, for which the sedentary “petashka” is an ideal target. At this point, many novice players become disillusioned with anti-tank guns.

However, it is not at all useless, but simply requires special thinking and tactics that allow you to fully realize all its advantages and neutralize the disadvantages. So how can you turn a tank destroyer into a truly dangerous vehicle?

Pros and cons of tank destroyers

A very accurate straight shot is one of the main advantages of the class.

Let's start with the fact that tank destroyers are inferior to tanks in a direct collision. Of course, in a “fair” fight, a “petashka” can cope with a tank of its level from a standing position (a lot depends on the specific vehicles here). But, alas, tank owners also know this and therefore are in no hurry to engage in a fair firefight, preferring cunning. For example, taking advantage of your mobility, go to the flank or rear and calmly fire at the car, cutting circles around it.

The tank destroyer does not have a turret and cannot fire and maneuver at the same time. To catch the enemy in sight, the “petashka” needs to turn around with its entire body. However, the enemy also does not stand still, moving along the line of rotation of the vehicle in order to be out of reach of its gun. And at the same time it conducts continuous shelling of the sides and stern. I don’t even want to talk about what will happen if we manage to shoot down a caterpillar from a tank destroyer. Thus, you can lose your “pet” even when meeting with a relatively weak tank, without firing a single serious shot at it.

Therefore, our task is to fight from afar, keeping enemy vehicles away and supporting our tanks with fire. Moreover, one of the main advantages of the class is a very accurate direct shot. But even here, not everything is so simple, because the sedentary and painfully stinging “pet” becomes very vulnerable if it is discovered.

Only the most serious self-propelled guns have armor capable of withstanding a hit from a 76-mm projectile or higher, while early tank destroyers are weakly armored, and one or two hits will be enough to kill them.

The most important conclusion follows from this: The main thing for an anti-tank installation is choosing the right position and camouflage.

The artillery loves us... nothing can be done about it

Get ready! Fire! Some people are in trouble now.

Skillful camouflage is generally a very important thing in the game, but for tank destroyers it is the main trump card of the class and the key to understanding the correct tactics for these vehicles. A properly camouflaged SU-85 will easily destroy an early heavy tank (KV or T1), but, once detected, it will not withstand even a few seconds of direct combat. The ideal situation for us is to fire at an enemy who does not see the tank destroyer attacking him and cannot respond, or to direct artillery fire at the anti-tank installation’s position.

The most impressive and enjoyable experience when playing this class is when a pair of pets, completely invisible to the enemy, stop the attack of superior enemy forces, knocking out a couple of tanks with impunity and forcing the survivors to retreat in front of an unknown and therefore even more terrible enemy.

To achieve this effect, you need to have a good understanding of how the camouflage system works in World of Tanks.

Disguise

In addition to such basic indicators as armor thickness and engine power, all vehicles have a characteristic "View radius" . It determines the distance from which the tank can detect an enemy vehicle. If the viewing radius is 400 meters, then at 401 meters the enemy tank is simply invisible to the player. The maximum possible viewing radius is 500 meters.

Everything seems simple. In addition, the game has light “firefly scouts”! Thanks to them, heavy vehicles fight at distances exceeding their viewing radius. In reality, everything is much more complicated, because there are many factors that reduce the visibility of a tank.

Thickets in front, thickets on the right - from the enemy’s side I’m almost invisible.

I see him, he sees me - no, you can’t imagine a better situation!

First of all, the dimensions of the machine itself. As you might guess, a light tank is less noticeable than a heavy one, and a tall vehicle is more noticeable than a low one. Thus, low-profile and light tank destroyers are less noticeable than tanks of similar levels, and, given their low survivability, they simply must take advantage of this.

The second factor is the relief and landscape of the area. With the terrain, everything is obvious - behind a hill blocking your line of sight, your car is not visible to the enemy, but you cannot see him either. With landscape elements it’s a little more difficult. The walls of houses act, in principle, in the same way - blocking both lines of sight and shots (just keep in mind that small village houses are destructible and will not serve as shelter from fire for long). But all sorts of bushes partially block visibility, making the tank hidden in them much less noticeable.

Therefore, in order to detect a hidden car, you need to drive closer. At the same time, she sees the approaching tank absolutely clearly, since up close (from fifteen meters to be precise) the bushes are considered absolutely transparent - the so-called “curtain effect” operates. Thus, a camouflaged vehicle receives serious advantages, since it can fire at an approaching target for some time with impunity.

It is important: from fifty meters, tanks can see each other in any case, even if there is an impenetrable obstacle between them.

Please note that a shot or movement unmasks it, increasing the visibility of the hidden vehicle for a few seconds. The larger the caliber of the gun, the stronger the unmasking effect. But, despite this, an inconspicuous tank destroyer, camouflaged at the very edge of the viewing radius of a heavy tank or hidden in dense thickets (the effect of reducing visibility is stronger, the more bushes there are between the vehicles), can fire from a powerful gun while remaining completely invisible.

Disguise rules

An example of incorrect disguise. The hull of the tank destroyer protrudes from the thickets, and the enemy can see it.

An example of proper camouflage. Detecting tank destroyers from this side will not be easy.

To disguise yourself, just stand behind bushes that completely hide the outline of the tank from the side where the enemy is expected to appear. To check the thoroughness of your disguise, you can hold down the right mouse button and rotate the camera so as to inspect the tank from the side where the enemy is expected to appear. A gun sticking out of a bush does not unmask the tank, but a part of the hull or turret protruding from behind a bush reduces the camouflage. You also need to always remember that an enemy scout approaching from an unmasked side will easily detect you and transmit the data to his team. If you are sure that you were discovered, albeit for a short time, change your position; the enemy can fire at the “exposed” position from memory. Also remember: particularly skilled artillerymen can calculate your position using the shell tracer (this is easier to do the larger the caliber of your gun). Therefore, changing position after a series of shots is not harmful in any case.

Tactics

All-round defense at an unnamed height.

The World of Tanks tour operator provides you with the most pleasant opportunity to hunt Tigers!

First of all, the tank destroyer is a support combat vehicle, its task is to remain in the shadows and support defense and attack with fire from a position. The choice of position is the most important part of tactics, determining the success of the “petashka” in battle. The best position combines three advantages: first, the terrain from it is covered in a straight line as far as possible and in the widest possible radius, second, there is room for good camouflage, and third, there is a heavy tank in front of it.

“Petashka” can, of course, fight something on her own, but she works best in a team, where her task is to maximize the density of fire. If a pair of equal tanks clash in front, as a rule, the one who is better supported by fire will win, so your task is not to yawn and shoot well.

To make shooting effective, study the characteristics of future targets and your gun. If you know that this tank cannot be penetrated by an armor-piercing shell from your gun either in the forehead or on the side, “turn off” the easier target first. If this is not observed, and there is no stock of premium shells for a rainy day, try firing at the armored monster with high-explosive fragmentation shells (always carry 10-15 with you). They will not be able to penetrate anything that cannot be penetrated by armor-piercing weapons, but a strong explosion on armor is an unpleasant thing. After all, it can damage some of the external systems of the tank, or even concuss one of the crew, which will greatly facilitate the “work” on the target for those who can penetrate the armor.

On a note: the effect of a high explosive charge depends on its caliber.

The enemy has broken through straight to the base, nothing good can come for us here.

A rare sight is a tank destroyer in an independent attack, and in a successful attack.

If a heavily penetrated tank is moving towards your position, you will have to open fire in any case, but if it bypasses it, take your time to shoot and assess the situation. If it turns out that it was you who “exposed” an impenetrable monster for your team, perhaps it is better not to give away your presence and work for a while as an artillery fire spotter. If an invulnerable enemy notices you, it is better not to be a hero in a obviously lost battle, but to try to hide behind a building or in the folds of the terrain. This way you can, occasionally leaning out of there, transmit to your team data on the position of the enemy super-heavy tank, which will annoy him much more than your dying mosquito bite.

Do not rely on auto-aim (for tank destroyers it is almost always rather harmful). If you are firing at an armored vehicle, give preference to weakly protected planes and direct or close angles of impact. If the tank begins to turn, hold the shot until the moment when it puts its side or stern at a favorable angle. If at this moment your gun is reloading after a shot ricocheted by the frontal plate, it will be a shame. A well-placed hit can knock down even the heaviest enemy's tracks, making them an easy target for your artillery and other teammates.

When attacking, move at a distance behind your vehicles, “running” from one good position to another. However, if the situation dictates a rush attack, just tag along with some well-armored vehicle. She will take the damage - you will support her with fire. However, if you ride a heavy tank destroyer, such as the Ferdinand, you yourself can serve as a steel wall for lighter vehicles.

I've knocked down the caterpillar - now it's time to quickly retreat behind this house!

The tank destroyer is not very good in close combat, but I’ll definitely have time to teach this one a lesson.

When choosing equipment, always choose a gun with more armor-piercing power over a gun with more damage. After all, your task is to hit heavy, not lightly protected targets (medium tanks can handle this too). At the first opportunity, buy a camouflage net - a “peteshka” in an ambush will absolutely need it. Considering that the artillery loves us, we also buy anti-fragmentation lining.

As for equipment, I recommend taking with you a standard repair kit and a first aid kit; for Soviet tank destroyers, a tightened engine speed controller is also suitable. Although this thing damages the engine, it is absolutely irreplaceable if you still have to fight a light or medium tank that has broken into close combat.

There are no revelations regarding the development of the tank destroyer crew; the very specifics of the class dictate the only answer: the “camouflage” skill is our everything.

On a note: the “camouflage” skill reduces the visibility of a tank, even if it is moving.

Anti-tank park

Although tank destroyers were an important part of American military doctrine, American vehicles of this class are not yet in the game. Let's take a brief look at sixteen Soviet and German "peteshki" that are now available for players to choose from.

AT-1 and PanzerJager 1

Soviet and German tank destroyers have a number of serious differences, but these two vehicles can be considered in pairs without fear of missing anything. Early "petashki" stand out against the background of the "sandbox" with impressive fire characteristics. The AT-1, however, looks more impressive; the guns of this vehicle easily destroy tanks of the first and second levels, so skilled tankers can score 8-9 “frgs” on this tank destroyer.

PanzerJager1, although more maneuverable, cannot boast of similar results. However, already at the next level the German tank destroyers will win back.

SU-76 and SU-85b

In fact, this is the same case, only with different “fillings”. Weak armor and survivability force the commanders of these vehicles to fight exclusively in an “ambush” manner. Otherwise, they simply don’t live long.

However, even the best guns available on the SU-76 are rather weak against the KV and PzKpfw IV. In this regard, the SU-85b compares favorably with the previous model, but to open serious guns you need a lot of experience and at first you have to ride with the same boring guns.

Marder II

It is no different from the SU-76 in terms of armor and almost no different in survivability (170 versus 150 for the Soviet vehicle), weight and engine power. It would seem that in front of us is the same weak tank destroyer, doomed to sad vegetation while waiting for the next vehicle. However, a couple of important differences turn the Marder II into a truly dangerous “petashka”, in comparison with which the SU-76 looks like a poor relative.

Firstly, an amazing viewing radius of 460 meters (the largest among all tank destroyers in the game!), and secondly, very large horizontal guidance angles (the SU-76, like all Soviet vehicles, is aimed only in a very narrow cone) and excellent late guns. Firing a KV from an SU-76 is not a hopeless matter, but it’s close to it. Marder II penetrates HF at any point.

Hetzer

The transition to the fourth level tank destroyer quickly cools the ardor of the “German” armor-piercers. The Hetzer is inferior to the previous vehicle in everything except armor. It is slow moving, has a short viewing radius (300 meters), and the best of its guns is slightly inferior to the “top” gun of the Marder II. And then there are the strange pointing angles (the gun almost doesn’t turn to the right) - and we have before us one of the most unloved tank destroyers by players.

Very small dimensions and 60 mm frontal armor (giving good chances against light and early medium tanks) do not help this vehicle to rehabilitate itself. Many players prefer to install a 105mm gun on the Jaeger and shoot exclusively with high-explosive fragmentation weapons. At the very least, this method is guaranteed to damage your enemies' health.

SU-85 and SU-100

A player developing a line of Soviet tank destroyers is waiting for the opportunity to switch to the SU-85, like a New Year's child. After the flimsy SU-85b, this car looks impressive. Its armor allows it not to be afraid of light tanks, and the gun penetrates the first IS and the Tiger into the side. This comes at the cost of less mobility. Yes, and you can’t enjoy the increased characteristics - after all, she is thrown to even more serious opponents, and when the “shine” from the enemy side comes not “Stuarts” and A-20s, but “Panthers”... However, a player who has already eaten the dog when organizing ambushes, he will know what to do about it.

The SU-100 is essentially the same SU-85, only with improved armor and impressive guns. The 100-millimeter D-10s cannon, which gives the vehicle its name, has a chance to penetrate the forehead with a standard IS-4 armor-piercing projectile, and a high-explosive fragmentation projectile fired from such a cannon removes about 5% of the life of a super-heavy tank. Well, the 122-mm gun, which has the same armor-piercing power but with increased damage, demonstrates even more impressive results.

StuG III, JagdPz IV and JagdPanther

These vehicles are very similar to the SU-85 and SU-100, only better armored in the front, worse on the sides and somewhat more mobile, which makes them more convenient in the offensive.

The ability to destroy enemy tanks increases from vehicle to vehicle. Thus, the StuG III can penetrate the side of a Tiger, and the top-end JagdPanther cannon threatens with a conventional armor-piercing projectile anyone tank in the game.

It is worth noting the very low profile of the StuG III and JagdPz IV, thanks to which these vehicles are easy to camouflage.

SU-152 and ISU-152

If we compare these heavy tank destroyers with super-heavy tanks, their armor is not very serious (90 millimeters of frontal armor for the ISU-152). But the “petashki” have amazing firepower. For example, with a little luck, one shot is enough to destroy a medium tank. In addition, no heavy tank would be safe near them. Armor sufficient to fight medium tanks allows them to act autonomously, but still the cover of heavy tanks greatly simplifies the game.

Ferdinand and JagdTiger

These self-propelled fortresses are the pinnacle of German tank design. 200 millimeters of frontal armor for the Ferdinand and 250 millimeters for the Jagdtiger allow them to be completely invulnerable from the front for most tanks in the game and difficult to hit even for the heaviest vehicles. For this you have to pay for the relative vulnerability of the sides (“only” 80 millimeters!) and quite high visibility for the class, as well as slightly lower damage compared to the SU and ISU-152. However, for these armored monsters, capable of participating in attacks on par with super-heavy tanks, this is not such a problem.

Object 704

Object 704 is the most powerful Soviet self-propelled gun. It has the firepower of the ISU-152, but at the same time it is more heavily armored, and the armor is distributed throughout the hull much more rationally due to the greater angle of inclination of the armor plates. All this makes this tank destroyer one of the most dangerous vehicles you can encounter in the vastness of World of Tanks.