Difference between revisions of "T-34-85 (S-53) (China)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=cn_t_34_85_d_5t}}
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{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=cn_t_34_85_d_5t
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
<!-- [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}} -->
 
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
The armor on the T-34/85(S-53) is quite good when downtiert, but useless in Rank IV+Matches. The 45mm of RHA on the UFP have about 75-80mm of effective thickness.
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
Sometimes it bounce some shots, but at this BR you can't relie on that.
+
'''Armour type:'''
  
The armor on the turret is about 90mm, but due to the angeles it goes up to over 100mm on some points. This is still not enough in Rank-IV matches.
+
*Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
 +
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Cupola, Driver's hatch, Machine gun port)
  
[[File:T-34-85 ZiS S53.png|thumb|Armor values on the UFP.The turret front is armored with 90mm RHA.
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 45 mm (60°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 75 mm (60°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 65 mm (30°) ''Machine gun port'' || 45 mm (39-40°) ''Top'' <br> 45 mm ''Bottom'' || 45 mm (47-49°) ''Top'' <br> 45 mm (46°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 90 mm (1-69°) ''Turret front'' <br> 90 + 40 mm (8-61°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 75 mm (19-22°) ''Front 2/3rd'' <br> 52 mm (13-19°) ''Rear 1/3rd'' || 52 mm (9°) || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 90 mm || 20 mm
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
  
Take note that the drivers hatch is 75mm thick.]] 
+
* The gun mantlet has 90 mm in front with additional small and thin 40 mm plates on the sides of the gun.
 +
* Suspensions wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 18 mm thick
 +
 
 +
The armour layout of the T-34-85 (S-53) is virtually identical to the [[T-34-85]]. The hull armour, while well angled, is very thin for its rank and can be penetrated by nearly any tank cannon. Creative use of angling can still lead to the occasional bounce. The 90 mm thick turret is also thin for its rank, but the good sloping on the sides can also lead to bounces with some luck.
 +
 
 +
The T-34-85 has very poor survivability due to the fact that all 5 crew members are packed close to each other. A hull penetration will likely knock out all of them. However, inexperienced players that face this tank will often shoot the lower hull part of the driver hatch, which is infamous for being surprisingly resilient.
 +
 
 +
Any enemy vehicle around the T-34-85's BR bracket can destroy it if it can get a solid shot on the hull armour. Beware when exposing hull when coming out to take a shot on an enemy, someone is bound to be watching for the T-34-85 and they won't be afraid to plant a shell into the 45 mm hull armour.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 775|rbMinHp= 442|AoAweight= 0.2}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 775|rbMinHp= 442|AoAweight= 0.2}}
 +
 +
The T-34-85 (S-53) has excellent mobility for a medium tank, as expected of a T-34. It can reach high speeds both on and off-road thanks to its wide tracks. The reverse speed is not exactly great, but it is significantly better than those of comparable Shermans, Panthers, and early T-34s (76 mm, 57 mm variants).
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
The T-34/85(S-53) is equipped with the fantastic ZiS-S-53 cannon, with penetrates about 145mm on close range with the stock BR465K round. This might not be enough to fight Tiger IIs frontaly, but it works perfectly with other tanks, which are less armored or you  can engage them from the side.
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|ZIS-S-53 (85 mm)}}
  
The gun depression is like on many other soviet(based) vehicles quite poor, with only 5° there are no hulldown manouvers possible.
+
The {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with the fantastic ZiS-S-53 cannon, with penetrates about 145 mm on the close range with the stock BR-365K round. This might not be enough to fight Tiger IIs frontally, but it works perfectly with other tanks, which are less armoured or you can engage them from the side.
  
To the ammunition:
+
The gun depression is like on many other Soviet vehicles quite poor, with only 5° there are no hull-down manoeuvres possible.
  
The stock round is the BR365K which has 148mm of penetration on close range. The APHE round has a very good oneshot-potential with 48g of A-IX-2(73,92g of TNT equivalent).
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[ZIS-S-53 (85 mm)|85 mm ZIS-S-53]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+22° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 23.80 || 32.94 || 40.00 || 44.24 || 47.06 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 14.88 || 17.50 || 21.25 || 23.50 || 25.00
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
The second round, the BR365A ,,only" has about 135mm penetration on point blank. But instead of having 48g it has 164g TNT of explosives inside the shell. This increases the post-penetration effect dramaticly.
+
==== Ammunition ====
 +
The stock round is the BR-365K which has 148 mm of penetration on close range. The APHE round has a very good one-shot-potential with 48 g of A-IX-2 (73.92 g of TNT equivalent).
  
APCR is also aviable, but keep in mind that it hates sloped armor and it has very poor post-penetretion damage.  
+
The second round, the BR-365A, only has about 135 mm penetration on point-blank, in exchange for improved penetration against sloped armour. This makes it more effective than the BR365K when shooting at angling M4A3E2's and Panthers. Also, instead of having 48g, it has 164g TNT of explosives inside the shell. This increases the post-penetration effect dramatically.
  
This BR365-P penetrates about 195mm of RHA on close range.
+
APCR is also available, but keep in mind that it hates sloped armour and it has very poor post-penetration damage. It penetrates about 195 mm of RHA on close range.
  
The HE-shell is called O-365K. With 660g of TNT inside it performs pretty good against trucks&halftrucks.
+
The HE-shell is called O-365K. With 660 g of TNT inside it performs pretty well against trucks and halftracks.
  
{| class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
!Distance(Metres)
+
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
!0
+
|-
!100
+
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
!500
+
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
!1000
+
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
!1500
+
|-
!2000
+
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
!Ricochet angels/ 0%
+
|-
!50%
+
| BR-365K || APHE || 148 || 143 || 126 || 106 || 90 || 77
!100%
+
|-
 +
| BR-365A || APHEBC || 135 || 133 || 125 || 115 || 106 || 97
 +
|-
 +
| BR-365P || APCR || 195  || 187 || 154 || 120 || 94 || 74
 +
|-
 +
| O-365K || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 +
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 +
|-
 +
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| BR-365K || APHE || 792 || 9.2 || 1.2 || 14 || 73.92 || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
|-
|BR365K
+
| BR-365A || APHEBC || 792 || 9.2 || 1.2 || 14 || 164 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|148
 
|143
 
|126
 
|106
 
|90
 
|77
 
|47°
 
|60°
 
|65°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|BR365A
+
| BR-365P || APCR || 1,050 || 4.99 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|135
 
|133
 
|125
 
|115
 
|106
 
|97
 
|48°
 
|63°
 
|71°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|BR365P
+
| O-365K || HE || 793 || 9.54 || 0 || 0.1 || 660 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|195
 
|187
 
|154
 
|120
 
|94
 
|74
 
|66°
 
|70°
 
|72°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|O-365K
 
|10
 
|10
 
|10
 
|10
 
|10
 
|10
 
|79°
 
|80°
 
|81°
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
{| class="wikitable"
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
!Ammunition
+
[[File:Ammoracks_T-34-85.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the T-34-85]]
!Type of shell
+
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
!TNT-Equivalent
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Explosive mass
 
|-
 
|BR365K
 
|APHE
 
|73,92g
 
|48g A-IX-2
 
 
|-
 
|-
|BR365A
+
! Full<br>ammo
|APCBC-HE
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
|164gr
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
|164g TNT
+
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
|B365P
+
| '''60''' || 51&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+19)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+39)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+49)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || No
|APCR
 
| -------------
 
| --------------
 
 
|-
 
|-
|O-365K
 
|HE-FRAG
 
|660
 
|660g TNT
 
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
''Turret empty:'' 24&nbsp;''(+12)''
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
This T-34/85 is equipped with the 7.62x54R DT MG, thats good enough to deal with AA trucks.
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}
  
Take note that it looses fast penetration over distance.
+
The MG on the T-34-85, the 7.62 mm DT, is quite ineffective in most scenarios due to its poor penetration. It can only disable completely exposed crews on vehicles like M16. When it comes to lightly armoured tanks (eg. M18, Sd.kfz.234/2) this MG will struggle to pierce even their thin armour plates.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial || 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
  
While the T-34-85 Gai is a fairly well-rounded tank, its poor armor and high speed mean that one should play it more like a light tank than a medium. The gun is very lethal but the penetration is not particularly good, so it is better to flank and go for side shots, which can instantly knock out all but the largest and most spacious opponents. During frontal engagements, Tiger Is should be shot in the flat portions of the hull (avoiding the driver's port), Panthers should be shot in the turret (in the less curved portion of the mantlet) or possibly in the lower glacis, and non-Jumbo Shermans can generally be shot anywhere. The Tiger II (P) is only vulnerable in a small portion of the turret cheeks and the Tiger II (H) is essentially frontally immune, so for these kinds of targets, circle around to get a good look at the hull sides and let the slope modifiers take care of the rest. Watch out for American tanks like the [[M4A3 (76) W]] and [[T25]], as they have vertical stabilizers and can often shoot first if they are aware of you.
+
While the T-34-85 is a fairly well-rounded tank, its poor armour and high speed mean that one should play it more like a light tank than a medium. The gun is very lethal but the penetration is not particularly good, so it is better to flank and go for side shots, which can instantly knock out all but the largest and most spacious opponents. During frontal engagements, [[Tiger E|Tiger I]]s should be shot in the flat portions of the hull (avoiding the driver's port), [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panthers]] should be shot in the turret (in the less curved portion of the mantlet) or possibly in the lower glacis, and [[M4 Sherman (Family)|non-Jumbo Shermans]] can generally be shot anywhere. The [[Tiger II (P)]] is only vulnerable in a small portion of the turret cheeks and the [[Tiger II (H)]] is essentially frontally immune, so for these kinds of targets, circle around to get a good shot at the hull sides and let the slope modifiers take care of the rest. Watch out for American tanks like the [[M4A3 (76) W]] and [[T25]], as they have vertical stabilizers and can often shoot first if they are aware of you.
  
In AB, you should play this tank like any other T-34. Push because you have a pretty well-rounded tank and will generally be able to adapt to whatever situation that develops. The AB meta generally favors more heavily armed and armored tanks due to the presence of markers making flanking and ambushes more difficult, so play carefully and take advantage of your high mobility.
+
In AB, you should play this tank like any other T-34. Push because you have a pretty well-rounded tank and will generally be able to adapt to whatever situation that develops. The AB meta generally favours more heavily armed and armoured tanks due to the presence of markers, making flanking and ambushes more difficult, so play carefully and take advantage of your high mobility.
  
 
In RB, play this tank offensively yet carefully. Use your speed and keep up with your teammates, or alternatively play it like a light tank and go on long flanks. In RB, one will often encounter enemy flankers like the infamous [[M18 GMC|M18 Hellcat]] or [[R3 T20 FA-HS]]; while the main gun is adequate for dispatching these soft targets, the heavy machine gun can also rip through them in a pinch, particularly from the sides. The machine gun can be especially helpful if one's tank is otherwise disabled due to a jammed turret ring, destroyed gun breech, etc. Diving aircraft expecting to strafe an innocuous T-34 can also be given a nasty surprise, though the DShK's small belt capacity makes this more difficult.
 
In RB, play this tank offensively yet carefully. Use your speed and keep up with your teammates, or alternatively play it like a light tank and go on long flanks. In RB, one will often encounter enemy flankers like the infamous [[M18 GMC|M18 Hellcat]] or [[R3 T20 FA-HS]]; while the main gun is adequate for dispatching these soft targets, the heavy machine gun can also rip through them in a pinch, particularly from the sides. The machine gun can be especially helpful if one's tank is otherwise disabled due to a jammed turret ring, destroyed gun breech, etc. Diving aircraft expecting to strafe an innocuous T-34 can also be given a nasty surprise, though the DShK's small belt capacity makes this more difficult.
Line 142: Line 178:
 
In SB, play this tank very cautiously because the optics aren't that good and most of the time you will face tanks from pretty far distances. Panthers generally have better optics than you so try to avoid encounters with Panthers or Tigers.
 
In SB, play this tank very cautiously because the optics aren't that good and most of the time you will face tanks from pretty far distances. Panthers generally have better optics than you so try to avoid encounters with Panthers or Tigers.
  
=== Modules ===
+
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
{| class="wikitable"
+
 
! Tier
+
[[Panther A]]/[[Panther D|D]], [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II P]]:
! colspan="2" |Mobility
+
 
! Protection
+
The Panthers are one of the most common tanks around BR 5.7, and they pose a great threat with their deadly long 75 mm cannon, thick frontal armour and adequate speed. You want to avoid engaging them at long range as the T-34 has only x3.5 scope magnification, making long-range shooting super hard. Engage the Panthers within 500 m and avoid shooting their frontal hull. Their biggest weak spot is the gun mantlet, which is only 100 mm thick and has a flat part in the middle. That is where you want to aim at, the T-34's APHE has sufficient damage to instantly destroy the Panther even from its turret. The second weak spot is the sides, which more often than not instantly destroys the vehicle. Generally, APHE is enough to deal with the Panthers, and no APCR is needed. The APHE shell loves to chew through the Panther's thin side armour, even if it's angled.
! colspan="2" |Firepower
+
 
|-
+
For the Tiger II P, aim at the vertical area of the frontal turret which is also 100 mm. The best tactic is still to flank it, however.
| I
+
 
| Tracks
+
[[Tiger H1]]/[[Tiger E|E]]:
|
+
 
| Parts
+
The Tiger's weak spots are the opposite with the Panthers. Their hull is unsloped and rather thin, while the gun mantlet is weirdly shaped and can absorb quite some shells. The best engaging range remains the same, within 500 m. If the Tiger is angling, aim at the turret ring to disable the gunner and destroy the turret traverse, or aim at the hull side below the side skirt, which is only 60 mm. If it is not angling, aim between the driver's vision port and the MG for an instant kill. Avoid shooting at these two parts as they tend to bounce/absorb shells. For the Tiger E, don't shoot at the lower glacis as there will be add-on tracks installed there, making it harder to penetrate.
| Horizontal Drive
+
 
| BR-365A
+
[[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]]:
|-
+
 
| II
+
In a frontal engagement, APCR is required as the APHE shells don't have enough penetration. With APCR loaded, aim at the further sides of the fighting compartment, away from the gun, because the further from the gun, the thinner the armour gets, with the thinnest part being around 160 mm unsloped. Penetrating there will knock out its loader, gunner or commander, or detonate the ammo. Of course, the best way is still side-shooting with APHE.
| Suspension
+
 
| Brake System
+
[[Panzer IV/70(V)|Panzer IV/70]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]]:
| FPE
+
 
| Adjustment of Fire
+
These small tank destroyers with their well-angled frontal armour can be quite a problem from a distance. With APHE, you can disable their transmission by shooting at their lower glacis. Now if you can, flank them. The 85 mm APHE does a great job at penetrating sloped, thin armour, so you don't have to get to their absolute sides. For the Pz IV/70, you can also aim at the downward part of the gun mantlet since the shell might ricochet downwards into the hull, knocking out every crew member. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) doesn't have this problem, so side-shooting is required to destroy it effectively.
|
+
 
|-
+
[[M4A3E2]] Jumbo:
| III
+
 
| Filters
+
This is another common enemy. It is recommended to use the BR-365A, the one with less pen but more explosive filler. The reason is that it is better at penetrating sloped armour, which the Jumbo has. With that shell, you can easily destroy an M4A3E2 who's not angling. If it is, aim at the hull side just above the tracks, or load APCR and shoot straight at its gun mantlet. Against a 75 mm M4A3E2, you can relax a bit as it will struggle to penetrate your armour, but your cupola is a rather large weak spot and a shot through there can knock out the T-34. Be more careful with the M4A3E2 76 W, as they can easily pierce through your armour.
|
 
| Crew Replenishment
 
| Elevation Mechanism
 
| BR-365P
 
|-
 
| IV
 
| Transmission
 
| Engine
 
|
 
| Artillery Support
 
|
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
Line 186: Line 209:
 
* Excellent gun with adequate penetration, destructive damage and good reload rate
 
* Excellent gun with adequate penetration, destructive damage and good reload rate
 
* 56 km/h top speed and great manoeuvrability allows it to reposition easily
 
* 56 km/h top speed and great manoeuvrability allows it to reposition easily
* 5-man crew increases survivalility
+
* 5-man crew increases survivability
* Access to BR-365P APCR to effectively penetrate tough tanks up cloes (M4A3E2s, Tigers & Panthers)
+
* Access to BR-365P APCR to effectively penetrate tough tanks up close (M4A3E2s, Tigers & Panthers)
* Has two types of AP for players to choose: BR-365K with higher pen but less TNT, and BR-365A with less pen but plenty of TNT
+
* Has two types of AP for players to choose: BR-365K with a higher penetration but less TNT, and BR-365A with less pen but plenty of TNT
* Similar playstyle with the previous T-34s which is beginner-friendly
+
* Similar playstyle with the previous T-34s which is rather beginner-friendly
 
* Fast turret traverse to easily deal with targets from multiple directions
 
* Fast turret traverse to easily deal with targets from multiple directions
* Sloped hull and round frontal turret might bounce small caliber shells
+
* Sloped hull and round frontal turret might bounce small calibre shells
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
* Armour is extremely thin, providing very limited protection against common guns (American 76mm, British 17pdr, German 75mm & 88mm, etc)
+
* Armour is extremely thin, providing very limited protection against common guns (American 76 mm, British 17 pdr, German 75 mm & 88 mm, etc)
* Crews are closely packed, a well-aimed shot tend to kill them all
+
* Crew members are closely packed, a well-aimed shot tends to kill them all
 
* 5 degrees gun depression is below average
 
* 5 degrees gun depression is below average
* Large turret profile makes it easier to get spotted & shot
+
* Large turret profile makes it easier to get spotted and shot
 +
* Awkward to place bushes on frontal hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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The Soviet Union sold numerous [[T-34-85]] tanks along with other vehicles to the People's Republic of China in the early 1950s since the new nation had few and often obsolete tanks ([[Chi-Ha Kai (China)|Chi-ha Kai]], [[LVT(A)(4) (ZiS-2) (China)|LVT(A)]], [[SU-76M (China)|SU-76M]], etc) in its inventory after the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War. The T-34s saw limited deployments with the People's Liberation Army during the Korean War. The history of the tank afterwards has been the subject of debate; according to some sources the PRC attempted and possibly succeeded at creating a local copy of the T-34 under a "Type 58" designation, and according to others this was never a goal, no such tanks ever existed, and only efforts to maintain and repair the T-34s were carried out. Regardless the T-34s were soon superseded by the far superior [[Type 59]], a licensed copy of the Soviet T-54A. However, stocks of T-34s remained in the PLA inventory for a long period of time before domestic tanks were available in sufficient quantity.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
https://youtu.be/PQ2rWmYDmp8  This review is for the soviet T-34/85. Due to both tanks are identical it doesn't matter
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
[[T-34-85]]
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
[[T-34-85 (D-5T)]]
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* [[T-34-85]]
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* [[T-34-85 (D-5T)]]
  
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== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
  
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 
{{China medium tanks}}
 
{{China medium tanks}}

Revision as of 20:35, 20 January 2021

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
␗Т-34-85 (S-53)
cn_t_34_85_d_5t.png
GarageImage T-34-85 (S-53) (China).jpg
␗Т-34-85 (S-53)
AB RB SB
5.7 5.7 5.7
Class:
Research:54 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:185 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The ␗Т-34-85 (S-53) is a rank IV Chinese medium tank with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull45 / 45 / 45
Turret90 / 75 / 52
Crew5 people
Visibility100 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Cupola, Driver's hatch, Machine gun port)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 45 mm (60°) Front glacis
45 mm (60°) Lower glacis
75 mm (60°) Driver's hatch
65 mm (30°) Machine gun port
45 mm (39-40°) Top
45 mm Bottom
45 mm (47-49°) Top
45 mm (46°) Bottom
20 mm
Turret 90 mm (1-69°) Turret front
90 + 40 mm (8-61°) Gun mantlet
75 mm (19-22°) Front 2/3rd
52 mm (13-19°) Rear 1/3rd
52 mm (9°) 20 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 90 mm 20 mm

Notes:

  • The gun mantlet has 90 mm in front with additional small and thin 40 mm plates on the sides of the gun.
  • Suspensions wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 18 mm thick

The armour layout of the T-34-85 (S-53) is virtually identical to the T-34-85. The hull armour, while well angled, is very thin for its rank and can be penetrated by nearly any tank cannon. Creative use of angling can still lead to the occasional bounce. The 90 mm thick turret is also thin for its rank, but the good sloping on the sides can also lead to bounces with some luck.

The T-34-85 has very poor survivability due to the fact that all 5 crew members are packed close to each other. A hull penetration will likely knock out all of them. However, inexperienced players that face this tank will often shoot the lower hull part of the driver hatch, which is infamous for being surprisingly resilient.

Any enemy vehicle around the T-34-85's BR bracket can destroy it if it can get a solid shot on the hull armour. Beware when exposing hull when coming out to take a shot on an enemy, someone is bound to be watching for the T-34-85 and they won't be afraid to plant a shell into the 45 mm hull armour.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB62 / 10 km/h
RB and SB55 / 9 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight32.2 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB29.6 hp/t
RB and SB15.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock AoA Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 62 10 32 0.2 775 954 24.22 29.63
Realistic 55 9 442 500 13.81 15.53

The T-34-85 (S-53) has excellent mobility for a medium tank, as expected of a T-34. It can reach high speeds both on and off-road thanks to its wide tracks. The reverse speed is not exactly great, but it is significantly better than those of comparable Shermans, Panthers, and early T-34s (76 mm, 57 mm variants).

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 545 → 3 473 Sl icon.png
RB3 025 → 4 129 Sl icon.png
SB3 787 → 5 169 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications46 800 Rp icon.png
85 200 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 500 Ge icon.png
Crew training52 000 Sl icon.png
Experts185 000 Sl icon.png
Aces710 Ge icon.png
Research Aces480 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 160 / 190 % Sl icon.png
166 / 166 / 166 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 300 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 900 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 900 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 300 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank additional armor.png
Add-on Armor
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 900 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
85mm_APHE_ammo_pack
Research:
2 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 300 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
85mm_APCR_ammo_pack
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 300 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 900 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition60 rounds
First-order16 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.6 → 7.4 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 22°
Main article: ZIS-S-53 (85 mm)

The T-34-85 (S-53) (China) is equipped with the fantastic ZiS-S-53 cannon, with penetrates about 145 mm on the close range with the stock BR-365K round. This might not be enough to fight Tiger IIs frontally, but it works perfectly with other tanks, which are less armoured or you can engage them from the side.

The gun depression is like on many other Soviet vehicles quite poor, with only 5° there are no hull-down manoeuvres possible.

85 mm ZIS-S-53 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 60 -5°/+22° ±180° N/A 23.80 32.94 40.00 44.24 47.06 9.62 8.51 7.84 7.40
Realistic 14.88 17.50 21.25 23.50 25.00

Ammunition

The stock round is the BR-365K which has 148 mm of penetration on close range. The APHE round has a very good one-shot-potential with 48 g of A-IX-2 (73.92 g of TNT equivalent).

The second round, the BR-365A, only has about 135 mm penetration on point-blank, in exchange for improved penetration against sloped armour. This makes it more effective than the BR365K when shooting at angling M4A3E2's and Panthers. Also, instead of having 48g, it has 164g TNT of explosives inside the shell. This increases the post-penetration effect dramatically.

APCR is also available, but keep in mind that it hates sloped armour and it has very poor post-penetration damage. It penetrates about 195 mm of RHA on close range.

The HE-shell is called O-365K. With 660 g of TNT inside it performs pretty well against trucks and halftracks.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
BR-365K APHE 148 143 126 106 90 77
BR-365A APHEBC 135 133 125 115 106 97
BR-365P APCR 195 187 154 120 94 74
O-365K HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
BR-365K APHE 792 9.2 1.2 14 73.92 47° 60° 65°
BR-365A APHEBC 792 9.2 1.2 14 164 48° 63° 71°
BR-365P APCR 1,050 4.99 N/A N/A N/A 66° 70° 72°
O-365K HE 793 9.54 0 0.1 660 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-34-85
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
60 51 (+9) 41 (+19) 31 (+29) 21 (+39) 11 (+49) (+59) No

Turret empty: 24 (+12)

Machine guns

Ammunition1 890 rounds
Belt capacity63 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: DT (7.62 mm)

The MG on the T-34-85, the 7.62 mm DT, is quite ineffective in most scenarios due to its poor penetration. It can only disable completely exposed crews on vehicles like M16. When it comes to lightly armoured tanks (eg. M18, Sd.kfz.234/2) this MG will struggle to pierce even their thin armour plates.

7.62 mm DT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 1,890 (63) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

While the T-34-85 is a fairly well-rounded tank, its poor armour and high speed mean that one should play it more like a light tank than a medium. The gun is very lethal but the penetration is not particularly good, so it is better to flank and go for side shots, which can instantly knock out all but the largest and most spacious opponents. During frontal engagements, Tiger Is should be shot in the flat portions of the hull (avoiding the driver's port), Panthers should be shot in the turret (in the less curved portion of the mantlet) or possibly in the lower glacis, and non-Jumbo Shermans can generally be shot anywhere. The Tiger II (P) is only vulnerable in a small portion of the turret cheeks and the Tiger II (H) is essentially frontally immune, so for these kinds of targets, circle around to get a good shot at the hull sides and let the slope modifiers take care of the rest. Watch out for American tanks like the M4A3 (76) W and T25, as they have vertical stabilizers and can often shoot first if they are aware of you.

In AB, you should play this tank like any other T-34. Push because you have a pretty well-rounded tank and will generally be able to adapt to whatever situation that develops. The AB meta generally favours more heavily armed and armoured tanks due to the presence of markers, making flanking and ambushes more difficult, so play carefully and take advantage of your high mobility.

In RB, play this tank offensively yet carefully. Use your speed and keep up with your teammates, or alternatively play it like a light tank and go on long flanks. In RB, one will often encounter enemy flankers like the infamous M18 Hellcat or R3 T20 FA-HS; while the main gun is adequate for dispatching these soft targets, the heavy machine gun can also rip through them in a pinch, particularly from the sides. The machine gun can be especially helpful if one's tank is otherwise disabled due to a jammed turret ring, destroyed gun breech, etc. Diving aircraft expecting to strafe an innocuous T-34 can also be given a nasty surprise, though the DShK's small belt capacity makes this more difficult.

In SB, play this tank very cautiously because the optics aren't that good and most of the time you will face tanks from pretty far distances. Panthers generally have better optics than you so try to avoid encounters with Panthers or Tigers.

Enemies worth noting:

Panther A/D, Tiger II P:

The Panthers are one of the most common tanks around BR 5.7, and they pose a great threat with their deadly long 75 mm cannon, thick frontal armour and adequate speed. You want to avoid engaging them at long range as the T-34 has only x3.5 scope magnification, making long-range shooting super hard. Engage the Panthers within 500 m and avoid shooting their frontal hull. Their biggest weak spot is the gun mantlet, which is only 100 mm thick and has a flat part in the middle. That is where you want to aim at, the T-34's APHE has sufficient damage to instantly destroy the Panther even from its turret. The second weak spot is the sides, which more often than not instantly destroys the vehicle. Generally, APHE is enough to deal with the Panthers, and no APCR is needed. The APHE shell loves to chew through the Panther's thin side armour, even if it's angled.

For the Tiger II P, aim at the vertical area of the frontal turret which is also 100 mm. The best tactic is still to flank it, however.

Tiger H1/E:

The Tiger's weak spots are the opposite with the Panthers. Their hull is unsloped and rather thin, while the gun mantlet is weirdly shaped and can absorb quite some shells. The best engaging range remains the same, within 500 m. If the Tiger is angling, aim at the turret ring to disable the gunner and destroy the turret traverse, or aim at the hull side below the side skirt, which is only 60 mm. If it is not angling, aim between the driver's vision port and the MG for an instant kill. Avoid shooting at these two parts as they tend to bounce/absorb shells. For the Tiger E, don't shoot at the lower glacis as there will be add-on tracks installed there, making it harder to penetrate.

Ho-Ri:

In a frontal engagement, APCR is required as the APHE shells don't have enough penetration. With APCR loaded, aim at the further sides of the fighting compartment, away from the gun, because the further from the gun, the thinner the armour gets, with the thinnest part being around 160 mm unsloped. Penetrating there will knock out its loader, gunner or commander, or detonate the ammo. Of course, the best way is still side-shooting with APHE.

Panzer IV/70, Jagdpanzer 38(t):

These small tank destroyers with their well-angled frontal armour can be quite a problem from a distance. With APHE, you can disable their transmission by shooting at their lower glacis. Now if you can, flank them. The 85 mm APHE does a great job at penetrating sloped, thin armour, so you don't have to get to their absolute sides. For the Pz IV/70, you can also aim at the downward part of the gun mantlet since the shell might ricochet downwards into the hull, knocking out every crew member. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) doesn't have this problem, so side-shooting is required to destroy it effectively.

M4A3E2 Jumbo:

This is another common enemy. It is recommended to use the BR-365A, the one with less pen but more explosive filler. The reason is that it is better at penetrating sloped armour, which the Jumbo has. With that shell, you can easily destroy an M4A3E2 who's not angling. If it is, aim at the hull side just above the tracks, or load APCR and shoot straight at its gun mantlet. Against a 75 mm M4A3E2, you can relax a bit as it will struggle to penetrate your armour, but your cupola is a rather large weak spot and a shot through there can knock out the T-34. Be more careful with the M4A3E2 76 W, as they can easily pierce through your armour.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent gun with adequate penetration, destructive damage and good reload rate
  • 56 km/h top speed and great manoeuvrability allows it to reposition easily
  • 5-man crew increases survivability
  • Access to BR-365P APCR to effectively penetrate tough tanks up close (M4A3E2s, Tigers & Panthers)
  • Has two types of AP for players to choose: BR-365K with a higher penetration but less TNT, and BR-365A with less pen but plenty of TNT
  • Similar playstyle with the previous T-34s which is rather beginner-friendly
  • Fast turret traverse to easily deal with targets from multiple directions
  • Sloped hull and round frontal turret might bounce small calibre shells

Cons:

  • Armour is extremely thin, providing very limited protection against common guns (American 76 mm, British 17 pdr, German 75 mm & 88 mm, etc)
  • Crew members are closely packed, a well-aimed shot tends to kill them all
  • 5 degrees gun depression is below average
  • Large turret profile makes it easier to get spotted and shot
  • Awkward to place bushes on frontal hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics

History

The Soviet Union sold numerous T-34-85 tanks along with other vehicles to the People's Republic of China in the early 1950s since the new nation had few and often obsolete tanks (Chi-ha Kai, LVT(A), SU-76M, etc) in its inventory after the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War. The T-34s saw limited deployments with the People's Liberation Army during the Korean War. The history of the tank afterwards has been the subject of debate; according to some sources the PRC attempted and possibly succeeded at creating a local copy of the T-34 under a "Type 58" designation, and according to others this was never a goal, no such tanks ever existed, and only efforts to maintain and repair the T-34s were carried out. Regardless the T-34s were soon superseded by the far superior Type 59, a licensed copy of the Soviet T-54A. However, stocks of T-34s remained in the PLA inventory for a long period of time before domestic tanks were available in sufficient quantity.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


China medium tanks
ZTZ59  Type 59 · ZTZ59A · ZTZ59D1
ZTZ69  Type 69 · Type 69-IIa · T-69 II G
ZTZ88/96  ZTZ88A · ZTZ88B
  ZTZ96 · ZTZ96A · ZTZ96A (P)
ZTZ99  ZTZ99-II · ZTZ99-III
ZTZ99A  ZTZ99A · WZ1001(E) LCT
Export series  MBT2000 · VT-4A1
ROC  CM11
Other  Т-34-85 Gai · Object 122MT "MC"
Japan  ␗Chi-Ha · ␗Chi-Ha Kai
USA  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ␗M48A1 · ␗M60A3 TTS
USSR  ␗T-34 (1943) · ␗Т-34-85 (S-53) · T-34-85 No.215 · Т-62 №545