#light_tanks
Do you have a need? A need for speed? Then the BTR-80A is for you. This is one of the fastest vehicles at its rank, able to zip around the map riddling tanks to shreds with the 30 mm autocannon it is equipped with. Now, to get in those positions, it requires skill, patience and map knowledge. How do you use that skill, and how is it played?
The M1128 Stryker is the heavy hitter of the Stryker family, built to take on enemy tanks from long range effectively. Built on an 8×8 wheeled chassis, it trades heavy protection for high mobility and long‑range firepower. An unmanned 105 mm turret, complete with two‑plane stabilisation and a 8‑round autoloader, lets the M1128 engage targets on the fly both effectively and safely. The Wolfpack premium variant shares identical performance to the tech tree Stryker, but swaps the add-on slat armour for a camouflage net and premium economic bonuses.
The LT vz.38 was a light tank originally from Czechoslovakia and built by Škoda and ČKD. A total of at least 6,919 examples were built, including pre-war and licensed models in every imaginable configuration. Following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the German Reich captured plans, production equipment, and some examples of the LT vz.38 that had not yet been deployed in the Czech army and renamed them the Pz. 38(t). Later, a licensed version, along with some examples, was sold to Sweden, who renamed it the Stridsvagn m/41 and slightly modified it. The Pz. 38(t) was used by Germany throughout World War II and also influenced several other tank designs, including the German E-series.
The 2S38 is a premium Soviet light vehicle based on the BMP-3 platform and intended as a potential replacement for the 2S6 Tunguska SPAA. With its punchy 57 mm autocannon, great mobility, and excellent multirole capabilities, the 2S38 is a deadly vehicle in ground battles, making it loved and hated by War Thunder players alike. However, the 2S38's various strengths are balanced out by its overall lack of armor and limited survivability, which makes it somewhat of a glass cannon.
The M22 Locust was a light tank developed and used by the Americans and British during World War II. It was only used once during the war: Operation Varsity. Eight of the 260 British M22 Locusts were deployed in Operation Varsity in the German towns of Hamminkeln and Wesel. Of these, only four reached the rendezvous point on high ground; two were damaged during landing and two others were damaged or destroyed in the fighting. After World War II, the Locust was quickly deemed obsolete and retired.
The Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK 38 is an early-war German modification of the French AMD.35, replacing its turret and upgrading its firepower. This variant fields the 50mm KwK L/42 cannon which packs a serious punch at its BR, perfectly complimenting the mobility of this vehicle.
The Panzerkampfwagen II, also known as the PzKpfw II, Panzer II, or Sd.Kfz 121 was a light German tank used in World War II and the pre-war period. Developed in the 1930s by MAN and Daimler-Benz, it was intended as a temporary solution and formed the backbone of the Wehrmacht’s armored divisions at the beginning of the war. A total of 3,404 Panzer II’s of various types were built. They were used not only by Germany but also by Romania, Slovakia, and Norway.
The Namer Tsrikhon is an experimental IFV based on the Israeli Namer APC, with the Namer itself being derived from the Merkava Mk.4 main battle tank. The Tsrikhon uses an unmanned turret which replaces the exposed weapons mount on the preceding Namer 30. Additionally, the turret is also fitted with the Trophy active protection system which can intercept ATGMs and other guided missiles. With its thick armor and spacious interior inherited from the Merkava, the Namer Tsrikhon is a relatively well-protected vehicle with good survivability, capable of withstanding much more punishment than contemporary light tanks and IFVs. However, the Tsrikhon also inherits the Merkava’s heavy weight, which limits its mobility in battle.
The BMP-2M is a variant of the base BMP-2, an IFV in the Russian tech tree. Being a squadron vehicle, it takes a while to unlock, and does not get any premium bonuses, meaning you will have to grind this from all the base modifications. It has gained quite the reputation in War Thunder, whether you like it or hate it, its just there, waiting for you. So how can it be used effectively, and what do you get with it?
The Begleitpanzer 57 is a West German experimental vehicle of the late 1970s. Developed by Thyssen-Henschel in collaboration with Bofors, it was designed to fill a presumed niche in the fighting vehicles market at the time. The Begleit, based on the chassis of the Marder IFV, was classified as an Armored Infantry Fire Support Vehicle, or AIFSV for short. This vehicle has been developed privately with no government contract or similar ever given out for it. Only one prototype of this fighting vehicle was ever finished.
