T49 -- Land Arty in a Bite-Size Package

[Deathpig_Jones 378]

How can a tank be simultaneously complete shit, and yet be the most fun tank in the game to play?  I have no idea but the T49 manages it.

 

I'm still working out the 'how' to play it effectively-- hovering around the front lines a bit more than you would in other light tanks seems to be the answer because the gun just isn't made for sniping... fortunately the tank has -10 depression, 24kmph reverse speed, and pretty good traverse and acceleration which gives it at least a few tools to work closer to the bad guys.

 

 

Here's my first Ace Tanker game:

http://wotreplays.com/site/1196657#murovanka-deathpig_jones-t49

 

 

Please note, this tank is the *worst* of the new scouts.  If you really want to scout and play a tank a bit more traditional get the M41 or the RU-251.  Those tanks are actually *good*.  

 

The T49 is entirely for the lulz, and holy shit it delivers.

 

[Crossfader 1,142]

How effective is the heat.

[onceuponaban 24]

Well, the T49 has a reticle size literally bigger than the game can display, but on the other hand it will murder any non armored tank and it's fast. I'd rather compare it to a KV-2 than the FV 215b 183mm though.

 

Also remember that they're planning to add the M56 Scorpion in the game (unarmored hull and 15mm gun shield) , wouldn't the T49 annihilate it too?

 

How effective is the heat.

152mm of penetration. Then again HEAT will not be the gold ammo, so it was predictable it wouldn't be a "click to send enemy beyond orbit" button.

[Deusmortis 4,618]

Not sure if I want to get this or not.  It looks exactly like you describe:  Fun but ineffective.  I'm already critically low on credits, after getting the RU.

[Deathpig_Jones 378]

152 pen HEAT against Tier 9s and 10s is generally unreliable-- given how poorly HEAT interacts with tracks and spaced armor, and how bad the gun control is just makes it worse.  18-20s reload means swapping ammo for the right shot is problematic.

In my very limited experience, targets either have so little armor you want to HE it, or so much armor you can't HEAT it.  I have some to try and test usefulness, but it hasn't been very reliable so far.

[Target122 24]

What about running the 90 mm and spamming heat. It has good dpm and I the pen normally is not a problem for something like a T69 which I see 10s in frequently.

[Expendable_Lad 753]

Going to glean HEAT round is near-useless given the precision you often need and the comparatively low pen. I picked up the KV-2 for the lulz a while back and sold a month or so later. I get sick of trolley, ineffective/"novelty" tanks pretty quick these days. 

[HurricaneLane 197]

Had a T49 do 493 HE damage to the turret of my T-54. I was surprised that the turret took that much damage from the HE shell. Is that normal, or did he get lucky? Also, I can't compare to other shots from T49s as that was the only time I've been hit by one.

[Platypusbill 213]

What about running the 90 mm and spamming heat. It has good dpm and I the pen normally is not a problem for something like a T69 which I see 10s in frequently.

 

I'd imagine a 90mm T49 is just an inferior and more expensive RU251.

[LanterneRouge 160]

I'd really like to see some reports of people trying out the 90mm. Can it be effective?

[Meirzin 284]

T49 is hilariously fun. First damaging hit this patch was in it, hit the side of a lorry turret for 1k. Other nice shots include a ~970 and ~1030 Consecutive shots on two different waffles, a 670 killshot on an E3 followed immediately by a ~970 hit +Fire on a T57. All standard HE in this. Also hit an E-75 turret face for ~430.

[tefftorbes 866]

The more I read, the more likely I am to spend some of those free XPs I have....

[Meirzin 284]

The more I read, the more likely I am to spend some of those free XPs I have....

Do it

[Otis 370]

Do it

Meh, the Walker Bulldog is a great tank, so grinding for it is pretty painless.  I'd save the Free XP.

[StranaMechty 2,539]

Had a T49 do 493 HE damage to the turret of my T-54. I was surprised that the turret took that much damage from the HE shell. Is that normal, or did he get lucky? Also, I can't compare to other shots from T49s as that was the only time I've been hit by one.

 

It's entirely possible that, though the HE shell detonated against the side of the turret, the damage was applied to the top of the hull, which has much thinner armor. HE shells always proc against the most damage combination of proximity and thickness.

[Jaynen 1]

Earlier today I had a T49 seemingly bounce one heat, but then also hit me for 725 with it on my T34 (the prem) I wasn't expecting peekaboom from a light tank to insta gib me.

[a_stray_shot_ 1]

The prem ammo has a pretty big splash radius. You will damage anything you hit with it. Spall liners really ruin the T49's day, however. Nothing worse than hitting a maus 4x for 30 damage each time... lol....k

[S7rike 67]

More to the end of my 40 or so battles in this thing last night.....I began to just play it like a derpy hellcat. It seemed to work because scouting wasn't. 

Plus I played so many battles in it that my 1000 battle dropped by like 60 points because I guess the T49 is a tier 10 I played at 800 wn8.

 

 

Some of my better games (Well atleast ones blessed by rngesus.)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/5zj530m8240ykl3/20140925_1945_usa-T49_44_north_america.wotreplay

http://www.mediafire.com/download/8a0ouw2o60i7al4/20140925_2105_usa-T49_14_siegfried_line.wotreplay

http://www.mediafire.com/download/i263asgizoca515/20140925_1622_usa-T49_08_ruinberg.wotreplay

[Torgen 0]

I like the look of the "Flying Saucer" turret. The reload looks longer than a TD, though.

[jacg123 656]

Just about 55 games played and I'm rocking a ~70% win rate on it.

I'm finding that since I don't have to flank to do damage, there are many more opportunities available than in other light tanks. Finishing off low hp tanks is much easier. The ability to rock someone's world with a 1k hp hit is also pretty amazing, not to mention all the modules it smashes with just about any hit.

I'm finding that my biggest mistakes revolve around committing to close range combat. The key to this tank is to derp people who are distracted or reloading, and to swoop in on lone tanks and get a fat HE pen.

The HEAT is an interesting round, but not particularly effective. I use 5 rounds of it, but I might cut that back to 4. While it is very situational, it is also very useful in those situations. Knowing when to load it is a matter of accurate prediction of the course of local engagements.

I love me some T49!

[LanterneRouge 160]

What do you guys recommend for platoon mates for this thing? I'm getting a little bored soloing it and the m41.

[jacg123 656]

Well it gets tier 9 mm. Find someone grinding 9s and leech

[Rexxie 10,788]

VK/E75 or the E-50 seem like solid t49 plat buddies.

[SgtKnispel23 30]

im going to have to grind for this tank just for the lolz

[2die4khaine 1]

The T49 sends me right back to the M4 Sherman with the 105 and a part of the game I've missed greatly, judging by how much I enjoy the T49. There are much better tanks in the game, but the sheer thrill of passing a Lor at full speed and plugging in 900+ damage to the side of it and rushing off into the distance negates any issues I might have with the tank.

 

It can do a lot more than a normal light does, and it is entirely viable to follow heavies down a corridor and assist in that fight. It isnt perfect at it, but it can do it, which is something most other lights cant do in frontal encounters.

 

It is not a nimble dancer, or the sneakiest of tanks, but it is versatile and with a good understanding of the flow of battle, it can influence a fight a lot. I am usually not much for planning ahead, when playing WoT, but the T49 has that requirement slapped to the side of it.

 

Oh and the damn thing prints money.