Object 260 - Light at the end of the mission tunnel

[StranaMechty 2,539]

So, before we get to the boring details, let's just start off by acknowledging that it's a very attractive vehicle. It even has temple-mounted machine guns.

 

 

 

And here's after I reinstalled my custom camo masks.

 

 

 

 

Now, actual information. Mind you, I've only played a few matches so far, as I unlocked the vehicle all of two days ago (finally), but the easiest way I can sum things up for you is a mix of IS-7, IS-4, and Chinese 110.

Stat sheet comparison between IS-4, Object 260, and IS-7.

 

With but a couple exceptions, the hull is an IS-7. Seems to be the same pike, same lower plate, same raw thickness, same sides, same 30mm skirts, etc. The sides behind the skirts aren't curved like the IS-7, rather they are a linear slope meeting with a vertical plate, which results in a tiny bit more unsloped armor low on the side hull, but this does not seem a consequential difference. The thing that does seem to matter is the triangular plate over the driver's head. It's 45mm instead of the IS-7's 140mm. It is sharply sloped, yes, but you can still get some rounds through there that wouldn't go through on the IS-7.

The turret trends more towards the IS-4 than the IS-7. It is quite strong frontally, but shares the 30mm roof that is easy to overmatch, though it is both a bit higher up and not sloped forward like the IS-3/IS-4, making for a more difficult shot. The cheeks are mildly sloped but a whopping 350mm thick, so will largely not be a concern. The sloping bits above and below them are a very sharply sloped 170mm, similarly quite strong. The biggest problem is that the turret has a large overhang, and this overhang can serve as a shot trap that redirects rounds into the 45 and 30mm armor sections below it. I have had a few rounds do this very thing. It's not common and it doesn't ruin the vehicle, but it is something to keep in mind. The mantlet has a small, flat 250mm section and a well sloped 150mm top and bottom, covering an exceptionally large zero armor hole surrounded by more 350mm armor. The starboard cupola is 120mm, but well sloped and quite small. Turret sides are lightly sloped and range from quite strong to decent in three horizontal bands of armor measuring 185mm, 210mm, and 240mm (top to bottom). Overall the turret isn't as good as the IS-7's (what tank's is?), but it is still solid.

The two things that most readily set the 260 apart from its sisters are the mobility and gun. The gun is somewhat akin to the IS-4's, save that it is much less clumsy and fires APCR primary. HEAT and HE are the same. The APCR has slightly lower effective penetration than the IS-4's AP round, but is 34% faster at 1,259 m/s. It's not quite tier 10 medium velocity, but it's markedly faster than any standard AP (and many premium APCR) round. Also, like tier 10 mediums, it has very low penetration dropoff of only 15mm. The best improvement is the handling. It blooms less and aims faster, more like an E5's gun than the IS-7's. Unfortunately you can only carry 30 rounds, and unlike the IS-7 there is no "strictly better" round, so you may find yourself out of the type of ammo you really want more often than other vehicles. I currently carry 20/8/2. Gun depression is -5° instead of the -6° of the IS-7 and IS-4. Not great, but workable. The reason I referenced the 110 earlier is, like the 110 vs the IS-3, the 260 trades the IS-7's raw damage for better DPM and more precision. The gun handling is sufficiently good that I have not mounted an EGLD on top of the Vstab, but rather vents. Optics could be useful as well. To taste, I suppose.

The most attractive part of the tank, I think, is the mobility. The terrain resistance values aren't stellar, but they're not the "shopping cart in the mud" values the IS-7 has, and you get an additional 14.3% horsepower, as much as the 50B, while weighing about 7 tons less than the IS-7. While the IS-7 requires a downhill slope, a good tailwind, and rocket assist to reach its top speed, the 260 will actually see the far side of 50 kph now and then. An IS-7 hull, even one slightly weakened, moving around at that speed is an intoxicating thing. I've always found it a cruel irony that the heavy capping the Soviet "speed" tree isn't fast, but manages to be better protected than the "armor" heavy (which is also not fast). The 260 is mobile enough to, I venture to say, deserve the "heavium" tag. I've not raced it against a 50B yet, but I think it would acquit itself reasonably well. It certainly outstrips IS-7s.

Does it make extra cash? - No

Does it take any Soviet heavy crew? - Yes. Commander (radio op), gunner, driver, loader. Matches the IS-4's layout.

Is it a better IS-7/IS-4? - I don't think that's a good way to think about it. It is sufficiently different from its sisters, trading some good traits for other good traits, that calling it a better or worse anything is insufficiently nuanced. If anything I would call it a tier 10 110, though there is difference enough to warrant an asterisk on that comparison.

Was it worth it? - I'm going to cop out on answering this. The value of your time and the enjoyment you'll get out of the vehicle are subjective measures, I can't decide that for you. I can say that I think the vehicle is solid and has use. It's not a useless crappy trinket like the Stug IV. I would not look askance at its use in CW. For all the cash, XP, premium time, equipment, consumables, female crew members, and tanks I got, I would say the missions were worthwhile to me.

Obligatory .gif -

 

Some replays, cherry-picked for damage dealt to make myself look better. I vouch not for the strategic or tactical decisions made, I can't be held responsible for past-me's actions.

 

 

 

 

[Ollie Tabooger 614]

Is it even possible to get 3 marks on it?

[furrystrawberry 51]

.

[StranaMechty 2,539]

Something I forgot to mention is that you're going to get lots of "Object 260? How do I get that?" as though there weren't ample indicators in the garage. I tell myself to just not respond instead of snark.

 

Is it even possible to get 3 marks on it?

 

I expect it will have the same issue as the 907. It'll be possible, but profoundly difficult. VBAddict has record of someone getting mark #1 at 3,761, and no information thereafter. I further expect it will get easier as time goes on and more people acquire it, though the nature of its acquisition means this could take quite a while.

[weesh 669]

congrats.

[StranaMechty 2,539]

congrats.

[woe2you 367]

Daaamn. Ands here's me still enjoying the smell of fresh paint on my 55A.

[#Lunaughty 1,230]

So it's basically a tier 10 110?

[PrimeDynasty 370]

I want those camos!

[furrystrawberry 51]

.

 

[StranaMechty 2,539]

So it's basically a tier 10 110?

 

I do believe I was editing that in as you were posting. I would say that's a reasonable comparison, though unlike where the 110 gains glacis armor in return for losing side armor the 260's glacis and side are almost entirely unchanged from the IS-7. Also, no view range advantage. Still, the general idea is sound.

 

I want those camos!

 

http://imgur.com/a/fl55L

 

Edit: Whoa, Imgur album integration. Shiny.

[#Lunaughty 1,230]

Those camos are pretty cool.

[StranaMechty 2,539]

Have just noticed a crippling weakness.

 

No tactical log.

 

Tank is ruined.

[mereelskirata 1,205]

 

I expect it will have the same issue as the 907. It'll be possible, but profoundly difficult. VBAddict has record of someone getting mark #1 at 3,761, and no information thereafter. I further expect it will get easier as time goes on and more people acquire it, though the nature of its acquisition means this could take quite a while.

Despad has 1 mark with 3.9k dpg in it with like 180 games or something. I don't think anyone is going to get three marks until more people get the tank.

[UglyBigD 195]

Have just noticed a crippling weakness.

 

No tactical log.

 

Tank is ruined.

 

0/10 no longer grinding missions

[ZXrage 1,318]

Will it blend?

 

...

 

Did you enjoy the Obj. 260's missions?

[StranaMechty 2,539]

Will it blend?

 

...

 

Did you enjoy the Obj. 260's missions?

 

I imagine the twin temple MGs would do a good job of mincing things. I expect it would break the blender should you try to blend it. Even that blender.

 

I chronicle them in more detail in my numerous posts in but the TL;DR is...Some of the missions were fine. Some of them were egregiously dumb. Most of them I did prior to 9.8 and the change to a number of them, so your mileage may vary slightly. Except the medium tank fire mission.

 

Fuck the medium tank fire mission.

[kariverson 180]

Gratz dude. Also lol that GIF is badass! 

 

I still haven't played mine outside of SHs I'm a retard and I want to feel super comfortable the day I play it so I don't end up with a bad RNG run and 2k dpg :/

[MntRunner 223]

Nice overview, it makes me want it even more. I'm just a couple missions away from the T-55.

[Melol 343]

Can you get the t55a for me kek

[Joyrider216 1,028]

Great job man! And here I am, not even done with the Stug missions ;_;

[BPX 287]

why didn't you call the thread 260 Master Race you pleb

[StranaMechty 2,539]

why didn't you call the thread 260 Master Race you pleb

 

We robots have no use for racing.

[veitileiN 340]

there is probably still no one with 3 marks on it right? i will try soon but i think it needs more baddies to play the tank.

[CraBeatOff 5,741]

there is probably still no one with 3 marks on it right? i will try soon but i think it needs more baddies to play the tank.

Despad is one of the top ~3 on NA and is at only 1 mmark with 3900 average (direct only). Given the short lists of NA players I've seen with the tank they are all good and some very very good. Ironic that WG has given a reward tank for the masses who can't won't clan wars and yet that's not the demographic that can get the 260...