I remember there was a discussion on why all the T-80s in FCSS don't have ERA blocks. Here I would like to avoid the discussion of "why", I'd like to see a "what if" instead.
What if these T-80b become T-80BV, will it tip the balance of the scenarios and make it un-playable on NATO side?
look at the T-80B1 armor rating and anti-armor rating
I would expect to see ERA equipped T-64's and T-80's for any action that shifts north of FCSS. Certainly by 89, the bulk of the tanks in the 8th Guards Army and 3rd Shock Army seem to have had added ERA.
I would like to share an engagement happened in my last PBEM,
Scenario "An Autobahn Too Far", Soviets have T-72B with Kontakt-1 ERA that increases the HEAT resistance to 99/84. My west German troops carry Milan I ATGM with HEAT value at 61
I have a Marder IFV plt hiding behind the smoke screen, fire at a T-72B co. The first salvo knocked out 1 T-72, (that is considered as an ambush, by house rule that is a flank shot), but following salvos failed to damage any more T-72. After expanding all 18 rounds of Milan ATGM the Marder Plt have to replenish the ammo, and they just knocked out one T-72B.
And I would love to see more T-64BV and T-80BV in the scenarios.
On the other hand, T-64BV and T-80BV both have an impressive armor piercing value at 57, that is a significant improvement from 45 and 49 AT value. I am wondering what is this 57 AT representing? BM-46? That has a potential to damage the best NATO tanks at long range tank gun duel.
M1A1 has armor rating at 46/44 (Turret/Hull)
Leopard 2A1 has armor rating at 58/49
L2A4, 71/60
