Review of a heavily armored TD with a 155 mm gun and -7° of gun depression, this beast boasts robust frontal protection and turret rotation for added versatility. Today we are taking a look at this premium monster in World of Tanks and comparing it to DPM king TS-5.
List of content:
Let’s take a look at the characheristics and compare it to the other tier 8 premium heavy tank destroyer, the TS-5.
Firepower
| Spec | XM57 | TS-5 |
|---|---|---|
| DPM | 2,075 | 2,944 |
| Penetration | 270 | 248 |
| Damage | 630 | 400 |
| Rate of fire | 3.29 | 7.36 |
| Reload time | 18.22 | 8.15 |
| Caliber | 155 | 120 |
| Shell velocity | 900 | 860 |
| Ammo capacity | 30 | 40 |
TS-5 absolutely obliterates the new XM57 in terms of DPM, with over 30% higher, meaning that XM57 is not really a tank that can brawl in 1v1 scenarios because most of the opponents will destroy you with their DPM advantage.
Where the XM57 shines tho is the alpha damage of 630 hit points and a really good standard ammo penetration of 270 mm. It allows you to go through heavily armoured targets at equal tiers combat. For higher tiers you will have to find some weakpoints to deal consistent damage.
With a bad shell velocity, you are very limited to sniping at long ranges, but that is to be expected, this tank is made for close quarter combat.
Gun Handling
| Spec | XM57 | TS-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Aim Time | 2.88s | 1.73s |
| Dispersion | 0.41 | 0.42 |
| … moving | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| … tank treverse | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| … turret treverse | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Depression | 7 | 5 |
| Gun arc | -75 / 75 | -10 / 10 |
XM57 has a larger caliber gun, so it is logical that the stats like aim time and dispersion are a bit weaker, and that is the case here with the aim time of almost 3 seconds and 0.41 dispersion. Try to avoid long range engagements.
Really interesting stat is the gun arc, +/-75 degrees is huge amount of gun arc and makes this tank incredibly flexible in close range combat and city engagements. Together with 7 degrees of gun depression you can use terrain to your advantage and hide your lower plate as well.
Mobility
| Spec | XM57 | TS-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 24 km/h | 26 km/h |
| Weight | 60 tons | 60 tons |
| Power/weight | 13.5 | 12.5 |
| Tank traverse | 22.95 | 25.03 |
A very slow tank, comparable to the TS-5. Not only it’s slow in the straight line with the top speed of only 24 km/h, but it has slow traverse speed, makes it hard to not get outmaneuvered by medium or light tanks.
Pick your position at the start of the game carefully because it will take you half a game to relocate to different position. Turbo here is very helpful to get around the battlefield more quickly.
Armor
Along with the gun, armor is the highlight of this beehemoth.
| Spec | XM57 | TS-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Hull armor | 120/88/38 | 260/100/51 |
| Turret armor | 304/101/38 | – |
| Health | 1300 | 1500 |
If you face this vehicle on flat terrain, it’s actually not that hard to pen it, on the front aim for the lower plate which is around 200mm of effective armor or middle part of upper glacies.
Weakpoint on the top is poorly armored as well, at only around 150mm of effective armor.
Avoid the area around the gun, it has a ton of armor, around 300 mm.
The story changes quite a bit if vehicle is using it’s gun depression, it becomes a hard nut to crack for many higher tier vehicles let alone equal or lower tier. Weakpoint at the top is not visible anymore and the lowest armor point is around 300mm.
The best chance against this vehicle you have if you get the the side or rear which is very poorly armored. HE shells can even pen the rear. If we take into a count how bad the mobility is of this vehicle, flanking should be possible even with a faster heavy.
Miscellaneous
| Spec | XM57 | TS-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Stationary camo | 16.36 | 15.28 |
| View Range | 370 | 370 |
| Shell cost | 1,650 | 1,060 |
Camo is suprisingly a little bit better then camo from the TS-5 even though the tank is larger and wider. View range is poor at 370 meters, you will rely on your teammates to spot for your. Shell cost is quite high, but if we take into a count the high alpha damage, it shouldn’t be an issue when it comes to credit making.
Crew skills and equipment
Crew skills
Commander
- Brothers in arms
- Repairs
- Recon
- Emergency
- Concealment
- Coordination
Radio operator
- Situational awareness
- Firefighting
- Jamming
Gunner
- Brothers in arms
- Repairs
- Concealment
- Deadeye
- Designated target
- Armorer
Driver
- Brothers in arms
- Repairs
- Concealment
- Clutch breaking
- Off-road driving
- Engineer
Loader
- Brothers in arms
- Repairs
- Concealment
- Adrenaline rush
- Close combat
- Ammo tuning
Equipment
- Improved hardening
- Turbo
- Gun rammer
Tips
Since the tanks mobility is limited and has a good gun, it playes quite like the T95 at the tier 9, but being a lot more flexible, meaning you can do the engagements in town a lot more easily and safely.
Don’t get isolated, your poor DPM and long reload will make you an easy pray in 1v1 situations. Also open areas where you can get flanked easily from behind or sides is are a big risk.
Use the terrain as much as possible to use the gun depression and make the upper hull and super structure almost impenetrable.
You are a huge tank with very little armor on all the areas apart from the front, be aware of arty, they will destroy you if you are caught in their line of fire.
Conclusion
TS-5 is still a monster to deal with, even for the higher tiers due to the insane DPM and amazing armor. This tank could be even more dangerous, especially to the lower tiers, they will get 2 shot while they can’t pen it frontally, and with the 270 mm of standard pen, you don’t really have to aim either at them too hard. With such a wide gun arc it will be a lot easier to play in city areas and tight corners.
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