Question Regarding Survivability of ZTZ-96 through ZTZ-99III

[VanguardX2 166]

Hello!  With the pending new additions to the Chinese tree, I was debating on starting the grind, but I would like to know how the higher tier Chinese MBT stack up from a survivability standpoint compared to tier 6 and 7 US, GER, and USSR tanks.

 

Thanks!

[Monika_in_action 1,363]

There's nothing really worth mentioning when it come to survivability of ZTZ-99A: Three man crew, ammo rack at the bottom of the floor with no protection measure like blow off panels, lacking ERA side protection... I won't regard it as bad or worst survivability at top tier, but it was even far from average standard.

 

So here is my personal opinion (overall survivability with frontal armor protection taken into account), top tier only.

1. Strv 122A/122B

2. Leopard 2A5/A6, and M1A2 Abrams in hull down position

3. T-72B3

4. T-80BVM (I know what you are thinking but this thing heavily rely on ERA blocks, the turret is still vulnerable if additional ERA were wiped out)

5. ZTZ-99A/ZTZ-99

6. Type 10 (Might be slightly better than the ZTZ in some cases but it really depends), Merkava IV

7. C1 Ariete (due to its weak protection and ammo layout)

[VanguardX2 166]

9 hours ago, Monika_in_action said:

There's nothing really worth mentioning when it come to survivability of ZTZ-99A: Three man crew, ammo rank at the bottom of the floor with no protection measure like blow off panels, lacking ERA blocks on both side... I won't regard it as bad or worst survivability at top tier, but it was even far from average standard.

 

So here is my personal opinion (overall survivability with frontal armor protection taken into account), top tier only.

1. Strv 122A/122B

2. Leopard 2A5/A6, and M1A2 Abrams in hull down position

3. T-72B3

4. T-80BVM (I know what you are thinking but this thing heavily rely on ERA blocks, the turret is still vulnerable if additional ERA were wiped out)

5. ZTZ-99A/ZTZ-99

6. Type 10 (Might be slightly better than the ZTZ in some cases but it really depends), Merkava IV

7. C1 Ariete (due to its weak protection and ammo layout)

 

Thank you for your reply.   In your top tier rankings, where would you put the LeClerc SXXI (or the other 2 almost identical LeClercs)?  I presume it will be down around 5,6 ,7 but I am curious as to what you think about where it fits in that range.

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by VanguardX2

[Monika_in_action 1,363]

3 hours ago, VanguardX2 said:

 

Thank you for your reply.   In your top tier rankings, where would you put the LeClerc SXXI (or the other 2 almost identical LeClercs)?  I presume it will be down around 5,6 ,7 but I am curious as to what you think about where it fits in that range.

 

SXXI would be around 3-4 for its reinforced protection around gunner (doesn't matter much, though. Would be one-shot on the commander side of the mantlet), but still much better than the ZTZ. For the turret is not that cramped and can sometimes absorb some hits even after get penetrated.

Leclerc can actually take few shots and fight back as long as the breech is not damaged thanks to plenty interior space and the commander override mechanics. So it's not as awful as you might imagine.

[totolescargo 598]

15 hours ago, Monika_in_action said:

There's nothing really worth mentioning when it come to survivability of ZTZ-99A: Three man crew, ammo rank at the bottom of the floor with no protection measure like blow off panels, lacking ERA blocks on both side... I won't regard it as bad or worst survivability at top tier, but it was even far from average standard.

 

So here is my personal opinion (overall survivability with frontal armor protection taken into account), top tier only.

1. Strv 122A/122B

2. Leopard 2A5/A6, and M1A2 Abrams in hull down position

3. T-72B3

4. T-80BVM (I know what you are thinking but this thing heavily rely on ERA blocks, the turret is still vulnerable if additional ERA were wiped out)

5. ZTZ-99A/ZTZ-99

6. Type 10 (Might be slightly better than the ZTZ in some cases but it really depends), Merkava IV

7. C1 Ariete (due to its weak protection and ammo layout)

Since the last year and a half, most of nations received better shells, making most of the Leclerc's armor irrelevant : it has been powercrept.

The hull is butter and the turret, besides the most exterior part of it, is basically a free ammorack kill.

 

There's also the issue with fuel tank exploding that's quite annoying. A couple of days ago I got destroyed by a single 25mm shot form an ADATS in the frontal fuel tank ... So quite sad for sure.

 

So considering this armor ranking, the Leclerc MBTs are probably between either 5-6 or 6-7.

 

 

But to come back to the topic, it's worth mentioning that Chinese ERA is quite strong and helps with the survivability.

What's also worth mentioning is that the lower plate is larger, making ammorack kills from the front easier than with USSR MBTs.

Edited June 11, 2022 by totolescargo