Commanders! The [url=https://armoredwarfare.com/en/news/general/battle-path-info-and-preorder]Seahawks Battle Path[/b][/url] is right around the corner and along with it come the American vehicle buffs we have announced in the article. So let’s take a look at them together. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/31078546/5827b8ef16d2d741e3e629e016f787e923533237.png[/img] American vehicles have long been the “baseline” of Armored Warfare in the sense they aren’t really good or bad in any particular aspects. They are just “there” and with the introduction of more and more specialized vehicles, they got pushed into the background a bit. Well, no more, because in the next update, they are becoming awesome. Let’s start with the [b]M1128 Stryker[/b], Joshua Seagrove’s favorite Tank Destroyer. It’s becoming a really mean vehicle on the battlefield with the following changes: [list] [*] For the autoloader configuration we are changing the reload time within magazine from 3.54s to 2s [*] Added new HEAT-MP round with 855mm penetration and 610 damage [*] Added new APFSDS round with 760mm penetration and 470 damage [*] Significantly increased the vehicle’s agility [/list] Next is the [b]Bradley Fighting Vehicle[/b], the workhorse of the Seahawks. This vehicle’s performance has so far been mediocre, which is why we have made the following changes: [list] [*] Added the 600hp VTA-903T engine (this significantly increases its mobility) [*] 30mm and 40mm variants of the same gun are now separate modules with the 40mm gun having a new HE round [*] Added a new tandem HEAT warhead ATGM (with the same penetration and damage as the previous one but improved flight characteristics) [*] Added a new thermobaric warhead ATGM [/list] In other words, the Bradley’s becoming faster and hard-hitting. But the main part of the changes concerns the [b]Abrams MBT series[/b]. For starters, most of the Abrams tanks are getting a frontal armor overhaul. It’s an overall buff to the frontal armor, but some parts are actually becoming thinner. Simply put, the Abrams frontal armor’s about to behave differently and it’s up to you to learn how to deal with the nasty beasts that are the new Abrams tanks. It’s certainly possible, just not a matter of a single button push. Next, let’s discuss the specific vehicles, starting with the [b]Tier 10 XM1A3[/b], which hasn’t been performing great as of late. On the contrary, it needed a serious buff, which is why we made the following changes: [list] [*] ARAT-2 ERA is now working correctly against tandem warheads (this was more a bug fix than a buff and is a mechanical change rather than a value increase, feel free to test it in game) [*] Added a new Trophy Next Gen APS module with Supercharged APS ability [*] Increased the initial acceleration for both engines [*] 120mm gun now has a new M1147 AMP remote detonation HE round [*] 120mm M829E4 APFSDS damage increased from 600 to 650 [*] 140mm gun reload time improved from 9.8s to 9s [*] 140mm gun accuracy of APFSDS and HEAT shells increased [/list] With the frontal armor buff, the XM1A3’s bound to become one of the best MBTs in Armored Warfare, period. Next, the [b]Tier 9 M1A2C (and its Hades variant).[/b] Aside from the frontal armor buff, we are making the following adjustments: [list] [*] Fixed an issue where the properties of ARAT-2 ERA didn’t change properly with this module installed [*] ARAT-2 ERA is now working correctly against tandem warheads (same fix as for XM1A3) [*] Added a new M1147 AMP remote detonation HE round [*] Increased the initial acceleration for both engines [*] Reload speed improved from 6.7s to 6s [*] Significantly increased hull traverse from 33 deg/s to 44 deg/s [/list] For the [b]Tier 8 M1A2[/b], aside from the frontal armor buff as usual, we are making the following changes: [list] [*] Added a new M908 HE round (840 damage, 50mm penetration) [*] Increased the initial acceleration of the engine [*] Reload speed improved from 6.7s to 6s [*] Significantly increased hull traverse from 33 deg/s to 44 deg/s [/list] Following is the [b]Tier 8 Premium M1A1 AIM[/b], previously one of the most mediocre tanks of Armored Warfare. We checked its statistics and decided it finally deserves a proper buff. Therefore, aside from the frontal armor improvement, we have made the following changes: [list] [*] APFSDS round changed from M829A1 to M829A2 (740mm penetration, 540 damage) [*] Added new XM943 STAFF top-attack HEAT round [*] Added new M908 HE round (840 damage, 50mm penetration) [*] Increased the initial acceleration of the engine [*] Significantly increased hull traverse from 33 deg/s to 44 deg/s [/list] The [b]Tier 7 M1A1[/b] can’t be left out either. You know the drill by now – frontal armor upgrade. But also: [list] [*] Added new M908 HE round (840 damage, 50mm penetration [*] Reload speed improved from 6.7s to 6s [*] Increased the initial acceleration of the engine [*] Significantly increased hull traverse from 33 deg/s to 44 deg/s [/list] We’re coming to an end now. What’s left is the [b]Tier 6 M1[/b] with the frontal armor adjustment but also: [list] [*] Added a new armor module that improves the frontal turret and hull armor even further [*] Added a new APFSDS round (690mm penetration, 430 damage) [*] Increased the initial acceleration of the engine [*] Reload speed improved from 5.8s to 5.4s [*] Significantly increased hull traverse from 25 deg/s to 41 deg/s [/list] The rest of the Abrams tanks (XM1, M1A1 Storm) performed well enough in order not to warrant major buffs but we didn’t forget them either: [list] [*] XM1 (and XM1 Fox): APFSDS round changed to M833 (690mm penetration, 430 damage) [*] M1A1 Storm: Increased the initial acceleration of the engine (this will help nicely with your ramming maneuvers) [*] M1A1 Storm: Significantly increased hull traverse from 32.9 deg/s to 44 deg/s [/list] And that’s about it, commanders. The Abrams tanks should retain their jack-of-all-trades characteristics but at a significantly higher level now. We hope that you’ll enjoy devastating your opponents with them and, as always: [b]See you on the battlefield![/b]