The M4A3E8 Thunderbolt VII is based on the M4A3E8 Sherman of the same tier. It is one of the Berlin tanks and has spaced armour to reinforce its frontal plates and turret, making it appear to be like the T26E4 SuperPershing, just on Tier VI. Read on and find out how to perform the best with the Thunderbolt!
Gameplay
If you've played an M4A3E8 Sherman before, you know that this vehicle does not rely on its armour but on its decent mobility, depression angles and rapid-fire gun. Now, with all that additional spaced armour at the front, the gameplay changes drastically from the original tank. Even though the Thunderbolt is classified as a medium, it no longer plays as such.
The tank becomes way heavier; the mobility drops significantly and is now on par with a fast heavy tank. Keep in mind that the spaced armour only applies to the front and the turret, the sides are still weak – don't show them if possible. What you can do now is either go with your heavy tanks and play a support vehicle (especially when you're not at the top of the list), or you go with your medium tanks and be one of the main forces pushing the enemies back. Your spaced armour deflects quite a lot of incoming fire, use it to keep pushing and destroy them with your damage per minute.
Your armament is the same as before: a 76 mm gun. It's slightly different to the other Shermans; the rate of fire went down a bit but in return, the accuracy and aiming time improved. The damage per minute is still high, but now that you're playing a different role on the battlefield, it might be hard at times to make that work for you. Our best advice is to keep the enemies close to you and don't give them time to reload, and you'll most likely come out on top. Avoid trading shots at all cost!
Equipment
Recommended Setup | ||
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The M4A3E8 Thunderbolt VII is one of the very few vehicles in its tier that is able to have a Vertical Stabilizer mounted, which is a big advantage when it comes to gun dispersion. The two other pieces maximise the damage per minute.
Crew Skills
Commander | |||
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Gunner | |||
Driver | |||
Radio Operator | |||
Loader |
Of course, even with its different gameplay, the choice of crew skills and perks doesn't really differ from conventional medium or heavy tanks. Aside from the essential skills like Repair, others grant bonuses to the vehicle's performance.
Adrenaline Rush
Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.
Band of Brothers
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.
Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.
Call for Vengeance
Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Clutch Braking
Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Concealment
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Controlled Impact
Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Deadeye
Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Designated Target
Keeps targetes vehicles visible for two more seconds.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Eagle Eye
Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Firefighting
Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Intuition
Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.
Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Jack of All Trades
Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Mentor
Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Off-Road Driving
Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Preventative Maintenance
Reduces the chance of taking fire.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Recon
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Relaying
Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Repair
Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Safe Stowage
Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Signal Boosting
Increases the signal range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Situational Awareness
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Sixth Sense
Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Smooth Ride
Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Snap Shot
Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Additional Grousers
Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.
Binocular Telescope
Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.
Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.
Camouflage Net
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.
Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.
Coated Optics
Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.
Tank Gun Rammer
Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.
Spall Liner
Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.
Toolbox
Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.
Cumulative with the Repair skill.
Improved Ventilation
Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.
Vertical Stabilizer
Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.
"Wet" Ammo Rack
Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.