After the versatile M41 Walker Bulldog, the T49 gives you two gameplay options. You can either keep your versatility with a 90-mm gun or go for a very specialised playstyle with its 152-mm howitzer, often referred to as 'derp gun'. No matter which gun you choose, both will give you an insight into how the next vehicle, the XM551 Sheridan, plays.
Gameplay
Just like its predecessor, the T49 doesn't have any armour worth mentioning. The turret, albeit its angled and rounded shape, won't deflect any incoming shells either. The vehicle is tall as well, which makes you an easier target and lowers your camouflage rating a bit. Check out the recommended crew skills to counteract the latter.
Thanks to its strong engine, it boasts a superb power-to-weight ratio, resulting in a top-notch acceleration, and while the top speed is lower than the Bulldog's, it's still good. This will help you in most situations, no matter which gameplay option you choose. The view range is also very respectable, which is a nice trait to have if you want to spot your enemies early.
The T49 has two main guns you can choose from, which define its playstyle:
- 90-mm gun T132E3: The standard armament of this vehicle. It's reliable enough to get in some shots here and here. However, if you choose this gun, you're best advised to spot for your team as well, as with the gun alone you won't make as much of a difference for your team. Go for it if you liked the gameplay of the M41 Walker Bulldog
- 152-mm Gun-Launcher XM81 (conventional): With this gun, you make the T49 more of an "anti-scout" – because of its low accuracy you'll need to be close to your opponent to hit them, rendering your high view range useless. However, this howitzer is incredibly dangerous, inflicting fatal damage to soft targets and even damaging thick targets with its HE shells. Wanna try out something new?
Equipment
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For every setup above, we recommend using the Tank Gun Rammer as well as the Vertical Stabiliser to increase your potential damage per minute and the overall reliability of your gun. Depending on your preferences, go for Improved Ventilation for a general boost in performance or Coated Optics if you want to able to spot enemies more easily. When it comes to the 152-mm gun, it's best to mount the Enhanced Gun Laying Drive because of the bad aiming time.
Crew Skills
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Because of the different gameplay choices you can make with the T49, go either for Repair (aggressive playstyle) or Concealment (spotting) first, whereas the other skills will boost several other characteristics. Later on, once you have an extremely experienced crew, Brothers in Arms is definitely what you want to go for – if you take the 152-mm gun, it should be in the third slot of your crewmen.
