American Tech Tree
Medium Tanks
Tier 9 and 10
The M46 and M48 Patton were both given significantly improved turret protection to assist with how well they can work ridge lines. The M46 turret increases from around 130-150mm across the turret front all the way up to 210-250mm effective armor.
The M48’s turret increases from the current 180-250mm effective armor up to 250-330mm, as well as receiving a smaller cupola - a significant draw back with the M48’s current turret.
While these changes will, again, certainly achieve what Wargaming are aiming for, I’m personally not sure they’re entirely necessary. As they currently stand, the M46 Patton is one of the best Tier 9 Mediums in the game, sitting in the top 3 by most player’s books. Part of the Patton's success is its incredible view range, positioning it as one of the tanks with the highest view range in the game.
The M48 is another very strong tank, albeit a high skill threshold one, rewarding smart play through minimal exposure by utilising the tank’s fantastic DPM, gun depression, and gun handling to shred its opponents. I don’t believe either tank are in need of a buff, but we’ll see how they perform in the upcoming patch alongside their new competition. I do, once again, fear for the Leopard 1 even further now.