11 replies to this topic

[JDBC567]

I'm quite tired of the bad hull armour of the kv tanks so should I go for the kv3 or the IS? 

 

Moved to Heavy Tanks Discussions subforum.

 

~Elite911.

[thatwarguy]

According to blitzstars, the KV-3 has better armor, more hitpoints, and a bit more gun depression than the IS, but the IS has a better gun (barely) and superior mobility. All in all it depends of your playstyle, KV-3 if you like slow-moving, great survivability type tanks, IS if you like using the mobility. For myself I pick KV-3.

Edited by thatwarguy, 13 June 2020 - 04:08 PM.

[BossArdnutz]

KV-3 should run the 100mm D10T gun. Same pen, better DPM and better handling than the top 122mm. You have the armour to cope with the greater exposure needed to use the higher rate of fire.

The IS, I preferred the 122mm as the armour isn't good enough to cope with exposing that often, and the handling is slightly better than the KV-3 even though it's the same gun.

[Lord_Melchett]

The old tech tree made much more sense for these 2 tanks.  IS follows the KV1S model of mobility over strong armour, which continues through the IS3 and IS8.  KV3 follows the T150 model of armour over mobility, which continues through KV4 and ST1.

 

What they both share is unreliable armour (against same tier HT/TD and anything in tier 8) and troll guns. 

 

The game has changed since KV3 and KV4 could sit in the open and bounce shots. Troll armour seems to be more effective than thick armour in these Russian heavies.  For that reason, and increased mobility, I would choose IS over KV3.

[ownin]

depends which line you want to end up in but the IS is definitely better than the kv3

the kv3's armour which it gives up everything else for isn't even good because its a big flat slab no matter how well you angle it

[BossArdnutz]

https://youtu.be/z0x9M432P2s

KV-3 had been buffed twice since then, armour and hitpoints. With full crew the idiot gun is even more reliable.

It's a bit like the KV-2 in terms of the guns - far better with the DPM option than the derp option.

 

Armour-wise, the KV-3's turret is a lot better than the IS turret, which has a huge cupola and large, weak cheeks. The extra degree of gun depression just reinforces that advantage. Regardless, it's a Russian heavy, so you shouldn't be showing your hull, and if you get into the habit of relying on angling an IS to bounce shells you are going to hate the IS-3 and hate the IS-8 even more; both have very weak, pike-nose hulls and only 5 degrees of gun depression. 

Edited by BossArdnutz, 14 June 2020 - 02:11 AM.

[Dangerous_when_Sober]

KV3 is a superb tank and vastly underrated.

The playstyle is as elegant as a wellington boot - drive right to front line and sidescrape/hulldown. Put 122mm gun in enemies faces.

Yes, soviet gun. Even at point blank you need to aim a bit. It really is like a Kv1s with armour.

First tank that really clicked for me (made mistake of playing panther line first...oh the humanity).

KV3 armour is reliable enough - front bounces a lot.

122 mm is the better gun for me.

[Lord_Melchett]

Dangerous_when_Sober, on 14 June 2020 - 11:06 AM, said:

KV3 is a superb tank and vastly underrated.

The playstyle is as elegant as a wellington boot - drive right to front line and sidescrape/hulldown. Put 122mm gun in enemies faces.

Yes, soviet gun. Even at point blank you need to aim a bit. It really is like a Kv1s with armour.

First tank that really clicked for me (made mistake of playing panther line first...oh the humanity).

KV3 armour is reliable enough - front bounces a lot.

122 mm is the better gun for me.

 

Just as a matter of interest, have you played KV3 recently?  I haven't (sold it long ago), but I don't see many around, and those that I do see usually die quickly.

[JDBC567]

Lord_Melchett, on 14 June 2020 - 11:56 AM, said:

 

Just as a matter of interest, have you played KV3 recently?  I haven't (sold it long ago), but I don't see many around, and those that I do see usually die quickly.

I haven't researched it yet. That was why I was asking

[Lord_Melchett]

JDBC567, on 14 June 2020 - 01:15 PM, said:

I haven't researched it yet. That was why I was asking

No, I was asking Dangerous ... to see if his glowing testimonial was based on recent experience or past experience.

[Muda_San]

KV3 is worse than the IS. Both have weak lower plates. Both have a hard-hitting 122mm.

Pros of KV3: 

Better side armor means it can angle well

Better turret armor

1 extra gun depression

 

Pros of IS:

Way better mobility and agility

Slightly better gun handling

Better view range

 

The thing is that KV3 has weak frontal armor against tier 8s. The mid-plate and lower plate are butter even when angled. The small turret cheeks can also be penned if they are hit. Also, it is slow and inflexible, something that you don't want in a heavy. It also has very bad view range which means it is almost blind. Although IS has worse armor, its superior mobility means that it can help support the mediums. The front can also troll poorly-aimed shots because of the design.

 

One thing to note that is the tier 10 IS4 is basically better than IS7 in every way so you may want to consider that when deciding which tank to play.

Edited by I_Have_Retired, 01 September 2020 - 04:55 AM.

[STEEL_Firestorm]

I go crazy playing the slow KV tanks. Speed alone makes me recommend IS.