Why do all tank weights have the same breakthrough?

[Commonblob]

I know it leads to historical outcomes, i.e. heavy tanks only being useful as single battalions in divisions. But is it factual? With differences in armor being accounted for, were all tank weight categories really equally good at breaking through enemy lines?

 

[plm]

Tanks have different breakthrough valves. Pre-war tanks have around 18. Light tank 1 has 26. Light tank 2, heavy 1, and medium 1 have 36. Medium 2 has 51. Heavy 2 has 52. Modern has 84. The heavier and more modern it is, it will have a better breakthrough.

 

[Fulmen]

BRK is just the defence stat of the unit on the attack. To measure the ability to achieve the kind of real-life breakthrough of enemy lines I assume the OP is thinking of, one has to take into account other values of the unit such as the greatly increased armour value. With all the increased stats of heavier tanks taken into account, it seems about right to me.

 

[bitmode]

Tanks have different breakthrough valves. Pre-war tanks have around 18. Light tank 1 has 26. Light tank 2, heavy 1, and medium 1 have 36. Medium 2 has 51. Heavy 2 has 52. Modern has 84. The heavier and more modern it is, it will have a better breakthrough.

During most game years the breakthrough values are very similar between weight classes:

• 1936-1940: light 36, medium 36, heavy 36
• 1941-1942: light 46, medium 51, heavy 52

But I agree with Fulmen, the core differences are represented in different attributes (stronger armor and better armaments). When you take those out of the equation, the tanks classes are not all that different. They all have rotating armaments effective against most targets and can cross various kinds of obstacles during combat (trenches, sandbag/barbwire barriers, thin walls etc.). I believe this is meant by the breakthrough attribute.
The lighter tank battalions also have more vehicles (60/50/40/10), so there is actually a slight progression per vehicle.

 

[Zauberelefant]

During most game years the breakthrough values are very similar between weight classes:

• 1936-1940: light 36, medium 36, heavy 36
• 1941-1942: light 46, medium 51, heavy 52

But I agree with Fulmen, the core differences are represented in different attributes (stronger armor and better armaments). When you take those out of the equation, the tanks classes are not all that different. They all have rotating armaments effective against most targets and can cross various kinds of obstacles during combat (trenches, sandbag/barbwire barriers, thin walls etc.). I believe this is meant by the breakthrough attribute.
The lighter tank battalions also have more vehicles (60/50/40/10), so there is actually a slight progression per vehicle.

I think armour is the most relevant stat. SCW showed that unless AT is present, even Panzer I was a threat to the enemy.

 

[Secret Master]

To measure the ability to achieve the kind of real-life breakthrough of enemy lines I assume the OP is thinking of, one has to take into account other values of the unit such as the greatly increased armour value. With all the increased stats of heavier tanks taken into account, it seems about right to me.

The irony is that I don't even think about the breakthrough stat when deciding on or comparing different take classes for various roles.

What I care about includes the following things (in vanilla, and in no particular order):

1) Speed
2) Armor
3) SA
4) HA

I just assume "I'm using tanks, so I will have sufficient breakthrough if I bothered to research some doctrines." I mean, what would you do with a tank type that had twice the breakthrough of another tank type? Answer: the same thing I would do with the tank with only the normal amount of breakthrough they have now.