▲ T-22 in World of Tanks
Hello World of Tanks players, the design of S-series tanks in games is usually very bold, which also gives S-series tanks some special combat performance that other tanks do not have. There is such an S series medium tank in the X Tier, which was once the strongest medium tank in the X Tier with its extremely strong defense and not low combat effectiveness. And after several ups and downs, it now has its own place under the name T-22. In this article, we will analyze the ups and downs that the T-22 has experienced in World of Tanks.
Originating from the pinnacle battle
▲The T-22 debuted
The T-22 was actually an extension of the 1949 A-22 medium tank project, and the subsequent design of the vehicle was used in the 907 Project, and from this point of view, the T-22 could well be called the "brother" of the 907 Project. Its qualifications aren't too old, as it wasn't added as an S-Series Tier X medium tank until version 0.9.10 of World of Tanks. And players need to complete all the missions in the "Pinnacle Battle" that started in version 0.9.12 to obtain it. At this time, there were already many Tier X medium tanks in the game, and the S series alone had the T-62A, Project 140, Project 430, and Project 907, so what did the T-22 rely on to stand out? The secret lies in its similar hull design to the Project 907.
▲The body design of the T-22 is very special
The most otherworldly thing about the T-22 is its flank defenses. Due to the bold adoption of a rather extreme deep V shape, the equivalent thickness of the side of the T-22 hull in the case of "swing angle" is extremely staggering, and it is almost impossible to penetrate by any armor-piercing projectile. The tail armor plate of the car's hull is also 80-90 mm thick, which can effectively prevent high damage caused by the penetration of small and medium-caliber high-explosive shells in actual combat. Coupled with the T-22's already excellent firepower, it became a new powerhouse in Tier X medium tanks. However, it has also received a lot of changes over the years.
Changes in the T-22
▲ T-22 in the garage of an older version
Compared to its predecessors in the Tier X medium tanks, the T-22 had the highest status during the period when it first joined in 2015. At this stage, the T-22, relying on good hull side defense and quite comprehensive combat capabilities, has become another "Zhongtan Little Prince" in the S series, although the single shot damage of the main gun is not high, but the excellent gun control and shell flight speed, so that the T-22 can hit the enemy better at different combat distances, and "mobile shooting" is not a problem at all.
▲ T-22 whose appearance has not yet been perfected
Over the years, it has been modified as follows:
- In version 0.9.12, the T-22 officially joined World of Tanks for the first time, becoming the fifth Tier X medium tank in the S series.
- In version 0.9.15, the T-22's hull and turret rotation speed has been reduced, the gun expansion circle has been increased by 50% when the tank is moving/rotating and the turret is rotated, and the tracks resistance of the tank has been reduced completely. Main gun aiming time changed from 1.9 seconds to 2.4 seconds, reload time changed from 7.5 seconds to 8.1 seconds, accuracy changed from 0.33 to 0.38.
The weakening of the T-22 in version 0.9.15 greatly reduced the tank's combat effectiveness, making its performance far behind that of several S-series brothers, and the only thing that is commendable is the still strong side defense. This version weakened it due to the fact that there were too many T-22s in the game, which created a serious imbalance.
▲ The T-22 that appeared in the auction
- Version 1.12, the T-22 received a small boost after being weakened for several years. Reload time increased from 8.1 to 7.5 seconds, aim time increased from 2.4 to 2.1 seconds, turret rotation speed increased from 30 deg/s to 40 deg/s.
In addition, at the "black market" event in March 2021, the long-out T-22 also appeared, limited to 10,000 units, and auctioned in a "private auction", with a starting price of a staggering 15 million silver coins. According to the investigation after the auction, it was found that the reserve price of this T-22 auction was around 23 million silver coins, and most players bought it for about 30 million silver coins.
Now the T-22
▲ Now the T-22's artillery control performance is acceptable
After being strengthened, the current performance of the T-22 with a 100-mm caliber D-54TS tank gun is acceptable. Although the damage per shot of 320 points is still a bit low, the basic data such as accuracy and penetration depth of this main gun are good, and there are no problems such as slow bullet speed or low penetration depth. Before the 1.12 version was strengthened, the base DPM of the T-22 was only about 2470 (now it has been increased to 2670), and the 140 project/907 project was as high as about 3000.
▲The defense of the T-22 is still excellent
The T-22's strong defenses have been maintained due to its good armor construction. The turret of the tank has excellent frontal defense, and the commander's command tower is very small. The hull adopts the consistent "plowshare-shaped" armor configuration of the S series high-end tanks, and the defense is quite good with a large inclination, which is very prone to ricochet in actual combat. The very famous "Golden Side" is also reliable, and the T-22's absorption/blocking of damage in actual combat is significantly higher than that of other Tier X medium tanks. Combined with 1900 HP, the T-22 is quite difficult to destroy by the enemy in actual combat.
▲ The main attacker who specializes in melee combat
In actual combat, although the output capacity of the T-22 is not high, the defense of the vehicle is a considerable advantage, and it is recommended that the vehicle serve as the main attacker at medium and close range, relying on various types of cover to attract enemy fire and return fire. In a tailwind situation, it is also possible to properly accompany teammates in close combat, and the defense of the T-22 "Weird" ensures the survivability of the vehicle. The T-22's fighting style is similar to that of Project 907, except that the vehicle emphasizes hand-to-hand combat in close quarters. It is recommended that players team up in battle while driving the T-22 and cooperate with well-trained players to make the tank burst into higher combat effectiveness.