Commanders!

Now that Update 1.3 has been released, you may have noticed that the IS-3A has received a major overhaul. Previously, it's been widely regarded as "just an IS-3" clone. The 'A' in IS-3A stood for 'autoloader'. However, instead of an autoloader like the French vehicles possess, the IS-3A only had an autoloading mechanism in the sense that it doesn't need a Loader.

What's the deal with this tank?

With the update it can be considered as a completely new vehicle, so let's see what has changed:

An autoreloading clip has been added to the gun. Three shells are included in the clip. Reminder: An 'autoloader' reloads the entire clip at once, and an 'autoreloader' reloads each shell in the clip one by one.

The more shells in the clip, the longer the reload time for the next round. This is the complete opposite to the Italian vehicles, so it means the IS-3A has an 'inverse autoreloader' .

. The aiming time was improved.

Damage & Precision

As the Premium version has been in the shadow of the regular IS-3 in the past, let's compare these two once again.

With the implementation of the autoreloader, it now has an immense burst potential (1,170 HP) almost on par with the French autoloaders. It also saw improvements to its aiming time. In general, the IS-3 still feels more reliable thanks to its higher accuracy. Note that, unlike the Italian autoreloaders, the new IS-3A cannot mount a Tank Gun Rammer to lower its reloading time.

The stats displayed in the tables below correspond to a 100% trained crew.

IS-3A (old) IS-3A (new) IS-3

Damage: 390/390/530 HP

Reload time: 11.45 s

Damage per minute: 2,042 HP

Penetration: 221/270/61 mm

Aiming time: 3.26 s

Accuracy: 0.44 m

Vertical angles: -5°/+19° Damage: 390/390/530 HP

Reload time*: 11.75/14.69/17.62 s

Damage per minute: 1,327 HP

Penetration: 221/270/61 mm

Aiming time: 2.88 s

Accuracy: 0.44 m

Vertical angles: -5°/+19° Damage: 390/390/530 HP

Reload time: 12.75 s

Damage per minute: 1,834 HP

Penetration: 225/265/68 mm

Aiming time: 3.26 s

Accuracy: 0.38 m

Vertical angles: -5°/+23°

The reload time of shells inside the clip is 3 seconds.

Mobility & Survivability

Looking at the big picture, the IS-3 easily outclasses the IS-3A in terms of mobility. The top speed may be about the same, but the defining factor is the power-to-weight ratio that is much to the favour of the standard tank. It's also more agile than the Premium version. In terms of survivability, the IS-3A is similar to the standard tank, with 50 HP extra.

IS-3A IS-3 Forward speed: 4 0 km/h

Reverse speed: 15 km/h

Power-to-weight ratio: 10.61 hp/t

Turret traverse speed: 22.94°/s

Tank traverse speed: 27 .11°/s

Hit Points: 1,550

Hull armour: 110 / 90 / 60 mm

Turret armour: 249 / 172 / 100 mm Forward speed: 38 km/h

Reverse speed: 15 km/h

Power-to-weight ratio: 14.26 hp/t

Turret traverse speed: 27.11°/s

Tank traverse speed: 31 .29°/s

Hit Points: 1,500

Hull armour: 110 / 90 / 60 mm

Turret armour: 249 / 172 / 100 mm



Do I need to play the IS-3A differently now?

Overall, the role of the vehicle didn't change that much. It's still a vehicle meant for brawling, but it is now much more capable in doing so. Keep the following in mind, when it comes to the inverse autoreloader:

On the one hand, you can easily cripple and finish off an enemy vehicle thanks to its burst potential, paired with good reload speed for its first shell.

On the other hand, if the enemy forces you to trade shots, either your reload time will be abysmally long all the time, or they'll make you waste your burst potential.

So, which of these two will be your favourite? The good ol' reliable IS-3 with its perfect blend of survivability, mobility, and firepower, or the all-new IS-3A with its burst potential? If you like both of them, make sure to keep some space for these two in your garage!

Roll out!