T-90, patch 1.31 what can it be used for effectively?

[IJoe]

Stance ATM:
1) AA capabilities:
are simply a joke ATM.
2) Chasing snipers:
is a doubtful cause to ever consider getting to build it, unless it's just a horde, consisting purely of snipers.
3) Recon function:
Such a low-damage vehicle is not anywhere near of being effective at recon duties.

Summary: basically, a buffed bike, that's worth a fortune (let alone it's AA "effectiveness")

Suggestion: While it used to be a perfect suppressing unit. Too good for that matter: just give it back it's suppression capabilities, make it so it will take more time for the enemy infantry to bite the dust, for balance reasons, and it will be useful all again.

P.S.: I don't want it to be OP, I just need a reasonable explanation of it's contemporary usefulness. So, please, no rage posts, no fanboi bravado, - stick to the topic.

[Cranialwizard]

It can be used to give some good early/mid-game anti-infantry support. It easily can shred enemy support weaponry to bits. It can also provide some support to infantry taking a beating, that MG42 camping that building could be mince meat if you sick the T-90 on it.

It's armor is quite weak though, therefore you shouldn't send it in there without some kind of support. You could consider it the Soviet's mobile support weapon. With no AT abilities an up-gunned puma can do significant damage.

It isn't USELESS, but alone it won't survive. I agree that the suppression ability should be added back, but from a functional standpoint it's decent. Try using it to harass the enemies stealing your territory.

Concerning it's AA Capabilities...it's too weak to target aircraft at that range, although if there was a drop in unit like the US Airborne I'm sure the T-90 would tear them up as they drop. (I'm not sure about PE Luftwaffe, I don't have Opposing Fronts)

Sum-Up: It's your weakening weapon. You can flank the AT guns enemies have set up for your potential T-34s, SU-85s etc. , or for getting rid of those annoying mortars chewing chunks out of your Guards.

[IJoe]

^^
AA: PE (second axis faction, that comes along with OF) has henchel AT bomber. It's supposed to fly rather low (historically and for the sake of common sense) to be a proper AT, which it surely is. However, to effectively knock it down from above you need to have (roughly) 4-5 T-90s firing at it. Who's gonna do that madness?

About support weaponry: don't forget about stealthy paks, that'll  kick it out of this world in two shots, with one guarantied by the stealth.

You've got some point though (chasing kettenkrads and pios), yet the problem lies not in it's absolute worthlessness, but in it's relative (cost-wise) ineffectiveness in every role, its supposed to play.

[Blackbishop]

US halftrack with Quad MG won't scratch the Henschel either... I got used to. I'm yet to see a Henschel being shot down by a Quad Maxson or a Bofors emplacement.

AA works as a bonus feature, especially allies AA-equipment, because AA units are used as AI due to their high fire rate and given that main feature of CoH is ground battles.

[Cranialwizard]

As it is rare that such a bomber (Which I have combated before...I am just not familiar with specifics of PE and Brits) 4-5 T90s is unnecessary unless you have excessive amounts of resources and your opponent is still in T1. Simply go around the air strike or if you get lucky, cap a Pak88.

You are correct, stealthy PaKs mean trouble. But any type of infantry will take fire from a PaK, giving it's position away.

It's a general weapon, not necessarily specific. That's why it's less effective than the specific's for that role. Instead of buying a MG, a mobile armored unit, a harassment unit with rapid fire AI (Ex. Puma), a sniper chaser, an AA gun, and a recon unit, which is EXTREMELY costly both in Manpower and Pop Cap (and Provided the Soviets don't even have most of the units listed with the exception of some doctrine units), the T-90 does all those roles with less efficiency for less cost.

[IJoe]

So, you're saying, it's good-for-nothing? 'Cause, doing everything at once, but with unsatisfactory results, means exactly that.

Again, I'd rather see it as a good "encrawler" () and cappers-chaser.
Nothing else is really required:
AA role is excessive for reasons, you have mentioned above,
there are other effective means against snipers,
there are other units (T-70) to fight light armor.

[Cranialwizard]

because for one of it's many purposes, it's NOT for light armor engagement. (Though I've seen rear-armor hits into a puma...if that's the case rifles should have this when they get bars  )

It does everything to a satisfactory level, I didn't say exceptional. It's a good capper-chaser and "encrawler" as you say already. Add the fact it can help you see what the enemy has planned, draw out PaKs, hunt snipers etc. to a not necessarily exceptional level, but does it well enough to get the job done. That's what you look for in a unit that does multiple jobs. Otherwise if it's meant specifically as a AA unit, and does an exceptional job at AA, then it's not multi-purpose

If the flak 88 was specifically AT, then it wouldn't shoot at planes. But alas, it's a multi-purpose. It lacks AI but does a superb job at AT, while doing a good job (not always accurate) at AA. (And sometimes this backfires, a simple recon plane can be shot by a Flak 88, but the wreckage may collide with the gun, while rare, it's happened to me before. You can tell I wasn't happy, as the plane both hit my Flak88 and my foward HQ...  )

[IJoe]

OK, let's settle on that.
Just played a tank-rush game against PE, T-90 fit its place, but not nearly as good, as it did before.
Yet, with massive infantry fielding that would be all another story, since a lot of resources are spent on unlocking support units and upgrading 'em as well (which you simply don't need with tanks, 'cause these are so damn good right away), and T-90 wouldn't do that good there without easier/quicker pinning the enemy.

[ForceMultiplier]

None of this matters against PE anyway. They just pop Hertzers, 1 scout car and some grenadiers (assault and shrek) and it's game over.

 

[GodlikeDennis]

US halftracks don't target planes at all since they were designed only against wehr who have none.

AA is a detriment to your units anyway. A plane will always deliver it's payload (except bombing run) and may crash into your units with an explosion equal to a v1. It also takes priority over other tasks so a quick recon run over an enemy flak 88 combined with a tank assault can take it out very easily since the 88 will want to shoot the plane. Complaining about lack of AA is pointless.

In an AI role the T90 performs decently as a support weapon or harrassment unit similar to an M8. It should absolutely not have the supp. it used to have.

[IJoe]

None of this matters against PE anyway. They just pop Hertzers, 1 scout car and some grenadiers (assault and shrek) and it's game over.

Don't post things unrelated to the topic, please. 
Besides, it's stupid to say things like that:
1) don't let them live 'till hetzers are available, FFS!
2) even tank hunters (upgraded) can deal with these.
Post Merge: March 29, 2011, 10:43:28 AM

It should absolutely not have the supp. it used to have.

Read the thread again, and see:
1) I don't give a shit about AA power,
2) I'm not asking for the suppression capability it used to have, just some more than it does now.

Thanks for the 88 trick though. I didn't know that.

[GodlikeDennis]

Essentially, against a foe using volks and paks on an open map, use T90s (T90s still rape paks if they flank). Against someone using weapons teams/snipers/PE or using a lot of cover, especially buildings, use T70s. Against vetted grens use support barracks or heavier tanks.

The M8/T17 doesn't have suppression and does fine.