Meta Tank Templates
Tanks | SPGs | TDs | SPAAGs
Meta Tank Templates
The right design turns a mediocre vehicle into a weapon of victory. Learn to create the perfect tanks for any task.
Why You Need Armor
Only armored vehicles provide meaningful armor and breakthrough, letting you crack the front of a strong enemy. SPAAGs mitigate the debuff from enemy air power, and TDs destroy opposing tanks. In single‑player the AI does not build serious aircraft or tanks, so regular tanks and SPGs are more than enough – without armor it is impossible to crush the enemy effectively.
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How to Build Them Properly
Every country should ideally field tanks or SPGs, but reality dictates the limits. Minors only get decent tank divisions by 1940–1943, whereas majors churn them out in large numbers.
Start producing armor only after you have a steady output of aircraft and no acute shortage of infantry equipment – tanks are useless if your infantry has no rifles.
Do not chase top‑tier divisions as a minor before a major war; as a major, aim to have several ready divisions before any conflict. Industry is the foundation – study the industry guide.
Key Rules
- 1. Do not build cheap, weak tanks against a major. It may work against a minor, but not against a strong foe.
- 2. Watch your reliability. Low reliability combined with poor supply leads to massive equipment losses. Understand the supply mechanics.
- 3. Do not overinvest in armor and engine levels. They are wasteful against the AI.
- 4. Medium tanks are king. When choosing between light, medium, and heavy, always pick medium.
- 5. Do not use a weak designer. Always use the best available one that grants the most useful bonuses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Medium tanks are the golden mean. They deliver about 80% of a heavy’s effectiveness at 50% of the cost. Lights are cheap but become obsolete by 1940. Heavies are expensive, slow, and consume enormous supply. Mediums are the best choice in 90% of situations.
Answer: In 99% of cases – no. The AI does not build top‑tier tanks or planes. Standard medium tanks are sufficient.
Answer: Roughly 30–60% of your military factories should go to armor.
Answer: Almost always gasoline. It gives more speed. Use a diesel only if reliability drops below 70% and you cannot fix it otherwise. It is better to install “Easy Maintenance” or “Wet Ammo Storage”.
Answer: Against the AI – no. Four levels of riveted armor (~65–70 mm) are enough to survive the bots’ anti‑tank guns. More is just a resource sink. Against a human – check their piercing; usually you need 4+ armor.
Answer: They are not needed if you have air superiority. SPAAGs are a cheap substitute for an air force for minors. Fighters give air superiority, while SPAAGs only reduce the bombing debuff.
Answer: The biggest breakthrough comes from the turret (e.g., “Three‑Man Medium Turret”) and the “Interleaved Road Wheels” suspension. The radio (especially level 2–3) also increases breakthrough.
Answer: No. Against a major (Germany, USSR, USA) a cheap tank with weak armor and a poor gun will simply not break their defense. Build a quality medium tank with a good howitzer and level‑4 armor.
Answer: Ideally mix them 50/50 in a division. You can also use only tanks or only SPGs – against the AI it is not critical. SPGs provide more soft attack and consume more supply; tanks give breakthrough and soft attack while eating less supply. Choose to your taste.
Answer: The ideal time is once you have researched “Improved Medium Howitzer” and “Improved Medium Chassis” (usually 1939–1940). Lights are fine when the enemy is weak, but to break a strong major you need mediums.
Template Difference
Comparison of a beginner’s medium tank versus one built according to this guide.
| Stat | Beginner | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Attack | 41 | 53 |
| Breakthrough | 33 | 47 |
| Reliability | 53 | 76 |
| Cost | 15.25 | 17.56 |
Turret: Choosing Capacity
The turret determines how heavy and powerful a gun you can mount.
For tanks, SPGs and SPAAGs almost always pick the Three‑Man Medium Turret – it provides three slots for armament and modules.
On light chassis use the Three‑Man Light Turret: slightly less space, but enough for light tanks and their SPG variants.
For TDs and flame tanks use the Light Fixed Superstructure – it reduces breakthrough but lowers cost.
Gun: Heart of the Machine
Improved Medium Howitzer – the best price/performance, put it on medium tanks and SPGs.
For light tanks and light SPGs mount the Close Support Gun – the best gun for a light chassis.
A TD must carry the Improved Medium Cannon for its hard attack and piercing.
For SPAAGs use the Improved Anti‑Air Gun – only it gives enough air attack.
For heavy tanks, if you decide to build them, the same Improved Medium Cannon will do.
Additional Modules: What to Put in Slots
First priority – a level 2–3 radio, it significantly boosts breakthrough.
Then Easy Maintenance (reliability + cost reduction) or Heavy Machine Gun (soft attack).
In the remaining slots – Wet Ammo Storage (reliability) and a Stabilizer or Autoloader (breakthrough).
Majors fill their slots more densely; minors stick to the bare essentials. Do not forget about proper doctrines – they also provide substantial breakthrough.
Suspension: Balancing Speed and Firepower
Forget wheeled suspension – it is terrible.
Christie Suspension – the choice for fast breakthroughs, maximum speed.
Interleaved Road Wheels – for a focus on breakthrough; give it to majors on medium and heavy vehicles.
Torsion Bar Suspension helps when reliability is lacking.
Balanced Suspension – a universal pick for minors or anyone who wants a bit of everything.
Engine: Gasoline or Diesel
In 90% of cases – a Gasoline Engine of no more than level 9. It gives good speed without inflating the cost.
A diesel is only justified if reliability drops below 60% – it reduces speed but noticeably improves reliability.
Do not chase high engine levels: in poor supply speed is still cut, and the price keeps rising.
Armor: Riveted or Welded
Majors can afford Welded Armor – the best, but it requires chromium.
Minors stick with Riveted Armor.
Against the AI raise armor to level 4; against a human – up to 9+. Do not go higher: extra tons of steel do not pay off in combat.
Module Tier List
Author’s subjective rating based on cost‑effectiveness.
Three‑Man Medium Turret
Close Support Gun
Improved Anti‑Air Gun
Improved Medium Cannon
Improved Medium Howitzer
Upgraded Radio
Heavy Machine Gun
Easy Maintenance
Interleaved Road Wheels
Gasoline Engine
Light Fixed Superstructure
Three‑Man Light Turret
Improved Autocannon
Improved Rocket Launcher
Heavy Howitzer
Improved Radio
Extra Machine Guns
Stabilizer
Wet Ammo Storage
Torsion Bar Suspension
Welded Armor
Diesel Engine
Christie Suspension
Basic Autocannon
Medium Cannon
Medium Howitzer
Rocket Launcher
Upgraded Anti‑Air Gun
Upgraded Autocannon
Basic Radio
Small Cannon
Amphibious Drive
Sloped Armor
Autoloader
Balanced Suspension
Riveted Armor
Heavy Fixed Superstructure
Two‑Man Heavy Turret
Three‑Man Heavy Turret
Superheavy Cannon
Autocannon
Extra Ammo Storage
Gas‑Electric Engine
Fuel Drum
Medium Fixed Superstructure
One‑Man Medium Turret
Two‑Man Medium Turret
Basic Anti‑Air Gun
Smoke Launchers
Cone Adaptor
One‑Man Light Turret
Two‑Man Light Turret
Dozer Blade
Cast ArmorTanks
Build them in almost every campaign if you are playing with tanks. Four types: light, medium, heavy, modern.
- Light Tanks (LT): majors in 1938–39 against weak opponents (e.g., Germany vs. Poland/France). Not worthwhile for minors – they will not make it in time.
- Medium Tanks (MT): both minors and majors. Minors switch to MT immediately. Majors produce them for the final, strong enemies (Germany vs. USSR).
- Heavy and Modern Tanks: do not build – too expensive, too supply‑hungry; MT/SPG replace them.
Focus on breakthrough and soft attack.
SPGs
Build in every campaign. Ideally mix them 50/50 with tanks: tanks give breakthrough, SPGs give soft attack. You can also use only tanks or only SPGs. In multiplayer you cannot rely on just one – you will need tanks and sometimes SPAAGs and TDs.
- Minors: go straight to medium SPGs.
- Majors: start with light SPGs, then move to medium.
- Heavy and Modern SPGs: avoid – supply cannot handle them.
Focus on soft attack.
TDs
Build only against a hyper‑major with tanks (e.g., Germany) or in multiplayer. In vanilla single‑player they are never needed – they have never been useful. Focus on piercing and hard attack. They are added to tank divisions in multiplayer.
SPAAGs
Same as TDs – multiplayer only. In single‑player a few hundred top‑tier fighters are enough. They reduce the air‑attack debuff, but in single‑player only an extremely cheap version is justified. Focus on air attack.
What & When to Build
| Type | When to Build | Stat Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Tank | When you need to break the front line | Breakthrough, Soft Attack |
| SPG | When the enemy has mostly infantry | Soft Attack |
| TD | When the enemy fields huge tank forces | Piercing, Hard Attack |
| SPAAG | When the enemy has total air superiority | Air Attack |
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