World of tanks 8.5 T-80 light tank review

How to describe T-80 in short? T-70 on steroids - same package, but better in every way.

The T-80 takes a very strange spot in the Soviet tank tree, actually behaving quite eh...abnormally for a russian tank. Its not a dedicated scout - you get normal matchmaking, facing up to tier 6. Nor do you get any notable view or radio range. Thus the T-80 is not a scout, but a light tank, and one with a very interesting role.


The T-80 has the same top speed - 45 kmph but more power to weight - almost 18 hp/ton when elite and good turret and hull traverse speed. In terms of agility the tank is a definite improvement over the T-70 even if it has the same low ground clearance. Its certainly able to circle-shoot a bigger tank in close combat, though of course the average top speed makes it hard to get there, not that you should in the first place unless threatened.

Armour wise things are a both improved and worsened. You get better side armour, 25mm, aaaand much bigger guns to fear, which laughs at you. The T-80 regularly goes after tier 5 and 6, where the layout of the T-70 is no longer going to protect anyone. The turret gun shield might still save your commander every now and then but that's it.

The gun is the one that should tell you whats the T-80s role. the 45mm VT43 gun has an impressive 0.34 accuracy and 1.7 aim time and almost 30 shots per minute. Unlike the T-70, you get 3 crew members, the new addition being a gunner, who'll benefit from the commanders bonus. Basically that means you get one hell of a sniping machine gun - a mini Panther I if you can call it this way.  Thus the T-80 gets to be a veeery strange animal that I would call a sniper light tank. The accuracy, aim time, light tank camo bonuses and large ammo supply (100 shots) means that you can provide a lot of fire over long range. One might say that the sniper role is already taken by the T28 with the 57mm ZiS 4, however keep in mind that the T28 is a glass canon the size of a train car - the T80 is a small, nimble light tank. Only problem of the VT43 is the low damage - 55 points. Considering that you need to pack some APCR for KV 1s and 2s and tier 6 tanks, that can put a strain on your budget if you are not careful. All things said, I must say I liked the T-80 more than its predecessor, despite the tougher enemies.