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.

More 8.5 leaks - stats of the Leopard, Aufklarungpanzer panther and the soviet light tanks

Well you wanted Leopard 1? Here, catch! By the looks of it, arty is already drooling at the prospects of another paper tank. Its going to be faster than the E50M, more agile, and gasp - a better sniper as it seems, but unless the gun shield works as intended, expect results equal to the FV4202, great on paper - but only on paper. Oh and we get HEAT as prem rounds, not HESH.

The new soviet light tanks offer nothing really interesting. It seems at least the T-60 is quite well armored for its tier, the rest though are average.

The second most cried about german tank to be included in the game on the forums - the aufklarung panzer panther, or the schwere Leopard or whatever you want to call it - well you got it and its as bad as you can expect. A tier 7 Panzer IV-V with the koniche. The first tank in the game that has to rely on ramming as a main weapon, not a tactic of opportunity.

World of tanks 8.5 - the T-80 Light tank

Now now calm down please! We are talking about the T-80 LIGHT tank, not the T-80 MBT!

Its the natural progression of the T-60 and T-70 light tanks, ending in this tier 4.

The T-80  should be more of the same, but bigger. First and most important difference - 3rd crew member. That can mess up people who thought of keeping the same 2 man crew - you get a gunner in that thing and a bigger turret. Needless to say that means it will likely house bigger guns - the 57mm ZyS should be the top cannon. Apart from that, its slightly bigger than the T-70, but with the same top speed of 45kmph and engine. Maneuverability of the whole series (T-60 T-70 T-80) is quite questionable.


The armor schematic, if this photo is true to it is again where the fun begins.

















With the front being UFP 35mm at 60% and 45mm at 30% LFP its neither good, nor bad. You certainly won't impress a Panzer 3.  Side armor features a bit of spaced armor, 25mm thick that can be a life saver but otherwise its not impressive.

Now the turret though, is decent - The frontal turret is by the looks of it 60-70mm thick and well sloped.

All this turns the T-80 into a strange vehicle. The extra armor won't help much, though it might be able to hull down quite well - the tank is fairly short 2.2 meters, compared to 2.5 for Panzer III and Matilda. It certainly won't be a speed freak, which leaves its use questionable if you are dropped into a higher tier game.