There are many multi-turreted and multi-gun tanks around… There is even crazy stuff floating around with the M4 Sherman if you know where to look.

The scary thing is that the ideas and plans are 100% real… Such as extremely early design M4 with the duel 37mm M6 cannons in an M4 turret… Thankfully nobody put Long Johns on them from the M22 Locust side project (1944/45) that actually had an 37mm M6 with a Long John on it(4000 fps btw with tungsten).

Like I said… Scary…

The 45mm guns on the T-35 seem to be mounted in turrets that are similar to the T-26 and BT-7. Thus, I would presume that you could fit other guns in – say hello to 20mm autocannons that shred light tanks, or the longer 37mm guns with higher pen.

The main turret was compatible with the T-28 (its upgraded turret is in fact ripped off of a T-35), and with that we can assume any guns that are compatible with the T-28 would fit in a T-35. Granted, that included 85mm and 95mm guns – absolutely insane for the tier – but also more reasonable 57mm and 76mm guns. The F-32 or F-34 would work, as would the ZiS-8 and ZiS-4.

Historically-speaking it wouldn’t, but WG could adjust that. I could see it as being researchable from both the T-46 and T-28 (the latter making the grind a little less painful due to more shared components, namely guns). Armor’s not good, but it could be perhaps given some decent gun options. It would NOT be hard to make this thing competitive with the B1 and DW2 (since they suck so much), if anything this thing has the potential to be far better. Having it as a tier 4 will also better-prepare players for the KV-1 than the T-28 does, since the T-35 is a heavy tank rather than a medium tank with the SIZE of a heavy tank. Here’s my idea for the tech tree progression:

Tier 4: T-35: 70 mm frontal armor configuration, top guns would be the 76 mm F-34 and the 57 mm ZiS-2.

Tier 5: Two different tanks at this tier: the T-100 and the SMK. The T-100 would be able to research either the next tier vehicle on the line or the T-150, which was derived from it, while the SMK would be able to cross-research into the single-turreted line and unlock the KV-1 (with which it would share some unlocks) or go on to the next tier.

Tier 6: KV-4 Proposal, either Pereverzev’s or “11″ from your article on them. Armed with the ZiS-6 as the top gun, but might have the (unhistorical) 100 mm D10S or 122 mm D-2-5T as options.

Tier 7: This is where we start to run into roadblocks, but I’m pretty sure that WG can find some other KV or Objekt prototype stored away at Kubinka that they could use. Would probably cross-research with the KV-4 we have in-game.

Tier 8: Again, not sure what to do here, but if all else fails, WG can pull a “Reverse T34 and T30″ and turn the KV-5 into a regular tier 8 with the ZiS-6 as a stock gun (since as it is now it’s only sold in the gift shop on special occasions, so it’s not like a whole lot of people will be affected). I know, technically not ‘multiturret’ since the “R2D2″ is an MG turret, but it’s all I can think of for tier 8 that isn’t another KV-4 proposal and is still multi-turreted.

After tier 8, WG has two options: have it merge into one of the conventional heavy lines (probably the IS-4 line), or add some made-up tanks to fill the gaps. The IS-5 (two guns in the same turret) could be an option for one of the tanks as well.

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Alternatively, we could go with your idea of a more ‘historical’ T-35 at tier 3, which opens up some more options:

Tier 3: T-35 – possibly with the ZiS-2 as an unlockable top gun. Can research the T-28 from here.

Tier 4: T-39 – don’t know a whole lot about this one.

Tier 5: SMK – predecessor to the KV-1 (and thus cross-researches into it), and mostly identical save for having the additional 45 mm gun (which could make it more hazardous for facehuggers or for mediums to flank by driving around the front) and the higher-mounted main gun.

Tier 6: T-100 – Would have the 107 mm ZiS-6 as a top gun and could cross-research into the T-150 (which it was developed into eventually).

Tier 7: T-100Z – This would likely need some buffs in order to remain competitive, perhaps not having any new guns from the T-100 before it, but has better mobility, buffed armor, hp, and perhaps some soft stats like gun depression and aiming time to make up for it, turning it into an aggressive brawler and flanker of a heavy tank. The 45 mm gun in the miniturret might need to be upgraded into a 57 or 76 mm gun though.

Tier 8: KV-4, either Pereverzev’s or “11″ from your article on them – Buffed armor and unhistorical guns akin to those seen on the KV-4 we already have.

Tier 9: Another KV-4, but like the one in-game would be somewhat fictional. Imagine Mikailov’s or Tseits’ proposals, then stick two miniturrets on the vehicle, either one ahead of the main turret and one on top of it, or both in front of it. Caliber of guns is also buffed above historical level at this point up to 85 mm.

Tier 10: Ah yes, THIS is where it gets interesting, and will probably require WG pulling a “WT E-100″ to create something people are gonna look forward to. Here’s what I imagine could be an option:

Something with an armor profile closer to the KV series than the IS series, but very thick (around 200 mm, which is close to the armor layout on a German heavy in many ways). A single large turret with a 130 mm gun in it (probably the gun from the IS-7), and two miniturrets either with buffed 85 mm guns (possibly with autoloaders) or 100 mm guns that would make this tank incredibly dangerous to flank, but is compensated for with some poor soft stats, flat armor in several locations, and most likely and inability of the miniturrets to cover the rear of the vehicle. Any thoughts on this?