WWII Online News

The new tank destroyer and tanks soon to be deployed are the first armored platforms built from scratch (variants excluded) that this version of CRS 2.0 has created. It has taken many months of hard work from the Production and Development teams to reach this point.

The Valentine Mk X, M18 Hellcat, and Panther Model A platforms meet the following criteria, which will be the standard moving forward, as older models are reworked:

• increased model poly-counts to the new UE5 standard, then trickled down to meet our 1.0 engine specifications.
  
• historically accurate weapon and armor performance
  
• historically accurate exterior model and interior turret, driver, and hull gun positions
  
• review of historical paint schemes with updates as needed
  

CRS introduces an armor profile for each new platform developed in this upcoming patch. We wanted to share different aspects of each vehicle and bring awareness to the challenging environment it was to serve in an armored platform during World War II.

• The Panther Model A emerged as Germany’s urgent answer to the Soviet T-34, whose sloped armor, mobility, and firepower rendered earlier German tanks like the Panzer III and IV obsolete during Operation Barbarossa.
  
• A competitive development process in 1942 saw MAN’s design, favoring traditional German layout and superior firepower, selected over Daimler-Benz’s T-34-inspired prototype.
  
• Production of the Panther began in late 1942, with the Model A introduced after mechanical issues plagued the initial Ausf. D; improvements included enhanced reliability and battlefield survivability.
  
• The Panther’s combat debut at the Battle of Kursk (July 1943) revealed high firepower effectiveness but also catastrophic mechanical failures—up to 50% of the tanks were out of action early in the offensive.
  
• Armed with the 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun, the Panther outgunned most Allied and Soviet tanks, achieving kills at over 2,000 meters with advanced optics and ballistic performance.
  
• Its frontal armor was highly effective against most tank guns, but side and rear vulnerabilities made it susceptible to flanking maneuvers and infantry anti-tank weapons.
  
• Operational weaknesses included final drive failures, high fuel consumption, engine fires, and turret traverse speed limitations, especially in close-range combat.
  
• On the Eastern Front, the Panther dominated at range but suffered in large-scale Soviet assaults; in Normandy, hedgerows nullified long-range advantages, and close-quarters fighting exposed its weak points.
  
• Panther crews faced extreme physical and psychological stress due to cramped interiors, poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, loud engine noise, and constant maintenance under fire.
  
• The five-man crew had highly specialized roles; coordination and command effectiveness were critical to performance, especially for gunners and commanders using high-precision optics.
  
• Production was hampered by resource shortages, complex welding demands, and Allied bombing; by mid-1944, output peaked at 350 units/month—still insufficient to offset frontline losses.
  
• The Panther’s curved gun mantlet created a notorious “shot trap,” deflecting rounds into the turret ring or hull roof—an engineering flaw later mitigated in the Ausf. G variant.
  

S!

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The new tank destroyer and tanks soon to be deployed are the first armored platforms built from scratch (variants excluded) that this version of CRS 2.0 has created. It has taken many months of hard work from the Production and Development teams to reach this point.

The Valentine Mk X, M18 Hellcat, and Panther Model A platforms meet the following criteria, which will be the standard moving forward, as older models are reworked:

• increased model poly-counts to the new UE5 standard, then trickled down to meet our 1.0 engine specifications.
  
• historically accurate weapon and armor performance
  
• historically accurate exterior model and interior turret, driver, and hull gun positions
  
• review of historical paint schemes with updates as needed
  

CRS introduces an armor profile for each new platform developed in this upcoming patch. We wanted to share different aspects of each vehicle and bring awareness to the challenging environment it was to serve in an armored platform during World War II.


The M18 Hellcat tank destroyer represented a revolutionary approach to armored warfare during WWII, prioritizing speed and firepower over armor protection to execute hit-and-run tactics against German tanks.

[h2]Learn more by reading the full article on our website![/h2]



[h2]Summary[/h2]

• The M18 "Hellcat" was developed in response to U.S. Army's strategic shift in armored warfare tactics during WWII after early combat against German forces revealed inadequacies in existing equipment.
  
• Major General Andrew Bruce of Tank Destroyer Command championed the concept of a highly agile armored vehicle that could neutralize German armor using speed, maneuver, and ambush tactics rather than heavy armor.
  
• Development began in December 1941, progressing from the T49 prototype (initially with a 37mm gun) to the T70, finally becoming the 76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 in February 1943.
  
• The Hellcat featured unprecedented mobility with a top road speed over 55 mph (88 km/h), powered by the Continental R-975 radial engine.
  
• It was armed with a high-velocity 76mm M1A1 gun capable of penetrating common German tanks like the Panzer IV and Panther at ranges up to 1,500 meters.
  
• The tank destroyer's lightweight design and deliberate reduction in armor thickness (rarely exceeding 25mm) maximized speed and operational flexibility but left it vulnerable to enemy fire.
  
• The open-topped turret design enhanced crew situational awareness and target acquisition but exposed crews to enemy fire and harsh environmental conditions.
  
• Tank destroyer battalions were specifically trained to execute hit-and-run tactics, ambush operations, and flanking maneuvers rather than engaging in frontal combat.
  
• The Hellcat proved effective in the Battle of Arracourt (September 1944) where units outmaneuvered heavier German armor despite armor disadvantages.
  
• Mechanical reliability was generally high, but suspension and drivetrain suffered under aggressive off-road operations.
  
• The M18 Hellcat represented CRS 2.0's first armored platform built from scratch, alongside the Valentine Mk X and Panther Model A.
  
• New vehicle models feature increased poly-counts, historically accurate weapon and armor performance, accurate exterior/interior models, and reviewed historical paint schemes.
  

The new tank destroyer and tanks soon to be deployed are the first armored platforms built from scratch (variants excluded) that this version of CRS 2.0 has created. It has taken many months of hard work from the Production and Development teams to reach this point.

The Valentine Mk X, M18 Hellcat, and Panther Model A platforms meet the following criteria, which will be the standard moving forward, as older models are reworked:

• increased model poly-counts to the new UE5 standard, then trickled down to meet our 1.0 engine specifications.
  
• historically accurate weapon and armor performance
  
• historically accurate exterior model and interior turret, driver, and hull gun positions
  
• review of historical paint schemes with updates as needed
  

CRS introduces an armor profile for each new platform developed in this upcoming patch. We wanted to share different aspects of each vehicle and bring awareness to the challenging environment it was to serve in an armored platform during World War II.


The Valentine Mark X tank, despite limitations in armor, speed, and crew space, proved to be a reliable and effective infantry support vehicle during WWII due to its mechanical robustness, operational reliability, and improved anti-tank capabilities with the QF 6-pounder gun.

Read the full article on our website



[h2]Summary[/h2]

• The Valentine Infantry Tank was developed by Vickers-Armstrong in 1938 as an affordable, mass-produced infantry support tank to address inadequacies in earlier models like the Matilda I.
  
• Design philosophy emphasized mechanical simplicity, ease of maintenance, and production efficiency, with its compact size proving beneficial for battlefield concealment despite limiting internal space.
  
• Production began urgently in May 1940 following Britain's tank losses at Dunkirk, with the tank quickly deployed to North Africa by late 1940.
  
• The Valentine underwent multiple variant improvements through 1944, with the Mark X featuring significant enhancements including the QF 6-pounder gun for improved anti-armor capability.
  
• Operational strengths included exceptional reliability, mechanical robustness, ease of maintenance, and effectiveness in harsh environments like North Africa and the Eastern Front.
  
• The QF 6-pounder gun allowed the Valentine X to engage German tanks including Panzer III and IV at ranges up to 1,000 meters.
  
• Its compact size provided tactical advantages in concealment and ambush scenarios, making it harder for enemies to spot at longer ranges.
  
• Key weaknesses included relatively thin armor (maximum 60mm frontal), modest speed (15 mph), limited turret traverse speed, and cramped internal space.
  
• The Valentine Model X saw action in the North African Campaign (1941-1943), Eastern Front via Lend-Lease (1942-1944), and Italian Campaign (1943-1944).
  
• Combat losses analysis showed approximately 60% from armor engagement/anti-tank fire, 20% from mechanical failures, and 20% from indirect fire and infantry assault.
  
• The tank operated with a four-man crew: commander, gunner, driver, and loader/radio operator, all working in notoriously cramped conditions.
  
• Valentine tank production peaked in 1944 before declining as newer tanks like Churchill and Cromwell became standard in British armored forces, with production ceasing in early 1945
  

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Join us on SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH for an ALL-DAY / ALL-ACCESS / NO RANK REQUIRED battles on the Campaign Server. Tell your friends, share the news, and good luck on the battlefield!

Looking for a free extra day of WWII ONLINE?

We need 100 RSVPs to UNLOCK Saturday. Simply RSVP on the #event channel on WWII ONLINE's Discord prior to OP BOOGIE WOOGIE and it's yours!

https://discord.gg/H9u8e6TF?event=1357517121193509174


Existing and new equipment is being developed to the new Unreal Engine 5. New trucks, anti-tank guns, and anti-aircraft guns are in-game NOW with these new UE5 models.

Tell you friends and come enjoy the latest UE5 assest soon to arrive in game!

CRS is working hard for all gamers who desire large-scale battles, combined arms, and sophisticated damage models in a background where you determine what battles occur on the map of NE Europe.

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MOMENTUM IS HAPPENING IN WWII ONLINE!

• Over the last quarter, game population is UP 20% (Organic & Steam combined)
  
• @WW2ONLINE YOUTUBE channel subs have EXPLODED - UP 60%
  
• WWII ONLINE: CHOKEPOINT is in UE5 & in ALPHA TESTING
  
• CRS 2025 ROADMAP published
  
• UE5 models showcased in current game engine & UE5
  

You want more? We GOT more ... so kick the tires and light the fires as beginning in hours, on Saturday, March 1st, the following is UNLOCKED:

All Steam users receive a full MONTH of PREMIUM ACCESS with NO RANK restrictions

• Free To Play
  
• Unsubbed / Subbed
  
• DLC Content
  

All Organic users receive a full MONTH of ALL-INFANTRY ACCESS with NO RANK restrictions

• Free To Play
  
• Unsubbed
  

Join the battle TODAY!

• Paratroop over an active battle with YOU as the Jump Master
  
• Rush upstairs to capture the enemy bunker in a hotly contested town
  
• Place the last satchel on an enemy forward base & watch it explode
  
• Manually shift gears as your Sherman 76 rapidly accelerates towards the tank column
  
• Hear the deep roar of a Tiger tank engine as it approaches your position
  
• Screaming iconic Merlin engine of the Spitfire as it chases the unique & throaty FW-190 overhead
  
• The staccato of multiple anti-air quad-cannons as their tracers seek aerial & ground targets
  
• Whistling sounds of 105mm artillery as it passes overhead & bursts onto enemy ground
  
• Formations of fighters & fighter-bombers massing on a friendly airfield for take-off
  
• Prowling destroyers along the coastal byways, ports, & open bodies of water, anxious to shell distant targets 17 kilometers away or engage enemy destroyers, trawlers, troop transports, and more
  

That is just SOME of the FUN things you can do in WWII ONLINE.

Did we mention there is more? We have several iconic platforms and features coming with our next patch, 1.37.12, which we hope to share with you in March.







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Get in the game and enjoy BIGGER.BETTER.BATTLES.

See you at the front!
Cornered Rat Software