History[]
The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank which was introduced in the early 1950's and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, and North Vietnam. Overall, some twenty five countries used the PT-76.
The tank's full name is Floating Tank–76 (Плавающий Танк, Plavayushchiy Tank, or ПТ-76). "76" stands for the caliber of the main armament: the 76.2 mm D-56T series rifled tank gun. The PT-76 was used in the reconnaissance and fire-support roles. Its chassis served as the basis for a number of other vehicle designs, many of them also amphibious as it was, including the BTR-50 armored personnel carrier, the ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled antiaircraft gun, the ASU-85 airborne self-propelled gun, and the 2K12 Kub anti-aircraft missile launch vehicle.
In-game[]
The PT-76 is a good tank to purchase after getting done using a starter tank, but its playstyle is very different than from using a main battle tank. It floats! But be careful, as it can't move by its own power while floating. Getting stuck in the water with this tank spells certain death because of its extremely low armor. Pesky but easy to dispatch, the PT-76 can take out most low level tanks in very few hits. The low profile turret allows sniping behind cover without exposing any of the hull, although its gun depression is poor. Watch out for these in matches where it is top-tier, as its gun can take out enemies relatively quickly.
As already mentioned, the PT-76's low armor means that it is easy to destroy. It can get one-shotted by HE shell-using tanks, especially if it is hit from behind.
Pros and Cons[]
Pros:[]
- Good health pool
- Respectable speed, fast turret rotation
- Powerful gun
- low profile
Cons:[]
- Terrible armor, gets damaged by high explosive with ease
- Poor gun depression, gun gets damaged fairly easily