Yes, Tigerfibel is not very reliable source... The data is strange, maybe added range for safety, maybe calculated by rear officers that didn't see a T-34 on their eyes. Note that KV-1 has only 800m for side shots listed, and T-34 twice of that, why ? Either it's T-34/85 (they heard of upgunned versions of T-34 and put those numbers just in case), though they wrote 7,62cm, or there is something wrong with those calcs. Take a look at any (german, american or russian) source of T-34/76 penetration, highest number you'll ever see would be 90mm at 100m. About 60mm at 1000m. It could teoretically destroy a Tiger from 1000m, firing exactly from the side, with a lucky hit in the gap between the upper superstructure and the tracks/suspension. It would meed a 60mm plate there. Hit in the roadwhells would add at least 10mm, maybe more, to lower hull protection. From a 1500m ? Don't seem to be possible with any ammo (APCR would not fly that far with any speed, AP had about 50-55m at this range (60-65 from Russian tables, mabe they used them ;-). But all that assuming 60mm armor hit (what chance for that from 1500m ?). If hit in 80mm armor, or in the suspension - no way to hurt it from even 1000m. Even using Russian data.
Highest number ever said by Russian T-34 tanker I read was 400m from normal not APCR) ammo from the side. And it's rather optimistic...
Remember also, that the model of T-34 in RO is early one, 1941/40 model. And it's supposed to meet Tigers in 1943, when the ammo quality was still poor. With a 1943 model and 1944 ammo, I will give him better penetration, good for a Tiger side for about 400, sometimes 500m. But for 1942/43 ammo probably 100m would be more realistic... Combat Mission uses even lower numbers, with early T-34 with penetration below 80mm in practice not able to touch Tiger 80mm armor...
And with more advanced armor modeling, the Tiger will have some 60mm zone from the side, between roadwheels and superstructure, that you can hit from close range. But chance to hit it from 1000-1500m are not very high as you can guess.
I'll write some more about other things but maybe later.
P.S. Also the german drawings showing hit zones and shot ranges against various Russian tanks (for example from gun manuals) are calculated using very conservative values and assuming 30deg additional angle. Something like "you can be sure penetration at this range" if not at extreme range...
P.S.2. The ammo hitbox multipler is currently x10, not x5 (it was done because if min damage limit was reduced to zero). So even 60-70pts of damage into it is enough to blow every tank. But I'm reducing it to 5-6 times again, because I increased min. damage to 0.1
I installed a FRAPS and captured a film, at which I fire from Tiger to T-34s and KV-1s at 1000m (aiming at the center of tank, but not aiming especially for ammo boxes as I even don't remember where are they), and destroy them with one shot usually (4 in a row) or 2 shots sometmes (first one sets them on fire), only one from from 6 needed 3 shots... but after this I checked the optput and saw that 30s video had 120MB :-D so I deleted it
Instead of increasing Tiger cannon shell damage, I just decreased the T-34 health. Because other tanks like KV-1 were much harder to knock out, it was just T-34 which was more prone to taking fire or explosion (thin armor, unprotected fuel tanks and much of flammable materials in crew compartment).
Now the chances to destroy it with first shot from Tiger in any part of the tank are about 50%, two shots 80%.
BTW reworking of ammo and engine hitboxes to correct size and placement would improve realism too. Who can take in the work ? I would give pictures showing where to place the boxes, and show how to do this, it's easy but very time consuming. Any volunteers ? Or do you play only ?
