Gun stabilizer

Gun Stabilizer refers to the stabilization system present on an armament mounted onto a platform.

General Info

The gun stabilizer is a system that improves the tank gun’s aim at the target and preserves (stabilizes) its aim even when the hull vibrates during movement, which allows it to perform effective aimed fire during vehicle movement or when temporarily stopped.

Reaction time and accuracy between target detection and effective hit draw the line between life and death in tank warfare

Currently a stabilizer on specific tanks is simulated with a generic high vertical guidance (elevation) speed on the gun - which, of course, makes firing on the move or after a short stop easier, but still this does not provide a real simulation of stabilizer and fire control systems. After the introduction of the accurate stabilizer simulation, the vertical guidance speed on specifically equipped vehicles will be reduced to real life values.

This new feature will increase realism on machines historically equipped with a gun stabilisation system

The stabilization system for tank guns will be enabled by default for all armored vehicles on where such systems were historically installed. For tanks with the ability to aim the gun using a lever, by default the gun will aim as before, with the help of the aiming mechanism. The button to enable the stabilizer on such tanks will unlock the gun and enable stabilization mode.

-Devblog for Gun Stabilizer

Effect of Stabilizers

There are three types of stabilizers in the game: Single-plane, Shoulder-stop, and Two-plane.

Single-plane

Single-plane stabilizer is a simple stabilizer system that only stabilizes on a vertical axis. As such, the sights will still bounce quite a bit if moving fast on cross-country terrain, but it still provides a stable fighting platform when stopping to fire.

Stability while on the move is effective up to 15 kph on most tanks with the system. If the tank moves faster than 15 kph, the stabilizer disengages and the vehicle gun starts bouncing with the terrain until the speed returns to 15 kph.

Shoulder-stop

Shoulder-stop stabilizer is not truly a stabilizer in real life, but follows a principle due to the elevation mechanism on smaller caliber guns. This affects tanks with a small caliber gun such as the 2-pounder, which uses a shoulder rest for the gunner to manually elevate the gun. Due to the liberty the gunner had in the elevation on his shoulder rather than on gears, he could hold the gun steady as the tank was on the move and fire with relative ease. Aside from this description, its function in the tank is not as different as the single-plane, just not as fine.

Stability while on the move is effective only to around 8-9 kph before the stabilizer disengages.

Two-plane

The ultimate in gun stabilizing system, the two-plane stabilizer represents very stable steadiness with a stabilizing function of the horizontal and vertical axis. This gives a very smooth gun sighting when traveling on cross-country terrain.

Stability on the move is effective on all range speed, though one should caution in firing after moving around rough hills as while the sight remains on target, the gun may still be unaligned for a few seconds before returned to on target.

Vehicles with Gun Stabilizers in-game (Stabilization plane)

As of v.1.93.1.28

Single-plane, Vertical

Rank	USA	Germany	USSR	Britain	Japan	China	Italy	France
I	LVT(A)(1) M3 Stuart M3A1 Stuart M3A1 (USMC)		▂M3 Medium			␗M3A3 Stuart
II	▃Grant I M3 Lee M4 M4A1 M4A5 M5A1 ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) T14 T18E2	▀M4 748 (a)		Grant I Sherman II		␗M4A4 ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) ␗M5A1 ␗M24		▄M4A1
III	Calliope Cobra King M4A1 (76) W M4A2 M4A2 (76) W M4A3E2 M6A1 M24 M24 (TL) T20		▂M4A2		▅M4A3 (76) W ▅M24	␗M4A1 (75) W		▄M4A3E2
IV	M4A3 (76) W M4A3E2 (76) W T25
V						Type 59
VII			BMP-3

Shoulder-stop, Vertical

Rank	USA	Germany	USSR	Britain	Japan	China	Italy	France
I	M2A4 M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) M8 LAC	Pz.35(t) Pz.38(t) A Pz.38(t) F Pz.II C Pz.II C (DAK) Pz.II F Sd.Kfz.221 (s.Pz.B.41)		A13 Mk I A13 Mk II A13 Mk II 1939 A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) Crusader II Crusader III Daimler Mk II Independent Tetrarch I Valentine I	Chi-Ha Chi-Ha Kai Ha-Go Ha-Go Commander I-Go Ko Ka-Mi Ke-Ni	␗Chi-Ha ␗Chi-Ha Kai ␗M8 LAC	L3/33 CC	AMC.34 YR AMR.35 ZT3 FCM.36 H.35 H.39 H.39 "Cambronne" R.35 (SA38)
II				AEC Mk II Churchill I Cromwell I Matilda III	Chi-He			AMC.35 (ACG.1) B1 bis B1 ter S.35
III		▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill		Churchill III

Two-plane

Rank	USA	Germany	USSR	Britain	Japan	China	Italy	France
III							R3 T20 FA-HS
IV			PT-76B	Caernarvon Centurion Action X Centurion Mk 3 FV4202 ▄Strv 81 (RB 52)
V				Centurion Mk 10 Conqueror Falcon Vickers Mk.1	STB-2	Type 69	AUBL/74 HVG Centauro I 105 SIDAM 25
VI	IPM1 M1 Abrams M3 Bradley M60A1 (AOS) M60A1 RISE (P) M60A2 M247 M551 MBT-70 ▃Merkava Mk.1 XM1 (Chrysler) XM1 (GM) XM803	Gepard KPz-70 Leopard 2A4 Leopard 2K Leopard A1A1 Leopard A1A1 (L/44) TAM VT1-2	BMP-2 IT-1 Object 906 T-10M T-55A T-55AM-1 T-62 T-62M-1 T-64A (1971) T-64B T-72A T-80B ZSU-23-4	Challenger Mk.2 Challenger Mk.3 Chieftain Marksman Chieftain Mk 3 Chieftain Mk 5 Chieftain Mk 10 ▄Sho't Kal Dalet Striker Vickers Mk.7	Type 74 (E) Type 74 (G) Type 87 Type 89	CM11 ␗M60A3 TTS ZTZ59D1 ZTZ96 Т-62 №545	Ariete (P) Centauro I 105 R OF-40 (MTCA) OF-40 Mk.2A OTOMATIC	AMX-30 Super AMX-40
VII	M1A1 M1A2 Abrams	Leopard 2A5	BMP-3 Object 685 T-80U 2S6	Challenger 2	Type 16 Type 90		Ariete Ariete PSO SIDAM 25 (Mistral)	Leclerc

History

To be Filled

Screenshots and fan art

Videos

British presentation of the gun stabilizer on the Centurion Mk 3

A modern gun stabilizer on a Leopard 2A4 tank shows what it can do with a beer mug

Effect of stabilization on vehicle's gunnery.
-by Inceptor57

Stabilizer effect while on the move.
-by Inceptor57

Additional information (links)

• [Devblog] Gun Stabilizer
• Changelog with list of vehicles with Gun Stabilizers on the bottom

References