The Begleitpanzer 57 is a German Tier 6 light tank. It's a contributor/admin-only vehicle, and in that role, it "replaced" the MBT-70.
Background Story
In the mid-1970s, companies Thyssen-Henschel and Bofors, believing they had identified a niche in the market, without funding or official support from the West-German military, started development of an Infantry Escort Vehicle. In November of 1977, a prototype of the vehicle was made, which was tested in 1978.[1][2]
The tank was based on a modified hull of the recently introduced Marder IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). The gun was the Bofors 57 mm L/70 naval artillery gun. On the right side of the turret is the gunner's hatch, there was also an anti-tank missile launcher TOW. It was designated the Begleitpanzer (English: Accompanying Tank) 57 and was classified as an Armored Infantry Fire Support Vehicle, or AIFSV.[1][2]
Due to a lack of interest from the German Military, or any other country, the project was cancelled.[1][2]
Playstyle
The devastating firepower of the Begleitpanzer is at its fullest when the tank is at a good distance to hit all of its shots (preferably from the side) while having awareness of danger. The penetration value is the lowest in terms of Tier 6 Tanks.
In terms of movement as a light tank, the Begleitpanzer has a high top speed but also a low acceleration rate meaning you can't dodge shots or get out of situations as quickly as you'd hope with a light tank. However, due to these factors, it is suggested to use this tank as a support. For example, shooting at a large distance from a hill or following the heavy teammates loosely while firing at the enemy from a different angle.
One of the major drawbacks is the paper thin armor, typical for light tanks. Unlike the M-60 Super Sherman which has a buff defense, the Begleitpanzer sacrifices its armor for speed meaning it can get to defensive positions quickly and hold angles.
Good scenarios in which this tank will prove best at in game are modes such as DM (Death Match). The reason it would not pair well with KoTH (King of The Hill) or LS (Last Stand) is due to the weak armor of the tank suggesting it should stay back and support meaning it can't help with a push onto a capture point. In DM (Death Match) all shots round up to 1800 Damage which means most tier 5 tanks and a few tier 6 tanks will die in a single clip so long as all shots penetrate.
Pros
- Highly Mobile: 70 km/h forwards, 50 km/h backwards.
- Highest DPM in the game: 4747 at Crew Level 20.
- 24 Round magazine, 0.5 second intershot.
- Average Damage Per Clip of 1800.
Cons
- Poor penetration for a Tier 6: 176mm average.
- Poor armor: 32mm at it's thickest.
- Mediocre acceleration: 75 at crew level 0.
- Prolonged exposure is required to use the autocannon.
Trivia
- This tank is known as the "BagelPanzer", due to its hard pronunciation and spelling.
- Also known as the "buffpanz" in smaller circles in reference to its ludicrous DPM and high magazine capacity.
Gallery
Front view of the Begleitpanzer 57 prototype.
Back view of the Begleitpanzer 57 prototype.