ST Molot [USSR, MT-9]
Historical Reference:
In the late 1950s, the leading institute of the Soviet tank industry, VNII-100, proposed a tank destroyer project equipped with the then-new 115 mm smoothbore gun “Molot.” To increase firepower, it was planned to use a loading mechanism and an optical rangefinder with a large base. The increase in weight due to heavier armor and armament was compensated by reducing the internal armored volume. The use of a loading mechanism made it possible to remove the loader from the tank crew. In addition, the use of a new gas turbine engine, which did not require a bulky cooling system, allowed the engine compartment volume to be reduced. For a number of reasons, the vehicle was never built in metal, but the experience gained was later used by other design bureaus in the industry.
115mm smoothbore and a gas turbine in a tier 9 tank. Good to see that the RU version is even less balanced than regular WOT.