On Track: Centurion Action X

Jambijon: Hey Tankers! With the On Track for the Centurion Action X event running I wanted to do the same thing I did with the T110E5 On Track.  Of course, I’m no means a pro but I just wanted to share my experiences and opinions about the pros and cons I found with the line.Like always, criticism and/or advice that may help others grinding through the line is very much appreciated!  To start, the Action X line was, to say the least, challenging but extremely fun. On track credit discounts:Tiers I - V 50% discount Tiers VI - X 30% discountCurrent credit prices for Tiers I - X:Free! 1,900 20,500 55,000 190,000 630,000 945,350 1,645,000 3,515,500 4,270,000 Configuration comparison of different loadouts.  *Crew bonuses or equipment modifiers not included on all comparisons. Tier VI Cromwell:  Pros:SPEEDY Decent gun depression A platoon of 3 is a force to be reckoned with Runs circles around slower tanks (flanking nightmare) Good DPmCons:Armor? What armor? (Very thin, not sloped very well) Module/Crew damage should be expected Can’t mount Vertical Stabilizer Inaccurate gun My Research Path:Engine Tracks Gun Turret Gun - Howitzer for fun Engine Gun Radio The Cromwell, and it's premium counterpart the Cromwell B, are among my favorite medium tanks.  Seriously, if you haven't had the pleasure of running 3 Cromwell's in a platoon I highly recommend you do it and experience the power of the wolf pack swarm.  It's speed will tempt you to push far into enemy territory so it's best to resist the urge unless you are certain you have adequate cover and an escape plan.  Fantastic reload time and the shells are pretty cheap too so don't be afraid to talk your "pot shots." Tier VII Comet:   Pros:Amazing gun depression Punishable high rate of fire and with good accuracy to boot Decent speed Did I say gun depression? (-12 degrees) Cons:Very thin armor and flat angles Unreliable gun penetration  Traverse speed is very slow My Research Path:Engine Tracks Turret Gun (77mm) Radio The Comet is easily becoming one my go to "lets have some fun" tank.  I'm a sucker for anything -10 degrees or less gun depression.  There's nothing worse when you barely hit a slight incline when engaging someone and your shell sails over them like a joke from Frasier told to a 5 year old. Tier VIII Centurion I:   Pros:Like its predecessor, excellent gun depression Ridge line warrior Great pen on top tier gun Good turret armor once upgradedCons:Hull armor seems non-existent Aim time is pretty high on top gun Bad concealement Prone to module damage Stock grind is a nightmare My Research Path:Tracks Turret Engine Gun - (Saved up for A Barrel) Engine Radio Coming from the Comet it is a little odd jumping into the Centurion I.  They play pretty similar but it feels like the great things you had in the Comet (speed/gun handling) are sluggish.  However, the top tier gun feels really good.  I rarely found myself in a situation where it was logical to use premium rounds.  There's nothing ground breaking about this tank but it is fun to play for sure and especially if you like playing the ridge line.  I recommend having an auto fire extinguisher equipped.  This thing loves fire. Tier IX Centurion 7/1:  Pros:-10 degrees of gun depression Top tier gun is just amazing High pen HESH shells Great turret armor Good acceleration Cons:Large body for a medium Low concealment Shot bloom on the move or turning is very large DPM takes a hit from the reload time Susceptible to crew/module damage My Research Path:Gun Tracks Turret Engine Gun (105mm) Engine Radio I generally can't stand having an extremely slow engine when I'm grinding a new tank but I was pleasantly surprised at the stock version of the Centurion 7/1.  It's not a pain to grind through at all in my opinion.  The stock gun is definitely "doable" though you may want to go for the B Barrel for the extra DPM. It may have a slower top speed but it gets up hills just fine and that's the main priority for this tank.  Also, the HESH rounds are just mean and I love them, but they are expensive.   Tier X Centurion Action X:   Pros:Great gun depression High alpha with good accuracy  Excellent turret traverse Handles different terrain really well Heavily armored and sloped turretCons:Giant hull with thing armor Low concealment  Ammo rack and tracks gets hit a lot Though I haven't had a lot of time with the Action X I can say that progressing through the line definitely prepares you for its play style.  Like the tanks before, you are going to be sticking to cover and ridge lines while you snipe.  I haven't had much positive experiences using this tank to "brawl" up close with other mediums.  That's not to say it can't be done, I may have just not gotten the hang of it.  However, the gun is fantastic (when stationary).  The shell velocity is great and makes it pretty easy to lead your shots on moving targets.  That's it!  Hope my experiences were able to help you out in any way!Though I don't agree with everything he says, Quickybaby has a really solid review of the Centurion Action X: