I think the IS-3's sides are just as weak. Having played both, I feel like they're very different tanks. IS-3 is more of a brawler with its speed, while the KT is for sure a sniper. The IS-3's front armor makes PAB difficult too, while the KT doesn't have that much problem. Hulled down the KT is incredibly difficult to dig out, and there's plenty of spots where it can be almost like an american heavy.
But yeah, lower glacis is made out of paper. Good up to tier 6~ and maybe certain tier 7 guns. But the rule for any tank is to not let them get to your sides, right? (Is-4 exception)
Oh sure, they are definitely very different tanks. And normally I prefer to snipe, but you can't guarantee sniping play all the time. And the BL-9 is accurate enough for long ranges but the IS-3 (to me) outshines the KT at close range.
And yeah the IS-3's side armor is 90mm vs the KT's 80mm. But the KT's side armor size is HUGE. The whole tank is huge compared to the IS-3. IS-3's side armor is half invulnerable to tier 8/9 guns (the uber sloped part under the skirts), which really helps out against dumbass autoaiming pubbies. I dunno, I just feel like the IS-3's side armor configuration (not just thickness) gives me a lot more options w/corners (reverse PAB) & when brawling (i can angle to try and force tracking shots). Whereas that's not an option w/the KT b/c showing the side armor = getting pen'd.
Hull down KT is scary at long range, I'll give you that. At close range, the turret front is only 185mm & flat, meaning tier9 guns go straight through. And there's always the drivers hatch & MG port. I haven't had much luck playing like a Maus & angling the turret when I'm not about to fire. The turret is shaped like this: \_/ which means you can't angle too much before that 80mm turret side armor is vulnerable.
I might favor the KT more if there was more of an accuracy advantage. As it is, it seems like the BL-9 is either dead-on, or misses wildly. The KT's gun is rarely dead-on but also rarely misses wildly. Unfortunately, at very long ranges, being off by a little bit might as well a wild miss.
I dunno, I can see the KT being quantitatively the better tank in the sense that w/2 skilled drivers, the KT would win. But I guess I'm more thinking I like the IS-3 better in pubs b/c skilled drivers are few & far in between!
Also, T32 > IS-3? Don't make me laugh. That wimpy 200mm of pen can/will bounce but the BL-9 will go through every time. That said, I didn't know the T32's gun depression is good enough to face hug & pen the IS-3's front hull. In hundreds of T32 & IS-3 games, I've never run into this situation. The current T34's depression isn't