Strengths
Use your mobility to get a side shot while teammates hold the enemy’s attention.
Ground RB / Vehicle Database / Profile
2S38
USSR · Light tank · Rank 7 · Premium
Battle Ratings
Arcade10.7
Realistic10.7
Simulator10.7
These are archived ratings; check the game for current values. The history below shows recorded ratings and announced changes.
Vehicle Overview
- Nation
- USSR
- Class
- Light tank
- Rank
- 7
- Acquisition Type
- Premium
Battlefield Role
Use covered side routes to create crossfire. Scout when fitted, settle the gun before firing and change position after revealing the flank.
When to spawn
Choose it for a job your team needs. After a loss, try a different route rather than driving back into the same firing lane.
Common Mistakes
- Repeating the same peek. Once an enemy has your range, move to another angle before firing again. A second shot from the same opening is easier to anticipate.
- Firing without a retreat. Choose cover you can reach during the reload. Do not cross into an enemy firing lane just to finish a damaged target.
Survivability and Armor
- Crew
- 3 persons
Protect the sides and rear, limit repeated exposure from one position and avoid assuming that a strongly armored plate protects the whole vehicle.
Keep exposed sides and the fighting compartment behind cover. Check the incoming round and impact angle in Protection Analysis before relying on the armor.
Ammunition
BR-281U · APCBC
Use against armor and aim for crew or critical modules. A penetration alone may leave the enemy able to return fire.
OR-281U · HE
Use against exposed crews, aircraft where applicable and lightly protected targets. Avoid spending the shot on heavy frontal armor.
3UBM22 · APFSDS
Use against armored vehicles. Aim through crew or critical modules; the narrow shot path makes placement matter.
3UO8 · HE-VT
Use against exposed crews, aircraft where applicable and lightly protected targets. Avoid spending the shot on heavy frontal armor.
Ready Rack and Carry Load
- First-stage capacity
- 148 rounds
- Maximum capacity
- 148 rounds
Carry enough for the route and resupply plan. A listed first-stage capacity alone does not establish a safe spawn load or prove that another rack is empty.
Mobility
- Maximum forward speed
- 70 km/h
- Maximum reverse speed
- 20 km/h
- Power-to-weight ratio
- 23.3 hp/t
- Engine power
- 500 hp
- Weight
- 21.5 t
Top speed is not cross-country pace. Check the reverse route before taking a firing position.
Optics
Gunner
- Night equipment
- Thermal imager
- Thermal generation
- Gen 3
- Magnification
- 4.0×–9.4×
Commander
- Night equipment
- Thermal imager
- Thermal generation
- Gen 3
- Magnification
- 4.0×–9.4×
Driver
- Night equipment
- Night vision device
Target Acquisition
- Commander Override
- Equipped · dual control
- Rangefinder
- Laser rangefinder
- Gun stabilization
- Two-plane stabilizer
Armaments
- Primary weapon
- 57 mm 2A90 cannon
- Secondary weapons
- 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun (coaxial)
- Reload
- 0.5 s
Economy
- Crew training
- 10,000 SL
- Expert crew
- 1,160,000 SL
- Ace crew
- 2,100 GE
- Ace crew research
- 2,150,000 RP
Battle Rating History
| Date | Game mode | Battle rating |
|---|---|---|
| No confirmed battle rating changes are recorded. | ||
Archived rating records
| Date / source | Arcade | Realistic | Simulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2026Site profile snapshot | 10.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| February 7, 2026Observed · Wiki archive ↗ | 10.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| August 26, 2025Observed · Wiki archive ↗ | 10.7 | 10.3 | 10.3 |
| November 26, 2024Observed · Wiki archive ↗ | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.3 |
Sources and data checks
Vehicle data checked October 8, 2026. Crew optics checked October 22, 2026. Speeds use Realistic Battles values. Reload depends on crew skills and qualification; damage can reduce performance. Unknown equipment is not a confirmed absence.
Community discussion
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