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First of all: I guess that I can be considered an average player. My average WR is positive, yet my WR on my DB is 42%.

I am really at a loss at what to do with this tank. I try to like it, but simply can't.

• It's "bouncy armor" is a myth: most tanks I meet have no trouble whatsoever. And even when I'm facing a PzIV I have to be careful, as they can pen me as well. Maybe not as easily, but still can without that much trouble. You'll get the odd "OMFGBBQ bounced a BL-10!"-moment, but on most occasions things go right through.
  
• Speaking about the PzIV: I don't feel more useful than one could be. I have to use its top gun, as it's also mine along with the short 88, but still top in pen. I don't have the second turret, but even with I don't see how it could get at much better. As we all know the short 88..
  
• It's not slow, but neither fast. Attempting a circle seems a death wish, along that most tanks you'll meet are not foolish enough to travel alone, even if you have the opportunity you'll lose so much speed with cornering that it isn't that effective.

I am still quite new to the more 'brawling' meds, I have to admit, so I guess that I can use some more in depth tips on the subject as well. But I don't see how I can be really that much more effective with this tank. So.. eh.. Help?

Thanks in advance!

Sorry for any grammatical errors!

Can't really give you a better advice that to suck it up & grind patiently for the Panther. which is also going to be a nightmare to grind up from stock set-up.

Baring in mind that I haven't played the 3002DB since beta. But I had over 1500 games in it and I loved it. It will never be the best tank on the field but it can hold its own.
As with all mediums you need 100% crew to make it really shine. I would continue the grind for the 2nd turret and put the L56 on it (I never liked the L28 because it was too inaccurate).

One thing you MUST do is learn to stay in groups and never drive straight forward. Always go at a slight angle to increase the chance of a ricochet.

Your other problem is that it *NEEDS* the upgraded engine and tracks. Which sucks because you're not going to be able to use the research on the Panther.  

Good luck!

**EDIT**
Just thought I would add in. The L56 is actually a rather good sniping gun. So if you find that you don't like brawling try mid range sniping

If you are in a brawl, you can shoot the lesser armed sides of the enemies, which means the 5mm avg pen will not make a difference, but the dmg output will be a lot higher, so I would say you try the L56 as well!

Compared with many of its opponents and adversaries the DB will struggle to shine - unfortunately.
I also tried to like it but ended up with a win % 10% lower than my average.

- Main reason is that the tank is matched against T8-10 tanks and it need a long 88 as found on the Panther II to make an impact. The 75L70 or 88L56 guns provides slim chance of impacting the outcome of the such games.

Before the HE nerf I played it with 105mm howitzer but the upgraded turret made the tank to heavy and it lost much of its excellent traverse.

If you really insist on playing this tank I think you need to refine the way you play it and accept that in some games you will only play a minor role.

I didn't seen one last 3 month (400 battles)

Based on this and my own exp., i think DB is an up tank nowadays, no one play him anymore.

My advice: Go and play russian meds
For example: T-34-85 with D10T Gun is pure win=fun.

Or go Panther, at least you can damage(dig) everyone with 75/L100, but it's not a brawler.

I have seen more, especially since the half price special. I definitely want one, no credits at the time tho...

I've had my eye on this one for a while and took the opportunity of the half-price sale (on the NA server recently) to get this one. Keep in mind I've elited all the tanks above it to the E50 so this is purely for 'fun'.

It hurts. This tank, stock, hurts. A lot. I'm going to wait for it to be fully upgraded (free experience is tempting but I'm trying to resist until I know I like the tank) before I make a final judgement. In the meantime I'm going to try using the torsion bars which will let me mount the turret and the better gun. That should make the tracks/engine grind more bearable. I see the potential in this one so I'm not giving up yet! When I was first in beta before I read the forums and knew what I was doing, I felt that the VK3601 and the KV13 'had potential' and they are top-notch tanks so I'm hoping I'm right with this one as well

I'll update as I go.

for me the DB is best German brawler, yes when put against higher tiers 8 and up the gun is UP, but against tier 7 this tank is pure fun, much more faster-agile-reliable than panther(which feels like made of paper, burning paper). Great sloped armor(always try to face up front). I got all German Mediums from tier 7-9 on Elite.
DB is also great Rammer, something like unstoppable E-50, just lighter.

have fun

 DrTiCool, on 06 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Isn't it the only real German medium brawler? Probably the reason I didn't really like it but I do like the Pz IV, Panther and Panther II. My advise is if you want a brawler then the Russian line is the one to go for. An if you want a sniper/support tank then go for the German line.

Of course, as you say, the important thing is to have fun!

Gun's a bit weak tbh, but this is the only downside of this tank that I can find.

Playing peekaboo (if you have to) while angling the hull + the front mounted turret gets you more bounces than you rightly deserve, and it's quick enough to cover the ground in a hurry.

Mostly you won't be fearing a 1 vs 1 brawl with any other T7 medium, and if you're top tank you'll get the chance to do some real damage.
In with the T8+ crowd, however, no amount of t-cut is going to help. Annoy the crap out of them before you die.

Bottom line: Play aggressively and pray to whatever gods you worship that the gun penetrates. You will be rewarded.

Still thinking about getting it. Loved the VK3601, maybe the 3002DB lives up to that name.

 LeonINC, on 06 March 2012 - 06:34 PM, said:

You may be disappointed as they really don't play the same. The VK3601 is as much a heavy as an medium (it's being reclassified as such for the German tech line changes) whereas the VK3002DB is more like a Russian medium. Then again I like both the VK3601 and the Panther I/II but not the VK3002DB so who knows!

 DutchHawk, on 01 March 2012 - 08:24 PM, said:

55 battles, 24 wins, could be no more than a run of bad luck.

Gun is simply too bad for tier 7. Would be fine as a Tier 6 though, or as a Tier 8 premium (with the long 88).

Gun is fine for the role that DB should play. Just try to get used to the new playstyle and it will work nicely .
Your advantages are vast ammount of HP and nice armor compared to other tier 7 mediums.

My stats: 217 battles, 148 wins = 68% win ratio. I got 3 Boetlers medals, more kills than games, max 10 frags etc..
So far this is my favourite tank.

 Longtomsilver, on 02 March 2012 - 01:15 PM, said:

I have the opposite experience. I hated the T-34-85 Idiot with a passion while grinding to unlock the T-43. The DB on the other hand was a joy to drive once fully upgraded. Yes the gun can seem a bit lacking in penetration and matchmaking isn't the greatest but it does have slightly bouncy armour which makes a change from the previous german meds.

1 of my favorit tier 7 tank had 165 games in it 55% win rate and 145 kills,84% acc so i love it.

I had one when grinding the Panther for the free slot and I liked it a lot. After the 3001P (its predecessor before the techtree-change) it was a dream. Definitely going to get it again after the russian tree change.

My clan mate has just got this tank as he grinds through to the Panther, so I picked up one to platoon with him.
His was stock, mine was fully upgraded - there is a huge difference in performance obviously between us. The top gun is really nice and the mobility is fun.
Working in a platoon we tend to attract other solo mediums to us which means we end up with a little wolf pack - great fun  

Yes we run into Tier 10's every so often , but thats life. Just try & avoid them or failing that shout 'shoot him not me' as the IS7 swivels its gun towards us both!