Nope, BTS never sacrificed historical reality for gameplay in either CM title. An example to prove this would be the Sherman Jumbo. In the first couple versions it had much thicker armor than in 1.12. When research proved that CM was not matching up with reality, BTS took the time and effort to change the Jumbo, even though this made the game less balanced since it cost the allies one of their two ubertanks.
Can you give a source to back up your claim that tanks in WWII nearly always hit their target at 1000m? Again, BTS is trying to be realistic here.
Michael, now that you mention it I remember cranking a quad-40 turret on the USS North Carolina when I was about 9. Even then I could move the thing, but not very fast. Of course, on a battleship you have plenty of room to add counterweights and redesign the turret so it is balanced and cranks easier, while a tank turret is much more limited in its design.
[ December 20, 2002, 03:07 AM: Message edited by: 109 Gustav ]