extra damage? Options

[Sgt.Slappy]

I've noticed sometimes when I play, some players can knock out my tank (or team tanks) with fewer hits to front armor, at the same time their tanks have the ability to take more damage. For example today, I was in the StuG, with full armor, and was destroyed with 1 hit to my font armor from a Russian heavy tank. It usually takes 2-3 hits to front armor... is there some kind of "sweet spot" in the armor of certain tanks? Or another time I was playing on the Russian team, and was driving a heavy, took 6 hits to kill one particular axis light tank (should have taken 2). Is this possible hacking? This brings up the question: how many hacks are there, and how do you identify their telltale signs? Sorry I don't have any screenshots.

[Frosty]

Yes, there are "sweet spots." Fuel tanks are one, the seam between the body and turret is another, and right down the top hatch is another.

And, when you're shooting at a tank, if you hit the ground directly in front of it, it does much less damage even though it still looks like you're hitting it.