Different styles, really. My take on it is that the Russians specialize in big guns, modest (at best) accuracy, and good mobility. They suffer from relatively weak armor or poorly sloped armor, until you get the Object 704, but they can usually wreak havoc on same tier or even +1 tier tanks. They’re well suited for accompanying the schwerpunkt, as except for the stock SU-152 and ISU-152 (especially the latter) they are pretty nimble.
German TDs, on the other hand, are all about accurate, relatively hard-hitting firepower, followed by a decent balance of protection and mobility. Naturally, like with the USSR vehicles, this varies by tier, but in general German TDs get accurate guns that do good damage, and have either good armor (like the Ferdi from the front) or good sloping (like the Jagdpanther or the JdgPz IV from the front). They also generally can get out of their own way, though at Tier VIII and IX that gets more problematic (they don’t call it the Jagdtarget for nothing at the top end!). German TDs are the quintessential snipers, in my book, with a lot of choices in guns to do that job.
You didn’t mention them, but the US TDs are an interesting bunch as well. They are sort of a mix of USSR and German qualities. The guns are often quite good–the 105 is a solid mid-tier weapon, the 120 on the T28 is very good, and the monster on the T95 makes everything scared–and rate of fire is often good. Protection on the T28 and T95 is excellent, but they are slow as dead dogs. The T25-AT has excellent mobility, decently sloped armor, and a good gun, and is the “sweet spot” I think for US TDs. Below that you get turrets but relatively weak armor (the 90mm on the Slugger is solid though); above that you get a bad case of the slows, though it’s fun to be in a T28 or T95 and soak up shot after shot with nary a scratch.
My take on the SU-152 and the Jagdpanther, specifically? The fun in the Soviet TD is the derp 152, which I found more accurate than I’d expected and a hoot to use, but it shares the same problems the other derps do, namely, problematic accuracy and woeful reload times. The longer 122s are good though, but you’ll forget all about them when you get the middle finger of God on the ISU-152 and Object, the BL10. The SU-152 dies easily and is not a good sniper IMO, but I had fun with it.
The Jagdpanther is one of my favorites. Even after unlocking the Ferdinand I kept it around, because it’s fun. It’s reasonably fast–fast enough to actually serve as a fire brigade–has good armor/sloping (good enough at least, from the front), and with the long 88 or the long 105 is a great tank killer. Relatively inexpensive to operate, too, though the 105 gets a bit costly. It’s a good sniper and you have the mobility to then shift positions or reinforce a threatened flank. Don’t get used to mobility though because the Ferdi makes you trade that for heavy front armor and, eventually, a very nasty 128mm cannon.
I love TDs, though in Clan Wars their utility is highly map dependent. But learn to use them well and they’re a blast. Sadly, like all top tier vehicles, they get nastily expensive at the top.
