How do you use the M41 Walker Bulldog?

I get flanking, although at this tier its useless because everyone flanks now so its always some type of facing people head on. Be it Panthers or T44s or whatnot. But either way, I just got it and I cant for the life of me seem to do well with it!

I mean the past 6 matches Ive tried have all been my flanking right into someones 88mm gun which will always 1 shot me. I expected to die easy, but I also expected to be able to shoot some people! I cant even use my "speed" because it has the same issue as the M18 Hellcat, having a legitimate offroad and on-road speed, while every other tank in the game has a offroad speed extremely close to its road speed! I mean Im extremely certain that Tiger tanks move faster offroad than this does. That plus many maps that discourage flanking.

So whats the appeal here? A gun that doesnt get to fire any type of useful shel until after a grind? I heard great things about this tank but I cant get even mediocracy out of it in stock form.

EDIT: Well seems like the M41 is useless at the moment...I guess Ill be using the T25 to keep grinding the M26...which has its own issues at its BR level...yay US tanks...