Unexplained damage can be related to packet corruption/loss. Check your Net Status on the clipboard after this happens.
The upside-down spawning is being caused by the larger random-spawn circle. Before, trees seemed to avoid a certain area around spawns. Now, you have about a 1 in 200 chance of spawning into a tree. The game kind of "drops" the tank from the highest alt the game has until it hits something, and that's where you spawn. It depends if you hit the top of a tree or if you hit dirt like you should.