Armored Warfare News

Commanders!

With the Rise of the Dragon Battle Path coming this summer, it’s time to take a look at the other Chinese vehicles that are present in the game, specifically the Type 99A2-140 Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank.



This weekend you have the opportunity to try this vehicle out as we’ve prepared a special gift for you. It contains:

• 3-day temporary version of the Type 99A2-140 MBT
• 3 Platinum Loot Crates
• 3 Platinum Battlefield Glory 12-hour Boost tokens

As usual, the gift is available via MY.GAMES Market.



Like what you see? Want to keep the tank? The Type 99A2-140 is also currently available in our Web Shop!

We hope that you’ll enjoy this gift as well as the chance to try something new and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

This week, we’d like to offer you a new type of Loot Crate – the Assault Loot Crate, containing many of your favorite Premium MBTs as well as Commanders, Gold and progress boosters!



The mechanics are very simple. This crate allows you to win one of the vehicles listed in its description (or its value in Gold if you have it already). For a full list, please visit the MY.GAMES Market page.

Furthermore, this Loot Crate uses the Key mechanics. Instead of purchasing the Loot Crates, you purchase keys to them, which you then use to unlock them.

However, please note:

• Discounts do not apply to Loot Crates, but rather to Keys
• It is possible to buy multiple keys for a single chest type
• Keys can be found in a separate Market section

 


We hope that you will enjoy this offer and, as usual:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

Today, we’d like to update the Perihelion event status:

Commanders!

Today we’ve prepared the following items for you:

• Type 99A2-140 Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Object 640 Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Type 96B Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank
• T-72B3 Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank
• M1A1 Storm Tier 7 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Kampfpanzer 70 Tier 6 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Treasure Trove with 10.000 Gold

Between June 9 and June 16, 2022, the following items will be available:


[h2]Type 99A2-140[/h2]


The Type 99A2-140 is an experimental version of the most advanced Chinese Main Battle Tank in existence – the Type 99A. Unlike its production counterpart, however, it is not armed with a 125mm smoothbore, but massive 140mm smoothbore cannon. This is a theoretical upgrade to the vehicle – while the People’s Republic of China was considering upgrading the firepower of its Main Battle Tanks to face latest western and Russian MBT models, a 140mm gun was never installed on this chassis and was only mentioned in passing by certain Chinese sources. Now, however, your enemies will have the opportunity to experience what such a vehicle with you in command would be like to face in battle!



In Armored Warfare, the Type 99A2-140 is a rather unique Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank. It is essentially a version of the progression Type 99A2 Tier 10 MBT with one difference – the 140mm gun, trading its rate of fire for penetration and single shell damage. It is very fast and mobile (with its maximum speed being well over 90 km/h), protected by ERA and APS both and capable of using an acceleration-boosting active ability that pushes its engine far beyond the limits of common Main Battle Tanks. If used right, the vehicle is extremely deadly and one of the best Tier 10 MBTs on the battlefields of Armored Warfare.

The Type 99A2-140 MBT is available in our Web Shop via Loot Crates. Collect 100 blueprint pieces from these crates to obtain the vehicle.






[h2]Object 640[/h2]


The Object 640 is one of the last Soviet era “super tank” monsters, designed to surpass anything the west could field on the battlefield. It featured extremely advanced armor, making it highly resistant to hits while keeping its weight low. The design was truly revolutionary for the late 1980s, but, like with many other Soviet projects of the era, it was discontinued due to the lack of funding. You can learn more about it in a dedicated article.



In Armored Warfare, the Object 640 “Black Eagle” is a Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank. It is a fast, agile and well-protected vehicle that plays in a typical Russian-style MBT fashion – ideal for players who want to take things up close and personal. This version of the tank does not feature any camouflage and is ready to be customized as you see fit.

The Object 640 Tier 10 Premium MBT is available in our Web Shop via Loot Crates. Collect 100 blueprint pieces from these crates to obtain the vehicle.






[h2]Type 96B[/h2]


The Type 96B MBT, as its name suggests, is an evolution of the Type 96A, featuring such elements as an upgraded fire control system and a much more powerful engine, resulting in considerably better mobility and speed. Unlike the Type 96A, however, the Type 96B is a prototype, designed for the Chinese military team to use during the annual Tank Biathlon event in Russia. In 2017, the Chinese team won the second place, being defeated only by Russia. You can learn more about its history in our dedicated article!



In Armored Warfare, the Type 96B is a Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank. Gameplay-wise, it’s very agile and fast for its class and uses advanced ammunition, making it highly suitable for players who prefer mobility over armor protection, even though it can take a lot of punishment as well.






[h2]T-72B3[/h2]


The T-72B3 is the most modern Russian T-72 variant currently in service. It is a heavily upgraded version of the T-72B, featuring Kontakt-5 ERA kit and an improved Fire Control System. Together, these modifications allow the aging T-72 to serve well into the 21st century. You can learn more about its history in our dedicated article!



In Armored Warfare, the T-72B3 is a Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank. It continues the tradition of other Russian tanks. Its low silhouette, good mobility, powerful 125mm gun and its advanced ERA kit make it a formidable opponent. This version of the T-72B3 is offered without any camouflage.






[h2]M1A1 Storm[/h2]


In 1985, the Abrams was upgraded with, amongst other things, the 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon. Over 5000 M1A1 tanks were produced until 1992. This tank participated in Operation Desert Storm, which forged its legendary reputation.



In Armored Warfare, the M1A1 Storm is a Tier 7 Premium Main Battle Tank. The M1A1 Storm look was inspired by Operation Desert Storm, including a gorgeous camouflage net model. But, more importantly, this tank is equipped with a massive frontal dozer blade, adding extra armor and ramming damage to the long list of its advantages.






[h2]MBT-70[/h2]


Germany and the United States cooperated in the 1960s and 70s to create the ultimate Main Battle Tank to replace the aging Patton tank series in service. The MBT-70 prototype tank was the U.S. result of the development program. It was exceptionally well armed with a 152mm gun, capable of firing guided missiles and equipped with cutting edge technology, but high costs and endless delays in development led to the cancellation of this project and the subsequent adoption of a more reasonable design – the Abrams.



In Armored Warfare, the MBT-70 is a Tier 6 Premium Main Battle Tank. Several features make it quite unique – it has a large caliber gun that, while slow to reload, delivers tremendous damage with each shot. It can also fire devastating guided missiles and while its mobility levels aren’t the best, it can devastate its opponents with well-timed shots, relying on its armor to keep it alive while it reloads. And last but not least, this vehicle has a hydraulic suspension available, allowing it to tilt its hull to improve its gun depression and elevation.






[h2]Treasure Trove[/h2]


Today, we have a special offer for you. A veritable treasure trove of 10.000 Gold awaits you at a discounted price.



Please note that this item can only be purchased once per user. You can find out more about Gold and its uses in our dedicated article.





We hope that you will enjoy the offer and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

From our previous introductory article, you know we are working already on the Rise of the Dragon Battle Path for this summer and in this article we’ll tell you more about it.



Reward-wise, the Rise of the Dragon Battle Path will be a bit different. There will be four Premium vehicles as usual:

• ZBD-04A Armored Fighting Vehicle
• VN17 Armored Fighting Vehicle
• ZTL-11 Tank Destroyer
• ZTZ-20 Main Battle Tank

But the other prizes will follow a certain topic as well – as its name suggests, the Rise of the Dragon Battle Path is all about the rise of China as a world superpower. As such, the prizes were overhauled with fewer not-as-valuable ones such as multiple-stage avatars, and more requested ones such as historical camouflages.

This Battle Path’s rewards will be separated into several parts based on China’s historical context and you’ll get to pass those parts in chronological order. In game terms, all these items will appear as a part of the standard level progression. The first part is dedicated to pre-war and wartime China.



When it comes to China, the first decades of the 20th century were an absolute mess. The year 1912 marked the end of the Qing dynasty rule after nearly three hundred years. China was subsequently reshaped into a republic but one man, Yuan Shikai, ruled it as a de-facto dictator. After his death in 1916, China entered the so-called Warlord Era as various remnants of the once massive Chinese imperial army (the Beiyang Army) vied for supremacy for over a decade. Only in 1928 did the Chinese National Party’s military forces bring them to heel during what was called the Northern Expedition. The campaign was supported by several large factions, including the Chinese Communist Party and, from the outside, the Soviet Union, which sought to increase its influence over the most populous country of the era.



The peace was, however, short-lived. The country plunged soon after into a massive civil war that left millions dead and tens of millions displaced or wounded. It was a brutal conflict on an epic scale, in which the Chinese Communist Party took on the forces of Kuomintang (or the Chinese Nationalist Party), the ruling party of the Republic of China. The war was interrupted by the Japanese invasion and resumed immediately after Japan’s surrender. The land only knew peace from large-scale warfare in 1949 with the defeat of Kuomintang and their exile to the island of Taiwan.

But let us return to the Warlord era for a moment, and its subsequent suppression. All pre-war Chinese armies were generally very poorly equipped and often poorly trained. To remedy the situation, some very light armor was ordered by Kuomintang along with European weapons, equipment (including the iconic German steel helmets) and, most importantly, advisors, including a German general of all people. That’s how China ended up with some Panzer I tankettes along with a few other German armored cars. In retrospect, it is fairly obvious that the whole German purchase was made for one reason only – German advisor kickbacks.



At first glance, tankettes were fine when the enemy (be it the CCP or warlord armies earlier) was armed with obsolete rifles. In reality, they arrived in a terrible shape, had to be completely refitted and were constantly overheating. Luckily for the Chinese, this wasn’t the only tank purchased. In the 1930s, Kuomintang obtained around sixty various armored vehicles from Vickers, including the popular Vickers Mk.E (or Vickers 6-ton) light tank. These were armed with short 47mm cannons with 20 purchased between 1934 and 1935.



The Vickers light tank was a potent vehicle for its time and was amongst the best equipment the Chinese had. It was therefore logical they’d use them during the ill-fated 1937 battle of Shanghai where Kuomintang forces (the best-trained divisions) defended the city from a Japanese onslaught. Unfortunately, the deployment was a disaster. Brave Chinese tank crews advanced through the city without cover only to be flanked and picked off one by one. Other tanks were lost in heroic but pointless charges. During the battle, all Chinese Vickers Mk.E tanks were destroyed or captured by the Japanese. But why are we discussing this tank in this article?



The reason’s simple. The first three assets are connected to it. Kuomintang tanks were painted in a rather beautiful camouflage consisting of sand, green, brown and grey spots and this Chinese (Early) camouflage will be available as a prize of the Battle Path. Additionally, Chinese troops adorned their vehicles with various names and inscriptions. Two of these will be represented in the form of decals.



They are real tank names and both appeared on different Vickers Mk.E’s:

• Dragon
• Tiger

For the final prize of this section, let us fast forward a decade to the final stages of the Chinese Civil War. By 1945, the hostilities between Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party forces resumed with both sides using captured equipment left behind after Japan’s surrender.



In late 1945, the Chinese captured a pair of Japanese Shinhoto Chi-Ha’s in the city of Shenyang. These tanks were relatively obsolete compared to late-war Allied equipment but were still considerably better than the pre-war stuff. Armed with long 47mm guns, they packed quite a punch. But before they could be used in the fighting, one of them was sabotaged by the captured Japanese engineers, leaving only the second vehicle (tactical number 102) operational.

The tank was repaired and transferred to the Chinese Northeast Tank Regiment, where it led a breakthrough during a massive battle of Jinzhou. As a mark of honor, the vehicle was renamed to “Gongchen” (“Heroic Tank”) since it became extremely respected and famous within the Chinese ranks.



The tank survived the rest of the campaign and would become so famous that it would lead the victorious military parade in Beijing on October 1, 1949 – the day the People’s Republic of China was founded. It was retired from service in 1959 and can be seen in the Beijing Military Museum to this day.



While we won’t be introducing the Shinhoto Chi-Ha tank for obvious reasons, the “Gongchen” will be a skin for the Type 99A2 MBT.



And that’s it for the pre-war and wartime era’s rewards – next time, we’ll discuss the first prize vehicle of the Battle Path (the ZTZ-20 MBT) as well as the next time period on our list: the early People’s Liberation Army era. Until then:

See you on the battlefield!