Armored Warfare News

Commanders!

In October, Armored Warfare will turn five and what a ride it has been so far! Thank you all for staying with us through thick and thin – you made this amazing anniversary happen. To celebrate, we’ve prepared a special in-game event for you, which we call Anniversary Takedown.

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The event will activate on September 13, 3 AM CEST (September 12, 18:00 PDT) and you can access it by pressing the Event button in your Garage.



Its rules are very simple. Every day, complete the daily objective by destroying 5 enemy vehicles in a single PvE battle or 1 player vehicle in PvP in order to receive the following rewards:

• Complete 1 daily objective to receive 5 Platinum Loot Crates
• Complete 5 daily objectives to receive 7 days of Premium Time
• Complete 10 daily objectives to receive the BVP M-80A Premium AFV

The BVP M-80A is a Yugoslavian Tier 5 Premium Armored Fighting Vehicle that resembles a large Russian BMP and, in its basic configuration, plays like any other Infantry Fighting Vehicle. What makes it unique, however, is the fact that you can choose from three separate turrets, each offering very different gameplay (IFV, fire support and tank destroyer). For more details, please check out our dedicated article.



But that’s not all that awaits you, because there are more prizes waiting for you:

• Complete 15 daily objectives to receive 7 days of Premium Time
• Complete 20 daily objectives to receive 5 ZTQ-15 Loot Crates
• Complete 25 daily objectives to receive 7 days of Premium Time
• Complete 30 daily objectives to receive 10 ZTQ-15 Loot Crates
• Complete 35 daily objectives to receive 35 ZTQ-15 Loot Crates

Now, you might be asking, what are ZTQ-15 Loot Crates? The answer is simple – these crates drop blueprint parts for the ZTQ-15 Chinese Tier 9 Premium Light Tank. This tank is a mobile, powerful vehicle and you can read more about it in our dedicated article.



If you collect all 50 crates, you will have a fairly decent chance of obtaining enough blueprints to build it.

Please note:

• This event may run concurrently with other events and is available to all players
• You may only complete one objective per day
• The event starts on September 13 at 3 AM CEST
• The event ends on October 18 at 11 AM CEST

We hope that you will enjoy this event and will see you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

Today, we’d like to tell you more about the second Premium vehicle that’s coming in Update 0.33, the Chinese ZTQ-15 Light Tank.



The ZTQ-15 is also (and perhaps more commonly) known as Type 15 Light Tank. The ZTQ-15 name is a factory designation of the same vehicle, but since we do have another machine with a similar name in the game already (the Japanese Type 16 Tank Destroyer), we chose to go with the ZTQ name to avoid any potential confusion.

The history of this vehicle is closely tied to the VT-5 Light Tank. China has always been a user of this vehicle class because it’s more or less impossible to operate standard MBTs in various mountainous or swampy regions that can be found in various parts of the country. While the available sources are limited, what seems to have happened was China holding a contest for its future Light Tank back in the late 2000s with at least two designs participating. The winner of the contest became the ZTQ-15 Light Tank for domestic use while the second design that lost became the VT-5 export Light Tank.

That is why both vehicles resemble each other closely. Both feature high mobility, relatively light armor (which includes composite blocks or ERA) and are armed with a 105mm rifled gun, which is more than sufficient for theaters of operation where modern heavy Main Battle Tanks are not expected to appear. Slugging it out with MBTs isn’t the purpose of these tanks – it’s to support infantry in rough terrain.

The ZTQ-15 Light Tank weighs 33 tons and is powered by the 132HB 883hp diesel engine. The firepower is provided by the ZPL-151 105mm rifled cannon, which can fire the following types of shells:

• DTC15-105 APFSDS
• DTB2-105 HE
• DTP2-105 HEAT
• GP105 gun-launched ATGM

The performance of these shells is unknown, but is thought to be comparable to the modern NATO shells of the same caliber. The gun is automatically loaded and can elevate and depress to -7/+18 degrees. The tank has a crew of three.



As the name suggests, the ZTQ-15 was accepted in Chinese service around 2015-2016 and appeared first in public during a 2018 military parade in Beijing. Several sub-variants of this tank exist. They are unofficially often referred to as the “parade model” without ERA and the “combat model” with ERA. An unknown number has already been produced, possibly close to a hundred.

Recently, the tanks have been involved in an exercise in the south-western region of China near the borders with India. This was a reaction on several incidents that took place in May. The issue with the Ladakh region is that both India and China claim the territory as theirs.

As a part of an agreement, the use of firearms by each country’s border patrols is prohibited, but they do occasionally engage in melee combat using improvised weapons such as steel rods or even fists. While this may sound amusing, the grim reality is that in May alone, these clashes resulted in sixty dead, possibly more. Should this violence escalate, China could use the Type 15 Light Tanks and Type 99 MBTs to support its troops in the region. India can, on the other hand, deploy the Russian T-72 and T-90 MBTs, which, thanks to their upgrades, still pack quite a punch. A result of such a conflict can be at this moment only guessed.

In Armored Warfare, ZTQ-15 will be a Tier 9 Premium Light Tank, the second such vehicle of this Tier, class and origin right next to the older VT-5 Premium LT. Naturally, any prospective buyer will inevitably end up comparing both vehicles, which is especially relevant given the Update 0.33 high-Tier gameplay overhaul.



All in all, since both vehicles originate from roughly the same roots, they look, just like in real life, roughly the same. Both are relatively highly mobile vehicles featuring adequate armor and an advanced 105mm rifled cannon. There are, however, some interesting differences.

The ZTQ-15 will be somewhat better protected than the VT-5 at the expense of a bit of mobility. Its frontal turret and hull areas will be covered by ERA (improved during the Update 0.33 overhaul), which adds to its survivability. Please note that its sides will not be protected this way and will offer a tempting target to anything more powerful than the lightest of autocannons. On the other hand, the ZTQ-15 will come with a hard-kill APS and a considerable pool of hitpoints, making it, as Light Tanks go, quite durable.



The mobility will be considerable thanks to the ZTQ’s low weight of 33 tons and its 883hp diesel engine. Fully unlocked, this vehicle will have the maximum speed of 85 km/h and will speed up nicely, although not as well as the VT-5 – its acceleration will be roughly 10 percent lower compared to the other Chinese Tier 9 Light Tank. But, unlike the VT-5, this vehicle will feature an active suspension, allowing you to tilt your hull in order to use cover better and to make it easier to take aim.



Thanks to it, the gun will have the elevation and depression values of +18/-8 degrees. Speaking of firepower, it will consist of an automatically loaded 105mm rifled cannon, similar in performance to the one used by the VT-5, including the ability to use gun-launched ATGMs. Since the ZTQ-15 is the tank officially adopted by the Chinese military, it will have access to more modern ammunition, which will be reflected by its better penetration values and HE performance. And last but not least, the vehicle will feature good viewrange (455 meters) and camouflage (26 percent).

In summation, the ZTQ-15 Light Tank will be a more than viable alternative to the VT-5, offering some unique gameplay of its own thanks to its different armor layout and the presence of an adjustable suspension. It will be a perfect vehicle for the players who prefer fast-paced gameplay, hunting down enemy AFVs and flanking a MBT assault in order to get to aim at the vulnerable parts of battle tank armor.



With some luck, you’ll be able to get your hands on this vehicle during an upcoming anniversary event. We hope that you will enjoy it and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

This week, we’ve prepared another set of attractive items for you:

• T-72B3 Tank Crew Day Bundle with the Volna camouflage
• Object 640 Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank
• BMPT Mod.2000 Tier 8 Premium Tank Destroyer
• Premium Commanders Cortez, O'Connell and Korhonen
• Spirithaven Treasure Trove

Between September 10 and September 17, 2020, the following items will be available:


[h2]T-72B3 Tank Crew Day Bundle[/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.

The T-72B3 Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank is now available in a special Tank Crew Day bundle. The bundle itself contains:

• T-72B3 Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Russian “Volna” camouflage (learn more about it)
• Russian Tank Forces decal
• Russian Tank Forces 2 decal
• Kubinka Tank Museum decal
• Russian Tank Forces flag
• 10 Platinum Loot Crates
• 2.500 Gold

Despite containing mostly Russian content (since the Tankman Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in Russia), this bundle celebrates the contributions and sacrifices of tank crews worldwide. The tradition of Russian armor goes all way back to 1914 when, shortly after the start of the First World War, Russia’s first armored car regiment was formed.









The decals and flag included in this bundle represent (with the exception of the Kubinka Tank Museum emblem) unofficial crests of these forces, as worn by the soldiers on their sleeves.






[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.

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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]BMPT Mod.2000[/h2]


The BMPT Mod.2000 is, as its name suggests, one of the earliest models of the famous Russian BMPT series, also known under the name “Terminator.” The word BMPT stands for “tank support combat vehicle,” which is exactly what the machine was designed for – to accompany tanks to battle and support them (predominantly in urban environments) against enemy infantry. It consists of a MBT-class hull (a modified T-90 one) and an unmanned turret, armed with a single 30mm automatic cannon and a single four-tube launcher for Kornet-E ATGMs. This particular model was shown to general public in 2000, but didn’t get much attention. It was overhauled almost immediately to the iconic twin-autocannon configuration that’s being used to this day.

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In Armored Warfare, the BMPT Mod.2000 is a Tier 8 Premium Tank Destroyer. It’s a heavy duty vehicle with its hull offering excellent protection for its class. The turret, albeit lightly armored, only takes reduced damage. Even though this vehicle only features a single 30mm autocannon (unlike all the other BMPT series vehicles in the game), this is compensated by the presence of powerful ATGMs that make the BMPT Mod.2000 an extremely potent tank killer.

This vehicle is now available on MY.GAMES Market directly in three different variants:

• BMPT Mod.2000 without any camouflage
• BMPT Mod.2000 Reaper with a scary black grim-reaper-themed camouflage
• BMPT Mod.2000 Sapphire with its hull covered in blue flames

Please note that the latter two camouflages are permanent and cannot be removed from the vehicle if you purchase them.






[h2]Premium Commanders[/h2]


Some of the most popular and requested commanders are making a comeback in bundles together with Insignia and Boost tokens chosen specifically to allow for their faster training. You’ll be able to progress through their ranks faster than ever.



The commanders available are:

• Alexander Cortez (with his special ability to always deal maximum damage)
• Alisa Korhonen (with her special ability to call in an off-map ATGM strike)
• Erin O’Connell (one of the best scouting commanders around)

Please note that these bundles come with special Platinum Armored Warfare boost tokens, the best progress boosters available in the game. You can read more about them in our dedicated article.

As for the commanders themselves, this guide will provide you with useful tips on how to configure their skills.

Please also note that if you purchased one of these bundles during previous offers, you will not be able to purchase it again during this offer.






[h2]Spirithaven 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!

On the 10th of September, starting from 8:00 CEST (9th of September, 11 PM PDT), the server will not be available for 5 hours due to the application of Update 0.32.7303



[h2]List of Update 0.32.7303 Changes[/h2]
 

• Added content for an upcoming event, including the BVP M-80A Tier 5 Premium AFV
• Fixed an issue with SPHINX ATGM launches

Commanders!

Our resident experts on the Heroic difficulty, dark_demigod and danlambo, have done it again! Conquering one mission was not enough for them and they won the entire four-mission Black Sea Incursion Special Operation all by themselves, making them the best PvE players on the server. In the videos below, you can see how they did it:

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We are happy to have such devoted and skilled players in Armored Warfare and are looking forward to more such feats. Don't hesitate to share yours on our official Discord and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!