Armored Warfare News

Commanders!

The ZTQ-15 is now also available in Loot Crates!

The ZTQ-15 is the current most modern domestic Chinese Light Tank and is reserved for the Chinese military only with its export counterpart, VT-5, offered for export. The ZTQ-15 Light Tank is intended to be used in mountainous regions of China where standard MBTs are all but impossible to operate. You can learn more about it in our dedicated article.



In Armored Warfare, the ZTQ-15 is a Tier 9 Premium Light Tank. It combines excellent mobility with plenty of firepower as well as adequate protection for its Tier and vehicle class. It also features several neat elements that increase its value on the battlefield, such as its active suspension and the ability to launch guided missiles from its gun or its advanced ERA. For players who prefer fast-paced, high-risk and high-reward combat style, it’s one of the best options out there.

This vehicle is available via Loot Crates, which drop ZTQ-15 parts. Collect 100 ZTQ-15 parts from these Loot Crates to assemble the whole vehicle. This vehicle is also available directly at MY.GAMES Market.



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

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

Since remarks regarding the visual aspect of the game are some of the most common pieces of feedback we are receiving from you, in today’s article, we’d like to tell you about the changes we are working on for the M8-120 Thunderbolt II model.



In many major (or even minor) updates’ patchnotes, you can read lines such as “Improved the visual quality of this vehicle’s model”, or “fixed a number of small visual issues.”

What this means is we overhaul the complete models where needed, but some models need only smaller fixes, such as textures, gun models and others. In this case, we took the M8-120 model and overhauled it as such:



The model is still based on the Armored Ground System program from the 1980s and 1990s instead of the more popular BAE Thunderbolt II demonstrator, overhauled for the ongoing Mobile Protected Firepower tender, so you may find different photos on the internet.



In our search, we used several photo sources available online. The core model isn’t really all that bad. It just needed some polishing to truly make it stand out. We fixed a number of textures though, as well as some smaller objects like the headlights.



The point of these fixes (and this article) is this – even a series of smaller improvements (that would be insignificant on their own) can lead to improved visual experience. You do not always need to overhaul every model from scratch to achieve high visual fidelity and the Thunderbolt II is one of such cases.

We hope that you will enjoy these improvements and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

Aside from two Scandinavian (Norwegian and Swedish) camouflages, we are also working on specific camouflages belonging to two other northern countries – Finland and Denmark.

Military-wise, Finland is one of the most interesting countries on the planet. Politically, it spend much of the Second World War as a de-facto German ally against the Soviet Union only to switch sides at the end of it, following immense Soviet pressure. This led to a fairly unique and complex situation where post-war Finland was neither a Soviet ally, nor was it a part of the NATO, but it wasn’t “truly neutral” either.



One of the results was a mix of western and eastern tech in Finnish service. You could find all sorts of unexpected systems and their combinations in the Finnish military, including the T-72 series tanks, the CV9030 or the German Leopard 2 MBTs. Another result was that Finland wouldn’t obviously use the NATO camouflage – rather, it developed its own.



The Finnish Summer camouflage is historically an off-shoot of the same camouflage Sweden and Norway used. In fact, it likely came from the same program because some Swedish and Norwegian vehicles have been photographed with this camo applied.



The camouflage consists of wide light green, dark green and black stripes with sharp edges. The brown color is missing in this case, but otherwise the camouflage fulfills the same function, breaking vehicle silhouettes against the background of lush, coniferous forests. The vehicles that go nicely with it are the Leopard 2 series of tanks, the T-72M1, the BMP-2, or even the CV90, although Finland uses a different model than we will have in the game. This camouflage is used to this day.



The second camouflage we’d like to show you today is the Danish Summer pattern. It is actually very simple – a khaki base paint with very wide black stripes. Much like the Finnish camouflage, this too is applied to all sorts of vehicles in Danish service, including the 44 Leopard 2A7DK Main Battle Tanks and the CV9035DK IFVs.



Both these camouflages will be usable on all vehicles and for all environments. We do hope you’ll enjoy them and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!

Commanders!

Today we’ve prepared the following items for you:

• ZTQ-15 Tier 9 Premium Light Tank (and the Electra and Serenity skins for it available separately)
• Sea Dragon skin for the Type 99A Main Battle Tank
• Type 99A2-140 Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank
• VT-5 Tier 9 Premium Light Tank
• Type 96B Tier 8 Premium Main Battle Tank
• Type 89 Tier 7 Premium Armored Fighting Vehicle
• Apocalypse Treasure Trove with 10.000 Golds

Between June 17 and June 24, 2021, the following items will be available:


[h2]ZTQ-15[/h2]


The ZTQ-15 is the current most modern domestic Chinese Light Tank and is reserved for the Chinese military only with its export counterpart, VT-5, offered for export. The ZTQ-15 Light Tank is intended to be used in mountainous regions of China where standard MBTs are all but impossible to operate. You can learn more about it in our dedicated article.



In Armored Warfare, the ZTQ-15 is a Tier 9 Premium Light Tank. It combines excellent mobility with plenty of firepower as well as adequate protection for its Tier and vehicle class. It also features several neat elements that increase its value on the battlefield, such as its active suspension and the ability to launch guided missiles from its gun or its advanced ERA. For players who prefer fast-paced, high-risk and high-reward combat style, it’s one of the best options out there.



We are separately offering the brand-new Electra skin for this vehicle in a bundle, which includes:

• Electra skin for the ZTQ-15 LT
• 14 days of Premium Time
• 3.000 Gold

The Serenity skin for this vehicle is also available in a similar bundle:

• Serenity skin for the ZTQ-15 LT
• 14 days of Premium Time
• 3.000 Gold

[h2]Sea Dragon skin for Type 99A[/h2]


This gorgeous sea dragon-themed blue skin is available for the Type 99A Tier 9 progression Main Battle Tank. Harness the ferocity of this mighty mystical animal and intimidate your enemies with your awesome war paint!



This skin is available as a part of a bundle, which contains the following items:

• Sea Dragon skin for the Type 99A MBT
• 3 days of Premium Time
• 500 Gold

[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]VT-5[/h2]


The VT-5 is a modern Chinese Light Tank that was developed specifically with export in mind. There are many reasons why a country without its own tank development should opt to purchase a Light Tank instead of a full-scale Main Battle Tank. It’s equally as fast if not faster with equal firepower but, what is most important, it is affordable. The VT-5 excels in all these categories. While its armor cannot match that of an MBT, it can protect its crew against most infantry threats thanks to its ERA and cage armor sets. It also has a powerful 105mm gun capable of firing guided missiles, it is packed with advanced electronics and is supremely agile thanks to its 1000hp diesel engine. Simply put, wraps cutting edge technologies up into an affordable bundle. You can learn more about it in a dedicated article.



In Armored Warfare, the VT-5 is a very powerful Tier 9 Premium Light Tank. Fast and agile, it features solid levels of protection (the configuration in the game is the one featuring the ERA kit as well as the turret cage armor) and a good rate of fire. Additionally, its gun is capable of firing guided missiles. It’s an ideal machine for players who value speed and agility, as it offers plenty of both. The VT-5 is capable of dancing around its opponents on the battlefield, outperforming even some AFVs in mobility.






[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]Type 89[/h2]


The Type 89 Infantry Fighting Vehicle is the current Japanese service IFV. It was built in very small numbers between 1989 and 2004. The low-production meant that, with the development costs sunk into it, each unit was incredibly expensive. In fact, to date, the Type 89 is the most expensive IFV in the world. Otherwise it’s generally unremarkable – last generation steel armor, a 35mm autocannon and massive guided missiles (that were also meant for landing ship destruction instead of just anti-tank combat) are generally being all phased out by now. The Type 89 is, however, still waiting for its replacement. You can read more about it in our dedicated article.



In Armored Warfare, the Type 89 is a Tier 7 Premium Armored Fighting Vehicle that is capable of not only deploying Mechanized Infantry, but also to destroy its targets at long distances using its powerful guided missiles. It is also fast and maneuverable, but does not feature thick armor.






[h2]Apocalypse 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!

The day has finally come and we’re going to discuss one of the most awaited features of the summer. You’ve been asking a lot of questions and today, we’re finally ready to tell you more about it – the Stridsvagen 2000 Main Battle Tank!



As usual, let’s first discuss its history for a bit. In 1984, the Swedish army started a research project with the goal of developing a new Swedish tank for the 2000s in order to match the best the Soviet Union had to offer at the time, especially the T-80U MBT. To that end, the tank had to be very innovative as well as powerful.

The first task of the Strv 2000 project group became to study the UDES 11, 15/16 and 19 tank proposals made during the UDES project in the 1970s and come up with a set of initial requirements for the Strv 2000. Based on this, a set of protection and arms requirements was established. Overall, the protection of the tank was rated above mobility or armament.



In 1985, the updated UDES projects were presented to the Swedish army and another round of development began with multiple concepts being submitted. As its main armament, the common 120mm L/44 smoothbore NATO cannon was deemed insufficient, which led to a separate development of a Swedish 140mm smoothbore gun. To complement this massive weapon, a secondary armament in the form of a 40mm Bofors was to be used against light targets. The tank was to have unparalleled protection levels with advanced frontal composite armor and an ERA kit. The mobility was also to be kept high despite the tank’s weight of over 50 tons.



In the end, three different concepts were submitted in 1987. The Armored Warfare version is based on the latest one that was called T 140/40. This version was fitted with a low-profile turret with an automatically loaded 140mm gun in the center and a 40mm Bofors gun to the left. The Bofors gun could move independently from the main weapon. There were also two machineguns present, one coaxial to the 40mm Bofors and one installed near the commander’s turret hatch for him to use. The ammunition was located in the back and was well-protected with blow-out panels.

This variant sported thick frontal armor, allegedly providing the equivalent of 800mm RHA versus kinetic shells and of 1200mm RHA versus HEAT rounds. The variant was to be powered by a 1500hp engine (the German MTU 883 model paired with a RENK transmission) installed in the front of the vehicle. The maximum speed was some 70 km/h and the suspension was supposed to be of the hydro-pneumatic type. The driver was sitting in the hull while the gunner and commander were sitting in the turret (specifically to the right from the gun).



This concept was the one that got the furthest with a full-sized mockup built in the late 1980s. Unfortunately for the project, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union ushered major budget cuts all across the West with Sweden being no exception. A decision was made in 1991 to pursue the much cheaper option of purchasing Leopard 2A5 MBTs from Germany. The Strv 2000 project would be canceled soon afterwards.



In Armored Warfare, the Stridsvagn 2000 will be a Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank and one of the rewards for reaching Level 50 in the Northern Wind Battle Path.

But before we tell you more about it, please note:

The numbers below are very preliminary as the vehicle has not been properly tested. They are sure to change and should only be discussed as an indicator of how we’d like to set the vehicle up.

With that being said:

As you’ve probably deduced from the historical part, this vehicle’s rather unique feature will be the combination of a main caliber gun and large caliber autocannon that will be, unlike the 30mm autocannon on the Object 195, usable – with some exceptions and proper aiming – against pretty much any target on the battlefield, giving you the opportunity to dish out large amounts of damage over time.



But, as usual, let us start with the protection levels. Much like the Type 10 MBT, the Strv 2000 will start each battle with excellent protection thanks to a set of NERA armor covering the hull front and a portion of its flanks. In Armored Warfare, NERA works as a kind of ablative armor that is very strong at the beginning of a match, but its protection levels decrease with damage taken. In our case:

• The frontal turret is all but impervious to all shells
• The upper frontal plate and frontal hull roof are impossible to penetrate while the NERA kit is intact
• The only weakness of this tank is the lower frontal plate, which is vulnerable to standard shells

The sides are, however, considerably less protected with only the NERA area forming an impervious zone. The rear portions of the tank’s side armor as well as the side turret armor are both vulnerable to conventional armor-piercing shells. The vehicle’s protection is enhanced even further by the presence of a Trophy hard-kill APS.



The tank will also feature adequate mobility, provided by its 1500hp engine, resulting in adequate, if not the best, acceleration and hull traverse values (from 0 to 32 km/h in 5.2s, 35.8 deg/s). The maximum speed will be 70 km/h. This vehicle will not come with a hydraulic suspension.

But the true strength will come from its firepower. The main weapon is of course 140mm smoothbore cannon with the ability to fire two shells:

• APFSDS (825mm of penetration, 860 damage per shot)
• HEAT (990mm of penetration, 1120 damage per shot)

With the reload time of 10 seconds, the tank will be capable of dishing some 5160 points of damage per minute with the main cannon alone. The gun (and the 40mm autocannon) will be able to elevate to +15 degrees and depress to -9 degrees, which will allow for some rather comfortable gameplay. The aiming time and accuracy values will also be rather good, so in summation, we have an average-performing gun, the true advantages of which will lie in its comfortable use.

But there’s, of course, also the 40mm Bofors autocannon. This autocannon will fire APFSDS shells (230mm penetration) in three-round bursts using the same system as Griffin 50mm does. With this system, each of the shells in the burst has higher penetration than the last one – this simulates the effect of compromised armor integrity when three APFSDS rounds hit exactly the same spot. The final shell penetration will increase by 75%.



In other words, this autocannon will be usable even against well-armored targets, not just against AFVs and external modules (like the 30mm autocannon of the Object 195 is). It will take some practice and skill to achieve the best results by switching between the main cannon and the autocannon but if done right, this tank’s damage output becomes extremely high.

The rest of the tank is fairly straightforward. Its camouflage and viewrange will match other MBTs of its Tier and there will be one Active Ability available at your disposal – Override, which temporarily improves your acceleration and maximum speed at the cost of agility.



In summation, we’re looking an MBT that represents the essence of practicality. Solid armor, decent mobility and excellent damage over time output will make this tank one of the most versatile tools in your arsenal, equally capable in PvP and PvE. The key to success will be the switching between both weapon systems and maximizing your damage dealt before the enemies can whittle down your armor for you to become vulnerable. When that happens, you’ll need to switch your play style to a more passive one with your hull safely hidden behind an obstacle.

We hope that you’ll enjoy this MBT as well as the entire Battle Path.

See you on the battlefield!