Supertest: Type 71, Japanese Tier X Tech Tree Heavy Tank [19 Oct ’23]

After some delays due to technical issues, the first vehicle from the new branch of Japanese heavy tanks has (finally!) arrived on Supertest:

X 🇯🇵Type 71

Additional Notes:

• Standard accuracy (before cooling): 0.42 m
  
• Cooling time: 11.63 sec
  
• Depression/elevation with hydropneumatic suspension: -12/25 deg

The Type 71 is a Tier X Japanese heavy tank. The vehicle features new double aiming mechanics, which allow it to fire in two modes: one with normal accuracy and the other with improved accuracy. Earlier, during the testing of another Japanese heavy tank (Type 63, a Tier VIII vehicle), we revealed this feature.

Double Aiming Mechanics

The vehicle’s gun heats up when firing. After it’s fully cooled down, its accuracy improves until the next shot.

The gun’s cooldown time is longer than its reload time. This means it has already reloaded, but the improved accuracy isn’t activated, as the gun hasn’t cooled down. When the improved accuracy activates, the player sees a second aiming circle. This is the circle that will determine the shooting accuracy.

After the second circle appears, it will still take some time for the gun to fully aim to its maximum available accuracy. However, you can shoot immediately after reloading and not wait for improved aiming if you need to.

Type 71 Gameplay

The vehicle’s hull armor is not outstanding (120/70/40 mm), which cannot be said about its extremely strong turret (270/140/50 mm). The Type 71 is designed to be played from hull-down positions when its tough turret armor can be used to its fullest. The vehicle’s hydropneumatic suspension allows you to enhance its good gun depression/elevation angles (-7/+20) and gain an additional advantage when playing on terrain irregularities.

The tank is armed with a 120 mm gun causing 400 HP of damage per shot. Its standard shell penetrates 260 mm of armor, while its special shell penetrates 320 mm. The gun dispersion is 0.42 m before cooling, and 0.28 m after. The reload time is 8.8 s, and aiming time is 2 s. Its view range is 400 m.

Thanks to double aiming mechanics, the Type 71 can shoot immediately after reloading and not wait for improved aiming if you need to cause damage quickly—for example, at close range. But if you want to deliver a more precise shot at medium or long range, it’s better to wait for the improved accuracy to be activated. However, in this case, the vehicle’s DPM will decrease.

This vehicle is expected to arrive in January-February 2024, along with the rest of the new Japanese heavy tank branch. The premium for this branch (Type 63), meanwhile, is expected to make its first appearance in this year’s Holiday Ops Large Boxes. Stay tuned for future news regarding the branch!

Other vehicles in the branch:

• Tier X – Type 71 (you are here)
• Tier IX – Type 68
• Tier VIII – Type 57
• Tier VII – Type 4 Ju-To
• Tier VI – Type 3 Ju-Nu
• Tier V – Mitsu 108

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