Greetings, Commanders!
Today, we will take a closer look at the Premium tanks you’ll find in the in-game Store bundles. Here, you’ll find general information about these vehicles and their appearance, playstyles and some hints on how to get the best out of them on the battlefield.
Pz.Kpfw. 38H 735 (f) (Tier II German light tank)
Known by the community as the “Minimaus” due to its thick armor, this Tier II light is one of the rarest and most desirable tanks in the game. Opportunities to get this vehicle are extremely few and far between.
Just like its namesake, this tank can block damage easily, especially when facing mostly same-tier vehicles, and thanks to its decent accuracy and great view range, you’ll be able to rule the battlefield in Tier II clashes.
However, you’ll need to remember to use your strengths wisely. Just like the Maus, this tank isn’t very mobile, and with only two crew members, It’s vulnerable to losing its entire crew. If you face Tier III tanks, you should adapt your tactics and be more careful when facing multiple enemies at the same time.
Type 59 (Tier VIII Chinese medium tank)
Just like the Minimaus, the Type 59 is quite a rare vehicle. It’s unlikely you’ll see it on sale again in the future.
There are a few very good reasons for this medium’s rarity. The first is its outstanding turret armor. Secondly, it boasts good gun handling and aim time. And, moreover, its maneuverability is one of the best for its tier. But there are some drawbacks—armor penetration and DPM are on the low side.
To get the best out of the Type 59, you’ll need to change positions and flank the enemy. Most importantly, you can act as support for your allies and play different roles on the battlefield (as the circumstances require) because the Type 59 is the perfect definition of a universal vehicle.
E 75 TS (Tier VIII German heavy tank)
This heavy tank is perfect for pushing through enemy lines and advancing. Additionally, the E 75 TS has one of the best reverse speeds, which is essential when you need to get to cover, away from enemy shells, and ruin your opponent’s plans to flank you. It proves even more invaluable as this German heavy doesn’t boast the best armor: your mobility can help you out of a sticky situation.
However, this Tier VIII Premium has strong turret armor and features special side skirts that will absorb damage from HE or HEAT rounds. Knowing this, you can pick your position wisely to take advantage of these strengths, so you’ll be able to help your team push forward and win the battle.
Somua SM (Tier VIII French heavy tank)
If there’s one reason to have this French heavy in your Garage, it’s the gun. Boasting 10 degrees of gun depression and 5 rounds in its clip, this vehicle is pretty devastating when working the ridgeline. With a fully loaded clip, you can fire five times in a row and deal a great amount of damage. However, after unleashing a barrage of shells, you’ll be vulnerable due to the long reload time. Autoloading guns are a special feature unique to just a handful of vehicles in the game, known as autoloaders.
Much like many other French tanks, the Somua SM doesn’t have the best armor, so you should only reveal yourself briefly to avoid getting hit multiple times by your enemies. Stick to your teammates and deal damage whenever your clip is loaded, but never trade shots.
Object 252U Defender (Tier VIII Soviet heavy tank)
The first thing that stands out about the Defender is its strong armor, which only features a few weak spots. The Defender also boasts a very powerful gun with good penetration, however the loading time is rather long. Due to its poor view range, the Defender should use its good mobility to get close to the enemy, then engage. And last, but by no means least, there is its striking appearance. The Defender is decorated with Soviet flags and an inscription which states “The enemy shall not pass”.
50TP prototyp (Tier VIII Polish heavy tank)
The 50TP prototyp features the unique ’Winged Hussar’ style, so this heavy is adorned in paintings of horsemen with spears, and the Polish flag on the sides.
This vehicle is a great choice if you like using ridgeline tactics on the battlefield. This Pole has outstanding gun depression and as good alpha damage (output in one shot) as the Object 252U Defender, except with a superior view range—very handy for exposing your enemies.
The 50TP prototyp, much like many heavies, is a rather slow vehicle. You’ll need to plan what position you want to take up in advance because you can’t rely on your reverse gear to save you from danger. With great turret armor and good alpha damage, you’ll be a great support to your teammates by dishing out heaps of damage.
Lansen C (Tier VIII Swedish medium tank)
Let’s begin with its appearance. The Lansen C sports a unique style—Odin’s Wolves. This 3D style modifies the gun to add a wolf’s head on the end of the barrel and some Viking symbols and furs. You’re sure to be remembered long after every battle you take part in.
The Lansen is a fast vehicle with good alpha damage and great gun depression. It doesn’t have a lot of armor, so it’s best to play as a mid-range sniper rather than brawling. This is a small medium tank, so you can use most cover effectively. Change position and give your gun the opportunity to realize its huge alpha damage potential. Additionally, the fast reload time will allow you to fire off 2 shots, while other tanks will only be able to unleash one.
T26E3 Eagle 7 (Tier VII American medium tank)
This vehicle was one of the pilot T26E3s which participated in Operation Zebra (to trial the Pershing tanks in Europe).
The Eagle has good armor and is capable of dealing with lower-tiered vehicles. As this is a Tier VII tank, it may be matched with Tier V vehicles, which is where you can really shine and release all that this tank has to offer!
This medium tank boasts nice alpha damage and good gun depression, which comes in handy on the ridgeline. Maneuverability is not its strong suit, so it would be better to choose your intended position on the battlefield beforehand.
Type 64 (Tier VI Chinese light tank)
The Type 64 has a superb view range, decent accuracy, and pretty good gun dispersion while on the move. If you like to snapshot and snipe at middle distances, you’ll feel right at home in this Chinese light tank.
A good tactic to use in this vehicle is to damage enemy tracks and then hit them with a barrage of shells while they can’t get away from your shots or take cover. You won’t deal a lot of damage with a single shot, but the rate of fire will allow you to take away a good amount of HP.
This tank is quite large and has thin armor, so the best option is to play it safe and stick with your team. And absolutely don’t push too much, this tank is quite vulnerable to HE shells.
Tiger 131 (Tier VI German heavy tank)
The Tiger 131 was captured by the British Army’s 48th Royal Tank Regiment in Tunisia. The British performed a full examination of the tank, and eventually it became part of an exhibit at the Bovington Tank Museum. The 131 remains the only functioning Tiger tank in the world.
A major historical artifact, the 131 participated in many real-world battles, and you can use it to win some in the game. The Tiger 131’s gun boasts very good DPM, aiming time and accuracy. If you’re all about damage dealing, then this is a perfect choice for you at Tier VI. A good traverse speed helps with angling your armor and will mean your enemies have less chance of penetrating it.
This Tiger struggles sniping at long distances unless you give the correct amount of lead. As they say, practice makes perfect—you’ll eventually get used to it. However, you have got more than enough ammunition for the fight. Those 92 shells mean you’ve got 20,000 points of damage ready for the enemy at the start of battle, and that is enough to destroy an entire enemy team made up of same-tier vehicles!
M4A3E8 Fury (Tier VI American medium tank)
This tank’s commander has a unique appearance, and you might even recognize him! Known as the "Easy Eight", this tank is widely remembered due to its long service history: it first saw conflict towards the end of World War II but was kept in service by various Western nations until deep into the Cold War.
The Fury possesses excellent DPM and very good gun depression. These are quite nice characteristics when battling same-tier tanks, and thanks to its good speed and maneuverability, you’ll also be able to flank worthy rivals. This tank has a tall profile; its large and weak sides can easily be penetrated and soak up shells. As a result, make sure you don’t overexpose yourself, try all you can to avoid multiple shots from enemies, and make good use of cover.
T-34-85 Rudy (Tier VI Polish/Soviet medium tank)
The Rudy comes to World of Tanks from the popular Polish TV series “Four Tank-Men and a Dog”. The first thing you’ll notice is that the crew doesn’t feature your average radio operator. Instead, you have a dog called Szarik running your communications. And yes, the dog does bark! The tank also comes with a unique 2D style.
The canine companion isn’t the only thing that makes this vehicle unlike any other. The Rudy is a dual-nation tank, which means you’re able to use crew from the U.S.S.R. or Poland, unlike other vehicles which only allow a crew of a given nation.
The Rudy has a well-rounded gun with good aiming time, damage, penetration, and accuracy, so in the heat of battle, it can do some serious damage. Moreover, like many other medium tanks, this vehicle is good for changing flanks and helping your team from different positions.
Still, the hull armor is somewhat lacking here, so you should always keep some distance, or cover, between you and your foes.
Commander, it’s the perfect time to pick up some rare vehicles and bolster your collection! See you on the battlefield!