Commanders,

The upcoming two weeks will be focused on the Far East! This edition of the Top of the Tree special puts the Chinese caterpillar-treaded dragons in the spotlight. Follow the research line leading to the 113 tank and enjoy great discounts and credit income bonuses.

30% discount on purchase and 30% more credits earned with the following Chinese vehicles:

Use this opportunity to earn extra credits while driving these extraordinary tanks, or get them for 70% of their normal value!

These bonuses will be available from 15th November 06:10 until 30th November 06:00 CET (GMT +1). That’s two full weeks to teach your enemies a lesson in respect!

113



"I see a train coming – a lemming train!"

In-Game Performance

The 113 can be described as something of a hybrid tank, as it incorporates many qualities of both medium and heavy tanks. On the one hand, it is characterised by traits commonly associated with heavies. These include quite a powerful gun that is capable of delivering a lot of damage per minute, very sturdy and well sloped frontal armour and a thick well-rounded turret capable of deflecting a lot of shots. However, the vehicle also sports very good values in the fields of mobility, top speed, acceleration and on-the-move accuracy, meaning it is able to keep up with the mediums. It is worth mentioning that the 113 has a very low profile and is in fact the lowest heavy in the current Tier X spectrum.

Unfortunately, the tank has a couple of disadvantages that need to be considered while using it in combat. Like most Chinese vehicles, the 113 has virtually non-existent gun depression, and is incapable of performing hull-down manoeuvers. The gun also has a relatively long aiming time, which makes it quite difficult to target the enemy’s weakspots. Even though its frontal armour is astonishing, its side armour leaves much to be desired. To make matters worse, the overview profile is uncomfortably long, so if you allow yourself to be flanked or spotted by artillery, you may earn yourself a swift and humiliating trip back to the garage. Last but not least, the vehicle also seems to suffer from module damage quite often – the Driver and Ammo Rack are especially prone to getting hit. Needless to say, the implications of having either one disabled are easy to predict.

Player Tip: Please note that the tank is equipped with the 122 mm 60-122T gun, which is also used as the top gun on the Tier IX medium tank, the WZ 120. If you’re planning on completing the Chinese tech tree research, consider finishing the heavy tank line first – researching the 113 will automatically unlock the top gun on the WZ 120, saving you the trouble of grinding 59,000 EXP on the latter vehicle.

Tactics

Being a medium-heavy hybrid, the 113 requires a somewhat unique playing style that may be difficult to grasp and master. The problem with many jack-of-all-trades tanks is that they are very versatile but do not excel in any particular role. This is also the case for the 113, which due to its characteristics can assume a multitude of roles on the battlefield but will not provide top‑notch performance in any of them. As a result, the gameplay of this vehicle can be very frustrating at first. However, once mastered, the 113 can be a deadly thorn in the side of the enemy team due to its unpredictability, which stems from the lack of a defined role. An experienced 113 player avoids conforming to a rigid modus operandi and shifts between playing style often:

When playing the 113, first and foremost use your mobility – you can move easily between the flanks and provide support where it is needed. Your team’s heavies have difficulty in breaking through? Help them out by providing a shield with your sloped frontal armor and adding to the firepower. Some of your mediums have been crippled or destroyed? Join the wolf pack and replace the incapacitated. The defense line was breached and the enemy is about to pass through? Move immediately to block their passage. Your base is being captured? Turn around and go back to defend it. It is very important to pay attention to the mini-map at all times and react by switching to the appropriate role immediately. The catch is that you need to be savvy with a variety of tactics and playing styles, so if you’re a dedicated heavy tank player and driving a medium is like black magic to you, you may find it difficult to play the 113.

In order to maximise your performance on the battlefield, we suggest installing the following equipment:

1st Slot: 2nd Slot: 3rd Slot:

In addition, your crew members should learn the following skills and perks:

Commander Gunner Driver Loader / Radio Operator

*Please note that our suggested equipment configuration is meant first and foremost to improve the subpar aiming time of the gun. If you put brawling prowess over precision, consider replacing the Gun Laying Drive with Improved Ventilation. This setup will add to the Brothers in Arms perk’s effectiveness and improve the tank’s general performance.

111 / 113 History

World War II showed the world the true power of the tank. Similarly to warplanes, the war provided the impetus for a massive arms race. By the end of the conflict in 1945, the tanks in action were significantly more advanced than those at the start of the war. They were also significantly heavier. Indeed, it was the time of the heavy tank.

During the war, China emerged as a tank-building power. However, all the Chinese-constructed vehicles were relatively light. The 200 or so heavy tanks in the Chinese arsenal were all of Soviet origin, and were mainly IS-3s.

After the war ended, the Chinese continued to design and build their own tanks, focusing on multi-purpose medium tanks such as the Type 59. However, in the 1950s, the Cold War took hold, and the threat of conflict involving strong heavy tanks began to worry the Chinese. In 1958, the development of a heavy tank became a priority after the People’s Liberation Army (PLO) requested that it be equipped with a large number of light and medium tanks and some heavy tanks to counter potential enemy vehicles.

In 1960, the department for National Defence requested thatspecification and feasibility studies take place. These began by dismantling some of the old IS-3 tanks from World War II to see how they worked. From this basic research, Chinese engineers began to create their own designs. In October 1963, the project was designated WZ-111 and shortly afterwards, a test prototype was built. This consisted of the main tank chassis without the turret, but with a square cab of similar weight. This was all conducted in secret – the Chinese at the time were becoming more insular and didn’t want anyone to know of their plans.

Of course, with many of the parts and components coming from the disassembled IS-3 vehicles, it is no surprise that the new vehicle bore similarities to the IS-3. However, the testing was plagued by problems. Many of these were with the engine, which simply could not provide enough power to the vehicle.

The Chinese went back to think it over again and came up with a new variant of the vehicle – the 113. This vehicle was designed to be an improvement on the 111, rectifying some of the problems. However, it never made it into production. It was now the mid-1960s and the arms race had moved on. The major world powers had reinvented the entire concept of the tank, resulting in the modern ‘Main Battle Tank’ doctrine.

Realising that the 113 was already obsolete, the entire project was scrapped. The sole prototype of the WZ-111 still exists and can be found at the China People’s Revolution Military Museum in Beijing.

The WZ-111 at the Chinese People’s Revolution Military Museum. The square cab can still be seen in place of the turret

Get one of these beasts and leave nothing but scorched earth in your wake!