In Development: Type 10 Hitomaru

Commanders!

We know you’ve all waited for this one – the ultimate prize of the upcoming Battle Path. Without further ado, here you have it – the Type 10 Main Battle Tank!

The Type 10 MBT is one of the most expensive but also most modern tanks in the world. Designed to complement another relatively modern MBT, the Type 90, the Type 10 started replacing the considerably older Type 74 tanks in active service since 2010. It is an incredibly capable vehicle, fine-tuned to the specific Japanese needs. In order to fight in the mountainous and remote regions of Japan, it is very light – at mere 40 tons, it’s one of the lightest MBTs currently deployed. At the same time, it maintains the protection levels of its predecessor. It also features hydraulic adjustable suspension, as is typical for the Japanese MBTs. However, its prohibitively high cost caused only a limited production run to take place with 111 tanks built until now. The production is ongoing with the rate of roughly 6-10 vehicles per year. The details about this vehicle’s history will be disclosed in a separate article.

In Armored Warfare, the Type 10 will be a Tier 10 Premium Main Battle Tank. As the description above suggests, as Main Battle Tanks go, it will be amongst the lightest, almost crossing gameplay-wise into the Light Tank territory. In addition to that, it’ll have a few interesting features that are described below. But before we get into any details, the usual disclaimer:

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, let’s start with the statement that despite weighing only roughly 40 tons, it will not only be highly mobile and accurate thanks to its advanced electronics, but it will also carry MBT-level armor.

Okay, that may sound a little too good at first glance. No worries though – the vehicle’s armor is just one of the new mechanics we’ve prepared for it.

The basic armor of the vehicle will be very thin (effectively Light Tank level), but the tank will feature ablative NERA armor. Simply put, the tank will start with its armor on par with other MBTs, allowing for some high-risk gameplay early on. However, as the game progresses and you get fired at, the ablative armor deteriorates and after a short while, it will not provide any protection whatsoever, leaving the tank with its basic hull only.

In such a form, the Type 10 will be left quite vulnerable, but combining its solid starting armor with Commander Kwon Han, who provides bonuses for the initial part of the battle, may yield some excellent results. This mechanic is a variant of the NERA mechanism, already introduced in the Hunter article. Additional protection will be provided by a soft-kill APS.

Firepower-wise, the Type 10 MBT will be armed with a 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun. This may not sound like much, but keep in mind this is basically a Light Tank in MBT’s clothing. What we’re looking at right now is:

• 825mm of APFSDS penetration (with mediocre damage per shot)
• 4 round magazine (compensating the low per-shot damage value with excellent burst capability)
• Extremely high accuracy (superior to the Tier 10 Leopard)
• Solid -12/+20 degrees gun depression and elevation (enhanced even further by the presence of an active suspension)

But that’s not all because it’s here where the second new mechanic comes into play – a new AI aiming assistant called "Ballistic Sensor Suite". This one will, however, work differently than the one on the Type 16 MCV. Instead of telling you where to aim, the assistant will display the exact chance (in percent) to penetrate your target based on its armor thickness and angle.

The mobility will also be excellent with the tank’s 1200hp engine propelling its 40 tons forward at 70 km/h (0 to 32 km/h acceleration in 2.5 seconds), as will its agility. Few other heavier vehicles will be able to outmaneuver you. The Type 10 MBT will also be exceptionally stealthy for its class with its 20 percent camouflage rating that further increases with its active suspension lowered. The vision range (without the lowered suspension) will match that of the Black Panther (460m).

On the downside, this tank will not feature any hard-kill APS and once its ablative armor is depleted (which will happen after taking a few shots), it will become easy to destroy. In other words, this tank will be suitable for skilled players who enjoy aggressive, fast gameplay and strive to achieve battlefield dominance early in the battle. As the match drags on, the vehicle will lose its protection and you’ll have to be very careful not to get caught off-guard, but you’ll still be able to deliver devastating punches with this little devil.

We hope that you will enjoy this vehicle and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!