Type 71

## General Information

The in-game icon for the Type 71

The Type 71 is a tier X Japanese heavy tank. The Type 71 features sloped armor which increases overall armor effectiveness despite the ***very*** thin armor as seen on the stats. It appears to be based on the STB-1 as the turrets are very similar. The Type 71 also features two special equipment, Improved Vertical Stabilizer (doesn't increase gun handling except for gun elevation and depression values) and Improved Suspension. As of Update 9.7, the mobility of the Type 71 decreased with a weight increase and a nerf to both the traverse and Improved Suspension.

## Strategy

### Pros

* Two special equipment that gives the Type 71 differing play styles
* Improved Vertical Stabilizer lets the tank get the full 9º of gun depression and 17º of gun elevation possible on the Type 71
* Pre-nerf: Improved Suspension lets the tank play like a heavium (a heavy-like medium or a medium-like heavy) with great mobility
* Post-nerf: Improved Suspension lets the tank get mobility for an average heavy tank, however the tank can still move around comfortably
* Despite the seemingly thin armor, the Type 71's actual armor is heavily sloped on the front and the lower plate is extremely low, meaning that the slightest angle can result in a bounce
* The cupolas are actually heavily armored on the sides, and the driver's viewport is actually trollish

### Cons

* The little raised are above the tracks are actually flat and will result in a penetration
* Post-nerf Type 71 can't wiggle around as quickly as it once could with Improved Suspension, so enemies actually do have time to aim in on the lower plate
* The Type 71 can no longer turn nearly as fast as it once could and the turret traverse is much slower
* The driver's viewport is a weak spot

### Strategy

#### As the Type 71

You are not the monster that you used to be before Update 9.7, so make sure to be extra careful of wiggling due to your decreased traverse speed when using either special equipment. Note that your legendary camouflage can hide your left (looking from the rear with the hull and turret facing straight forward) turret cheek.

##### With Improved Vertical Stabilizer

Play the Type 71 like you would a hull-down vehicle. You can work with more positions than a Type 71 with Improved Suspension. After firing, make sure to turn your turret left and right to make it difficult for enemies to penetrate your cupolas, or in the rare case, the driver's viewport. If you decide to side-scrape, you can aim lower to hit lower plates and aim higher to hit cupolas than a Type 71 with Improved Suspension.

##### With Improved Suspension

You can outflank slower heavy tanks due to your mobility, however though, your turret traverse speed is not great. You can counter flank better than a Type 71 with Improved Vertical Stabilizer. You also possess better mobility, however though you will only have 14º of gun elevation and 6º of gun depression. You *can* wiggle, but be more cautious when doing so.

#### Against the Type 71

You have to note which Type 71 you're fighting against. Most likely they have either the Improved Vertical Stabilizer or the Improved Suspension special equipment, and it's unlikely that a Type 71 player lacks either of them. Aim carefully, and pre-aiming will help you. Note a Type 71's weak spots (cupolas, driver's viewport, raised area above tracks) and hit them, only hit the lower plate or turret cheeks if you are able to hit and penetrate either of them. After the nerf, flanking is a viable option, as the Type 71 can no longer effectively counter-flank you due to the decreased turret and hull traverse speeds.

## Specifications

The following is achieved by the tank with 100% crew and without equipment, consumables, or provisions.

### Modules

#### Turret

 **Turret Armor** | Front: 203 mmSides: 127 mmRear: 105 mm
 **Max AmmoRack Size** | 48 shells

#### Suspension

 **Terrain CrossingCapacity** | Road: 91% Ground: 83%Water: 64%

## Legendary Camouflage

 Description
 Concealment
 Icon
 Appearance

## Historical Reference

From Blitzhanga (note: the original is for some reason in Russian)r: "The embodiment of the concept of the main battle tank, created under the influence of American and domestic (Japanese) developments of the mid-1960s. It was equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension, which made it possible to change the ground clearance and further increase the angles of vertical aiming of the gun. It was not made in metal, remaining at the level of a draft design."

## Trivia

* Shortly after the Type 71's release, a samurai banner attachment was released
* In the Type 71's line, every tank starting from the tier VII of the line, every tank has an option for either the Improved Vertical Stabilizer or Improved Suspension
* Currently to date, the Improved Suspension is the only equipment piece known to have been nerfed

## External Links

https://na.wotblitz.com/en/news/updates/vehicle-changes-9-7/?\_gl=1%2a1gomxv%2a\_ga%2aMTgxMjc5NDg4Mi4xNjgyODA0OTU4%2a\_ga\_BWRKLL4HR5%2aMTY4NDAwOTQxMS44LjEuMTY4NDAwOTQ0Ni4wLjAuMA..

https://na.wotblitz.com/en/news/updates/japanese-ht/