VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28: More Than Just A Nice Surprise

OVERVIEW | ARMOR | MOBILITY | FIREPOWER | HOW TO PLAY | EQUIPMENT | CREW | HOW TO GET

Commanders!

For those of you who have been playing before Update 9.18, will remember the days when the German VK 28.01 ruled the battlefield. It's a sturdy Tier VI light tank that could be equipped with a powerful howitzer. However, with the arrival of new high-tier light tanks, the German tech tree had to be adjusted, and the VK 28.01 lost its outlier armament.

But the VK 28.01 with its mighty 10.5 cm gun is back as a Reward Vehicle! Love it or hate it, those who have been playing the game for a certain amount of time will find the new Reward tank, the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28, in their garages for free. It's part of this year's Well-Deserved Rewards program and a gift to players who have been with World of Tanks for four years or more. You can read all about it in the dedicated article.

CLAIM YOUR REWARD

Can the VK 28.01 10.5 still live up to its old days of glory? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Overview

In 1943, the Krupp AG received the order to develop a new multipurpose vehicle to replace the Panzer IV. The VK 28.01 project envisioned a vehicle that should not exceed 28 tons, with good armor and a strong engine. Development and production took too much time, however, and were subsequently halted before a prototype was built.

As the name suggests, the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 is the same as the standard VK 28.01 in the tech tree, but with a different cannon. Yet it's the cannon that makes the tank, and this is especially true for the improved VK 28.01 10.5. The light tank keeps its mobility and sturdy structure but receives additional firepower.

Armor

The VK 28.01 10.5 is rather boxy and large for a light tank, making it difficult to hide. If you can, try and squeeze the hull behind cover, as the sloped 50 mm frontal armor only bounces smaller caliber fire when correctly angled.

Your best defense is the great power-to-weight ratio. Go on the offense and ram into lightly armored enemies, or just drive out of harm's way.

Mobility

Speed is one of VK 28.01 10.5's most significant assets. Use the 64 km/h top speed to race towards your opponents, fire a shot, and then quickly flee to reload. The engine has a tendency to catch fire, though, so have an extinguisher at hand.

With great speed also comes the possibility to play as an active scout. While the camouflage values aren't the best, the 380 m view range can easily be improved with Coated Optics to help gather vital intel for the team.

Firepower

There is a good reason why the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 was one of the most popular vehicles among light tank players back in the day. The howitzer with 350 HP alpha damage could leave a lasting impression in enemy minds. Yet such damage was never a sure thing due to terrible gun handling—a parameter that remains unchanged.

As this "new" Tier VI light tank has one of the highest DPM values of all lights and still packs a potent punch, it resides near the bottom for dispersion and penetration.

How to Play the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28

Calling this light tank unpredictable is an understatement. Will you land a massive hit and send an enemy back to the garage, or miss your target, bounce off enemy armor, and just blow a lot of dust into the air? If you want your shots to hit and cause chaos on the battlefield, make sure to trust in your most valuable assets: Speed and firepower. Get close, use ramming attacks against weaker adversaries, aim carefully at enemy vulnerable spots, frequently switch flanks to spot opponents, and always hope for the best...but expect the worst. Don't get cornered or caught with your tracks down.

Equipment

A setup to maximize your damage potential and improve gun handling:

If you don't have too much faith in your gun, use the second option to improve your spotting capabilities:

Crew Skills

COMMANDER:	GUNNER:	DRIVER:	RADIO OPERATOR:	LOADER:
Sixth Sense Perk	Repairs Skill	Repairs Skill	Repairs Skill	Repairs Skill
Repairs Skill	Snap Shot Skill	Smooth Ride Skill	Situational Awareness Skill	Intuition Skill
Brothers in Arms Perk	Brothers in Arms Perk	Brothers in Arms Perk	Brothers in Arms Perk	Brothers in Arms Perk

Repairs is a crucial first Skill to keep you on the move. The additional abilities aim at improving the gun and general performance in battle. Brothers in Arms gives a valuable boost to multiple values. Teaching your crew the Concealment Skill is also a solid choice—especially if you prefer to play as a scout.

How to Get the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28

The latest German light tank is part of the 2021 Well-Deserved Rewards program, our way of expressing gratitude and appreciation for the World of Tanks community. Every player who joined the game in the last year will receive a free reward. The longer you have been a part of the community, the bigger the reward.

Everyone who has been with us for four years or longer can look forward to the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28. Check out our event article for more details, including an overview of all the rewards and the exact dates for eligibility.

CLAIM YOUR REWARD

Roll Out!