Heavy Tank No. VI & Tiger 131

This particular guide includes two vehicles, the Heavy Tank No. VI as well as the Tiger 131. While the first is fighting for the Japanese, the latter stays true to its German roots but is the main attraction of the Bovington Tank Museum in England. Both vehicles are Tier VI and have the same performance and armour layout, so it makes more sense to have them both in one guide. 

Gameplay

In case you've played the regular Tiger I on Tier VII already, you'll know that it's not exactly known for its outstanding armour. However, it's a different story for the Heavy Tank No. VI and the Tiger 131. Since they have the same armour layout but are at Tier VI, it's much more effective against the opponents you face. Combined with a good HP pool, you got a good vehicle to fight on the frontlines.

The best way to use its armour is to angle it properly. When driving towards the enemy, go in a zig-zag pattern to increase your effective armour thickness. It also makes it harder for the enemy to hit your transmission frontally, which is part of the engine. Use side-scraping to fend off opponents and buy yourself and your team some time. Because of the limited mobility, you are not able to play flexibly – you'll have to decide early on where you want to go and stick with it.

The "short 8.8" is available for a myriad of vehicles in World of Tanks, but mainly Germans, of course. Even though this nation is famed for their superb accuracy, it's not exactly the case for these two tanks. Sniping is not an option, so it's best to stay close to the front. There you can make great use of your good rate of fire and decent damage per shot.

If you are at the bottom of the list with tough heavy tanks as opponents, it can make sense to go to the medium tank flank. There you can still make use of your gun and good elevation/depression angles, as both Tigers suffer from mediocre penetration value. While you'll always risk getting circled, at least you can fight back properly.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each piece of equipment.

Looking at the gameplay description above, the best combination of equipment pieces is this one. With improvements to your reload speed and consequently your potential damage per minute, a better aiming time, and a general boost to many combat parameters, you'll get the most out of your Heavy Tank No. VI and Tiger 131.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Radio operator
Loader

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each crew skill or perk.

A fairly standard choice of crew skills and perks – the essential Repair skill comes first, improvements to specific characteristics second, and Brothers in Arms with a similar bonus as the Improved Ventilation in third place.

Adrenaline Rush

Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Band of Brothers

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.

Call for Vengeance

Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Clutch Braking

Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Concealment

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Controlled Impact

Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Deadeye

Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Designated Target

Keeps targetes vehicles visible for two more seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Eagle Eye

Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Firefighting

Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Intuition

Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.

Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Jack of All Trades

Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Mentor

Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Off-Road Driving

Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Preventative Maintenance

Reduces the chance of taking fire.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Recon

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Relaying

Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Repair

Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Safe Stowage

Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Signal Boosting

Increases the signal range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Situational Awareness

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Sixth Sense

Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Smooth Ride

Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Snap Shot

Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Additional Grousers

Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.

Binocular Telescope

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Camouflage Net

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Enhanced Gun Laying Drive

Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.

Coated Optics

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.

Tank Gun Rammer

Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.

Spall Liner

Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.

Toolbox

Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.

Cumulative with the Repair skill.

Improved Ventilation

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Vertical Stabilizer

Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.

"Wet" Ammo Rack

Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.

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