Japanese medium tanks are fairly consistent in terms of gameplay throughout the entire line. They all have relatively thin armour, adequate mobility, but strong armament. Now it's time to take a look at the STA-1 and how to perform in this vehicle.

Gameplay

As mentioned above, Japanese medium tanks, including this one, don't have much armour to protect themselves with, and that goes for both the hull and the turret. What this means is that it's best to not get hit at all. Luckily, the turret is both flat and small. Together with the superb gun depression of the STA-1, you can hide your hull effectively behind terrain, and minimise the chances of getting hit.

In terms of mobility, this Japanese tank definitely doesn't need to hide – it's good enough to easily keep up with the flow of the battle. Yes, the top speed is lacking, it is balanced out by the good acceleration though. The good view range is a nice bonus, yet you won't need it that often because of the STA-1's play style.

Its 90 mm Gun Type 61 doesn't mess around. With such an incredible rate of fire, you'll find it easy to pick your opponents apart. Your damage per shot is average, but if you manage to shoot first, you are likely to hit them a second time before the enemy has reloaded. However, mind the sub-par accuracy – sniping will prove to be difficult. You'll be most efficient if you take on enemies from up to mid-range.

Your small turret, in combination with the superb gun depression angle, makes hull-down tactics very efficient. This, plus the good stabilisation and penetration values, helps you take shots quickly, so no need to expose yourself for long to aim.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

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

For the STA-1, we recommend the Tank Gun Rammer together with the Vertical Stabilizer for a higher damage per minute and a better chance of hitting your opponents. Go for Improved Ventilation for a general bonus to the combat parameters. Coated Optics don't make that much sense here, despite the good view range – this vehicle is most efficient up to mid-range.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Loader

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

A normal choice of crew skills. After the essential Repair skill, you definitely want to go for Snap Shot and Smooth Ride to hit your targets more reliably, and Safe Stowage to balance out the weak ammo rack. Brothers in Arms is the cherry on top, boosting your combat parameters (similar to the Improved Ventilation).

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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