Holiday Ops 2023: Reviews of the Three New Mid-Tier Premiums

A25 HARRY HOPKINS I | PZ.KPFW. KW I (R) | SU-2-122 | HOW TO GET THE VEHICLES

Commanders!

On top of the five Tier VIII–X vehicles available in the Holiday Ops 2023 Large Boxes, there are just as many Tier II–V prizes. For those new to the game, or tankers who enjoy mid- to low-tier battles, these items are worth introducing to your Garage. Of the five available, we examine the brand-new IV A25 Harry Hopkins I V Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r) and V SU-2-122 . Read on to learn about their unique features in detail and get crew and equipment recommendations.


A25 Harry Hopkins I

Named after one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's closest advisors, who was greatly respected by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the IV A25 Harry Hopkins I is a squat and compact light tank operated by a three-person crew. Use the vehicle for limited active scouting and pick away at unsuspecting enemies.

  • Firepower
  • Survivability
  • Mobility
  • Equipment
  • Crew Skills

As a light tank, the A25 Harry Hopkins I isn’t a brawler. However, it does bring some formidable firepower attributes to the battlefield. The 2-pdr cannon fires extremely fast AP and APCR shells (both 1,341 m/s)—some of the best rankings for the class and tier. The penetration values of 121 mm with AP shells and 145 mm with special APCR shells are also valuable assets, not to mention the 10 degrees of gun depression.

The A25 delivers 55 HP of damage per shot and 1,299 DPM. Don’t count on inflicting damage while on the move, though, as the high dispersion and 2-second aiming time are not likely to result in many hits. The base 0.4 m dispersion isn't ideal for sniping, but it's still one of the better values for the tier and class.

As expected, this light tank is protected by weak armor. With 38 mm on the front turret and angled hull, and 17 mm on the hull and turret sides, you won’t last long trading shells—even with its 520 HP pool. The limited 320 m view range (the lowest for all Tier IV lights to date) rules out passive spotting. And while decent camouflage values kick in while stationary, the A25 oddly loses its camouflage values while on the move.

So, stick to supporting your team and flanking the enemy at every opportunity.

The 23.78 HP/t power-to-weight ratio ensures you’ll reach the tank's 50 km/h top speed on most surfaces in a timely manner, while the 38 deg/s traverse speed is consistent with other vehicles of the same tier and class.

Check out the setup below to ensure the maximum performance of your tank.

RECOMMENDED SETUP
Improved Ventilation Coated Optics Turbocharger
ALTERNATIVE SETUP
Turbocharger Camouflage Net Binocular Telescope
Commander
Repairs

Recon

Concealment
Gunner
Repairs

Snap Shot

Concealment
Driver
Repairs

Smooth Ride

Concealment

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


Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r)

Why put a new tank into battle when you can utilize a captured one? This was the case with Germany’s Pz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f)—a captured French B1—and the V Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r) , a Soviet KV-1 (albeit with various modifications). As the KV-1 and its shielded counterpart are good choices for players new to heavy tanks, so is the Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r).

  • Firepower
  • Survivability
  • Mobility
  • Equipment
  • Crew Skills

The Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r) replaces the KV-1’s gun with the German 7,5 cm Kw.K. 40 L/48, found on the Pz.Kpfw. IV and other vehicles. The gun's stats fit nicely with others of the same class and tier, with 1,701 DPM, 110 HP of damage per shot, and 115 mm of penetration with AP shells and 162 mm with APCR shells. Add a Gun Rammer from the get-go to decrease the shell loading time.

The vehicle’s key advantage is its –10 degrees of gun depression (a Tier V stat only surpassed by the Excelsior), but don’t jump on the hull-down bandwagon just yet...

The Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r) has some important changes compared to the KV-1. Foremost is the added cupola, similar to those found on the Pz.Kpfw. IV, which creates a weak spot that is easy for enemies to hit and penetrate. So, be careful with hull-down duels! Another variation is the expanded area on the turret front that can now be penetrated more easily.

On the other hand, the vehicle’s view range has been expanded to 330 m. As this is hardly spotter territory, it’s a nice plus and better than most other heavies of the same tier.

Overall, the armor is good for sidescraping and bouncing incoming shells, but the slightly angled frontal hull rarely ricochets. With 850 HP, the Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r)’s endurance falls on the low end for its class and tier, so keep an eye on your damage, no matter what hits you.

The captured Soviet Tier VI V-2K engine runs 500 hp, which takes time to get up to its top speed of 34 km/h. Overall, the mobility remains similar to that of the KV-1, which is a frequently recommended vehicle for newcomers to the game.

Check out the setup below to ensure the maximum performance of your tank.

RECOMMENDED SETUP
Improved Hardening Gun Rammer Improved Ventilation
ALTERNATIVE SETUP
Turbocharger Gun Rammer Vertical Stabilizer
Commander
Repairs

Recon

Brothers in Arms
Gunner
Repairs

Snap Shot

Brothers in Arms
Driver
Repairs

Smooth Ride

Brothers in Arms
Radio Operator
Repairs

Situational Awareness

Brothers in Arms
Loader
Repairs

Safe Stowage

Brothers in Arms

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


SU-2-122

The Soviet line has long kept its double-barreled vehicles limited to Tier VIII–X heavies… That is, until now. Meet the first double-barreled tank destroyer, the V SU-2-122 unleashed to terrorize mid-tier battles. Six crew members operate this monster, which is essentially two 122 mm guns mounted on a T-34 hull. The resulting hybrid is an effective battlefield juggernaut and terror weapon that keeps enemies on edge.

  • Firepower
  • Survivability
  • Mobility
  • Equipment
  • Crew Skills

Tankers familiar with other double-barreled vehicles will be completely at home here. You can fire each gun independently, or both simultaneously. But if you do, wait until both are fully loaded. Lock on to an enemy and hold down the fire button to start an unstoppable 3-second countdown until both guns fire. Enemy vehicles caught in the blast can suffer up to 900 HP of damage. Of course, successfully delivering that payload to a target is incredibly satisfying. The SU-2-122 dishes out 2,608 DPM, which is the highest for its tier and class to date.

The guns load one at a time with a 5-second delay when switching from a just-fired gun to a loaded one. When fired individually, each gun can deal 450 HP of damage with the HE shell and 370 HP with the HEAT shell. However, the SU-2-122 is most effective at closer ranges due to its slow shell speeds (515 m/s HE and 412 m/s HEAT) and high dispersion values (0.48 m). The 16-degree gun arc (8 degrees on each side) is small, so be prepared to frequently re-adjust your position.

Such power has drawbacks. The 480 HP pool allows for fewer hits and the flat frontal armor leaves you vulnerable to penetration. The limited 280 m view range and low stationary camo value of 13.68% make boosting these attributes via equipment and crew skill training a must. Thanks to the effective concealment values, you can keep your enemies on edge with the knowledge that two loaded barrels are out there…and ready to fire.

The vehicle’s 45 km/h top speed is hardly the fastest among its peers, but it's good enough to keep up with most of your allies and comfortably get you around the battlefield. The 14 km/h reverse speed lets you swiftly return to cover after firing and doesn’t give enemies much time to return fire.

Check out the setup below to ensure the maximum performance of your tank.

RECOMMENDED SETUP
Camouflage Net Gun Rammer Binocular Telescope
ALTERNATIVE SETUP
Turbocharger Gun Rammer Improved Ventilation
Commander
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms
Gunner
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms
Driver
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms
Radio Operator
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms
Loader
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms
Loader
Repairs

Concealment

Brothers in Arms

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


How to Get the Vehicles

The A25 Harry Hopkins I, Pz.Kpfw. KW I (r), and SU-2-122 among the most valuable goodies available from the Large Boxes 2023, which also contain Premium vehicles, 3D styles, the Redshire Cat, and more. In addition to guaranteed Holiday Ops resources and gold, every Box may include a Tier II–IX Premium tank. Head to the Premium Shop to purchase Large Boxes for a chance to park these brand-new machines in your Garage!

 


Check out the complete list of fantastic Holiday Ops 2023 rewards available from the Large Boxes, including the five exciting Tier II–IX Premium vehicles.

Roll Out!

Additional Grousers

Increases mobility on soft and medium terrain.

Increases hull traverse speed.

Increases the ability to maintain speed.

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 the Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel perk.

Call for Vengeance

Reports the location of enemy vehicles for two more seconds after the destruction of your 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 stronger the effect.

Commander's Vision System

Reduces the concealment of moving enemy vehicles.

Reduces the concealment of enemy vehicles behind foliage.

Concealment

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Controlled Impact

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

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Deadeye

Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Designated Target

Keeps targeted 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 damage and duration of fire.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Intuition

Reduces the time to switch between shells in a fully loaded gun, double-barreled gun, or magazine.

The skill is effective after training starts. The average skill level is applied if multiple loaders are trained.

Minimum time to switch: 1 second for standard guns, or 2.5 seconds for double-barreled guns and magazines.

Improved Aiming

Smaller aiming circle size.

Improved Hardening

Fully restores suspension hit points after repairs.

Increases suspension load capacity.

Increases vehicle hit points.

Enhances suspension durability.

Reduces hull damage caused by suspension damage during impact.

Faster suspension repair speed.

Improved Radio Set

Increases the time an enemy vehicle is visible.

Reduces the time your vehicle is visible to the enemy.

Improved Rotation Mechanism

Reduces dispersion during vehicle movement and traverse, as well as during turret rotation.

Improves hull and turret traverse speed.

Jack of All Trades

Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Low Noise Exhaust System

Reduces the visibility of a stationary or moving vehicle.

Mentor

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

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Modified Configuration

Prevents one fuel tank fire, ammo rack explosion, or engine destruction in one battle.

Increases engine durability and the capacity of the ammo rack and fuel tank.

Reduces the damaged ammo rack penalty and damaged engine penalty.

Reduces the chance of engine fire.

Increases repair speed.

Off-Road Driving

Increases mobility on medium and soft terrain.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Preventative Maintenance

Reduces the chance of engine fire.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Recon

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Relaying

Increases the signal range of allied vehicles within your radio coverage.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Repair

Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger 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 stronger the effect.

Situational Awareness

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Sixth Sense

Shows a light bulb 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 stronger the effect.

Snap Shot

Reduces the dispersion penalty when traversing the turret.

The higher the skill progress, the stronger the effect.

Spall Liner

Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.

Turbocharger

Increases engine power.

Increases top forward speed.

Increases top reverse speed.

Binocular Telescope

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.

Your hull must be stationary for at least 3 seconds.

Camouflage Net

Significantly increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

Your hull must be stationary 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%.

Gun Rammer

Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.

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 when moving and during hull and turret traverse by 20%.

"Wet" Ammo Rack

Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.

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