Commanders,
This edition of the Top of the Tree special is dedicated to the crown jewel of the French tech tree and one of the most feared vehicles in Tier X battles, the Bat.-Châtillon 25 t. For the next two weeks, follow the French tech branch leading to this elusive ambush artist, while enjoying great discounts and crew XP bonuses at the same time:
50% discount on purchase of the following French vehicles:
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30% discount on purchase of the following French vehicles:
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+50% Crew XP bonus on all vehicles discounted in the special
Your crews will be also very excited about the new toys in your garage!
These bonuses will be available from 1 May at 07:10 until 15 May at 07:00 CEST (UTC+2).
Bat.-Châtillon 25 t
“We have come to claim your tanks. Resistance is futile.”
Overview
Bat.-Châtillon 25 t, or Bat Chat for short, is like a holy grail for many players and for very good reasons. This little tank is one of the greatest menaces in Tier X battles, as it can make short work of any tank it meets, thanks to its powerful autoloader-type gun. Sporting a penetration value of 259 mm, 390 average damage per shot and a 5-shell drum, the Bat Chat can unload crippling amounts of damage in very short time – a feat that makes it a mortal threat to any vehicle that lets itself be ambushed by one. Add to it a small size, superb acceleration, good manoeuvrability and a top speed of 65 km/ h, and you get yourself a true ninja – as deadly and elusive as those ancient warriors.
Despite these amazing feats, the Bat Chat does have a couple of drawbacks that need to be considered at all times. First of all, the tank has virtually no armour. This means that pretty much anything can penetrate and deal damage to you, regardless which side they shoot at. Also, even though your small size gives you great camouflage values, it also makes your modules cramped together and limits your crew to just 3 tankers. As a result, getting hit will more often than not leave you with a damaged module and/or knocked out crew member. Needless to say, this can seriously reduce your combat capability or flat out be the cause of your tank’s destruction. Fewer tankers also translates into less skills/ perks you can have, so choosing their setup is a very delicate task.
How do you drive one of these babies effectively then? One thing is for certain – mastering this tank is not easy. Bat Chat is arguably the least forgiving but most rewarding vehicle available currently in the game, as even the tiniest mistake can cost you dearly, but effective gameplay can be exceptionally gratifying. The first thing you need to do is not to rush the enemy head on. Even though the role of a scout is not only possible but also encouraged for this tank, engaging the enemy during your scouting runs can end really badly for you. As the battle progresses, you need to play strictly as a support vehicle and choose your targets very carefully. One of the best tactics is to let your heavies engage enemy units, and once the hostiles turn their focus to your allies, get behind their tanks, unload your drum in their soft sides and rears, and then retreat before they realize what hit them. Your speed and good camouflage values make you also an excellent scout interceptor and artillery hunter – watch out for enemy light tanks and openings so that you can either swiftly relieve the other team of their eyes, or make a quick dash and relieve them of their biggest guns as well. Last but not least, consider forming a platoon with friends. The Bat Chat is a perfect tank for any wolf pack – a well-coordinated unit with a Bat Chat in its convoy is a force than can rarely be stopped. If you want to know more about how to play in a wolf pack or in a platoon in general, make sure to check out the dedicated episode of the Tank Academy article series.
Tank tip: Remember that your gun has a horribly long reload time for the whole drum. Therefore, it is very important to time your reload very carefully. The enemy will rarely approach you when you have shells just waiting to be fired. However, as soon as you’re out, rest assured that they will try their very best to take you out. Bat Chats are some of the most valuable assets you may have on your team, so losing one will be a major blow to your overall chances for victory. Therefore, make sure never to engage when your drum is not fully loaded and that you have a way out or place to hide for reload.
In order to maximise your performance on the battlefield, we suggest installing the following equipment:
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| Improved Ventilation Class 2 | Vertical Stabiliser Mk 1 | Coated Optics |
In addition, your crew members should learn the following skills and perks:
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| Driver | |
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| Loader / Gunner | |
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As always, please consider the setup for both the equipment and crew skills as suggestions. Feel free to experiment on your own and choose what you think works best for you.
Roll out, Commanders!
