Commanders,
Last time we featured a long-distance warrior straight from the British Isles. Therefore, this special we will move all the way to the first line of battle and focus on one of the most popular frontline pushers in the game, the German E 100 heavy tank. Being either loved or deeply hated by the players it comes in contact with, this steel-cold colossus marks its presence with burning wrecks and tankers’ tears in every battle it rolls out into.
If you’d like to know what it’s like to drive an almost unstoppable mountain of steel, then during the next two weeks follow the research line leading to the E 100 and enjoy great discounts and credit income bonuses:
30% discount on purchase and 15% more credits earned with the following German vehicles:
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Use this opportunity to earn extra credits while driving these tempered titans, or get them for 70% of their normal value!
These bonuses will be available from 1 October at 07:10 until 15 October at 07:00 CEST (UTC +2).
E 100
“They say I have a god complex. That is not true – gods have no complexes.”
Vehicle Overview
The E 100 is a frequent sight in the high-tier battles for a variety of reasons. The most obvious one is that this German machine is a very effective tank, with sturdy armour and a powerful gun and as such it can be a desirable asset on the team. Moreover, the tank is equipped with massive tracks and spaced armour on its sides, which make it good for side-scraping and soaking damage with 0-damage critical hits. Also, the E 100 boasts an astonishing pool of 2,700 HP, which makes it the second most durable vehicle in the game (the Maus being the top one with 3,000 HP).
The tank also has a number of disadvantages which need to be considered during battle. First and foremost it is big, heavy and rather slow. This means that once you pick your route, you’re basically committed to follow it until the battle ends. Also, even though the 15 cm top gun can do crippling amounts of alpha damage, comparable to that of some tank destroyers of the same tier, its accuracy, aiming time, as well as reload, leave much to be desired, so you can forget about any dreams of sniping you might have had. Last but not least, it needs to be mentioned that even though your armour is quite reliable, it’s only sloped at a decent angle at the front of the hull. Even though the plates of the turret seem also to be mounted at nice angles, noting that they compose mostly of flat surfaces, you should learn to additionally angle the turret toward incoming fire yourself. Otherwise you may be penetrated by large-caliber shells even from the front at times. Also, don’t forget about your lower glacis, which is also considered the tank’s weak spot. A penetrating hit to the lower glacis usually results in engine failure – the front-mounted transmission, so typical to German designs, strikes again.
The tactic while driving the E 100 is relatively simple – get your tank on the first line and push the enemy with your armour and your firepower. Minding your gun’s bad accuracy, prioritise targets which are close to you and engage them in close-quarters brawling. Don’t forget to protect your lower glacis and don’t allow yourself to be swarmed (travelling in groups is highly recommended). Many E 100 players try to counter the bad penetration by using HEAT ammunition exclusively. Such an approach seems effective at first, but when you consider how much those shells cost, you can forget about earning anything in battle. In fact, even good battles can leave you with a resupply check counting 5-digit numbers in the red. If you know the basic weak spots, you can manage with standard AP shells no problem when brawling. When it comes to engaging enemies at a distance, it’s better not to do it at all – you will struggle to hit anything and even HEAT shells won’t improve your accuracy. If you absolutely have to shoot an enemy tank which is far away from you, load HE shells – this type of ammunition does not need accuracy as it basically only has to hit the target to deal damage. You may not reduce the enemy HP pool drastically, but at least you’ll chip something off and have a chance to cripple their modules – and that can work in the team’s favour as the battle progresses.
As a side note, mind that the tank is also infamous among the community, many members of which consider it to be a so-called “n00b magnet” – a tank whose power attracts bad players thinking that by just driving it their combat effectiveness will improve. As a result, E 100s are often met with suspicion and mistrust from the team when joining the battle. However, this somewhat unfavourable reputation can be used to your advantage; if your team underestimates you, rest assured that the other team may do so too. As a result, the enemy players may be approaching you less cautiously at times and make mistakes you can exploit, like for example exposing their sides or taking more time to aim at your weak spots. Make sure to use such opportunities to teach them a painful lesson.
Tank Tip: Your armour and firepower make you a very dangerous opponent to face and one of the prime targets to neutralise for the enemy team. Being slow and big as you are, expect to see a lot of shells flying your way, especially from above. That’s right, E 100 is a yet another arty magnet, so in order to improve your defence and survivability, consider installing a Super Heavy Spall Liner. This piece of equipment will boost your protection from ramming and explosions while decreasing the chances of your crew members being knocked out in combat at the same time. As a result, it will be more difficult for the HE-firing enemy arties to take large bites off your HP pool.
In order to maximise your performance on the battlefield, we suggest installing the following equipment:
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| Improved Ventilation Class 3 | Large-Caliber Tank Gun Rammer | Enhanced Gun laying Drive |
In addition, your crew members should learn the following skills and perks:
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| Gunner |  |
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| Radio Operator | |
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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!
