Commanders!
The Large Boxes from the Holiday Ops 2023 event are filled with exciting treats and surprises. Among the colorful 3D styles, heaps of gold, and plenty of credits, you can also find brand-new Premium vehicles wrapped into the New Year, Christmas, Lunar, and Magic Boxes.
We've already introduced you to the three newcomers here. Now it's time to go into more detail and highlight their unique features, plus give you some crew and equipment recommendations.
One of this season's holiday treats is the
VIII
BZ-176
, a Tier VIII Premium Chinese heavy tank. Let’s take a closer look at the first of this unusual new branch of heavy tanks and its unique jet booster mechanic.
The
VIII
BZ-176
is armed with a mighty 160 mm cannon that causes 650 HP of damage with standard AP shells and an incredible 800 HP of damage with special HE shells. These outstanding values put the newcomer in the top spots for its tier and class. However, such a mighty punch comes at a cost.
Only 208 mm of penetration with standard ammunition and 225 mm with HE shells cannot hold up against other tanks of its class. The tank's shell velocities of 860 m/s (AP) and 760 m/s (HE) are not suited for long-range engagements or moving targets. Moreover, the long reload time of 25 seconds leads to average DPM values of 1,560 and 1,920 HP/min, respectively.
The BZ-176 is clearly not equipped for fighting from a distance, but it's great for close-quarter brawls with blows to enemy turrets and sides. This fact is underlined by its base dispersion of 0.46, a decent value for large calibers but far from accurate. The 160 mm gun can outmatch up to 53 mm of armor, allowing critical hits where other tanks wouldn’t stand a chance.
The
VIII
BZ-176
is a heavily armored brawler that's perfectly suited for front-line assaults and close-quarters combat. The strong hull and well-sloped turret armor make it easy to deflect shots from same-tier and even some top-tier vehicles. Additionally, the gun depression reaches –10 degrees, an outstanding value for a Chinese tank, allowing you to better hide the roof with its two cupolas from large-caliber opponents. But keep in mind that the gun extension pivots out when depressed, which can create an additional weak spot for tanks that approach at an angle.
Lastly, the BZ-176 is firmly in the middle of its class and tier with 1,550 HP. It's nothing to brag about, but enough to reliably reach the end of the match.
Neither the
VIII
BZ-176
’s power-to-weight ratio nor its top speed of 30 km/h is very impressive. But this is no surprise, given its amount of armor. Luckily, this is where the jet boosters comes into play. Activating this new mechanic increases the engine power and pushes the top forward speed to 45 km/h for the next 10 seconds. However, steering and reverse capabilities are significantly impacted, which limits your maneuverability.
The boost is available from the start of the match and can be used in multiple ways—from getting a potentially dangerous but worthwhile headstart to quickly traversing dangerous areas, and from leaving the line of fire to rushing to an ally’s aid. It has great potential but is limited to only four uses per match, so choose carefully when activating it.
At the start of a battle, the boosters will take five seconds to load and prepare for use. Once activated, the BZ-176 will receive a brief boost. After that, you will need to wait four more seconds for the mechanic to recharge.
How to Get the Vehicles
The
VIII
BZ-176
is one of the most valuable goodies available from the Large Boxes 2023, which also contain other Premium vehicles, 3D styles, and more. In addition to guaranteed Holiday Ops resources and gold, every Box may include a Tier VIII or IX Premium tank. Head to the Premium Shop to purchase Large Boxes for a chance to park this brand-new heavy tank in your Garage!
