VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 Review: More Than Just a Nice Surprise

Commanders!

Those of you who have been around since before Update 9.18 will remember the days when the VI VK 28.01 ruled the battlefield. A sturdy light tank that could be equipped with a powerful howitzer. However, with the arrival of new high-tier light tanks, the German Tech Tree had to be adjusted, and the VK 28.01 lost its outlier armament.

But the VK 28.01 with its mighty 10.5 cm gun has returned as a reward vehicle! Those of you who still smile at the thought of that one fabulous shot—and the recipients of said shot who still mourn the HP robbed by a light tank—will find the new VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 reward tank in their Garage for free. It is part of this year’s Well-Deserved Rewards program and a gift to players who have been with World of Tanks for four years or more. You can read all about it in the dedicated article.

CLAIM YOUR REWARD

Can the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 still live up to its glory days in the game? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Overview

In 1943, the Krupp AG received the order to develop a new multipurpose vehicle to replace the Panzer IV. The VK 28.01 project envisioned a vehicle that should not exceed 28 tons, with modified Pz. IV turret, good armor, and a strong engine. However, development and production took too long and were subsequently halted before a prototype could be built.

As the name suggests, the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 is the same as the standard VK 28.01 in the Tech Tree, just with a different cannon. But, of course, more often than not, it is the cannon that makes the tank, which holds especially true for the improved VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28. The light tank keeps its mobility and sturdy structure but receives additional firepower.

Armor

The VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 is rather boxy and large for a light tank, making it difficult to hide. If you can, try to squeeze the bigger profile behind cover, as the sloped 50 mm frontal armor will only bounce smaller calibers when correctly angled. Your best defense is its great power-to-weight ratio. Go on the offensive and ram into lightly armored enemies, or just dive out of harm's way.

Mobility

Speed is one of the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28’s most significant assets, aside from its gun. Use the top speed of 64 km/h to race towards your opponents, fire a shot, then make a quick exit to reload. Be aware that the engine has a tendency to catch fire, so it's best to have an Extinguisher at hand.

With great speed also comes the possibility to play as an active scout. While its camouflage values aren't the best, the 380 m view range can easily be improved with Coated Optics to gather vital intel for your team.

Firepower

There is a good reason why the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 was one of the most popular vehicles among light tank players back in the day. The howitzer with 350 alpha damage could leave a lasting impression in enemy minds. However, it was never a guarantee, due to the rather terrible gun handling. This has not changed over the years. While this new Tier VI light tank has one of the highest DPM values of all light tanks and one of the most potent punches, it's near the bottom in terms of dispersion and penetration.

How to Play the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28

The parameters displayed are valid for the vehicle with each crew member trained to 100% major qualification level. Some vehicle characteristics can be further improved with the Commander's bonus to major qualification level, crew perks, and skills, as well as special in-game items.
Main Characteristics
Firepower
Survivability
Mobility
VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28
VI
Average Damage
350/350/410
 HP
Average Penetration
64/104/53
 mm
Hit Points
680
 HP
Top Speed / Reverse Speed
64/22
 km/h
Commander
Gunner
Driver
Loader
Radio Operator
Firepower
Average Damage
350/350/410
 HP
Ammunition
42
 shells
Average Penetration
64/104/53
 mm
Gun Reload Time
9
 s
Dispersion at 100 m
0.55
 m
Gun Depression / Elevation Angles
−10/20
 deg
Aiming Time
2.3
 s
Shell Types
Shell Velocity
AP
470
 
m/s
HEAT
376
 
m/s
HE
470
 
m/s
Survivability
Concealment of Moving Vehicle
14.25/3.52
%
Hit Points
680
 HP
Concealment of Stationary Vehicle
14.25/3.52
%
Hull Armor
50/30/30
 mm
Signal Range
710
 m
Turret Armor
50/30/30
 mm
View Range
380
 m
Turret Traverse Speed
44
 deg/s
Mobility
Engine Power
700
 h.p.
Specific Power
26.1
 h.p./t
Traverse Speed
46
 deg/s
Top Speed / Reverse Speed
64/22
 km/h
   

Calling this light tank unpredictable is almost an understatement. Will you land a massive hit and send an enemy back to the Garage, or will you miss your target, bounce off enemy armor, and just blow a lot of dust into the air? Both are equally likely, but, of course, you don’t have to completely accept your fate. If you want your shots to hit and cause chaos on the battlefield, make sure to trust in your most valuable assets: your speed and your gun. Get close, use ramming attacks against weaker adversaries, aim carefully at enemy weak spots, frequently switch flanks to spot opponents, and always hope for the best but expect the worst. You don’t want to get cornered or caught with your tracks down.

Equipment

Recommended Setup
Improved Ventilation Gun Rammer Vertical Stabilizer

A setup to maximize your damage potential and improve gun handling.

Alternative Setup
Coated Optics Improved Ventilation Vertical Stabilizer

If you don’t have too much faith in your gun, use the second option to improve your spotting capabilities.

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

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Radio Operator
Loader

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

Repair is a crucial first skill to keep you on the move. The additional abilities aim to improve the gun and general battle performance. Brothers in Arms in particular will give a helpful boost to multiple values. Teaching your crew the Concealment skill is also a solid choice, especially if you prefer to play as a scout.

How to Get the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28

The latest German light tank is part of the 2021 Well-Deserved Rewards program—our way of expressing gratitude and appreciation for the World of Tanks community. Every player who has joined the game in the last year will receive a free reward. And the longer you have been a part of the community, the bigger your reward you will be.

Everyone who has been with us for four years or longer can look forward to the VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28. Check out our event article for more details, including an overview of all the rewards and the exact dates for eligibility.

CLAIM YOUR REWARD

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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