You have finally reached the top of the Japanese medium tank line. Other vehicles of its line suffered from poor armour thickness, sub-par top speed, and mediocre accuracy. The STB-1 tackles two of these issues, and also comes with a mechanism that was previously reserved to the Swedish medium tanks.
Gameplay
Previous vehicles struggled hard because of their weak armour. The STB-1 comes with minor improvements to the angle of the frontal armour. This can result in a lucky bounce here and there, but don't count on it.Finally, it has a turret you can reliably work with, thanks to strong thickness and acute angles. Keep moving to make it even more difficult for the enemy to penetrate you.
With regards to mobility, this vehicle is similar to its predecessors. So it has good acceleration but a mediocre top speed. It did improve compared to the Tier VIII and IX vehicles though. It also has a very high view range, which doesn't do much for it, because it's a close to mid-range supporter - it's still nice to have.
The STB-1 is currently the only Japanese medium tank with a hydropneumatic suspension. This means that if your speed is under a certain level, this suspension is active, which improves the gun elevation and depression angles. Once you are used to it, it will prove to be a powerful tool for hull-down tactics.
Its 105 mm gun has similar characteristics to the Type 61. Of course, it has been improved quite a bit. The damage per shot is still lower than other 105 mm guns of the same Tier, but the rate of fire is even higher than before. Now, the STB-1 has one of the highest potential DPM values in the entire game. Use it to rip apart your opponents, and avoid trading shots unless you are sure you will deal more damage than you'll take. It has a good aiming time, so you won't need to expose yourself as long to take a shot, but the low accuracy won't allow you to snipe effectively.
Equipment
| Recommended Setup | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each piece of equipment.
We recommend the Tank Gun Rammer together with the Vertical Stabilizer, for a higher damage per minute and a better chance of hitting your opponents. Go for Improved Ventilation for a general bonus to the combat parameters. Coated Optics don't make that much sense here, despite the good view range – this vehicle is most efficient up to mid-range.
Crew Skills
| Commander |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunner | |  | |
| Driver | |  | |
| Loader | |  | |
Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each crew skill or perk.
A normal choice of crew skills. After the essential Repair skill, you definitely want to go for Snap Shot and Smooth Ride to hit your targets more reliably, and Safe Stowage to balance out the weak ammo rack. Brothers in Arms is the cherry on top, boosting your combat parameters (similar to the Improved Ventilation).
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 Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.
Call for Vengeance
Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the 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 higher the effect.
Concealment
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Controlled Impact
Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Deadeye
Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Designated Target
Keeps targetes 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 duration and damage taken by fire.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Intuition
Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.
Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Jack of All Trades
Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Mentor
Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Off-Road Driving
Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Preventative Maintenance
Reduces the chance of taking fire.
Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
Recon
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Relaying
Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Repair
Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
The higher the skill progress, the higher 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 higher the effect.
Situational Awareness
Increases the view range of your vehicle.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Sixth Sense
Shows a lightbulb 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 higher the effect.
Snap Shot
Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.
The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
Additional Grousers
Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.
Binocular Telescope
Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.
Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.
Camouflage Net
Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.
Your hull must stand still 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%.
Tank Gun Rammer
Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.
Spall Liner
Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.
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 of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.
"Wet" Ammo Rack
Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.
