VK 30.01 (H)
VK 30.01 (H)
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[Client Values; Actual values in
410,000  Cost |
| 670140 HP Hit Points |
| 32/3320.65/41 t Weight Limit |
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Radio Operator
- Loader
| 300400 hp Engine Power |
| 40/15 km/h Speed Limit |
| 2830 deg/s Traverse |
| 9.3819.37 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| YesYes Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 50/50/5080/60/60 mm Turret Armor |
AP/HEAT/HE
AP/APCR Shells |
30/2000/38
186/3200/38 Shell Cost |
| 110/110/175135/135/175 HP Damage |
| 43/87/38157/221/38 mm Penetration |
|
15.38 r/m ▲
12 r/m Standard Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
|
1691.8 ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1620 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Standard Gun
|
|
0.55 m ▲
0.34 m With 50% Crew: 0.681 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.421 m |
| 2.3 s 2.5 s Aim time |
| 4228 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -10°/+20°-8°/+20° Elevation Arc |
| 10066 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 2020 % Chance of Fire |
| 350 m 360 m View Range |
| 310 m 710 m Signal Range |
V
410000
The VK 30.01 (H) is a German tier 5 medium tank.
An order for developing the vehicle was placed on September 9, 1939. Over the course of its development, Henschel engineers actively used elements of the D.W. II project. The first two prototypes were ready in March 1942; another two were built by October the same year. Hulls of the prototypes underwent trials at the plant proving ground. After the trials, two prototypes were converted into heavy tank destoyers. Six turrets manufactured by the Krupp company were placed at the Atlantic Wall.
Note: this tank was changed from a Heavy to a Medium in Update 1.9.
The VK 30.01 H was slow for a Tier V heavy, and is now the slowest of the Tier V mediums, though its armor is far more comparable to its peers than it was as a heavy. Unfortunately to be able to mount the 7.5/5.5cm Waffe 0725 gun the turret has to be upgraded, which will noticeably decrease the power/weight ratio and traverse speed of the tank due to the added weight. This tank is recommended for mid-to-long-range encounters, as the relatively accurate and high-penetration 7.5cm Waffe proves extremely effective against even Tier VII tanks. Just make sure you have backup. This tank is very good for learning more advanced defensive tactics -- it has decent hull down potential with above average gun depression of eight degrees, and can easily diamond-angle (angle to the maximum of up to 45 degrees, although the tank is rather long).
The VK 30.01 (H) leads to the VK 36.01 (H), and the VK 30.02 (M).
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 7,5 cm Kw.K. 37 L/24 | 43/87/38 | 110/110/175 | 16.67 | 0.55 | 2.3 | 780 | 10450 | |
| IV | 5 cm Kw.K. 39 L/60 | 67/130/25 | 70/70/90 | 26.09 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 700 | 13970 | |
| IV | 7,5 cm Kw.K. 40 L/43 | 103/139/38 | 110/110/175 | 15 | 0.41 | 2.3 | 1437 | 25000 | |
| V | 7,5 cm Kw.K. 40 L/48 | 110/158/38 | 110/110/175 | 15 | 0.39 | 2.3 | 1520 | 27380 | |
| VI | 7,5 cm Kw.K. 42 L/70 | 150/194/38 | 135/135/175 | 11.54 | 0.35 | 2.5 | 1740 | 53000 | |
| V | 10,5 cm Kw.K. L/28 | 64/104/53 | 350/350/410 | 7.5 | 0.55 | 2.3 | 2100 | 28000 | |
| VII | 7,5/5,5 cm Waffe 0725 | 157/221/38 | 135/135/175 | 12 | 0.34 | 2.5 | 720 | 18300 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | Maybach HL 116 | 300 | 20 | 750 | 9300 | |
| VI | Maybach HL 150 | 400 | 20 | 850 | 24000 | |
| V | Maybach HL 190 | 375 | 20 | 1000 | 16600 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | VK 30.01 (H) | 33 | 28 | 0 | 11000 | 4700 | |
| V | VK 30.01 (H) verstärkteketten | 41 | 30 | 0 | 11000 | 10170 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| III | FuG 5 | 310 | 50 | 630 | |
| VI | FuG 7 | 415 | 70 | 8160 | |
| IX | FuG 12 | 710 | 150 | 43200 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Huge gun selection -- this tank can unlock nearly every mid-tier German gun
- With the top gun the best pen and accuracy for a medium, and best shell velocity for the tier
- Long engagement range -- amazing accuracy and one of the highest view ranges of all Tier V mediums (only behind the Shermans)
- Effective hull-down fighter, and able to diamond-angle and side-scrape effectively due to thick tracks and side armor
- Highest HP of all Tier V medium tanks
Cons:
- Sluggish hull and turret traverse, poor top speed, and low power/weight ratio
- Engine frequently gets damaged from frontal hits, although much rarer than later tanks in the Tiger line
- Long guns have slightly worse aim time than other 7.5cm guns
- Prone to being ammo racked
Performance
This tank should be played as a sniper, preferably hull-down, to make use of the excellent turret and above-average gun depression. Because of the terrible hull armour you cannot poke, and side-scraping can be risky, so you must learn good strategic positioning. Poking tricks can be learned later once you have decent alpha, side armour, and knowledge of the fundamentals. The play style of this tank can be compared to the Tiger, VK 30.02 (M) or Panther, and this tank will prepare you for future German tanks.
You'll likely want the top turret for open terrain, however this makes the tank very slow so it is imperative you fit binoculars or optics when you make the transition. From there you will want one of the long-barreled guns -- the slower fire rate, but better accuracy allows you to be more consistent at longer ranges. However take note of the reduction of gun depression by two degrees to a final value of eight degrees. A gun laying drive can be of use and reduces your vulnerability when spotted, or in a solo situation.
For players that favor close-ranged combat the 10.5cm gun is a good option with its high damage output per shell. However you will have to deal with the cons of this vehicle in order to use this gun effectively. This gun can be used to good effect in urban environments with ranges limited from 50 to 100 meters. Just be sure to aim for the weak spots and have some support when reloading. Also, if you do use the howitzer, the AP ammo is a waste of time and money because of the low penetration and accuracy. With HE shells you can deal splash damage even if you do not penetrate (but note that Wargaming nerfed HE shells in summer 2021, making HE damage unreliable).
The VK's "one in each position" crew setup -- Commander, Gunner, Driver, Radio Operator, Loader -- makes it crew-compatible with these premium German mediums: E 50 FL, Panther 8.8, Panther/M10, Pz. V/IV, Pz. IV H Ankou, Pz. IV hydr., Pz. IV S, Pz. T 25, Pz. III K, and the Turán III prototípus.
Early Research
- The 5 cm Kw.K. 39 L/60 and FuG 12 radio carry over from the Pz. III J and should be installed immediately.
- First, research the 7,5 cm Kw.K. 40 L/70 for a serious upgrade to firepower.
- Next, research the VK 30.01 (H) verstärkteketten suspension and VK 36.01 (H) turret.
- Research the 10,5 cm Kw.K. L/28 for another boost to firepower.
- Research the Maybach HL 190 and Mayback HL 150 engines for a much-needed horsepower increase.
- Make your way through the 7,5 cm Kw.K. 40 L/48 to get the 7,5/5,5 cm Waffe 0725.
- Finally, research the 7,5 cm Kw.K. 42 L/70.
Suggested Equipment
Gallery
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Historical Info
The VK 30.01 (H) is a further development of the Durchbruchswagen concept. The DW vehicles (DW1 and DW2) were -- as their name in German suggest -- attempts to create a breakthrough tank (in other words, essentially a heavy tank). On September 9, 1938 it was decided to continue with the DW 30-ton category development. On January 1, 1939 Krupp decided that the new vehicle should be equipped with a 75mm L/24 cannon, the crew should be equal to that of Panzer IV and the tank should have 50mm armor all around. On January 31, 1939 this new vehicle program was renamed to Panzerkampfwagen VI (7,5cm), but the new experimental designation for it was VK 30.01 (experimental/tracked vehicle, 30 tons, 1st prototype). At the same time the old DW projects were renamed to VK 30.01 (Alte Konstruktion), while the new VK 30.01 was referred to as “Neue Konstruktion” (new design).
Design-wise it was a classical German tank, with typical Henschel suspension that would eventually evolve into the Tiger suspension via VK 36.01. The road wheels had torsion bar suspension.
Three prototypes were ordered. The hulls were made by Krupp in Essen and delivered to Henschel in Kassel for final assembly in 1940. Turrets were also ordered and Krupp was supposed to deliver them in 1940. However these came later and most likely were never installed on any prototype machines. The three prototypes instead had a concrete cube installed instead of the turret to simulate the turret weight. The vehicles were equipped with 300hp Maybach HL116 engines and their maximum road speed was 35km/h.
On May 25, 1941 the first order for eight 0-series VK 30.01 (H) tanks was signed. Between October 1941 and January 1942 Henschel also received the eight turrets from Krupp that were to be mounted on the 0-series vehicles. The first 0-series hull was delivered on August 8, 1941, and on November 15, 1941 the first 0-series VK 30.01 (H) (with a mounted turret) was tested in Sennelager. This first 0-series VK 30.01 (H) was by no means finished, however (some components were missing) and it was sent back to Henschel. The last hull was delivered on November 10, 1941 and the last turret on January 21, 1942. Maybach also built 18 engines in total for the VK 30.01 between 1941 and 1943.
On January 30, 1942, based on the preliminary tests (which did not show the vehicle in a very positive light), it was decided to reduce the amount of the 0-series tanks being built to only four vehicles, which were built in March (two vehicles) and October 1942 (another two). These tanks were sent to training units and were used for crew training.
The armament (which was still the 75mm L/24, quite insufficient for the 1942 battlefield) was also discussed -- Krupp proposed on October 7, 1941 the following options to the Waffenprüfamt 6:
- 75mm KwK L/34,6 (lengthened version of L/24)
- 50mm KwK L/50
- 50mm KwK L/60
- 75mm Waffe 0725
WaPA 6 responded in the sense that they would like the 75mm KwK 40 L/43 to be installed. Krupp replied that in order to do that, either the gun would have to be modified, or the turret would have to be bigger. In January 1942 the re-arm project was scrapped.
Two hulls were subsequently used to build the two 128mm tank destroyers “12,8cm Kanone 40 L/61 auf VK 30.01(H)”, known as “Sturer Emil”. Additional turrets that were already manufactured before the 0-series VK 30.01 (H) project was reduced were used for fixed emplacements in France (the Atlantic Wall).
The remaining machines were used for crew training and testing various equipment until the end of the war, when they were scrapped.
Historical Gallery
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Historical Accuracy Errata
* The 10,5 cm L/28 and the 75mm L/48 and L/70 were never considered for the tank. In addition, the 75mm L/43 and waffe 0725 guns were unable to be fitted into the tank.
- The planned 50mm KwK L/50 and 75mm KwK L/34,6 are unavailable in-game.
- The only engine fitted to the VK 30.01 (H) was the 300hp Maybach HL116 engine.
