VK 30.02D post-buff seems very viable

What's up guys, The_Ghghp here.

The 9.17.1 full patchnotes are out here: https://ritastatusreport.live/2017/01/27/9-17-1-complete-list-of-changes/. In addition to the new Maus line, a ton of underpowered German tanks are finally getting buffed.

And that includes the VK 30.02D, a tank that has always intrigued me.

Check it out:

New Buffs in 9.17.1

 VK 30.02 (D)

• Changed the turret traverse speed of the second turret from 30 deg/s to 45 deg/s
• Changed the turret traverse speed of the first turret from 32 deg/s to 45 deg/s
• Changed penetration of the Pzgr 40 shell for the 8,8 cm Kw.K. 36 L/56 gun from 171 mm to 194 mm
• Changed the top speed from 56 km/h to 60 km/h
• Changed the engine power of MB 507 from 720 h.p. to 800 h.p.

With the buffs, the VK has the same top speed, hp/t, and terrain resistances as the Leo, but with 5 more degrees of traverse, and 10 degrees faster turret traverse.

This straight up makes the VK the fastest tier 7 medium out there.

With the other buffs, you now have a medium tank with:

• Great mobility and turning
• Respectable armor, especially with top turret
• Good alpha damage AND dpm
• Penetration that's meh but premium rounds are decent and mobility can be used to flank
• Good view range, decent gun depression

I've personally played the VK 30.02D before, and honestly the tank did not feel that bad. Now with the above buffs fixing my gripe of poor turret traverse and low APCR pen, as well as making its already-good mobility even better, I'm definitely going to be repurchasing the tank and giving it another go. The VK actually looks quite beefy now.

Who knows, it might even replace my KV-13 as my favorite tier 7 medium tank!

Until next time guys, and have a good day.