Edit 24th Oct 2021: Concealment parameters were significantly reduced post-review as announced in the link below. I have adjusted the article including related comparisons and crew/equipment loadout recommendations accordingly https://worldoftanks.eu/en/news/general-news/ranked-battles-tanks-stat-correction/ Today we cover the 2021-22 Ranked Season Reward, the Tier X Chinese Sniper Tank Destroyer 114 SP2. This vehicle replaces Concept 1b which was the previous Ranked Season Reward, but don't worry if you missed out as Concept 1b is now available for purchase for a maximum (but discountable) cost of 20,000 bonds in the Ranked Items store.
Obtaining the Ranked Battles 2021-22 Season Reward
Picking yourself up the 114 SP2 requires consistent above-average performance across all three series of the 2021-22 Ranked Battles Season. In our review of Charlemagne (link), we covered the basics of Ranked Battles and its divisions. Among other things, one of the rewards for completing each division is a Ranked Token. You will be able to collect 114 SP2 among other goodies if you can pull together at least nine (9) of these Tokens over the course of the three Ranked series of the 2021-22 Season. Tokens are issued as follows: - 1x for completing Qualification - 1x for completing Division III - 1x for completing Division II - 1x for completing Division I - 1x for completing Gold Division (only available to the very best players of Ranked mode) Thus, a player who is able to complete Division II in all three Ranked Battles series of the 2021-22 Season will be able to obtain 114 SP2. Note that the first series has passed already, which ran from Sept 9th - Sept 20th, so unless you're an extremely talented player you'll be unlikely to pick up 114 SP2 in the 2021-22 Ranked Battles Season. But if you miss out and really want this vehicle, fear not as we can reasonably antcipate 114 SP2 to enter the 2022-23 Ranked Items store just as the 2020-21 Ranked Battles Season Reward Concept 1b entered the Ranked Items store in the current season.
Defining Role through Gun Handling
114 SP2 is the fifth turreted Tank Destroyer (okay, sixth if you count the now-removed Waffentraeger Auf E100) to enter Tier X, and the third at Tier X to be assigned the Sniper Tank Destroyer role category. For the purposes of this review, we consider the performance of 114 SP2 against both the turreted and Sniper tank destroyers of Tier X.
Like most tank destroyers, the gun is the main asset of 114 SP2 although its performance is somewhat unusual. Sniper Tank Destroyers are typically characterised by low base dispersion and/or high concealment values. Among its Tier X Sniper counterparts, 114 SP2 has the worst base gun dispersion at 0.31m/100m compared to 0.26 and 0.29 of Grille 15 and Strv-103B respectively however it makes up for this with the least overall dynamic dispersion during movement or traverse of hull or turret compared to all Sniper or Turreted Tank Destroyers at tier. This is further aided by base Aim Time of 1.92s, which outpaced only by the 1.44s base Aim Time of Grille 15. Muzzle velocity of 1,050m/s is respectable but does fade against the 1,200m/s and 1,500m/s of Grille 15 and Strv-103B respectively, cementing these vehicles as the superior long-range Tank Snipers.
While 114 SP2 can't match Strv-103B for DPM, its 152mm main armament still edges out Grille 15 delivering a base 2,825HP/min. The real value is being able to rapidly lay the gun on an appearing target and drop a 650HP alpha-bomb with 273mm of ordinary penetration power. This can be changed up to 329mm with the Premium APCR. The High Explosive is also a good choice for this vehicle, able to shred lightly-armoured vehicles with its 90mm penetration and 840HP nominal damage. A new shell will enter the tube 13.81sec after firing, which is slow but respectable given the alpha damage.
This smooth gun handling, decent base dispersion, fast aim time and 360° of turret rotation gives 114 SP2 the ability to rapidly engage targets as they present on the battlefield. The utility of this main armament is similar to Skorpion G, where you can be a functional (albeit not the best) sniper in the early game and then move up to drop high-alpha killshots at intermediate ranges in the endgame.
Mobility
Among its Tier X peers, 114 SP2 has a rather underwhelming 45km/h forward speed while its power-to-weight ratio of 15.56 can make climbing hills an excruciating process exacerbated further by disgraceful terrain resistance values. This can leave 114 SP2 with something of an identity crisis where it's edged out by its peers as a sniper, compensates with the improved dynamic gun handling but ultimately lacks the mobility to follow up. But given that success in the Ranked Mode is the domain of experienced players, they will need to draw on every bit of their experience to recognise when the battle is turning in their favour and either move up or be left behind.
Survivability
Like most "other-than-Assault" Tank Destroyers, the physical armour of 114 SP2 should generally not be relied upon to save you. The sole exception to this is the 75mm of side armour on hull and turret which is rather unprecedented amongst all of its peers bar T110E4. To this end, baiting shots by side-scraping 114 SP2 is a reliable (if not slightly desperate) tactic should a melee ensue. 114 SP2 has a reasonable concealment rating, significantly improving on the values available to Grille 15 but still well short of Strv-103B. The result is stationary/moving concealment ratings on par with medium tanks such as STB-1 and Leopard 1. This means a player has the characteristic option to deploy closer to the action, which can offset the sub-par base dispersion and reduce the travel distance when heading into the endgame for cleanup.
Crew & Equipment Builds
The configuration of this vehicle will depend largely on a players satisfaction to play strictly to the role of Sniper Tank Destroyer or give themselves the flexibility to do much more in the endgame. The latter approach will be essential to routinely secure mastery levels in this tank.
With excellent aim time and dynamic dispersion characteristics, Vertical Stabiliser and Enhanced Gun Laying Drive would be wasted on this vehicle. Instead, Improved Aiming will tighten that base dispersion to 0.29m/100m which will provide much more confidence of shells landing where intended. Whether you're sniping in support, defending a position or pushing the advantage, a Gun Rammer is an essential addition to this vehicle, reducing your reload time to <12.5 seconds and turning DPM up to a handy ~3,200HP/min
The final equipment choice will ultimately be down to preference, playstyle and crew readiness. The adjustment of concealment values announced on 23rd/24th October 2021 might prompt Low Noise Exhaust as a sensible third-slot equipment choice especially in the absence of a crew fully-trained in Concealment. The second-line sniper would see a noticeable improvement with the addition of Improved Ventilation, which will provide further buffing of DPM and Base Dispersion and bringing 114 SP2's sniper game more in line with its peers. For those who like to play more aggressively as soon as the game turns, a Turbocharger will make getting to grips with the enemy in the late-game cleanup a less frustrating experience.
Conveniently, the Chinese Tank Destroyer line is very consistent with its crew layout. As a Reward Vehicle, any existing Chinese Tank Destroyer crew will find they'll fit into 114 SP2 like a glove. For those starting afresh, consider crew builds that emphasise viewrange and concealment as you'd expect for a stealthy tank destroyer while reaching for some capacity to improve your ability to cross country.
Countering 114 SP2
Once it has been spotted, fighting 114 SP2 is a piece of cake although spotting it in the first place is likely the hardest part. Opportunities to shut it down should be taken as a priority, as it's likely being driven by a Division II veteran of several series of Ranked Battles who has the battlefield awareness and personal aptitude to mess you and your team up. If you need to engage it in a more personal setting, be conscious of your HP position and your armour facings. With a 152mm calibre main armement, 114 SP2 will overmatch 50mm armour plate therefore your sides or roof deck could be easily penetrated no matter how well you've angled. With each of its shots being 650HP with another following ~12sec later, engaging 114 SP2 in a dogfight while already wounded from battle can be a risky prospect and a frequent one given such engagements are more likely to occur in the endgame.
Tracking shots should allow you to avoid the baleful gaze of its gun, as the rate of turn of the turret is well below that of most Tier X Heavy Tanks. Just be mindful not to carelessly shoot an angled side plate, as the only guns in the game that can overmatch 75mm are the T92 HMC and Conqueror GC firing AP shells.
Gameplay Review
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