The World of Tanks Supertest has welcomed an intriguing new addition to the Japanese tech tree: the Kame, a Tier IX premium medium tank that brings a revolutionary combination of mechanics to the battlefield.
A Revolutionary Firepower System
The Kame’s defining characteristic is its unprecedented combination of two distinct mechanics working in tandem: a five-shell autoloader paired with an active gun cooling system. This marks the first time a Japanese medium tank has featured the gun cooling mechanic, and the first time it’s been combined with an autoloader.
The 105mm Gun: The heart of the Kame is its 105mm cannon, delivering 330 HP of damage per shot. While this alpha damage sits comfortably in the middle range for Tier IX mediums, it’s the delivery system that makes it special.
Five-Shell Autoloader: With just 1.5 seconds between shots, the Kame can unload its entire clip in a devastating 6-second burst, dealing 1,650 HP of potential damage. This clip potential puts it among the most dangerous burst-damage mediums at its tier.
Gun Cooling System: Here’s where things get interesting. The Kame has notably poor base accuracy, but after cooling the gun for just a few seconds using the double aiming mechanic (which takes 3.5 seconds to fully aim), the dispersion returns to normal, competitive levels.
This creates a fascinating tactical choice: commanders can either quickly discharge the clip in close combat for maximum burst damage, or take their time to fully aim for precise, sniper-style gameplay. The same tank can function as a brawler or a support sniper depending on the situation.
The Historical “Turtle”
The Kame has an interesting historical background. It was a project for a Japanese medium tank developed in 1945 to counteract Allied and Soviet medium and heavy tanks. The designers sought to apply the most successful technical innovations from various tank-building schools, incorporating elements like torsion-bar suspension, well-sloped hull armor, and a powerful gun.
Engineers had the specific task of increasing the rate of fire, leading them to mount the gun with a special external radiator designed to significantly reduce barrel heating. This historical detail directly inspired the gun cooling mechanic in World of Tanks. Due to the tank’s peculiar turtle-shell-like appearance created by these external cooling elements, it earned the name “Kame.”
The vehicle never progressed beyond the design phase, as Japan surrendered before a prototype could be built. However, Kame previously appeared in the console version of World of Tanks without any special mechanics, despite the tank model featuring those distinctive external barrel-cooling elements. Now, the PC version finally brings those cooling elements to life as a functional game mechanic.
Defensive Capabilities and Armor Profile
Despite being classified as a support medium tank, the Kame is surprisingly bulky and well-protected for its class:
Turret Armor: The front of the turret boasts 200mm of armor, providing decent protection against most same-tier opponents when properly angled. This solid turret armor enables the Kame to trade shots more confidently than typical mediums.
Hull Protection: Like many Japanese vehicles, the Kame features respectable hull armor with good sloping, though commanders should avoid relying on it against high-penetration guns.
Bulky Profile: The Kame is notably larger than typical medium tanks, which presents both advantages and disadvantages. The bulk provides more places for armor to work, but also makes the tank easier to spot and hit.
Mobility Characteristics
Good news for commanders concerned about the Kame’s bulk: this turtle can move.
Top Speed: With a maximum forward speed of 55 km/h, the Kame keeps pace with the medium tank standard, allowing it to respond to battlefield developments and relocate between positions effectively.
Maneuverability: The combination of decent speed and Japanese medium tank handling characteristics means the Kame won’t feel sluggish despite its size, enabling both aggressive positioning and tactical retreats.
Tactical Considerations
The Kame presents commanders with unprecedented tactical flexibility through its dual-mode firepower system:
Burst Damage Specialist: In close-quarters engagements or when targets present themselves unexpectedly, commanders can immediately dump the clip for massive burst damage. The 1.5-second intra-clip reload makes this devastatingly effective in knife-fighting situations.
Precision Sniper: When time permits and longer-range engagements are necessary, commanders can use the double aiming mechanic to transform the Kame into a capable support sniper, delivering accurate fire from second-line positions.
Support Medium Role: The combination of good turret armor, respectable mobility, and flexible firepower makes the Kame an excellent support vehicle. It can follow up on aggressive pushes with clip damage or provide covering fire from range.
Opportunistic Playstyle: The Kame rewards commanders who can read the battlefield and choose the appropriate mode for each engagement. Knowing when to burst and when to aim carefully will separate good Kame players from great ones.
Playstyle Implications
The Kame demands a thoughtful, adaptable approach from its commanders:
Two-Mode Mindset: Successfully playing the Kame requires constantly evaluating whether situations call for burst damage or aimed fire. Close-range brawls favor quick clips; longer-range support demands full aiming.
Positioning Flexibility: The good mobility and turret armor allow commanders to take calculated risks, pushing forward when opportunities arise or falling back to support positions when needed.
Ammunition Management: With only five shells per clip, every shot matters. Commanders must balance aggression with conservation, ensuring they don’t empty the clip prematurely and leave themselves vulnerable during the lengthy reload.
Terrain Utilization: The solid turret armor and reasonable gun depression enable hull-down play when fully aimed, while the burst potential rewards aggressive positions when situations demand it.
Commanders looking to master the Kame should consider:
- Learning to quickly assess whether situations call for burst or aimed fire
- Utilizing the strong turret armor in hull-down positions when sniping
- Saving the clip for crucial moments rather than wasting it on low-value targets
- Practicing the timing of the gun cooling system to maximize accuracy
- Using the good mobility to choose engagements rather than being forced into unfavorable fights
Community Reception and Concerns
Initial community reactions to the Kame have been mixed, with significant discussion around how the gun cooling mechanic will interact with the autoloader system.
The Accuracy Debate: The poor base accuracy (0.6 dispersion) has raised concerns among players. Community members point out that 1.5-second intra-clip reload becomes largely pointless if shots after the first suffer from terrible dispersion. The question remains: does the gun cooling system stay active between shells in the clip, or does it reset with each shot?
Mechanic Interaction Questions: How exactly will the double aiming mechanic work with a clip-based weapon? If accuracy resets between shells, the burst mode becomes unreliable even at close range. If it maintains accuracy throughout the clip after the initial aim, the tank could be extremely powerful.
Balance Concerns: Some players worry that the combination of mechanics might prove either too powerful if executed well or too frustrating if the interaction feels clunky. The 3.5-second aim time could leave commanders vulnerable, but the reward of accurate clip damage might justify the risk.
What Sets the Kame Apart
The Kame represents a significant departure from traditional medium tank design philosophy:
First Dual-Mechanic Tank: No other vehicle combines autoloader mechanics with gun cooling, making the Kame a genuine innovation in tank design.
Tactical Flexibility: Unlike specialized tanks that excel in narrow circumstances, the Kame can adapt its playstyle mid-battle, switching between roles as needed.
Risk-Reward Balance: The poor base accuracy and lengthy aim time create meaningful choices and counterplay opportunities, preventing the tank from being overwhelming while rewarding skilled play.
Japanese Innovation: The Kame continues the Japanese tech tree’s tradition of unique mechanics and interesting design choices, adding another distinctive vehicle to the nation’s roster.
What’s Next?
As a Supertest vehicle, the Kame’s final statistics and mechanical interactions remain subject to change. Wargaming will need to carefully balance how the gun cooling system interacts with the autoloader to ensure the vehicle is both effective and fair.
Key questions for the testing phase include:
- Does gun cooling remain active throughout the clip or reset between shells?
- Is the 3.5-second aim time too punishing for the tactical flexibility it provides?
- Can the poor base accuracy be balanced against the cooling benefits?
- Will the bulky profile offset the armor and firepower advantages?
- Is 330 alpha per shell sufficient given the mechanical complexity?
The testing phase will be crucial in determining whether the Kame becomes a beloved favorite for its unique playstyle or requires significant adjustments to function as intended.
Final Thoughts
The Kame represents exactly the kind of innovative thinking that keeps World of Tanks fresh and interesting after years of development. By combining two distinct mechanics and creating genuine tactical choices around when and how to deploy firepower, Wargaming has crafted a vehicle that promises to be both challenging and rewarding to master.
Whether you’re excited about the tactical flexibility, intrigued by the historical background, or simply curious about how these mechanics will interact, the Kame offers something genuinely new to the medium tank experience. For commanders who appreciate adaptive gameplay and enjoy vehicles that reward thoughtful decision-making, this turtle-inspired tank could become a premium favorite.
The combination of burst potential and sniper capability, wrapped in a surprisingly durable package with good mobility, creates a medium tank unlike any other currently in the game. If Wargaming can successfully balance the mechanical interactions and ensure the gun cooling system works intuitively with the autoloader, the Kame could set a new standard for innovative premium vehicle design.
