The World of Tanks Supertest has just welcomed an intriguing addition to the Chinese tech tree: the Renmin Tanke, a Tier IX assault medium tank that introduces a completely unique firing mechanic to the game.
A Revolutionary Double-Shot System
The Renmin Tanke’s most distinctive feature is its unprecedented two-round autoloader system with a twist that sets it apart from every other autoloader currently in the game. While many tanks feature multi-shell clips, the Renmin Tanke stores both shells in a single container, creating a fundamentally different firing experience.
The Firing Mechanic: When you pull the trigger on the Renmin Tanke, you’re committed to firing both shells. The tank releases both rounds with a brief 0.75-second delay between them, creating a forced double-tap every single time. After both shells are discharged, the autoloader enters a 6.8-second reload cycle to prepare the next pair.
Damage Output: Each shell deals 200 HP of damage, meaning every trigger pull delivers 400 HP in rapid succession. This creates an effective alpha damage of 400 HP delivered over approximately 0.75 seconds, followed by the reload period.
DPM Advantages: The combination of 400 HP per firing cycle and a relatively short 6.8-second reload results in strong damage per minute for a Tier IX medium tank. This consistent damage output makes the Renmin Tanke a threatening presence in sustained engagements.
This firing system differs fundamentally from traditional autoloaders. With conventional autoloaders, commanders can choose to fire one shell and save the rest for later. The Renmin Tanke removes that option entirely—you’re always firing both shells together. This creates unique tactical considerations around ammunition conservation and engagement timing.
Gun Handling and Accuracy
Beyond its unique loading system, the Renmin Tanke offers comfortable gun handling characteristics that make it pleasant to play:
Reliable Accuracy: The gun handling is described as comfortable, suggesting good dispersion values and reasonable aim time. This allows commanders to deliver their double-shot with confidence, knowing both shells are likely to hit their mark.
Consistent Performance: Unlike some experimental tanks that sacrifice gun handling for unique mechanics, the Renmin Tanke maintains competitive accuracy standards. This reliability is crucial given that every trigger pull commits 400 HP worth of ammunition—you want both shells to count.
The combination of forced double-shots and comfortable gun handling creates an interesting dynamic. Commanders must be more deliberate with their shooting, but once committed, they can trust the gun to deliver both shells accurately.
Armor Profile and Survivability
The Renmin Tanke brings impressive defensive capabilities for its class, positioning it as an “assault” medium tank:
Excellent Armor for Class: The vehicle features outstanding armor protection compared to typical medium tanks at Tier IX. This allows the Renmin Tanke to take more aggressive positions and trade shots with confidence that other mediums couldn’t match.
Frontline Presence: The combination of good armor and strong burst damage (400 HP in 0.75 seconds) makes the Renmin Tanke effective in aggressive pushes and frontline engagements. It can absorb incoming fire while delivering punishing counter-attacks.
Assault Medium Role: Unlike traditional support mediums that rely on mobility and concealment, the Renmin Tanke is built to lead pushes and hold positions. The armor enables this playstyle while the double-shot mechanic punishes opponents who expose themselves.
This armor profile fundamentally changes how the tank operates compared to typical Chinese mediums, which often rely on gun depression and hull-down positions rather than direct armor protection.
Mobility Characteristics
The Renmin Tanke offers decent mobility, though it’s not built for high-speed flanking maneuvers:
Forward Speed: With a maximum forward speed of 45 km/h, the Renmin Tanke maintains reasonable pace for a heavily armored medium tank. While not exceptional, this speed is sufficient for relocating between positions and keeping up with team movements.
Reverse Speed: The 20 km/h reverse speed provides adequate retreat capability, allowing commanders to back out of unfavorable situations or retreat behind cover after delivering their double-shot.
Balanced Mobility: The mobility profile suggests a tank designed for measured, deliberate gameplay rather than aggressive flanking. The Renmin Tanke excels at advancing with the team and holding captured positions, not racing around the map looking for flanking opportunities.
This mobility package complements the assault medium role perfectly. You don’t need exceptional speed when your armor allows you to advance directly rather than seeking circuitous flanking routes.
Tactical Considerations
The Renmin Tanke’s unique mechanics create several important tactical considerations:
Ammunition Conservation: Every trigger pull expends two shells. Commanders must be more thoughtful about when to fire, as casual shooting will deplete ammunition quickly. Each engagement decision carries more weight when you’re always committing 400 HP worth of shells.
Burst Damage Trading: The double-shot mechanic excels in peek-a-boom situations. Commanders can expose themselves briefly, deliver 400 HP in less than a second, and retreat before opponents can respond effectively. This makes the Renmin Tanke devastating in hull-down positions or around corners.
No Shot Conservation: Unlike traditional autoloaders where you might fire one shell and save the rest, the Renmin Tanke removes that strategic layer. You can’t “save” ammunition for emergencies—every shot is an all-or-nothing commitment. This eliminates some complexity but adds pressure to make each shot count.
Frontline Leadership: The excellent armor for its class means the Renmin Tanke can lead aggressive pushes. The double-shot mechanic allows it to quickly eliminate exposed enemies, creating openings for teammates to exploit.
Playstyle Implications
The Renmin Tanke rewards commanders who embrace its assault medium role and unique firing mechanics:
Measured Aggression: The combination of armor and burst damage encourages bold positioning, but the forced double-shots demand discipline. You can’t waste ammunition on low-health targets when every trigger pull uses two shells.
Trading Efficiency: The double-shot system maximizes efficiency in trading situations. When both shells connect, you deliver 400 HP faster than most opponents can respond, creating favorable trade ratios.
Target Selection: With limited control over ammunition expenditure, target selection becomes crucial. Shooting a nearly dead tank wastes one shell, while targeting healthy opponents maximizes the value of each double-shot.
Cover Utilization: The ability to deliver 400 HP in 0.75 seconds makes cover-based gameplay extremely effective. Peek out, double-tap, retreat—the Renmin Tanke excels at this rhythm.
Commanders looking to master the Renmin Tanke should consider:
- Planning shots carefully since every trigger pull commits two shells
- Using the excellent armor to push aggressively into advantageous positions
- Maximizing burst damage in peek-a-boom situations around hard cover
- Avoiding wasteful shots on nearly dead enemies
- Leveraging the strong DPM in sustained engagements
- Leading team pushes where the armor and burst damage can create breakthroughs
Community Reception
Initial community reactions to the Renmin Tanke have been mixed, with discussion focusing on how the forced double-shot mechanic will feel in practice:
Mechanic Innovation: Many players appreciate Wargaming’s continued experimentation with unique mechanics, seeing the Renmin Tanke as another interesting addition to the “World of Mechanics” era of tank design.
Practical Concerns: Some community members wonder about the inability to cancel the second shot. If the first shell kills the target, the second automatically fires—potentially wasting ammunition or giving away your position unnecessarily.
Blueprint Speculation: Several players suspect the Renmin Tanke might be destined for a Battle Pass or special event rather than traditional premium sales, given its Tier IX designation and unique mechanic.
Playstyle Questions: The community is curious whether the forced double-shots will feel restrictive or liberating. Does removing the choice of firing single shells simplify gameplay beneficially, or does it remove too much tactical depth?
What Sets the Renmin Tanke Apart
The Renmin Tanke represents a bold new direction in autoloader design:
Unique Container System: No other tank stores multiple shells in a single container that must be fired together. This mechanic is entirely new to World of Tanks.
Assault Medium Archetype: The combination of excellent armor, burst damage, and moderate mobility creates a distinct playstyle focused on frontline leadership rather than flanking or support roles.
Simplified Yet Demanding: By removing the choice of firing individual shells, the Renmin Tanke simplifies some aspects of autoloader gameplay while adding pressure to make every trigger pull count.
Strong Fundamentals: Beyond its unique mechanic, the tank offers solid armor, good gun handling, and strong DPM. It’s not just a gimmick—it’s a well-rounded assault medium that happens to have an innovative firing system.
What’s Next?
As a Supertest vehicle, the Renmin Tanke’s final statistics and mechanical implementation remain subject to change. Wargaming will need to carefully evaluate how the forced double-shot system feels in practice and whether it needs adjustments.
Key questions for the testing phase include:
- Can commanders cancel the second shot if the first kills the target?
- Is the 6.8-second reload balanced for the 400 HP burst potential?
- Does the ammunition capacity support the forced double-shots adequately?
- Will the excellent armor be sufficient to enable the aggressive playstyle the mechanics suggest?
- How does the tank perform in various map types and engagement scenarios?
The Supertest phase will be crucial in determining whether the Renmin Tanke’s unique mechanic feels rewarding to play or becomes frustrating due to wasted ammunition.
Final Thoughts
The Renmin Tanke represents exactly the kind of bold innovation that keeps World of Tanks fresh and interesting. By completely reimagining how autoloaders function and removing the traditional shell-by-shell firing control, Wargaming has created a medium tank that demands a different mindset and rewards different skills than conventional autoloaders.
Whether you’re excited about the streamlined double-shot system or concerned about the loss of firing control, the Renmin Tanke offers something genuinely new to the medium tank experience. For commanders who appreciate aggressive, frontline-focused gameplay and can adapt to the all-or-nothing nature of the double-shot mechanic, this “People’s Tank” could become a favorite assault medium.
The combination of excellent armor, strong burst damage, comfortable gun handling, and consistent DPM creates a well-rounded package that happens to feature an innovative firing system. If Wargaming successfully balances the forced double-shots and provides adequate ammunition capacity, the Renmin Tanke could set a new standard for assault medium tank design—proving that removing player choice can sometimes create more interesting tactical decisions, not fewer.
