Give it your all and gun for the top! From Era 1 to Era 3, research and collect eight new tanks for the Independent faction.

It’s time to give it your all and conquer the latest Cold War Tech Tree line. Ganbare yo (Go get them!), Commander!

The Independent faction welcomes to its roster eight new Japanese tanks from Post War (Era 1) all the way to Détente (Era 3).

• STA-3 Post-War Era (Era 1) Independent Medium Tank
• Type 61 Mod B Post-War Era (Era 1) Independent Medium Tank
• STB-1 '69 Post-War Era (Era 1) Independent Medium Tank
• Type 74 Escalation Era (Era 2) Independent Medium Tank
• Type 74 Mod E Escalation Era (Era 2) Independent Medium Tank
• Type 74 Mod G Escalation Era (Era 2) Independent Medium Tank
• TK-X-0001 Détente Era (Era 3) Independent Heavy Tank
• Type 90 Détente Era (Era 3) Independent Heavy Tank

All vehicles in this line have excellent gun depression and characteristics that will make you THE hull-down expert, plus manual Siege Mode mechanics from the STB-1 '69 upward.

Want more motivation? The Type 90 also has the unique “Bushido” Skin. Check out in this vehicle’s dedicated section and keep an eye out for info in a future article on how you can earn this Skin for your top-of-the-line warrior.

Let’s dive right into the details of these new tanks, available in the game starting April 22nd!

STA-3

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Post War (Era 1)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 0 XP
• Purchase cost: 0 Silver
• Gives access to the Type 61 Mod B

After World War II, the newly created Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force was given the option of purchasing M47 Pattons to upgrade its roster of tanks. The JGSDF instead chose to produce its own, indigenous main battle tank, and between 1956 and 1960, it developed four prototypes, designated STA-1 through STA-4. The STA-3 design incorporated the shortened body and flattened hull of the STA-2 and added a semiautomatic loading system and remotely operated machine gun.

Type 61 Mod B

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Post War (Era 1)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 15,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 250,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the STA-3
• Gives access to the STB-1 '69

After the Korean War began, Japan was permitted to reestablish its military. In lieu of purchasing American M47 Pattons, it began work on an indigenous main battle tank, producing four prototypes between 1956 and 1960. The final design, designated the Type 61, was accepted into service in April 1961. Mitsubishi produced 560 units before the Type 61’s successor was introduced in 1975. Although the Type 61 lacked such features as nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection, units were modified with infrared searchlights to keep them competitive.

STB-1 '69

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Post War (Era 1)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 45,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 760,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the Type 61 Mod B
• Gives access to the Type 74

In 1962, shortly after accepting the Type 61 into service, Japan began designing a new main battle tank that would better repel vehicles such as the Soviet T-62. The first prototype, dubbed the STB-1, incorporated features from other tanks in development at the time, including the MBT-70’s hydropneumatic suspension and the Leopard 1’s 105mm L7 rifled gun. The STB-1 entered testing in 1969 and was further developed to become the Type 74.

Type 74

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Escalation (Era 2)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 90,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 1,760,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the STB-1 '69
• Gives access to the Type 74 Mod E

While working on the successor to its Type 61 main battle tank, Japan produced several prototypes with designations from STB-1 to STB-6 and considered such possible features as an autoloader and a remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun. Although many of these features were rejected, the final design did incorporate the hydropneumatic suspension and 105mm L7 gun first explored on the STB-1. Production of the vehicle, named the Type 74 after its year of acceptance, began in 1975.

Type 74 Mod E

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Escalation (Era 2)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 150,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 2,800,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the Type 74
• Gives access to the Type 74 Mod G

After its introduction in 1975 (and throughout the 1980s), Japan’s Type 74 main battle tank received a series of upgrades to become more modernized. The variants produced through these efforts were labeled as the “first mod,” followed by Mods B through G. Mod E was notable for its improved fire control system (FCS) and the thermal sleeve added to the L7 rifled gun. Although the Type 90 was intended as a replacement, the Type 74 and its variants remained in service until 2024.

Type 74 Mod G

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Escalation (Era 2)
• Class: Medium
• Research cost: 170,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 3,900,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the Type 74 Mod E
• Gives access to the TK-X-0001

After its introduction in 1975 (and throughout the 1980s), Japan’s Type 74 main battle tank received a series of upgrades to become more modernized. The variants produced through these efforts were labeled as the “first mod,” followed by Mods B through G. Mod G, also known by the designation “Kai,” was given updates such as an improved fire control system (FCS) and side skirt armor protection for the hull. According to reports, and due to cost constraints, only a prototype and four additional units were produced.

TK-X-0001

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Détente (Era 3)
• Class: Heavy
• Research cost: 190,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 5,600,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the Type 74 Mod G
• Gives access to the Type 90

Just as work on the Type 74 began shortly after the Type 61 entered service, the development of the Type 74’s successor started soon after its introduction. Initially designated the STC project, the TK-X program was launched in 1976, with the design of the first prototype finalized in 1980. Chief among the features of the TK-X 001 was a Japanese-designed 120mm gun, a feature that was abandoned as the design was revised.

Type 90

• Affiliation: Independent
• Era: Détente (Era 3)
• Class: Heavy
• Research cost: 220,000 XP
• Purchase cost: 6,300,000 Silver
• Unlocked with the TK-X-0001
• End of the branch

Throughout the late 1970s and the 1980s, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries continued its work on a replacement for the Type 74 main battle tank, which it had also produced. Despite the final design’s similarities to the M1 Abrams and Leopard 2, all of its components were of Japanese origin, with one notable exception: the 120mm gun that had been built under license from the German firm Rheinmetall. The tank was designated the Type 90 after the year it was accepted into service.