[Tank Guide] The VK 168.01 Mauerbrecher

The VIII VK 168.01 Mauerbrecher is a German Tier VIII Premium heavy tank with similar gameplay to the Maus line, so it's the perfect vehicle to train crews while also earning a ton of credits. All in all, it's a very easy tank to drive, but there are a couple of things you should consider. Read more below!

Strengths

Good damage and gun handling for its tier
Super thick frontal turret armour
Frontally-mounted turret makes it easier to make peek-a-boo shots
Ideal for crew training. Has 6 members as crew

Weaknesses

Long reload time will test your judgement skills on when to make the right shot
If you want to brawl effectively, be aware of 3 frontal weak spots: Lower front plate, machine gun port, commander's cupola
Pick your enemies right — this tank's armour is easily penetrated by higher tiers
Low mobility: Plan your course wisely

Gameplay

Armor

Its frontal hull armor is very thick, making hull-down tactics ideal, and overall it can withstand more enemy attacks than other tanks of the same tier. But keep in mind it has 3 main weak spots that you need to hide from your opponents:

Lower frontal plate: The largest weak spot but also the easiest to hide. When pushing the enemy, make sure to not drive straight forward, but angled. This increases the effective armour thickness and consequently the chance of deflecting incoming shots.
Machine gun port: The smallest but also easiest to penetrate, even by lower-tier tanks. Again, try angling your vehicle. Even if there's always a small spot where it can be penetrated easily, at least it makes it harder to hit.
Commander's cupola: Both weak and rather easy to hit, depending on the positions of you and your enemy. Either try to stand on the higher ground or use some cover to your right, if there's any (also works with the machine gun port; both are on the right side).

It should also be noted that most of the Mauerbrecher's armor is constructed at an angle close to the vertical, making it easy to penetrate with certain shells. Don't be overconfident in your armor thickness; maintain your hull and turret at an angle to your enemies, and stay on the move so you're harder to hit.

Mobility

Mobility is limited due to your vehicle's size, so plan your position carefully before the battle begins. You may not be able to change your flank in time afterwards! Also, stick with the pack — a lone Mauerbrecher is easily targeted by enemies.

Firepower

If you find yourself on the receiving end of many enemy shots, don't forget you have a 128mm gun to return the favor with! High shell damage, good accuracy, and excellent survivability make this German giant a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Camouflage & View Range

As you might imagine, the hulking Mauerbrecher, with its poor camouflage values, isn't the easiest to conceal behind a bush. But if you improve on its outstanding view range with the proper equipment and crew skills, you can still spring a very painful surprise attack on your adversaries.

This tank does well on city maps, where it can be safe from SPG attacks and ranged fire.

Equipment

RECOMMENDED SETUP

This set of equipment will help you improve your reload time and gun accuracy, as well as enhance your superior viewing range. All this increases your potential damage output, which will earn you plenty of those juicy credits!

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Radio Operator
Loader
Loader

The Mauerbrecher has a crew of six, just like the higher-tier vehicles of the Maus line and the E 100. For your Commander, the Sixth Sense and Repair skills are essential; the Gunner's Snap Shot and Driver's Clutch Braking will reduce shot dispersion. And in a last stand situation, your tank's high HP pool means that the Loader's Adrenaline Rush skill will trigger sooner than it would for other tanks, which could be just what you need to secure that final winning shot.

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