I really want to like this tank but it just seems to be mediocre.
Super P. is more capable when it comes to winning games and more wins = more crew XP.
STA-2 is a more capable support premium with 10 deg of gun dep and HE resistant armour.
Namely depression and dispersion upon moving and traversing the tank. Depression: Before -10 deg all around , now -7 at best. Dispersion bumped to 0.2 from 0.18. Sources: http://test.tanks.gg/en/wot/t71#tab:details http://tanks.gg/en/wot/t71 edit: Probably a WG f*ckup, the gun on test version is reported to be a 37mm variant.
I have to say that the HD remodeling brought in some decent turret armor. Its not uniform, but 1/3 is 110 (hole behind the mantlet), 1/3 is 170, and 1/3 is 250+
Can confirm, VK-B best bet for HT-12. Met O704, ferdinand, T32, T34 and borsig in the himmelsderp alley. Walked (crawled?) out alive with 6k blocked, 4k done.
Lets not forget there are no fun brit med premiums atm. Another point for the Cromwell B. Rudy and IS-2 at least have alternatives (T54-1st and whole bunch of USSR heavies).