WoT Supertest: SDP 58 Kilana

There’s a new addition to the Supertest: the SDP 58 Kilana, a Tier VIII TD from the new Polish line.

This vehicle features the new shell mechanic introduced with the line: its standard and special rounds’ damage decreases as the distance to the target grows. (The third shell is a standard HE shell.)

Just like its Tier X and IX counterparts, the SDP 58 Kilana is equipped with a deep-rifled gun that has a complex-shaped bore which enables it to fire its unusual star tray shells at a very high velocity. At 50 m or less, they do full damage but as the distance increases further, the damage gradually diminishes due to the loss of kinetic energy.

The SDP 58 Kilana plays much like its brethren from the new branch. The only significant difference against lower-tier Polish TDs is that you should put more emphasis on dealing damage at short-to-mid range to maximize your DPM: at 50 m or less, you score 700 points on average with a single shot, but at 500 m that turns into a measly 350 points. Other reasons that can dissuade you from sniping in the SDP 58 Kilana are the gun’s base accuracy (0.38) and aiming time (2.9 seconds) though the basic and special round are both blazing fast.

The armor penetration of the gun (270 mm with the basic shell and 300 mm with the special shell), the top forward speed (40 km/h) and the frontal protection (192 mm of nominal armor) are decent, but that can’t be said about the side armor, hull traverse, or the gun’s horizontal traverse (with an arc or 10°). But if you keep close to your allies, you should be able to play on the SDP 58’s strong sides and perform well.