The Tier IX FV229 Contender is much like its Tier X “descendant” the FV230 Canopener. The FV229 also has good frontal armor on both its turret (280 mm nominal) and hull (165 mm nominal), and its side armor is thick enough (90 mm) to allow for angling. Also, the tank’s overall mobility (with a base top forward speed of 34 km/h) is very decent for such a massive and well-protected vehicle.
In its top configuration, the FV229 is equipped with twin 105 mm guns that offer good accuracy and aiming time in Single Fire Mode, or excellent stabilization and 780 HP of average damage per doublet in Salvo Fire Mode (with the same DPM).
The Selective Fire Modes Mechanic
British twin-barreled heavies have two firing modes: Single Fire and Salvo Fire. You can switch between the modes anytime by pressing X. This neither resets nor pauses gun reloading and can be done on the move.
In Single Fire mode, the guns shoot alternately (starting with the left gun). You can shoot a gun only after the other has fully reloaded. In this mode, the gameplay is much like that of the British single-barreled heavy line: stabilization, accuracy, and aiming time are all enviable.
In Salvo Fire mode, the tank’s top speed and turret traverse speed are decreased, the guns take longer to fully aim and accuracy is lower than in Single Fire mode, but the guns’ stabilization improves drastically, the one-time damage is doubled, and the DPM stays the same.
The reloading time in Salvo Fire mode is always ×2 of the reloading time in Single Fire mode. If you shoot a salvo, you will need to wait twice as long as both guns must fully reload before you can fire one of them. At the beginning of the battle and when you change the shell type, you also need to wait for both barrels to load.
