This vehicle represents an alternative configuration of the tech tree M-VI-Y, trading some characteristics for different strengths while maintaining the core Yoh philosophy of survivability through innovative track redundancy. For players who have enjoyed the Yoh line but want a premium credit-earning version, or for those curious about trying the unique reserve track mechanic without grinding the full line, the M-VI-Y (120) offers an intriguing package.
Historical Background: The H.L. Yoh Company’s Vision
The M-VI-Y (120) represents one of the projects proposed by the H.L. Yoh Company as part of their ambitious program for developing advanced tanks featuring an emergency track system. The Yoh Company was known for their unconventional and often visionary approaches to tank design in the 1950s, proposing numerous innovations that were ahead of their time.
Distinctive Design Feature: Unlike other vehicles designed by the company, this particular project was distinguished by a powerful muzzle brake on its large-caliber gun. This prominent muzzle brake would have helped manage the recoil of the substantial 120mm gun, a practical consideration for maintaining accuracy and crew comfort during sustained fire.
Never Built: Like most of the H.L. Yoh Company’s ambitious designs, this project never progressed beyond the drawing board. The concept was never built in metal, remaining purely theoretical. However, the innovative reserve track system that defined Yoh’s proposals has found new life in World of Tanks, allowing players to experience what might have been.
The Yoh Company’s legacy lies not in tanks they built, but in ideas they pioneered—concepts that were too radical or expensive for 1950s America but have influenced tank design thinking for decades.
The Reserve Track Mechanic: Yoh’s Signature Feature
The defining characteristic of all Yoh vehicles, including the M-VI-Y (120), is the innovative reserve track mechanic:
Emergency Mobility System: Starting from Tier VII, all vehicles in the Yoh branch feature an additional track attached to the main tracks. This redundant system allows these vehicles to continue moving (albeit at reduced speed) even if both main tracks are destroyed.
Survivability Advantage: This mechanic provides a crucial survivability benefit that other heavy tanks simply don’t have. When opponents attempt to immobilize you through track damage—a common tactic against heavy tanks—the M-VI-Y (120) can continue maneuvering, creating tactical opportunities that would be impossible in other vehicles.
Tactical Flexibility: The reserve track system enables different tactics and maneuvers on the battlefield. You can push more aggressively knowing that track damage won’t completely immobilize you, and you can execute tactical retreats even under focused fire aimed at your tracks.
This mechanic fundamentally changes how the tank interacts with the battlefield, providing a unique safety net that rewards aggressive positioning.
Firepower: The 120mm Configuration
The M-VI-Y (120) is equipped with a substantial 120mm gun that delivers solid performance:
Alpha Damage: The gun boasts 440 HP of damage per shot, providing meaningful trading power in heavy tank confrontations. This alpha damage allows the M-VI-Y (120) to punish exposed enemies and win HP trades decisively.
Penetration Values: Standard AP rounds feature 252mm of penetration, while special HEAT shells offer 300mm. These values are competitive for Tier IX, handling most same-tier opponents effectively, though heavily armored targets may occasionally require premium rounds or careful weak spot targeting.
Accuracy: With 0.40 dispersion, the gun’s accuracy is adequate but not exceptional. This is typical for high-alpha heavy tank guns and shouldn’t be expected to perform sniper duties, though it’s sufficient for typical heavy tank engagement ranges.
Aim Time: The gun features a reasonable aim time that allows for relatively quick shot preparation, though commanders should still take care to fully aim for maximum accuracy, especially at longer ranges.
The 120mm configuration emphasizes per-shot impact over sustained DPM, creating a playstyle focused on decisive shots rather than constant fire.
Comparison to Tech Tree M-VI-Y
The M-VI-Y (120) differs from its tech tree counterpart in several key ways:
Gun Choice: While the tech tree M-VI-Y typically runs the faster-firing 105mm gun for better DPM and accuracy, the M-VI-Y (120) is locked to the 120mm configuration, trading fire rate for per-shot damage.
Alpha vs DPM Trade-off: You gain 40 HP more damage per shot compared to the 105mm (440 vs 400), but sacrifice approximately 0.05 accuracy (0.35 vs 0.40). This trade-off favors players who prefer decisive alpha strikes over sustained pressure.
Mobility Difference: The M-VI-Y (120) has almost 2 hp/t less specific power than the tech tree version, making it slightly less nimble. This mobility reduction is noticeable but not crippling, requiring slightly more careful positioning decisions.
Premium Benefits: As a premium vehicle, the M-VI-Y (120) offers enhanced credit earning and crew training benefits that the tech tree version cannot match, making it valuable for economic reasons beyond pure performance.
The choice between the two versions ultimately comes down to playstyle preference and whether you value the premium economic benefits.
Gun Depression and Elevation: American Excellence
One of the M-VI-Y (120)’s greatest strengths is its exceptional gun handling angles:
Outstanding Gun Depression: With –10 degrees of gun depression, the M-VI-Y (120) can utilize terrain features better than most heavy tanks. This exceptional depression enables effective hull-down gameplay on ridges and hills that other heavies cannot access.
Impressive Elevation: The +20 degrees of gun elevation provides flexibility for engaging targets on elevated positions or over obstacles. While less commonly used than depression, this elevation capability occasionally proves invaluable.
Classic American Advantage: This gun depression/elevation combination represents classic American heavy tank design philosophy, echoing legendary vehicles like the T29 and T32 that dominated hull-down positions through superior gun angles.
The gun handling angles are arguably the M-VI-Y (120)’s most significant tactical advantage, enabling positioning options that most heavy tanks cannot exploit.
Armor Profile: Formidable Turret Protection
The M-VI-Y (120) features armor characteristics typical of the Yoh line:
Formidable Turret Armor: The turret is the M-VI-Y (120)’s primary defensive asset, featuring robust protection that can bounce shots from same-tier opponents when properly positioned. This strong turret makes hull-down gameplay particularly effective.
Hull Armor Considerations: Like most Yoh tanks, the hull armor is respectable but not impenetrable. Commanders should avoid exposing the hull unnecessarily and prioritize hull-down positions where the strong turret provides primary protection.
Hit Points: The tank features a healthy HP pool appropriate for a Tier IX heavy, allowing it to absorb some punishment and stay in fights longer than more fragile vehicles.
The armor profile strongly encourages hull-down gameplay, where the combination of gun depression and turret armor creates nearly impenetrable positions on favorable terrain.
Mobility Characteristics
The M-VI-Y (120) offers decent mobility for a heavily armored Tier IX heavy:
Adequate Speed: The mobility allows for reasonable repositioning and map presence, though this isn’t a tank for rapid flanking maneuvers or race-to-position gameplay.
Specific Power: While slightly lower than the tech tree M-VI-Y, the specific power is sufficient for maintaining relevance as battle lines shift and positions need adjustment.
Reserve Track Benefit: Even when tracks are destroyed, the reserve track system maintains some mobility, preventing the complete immobilization that would cripple other heavy tanks.
The mobility package ensures the M-VI-Y (120) can contribute throughout battles without feeling stuck in initial deployment positions.
Tactical Considerations
The M-VI-Y (120)’s characteristics create clear tactical guidelines:
Hull-Down Priority: The combination of –10 degrees depression and formidable turret armor makes hull-down positions the ideal fighting location. Seek ridges, hills, and terrain features where you can maximize these advantages.
Key Position Control: The M-VI-Y (120) excels at locking down critical map positions. The combination of alpha damage, armor, and reserve tracks makes it difficult for opponents to dislodge you from important areas.
Aggressive Positioning with Safety Net: The reserve track mechanic encourages more aggressive positioning than typical heavy tanks. You can push forward knowing that track damage won’t completely immobilize you, creating psychological pressure on opponents.
Trading Optimization: The 440 alpha damage rewards careful trading. Wait for opponents to expose themselves, deliver your shot, and retreat to cover while reloading. The strong turret armor enables favorable trades in hull-down positions.
Playstyle Implications
The M-VI-Y (120) rewards commanders who understand terrain and positioning:
Terrain Reading: Success requires understanding which map positions offer ideal hull-down opportunities. Learn where the –10 degrees depression creates unfair advantages over opponents with limited gun handling.
Patient Aggression: Push forward deliberately to take strong positions, but don’t overextend beyond support range. The reserve tracks help if things go wrong, but prevention beats recovery.
Alpha Damage Maximization: With 440 HP per shot, every shell matters. Take the extra second to ensure hits rather than rushing shots and missing opportunities.
Economic Focus: As a premium vehicle, the M-VI-Y (120) should be used for credit generation. Maximize survival time and damage output to ensure profitable battles.
Commanders looking to master the M-VI-Y (120) should consider:
- Prioritizing hull-down positions on ridges and hills
- Using the exceptional gun depression to engage from unexpected angles
- Leveraging the reserve tracks for aggressive position-taking
- Focusing on HP trading rather than sustained firefights
- Supporting teammates by holding key terrain that controls map flow
- Taking care with ammunition selection given the slower fire rate
- Using the strong turret armor to bait shots while minimizing hull exposure
Community Reception
Initial community reactions to the M-VI-Y (120) have been mixed:
Questionable Value: Many players question whether this premium is necessary, noting that the tech tree M-VI-Y already offers a 120mm gun option alongside the preferred 105mm.
Modest Improvements: The community observes that you only gain 40 HP more damage per shot in exchange for 0.05 worse accuracy (0.35 vs 0.40) and reduced mobility, making the trade-off questionable for many players.
Premium Redundancy: Some players see this as yet another premium tank being created for Tier IX without a compelling gameplay reason, suggesting it’s primarily a monetization effort.
Potential Reward Tank: Speculation exists that the M-VI-Y (120) might be destined as an annual Tier IX reward tank rather than a direct sale premium.
Yoh Continuation: Others appreciate seeing the Yoh line expanded, viewing it as “Yoh The Tank: Chapter 3” following previous premium Yoh-inspired vehicles.
What Sets the M-VI-Y (120) Apart
The M-VI-Y (120) occupies a specific niche:
Premium Yoh Experience: For players who want to experience the reserve track mechanic while earning credits and training crew, this provides that opportunity without grinding the tech tree.
120mm Focus: Unlike the tech tree version where players typically prefer the 105mm, this vehicle commits fully to the 120mm alpha damage playstyle.
Classic American Heavy: The gameplay represents traditional American heavy tank strengths—excellent gun depression, strong turret armor, and hull-down dominance.
Economic Tool: As a premium, the primary value lies in credit earning and crew training rather than unique gameplay mechanics.
What’s Next?
The M-VI-Y (120) has progressed from Supertest to developer and supertester testing in Random Battles, suggesting it’s moving toward eventual release.
Key questions remain:
- Will this be sold directly or offered as a reward tank?
- Can the 120mm configuration compete with the tech tree M-VI-Y’s preferred 105mm setup?
- Is there sufficient demand for another Yoh premium given the existing lineup?
- Will balance adjustments occur before final release?
Final Thoughts
The M-VI-Y (120) represents a straightforward premium variant of an existing tech tree vehicle, offering the Yoh experience with premium economic benefits. While it doesn’t revolutionize gameplay or bring dramatically new capabilities, it provides a solid platform for credit earning while maintaining the reserve track mechanic that makes Yoh tanks unique.
For commanders who enjoy the Yoh playstyle and want a premium credit earner with excellent gun depression and hull-down capability, the M-VI-Y (120) delivers exactly that. The 440 alpha damage combined with –10 degrees depression and formidable turret armor creates a vehicle that excels at locking down key positions and dominating ridge fights.
Whether the M-VI-Y (120) represents good value depends largely on your circumstances: Do you already have the tech tree M-VI-Y? Do you need another Tier IX premium? Do you value the 120mm alpha over the 105mm DPM? These questions will determine whether this premium Yoh variant deserves a place in your garage.
