War Thunder News & Announcements
Hello again! We’re happy to be back with some more historical monthly decals for November, we hope you liked the options for October and are eager to unlock some more! As always you’ll have 5 brand new decals to unlock, and 5 others from older events to help you complete your collection. We’re happy to add the traditional British eye marking which has been requested for a while, and to include some interesting older decals like “Super Slick” and an obscure French emblem from the French 7th BCC. We hope you enjoy them, and keep leaving your suggestions!
“Chinese Eye” Marking“Chinese Eye” marking, Royal Tank Regiment, British Army. The tradition of painting eyes on tanks is almost as old as tanks themselves, dating back to the First World War. A prominent Chinese businessman named Eu Tong Sen gifted a tank to the British Army by donating £6,000, the cost of a tank at the time. He requested that a pair of eyes be painted on the new tank, a request that may have initially seemed unusual. This stems from a long-standing Chinese tradition of painting eyes on boats and vessels, based on the belief that a boat without eyes cannot see its way safely across the water. When Tank No. 2341 arrived, the crew of D Battalion of what was then the Royal Tank Corps honoured his request, painting a pair of eyes on each side. The practice was later formally adopted by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. This more modern rendition of the eye was often painted on the turret sides of the RTR's Challenger 2 tanks, near the front.
“The King” Inscription“The King” inscription, South Skåne Regiment (P 7), Swedish Army. Typical with many modern Swedish vehicles, many can regularly be seen featuring bold yellow nicknames during training and exercises. These names are often linked to Norse mythology, or otherwise depict grand or powerful words, names or phrases. This particular inscription was positioned on both sides of the turret on one of the Regiment’s Strv 122B tanks, on the upper side towards the front.
Personal Motif of Lt. Shuho Yamana, Japan154º Gruppo Emblem, Italy“Eternal Flame” Personal Marking, USSRPlay 20 battles while using Japanese Aircraft with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityScore 15000 points while flying Italian AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Soviet Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle Activity
Personal Motif of Lt. Shuho YamanaThe personal motif of Lieutenant Shuho Yamana, 2nd Yuso Hikotai (2nd Ferrying Squadron), IJAAF. Lieutenant Yamana's role in the air force was the logistical duty of aircraft ferrying, a task that often goes overlooked. He flew various military aircraft from repair yards or factories to front-line squadrons, taking no part in actual combat. His defining marker was a leaping white tiger, which he painted on several aircraft he flew. The meaning derives from an old saying that even after travelling long distances, a tiger will always return home, safe and strong. Lieutenant Yamana’s tigers were all slightly different, but this particular example was painted in the middle of the tail of a Ki-84 that he ferried in mid-1944.
154º Gruppo EmblemAn emblem of 154º Gruppo Autonomo C.T (154th Autonomous Land-Based Fighter Group), Regia Aeronautica. Italian air markings often incorporated more humor than most, with the emblem of the 154th Fighter Group being a great example. The marking pokes fun at Britain, the typical aerial opponent of the group. It depicts a chicken pierced by an arrow through an RAF roundel, it's also painted wearing wellington boots, a typical British Cliché. As with many similar emblems several variants exist with differing levels of detail, this particular example was painted by pilot Gualberto Benzi of the 396ª Squadriglia on his C. 202. It was placed behind and below the cockpit, but general placement of the marking also included the front and side of the cockpit on the group’s C. 202 and G.50 fighters.
“Eternal Flame” Personal Marking“Eternal Flame” marking, Soviet Army. The Eternal Flame symbol was first created in 1957 to honor fallen soldiers of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. It is a perpetually burning flame representing the eternal memory and courage of these soldiers, and many such memorials can be found at remembrance sites today. Its use as a tank marking is much rarer, with seemingly only a handful of known examples. This specific rendition was a personal marking of a T-62M crew in Afghanistan during the 1980s. It was positioned on the right side of the cheek armor block, above and to the right of the optic port.
“Super Slick” Inscription, USA7th BCC Emblem, FranceDefeat 20 players while flying American HelicoptersDefeat 40 players using French Light Tanks
“Super Slick” Inscription“Super Slick” inscription, U.S. Army. During the Vietnam War, the most recognizable vehicle was easily the UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, which served in numerous roles during the conflict. Alongside the famous gunship variants, the transport versions of the UH-1 were much more common and were used for ferrying troops, equipment, and evacuating the wounded. These transport models were stripped of all weaponry to maximize internal space. To differentiate them from armed versions, they received the unofficial nickname “Slicks” due to their more streamlined external appearance. One of these transport helicopters, which flew with the 336th Assault Company, was aptly named “Super Slick.” It now resides at the Marion County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The inscription was painted in the middle of the tail, just above the navigation light.
7th BCC EmblemAn emblem of the 7e Bataillon de Chars de Combat, 3ème cie, 2ème section (7th Combat Tank Battalion, 3rd Company, 2nd Section), French Army. The battalion was active during the early stages of the Second World War, equipped with the FCM.36. This humorous marking was a personal motif and not an official emblem of the battalion. It is relatively unknown, and lacks substantial context. It resembles a portly, knife-wielding duck. The tank it was painted on also featured the inscription “Mickey,” so it may have been inspired by cartoons to some degree. It was painted on FCM.36 No. 30057 on the right side of the turret, to the left of the lower viewport.
3. SFltl Emblem “Schwertfisch”, Germany131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” Emblem, ChinaPanserbataljonen Emblem, NorwayScore 15000 Damage while using German Coastal VesselsFinish in position 1-5 five times while flying Chinese aircraftScore 25000 points with Ground Vehicles3. SFltl Emblem “Schwertfisch”An emblem of 3. Schnellbootflottille (3rd Fast Boat Flotilla), Kriegsmarine. The majority of early S-Boats featured various recognizable emblems displayed prominently on their sides. There was generally a link between the types of markings depicted, with boats of the 3. SFltl all using sea creatures. Aside from unified aesthetics these emblems also provided a functional purpose, as the S-Boats lost their masts they could no longer use flags for identification, so the large emblems served as a way to quickly identify each vessel. The swordfish was the emblem of S 30, and was positioned to the side of the bridge on the hull, with the nose of the swordfish pointing towards the front of the boat.131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” EmblemThe emblem of the 131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” (大红鹰), PLAAF. The 131st Brigade became famous for being one of the key operators of the J-10 fighter, known as the “No. 1 J-10 Brigade”, and an elite unit within the Air Force, boasting many skilled pilots. Some of its pilots have won the prestigious “Golden Helmet” (金头盔) award, where pilots fight each other in simulated battles. The eagle's design mirrors the Chinese characters for 131 "一三一", with the red feathers loosely forming the same shape vertically. Newer fighters use a low-visibility version of the marking, but this older more colorful variant was often placed on the tail and under the middle of the cockpit on their J-10 fighters. Panserbataljonen EmblemThe emblem of the Panserbataljonen (Armored Battalion), Norwegian Army. Although more of a mechanized infantry unit than a purely armored one, the battalion was formed in Målselv on January 29th, 1987, fielding a wide variety of equipment. The badge of the battalion was inherited from the First Infantry Battalion No. 1, which was disbanded upon the creation of the Armored Battalion and absorbed into it. Despite the variant depicted here, the official name of the emblem is "Den sorte mink" (The black mink), which appears in black on the battalion's coat of arms. This variant is identical to the base emblem but painted in white, presumably for recognition and ease of identification on armored vehicles. The emblem was regularly painted on several vehicles of the battalion, and could be seen most frequently on the hull side of their CV90s, with the mink's head pointing towards the front.
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.
All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.We hope you like the decals for November! We’re working hard on the Spearhead major update at the moment, so until then, we hope you enjoy adding these decals to your collection, and we’ll see you in a months time!
The following decals will be available from November 7th (11:00 GMT) until December 8th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.“Chinese Eye” Marking, Britain“The King” Inscription, SwedenDefeat 50 players using British Ground VehiclesFinish in position 1-3 three times while using Swedish Tanks
“Chinese Eye” Marking“Chinese Eye” marking, Royal Tank Regiment, British Army. The tradition of painting eyes on tanks is almost as old as tanks themselves, dating back to the First World War. A prominent Chinese businessman named Eu Tong Sen gifted a tank to the British Army by donating £6,000, the cost of a tank at the time. He requested that a pair of eyes be painted on the new tank, a request that may have initially seemed unusual. This stems from a long-standing Chinese tradition of painting eyes on boats and vessels, based on the belief that a boat without eyes cannot see its way safely across the water. When Tank No. 2341 arrived, the crew of D Battalion of what was then the Royal Tank Corps honoured his request, painting a pair of eyes on each side. The practice was later formally adopted by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. This more modern rendition of the eye was often painted on the turret sides of the RTR's Challenger 2 tanks, near the front.
“The King” Inscription“The King” inscription, South Skåne Regiment (P 7), Swedish Army. Typical with many modern Swedish vehicles, many can regularly be seen featuring bold yellow nicknames during training and exercises. These names are often linked to Norse mythology, or otherwise depict grand or powerful words, names or phrases. This particular inscription was positioned on both sides of the turret on one of the Regiment’s Strv 122B tanks, on the upper side towards the front.
Personal Motif of Lt. Shuho Yamana, Japan154º Gruppo Emblem, Italy“Eternal Flame” Personal Marking, USSRPlay 20 battles while using Japanese Aircraft with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityScore 15000 points while flying Italian AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Soviet Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle Activity
Personal Motif of Lt. Shuho YamanaThe personal motif of Lieutenant Shuho Yamana, 2nd Yuso Hikotai (2nd Ferrying Squadron), IJAAF. Lieutenant Yamana's role in the air force was the logistical duty of aircraft ferrying, a task that often goes overlooked. He flew various military aircraft from repair yards or factories to front-line squadrons, taking no part in actual combat. His defining marker was a leaping white tiger, which he painted on several aircraft he flew. The meaning derives from an old saying that even after travelling long distances, a tiger will always return home, safe and strong. Lieutenant Yamana’s tigers were all slightly different, but this particular example was painted in the middle of the tail of a Ki-84 that he ferried in mid-1944.
154º Gruppo EmblemAn emblem of 154º Gruppo Autonomo C.T (154th Autonomous Land-Based Fighter Group), Regia Aeronautica. Italian air markings often incorporated more humor than most, with the emblem of the 154th Fighter Group being a great example. The marking pokes fun at Britain, the typical aerial opponent of the group. It depicts a chicken pierced by an arrow through an RAF roundel, it's also painted wearing wellington boots, a typical British Cliché. As with many similar emblems several variants exist with differing levels of detail, this particular example was painted by pilot Gualberto Benzi of the 396ª Squadriglia on his C. 202. It was placed behind and below the cockpit, but general placement of the marking also included the front and side of the cockpit on the group’s C. 202 and G.50 fighters.
“Eternal Flame” Personal Marking“Eternal Flame” marking, Soviet Army. The Eternal Flame symbol was first created in 1957 to honor fallen soldiers of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. It is a perpetually burning flame representing the eternal memory and courage of these soldiers, and many such memorials can be found at remembrance sites today. Its use as a tank marking is much rarer, with seemingly only a handful of known examples. This specific rendition was a personal marking of a T-62M crew in Afghanistan during the 1980s. It was positioned on the right side of the cheek armor block, above and to the right of the optic port.
“Super Slick” Inscription, USA7th BCC Emblem, FranceDefeat 20 players while flying American HelicoptersDefeat 40 players using French Light Tanks
“Super Slick” Inscription“Super Slick” inscription, U.S. Army. During the Vietnam War, the most recognizable vehicle was easily the UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, which served in numerous roles during the conflict. Alongside the famous gunship variants, the transport versions of the UH-1 were much more common and were used for ferrying troops, equipment, and evacuating the wounded. These transport models were stripped of all weaponry to maximize internal space. To differentiate them from armed versions, they received the unofficial nickname “Slicks” due to their more streamlined external appearance. One of these transport helicopters, which flew with the 336th Assault Company, was aptly named “Super Slick.” It now resides at the Marion County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The inscription was painted in the middle of the tail, just above the navigation light.
7th BCC EmblemAn emblem of the 7e Bataillon de Chars de Combat, 3ème cie, 2ème section (7th Combat Tank Battalion, 3rd Company, 2nd Section), French Army. The battalion was active during the early stages of the Second World War, equipped with the FCM.36. This humorous marking was a personal motif and not an official emblem of the battalion. It is relatively unknown, and lacks substantial context. It resembles a portly, knife-wielding duck. The tank it was painted on also featured the inscription “Mickey,” so it may have been inspired by cartoons to some degree. It was painted on FCM.36 No. 30057 on the right side of the turret, to the left of the lower viewport.
3. SFltl Emblem “Schwertfisch”, Germany131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” Emblem, ChinaPanserbataljonen Emblem, NorwayScore 15000 Damage while using German Coastal VesselsFinish in position 1-5 five times while flying Chinese aircraftScore 25000 points with Ground Vehicles3. SFltl Emblem “Schwertfisch”An emblem of 3. Schnellbootflottille (3rd Fast Boat Flotilla), Kriegsmarine. The majority of early S-Boats featured various recognizable emblems displayed prominently on their sides. There was generally a link between the types of markings depicted, with boats of the 3. SFltl all using sea creatures. Aside from unified aesthetics these emblems also provided a functional purpose, as the S-Boats lost their masts they could no longer use flags for identification, so the large emblems served as a way to quickly identify each vessel. The swordfish was the emblem of S 30, and was positioned to the side of the bridge on the hull, with the nose of the swordfish pointing towards the front of the boat.131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” EmblemThe emblem of the 131st Air Brigade “Great Red Eagle” (大红鹰), PLAAF. The 131st Brigade became famous for being one of the key operators of the J-10 fighter, known as the “No. 1 J-10 Brigade”, and an elite unit within the Air Force, boasting many skilled pilots. Some of its pilots have won the prestigious “Golden Helmet” (金头盔) award, where pilots fight each other in simulated battles. The eagle's design mirrors the Chinese characters for 131 "一三一", with the red feathers loosely forming the same shape vertically. Newer fighters use a low-visibility version of the marking, but this older more colorful variant was often placed on the tail and under the middle of the cockpit on their J-10 fighters. Panserbataljonen EmblemThe emblem of the Panserbataljonen (Armored Battalion), Norwegian Army. Although more of a mechanized infantry unit than a purely armored one, the battalion was formed in Målselv on January 29th, 1987, fielding a wide variety of equipment. The badge of the battalion was inherited from the First Infantry Battalion No. 1, which was disbanded upon the creation of the Armored Battalion and absorbed into it. Despite the variant depicted here, the official name of the emblem is "Den sorte mink" (The black mink), which appears in black on the battalion's coat of arms. This variant is identical to the base emblem but painted in white, presumably for recognition and ease of identification on armored vehicles. The emblem was regularly painted on several vehicles of the battalion, and could be seen most frequently on the hull side of their CV90s, with the mink's head pointing towards the front.
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.
All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.We hope you like the decals for November! We’re working hard on the Spearhead major update at the moment, so until then, we hope you enjoy adding these decals to your collection, and we’ll see you in a months time!
Today, we welcome the long awaited bomber variant of the famous Mosquito, coming in the Spearhead major update! Mosquito B Mk XVI: A Squadron Vehicle Bomber for Great Britain at Rank IIIAt a glance:
Vehicle HistoryBefore later fame as a Fighter Bomber, among other successful variants, the Mosquito started life as a high speed bomber design. This was a novel concept at a time, since most bombers were slow and cumbersome. The Mosquito bomber variants were an entirely unarmed (offensively) fast bomber, with speed being its main weapon. Taking flight in November 1940, the prototype Mosquito utilized the powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engines, coupled with a lightweight wooden construction, earning itself the nickname of “Wooden Wonder”. The earlier B Mk IV bomber would enter service from 1941. The later B Mk XVI incorporated multiple improvements. Most notably, two-stage Merlin powerplants and a pressurised cockpit suitable for higher altitude use, where the Mosquito’s speed came to be most useful. The B Mk XVI also featured the larger bulbus bomb bay, allowing the carry of the famous 4000 lb “Blockbuster” or “Cookie” bomb as it was also known, one of the largest bombs in RAF inventory. Introducing the Mosquito B Mk XVI!It’s been a long time coming! Today we are excited to introduce the Mosquito B Mk XVI, the bomber variant of the well known Mosquito family to War Thunder. Many of you have requested this particular variant, and for good reason! Let’s meet the high speed cookie delivery bomber and see what it has to offer in battle. The Mosquito B Mk XVI is fitted with a pair of supercharged two-stage Rolls Royce Merlin 70 series engines, with much better characteristics than the current Mosquitos offer, providing this version with an excellent top speed and rate of climb, enabling superior high altitude engine performance. This will be vital to success with the XVI, as speed is your only defensive option. This version features a clear nose for the bomb aimer, meaning all of the offensive armament is not present on this version of the aircraft. No guns? No problem! This Mossie has an ace card: a big bomb! The Mosquito B Mk XVI features an enlarged bomb bay, enabling it to house the famous H.C 4000 lb Blockbuster bomb (or “Cookie” bomb, hence the dev blog title) which you can already find in game on the Wellingtons, Lancasters and Lincoln. On these slow and heavy bombers, you’ll find yourself a much easier target, while the Mosquito can sweep in and deliver its payload much quicker and precisely, with enough speed to get you out of danger too! This makes this variant the perfect companion to your ground forces lineup, being ideal for Close Air Support. You get a cookie! You get a cookie! Everyone gets a cookie! In addition to the cookie bomb, you’ll be able to use conventional and AP bombs up to 500 lb, as well as RP-3 rockets and 1,000 lb Uncle Tom rockets. The Mosquito B Mk XVI will be joining the game as a Squadron Vehicle, due its niche but fun role in the game. This will offer an alternative to the already vast selection of British bombers and attackers found throughout War Thunder and provide Great Britain with a new lower ranking squadron vehicle option to choose from besides the Firecrest. As with all other squadron vehicles, it can be earned through accruing squadron activity points or it can be purchased with Golden Eagles outright. That’s all for now, you’ll be able to take to the skies in the Mosquito B Mk XVI in the Spearhead major update! Stay tuned to the news for more information on what else you can find. Until then happy battles, people. Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
- High speed bomber
- 4000lb “Cookie” bomb!
- No guns *sad cookie noises*
- Improved high altitude flight performance compared to other Mosquitos
Vehicle HistoryBefore later fame as a Fighter Bomber, among other successful variants, the Mosquito started life as a high speed bomber design. This was a novel concept at a time, since most bombers were slow and cumbersome. The Mosquito bomber variants were an entirely unarmed (offensively) fast bomber, with speed being its main weapon. Taking flight in November 1940, the prototype Mosquito utilized the powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engines, coupled with a lightweight wooden construction, earning itself the nickname of “Wooden Wonder”. The earlier B Mk IV bomber would enter service from 1941. The later B Mk XVI incorporated multiple improvements. Most notably, two-stage Merlin powerplants and a pressurised cockpit suitable for higher altitude use, where the Mosquito’s speed came to be most useful. The B Mk XVI also featured the larger bulbus bomb bay, allowing the carry of the famous 4000 lb “Blockbuster” or “Cookie” bomb as it was also known, one of the largest bombs in RAF inventory. Introducing the Mosquito B Mk XVI!It’s been a long time coming! Today we are excited to introduce the Mosquito B Mk XVI, the bomber variant of the well known Mosquito family to War Thunder. Many of you have requested this particular variant, and for good reason! Let’s meet the high speed cookie delivery bomber and see what it has to offer in battle. The Mosquito B Mk XVI is fitted with a pair of supercharged two-stage Rolls Royce Merlin 70 series engines, with much better characteristics than the current Mosquitos offer, providing this version with an excellent top speed and rate of climb, enabling superior high altitude engine performance. This will be vital to success with the XVI, as speed is your only defensive option. This version features a clear nose for the bomb aimer, meaning all of the offensive armament is not present on this version of the aircraft. No guns? No problem! This Mossie has an ace card: a big bomb! The Mosquito B Mk XVI features an enlarged bomb bay, enabling it to house the famous H.C 4000 lb Blockbuster bomb (or “Cookie” bomb, hence the dev blog title) which you can already find in game on the Wellingtons, Lancasters and Lincoln. On these slow and heavy bombers, you’ll find yourself a much easier target, while the Mosquito can sweep in and deliver its payload much quicker and precisely, with enough speed to get you out of danger too! This makes this variant the perfect companion to your ground forces lineup, being ideal for Close Air Support. You get a cookie! You get a cookie! Everyone gets a cookie! In addition to the cookie bomb, you’ll be able to use conventional and AP bombs up to 500 lb, as well as RP-3 rockets and 1,000 lb Uncle Tom rockets. The Mosquito B Mk XVI will be joining the game as a Squadron Vehicle, due its niche but fun role in the game. This will offer an alternative to the already vast selection of British bombers and attackers found throughout War Thunder and provide Great Britain with a new lower ranking squadron vehicle option to choose from besides the Firecrest. As with all other squadron vehicles, it can be earned through accruing squadron activity points or it can be purchased with Golden Eagles outright. That’s all for now, you’ll be able to take to the skies in the Mosquito B Mk XVI in the Spearhead major update! Stay tuned to the news for more information on what else you can find. Until then happy battles, people. Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
The first flight of the Heinkel He 219 prototype took place on November 6th 1942, at the Rostock-Marienehe factory airfield. The He 219 was the first combat aircraft to be equipped with ejection seats. Many modifications of the aircraft were produced, the last one being the He 219 A-7 in late 1944.The He 219 A-7 is temporarily available for purchase for 2,980 Golden Eagles!When: From November 6th (11:00 GMT) until November 10th (11:00 GMT).Where: Germany > Aviation > Premium vehicles. About this aircraft
- The He 219 A-7 (rank IV) is one of the most advanced modifications of the He 219, featuring upgraded engines and substantial frontal armor. In addition to its rate of climb and survivability, it also boasts powerful forward-firing armament consisting of two 20 mm and four 30 mm cannons.
Hey everyone, today we’d like to go into detail regarding the new Damage Control mechanic for naval vehicles and clarify any misconceptions about the change and repairing in general.How does the Damage Control mechanic work?In the Spearhead major update, we’ll be introducing a new Damage Control (DC) mechanic for every naval vessel in the game. In this updated form of damage control, you’ll be able to pre-select three different action presets that replace the basic manual repairs: firefighting, module repair, and water pumping. After receiving damage, all three DC processes begin automatically, and you can adjust the priority of which area you want to focus on. The manual quick repair is no longer needed, as the repairs will always be carried out automatically by the crew as long as it’s possible to do so.Every ship will have an individual DC coefficient, which will be affected by the size of the vessel, crew count, and generation of the ship. The newer the ship, the more advanced and effective its damage control process will be. A high crew count will improve this further, and relative to the amount of crew it will also be more effective in general on smaller vessels, as the damaged areas can be reached by crew faster. The coefficient reduces the time penalty for the second and third DC processes in the setup you’ve selected, but not significantly. So in short, your ship will be repaired automatically, as long as there are crew resources for it!How did repairing work previously?Previously, some players deliberately did not repair knocked-out modules and compartments with the intention of “saving” part of the crew that remained in those areas. For example if the engine was destroyed, fewer crew would be there, and so less damage would be taken. This is no longer possible with the new system. The ability to do this was a consequence of the old system, but not an intended one. This “tactic” was not intentional as the advantage it gave was antithetical to gameplay and the intentions of the mechanic. We did not consider this a critical “exploit” for lack of better words, as this crew saving was not particularly impactful. For example, the combat crew of a gun turret or an ammunition elevator on a battleship is 10-20 people out of a total crew of, say, 1000 in total.Fundamentally, the key issue with deliberately not repairing certain areas of the ship was that it was unfair to the player shooting at it. The most important modules are typically protected by the strongest armor, and to defeat this you need to pick the right shell, set the right range, and lead the shot accordingly. If a player does everything “right”, besting the defenses of an enemy ship, they should be rewarded for successfully carrying out that action. The unintended ability to lessen the reward for the player landing their shots harms gameplay overall.Rounding offWe understand that DC may be seen as taking away agency, but this decision is in favour of fairer gameplay across the board, and rewarding the active player in the engagement. You penetrated an enemy ship in a critical spot? Excellent, you’ll be rewarded for that. You got hit by an enemy in a critical spot? Then they deserve the reward for that. This old system let a player reduce the reward gained by another player arbitrarily, and at the same time, engaging with a critically damaged ship does not exactly make for engaging gameplay, as it reduces the ability to move and fire.This new system will keep ships in fighting form more effectively, and make battles more dynamic and, importantly, fair. This will also mean everyone can put more concentration into combat and action. Thank you for reading, we hope this has clarified everything for you! Please leave your feedback and suggestions on the forum and War Thunder’s social media pages. Thank you for being with us, seven feet under the keel and good luck on the waves!
The BTR-82AT is a thoroughly modernized variant of the BTR-80/82 family, arriving in the Spearhead major update with advanced weapon systems, optional slat armor, and powerful ATGMs!BTR-82AT: A Light Tank for the USSR at Rank VIAt a glance:
- 30 mm cannon
- Powerful tandem-warhead Kornet ATGMs
- Thermal imager
- Spall liners, along with an optional armor package
- Good mobility
- Large in size
Following the defeat at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Austria-Hungary capitulated in the First World War. Under the terms of the armistice that came into effect on November 4th 1918, Italy received a number of territories, completing its unification. This is why November 4th is celebrated both as National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day in memory of the victory that completed the reunification of Italian lands, which started in the mid-19th century.The P40 “G.C. Leoncello” and M43 “G.C. Leoncello” are temporarily available for purchase with a 50% discount for 575 and 650 Golden Eagles respectively!When: From November 4th (11:00 GMT) until November 7th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Army > Premium Vehicles.About these tanks
- The P40 “G.C. Leoncello” (rank II) was developed in 1940 for the North African front, but only saw its first combat in 1943 in Italy itself, fighting on the side of the Axis powers (the “Leoncelli” group fought for the Italian Social Republic). The P40 is a well-balanced tank in terms of its characteristics, with good APHE and HEAT shells, effective armor and solid mobility.
- The M43 “G.C.Leoncello” (rank III) is a compact but hard-hitting tank, featuring a 105 mm cannon and a unique camouflage pattern from the “Leonchello” group. Its HEAT round with 120 mm of penetration is capable of punching through any opponent at its rank!
- 20-50% Research Point booster for 3-10 battles
- 20-50% Silver Lion booster for 3-10 battles
- 3-5 universal backups
- 1 day of Premium account
- You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
- Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Italy’s National Unity and Armed Forces Day.
We’re continuing to visually improve the most popular locations in War Thunder! And in the Spearhead major update, we’re pleased to say that we’re updating the Carpathians map for ground battles. As with other locations that have been in rotation for a long time, our main goal is to refresh the appearance while preserving the familiar geometry and navigation. Let’s check it out!All environmental objects on this location have been completely redesigned. From the fields and rocks, to the terrain itself, buildings and ruins, they’ve all been recreated from scratch. Detailed rocks and pathways have been added, and all vegetation, such as grass, bushes and trees have been replaced and improved.The overall climate of the location has changed a little as well. The map is now greener, which is typical for the warm surroundings of the Carpathian Mountains. The central part of this location, which was previously covered with fresh trenches, dugouts and bunkers, is now covered with grass. The fighting here ended six months ago, and nature has begun to reclaim the area.The ruins of the fortress and watchtowers have been significantly improved visually. In addition to the graphical enhancements with the addition of moss and climbing plants, the ancient structures now have foundations and bases, which makes the architecture more realistic.One of the legends of the Carpathian Mountains is the tale of Syn and Vir, the daughter of a count and simple shepherd, who were in love with each other. The tyrannical count ordered Vir to be killed, and the tender-hearted Syn shed bright blue tears at the place of her lover’s death, which which bloomed into a magnificent mountain lake. Following our tradition, we’ve included an Easter Egg inspired by this melancholy Carpathian legend of these two inseparable lovers!
Welcome to the 196th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Thank you for all of your submissions last week! The seasons are changing, and nature briefly takes on vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold before winter sets in. This week, capture a screenshot that reflects the colors of autumn! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 196th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen196. You have time until the 7th of November to submit your screenshot.
After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.
How to Participate!
Terms:
- Your screenshot must include a player vehicle and the colors red, yellow, or brown.
- You must add the #WTscreen196 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
- Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
- Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
- You need to be the author of the screenshot.
- Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
- We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
- You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
- You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
- Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.
And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 195th edition – Battlefield Specters!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593362026
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593261444
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3594125191
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593784985
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593017753
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593865024
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
Deep Strike, an asymmetrical mode where one team attacks and the other defends important industrial facilities at several locations, returns again this weekend!When: From October 31st (12:00 GMT) until November 3rd (12:00 GMT)Where: Navigate to Events and Tournaments in the hangar -> Deep Strike We’re using Deep Strike as a testing ground for ideas that we’re exploring for a new type of operation in World War Mode, called Aerial Warfare. Catch up with all the details surrounding Deep Strike in our previous news article about it here. Below, we’ll go over what has changed since the first iteration of the mode.Changes:
- A new mission variant on the Vietnam map has been added.
- The durability of infrastructure buildings has been reduced, making them easier to destroy.
- Infrastructure has been made slightly damaged at the start of the mission, making it easier for the attackers to see it and destroy it. We’ve made this change in this test because in Aerial Warfare, the operation where Deep Strike will be available in within World War Mode, infrastructure will often already be damaged due to previous battles occurring. We want to test how it will be under regular battle conditions.
Meet China’s new jet attack aircraft: the JH-7 and pre-orders for the premium JH-7A Prototype!JH-7: An Attack Aircraft for China at Rank VIIJH-7A Prototype: A Premium Attack Aircraft for China at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
This pack includes:
- Excellent arsenal of guided (JH-7A Prototype) and unguided (JH-7) weapons
- Supersonic
- Many countermeasures (chaff and flares)
- Anti-ship missiles (JH-7) and advanced air-to-air missiles (JH-7A Prototype)
This pack includes:
- JH-7A Prototype (Rank VIII, China)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- Pre-order bonus: unique title "Flying leopard"
- Pre-order bonus: unique "Flying leopard" decal
Download Wallpaper: 1920x1080 - 2560x1440 - 3840x2160Happy Birthday, War Thunder! The War Thunder open beta test began on November 1st 2012. Just think, that was 13 years ago! We’ve come a long way together since then, and we’re happy to invite all of you to celebrate the game’s birthday with us! Following the in-game and store discounts, we’re pleased to be introducing the unique XF5U-1 in the Dreams Come True event, another chance to get the legendary Maus tank, and a celebratory decal to commemorate War Thunder’s 13th anniversary. Check it all out! Dreams Come True: XF5U-1 When: From October 31st (11:00 GMT) until November 14th (11:00 GMT). Take part in the Dreams Come True event and get a fun pancake profile frame, decals, a loading screen and the XF5U-1 “Flying Flapjack”, also known as the pancake! The XF5U-1 is essentially one large wing, allowing you to perform sharp turns and frankly incredible stall maneuvers. This master of dogfighting is armed with six .50 cals and really does look like a classic UFO, and pancake too of course!Learn more about the XF5U-1 event here: Get War Thunder’s 13th Anniversary Decal! When: From October 31st (11:00 GMT) until November 6th (11:00 GMT). Get War Thunder’s 13th Anniversary commemorative decal for playing one battle!Task: Play 1 battle with any vehicle at rank III or higher in any game mode to get the “War Thunder’s 13th Anniversary” decal.“War Thunder’s 13th Anniversary” decalThe Return of the Legendary Maus! When: From October 31st (11:00 GMT) until November 6th (11:00 GMT).A regular guest during our anniversary celebrations is the Maus tank, which you can start researching during the specified dates!
- To start researching the Maus, you need to have rank V of the German ground forces tree unlocked for research.
- Spend research points or convert free research into the Maus within the specified time period! If you put any research towards the Maus (even a single point), it will not disappear after the event ends, meaning you’ll be able to finish researching it at any time you like after the event.
Today we’re very excited to share the special vehicle for this year’s Dreams Come True event – the experimental American XF5U-1 “Flying Flapjack”!XF5U-1: A Premium Fighter for the USA at Rank IVAt a glance:
- Unique aerodynamic design
- Very low stall speed
- Equipped with six .50 caliber guns and bombs
- Capable of very tight turns
Hey everyone! Following on from the model update of the Tiger II (Nr.1-50) in the previous major update, today we’re pleased to present you with another model update, this time for the serial production of the Tiger II manufactured by Henschel, as well as the version with the Sla.16 diesel engine!The Tiger II isn’t just an iconic tank for all fans of military history or an engineering masterpiece that influenced the development of most heavy tanks of its era, it’s also one of the best and most beloved heavy tanks among players in War Thunder. We’re pleased to bring you a completely updated look for the King Tiger, as well as the experimental Tiger II (Sla.16), which you’ll find in the game when the Spearhead major update releases!
Today we’ll be taking a look at a very unique Dutch prototype fighter, the Fokker D.XXIII! With powerful guns and a good top speed, this rare bird never made it past the testing stage, but will soon be making its way to the French research tree in the next major update!Fokker D.XXIII: A Dutch Fighter for France at Rank IIAt a glance:
- Powerful 13.2 mm machine guns!
- A pair of push and pull props
- Good maneuverability
Today we’re checking out the most modern French light tank, armed with a 40 mm cannon and tandem-charge anti-tank missiles!Jaguar EBRC: A Light Tank for France at Rank VIIAt a glance:
- 40 mm cannon with a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute
- Akeron MP ATGM with a tandem warhead
- Maximum speed of 100 km/h
- Large in size, making it easy to hit
It’s War Thunder’s 13th birthday anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than with sales on the Gaijin Store! A huge number of vehicle packs available at a discount, so be sure to check them out and see what takes your fancy! When: From October 29th (11:00 GMT) until November 3rd (11:00 GMT). To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.M1A1 HC "Click-Bait" Pack -50%69.99 35This pack includes:
- M1A1 HC "Click-Bait" (Rank VII, USA)
- Premium account for 20 days
- 2500 Golden Eagles
- F/A-18С Early (Rank VIII, USA)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- Type 90B "Fuji" (Rank VII, Japan)
- Premium account for 20 days
- 2500 Golden Eagles
- F-16A Block 10 Netz (Rank VIII, Israel)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- AMX A-1 Pack
- IJN Yamashiro Pack
- AV-8S Matador Pack
- F-4EJ Phantom II ADTW Pack
- Centauro RGO Pack
- Harrier T.10 Pack
The Venezuelan Su-30 possesses a vast arsenal of weapons and is capable of brilliantly performing combat missions in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat!Su-30MK2 AMV: A Premium Jet Fighter for the USSR at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
This pack includes:
- Huge arsenal of advanced weaponry
- Large payload capacity
- High speed
- Helmet-mounted display
- No thrust vectoring control
This pack includes:
- Su-30MK2 AMV (Rank VIII, USSR)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- Pre-order bonus: unique title “The paladin of sovereignty”
- Pre-order bonus: unique decal “132nd Squadron Venezuelan Air Force patch”
- Pre-order bonus: unique anniversary camouflage
Hey everyone! Today we wanted to go over some minor changes that will come to ground force trees soon.With the release of the next major update, some vehicles in ground force trees will be rearranged. These vehicles are currently marked with a special icon in-game. These changes are being implemented to improve the structure of the trees and to ensure that vehicle Battle Ratings more accurately reflect their ranks, which provides smoother progression.In order: USA, Germany, USSR, Great Britain, China, Italy, France, Sweden, IsraelWe’re announcing these upcoming changes in advance to give you the opportunity to plan your research path in the game at the current time, with the knowledge of how the ground force trees will look in the near future.
Today we’ll be taking a look at the AH-56A Cheyenne, a special helicopter coming to the USA as a squadron vehicle!AH-56A Cheyenne: A Squadron Vehicle Attack Helicopter for the USA at Rank VIAt a glance:
- The first compound helicopter in War Thunder!
- Three propellers
- Good top speed and maneuverability
- Limited armament: rockets and TOW missiles
- Requires propeller pitch control
Today we’re taking a look at a new tank coming to the higher ranks of Chinese tech tree: the fast and wheeled CM-34 IFV with a 30 mm Bushmaster cannon!CM-34: A Light Tank for China at Rank VIAt a glance:
- 30 mm cannon with APFSDS belts
- Thermal imagers for all crew members
- Speed up to 100 km/h