War Thunder News & Announcements
Hey everyone, on June 24th from 08:00 GMT, the War Thunder game servers may be unavailable due to the release of the Heavy Cavalry major update!Please note that this update requires more data to be downloaded than usual. About 20 GB more for the standard client and 35 GB more for clients with ultra-high quality for ground vehicle textures. This is because we have changed the compression format of all ground vehicle textures, helping to improve their quality without virtually any increase in the total size of the textures.So that players with login streaks don’t miss out, the resetting of the daily login counter after not logging in for some time has been been temporarily disabled. The counter will resume operating under normal rules after June 26th at 08:00 GMT.Be sure to catch up on what content is coming in this update by looking at our dev blogs while you wait for your game to download. The major update announcement and full major changelog will be published when the update is released and ready to play.Thank you for your understanding.
We’re constantly refining many vehicle and weapon parameters, and the Heavy Cavalry major update is no exception. While tuning missile flight models to better match their real-world counterparts, we’ve introduced new missile mechanics, and we’re excited to share them with you!The Effect of Pressure on Rocket Engine ThrustOne of the major changes is related to a new mechanic used in missiles: the dependence of the rocket engine’s exhaust velocity on atmospheric pressure. Previously, rocket engines in the game always produced a certain “average” thrust, usually for an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters. Now, thrust will increase when the external pressure decreases, and consequently with increasing altitude.The first missiles to use this mechanic are the AIM-54 Phoenix family. In the future, along with modifications to existing missiles based on your reports and newly available data, we plan to add this mechanic to all other missile systems.AIM-54Thanks to your reports, we’ve significantly reworked the flight model of the Phoenix missiles in this major update. In addition to the thrust-pressure relationship that we wrote above, which allow missiles to fly a little bit faster and further at higher altitudes, changes have been made to nearly every parameter, including those related to maneuverability. For example, the maximum G-force has increased from 17G to 22G and 25G for the AIM-54A and AIM-54C respectively, and the maximum trim angle of attack has doubled from 12.5 to 25 degrees. This will allow these missiles to better turn toward the target and operate more effectively at relatively short ranges, making them slightly more versatile. Missile Air-breathing Engine ImprovementsWe’ll not only be introducing the new ramjet found on the new Kh-31, but we’ll also be introducing turbojet engines on a number of existing missiles, including the AGM-84 and Kh-59M. While fuel consumption and thrust for these engines were previously constant, after the update, they will depend on flight speed and altitude. The higher and faster the missile flies, the less fuel it consumes, but the thrust decreases.Autopilot Engine ActivationIn the previous major update, we introduced the I-DERBY ER missile, which is the first dual-pulse missile in the game. In Heavy Cavalry, it’s joined by the British ALARM anti-radiation missile, whose engine also fires in two stages: once at launch and again at the optimal moment of flight.In reality, one of the things the second pulse on ALARM is needed for is loitering munition capabilities. Upon arrival at the loitering point, the missile deploys a parachute and slowly falls, waiting for a target to appear, after which it jettisons the parachute and re-ignites the engine. In the game however, at least for now, the second pulse will be used for only two purposes: maximizing range, so the launch vehicle can remain as far away from the threat as possible, and increasing the missile’s velocity in the terminal portion of its trajectory.However, the ability to activate the engine in flight isn’t limited to dual-pulse rocket engines. This update adds a delayed engine start mechanic to the PGM-500, PGM-2000, and AGM-130A-12 guided bombs, significantly increasing their range. Engine operation can also be clearly seen on the new missile comparison screen below! Before booster activation, the speed decreases in flight, and then begins to increase as thrust appears.Altitude HoldSome bombs and missiles, including those with in-flight correction capabilities, maintain their cruising altitude instead of climbing and then diving, which, among other things, makes them more difficult for the enemy to intercept. This update adds this capability to the following bombs and missiles: AGM-130A-12, PGM-500, PGM-2000, AJ.168, LMUR, CM-502KG, and SPIKE-ER.
As a reminder, helicopter ammunition will not have man-in-the-loop capabilities in this update. We plan to add it in the next major update once most nations have helicopters with suitable armament.Our Future PlansThis update will introduce the technical ability to change lift coefficient based on Mach number. It increases at subsonic speeds, drops sharply at transonic speeds, and gradually decreases at supersonic speeds. The first missiles to be simulated with this physics feature will be the AIM-7 and R-27 series missiles. We’re currently working on refining their flight models to bring their drag, thrust, and maneuverability data closer to real-world counterparts, and plan to release these changes after the Heavy Cavalry major update.Mechanics for changing lift coefficient based on speed will be added to all missiles in the game in the future, and we will keep updating the flight models of various bombs and missiles based on your reports and emerging data, while simultaneously implementing various new mechanics for older missiles.That’s all for today! The Heavy Cavalry major update is coming soon, and you’ll be able to try out the updated missiles for yourself.
Japan is getting an Indonesian Leopard 2RI with additional armor and a high-end round!Leopard 2RI: An MBT for Japan at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
- Add-on armor package
- DM53 APFSDS
- High mobility
Developer comment: With the arrival of the Indonesian Leopard 2RI, Japan now has one of the most versatile sets of top-tier vehicles: the Japanese TKX and Type 10 represent domestic Japanese designs, the Thai Oplot-T carries the legacy of the Warsaw Pact tank traditions, and now the Leopard represents modern Western European armored vehicles. All of these together give Japan a nice variety of playstyles.Vehicle HistoryIn May 2013, the German government approved the delivery of heavy weapons to Indonesia. The initial delivery package included refurbished and modernized armored vehicles, as well as related materials and ammunition. Subsequently, most of the Leopard 2 tanks were further upgraded under the Revolution program, which included enhanced armor protection, the installation of new equipment and systems to enable operation in hot climates, and the adaptation of the gun to fire new ammunition.That’s it for this one folks, we hoped you enjoyed having a read. Until the next dev blog, take care and see you soon!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
Welcome to the 229th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Thanks for your great screenshots that you submitted last week! This week, grab a friend or a squadmate and snap a picture. Going into battle with a friend is a great way to avoid one on one stalemates- divide and conquer! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 229th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen229. You have time until the 26th of June 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 two or more allied (teammate) vehicles.
- You must add the #WTscreen229 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 228th edition – The Early Years!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3743732323
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3743810673
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3744664820
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3745399520
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3746842877
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3745811472
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
Hey everyone, today we’ll be going into detail on the hull protection of the new Abrams models, armed with scales, a ruler, and all the available data we have.We’ll start with clarifying the data we used to create the version of the tank we have in game. We know the hull armor of the Abrams is a topic of heated debate, so we want to be as thorough as possible.Very briefly, our conclusion is that there is evidence to suggest that changes were made to the frontal armor of the hull, so let’s get started!The Hull Front: Projects, Myths, and FactsAny serious improvement in protection always leads to an increase in the component’s weight and/or a change in its dimensions. For example, the switch to depleted uranium increased the weight of the M1A1 turret by 2.5 tons, while the M1A2 SEP V3 turret weighs over 4 tons more than the M1A2 turret. Back in the 90s, engineers understood that the hull protection of the Abrams was not keeping pace with the development of anti-armor weapons. This gave rise to projects such as the M1A3 Abrams with altered geometry and increased external dimensions (this is not referring to the modern Abrams currently undergoing trials, which will likely receive the M1A3 designation). Those blueprints remained as blueprints however, they were never built in metal, because doing so would have required a complete redesign of the front section of the vehicle.The M1A3, a 1990s project. The changes to the hull geometry remained on paper. Source: IMPACT OF LOADING DISTRIBUTION OF ABRAMS SUSPENSION ON TRACK PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITYRickard O. Lindström, Test Rig ACERS T90-1 during Ballistic Trials, photograph, Projekt Stridsvagn Ny Archive, https://www.ointres.se/strv_ny-16.jpg.Locations of composite armor incorporating depleted uranium on five experimental vehicles. Source: Nuclear regulatory commission renewal license application for DU armor.In the years that followed the Abrams’ introduction to the game, debates over its hull reinforcement repeatedly came up. The document regarding uranium inserts on prototypes at tank training facilities was cited routinely, and hypotheses were put forward regarding other methods of armor enhancement. In each instance however, no confirmation of these claims could be reasonably ascertained. Although, in photographs of the SEP V3 hull, we can clearly see a new weld seam in the frontal armor package area. No such seam existed here on the SEP V2 and earlier variants. This is one of the few direct pieces of evidence that some work was carried out on the hull armor package.Another weld seam is visible on the hullSource: IMPACT OF LOADING DISTRIBUTION OF ABRAMS SUSPENSION ON TRACK PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITYOn the ScalesChanges in weight across various Abrams variants. Source: An Independent Assessment of the 2040 Battlefield and its Implications for the 5th Generation Combat Vehicle (5GCV), Department of the Army Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 2023Weight placard data for the turrets of certain variants. Source: IMPACT OF LOADING DISTRIBUTION OF ABRAMS SUSPENSION ON TRACK PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITYThis is where things get particularly interesting. When we attempt to assess what exactly has changed internally, we naturally run into the question of weight. The overall weight of the SEP V3 hull increased, but the increase is minimal.A lot of work was put into cross referencing between all existing sources, but we were unable to identify a reliable, concrete weight difference between the earlier versions and this variant. The issue is not that the data itself is poor, but that the tank itself was constantly changing. Weight was saved in one area while being added in another.A good example of this is that the transition to heavier torsion bars was accompanied by the replacement of steel road wheel arm brackets with lighter aluminum ones, which partially offset the added weight. The SEP V3 also received massive tow pintle hooks, reinforced brackets for mine protection, and new APU armor, all of which increased the weight. It is extremely difficult to come to an accurate estimate of the change in hull weight in general, and even harder to conclude anything reliably in relation to the armor package itself. In this regard it’s always important to keep in mind that not everything with weight inside a tank is armor.Looking at the combat weight data compiled for various Abrams variants and the weight of their turrets, the estimated change in hull weight is roughly 500 kilograms. Within the fixed finite dimensions of the hull front and working with such a limited weight budget, it is impossible to achieve a tangible increase in protection to a degree where modern kinetic weapons would be negated.In order to protect the hull from APFSDS rounds that emerged after the mid-1980s (while retaining the same hull geometry, which is a fixed restraint), the entire available space would have to be filled with thick steel plates or other heavy fill materials. This can be calculated, and a package would have added no less than 2 tonnes, and no such increase is present.Front Torsion BarsHere we run into another important factor, the load on the front suspension. On the Abrams, the armor package and fuel tanks are positioned far forward, and all of that mass is putting pressure on the first pair of torsion bars. On other contemporary tanks, a comparable load is distributed across two pairs of road wheels, in this case however, it’s not. Adding several tonnes of weight in this area critically reduces the service life of the first road wheels, torsion bars, swing arms, and other components of the suspension structure. For such an alteration to be logistically possible, engineers would have to redesign the entire suspension system, and provably no redesign was undertaken.Weight BudgetBased on the Army Science Board report, the baseline SEP V3 without any additional modules weighs 66.76 tonnes. This figure is our starting point. Based on the above, we can model an improvement to the hull armor package within the bounds of this confirmed weight increase. The new weld seam indicates that some form of work was carried out on the hull armor package. As the exact particulars of this work are not defined, the only assumption we can make is that the modifications made to the armor package must have been made within the specified weight budget, and within that budget, protection against modern kinetic energy penetrators is unachievable.The main focal point here is that while improvements against kinetic rounds could have been made in theory, the provable constraints of the space would mean that even though protection could be improved, it would be impossible to improve it to the extent that the armor would be able to defeat rounds it previously couldn’t within typical engagement ranges. Therefore, spending the extra weight budget on this kind of protection, while possible, would not lead to any tangible improvement to justify the alteration. Any alterations to the armor have to be logistically and functionally justifiable. Because of this, it is much more likely that any potential improvement in protection would be geared more towards defeating shaped charge (HEAT) threats, which in real life have been the primary threat to tanks over the past 40 years, in which improvement would be tangible within the constraints. As with all armor geared towards protection form HEAT, it does offer a marginal protection increase against modern kinetic rounds as well, but this will naturally be fairly minimal.ConclusionThere is no confirmed data on the specific hull armor properties of the M1A2 SEP V3, the only thing that’s provable is that some modification was made to the armor array in the frontal hull. The hull armor of the SEP V3 will be strengthened in game, in relation to the only reasonable assumption we’re able to make based on the known change in weight. In the game, the tank’s hull will be better protected when compared to previous variants of the Abrams. This improvement is in line with what the engineers would be able to achieve without redesigning the entire vehicle from scratch.In addition, and perhaps more importantly, we are currently working on the hull and turret armor of all tanks in the Abrams family. Part of this work includes converting sections of the armor to the volumetric model, which will improve survivability universally. This improves protection around the upper hull area and the turret ring, which we consider to be more impactful in game than the lower plate itself.
This rare ground attack variant of the Fw 189 will be joining the German air tree in the next major update!Fw 189 С: A Premium Attacker for Germany at Rank IAt a glance:
- Heavily armored cockpit
- Powerful frontal armament
- Strong defensive gunner
- Low speed overall
This fantastic Fw 189 modification was a collaborative effort, and we’d like to thank War Thunder players Vitaliy “NovA29” Vostokov who worked on the exterior model, and Daniil “Joy_Division__” Zaytsev who made the cockpit. Thanks a lot fellas!Developer comment: This collectible attacker will arrive at rank I for Germany, costing a very small amount of Golden Eagles. It’s well armed and very well armored, but the fairly weak engines lead to poor flight performance across the board. Historically, the aircraft was designed to operate in environments where air superiority had already been achieved, so armor and firepower were the only vital considerations. In the contested skies of War Thunder, however, you’ll rarely have such a luxury!Vehicle HistoryThe story of the Fw 189 C begins in April 1937, when the Technical Bureau of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) issued a request for a new ground attack aircraft, which had to be relatively small, with heavy frontal armament and armor. The aim of this proposed aircraft was to operate in the ground attack role in environments where air supremacy had already been achieved, which put the focus on frontal armor protection rather than speed and agility.The submission by Focke-Wulf was accepted for trials, alongside Henschel. Focke-Wulf used a modified Fw 189 airframe for the trial, replacing the large glazed cockpit for a small, well-protected and very cramped alternative. The first V1b test vehicle was unarmed, and primarily used to gauge the flight performance of the new cockpit. During an evaluation flight in Bremen, however, the aircraft struck a hangar and was lost, which prompted a redesign.The final V6 test vehicle was fully armed with four machine guns and two cannons, along with a strengthened center wing and undercarriage. The V6 along with Henschel’s design took part in various trials for the RLM, in which both aircraft were considered extremely poor. They were sluggish, slow, and underpowered. Test pilots were slightly more in favor of the Focke-Wulf design, though Henschel’s project, which would eventually become the Hs 129, proved to be much cheaper to produce, and thus won the contest. The Fw 189 C project was soon abandoned after the trials, with the prototype scrapped sometime after.Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
Today we’re diving into the details of an iconic American jet fighter from the Cold War era!F-101C Voodoo: A Jet Fighter for the USA at Rank VIAt a glance:
- High speed and rate of climb
- Radar and RWR
- 20 mm cannons
- No air-to-air missiles
Developer comment: In the American interceptor line, there has been a noticeable gap in Battle Rating between the early F-80C-10, to the more advanced F-104A Starfighter for some time now. These aircraft function very differently, their speed and rate of climb significantly differ, and the F-104A has air-to-air missiles and a radar, making it a completely different aircraft compared to the F-80C-10 in terms of Battle Rating and playstyle. This makes the F-101C Voodoo a perfect aircraft to fill the gap between these two planes, acting as a strong jet for beginners to start learning the ropes of faster aircraft and more advanced equipment. The Voodoo is set to be a strong competitor to the early MiG-21 variants, the entire MiG-19 series and other popular aircraft seen at rank VI.Vehicle HistoryThe F-101 Voodoo fighter was developed by McDonnell in response to the US Strategic Air Command’s urgent need for a long-range escort fighter to protect B-36 and B-52 intercontinental bombers. In 1951, McDonnell’s design won the competition, and the first F-101A flew in 1954.With the end of the Korean War, Tactical Air Command saw it as a promising fighter-bomber with nuclear strike capability, but the design was unsuitable for low-altitude tactical operations due to G-force limitations. To address this issue, the F-101C was developed with a strengthened structure, allowing maneuvers at up to 7.33G. It was identical in appearance and armament to its predecessor, but was slightly heavier.The first F-101C took to the air on August 21st 1957; a total of 47 of these aircraft were built.The F-101C Voodoo is set to be a great transitional aircraft in between the F-80 and the first Starfighter, with high speed, great guns and a radar and RWR. Until the next blog, see you around!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
Graphics
- Fixed an issue where enabling ray reconstruction in the ray tracing settings did not actually activate the feature.
- A bug where enabling NVIDIA Reflex would not disable V-Sync, resulting in an FPS cap has been fixed. (Report).
Today we’re taking a look at the IA 58A Pucará, quite a special plane as it’s the first domestically designed and produced Argentine aircraft coming to the game!IA 58A Pucará: A Premium Ground Attack Aircraft for Germany at Rank IVAt a glance:
- Strong flight performance
- 20 mm cannons and machine guns
- Various bombs and rockets. And a torpedo!
- Small, nimble but slow
You’ve asked for them, you’ve waited for them, and here they are! In the Heavy Cavalry major update, you’ll have new tools at your disposal for countering anti-aircraft systems: anti-radiation missiles (ARMs) and electronic support measures (ESM) capabilities. As the game continues to add new threats, this type of weaponry is becoming increasingly relevant. New SAM systems have been added, and taking them out requires new tools for the job. Plus, you simply can’t do without anti-radiation missiles in Nuclear Escalation! Let’s dive into what they are and how they work.Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs)Right, first off let’s start with the Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs). These missiles are equipped with a passive radar homing head. This means the enemy radar sends signals, your missile detects that radar signal, and goes to chase the source of it. The source of the radio waves can be either the radar of an SPAA or a ship, or the airborne radar of another aircraft, but this is more of an exception.Speaking of exceptions, during Operation Desert Storm, an AGM-88 HARM missile struck a low-flying allied B-52G bomber that had its tail radar (used to guide the gun turret) turned on. The aircraft successfully returned to base and was later named “In HARM’s Way”.Simplified comparison tableHere we have a simple table explaining how SARH and ARH missiles (which are already in the game) work in comparison to the new ARMs.SARH missilesARH missilesARMs (new)Your jet sends a radar signal, which bounces on the target. Your missile detects it and goes to chase it.Your missile sends a radar signal, which bounces on the target. Your missile then detects it and goes to chase it.The enemy radar is sending signals. Your missile detects that radar signal, and goes to chase the source of it. Using ARMsWhat do you need to know about the specifics of using these missiles? First and foremost, it’s important to remember that their seekers are tuned to detect specific radar bands, designated by letters in the game. The missile simply won’t see a target if it emits radiation of a different wavelength (band). Therefore, you need to “know your enemy” and select missiles based on the range of potential opponents. To help you, the missile stat cards list the wavelengths (radar bands), and on cursor hover, a list of vehicles emitting signals in that range is displayed.A mockup of the tooltip interfaceAnother thing to keep in mind is the lethality of ARMs. Due to the intermittent nature of many radar signals and the reflection of waves off the ground and surrounding objects, a direct hit on a target is not always achieved. Many missiles have a proximity fuze, which helps compensate for the lack of accuracy. However, when used, the detonation occurs quite far from the surface, making it difficult to damage armored targets. The game will feature the option to turn off the proximity fuze, but without it, accuracy again becomes a problem.In short, to use ARMs successfully, you’ll need to take the specifics of the situation into account and adapt accordingly. It’s not a “one-click” solution, but rather a highly specialized tool that can be very useful in the right hands.In the “Heavy Cavalry” update, ARM aircraft from all nations will receive new missiles. Among the new additions are:
- The US AGM-88 HARM (versions A and C), the AGM-122 (based on the AIM-9C)
- The Anglo-French AS-37 ARMAT
- The British ALARM
- The Chinese YJ-91, CM-102, and LD-10
- The Soviet Kh-27PS, several versions of the Kh-58, and the Kh-31 family — the first missiles in the game to feature a ramjet engine.
On June 15th 1955, the MiG-21, one of the most recognizable and mass-produced supersonic fighters in history, took to the skies for the first time. Nearly 11,500 of these aircraft were made. Relatively inexpensive to produce, it was also fast, survivable, and durable, ensuring its popularity worldwide and participation in numerous conflicts. The Chinese J-7 fighter family traces its lineage to the MiG-21. 30% Discount on MiG-21 variants!
When: From June 16th (11:00 GMT) until June 19th (11:00 GMT)Where: Germany / Great Britain / China > Aviation > Premium Vehicles.
- Germany: MiG-21 SPS-K (Rank VI) for 6,489 Golden Eagles
- Great Britain: MiG-21 Bison (Rank VIII) for 6,986 Golden Eagles
- China: J-7D (Rank VII) for 6,489 Golden Eagles
- These aircraft are returning and will be available at full price after the promotion ends.
- MiG-21bis "Lazur-M" (Germany, Rank VII)
- Premium account for 20 days
- 2500 Golden Eagles
The Vickers-designed Wellington bomber first flew on June 15th 1936. It was Britain’s primary night bomber during the early years of the Second World War, serving in attacks on Germany, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The Wellington Mk Ic (Germany) is available at a 30% discount for 700 Golden Eagles!
When: From June 15th (11:00 GMT) until June 18th (11:00 GMT).Where: Germany > Aviation > Premium vehicles.
- The Wellington Mk Ic (Germany) is only available during the promotional period.
- The Germans captured Wellingtons as war trophies, after crash landings and splashdowns in Germany and occupied territories. The Wellington Mk Ic is a slow but durable aircraft, protected only by machine guns, but these have a wide field of fire. The bomb bay can carry one of two loads of bombs: eighteen 250 lb bombs or nine 500 lb bombs.
Welcome to the 228th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Thanks for submitting your screenshots last week! This week's competition will examine the lower ranks, specifically I through IV. There is so much to pick from, whether you prefer to capture pre-war biplanes, late-war heavy tanks, or even some vehicles that were from after WW II. Which one is your favorite? The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 228th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen228. You have time until the 19th of June 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 vehicle between ranks I and IV.
- You must add the #WTscreen228 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 227th edition – Light and Lethal!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739638543
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3740079653
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739964812
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739704228
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739994341
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3742297366
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
The history of the unified German navy dates back to June 14th 1848, when the short-lived “Reichsflotte” was founded. Formed in 1871, the naval forces of the German Empire quickly grew in numbers and power, and were able to compete on equal terms with Great Britain, the mistress of the seas, at the Battle of Jutland. Today, the German Navy serves as a permanent member of NATO’s naval forces. 30% discount on German ships!
When: From June 12th (11:00 GMT) until June 15th (11:00).Where: Germany > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.
- T31 (Rank III) for 3528 Golden Eagles
- Z20 Karl Galster (Rank III) for 4263 Golden Eagles
- Prinz Eugen (Rank IV) for 5614 Golden Eagles
- T31 took part in the battles of Vyborg Bay in 1944. This lightly protected but well-armed ship has eight 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, eight 20 mm secondary autocannons, and four main caliber turrets housing 105 mm guns.
- Named after First World War hero Kapitänleutnant Karl Galster, the destroyer Z20 Karl Galster is one of the few German ships to survive the Second World War. It is featured in the game in a late modification, so in addition to its 128 mm main guns and 37 mm turrets, it now also boasts an excellent additional anti-aircraft battery.
- Prinz Eugen participated in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, broke through the English Channel during Operation Cerberus, and bombarded the Baltic coast at the end of the war. Its speed of up to 60 km/h, 203 mm main guns, and excellent anti-aircraft protection will delight any fan of the German navy!
When: From June 12th (11:00 GMT) until June 15th (11:00 GMT)Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used German ships at rank III or higher to receive the “German Navy Day” trophy!Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of three decals: “Emblem of the German Navy Headquarters” decal“Emblem of the Naval Petty Officers’ School” decal“Emblem of the German Navy Engineering School” decalThe decals are located in the vehicle appearance section “Germany → Navy”. If you already have all three decals, you’ll receive a trophy containing one of the following items:
- 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
Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually.Additional details:
- You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
- Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → German Navy Day.
Summer skies, cool sea breeze and the roar of engines over the surface of the water. The Floats event is back!When: From June 12th (09:00 GMT) until June 16th (09:00 GMT), capture points on the surface of the water while controlling seaplanes and flying boats!This time around, you’ll be able to use the new Spitfire Mk Vb (Float) plane when it becomes available with Task 6 in the Wings Over Water event on June 13th. The Floats event will run for one day more after the Wings Over Water ends, so you’ll be able to take your newly obtained float plane and have some fun in it!To play in this event, find it in the “Events & Tournaments” tab from the in-game hangar.This unique legendary British Spitfire has floats instead of wheels, allowing it to take off and land on water. It can be obtained in the Wings Over Water event that ends on June 15th and makes its first appearance in the Floats event once it becomes available!Spitfire Mk Vb (Float)Vehicles that can be used in the event (new vehicles in bold):
- OS2U-1, OS2U-3, PBY-5, PBY-5A, PBM-1, PBM-3, PBM-5A “Mariner”, He 51B-2/H, He 115 C-1, A6M2-N, Arado 196A-3, BV 138C-1, Po-2M, MBR-2, PBY-5A (USSR), Catalina Mk IIIa (Britain), Spitfire Mk Vb (Float), Sunderland Mk IIIa, Sunderland Mk V, F1M2, H6K4, H8K2, H8K3, Ro.44, PBY-5A Late (France), Late 298D, S17BS, T 2, Arado 196A-5 (Sweden).
Today we’re taking a look at new unlockable decals, updated logic for automatic tank camouflage application, and a “Favorites” category for decals and decorations!Camouflage ManagementRecently we’ve been working on refining the process of automatic camouflage selection in battle, and these changes have come right from your suggestions. You suggested that we account for marketplace camouflages, to be able to edit the auto-selection list, and to exclude unwanted skins from it entirely.Today we’d like to cover another improvement. We’re sure that each of you have your favorite camouflages, whether they were earned from in-game events or tournament streams and drops. Everyone wants to see it in battle as much as possible (without turning into a brightly-colored target on winter maps though!). Previously you could switch to a different camouflage by selecting it before spawning, but in the heat of battle, this was easy to forget.At your request, we’ve refined the automatic camouflage system: you can now designate any available camouflage as your default. Let’s go through a quick example. Let’s say you have 3 camouflages, “Forest 1” is the regular default, but you also have “Forest 2” and “Winter 1”. If you change your default to Forest 2, whenever you load into a forest map, Forest 2 will be automatically applied each time. But, if you load into a winter map, Winter 1 will be automatically applied instead.So effectively, if your new default is a suitable camouflage for any given map, it will always be applied, but if it is not suitable and you have a more suitable alternative, this alternative will instead be used. No more losing precious seconds swapping around camouflages! Thank you for this suggestion, keep sending in more and we’ll keep working on improving your favorite features.Add to Favorites!Over the years, a truly enormous number of decals have been added into the game. Around a thousand are available at any given time, and we routinely add more through Monthly Historical Decal events and various specials. Understandably, you’ve probably amassed quite the collection of decals too, and likely have favorites that you like to use more than the rest. You’ve asked us for a way to separate your favorite decals and decorations, and in the Heavy Cavalry update we’ll add this as a feature! There will be a new “Favorites” menu for both decals and decorations, simply click the favorite icon and build your own personal list of special markings and 3D decorators.Decals and Decorations on Composite SAM SystemsComposite SAM systems are an integral part of high-rank ground battles, and as such you’ll want to be able to customize them too. Previously you could only apply decals and decorations to the main vehicle, the auxiliary vehicle would mirror your camouflage but nothing else. In the major update, you’ll be able to fully customize these additional vehicles! Give them a fresh coat of paint and your favorite markings, and thank you for suggesting this feature!New Decals!It’s been a while since we’ve routinely added new decals to the game on a permanent basis, but in the Heavy Cavalry major update we’ll start to add decals for nations that currently don’t have any, or have very few. Below are some examples of what we’ve been working on.French NavyLike most navies, markings directly applied to ships are relatively uncommon, so for the French navy we’ve used their badges for inspiration here. In the 1930s, French naval traditions led to the creation of individual pin badges for practically every ship in the fleet, that would be worn by the crew of each vessel. The creation of these badges were not particularly standardized, which led to many unique and interesting designs being created, often drafted by members of the crew themselves.As these emblems only existed as pins, or in some cases Tape de bouche (Gun muzzle covers), we’ve created the decals in more of a “what if” style, taking the original emblems and giving them a hand-painted look, like how they probably would’ve looked if they were historically painted onto ships. This is a somewhat new approach for us, so let us know what you think!Japanese NavyPrior to the Second World War, Japan painted names onto the hulls of its destroyer class vessels. This practice was limited to destroyers, and featured the name of the ship in large katakana characters on both sides of the hull. Most names of this period fell into two primary classes: 1st Class destroyers (over 1,000 tons) were named after the weather, wind, tide, current, waves, moon, seasons, and other natural phenomena, the less common 2nd Class destroyers (600–1,000 tons) were named after plants. An outlier here was the Mutsuki class, which contained 12 ships all named after a calendar month.After Japan joined the Second World War, they scrubbed the katakana names from the hull sides, as it was of course not particularly wise to telegraph the exact name of the ship to the enemy. After the war, the newly formed JMSDF returned the tradition for its surface fleet, but painted the names in hiragana, as a deliberate symbolic separation from the IJN.We’ve included a few examples for ships we have in the game, both of the WW2 era and post-war. In some cases it was quite a challenge to accurately recreate the names, as photos of the time are often not particularly clear when it comes to the finer details. Regardless, we’ve done our best to faithfully recreate these markings for you to unlock and customize your vehicles with, we hope you like them!Hungarian AircraftFollowing the Hungarian additions from the last update, we’ve added some decals for their air forces as well. Several of these come from WM-21 squadrons, a particularly nice one is the chief, which could be accurately recreated thanks to a detailed photo in an old Hungarian aviation magazine.We’ve also included the famous wasp emblem of the 1/1. Vadászszázad. Interestingly though, even though the emblem was clearly a wasp, the official nickname of the squadron was “Dongó” (Bumblebee). Because of the wasp emblem (which was likely chosen as it was more aggressive than a bee), even in 1940 the squadron began to be called “Darázs” (Wasp), which makes using the correct official name in relation to the emblem seem like an error funnily enough.We’ve also included the dive bombing eagle of the 102/1 fast bomber squadron which operated the Me 210C, and the “Pöttöm” inscription, which means pint-sized or tiny. It’s uncertain whether this was the pilot’s nickname or an affectionate moniker for his Fw 190 F-8, this one’s a little mystery...That’s not all though, among examples listed above, the update will include more decals for the Italian Army and Navy, the Chinese Army and Air Forces, and the Indonesian Air Forces! In future major updates we’ll steadily add more decals for nations that are missing some options as well.
That’s all from us for today, customization is an integral part of War Thunder, so we hope you like these new features and be sure to check out all the new decals when the Heavy Cavalry update releases!
That’s all from us for today, customization is an integral part of War Thunder, so we hope you like these new features and be sure to check out all the new decals when the Heavy Cavalry update releases!
Last weekend marked the conclusion of the WTCS Pro League Major II, the second pro major event of the War Thunder Championships Series.In the end, Team Invictus secured first place and strengthened their position in the standings with 130 points. Close behind, Team Fivesticks claimed second place with 87 points, while Team LEGION completed the podium in third place with 82 points.This second Major has further shaped the race for the championship, with Invictus delivering a dominant performance, taking 1st place on the overall leaderboard, and Fivesticks and LEGION proving they remain strong contenders as the season progresses, getting respectively 3rd and 7th place on the overall standings.
Congratulations to Team Invictus on their victory in Major II! The WTCS Pro Major II podiumOverall Rankings for the WTCS Pro Major IIWho is the MVP?A huge congratulations to Leozander from Invictus for being named MVP of the WTCS Pro League Major II! With a standout performance throughout the tournament, Leozander left a lasting impression on fans and competitors alike. His most memorable moment came during the final weekend, when he secured a spectacular kill using an air-to-ground Kh-38MT missile fired from his Su-30SM, a decisive play that helped secure victory for Invictus and cemented his place as the tournament’s MVP. A special shoutout also goes to OpsBan65_ from FiveSticks, who finished 2nd in the MVP voting after consistently delivering strong performances throughout the event. Rounding out the Top 3 is C0COJAMBO, also representing FiveSticks, whose impact and reliability across the Major earned him 3rd place in the MVP rankings. The WTCS Pro League Major II showcased some exceptional individual talent, and these three players undoubtedly stood out as some of the competition’s brightest stars.Register Now For The Qualification Stage of WTCS Challenger League Major II!As the season moves forward, with the Pro League now behind us, it’s time to shift our focus to this year’s new format: the Challenger League.REGISTER NOWAfter each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.
Stay Connected
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with match schedules, highlights, exclusive content, and future events on X and Instagram. Join the Discord community, participate in some giveways, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%This pack includes:
Congratulations to Team Invictus on their victory in Major II! The WTCS Pro Major II podiumOverall Rankings for the WTCS Pro Major IIWho is the MVP?A huge congratulations to Leozander from Invictus for being named MVP of the WTCS Pro League Major II! With a standout performance throughout the tournament, Leozander left a lasting impression on fans and competitors alike. His most memorable moment came during the final weekend, when he secured a spectacular kill using an air-to-ground Kh-38MT missile fired from his Su-30SM, a decisive play that helped secure victory for Invictus and cemented his place as the tournament’s MVP. A special shoutout also goes to OpsBan65_ from FiveSticks, who finished 2nd in the MVP voting after consistently delivering strong performances throughout the event. Rounding out the Top 3 is C0COJAMBO, also representing FiveSticks, whose impact and reliability across the Major earned him 3rd place in the MVP rankings. The WTCS Pro League Major II showcased some exceptional individual talent, and these three players undoubtedly stood out as some of the competition’s brightest stars.Register Now For The Qualification Stage of WTCS Challenger League Major II!As the season moves forward, with the Pro League now behind us, it’s time to shift our focus to this year’s new format: the Challenger League.REGISTER NOWAfter each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.
- Open Qualifier I: June 20th to 21st
- Open Qualifier II: June 27th to 28th
- Playoffs: July 4th to 5th and July 11th to 12th
- Open Qualifier I Stream: June 20th to 21st
- Open Qualifier II Stream: June 27th to 28th
Stay Connected
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with match schedules, highlights, exclusive content, and future events on X and Instagram. Join the Discord community, participate in some giveways, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%This pack includes:
- Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
- Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026
Hey again everyone! We’re happy to be back with some new unlockable decals for June! We have a handful of new inscriptions this time around, all three of which were suggested by you! So as always keep the suggestions coming, if the decal is fitting and interesting we try and work them into future plans where possible.We’re happy to reintroduce Foxy Few and the Finnish bat which were previous monthly favorites, and we hope you like the new La Surprise emblem as well. We’ll add a few more French ship badges to the game permanently in the next major update, so look out for those too!
"Young Pioneers" Emblem"Young Pioneers" emblem "ВСЕГДА ГОТОВ" (Always Ready), Soviet Army. In 1941, pupils of School No. 102 in the Kirovsky District of Gorky issued a wide public appeal to raise funds in order to build a tank named "Горьковский Пионер" (Gorky Pioneer). Schools across the region responded enthusiastically, donating their funds and scrap metal to the appeal, and within a few months had raised 250,000 rubles. Their brand-new T-34 was built at Factory No. 112 in Gorky and was formally handed over to its new crew on the 18th of January 1942. The emblem was painted on the rear of the turret on their T-34, derived from the original badge of the Pioneers. The crew of the Gorky Pioneer would later write back to the fundraisers, expressing their gratitude and noting how their tank at the time had already destroyed 6 guns, 1 tank, 5 automobiles, 10 mortars, and 12 machine guns.“79ª Brigata Garibaldi” Inscription"79ª Brigata Garibaldi" (79th Garibaldi Brigade) inscription, Corpo Volontari della Libertà (Volunteers of Freedom Corps). The Garibaldi Brigade was a partisan unit of the Italian Resistance, predominantly active in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of northern Italy, where it fought against the occupying German forces and their collaborators. As the partisans were not formally issued with any armored vehicles, their fleet was made up of light vehicles that had been commandeered from the Axis forces. This practice began in early 1945, when the focus shifted from destroying enemy armor to capturing it, resulting in the acquisition of several AB 41 and AB 43 armored cars which they used to liberate cities in the north. The vehicle markings of the Brigade primarily consisted of inscriptions rather than emblems; this inscription was painted on the upper hull of one of their armored cars sometime in 1945.“Invaders must be crushed” Inscription"Invaders must be crushed" inscription (務殲入侵之敵), PLAAF. During the 1960s, the practice of inscribing aircraft with intimidating slogans became steadily more common. The practice was decentralized but encouraged, and many PLAAF pilots decorated their aircraft with similar inscriptions in various styles. In this example, the text is written in a cursive style called "草書體" or "grass script," with more fluidly drawn characters. This specific inscription was taken from the directive statement written to the Air Force on December 18th 1957, which later became a very common slogan applied to aircraft as well as aviation-related infrastructure. It was painted on the nose of a J-6 fighter sometime during the 1960s.
12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”, USA2./HLeLv 31 Emblem, FinlandDefeat 20 players using bombs while using US AircraftWin 10 battles using Swedish or Finnish Aircraft12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”The emblem of the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, USAF. The squadron was activated on the 15th of January 1941 as the 12th Pursuit Squadron. It operated as a fighter squadron throughout the Second World War, before being reorganized in 1950 as the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, when the "Foxy Few" era began. The original anthropomorphic fox emblem was designed by Daniel James Jr, the flight leader of the squadron at the time. Several variations were also created in the early 1950s, some replacing the fox’s bomb with a bottle; this design was often applied to the squadron’s mugs. The emblem was most often painted on the squadron’s P-51s during the Korean War, either under the front of the cockpit or at the top of the tail (in some cases both). When the squadron transitioned to the F-86 in 1953, a few Sabres could also be seen with a more simple version of the emblem, painted below the middle of the cockpit. The "Foxy Few" identity would continue until 1958, when the squadron was reformed and renamed, and a new nickname was chosen.2./HLeLv 31 EmblemThe emblem of 2. lentue / Hävittäjälentolaivue 31 (2nd Flight, No. 31 Fighter Squadron), Finnish Air Force. After the Second World War, the 2nd Flight of No. 31 Squadron kept up its duties. The 2nd Flight was as a pure night fighter squadron, equipped with Bf 109 G aircraft. It performed night training routines, surveillance, and general nocturnal air-defense operations. As the aircraft were out of production however, logistical issues began to hamper their efficiency, with the planes suffering from significant airframe fatigue and a crucial lack of spare parts by 1950. The Bf 109s operated out of Utti Airfield until 1954, when they were replaced with the more contemporary Vampire FB.52. The last Bf 109 flight took place on the 13th of March, 1954, making the flight one of the final operators of the original Bf 109 airframe. The emblem of the group was created in the late 1940s, fittingly depicting a bat silhouetted against a crescent moon. It was painted on the mid-fuselage, forward of the national roundel, next to the cockpit.
JG 26 “Schlageter” Emblem, Germany1st Tank Group Emblem, Japan“Spitting Snake” EmblemFinish in position 1-5 five times using German AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Japanese Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivitySet 20 targets on fire while using Israeli TanksJG 26 "Schlageter" EmblemThe emblem of Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 "Schlageter", Luftwaffe. JG 26 formed on March 15th 1937, equipped with He 51 B biplanes, before transitioning to the Bf 109 B in 1938. By the outbreak of the Second World War the Wing was flying Bf 109 D and E models, and would be the first unit to receive the Fw 190 in late 1941. The emblem features a large “S” in the classic Fraktur font on a jousting shield, a common shield style used by Luftwaffe units at the time to demonstrate strong attack and defense. The emblem was painted on both sides of the fuselage on the wing’s Bf 109s, beneath and in front of the cockpit. Each individual squadron within JG 26 had its own emblem, which was painted on the aircraft in addition to the wing shield. Use of the shield in addition to squadron emblems faded as the war progressed however, becoming increasingly rare in 1942 and almost entirely absent by 1943.1st Tank Group EmblemThe emblem of the 1st Tank Group (第1戦車群), JGSDF. The Group was formed in 1952 as the Independent 1st Special Vehicle Battalion, the first tank unit created under the National Safety Force. With the formation of the JGSDF several years later, the Group was renamed as the 101st Special Vehicle Battalion, and went on to be renamed and restructured several more times until its final designation as the 1st Tank Group was set in 1962. Under the Northern Army the 1st Tank Group was responsible for the defense of Hokkaido, which it maintained through routine training until the post-Cold War tank reduction policies eventually caught up in 2014, when the Group was disbanded. Its emblem, a red-eyed scorpion against the silhouette of Hokkaido, was designed around the year 2000 and was painted on the Group’s Type 74 and Type 90 tanks on the sides of the turret towards the front. "Spitting Snake" Emblem"Spitting Snake" emblem, 7th Armored Brigade, IDF. Personal markings on Israeli tanks are comparatively rare, and often very little is known about them contextually due to their more ephemeral nature. These kinds of markings were applied when out of combat or for training exercises. They usually consisted of simple white stencil designs, often a small insignia or inscription. For security reasons, markings of this kind were removed before combat, so as not to telegraph the brigade the vehicle belonged to. The emblem depicts a snake coiling around a 105 mm cannon. Interestingly, it is more of a snake amalgamation, featuring both a venom-spitting mouth and a rattling tail, traits of snakes that are present in specific species but never combined. It was applied in the 1980s on a Merkava Mk.2, on the port side of the turret 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.That’s all from us today, thanks for your interest as always, and make sure to keep leaving your own decal suggestions on the forum! We’re closing in on the major update now, so hopefully these monthly side-quests will keep you occupied in the meantime. Have fun and see you soon!
The following decals are available from June 11th (11:00 GMT) until July 9th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.Hot Stuff! Inscription, AustraliaLa Surprise Emblem, FranceFinish in position 1-3 three times using British or Australian AircraftScore 20000 Damage while using French Coastal VesselsHot Stuff! Inscription"Hot Stuff!" Inscription, No. 78 Squadron, RAAF. No. 78 Squadron was formed on the 20th of July 1943 in Camden, New South Wales. It was the 4th RAAF Kittyhawk Squadron established in 1943, and became operational on the 27th of November after its new P-40 models were supplied. The Squadron would perform a wide variety of duties, from escort missions over New Guinea to dive bombing and strafing runs against Japanese anti-aircraft positions. As a typical jovial Aussie marking, "Hot Stuff!" was rather aptly painted under the engine exhaust on P-40 A29-574, code HU-Q. La Surprise EmblemAn emblem of the frigate La Surprise, French Navy. This especially unique emblem went through several revisions in shape and style, and represented both the ex-River class La Surprise frigate and the wartime Chamois-class minesweeper of the same name. While the scene the badge is referencing is over two thousand years old, this badge is likely a more contemporary reference to the 1836 painting "Diane surprise au bain" (Diana Surprised in Her Bath) by French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. The scene depicts Actaeon from Greek myth stumbling upon Diana in a grotto. As punishment for being disturbed while bathing, Diana splashes Actaeon with water, which causes him to sprout horns on his head where the water landed — certainly a surprising event for all involved.“Young Pioneers” Emblem, USSR“79ª Brigata Garibaldi” Inscription, Italy“Invaders must be crushed” Inscription, ChinaDefeat 50 players using USSR TanksDefeat 40 players using Italian Light TanksDefeat 20 players using AAMs while flying Chinese Aircraft
"Young Pioneers" Emblem"Young Pioneers" emblem "ВСЕГДА ГОТОВ" (Always Ready), Soviet Army. In 1941, pupils of School No. 102 in the Kirovsky District of Gorky issued a wide public appeal to raise funds in order to build a tank named "Горьковский Пионер" (Gorky Pioneer). Schools across the region responded enthusiastically, donating their funds and scrap metal to the appeal, and within a few months had raised 250,000 rubles. Their brand-new T-34 was built at Factory No. 112 in Gorky and was formally handed over to its new crew on the 18th of January 1942. The emblem was painted on the rear of the turret on their T-34, derived from the original badge of the Pioneers. The crew of the Gorky Pioneer would later write back to the fundraisers, expressing their gratitude and noting how their tank at the time had already destroyed 6 guns, 1 tank, 5 automobiles, 10 mortars, and 12 machine guns.“79ª Brigata Garibaldi” Inscription"79ª Brigata Garibaldi" (79th Garibaldi Brigade) inscription, Corpo Volontari della Libertà (Volunteers of Freedom Corps). The Garibaldi Brigade was a partisan unit of the Italian Resistance, predominantly active in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of northern Italy, where it fought against the occupying German forces and their collaborators. As the partisans were not formally issued with any armored vehicles, their fleet was made up of light vehicles that had been commandeered from the Axis forces. This practice began in early 1945, when the focus shifted from destroying enemy armor to capturing it, resulting in the acquisition of several AB 41 and AB 43 armored cars which they used to liberate cities in the north. The vehicle markings of the Brigade primarily consisted of inscriptions rather than emblems; this inscription was painted on the upper hull of one of their armored cars sometime in 1945.“Invaders must be crushed” Inscription"Invaders must be crushed" inscription (務殲入侵之敵), PLAAF. During the 1960s, the practice of inscribing aircraft with intimidating slogans became steadily more common. The practice was decentralized but encouraged, and many PLAAF pilots decorated their aircraft with similar inscriptions in various styles. In this example, the text is written in a cursive style called "草書體" or "grass script," with more fluidly drawn characters. This specific inscription was taken from the directive statement written to the Air Force on December 18th 1957, which later became a very common slogan applied to aircraft as well as aviation-related infrastructure. It was painted on the nose of a J-6 fighter sometime during the 1960s.
12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”, USA2./HLeLv 31 Emblem, FinlandDefeat 20 players using bombs while using US AircraftWin 10 battles using Swedish or Finnish Aircraft12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”The emblem of the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, USAF. The squadron was activated on the 15th of January 1941 as the 12th Pursuit Squadron. It operated as a fighter squadron throughout the Second World War, before being reorganized in 1950 as the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, when the "Foxy Few" era began. The original anthropomorphic fox emblem was designed by Daniel James Jr, the flight leader of the squadron at the time. Several variations were also created in the early 1950s, some replacing the fox’s bomb with a bottle; this design was often applied to the squadron’s mugs. The emblem was most often painted on the squadron’s P-51s during the Korean War, either under the front of the cockpit or at the top of the tail (in some cases both). When the squadron transitioned to the F-86 in 1953, a few Sabres could also be seen with a more simple version of the emblem, painted below the middle of the cockpit. The "Foxy Few" identity would continue until 1958, when the squadron was reformed and renamed, and a new nickname was chosen.2./HLeLv 31 EmblemThe emblem of 2. lentue / Hävittäjälentolaivue 31 (2nd Flight, No. 31 Fighter Squadron), Finnish Air Force. After the Second World War, the 2nd Flight of No. 31 Squadron kept up its duties. The 2nd Flight was as a pure night fighter squadron, equipped with Bf 109 G aircraft. It performed night training routines, surveillance, and general nocturnal air-defense operations. As the aircraft were out of production however, logistical issues began to hamper their efficiency, with the planes suffering from significant airframe fatigue and a crucial lack of spare parts by 1950. The Bf 109s operated out of Utti Airfield until 1954, when they were replaced with the more contemporary Vampire FB.52. The last Bf 109 flight took place on the 13th of March, 1954, making the flight one of the final operators of the original Bf 109 airframe. The emblem of the group was created in the late 1940s, fittingly depicting a bat silhouetted against a crescent moon. It was painted on the mid-fuselage, forward of the national roundel, next to the cockpit.
JG 26 “Schlageter” Emblem, Germany1st Tank Group Emblem, Japan“Spitting Snake” EmblemFinish in position 1-5 five times using German AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Japanese Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivitySet 20 targets on fire while using Israeli TanksJG 26 "Schlageter" EmblemThe emblem of Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 "Schlageter", Luftwaffe. JG 26 formed on March 15th 1937, equipped with He 51 B biplanes, before transitioning to the Bf 109 B in 1938. By the outbreak of the Second World War the Wing was flying Bf 109 D and E models, and would be the first unit to receive the Fw 190 in late 1941. The emblem features a large “S” in the classic Fraktur font on a jousting shield, a common shield style used by Luftwaffe units at the time to demonstrate strong attack and defense. The emblem was painted on both sides of the fuselage on the wing’s Bf 109s, beneath and in front of the cockpit. Each individual squadron within JG 26 had its own emblem, which was painted on the aircraft in addition to the wing shield. Use of the shield in addition to squadron emblems faded as the war progressed however, becoming increasingly rare in 1942 and almost entirely absent by 1943.1st Tank Group EmblemThe emblem of the 1st Tank Group (第1戦車群), JGSDF. The Group was formed in 1952 as the Independent 1st Special Vehicle Battalion, the first tank unit created under the National Safety Force. With the formation of the JGSDF several years later, the Group was renamed as the 101st Special Vehicle Battalion, and went on to be renamed and restructured several more times until its final designation as the 1st Tank Group was set in 1962. Under the Northern Army the 1st Tank Group was responsible for the defense of Hokkaido, which it maintained through routine training until the post-Cold War tank reduction policies eventually caught up in 2014, when the Group was disbanded. Its emblem, a red-eyed scorpion against the silhouette of Hokkaido, was designed around the year 2000 and was painted on the Group’s Type 74 and Type 90 tanks on the sides of the turret towards the front. "Spitting Snake" Emblem"Spitting Snake" emblem, 7th Armored Brigade, IDF. Personal markings on Israeli tanks are comparatively rare, and often very little is known about them contextually due to their more ephemeral nature. These kinds of markings were applied when out of combat or for training exercises. They usually consisted of simple white stencil designs, often a small insignia or inscription. For security reasons, markings of this kind were removed before combat, so as not to telegraph the brigade the vehicle belonged to. The emblem depicts a snake coiling around a 105 mm cannon. Interestingly, it is more of a snake amalgamation, featuring both a venom-spitting mouth and a rattling tail, traits of snakes that are present in specific species but never combined. It was applied in the 1980s on a Merkava Mk.2, on the port side of the turret 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.That’s all from us today, thanks for your interest as always, and make sure to keep leaving your own decal suggestions on the forum! We’re closing in on the major update now, so hopefully these monthly side-quests will keep you occupied in the meantime. Have fun and see you soon!
Today we’re pleased to present USS North Carolina, one of the most iconic American battleships of the mid-20th century!USS North Carolina: A Battleship for the USA at Rank VIIAt a glance:
- Various shell types, including HE, SAP, and AP-TS
- Nine 406 mm guns!
- Extensive secondary armament
- Effective radar array
- Decent mobility
The Russian Yak-130 and the Italian Aermacchi M-346 are two combat-trainer aircraft that emerged from the same project.Yak-130: An Attack Aircraft for the USSR at Rank VIM-346FA: An Attack Aircraft for Italy at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
- Subsonic
- Radar and air-to-air missiles (on the M-346FA)
- Compact dimensions
- Impressive arsenal
- Excellent controllability and high thrust-to-weight ratio