War Thunder News & Announcements
CCRP Bombing, now simple and easy to understand!In the upcoming major update, we’ve reworked the controls for CCRP (Constantly Computed Release Point) bombing. The previous mechanic was sufficient when CCRP was a niche tool used by only the most experienced pilots. However with the introduction of Nuclear Escalation, using the automated system to drop nuclear bombs, CCRP has become the primary method for delivering a nuclear strike. The old interface however does have some drawbacks. We’ve redesigned the system so that it no longer interferes with standard bomb dropping or clutters half the screen.What were the current drawbacks? The bomb-release button was used for both CCRP and manual release, causing the two functions to conflict. Once CCRP bombing mode was enabled, it was no longer possible to drop a bomb manually. This is a big problem when dealing with nuclear weapons in Nuclear Escalation. Plus, the option to arm the release mechanism at the start of a run would completely break manual release if a target point had been set using the optical sight. Players would only discover this at the worst possible moment, right when they needed to drop their payload. Lastly, the on-screen indicators took up too much space, and the requirement to hold down the release button proved highly inconvenient.The new version addresses all of these issues. It requires no dedicated button, does not conflict with the standard release function, and uses a simple, uncluttered display. The auto-release indicator is now positioned within the battlefield view in a way that does not obstruct visibility. Manual bomb release is now possible, even when a point of interest is active. We aimed to ensure the mechanic works predictably, eliminating any guesswork regarding why a bomb might fail to release from a pylon. CCRP bombing is now more convenient across level flight, dives, and pull-up maneuvers. In the latter case (toss bombing), the indicator sticks to the bottom of the screen, allowing for continued monitoring of timing and heading.For those just learning the ropes of CCRP bombing, here’s a quick refresher on how it works. CCRP allows you to drop bombs on a pre-designated point on the ground, even if you cannot see it directly. By designating a target (using the “Activate Point of Interest” button, default key: Alt + Middle Mouse Button or MMB click on a minimap), a red targeting box appears on the ground at that location. Activate the automatic release icon (found in the quick-action panel) or assign a dedicated keybind in the control settings menu. A vertical directional arrow appears in the target point, complete with the required heading, the deviation of the current heading from the set value, and an indication of the time remaining until target. Once the automatic release indicator aligns with the crosshairs of the bombsight, the system will automatically release the bomb at the right moment. If the deviation from the course is significant, the release will not occur; the indicator will remain gray and will display the current course deviation. You can use the weapon selector (Caps Lock or Left Shift + S) to choose which bombs to drop and in what quantity, whether a single bomb, a pair, or a salvo (the quantity selector is bound to Left Shift + B by default).1. Automatic release icon2. Bomb sight3. Point of interest4. Arrow is green - course is correct5. Remaining time to targetUpdated controls for CCRP bombing will arrive in the game in the next major update. Stay tuned for more news. Bombs away!
Welcome to the 16th edition of the War Thunder Steam Community Spotlight!The War Thunder Steam Community Management Team have seen some of your fantastic screenshots and artwork uploaded to the Steam Community Hub! Once again, we’ve collected our favorites and wanted to share them with all of you. Want more? Also check out the previous editions for more cool content.If you have a scale model to showcase, make sure to show the same vehicle in the background in War Thunder!
We have also picked our favorites from the list below to receive the special “Steam Snail” decal. Check Customization > Special > Snails > “Steam Snail” to see if you have it.
Let’s take a look!First up, here we have a wonderfully drawn pencil sketch of the F-16. The shadows and details, especially the cockpit glare, are really well done. Good job Trahenwaffen!Here we have another really well drawn Bf 109 G-10 by 流刃若火! The details are exceptional, we’re really impressed with this one. Keep up the good work.This is Lieutenant Hammy ready for their flight! Nice photo CaptainJssl, we love your hamster!This is Lavochkin’s brick-built Corsair with War Thunder’s in the background. This looks really cool, especially the string for the wire. Great job.Check out Felipe’s drawing of a Bf 109, which looks like it just took out a bomber. Excellent drawing here, great work! In our eyes, this is such a great screenshot by 𝓢𝓪𝓶𝓼𝓸𝓷<3! The lighting and sunset make it look great. Well done here! Here’s a great model of the Yak-130 by ✮𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕜! It looks identical to War Thunder’s one!This is a great model of the Su-27SM by Br0nzky, showing War Thunder’s one in the background as well.Here’s a cool bit of art by “is Dimon” showing off the F/A-18 with a bombing target over what looks like a War Thunder map. Great piece! Check out Председатель’s Me 262 A1 "Green 1" model with War Thunder’s in the background. Great work on the colors and stripes on the fuselage!Is this good or bad luck? Anyway, this is a cool keyring of the 500% booster in War Thunder by Cosmos.We’ve previously shown Jones’ Gaijin Snail, but now he has a friend made by Mom! This is a model of the French Mirage F1C-200 with War Thunder’s in the background. Looks cool 近卫汉城柳京守第105师!Here’s a Merkava model by MichelangeloDaVinci, which they’ve tried to keep as accurate as possible to War Thunder’s. Looks well done, nice work!
This is an amazing pencil drawing of one of War Thunder’s artwork covers from the Line of Contact major update. The team who made this artwork love this pencil drawing, created by LPDW!That's all for now!
The wonderful work created by our community that we have shared has been posted to the War Thunder Community Hub — make sure you check it out and even share your own creations that we may feature here in the Community Spotlight! We look forward to seeing you next time!
Click here to view the Community Hub
We have also picked our favorites from the list below to receive the special “Steam Snail” decal. Check Customization > Special > Snails > “Steam Snail” to see if you have it.
- First edition
- Second edition
- Third edition
- Fourth edition
- Fifth edition
- Sixth edition
- Seventh edition
- Eighth edition
- Ninth edition
- Tenth edition
- Eleventh edition
- Twelfth edition
- Thirtieth edition
- Fourteenth edition
- Fifteenth edition
Let’s take a look!First up, here we have a wonderfully drawn pencil sketch of the F-16. The shadows and details, especially the cockpit glare, are really well done. Good job Trahenwaffen!Here we have another really well drawn Bf 109 G-10 by 流刃若火! The details are exceptional, we’re really impressed with this one. Keep up the good work.This is Lieutenant Hammy ready for their flight! Nice photo CaptainJssl, we love your hamster!This is Lavochkin’s brick-built Corsair with War Thunder’s in the background. This looks really cool, especially the string for the wire. Great job.Check out Felipe’s drawing of a Bf 109, which looks like it just took out a bomber. Excellent drawing here, great work! In our eyes, this is such a great screenshot by 𝓢𝓪𝓶𝓼𝓸𝓷<3! The lighting and sunset make it look great. Well done here! Here’s a great model of the Yak-130 by ✮𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕜! It looks identical to War Thunder’s one!This is a great model of the Su-27SM by Br0nzky, showing War Thunder’s one in the background as well.Here’s a cool bit of art by “is Dimon” showing off the F/A-18 with a bombing target over what looks like a War Thunder map. Great piece! Check out Председатель’s Me 262 A1 "Green 1" model with War Thunder’s in the background. Great work on the colors and stripes on the fuselage!Is this good or bad luck? Anyway, this is a cool keyring of the 500% booster in War Thunder by Cosmos.We’ve previously shown Jones’ Gaijin Snail, but now he has a friend made by Mom! This is a model of the French Mirage F1C-200 with War Thunder’s in the background. Looks cool 近卫汉城柳京守第105师!Here’s a Merkava model by MichelangeloDaVinci, which they’ve tried to keep as accurate as possible to War Thunder’s. Looks well done, nice work!
This is an amazing pencil drawing of one of War Thunder’s artwork covers from the Line of Contact major update. The team who made this artwork love this pencil drawing, created by LPDW!That's all for now!
The wonderful work created by our community that we have shared has been posted to the War Thunder Community Hub — make sure you check it out and even share your own creations that we may feature here in the Community Spotlight! We look forward to seeing you next time!
Click here to view the Community Hub
Aircraft
- Me 163 (all variants), Ki-200 — an issue where the takeoff dolly would disappear from beneath the aircraft when exiting the secondary weapons menu of another aircraft and returning to an aircraft stationed in a crew slot has been fixed. (Report, Report).
- Bf 109 G-6 (all variants) — an issue where the rocket sight was shifted to the right has been fixed.
- An issue where AI-controlled landing craft in certain missions (e.g., \ Pacific Hidden Base) could remain suspended in mid-air after being destroyed has been fixed.
- BT-7, BT-7M — the damage model of the front fenders has been detailed. The positions of the crew members in the turret have been adjusted, now their legs no longer pass through shells when rotating the turret. The thickness of the radiator armor has been increased from 4 mm to 10 mm. The thickness of the air duct armor has been increased from 5 mm to 10 mm.
- An issue where the projectile-tracking camera could end up pointing toward the sky instead of the target if the player moved it around before the impact has been fixed.
- A bug that caused the shadows from trees located on slopes at a distance from the player to disregard the angle of the slope has been fixed. This bug resulted in shadows from trees being too short or too long.
- A bug where shadows could flicker when switching to the tank sight view when the “Shadow Quality” setting was set to “Very High” and ray tracing was disabled has been fixed.
- A bug where shadows could flicker on PlayStation 5 Pro when switching to the tank sight view when the “Quality” graphics preset was selected has been fixed.
The final Major of the WTCS Challenger League regular season wrapped up last weekend, and the race for the top spots went right down to the wire. With Major III now complete, the Challenger field is officially set and all eyes turn to the Challenger League Grand Finals.Team VAN came out on top with 130 points, finishing 25 points clear of Team EnyoProxy, who claimed the runner-up spot with 105. Team ALLiANce rounded out the top three on 89 points.Team VAN Takes Major III!Challenger League Major III: The PodiumFull Standings of the WTCS Challenger League Major IIIAnd the MVP Is...The MVP title goes to Scarabé rose from Team VAN, who led the way for the Major III champions from start to finish. Well played!Two more players earned an honourable mention for their performances: Аktron, a key piece of Team EnyoProxy's run to second place, and TwiisterFG, whose solid showing gave Team VAN even more firepower on the road to victory. Eight Teams, One Title: The Challenger Grand FinalsThe regular season is over, and eight Challenger teams have booked their ticket to the WTCS Challenger League Grand Finals. Across three November weekends, they will face off in Air, Ground and Mixed to decide who closes out the 2026 Challenger season on top.Challenger Grand Finals Schedule:
- Week 1: November 13th to 15th
- Week 2: November 20th to 22nd
- Week 3: November 27th to 29th
- Air: October 23rd to 25th
- Ground: October 30th to November 1st
- Mixed: November 6th to 8th
- Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
- Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026
This Battle Pass season is themed around Germany! You can look forward to decorations featuring a German anti-tank gun, a pistol, and an ammunition crate. There’s also inscription decals of German female names to decorate your favorite tanks with! The premium vehicles include the S-706, which will take its place as one of the best torpedo boats in the game, and the Jagdpanther G2, a modified premium version that’s a firm favorite among players!The Warbond Shop now features the German Z4 Zerstörer destroyer, which is notable for its exceptional anti-aircraft armament, as well as the American hybrid-powered fighter, the FR-1 Fireball! You can also use Warbonds to obtain a trophy containing Camouflages, a trophy with German tanker profile icons, and a new decal: The “Miss October 1944 Pin-up.”
What is the Battle Pass?
The Battle Pass is an event that lasts for 90 days where players can earn rewards for completing challenges and earning progress points. Rewards range from Silver Lions and boosters to season-exclusive decals, decorations, vehicles and more. Completing the Battle Pass is simple: you earn progress points that unlock levels, earning valuable things along the way!Leveling up the Battle Pass & Challenges Leveling up is simple! Gather progress points to unlock more levels. One level is 10 progress points. Points can be obtained through logging into the game, completing Daily Tasks and completing specific Challenges. New Battle Pass Challenges unlock once a week and another three can be obtained through reaching specific levels.
Click here for all of the Challenges
Rewards in Season 25Purchasing the Battle Pass for 2,000 Golden Eagles will allow you to access every level. Purchasing the improved version for 2,500 Golden Eagles comes with an extra 150 progress points (15 levels from the get go). Not got enough time to complete the Battle Pass? You can purchase progress points for Golden Eagles 28 days after the season begins.
Click here for all of the Rewards
Check out all of the rewards in the season below.
Decals, Decorations, and a Profile Background “Clementine” decal“Gertrude” decal“Erika” decal“Brunhilda” decal “Ammunition Crate” decoration“PWK 42 LP” decoration“Puppchen” ship decoration
“Jagdpanther G2” profile backgroundNew vehicles this seasonS-706 (Germany)A Premium Torpedo Boat for Germany at Rank IIIThe S-706 torpedo boat was laid down at the Danziger Waggonfabrik shipyard in Danzig and commissioned on October 31st 1944. During the war, it operated in the North Sea and the English Channel. After the war, it was transferred to the United States as a war reparation; it was studied in Philadelphia and subsequently sold for scrap in 1948.The S-706 belongs to the most advanced generation of German Schnellboote (fast attack craft); it reaches speeds of nearly 80 km/h, carries depth charges, and is equipped with four torpedo tubes, two at the bow and two at the stern, with a total loadout of six torpedoes. It can launch torpedoes both while closing in on a target and while breaking away. Its gun armament includes 30 mm and 20 mm cannons, as well as machine guns. At close range, this arsenal can destroy any enemy boat in mere seconds. All in all, the premium S-706 is set to become one of the best torpedo boats in the game, excelling both in engagements against other small boats and as a point-capturer in battles involving larger naval vessels. Jagdpanther G2 (Germany)A Premium Tank Destroyer for Germany at Rank IVFurther development of the Jagdpanther tank destroyer led to the 1944 introduction of the second and final production variant: the Jagdpanther G2. These tank destroyers saw extensive use during the final stages of the war, notably in the Lake Balaton Offensive and the Ardennes campaign.The Jagdpanther is a common sight in mid-tier battles, and the reason for its popularity is thanks to an exceptionally successful balance of high firepower, reliable protection, and decent mobility. Its 88 mm gun, the same found on the famous King Tiger, can penetrate the frontal armor of any medium tank and most heavy tanks. The already formidable sloped frontal armor of the fighting compartment easily withstands most smaller-caliber armor-piercing rounds, while angling the hull turns it into a nearly impenetrable barrier. The Jagdpanther G2 variant retains all the strengths of the fearsome G1, adds an Em 0.9 m R rangefinder and offers premium status, making battles with this vehicle even more profitable!Battle Trophy with Past VehiclesMissed out on previous Battle Pass vehicles? The Battle Trophy has you covered, featuring four vehicles from past Battle Passes or events. Opening this trophy will give you one vehicle from the list. If you have them all, you’ll instead receive Silver Lions and the special “Golden Battles Wager”, allowing you to earn up to 1,000 Golden Eagles. ORP Garland (Great Britain)USS Detroit (USA) Matilda Hedgehog (Great Britain)Ro.57 Quadriarma (Italy)
Get Silver Lions, Consumables, Premium Account Time and More in the Battle Pass!The Battle Pass doesn’t just feature decals, decorations and vehicles, it also contains a lot of other useful items. This includes a large amount of Silver Lions, Warbonds to spend in the Warbond shop, Orders, Wagers and Backups for use in battles, a Test Drive for one of the new vehicles before you get it, 10 days of Premium Account time, unique camouflages for the two new vehicles and a title and loading screen to remember your accomplishments. Get the next Battle Pass for free with Upgrade Coupons!Two “Upgrade Coupons” are at levels 105 and 125 in the Battle Pass and are both needed to get the next Battle Pass for free. They also make the two new vehicles tradable on the Gaijin Market if you prefer.
The Warbond Shop in Season 25!Check out some of the main Warbond shop items in Season 25! You can view the full list of items available as well as the conditions for receiving them in-game.
What is the Warbond Shop?
The Warbond shop is connected with and runs in tandem with the Battle Pass. Items in the Warbond shop can be purchased with a currency called Warbonds that are earned in the Battle Pass. There are a total of 6 shop levels and each one can be unlocked by reaching specific levels in the Battle Pass. In addition to purchasing with Warbonds, each item from shop level 3 requires a certain number of medals to purchase. Medals can be obtained through completing Special Tasks.
Vehicles MGB-75 (Great Britain)T-126 (USSR)Ki-44-II Otsu (Japan) Z4 Zerstörer (Germany) — first time in the Warbond shop!Pz.IV G (Italy)FR-1 Fireball (USA) — first time in the Warbond shop!More about the new rewards: Z4 Zerstörer (Germany) — first time in the Warbond shop!The destroyer USS Claxton (DD-571) entered service in December 1942 and saw active combat in the Pacific Theater. In December 1959, it was transferred to the West German Navy, where it was renamed Z4 Zerstörer. It stands out from other Fletcher-class destroyers due to its premium status and its secondary armament: six 76 mm guns that have access to high-explosive shells with proximity fuzes. Combined with its radar, this makes the ship a lethal threat to both aircraft and small naval vessels at great distances!FR-1 Fireball (USA) — first time in the Warbond shop!The first jet aircraft to enter service with the U.S. Navy, the Fireball is notable for its hybrid propulsion system, which combines a piston engine with a jet engine. This configuration allows it to achieve higher speeds and outperform piston-engine competitors during maneuvers. It is armed with four 12.7 mm machine guns, and its external hardpoints can carry HVAR rockets, fuel tanks, naval mines, and 500 or 1000 lb bombs.DecalsSeason 25 introduces the Miss October 1944 pin-up decal. Additionally, a special trophy available in the Warbond Shop contains decals that were previously featured in 2019. Expand your collection with classic decals you might have missed! “Miss October 1944 Pin-up” decalTrophiesFor fans of customization, we’re pleased to say that the “Camouflages” trophy is here this time, while profile icons of German tankers are available in the profile icon trophy!ConsumablesAlongside trophies, vehicles and decals are a bunch of useful consumable items, including boosters, universal backups, wagers & orders, premium vehicle rentals and talismans — all perfect for helping you through the game.Get out there and get yourself some goodies!
Beginning on: October 21st (12:00 GMT)Ending on: January 20th (12:00 GMT)
What is the Battle Pass?
The Battle Pass is an event that lasts for 90 days where players can earn rewards for completing challenges and earning progress points. Rewards range from Silver Lions and boosters to season-exclusive decals, decorations, vehicles and more. Completing the Battle Pass is simple: you earn progress points that unlock levels, earning valuable things along the way!Leveling up the Battle Pass & Challenges Leveling up is simple! Gather progress points to unlock more levels. One level is 10 progress points. Points can be obtained through logging into the game, completing Daily Tasks and completing specific Challenges. New Battle Pass Challenges unlock once a week and another three can be obtained through reaching specific levels.
- Login to the game! Get 1 to 5 progress points for doing this.
- Complete Daily Tasks! Get 2 to 5 progress points for each of these.
- Complete Battle Pass Challenges! Get 30 points for each of these.
Click here for all of the Challenges
Rewards in Season 25Purchasing the Battle Pass for 2,000 Golden Eagles will allow you to access every level. Purchasing the improved version for 2,500 Golden Eagles comes with an extra 150 progress points (15 levels from the get go). Not got enough time to complete the Battle Pass? You can purchase progress points for Golden Eagles 28 days after the season begins.
The Battle Pass can be accessed on the right side of the screen while in the hangar
Click here for all of the Rewards
Check out all of the rewards in the season below.
Decals, Decorations, and a Profile Background “Clementine” decal“Gertrude” decal“Erika” decal“Brunhilda” decal “Ammunition Crate” decoration“PWK 42 LP” decoration“Puppchen” ship decoration
“Jagdpanther G2” profile backgroundNew vehicles this seasonS-706 (Germany)A Premium Torpedo Boat for Germany at Rank IIIThe S-706 torpedo boat was laid down at the Danziger Waggonfabrik shipyard in Danzig and commissioned on October 31st 1944. During the war, it operated in the North Sea and the English Channel. After the war, it was transferred to the United States as a war reparation; it was studied in Philadelphia and subsequently sold for scrap in 1948.The S-706 belongs to the most advanced generation of German Schnellboote (fast attack craft); it reaches speeds of nearly 80 km/h, carries depth charges, and is equipped with four torpedo tubes, two at the bow and two at the stern, with a total loadout of six torpedoes. It can launch torpedoes both while closing in on a target and while breaking away. Its gun armament includes 30 mm and 20 mm cannons, as well as machine guns. At close range, this arsenal can destroy any enemy boat in mere seconds. All in all, the premium S-706 is set to become one of the best torpedo boats in the game, excelling both in engagements against other small boats and as a point-capturer in battles involving larger naval vessels. Jagdpanther G2 (Germany)A Premium Tank Destroyer for Germany at Rank IVFurther development of the Jagdpanther tank destroyer led to the 1944 introduction of the second and final production variant: the Jagdpanther G2. These tank destroyers saw extensive use during the final stages of the war, notably in the Lake Balaton Offensive and the Ardennes campaign.The Jagdpanther is a common sight in mid-tier battles, and the reason for its popularity is thanks to an exceptionally successful balance of high firepower, reliable protection, and decent mobility. Its 88 mm gun, the same found on the famous King Tiger, can penetrate the frontal armor of any medium tank and most heavy tanks. The already formidable sloped frontal armor of the fighting compartment easily withstands most smaller-caliber armor-piercing rounds, while angling the hull turns it into a nearly impenetrable barrier. The Jagdpanther G2 variant retains all the strengths of the fearsome G1, adds an Em 0.9 m R rangefinder and offers premium status, making battles with this vehicle even more profitable!Battle Trophy with Past VehiclesMissed out on previous Battle Pass vehicles? The Battle Trophy has you covered, featuring four vehicles from past Battle Passes or events. Opening this trophy will give you one vehicle from the list. If you have them all, you’ll instead receive Silver Lions and the special “Golden Battles Wager”, allowing you to earn up to 1,000 Golden Eagles. ORP Garland (Great Britain)USS Detroit (USA) Matilda Hedgehog (Great Britain)Ro.57 Quadriarma (Italy)
Get Silver Lions, Consumables, Premium Account Time and More in the Battle Pass!The Battle Pass doesn’t just feature decals, decorations and vehicles, it also contains a lot of other useful items. This includes a large amount of Silver Lions, Warbonds to spend in the Warbond shop, Orders, Wagers and Backups for use in battles, a Test Drive for one of the new vehicles before you get it, 10 days of Premium Account time, unique camouflages for the two new vehicles and a title and loading screen to remember your accomplishments. Get the next Battle Pass for free with Upgrade Coupons!Two “Upgrade Coupons” are at levels 105 and 125 in the Battle Pass and are both needed to get the next Battle Pass for free. They also make the two new vehicles tradable on the Gaijin Market if you prefer.
To purchase a Battle Pass using the “Upgrade Coupon”, you need to wait until the current season ends and the new season begins. You’ll then be able to exchange two Upgrade Coupons in the Battle Pass purchase window. Upgrade Coupons must be available in your inventory to do this.
The Warbond Shop in Season 25!Check out some of the main Warbond shop items in Season 25! You can view the full list of items available as well as the conditions for receiving them in-game.
The Warbond shop can be accessed by clicking on Shop > Warbond Shop from the hangar or from the Battle Pass window by clicking “Shop”
What is the Warbond Shop?
The Warbond shop is connected with and runs in tandem with the Battle Pass. Items in the Warbond shop can be purchased with a currency called Warbonds that are earned in the Battle Pass. There are a total of 6 shop levels and each one can be unlocked by reaching specific levels in the Battle Pass. In addition to purchasing with Warbonds, each item from shop level 3 requires a certain number of medals to purchase. Medals can be obtained through completing Special Tasks.
Vehicles MGB-75 (Great Britain)T-126 (USSR)Ki-44-II Otsu (Japan) Z4 Zerstörer (Germany) — first time in the Warbond shop!Pz.IV G (Italy)FR-1 Fireball (USA) — first time in the Warbond shop!More about the new rewards: Z4 Zerstörer (Germany) — first time in the Warbond shop!The destroyer USS Claxton (DD-571) entered service in December 1942 and saw active combat in the Pacific Theater. In December 1959, it was transferred to the West German Navy, where it was renamed Z4 Zerstörer. It stands out from other Fletcher-class destroyers due to its premium status and its secondary armament: six 76 mm guns that have access to high-explosive shells with proximity fuzes. Combined with its radar, this makes the ship a lethal threat to both aircraft and small naval vessels at great distances!FR-1 Fireball (USA) — first time in the Warbond shop!The first jet aircraft to enter service with the U.S. Navy, the Fireball is notable for its hybrid propulsion system, which combines a piston engine with a jet engine. This configuration allows it to achieve higher speeds and outperform piston-engine competitors during maneuvers. It is armed with four 12.7 mm machine guns, and its external hardpoints can carry HVAR rockets, fuel tanks, naval mines, and 500 or 1000 lb bombs.DecalsSeason 25 introduces the Miss October 1944 pin-up decal. Additionally, a special trophy available in the Warbond Shop contains decals that were previously featured in 2019. Expand your collection with classic decals you might have missed! “Miss October 1944 Pin-up” decalTrophiesFor fans of customization, we’re pleased to say that the “Camouflages” trophy is here this time, while profile icons of German tankers are available in the profile icon trophy!ConsumablesAlongside trophies, vehicles and decals are a bunch of useful consumable items, including boosters, universal backups, wagers & orders, premium vehicle rentals and talismans — all perfect for helping you through the game.Get out there and get yourself some goodies!
Meet the Scharnhorst killer and future flagship of the Home Fleet, the British HMS Duke of York, coming to War Thunder in the next major update!HMS Duke of York: A Premium (Pre-order) Battleship for Great Britain at Rank VIAt a glance:
- Excellent armor
- Improved anti-aircraft battery
- Ten 356 mm main battery guns
- HE-VT shells for secondary battery guns
- Average mobility
- Seaplane
- HMS Duke of York (Rank VI, Great Britain)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- Pre-order bonus: unique “The King’s Speech” title
- Pre-order bonus: unique “White Rose of York” decal
- Pre-order bonus: unique *
*available after the next major update.
Welcome to the 246th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Thanks for all of your great submissions last week! We have had quite a few contest themes in a row, so this week we are leaving that decision to you. Pick out whichever vehicle interests you or that you enjoy the most, and capture a picture of it in action! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 246th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen246. You have time until the 23rd of October 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.
- You must add the #WTscreen246 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 245th edition – Lightfooted!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3817448867
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3817671224
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3817738564
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3820241976
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3818800827
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3819137635
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
We’re very pleased to announce that we’ve just launched our first collaboration with Makeship! The Gaijin Snail rarely reveals itself in physical form, so take the opportunity to pick up this limited edition cuddly plush!GET YOURS HERE! The DesignBack at Gamescom 2025 we had a great meeting with one of the folks from Makeship, so great in fact our meeting overran by nearly 30 minutes because we were too busy talking about our favorite games and plushies.Though we developed a good plan, and decided we should kick off with our very own snail! The first consideration was where to put the eyes. Typically putting them on stalks would be the way to go, but it ended up looking a tad unsettling, so we thought we’d go with the cute face we have here.The next consideration was the direction the snail would face. If the face was directly front on, the plushie could only be displayed from the front, which is all well and good, but it would mean the majority of the body wouldn’t be visible. If the face was to the side then it would look a little awkward from the front. In the end we went with a middle ground where the snail is facing an angle, that way all display positions would be possible. In Game BonusThe plushies will be shipped next year, so in the meantime while you wait for yours to arrive, after the campaign you’ll get a code for some extras! This code includes a replica of the real plushie as a 3D decorator for your tanks, along with the “Snail Cuddler” title.Once the campaign ends Makeship will email you the code which can then be redeemed on the Gaijin Store.Further DetailsThe snail plush will be available to order for the next three weeks, afterwards the campaign will end and you won’t be able to order one anymore. Afterwards, Makeship will start production, and the snails should be ready for shipping early next year. Makeship plushies are all handmade, so the process takes some time, but before too long you’ll have your very own official snail!Makeship offer shipping to most locations, but have a look on their website for your specific country to make sure their couriers are able to reach your address.We’re very happy to be working with Makeship, many of us here have a Makeship plush or two, so we can absolutely vouch for the care and quality they put into their items, so a big thanks to the Makeship team for making everything happen!Make sure to pick up your own snail before it’s too late, as we’ll likely only release one run of these. We have plans to collab with Makeship on several more items down the line, so make sure you let us know what you’d like to see in the future!That’s all from us for now, we are sleepy.
Nuclear Escalation
- A mission set on the Southeastern City map has been added to the sub-mode’s random battles.
- The placement of certain objects in the mission has been adjusted based on the results of testing during events.
- Brief jumps in aircraft positioning that occurred when tank columns appeared have been fixed.
On October 17th 1965 during Operation Iron Hand in the Vietnam War, a strike against SAM positions occurred, making it the first operation to suppress missile air defenses. The operation lasted until 1973 and consisted of many individual SEAD missions.Put on your helmets, pilots! It’s time to fly straight into the Air Defense Suppression event, an asymmetrical game mode in which one team attacks while the other defends strategic S-75 air defense positions.
How the event works The defending team in this event must protect AI controlled Soviet S-75 surface-to-air missile systems. Helping to defend these systems are AI controlled ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” anti-air vehicles. Both of these potent air defense systems pose a deadly threat to the attacking team — they’ll need to learn the terrain, come up with approach tactics and use the most effective selection of weaponry to be successful.Roles and ObjectivesAttacking TeamYour mission is to destroy all S-75 SAM positions at all costs! Not only do the attackers have aircraft, they also have helicopters, opening up new possibilities for stealthy attacks and pinpoint missile strikes. The F-4E Phantom II serves as the primary strike force, equipped with rockets and bombs for ground targets, along with air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft. The AH-1F is armed with ATGMs and rockets, capable of providing more precise air-to-ground fire to take out the air defense missile systems.Defending Team Your mission is to defend the S-75 positions from the attacking enemy! Coordinate your actions with other players and build a layered defense to counter the attacking team. You’ll be equipped with the MiG-21bis, armed with air-to-air missiles to repel enemy aircraft.Event FeaturesHere are some key event features that are useful to know:
When: From October 16th (11:00 GMT) until October 19th (11:00 GMT).Where: You can access the event from the hangar through: Events & Tournaments → Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
How the event works The defending team in this event must protect AI controlled Soviet S-75 surface-to-air missile systems. Helping to defend these systems are AI controlled ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” anti-air vehicles. Both of these potent air defense systems pose a deadly threat to the attacking team — they’ll need to learn the terrain, come up with approach tactics and use the most effective selection of weaponry to be successful.Roles and ObjectivesAttacking TeamYour mission is to destroy all S-75 SAM positions at all costs! Not only do the attackers have aircraft, they also have helicopters, opening up new possibilities for stealthy attacks and pinpoint missile strikes. The F-4E Phantom II serves as the primary strike force, equipped with rockets and bombs for ground targets, along with air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft. The AH-1F is armed with ATGMs and rockets, capable of providing more precise air-to-ground fire to take out the air defense missile systems.Defending Team Your mission is to defend the S-75 positions from the attacking enemy! Coordinate your actions with other players and build a layered defense to counter the attacking team. You’ll be equipped with the MiG-21bis, armed with air-to-air missiles to repel enemy aircraft.Event FeaturesHere are some key event features that are useful to know:
- The gameplay in this event is asymmetrical. One team attacks and the other defends. This requires you to adapt to different roles and strategies.
- There are no markers in this mode, so you’ll not see enemy icons on the map. Use your aircraft’s systems and piloting skills to find and destroy the enemy. The only exception is protecting spawn points. If the enemy is circling directly above them, they will be visible on the map.
- Each player has 3 respawns, giving both teams the flexibility to experiment with tactics, and giving the attacking players the ability to use different types of vehicles.
- The attacking team has access to both helicopters and planes, offering unique opportunities in coordinating attacks to take enemies out from afar and support friendly planes.
- All players that have an aircraft of rank V or higher in their hangar can participate in the event.
- The vehicles that you’ll use in the event are automatically assigned and don’t need to be purchased.
- Vehicles have a spawn cost in Silver Lions which will be refunded if the plane is not destroyed when the mission ends or if you exit the plane in the safe exit zones. The amount of refunded Silver Lions depends on the condition of the aircraft.
- Safe exit zones become available for aircraft once all the weapons of a certain type have been expended. If you have spawned in with air-to-ground weaponry, you will need to use all of it, air-to-air missiles are not taken into account, however, if you have spawned in with just air-to-air missiles, you will need to use all of them.
- You can earn research points and Silver Lions by taking part in the event.
The SO.4050 Vautour II was one of the first post-war French jet aircraft. Its first flight took place on October 16th 1952, and it served in the French Air Force from 1958 to 1979. In total, almost 150 Vautour II units were built. Modification IIN is a two-seat all-weather interceptor that took part in combat operations as part of the Israeli Air Force.The Vautour IIN is available with a 30% discount for 5,992 Golden Eagles!
When: From October 16th (09:00 GMT) until October 19th (09:00 GMT).Where: France > Aviation > Premium vehicles.About this aircraft
- The Vautour IIN is a bomber boasting a massive payload of up to 4,400 kg. Against ground targets, it can deploy bombs ranging from 250 kg to 400 kg, as well as rockets from the compact SNEB Type 23 to the colossal AS-30. To fend off air threats, it is equipped with four 30 mm DEFA 551 cannons and AA-20 air-to-air missiles.
Hi everyone! Today we’re back with another Community Update, which goes into what you can expect to arrive in the upcoming major update and further into the future. So sit back and relax, and read on!
Disclaimer: While we’re excited to be able to share work-in-progress information before dev blogs, the dev server and the full release, please bear in mind that new features, vehicles and maps mentioned in this news are subject to change, be delayed or even cancelled. War Thunder is constantly being developed, and as with all game development, unexpected delays or other unforeseen circumstances may occur. Thank you for your interest!Free Decal CodeWe are bringing back the “Student Pilot” decal, so if you didn’t manage to get it before, now is your chance!Simply enter code STUDENTPILOT here!“Student Pilot” decal
- Once you’ve logged in, the decal can be found under Decals > Special > Other.
Please keep in mind that plans can change, meaning events might move around, be postponed, or new events not mentioned here may be added. Thanks for your understanding!TimelineOctoberRight, let’s first off start with what you can expect for the remainder of this month. As you may be aware, the next Battle Pass will be beginning on October 21st, and with it are two German Second World War premium vehicles! There will be one tank destroyer that you may be familiar with, and a coastal boat! As we always do, the Battle Pass news will be announced before the start of it, so please keep an eye out for that so you know what’s coming!Next up, at the end of October you can expect our traditional Dreams Come true event with one vehicle reward for War Thunder’s birthday. We’ll be doing our birthday discounts like we do yearly as well.NovemberWar Thunder’s birthday celebrations will continue from October into November as you may expect! However, that’s not everything we have planned, as we also have plans for another event. This event is one that we ran last year and can be seen as a little “extra” event that will start at the beginning of mid-November. And lastly, after War Thunder’s birthday Dreams Come True event concludes, we’ll be starting a naval event for a US coastal vessel.DecemberDecember, the month of holidays and celebrations! This month will be packed with festive events. First off, when the naval event concludes, we’ll be running a tank vehicle event for a Chinese mid-tier tank, which will start in early December.That’s not the only event though! Save up your Silver Lions, as a fan favourite, the Silver Lion trophy will be making a return in mid-December!And last but not least, we’ll be running a winter vehicle event in December, with four vehicle rewards instead of just one. This event will run into January 2027 as it usually does. More details will be revealed in time!Snail PlushieA friend will soon be deployed...Until the next oneThat’s it for this one, we hope you enjoyed reading it and gaining insights into our future plans. Stick around, as in December we’ll be releasing the final Community Update news of 2026. Thanks guys!Hang on......here’s one more thing lurking at the bottom...
Other
- Native support for ARM CPUs has been added to the Windows version of the game.
- A bug that caused the game to crash on PlayStation 5 Pro with ray tracing enabled has been fixed.
- Hürtgen (all missions), Grave Robbers’ Cliffs — these have been temporarily removed from the Air Battles rotation pending a bug fix.
- “Middle East. Mediterranean” and “Eastern Europe. Winter” locations in test flight — a bug that caused some objects to float in the air has been fixed.
- The ability to enable VR along with ray tracing options, which are incompatible, has been removed.
- A bug in the version of the game for Microsoft Store that caused frame generation, ray reconstruction and FSR to not work has been fixed.
Sound
- A bug that caused the Indonesian crew voice over to not play and instead be swapped to a default one has been fixed.
- \ Mozdok — an issue where the southern team’s spawn point was shifted north into the capture zone has been fixed. (Report). The mission has been returned to the Air Arcade Battles rotation.
- Kamchatka — all missions on this location have been temporarily removed from the Air Battles rotation pending a bug fix.
The U.S. Navy’s birthday marks the anniversary of the Continental Congress’s decision to establish a naval force, adopted on October 13th, 1775. On this day, American sailors cut the cake in a special way using a naval dirk held jointly by the most senior and the most junior personnel present, symbolizing the continuity of generations. USS Maryland Pack with a 30% discount in the Gaijin Store!From October 13th (11:00 GMT) until October 16th (11:00 GMT) a Pack including the American “super-dreadnought” USS Maryland will be available with a 30% discount!USS Maryland PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.79.99 55.99This pack includes:
- USS Maryland (Rank VI, USA)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
When: From October 13th (11:00 GMT) until October 16th (11:00 GMT).Where: USA > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.
- USS Cowell for 3,416 Golden Eagles
- USS Helena for 5,614 Golden Eagles
- USS Des Moines for 5,614 Golden Eagles
- USS Cowell can only be purchased during this promotion.
- The USS Cowell (rank III) is named after John Cowell, a U.S. Navy officer who died during the War of 1812. This destroyer is heavily armed: five 127 mm main battery guns can fend off enemy ships, while seven 20 mm Oerlikon cannons deter aircraft. For underwater threats, it can launch up to ten 533 mm torpedoes and deploy six depth charges.
- The USS Helena (rank IV) is named after the city of Helena, Montana. Although this light cruiser was damaged by a torpedo during the attack on Pearl Harbor, it returned to service following repairs and modernization; by the autumn of 1942, it had struck numerous Japanese ships near Guadalcanal. It remained in action until July 1943, when it was sunk by a torpedo hit. Its anti-aircraft armament consists of numerous 20 mm and 40 mm guns, while its five main battery turrets each house three 152 mm guns.
- The USS Des Moines (rank V) was laid down in May 1945 and did not see combat. Named after the capital of Iowa, this heavy cruiser was the first ship in the US Navy to be equipped with 203 mm guns featuring an autoloader. With a fully trained crew, the main battery reload time can be reduced to just 6 seconds! In addition to its impressive rate of fire, it also boasts solid anti-aircraft defenses.
When: From October 13th (11:00 GMT) until October 16th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used a Coastal or Bluewater USA vessel at rank III or higher to receive the “Emblem of the US Pacific Fleet” decal. Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually. Additional details:
- You can complete the task in random battles.
- Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → US Navy Birthday.
- The decal can be found in the “USA” → “Fleet” customization section.
Sound
- Now, when opening the aircraft or helicopter cockpit in flight, the sound of the rushing airflow will drown out all sounds, such as engines and missiles. Previously, this was controlled by the player’s engine volume slider.
- The Indonesian ground vehicle crews have received their own voice over.
- Harimau — the engine sound has been replaced with a better fitting one.
- \ Britain, Kursk, Malta, Mozdok, Stalingrad (Winter), Vietnam, Smolensk — bombing bases have been added to the “Air Superiority” missions.
- An issue where the foam and spray effect beneath firing ship guns was displayed incorrectly has been fixed.
- A possible cause of an issue where the game client could freeze after switching from another window (Alt+Tab) has been fixed. (Report).
Hey everyone! As it’s October, we thought we’d change the format up a bit and go with a set of decals that fit the Halloween month. We’ve got skulls, ghosts and a black cat too of course! For the “Red Devils” hull art piece, we’ve tried to keep the shape somewhat generalized so you’ll be able to apply it to lots of tank hulls rather than only the Sherman hull specifically.We also had to include a few examples of WW1 aircraft art as its really in its own league. While they can’t be placed historically we hope you like them and enjoy customizing your vehicles with them! We also thought it was a good time to include the ominous “Tiefseefisch” emblem again from the first event as it was only available for Golden Eagles, so if you missed it initially because of that you can now unlock it by completing a regular task.
"Rice's Red Devils" Hull Art“Rice’s Red Devils” hull art, Company C, 89th Medium Tank Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army. The battalion was activated in Korea on August 7th 1950, equipped with M4A3 (76) W tanks. Following an Eighth Army psychological warfare initiative, units were instructed to paint devil or tiger faces on their tanks, with relative freedom for the specific design. The most striking motif was that of company C, led by Captain Rice. The company painted a monster face on its hulls on a base of deep red, earning the fitting nickname of “Rice’s Red Devils.” While the markings themselves were certainly bold and aggressive, there is little to no evidence that they had any psychological effect on the opposition. Typically, the red devil took up the entire frontal hull space on the company’s Shermans.Black Cat Squadron Emblem (Type 1)Black Cat Squadron emblem, ROCAF. Formally known as the 35th Squadron, the formation of the unit was agreed by the ROC and US in 1958 and fully established in 1961. It flew U-2 spy planes from Taoyuan Air Base in northern Taiwan from 1961 to 1974. The design of the emblem is credited to pilot Chen Huai, who helped design it with a classmate around 1960. The exact details are difficult to ascertain and sources conflict, but accounts suggest it was at least partially inspired by the logo of a bar the pilots frequented during their training. The specific parts of the cat also mimic the U-2 itself. The face of the cat mirrors the view of the U-2 fuselage from the front, the sharp ears represent sensors, and the golden eyes reflect the piercing and clear reconnaissance cameras carried by the aircraft. Two distinct variations of the emblem exist, though information surrounding the distinction between the two is uncertain. The emblem was primarily used as a patch rather than a typical aircraft marking, and could be found in several forms on various pieces of squadron ephemera.337th Squadron "Ghost" Tail Art“Ghost” tail art, 337 Μοίρα Παντός Καιρού (337th All Weather Squadron), Hellenic Air Force. 337 Squadron started forming in liberated Greece in 1945 and became formally established in 1948. The unit initially flew Spitfires, but later became the first Hellenic squadron to fly jet aircraft, equipped with the T-33 and F-84G. The initial emblem depicted a ghost with two bombs under the wings, denoting its fighter-bomber role. Later the squadron took on a more distinct interceptor duty, and the emblem was updated to feature missiles instead. Many variations of the ghost exist across different operational eras and aircraft, featuring different colorations and styles. This specific version was painted on the tail of F-4E 68-0506, to commemorate the retirement of the F-4E from 337 Squadron. The Phantom still wears this special livery today, and currently sits as the gate guardian of Larissa Air Base.
"Grinning Skull" Emblem, UK"Yellow Skull" Emblem, SwedenWin 10 battles using British TanksFinish in position 1-5 five times using Swedish Ground Vehicles"Grinning Skull" Emblem“Grinning Skull” emblem, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, British Army. Within the Royal Armoured Corps, unofficial markings and graffiti were broadly discouraged but not outright banned. Vehicles were painted with tactical and divisional emblems and occasionally a nickname, but rarely wore personal markings. Skulls were particularly rare for the British. While they were a fitting general emblem for an armored vehicle, the association between European Axis forces and skulls indirectly discouraged their use within many Allied branches. Several instances of their use have been found however. This example was painted on the hull of a 7th RTR Matilda tank, on the armor block under the main driver view port."Yellow Skull and Crossbones" Emblem“Yellow skull and crossbones” emblem, Swedish Army. Very little detail can be discerned from this specific marking. The majority of personal vehicle markings within the Swedish Army are ephemeral, and only exist temporarily for exercises or training. This often causes the context behind the design and details to be lost, even for very recent emblems and inscriptions. The skull was painted on the rear exhaust grille of a CV90, likely for a particular exercise.
1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem, Japan3. SFltl Emblem "Tiefseefisch", Germany41° Gruppo Autonomo AS Emblem, ItalyDestroy 20 Aircraft using Japanese Ground VehiclesScore 20000 Damage using German Coastal VesselsDestroy 30 Ground or Water targets using Italian Aircraft1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment EmblemThe emblem of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 7th Armored Division, JGSDF. On March 25th 1981, 7th Division was reorganized as an armored division. As part of the change, the 5th Battalion of the 7th Artillery Regiment (the division's anti-aircraft unit) was separated from the artillery regiment and expanded into the 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, which reports directly to the division. Four companies were initially created, receiving unique emblems sometime after 1994, when the regiment received the Type 87. As was the case for the other companies, the design was directly inspired by the Type 87 itself. The bat was selected due to its functional link to the platform, as it is a hunter that uses echolocation to find prey. Like most company markings, it was painted on both sides of the turret on the extended lower blocks, just in front of the smoke grenade array.3. SFltl Emblem "Tiefseefisch"An emblem of 3. Schnellbootflottille (3rd Fast Boat Flotilla), Kriegsmarine. Large personal designs on naval vessels are relatively rare, but could commonly be found on German S-Boats. This was a result of the masts on the vessels being removed which in turn removed their system of identification, so each boat was painted with a personal marking so the vessels could be distinguished. This somewhat intimidating design was the emblem of S 34, a stylized deep-sea fish. While the position of markings varied slightly between boats, these kinds of designs were most commonly found to the side of the bridge, on the hull. 41° Gruppo Autonomo AS EmblemThe emblem of the 41° Gruppo Autonomo Aerosiluranti (41st Autonomous Torpedo-Bomber Group), Regia Aeronautica. The group was officially formed as an autonomous torpedo-bomber unit in May 1941, deployed in the Aegean Sea. It was equipped with the SM.84 and had relative success over the Mediterranean. Its key exploit was helping to severely damage the British battleship HMS Nelson in September. Even though the SM.84 was more advanced, the crews preferred the older but more mechanically reliable SM.79, fully transitioning back by early 1942. Like many Italian aviation emblems, this example is highly detailed and historically inspired. The Latin inscription “Usque Ad Inferos” idiomatically translates as “Back down to hell,” an especially fitting motif for a torpedo attack squadron aiming to send ships below the water. The emblem was typically painted on the group’s SM.84 bombers on the white fuselage band, just above the tactical number.
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.Hiding down here are we? Decals got you spooked? Wise, wise. Jokes aside we hope you like this special collection for October. We’re currently working on devblogs for next major update, so expect those to start appearing relatively soon, and we’ll see you in November for more monthly decals!
The following decals are available from October 12th (11:00 GMT) until November 12th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.Personal Marking of Kazimir Rudzit, Soviet RussiaSPA 91 Emblem, FranceDefeat 50 players using Soviet AircraftEarn 15000 score while using French AircraftPersonal Marking of Kazimir RudzitThe personal marking of Kazimir Andreevich Rudzit, 15th Reconnaissance Aviation Detachment, Red Military Air Fleet. In the spring and summer of 1919, Rudzit flew 23 combat and reconnaissance missions on the Southern Front. One particularly noteworthy sortie saw Rudzit carry out an attack mission while holding a 25 lb bomb in his lap as he flew. Skulls and similar morbid motifs were very common in the Red Air Fleet at the time, and while most were cartoony or jovial, Rudzit’s marking is one of the most intricate of its kind. It depicts Death riding a scythe and holding a red ribbon, along with a pair of dragonflies. Dragonflies have several associations with mortality, some literature regards them as symbols of fleeting life, others as spiritual messengers, though these links are purely speculative. It was painted on the starboard side of Rudzit’s Nieuport 24bis, likely sometime during early 1919. SPA 91 EmblemThe emblem of Escadrille SPA 91, French Military Aviation. SPA 91 was formed in spring of 1917 from the Nieuport fighter detachments N 505 and N 506 of the French 8th Army. The squadron finished the war with 6 confirmed victories (5 aircraft and 1 balloon) and was dissolved on July 9th, 1919. Following French tradition, the insignia was passed down through various squadrons. Among several others, it was attached to the 1st escadrille of EC 2/11, which flew the F-84G and F-84F, and later the 3rd escadrille of EC 1/7, flying the Jaguar and Rafale. Sources struggle to definitively outline the specific species of bird. It closely resembles a crow or raven, though an eagle appears to be the intended species. The first design depicted a grenade, though this was changed to a skull shortly after the first iteration. In the First World War, the emblem was painted large on the fuselage side of the squadron’s aircraft, while the later modern depictions could be seen on the tail, smaller and more stylized."Rice's Red Devils" Hull Art, USABlack Cat Squadron Emblem (Type 1), China337th Squadron "Ghost" Tail Art, GreeceFinish in position 1-3 three times using American Ground VehiclesPlay 20 battles while using Chinese Aircraft with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityDefeat 20 players using missiles while flying Greek or Israeli Aircraft
"Rice's Red Devils" Hull Art“Rice’s Red Devils” hull art, Company C, 89th Medium Tank Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army. The battalion was activated in Korea on August 7th 1950, equipped with M4A3 (76) W tanks. Following an Eighth Army psychological warfare initiative, units were instructed to paint devil or tiger faces on their tanks, with relative freedom for the specific design. The most striking motif was that of company C, led by Captain Rice. The company painted a monster face on its hulls on a base of deep red, earning the fitting nickname of “Rice’s Red Devils.” While the markings themselves were certainly bold and aggressive, there is little to no evidence that they had any psychological effect on the opposition. Typically, the red devil took up the entire frontal hull space on the company’s Shermans.Black Cat Squadron Emblem (Type 1)Black Cat Squadron emblem, ROCAF. Formally known as the 35th Squadron, the formation of the unit was agreed by the ROC and US in 1958 and fully established in 1961. It flew U-2 spy planes from Taoyuan Air Base in northern Taiwan from 1961 to 1974. The design of the emblem is credited to pilot Chen Huai, who helped design it with a classmate around 1960. The exact details are difficult to ascertain and sources conflict, but accounts suggest it was at least partially inspired by the logo of a bar the pilots frequented during their training. The specific parts of the cat also mimic the U-2 itself. The face of the cat mirrors the view of the U-2 fuselage from the front, the sharp ears represent sensors, and the golden eyes reflect the piercing and clear reconnaissance cameras carried by the aircraft. Two distinct variations of the emblem exist, though information surrounding the distinction between the two is uncertain. The emblem was primarily used as a patch rather than a typical aircraft marking, and could be found in several forms on various pieces of squadron ephemera.337th Squadron "Ghost" Tail Art“Ghost” tail art, 337 Μοίρα Παντός Καιρού (337th All Weather Squadron), Hellenic Air Force. 337 Squadron started forming in liberated Greece in 1945 and became formally established in 1948. The unit initially flew Spitfires, but later became the first Hellenic squadron to fly jet aircraft, equipped with the T-33 and F-84G. The initial emblem depicted a ghost with two bombs under the wings, denoting its fighter-bomber role. Later the squadron took on a more distinct interceptor duty, and the emblem was updated to feature missiles instead. Many variations of the ghost exist across different operational eras and aircraft, featuring different colorations and styles. This specific version was painted on the tail of F-4E 68-0506, to commemorate the retirement of the F-4E from 337 Squadron. The Phantom still wears this special livery today, and currently sits as the gate guardian of Larissa Air Base.
"Grinning Skull" Emblem, UK"Yellow Skull" Emblem, SwedenWin 10 battles using British TanksFinish in position 1-5 five times using Swedish Ground Vehicles"Grinning Skull" Emblem“Grinning Skull” emblem, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, British Army. Within the Royal Armoured Corps, unofficial markings and graffiti were broadly discouraged but not outright banned. Vehicles were painted with tactical and divisional emblems and occasionally a nickname, but rarely wore personal markings. Skulls were particularly rare for the British. While they were a fitting general emblem for an armored vehicle, the association between European Axis forces and skulls indirectly discouraged their use within many Allied branches. Several instances of their use have been found however. This example was painted on the hull of a 7th RTR Matilda tank, on the armor block under the main driver view port."Yellow Skull and Crossbones" Emblem“Yellow skull and crossbones” emblem, Swedish Army. Very little detail can be discerned from this specific marking. The majority of personal vehicle markings within the Swedish Army are ephemeral, and only exist temporarily for exercises or training. This often causes the context behind the design and details to be lost, even for very recent emblems and inscriptions. The skull was painted on the rear exhaust grille of a CV90, likely for a particular exercise.
1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem, Japan3. SFltl Emblem "Tiefseefisch", Germany41° Gruppo Autonomo AS Emblem, ItalyDestroy 20 Aircraft using Japanese Ground VehiclesScore 20000 Damage using German Coastal VesselsDestroy 30 Ground or Water targets using Italian Aircraft1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment EmblemThe emblem of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 7th Armored Division, JGSDF. On March 25th 1981, 7th Division was reorganized as an armored division. As part of the change, the 5th Battalion of the 7th Artillery Regiment (the division's anti-aircraft unit) was separated from the artillery regiment and expanded into the 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, which reports directly to the division. Four companies were initially created, receiving unique emblems sometime after 1994, when the regiment received the Type 87. As was the case for the other companies, the design was directly inspired by the Type 87 itself. The bat was selected due to its functional link to the platform, as it is a hunter that uses echolocation to find prey. Like most company markings, it was painted on both sides of the turret on the extended lower blocks, just in front of the smoke grenade array.3. SFltl Emblem "Tiefseefisch"An emblem of 3. Schnellbootflottille (3rd Fast Boat Flotilla), Kriegsmarine. Large personal designs on naval vessels are relatively rare, but could commonly be found on German S-Boats. This was a result of the masts on the vessels being removed which in turn removed their system of identification, so each boat was painted with a personal marking so the vessels could be distinguished. This somewhat intimidating design was the emblem of S 34, a stylized deep-sea fish. While the position of markings varied slightly between boats, these kinds of designs were most commonly found to the side of the bridge, on the hull. 41° Gruppo Autonomo AS EmblemThe emblem of the 41° Gruppo Autonomo Aerosiluranti (41st Autonomous Torpedo-Bomber Group), Regia Aeronautica. The group was officially formed as an autonomous torpedo-bomber unit in May 1941, deployed in the Aegean Sea. It was equipped with the SM.84 and had relative success over the Mediterranean. Its key exploit was helping to severely damage the British battleship HMS Nelson in September. Even though the SM.84 was more advanced, the crews preferred the older but more mechanically reliable SM.79, fully transitioning back by early 1942. Like many Italian aviation emblems, this example is highly detailed and historically inspired. The Latin inscription “Usque Ad Inferos” idiomatically translates as “Back down to hell,” an especially fitting motif for a torpedo attack squadron aiming to send ships below the water. The emblem was typically painted on the group’s SM.84 bombers on the white fuselage band, just above the tactical number.
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.Hiding down here are we? Decals got you spooked? Wise, wise. Jokes aside we hope you like this special collection for October. We’re currently working on devblogs for next major update, so expect those to start appearing relatively soon, and we’ll see you in November for more monthly decals!
Welcome to the 245th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
We loved seeing your submissions last week! This week we want to feature lightweight vehicles that have great speed and agility. Grab your favorite light vehicle, and capture a screenshot of it scouting on the battlefield, or participating in a dogfight! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 245th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen245. You have time until the 16th of October 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 an aircraft or helicopter with one engine, a light tank or wheeled vehicle, or a coastal fleet vehicle.
- You must add the #WTscreen245 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 244th edition – Standing Together!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3813073255
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3812509644
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3812600382
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3813728351
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3813366590
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3812479035
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
Ground Vehicles
- Leopard 2A4 (all variants), Leopard 2A5 (all variants), Leopard 2A6 (all variants), Type 90 (all variants), Strv 121 (all variants), Strv 122 (all variants), Leopard 2A7 (all variants), EMBT (all variants), Vickers Mk.7, ItPsV Leopard — the slowed-down neutral turn that occurred after testing the regenerative steering mechanic has been fixed. (Report). The regenerative steering mechanic itself will be brought back for testing with improvements with the one of the future dev-server launches.
- \ Mozdok — this mission has been temporarily removed from rotation pending a bug fix.
Aircraft
- H8K2, H8K3 — an issue preventing the wing-root turrets from firing has been fixed. (Report).
- An issue where SAM systems positioned on high ground would not engage targets flying over water at an altitude lower than the SAM site itself has been fixed.
- An issue where SAM systems might incorrectly assign low priority to certain targets has been fixed.
- S-75 and HAWK SAM systems now deactivate their search and tracking radars when threatened by anti-radiation missiles (ARMs) at medium to long ranges.