The die is cast captains, Giulio Cesare will be joining War Thunder in the next major update as a premium battleship for Italy’s Bluewater fleet!Giulio Cesare: A Premium Battleship for Italy at Rank VIAt a glance:

• Ten 320 mm guns with high penetration
• Well protected ammo
• Versatile anti-air weaponry
• No air detection radar

Pre-order - Giulio Cesare PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.79.99This pack includes:

• RN Giulio Cesare (Rank VI, Italy)
• Premium account for 30 days
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Veni, vidi, vici”
• Pre-order bonus: unique “Roman Emperor” decal
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique Flag of Genoa
  

Introducing Giulio Cesare!Today we’re covering the Conte di Cavour class battleship Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar). Overall it has some light differences when compared to the existing Conte di Cavour class battleship, but it remains a rugged and particularly survivable ship with a lot to offer!Using Giulio Cesare in battleGiulio Cesare is a ship without any firm drawbacks, allowing you to approach the battle with a lot of freedom. Its ten 320 mm cannons may lack explosive filler comparatively, but they have high penetration and can comfortably engage enemy vessels at long range. Unlike most contemporary battleships though, Giulio Cesare has very well protected ammo, which allows it to head into closer range engagements with less risk of being ammo racked. Longer range positioning is still suggested, but if you close the distance, enemy ammo racks will be easier to hit while your own will stay relatively safe below the waterline. So, be bold and fear naught; you carry Caesar and his fortune in your boat!Giulio Cesare is similarly well protected from the air. It may lack a search radar but features a set of classic 100 mm dual-purpose cannons along with 37 mm and 13.2 mm guns, differing from Conte di Cavour. Aside from the anti-air, Giulio Cesare inherits the same core firepower, armor and speed from her sister, so you should feel right at home behind the wheel.Feature Spotlight: SurvivabilityOne of the key advantages of the Conte di Cavour class is her survivability. Although the armor belt is neither the widest nor the thickest, the protection of the Giulio Cesare’s barbettes is highly reliable. Plus, the gun ammunition is stowed below the waterline, ensuring a high level of protection for these modules. It is not totally immune from ammo detonations of course, but it is significantly harder to detonate than on many contemporary ships, keeping you in the fight for longer. As long as you stay on the move and put out any potential fires in the ammo elevators, Giulio Cesare will be able to take a lot of shots, certainly more than 23 anyway, we would hope.Developer comment: The arrival of the Giulio Cesare (already present in the game as the Novorossiysk in the USSR tech tree) marks a shift in our approach to adding new ships. Previously, our policy was to include each ship in only one specific configuration; if a vessel had undergone multiple refits, only one version would make it into the game. Since this rule sometimes prevented the inclusion of highly interesting configurations, we decided to revise our approach. Until now, Italy was the only nation in the game without a top-tier premium ship, and the Giulio Cesare, in its original Italian configuration, is the perfect fit for this role. Vehicle HistoryBy the early 1900s, Italy’s naval dominance began to slip. While Italy was still focused on cruiser construction, other naval powers were quickly changing focus in response to HMS Dreadnought. This threat hit close to home in 1909, when leaked Austro-Hungarian plans for a new fleet of dreadnoughts made their way to the Italian admiralty, prompting an immediate response. While the primary Austro-Hungarian threat loomed over the Adriatic, Italy’s new battleships would be shaped more directly by the French Courbet-class. Being prime Mediterranean rivals, Italy could not accept France fielding a superior dreadnought, and the design of the new class occurred rapidly, with Giulio Cesare laid down on the 24th of June 1910.While seeing no combat in the First World War despite being launched on the 15th of October 1911, Giulio Cesare saw significant action in the Second World War. During the Battle of Calabria, she engaged the British Mediterranean Fleet with her sister in the first capital ship engagement of the campaign. Salvos were traded at roughly 24 km, until a single shell from HMS Warspite struck Giulio Cesare near the rear funnel knocking out 4 boilers; one of the longest range hits in naval history. She survived but was attacked again at Taranto, where British Swordfish aircraft sank her sister Conte di Cavour at anchor. She was untouched from this attack, and as the final sister she remained in operation until the Italian armistice in September 1943, when she was interned by the Allies at Malta.As part of war reparations, she was handed over to the Soviet Union in 1949 and renamed Novorossiysk, acting as a training ship and flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. Her end would come unexpectedly however, when in the morning of the 29th of October 1955, a huge explosion tore a hole in her bow while she was anchored at Sevastopol harbour. The flooding was instant and uncontrollable, and she capsized with the loss of over 600 crew, marking the largest peacetime naval disaster of the 20th century. The cause was concluded to be an old German mine detonated by her anchor chain, as searches of the harbor discovered numerous such mines nearby. She was later salvaged on the 4th of May 1957, and subsequently scrapped.That’s all for this one! Consider picking up Giulio Cesare in the next major update if you’re interested in getting into the Italian Bluewater tree. In the meantime we’ve got more upcoming vehicles and features to show you, so stay tuned!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The F-16XL is a variant of the F-16 featuring a delta wing, increased fuel capacity, and an expanded number of hardpoints. In 1981, the F-16XL lost the competition to the F-15E Strike Eagle; in 1988, the two prototypes that had been built were transferred to NASA, where they were used during the 1990s for supersonic laminar flow research. Get this unique aircraft, complete with a special camouflage, a loading screen, and themed decals in the Space Program aircraft event!

From September 3rd (11:00 GMT) until September 21st (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Air Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!

F-16XL — An Event Vehicle Jet Fighter for the USA at Rank VIIIIn the game, the F-16XL stands out as one of the most unusual variants of the Fighting Falcon family. The aircraft features increased weight compared to production models, a lengthened fuselage, and a unique wing design. While its acceleration is less dynamic, its performance in tight turns has improved. Its armament options include two AIM-9L and four AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, as well as up to six AGM-65B Maverick air-to-surface missiles and bombs for ground strikes.“F-16XL” decal “Space” decal F-16XL loading screen“Ship No. 1” camouflage for the F-16XLAmong the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance to receive one of the following items:

• 50,000 - 100,000 Silver Lions
• Silver Lion and Research Point boosters
• Random Wagers and Orders
• Universal Backups (1 - 3)
• A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
• 1 day of Premium Account

How to get all rewardsEach stage can be achieved for 45,000 mission points, every new stage achieved will give you a new reward.

Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually. To do this, click on your name in-game, go to “Space Program” and click the “Get Reward” button.

You’re able to earn mission points in Air Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game. Points are only awarded at the end of the battle.You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles of Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.

Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT on September 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th.

Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages

• For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
• For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 3 Stages: “Military Survival Kit” silver chest
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 5 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 6 Stages: F-16XL loading screen
• For 7 Stages: “Military Survival Kit” silver chest
• For 8 Stages: non-tradable coupon for the F-16XL
• For 9 Stages: unique camouflage and four random modifications for the F-16XL

Discounts for purchasing stages using Golden EaglesUnfinished stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re very close to completing a stage, its price will be significantly reduced.Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve scored 39,000 mission points, then the price to unlock this stage will be 499 Golden Eagles. If you’ve scored 43,000 mission points, then you’ll only need 199 Golden Eagles. Remember to keep this in mind if you cannot complete a stage on time!The Coupon UpgradeWhen you complete 8 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for the F-16XL, using it will immediately activate the vehicle onto your account. If you don’t want the vehicle and would like to sell the coupon on the Market, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from September 3rd (11:00 GMT) until September 21st (11:00 GMT) for 750,000 mission points.

After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 6 days from the moment it’s created.

To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon F-16XL (USA)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is usable until 11:00 GMT on September 25th. Until then, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.You can track the progress of completing stages and the “Upgrade for coupon” item by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Space Program. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, you can do so with Golden Eagles until September 25th from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.

Welcome to the 239th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

It was great to see all of the creative submissions from all of you last week! This time, we’re focusing on moments when weapons meet their targets. Whether it’s a shell striking its target, a bomb detonating nearby, or a vehicle caught in the middle of a blast, capture a screenshot of the explosion! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 239th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen239. You have time until the 4th of September 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 and an explosion.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen239 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 238th edition – Rapid Advance!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3790233704
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3787939542
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3789720202

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3787899659
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3789841752
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3790496468

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

You may remember that we mentioned bomber damage model changes and increased survivability in the latest Community Update post. Well today we’re ready to share some details about the new damage model for bombers that we’re preparing for in the next major update!The problem and our findingsWhen flying bombers, you’ve probably noticed that in some cases, a single hit from an enemy could lead to fatal consequences. The survivability of bombers has long been one of the most discussed topics within the community. We’ve been closely monitoring your feedback while simultaneously gathering our own data on the subject. Over the course of several months, we systematized documentation detailing the results of tests involving various types of ammunition against different aircraft components and structural elements, analyzing how the fuselage, wings, engines and wing spars react to impacts from shells, shrapnel, bullets and missiles. Overall it was quite an undertaking, and we’re now ready to present the initial results.Impact point and shrapnel from a 30 mm HE roundSource: SHE Beschussversuche (Flugzeug - Flugzeug), Bericht über Kanonenschiessen mit Mirage und Hunter auf Pzj G 13, Hongrin 23./24.9.75, Swiss Federal Archives, E4#1000/781#6*, ref. 2.1, BG vom 23.12.1908 betr. die Organisation des EDI, 1908–1909This is the conclusion that we’ve come to: in reality, an aircraft’s structural elements, such as spars, the center wing section, and ribs sustain damage extremely rarely. Small fragments weighing around three grams are simply incapable of compromising the structural integrity of the airframe. Blast damage from external explosions also proved negligible; even high blast-wave pressure on the wing rarely resulted in critical damage. Damage to the flaps from 20 mm roundsSource: SHE Beschussversuche (Flugzeug - Flugzeug), Bericht über Kanonenschiessen mit Mirage und Hunter auf Pzj G 13, Hongrin 23./24.9.75, Swiss Federal Archives, E4#1000/781#6*, ref. 2.1, BG vom 23.12.1908 betr. die Organisation des EDI, 1908–1909Damage to longeronsSource: SHE Beschussversuche (Flugzeug - Flugzeug), PROTOCOLE No. 35, Swiss Federal Archives, E4#1000/781#6*, ref. 2.1, BG vom 23.12.1908 betr. die Organisation des EDI, 1908–1909More than 60% of losses in actual combat were caused by fires in the fuel and oil systems rather than structural failure. Many instances of damage did not result in the immediate loss of the aircraft, but merely forced the pilot to abort the mission and make an emergency landing within 30 minutes, or even up to two hours. Survivability depends heavily on the thickness and material of the skin. Plus, the largest bombers feature a wing box structure in which the upper and lower skin panels also serve as load-bearing elements; these panels are significantly thicker than the skin of conventional spar-based wings, reaching thicknesses of tens of millimeters in certain parts of the structure. Generally speaking, with increase in aircraft speed, the structural integrity and the thickness of the skin also increases. This will also be reflected in the game for aircraft of different time periods.Damage from 20 mm AP roundsSource: SHE Beschussversuche (Flugzeug - Flugzeug), Bericht über Kanonenschiessen mit Mirage und Hunter auf Pzj G 13, Hongrin 23./24.9.75, Swiss Federal Archives, E4#1000/781#6*, ref. 2.1, BG vom 23.12.1908 betr. die Organisation des EDI, 1908–1909Conclusion from our researchBased on our research, we’ve completely overhauled the damage model for bombers. We’ve fixed accumulated errors, adjusted damage accumulation parameters, recalculated hit zones, and updated settings for wing spars, tail assemblies, fuselages, and engines. We’ve adopted a flexible approach: for piston-engined aircraft, we created distinct configurations for inline and radial engines, as well as for varying engine counts ranging from two to six. We also separately tuned jet bombers, which require a different damage calculation logic. Alongside the bombers, we updated the damage models for other aircraft classes derived from bomber airframes, specifically the A-26 Invader and Pe-3 families, the Su-8, Tu-1, and TIS-MA attack aircraft, and the Ju 388 J interceptor.Damage from 20 mm and 30 mm high-explosive incendiary rounds (minengeschoß)Source: BArch, RL_3_1900 Passiven Flugzeug-Schutz. Vorträge. Bd. 1 The bottom line is, even though we’ve only just begun implementing our findings regarding the survivability of aircraft components against various types of projectiles, bombers have become noticeably more resilient. The enemy can still shoot you down of course, but doing so now requires greater effort and more precise aim. Shearing off wings is now significantly harder, instead you should aim accurately at fuel tanks, engines and the crew itself, which is precisely the targets that pilots were advised to aim for in real life. The type of shell or bullet now play a more crucial role as well.We’ll continue to refine and improve the damage model, rest assured we’re just getting started and have a long road ahead. But we believe we’ll see more bombers taking to the skies of War Thunder!

The F-20 fighter, developed by Northrop, made its maiden flight on August 30th 1982. It was an aircraft of such high quality that it was ready for mass production; however, all potential buyers ultimately opted for the F-16. The F-20 went down in history as “the best fighter that no one bought”!The F-20A is temporarily available at a 30% discount for 6,860 Golden Eagles!

When: From August 28th (09:00 GMT) until August 31st (09:00 GMT).Where: USA > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• The F-20A is returning for purchase and will remain available at its full price of 9,800 Golden Eagles after the promotion ends.

About this aircraft

• The F-20A is a versatile aircraft featuring high thrust, excellent handling, twin 20 cannons, and the capability to equip air-to-air missiles with semi-active radar homing (SARH) seekers. In air-to-air combat, it relies on AIM-7F and AIM-9L missiles, while in Ground Battles it utilizes bombs, incendiary tanks, and most notably AGM-65B air-to-ground missiles!

A survival kit is a test pilot’s trusty companion, where everything essential is tightly packed and stowed under the seat. At one of NASA’s research centers, a new experimental machine is being readied for flight, and its pilot can rest easy as the survival kit is in place. We’ve got one for you as well, although instead of signal flares and rations, it’s packed with rewards from past events and useful consumables. Hopefully you won’t need to eject to get your hands on it! As for the machine NASA is preparing for the skies, you’ll find out very soon… 

The “Military Survival Kit” can be purchased from the in-game Item Shop for Silver Lions from August 27th (11:00 GMT) until September 25th (11:00 GMT). It doesn’t require a key and can only be purchased by players who have bought at least one researchable vehicle at Rank II or higher on their account.

What’s in the Military Survival Kit?The “Military Survival Kit” contains vehicles and camouflages, decals and decorations, player icons from previous summer events and events from the new cycle from June to August inclusive, as well as useful consumable items: boosters, universal backups, wagers and orders. Some items from past events are appearing as coupons for the first time, and you’ll be able to trade them on the Market!

The Military Survival Kit costs 60,000 Silver Lions.

On September 25th (11:00 GMT), all Military Survival Kits will disappear from your inventory, so be sure to open them before then!“Echidna” decal"Davy Crockett" decoration“Harpy” decal "Chinese paratrooper"profile icon"Emergency vehicle lighting" decoration"Girl scout"profile iconAll items are immediately credited to your account, but there’s a chance of receiving some of them in the form of a coupon, unless otherwise stated. Full list of items in the Military Survival Kit:Vehicles (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):

• Sd.Kfz.251/22 (immediately activated on the account only)
• USS Detroit (immediately activated on the account only)
• A6M6c
• E.B.R. (1963)
• Type T-51a (immediately activated on the account only)
• BV 155 B-1
• Object 248
• MC-485 (immediately activated on the account only)
• B7A2 (Homare 23)
• SPz 12-3 LGS
• PBM-5A Mariner
• Sholef
• SB-25J
• WZ141-1
• HF-24
• T86
• Shisaka
• F-106A
• F-14A IRIAF
• Alcione
• Churchill AVRE Petard
• Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK (immediately activated on the account only)
• CT-CV 105HP
• Su-25BM
• HMS Renown
• Zrinyi I (immediately activated on the account only)
• F4D-1
• Leopard 2AV
• IJN Haruna
• Buccaneer S.1
• VL Myrsky II (immediately activated on the account only)
• BMD-4
• Ka-Chi (immediately activated on the account only)
• RN Aviere (immediately activated on the account only)
• Bussard
• F11F-1
• Ar 196 A-3 (immediately activated on the account only)
• C2A1
• Ikv 73 (immediately activated on the account only)
• Maxim Gorky
• Freccia P-493 (immediately activated on the account only)
• BT-7A (F-32)
• HMS Spey
• Bf 110 C-6
• AUBL/74 HVG
• IJN Yuudachi
• P-59A
• FJ-4B VMF-232
• Martlet Mk IV (Britain)
• Sd.Kfz.234/3
• IS-7 *
• Т-34E
• P-43A-1
• Ki-94-II
• Sd.Kfz.234/4
• Phòng không T-34 (USSR) (immediately activated on the account only)
• F7F-3
• Fw 189 A-1
• KV-220
• Grant I
• P-63A-10 (USSR) (immediately activated on the account only)
• KV-IB (Germany)

* — the chances of receiving an IS-7 are far lower than the other vehicles and are around 0,001% All vehicles will be immediately credited to the account but there is a chance to get it in form of a coupon unless otherwise specified. Camouflages (coupons only):

• F-106A: City of Jacksonville anniversary camouflage (first time as a coupon)
• F-14A IRIAF: Experimental camouflage
• CT-CV 105HP: Demonstration camouflage
• Su-25BM: Digital camouflage
• HMS Renown: Tricolor geometric camouflage
• F4D-1: "Blue Nemesis" camouflage
• Leopard 2AV: Bundeswehr сamouflage
• IJN Haruna: Deforming camouflage
• Buccaneer S.1: "736 NAS" camouflage
• BMD-4: Deforming tricolor desert camouflage
• Bussard: Deforming camouflage
• F11F-1: "Blue Angels" camouflage
• C2A1: Royal Canadian Regiment camouflage
• Maxim Gorky: Deforming camouflage
• BT-7A (F-32): Bicolor summer camouflage
• HMS Spey: Deforming camouflage
• Bf 110 C-6: Bicolor camouflage
• AUBL/74 HVG: Tricolor summer camouflage
• IJN Yuudachi: Deforming bicolor camouflage
• P-59A: Standard olive-green camouflage
• FJ-4B VMF-232: VU-7 camouflage
• Martlet Mk IV (Britain): Nonstandard bicolor camouflage
• Sd.Kfz.234/3: Tricolor summer camouflage (spots)
• IS-7: Tricolor summer camouflage
• T-34E: Bicolor summer camouflage
• P-43A-1: Unpainted camouflage
• Ki-94-II: Spotted camouflage
• Sd.Kfz.234/4: Tricolor camouflage
• F7F-3: Testing Ground 113
• Fw 189 A-1: Testing Ground 113
• KV-220: Testing Ground 113
• Grant I: Testing Ground 113

 Decorations (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):

• Infantry helmet M51 of 1957 (France)
• MAT-49
• Voltigeurs emblem
• Stop, shoot! sign
• Emergency vehicle lighting
• Training mine
• Raid Backpack
• Easel machine gun (China)
• Crawler-type drone
• Selectable Assault Battle Rifle
• Laser Designator Rangefinder
• Davy Crockett
• Type 64
• Automatic grenade launcher (China)
• MRLS (China)
• Johnson machine gun
• "Flying Dustbin"
• BMX
• Jet ski
• Sailing catamaran
• Hornet’s nest
• BSA Bicycle
• Container "Waffenhalter"
• M4 Sherman
• Willys MB
• Assault rifle shortened (USSR)
• M1A1 Carbine
• Light machine gun (USA)
• Light machine gun (USSR)
• Light machine gun (Germany)
• Light machine gun (China)
• Assault body armor (Russia)
• Force recon vest (USA)
• Ammunition of the Soviet Army, 1941
• Wehrmacht ammunition (Germany)
• SVT-40
• M1 Carbine
• Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk1
• Gewehr 41 (Walther)
• Arisaka Type 44
• PPS
• MP-40
• STEN
• M1928A1 "Thompson"

 Decals (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):

• Emblem of the 11th Shock Parachute Regiment
• Emblem of the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment
• Emblem of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
• Combat Jungle emblem
• Armored Board text
• Armor 100mm text
• Test Operation text
• Armor pierced text
• Mechanised Infantry Regiment insignia
• Emblem of the 112th Mechanized Infantry Division
• Emblem of the 5th Infantry Regiment
• Emblem of the Royal 22nd Regiment
• Emblem of the Patrol Squadron 50
• Emblem of the 213th Artillery Brigade
• Emblem of the 7338th Artillery Brigade
• Emblem of the 209th Artillery Brigade
• Emblem of the 84th Brigade of the PLA
• Special Forces of the Nanjing Military Region
• Emblem of Special Forces Brigade of the 71st Army Group of the PLA
• Emblem of the 4th Airborne Forces Company
• Emblem of the 10th Squadron
• Emblem of the 220th Squadron
• Gold Beach decal
• Utah Beach decal
• Kagoshima decal
• Sakurajima volcano decal
• Emblem of the 112th Fighter Squadron
• Emblem of the 159th Fighter Squadron
• Emblem of the California Air National Guard
• Emblem of the V Corps (immediately activated on the account only)
• Emblem of the 1st Special Service Brigade (immediately activated on the account only)
• "Alcione" decal (immediately activated on the account only)
• "F 544" decal (immediately activated on the account only)
• Emblem of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (immediately activated on the account only)
• Emblem of the Imperial Iranian Air Force (immediately activated on the account only)
• "BMX Racing" decal
• "Paragliding" decal
• "Surfing" decal
• "Windsurfing" decal
• "Wingsuiting" decal
• Diving Mode On decal
• Explore More decal
• Falling Coconuts decal
• Good Catch decal
• Trees Don't Move decal
• Emblem of the Air Force Airborne Corps, PLA
• Emblem of the 11th Parachute Brigade, France
• Emblem of the Rapid Forces Division, Germany
• Emblem of the "Folgore" Parachute Brigade, Italy
• Emblem of the 1st Airborne Brigade, Japan
• Emblem of the 323rd Parachute Ranger Squadron, Sweden
• Emblem of the Royal Marines
• Emblem of the Russian Marine Corps
• Basilisk
• Cerberus
• Chimera
• Echidna
• Harpy
• Hippocampus
• Lernaean Hydra
• Minotaur
• Sphinx
• Wyvern
• Flames
• Fiery explosion
• Frosty flames
• Fiery ball
• Flaming exhaust
• Fiery pattern
• Flaming sparks
• Colored flame
• Emblem of the air forces, Germany
• Emblem of the air forces, Japan
• Emblem of the air forces, Britain
• Emblem of the air forces, USA
• Emblem of the air forces, USSR
• Emblem of the armored forces, France
• Emblem of the armored forces, Germany
• Emblem of the armored forces, Italy
• Emblem of the armored forces, Japan
• Emblem of the Royal tank regiments
• The emblem of the armored forces, U.S.
• Emblem of the armored forces, Russia
• The Symbol of Japan
• The Symbol of USA
• The Symbol of USSR
• The Symbol of Britain
• The Symbol of Germany
• The Symbol of Italy
• Pin-up Japan
• Pin-up Britain
• Pin-up USA
• Pin-up USSR
• Pin-up Germany

 Profile icons (will be immediately activated on the account and in the form of the coupons):

• Veteran of the French Legion (first time as a coupon)
• Test driver (first time as a coupon)
• Bundeswehr Infantryman (first time as a coupon)
• Skilled Marksman (first time as a coupon)
• Chinese paratrooper (first time as a coupon)
• Indian Pilot (first time as a coupon)
• Jalil Zandi
• MotoLady
• Girl scout

 Loading screens (immediately activated on the account only):

• Panhard E.B.R. (1963)
• Object 248
• SPz 12-3 LGS
• Sholef V.1
• WZ-141-1
• IJN Shisaka

 Maritime flags (immediately activated on the account only):

• Italian Naval Jack

 Silver Lions:

• 10,000 — 1,000,000

 Consumable items:

• Battle trophy (Research points booster)
• Battle trophy (Silver lions booster)
• Universal backup
• Universal backup x2
• Universal backup x3
• Random wager
• Random order

Naval Vessels

• Changes to “Enduring Confrontation” mode:
  • Battle Rating-based matchmaking has been enabled, just like in Naval Arcade and Realistic battles
  • The requirement to have a ship with a specific Battle Rating (4.7–5.0) to participate in the mode has been removed. Participation is now permitted with any ship with a Battle Rating of 3.3 or higher
  • The number of players required in the queue to start a mission has been reduced
  • The spawn cost in Spawn Points for ships has been removed
  • Arcade difficulty level now uses the difficulty settings from Naval Arcade Battles
  • A spawn timer for spawning with the same vehicle at the same spawn point has been added
  • Enemies detected by allies are now displayed regardless of the distance to them

 Graphics

• An issue where the reference images in the “Water Effects Quality” setting were swapped has been fixed. (Report).

Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.

 In Pages of History this month, you will find yourself at the center of events that took place in various theaters of war. From the USSR and Germany to Iran and India: participate in battles while using vehicles linked to these historic battles and get some prizes!

From September 1st until September 30th, you will be able to participate in 8 tasks consecutively. Completing each task will grant you a trophy with a reward, completing all of the tasks will earn you a unique profile icon! 

Natalya Fedorovna MeklinNatalya Meklin enlisted in the 588th Bomber Regiment at her own request and was deployed to the front in the summer of 1942, when she was just 19 years old. She took part in the Tuapse Operation, carrying out bombing raids against enemy positions, supply routes, and crossings in the mountainous regions of the Western Caucasus. She continued flying combat missions until the end of the war, rising to the rank of flight commander and being awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.You can purchase this player icon for Golden Eagles until October 3rd (11:30 GMT) without completing tasks. To find it, go to your Nickname → Achievements → Pages of History.Trophy reward for each taskCompleting each individual task will give you a trophy with one of the following rewards:

• 20-50% RP booster for 3-10 battles
• 20-50% SL booster for 3-10 battles
• 3-5 universal backups
• Premium account for 1 day
• A random ground vehicle camouflage (out of those that can currently be unlocked or purchased with Golden Eagles)

Other terms

• Tasks are available from 11:00 GMT until 11:30 GMT on the final day of each task.
• Tasks can be completed in random battles except for “Assault” mode.

You can read a detailed description of which task is for which day and check your overall progress by going to your Nickname → Achievements → Pages of History. September 1st — September 5thBryansk OperationShortly after the victory at the Battle of Kursk, the Red Army launched an offensive near Bryansk. One of the most powerful partisan formations operated in the surrounding forests; it carried out large-scale acts of sabotage on the railways and joined the battle for the city as regular army units stormed it. Bryansk celebrates City Day on September 17th, marking the date of its liberation during this operation. September 5th — September 8thBerlin Victory Parade of 1945On September 7th 1945, a joint Victory Parade took place in Berlin featuring the USSR, the USA, Great Britain, and France. This was the last large-scale event to bring together all the key Allies of the Second World War. The USSR used the parade to showcase a new piece of hardware: the IS-3 heavy tank; Great Britain displayed the Comet and Cromwell, the USA the M4A3E8 and M24, and France brought its time-tested Shermans. September 8th — September 12thBattle of Asal UttarThe largest tank battle of the Second Indo-Pakistani War took place from September 8th to 10th 1965. Advancing Pakistani forces became bogged down in terrain that had been deliberately flooded and found themselves trapped in a U-shaped pocket. Indian Centurions confidently engaged the immobilized Pakistani Pattons, while pre-ranged artillery and air strikes finished the job. The Pakistanis later dubbed the battlefield the “Graveyard of Pattons”. September 12th — September 16thBaltic OperationFrom September 14th to November 24th 1944, the Red Army fought the Wehrmacht in the Baltic states. Tallinn was captured on September 22nd and Riga on October 13th. On September 27th, a daring amphibious operation was launched against the Moonsund Archipelago with Finland’s support. As a result of the operation, almost the entire Baltic region came under Soviet control, while Wehrmacht Army Group North found itself trapped in the Courland Pocket. September 16th — September 19thBattle of ArracourtFrom September 18th to 28th 1944, one of the largest tank battles of the Western Front took place near Arracourt, France. American Shermans faced off against German Panthers and won. Due to poor visibility, the Panthers could not capitalize on their key advantage: accurate, long-range fire. The Americans skillfully executed flanking and rear maneuvers and effectively coordinated with artillery and air support, achieving the near-total defeat of the enemy. By various estimates, Germany lost up to 200 tanks and self-propelled guns in the battle. September 19th — September 23rdBattle of Hürtgen ForestOn September 18th 1944, the longest battle in the history of the U.S. Army began. Having entered German territory from the west, American forces became bogged down for months in difficult forest terrain. The Germans were fiercely defending this area while planning a winter counteroffensive nearby in the Ardennes. The Americans suffered heavy casualties from mines, tripwires, and shelling, as well as from exhaustion and frostbite. September 23rd — September 27thTuapse Defensive OperationOn September 25th 1942, the Wehrmacht launched an offensive against Tuapse, a key Soviet port on the Black Sea. The mountainous terrain and autumn weather hampered the advance of armored vehicles, while Soviet forces in the city were supplied by sea. In December, the Germans retreated: first from the Tuapse area and subsequently from the Caucasus altogether. September 27th — September 30thOperation Samen-ol-A'emehOn September 27th-29th 1981, Iranian forces attacked Iraqi troops that had been besieging the city of Abadan for a year. The offensive began at night and was well-coordinated: the Iranians rapidly seized key roads and crossings, paralyzing the Iraqi forces. The city was recaptured, and the strategic initiative in the war shifted to Iran.

Today, pre-orders for the PLZ45, the Chinese self-propelled gun with a long-barreled howitzer have started!PLZ45: A Premium SPG for China at Rank IVAt a glance:

• Long-barreled 155 mm gun
• HE, HE-VT, and SAP shells
• Good mobility
• Light armor

Pre-order - PLZ45 PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.39.99This pack includes:

• PLZ45 (Rank IV, China)
• Premium account for 7 days
• 1000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Fighting for justice" title
• Pre-order bonus: unique "PLA Artillery Badge" decal

Introducing the PLZ45!Hi everyone! Not long ago, we showed you the progress on the premium PLZ45 SPG, which you can read about in our Work in Progress dev blog. Now the vehicle is ready and will be available in your hangars in the upcoming major War Thunder update. You can pre-order the PLZ45 starting today to be among the first to get the vehicle itself, a unique decal and title, Golden Eagles, and days of Premium account time!Using the PLZ45 in battleLet’s briefly recap what we discussed last time. The PLZ45 is a modern SPG equipped with a long-barreled 155 mm howitzer. It fires semi-armor-piercing shells, standard high-explosive rounds, and an HE shell with a proximity fuze. It lacks a laser rangefinder, so the PLZ45 demands solid gunnery skills and an understanding of enemy armor weak spots. However, a well-placed hit can inflict catastrophic damage or send the enemy straight back to the hangar!Developer comment: The premium PLZ45 is an interesting (though not essential) option for progressing through the higher ranks of Chinese armored vehicles. It occupies a middle ground between the PLZ83 and PLZ05 SPGs: its gun offers better ballistics than the former, while its reload speed is slower than the latter. In the game, the PLZ45 will be China’s first premium SPG and will fit nicely into several vehicle lineups spanning Ranks IV and V. That’s all for today, pre-orders for the PLZ45 have started today for this fantastic SPG. See you in the next dev blog!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Air battles has long featured a mechanic that awards a kill when a player abandons their vehicle: if you bail out, the kill is credited to the nearest enemy within a certain radius. You’ve asked us to bring this to Ground and Naval Battles, and we’re pleased to say that with the release of the next major update, this reward mechanic is coming to these modes! After all, no one likes encountering players who bail out when cornered or when your bomb is about to hit them.When a player leaves their ground vehicle or ship (via the ESC menu or by holding the default “J” key), the kill will be credited to the nearest enemy or to the enemy who fired the nearest munition (only rockets, missiles, bombs, torpedoes and mines are counted). The game mechanics will search for these enemies or munitions within a radius of 3 km for ground vehicles and 20 km for ships. As with air battles, the reward for a kill credited in this way is half of the standard amount.However, this mechanic for tanks and naval vessels differs from the air combat system in two ways. Firstly, priority isn’t given to player vehicles over munitions, this means that if an enemy munition is the closest object to a player when they leave their vehicle, the player who fired that munition will receive the kill credit and the corresponding statistic. Secondly, the system accounts for both guided and unguided rockets, bombs, torpedoes and mines.If neither enemies or projectiles are within range, the kill will not be credited to anyone, just as before.We’ll keep sharing details about the upcoming major update, so stay tuned to the news. That’s all for now!

Hey everyone! With the release of the next major update, several ground vehicles in several research trees will be moved. Comparison images of the trees before and after the changes can be seen below. Check it out!These changes are aimed at improving the research trees structure. Affected vehicles are marked with a special icon in the game.We’re announcing upcoming changes in advance to give you the opportunity to plan your tech trees research with an understanding of how the tech trees will look in the near future.GermanyUSSRPlease note that the planned change to the rank of the T-72B3A has been postponed.Great BritainPlease note that despite the increase in Rank of the premium Cromwell V (RP-3), the price won’t change.ChinaItalyIsrael

Today we’re covering the Darwin Hill map, improvements to Red Desert and a visual overhaul to two air maps!Darwin Hill for Ground BattlesIn the next major update, we’re heading to the South Atlantic to the Falkland Islands! The map is based on the Darwin Hill area near the settlement of Darwin, the site of fierce clashes between British commandos and Argentine forces. The archipelago’s landscape here is distinctive, with a treeless plain biome, rugged rocky coasts and yellow thicket gorse, which is a favorite among tourists from around the world.We’ve paid special attention to the architecture of the buildings. There is no centralized water supply in the Falklands; instead, rainwater collection tanks and cisterns can be seen at every house. The buildings are predominantly single-story, and due to the harsh climate, almost every farm has its own greenhouses and fenced enclosures for poultry and livestock. For centuries, local residents have relied on the sea as well as livestock farming for their livelihood, so the bays and inlets are densely dotted with piers, fishing boats, and small yachts.There are a few Easter eggs on the map! You’ll find stylized, homemade posters created by the locals, reimagined to fit the War Thunder universe.Welcome to the edge of the world! The South Atlantic winds are waiting for your tanks and aircraft.Improvements to Red DesertWe’re continuing to work on map balance, and this time we’ve made changes to Red Desert. The main issue was that a large portion of the map was exposed to fire from elevated areas. We’ve significantly toned down these positions, all while preserving the concept of high-ground firefights while eliminating their overwhelming dominance. We also lowered the terrain elevation around the spawn points to better shield vehicles from fire shortly after spawning.Before / AfterWe’ve paid special attention to the A point area in the Domination mode. The high-ground positions surrounding it have been leveled out, and the point itself is now situated in a spacious natural depression. This transforms the battle for the center into intense, thrilling close-quarters combat, giving players a better chance to seize the initiative without the constant fear of being shot from across the map. We look forward to seeing you on the revamped Red Desert map!Before / AfterImprovements to Air LocationsWe’ve not forgotten about pilots either! While we work on a major update to the core rendering technology for air maps, we’re continuing to revamp the visuals of older locations. In the upcoming major update, we’ll introduce completely overhauled versions of the Falkland Islands and Afghanistan maps. We’ve primarily enhanced terrain detail; for the Falklands, we also utilized a more accurate heightmap from the new ground-vehicle version of the map, resulting in much more natural and varied terrain. All surface textures have been completely reworked using real satellite imagery, making the landscape look far more lifelike and authentic.As for the map’s content, we’ve added a host of new assets to bring the desert expanses to life. You’ll now encounter distinctive suburban structures, kilns, and clay pits, all of which lend the location a unique character and better capture the region’s atmosphere.Before / AfterBefore / AfterThat’s all for now! Stay tuned to the news about the upcoming major update, as there’s plenty of exciting stuff ahead!

Welcome to the 238th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We enjoyed seeing all of your screenshots shared in last weeks competition! This time, we are focusing on vehicles that are in motion. You can capture vehicles scrambling across the battlefields, flying in a dogfight, or sailing out in the sea! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 238th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen238. You have time until the 28th of August 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 capture a vehicle in motion.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen238 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 237th edition – Blue Frontiers!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3783893324
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3784105921
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3784030951

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3784313861
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3785064489
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3786700516

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

A rare Japanese interceptor will be making its way to the research tree in the next major update! Featuring a powerful 57 mm cannon, the Ki-93 will bring some serious firepower to the battlefield!Ki-93-I Ko: An Attacker for Japan at Rank IIIAt a glance:

• Powerful 57 mm cannon with HE and APHE!
• Two 250 kg bombs
• Effective protection
• High weight

 Introducing the Ki-93-I Ko!This heavy attacker was one of the last aircraft built by Japan during the Second World War. It’s a fairly unique one, so let’s have a look!Using the Ki-93-I Ko in battleFor air-to-air combat, the Ki-93 is heavily armed and heavily armored, it’s hardly a dogfighter, and is much more suited to climbing to engage mid-altitude bombers or dive on lower flying fighters. Pilots should plan their climb carefully, avoiding the competitive climbing paths and sticking with the team initially for safety. The high velocity cannon lets the Ki-93 engage enemy bombers out of range from their defensive weaponry, so these should be priority targets. Landing a big cannon round on a maneuvering fighter can be tricky, so to help out are a pair of 20 mm Ho-5 cannons with 300 rounds per gun in the wing roots. If an enemy is getting behind you, try to slow them down as much as you can and line up your rear 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun, one good burst is all you need.The Ki-93 is also well suited as a ground attacker thanks to its speed and armor. These attributes allow you to fly fast over the battlefield, take a few shots, and quickly zoom away for another approach. The aircraft is not immune from ground fire, but it will be able to shrug off some light bursts from lower caliber machineguns. Depending on your angle of attack, try to land your shells into the roof or side of enemy vehicles, the APHE is powerful and will only need one or two shots to take out an enemy vehicle.Feature Spotlight: The Ho-402 cannonThe 57 mm Ho-402 cannon was specially made for the Ki-93. Overall it is more powerful than the Ho-401, which some of you will be familiar with from the Ki-102. With a barrel 2.5 meters long, it can fire shells at a velocity of 700 m/s at a rate of 80 RPM. The cannon was intended to cripple any bomber with a single shot, and while this was never tested in practice, it is safe to say any aircraft unlucky enough to be hit by it will be in for a very rough time regardless!The real star though is the APHE, with high velocity and high penetration it is more than capable of punching through the roof and sides of almost anything on the ground with relative ease.Developer Comment: Japan has been needing a tech tree attacker for the lower ranks for quite some time, so we’re very happy to finally introduce the Ki-93. It was a difficult aircraft to find precise details on (especially regarding the cannon and its ammo) so it took some time to create for the game, but it’s finally ready and we hope you’ll love it. We’re planning the Ki-93 for Rank III after the B7A2 where it’ll fit perfectly into lineups for combined battles. Functionally the Ki-93 is a big improvement on the Ki-102, with a much more effective cannon and superior flight performance. Vehicle HistoryThe project which would ultimately culminate in the Ki-93 was initiated in the summer of 1941. Several months before the start of the war in the Pacific, research into the creation of a heavy twin-engine fighter began at the Army Aeronautical Research Institute (Rikugun Kokugijutsu Kenkyujo).A team of specialists initially worked on the design until July 1942, when the desired role of the aircraft shifted and the original team was disbanded. The new directive envisioned the aircraft as a heavy multi-role fighter/attack aircraft, intended for low and medium altitudes with the capability of engaging armored ground and surface targets. A special 57 mm cannon was developed for the aircraft as its primary armament, which heavily influenced its overall design. The final development shift occurred in the late stages of the war, when the situation for Japan turned dire. With the threat of an Allied invasion force and persistent B-29 raids, development of the Ki-93 split into two final designs. The Ki-93-I Ko was planned as a heavy interceptor, while the Ki-93-I Otsu was designed for the anti-shipping role.On this final stretch of development more problems arose; the desired weight could not be achieved, which resulted in the ammunition capacity of the 57 mm cannon being reduced from 30 to 20 rounds, while the unfinished Ha-214 engines failed to deliver on their rated power. On the 8th of April 1945, the Ki-93-I Ko took off from Tachikawa airfield for what would prove to be its only flight, with Lt. Moriya in the pilot’s seat.It carried no armament during the test, and demonstrated good performance and controllability. When it came in to land however, Moriya undershot the runway and the left gear strut collapsed, resulting in serious damage to the aircraft. Repairs took a month to complete, and a night before the Ki-93 was ready for another test flight, an American raid on Tachikawa resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft. Japan’s final heavy fighter never saw the sun, with only a single flight report and a handful of photos surviving today.That’s all for today! The Ki-93 will be waiting for you in the research tree as part of the next major update. Thanks for having a read, keep checking in for more blogs on vehicles and features and we’ll see you soon!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The maiden flight of the Hawk strike aircraft, developed by Hawker Siddeley, took place on August 21st 1974. It was widely exported, with over 1,000 units produced in total. Many remain in service to this day, including with the Indonesian Air Force.The Hawk 209 is available at a 30% discount for 6,734 Golden Eagles!

When: From August 21st (11:00 GMT) until August 24th (11:00 GMT).Where: Japan > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• After the promotion ends, the Hawk 209 will be available at its full price of 9,620 Golden Eagles.

About this aircraft

• The Hawk 209 is equipped with a radar warning receiver and countermeasures; its external armament options include the 30 mm ADEN Mk.4 cannon, a wide range of bombs (from 250 lb to 1,000 lb), AIM-9P-4 air-to-air missiles, AGM-65G air-to-ground missiles, Mighty Mouse rockets, and MBDA Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles — some of the best in the game!

Today, we’re showcasing several new Multi-Function Display screens for aircraft, as well as improvements to Helmet-Mounted Displays, coming in the next War Thunder update!New Multi-Function Displays (MFD)In the next major update, we’ll be adding new screens for aircraft Multi-function displays. Specifically, the Ka-52 will receive several new MFDs screens, including a compass page, a flight instruments page, a weapons screen and a radar page. Radar pages will also be added to the cockpits of the MiG-21 series, the entire F-104 family, the Japanese T-2 and F-1, the Mirage F1 family, and others. We’ll publish the full list as soon as the update releases!

• 1. Ka-52 weapons screen
  
• 2. MiG-21 radar page
  
• 3. F-104G radar page
  

New Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD)Alongside new MFDs, we’ll also be adding new Helmet-Mounted Displays, plus improving existing ones! For instance, the RAH-66 is going to get its own Kaiser HMD, the Chinese JH-7A2 and J-11 will get HMDs, and American pilots will get an upgraded VTAS system featuring target lock and radar warning indicators around the aiming circle.

• 1. RAH-66 helmet-mounted display
  
• 2. JH-7A2 helmet-mounted display
  
• 3. F-4J helmet-mounted display
  

The M7 was conceived as a light tank, but ultimately matched the Sherman in terms of combat capabilities!M7: A Medium Tank for the US at Rank IIAt a glance:

• 75 mm M3 gun
• Good mobility and compact dimensions
• Average protection

 Introducing the M7!Today we’re taking a look at the M7 medium tank, which is a rather interesting vehicle. Is it similar to the Sherman, or is it like a Stuart? Read the blog to find out, we’ll also cover how we came to the decision on where to add this vehicle to the research tree.Using the M7 in BattleThe M7 can be described as a lightweight version of the Sherman. It features a classic 75 mm M3 gun with effective AP shells, yet offers lighter armor and improved mobility because of this. Not particularly well-suited for defensive plays, the M7 still excels at the front line, where its mobility and capable gun provide advantages. Due to its lighter armor and compact layout, the M7 is not as survivable as the Sherman, though its rounded armor offers a good chance of AP rounds ricocheting!Feature Spotlight: Light Tank or Medium Tank?A unique feature of the M7 is its position between the light and medium tank classes. It’s slightly faster and more maneuverable than the Sherman, yet better armored and armed than the Stuart. The M7 can be deployed throughout the match, either at the start, mid or end. Deploying it early game will allow you to perform a coordinated attack on objectives alongside other medium tanks, while deploying mid-game will allow you to reach the heat of the battle and tackle back control of capture points that are in enemy hands. If you decide to deploy it at the end of a match, the M7 can easily mop up the enemy team’s remaining SPAAGs and light vehicles who spawn in during a desperate attempt to retake control of the battle.Developer comment: Hey guys, we recently covered the development of the M7 tank through a WIP dev blog, and now the vehicle is finally ready! We’ve refined the model’s detailing and created the textures for it, and the end result is a real looker. As promised, we’ve also determined its placement in the US armored vehicle research tree at rank II in the heavy tank line, between the M22 Locust and M6A1/T1E1 group. This fills a significant Battle Rating gap nicely, while keeping the vehicle distinct from the M4 medium tank lineup.Vehicle HistoryThe T7 light tank project began in 1941 as a replacement for the M3 Stuart. The vehicle was designed to weigh 13 tons, mount a 37 mm gun, and feature armor up to 38mm thick. The first T7 prototype, featuring a hull made of structural steel, was built in January 1942; three additional prototypes followed.By January 1942, efforts were focused on a prototype armed with the British 6-pounder Mark III gun. Trials at the Aberdeen Proving Ground necessitated replacing both the gun and the transmission, resulting in the tank’s weight doubling compared to the original design. Due to this increased weight, the vehicle was standardized as the M7 medium tank in August and entered limited production.Three tanks were built by December 1942, another three by January 1943, and one more in February. The weight of the production vehicles rose to 28–29 tons. It became evident that the M7 offered no advantages over the M4 Sherman medium tank which was already in established production, leading to the cancellation of the program on January 20th 1944.That’s it for this one! The M7 will be a fun little tank to drive around with, positioned the early ranks for lower BR lineups. Until the next blog, enjoy your battles ahead and we’ll see you soon!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

General

• A critical bug causing the desynchronization of the server and client has been fixed. Known effects include:
• The inability to repair ground vehicles and ships
• An incorrect calculation of ground vehicles collision, which allowed vehicles to pass through each other
• Missile guidance was not possible
• Locking targets with radar was not possible
• Opening bomb bays was not possible
• Problems with hit registration on ships
• Problems with target following in game modes with markers on enemies
  

Other

• “Mark of distinction for sailors 4” in the Guardian of the Baltic Sea event has been extended by 24 hours.

• Active Premium Accounts have been extended by 24 hours.

Nuclear Escalation

• B-52H — a bug that prevented the player from spawning with this aircraft has been fixed.

Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.

August 20th marks Hungary’s main national holiday, St. Stephen’s Day, honoring the first Hungarian king, who was canonized for Christianizing the country. On this day, Hungary celebrates the anniversary of its founding; the country traces its history all the way back to the year 1000.The PzH 2000HU is available at a 30% discount for 5,614 Golden Eagles!

When: From August 20th (11:00 GMT) until August 24th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Army > Premium vehicles.

• After the promotion ends, the PzH 2000HU will remain available at the full price of 8,020 Golden Eagles.

About this tank

• The PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer entered service with the Hungarian Army in 2022. The PzH 2000HU differs from its German counterparts only in its camouflage and camouflage netting. It’s a large vehicle equipped with an automatic loading system, a laser rangefinder, and HE shells. It’s also capable of engaging aerial targets thanks to the use of shells with proximity fuzes.

Aircraft

• F-4C, F-105D, F-111A, Ayit — the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile (variants B-3B, B-4, and B-6) have been added along with a corresponding modification.
• F-4E, A-6E TRAM, A-7E, A-7E (Japan), Kurnass, Kurnass 2000 — the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile (B-9 and B-10 variants) have been added along with a corresponding modification.
• Tornado GR.1, Buccaneer S.2B, Jaguar A — the AS-37 Martel anti-radiation missile has been added along with a corresponding modification.
• Su-22M3, Su-22M3 (Italy) — the Kh-27PS anti-radiation missile has been added along with a corresponding modification.
• F-4C — incendiary bombs are now unlocked via the BLU-1 modification research at tier I of modification research, the modifications to unlock rockets have been moved from tiers III-IV of modification research to tiers II-III.
• Nuke carrying aircraft are now capable of CCRP bombing again.
• Several nuclear carrier aircraft in Ground Battles have been changed:
• US and Japan: from ☢Canberra B.Mk.6 to ☢B-57B Canberra, and from ☢Jaguar A to ☢F-105D.
• China: from ☢Su-24M to ☢JH-7A, and from ☢F-16A MLU to ☢J-10A.
• Italy: from ☢Tornado IDS ASSTA1 to ☢Tornado IDS (1995).

 Ground Vehicles

• A bug that caused the third and the following crew members of the same role (i.e. the third loader) to not heal automatically and to not be replenished when using crew replenishment has been fixed.

 Nuclear Escalation

• A new era has been added, split into two brackets with different lineups of vehicles: Battle Ratings 8.7–9.7 and 10.0–11.0.
• A mirrored version of the mission has been added for the same location: the sides swap places and the bases, convoy routes, and map zones are symmetrically flipped.
• In addition to anti-aircraft guns, airfields feature Osa SAM systems (with a four-missile loadout) on one side and a stationary Rapier system on the other; at Battle Ratings of 10.0-11.0, these SAM systems also occupy positions alongside S-75 and HAWK systems.
• MLRS are absent in this era.
• Destroyed factories and depots now take longer to rebuild: 15 minutes instead of 10. Previously, a building would respawn before the player could reload and return to finish it off, making it nearly impossible to break through the defenses in some cases.
• Anti-aircraft guns protecting tactical assembly areas no longer respawn automatically on a timer; they only reappear when the building they are linked to is restored.
• Armored vehicle depots no longer attempt to produce vehicles beyond the total limit, thereby avoiding the waste of fuel and ammunition.
• When a convoy captures a building, the destroyed anti-aircraft guns assigned to it now respawn and are repaired.
• Convoys can now capture destroyed factories and warehouses: captured ruins are immediately repaired and begin operating.
• Tank convoys no longer go through buildings. Vehicles no longer vanish inside either enemy buildings or friendly ones that have already been captured; tanks are now consumed solely to reinforce garrisons at strongpoints.
• An issue where convoy tanks would teleport into the enemy garrison instead of remaining outside the enemy strongpoint and engaging the garrison while defenders were still active has been fixed.
• An issue where the allocation of slots at a strongpoint was incorrect, potentially resulting in two vehicles occupying the same position has been fixed.
• Convoys now re-select their target while en route if the original target has been destroyed, captured, or filled: tank convoys head to the next objective, while supply convoys proceed to a depot with available capacity. Consequently, cargo from supply convoys is no longer lost at a destroyed depot or seized by the enemy when a convoy enters hostile territory.
• Supply convoys no longer target depots on the other side of the map, but instead select the least filled of the three nearest ones.
• Tank convoys no longer slow down to 20% of their speed when an enemy is nearby; previously, due to slowing down, they often failed to capture the target before a new enemy convoy arrived or appeared.
• Convoys of self-propelled guns now correctly select a random target from among the nearest enemy buildings, take up a firing position, and engage the target.

Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.