Today we’ll be taking a look at the Sky Sabre, a Multi-Vehicle SAM System consisting of one radar vehicle and two launch vehicles with lethal missiles!Sky Sabre: A SAM System (SPAA) for Great Britain at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• Two launchers with 8 missiles each; either CAMM or CAMM-ER!
• Missile ranges from 25 km to 45 km, both with an Active Radar Homing seeker
• Simultaneous fire and track of 16 missiles

 Vehicle HistoryThe Sky Sabre has its roots back to the early 2000s, when the British Government awarded MBDA UK a contract to develop a new, common missile under the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS) program. This program aimed to replace the old Rapier missile systems that had been in service since the 1970s.What came from the FLAADS program was the CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), designed to be used on a multitude of different platforms; either land, air or sea. It was first incorporated onto Royal Navy ships in 2018 and an extended-range variant called the CAMM-ER was developed in 2023 in collaboration with Italy.The Sky Sabre, which uses the CAMM missile, entered service with the British Army in December 2021, with six being operated by the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery. In 2022, to reinforce NATO anti-aircraft security in the region, one Sky Sabre was sent to Poland and remained in service until December 2024, when it was returned to the UK for maintenance and repairs.Currently, five Sky Sabres are being used for training and protecting the skies of the UK. One Sky Sabre has been located on the Falkland Islands since early 2022, where it replaced all Rapier missile systems previously stationed there.Introducing the Sky Sabre!Meet the Sky Sabre, joining Great Britain at the end of the SPAA line in the Tusk Force major update, ready to reinforce British ground force lineups with some lethal anti-air firepower! This is all thanks to two types of surface-to-air missiles that can take out aircraft at long ranges. Let’s take a closer look!Just like some of the vehicles released in the previous major update, the Sky Sabre is a Multi-Vehicle SAM System (MVSS). This means it comprises three vehicles: a radar vehicle that tracks targets, and two launcher vehicles that can be placed. The radar is the SAAB Giraffe AMB, and when using it, you’ll be able to track and fire at targets using the newly added Radar Control Screen, just like the other MVSS vehicles. 16 missiles from the launchers (when both are placed) can be fired simultaneously and track individual targets when you click on them on the radar control screen. Like the other MVSS vehicles, this makes the Sky Sabre a serious threat against planes and helicopters!Trivia: The Sky Sabre launches missiles vertically using a “cold launch” system. This is where gas pushes the missile out of the launcher and into the air, then the missile turns towards its target using an orientational engine before the missile engine itself starts and makes its way to the target.The Sky Sabre features the EMADS launcher system developed by MBDA. This launcher can hold 8 missiles and fires two types which are both brand-new to the game: the CAMM and CAMM-ER, each with a range of 25 km and 45 km respectively. These missiles are extremely powerful and will explode in the proximity of planes and helicopters and can reach a max speed over Mach 3! Both missiles feature an ARH+IOG+DL guidance system, making them excellent at tracking targets in all points of flight.Did you know?: CAMM is short for “Common Anti-Air Modular Missile”. As the name might suggest, CAMM can be incorporated onto various platforms and is currently used on Royal Navy ships and the Sky Sabre. The use of these missiles on ships and land vehicles both make up the “Sea Ceptor” and “Land Ceptor” weapon systems.Both the radar and launchers are mounted onto the MAN HX77 8x8 truck. This truck, with all equipment mounted, weighs around 32 tons and is capable of reaching top speeds of 100 km/h thanks to its good engine. It has virtually no armor protection to speak of, and you should not be expecting to survive against bombs, tank shells, and strafing aircraft (if they even manage to get that close to you!) Plus, the radar vehicle is really tall, so make sure to *try* and hide it somewhere! That may be difficult though.So that’s the Sky Sabre for you — deadly CAMM missiles that are capable of taking out planes and helicopters at medium to long engagement ranges with ease! Be on the look out for this vehicle coming to the game in the Tusk Force major update soon.Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Introducing the next major update trailer for War Thunder: Tusk Force!

Today we’ll be going over Mackensen, the main reward in the Black Hussar naval event!Mackensen: An Event Vehicle Battlecruiser for Germany at rank VIAt a glance:

• 350 mm main guns!
• Good survivability
• 28 knots speed (51 km/h)
• 600 mm torpedoes
• Mediocre air defense

 Vehicle HistoryThe decision to develop new battlecruisers in Germany was influenced by information surrounding the British Queen Elizabeth-class battleships, equipped with 381 mm guns and a speed of up to 25 knots. On August 13th, 1912, Naval Minster Alfred von Tirpitz instructed Vice-Admiral Rohlmann to develop options for ships with eight 340 mm or 350 mm guns. After analyzing six projects, the option with 340 mm guns was initially chosen, but was rejected due to insufficient speed and seaworthiness. Further calculations showed that a displacement of 31,500 tons was necessary to achieve the required characteristics, which Tirpitz considered unacceptable.In search of a compromise, a version with eight 305 mm guns and stronger torpedo armament was proposed, which was even approved by Kaiser Wilhelm II. However, the naval command and the weapons department opposed it, insisting on more powerful weaponry. After much debate, they settled on a design with six 380 mm guns, following the example of the Bayern-class battleships, but in November 1913, work resumed in favor of eight 350 mm guns. Tirpitz, despite resistance, agreed to increase the displacement limit to 31,000 tons. On December 8th, 1913, this design was finally approved.Following the 1914-1915 program, the initial plan was to build seven cruisers, but only four from the project were laid down. Due to the outbreak of World War I, resources were redirected in favor of the submarine fleet and land operations. Not a single ship of this class was completed. In accordance with the Treaty of Versailles the cruisers were to be transferred to the Allies, but due to their unpreparedness for independent sea passage, they were replaced by the battleship Baden. In 1921-1922, the hulls of the unfinished ships were scrapped for metal.Introducing Mackensen!Mackensen is a battlecruiser that is not only distinguished by excellent weaponry and good survivability, but is also one of the fastest capital ships of its era! How can you get this battlecruiser? Mackensen can be obtained in the Black Hussar naval event that started today (link to details below). Let’s get acquainted with this ship!The partially constructed Mackensen promised to be very competitive against the warships of its time. After lengthy discussions, 350 mm guns in four twin turrets were approved as the main caliber of the Mackensen. These guns can fire two types of massive 600 kg shells: armor-piercing and semi-armor-piercing with a large explosive charge. The power of Mackensen’s main caliber is enough to counter any ship of its rank, but the guns will have a hard time dealing with the most protected battleships in the game, even at short distances. There are 150 mm guns in casemate mounts with 6 on each side of the ship. Mackensen’s excellent torpedo armament is also worth mentioning: five torpedo tubes carry large 600 mm torpedoes, with a total ammunition load of 25.Mackensen is also decently survivable overall. A sufficiently large crew can keep the ship running for quite a while, and although Mackensen’s armor is inferior to that of battleships, it provides good protection in medium and long-range combat. All vital compartments are protected by a 300 mm main armor belt, with armor of almost the same thickness on the main elevators. The gun platform’s armor belt is protected by 150 mm armor.Speed is one of Mackensen’s main strengths, especially among its contemporaries. It can reach speeds of up to 28 knots (almost 52 km/h). A notable downside however is that the anti-aircraft weaponry is not very impressive. Mackensen only has slow firing 88 mm guns at its disposal, and there are no small caliber anti-aircraft guns present at all. It’s best to stay close to your allies when playing this ship!You can get Mackensen in the Black Hussar naval event that started today! Want to learn more about the event? Be sure to check it out through the link below!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Aircraft

• A bug that allowed aircraft to remain mostly unharmed from forward fuselage impacts from large air-to-air missiles with warheads similar to or larger than the AIM-9 has been fixed.

 Matchmaking

• The technical issues with Custom Battles and Air Simulator Battles have been resolved, custom rooms can now be created again.

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.

Naval Vessels

• IJN Yukikaze — a bug where the visual model showed the torpedoes being launched in the wrong order has been fixed.

 Interface

• A bug on tanks with LWS that caused the laser irradiation notification on the compass to not disappear after the exposure had ended 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.

We’re pleased to present visual improvements to two more Ground Battle locations: Eastern Europe and Poland, coming in the next major update!Eastern EuropeEastern Europe is one of the most popular locations in Combined Battles, and also one of the earliest ground maps to be added to the game. We’ve gone ahead and refreshed the appearance of this much loved location, making it more detailed, natural and lively. The main battle area and its surroundings are now more distinct with a strong autumnal vibe. The vegetation and trees have been reworked too — plant life more typical for Eastern Europe is now more abundant, such as conifers with tall trunks. The landscape is easier to see through now too due to the taller trunks and higher foliage. The urban section of the map has also been transformed, with the architecture as a whole reworked and improved. Buildings and bridges have been improved with more realistic detail.Inside the town and beyond its boundaries, many small objects and fences dot the landscape, making it feel a lot more natural and lived in. Eastern Europe is now visually a lot prettier, but the gameplay and flow of the map remain the same, for those of you who’ve played hundreds of battles here it won’t take much time to settle in!PolandGood old Poland! It’s incredible to think of the sheer number of battles we’ve all fought here, how many points we’ve captured and all the times we’ve rumbled through these narrow streets. We’re proud to give one of the earliest ground locations a big visual update! All of the buildings and structures have been reworked, and countless small destructible objects have been added. Some examples are window frames, drainpipes, flower beds, railings, and a host of small details to make the location feel a lot more real and lively.There have also been some noticeable changes outside of the town too. Firstly, vegetation has been completely reworked, unnaturally large bushes that hid tanks have been removed, and new grass has been added. Secondly, the prominent rocks and stones around the landscape have been visually reworked. We’ve put a lot of extra attention to the look of the soil and roads, intersections and the banks of the lake in the middle. That’s not all, we’ve also added a few easter eggs to the map too, but no hints, you’ll have to discover them yourself! Make sure to post on our social media if you find some!

Our team is working tirelessly to ensure than the game rules are being followed and that cheaters don’t stay in War Thunder. You can help us with this! Find out how to file a report and how our anti-cheat system works on our Wiki.Banned accountsSince our last fair play, we’ve banned 2639 accounts that were found to have violated the rules. Specifically 3.2.3 of the EULA namely in the automation of gameplay (using bots) and cheat software. For complete transparency, we’re publishing the full list of these banned players. This list will be available for two weeks after the publication of this article.

Additionally, 210 accounts have been banned for a week or longer for intentional teamkilling, ramming and griefing.

RecommendationsWe recommend that you set a strong password for your account and enable two-step authentication in your profile security settings. We have the following 2FA options available: email, SMS, TOTP (Gaijin Pass/Google Authenticator), and Telegram bot, which we suggest trying if SMS 2FA messages are not reaching you.

We’d also suggest that you turn on 2FA for the email that is linked to your Gaijin account for additional security, as this will protect your account from fraudsters. And remember, don’t use prohibited client modifications and never share your account information with anyone.

The War Thunder Team

The T58 is an American experimental heavy tank developed in the mid-1950s as part of the U.S. Army’s effort to counter the latest Soviet heavy tanks during the early Cold War.T58: A Premium Heavy Tank for the USA at Rank VAt a glance:

• Oscillating turret with a massive 155 mm cannon
• Heavy armor
• Mediocre mobility
• Large profile

 Vehicle HistoryDuring WWII, American armor had relied on numbers, mobility, and combined-arms tactics rather than direct superiority in firepower or armor. However, the appearance of newer Soviet heavy tanks, like the IS-3, caused deep concern as existing U.S. medium tanks would struggle against it. In response, the U.S. initiated a heavy tank program that eventually produced the M103 heavy tank. Yet even as the M103 entered service, U.S. planners worried it might already be insufficient to deal with future Soviet designs intended to succeed the IS-3.The T58 project, which began in the mid-1950s, was intended as an answer: it took the M103 chassis and paired it with an experimental oscillating turret mounting a 155 mm gun. The oscillating turret idea was inspired by contemporary French tanks, particularly the AMX-50 series, and was seen as a way to manage the weight of such a large cannon while incorporating an autoloader to offset the difficulties of handling massive shells. The 155 mm gun was designed to defeat any heavy armor the Soviets could produce. However, the T58’s development coincided with a major shift in U.S. and NATO doctrine, which moved away from specialized heavy tanks toward the main battle tank (MBT) concept. This was primarily due to logistical concerns and the belief that nuclear weapons on the battlefield reduced the need for heavily armored behemoths. As a result, the T58 was never pursued beyond the prototype stage, with the project being canceled in 1957.Pre-order – T58 PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.49.99This pack includes:

• T58 (Rank V, USA)
• Premium account for 15 days
• 2000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Big Gun”
• Pre-order bonus: unique decal “Big Gun”

Introducing the T58!Well protected, powerful and packing a mighty punch; a description befit to practically all early Cold War American heavy tanks. The T58 represents the pinnacle of American heavy tank design and the last behemoth of its kind before the MBT concept was widely adopted. It’s available starting today in the Gaijin store as a pre-order pack, coming in with special pre-order bonuses! Let’s go into the details of this beast.The T58 represents a further development of the M103 heavy tank in which engineers sought to “future proof” the American heavy tank design against more advanced Soviet counterparts. The most important aspect of this undertaking was to equip the T58 with a monstrous 155 mm cannon, capable of breaching through even the most heavily protected enemy encountered on the battlefield. As such, the T58 will join the gang of “big guns” in ground battles, possessing the capability to utterly devastate its foes with its lethal HEAT and HESH rounds.Despite the large caliber however, the T58’s T180 cannon features good ballistic properties overall, and thanks to the presence of an autoloading mechanism the rate of fire is also very fast for its caliber. However, as the autoloader is limited to just six rounds, you may often find yourself quickly expending the available ammo and having to undergo a lengthy reload to replenish the magazine. So it’s best to take this into account during intense combat!The gun is not the only thing that makes this titan so impressive. As with other American heavy tanks, the T58 boasts excellent protection. It inherits the M103’s well protected hull and couples it with a unique oscillating turret design with complex geometry, resulting in excellent protective qualities. However, a major limiting factor of the turret is the limited elevation angles which may put the T58 at a disadvantage on more uneven terrain.With its combat weight sitting at an impressive 60 tons, the T58 is also one extremely heavy unit to shift around on the battlefield. Outfitted with a 810 HP engine, the T58 can reach top speeds of up to 35.4 km/h on paved roads. As a result, you may find yourself behind the front line at the start of battle, and may get caught out when repositioning. On the other hand, the T58 will be a true force to be reckoned with in urban environments where mobility plays less of a deciding factor! The T58 can be obtained by purchasing a pack in the Gaijin store and will become available with the release of the next major update. Thanks for joining us in today’s devblog and we hope you’re excited as we are for the arrival of this new American titan to War Thunder ground battles! We’ll see you in the next devblog and until then, happy hunting tankers!Please note that these vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before they are added to the game.

The Hawker Tempest first flew on September 2nd, 1942. It was one of the best fighters of the Second World War, with unrivaled speed at low altitudes, allowing it to combat early jet fighters and intercept missiles. More than 1,700 Tempests were produced, serving with the Royal Air Force and the air forces of New Zealand, India and Pakistan. One also ended up in German hands. The German Tempest Mk V is temporarily available at a 30% discount for Golden Eagles!The German Tempest Mk V (rank IV) is temporarily available at a 30% discount for 4970 Golden Eagles. When: From September 2nd (12:00 GMT) until September 5th (12:00 GMT).Where: Germany > Aviation > Premium vehicles. About this aircraft

• On October 15th, 1944, German anti-aircraft guns shot down a Tempest MK V near Munster. The pilot bailed out and was captured, but the aircraft was repaired and went for testing. In the game, this aircraft boasts excellent flight characteristics, impressive maneuverability, four 20 mm Hispano cannons and of course premium bonuses!

As a result of the actions of the USA and the Allies in the Pacific theater of military operations, the main Japanese forces at sea and in the air were defeated. In August 1945 after the use of atomic weapons, the declaration of war by the USSR and an offensive by Chinese forces, Japan surrendered. This was formally confirmed on September 2nd, 1945, 80 years ago today. Celebrate the anniversary of the end of World War II with us in War Thunder! Get some themed decals, a decoration and a player icon!All in celebration of the 80th anniversary. “V-J Day 2025” decal“New 4th Army Chevron” decal “Thompson M1928 (China)” decoration “Chester William Nimitz” profile icon When: From September 2nd (09:00 GMT) until September 8th (09:00 GMT).Tasks:

• Earn 3,000 mission points with US vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “V-J Day 2025” decal.
• Earn 3,000 mission points with Chinese vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “New 4th Army Chevron” decal.
• Earn 10,000 mission points with Chinese vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the Thompson M1928 (China) decoration.
• Earn 10,000 mission points with US vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the Chester William Nimitz profile icon.

Please note: After finishing the task, you’ll need to collect the reward manually.

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.
• The “V-J Day 2025” decal is in the “Holidays” section in the customization menu. The “New 4th Army Chevron” decal is in the “China → Tanks” section.

Discounts on Chinese premium vehicles and starter packs for the US, China, Great Britain and USSRReplenish your hangars with some discounts! When: From September 2nd (09:00 GMT) until September 8th (09:00 GMT).To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

• 30% discount on all premium vehicles at rank I-IV in the Chinese research trees
• 50% discount on starter packs for the USA, China, Great Britain and the USSR in the Gaijin store

Welcome to the 187th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for submitting your awesome screenshots! This week, we would like to showcase high-caliber machines. What they lack in practicality is made up for in firepower- so load the HE, and aim well! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 187th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen187. You have time until the 5th 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 tank or vessel with a caliber of 130mm or greater. For aircraft, 30mm caliber or greater.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen187 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 186th edition – Personal Warpaint!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3554318875
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3554442861
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3556947336

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3555125276
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3555001484
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3555501506

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

Meet the Soviet Be-6 flying boat with new turboprop engines in PLA Air Force service!Qing-6: A Premium Bomber for China at Rank IVAt a glance:

• Up to 4 tons of bombs
• Defensive armament of five 23 mm cannons!
• Turboprop engines
• Decent handling
• Vulnerable to attacks from behind and below

 Vehicle HistoryThe Qing-6 is a Chinese modification of the Soviet Be-6 flying boat, created by the Beriev Design Bureau. Development of the aircraft began in 1943, and the first flight of the prototype took place in 1945. The production variant was accepted into service in 1951 and differed from the prototype due to its more powerful ASh-73 engines and enhanced 23 mm NR-23 cannons instead of UBT machine guns. The Be-6 was intended for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations, patrolling, cargo transportation and mine laying. In total, about 120 of these aircraft were built in the USSR from 1949 to 1957.In the 1950s, China received several Be-6 aircraft to equip its naval forces. In the 1970s, due to the engines reaching end of service life, Chinese engineers carried out a major modernization of the aircraft. They replaced the ASh-73 piston engines with upgraded turboprop engines, which improved the aircraft’s flight characteristics and reliability. The modernized variant was designated Qing-6, and remained in service until the late 1990s.Introducing the Qing-6!In War Thunder’s next major update, China will receive its own version of the Be-6 flying boat, coming to the game as a premium for Golden Eagles. One of the most interesting and effective floatplanes in the game is getting new engines, while retaining its main advantages: an excellent payload and powerful defensive weaponry. Let’s take a look at the Qing-6!In addition to the dark blue livery, the main difference between the Qing-6 and Be-6 is upgraded Chinese-made turboprop engines. These engines are not going to make this massive plane as fast as a jet, but a speed of over 520 km/h after dropping its bombs is already quite good! It’s also worth noting the comparatively good control of the Qing-6 for its size, which helps to accurately bomb targets and perform defensive maneuvers. The bomb loadout has also changed, somewhat! When flying this large plane, you’ll now have access to 250 kg incendiary bombs. Next to this, the familiar bomb loadouts are available: eight 250 kg, two 1500 kg bombs, a pair of torpedoes for naval battles, and the most popular loadout of eight 500 kg bombs, allowing you to destroy several bases in Air Battles in a single sortie!Did you know? The Qing-6 is the only Chinese plane designated as “Qing”, while other Chinese military planes are generally named after the type of the aircraft.One of the Qing-6’s trump cards is its defensive armament. Five 23 mm autocannons in three turrets! This is a very impressive deterrent against enemy fighters, who may be tempted by the Qing-6’s apparent slowness and large size. Here’s two pieces of advice for future pilots: avoid attacks on your aircraft from below and behind, as the turrets in this area cannot fire. Try to let the enemy get closer, ideally in the upper rear area so that you can unleash the powerful defense guns at once! So, that’s it for today. We’re eagerly awaiting the Qing-6, which will become China’s first premium medium-range bomber, significantly helping pilots research the Chinese air tree from rank I to rank V a lot faster. We hope you enjoy this fan favorite aircraft upon the release of the next major update, and we’ll see you soon for more!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Ground Vehicles

• A bug that caused collision issues when ground vehicles came into contact with cedar trees on the Japan map has been fixed.
• A bug where the active scouting recharge animation would sometimes not display when viewed through the gunner’s sight or binoculars has been fixed. During these instances the recharge mechanic worked correctly, only the display was incorrect. (Report).

 Graphics

• A bug that caused the display to be stretched to an incorrect aspect ratio when using a screen resolution higher than native (DSR — Dynamic Super Resolution) 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.

Today, pre-orders for the USS Maryland for the USA and HMS Nelson for Great Britain have started!Battleship USS Maryland (Rank VI)Pre-order - USS Maryland PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.79.99This pack includes:

• USS Maryland (Rank VI, USA)
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Premium account for 30 days
• Pre-order bonus: unique “Fighting Mary” title
• Pre-order bonus: unique flag of the Maryland

Vehicle HistoryUSS Maryland (BB-46), the third Colorado-class battleship, was launched in 1920 and commissioned in 1921. Prior to the Second World War, she served as the fleet flagship, participating in numerous exercises and making visits to Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. On December 7th, 1941, USS Maryland was in Pearl Harbor, where she received minor damage from Japanese bombs, while her neighbor Oklahoma capsized. After repairs, Maryland returned to service in 1942, took part in the Battle of Midway, and patrolled Fiji.From 1943, USS Maryland went on the offensive. She participated in artillery support for the landings on Tarawa, Kwajalein, and Saipan, but was damaged by a torpedo. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she repelled the Japanese fleet in the Surigao Strait, but was damaged by a kamikaze attack. During the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945, USS Maryland was again damaged by a kamikaze strike, forcing her to go for major repairs. In August 1945, after completing her modernization, USS Maryland headed back to the combat zone. After the surrender of Japan, she took part in the operation to return American servicemen to their homeland. After the war in 1947, she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1959.Meet “Old Mary”, one of the latest and most advanced super-dreadnoughts for the American Bluewater fleet, coming to War Thunder in the next major update. USS Maryland is the sistership of the formidable USS Colorado. She relies on eight powerful main caliber guns, rapid-fire secondary caliber guns and numerous automatic anti-aircraft weaponry. USS Maryland is very well armored — the armor thickness in the armor belt area reaches 343 mm! She also has a large crew, guaranteeing good survivability even when under immense fire from the enemy team. Like most pre-war dreadnoughts, USS Maryland does not have the best speed, and the gigantic main caliber turrets take a long time to turn to the target. Because of this, make sure to use this battleship at long distance fights, something this ship is best at.Battleship HMS Nelson (Rank VI)Pre-order - HMS Nelson PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.79.99This pack includes:

• HMS Nelson (Rank VI, Great Britain)
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Premium account for 30 days
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Wonder of the Seas" title
• Pre-order bonus: unique profile icon of Horatio Nelson

Vehicle HistoryThe Treaty of Washington limitations forced naval command to revert to the plans for the previously canceled ships in a highly modified form, leading to the development of battleships HMS Nelson and her sistership HMS Rodney.HMS Nelson was completed in June 1927. Her armament consisted of a total of nine 16 inch guns in three triple gun turrets and twelve 6 inch guns in twin turrets. She was the first British warship to have a tower bridge that incorporated gun directors and a mast, and had flush decks like the previous “Lord Nelsons” from 1908. She was powered by Brown-Curtis geared turbines driving two shafts and had a speed of 23.5 knots for 46,000 HP.HMS Nelson served as flagship in both the Atlantic and Home Fleets for 14 years, participating in various operations. She took part in the search for Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Later in the Second World War, HMS Nelson was deployed to the Mediterranean Fleet, participating in operations like the Torch landings and the invasion of Sicily. Throughout the war, HMS Nelson was involved in key operations, including escorting convoys and engagements against German forces. She narrowly avoided major disasters while participating in D-Day bombardments before undergoing repairs in the U.S. Following service in the East Indies Fleet, Nelson contributed to the Japanese surrender in Malaya.After the war, she served briefly as flagship before being sold for scrap in March 1949, marking the end of her noteworthy career in naval history.Meet one of the most famous Royal Navy battleships, HMS Nelson! This ship features an amazing combination of high firepower, excellent survivability and good speed. The main armament of HMS Nelson is nine 406 mm main caliber guns in three, three-gun turrets. Interestingly, all of them are concentrated in the bow of the ship, whereas on the other hand, the 152 mm auxiliary guns are located to the stern. The anti-aircraft battery deserves a special mention, as unlike the poor anti-aircraft battery of her sistership HMS Rodney, HMS Nelson has a total of 129 long, medium and short-range air defense guns! HMS Nelson’s armor is definitely not weak, as the main area belt reaches 356 mm, while the armor plates are located at an angle, which provides a good effectiveness thickness. Surprisingly, this monster is quite easy to control and will not let you down even in active combat. HMS Nelson’s speed exceeds 43 km/h, and the huge main caliber turrets can very quickly aim at targets!Please note that these vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The legendary in-game King Tiger with the early turret type (commonly known as the “Porsche” turret) will soon be receiving a new visual model and numerous internal module improvements. Meet the redesigned Tiger II (P), coming in the next major update! First, let’s take a look at the Tiger II (P) from the outside. We’ve given it some general geometry corrections, especially noticeable on the turret, which underwent the most extensive reworking. A protective ring was added around the turret ring, which was previously a very vulnerable area. Zimmerit has now been added to the hull and turret. This is a special compound that was applied to Wehrmacht armored vehicles to protect against magnetic mines, though as far as the game is concerned its purely cosmetic. Spare tracks have been added to the sides of the turret too, slightly increasing the protection. The actual tracks themselves are also new.Next, what about the internals? The armor will be updated to the more accurate volumetric model, correctly reflecting the dimensions of the tank’s protective structure when it’s hit. The models of the internal modules have also been reworked, becoming more detailed and accurate.You’ll be able to see the updated Porsche Tiger II for yourself very soon! And in one of the future major updates, we also plan to make improvements to the external model of the Tiger II (H), so make sure to keep an eye out for that!

Recently, Bluewater fleet naval trees were extended to rank VII, and as a result we’ve now updated the research system to make progression faster and more balanced overall. The infographic shows the updated cost for researching and purchasing Bluewater fleet ships at each rank for each nation.(click here to expand image)The cost of researching and purchasing Bluewater fleet ships at ranks I-VII has been altered (generally reduced). Values of the following parameters have been changed: the purchase price in Silver Lions, the crew cost, the Expert crew price, the price of modifications in Silver lions, the amount of research points needed to research a vessel, and the amount of research points needed to unlock modifications.Note that the calculations do not take into account grouped vehicles, since their research and purchase are not required to advance through the Bluewater fleet research trees.

August von Mackensen joined the 2nd Prussian Life Hussar Regiment, known as the “Black Hussars” at the age of 20. He earned his first honors in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, and served as a field marshal general in the First World War, commanding an army group named after him. A battlecruiser built in Germany during the First World War was also named after him — this same battlecruiser is the main reward in this new naval event!From September 4th (11:00 GMT) until September 22nd (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Naval Battles, unlock stages and get rewards!Mackensen — an event vehicle Battlecruiser for Germany at Rank VIBattlecruiser Mackensen was a further development of the successful Derffinger design, featuring improved speed and armor, and significantly superior armament — 350 mm guns instead of the previous 305 mm. Construction of the lead ship of the Mackensen class began in 1915 at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. However, military difficulties led to significant delays. By November 1918, Mackensen had reached 85% completion, but according to the Treaty of Versailles, she and the other three ships in the class were scrapped between 1921 and 1922.In War Thunder, Mackensen is a solid competitor against other late First World War ships. The main advantages of this vessel are excellent armament consisting of eight 350 mm guns, good armor protection and a maximum speed of 28 knots (around 50 km/h), making Mackensen one of the fastest battlecruisers of the era. The weak point however is the lack of automatic short-range anti-aircraft weaponry. Mackensen can also take large 600 mm torpedoes into battle in five torpedo tubes.“Coat of arms of August von Mackensen” decal“Flag of the Prussian Navy” ship flag“August von Mackensen” profile iconTwo-tone geometric camouflage for MackensenAmong 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 boosters
• Random Wagers and Orders
• Universal Backups (1 - 3) 
• A random available camouflage for a vehicle you own
• 1 day of Premium Account

How to get all rewardsEach stage can be obtained for 45,000 mission points, where every new stage completed 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 “Black Hussar” and click the “Get Reward” button. You’re able to earn mission points in Naval Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade and Realistic 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.   You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are 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 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th.Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages

• For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
• For 2 Stages: “Coat of arms of August von Mackensen” decal
• For 3 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 4 Stages: “Flag of the Prussian Navy” ship flag
• For 5 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 6 Stages: “August von Mackensen” profile icon
• For 7 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 8 Stages: non-tradable coupon for Mackensen
• For 9 Stages: unique Two-tone geometric camouflage for Mackensen and four random modifications for Mackensen

 Please note: You’ll only be able to receive the random modifications if you have Mackensen activated on your account.Discounts for purchasing stages using Golden EaglesIncomplete stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re significantly 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 for unlocking 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 run out of time for a stage!The coupon upgradeWhen you complete 8 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for Mackensen, where using it will immediately activate the vehicle on 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 4th (11:00 GMT) until September 22th (11:00 GMT) for 750,000 mission points. After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert the non-tradable coupon 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. The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until September 25th (11:00 GMT). Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory. To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon Mackensen (Germany)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.
You can track the progress of completing stages and receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Black Hussars. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, you’ll be able to do so until September 25th from the Achievements window, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles which will give you the corresponding rewards.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 T is a navalized variant of the “Emil” modification, developed in the late 1930s to equip Germany’s planned aircraft carrier, the “Graf Zeppelin”.Bf 109 T-2: A Premium Fighter for Germany at Rank IIAt a glance:

• Improved low speed handling
• Deadly arsenal
• Premium bonuses

 Vehicle HistoryIn the late 1930s, the German Kriegsmarine laid out plans to build up its fleet to match that of the Royal Navy at the time. As these plans involved building a carrier, it quickly became apparent that this type of vessel would also require specialized naval aircraft. Reluctant to shift away resources from its own build up of forces, the Luftwaffe proposed to develop navalized variants of existing aircraft types instead of developing completely new ones. This proposal ended up being accepted and soon afterwards resulted in the modification of several “Emil” models with arrestor hooks, longer wings with bigger ailerons and flaps to facilitate carrier operations. This became the Bf 109 T-1.By 1940 however, shifting wartime priorities halted the construction of Germany’s Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier. As a result, the hastily converted Bf 109 T-1s were soon pressed into frontline service, losing some of their carrier modifications and becoming the land-based Bf 109 T-2. Being optimized for short runway operations, the Bf 109 T-2 quickly found itself operating with Luftwaffe units out of Norwegian airstrips where they remained until the end of 1941 before being replaced by other variants.After that, the Bf 109Ts were relegated to secondary roles and were often used as trainer aircraft until late into 1944. In the end, only around 60 Bf 109 T-2s were ever built, making them one of the rarest variants of all series produced modifications of the Bf 109.Introducing the Bf 109 T-2!The Bf 109 T-2 is a special variant originally derived from the “Emil” series, built only in few numbers for Germany’s planned Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier. Though seeing only limited frontline use during the Second World War because of its specialized role, the Bf 109 T-2 represents a truly unique modification of the Bf 109 series. Keen to find out more about this hidden gem of the Messerschmitt family? Then join us as we dive deeper in today’s devblog.As carrier operations vastly differ from regular land based ones, the Bf 109 E’s design had to be adapted to enable take offs and landings from short runways. This prompted engineers at Messerschmitt to augment the aircraft’s design by lengthening the wings, ailerons and flaps, which in turn improved the aircraft’s handling in low speed flying. All other specifications remaining identical to the land-based counterpart meant that the Bf 109 T-2 retained its excellent speed and agility while extending its performance envelope at low speeds. This improvement may come in handy for passionate dogfighters as it ensures the aircraft still remains controllable at speeds where the land-based variant would usually stall.  Interesting: The Bf 109 T-2 remains one of the rarest series produced variants of the Bf 109 family with only around 60 units being produced.Inheriting much of its design and specifications from its land based counterparts also means that the Bf 109 T-2 features access to the same arsenal as found on the already well familiar Emils. Featuring a combination of two machine guns and two powerful 20 mm cannons ensures the quick destruction of hostile aircraft. At the same time, the Bf 109 T-2 can also be equipped with a pylon capable of fitting the aircraft with 50 and 250 kg bombs and thus extending its capabilities to perform strike missions in Ground or Naval battles.The Bf 109 T-2 will soon join the starting ranks of the German aviation tree as a new premium aircraft, available for Golden Eagles. Thanks to its premium bonuses and the overall good balance between performance and firepower, the Bf 109 T-2 will enable newer pilots to quickly climb the ranks, while veterans may add a unique variant of the legendary 109 to their collection! That’s all for today’s devblog — until the next one, clear skies and happy hunting folks!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Aircraft

• A bug that still caused aircraft to jump on runways in some cases has been fixed. (Report).
• F-106A — a bug that caused one of the drop tanks to always display in X-ray view has been fixed. (Report).

Ground Vehicles

• The Active scouting mechanic is now available on Scout UAVs.
  Learn more about the implementation and limitations here.
• There is now a 3 second delay when switching back to the ground vehicle after the player’s Scout UAV gets destroyed. This is to give the player time to understand how they were destroyed.

Interface

• A table with scouting awards in the message with the battle results now has an indication of whether the particular scouting was conducted when the Scout UAV was launched or not.
• The description of the “Air Strike” modification now includes information on how a launched Scout UAV influences the rate at which the required spawn points for an aircraft are reduced.

 Graphics

• A bug that sometimes caused the textures of some airfields to be overlapped by the underlying landscape 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 today’s update, we’ve added the ability to scout enemies while using Scout UAVs without having to switch to a tank. Alongside this are a number of changes made for balance purposes:

• When a Scout UAV is up in the air and operational, the delay before reusing Active Scouting after a successful scout has been increased:
  • In Arcade Battles, the cooldown after a successful scout is now 12 seconds, and in Realistic Battles it is now 18 seconds. In both modes, this extended cooldown occurs regardless of whether you scouted with a UAV or a tank.
  • When no Scout UAV is up in the air and operational, the cooldown time in both modes remains at 6 seconds, as before.

• When the Scout UAV is up in the air and operational, the reduction in the aircraft’s spawn cost (in spawn points) for each target destroyed by an ally you scouted is halved, regardless of whether you were using a Scout UAV or a tank during scouting. However, the rewards in research points, Silver Lions, and mission points remain the same.

• The maximum scout range when using a Scout UAV is limited and depends on whether the Scout UAV has a thermal imager. For Scout UAVs without a thermal imager, the scout range is limited to 1,500 meters. For ones with a thermal imager, it is 3,000 meters. If the distance to the selected target (in Arcade Battles) or the distance to the aiming point (in Realistic Battles) exceeds the maximum scout range, the action in the panel will be grayed out and become unavailable. If you still try to scout the target, a hint will appear on screen informing you that the maximum range has been exceeded.

We expect these changes to balance the introduction of Active Scouting from Scout UAVs. We’ll be monitoring its effectiveness and if necessary, will adjust it to ensure an interesting and balanced gameplay experience.