On May 27th 1958, the F-4 Phantom II fighter prototype made its maiden flight at McDonnell Airfield in St. Louis, Missouri. In the early 1960s, it set several speed and altitude records, after which it entered service with the US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Phantoms were also purchased by Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Spain, Turkey, South Korea, and Japan. The F-4EJ ADTW is temporarily available to purchase at a 30% discount for 6,489 Golden Eagles, and will remain available after the promotion at the regular price! 

When: From May 26th (11:00 GMT) until May 30th (11:00 GMT).Where: Japan > Aviation > Premium vehicles

• The F-4EJ ADTW will return to being available to purchase at full price for 9,270 Golden Eagles after the promotion ends.

 About this aircraft

• The ADTW in the F-4EJ ADTW (rank VII) name stands for Air Development and Test Wing. These aircraft were used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force as a test platform from the 1970s until 2021. The F-4EJ ADTW is a true all-rounder, capable of performing well in both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions thanks to its wide range of ordnance, ballistic computer, and countermeasures.

Today we’re launching pre-order offer for the German AFV Puma u14 wielding 30 mm cannon and Spike-LR II homing missiles. Pre-order: Puma u14 PackThis pack includes:

• Puma u14 (Rank VII, Germany)
• Premium account for 20 days
• 2500 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Spearhead Force”
• Pre-order bonus: “Coat of arms of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum” unique decal

Pre-order is available in our Gaijin store. Puma u14The Puma u14 is a premium version of the Puma VTJF, a modern German infantry fighting vehicle developed by the consortium PSM GmbH. The project was launched following the cancellation of the Marder 2 program and was aimed at creating a highly protected, mobile, and technologically advanced next-generation IFV. The unique appearance of this vehicle is inspired by a Puma from the 33rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon 33) during military exercises conducted in 2022. The vehicle features additional decorative elements — wooden pallets and pieces of fabric attached to the hull — adding variety and individuality to its visual appearance. The Puma is armed with a 30 mm MK30-2/ABM automatic cannon paired with a 5.56 mm coaxial machine gun, and is also equipped with a Spike-LR II launcher. Its ammunition load includes armor-piercing rounds and high-explosive fragmentation shells with programmable airburst detonation. The vehicle is fitted with composite armor, providing a high level of protection for its class while still being capable of speeds of up to 70 km/h. The Puma IFV is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a laser warning system, a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging devices for all crew members, and a UAV. Smoke grenades are also available.Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game. ​

Welcome to the 225th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We enjoyed getting to see all of your screenshots! In this weeks competition, we would like to feature the heavy-hitting vehicles in War Thunder. Be sure to aim carefully, and bring a friend along to support you through long reloads! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 225th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen225. You have time until the 29th of May 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 ship with a caliber of over 130mm, or an aircraft with a caliber of 35mm or more.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen224 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 224th edition – Fading Wrecks!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3726964845
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3727570087
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3727694570

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3001583996
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3729824075
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3729255873

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

Aircraft

• A target filtering mechanic has been added to radio fuzes of some ARH and SARH air-to-air missiles — the fuze now ignores small targets like missiles if the launch was directed at a bigger target, like an aircraft.

 Ground Vehicles

• A bug that sometimes caused parts of destroyed vehicles, like a wheel, to remain in the air 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.

The super-high-altitude Westland Welkin will be joining Britain’s heavy fighter line in the next major update!Welkin F Mk.I: A Heavy Fighter for Great Britain at Rank IVAt a glance:

• Good high altitude performance
• Four 20 mm cannons
• Poor agility at low altitude

 Vehicle HistoryThe genesis of the Welkin began in mid 1940, when a high-altitude Junkers Ju 86P recon aircraft flew into British airspace. Despite the lack of any immediate threat from this incursion, the reality that Germany had the ability to field aircraft capable of reaching such altitudes was a considerable worry for the British Military. As a result, they sought to commission an aircraft that could potentially intercept such high altitude intrusions. After a design contest in which Westland, Hawker and GA took part, Westland came out on top with their P.14 design. Following some further tweaks, the first prototypes of the Welkin would fly in November 1942.From the first test flight, a portfolio of issues that would soon plague the development of the Welkin became readily apparent. The key problem lay with the most iconic feature of the plane, the wings. To accommodate the massive 70 ft wingspan, the wings had to be thick enough to endure high loads. These thick wings accelerated airflow, which resulted in a very narrow flight envelope. At altitude with flaps up, the aircraft would stall below IAS of 185 km/h, it was also restricted to a maximum dive speed of 370 km/h, beyond this speed it began to risk structural flutter and a complete loss of pitch control. This gave the Welkin a safe operating range of only 185 km/h approximately.Due to this extremely narrow envelope, it became apparent that the Welkin would not be able to engage single-seat fighters, as performing high-altitude maneuvers within this envelope was practically impossible. It was concluded that the Welkin was only suitable to combat large, high-altitude bombers. As this particular threat from Germany was all but non-existent by the time the aircraft was combat ready, the Welkin project slowly came to a halt. The aircraft were technologically ambitious, with their pressurized cabin being a notable success, however the thick wings and high weight burdened the Welkin with too many performance issues, and its lack of versatility ultimately grounded it for good. 77 aircraft were built overall including prototypes and the last Welkins were scrapped by 1949, with no examples surviving to the present day.Introducing the Westland Welkin F Mk.I!The Westland Welkin heavy fighter will be making its way to the British aviation tree in the next major update! Featuring a strong climb, a huge wingspan and four 20 mm cannons, lets see what this thunderbird can do!The Welkin is something of a bridge between the Whirlwind and the Hornet, incorporating gameplay elements of both aircraft while still bringing something new to the table. Thanks to its giant 70 ft (21.3 meter) wingspan, it can operate at higher altitudes than almost any other contemporary aircraft, with a maximum ceiling of around 13,420 m (44,000 ft). Maneuverability at this altitude is expectedly unimpressive, but it will have a lot of control in this environment, able to stay above enemies and pick the perfect moment to dive on them.It’s equipped with the same guns as the Whirlwind, four 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons in the nose. A downside of the Whirlwind in this regard was its limited ammo capacity of 240 rounds, thankfully the Welkin improves on this with a total of 566 rounds, allowing it to stay in the fight longer.Did you know? The word Welkin comes from the Old English wolcen, originally meaning “cloud” or “sky”. Later, through a process of semantic shift that occurred by the Middle English period, the word evolved to describe the firmament or the “vault of the sky”. By the 1500s it became quite a popular literary term, used often by William Shakespeare, and in more modern times, it became a very fitting name for a high-altitude aircraft.The max speed of the Welkin is not exceedingly high, somewhere around the region of 635 km/h. The advantage though is that the Welkin can reach this speed comfortably at high altitude, and high altitude really is key here. At lower altitudes, its speed and agility will be no match for contemporary single seat fighters; keeping the Welkin fast and high will be key to its success. Thanks to its strong frontal armament and impressive climb rate, the Welkin is an ideal aircraft for intercepting bombers and putting the pressure on fighters with a weaker climb in the early stages of the battle.The Welkin’s large size inevitably impacted its roll rate. Historically it was reported that at altitude the Welkin would take between 12 - 15 seconds to complete a 360 degree roll! Nevertheless, the Welkin’s maneuverability in a vertical turn can be considered acceptable for its size. Pilots should take care to get the Welkin to high altitude before engaging enemy aircraft; the higher up it is, the stronger it will be in engagements. The main advantage the Welkin has is control, its flight performance may not be exceedingly strong, but its ability to hold altitude more effectively than almost anything else puts it in a strong place at its rank. It can comfortably force opponents into fights completely on its terms, as long as you can climb high enough!That’s all for the Welkin, we hope you enjoy giving this highly unique heavy fighter a spin on the release of the next major update. Until then we’ve got tons more to show you, so keep checking in for more!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Glaive is a French Trident class patrol boat originally built in the 1960s as the French Navy was redefining the strategic value of smaller, more agile attack craft in its fleet.Glaive: A Premium Patrol Boat for France at Rank IIIAt a glance:

• 40 mm Bofors and .50 machine guns
• Good mobility
• Huge profile
• Premium bonuses

 Vehicle HistoryThe Trident-class patrol boat was a class of fast patrol boats developed by France in the 1960s during a period of significant naval transition shaped by decolonization, Cold War tensions, and the rise of missile-armed small combatants. In the aftermath of World War II and the loss of much of its colonial empire, France reoriented its navy toward coastal defense, protection of maritime approaches, and rapid-response capabilities in overseas territories.Historically, the Trident class reflects France’s 1960s naval doctrine which prioritized strategic independence, nuclear deterrence at the high end, and flexible conventional forces at the lower end of the spectrum. The Trident patrol boats complemented larger surface combatants and submarines by providing day-to-day maritime presence and rapid reaction in both metropolitan and overseas waters. The last of the Trident class patrol boats was decommissioned from military use in the 1980s, but the class continued serving in civil police roles until well into the 2000s.Introducing the Glaive!Meet Glaive, a French premium patrol boat coming to the game in the Marine Gendarme naval event, which started today! This is a fairly agile small boat with a 40 mm Bofors turret on the bow. Let’s dive into the details!From the onset, Glaive shares some visual resemblance to other nation’s cold war era coastal vessels in the game. This represents a deliberate choice by French naval designers as they sought to develop a simple and cost-effective vessel for patrol missions in overseas territories. As such, Glaive is fitted with a 40 mm autocannon placed in front of the bridge, featuring an excellent rate of fire and proven ballistic properties. Additionally, the vessel features a pair of bow-mounted heavy machine guns which protect the rear hemisphere which lies in the deadzone of the front-mounted 40 mm autocannon.Despite her relatively large dimensions, Glaive stands out among other ships in the French Coastal fleet tree thanks to her excellent maneuverability. She can quickly reach her maximum speed of 26 knots (over 48 km/h), maneuvers well, and generally excels in active combat.Glaive is obtainable in the new Marine Gendarme naval event and will speed up the research of any small French ship at ranks I-IV both for seasoned veterans and for those who haven’t yet begun researching the French Coastal fleet research tree. What’s especially great is that obtaining Glaive is not at all difficult! Simply complete in-game stages in the event in naval battles and claim this brand-new premium boat!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.Click here to find out more details about the Marine Gendarme event

Aircraft

• A bug that caused a camera jerk at the end of a zoom animation when using zoom on a locked target has been fixed.

 Ground Vehicles

• A bug that caused ground vehicle gunsights to shake and jerk after being hit by an HE shell (either a direct impact or an impact next to the vehicle) has been fixed. Previously, this shaking could last for an extended period and hindered accurate return fire, especially if the vehicle was immobilized. (Report).
• sWaTrgInf — a bug that caused the automatic target tracking system to be missing on the vehicle when the rangefinder modification was not equipped has been fixed.  (Report).

 Naval Vessels

• USS Mitscher — a bug that caused the shell icon (and incidentally the stat card) for the 76 mm gun to be missing on the toolbar when switching to the secondary weapon set has been fixed.

 Graphics

• A bug that caused a ship’s wake effect at the edge of the screen to display incorrectly has been fixed. Previously, cropped textures could be seen in the water at the edge of the frame.
• The “FPS limit in menu” setting behavior has been fixed. Previously, the FPS limit was not applied on the login screen and until the hangar was fully loaded, which could lead to excessive load on the video card.
• A bug where the shadow from the tank’s barrel in the indoor hangar remained static when the turret was rotated has been fixed.

 Sound

• A bug that caused the “Other Player’s Engine Volume” setting to only affect the volume of allied vehicles has been fixed. For some time prior to this fix the engine volume of enemy ground vehicles was not affected by this setting.

 Interface

• A bug where a player removed from a squadron could continue to read the squadron chat has been fixed. (Report).
• A bug where the “Total” count was not counted correctly in the Ace of Spades profile showcase window has been fixed. (Report).
• A bug where the tactical map window in battle could display armament not belonging to the current vehicle has been fixed. (Report).
• A bug where empty enemy vehicle slots were shown when activating the air event in “Assault. Ground battles” has been fixed.
• A bug where a buy button could appear on wishlist items that were not available for purchase has been fixed.
• The ability to filter non-researched vehicles has been added to the filter menu in the Squadron vehicle window.

 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.

The PGZ88 is an SPAA with a pair of 37 mm cannons and a radar that can be effectively used against both air and ground targets!PGZ88: An SPAA for China Rank VAt a glance:

• Radar
• 37 mm belt-fed guns
• Average mobility
• Vulnerable turret

Vehicle HistoryThe PGZ88 became the first purpose-built Chinese SPAA to be accepted into service. Requirements for such a system were initially formulated by the PLA Armored Forces Command as early as 1958, but the project was repeatedly suspended and resumed, and its actual implementation only began in the late 1970s.In September 1985, a prototype was built on a modified Type 69 tank chassis and upgraded naval 37 mm automatic guns for military trials. In October 1986, four vehicles were built for final acceptance. Comprehensive testing at the Chaoyi and Baicheng test ranges involved intensive use of the equipment: 140 target sorties were flown, 5,479 rounds were fired, and the guidance and control systems each achieved 108 to 210 hours of operation. Successful tests confirmed the effectiveness and reliability of the system, allowing it to be adopted for air defense of mechanized columns.Introducing the PGZ88!In the next major update the PGZ88, an SPAA based on the Type 69 tank chassis armed with a pair of 37 mm cannons and a radar is coming to the game! This vehicle will be able to defend allies from helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and lightly armored ground vehicles. Let’s take a closer look!The PGZ88 is going to be China’s first radar-equipped anti-aircraft vehicle in the SPAA line, essential for the rapid detection and destruction of helicopters and attack aircraft. The vehicle is based on a tracked tank platform housing a turret with a three-person crew, a pair of 37 mm autocannons, and a radar. The turret is only protected from machine gun fire. The PGZ88’s belt-fed automatic cannons can fire in bursts until the barrels overheat.The PGZ88 inherits its mobility from the Type 69, so don’t expect any performance records. It’s no faster than 50 km/h on paved roads, and just over 7 km/h in reverse. Being a bit faster would be nicer of course, but it’s perfectly acceptable for small maps and urban areas. Actively capturing objectives and quickly moving along flanks is unlikely with the PGZ88, so it’s often more advantageous to move with a group of allies, providing supporting fire against ground vehicles and promptly destroying helicopters and approaching attack aircraft.That’s it for this one! The PGZ88 will be added to the Chinese ground forces at rank V in the next game update. We’ll be sharing more news about other new additions soon, so stay tuned!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The French Maritime Gendarmerie is a specialized unit of the National Gendarmerie, performing policing duties at sea and in port areas. Its tasks include inspecting vessels, enforcing navigation regulations, and combating poaching, smuggling and marine pollution. One of the boats that served off the coast of France was the Glaive, which you can obtain in the new naval event!

From May 20th (11:00 GMT) until June 1st (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Naval Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!

Glaive — A Premium Patrol Boat for France at Rank IIIThe Glaive is a French Trident-class patrol boat, built in the 1960s, when the French Navy was reassessing the strategic value of small, maneuverable attack craft in its fleet. Unlike other French small fleets of the rank III, the Glaive boasts excellent performance and is armed with a 40 mm automatic cannon and a pair of heavy machine guns. Glaive’s premium status accelerates research of small ships at ranks I-IV, and for some the ship can be an easy and enjoyable introduction to exploring the French Coastal tree!  “Emblem of the French Marine Gendarmerie” decal“Naval Gendarmerie” decal“French Sports Stripes” decalAmong 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 35,000 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 “Marine Gendarme” 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. Points are only awarded at the end of the battle.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 May 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th.

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: trophy with a random reward
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 5 Stages: the “French Sports Stripes” decal
• For 6 Stages: non-tradable coupon for the Glaive

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 30,000 mission points, then the price to unlock this stage will be 349 Golden Eagles. If you’ve scored 33,500 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 6 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for Glaive, 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 May 20th (11:00 GMT) until June 1st (11:00 GMT) for 500,000 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 Glaive (France)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until 11:00 GMT on June 5th. Until this time, 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 > Marine Gendarme.. 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 June 5th from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.

Welcome to the 224th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for all of the wonderful screenshots that you submitted last week! This week, we would like your screenshots to feature the conclusion of your battles. Whether you would like to capture the battle as it is being fought with damaged vehicles, or the wreckage after a battle has concluded, you can decide! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 224th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen224. You have time until the 22nd of May 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 damaged or destroyed vehicle.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen224 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 223rd edition – Decorated for Duty!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722658862
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3726089303
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3724160165

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3726754014
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722599696
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722804575

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

Jean Bart was a French battleship and the second completed ship of the successful Richelieu class, also becoming one of the last battleships in active service.Jean Bart: A Premium Battleship for France at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Two turrets with four 380 mm guns in the bow of the ship
• Effective and numerous auxiliary armament
• Decent mobility

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

• Jean Bart (Rank VII, France)
• Premium account for 30 days
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Glorious Corsair”
• Pre-order bonus: unique decal “Great Coat of Arms of Jean Bart”

Vehicle HistoryThe battleship Jean Bart was the second completed ship of the French Richelieu class. Laid down in 1936, she was built using advanced modular technology, but by the time of the German advance in 1940, she was in a state of disrepair. In this critical situation, the French command decided to put the ship to sea at any cost, and on June 19th 1940, despite technical problems and air attacks, the unfinished battleship reached Casablanca under her own power. In North Africa, work to bring the battleship to combat readiness continued at an accelerated pace.By the fall of 1942, the first main battery turret was commissioned. In November 1942, during the Allied landings in Morocco, Jean Bart, despite its incompleteness and immobility, engaged the US Navy, suffering several hits from 406 mm shells and heavy damage from aerial bombs. Nevertheless, the battleship’s guns continued to fire until the end of French resistance.After the war, Jean Bart’s fate remained the subject of much debate, but ultimately, she was completed as a battleship, taking into account post-war experience. Jean Bart entered service in 1949 and underwent a major modernization in 1955. In 1956, she participated in the Suez Crisis, but her 380 mm guns were rarely used due to fears of mass casualties. In 1957, the battleship was decommissioned and used as a floating barracks until 1970. She was scrapped later the same year.Introducing Jean Bart!Today we’re taking a look at Jean Bart, the third and final member in War Thunder of the French Richelieu-class battleship series, coming in the next major update. Pre-orders for this premium ship start today. Jean Bart will come to the game in the 1955 fit and will offer signature combat capabilities as well as new armament. Let’s take a look!Let’s start with the main battery. Jean Bart retains the unusual layout of her main armament: eight 380 mm guns mounted in two elevated turrets on the forward deck, forward of the superstructure. This is a key feature of the Richelieu battleships, and while it takes some getting used to as the ship cannot fire rearward, it does allow you to fire a full salvo of main battery guns without turning the hull broadside toward the enemy. The magazines hold two types of armor-piercing shells and a high-explosive fragmentation shell, all with good performance for their caliber. However, the reload speed is slightly higher than that of her sister ships. With a Ace crew, you’ll get a whopping two shots per minute.Interesting: Jean Bart became France’s last battleship and the last battleship officially commissioned in the world.The auxiliary caliber guns are the same as those on Richelieu — nine 152 mm guns — but the secondary armament is unique for its class: 24 x 100 mm general-purpose guns in twin mounts, reinforced by 28 x 57 mm anti-aircraft guns. A solid argument against aircraft and small boats!Jean Bart also inherits the excellent maneuverability of her class, capable of reaching speeds of just over 30 knots (56 km/h) and rivaling even some battlecruisers. The ship’s armor and overall survivability are also characteristic of the Richelieu class; she’s fairly well protected and can survive long periods of fire from cruisers, but the best battleships with the largest calibers will be the most dangerous adversaries for Jean Bart. Pick your fights wisely!That’s it for this one! A truly iconic example of 20th-century naval warfare, the battleship Jean Bart is available today as a pre-order pack, along with unique in-game bonuses. Take the helm of one of history’s last battleships, coming to the game in the next major update!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Hey everyone! Today we’re back with another Community Update, we’ll be giving you some details on Nuclear Escalation, Sound Mods, the upcoming major update and our plans for vehicle events until August. So sit back, grab your favourite beverage and read on! Disclaimer: While we’re excited to be able to share work-in-progress information before dev blogs, the dev server and the full release, please bear in mind that new features, vehicles and maps mentioned in this news are subject to change, be delayed or even cancelled. War Thunder is constantly being developed, and as with all game development, unexpected delays or other unforeseen circumstances may occur. Thank you for your interest!Returning Nigel Decal CodeNigel is always among us. If you didn’t manage to get this decal last year, enter code NIGELWASHERE here to redeem it. Once you’ve logged in, the decal can be found under:

• Decals > Special > Other

The decal code will remain active from the publish date of this news until May 28th (10:00 GMT).Nuclear Escalation Stats and Its ReturnThe annual April Fools event this year showcased Nuclear Escalation, a new mode that featured brand-new nuclear bombers. We saw the great response to this mode from the community as well as your constructive feedback and today we would like to show you some statistics from the event that you may find interesting:We would also like to make a return to Nuclear Escalation, and it’s not that far away from coming back. Our current plan is to bring this mode back after the release of the next major update on a temporary basis. This will be to test, refine and make it as good as possible. It will return in a similar event layout as Bullet Hell and SEAD, whereby there are no tasks to obtain any reward vehicles. The two nuclear bombers will also not be available to use during the new event. This is because we’ll be testing this mode at a higher Battle Rating range, more nations, with different ground targets and some tweaks and improvements.We’ll have some more detailed information coming soon in a news post where we’ll cover all the changes and event schedule, so keep an eye out for that!An Update On Sound ModsIn March, we had to disable the use of sound mods after making changes to the audio engine, causing an increase in game crashes and other issues when sound mods were enabled. We fully understand the frustration this has caused to sound mod creators and players who use them, so rest assured we’re working every day on a solution to bring them back as soon as possible. Some good news here is that we plan to return the use of sound mods this month. We’ll let you know in a changelog, so please keep an eye out.We really appreciate your patience regarding this.New G4M1 Cockpit — Coming SoonThe Japanese G4M1 cockpit is in the works to be updated with stunning details, with more cockpits to come throughout the year. This updated cockpit is coming in a future major update, not the next one. Here is a sneak peek of the G4M1, check it out!Upcoming EventsIt’s fast approaching summer, and we’re ready to give you all some information on what to expect regarding events from now until August. A Naval Vehicle Event in MayLet’s take a look at what’s coming after the dust settles from celebrating the victory of the war in Europe, where you can expect a naval event with a rank III boat for France at the end of May.A D-Day Related Vehicle Event in JuneIn June, we honor the events of D-Day with a slightly unrelated vehicle to the real life operation, but still pretty cool nonetheless. We’ll be celebrating with a certain British aircraft that will hopefully “float” your boat, if you catch our drift. This will be the last vehicle event before a month-long vehicle event pause.Tank Football Returns in JulyThe 2026 World Cup kicks off this June, and what better way to enjoy the summer football vibe than with Tank Football? In July, during the latter stages of the World Cup, we’ll be temporarily bringing back Tank Football for you to enjoy as a cosmetic event (meaning no vehicle reward). This is sort of a one-off-special for the World Cup, as we usually only run this event annually every February / March. So, if you’ve never played this mode before, be sure to give it a try in between the real-life World Cup matches to make the most of the football atmosphere! A Ground Vehicle Event in JulyAfter the month-long vehicle event pause following the D-Day event, we return with a British ground vehicle event in July. This quick “single-edged, curved sword” vehicle is sure to leave devastating slashes on your enemies. A Naval Vehicle Event in August And lastly, as the summer heat reaches its heights in August, we will have a naval event, this time for a First World War era Soviet ship.That’s all we can share for now in regards to events for the next 3 months, we’ll talk about what’s to come after August in the next Community Update in the late summer! The Upcoming Major UpdateThe next major update is around the corner, and with it new vehicles and improvements to the game. As always, not everything coming is mentioned here; we don’t want to reveal everything in advance. Definitely keep an eye on the upcoming dev blogs and dev server for everything that’ll be coming!Turm III Stabilization UpdateIn real life, the Turm III is a unique vehicle in that it has a 3-plane stabilizer. However, this is something we haven’t implemented into the game... until now! Here is some more context from one of our programmers who worked on it:Dev note: “Implementing the third-axis stabilization system was a moderately complex task that required both a custom trigonometric solution for three-axis orientation handling and deep integration with the Dagor engine aiming mechanics. The primary challenge was not the mathematics itself, but adapting the stabilization logic to support a highly unconventional control scheme while preserving precision and consistency.”With that said, in the next major update, the Turm III will get its 3-plane stabilizer, and will be the first tank in the game with this kind. In simple terms, this means the turret will now sit level, even when the vehicle itself is on an incline. This won’t be a radical change by any means, but it will make your shots more accurate in some cases, as the reticle will almost always stay vertical. An example:Before / After Missile Simulation Graph Window In principle, this new window works similarly to how the Shell parameters window works for tank shells. The Missile Simulation window allows you to see the telemetry of missiles in flight, including speed, distance covered, distance to targets, and overload. It also allows you to compare multiple missiles visually in a graph, learning how different missiles perform in flight compared to each other. Hovering over points on the graph in flight allows you to see the missile’s telemetry as well.Here are some mock-up images of how it will be designed:(Click arrow to change screenshot)Updated Damage Models / X-Rays for Some High-Ranked AircraftWe’ve added lots of details to the damage models of several top-ranking jet aircraft, including several F-15s, F-16s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, and more. Here are some examples:MiG-27KF-15AMiG-23MUnified Cyclic Targeting of Radars with Radar Queuing ControlsQuite the mouthful! However a common suggestion from you that’s quite a big Quality of Life update for radar control. With this new feature, you will be able to use a mapped cycle button to select the targets when in manual acquisition mode. This feature offers some more flexibility for pilots who want to use some snappier responsive key binds to quickly lock targets up while still retaining the ability to use the target cue for a more precise radar control when needed!The feature only affects the manual mode, so when the cyclic target switching is enabled, the radar still works as it used to.More Authentic MFD ScreensIn addition to more detailed damage models, we’ve also worked on creating some more authentic MFDs (MultiFunction Displays) for aircraft, including the Tiger HAC, F/A-18s, F-15s, and more. Here are some examples we can show:MiG-29Guess the aircraft...Vehicles You Can ExpectWhat can you expect in terms of vehicles in the next major? First off, let’s start with aircraft. For the USA, we’ll have a magic aircraft, with its namesake being able to communicate with spirits. Can you guess what it is?The RAF Washington B.1 for Great Britain will be making an appearance, as well as another British aircraft which you’ll have to look out for, this one loves high altitudes! For other nations, there will be two revshare planes, some premium packs and some attack aircraft.Next, let’s see what you can expect for ground vehicles. Japan will be receiving some Indonesian tanks, including the Leopard 2RI, while Sweden will be getting Norway’s NOMAD SAM! There’s still more ground vehicles coming, and all will be revealed soon...Lastly, let’s take a look at Naval stuff. You can expect to see the Chervona Ukraina for the Soviets, plus the USS North Carolina for the USA. As with ground vehicles, there’s still more ships and boats coming, big and small, and all will be revealed in good time!That’s it for now!Thanks for giving this Community Update a read, we hope it gives you some things to look forward to in the next update, see you soon!The War Thunder TeamThe Skilled Pilot Pack is available in the store, check it out if you haven’t already got it!Skilled Pilot PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

• How To Fly profile icon
• Anti-Air Trees decal

• “The Missile Knows Where It Is” title
• 300 Golden Eagles

3.99

Aircraft

• F-6C — the mass has been corrected (reduced), becoming closer to the basic version of the MiG-19S without radar.
• A bug that sometimes caused the torpedo tracking camera to shake has been fixed.

 Controls 

• A default controller keybind for the naval weapon group change has been added.
• A bug where some key assignments the on Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One joystick would reset after loading saved control settings on Xbox consoles 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.

 Since 1950, Armed Forces Day has been celebrated on the third Sunday in May. It is a unified holiday honoring members of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Coast Guard. Parades, air shows, vehicle displays, and military band concerts are held on this day.Open the “US Armed Forces Day” trophy!

When: From May 14th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used a USA vehicle at rank III or higher to receive the “US Armed Forces Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of three decals“Seal of the United States Army” decal“US National Armed Forces Day 2025” decal“National Armed Forces Day” decalThese decals are located in the “Holiday” vehicle appearance section.If you already have all four decals, you’ll receive a trophy containing one of the following items:

• 20-50% Research Point booster for 3-10 battles
• 20-50% Silver Lion booster for 3-10 battles
• 3-5 universal backups
• 1 day of Premium account

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

Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Armed Forces Day.

Aircraft

• Tu-95M — the rate of fire of the turret gun AM-23 has been increased from 600 to 1250 RPM. (Report). Source: Самолет Ту-95. Система пушечного вооружения (ПВ-23 Ту-95). Тех. описание.
  

Ground Vehicles

• In the hangar, the size of the hole in target plates for 150 mm AP shells and higher with a low armor penetration has been fixed. Previously, a target plate with a small hole was used, which was too small for 150 mm caliber.

 Interface

• A bug where the crew training window still displayed the qualification progress bar even after receiving the “Ace” qualification has been fixed. (Report).

 Locations and Missions

• \ Moscow. 42 kilometer — a bug where a bombing base could appear on the runway of the eastern team’s airfield in battles with a Battle Rating session of 5.7 has been fixed. (Report).
• \ Mozdok — the size of the playable area has been expanded so that the eastern team’s airfield is no longer located outside of the battle area in battles with a Battle Rating of up to and including 4.3. (Report, Report).
• The HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier has been replaced by USS Forrestal in Confrontation missions at Battle Rating 9.3 and above. HMS Ark Royal lacks proper AA defense, making it too easy a 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.

Hey everyone! As we’re shuffling along through May we’re pleased to bring you another batch of historical decals! Some shields, paintings, inscriptions and badges, the full monty! We particularly like the rare French pinup BB Girl, and the highly detailed nose art of  ace Vasily Isaev, recreated expertly by Fenris, one of our decal artists.A note for the Gepard, currently it’s not possible to place a decal on the radar as the material is not decal-able (we’ve applied it to the skin for the screenshot), we’ll edit this part of the model sometime in the future so decals can be placed on the radar.

The following decals are available from May 13th (11:00 GMT) until June 11th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

Democracy Deliverer Inscription, USA"BB Girl" Pinup, FranceFinish in position 1-3 three times using American Ground VehiclesFinish in position 1-5 five times using French AircraftDemocracy Deliverer InscriptionDemocracy Deliverer inscription, U.S. Army. The practice of tank naming is over 100 years old, often following pop culture as new generations of tankers take up the mantle. In the First and Second World Wars, tank naming was not standardized, in the modern day however there are more limitations regarding the name crews can choose. Currently under some regiments, naming your tank is an earned right, given only to crews who maintain a standard of excellence. Names often follow company structure as well, with tanks of A Company having a name that begins with A, though this is not a strict rule and regular deviations can be spotted. As newer generations of tanker crews step up, more names relating to gaming and popular media have become common sights, with Democracy Deliverer being a great example. It was painted on the barrel of an M1A2 SEP V2, ahead of the bore evacuator. "BB Girl" Pinup“BB Girl” Pinup, 2ème Escadron d'Instruction en Vol "Henry Jeandet" (2nd Flight Training Squadron "Henry Jeandet"), French Air Force. Pinup-style nose art was relatively rare in the French Air Force, as it was primarily an American custom; however, sporadic instances of it can be found, albeit fleetingly. This pinup was painted on MD.450 Ouragan number 328, code BB, flown by Sergeant Paul Barland at the time. It was painted in June 1957, while the aircraft was stationed at Base École 708 in Meknès, Morocco. The pinup itself is possibly a depiction of Brigitte Bardot, a very popular French actress and singer at the time. This fits nicely as a link to the Bravo-Bravo aircraft code as well, though the link is unconfirmed and largely speculative. While the pinup was likely popular with the pilots, it appears senior staff had a different perspective, as the artwork barely lasted a week before being removed. It was painted on the port side of the aircraft, right above the topmost gunport.Personal Marking of Vasily Isaev, USSR"Ikazuchi" Inscription, JapanFlaLehrRgt 6 Emblem, GermanyDefeat 50 players using Soviet AircraftScore 20000 Damage while using Japanese Bluewater VesselsDefeat 30 Aircraft using German Ground Vehicles
Personal Marking of Vasily IsaevThe personal marking of Vasily Vasilyevich Isaev, 42 GIAP (42nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), Soviet Air Force. Vasily graduated as a pilot in 1941 at the Zernograd Military Aviation School, having dreamed of being a pilot from a young age. Throughout the war he flew several Yak fighters, including the Yak-1, Yak-9, and Yak-9U. He demonstrated considerable skill during his service, credited with 17 aerial victories and 4-5 shared victories. After the war he would be discharged due to health issues, but dedicated much of his time to community service, and even published a book of wartime memoirs in 1975 called "За чистое небо" (For Clear Skies). His personal marking was an eagle attacking a snake, a common motif Soviet pilots used during the Second World War, effectively depicting good triumphing over evil or order defeating chaos. It was painted on the starboard side of his Yak-9U under the engine exhaust."Ikazuchi" InscriptionIkazuchi (いかづち) hull inscription, JMSDF. After the Second World War, Japan returned to the practice of painting a ship’s name onto the hull, but in hiragana rather than kanji script. Ikazuchi means “Thunder,” effectively, and carries a long etymological lineage throughout ancient Japan, often linking it to mythology and weaponry. The inscription was painted on the middle of the hull on destroyer escort DE-202, Ikazuchi. She was one of the first domestic destroyer escorts built by Japan in the post-war era. She was commissioned in 1956 and was a sister to DE-203 Inazuma, meaning “Lightning”, making them a fitting pair. She served with the 7th Escort Corps until 1976 when she was converted to a storage ship used for training, before finally being stricken from the register on March 30th, 1983. FlaLehrRgt 6 EmblemThe emblem of Flugabwehrlehrregiment 6 (6th Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment), Bundeswehr. The Regiment was formed on August 31st 1956 as Panzerflugabwehrartilleriebataillon 3 in Schleswig, but would cement its identity after moving to Lütjenburg on April 1st 1962. It received its first Gepard anti-air vehicles on August 4th 1977, which would later feature on the Regiment’s emblem. Aside from the prominent Gepard silhouette in the middle, to the left are either stylized seagulls or waves, which link to the Regiment’s proximity to the Baltic Sea to the north. The structure to the right is the lost Lütjen Castle, which influenced much of the region's original heraldry. The lower elements link to the Schleswig-Holstein region where the Regiment was based. It includes their heraldic colors (blue, white, and red), the Schleswig lions and the Holstein nettle leaf. The Regiment operated until May 2012 when it was disbanded. One of the Regiment’s Gepards on display wore the emblem on the tracking radar.

34th Armoured Brigade Emblem (1944), Britain28th TFS Emblem (Late), ChinaEarn 15000 score while using British Ground VehiclesWin 10 battles using Chinese Aircraft34th Armoured Brigade Emblem (1944)An emblem of the 34th Armoured Brigade, British Army. The 34th was formed from several smaller regiments on December 1st 1941, equipped with Churchill tanks. Initially, its emblem was a typical black and blue diablo, before adopting the shield of the Second Army prior to the Normandy Landings. Shortly after, in the late summer, the mace shield was created as the unique emblem of the brigade. The red and yellow represent the cavalry colors, which were adopted as the formal colors of the Royal Armoured Corps. The armored glove was taken from the cap badge of the RAC designed by Abram Games; paired with the mace, it fittingly depicts striking power and defense. The Churchill tanks of the brigade wore the emblem in several spots, usually in the middle of the front plate or near the edges on the lower plate.28th TFS Emblem (Late)The emblem of the 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron, ROCAF. The 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron was established on August 10th, 1936, and would go on to join the 3rd Fighter Group of the Chinese-American Composite Wing in 1943. The dragon and the top hat combined both a Chinese symbol with an American one, with the red eyelids seamlessly incorporating the number 3 for the 3rd Fighter Group. During the war they would primarily fly the P-40 and P-51, before transitioning to the F-86 and F-104; the latter was in service for nearly 40 years. The emblem was most commonly used as a patch, but was also painted on the tail of some F-104 Starfighters in operation with the squadron.

CC Battaglione Carri SOMUA Emblem, ItalyNarvik Battalion Emblem, NorwayGrupo 8 de Caza Emblem (Late), ArgentinaDefeat 40 players using Italian Medium TanksPlay 20 battles while using Swedish Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityDefeat 30 players using missiles while flying AircraftCC Battaglione Carri SOMUA EmblemThe emblem of 2ª Compagnia, CC Battaglione Carri SOMUA, 131° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (2nd Company, 200th Tank Battalion SOMUA, 131st Tank Infantry Regiment), Royal Italian Army. The Company was formed on June 15th, 1941 with captured French S.35 tanks, and for the majority of its service was tasked with defensive garrison duty in Sardinia. The emblem of the silver and gold elephant is particularly interesting, potentially linking to ancient heraldry. Antique heraldic treatises make note of silver and gold elephants as symbols of valor taken by knights. If a knight spared the life of an enemy, he could take a silver elephant, if the enemy owed the knight his freedom after being defeated, a golden elephant could be chosen. This link may be incidental, however, as the emblem of the 1st Company was a basic white rhino. A single white elephant could have been the intended insignia, with the gold version simply being an earlier attempt that proved to be too subtle. It was painted on the turret sides of the Somua S.35 tanks towards the front.Narvik Battalion EmblemThe emblem of the Narvik Battalion, Norwegian Army. Previously known as 2. bataljon (2nd Battalion), it was renamed on December 12th, 2025, as a way to honor the Norwegian military efforts during the Battle of Narvik in 1940. The battalion was formed on September 1st, 1953 at Trandum, before moving to Skjold, where it is stationed today. The emblem of the Battalion, a golden sword-wielding griffin, was approved in 2003, and can trace its origins back to the Viking Age in northern Norway. Narvik Battalion is a mechanized infantry force within Brigade Nord, primarily specializing in arctic operations. While the golden griffin emblem is used primarily as a patch, a low-vis grey variant can be found on their CV9030 IFVs on the sides of the hull towards the front. Grupo 8 de Caza Emblem (Late)The emblem of Grupo 8 de Caza (8th Fighter Group), Argentine Air Force. The group was initially formed as Escuadrón I de Caza Interceptora (1st Interceptor Fighter Squadron) on December 7th, 1971, and would adopt the 8th Fighter Group name later in 1977. They operated a small number of Mirage IIIEA fighters and two Mirage IIIDA trainers, and took part in the Falklands War, primarily running decoy sorties. The emblem incorporates many elements pertaining to the Mirage. The red lines streaking off the nose represent breaking the sound barrier as it intercepts a pair of hostile aircraft, with a small red line off the tail for the afterburner. Argentina is depicted to the left but is noticeably warped, representing the slightly curved view pilots saw while operating at altitude. This later version of the group emblem includes a laurel on the Mirage to honor the service of its pilots during the Falklands War. The emblem was painted on the tail of the Mirage fighters towards the front.
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.That’s all for today, we hope you like the May selection! We’re all hard at work on the next major update at the moment, so expect lots more news on upcoming vehicles soon. In the meantime, enjoy collecting the set this month and we’ll be back in June for more!

Welcome to the 223rd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

It was great seeing the variety of screenshots shared in the previous round! In this weeks competition, we’re looking for custom vehicles. You can feature any vehicle that is wearing a custom skin, or has decals or decorators applied to it. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 223rd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen223. You have time until the 15th of May 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 that has a custom camouflage, decals, or decorators placed on it.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen223 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 222nd edition – Between the Buildings!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718509286
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719555042
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719171703

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719899834
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718423994
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718800951

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

Germany’s surrender brought an end to hostilities in Europe. The bloodiest war on the continent had finally come to an end. Let’s give cheers for all of the Allied soldiers, as without their heroism, this victory would have not been possible.

When: From May 8th (11:00 GMT) until May 12th (11:00 GMT) play War Thunder and get rewards!

Rewards“Allied Victory” decal“General’s Saber (USSR)” decoration“M2 Mortar” decorationTask: Earn 3000 mission points in battles where you used US, USSR, British, or  French vehicles (rank III or above)Task: Earn 10000 mission points in battles where you used USSR vehicles (rank III or above)Task: Earn 10000 mission points in battles where you used US, British, or French vehicles (rank III or above)

You can track the progress you’ve made for each task by going to your Nickname > Achievements > Victory Day

Trophy with past Victory Day rewardsCheck out these trophies with rewards from previous Victory Day events! These can be found in the in-game Item Shop. Purchasing a trophy will give you an Allied weapon decoration or decal that you don’t have.

• Decals, dedicated to war memorials: “We won!”, “Rear-Front”, “Motherland”, “Warrior Liberator” and “Victorious countries”
• Decorations for ground vehicles: DS-39, “Bren Mk II”, “ROKS-3”, “M1 Garand”, “SG-43”, “Maxim-Tokarev Machine Gun”, “Tommy gun”
• Decorations for Bluewater fleet naval vessels: “Matilda II” and “120-PM-38”

Discounts in the Gaijin store

When: From May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00)

Enjoy discounts on numerous bundles, including rare packs featuring vehicles from the Second World War. Celebrate this holiday with the vehicles that won the war! Legend of Victory: KV-8

When: From May 6th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT)

Take part in the Legend of Victory event to get decals, a decoration, and the KV-8 flamethrower tank! Let’s celebrate the 81st anniversary together!

When: From May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00 GMT), bundles and standalone packs with a discount!To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

To celebrate Victory in Europe Day, we’re temporarily returning rare bundles with themed vehicles to the store! You can also find huge discounts for individual packs.“Wings of Victory” bundle -50%149 74.47This bundle includes:

• Dolgushin’s La-7 Pack
• Golovachev’s Yak-9M Pack
• Prendergast’s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe Pack
• Plagis’ Spitfire Mk. IXc Pack
• Bostwick’s P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt Pack
• Wetmore’s P-51D-10 Pack

“Tracks of Victory” bundle -50%160 79.97This bundle includes:

• A43 Black Prince Pack
• M10 Achilles Pack
• IS-2 Revenge for the Hero brother Pack
• T-34-85E, 1945 Pack
• M18 Black Cat Pack
• М5А1 5th Canadian Armoured Division Pack

The vehicles from the bundles will also be available for Golden Eagles with a 30% discount from May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00) on all platforms.50% discounts on selected vehicle packs!

• Senrai Maidens: Maria
• L-39ZA Albatros Pack
• Sevastopol Pack
• Su-25K Pack
• USSR Starter Pack
• T-72AV (TURMS-T) Pack
• Object 120 Pack
• IS-6 Pack
• Senrai Maidens: Elsa
• KMS Gneisenau Pack
• Marder CLOVIS Pack
• Su-22M4 WTD 61 Pack
• German Beginner's Pack

• Leopard Pack
• King Tiger Pack
• Senrai Maidens: Kate
• USS Maryland Pack
• AV-8B Night Attack Pack
• M1 KVT Pack
• F-20A Tigershark Pack
• AH-64A Apache Pack
• US Starter Pack
• T29 Pack
• Mustang Pack
• MiG-21 Bison Pack
• British Starter Pack
• Wyvern Pack

• Japanese Starter Pack
• Type 74 Red Star Pack
• Hawk 209 Pack
• Mirage F1C-200 Pack
• French Starter Pack
• Somua SM Pack
• J-7D Pack
• Chinese Starter Pack
• Swedish Starter Pack
• K9 VIDAR Pack
• CV 90105 XC-8 Pack
• PzH 2000 Pack
• Italian Starter Pack
• F-16A Netz Pack

Note! The following packs will be retired from all platforms after the promotion ends:

• Hawk 209 Pack
• Su-22M4 WTD 61 Pack
• MiG-21 Bison Pack
• F-20A Tigershark Pack
• AV-8B Night Attack Pack
• J-7D Pack

Register Now for the Qualification StageThe War Thunder Championships Series (WTCS) continues! The second Major of the season features a 4v4 top-tier aircraft format. Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or a master of modern air combat, this tournament is for you! You’ll need to build a versatile roster of 7 players and develop the best strategies to dominate every match. And now, let’s take a look at the schedule and prizes!Tournament DatesAfter each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.

• Open Qualifier I: May 9th-10th at 15:00 GMT
• Open Qualifier II: May 16th-17th at 15:00 GMT
• Playoffs: May 23rd-24th and May 30th-31st at 15:00 GMT

REGISTER NOW!Tournament Prizes

Attention! Please note that coupons must be selected within 10 days after the end of the tournament.

Live Streams with Twitch Drops! 

When: Each stream will start from 14:45 GMT.

• Open Qualifier I Stream: May 9th and 10th
• Open Qualifier II Stream: May 16th and 17th

Throughout the two weekends of the Open Qualifiers, live broadcasts will feature Twitch Drops, giving you the chance to earn boosters and Premium Account time. Be sure to tune in during the Finals as well to claim exclusive Twitch Drops rewards.Matches will be broadcast in multiple languages to ensure the best viewing experience, including English, Russian, German, Polish, and French.All matches will be broadcast live also on YouTube, so make sure to tune in and follow the action in real time.FOLLOW

Login to your Twitch account → link your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops!

Discord & Stream Giveaways!During the WTCS 2026 Major II, join the Official War Thunder Esports Discord server to connect with fellow competitive players and take part in exclusive giveaways featuring the following packs:Discord:

• AH-64DJP Pack
• ZTZ96B Pack
• Vickers GBT155 Pack
• Alpha Jet A Pack

Twitch:

• 10x Esports Bundle - 2026 Season, dropped exclusively on our Twitch channel randomly during the show.

The Esports Team wishes you the best of luck in the qualification stages. See you on the battlefield!