Pilots, tankers...and aspiring commanders of War Thunder!

War Thunder has been around for some time now...and lot of you significantly helped us with your great feedback and the amount of suggestions we have implemented over the years.

Have you been with us for a long time? Went with us through all the ups and downs, and still appreciate and love the game? Have you spent hundreds or thousands of hours playing War Thunder?

Be a hipster for once! It was YOU who knew this game is cool before it was popular!

Nominate us in the Steam Awards!



Thank you for your continuous support - we have a lot of plans for upcoming years!

Stay tuned
The War Thunder Team

Pilots, tankers...and aspiring commanders of War Thunder!

War Thunder has been around for some time now...and lot of you significantly helped us with your great feedback and the amount of suggestions we have implemented over the years.

Have you been with us for a long time? Went with us through all the ups and downs, and still appreciate and love the game? Have you spent hundreds or thousands of hours playing War Thunder?

Be a hipster for once! It was YOU who knew this game is cool before it was popular!

Nominate us in the Steam Awards!



Thank you for your continuous support - we have a lot of plans for upcoming years!

Stay tuned
The War Thunder Team

The Type 1 Chi-He medium tank is an improved version of one of the most mass-produced Japanese tanks – the Type 97 Chi-Ha.
Though a highly advanced vehicle for its time, it never had the opportunity to participate in World War II. Are you ready to be the first to try it out?

The Type 1 Chi-He medium tank is an improved version of one of the most mass-produced Japanese tanks – the Type 97 Chi-Ha. The Chi-He was designed on the basis of the Chi-Ha Kai (an improved version of the original Chi-Ha with a new turret) in 1941. The Japanese were unable to immediately put it into mass production due to a shortage of metal, which the Japanese navy had a far greater need for, so the Chi-He began to roll off the production lines only in 1943.





One of the most important innovations for Japanese tank design in the Chi-He’s construction was the widespread use of welding in assembling the turret and hull. All Chi-He tanks were also equipped with an internal radio, a luxury previously available to only a few Japanese tanks. The radio meant that it was no longer necessary to use signal flags during battle, and thanks to a larger crew of five, the commander could finally stop fulfilling the role of the gunner as well and focus fully on his direct responsibilities. The increase in the tank’s crew size forced a slight expansion of the turret size in comparison to the Chi-Ha Kai turret, which slightly increased the Chi-He’s weight. However, the tank’s new 240 horsepower engine easily compensated for the increased weight, and even improved the vehicle’s road performance. The Type 1 47 mm caliber cannon remained the same as on the Chi-Ha Kai, but received a range of important tweaks that made it significantly easier to use.

Read the full Dev Blog here!

The Type 1 Chi-He medium tank is an improved version of one of the most mass-produced Japanese tanks – the Type 97 Chi-Ha.
Though a highly advanced vehicle for its time, it never had the opportunity to participate in World War II. Are you ready to be the first to try it out?

The Type 1 Chi-He medium tank is an improved version of one of the most mass-produced Japanese tanks – the Type 97 Chi-Ha. The Chi-He was designed on the basis of the Chi-Ha Kai (an improved version of the original Chi-Ha with a new turret) in 1941. The Japanese were unable to immediately put it into mass production due to a shortage of metal, which the Japanese navy had a far greater need for, so the Chi-He began to roll off the production lines only in 1943.





One of the most important innovations for Japanese tank design in the Chi-He’s construction was the widespread use of welding in assembling the turret and hull. All Chi-He tanks were also equipped with an internal radio, a luxury previously available to only a few Japanese tanks. The radio meant that it was no longer necessary to use signal flags during battle, and thanks to a larger crew of five, the commander could finally stop fulfilling the role of the gunner as well and focus fully on his direct responsibilities. The increase in the tank’s crew size forced a slight expansion of the turret size in comparison to the Chi-Ha Kai turret, which slightly increased the Chi-He’s weight. However, the tank’s new 240 horsepower engine easily compensated for the increased weight, and even improved the vehicle’s road performance. The Type 1 47 mm caliber cannon remained the same as on the Chi-Ha Kai, but received a range of important tweaks that made it significantly easier to use.

Read the full Dev Blog here!

Autumn Sale bundle includes following packs:

War Thunder - Ace Advanced Pack
War Thunder - Steam Pack
War Thunder - Red Fury Advanced Pack
War Thunder - Desert Rats Pack
War Thunder - Panzer Pack

Already have one of these packs? We won't charge you for it!

Autumn Sale bundle includes following packs:

War Thunder - Ace Advanced Pack
War Thunder - Steam Pack
War Thunder - Red Fury Advanced Pack
War Thunder - Desert Rats Pack
War Thunder - Panzer Pack

Already have one of these packs? We won't charge you for it!

Continuing our Japanese tank line is the Type 89b I-Go Ko, a modification of the Japanese Empire’s first series-produced tank.

Development of the Type 89 I-Go series tanks began back in 1927, when the Empire was considering what would be the better choice; To buy tanks from Europe or try to produce their own. It turned out that with the help of the technologies and lessons learned from European tank designs, Japan was capable of creating its own armored vehicle and putting it into series production.





The Type 89 I-Go medium tank went into its first battles in Manchuria in the beginning of 30s, after which, thanks to the experience gained from these operations, some very noticeable modernizations were made to its base model. By that time, the primary manufacturer of the Type 89 I-Go was the Mitsubishi company, so the Type 89b I-Go Ko version was entirely made by the engineers of that company. The base model’s tracks were replaced with more durable small-link tracks. Its frontal armor plate was made as a single attached part and the gun mantlet and its armor were changed. One interesting change was that the observation instruments were additionally armored and partially moved to new positions. This is because the Chinese infantry, possessing no anti-tank measures, had learned how to fire through the observation ports with their rifles and machine guns, killing the Japanese crews.

Read the full Dev Blog here!

Continuing our Japanese tank line is the Type 89b I-Go Ko, a modification of the Japanese Empire’s first series-produced tank.

Development of the Type 89 I-Go series tanks began back in 1927, when the Empire was considering what would be the better choice; To buy tanks from Europe or try to produce their own. It turned out that with the help of the technologies and lessons learned from European tank designs, Japan was capable of creating its own armored vehicle and putting it into series production.





The Type 89 I-Go medium tank went into its first battles in Manchuria in the beginning of 30s, after which, thanks to the experience gained from these operations, some very noticeable modernizations were made to its base model. By that time, the primary manufacturer of the Type 89 I-Go was the Mitsubishi company, so the Type 89b I-Go Ko version was entirely made by the engineers of that company. The base model’s tracks were replaced with more durable small-link tracks. Its frontal armor plate was made as a single attached part and the gun mantlet and its armor were changed. One interesting change was that the observation instruments were additionally armored and partially moved to new positions. This is because the Chinese infantry, possessing no anti-tank measures, had learned how to fire through the observation ports with their rifles and machine guns, killing the Japanese crews.

Read the full Dev Blog here!

After Japan's unconditional surrender at the end of World War 2, the shattered empire had been deprived of the opportunity of developing their own armoured vehicles. Here today we will show you the prototype Japanese ST-A1 medium tank, which initiated the history of post war Japanese tanks.

Once Japan acknowledged defeat in World War II, its military institutions had to be reformed with new systems and production methods. The country was prohibited from having an official military, and was instead permitted to create a paramilitary national police force. During this time they used American tanks lent to them by the US. Later, as the Korean war intensified, the United States allowed Japan to have its own defense force in the face of increased tensions. By the mid 50’s, it became clear that the Self-Defense Force required their own tank development to fit the terrain of the country. New lightweight Japanese tanks were planned to be compact and maneuverable, making them able to be transported cross-country through mountainous terrain. The vehicles borrowed from the main armament of the American 90mm caliber gun, familiar and favoured by War Thunder players as the main armament of the American M46 and M47 tanks.





To fulfill the military’s requirements, tank designers offered several promising projects, the first of which was the ST-A1. The tank ended up quite compact, with a height of only 2.2 meters. This allowed it to have excellent cover abilities, with a cast turret and traditional Japanese tank layout: the engine installed behind the transmission. Two finished vehicles of this model were built. Despite the fact that the ST-A1 series did not continue, it was a starting point for the future of Japanese tank development.

Read the full Dev Blog here!