War Thunder artists and game designers have prepared new locations for the upcoming major update! Meet Abandoned Town, designed for mixed battles, South-Eastern City for aviation, and a significantly improved location Sun City.






The sleepy mountain town became the epicenter of outrageous military conflict. After the bombing and artillery barrage, combat vehicles enter the area. The commanders will have to achieve control over three zones of the town: the central streets and the community center, the bridge in the southern part of the town, the neighboring silo elevator and the cableway, as well as the northern area with residential buildings.

The cozy mountain towns and mining villages of the Greater Caucasus at the beginning of the 1990s became the prototypes of the Abandoned Town location. The atmosphere of a ghost town in the mountainous Caucasian subtropics awaits all fans of tank and mixed battles in the next major War Thunder update!






What was unthinkable before is becoming a reality now - a furious war has come to the streets of the metropolis of one of the "Asian tigers"! Intense action downtown and in the suburbs, military vehicles are entering the city, artillery and anti-air guns are firing at will. The tasks of the aviation here is to destroy enemy military bases and camps, as well as to escort friendly strike aircraft to their targets.

War Thunder artists have studied maps and photographs of the surroundings of the Kowloon Peninsula before creating the South-Eastern City. Here, a huge port, ultra-modern skyscrapers and residential areas coexist with rural areas on green hills and religious centers and monasteries. High-tech meets picturesque nature to bring you a brand new location for air battles!






One of the recent locations for mixed battles, Sun City, is very popular with War Thunder players due to the variety of environments and the ability to use overpasses in battle. However, the map had a number of minor issues, which we tried to fix for the upcoming update of the game.

We added a lot of small objects to “revive” the streets of the city. We added bus stops, parking lots with cars, flower beds, posters and advertisements on the walls, litter on the roadsides. Observant players reported the incorrect road markings - thanks to you, everything has been corrected! The park in the central part of the city has become more detailed, a route between the extreme capture points through the central park area has appeared. The artists also improved the “aircraft” part of the location - the city is now more naturally integrated into the landscape of the area. Fixed bugs and improved cosmetic micro-effects are the cherries on top. In a word, Sun City has become more detailed and easy to navigate. You're welcome! We are looking forward to your feedback!

SMS Bayern was the lead ship of the last class of dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial German Navy during WWI. Armed with heavy main battery guns and shielded by strong armor, SMS Bayern will soon be making an appearance in War Thunder naval battles, docking in player ports with the arrival of the next major update!

Briefly: The most advanced German battleship from the WWI-era, sporting immense 380mm main caliber guns and strong protection to boot.


Features:

• One of the largest gun calibers in the game
  
• Comprehensive armor scheme
  
• Torpedoes
  
• Limited AA protection
  
• Cumbersome mobility

In War Thunder, SMS Bayern will be a new battleship joining the top rank of the German bluewater fleet following the release of the next major update. Sporting the heaviest primary battery of any warship currently present in the game, Bayern’s offensive capabilities are brilliantly complemented by a strong armor scheme, making it a formidable new opponent arriving soon to naval battles!



After its arrival to the game as part of the upcoming major update, the Bayern will set a new record for possessing the largest gun caliber in any combat vehicle in the game, challenged only by HMS Hood’s 381mm guns. Namely, sporting a primary battery of eight 380 mm guns, split between four twin turrets, Bayern is more than capable of breaching through the armor of other battleships at everything but extreme engagement distances. However, aside from the primary guns, Bayern also has a number of other weapons in its arsenal. For instance, the secondary battery of the warship consists of eight 150mm cannons situated in casemates above the main armored belt on each side of the ship’s hull. Furthermore, Bayern also has access to a total of five 600mm torpedo launchers, with two submerged launchers on each broadside and one on the bow, presenting an unexpected surprise for any foe that dares getting too close to this juggernaut. Lastly, Bayern is also fitted with two 88mm AA cannons, although their effectiveness may leave much to be desired, especially during close-range engagements with attacking aircraft.



Inheriting much of the general armor layout of the Kaiser - a warship already familiar to seasoned War Thunder captains - the Bayern improved upon it by thickening certain parts of the armor scheme protecting vital components. For instance, whilst the main armored belt and conning tower remained 350mm thick, the turret faces and barbettes were increased to 350mm in thickness as well. As a result, the overall protection of the vessel and its complement of 1,276 sailors increased. Moreover, the crew is now better protected by the increased to 250mm thickness of the upper armor belt. However, the heavy weaponry and strong armor naturally brings with it the drawback of high displacement and, as a result, low mobility. To compensate for the increased mass, a 25% more powerful power plant was installed, which made it possible to keep the speed in the formation up to 22 kts (40.7 km/h).



Bayern is already making its way to War Thunder naval battles and is expected to dock in player ports following the release of the next major update. In the meantime, keep your binoculars close at hand and continue scanning the horizon for news as we release more information about the upcoming update. Until then, calm seas and good hunting captains!

In this digest we would like to tell you about our continuing work on improvements and fixes in the game.

Please leave your feedback on these changes in the dedicated "It’s fixed! №52" thread

More specifically - the aircraft that is given out during aircraft events in ground AB. Previously the aircraft launch speed didn’t depend on the rank of the battle and it resulted in even very modern vehicles appearing at about 300 km/h. And immediately received a missile or burst of gunfire from the pursuers. Shouldn't be like this!

Now the speed of launch in the air will depend on the BR of the battle which should make air events more interesting and fair.





Another important improvement to the vehicles involved in air events as well as their weaponry. We have slightly revised the vehicles and weapons for air events and we even prepared a table sheet showing what you can take under your control in one or other BR. Take a look for yourself!





Suspended weapons on each aircraft are a compromise between flight characteristics and the ability to destroy as many opponents as possible! And to help you objectively evaluate these compromises we are introducing information on how weapons affect the various characteristics of an aircraft with standard presets..

Now this effect will also be displayed for the weapon presets you create in the suspended weaponry editor. Very useful data for any pilot.




Many of you have not just one or two friends in your friends list but an army of them. And it can be quite uncomfortable to find yourself at the very beginning of the list when updating the statuses of these friends. This was a bug and has been fixed. Now it will be easier to navigate the friends list.


For this digest we have prepared a large set of useful fixes and game improvements. Be sure to read the full list below - there are many interesting things.

Once again, many thanks for all your bug reports that you submitted using our special service.

• Type 60 SPRG, Maus, E-100, BMP-3 — a bug has been fixed that disabled the machine gun while an auxiliary weapon is selected.
  
• Zachlam Tager — a bug with an underestimated firing range has been fixed.
  
• AMX-13-M24 — targeting angles have been adjusted from -10°…15° to -8°...15°(report).
  
• AMX-13-M24 — gun stabiliser has been added (report).

• Sight point colour change option has been added for helicopter HUD
  
• J-7E — a bug has been fixed where elements of the wings or pylons remain behind when the wings are detached.
  
• F11F-1 — the number of rockets has been corrected in the pop-up info of the 52x FFAR rockets pod in the secondary weapons menu.
  
• J-8B — PL-5B missiles have been moved from the external wing pylons to the internal wing pylons. The total amount of available PL-5B missiles doesn’t change, allowing you to mount weapons to external pylons.

• Twitching of the torpedo lead marker at long distances has been fixed in Arcade battles.

• The initial speed of aircraft in tank Arcade battles now depends on the session BR and type of air battle:
  
  • 1.0-3.0 — 300 km/h;
    
  • 3.3-5.7 — 400 km/h;
    
  • 6.0-7.0 — 500 km/h;
    
  • 7.3-9.7 — 600 km/h;
    
  • 10.0+ — 700 km/h;
    
  • helicopters — 200 km/h.
• Aircraft and helicopter setup for tank Arcade battles has been updated (see table).
  
• A bug has been fixed where when scrolling the contact list any status change of contacts reverts to the start of the list.
  
• Timer icon has been returned for remote fuse HE rounds.
  
• A bug has been fixed where a reject message to the squadron application might be displayed outside the “Squadron journal” menu.
  
• A bug has been fixed where selecting the icon of a vehicle in the “Objective vehicles” menu might select other vehicles in the tech tree.

The current provided changelog reflects the major changes within the game as part of this Update. Some updates, additions and fixes may not be listed in the provided notes. War Thunder is constantly improving and specific fixes may be implemented without the client being updated.

The VBC (Pt 2) is a prototype of the modern Italian Freccia IFV, developed on the basis of the Centauro combat vehicle in the late 1990s. Based on the same chassis, yet offering completely different combat dynamics, the VBC (Pt 2) will soon reinforce the higher ranks of the Italian ground forces tree as it arrives to War Thunder as part of the next major update!

Briefly: The early design of an Italian IFV developed on the basis of the appraised Centauro combat vehicle.


Features:

• Fast-firing 25mm cannon
  
• Potent sub-caliber rounds
  
• Superb mobility
  
• Light protection

In War Thunder, the VBC (Pt 2) will be a new light vehicle complementing the already excellent lineup of Italian wheeled combat vehicles, found at the higher ranks of this nation’s ground forces tree. Being based on the Centauro chassis, and fitted with a rapid-firing autocannon, this highly nimble predator is sure to mix things up for Italian tankers with its arrival as part of the next major update coming to the game. Sounds interesting, why don’t we take a closer look, shall we?

As already mentioned, the experimental VBC (Pt 2) is a prototype of the Freccia IFV and also a further development of the B1 Centauro - a vehicle already most familiar to seasoned tankers in War Thunder. Inheriting most of the Centauro’s chassis design makes the VBC (Pt 2) just as mobile as its close relative. In fact, thanks to its 550 hp engine, the VBC (Pt 2) can reach a top speed of 110 km/h on paved roads, thus being in line with the B1 Centauro. However, thanks to the slightly more powerful engine and despite its marginally higher mass, the VBC (Pt 2) has a higher power-to-weight ratio. As a result, the vehicle is able to reach its top speed faster and more easily traverse even less hospitable terrain types.



Unlike the Centauro it’s based on however, the VBC (Pt 2) is equipped with the turret fitted to the familiar Dardo IFV. As a result, the VBC (Pt 2) comes armed with a 25mm Oerlikon KBA cannon, capable of firing advanced sub-caliber munitions. Therefore, despite the cannon’s rather modest caliber, the VBC (Pt 2) can become a considerable threat to even more heavily armored opponents provided that its aspiring commanders are audacious enough to really close in on their prey. Despite being equipped with an updated Dardo turret however, the VBC (Pt 2) doesn’t get access to turret-mounted ATGM launchers as found on its tracked counterpart. While this does limit the vehicle’s effectiveness against armored targets at longer engagement distances, its fast-firing autocannon remains a formidable threat to other light vehicles as well as low-flying aircraft and helicopters.



Being based on the Centauro’s chassis also means that the VBC (Pt 2) inherited much of its relative’s protection. Tankers should avoid relying on the vehicle’s armor to shield them from enemy fire. Instead, it’s a much better tactic to be more proactive and make good use of the vehicle’s excellent mobility to stay out of the enemy’s sight and remain an elusive target on the battlefield for the enemy.



The VBC (Pt 2) is soon arriving to rank VI of the Italian ground forces tree as part of the next major update, coming soon to War Thunder. In the meantime, stay sharp and keep an eye out on the news as we continue unveiling what other exciting new vehicles and features await you in the upcoming update. Until then, good hunting tankers!

The G6 Rhino is a wheeled self-propelled gun, developed by South Africa during the 1970s in an effort to modernize the outdated inventory of their artillery regiments at the time. Soon, the G6 Rhino will charge head first into the heated ground battles of War Thunder as it arrives to the game as part of the next major update!

Briefly: A highly mobile South African self-propelled gun, featuring an impressive destructive potential thanks to its 155 mm howitzer.


Features:

• Superb mobility
  
• Devastating 155 mm cannon
  
• Lightweight armor
  
• Limited horizontal firing angles

In War Thunder, the G6 Rhino will be a new SPG reinforcing rank IV of the British ground forces tree with the release of the next major update. The G6 Rhino will offer its prospective commanders a devastating destructive potential, only found with such high-caliber artillery pieces, while combining it with signature superb mobility that South African combat vehicles are known and feared for by tankers in the game.

The centerpiece of attention with the G6 Rhino is most certainly its potent 155 mm G6 canon. Featuring excellent ballistic properties, even for a howitzer, gives commanders the ability to quickly and easily engage hostile targets, even at longer distances. Furthermore, the heavy high-explosive rounds (regular and remote fuse) ensure a good effect on target even if tankers miss critical components which may have led to complete destruction of the enemy. However, commanders should also be aware of some of the gun’s limitations, such as a rather lengthy reload time as well as the limited horizontal traverse to just 40° to either side of the vehicle’s horizontal axis.



However, while the G6 Rhino can bring a quick, yet untimely demise to many of its foes on the battlefield, it’s worth noting that the Rhino itself is quite susceptible to enemy fire due to its light protection. In fact, the G6 is only adequately protected to, at most, withstand direct hits from AP rounds fired from low-caliber automatic cannons. As a result, taking the G6 into the thick of the action is a risky tactic. Therefore, tankers are better advised to keep their distance to enemy units and utilize the Rhino’s excellent gun to deliver a devastating strike from a safe distance.



Yet, despite being safer to engage from a longer distance, aspiring Rhino commanders don’t necessarily need to take part in the fighting from the second lines. Commanders may also utilize the vehicle's superb mobility - a signature feature of nearly all South African combat vehicles in the game - to position themselves on the flanks and surprise slower advancing enemy forces with precise and deadly high-caliber fire. This tactic doesn’t come without its own risks, but at least commanders might have the element of surprise on their side in this scenario compared to a full frontal brawl in densely packed urban environments.



The G6 Rhino will soon make an explosive appearance in War Thunder ground battles as it arrives to the British midranks with the release of the next major update. In the meantime, make sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue sharing with you some of the highlights awaiting players in the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

The Steam screenshot competition returns! It has been a while since the previous competition, but now we are back and ready to see your beautiful screenshots. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE!


Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen16. You have time until the 27.05.2022 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 300 GE.

Important addition: Screenshot theme - Beautiful Scenery!

• Beautiful sky, amazing forest, and hot desert! Add your favourite machine in a beautiful location and take a screenshot!
  
• Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules, otherwise they will not be considered.
  
• 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 7 working days.

HMS Hood was the only Admiral-class battlecruiser constructed for the Royal Navy and arguably one of the most renowned British warships of all time. Soon, captains in War Thunder will have the chance to take command of this legendary warship as it arrives at the top rank of the British bluewater fleet as part of the next major update!

Briefly: A unique British interwar battlecruiser, respected for both its combat capabilities as well as elegant visual appearance.


Features:

• Strong primary battery
  
• Comprehensive protection
  
• High top speed
  
• Large profile
  
• Mediocre anti-air protection

In War Thunder, HMS Hood will become the new crowning jewel awaiting captains at the top rank of the British bluewater fleet. Being the most advanced battlecruiser ever built for the Royal Navy, HMS Hood combines superior firepower with excellent mobility, making it one of the most potent warships available to British captains in the next major update!

Upon arriving to the game as part of the upcoming update, HMS Hood will bring with it the largest calibre primary battery found on any warship in the game currently. Fitted with a total of eight 15’’ (381mm) cannons split between four twin turrets, HMS Hood’s primary battery is capable of dealing devastating damage even to the most heavily armoured battleships sailing the seas in War Thunder at the moment. Furthermore, the ship’s secondary battery, consisting of seven twin 4’’ (102mm) dual-purpose cannons, complements the main guns by engaging enemy destroyers at closer range or incoming aerial threats at longer ranges.



Aside from the heavy guns, HMS Hood is also outfitted with three octuple 40mm ‘pom-pom’ cannons as well as four quadruple .50 cal machine gun turrets for use against smaller vessels and aircraft at shorter engagement ranges. HMS Hood has one final trick up its sleeve as far as firepower is concerned. Namely, captains will also have access to two fixed 21’’ (533mm) torpedo launchers fitted to both sides of the ship’s hull underneath the main deck. While their use in long-range gun fights with other capital ships may be questioned, they will undoubtedly come in handy during a close-quarter brawl.

Fun Fact: Due to its size and formidable armament, HMS Hood not only received the nickname ‘The Mighty Hood’ but it also came to symbolize the might of the British Empire.

As HMS Hood is designed as a battlecruiser, British shipbuilders certainly didn’t neglect the second factor that defines this warship type: speed. Fitted with steam turbines generating a combined power output of 144,000 horsepower, HMS Hood is capable of attaining an impressive top speed of 31 kts (57km/h), thus giving the warship excellent mobility. As a result, HMS Hood doesn’t have to be employed as a battleship necessarily. Instead, captains with a more aggressive tactical approach can choose to join the advance of comparably lighter vessels such as cruisers, and support them with their heavier firepower.



HMS Hood’s protection may appear quite substantial at first glance. After all, the warship is encased in a 12’’ (305mm) belt armour, stretching across all the sections containing vital ship components. However, taking a closer look at HMS Hood’s armour layout, reveals that this thick belt plating covers only a small area around the waterline whereas the areas above and below it possess much thinner plating ranging from 3 - 7’’ (76mm - 177mm). On the other hand, the vessel’s turrets and conning tower remain well protected with 15’’ and 11’’ (381mm and 279mm) of armour respectively, ensuring their ability to effectively absorb enemy fire. Lastly, HMS Hood’s complement consists of 1,418 sailors and officers. With such a sizable crew, HMS Hood is able to stay in the fight even during prolonged engagements, provided the opponent doesn’t score a lucky strike.



The ‘Mighty Hood’ will soon dock in play ports, awaiting seasoned War Thunder captains at the top of the British bluewater fleet in the next major update. In the meantime, keep your binoculars at hand and continue scanning the horizon for more news as we continue telling you more of what the upcoming update has in store for you. Until then, calm seas and happy hunting captains!

• Planned BR changes have been implemented.
  
• Su-22UM3K — a bug has been fixed that allowed the use of FAB-500 bombs on the internal wing pylons.
  
• F-104S ASA — a bug has been fixed where it was possible to fire the M61A1 guns while using the Aspide A1 missiles.
  
• J-8B — a bug has been fixed that allowed the use of PL-5B missiles on the internal wing pylons. The armament system of the jet fighter allows the use of up to 4 missiles at a time.

The current provided update notes reflect the major changes within the game as part of this Update. Some updates and fixes may be not listed in the provided notes. War Thunder is constantly improving all the time and certain fixes may be implemented without the client being updated.

The Pvkv III is an experimental tank destroyer, developed as part of Sweden’s efforts to equip its military with new combat vehicles based on existing platforms. Arriving in War Thunder as part of the next major update, the Pvkv III will reinforce the Swedish mid-ranks with another highly capable tank hunter!

Briefly: A prototype Swedish tank destroyer based on the Strv m/41 light tank, fitted with a 57mm anti-tank cannon.


Features:

• Quick-firing 57mm cannon
  
• Light protection
  
• Exposed fighting compartment

In War Thunder, the Pvkv III will be a new tank destroyer awaiting players at rank II of the Swedish ground forces tree in the upcoming update. Being based on the same chassis as the all too familiar Pvkv II, the new Pvkv III features a smaller, yet no less deadly 57mm cannon while retaining the chassis’ signature good mobility and compact size.

The main and virtually only difference tankers will note on the Pvkv III coming from the predecessor is the tank’s main weapon. Namely, engineers outfitted the Pvkv III with a smaller 57mm cannon instead of the 75mm one found on the Pvkv II. As a result, tankers will be faced with a trade-off when taking the vehicle out into battle. They will lose some of the signature penetrating capability featured by the Pvkv II’s 75mm cannon in favor of a higher rate of fire.



Make no mistake however, the 57mm will still pose a significant threat to most opponents on the battlefield and will especially come in handy in close-range engagements where its higher rate of fire will allow tankers to suppress advancing enemy forces and more rapidly react to shifting frontlines. On the other hand, the Pvkv III’s effectiveness against more heavily armored opponents, especially at longer ranges, will somewhat be inhibited by the gun’s smaller caliber.

Pvkv III also possesses the same protection as its close relative. As a result, the Pvkv III is highly susceptible to enemy fire and best kept outside heated firing lines during engagements.



Meet the Pvkv III as it arrives to the mid-ranks of the Swedish ground forces tree as part of the next major War Thunder update. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue to keep you posted on all the latest developments surrounding the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

The VCAC MEPHISTO is a French wheeled anti-tank destroyer, developed on the basis of an amphibious APC design in the late 1970s by the Renault company. Arriving in the top ranks of the French ground forces tree as part of the next major update, tankers will have the chance to take command of the nimble and no less deadly VCAC MEPHISTO!


Features:

• Powerful HOT missiles
  
• Excellent mobility
  
• Small profile
  
• Light protection

In War Thunder, the VCAC MEPHISTO will be a new wheeled anti-tank missile carrier arriving to the top ranks of the French ground forces tree as part of the next major update. Exceptionally mobile and equipped with a considerable number of deadly HOT missiles, the VCAC MEPHISTO is sure to mix things up for French tankers as it becomes the first tank hunter of its kind in this nation‘s research tree.

The VCAC MEPHISTO is based on the VBA VTT wheeled armored personnel carrier and as such, features superb mobility thanks to the vehicle‘s low weight of just 13.8 tons, a 220 horsepower diesel engine and all-wheel drive. All these factors combined allow the VCAC MEPHISTO to reach a top speed of up to 92 km/h on paved roads while its relatively good power-to-weight ratio enables the vehicle to conquer even less hospitable terrain types without greater struggle. Furthermore, the VCAC MEPHISTO also inherits its amphibious capabilities from the base APC chassis. As a result, the vehicle can cross even deep bodies of water at a maximum speed of around 13 km/h, thus giving its aspiring commanders more tactical options.



Once the VCAC MEPHISTO has maneuvered into position and has set its sights on hostile units, its commanders will have a four-barrelled, fully rotatable anti-tank missile launcher at their disposal to engage the enemy forces with. From the stock, commanders will have access to the HOT-1 missiles, followed by researchable modification of more capable HOT-2 ATGMs. Tankers should also not be worried about only having four missiles in the launcher as there‘s another eight spare ATGMs stored inside of the vehicle.



Naturally, being based on a light APC‘s chassis means that the VCAC MEPHISTO doesn‘t boast incredible protection characteristics. In fact, the vehicle‘s armor is only capable of shielding the crew and vehicle modules against rifle-caliber fire and shrapnel but fails to provide more substantial protection against more substantial threats such as autocannon fire or missile strikes. Therefore, instead of relying on the armor for protection, aspiring commanders of the VCAC MEPHISTO should take this matter into their own hands and utilize the chassis‘ excellent mobility to stay out of harm‘s way.



The VCAC MEPHISTO will soon arrive to rank VI of the French ground forces tree as part of the next major update, also becoming the first wheeled missile carrier to become available to French tankers in the game. In the meantime, stay tuned to the news to receive all the latest information about the upcoming update and some of the additions and features it will bring with it. Until then, happy hunting tankers!