Meet the main aircraft prize in the upcoming new Battle Pass season! A really huge payload and a very special piece of munitions onboard!
A-1H Skyraider, attack aircraft, USA, rank IV. Premium.
Features:
Huge and varied payload
Flares
Quick energy loss in maneuvers
Vulnerable to fighters and SPAAG
‘Toilet’ bomb
In the new season of the War Thunder Battle Pass, the “Smell of Victory”, which we dedicate to flamethrowers and napalm, it was impossible to skip the A-1H Skyraider, one of the most famous napalm aircraft ever. Skyraiders enjoy well-deserved respect from US pilots and tankers. These are classic piston-engined attack aircraft of the American school, real workhorses of rank IV. Their worn old wings are capable of carrying an impressive payload, and four 20-mm cannons are able to rescue other pilots from enemy fighters or light anti-aircraft guns on the ground.
The A-1H Skyraider will be the new member of the attacker family, and the most advanced one. The main difference from the AD-2 and AD-4 is the significantly greater weight of the suspended weapons. Among the most interesting options are 30x250lb bombs, up to three 2,000lb bombs, and a much larger number of FFAR unguided rockets. In addition to the greatly increased payload, this attack aircraft carries new types of weapons for the series - incendiary bombs and 7.62mm minigun pods, as well as flares to protect against guided missiles.
Fans of aviation know well the remarkable photo of the A-1H Skyraider aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier, on which, among the usual range of weapons, a porcelain toilet is mounted on the wing pylon - a mark of 6 million pounds of bombs dropped in Vietnam. War Thunder pilots who will take part in the new season of the Battle Pass will have the opportunity to send a porcelain round to ground targets. Yes, you can take one toilet bomb into battle! With a direct hit, the lavatory equipment can knock out a misfortuned crew member in an open compartment of an enemy vehicle. Although the toilet can’t hurt the material of an armored vehicle, it will definitely hurt the feelings of self-assured tank commander!
The new A-1H Skyraider and dozens of other prizes are waiting for you in the new season of War Thunder Battle Pass! The Devblog about the third prize and the full list of terms for the new season come very soon! Stay tuned!
The TCM-20 is an Israeli SPAAG, developed on the basis of the M3 halftrack chassis commonly used by the IDF throughout the Cold War era. Coming to War Thunder as part of the next major update “Fire and Ice”, tankers may look forward to the arrival of the TCM-20 SPAAG to the starting rank of the Israeli ground forces tree!
Briefly: A late 1960s Israeli SPAAG based on the American M3 halftrack and outfitted with a twin 20 mm anti-aircraft turret.
TCM-20, SPAAG, Israel, rank IV.
Features:
Punchy 20mm cannons
High rate of fire
Good mobility
Light protection
Exposed fighting compartment
In War Thunder, the TCM-20 SPAAG will be a highly anticipated new addition arriving to the Israeli ground forces tree as part of the next major update “Fire and Ice”. Giving Israeli tankers access to a rather potent SPAA unit immediately at the nation’s starting rank will significantly broaden the capabilities of the initial Israeli vehicle roster and allow tankers to effectively shield themselves from air attack.
Being based on the well-known and widely used chassis of the M3 halftrack means that the TCM-20 SPAA will feel familiar to many seasoned War Thunder tankers, regardless whether they’re transitioning over from another nation or have already climbed through ranks of the Israeli tree. Highly regarded for its compact profile and great off road capabilities, the TCM-20 can achieve a top speed of 67 km/h and conquer even rougher terrain types thanks to its halftrack design.
However, the most notable difference that TCM-20 brings with it compared to existing M3s in War Thunder certainly lies in its armament. While the chassis is no stranger to all sorts of weapons being fitted to it, ranging from .50 cal machine guns to 75 mm anti-tank cannons and even guided missiles, the TCM-20 brings with it a novel twin 20mm cannon setup based on the familiar M45 turret American tankers recall from the M16 MGMC. As a result, the TCM-20 is able to effectively engage both advanced piston-engine aircraft as well early jet fighters thanks to both its responsive turret controls as well as punchy 20 mm cannons coupled with a high rate of fire. Furthermore, loading armor-piercing ammunition also makes the TCM-20 quite dangerous for hostile SPAAGs as well as other lightly armored vehicles. One thing is for sure - there’s no messing about with this one.
Furthermore, unlike the standard M3 chassis, the TCM-20 features improved protection. Although this still won’t make the TCM-20 impervious to enemy fire, it does improve its chances to withstand high caliber machine gun fire and shrapnel. On the other hand, the vehicle still has an exposed fighting compartment, making it vulnerable to strafing aircraft for example. So better keep those eyes scanning the skies for threats, commander!
The TCM-20 is making its way to the starting rank of the Israeli ground forces tree in War Thunder with the arrival of the upcoming update “Fire and Ice”. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue revealing what other exciting new features and additions await you in the next major update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!
Also, in the room list, the current BR range will now be displayed instead of a mission’s tier.
Ground vehicles
A bug has been fixed where, when the “Parts” modification is purchased with some part being damaged and the player sees the warning while driving “Stop the vehicle to start repair”.
T-90A — a bug has been fixed where destroyed IR jammers remained visibly operational to other players.
Naval
The order of the rank V British bluewater ships will be changed in the upcoming major update. The battlecruisers HMS Invincible and HMS Hood will be grouped in a separate branch. HMS Dreadnought will be moved before HMS Colossus. Research and purchase costs of the HMS Dreadnought and IJN Settsu will be reduced.
The lead marker for the fire control system now remains even after a target is unselected, until a new target is selected for fire.
A bug has been fixed where during a long salvo of ship’s guns, there was a delay between the fire button press and the first shot.
A bug has been fixed where fragments might ignore the water.
Sound
A bug has been fixed where enabling the “Speed of sound” option caused shot and shell flight sounds in the shell chasing camera to be played incorrectly.
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 Mitsubishi T-2 is a trainer jet fighter developed in Japan in the early 70s. Back in the mid-60s Japan investigated a new supersonic trainer aircraft to replace the obsolete sub-sonic Fuji T-1. In March 1968 the project took final shape, followed by the creation of the first prototype designated XT-2. Some of the prototypes were later brought up to production series standard. The aircraft was armed with a JM61A1 20mm rotary cannon, widely known as “Vulcan”.
The T-2 wields a variety of weapons, including a pair of AIM-9E air-to-air missiles, up to five 500lb or 750lb bombs, as well as FFAR and Zuni Mk 32 rockets in various combinations.
The T-2 Early can be pre-ordered from the Gaijin Store.
In the upcoming War Thunder Battle Pass season we will introduce flamethrower vehicles to the game! Meet one of the most famous flamethrower tanks of WWII - the British Churchill Crocodile, a tank prize in the “Smell of Victory'' season!
Churchill Crocodile, heavy tank, Britain, rank III. Premium.
Features:
Flamethrower
Heavy armour
Low speed
Fuel trailer
Very soon, a new season of the War Thunder Battle Pass, which we called the “Smell of Victory”, will start in the game. The Churchill Crocodile is the first flamethrower tank in the game and one of the main prizes of the new season. Let's take a closer look at this amazing machine!
Flamethrowers on tanks will have a similar mechanic to airborne napalm. They do little damage to heavily armoured targets, although still have a good chance of setting fire to the engine. But the napalm effect to lightly armoured targets is way different! Tank AP rounds oftenly pierce such vehicles with little or no damage at all, but the flamethrower fuel is capable of instantly disabling the crew in open compartments and does tremendous damage to unprotected modules. Tank flame projectors fire long jets of fire mixture under pressure, and being fired in arc trajectory, are able to get the enemy behind a small shelter.
The British Churchill Crocodile is one of the most famous flamethrower tanks in history. It is converted from the Mk.VII modification with a 75mm cannon and excellent protection. The hull-mounted machine gun is replaced by a flame projector, fed by a fuel trailer attached behind the tank. Thanks to this trailer, Churchill Crocodile has the highest number of charges of fire mixture amongst tanks, and also becomes the longest tank in the game!
The flame projector has limited targeting angles, and an aspiring commander will have to turn the entire hull towards the enemy. The tank is famous for its incredible survivability on the battlefield, but the mobility of the steel giant and quite weak AP rounds are definitely among the Churchill's shortcomings.
You smell that? Do you smell that? The smell of napalm comes to War Thunder tank battles. This is the “Smell of Victory”!
Welcome to the 37th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Your screenshots from last week were quite picturesque! Who knew War Thunder had so many great spots to stop for lunch? The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 37th edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen37. You have time until 21.10.2022 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 300GE.
Important addition: Screenshot theme - Black & Orange!
Terms:
The days are getting shorter, colder! The holidays, spookier! We would love to see your screenshots of who is lurking in the darkness, or who is seeking attention with an autumn or dark paint job!
You must add the #WTscreen37 tag (without other text).
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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 7 working days.
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And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 36th edition - Mayhem!
The M1A2 SEP is the first of a series of upgrade packages developed for the American Abrams MBT in the late 1990s. Coming to War Thunder as part of the next major update “Fire and Ice”, veteran U.S. tankers may look forward to the arrival of one of the most advanced iterations of the Abrams MBT also featuring the TUSK field kit!
Briefly: An advanced modification of the M1 Abrams tank, featuring improved firepower and protection.
M1A2 SEP, main battle tank, USA, Rank VII
Features:
Improved thermal imaging
TUSK add-on armor kit
In War Thunder, the M1A2 SEP TUSK will be the new crown jewel awaiting veteran tankers at the top of the American ground forces tree in the next major update “Fire and Ice”. Bringing with it a slew of improvements, predominantly in the area of protection, this new Abrams modification will noticeably augment the platform’s fighting capabilities and will be a ‘must-have’ for fans of modern ground vehicles!
Although simply being a further development of the M1A2 Abrams, the SEP upgrade package provides the vehicle with several handy improvements, including an improved thermal vision. However, what likely already stood out to tankers on the pictures provided in this devblog, is the ‘TUSK’ kit fitted to the vehicle. So let’s get into more details on this then, shall we?
The TUSK kit significantly improves the M1A2’s protection in urban fighting environments. While originally designed to improve protection and survivability against infantry threats in close quarter fighting, this doesn’t mean that the kit is useless in vehicle combat! Namely, the TUSK kit provides the M1A2 with ERA blocks on the sides of the hull. As a result, the M1A2 SEP is more likely to survive an ATGM or HEAT-FS strike with only minor sustained damage.
However, due to the increased weight that comes with the installation of the TUSK kit, the M1A2 SEP’s power-to-weight ratio decreased accordingly. As a result, commanders should expect the vehicle to respond a bit slower to movement commands compared to previous modifications. On the other hand, this won’t impede the vehicle’s mobility to such a great extent. Lastly, the M1A2 SEP still retains its classic M256 120mm smoothbore cannon as its primary armament, known to tankers from previous modifications.
The M1A2 SEP TUSK will soon be arriving at the top of the American ground forces tree as part of the next major War Thunder update “Fire and Ice”. In the meantime, be sure to keep an eye out on the news for more sneak-peeks into what the upcoming update has in store for you. Until then, happy hunting tankers!
In the upcoming War Thunder “Fire and Ice” update, we plan to introduce lineups of Finnish aircraft and ground vehicles as part of the Swedish tech tree!
The armed forces of Finland began to develop rapidly immediately after the country declared independence in 1917. In 1928, the army purchased the first three Gloster Gamecock biplanes; in the early 1930s, Finland obtained the first tanks and armored cars imported from foreign countries. The first full-fledged military conflict that the Finnish army took part in was the Winter War against the USSR, and a year after the signing of peace, the Finns counterd the Soviet Union again, this time as part of the Axis coalition. After the end of World War II, Finland took part in peacekeeping missions and military campaigns of the West, including Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Since the Finns considered it too expensive to create a domestic military industry, most of the combat vehicles, both aerial and ground, are imported. Finnish lineups bring a huge variety to the Swedish vehicle setups for all game modes. T-34, Pz. IV, Pvkv II and Bf 109 in one setup? Easy! Drive out in a Swedish Strv 103, then take a British Vampire with bombs, and complete the battle in a Soviet T-54? As you wish!
In addition to the machines already familiar to players, the Finnish lineup offers vehicles yet unique to the game. The British Vickers Mk. E light tanks have found little use in their homeland, but were wellcome by foreign operators, including Finland. The BT-42 is an odd but very interesting conversion of captured Soviet BT-7s into an SPG with a British 4.5-inch howitzer and a turret of a domestic design. These vehicles are work-in-progress, and we plan to introduce them in the upcoming updates.
Finnish aircraft, tanks, and self-propelled guns will be a great help to Swedish tankers and pilots! Stay tuned for the full list of new vehicles by the release of the next big update - it comes very soon!
The Bosvark is a South African wheeled SPAAG, developed in the late 1990s on the back of the SAMIL-100 truck chassis. Soon, fans of the South African ground vehicles can look forward to the arrival of the Bosvark in the British ground forces tree, coming to War Thunder as part of the next major update “Fire and Ice”!
Briefly: A lightly armoured South African wheeled SPAAG, featuring excellent mobility and deadly firepower.
Bosvark, SPAAG, Britain, Rank IV
Features:
Rapid-firing 23mm cannons
Superb mobility
Light protection
Unable to fire forward
In War Thunder, the Bosvark will be a new South African SPAAG awaiting British tankers at rank IV in the next major update “Fire and Ice”. Sharing many fundamental design choices to the already familiar Ystervark, the Bosvark can in many ways be considered its upscaled evolution despite the vehicles not sharing a common development history.
Being a far larger platform, the Bosvark is fitted with the twin ZU-23-2 turret, familiar to some Soviet tankers from the BTR-ZD, introduced in a previous update. Featuring an excellent rate of fire and favourable ballistic properties makes this gun platform an ideal choice for engaging low-flying aircraft as well as lightly armoured ground vehicles. However, one thing which aspiring commanders will have to bear in mind though, is the relatively limited magazine capacity of the ZU-23-2. As a result, gunners will need to be veary of their trigger discipline in order to avoid having to reload in an unfavourable time as each cannon only has a 50-round magazine which gets spent quickly due to the guns’ high rate of fire.
Fun Fact: The Bosvark received its name after the South African bushpig, which is armed with impressive tusks used to digging up roots and self-defence against predators.
On the flip side of the coin however, the Bosvark is only equipped with the lightest form of protection for itself and its crew. While the driver’s cabin is encased in a thin veil of 10mm steel armour plating, the fighting deck toward the rear of the vehicle is completely exposed, thus leaving the crew vulnerable to shrapnel, machine gun fire as well as strafing runs by aircraft. Furthermore, unlike the Ystervark, the Bosvark is a far bigger platform and thus also much more difficult to conceal from prying enemy eyes. As a result, aspiring commanders of this machine are best advised to take up a position in the second line and support advancing allies by providing them with anti-air protection. Alternatively, keeping a close watch on the flanks for advancing hostile fast movers is another great way to assist your team and score ground frags in the process!
Meet the Bosvark SPAAG in the upcoming War Thunder major update “Fire and Ice”, coming soon to rank IV of the British ground forces tree. In the meantime, make sure to stay tuned to the news in order not to miss out on the latest developments regarding the upcoming major update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!