A fast-firing Premium heavy cruiser, the USS Des Moines is available for pre-order as a special pack with Golden Eagles, Premium days and unique customization options!

USS CA-134 Des Moines is a heavy cruiser, developed in the USA in the mid 1940s. At that time, the Des Moines type embodied all the world experience gained during the war years. Its armament, armoring, air defense and electronic weaponry were far superior to all ships within its class. The key element of the project was the new rapid-fire main battery guns with automated reload - the fire performance of the Des Moines-class cruisers significantly exceeded all previous analogues. The maximum speed of the ship is 33 knots (61 km/h). It is armed with nine 203 mm guns in three triple mounts, twelve 127 mm guns in six twin mounts, twelve twin 76 mm automatic gun mounts and twelve twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns. In addition, the cruiser is equipped with aft smoke equipment for setting smoke screens.

USS CA-134 Des Moines will be added to the game in the upcoming major update of War Thunder. All pre-order customers will also get special customization options: “The last all-gun" title, unique profile icon, as well as Des Moines insignia decal.

• USS CA-134 Des Moines 1948 (Rank IV, USA)
  
• 2,000 Golden Eagles
  
• 30 days Premium
  
• Pre-order bonus: “The last all-gun" title
  
• Pre-order bonus: Des Moines insignia decal
  
  
• Pre-order bonus: US cruiser captain profile icon
  

On February 21st, 1917, SS Mendi sank in an accident in the English Channel. The vessel was transporting South African troops to participate in WWI; over 600 of them died.

In 2012 President Zuma chose February 21st as the day to honor the Armed Forces of South Africa; it is celebrated with drills and parades.





“South African Armed Forces Day” decal.

Complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions and [Assault] mode. Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → South African Armed Forces Day.

You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the Customisation menu.




South African Armed Forces Day bundle
Rooikat 105 Pack;
Rooivalk Pack.

• Khalid — The AA machine gun elevation angle has been increased from 50deg to 90deg. Source: (Khalid 4030/2 MBT User Handbook December 1980) (rеport).
  
• Khalid — missing ammo depletion indicator on the AA machine gun has been restored.
  
• Somua SM — track width has been increased from 20mm to 30mm.
  
• Strela-10M2 — radar range has been increased from 5km to 10km (report).

• AH-1 (all versions) — camera zoom position has been adjusted to make firing more convenient.
  
• F-8E — missing AN/APR-27 radar warning system has been added. Source: “NAVAIIR 01-45HHD-1 NATOPS Flight Manual - F-8D&E”.
  
• MiG-21 F-13 — ballistic calculator has been added for rockets. Source: “Самолёт МиГ-21Ф-13. Техническое описание, Книга II - Вооружение. 1963”.

• A bug has been fixed where a fire was extinguished instantly without the “FFE” modification installed.
  
• Fairmile H LVS(L)(2) — ammo capacity of the 57mm gun has been increased from 170 rounds to 512 rounds, mortar ammo capacity increased from 50 to 110. Source:”C.B.04304: Details of Combined Operations Landing Craft and Barges” (report, report).

• A bug has been fixed that caused graphical artefacts on the MacOS version (report).

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.

A new British top-tier main battle tank comes equipped with a new power plant and improved mobility.

Features:

• Improved dynamics and top speed
  
• Thermal vision for the commander, gunner and driver views
  
• Good protection at the turret front

The Challenger 2E is a new member of Britain's top tier tank family that will become available for research with the release of the next War Thunder update. The tank solves the main problem of its series - unsatisfactory mobility. The new power pack not only increases the maximum speed to 72 km/h, but also significantly increases the tank's throttle response, improving the turn dynamics and making it much easier to climb hills. That’s the way!



The pros of the series fit the new dynamics perfectly: a good stabilised gun with punchy L27A1 armour-piercing fin-stabilised rounds and a comfortable fire control system with a laser rangefinder and thermal imagers for the commander, gunner and driver. Composite armour allows survival from multiple hits and is especially good at the turret’s front.



The new British top rank tank, new locations, vehicles, new game features and improvements are waiting for you in the first major update of 2023 in War Thunder. Coming soon!

We hope all of you had a very wonderful Valentine's Day with your dearest beloved! Your screenshots of French, Italian and Japanese vehicles were excellent. Hopefully everyone enjoyed spending some time with these nations' vehicles! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!


Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen55. You have time until 24.02.2023 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 - Clear Skies!

• This week, we are looking for clear skies! The rest is up to your artistic creativity!
  
• At least one player vehicle must be included in the screenshot.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen55 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).

[/b]

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.

[/list]




https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932130544
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2931970713
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2933208124

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932044114
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932774778
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932079222

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

The premium version of the menacing Japanese tank destroyer comes with a brutal outfit and unique pre-order bonuses!

• Type 16 (FPS) (Rank VI, Japan)
  
• 2,000 Golden Eagles
  
• 15 days Premium
  
• Pre-order bonus: Demon Camber title
  
• Pre-order bonus: Wanyūdō decal

The modern Japanese Type 16 (FPS) wheeled tank destroyer was developed in the early 2000s to increase the operational mobility of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Since 2016, the Type 16 (FPS) has been put into service. Type 16 (FPS) is capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h. It is armed with a 105 mm gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and it is also equipped with a 12.7 mm AA machine gun. The ammunition is represented by the HEATFS, HESH, smoke shells and APFSDS with an up to 350 mm armor penetration. Additionally, the Type 16 (FPS) is equipped with smoke grenade launchers, a night vision device for the driver and a thermal imager for the gunner and the commander.

The premium Type 16 (FPS) with a camo net over the hull and brutal wheel chains will be added to the game in the upcoming War Thunder update. Buy now, and get special pre-order bonuses: the “Wanyūdō” decal, an evil spirit described as a fierce man’s head inside a burning wheel; and “Demon Camber” title, named after an extreme Japanese car tuning culture ‘oni-kyan’ (鬼キャン).


"Wanyūdō" decal

The Type 16 (FPS) can be pre-ordered from the Gaijin Store.

Heat seekers on missiles are now able to react to the heat signatures of jet aircraft engines in various run modes.

Hey guys! We’d like to unveil details of the recent improvement in the mechanics of acquiring the thermal signatures of jet engines by missile seekers. The fact is that the picture of the intensity and distribution of heat from an aircraft jet engine directly depends on its operational mode. So, in non-afterburning modes, the intensity of the plumes of hot gasses in the forward hemisphere of an aircraft is low and comparable to the intensity of the glow of a heated fuselage skin. At the same time, the expanding flame of burning fuel in afterburner modes has a significant luminosity not only in the rear, but also in the front hemispheres of the aircraft.

The lock-on range of infrared homing heads in the forward hemisphere for non-afterburning targets is determined mostly by the heating of the fuselage. The presence of such an intense source of infrared radiation as an afterburner plume significantly increases the possibility of target detection at long distances.


Target acquisition limits of the AIM-9L missile for max and afterburner operational modes



Target acquisition limits for the R-24T missile for targets at various engine modes

We have discriminated the afterburner plume into a separate thermal signature for a more correct calculation for target detection range in afterburner mode. In addition to the increasing of the lock-on range in the forward hemisphere of all-aspect missiles, like AIM-9L and R-24T, with a cooled sensor made of indium antimonide, this allowed us to recreate the limited front aspect capability of the AIM-9D type missiles with a cooled sensor made of lead sulfide, which at short distances allows the detection and killing of afterburning targets on a head-on directions.

Thus, missile IR seekers now more correctly process thermal signatures of different engine modes at different distances and at different angles. In addition, it has become possible to significantly expand the tactics of missiles already familiar to you. Happy air hunting, pilots!

First work-in-progress images of the new location from the upcoming War Thunder update!

The new location for air battles “Pyrenees” invites you to the mountainous area of the Principality of Andorra. Small villages with farm fields are spread upon valleys, ancient castles and medieval abbeys compete for the most picturesque view of the surroundings, and the clear water of the mountain lakes sparkle bright in the green hued highlands. Visit the "Pyrenees" in your combat aircraft, it's so beautiful here!





The winter version of one of the most mysterious locations in War Thunder. Russian winter has come to the abandoned town, but the air raid warning is still heard, disturbing news about the missing people can still be heard on the police wave and military convoys still block the town.





Another winter version of a location beloved by the players, “Ardennes”. Fields covered with snow, white caps appeared on the straw stacks and roofs of the unfortunate town that turned out to be on the path of a desperate German counteroffensive.




The fields of the Maginot Line also welcome winter. The green grassy hills, concrete pillboxes and idyllic hamlets of northwest France are now covered with early fluffy snow. Paint your tanks white, and be ready to battle!

On February 16th, 1967 the Bo 105 multi-purpose helicopter, created by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, took to the air for the first time. The Bo 105 pioneered a hingeless rotor system, received over 20 modifications and is still widely used in many countries across the globe.

---

To celebrate this date, the Bo 105 will be available for purchase with Golden Eagles in the German tech tree from February 16 (11:00 GMT) until February 20 (11:00 GMT).

Nenohi is one of six Hatsuharu class destroyers built for the IJN in the early 1930s. Armed with punchy cannons and even deadlier torpedoes, Nenohi will come to reinforce the ranks of the Japanese bluewater tree as part of the next major War Thunder update!

Briefly: A Japanese interwar destroyer, sporting good mobility and armed with deadly Type 90 torpedoes.

Features:

• Deadly firepower
  
• Satisfying mobility
  
• Premium bonuses
  
• Modest anti-air arsenal
  
• Light protection

In War Thunder, Nenohi will be a new premium destroyer reinforcing the early ranks of the Japanese bluewater fleet in game. Being the sister ship to Hatsuharu, which may already be familiar to some Japanese captains, Nenohi will come to the game incorporating some of the modifications given to the vessel shortly after its completion. Curious to find out what those are? Then join us as we take a look at the details!




Not long after entering service with the IJN, both Hatsuharu and Nenohi underwent substantial refitting in order to address issues primarily concerning their stability. While the familiar Hatsuharu represents the class’ iteration before these modifications were done, the upcoming Nenohi incorporates the changes implemented with the refit. As a result, Nenohi’s primary armament consisting of five 5’’ (127 mm) guns remains unchanged, but what does change is the arrangement of the guns. Namely, while the twin mounts maintain their familiar bow and stern positions, the single 5’’ turret was moved to the stern and mounted where formerly a torpedo launcher was situated.

This brings us to the second notable difference to Hatsuharu, namely the torpedo armament. As previously mentioned, one of the triple torpedo launchers has been removed on Nenohi to make room for the relocation of one of the main battery turrets. This results in the loss of a third of the design’s original torpedo strength. On the other hand though, Nenohi is equipped with a slightly improved anti-air armament consisting of two twin 25 mm turrets instead of the original two 40 mm cannons present on Hatsuharu.




Another difference to Hastuharu is Nenohi’s slightly higher displacement. As the machinery remains identical on both warships, this means that Nenohi can’t boast the same level of mobility as Hatshuharu. Nonetheless, being able to achieve a top speed of around 33 kts (slightly over 60 km/h), Nenohi is far from being labeled as cumbersome. Quite the opposite in fact! With its speed and agility, Nenohi is able to quickly maneuver into position to launch an attack and may just as quickly vanish behind cover. Furthermore, being a premium vessel means that captains will receive additional rewards for all actions performed in battle, thus greatly speeding up their progress on researching the next vessel they seek to add to their lineup!



IJN Nenohi will soon be docking in player ports with the release of the next War Thunder major update. In the meantime, be sure to keep scanning the horizon for more news as we continue sharing the latest on what the upcoming update has in store for you. Until then, calm seas and happy hunting captains!