Thank you to everyone who submitted their incredible screenshots! This coming week, we’ll be turning our focus to the machines that dominate both land and sea: amphibious tanks, seaplanes, coastal vessels, and bluewater ships. Whether it’s a tank crashing through the surf or a seaplane gliding just above the waves, we want to see what scenes you create! 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 #WTscreen174. You have time until the 6th of June 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.

• Your screenshot must include an amphibious tank, seaplane, or fleet vehicle.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen174 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  
• Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.

[/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=3486776789
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486817406
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486636296

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3487548319
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3487631371
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486766673

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

The first air squadrons appeared in the Ottoman Empire on June 1st, 1911. This date is also celebrated in the Turkish Republic as Air Force Day. Under president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish Air Force became one of the largest in Europe. They were modernized several times, which was facilitated by the country’s accession to NATO. Turkey was one of the five countries where F-16 fighters were produced.

Both the T129 (rank VI) attack helicopter and the F-104S TAF (rank VII) are available for 4635 Golden Eagles. The F104S TAF will remain available for purchase at full price after the end of this promotion!

When: From May 30th (11:00 GMT) until June 2nd (11:00 GMT).
Where: Italy > Helicopters / Aviation > Premium Vehicles.

• The T129 is a modified version of the Italian A129 Mangusta, produced for the Turkish Air Force. The engines were replaced Turkish-made ones and the helicopter got access to Turkish L-UMTAS and CIRIT missiles instead of the Hellfire. The T129 can also take Stinger air-to-air missiles and FZ49 rockets into battle, and can always rely on the 20 mm TM197B cannon. Overall this helicopter can take out ground vehicles and aircraft.
  
• The F-104S was purchased by Turkey from Italy in the 1960s and 70s. These aircraft are characterized by poor maneuverability but at the same time excellent rate of climb and acceleration. This aircraft is equipped with a ballistic computer, countermeasures, can take 250 to 2000 lb bombs into battle, and against aircraft can rely on the AIM-9P Sidewinder and AIM-7E Sparrow!

You can earn this themed decal for this day.


“Emblem of the Turkish Air Force pilots” decal

When: From May 30th (11:00 GMT) until June 2nd (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using aircraft of any country at rank III or higher to receive the “Emblem of the Turkish Air Force pilots” decal.

Additional details:

• Your activity must not be below 70%.
  
• You can 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 → Turkish Air Force Day.
  
• You can find the decal in the “Neutral countries → Aircraft” tab in the customization menu.

We’re very happy to finally introduce the legend of legends, a ship that holds many records and cultural significance: the mighty Yamato will be joining War Thunder in the Leviathans major update!

At a glance:

• 460 mm (18.1 inch) main guns!
  
• Very thick armor
  
• Over 150 anti-aircraft guns
  
• Sluggish Maneuverability

Vehicle History

Yamato as a concept was born from Japan’s Kantai Kessen (decisive battle) doctrine — the theory that a single pivotal engagement could turn the entire tide of a naval war in the Pacific against the United States. Japan could never hope to match the production volume of America, so focused instead on creating a smaller number of incredibly powerful battleships that could defeat and outlast any enemy. Equipped with immense armor protection and the largest guns ever fitted to a warship (460 mm), Yamato truly embodied the Kantai Kessen doctrine with immense power concentrated into a seemingly unmatchable platform.

Combat did not turn out as expected however, with Yamato participating in relatively few naval engagements, certainly not enough to justify how pivotal an asset the ship was. While Yamato was designed as an apex battleship killer, the end for her, and many similar vessels came from the air. Such large and slow ships were easy targets from the skies, even if defended by mountains of anti-air guns. 386 U.S. carrier aircraft sunk Yamato during Operation Ten-Go on April 7th 1945, her large size and slow speed made her unable to withstand the flurry of bomb and torpedo attacks. An explosion from one of Yamato’s magazines resulted in one of the largest non-nuclear blasts ever recorded, tearing the ship in half and sinking her. Yamato never fought the decisive battle for which she was built.




Yamato represents arguably the most powerful battleship ever created, with the largest guns, some of the thickest armor, a sophisticated fire control system, all rounded off with a veritable mountain of anti-air defenses. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look!




We might as well get into the guns, it’s what you’re here for! Yamato is equipped with nine 460 mm (18.1 inch) guns in three turrets, the largest caliber ever fitted to a warship. It will be able to field two shells, AP and HE. The high explosive shell, despite being gigantic, is not quite as effective as contemporary HE shells on smaller 406 mm guns. It’s still packed with around 60kg of explosive filler, which is huge, but does lack when compared to other large guns. 

This, ultimately, is because Yamato is a battleship killer, and so the AP shells have the spotlight. With a maximum penetration of well over 800 mm of armor, at regular combat ranges there will be little armor that could challenge these shells, on top of their incredible penetration they’re also packed with around 34kg of explosive, making an accurate hit into an enemy warship more than likely lethal.



Did you know? The weight of one of Yamato’s turrets is heavier than most destroyers, at over 2,700 tons!

To further add to this immense firepower, the accuracy of these guns is similarly effective thanks to a sophisticated fire control array, which results in acceptable accuracy even at absolute max range. The fire rate however is predictably slow, though not crushingly so, at around two shots per minute. Yamato will appear in the final fit, which means it’ll be stacked with dual-purpose 155 mm and 127 mm guns, and 154 anti-air guns!



As Yamato weighs in at around 72,000 tons, overall speed can be considered as modest, which in itself is still fairly impressive. It can reach a max speed of around 27 knots or 50 km/h, with a fairly large turning circle. This staggered maneuverability is certainly one of Yamato’s weakest areas, as while the armor is incredibly strong, it is not invulnerable, making positioning key.

Interesting: Yamato has very much found its way into popular culture, notably inspiring the titular ship in the anime “Space Battleship Yamato”, and also appearing in a more folkloreish form in the video game “Okami”.



While there are too many individual armor parts to cover in detail here, the overall protection is very effective. The main belt armor measures in at over 400 mm with angling, and the deck armor at around 200 mm at a minimum. The thickest armor however can be found on the turret face itself, a colossal 650 mm of thickness, which is among the thickest armor ever fitted on a warship.

While these are staggering numbers on paper, enemy AP shells from common ranges will be able to punch through the armor of Yamato if caught at an angle or flat on, which makes positioning this super leviathan especially vital. Long range is easily the most ideal spot for this ship — fielding the most powerful AP shell of the war, there is no range at which an enemy ship will be safe — and as such there’s no reason to weaken Yamato’s defense by getting closer to the enemy.



We’re absolutely thrilled to be introducing the final boss of battleships into War Thunder, she’s very powerful, so be sure to treat her well when she arrives in the Leviathans major update! That’s it for today, thank you for reading and stay tuned for even more!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Legendary and invincible, a living symbol of the might of the American fleet. Welcome to the game, USS Iowa!

At a glance:

• 406 mm (16 inches) main caliber guns
  
• Powerful spaced armor
  
• High speed!
  
• Good air defense battery
  
• Reconnaissance aircraft

Vehicle History

Iowa-class battleships were designed in the late 1930s in response to the potential threat posed by the Japanese Yamato-class “super” battleships. While maintaining the displacement limit of 45,000 tons, American engineers created a unique fast battleship with nine 406 mm guns and a speed of 32 knots. USS Iowa was the lead ship in the class and was laid down in 1940 at New York Navy Yard and entered service in February 1943. Initially she carried out tasks escorting aircraft carrier groups in the Pacific Ocean, and in November 1943 she participated in the operation to liberate Gilbert Islands.

In early 1944, Iowa covered carrier raids on the Marshall Islands, and in February her powerful 406 mm guns were used for the first time for shore shelling of Japanese positions on Kawjalein Atoll. Iowa was most intensively used in 1944-1945. She participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, supported the landing at Leyte and in 1945, she took part in operations on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where her main caliber guns destroyed Japanese fortifications.

After the end of the war and a modernization fit in 1951, Iowa was recommissioned to participate in the Korean War. Here, she carried out coastal bombardment missions, shelling North Korean positions and transport communications. In the 1980s, after a large-scale modernization, Iowa could then use Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, significantly expanding her combat capabilities.

A tragic episode in the history of Iowa was when an explosion in turret No.2 occurred in 1989, which took the lives of 47 sailors. After this incident, Iowa was finally decommissioned from the fleet. Today she serves as a floating museum in Los Angeles, USA.




One of the most famous battleships in history is coming to War Thunder in the Leviathans major update! Say hello to the USS Iowa, a true symbol of the U.S. Navy’s sheer might. We’re talking 16 inch guns, thick armor, reconnaissance aircraft, excellent secondary and anti-aircraft weaponry and importantly, incredible speed. Let’s break it down!




A big ship of course needs big guns, and that’s exactly what Iowa has! Featuring three main turrets with a total of nine 406 mm (16 inch) Mk.7 cannons, the rate of fire of these beasts is 2 rounds per minute, which is near enough bog-standard. What is also standard with most battleships is the decent aiming speeds and the ability to fire AP and HE fragmentation rounds that Iowa has, great for use against a wide range of enemies. Moving onto secondary weapons, where Iowa also shines. Featuring 20 universal 127 mm guns in twin mounts that can fire at both ships and aircraft, an experienced crew can fire 22 rounds per minute from the first-stage ammo racks. In addition to this, Iowa features 19 four-barreled 40 mm Bofors mounts and 52 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, which is a great combined amount to take out annoying enemy aircraft. The cherry on top is a pair of new-to-the-game SC-1 Seahawk hydroplanes, armed with bombs and capable of laying smoke screens.

Did you know? USS Iowa has several nicknames, one of which includes “The Battleship of Presidents” since she hosted many Presidents throughout her service life. She notably sailed President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference to meet Churchill and Stalin in 1943.




We now turn our attention to Iowa’s armor layout. The thickness of the main armor belt reaches 307 mm near the waterline, which is significantly lower than the Sovetsky Soyuz for example. Having said this, it’s not all doom and gloom as the plates are placed at an angle to the keel, increasing the armor values. Next, the main armor belt is covered by 38 mm plates which form spaced armor helping further to protect against enemy shells. Where the armor really gets thick though is around the bridge, the elevators and the cheeks of the main turrets that all reach 440 mm thickness. The main 121 mm armor deck is covered by a 38 mm upper and additional anti-fragmentation deck below, which is in fact insurmountable protection against both bombs and shells hitting from above.

Despite having a displacement of over 57,500 tons, Iowa is still capable of accelerating to an incredible 32 knots (about 60 km/h), allowing her to quickly change positions and engage in any battle against ships at any distance, even alone. Only the best battleships at rank VII will be capable of dueling this monster on equal terms!



USS Iowa is one of the new iconic ships coming to the new rank VII in Bluewater fleet trees soon. That’s this one done, keep an eye out for more dev blogs coming your way!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today, pre-orders for the new Dutch Leopard premium with cool looks have started!

69.99
To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

• Leopard 2 (OTCo) (Rank VII, France)
  
• 2500 Golden Eagles
  
• Premium account for 20 days
  
• Pre-order bonus: "Will to uphold" unique title
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Insignia of the 43 Mechanised Brigade insignia of the Royal Netherlands Army" decal
  

The Dutch Leopard 2A4NL Opleidings- en Trainingscommando (short in-game name: Leopard 2 (OTCo)) is a modernized variant of the German Leopard 2A4, adapted to meet the needs of the Royal Netherlands Army. Featuring the excellent 120 mm Rh120 L/44 smoothbore cannon from the base model, the Leopard 2 (OTCo) can fire a HEATFS shell and excellent APFSDS shells. It also has a balanced amount of armor at the front of the turret and hull, providing decent protection. Like all Leopard 2 variants, the Leopard 2 (OTCo) is distinguished by excellent mobility and a respectable top speed of 68 km/h.



The Leopard 2 (OTCo) is coming to the game as a new premium tank for France’s ground forces tree. It features some customization differences, including a camouflage net that can be toggled on or off, and decal markings at the front and back of the hull.



That’s it for this one! This tank is coming to the game in the Leviathans major update, but pre-orders for it have started today, featuring unique pre-order bonuses, Golden Eagles, Premium Account time and of course the Leopard 2 (OTCo) itself!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The upcoming War Thunder "Leviathans" update brings multi-vehicle SAM systems to the game. One of them is the German IRIS-T SLM that we’ll be looking at today!

In War Thunder’s next major update, we’ll be adding new and advanced SAM vehicles to the game! Some of these new machines are not singular units on their own, but consist of multiple vehicles to use in battle, something never seen before in the game. In real life, many modern SAMs consist of several vehicles that work together, including launchers, command centers, support vehicles and radars. In War Thunder, only the radar and launcher vehicles will be available to be controlled by the player — the command and support vehicles are considered to be working further away and in the lore of the game are located outside of the playable area (they’re not really there, but let’s pretend they are).




Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems consist of at least two vehicles — a vehicle with a radar for surveillance and fire control, and one or more launchers. Players can control these vehicles and cycle between them by pressing icons on the hotbar or using keybinds while in-game.

At the start of the battle, players will be in control of a mobile radar vehicle. It’s advised to drive this to a hidden position to conceal it from enemy fire. Afterwards, the player can then place launchers nearby utilizing the same mechanic used for placing ammo boxes. Having placed one launcher, the player will then be able to deploy a second one or leave it in reserve in case the already deployed launcher gets destroyed.

While controlling Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems, the player will have full control over the functionality of both the radar vehicle and the launchers while using any of the vehicles. For example, while driving the radar vehicle, you’ll be able to launch missiles from the deployed launcher vehicles.

As we’ve already mentioned, when one of the launchers is destroyed, the player has the option of using the remaining one they left in reserve. To go further, when the radar vehicle is destroyed, then the entire Multi-Vehicle SAM System is considered lost, and players will get notified that the vehicle is no longer functional and get forced out of it. The exception would be vehicles where the launchers can operate independently in real life. Similarly, Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems will be considered lost when all launchers available to the player are destroyed.

All of the top ranked Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems coming in the “Leviathans” major update each have their own pros and cons. They’ll receive missiles with different types of homing heads (IR or ARH), the presence or absence of radio correction on the trajectory course and different zones of destruction. Let’s now move onto discussing the German IRIS-T SLM.

At a glance:

• IRST-SL missiles with IR+IOG+DL
  
• Three vehicles: radar and two launchers
  
• Vertical missile launch
  
• Large in size

Vehicle History

In December 2005, the German Air Force accepted the IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) air-to-air missile with an infrared seeker into service. This missile was developed by the Diehl BGT Defence consortium with the participation of NATO allies. Based on this missile, the IRIS-T SL missile was developed within the MEADS program, where it received a fairing that could be jettisoned to improve aerodynamics during long-range flights. It also received a new and large-diameter engine as well as radio correction of target coordinates and GPS correction for the inertial guidance system.

In 2015, a short-range system was developed and in 2022, tests of the IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) improved version were completed. This modular system is built on the chassis of a MAN 8x8 truck or in a stationary version and is distinguished by its setup as it includes a detection radar, a command vehicle and up to four launchers and support vehicles. The IRIS-T SLM system is currently in service with the Bundeswehr.




Today we’re introducing one of the first Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems coming to the game, which is the German medium-range IRIS-T SLM vehicle on the chassis of a MAN truck. Let’s get started!




So we’ve explained how these new systems work and the history of this new vehicle, so let’s now break it down. The IRIS-T SLM radar system is based on the Hensoldt TRML-4D detection radar and is mounted on an 8x8 truck. The antenna has a phased active array and the launchers are mounted on a different vehicle using the same truck.

Each launcher vehicle carries eight IRIS-T SL medium-range missiles in transport and launch containers that fold up when in the stowed position. The missiles feature an all-aspect thermal imaging homing head with an inertial guidance system, they also offer improved noise and IR countermeasure immunity and are capable of hitting targets at distances of up to 40 km. At the mid-course section of the trajectory, guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system with data link — upon approaching its intended target the missile switches to autonomous target tracking using its IR seeker.




Both the launcher vehicle and the radar vehicle have no armor and are truly large in size! The chassis is over 10 meters long and the considerable height increases even more with the antenna on the radar vehicle in operation, and not to mention the launch containers and mast antennas of the launcher when it is deployed. This does mean that it’s not easy to hide these vehicles and they can be easily spotted and hit by enemy ground vehicles and aircraft. Make sure to position wisely.



That’s this one done! We’ll be covering other new SAM Systems coming to the game in the "Leviathans" major update soon enough, so keep an eye out for those — they’re cool!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Introducing the next major update trailer for War Thunder: Leviathans!

The Swedish National Security Forces were founded on May 29th 1940. They consist of 50 battalions and are the rapid reaction force and military reserve of the Swedish Army.

This fast-firing TD is available for 1300 Golden Eagles.

When: From May 29th (11:00 GMT) until June 2nd (11:00 GMT).
Where: Sweden > Army > Premium vehicles.

• The SAV 20.12.48 features an experimental Swedish self-propelled gun. This gun was created after shortening a 120 mm naval gun and using its naval automatic loader, giving a reload time of just 1.2 seconds. Perfect for taking out multiple enemies at once!

Available for the occasion!


“Emblem of the Kronoberg regiment” decal

When: From May 29th (11:00 GMT) until June 2nd (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using Swedish vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “Emblem of the Kronoberg regiment” decal.

Additional details:

• Your activity must not be below 70%.
  
• You can 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 → National Security Forces Day of Sweden
  
• You can find the decal in the “Swedish tanks” tab in the customization menu.

In 1978, with the adoption of a new Constitution, Spain began modernizing its armed forces. That same year an institutional event was approved, celebrated on the closest Saturday to May 30th every year, paying tribute to military personnel.

The modern Spanish Armed Forces consists of 133,000 people. The army is equipped with Leopard 2E MBTs, M-109A5E howitzers and Eurocopter Tiger helicopters, while the star of the Air Force is the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole jet fighter.

This Spanish tank is back for good and is available for 8,910 Golden Eagles.

• VRCC is the Spanish name for the Italian B1 Centauro wheeled tank destroyer. This vehicle features light armor but this is compensated by its mobility, with a maximum speed of 110 km/h! The 105 mm cannon on this tank is backed up by a thermal imager and laser rangefinder which aids firing at longer distances.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at RN Roma, one of three Littorio-class battleships constructed as the most advanced capital ships for the Italian Navy during the Second World War.

At a glance:

• Powerful 381 mm main battery
  
• Innovative torpedo protection
  
• Catapult aircraft
  
• Good mobility

Vehicle History

By the mid 1930s, the naval arms race in Europe had picked up again, despite the established international naval treaties of the time. In response to the French Dunkerque-class, the Italian navy started construction of a series of new battleships as part of the Littorio-class. Roma was the third and final battleship of the class, representing the most advanced capital ships built by Italy up until that time. These ships featured powerful main batteries of nine 381 mm (15 inch) guns, high speed, and innovative protection, including the Pugliese torpedo defense system.

Despite their impressive design, the Littorio-class ships were hindered by Italy’s limited wartime resources, especially fuel shortages and a constrained strategic position in the Mediterranean. Commissioned in mid-1942, Roma saw little action due to these factors and Italy’s increasingly defensive naval posture. After Italy signed an armistice with the Allies in September 1943, Roma led the fleet to surrender, following orders to sail to Malta. En route, the warship was attacked by German bombers employing Fritz X radio-guided bombs. Two hits caused catastrophic explosions, causing Roma to sink off Sardinia with heavy losses. The remaining two Littorio battleships however, made it to port in Malta and were later on handed over as war prizes to the U.S. and Great Britain.




RN Roma is the third and last of the Littorio-class battleships, built for the Regia Marina during the Second World War. Coming to the game in the next major update, this battleship incorporates the latest technological developments in naval warfare at the time, which allowed RN Roma to really stand out. Let’s take a closer look at today’s blog!




Entering service at the height of the Second World War means RN Roma comes fitted with a formidable arsenal, capable of posing a serious threat to most other battleships. Outfitted with a primary battery of three triple 381 mm (15 inch) cannons, RN Roma can comfortably engage in long range gun duels against other battleships! This is all while the potent secondary battery consisting of twelve 152 mm (6 inch) and four 120 mm (4.7 inch) make short work of any smaller vessel daring to stray close.

Aircraft will also have a hard time breaking through RN Roma’s formidable defenses, especially at closer ranges, as they’ll be facing a barrage of fire coming from the ship’s 90 mm AA guns and the plethora of 37 and 20 mm automatic cannons.




Interesting: Roma’s sinking by the German Fritz X bomb marked the first successful use of precision munitions against a warship.

RN Roma’s arsenal is truly impressive, and so is its armor! As is typical for battleships, RN Roma is no exception in terms of possessing an extensive armor layout, notably consisting of a 350 mm thick belt (spaced armor, 70 plus 280 mm) and turret armor. This in turn enables this battleship to comfortably shrug off high-caliber fire at medium range engagements. Additionally, RN Roma features a special “Pugliese” type anti-torpedo bulkhead. The elaborate design consists of a series of drum-shaped cavities below the ship’s main belt, reducing explosive damage and improving overall torpedo protection. This, coupled with the ability to reach a top speed of 30 kts (56 km/h), allows RN Roma to form the vanguard of any attack and pursue any enemies fleeing from its thunderous advance!



That’s it for this one! RN Roma will surely provide excellent firepower capabilities and will soon be coming to the game in the next 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!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.