War Thunder

The ‘Viking Fury’ Update Brings Swedish Ground Forces and New Signature Vehicles for Other Nations

Gaijin Entertainment are announcing the release of the Viking Fury Content Update for the military online action game War Thunder. While the main theme of the Update is the testing of the Swedish ground forces tree, there are other cool toys to play with. The most important ones are the heavy cruiser HMS London, the J35 Draken jet fighter and several variants of the AH-64 Apache, the main attack helicopter of the US Army and one of the most famous military vehicles of our time.

The production of the AH-64 started in 1983. This helicopter was used in almost all military conflicts involving the US Army, including Panama, Iraq (twice), Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. It is also used by the military of 15 other nations like Greece, Singapore and Japan. War Thunder players will be able to try four variants of the Apache: the basic AH-64A, the upgraded AH-64D Apache Longbow, the British AH Mk.1 version and the Israeli Peten. The Update will also bring a Russian alternative to the Apache – the latest Ka-52 attack helicopter.

Swedish ground forces include both WW2 era vehicles and more recent ones, like the Pvrbv 551 – a tank destroyer equipped with TOW guided missiles, or VEAK 40 – a self-propelled anti-air gun with a sophisticated radar. The list of modern tanks from other nations has been extended with the ZTZ96A (the most common Chinese MBT nowadays), the Т-72B (a Т-72 variant from the 80’s with upgraded armor) and the Radkampfwagen 90 (experimental German wheeled tank).

Naval military history fans might want to try HMS London — a County-class British heavy cruiser designed and built in the interwar years around the restrictions imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty. Because of those restrictions, the ship has very light armour, but quite powerful armament: eight 8-inch (203mm) cannons, four dual 4-inch (102mm) dual-purpose cannons, two octuple and four single 40mm cannons, as well as eight dual and four single 20mm cannons. If that isn’t enough, HMS London is also outfitted with two quadruple 21-inch (533mm) torpedo launchers. HMS London took part in the famous pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck and defended the Arctic Convoys laden with military supplies for the Soviet Union, but her most fierce battle happened after the war, when the ship was engaged in a fight with Chinese artillery on the Yangtze River in 1949.

Watch the War Thunder Viking Fury Update trailer HERE.

Check the official War Thunder website for more information on the Viking Fury update.

Dozens of other famous vehicles will join the massive military online action game

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the Swedish ground vehicles will be the main theme of the next major Content Update “Viking Fury” for the the military online action game War Thunder, but there will be new ground, air and naval vehicles for other nations as well – more than 60 completely new war machines in total. For example, the Soviet navy will get the light cruiser Sverdlov commissioned right after World War II, while the US Air Force will get the Vietnam era Douglas A-4B Skyhawk jet.

Swedish tanks might not be as famous as the vehicles produced by the countries that actually participated in 20th century wars, but they have been developed with both neighbors’ combat experience and local landscape features in mind, leading to unique and very practical designs. With the next major update War Thunder players will be able to try out how these vehicles, ranging from the light pre-war models like Strv m/31 and Strv m/40L to the contemporary designs like Strf 90C, would manage against the ground vehicles of the larger tank-building powers. By the way, real Swedish tanks did have some combat experience. For example, the Santo Domingo rebels used the Strv m/40L tanks against US Army M48 Pattons, while various variants of the Strf 90 have been used by Sweden, Denmark and Norway in the ongoing Afghanistan war.

The Sverdlov was the first of the Soviet Project 68bis light cruisers that were built using all the accumulated World War II military experience gained. It boasted highly effective anti-air weapons, had good armor and great combat range. The Sverdlov was launched and carried out combat duties in the waters of the Baltic Sea and Atlantic Ocean until her lay-up in 1978. She never saw real action, but became famous when the Soviet delegation arrived in London aboard the Sverdlov for coronation of Elizabeth II amidst Cold War hostilities.

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a very cost-effective and easy to operate ground attack and fighter jet developed right after the Korean war. The A-4B’s primary armament consists of two 20mm Colt Mk.12 cannons, while the secondary ordnance options range from unguided rockets, such as the Mighty Mouse or Zunis, through guided missiles such as the Bullpups and Sidewinder air-to-air missile to standard unguided bombs as well as additional 20mm gunpods. Skyhawks saw action even after Vietnam, most importantly in the Falklands war (used by the Argentinian Air Force), and were based on the Brazilian aircraft carrier Sao Paulo until her decommissioning in 2018.

Follow the news at the official War Thunder website to find out more about the next content update that is scheduled to arrive in mid-March.

Military Simulation Fans Will be Able to Participate in Joint Operations of Air, Naval and Ground Forces

Gaijin Entertainment announced that the second season of World War mode called “Attack from the Sea” will arrive in War Thunder, the military online action game, very soon. This time players will be able to reconstruct famous historical battles using not only ground and air forces, but also naval units. The new season will see the US army defending the Philippine island of Luzon from the Imperial Japanese forces, while the Soviets will try to land their troops on the Crimean peninsula occupied by the Germans. Two inland battle scenarios will also be available – the battle for Caen and Operation Nordwind.

Watch the World War: Season 2 / War Thunder Trailer HERE.

In World War mode the commanders of either side move air and ground armies on a strategic map, and when those armies meet, their clash is resolved with a battle session between players. The second season will add new types of armies like coastal artillery, landing ships and boat, destroyer and cruiser squadrons. New types of battle sessions include the defense of landing units convoys, air defense of coastal artillery and daring boat raids against heavy cruisers. The result of each clash influences the situation on the strategy map and the outcome of the whole operation.

Only vehicles that actually participated in the historical battle are permitted in World War battle reconstruction. Players that have not unlocked those vehicles or have not even tried that specific nation tech tree yet, will still be able to use them. During the first season of World War, the game provided the basic modifications only for the vehicles, but in the second season players will get fully upgraded tanks, ships and planes. Players will also have more freedom to choose the specific vehicles they want to use where it does not contradict historical accuracy.

More detailed information on the new season of World War is available at the official War Thunder website.

Players can win the experimental Soviet heavy fighter, a British self-propelled gun and more

Gaijin Entertainment announces the start of the Operation F.R.O.S.T. player event in War Thunder. From December the 20th, 2019 until January the 13th, 2020, players will be able to complete in-game tasks in battle to get six new and exclusive vehicles: the TIS MA heavy fighter, the QF 3.7 RAM SPG, a 94 FT PT-811 torpedo boat, the J6K1 interceptor, the MERKAVA MK.2B tank and a Type 1924 JAGUAR destroyer, as well as Christmas decorations and other prizes.

Each one of the newest vehicle types is special. For example, the twin-engine TIS MA is designed to escort long-range bombers and it is a real monster carrying four cannons, bombs, two types of rockets and a large calibre defensive machine gun. The Type 1924 Jaguar is a well-balanced German destroyer armed with 105mm rapid-fire guns and torpedoes. The QF 3.7 Ram SPG — is an attempt to combine the excellent 94mm anti-aircraft gun and the reliable chassis of the Ram tank into a self-propelled artillery system.

Operation F.R.O.S.T. tasks are rewarded with various prizes, including vehicle coupons. Players can use these coupons to unlock the vehicles for their own account, or sell them to other players on the Gaijin Market.

For a full list of prizes and more details on the event, read HERE.

About War Thunder
War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform, massively multiplayer military masterpiece with millions of fans worldwide, that allows players on PC, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Mac and Linux to fight their way across air, land, and sea in the same battlefield. War Thunder offers 1,500+ playable aircraft, armored vehicles and ships from the early 1930s to the 2000s. The US, Soviet, British, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and French military vehicles represented in game are carefully researched, historically accurate recreations of their real world counterparts. Fans can expect hundreds more added as Gaijin Entertainment commits to ongoing development via regular updates.

For more game information and to download War Thunder, please visit the official War Thunder website.

Dozens of other new vehicles introduced in the Shark Attack Update include the legendary HMS Belfast cruiser

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of a major Content Update “Shark Attack” for the military online action game War Thunder. Players will be able to try the Ka-50 “Black Shark” and the Mi-28 “Night Hunter” helicopters, the legendary British light cruiser HMS Belfast and the first fighter planes for a new nation tech tree that represents Sweden.

Named after the Swedish word for “barrel”, based on its shape, the J29D Tunnan was an awkward-looking machine, but one with superb flight characteristics for the time, enabled by its swept wings. J29D and the Finnish fighter VL Pyörremyrsky are available as a part of Swedish tech tree preorder packs. The closed beta testing of that tree will start later, with the release of the next major Update.

Watch the trailer HERE!

The Shark Attack update also adds new modern ground vehicles for several nations. For example, the Chinese tech tree now has the ZTZ96 with its powerful 125mm smoothbore cannon supported by an autoloading mechanism and new composite armor protection, and US armed forces fans can now use M1A2 variant of the Abrams tank with depleted uranium armor components. The Soviet tech tree now has the BMP-3 – a lightly armoured and vast vehicle with a diverse set of weapons. Its 100mm primary gun can also be used to launch ATGMs, while a 30mm automatic cannon paired with the primary gun has high-explosive incendiary, tracer, armour-piercing, and APCR shells that can take down enemy helicopters and light tanks. There is also a 7.62mm PKT machine gun.

Larger-sized ships are gradually coming to War Thunder – this time the star of the show is the American heavy cruiser Pensacola, the first rank V ship in the game. Military history fans should also try the British light cruiser HMS Belfast. During World War II it was used to escort the Arctic convoys to the USSR and to provide cover for the troops in the famous D-Day landings that took place in Normandy. Since 1978, the light cruiser Belfast has served as a self contained exhibit for the Imperial War Museum and is permanently moored on the river Thames in London.

The full list of the new vehicles and other updates is available at the official War Thunder website.

The new event will allow players to obtain rare military vehicles by performing well on the battlefield

Gaijin Entertainment announces the start of the Operation Shipyard event in the military online action game, War Thunder. Participating players will be able to get four rare vehicles – an MBK-161 armoured boat, the VT 1-2 SPG, a Whirlwind P.9 fighter and the H-34 helicopter.

The most interesting prize is the German experimental VT 1-2 self-propelled gun that was developed in Germany in the early 70’s as part of the replacement program for the more traditional tanks. The VT1-2 has two powerful 120 mm guns without any conventional traverse – the cannons are rotated using the whole hull via the tracks. As was the case with the actual constructed prototype, the in-game version of the VT1-2 has been modeled without the use of armoured steel, so it does not have much protection and the players would be better to rely on its firepower and mobility.

While Operation Shipyard runs, players will get materials and blueprints they need to produce the armoured boat parts and assemble the whole vehicle. For a completed MBK-161, players will get vouchers that can be exchanged for event vehicles or sold in the market. In order to get access to the VT 1-2 and H-34, players should also collect tank blueprints. There are two ways for those who want to get the new vehicles as fast as possible: players can either play well and finish their battles in first place more often, or purchase the missing items in the Market.

The full details of the Operation Shipyard event are available HERE.

For more game information and to download War Thunder, please visit the official War Thunder website.

Tactical Hide and Seek For Higher Ranked Vehicles as Helicopters and Tanks Equip Night Vision and Thermal Aids for Low Light and Night Time Combat

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that War Thunder will receive a new major Content Update this September, nicknamed “Night Vision”. It will bring a lot of new content, including the eighth playable nation – China.

The initial line-up of Chinese vehicles available in War Thunder features tanks, fighter aircraft and bombers which were used during World World II or shortly after, and will show just how turbulent the history of the country’s military in the 20th century was. Players will be able to try aircraft employed by foreign volunteers from the Flying Tigers regiment that helped China fight against Imperial Japan, captured Japanese vehicles, military imports from the USSR that became part of China’s military as well as local variants of Soviet MiG jets and American Patton tanks. Each vehicle that will become a part of War Thunder’s initial Chinese vehicle tree was historically used by China at some point: The Henschel Hs 123A-1, for example, was imported by the Chinese Nationalist forces from Nazi Germany and was used against the Imperial Japanese Navy during battles at the Yangtze river.

Immediately after the release of the “Night Vision” Update, all players will get access to a first selection of Chinese ground vehicles and aircraft. Players who wish to gain access to the entire Chinese tech tree as fast as possible can do so by fulfilling a series of in-game tasks in War Thunder, or by purchasing one of the Chinese pre-order packs that include a premium vehicle, in-game currency, premium account time and cosmetic items. One of the packs will grant access to the aircraft tech tree and the other one will unlock the ground vehicles tech tree.

Another important part of the new update and a significant expansion to the gameplay of War Thunder on higher ranks is the introduction of night vision devices and thermal sights. For the latter, the game will calculate the temperature of each component of a vehicle, i.e. the gun or tracks, and show their temperature accordingly. The hotter components get, the more visible – and thus more vulnerable to detection – the affected vehicles will become. On the other hand, tankers in War Thunder will then be able to turn off their engines to decrease their vehicle’s temperature, e.g. to prepare for ambushes. Night vision devices, which allow increased visibility in dimly lit conditions or darkness, will not only be available to tanks, but helicopters as well – including the modern Eurocopter Tiger, which is also included in this update. Of course, this also means that there will be an increased chance for night time encounters in higher-ranked ground forces battles.

More information about the Chinese vehicle tree, new vehicle models from other nations and the night vision and thermal sight features are available at the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment today announced the start of the Operation H.E.A.T. player event in War Thunder. From August 2nd to August 26th, players are able to complete in-game tasks in battle to get six new and exclusive vehicles: the BT-7 (F-32) light tank, Bf 110 C-6 heavy fighter, River class (K-246) frigate, AUBL/74 HVG armoured car, P-59A jet fighter and Yūdachi destroyer, as well as camouflages and decals.

The new and exclusive vehicles will be interesting to military history fans and seasoned War Thunder veterans alike, both for their historical and tactical significance.

• BT-7 (F-32): In 1939, a single BT-7 light tank was equipped with the 76 mm F-32 tank cannon for testing purposes. The high speed of the BT-7 (F-32) allows players to outmaneuver their enemies, while the upgraded high-caliber cannon can take on most enemies in low-rank battles head on.
• P-59A Airacomet: The P-59A is the very first American jet fighter. Developed during World War II, it was never used in real combat. In War Thunder, the Airacomet will finally be able to prove its worth on Rank IV, fighting alongside top piston-engined aircraft which are more or less equal in combat strength.
• AUBL/74 HVG: This modification of the powerful FIAT AUBL/74 is equipped with a high-velocity 60mm cannon featuring a two-plane stabilizer. Its light armor makes it a nimble opponent, able to snipe accurately at enemies over long distances.
• Bf 110C-6: The C-6 modification of Germany’s “Zerstörer” series of aircraft is part of a special program to outfit the Bf 110 fighter with a heavy cannon armament. Units outfitted with the C-6 were used during the Battle of France in anti-tank duty. In War Thunder, they will be a formidable force to deploy both against ground and large air targets, such as bombers.
• River-class Frigate: The Royal Navy’s River-class rose to reputation by escorting convoys, fighting Axis submarines and supporting ground troops during the D-Day landings. With cannons ranging from 20mm to 102mm, it is effective against aircraft and small warships.
• Shiratsuyu-class Destroyer Yūdachi: The Yuudachi was part of the famous “Tokyo Express”, which ran night-supply runs to the embattled Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. With five 127mm primary cannons and two four-barreled torpedo launchers, it is a formidable warship in War Thunder.

To participate in Operation H.E.A.T. and to get access to the exclusive vehicles, players can participate in regular Random Battles, where they earn distinct “Marks of Distinction” for tankers, pilots and captains. By earning enough “Marks of Distinction”, players can unlock prizes, such as decals, camouflages and the aforementioned vehicles. For example, tankers will receive a coupon for the BT-7 (F-32)with five “Marks of Distinction” , a special camouflage for the BT-7 (F-32) with six, the AUBL/74 HVG with ten, and so on. Players can use the vehicle coupons to unlock the vehicles for their own account, or sell them to other players on the Gaijin Market.

Click here for a full list of prizes and more details on the event.

For more game information and to download War Thunder, please visit the official War Thunder website.

25 Japanese ships, new French tanks and an Anime-style helicopter

Gaijin Entertainment today announced the release of the “Imperial Navy” Content Update for the free-to-play vehicle combat game War Thunder. It sees the debut of the game’s first Japanese navy lineup with 25 different ships ranging from fast escorts like the T1 torpedo boat to the powerful heavy cruiser Furutaka, as well as two playable ships of other nations, 10 tanks, 13 aircraft and one new helicopter in total.

The Heavy Cruiser Furutaka, which is the first heavy cruiser represented in War Thunder, was originally constructed in the 1920s. In-game, it is featured in its late version, after the modernization it received in 1937. This exact variant of the Furutaka took part in the Battle of Savo Island, which was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s biggest victories. Other interesting Japanese ships include the submarine chaser Karo-Tei Type 2, which was hunting US-American submarines near Okinawa and the Philippines in the final stages of World War II.

Another guest that reaches War Thunder from the Land of the Rising Sun is the AH-1S, the first helicopter of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces available in War Thunder. Just as in real life, it also sports its Anime-style camouflage depicting the character “Wakana Kisarazu”, one of the four cute fictional girls who in 2012 became symbols of the JSDF’s Camp Kisarazu. Combat helicopters decorated with pictures of those characters created a huge buzz among media and military fans. They are also featured in the Japanese social game called “Rick G Earth” and have inspired a series of plastic models. Now, thanks to an agreement between Gaijin Entertainment and Zoo Corporation, all War Thunder players can use the official Wakana Kisarazu camouflage as well as the female pilot modeled after this character in-game.

Update also has plenty in stock for the other branches and nations represented in War Thunder. The game’s last content update introduced the first SAM (surface-to-air) missile system, the Soviet 2S6 Tunguska. Now, competing nations receive similar vehicles as well, e.g. the US-American Bradley ADATS tank, which is capable of attacking both air and ground targets with cannons and 8 guided missiles. Another example is the British Stormer HVM that is equipped with 16 guided missiles, each capable of separating itself into three guided, explosive-filled tungsten rounds.

Fans of modern armored vehicles will receive access to the French Leclerc S1, the first variant of France’s current main battle which is still in service both in France as well as the United Arab Emirates. Fast and well-protected, the Leclerc S1 will offer serious competition to vehicles like the M1A1 Abrams, Soviet T-80U or similar. Another option is the new Japanese Type 16 MCV, a wheeled tank destroyer of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force that entered service only a year ago, while the fast British jet fighter Hunter F.6 with experimental SRAAM rockets will surely receive a warm welcome by pilots that prefer to fight aggressively. Fans of aviation history will also be able to lay their hands on the unique Messerschmitt Me 264, a prototype German strategic bomber developed as part of the “Amerikabomberprogramm” (“America Bomber” project), which was designed to attack land targets within the United States of America by crossing the Atlantic ocean.

More information on the Update “Imperial Navy” is available on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the Open Beta of War Thunder’s anticipated World War mode is starting today. The new game mode gives players the opportunity to re-enact famous battles of World War II, to follow in history’s footsteps or change its course completely.

In game, these battles are organized in ‘Operations’, which are based on real world events and combat campaigns, such as the Battle of El Alamein or Battle of Vitebsk. Commanders of either side can move air- and ground armies on a strategic map, and when those armies meet, their clash is resolved by a battle session between players. Results of said battles can have significant effects on the outcome of the Operation, as the defeated side retreats and loses vehicles or even full regiments. An Operation can take up to two hours to complete, depending on the decisiveness of its battles.

Only Squadron Commanders, leaders of War Thunder’s player communities, can initiate the launch of a new Operation, but everyone is allowed to participate – both squadron members as well as the general playerbase. The list of available vehicles in each Operation is limited by historical context, meaning it is not possible to fly a jet fighter over the skies of El Alamein or ride a Japanese tank to battle at Vitebsk. If a player participating in the Operation has vehicles fitting to the historical context, he will be able to take his specific vehicle including crew and modifications. If a player does not own any of the required vehicles, he or she can still participate by receiving a vehicle in its basic modification. This means that participation is open to both veteran players as well war history fans that are still new to War Thunder.

Each operation consists of various battles with differing tasks and available vehicles. Modes include assault, defence, convoy attacks, cover missions as well as head-on confrontations featuring both ground and air forces. The vital link between battles is the strategic map, where commanders may e.g. send an air army to assist ground forces, making aircraft available for one side what previously seemed to be a ground battle only. The diversity of different mission types as well as the asymmetry between relative team power and objectives will open a new experience to players, offering an exciting alternative to War Thunder’s regular PvP battles.

View the War Thunder – World War teaser trailer HERE.

The World War mode is a season-based event, with the first already running until June 10, with the best players set to receive additional rewards. The full schedule of the season and more information about War Thunder is available on the games official website.