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Ground vehicles: Kings of battle, Japan’s SAM and a British light tank

All 10 nations in War Thunder get a ground vehicle in this update! We’ve added the M109, a true king of battle to the USA, Britain, Germany, Italy and Israel in the form of the M109A1, M109G and M109! In addition, the long-awaited Type 81 (C) for Japan, a large and very capable Vickers Mk.11 light tank for Britain, plus the super flat Object 775 for the USSR. Overall, there’s 15 ground vehicles in this update, so be sure to check them all out.

Aircraft: War Thunder has a new record holder!

Welcome to the aircraft that have been added in this update: the F-111A Aardvark for the USA, JH-7A for China and the MiG-29G for Germany — 3 formidable top-tier jets. The F-111A is able to carry a huge payload of 50 x 500 lb bombs, 26 x 750 lb bombs (among several other bomb types) and a staggering 456 x Mighty Mouse rockets, which is a War Thunder record!

USA

• F-111A

Germany

• MiG-29G

China

• JH-7A

Helicopters: The Black Hawk, plus Spike missile capable choppers

The infamous Black Hawk comes to the game in the US research tree as the special MH-60L DAP variant! In addition to this, Italy gets the AH-129D that can carry devastating Spike missiles, and so do France on the Tiger HAD Block 2. Overall, these helicopters will help bolster the top ground lineups of these nations.

USA

• MH-60L DAP

USSR

• Mi-8AMTSh

Italy

• AH-129D

France

• Tiger HAD Block 2

Naval vehicles: Premium Battleships for Britain and Japan

We’ve added two Premium Battleships for Britain and Japan, which are available to purchase right from our store: HMS Iron Duke for Britain, and IJN Yamashiro for Japan! These Battleships were built in the WWI era and are certainly strong against other ships of this type. In addition to this, several ships including one for the USSR, Germany, Italy and France. The full list is below.

New mechanics and destroyable map bushes!

We’ve added new mechanics to APFSDS and APDS shells. Discarded sabot casings that separate from APFSDS and APDS rounds now have their own model and can travel up to 1km and even penetrate thin armor! We’ve also added three modes to some IR missiles: photocontrast, infrared and automatic — check out our informational dev blog on that here.

In addition to this, several types of bushes found on maps can be destroyed with MG fire.

A new ground location: Flanders, with a new format!

Flanders has been added to the map rotation in this major update! This map is special — assets on this map change depending on the type of vehicles used. For example, if you’re using WWII vehicles, you’ll see a fallen airship and other older buildings. If you’re using more modern vehicles, you’ll instead see a fallen modern troop transport aircraft and tourist center buildings. Check it out!

New locations and missions

• An Air RB mission [Operation] Southeastern City has been added, with support for all ranks and the following attributes: the location of ground forces depends on the rank of the battle; the location of bases depends on the rank of the battle; the number of possible base positions is increased.
• Flanders (for ground battles)

Location and mission updates

• The following missions have been removed:
  • [Conquest #3] Cargo port;
  • [Domination] Port Novorossiysk;
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Fields of Normandy.
  • [Conquest #2, #3] Ash River
• The spawn points for ground vehicles and capture points in the following missions have been moved:
  • [Conquest #1, #3] Alaska
  • [Battle] Alaska
  • [Battle] Tunisia
  • [Domination #1] Tunisia
  • [Battle] Normandy
  • [Conquest #1, # 2, #3] Normandy
  • [Battle] Ardennes (Summer/Winter)
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Fire arc
  • [Battle #1] Fire arc
  • [Domination #1] Fire arc
  • [Conquest #1, #3] Ground Zero
  • [Battle] Ground Zero

• The following missions have been changed so that the location of capture and spawn points does not differ between different game modes:
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Port Novorossiysk
  • [Battle] Port Novorossiysk
  • [Battle] Normandy
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Normandy
  • [Domination] Normandy
  • [Domination] Fields of Normandy
  • [Battle] Fields of Normandy
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Ardennes (Summer/Winter)
  • [Domination #1, #2] Ardennes (Summer/Winter)
  • [Battle] Ardennes (Summer/Winter)
  • [Conquest #1, #2, #3] Fire arc
  • [Battle #1] Fire arc
  • [Domination #1] Fire arc

• The following new missions have been added:
  • [Battle #2] Tunisia — available for vehicles with a Battle Rating of 9.7 and higher.
  • [Domination #2] Tunisia — available for vehicles with a Battle Rating of 9.7 and higher.
  • [Battle #2] Port Novorossiysk — available for vehicles with a Battle Rating of 2.3 and higher.
  • [Battle #2] Fire Arc — available for vehicles with a Battle Rating of 9.7 and higher.
  • [Domination #2] Fire Arc — available for vehicles with a Battle Rating of 9.7 and higher.

• The behavior of all bushes has been changed. Now, they can be destroyed with machine gun fire so that you can clear them for better visibility. Video
• For the following Air RB missions;
  • [Operation] Pyrenees
  • [Operation] City
  • [Operation] Southeastern City
  • [Operation] Moscow
  • [Operation] Battle for the Rhine
  • [Operation] Battle for Spain
• The availability of airfields depending on the rank of the match has been changed:
  • Low ranked airfields: 1.0 to 3.3.
  • Medium ranked airfields: 3.7 to 6.7. In addition, the low ranked airfield is active as a repair airfield (no spawning, no anti-aircraft guns, but you can land for repairing and reloading).
  • High ranked airfields: 7.0 to 10.3. In addition, the medium ranked airfield is active as a repair airfield (no spawning, no anti-aircraft guns, but you can land for repairing and reloading).
  • Top ranked airfields: 10.7+. In addition, the high ranked airfield is available as a repair airfield (no spawning, no anti-aircraft guns, but you can land for repairs and reloading).

• In the following Air RB missions, the following attributes have been changed: the location of ground forces depends on the rank of the battle; the location of bases depends on the rank of the battle; the number of possible base positions is increased.

• [Operation] Moscow
• [Operation] Battle for the Rhine
• [Operation] Battle for Spain

• In the following Air RB missions, ground units now depend on the rank of the battle:
  • [Operation] Golan Heights
  • [Operation] Battle for Vietnam
  • [Operation] Rocky Pillars
  • [Operation] Sinai
  • [Operation] Pyrenees
  • [Operation] City
  • [Operation] Southeastern City
  • [Operation] Moscow
  • [Operation] Battle for the Rhine
  • [Operation] Battle for Spain

Ground Vehicle model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes

• Merkava Mk.4 LIC — a Fireproof container for shells has been added near the engine. (Report)
• TKX (P) — holes in the gun mantlet have been covered with armor. (Report)
• Strv m/31 — the armor for the hull machine gun has been fixed. (Report)
• MEPHISTO — a bug that caused the small aiming circle to not be in the correct position outside of the bigger circle because of the ATGM drop when firing has been fixed.
• M735 — penetration has been recalculated to the Lanz-Odermatt formula.
• Mechanics for the separation of APFSDS shell casings has been added. The separated casing can travel up to 1km and penetrate thin armor, causing damage to lightly armored vehicles.
• APFSDS projectiles of 40mm and above received the new mechanics of physical shell casing detachments.
• Visual models for all projectiles with discarding sabots have been updated, models for high-explosive fin-stabilized projectiles have been updated and HEAT-FS of Western-type 90-120mm guns have received their own separate model.
• Object 211 — the model has been updated and is now based on the prototype.
• LVT-4/40 — a bug where the exposed crew did not receive damage from napalm has been fixed.
• Leopard 2PL — the generation of thermal imagers used by the gunner and commander has been changed from second to third. (Report)
• Strf 9040 BILL — ATGM reload time has been reduced from 20 to 10 seconds. Adjusted to the reload time of other units with two ATGMs.
• M3 Bradley — ATGM reload time has been reduced from 15 to 10 seconds. Adjusted to the reload time of other units with two ATGMs.
• SPz 12-3 LGS — a bug with inaccurate display of automatic cannon ammunition when using researchable belts has been fixed.
• LAV-AD — the gunner’s sight magnification has been changed from 8-12x to 4-12x. Source: Thesis USN/USMC Antiair Warfare and Command, Control, and Communications for Amphibious Operations. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.
• T-72B, T-72B (1989), T-90A, T-72B3 — lower plate armor is now displayed as variable thickness armor (composite armor).
• KV-1, KV-2 (1939), KV-2 (1940), KV-1 (ZiS-5), KV-1E, KV-IB, KV-2 (ZiS-6), KV II 754 (r) , KV I C 756 (r) — the engine speed has been increased from 1900 to 2000 RPM. (Report)
• Toldi IIA — extra armor plates on the front have had their armor thickness corrected. (Report)
• Turan III — the armor layout on the commander’s cupola has been fixed. (Report)
• AMX-13 (FL-11) — a bug where there was no delay between smoke grenade launcher salvo launches has been fixed.

Aircraft and helicopter model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes

Weaponry

• R-60M — explosive type has been changed from TNT to Okfol. (Report)
• 30 mm Type 5 cannon — increased rate of fire from 450 rounds per minute to 500 rounds per minute. (Report)
• 30 mm Ho-155 cannon — increased rate of fire from 450 rounds per minute to 500 rounds per minute. (Report)
• Kh-29L, Kh-29T, Kh-29TD — the Explosive type has been changed from TG-40 to TGAF-5M.
• The 1600 lb armor-piercing AN-Mk 1 bomb has been added to the following aircraft: PBJ-1H, PBJ-1J, B-17G-60-VE, B-24D-25-CO, SB2U-2, SB2U-3, SBD-3, AM-1, AD-2, AD-4, B-26B, PBM-1, PBM-3.
• The 1000 lb A.P. AN-MK 33 bomb has been added to the following aircraft: B-17G-60-VE, SBD-3, TBF-1C, Avenger Mk.II, AD-2, AD-4.
• The 250 kg armor-piercing BRAB-250 bomb model 1943 has been added to the following aircraft: Pe-2-110, Pe-2-205, Pe-2-359, Tu-2S, Tu-2S-44, Tu-2S-59, IL-4, Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (r), Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (p).
• The 500 kg armor-piercing BRAB-500 bomb model 1943 has been added to the following aircraft: Pe-2-110, Pe-2-205, Pe-2-359, Tu-2S, Tu-2S-44, Tu-2S-59, IL-4 , Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (r), Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (p).
• The 1000 kg armor-piercing BRAB-1000 bomb model 1943 has been added to the following aircraft: Tu-2S, Tu-2S-44, Tu-2S-59, IL-4, Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (r), Yer-2 (ACh -30B) (p).
• The 500 lb armor-piercing S.A.P. Mk.II bomb has been added to the following aircraft: Swordfish Mk.I, Swordfish Mk.II. Whirlwind Mk.I, Wellington Mk.Ic, Wellington Mk.Ic/L, Wellington Mk.III, Wellington Mk.X, Typhoon Mk.Ib, Typhoon Mk.Ib/L, Tempest Mk.V, Sea Fury FB.11, Sunderland Mk. IIIa, Sunderland Mk.V, Mosquito FB.Mk.VI, Halifax B Mk.IIIa, Firebrand TF.Mk.IV, Blenheim Mk.IV, Beaufort Mk.VIII, Wyvern S.4, Hampden TB Mk.I.
• The 2000 lb armor-piercing A.P. Mk.I bomb has been added to the following aircraft: Wellington Mk.Ic, Wellington Mk.Ic/L, Wellington Mk.III, Wellington Mk.X, Halifax B Mk.IIIa, Firebrand TF.Mk.IV, Wyvern S.4, Hampden TB Mk.I.
• The 500kg armor-piercing bomb PC500 has been added to the following aircraft: Ju-87D-5, Ju-87D-3, Bf 110 G-2, Fw 190 F-8, He 177 A-5, Ju 188 A-2, Do 217 E-2, Ju 88 A-4, Ju 88 A-1, Fw 200 C-1.
• The 1000kg armor-piercing bomb PC1000 has been added to the following aircraft: He 111 H-6, Ju-87D-3, Bf 110 G-2, Fw 190 F-8, He 177 A-5, Ju 188 A-2, Do 217 E-2, Me 264, Ju 88 A-4, Ju 88 A-1, Fw 200 C-1.
• The 1600kg armor-piercing bomb PC1600 has been added to the following aircraft: He 177 A-5, Ju 188 A-2, Me 264.
• The 800kg armor-piercing bomb Type 99 Number 80 has been added to the following aircraft: G8N1
• A calculation and display of a launch range against a maneuvering target has been implemented. The list of missiles that have had the display of launch range against a maneuvering target added includes: R-27R, R-27T, R-27ER, R-27ET, R-60, R-60M, R-73, AIM-7F, AIM-7M, AIM-9L, AIM-9M.
• Display enabled on fire control systems with radars: H010, H010M, H019, H019E, AN/AWG-9, AN/APG-66, AN/APG-68, AN/APG-65Q, Thales RDY.

Other

• MiG-15 — the ability to drop bombs separately has been removed. (Source: MiG-15bis aircraft. Technical Description. Book 2 - Armament. 1953)
• A21A-3 — the sequence of firing the m/51 and m/49B rockets has been fixed. (Report)
• Tornado F.3 — a bug that caused the radar display to show on the RWR display in the cockpit instruments has been fixed. (Report)
• Fw 190 F-8 — the sequence of firing the Pb2 rockets has been fixed. (Report)
• La-5 — the ability to drop bombs separately has been removed.
• LaGG-3 — the ability to drop bombs separately has been removed.
• SB2C-5 — a bug that made it impossible to use 500lb bombs even when the 500lb bomb modification was unlocked has been fixed. (Report)
• Bf 109F, G (series) — a bug that caused a 20 mm MG 151 cannon to be equipped on the wing when selecting bombs has been fixed. (Report)
• Mi-24V (Hungary) — the number of Countermeasures has been reduced from 192 to 128. (Report)
• F-100D (France) — a FFAR pod has been added to the left wing. (Report)
• Mi-24P — the GUV-8700 gunpod has been added.
• Hunter F.58 — the ability to equip a single Drop tank has been removed.
• UH-1D — a bug that caused a single TDA 68 rocket to be shown in the TDA 68 pod has been fixed.
• Po-2, Po-2M — the sequence of firing rockets has been adjusted.
• A-7E — RWR type changed from AN/APR-25 to AN/ALR-45. A bug that caused the Zuni and FFAR rocket pods to overlap each other has been fixed.
• F-4J Phantom II, F-4S Phantom II — RWR type changed from AN-APR-25 to AN/ALR-45(V).
• A-5C, Jaguar GR.1A — a bug that caused countermeasures not to fire has been fixed.
• AH-64 (all nations), AH Mk.1, YAH-64 — scope magnification changed from 126x to 63.5x.
• F-84G-26-RE (France) — AN/APG-30 radar has been added.
• I-153 — the ability to use 4 x FAB-50 bombs has been removed. (Source: aircraft I-153. Technical description. Book one. OBORONGIZ-TSAGI 1940).
• JA37D — for the BOL rail, the countermeasure type has been changed from large to standard.
• B-57B — AN/APS-54 RWR has been added. (Source: T.O. 1B-57B-1 Flight Handbook B-57B aircraft).
• PBJ-1H, PBJ-1J — 3 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs and a 1 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb have been added.
• F7F3 — a 1 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb, an additional 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb and 1000 lb Mk 13 Mod 0 proximity mines have been added.
• Tzefa B — a bug that caused this helicopter to not have magnification for its optics has been fixed, with the magnification 2.0x-13x being added.
• F-104J — the number of air-to-air missiles that can be carried has increased from 4 to 6.
• Yak-38, Yak-38M — the possibility to launch unguided rockets with the landing gear down has been limited. The ability to drop bombs separately has been removed. The number of OFAB-100-120 bombs that can be used on the MBD2-67U bomb rack has been reduced from 4 to 3.
• MiG-29SMT — the external fuel tank has been replaced with a 2000 liter external fuel tank. A modification (“UV-5-08”) has been added that allows the installation of additional large caliber countermeasure blocks.
• MiG-21PFM — the UB-32 pod has been removed from the aircraft’s armament. (Source: Mig-21PFM Aircraft Operating Instructions No. GK-194).
• Mirage 2000-5F, Mirage 2000D-R1 — the ECLAIR countermeasures systems has been replaced with the Eclair M system, the number of countermeasures has been increased from 90 to 168 for Mirage 2000-5F and from 118 to 196 rounds for Mirage 2000D-R1.
• F-4E, Kurnass, F-4EJ, F-4EJ ADTWD, F-4F, F-4F Late, Phantom FG.1, Phantom 2 FGR.2, F-4J, F-4JK — a ballistic computer system has been added to the cannons, which display the sight lead marker on the HUD, in the cockpit and in 3rd person view when the target is captured by aircraft sensors.

Secondary weapon customization added to aircraft:

• Saab J35D, F-82E, SBD-3, Swordfish Mk.I, Swordfish Mk.II.

Naval fleet model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

Naval weaponry:

• RN Duca degli Abruzzi — a bug that made it possible to use extra torpedoes without reloading has been fixed.

Naval characteristics, physics and damage model:

• Emile Bertin — the size and location of the radio room has been fixed, and the intersection of the conning tower module with armor has been fixed. The turrets and traverse bulk armor thicknesses have been fixed.
• SMS Kaiser — armor thicknesses have been corrected: turrets, stern armored deck, barbettes. The dimensions of the magazine compartments for the main battery have been corrected.
• Chapaev — a bug that caused the forward part of the left side armor belt to not be displayed has been fixed.
• HMS Leopard — the dimensions of the forwardmost crew compartment have been reduced, as it was clipping through the side of the ship’s hull.
• IJN Kurama — a bug that caused the dimensions of the coal bunkers to be incorrectly calculated has been fixed.

Naval Visual models and visual parts:

• SMS Nassau — the ship’s flag has been changed to the Kaiserliche Marine flag.
• Geniere — crew members have been added to the 40 mm Bofors turrets.

Economy and research

• USS Des Moines — moved to Rank V.

Interface

• The ability to collapse/expand the action bar in battle has been added.

Game mechanics

• Added a “Skill Bonus” to Research Points, which is awarded at the end of a mission depending on the player’s opponents destroyed. In air and ground battles, the target indicator is the number of destroyed vehicles controlled by players or system named bots; in naval battles, the target indicator is the total damage to naval targets. The bonus is calculated from the base RP (excluding boosters, premium account, talismans) and differs depending on the game mode in the size of the bonus and the requirement for the target indicator. More details surrounding this mechanic will be released in a Roadmap news soon.
  • Air Arcade Battles:
    • 3-5 opponents: +15%;
    • 6-9 opponents: +40%;
    • 10+ opponents: +100%.
  • Air Realistic Battles:
    • 2 opponents: +35%;
    • 3 opponents: +75%;
    • 4+ opponents: +100%.
  • Ground Arcade and Realistic Battles:
    • 3-5 opponents: +15%;
    • 6-8 opponents: +50%;
    • 9+ opponents: +100%.
  • Ground Simulation Battles:
    • 3-4 opponents: +20%;
    • 5-7 opponents: +50%;
    • 8+ opponents: +100%.
  • Naval Arcade and Realistic Battles:
    • 6500-9999 damage: +20%;
    • 10000-14999 damage: +45%;
    • 15000+ damage: +100%.
• In Naval Battles, the statistics table has been updated so that the number of damage points awarded for shooting at coastal vessels has been increased. The total damage points awarded for destroying a coastal vessel have been increased from 1,200 to 2,200, making it equal to the number of damage points for destroying a bluewater ship. This statistic is used for Battle Tasks, as well as for unlocking ship camouflage, decorations, decals, and flags. As a result, progress towards earning these rewards will be faster when destroying coastal vessels.

Graphical

• In the event of fires or the destruction of fuel tanks on naval vessels, there is now a visual effect of leaking fuel that burns on the water.
• When fuel tanks on naval vessels are destroyed, a visual effect of fuel leakage occurs.
• The visual effect of fuel leaks and fires on ground vehicles has been improved.
• Added the effect of the hook touching the deck of an aircraft carrier.
• The visual effect of the steam catapult on aircraft carriers has been improved.
• Added a visual effect of a cumulative jet directed downward when hitting vehicles using shells with this detonation feature.
• A bug where there was no connection between an active smoke grenade and its visual effect has been fixed.

Sound

• Crews of Israeli ground vehicles have received a new voiceover.
• The crews of Finnish ground vehicles received updated voice acting. Previous inaccuracies and errors were corrected.
• Added sounds of incoming artillery marker shells, different from the sounds of incoming artillery shells.