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Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"
30 June 2015

We would like to proudly announce the major
War Thunder Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"!

Read our announcement for Update 1.51 "Cold Steel" here!

Update 1.51 - "Cold Steel"

New Vehicles

Changes in Vehicle Models

  • For all vehicles of the "Panther" series, and self-propelled guns, external screens on the lower part of each vehicle have been added and accounted for in the damage model;
  • Multiple tweaks and fixes to the shape and thickness of armour elements on several vehicles;
  • Fixed the number of crew members displayed for the KV-85, changing from 5 to 4;
  • Armour for the Yak-7B has been fixed (removed nonexistent armoured glass);
  • Fixed uploading custom camouflages for the Hurricane Mk.I/L;
  • Fixed uploading custom  camouflages for the Me 262A-1/U4;
  • Fixed the display of offensive weaponry damage model for Hs 129B-2;
  • Added missing armour for the He 111H-16;
  • Fixed the display of offensive weaponry for BB-1 aircraft and SU-2 lineup.

New Locations and Missions

  • Added event in the Enduring Confrontation game mode (JiP). The new game mode will start with limited combat missions a few days after Update 1.51 launched. We will regularly supplement these missions with new tasks and continue to improve the mechanics. Stay tuned!
  • Finland - A new winter location for mixed battles (modes: domination, battle, conquest);
  • New aircraft Arcade missions have been added:
    • Apple Gardens (Ground Strike);
    • Approaches to Moscow (Ground Strike);
    • Khalkhyn Gol (Ground Strike);
    • Saipan (Ground Strike);
    • Gorge (Front Line);
    • Foothills (Front Line).
  • New aircraft Realistic missions have been added:
    • Korsun (Front Line);
    • Mozdok (Front Line).

Changes in Locations and Missions

  • Krymsk: Removed known unfair vantage points. Some areas have been slightly flattened;
  • Jungle: Removed known unfair vantage points;
  • Eastern Europe: Balance changes have been made to  the central capture point;
  • Carpathians: Added a new shelter position, some changes to unfair winning conditions;
  • Karelia: Some changes to unfair winning conditions;
  • White Rock Fortress: Balance changes at the northern capture point; 
  • Battle of Hürtgen Forest: Balance changes at the third capture point.

Research and Economy

  • The amount of research points awarded for the destruction of ground vehicles are now uses the system similar to aircraft battles - vehicle BR difference will also be considered;
  • The amount of research points awarded for the destruction of ground vehicles has been slightly increased;
  • Added missing traverse adjustment drive modification for self-propelled guns: Panzerjäger Panther, Panzerjäger Tiger, Panzerjäger Tiger P Ferdinand, ISU-152, SU-100Y, SU-100, SU-122, SU-122-54, SU-152, SU-85-1943, SU-85М;
  • The US nation now has a separate line for level  bombers. Attackers and dive bombers now have a common research line.

Damage Model

  • A new indicator for ground vehicle and aircraft damage has been introduced;
  • A new system of tracking for shell fragments has been introduced: Fragments can now have a more complex and unique shape, and differing fragments can have different amounts of energy. This system works for secondary shell fragments and the metal jet of HEAT grenades;
  • Increased the efficiency of piercing projectiles with a discarding sabot against sloped armor;
  • Increased the efficiency of flat-headed shells, and armour-piercing and ballistic capped shells, on sloped armour inclined at a 60 degree angle. 
  • Fixed the ballistics of piercing projectiles with a discarding sabot. Now, the cross-section on which ballistics will be calculated correspond to the core size of the projectile, and not to the projectile's sabot.

Weaponry

  • HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) shells have been added, which cause fragments to hit targets inside the vehicle due to spalling. Note: A display bug currently falsely shows reduced shell efficiency against sloped armor. Spalling is always possible on armour plates up to 145 mm strong;
  • HEATFS (High-Explosive Anti Tank Fin Stabilized) shells have been added. These shells have a much better penetration, but cause less spalling than common HEAT shells; 
  • BP-367P streamlined piercing projectile ammunition has been added for the T-44.

Changes in Flight Models

  • A6M (all models) - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes.  Edited inertia calculations, and geometry calculations of the wings. Stalling, due to executing a turn is more likely now. Decreased takeoff distance. Changed engine operations in automatic control mode;
  • B-25 (all models) - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes.  Edited inertia calculations. Control of this aircraft in Mouse Aim mode has been improved;
  • B7A2 - Changed behavior of the aircraft whilst in a vertical dive (improved stability, including during recovery from a steep dive). Edited the efficiency of the air brake (reduced). Edited inertia calculations; 
  • Blenheim Mk.IV - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes.  Edited inertia calculations. Improved stability whilst in a vertical dive;
  • Boomerang Mk. I/II - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Yer-2 (with M-105 engines) - Refined engine operation mode (temperature). Improved stability whilst in level flight.
  • G4M1 - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Il-2 (all models) - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Ju-87B-2 - Improved stability whilst in a vertical dive;
  • Ki-84 (all models) - Improved stability whilst in a vertical dive. Increased the sensitivity of control surfaces. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations. Improved reaction of the aircraft during tug the handling situations (stalling suddenly, including at high-speeds);
  • Ki-102 otsu - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability in all flight modes. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Ki-45 - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Ki-49 (all modifications) - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Ki-96 - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • P-47 (all models) - Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes.  Edited inertia calculations.
  • Wirraway - Overheat calculations refined (engine now takes longer to overheat). Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Yak-1/1b/7b/9/3 (all models) - Flight models have been fully updated. Recalculated and refined  all geometric and weight characteristics. Reworked propeller and engine characteristics. Changed behaviour during takeoff and landing (reduced speed for takeoff and landing). Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Yak-3 BK-107a - Initially configured according to the data sheet;
  • J2M5 - Has been configured according to the data sheet;
  • J2M5 (30mm) - Has been configured according to the data sheet; 
  • Ki-44-1 - Has been configured according to the data sheet;
  • Ki-61 (all models) - Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • N1K2 (all models) - New flight model. Basic characteristics of the aircraft have been changed (max speed was increased to 630 km/h, time to climb up to 5000m has been reduced to 05:30 min). New characteristics configured in accordance with the Data Sheet. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Bf.110C-4 - Improved stability whilst in level flight. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • P-51D (all models) - Refined geometric data, control elements (flaps, ailerons, elevator and rudder), by reaching maximum overload, calculations are considered for the effect of airflow. The higher the speed, the greater the effect, stalling and climb rate has been initially configured according to the data sheet. The engine has also been slightly modified; 
  • P-51D-5 - Fuselage tank has been installed, lack of additional fin area in later models is considered, behavior corresponding to early D series;
  • А-36 - Has been configured according to the data sheet;
  • Fury Mk.II - Flight model has been completely reworked. Size, weight, and restrictions on control have been edited (vertical dive, overload, chassis durability). Wing and profile have been recalculated. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations. The Kestrel VI engine, gear, propeller, and radiator have been configured according to historical graphics; 
  • Tempest (all models) - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Attacker - Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations. Trimmer has been fixed;
  • Firebrand Mk.IV - Has been initially configured according to the data sheet;
  • Ta.152H-1 - Flight model has been completely reworked. Reworked aircraft behaviour at high speeds. The higher the speed, the greater the effect. Calculations are now considered for the effect of airflow on the horizontal tail surface. Refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. The resistance of single elements (flaps, screw, fuselage, radiator etc.) are now calculated. Refined wing centre of gravity and behaviour during a stall or corkscrew and when at maximum overload. Engine performance has been adjusted, reduced compression and overheating. Fuel consumption calculations have been refined. Refined speeds and climb rate in different modes;
  • Do.17E-1 - Has been configured according to the data sheet;
  • La-5F - Fixed the maximum speed when affected by ground-effect. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Me-410 (all models) - New flight model. Reduced the impact of torque effect during take off. Improved the efficiency of air brakes. Specified the calculation for the airflow on the horizontal tail surfaces, refined the calculation of the transition processes and damped in all axes. Edited inertia calculations;
  • Hurricane Mk.IV/Mk.II (USSR) - Has been initially configured.

Interface

  • A new system has been introduced - Orders;
  • Added function that allows the marking of locations of enemies in combined Realistic Battles. By landing a shot on an enemy with your main gun, all players in your team will, for a limited time, be able to view the targeted enemy’s location on the minimap;
  • Tags for Britain carrier-based aircraft have been optimised (unnecessary and apparently duplicating tags have been removed).

Settings

  • Changed the method of saving user settings. Now they are stored separately for each account and divided into two parts. One part is synchronised between all player devices (general settings, vehicle preset settings and settings), the other one is individual for each device (control settings, colours, fonts, etc.).

Sounds

  • Improved the overall sound environment for air battles;
  • New sounds for shells striking the ground have been added.

Decals and Camouflages

  • Multiple decals for ground vehicles and aircraft have been added;
  • Added winter camouflages for all ground vehicles which don’t already have them. For all soviet ground vehicles, added woodland camouflages. Vehicles: Flakpanzer I Ausf A, КV-1B 756(r), Aufklärungspanzer 38(t), Pz.Kpfw 38(t) Ausf. A, Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger P, Sd.Kfz. 6/2 mit FlaK 36, StuG III Ausf A, StuG III Ausf F, M2A4, M3 Lee, M3 Stuart, M3A1 Stuart, BT-5, BT-7 1937, IS-3, IS-4M, ISU-152, KV-1 L11, KV-2 1939, М4A2 76W (USSR), SU-100Y, SU-100 1945, SU-122-54, SU-152, SU-57, SU-76M 1943, Т-10М, Т-126(SP), Т-26 1940, Т-28, Т-35, Т-50, Т-54 1951, Т-60 1941, Т-70 1942, Т-80, ZIS-30, ZSU-37, ZSU-57-2, ZUT-37;
  • The conditions for unlocking some camouflages have been changed.