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- For PC
- For MAC
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- OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/10 (64 bit)
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.2 GHz
- Memory: 4GB
- Video Card: DirectX 10.1 level video card: AMD Radeon 77XX / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660. The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64 bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600 and better
- Memory: 16 GB and more
- Video Card: DirectX 11 level video card or higher and drivers: Nvidia GeForce 1060 and higher, Radeon RX 570 and higher
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i5, minimum 2.2GHz (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 6 GB
- Video Card: Intel Iris Pro 5200 (Mac), or analog from AMD/Nvidia for Mac. Minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i7 (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 8 GB
- Video Card: Radeon Vega II or higher with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Most modern 64bit Linux distributions
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.4 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 660 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months; the minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Ubuntu 20.04 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Memory: 16 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 1060 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD (Radeon RX 570) with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
We’re happy to present to our players the first South African armoured vehicles as a separate branch of the British tech tree. Meet the Olifant Mk1A, a heavily modified South African variant of the Centurion Mk3 and Mk5 main battle tank, developed in the late ‘70s as a means to modernize the fleet of Centurion tanks in South African service.
Briefly: A domestic South African modification of the Centurion tank, featuring improved mobility while retaining excellent firepower and adequate protection.
Olifant Mk1A, main battle tank, Great Britain, rank VI
Pros
- Excellent firepower
- Improved mobility
Cons
- No advanced armor
Centurion tanks entered service with the South African armed forces already at the start of the Cold War in the early 1950s when South Africa purchased a few hundred Centurion Mk.3 tanks from the United Kingdom. However, operating the Centurions in the warm South African climate quickly turned out to be problematic as the tanks were prone to overheating. As a result, South Africa sold off many of its Centurions to Switzerland during the 1960s in order to acquire other equipment while many of the remaining tanks were relegated to reserve roles.
With conflicts in the region flaring up during the ‘70s, the South African armed forces were reminded of the importance of their armored units and several projects were initiated to modernize the Centurions in service. These projects resulted in the creation of two interim models of domestic Centurions - the Skoikaan and Semel. In parallel however, the South African government formed a company in the private sector to develop a proper modernization package for the Centurion.
Work on the project began in the mid ‘70s, with South African engineers taking inspiration from the Israeli Sho’t Centurions and applying similar upgrades to what would eventually become known as the Olifant tank. The first prototype of the Olifant rolled out of the factory in 1976 and underwent testing. Shortly afterwards, the Olifant Mk1 entered production service in 1978, with production lasting until 1984. In the early 80s, the Olifant was upgraded to the Mk.1A modification, which featured a domestic version of the L7 cannon as well as other upgrades.
The Olifant Mk1A remained in service with SANDF into the 1990s before being succeeded by the Olifant Mk 2. In total, over 150 Olifant Mk1As were produced, some seeing action during the conflicts with Angola in the early 1980s.
In War Thunder, the Olifant Mk1A will be a new main battle tank arriving at the top ranks of the British ground forces tree as part of the brand new South African subtree, coming to the game with the release of the “Ixwa Strike” major update. Combining features found on some of the later Centurion models as well as the familiar Sho’t Kal Dalet premium tank, the Olifant Mk1A offers its aspiring commanders a well rounded combat vehicle, bound to soon become a staple of any British tanker’s high tier lineup!
At a distance, tankers could be forgiven for mistaking the Olifant Mk1A for the Centurion Mk.10 as both vehicles share a great deal of visual similarities overall. Apart from the visual similarities, both vehicles also feature a near identical weapons arsenal - in the case of the Olifant Mk1A this being the GT-3 105 mm rifled cannon, a South African modification of the well-known L7 cannon. Retaining the signature high rate of fire and superb ballistic properties, the GT-3 cannon also allows tankers to fire a wider assortment of subcaliber and chemical munitions, including powerful APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds!
Furthermore, one area in which the Olifant Mk1A offers a major upgrade over the standard British Centurion models is mobility. Namely, unlike its British relatives, the Olifant Mk1A is equipped with a 750 horsepower Continental diesel engine, allowing the vehicle to reach a much higher top speed of 45 km/h on roads, while also managing to get up to 15 km/h in reverse. In this regard, the Olifant Mk1A offers similar levels of improved mobility as the Sho’t Kal Dalet, already familiar to some tankers.
However, while tankers will certainly welcome the improvements to mobility, it’s also worth noting that the Olifant Mk1A doesn’t feature any upgrades in protection compared to the later Centurion versions. As a result, and as most seasoned Centurion commanders are aware of, the Olifant Mk1A won’t particularly excel at close quarter brawls as its armor, while not thin, can’t reliably shield the crew and vital components from the powerful ammunition types fired at high tier battles. To that extent, tankers will be better off using the Olifant Mk1A as a second line support vehicle in more urban or long range marksman on wide, moren open battlefields. Either way, the fantastic cannon and good mobility allow tankers to perform well in both roles.
The Olifant Mk1A is arriving to higher ranks of the British ground forces tree as part of the South African subtree with the release of the “Ixwa Strike” major update coming soon. In the meantime, stay tuned to the news to learn more about all the exciting new additions awaiting you in the upcoming major War Thunder update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!
The War Thunder Team
Comments (129)
Iy will be nice to see Czech tech tree - I think that there can be similar nubmer of aircrafts and planes like in Sweden or China.
will you need to reach a certain rank as you have to do with helicopters?
separate branch? Do that mean China tech tree will be separated into 2 branch?(USSR and USA)
Nice addition to the GB tree, awesome work.
Welcome to War Thunder South Africa
Adding New minor tech tree while previous ones Suffers cuz of lack of attention from Gaijin. Another IFV for US, when they already have one, where is Dardo for Italy? Is it that hard to add 8.3 IFV with armament that's already in game instead of more useless Tanks for Big Three
What about the Class 3(P) in the German tree? Will that get moved to the South African sub tree?
"Mr. Frodo, look! It's an Olifant, no one at home would believe this."
So Dev stream when? Devserver When?
Hopefully Olifant Mk. 2 w/ both 105mm gun and 120mm :)