War Thunder News

Fury from the skies! Meet the 17th season of the Battle pass. In this one, you can get the Soviet light cruiser Murmansk and the He 177 A-3 German bomber, armed with the new Hs 293 guided bomb!

To receive Battle Pass rewards, you’ll need to regularly log into the game and complete tasks and challenges to progress. Each level of the Battle Pass will earn you a prize, be it a player icon, loading screen, title, decals, decorations, or premium vehicles!

Please note: This time, we’ve created a trophy for ground vehicles that includes three Battle Pass rewards from previous seasons that were not available on the marketplace, as well as one event vehicle. Opening this trophy will guarantee you either the T55E1, Toldi IIA, Sd.Kfz.251/22, or Ka-Chi, if you don’t have them currently. If you have them all, you’ll receive Silver Lions and a “Collector Golden Battles Wager” instead.

In the future, we’re planning to rotate different Battle Pass trophies that contain a different set of event vehicles that were not available for purchase.

The maximum reward for this wager is 1,000 Golden Eagles. To receive it, you need to win 12 battles using rank III and higher vehicles while destroying at least one player vehicle in each match. If you lose your match or don’t destroy a player three times, the wager will be over and the reward corresponding to the progress made will be given to you.



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When: October 23rd until January 22nd.

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[h2]This Season’s Rewards![/h2]

We’ve got a new set of decals, decorations, a profile icon, a trophy containing previous ground vehicles from the Battle Pass, and two new vehicles lined up for you this season! See the full list in the Battle Pass tab in the hangar, or check them out on our Wiki. Here’s some key rewards for Season 17:

[h2]Trophy containing previous ground vehicles[/h2]
1 random ground vehicle (T55E1, Toldi IIA, Sd.Kfz.251/22 or Ka-Chi) from previous Battle Pass seasons or events

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Opening this trophy will give you 1 random ground vehicle from previous Battle Pass seasons, or one from a previous event. If you already own all of them, you’ll be given Silver Lions and a “Collector Golden Battles Wager”.

[h2]Murmansk[/h2]
A Premium Light Cruiser for the USSR at Rank III

An American light cruiser in service with the Soviet Navy, featuring ten 152 mm guns, a radar and excellent anti-aircraft armament.

More details here.



[h2]He 177 A-3[/h2]
A Premium Bomber for Germany at Rank IV

A high-speed, long-range bomber with an impressive payload and the Henschel Hs 293 guided bomb, new to Germany.

More details here.




[h2]Decals[/h2]







[h2]Decorations[/h2]



[h2]Profile Icon[/h2]

Bomber pilot


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All Rewards and Challenges for Season 17

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[h3]About the Battle Pass[/h3]

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If you’ve got two Coupon Upgrades from stages in the previous season, then you can claim the new Battle Pass for free! Exchange them in the purchase menu of the Guided Fury season.

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The Battle Pass is a seasonal event where players can earn many rewards, from Silver Lions and boosters to exclusive season prizes: decorations, profile icons and premium vehicles. The rules are simple: you earn progress points and use them to unlock new stages, earning valuable prizes in the process.

You can unlock new stages and receive awards at any time during the season.


You can access the “Battle Pass” window through the promo block on the right side of the hangar screen.

[h3]How to participate[/h3]
Play

• You get progress points every day for entering the game.
  
• From 1 to 5 points.
  

Complete Battle Tasks

• You can check your Battle Tasks in the game. Complete them and receive progress points.
  
• From 2 to 5 points.
  

Complete Season Challenges

• One Challenge is available at the start of the season. Every week you get a new one, while three more can become available by unlocking stages.
  
• 30 points.
  

Learn more about the Battle Pass

On October 21st 1805, perhaps the most famous naval battle in the history of the Royal Navy took place near Cape Trafalgar. 27 British ships of the line, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, entered the battle against 33 ships of the line of the combined fleets of France and Spain. The Royal Navy did not lose a single ship in the battle, capturing 21 enemy ships and sinking one. This victory is widely celebrated in Great Britain to this day.

[h2]Fairmile D (5001) is temporarily available for Golden Eagles at a 30% discount![/h2]
This coastal boat is available for 910 Golden Eagles.



When: From today until October 23rd (09:00 GMT).
Where: Britain > Coastal fleet > Premium vehicles.

About this boat

• The Fairmile D (5001) is a representative of the last, fifth series of Fairmile D boats, produced during the Second World War. Due to its wooden hull it does not differ in survivability, but is fast and well armed, making it best suited for sudden daring attacks on enemy boats. It differs from the previous modification in the game, the Fairmile D (697), in the calibers of the torpedo tubes. Two are the same at 450 mm each, while the other two are 533 mm ones.
  

[h2]Get the “Horatio Nelson” decal! [/h2]
For this day, you’ll be able to get a decal of Nelson who led the British to a victory at Trafalgar!

“Horatio Nelson” decal

When: From today until October 23rd (09:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using British ships at rank III or above to receive the “Horatio Nelson” 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 → Trafalgar Day.
  
• You can find the decoration in the “Holidays” tab in the Customisation menu.
  

Your vehicles in the fall colors were great. Thanks for sharing your screenshots with us last week! This week - pictures with bodies of water! Any water feature will do, such as rivers or lakes, or the ocean! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 142nd edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen142. You have time until the 25th of October 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.

[h3]Terms:[/h3]

Your screenshot must feature a body of water - a river, lake, or ocean.
You must add the #WTscreen142 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
• 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.
  

[h2]And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 141st edition – Fall Colors![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3325929727
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3348212240
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3347232979

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3347350265
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3348080543
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3347644751

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

Today we’ll be taking a look at the PLZ05, featuring a modern 155 mm self-propelled howitzer that’ll further strengthen the Chinese ground forces tree in the next major update!

[h2]PLZ05: A Tank Destroyer for China at Rank V[/h2]
At a glance:

• Long-barreled 155 mm Howitzer that can fire HE shells!
  
• Mechanized ammo rack with a decent reload time.
  
• Laser rangefinder for easy long-range shots.
  
• Top speed of 56 km/h.
  

Vehicle History
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The PLZ05 was developed as a replacement for the aging PLZ83(A) in service with the PLA, which started from the transition of large-caliber Chinese guns to 155 mm caliber. The PLZ05 was a further development of the PLZ45 using a domestic engine and transmission. This new vehicle received an automatic loader, similar to the Russian Msta-S, a laser rangefinder and an anti-fragment liner. The PLZ05 was accepted into service in 2005 and is currently in service with the ground forces of the PLA.
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[h2]Meet the PLZ05![/h2]

In the next major update, the Chinese ground forces tree will receive their very own long-barreled capable vehicle with devastating high explosive rounds — the PLZ05! Despite its considerable dimensions, this vehicle is mobile, has a high rate of fire and is equipped with modern electronics. Let’s take a closer look!



The stand-out feature of the PLZ05 is its armament! It’s a long-barreled Chinese 155 mm howitzer that’s loaded using a mechanized ammunition rack, where an exemplary trained crew can achieve a rate of fire of about 8 rounds per minute for the first-stage ammo. This gun can fire a regular high-explosive shell, a HE shell with a radio fuze, a SAP round, plus a smoke shell.



Visually, the PLZ05 is a large beast and is quite a heavy vehicle, making it easy to spot and difficult to hide. However, this vehicle has a maximum top speed of 56 km/h, allowing you to find advantageous cover and retreat out of difficult situations more than once.



That’s it for this one! The PLZ05 will arrive at rank V of the Chinese ground forces tree as a powerful vehicle in this nation. Very soon you’ll be able to try out this vehicle in battle, but until then keep an eye out for other vehicles that await you in the next major update!

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

Today we’ll be taking a look at the FV107 Scimitar, a British light tank with a 30 mm autocannon on a light chassis, capable of positioning itself well around the map and causing havoc to the enemy!

[h2]FV107 Scimitar: A Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank V [/h2]
At a glance:

• 30 mm L21A1 automatic cannon using the same ammunition as the Fox.
  
• Great top speed of 80 km/h.
  
• Light armor.
  

Vehicle History
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The FV107 Scimitar dates back to 1967, when the (CVR(T)) chassis was first designed to replace the Saladin armored car. In addition to the FV101 Scorpion, the Scimitar was also designed by Alvis as a light reconnaissance tank with 30 mm automatic fire potential. The first prototype was shown in 1971 and accepted into service in 1973, with 486 of these vehicles being produced in total.

Since 1974, the Scimitar has served in several conflicts, including the Falklands War, Gulf War, Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. In 1982 during the Falklands War, the Blues & Royals squadron operated the Scimitar and claimed to have shot down an Argentine Skyhawk with the 30 mm autocannon. In the 1991 Gulf War, Scimitars engaged Iraqi T-62s first hand. Over 300 Scimitars remained in service with the British Army until 2023, when it was phased out for the incoming Ajax. Some other operators include Belgium with over 150 vehicles in use until 2004 and Latvia with over 120 vehicles since 2014, still in service with them today.
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[h2]Meet the FV107 Scimitar![/h2]

Great Britain will be receiving a very nice light tank in the next major update, and that’s the FV107 Scimitar! This vehicle is somewhat similar to two others already in the game: the Fox, as it has the same gun, and the Striker, as it has a very similar chassis. Let’s take a closer look!



Another long-awaited light tank is arriving to Great Britain’s ground forces tree. Let’s take a look at the gun first! As with the Fox that we added earlier this year, the Scimitar features exactly the same gun and ammo — the 30 mm L21A1 RARDEN cannon that can fire APDS, APHE (SAP-I) and HEI-T rounds. Despite having a slower rate of fire than contemporary autocannons, the Scimitar can still certainly hold up against armored threats when hitting enemies from the side and rear.

Interesting: The word “Scimitar” refers to a single-edged sword with a curved blade.

As for mobility, the Scimitar is slightly inferior to the Fox due to its higher weight and tracked chassis. This vehicle comes in at around 8 tons with a top speed of 80 km/h and is almost identical as the FV102 Striker already in the game, apart from the fact that the Scimitar is smaller. These chassis have familiarities as they’re both based on the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) series of vehicles.



Did you know? The (CVR(T)) series of vehicles is huge! Over 3,500 vehicles were built on this chassis, including the Scorpion, Striker, Spartan, Samaritan, Sultan, Samson, Scimitar, Sabre and Stormer.

Just like the Fox, the Scimitar features light aluminum alloy armor — enough to survive hits against anything up to a .50 cal, but anything above that will knock out the 3 crew members inside. Be sure to keep this in mind in battle and support your allies by flanking and spotting with the scouting mechanic! To round it off, the Scimitar has smoke grenade launchers to conceal itself or to assist when repositioning, plus a 7.62 machine gun for good measure.



That’s it for today’s blog! The FV107 Scimitar is coming to the game in the next major update and will provide Great Britain with even more light tank capabilities. Until the next blog, have fun and see you soon!

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