War Thunder News

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Today we’re checking out the USS Charles F. Adams destroyer that has something unique up its sleeve: RIM-24 Tartar anti-aircraft missiles![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Charles F. Adams-class destroyers became iconic ships during the Cold War, combining traditional gunfire with cutting-edge missile technology. The lead ship of the class, USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2), entered service in 1960 and immediately found itself at the epicenter of history, participating in the Mercury 8 mission and then in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, where it was involved in enforcing a naval blockade of Cuba. USS Charles F. Adams later served in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, escorting the aircraft carrier USS Independence.[/p][p]Despite its active service, USS Charles F. Adams’ fate after its decommissioning in 1990 was dramatic. Years of efforts by veterans and historians to preserve it as a museum in Jacksonville, Florida ran into financial and bureaucratic hurdles. The U.S. Navy refused to hand over the ship, and in 2020 it was sent to Texas for scrapping.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing USS Charles F. Adams![/h3][p]Meet a truly rare gem: a ship with missile weapons! We’d like to introduce the destroyer USS Charles F. Adams today, one of the more unique ships that features both traditional guns, torpedoes as well as guided missiles! Let’s take a further look.[/p][p][/p][p]USS Charles F. Adams will be the second Bluewater fleet ship in the game that features missiles, after the Soviet Bravy destroyer. This ship is armed with the RIM-24 Tartar anti-aircraft missile system, already familiar to those who know about USS Douglas, a Coastal fleet boat. These missiles can not only be used against aircraft, but also against enemy ships! The ammunition count for these missiles is a solid 42, so you’ll be able to fire as many as you want without worrying about running out too soon![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Despite the guided missiles, USS Charles F. Adams remains a destroyer with armament typical for this class. The two main 127 mm Mark 18 guns with rapid-fire capabilities are excellent for destroying those lighter sea targets, and the HE-VT shells make these guns great against aircraft as well. There’s also two triple-tube rotating torpedo tubes on each side of the ship that fire anti-submarine torpedoes, which means they have limited effectiveness against ships.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In most battles, USS Charles F. Adams will specialize against aircraft, which comes in handy as many ships at its rank don’t have any air defense capabilities, making this ship helpful to the team. Despite this, the main guns and RIM-24 missiles are also particularly good at taking out smaller boats that are maneuvering sharply while trying to capture points, and enemy destroyers that have weaker armor.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Look out for USS Charles F. Adams at rank IV in the USA’s Bluewater fleet tree, coming to the game in the Tusk Force major update very soon![/p][p][/p][p]Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Meet the 203 mm M55 self-propelled howitzer, coming to the game for the USA, Germany, China, Italy and France![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Development of the 203.2 mm M55 self-propelled howitzer began in 1948, when Pacific Car & Foundry received a contract to produce a new self-propelled artillery piece as part of the U.S. Army rearmament program. Built on a chassis with a front-mounted engine and transmission, two prototypes were created: one mounting a 155 mm gun and the other a 203.2 mm howitzer.[/p][p]The first prototype was completed in July 1952 and soon entered serial production as the M55. However, even after deliveries began, the design required further improvements. In total, 550 M55 units were produced. They served with the U.S. Army until the 1960s, later being exported to allies, including Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Turkey.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the M55![/h3][p]Say hello to the M55 self-propelled howitzer, coming to Rank III for five nations at once: the USA, Germany, China, Italy and France! The firepower of this monster is almost unmatched, so let’s take a closer look![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The M55 is armed with the 203.2 mm (8-inch) M47 howitzer, a rifled gun offering excellent ballistics for a weapon of its size. It fires only one type of round, the staggeringly heavy M106 HE shell, weighing in at 104 kg! The size and weight of this projectile limits the total capacity to only 10 shells, which really isn’t too many. A well trained crew will be able to reload in just under 30 seconds. While it may not look like it, the M55 is turreted, and while it can’t traverse around completely it can still manage 30 degrees to the left and right.[/p][p]Using a redesigned chassis and new tracks, the M55 shares several components with the M47 tank. Despite its size, the M55 is actually lighter than the M47, and can reach a higher top speed of 56 km/h. That said, this vehicle is poorly suited for frontline fighting, its armor is thin and only just bulletproof. The front-mounted engine and transmission may occasionally absorb hits into the hull, but as the turret is packed with crew and ammunition, any penetration here is usually fatal.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Due to the thin armor and long reload, the M55 is a vehicle that relies on support to work effectively, helping the team behind the frontline by supplying devastating supporting fire from a safer position. The benefit of a cannon this size is that accuracy doesn’t need to be perfect, as long as the shell connects it will more than likely be game over for your target![/p][p]That’s it for this one! Look out for this new addition coming to several nations in the next major update Tusk Force. Stay tuned for more dev blogs, as we have many more new additions to show you![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Meet the Douglas B-66B Destroyer, a light bomber developed for the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950s as part of America’s shift toward jet-powered tactical aircraft at the beginning of the Cold War.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]The early 1950s marked a period when the USAF was rapidly modernizing its tactical forces to meet the challenges of the Cold War. At the same time, the Navy was also developing its own jet-powered long range bomber, the A-3 Skywarrior, which quickly attracted interest from the Air Force because of its promising design features. As a result, a derivative of the A-3 was developed for the USAF. The aircraft, designated as the B-66 Destroyer, received an extensive redesign to suit Air Force requirements, including ejection seats, different avionics, and structural changes to handle shorter land-based runways. Its development was driven by NATO’s defense strategy in Europe, where the United States sought fast, nuclear-capable strike aircraft able to breach Soviet defenses and deliver tactical weapons against advancing Warsaw Pact forces.[/p][p]Entering service in 1956, the B-66 replaced the aging A-26 Invader and became Tactical Air Command’s primary light bomber, despite only 72 units being built. Its service career in the bombing role was short-lived however, as newer strike aircraft like the F-105 Thunderchief and the supersonic B-58 Hustler soon superseded it. Nevertheless, its versatile airframe proved highly adaptable, leading to large-scale conversions into reconnaissance and electronic warfare variants, which continued to serve well into the 1970s.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the B-66B Destroyer![/h3][p]The B-66B Destroyer will soon join the ranks of early jet-powered bombers in the American aviation tree. Although rapid technological advancement cut the service career of the B-66B short in the real world, this new light jet bomber will surely make a name for itself once it joins the fight in War Thunder’s air and combined battles. Let’s take a closer look![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Originally derived from a naval twin-engine jet bomber, the B-66B features sleek swept wings, optimized for transonic speeds. Powered by a pair of Allison J71 turbojet engines, the B-66B can reach top speeds of around 1,000 km/h (630 mph) at medium altitudes. Jet-powered predators may have an easier time catching up to it, but this doesn’t mean that the B-66B will be easy prey. Instead, attacking enemies will first need to bypass the B-66’s powerful defensive turret situated on the aircraft’s tail, comprised of twin 20 mm cannons. With one well-aimed burst of 20 mm high-explosive rounds being enough to shear wings clean off an airframe, make sure to watch out for this mighty sentinel![/p][p][/p][p]With a hefty payload of 12,000 lbs (5,400 kg), you’ll easily be able to destroy a large number of targets in both air and combined battles. Regardless of the particular mission, the B-66B Destroyer does its name justice by offering a selection of conventional 750 lb and 3,000 lb bombs.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s it for this one! The B-66B Destroyer is soon arriving in War Thunder as a new light bomber for the early ranks of American jet aircraft with the release of the upcoming Tusk Force major update. In the meantime, be sure to follow the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update. Until then, clear skies and happy hunting, pilots![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Today, we’ll be looking at a slew of Nordic Mosquitoes joining the Swedish aviation tree in the next major update. Bringing speed, firepower and twin engine support from the ever reliable “Mossie”![/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Originally starting life as the unique concept of a fully unarmed bomber, relying only on its speed, the DH.98 Mosquito was the brainchild of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. Rejected initially by the British air minister at the concept stage, de Havilland used their past experience with designs like the DH.88 Comet Racer and pushed on with refining the DH.98 project by themselves quietly at Salisbury Hall in Hertfordshire. Its wooden construction, unique for a time when most aircraft were increasingly being built out of metal, earned it the nickname “the Wooden Wonder”. It also meant it would not impact the vital production of other key aircraft that were desperately needed, like the Supermarine Spitfire. [/p][p] [/p][p]Taking to the skies for the first time in November 1940, the Mosquito would prove an invaluable aircraft, being flexible enough to be both a high speed bomber and also multiple fighter / bomber roles too. The airframe was incorporated with 20 mm hispano cannons and machine guns for the fighter role, but the FB variants would see all manner of weaponry, from rockets to the 57 mm Molins cannon. Specialised Night Fighter versions would also see Radars fitted and many variants existed for photographic reconnaissance roles too. [/p][p] [/p][p]The Mosquito would be so successful that over 20+ nations operated the type from the USA, USSR and China to Norway. Norway was one of the first free European nations to operate the Mosquito, with No. 333 squadron (RNoAF) taking the helm of the F Mk II in 1943.[/p][h2] [/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the new Norwegian Mosquitos![/h3][p]The Mossie family of aircraft need little introduction in War Thunder, as both new and veteran pilots will no doubt have seen or experienced the “Wooden Wonder” from its variants in game already. But today, we welcome 3 separate variants of the Royal Norwegian Air Force! These 3 new Nordic Warriors bring some twin engine heavy fighter and strike aircraft potential to the Swedish tree, with some new tricks to show off too. On top of this, we also plan to add the  Mosquito NF Mk II and Mosquito TR Mk 33 variants to Great Britain as well. Let's take a closer look at what the F Mk II and FB Mk VI ASH have to offer, coming in the Tusk Force major update.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]The first of the three is the standard daytime fighter variant, the F Mk II. This version predates the FV Mk II, in that it is a pure fighter version. With a pair of Rolls Royce Merlin XX’s, this version doesn’t feature any bombs, rockets or ground ordinance. The Mk II F will provide the Swedish tree with a versatile twin engined heavy fighter for the mid ranks, with four 20 mm Hispano Cannons and four 7.7 mm machine guns. Certainly not something you would want to take head on![/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The FB Mk VI (ASH) is a unique modification that sees the removal of the four 7.7 mm guns in the nose, replaced with the AN/APS-4 ASH radar set, similar to what can be found already in game on the F6F-5N. This radar allows the Mossie to hunt seaborne targets by means of an air to surface radar. As well as the obvious change to the nose, you’ll also find the other elements of the radar antenna on the wingtips.[/p][p] [/p][p]The Nordic trio is rounded off by the conventional variant of FB Mk VI, familiar to players already in the British tree. A reliable all round strike aircraft that still packs a significant punch with its battery of four 20 mm Hispano cannons and four 7.7 mm Browning Machine guns in the nose. Along with a decent set of suspended and internal ordinance, such as the familiar RP-3s and general Purpose bombs to bring to bear against ground and naval targets too. A solid package that bolsters the lineups of the Nordic nations![/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s all for now, stay tuned to the news for more details on what else you can expect in the Tusk Force major Update for War Thunder![/p][p]
Please note that these vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before they are added to the game.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Hey everyone! We’re back with some more monthly historical inscriptions and markings for you. This time the rotation was tweaked a bit to include Rosie the Rocketer. We usually don’t add new decals for one nation back to back as we want each nation and branch to get a turn regularly, but it was a good time to include it alongside the Pages of History event. So, we hope the rocketers and indeed Rosies among you enjoy adding it to your collection! And of course, we hope you like the rest of the markings this time around as well, have a look!

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[p]The following decals will be available from September 8th (11:00 GMT) until October 8th (09:00 GMT).[/p][p]All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.[/p]

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[/p][hr][/hr][h3][/h3][h3]"Rosie the Rocketer"[/h3][p]The personal motif of Charles Carpenter, U.S. Army. Major Charles Carpenter was a history teacher and later a reconnaissance pilot during the Second World War, flying the Piper L-4 Grasshopper. Somewhat dissatisfied with his unarmed plane and the limited impact he was having, Charles sought approval to strap several bazooka launchers to the struts of his plane to give it some firepower. Despite his fragile aircraft and the limited range of the rockets, Charles was credited with destroying six German armored vehicles, two of which were Tiger I models, a feat that quickly made him a legend. He named his aircraft “Rosie the Rocketer”, a play on the symbolic character of Rosie the Riveter, who represented the women who made up a large part of America’s factory workforce during the Second World War. The somewhat crudely designed rocket and accompanying inscription were painted on the right side of his aircraft, just under the cockpit.

[/p][h3]"Have Another" Marking, No. 419 Squadron[/h3][p]“Have Another” marking, No. 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. Although sources conflict over which specific aircraft bore this marking, it is unmistakably the work of Bennett Ley Kenyon, a British tail gunner and artist who served with No. 419, whose work would help to inspire the film “The Great Escape”. After being shot down and captured, he created documentation for the escape preparations on scraps of parcel paper, and these scraps helped to visually inspire the events of the film many years later. While specific details are scarce, the marking was likely inspired by an Australian crew member, creating a fitting example of Commonwealth representation: an Australian-themed emblem, designed by a Brit, on a Canadian squadron's aircraft. It depicts a cartoon kangaroo standing on a bomb, while a joey in its pouch scans for targets with binoculars. The marking was painted below the cockpit on the right side of one of the squadron's Halifax bombers.
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[/p][h3]"Nice II" Inscription[/h3][p]“Nice II” inscription, 2e Régiment de Cuirassiers (2nd Cuirassier Regiment), French Army. While in English the name may present a different meaning at first, this marking refers to the French coastal city of Nice (pronounced 'niece' in English). Naming vehicles after cities was a common French practice during and after the Second World War, with names often chosen based on the crew's origins, the unit's formation location, or its area of deployment. The numeral “II” indicates that there was an original “Nice" tank, that was either lost in battle or decommissioned. “Nice II” was a post-war M4A1 Sherman (registration number 802594) used by the French Army in the 1950s, with the inscription painted on the hull side, below the turret.

[/p][h3]254 Squadron Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of 254 “Midland” Squadron, IAF. Formed in 1980, the squadron initially flew the Kfir C.1 and later operated the C.2 variant and the Mirage IIICJ, flying combat patrols during the 1982 Lebanon War. The squadron disbanded shortly after in 1984, as its arsenal of Kfir C.2 aircraft were set to be transferred to the U.S. Navy. There they became part of the "Aggressor" program with unit VF-43, and were redesignated as the F-21A Lion. The marking depicts a stylized bird against the coastline, with a red outline possibly representing the view from an aircraft window. The marking was not universally applied, but was generally positioned high on the tail of the squadron’s aircraft.

[/p][h3]Naval Association Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of the Japanese Naval Association (海軍協会). While not directly under the remit of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the association was created in 1917 to build public support for naval activities. Initially, its focus was on promoting naval expansion, particularly the construction of large warships that required considerable national backing. During the Second World War, its focus shifted to naval recruitment and providing support for service members and their families. This quintessential naval marking was most widely used as a badge.

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[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]"Central Air Defense School" Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of the Central Air Defense School (中央防空学校), Chinese Army. Initiated by the Chinese Aviation Administration in 1933, the school was formally established in January 1934 at the Jianqiao air base in Hangzhou and would later be relocated and renamed several times. Its curriculum was based on training materials translated from various countries, including Germany and Great Britain, which provided students with several useful perspectives. The school also used a wide variety of foreign anti-aircraft equipment, purchasing guns from nations such as Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. While the school was light on vehicles, it did have at least one Vickers Artillery Tractor, where the emblem of the school was painted on the lower plate.

[/p][h3]Battaglione "Lupo", Decima Flottiglia MAS Emblem[/h3][p]An emblem of Battaglione "Lupo", Decima Flottiglia, Motoscafi Armati Siluranti (“Wolf” Battalion, 10th MAS Flotilla), RSI. While not an armored group by any means, the Lupo battalion acquired several L6/40 light tanks during 1944, though details of their operational history are nebulous and conflicting. Three of the tanks were recovered in poor condition from Ciriè, north of Turin. It is likely that at least one was completely stripped for spare parts in order to put one L6/40 into combat service. One L6/40 was deployed by the battalion south of Turin in Venaria, and another was seen later in Alba (though without the 20 mm cannon), it is unclear whether these were the same or separate vehicles, though superficial analysis of the camouflage suggests they may have been the same machine. Their last, or perhaps only working tank was finally abandoned at a rail depot in Milan in late 1944. The wolf marking, adapted from the battalion's badge, was painted on the front sides of the turret.

[/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]1. Skånska Flygflottiljen (F 10) "Spökdivisionen" Emblem[/h3][p]An emblem of 1. Skånska Flygflottiljen (1st Squadron of the Scania Air Wing) F 10, Swedish Air Force. The emblem's origins date to 1942, when the squadron operated Gladiator and J20 fighters. Because its missions were often flown early in the morning or late at night, local residents could hear the aircraft but rarely see them, earning the unit its unofficial nickname, the “Ghost Squadron” (its official callsign remained Johan Röd). The emblem was used sporadically until the squadron's disbandment in 2002, appearing on the tails of its J35 Draken and J37 Viggen aircraft. Its most famous usage was on Viggen Number 57, which was painted bright red, with the ghost prominently displayed on the tail and replacing the national roundels. A secret tiny ghost could be seen on the forward-left wheel hub. Reportedly, when the aircraft visited F 21 Luleå someone placed a hockey sticker on the wheel, which was then covered by a ghost when the aircraft returned to F 10. [/p][p][/p][h3]Schw. PzJgAbt. 559 Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of the Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 559 (559th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion), Wehrmacht. Formed on August 26th, 1939, the battalion was initially equipped with only 3.7cm Pak guns and would be rearmed and renamed several times to reflect its changing arsenal. It received its “heavy” designation on April 10th 1944, shortly before the battalion received its first Jagdpanthers, though it also continued to operate the StuG III and later the Panzer IV/70. The unit remained active until the end of the Second World War, participating in the Battle of Geel and the Ardennes Offensive. The marking depicts a somewhat modern-looking rendition of the Jagdpanther, and was seen in the final stages of the war on the front-right mud guard of the battalion's Jagdpanthers.[/p][p] [/p][h3]Personal Marking of Amet-khan Sultan, 9GvIAP[/h3][p]A personal marking of Amet-khan Sultan, 9GvIAP (9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), Soviet Air Force. Graduating as a pilot in 1940, Amet-khan had a distinguished career as both a fighter and test pilot. His record of 30 solo and 19 shared aerial victories earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He would end the war flying the La-7, but during 1943 he flew the P-39 Airacobra extensively over Kuban, where this marking is said to originate. Although no photographic evidence of the snake marking appears to exist, eyewitness accounts of his plane during this time do report a yellow zig-zag patterned snake on his aircraft. The choice of a snake is at least thematically fitting, as a link to the Airacobra. Accounts reliably suggest that the snake was positioned along the left side of the fuselage on his P-39, with the head of the snake in front of the cockpit and the tail at the end of the engine exhaust

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Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.[/p][p][/p][p]You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.

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All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.[/p][p][/p][p]We hope you like the selection for September! While we’re all eagerly awaiting the Tusk Force major update, we hope you have fun adding these decals to your collection in the meantime. Enjoy, keep leaving your suggestions, and we’ll see you in a month![/p]