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Monthly Decals for September!

[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]“Rosie the Rocketer” Marking, USA[/p]
[p]“Have Another” Marking, No. 419 Squadron, Canada[/p]
[p]Destroy 30 ground or water targets using rockets while using US aircraft [/p]
[p]Defeat 20 players using bombs while using British Aircraft[/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]“Nice II” Inscription, France[/p]
[p]254 Squadron Emblem, Israel[/p]
[p]Naval Association Emblem, Japan[/p]
[p]Earn 15000 score using French Ground Vehicles[/p]
[p]Defeat 20 players using missiles while flying Israeli Aircraft[/p]
[p]Score 20000 Damage while using Japanese Vessels [/p]
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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]“Central Air Defense School” Emblem, China[/p][p](Created by forum moderator Redmisty)[/p]
[p]Battaglione “Lupo”, Decima Flottiglia MAS Emblem, Italy[/p]
[p]Destroy 20 Aircraft using Chinese Ground Vehicles[/p]
[p]Play 20 battles while using Italian Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle Activity[/p]
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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.

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[p]1. Skånska Flygflottiljen (F 10) “Spökdivisionen” Emblem, Sweden[/p]
[p]Schw. PzJgAbt. 559 Emblem, Germany[/p]
[p]Personal Marking of Amet-khan Sultan, 9GvIAP, USSR[/p]
[p]Finish in position 1-3 three times while using Swedish aircraft[/p]
[p]Defeat 40 Players using German Tank Destroyers[/p]
[p]Defeat 50 Players using Soviet Aircraft [/p]
[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]

Tusk Force is the next major update to War Thunder featuring the first Ukrainian-made tank

War Thunder is heating up again with the new Tusk Force update coming soon that features War Thunder's first Ukrainian-made tank, along many other additions.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/09/tusk-force-is-the-next-major-update-to-war-thunder-featuring-the-first-ukrainian-made-tank/

Screenshot Competition – Ruins of Valor!



Welcome to the 188th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!


Thanks for your outstanding submissions! For this round, the focus turns to the wreckage left behind in battle. We would like to feature screenshots that include destroyed vehicles, whether they’re smoldering tanks, burning ships, or downed aircraft. How many wreckages can you fit in a single screenshot? The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 188th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen188. You have time until the 12th of September 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 include destroyed or heavily damaged vehicle(s).
    You must add the #WTscreen188 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 187th edition – Shock & Awe![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559212725
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559456966
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559531255

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559550396
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559036808
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3560130632

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

Buk-M3: Branching Out

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Today we’ll be covering the Buk-M3 SAM system, one of the most famous surface-to-air missile systems.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Buk-M3: An SPAA (SAM) for the USSR at Rank VIII[/p]
[p]At a glance:[/p]
  • [p]12 missiles in two launchers (6 in each)[/p]
  • [p]Tracking and hitting up to 12 targets simultaneously[/p]
  • [p]Launch range up to 70 km[/p]
  • [p]Launchers able to continue combat after the radar vehicle is destroyed[/p]
  • [p]Good mobility but large in size[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Development of the Buk surface-to-air missile system began on January 13th, 1972. The system was intended to combat targets at medium and low altitudes and was set to be completed by mid-1975. Before the system could be completed however, there were urgent concerns regarding the anti-air defense of tank divisions, and so a decision was quickly made to create the system in two stages. On May 22nd, 1974 a decree was issued to develop a simplified version — this initial variant was autonomous and self-propelled, and able to be integrated with existing Kub-M3 SAM system vehicles.[/p][p]The fully-fledged 9K37 Buk system successfully completed testing in 1979, consisting of a command post, a radar station, six launcher vehicles with four SAMs each, loading vehicles and a communications platoon.[/p][p]Modernization began after the Buk was adopted into service, and resulted in several improvements. The Buk-M1 featured increased jamming immunity and expanded target engagement capabilities, the Buk-M1-2 could fire a new missile, with the generally improved Buk-M2 followed after. The most modern iteration of the system, the Buk-M3, was accepted into service in 2016. It features new 9M317M series missiles, a new combat control post, an improved radar vehicle, new TELs (transport erector launcher) with 12 missiles each, and a new TELARs (transporter erector launcher and radar) with 6 missiles each.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the Buk-M3![/h3][p]Meet the Buk-M3, a modern Russian surface-to-air missile system coming to War Thunder in the next major update. It will come to the game as a Multi-Vehicle SAM system, meaning it consists of three vehicles: a radar vehicle, and two launcher vehicles with six missiles each. Let’s take a look at what the Buk is capable of![/p][p][/p][p]Let’s start by going over the weapons. As soon as you spawn into a battle and position your radar vehicle, you’ll be able to deploy one or two launcher vehicles that each have six 9M317MA missiles in launch canisters. The guidance for them is a combination of active radar homing with inertial guidance on the missile’s flight trajectory and data link. The massive missiles have a large warhead and a radio fuse with a large proximity detonation range, as well as a long time in flight. The 9M317MA missiles have a thrust vector control and overload of 30G, allowing them to hit targets with ease, even at short distances. The missile containers are angled and the missiles cannot be launched vertically, so make sure to position the launcher vehicles accordingly![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Did you know? “Buk” means “Beech” (a type of tree).[/p][p][/p][p]The radar vehicle is where the gunner operates the system, able to control almost the entire airspace above the battle and simultaneously lead and hit up to 12 targets at once! Even if this vehicle is destroyed you’ll still be able to continue fighting aircraft. The launcher vehicles have their own sight with a thermal imager, and their radar is capable of both detecting and tracking targets, albeit in a narrow sector.[/p][p][/p][p]Interesting: The Buk detection station radar has a low rotation frequency, so one revolution takes 4.5 seconds. Each launcher vehicle has a radar with a phased array antenna, which allows for rapid scanning of the airspace. During operation, the data from these radars is integrated, and as a result the gunner receives a rapid update of information about targets in the sector of fire.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’ve gone through the technicalities, let’s look at the base vehicle itself. The Buk-M3 is on a tracked chassis, providing a top speed of up to 70 km/h. Both the launcher and radar vehicles are very large, especially the radar vehicle with the rotating radar antenna. They’re also predictably only protected by bulletproof armor; they can survive some shrapnel from indirect hits from small bombs or rockets, but that’s about it.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s it for now! The Buk-M3 will be joining the game in the next major update. Soon, we’ll be back with some more dev blogs, so keep an eye out![/p][p]Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.[/p]

Register to Reserve a Spot in the Qualification Stage of the Third WTCS Major!

[h3]The War Thunder Championship Series (WTCS) moves forward![/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p]In early July, the Armored Apex 4v4 tournament came to an end. And what a finale it was! Team AVReS stormed through the qualifiers, dominated the play-offs, and finished undefeated with a 3-0 sweep over LEET on Sinai. With this incredible run, AVReS not only claims the Armored Apex 2025 trophy, but also rises to the top of the WTCS leaderboard with 256 points!

Make way for the last Major of the 2025 season before the Grand Finals. The Air Superiority Tournament, sponsored by Thrustmaster![/p][p][/p][h2]Key Dates[/h2][h3]Don’t miss the Open Qualifier Stage![/h3][p][/p][p]Note: Open Qualifiers are open to everyone.[/p][p][/p][p]At the end of each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Play-Offs. For full details, check out the War Thunder Esports in 2025: The Beginning of a New Era article on Steam.[/p]
  • [p]Open Qualifier I: September 13th-14th at 15:00 GMT[/p]
  • [p]Open Qualifier II: September 20th-21st at 15:00 GMT[/p]
  • [p]Play-Offs: September 27th-28th & October 4th-5th at 15:00 GMT[/p]
[p][/p][h2]Register NOW![/h2][p][/p][h2]The Line-Up & Map Pools[/h2][p]This is the line-up for Open Qualifier I & II, it will remain unchanged for the Play-Offs.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Please note that there will be no map bans during the Open Qualifiers. All maps will be selected randomly. However, for the 8 Qualified teams, a map ban will be set up for the Play-offs.[/p]
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Again we’ll be partnering with Thrustmaster to offer you prizes worthy of this competition:[/p][p][/p][p]Thrustmaster, founded in 1991, is a pioneering brand in consumer simulation equipment.[/p][p][/p][p]Proud of its expertise and core values of “Passion, Quality and Innovation”, Thrustmaster continually strives to enhance realism and immersion in legendary gaming worlds by offering thrilling and truly exceptional experiences. From video game enthusiasts to casual gamers, Thrustmaster accessories for PCs and game consoles bring everyone’s dreams to life.[/p][p][/p][h2]Let’s take a closer look at the prize list for the winners of the WTCS Major III[/h2][p][/p][p]For each Open Qualifier, there’s a total of 86,400 Golden Eagles, plus Research Point & Silver Lion boosters and Premium Account time![/p][p][/p][h3]Here’s a detailed list of the Major’s prizes:[/h3]
  • [p]1st place HOTAS Warthog (for each player in the team)[/p]
  • [p]2nd place T.16000M FCS FLIGHT PACK (for each player in the team)[/p]
  • [p]3rd place T.FLIGHT HOTAS 4 (for each player in the team)[/p]
[p] [/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p][/p][p]DISCLAIMER: Due to logistical reasons, we are only able to deliver prizes to the following countries and territories:[/p][p][/p][p]UNITED KINGDOM, BULGARIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, FRANCE, SPAIN, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG, NETHERLANDS, DENMARK, BELGIUM, PORTUGAL, FINLAND, ITALY, SWEDEN, CYPRUS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NORWAY, CANADA, CROATIA, SLOVAKIA, IRELAND, AUSTRIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE, AUSTRALIA, LATVIA, GREECE, LITHUANIA, ESTONIA, MALTA, BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SLOVENIA, HONDURAS, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, NEW ZEALAND, LEBANON, ARGENTINA, JAPAN, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, PHILIPPINES, SERBIA, ISRAEL, MOROCCO, UKRAINE, INDONESIA, ARMENIA, CHINA, KAZAKHSTAN, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, PUERTO RICO, KUWAIT, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, ICELAND, INDIA, VIETNAM, ANGUILLA, SAUDI ARABIA, ANDORRA, REUNION, MARTINIQUE, MALAYSIA, CHILE, THAILAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, GIBRALTAR, JORDAN, MACEDONIA, TUNISIA.[/p][p][/p][p]If your country of residence is not included in this list, you’ll need to provide a postal address in any of these countries in order to receive your prize.[/p][p][/p][h2]Live Streams with Twitch Drops![/h2][p][/p]
[p]When: Each stream will start from 14:45 GMT[/p]
  • [p]Open Qualifier I Stream: September 13th-14th[/p]
  • [p]Open Qualifier II Stream: September 20th-21st[/p]
[p][/p][p]Watch the Open Qualifier matches live across both weekends and grab Twitch Drops, including boosters and premium account time! Even more rewards await during the Finals, so don’t miss out. Streams are available in English, Russian, German, Polish and French for the best experience.[/p][p][/p][h2]Follow [/h2][p][/p]
[p]Login to your Twitch accountlink your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops![/p]
[h2] [/h2][h2]Giveaways on the Official Esports Discord![/h2][p]Throughout the WTCS Air Superiority Major, join the Official War Thunder Esports Discord to connect with fellow competitive players and take part in exclusive giveaways featuring these packs: [/p]
  • [p]L-39ZA Albatros Pack[/p]
  • [p]Northrop NF-5A Pack[/p]
  • [p]F-2A ADTW Pack[/p]
  • [p]MiG-29 Sniper Pack[/p]
  • [p]F/A-18C Hornet (Swiss) Pack[/p]
[p]
The Esports team wishes you the best of luck for the qualification phases. May skill be with you![/p][p][/p][h2]Don't miss out on the Air Superiority Pack![/h2][p]To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.[/p][p][/p][p]This pack includes:[/p]
  • [p]Decal "Flanking Snail";[/p]
  • [p]Title "Slick flanker";[/p]
  • [p]300 Golden Eagles;[/p]