War Thunder News

This is the interesting M60 120S, which takes the M1A1 Abrams’ turret and combines it with the M60A1 hull. This vehicle was designed to be exported to countries that wanted a cheaper and upgradable option for a main battle tank.

[h2]M60 120S: An MBT for the USA at Rank VII[/h2]

Features:

• 120 mm smoothbore cannon!
  
• Laser rangefinder.
  
• Thermal sight.
  

Vehicle History
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Late in 1999, General Dynamics Land Systems were looking to put a tank together that was suitable to export to countries as a cheaper alternative to the current main battle tanks. To attract buyers, it was decided to pair an M1A1 turret onto an M60A1 hull — a hull which was already in use with many countries around the world. This combination could also allow for countries to convert their existing M60 hulls into the M60 120S standard if required. In August 2001 the first prototype was completed and subsequently shown at the IDEF Exhibition in Turkey in October 2001. Having been proposed to countries such as Turkey and Egypt, there was no interest and the project was abandoned with only 1 prototype being built. 
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[h2]Meet the M60 120S![/h2]

The M60 120S is what you get when you take an M1A1 Abrams tank turret and wedge it onto an M60A1 hull — you get some sort of Frankenstein creation, which is in fact going to be arriving in the Alpha Strike major update. Let’s take a look at what else this scary monster has to offer!

For those of you who are already familiar with the Abrams in-game, this tank is going to feel quite close to home. This is because the M60 120S comes fitted with a 120 mm M256 smoothbore cannon that’s capable of firing HEAT-FS and the M829A1 APFSDS round, which are good enough to take out most enemy tanks at this rank. To top it all off, the main gun is backed up with good electronics including a handy laser rangefinder and GEN 1 thermal sights for the gunner, perfect for engaging targets at longer distances. In typical fashion, we must not forget about the .50 caliber machine gun on the turret roof that’s solid for firing at low flying helicopters and planes!



As probably expected, the armor of the M60 120S is a combination of two things. It takes the M1A1 turret — featuring composite armor — and combines it with the weaker M60 hull armor that has no composite armor to speak of. The end result is a mishmash of core tank parts from two different eras of tank design. Ensure you try to utilize your turret armor, which is stronger than the hull!

Due to the placement of a heavier turret, the mass of the M60 120S is 56 tons, which is heavier than the M60. In terms of mobility, this tank features the same 750 HP engine as a regular M60, allowing it to reach a max speed of 48 km/h, but its general maneuverability will feel more sluggish due to the increased weight. Overall the M60 120S is certainly not the fastest, but will still allow you to get to positions or get to capture points at a reasonable pace!

In your matches by Viacheslav, Game Director: “The 120S is going to provide good firepower to some lineups. You will be able to withstand some shots to the turret, but your weaker hull will be penetrated by the majority of shells at this Battle Rating, so make sure to hide it wherever possible. I would peek over ridge lines and hills, utilizing the 120 mm’s firepower to your advantage ensuring your hull is not exposed to enemies.”

With that, we’ve reached the end of this development blog! In short, the M60 120S is going to be a fun tank to play in different types of lineups. Keep an eye out on our website for other blogs that will be coming, until then, success to you in battle

The most prestigious tournament of the year — Thunder CUP 2024, has come to an end! Those of you who have watched the live streams on Twitch have received unique camouflages, the profile picture and the decal through Twitch Drops and were the first to witness who won in the tournament!
 
Now, the time has come to reveal the results and award the champions!

[h2]The winners[/h2]

[h3]Winners of Thunder CUP 2024[/h3]

• 1st place – DODEC team
  
• 2nd place – MRCLS team
  
• 3rd place – LEET team
  

Congratulations to the winners! They’ll share the cash prize fund of $5000.

[h2]The Esports Trophy II![/h2]
With the tournament, we introduced new camouflages representing esports teams created by some of the best authors from the Live.WT portal! The full list is below.

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[h3]J-11 [eSport] KAPER Team[/h3]

[h3]JAS39C [eSport] RAWR Team[/h3]

[h3]JAS39A [eSport] MRCLS Team[/h3]

[h3]Su 27 [eSport] LEET Team[/h3]

[h3]Leopard 2A7 [eSport] DODEC Team[/h3]

[h3]F-15A [eSport] RESTART Team[/h3]

[h3]Strv 122b+ [eSport] DEVCON Team[/h3]

[h3]T-90M [eSport] 25 FPS Team[/h3]

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Represent and support your favorite team by getting these camouflages from the ESPORTS TROPHY II that is on the Gaijin Market among other esport camouflages. Like the ESPORT TROPHY I, it can be obtained by simply playing regular War Thunder battles. PlayStation and Xbox players can purchase the trophy in the Item Shop and open it with Golden Eagles.

Read more on our Wiki.

To open it, you’ll need to purchase a key on the Market (income is shared with the authors of the camouflages). You can either activate the coupon on your account, or trade it on the Market to get Gaijin Coins (GJN). A trophy can be sold as well!
(i) To unlock the trophy, you’ll need an “Esport” key that can be purchased on the Market for GJN.

Read more about the Market and Gaijin Coins on our Wiki.

[h2]“Snailonidas” pack[/h2]

For War Thunder Esports fans, don’t forget about this small but very cute pack that contains a unique decal and title.

We’d like to extend our best wishes and congratulations to all women of the world. You are loved and appreciated, we hope your spirits are high, and that you may soar even higher.


You can get this decal by completing the below task.

[h3]

When: From March 7th (14:00) until March 9th (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles with vehicles that are rank III or higher (with an activity rating of 70% or more) to earn this decal!

Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → International Women’s Day.

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“Queen of the Seas” decal

The long awaited Franco-German strike aircraft will soon be available for you to hone your skills on in War Thunder when it arrives in the Alpha Strike major update. Today we’ll be introducing you to this famous European workhorse that has trained generations of pilots!

[h2]Alpha Jet A & E: A Strike Aircraft for Germany and France at Rank VI[/h2]

Features:

• Maneuverable!
  
• Good low speed handling.
  
• Small silhouette.
  
• No guided munitions.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
By 1969, both Germany and France had a need for a new generation of jet trainer aircraft to replace their existing inventory of T-33 and Fouga Magister aircraft. It was decided that a collaboration between Dornier and Dassault-Breguet, with the latter first being two separate companies who later merged, had the best potential for a joint TA (Trainer Attack) aircraft over other competing manufacturers and won out the contest with the TA501. 

This aircraft was to satisfy the Luftwaffe’s need to also replace their G.91 aircraft in the attack role, while the Armée de l'Air’s needs were mostly on the training gap that the Anglo-French Jaguar was initially intended to cover, but ended up being a more advanced supersonic conversion / strike aircraft. As such, two distinct versions of what would be the Alpha Jet were formed. The A - Appui / Attack and the E - Ecole / Trainer versions. These would be produced in sub assemblies in Germany, France and also Belgium. 

The first prototype would take to the skies in October 1973 and after many more years of testing and trials, the Alpha Jet would enter French and German service in 1979, going on to be a success story of collaboration between nations. While it still serves to this day with France, the aircraft has also been a huge export success, with multiple nations from Belgium, Portugal and Thailand operating the type, as well as it also being popular with private company operators who use them as aggressor training aircraft in the UK, America and Canada.
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[h2]Meet the Alpha Jet![/h2]

Coming in two distinct versions, the Alpha jet will introduce new strike capabilities to the French (E variant) and German (A variant) air trees in the next major update. A versatile platform with reliable flight characteristics and a dual pilot arrangement, this small sized attack aircraft will be a valuable addition to your ground forces lineups. Let’s take a closer look!

The Alpha Jet is a twin engine aircraft arrangement, powered by two SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac engines, enabling this jet to reach speeds of about 1,000 km/h. Swept back wings incorporate a design that allows for excellent low and high speed handling, being a forgiving trainer aircraft, but also a deadly precise subsonic attack aircraft. 



Interesting: Alpha jets are not just used for military purposes. They are also utilized as a popular display act by the distinctive French Air Force display team, the Patrouille de France as well as other display teams like the Flying Bulls display team. The gun pods are often converted to smoke generators and colored dye added to get that distinctive display smoke, just like you can use in War Thunder too!

Those of you who are already familiar with the SK60 and SAAB 105 family of aircraft will already feel at home with this aircraft. The high wing of the Alpha jet means that, despite its small size, it can still carry an array of weaponry choices with some district specifics between each variant. Both offer a range of regular bombs, including 250 kg and 500 kg, as well as rockets with the help of CCIP and CCRP, aiding in the delivery of payloads to ensure they find their mark.




What are some of the core differences? Firstly, the offensive armament is the first major difference, with the German A model sporting a 150 round 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon that can be found on the Tornado, and the French E model mounting a 30 mm DEFA 553 cannon with 150 rounds of ammunition. To make it easier to line up your shots, both guns are mounted on the center line of the aircraft! Secondly, the E model can also mount two additional 30 mm DEFA 553 cannon pods on the wings, something the A model can’t do. And lastly, the A model can carry 60 countermeasures as well as more rocket pods, both of which the E model lacks.

In your matches by Alex, Aircraft Game Designer: “The Alpha jet is one of the main vehicles in this update, hence the name. I would primarily use this aircraft in ground forces lineups, but you can also use it in air battles thanks to its small size, nimble maneuverability and good cannon. You don’t have any guided bombs, but regular bombs and a CCIP are the perfect combination for flying in low and dropping them onto enemy tanks. Use the 27 mm / 30 mm cannon, to fend off aircraft or shoot at lightly armored vehicles as well.”

Two variants of the Alpha Jet strike aircraft will soon be entering the game in the next War Thunder major update. Take your opponents back to school and boost your ground forces lineups with some CAS support from this small but deadly aircraft! Until the next one, stay tuned to the news for more of what’s to come!

Welcome to the first naval event in War Thunder’s new event cycle. Take part in the Imperial Flagship event by playing in naval battles to get valuable rewards including SMS Baden, themed decals and a ship flag!

[h3]From March 14th (11:00 GMT) until April 1st (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Naval Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards![/h3]

[h2]SMS Baden — an event vehicle Battleship for Germany at Rank VI[/h2]
SMS Baden was a Bayern-class battleship that became one of the most powerful ships in the history of the Imperial German Navy. Kaiser Wilhelm II himself personally made trips on this beast of a battleship! It features 380 mm guns, excellent armor protection and great survivability: the slow but formidable Baden combines all of the best qualities of the dreadnoughts of the early 20th century.



SMS Baden tricolor camouflage

Among the rewards of the event is also this chest that you can open and get the chance of one of the following items:

• 50,000 - 100,000 Silver Lions
  
• Silver Lion and Research Point boosters
  
• Random Wagers and Orders
  
• Universal Backups (1 - 3)
  
• A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
  
• 1 day of Premium Account
  

[h2]How to get all rewards[/h2]
Each stage can be obtained for 45,000 mission points, where every new stage obtained will give you a new reward.

Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually (except the random trophy reward). To do this, click on your name in-game, go to “Imperial Flagship” and click the “Get Reward” button.

You’re able to earn mission points in Naval Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade and Realistic Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game.  

You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.

[h3]Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT on March 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th.[/h3]

[h2]Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages[/h2]

• For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
  
• For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
  
• For 3 Stages: trophy with a random reward
  
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
  
• For 5 Stages: trophy with a random reward
  
• For 6 Stages: “Kaiserliche Marine (1871 — 1918)” ship flag
  
• For 7 Stages: trophy with a random reward
  
• For 8 Stages: non-tradable coupon for SMS Baden
  
• For 9 Stages: SMS Baden tricolor camouflage and 4 random modifications for SMS Baden
  

[h3]Discounts on purchasing stages using Golden Eagles[/h3]
Unfinished stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re significantly close to completing a stage, its price will now be significantly reduced.

Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve scored 39,000 mission points, then the price for unlocking this stage will be 499 Golden Eagles. If you’ve scored 43,000 mission points, then you’ll only need to pay 199 Golden Eagles. Remember to keep this in mind if you cannot complete a stage on time!

[h3]The Upgrade for coupon [/h3]
When you complete 8 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for SMS Baden, where using it will immediately activate the vehicle onto your account. If you don’t want the vehicle and would like to sell the coupon on the Market, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from March 14th (11:00 GMT) until April 1st (11:00 GMT) for 750,000 mission points.

After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 6 days from the moment it’s created.

To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon SMS Baden (Germany)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until 11:00 GMT on April 4th. Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.

You can track the progress of completing stages and receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Imperial Flagship. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, until April 4th from the Achievements window, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles which will give you the corresponding rewards.