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Update 2.53.0.52

[p][/p][p][/p][h3]Aircraft[/h3]
  • [p]With the release of one of the previous server updates, a bug that caused direct hits of AAMs and SAMs on aircraft to deal too little damage has been fixed.[/p]
  • [p]F-106A — the maximum drag chute opening speed has been increased from 200 km/h to 296 km/h. (Report).[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Ground Vehicles[/h3]
  • [p]A bug that sometimes caused hits from HEAT projectiles to generate no spall has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]BMPT-72 — an issue where the commander’s sight camera was slightly offset to the side when both the “aim mode” was enabled and disabled has been fixed. An issue where the commander’s sight camera could not be moved to the left when zooming in has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]TOG II — a bug that caused smoke grenades fired from the turret mortar to fly in the direction of the hull rather than the turret has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]Mark V — a bug where the left gun barrel model did not rotate along with the breech and gun mount has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Locations and Missions[/h3]
  • [p]\[Domination] African Gulf — a bug where Bluewater fleet ships could appear outside of the playable area has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]Sinai — a bug that caused the minimap to be semi-transparent has been fixed.[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Appearance and Achievements[/h3]
  • [p]AGS — the condition for using the “Snow w/Open Terrain camouflage MERDC” camouflage has been adjusted from forest to winter. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]MiG-29N (Japan) — a bug where the aircraft received achievements for German vehicles instead of Malaysian vehicles has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
[p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.[/p]

The SAV 20.12.48 for Swedish Armed Forces Day!

[p][/p][p]The history of the modern Swedish kingdom dates back to 1523, when Gustav Vasa declared the country’s independence and became its king. The first armed forces of independent Sweden were Vasa’s personal bodyguards, volunteers who enlisted in his service on January 14th 1521. A hundred years later, King Gustav II Adolf transformed his troops into a regular, disciplined army, and thanks to the coordination of various branches of the armed forces and new tactics, became one of the best in Europe. [/p][p][/p][h2]The SAV 20.12.48 is temporarily available for 1,300 Golden Eagles![/h2][h3][/h3]
[p]When: From January 14th (11:00 GMT) until January 17th (11:00 GMT).[/p][p]Where: Sweden > Army > Premium vehicles.[/p]
[p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][h3]About this tank[/h3]
  • [p]In the late 1940s, Bofors created an experimental 120 mm naval gun, and mounted it on a tank chassis. The SAV 20.12.48 never went into mass production, but you can try it out in War Thunder! It’s a fast and maneuverable vehicle with an unexpectedly high rate of fire, reloading in just 1.2 seconds!
    [/p]

Server Update 13.01.2026

[p][/p][p][/p][h3]Aircraft[/h3]
  • [p]Su-27/30 family of aircraft (J-11, Su-33, Su-34 included) — excessive sustained turn rate caused by the change in stability, balance, and relaxing of the elevator has been reduced.[/p]
  • [p]J-10C — a bug that caused the AESA radar to not maintain the track files for targets outside of the current scan area has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]Gladiator (all variants), J8A — a bug that caused the engine RPM to be too low at low speeds has been fixed.[/p]
  • [p]DB-3 (all variants), IL-4, Potez 630, Potez 631, Potez 633 — a bug that caused the engine fire system to be available without installing the EFS modification has been fixed. (Report, Report, Report).[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Ground Vehicles[/h3]
  • [p]BMPT, BMPT-72 — the Battle Rating in all modes has been increased from 10.7 to 11.3. After looking into the effectiveness of both BMPTs after the previous change to their Battle Ratings, we decided to raise their BRs by 2 steps and release the change before the planned Battle Ratings changes that we normally do, which are going to happen in the near future.[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Interface[/h3]
  • [p]A bug that caused the target markers on the radar PPI (radial display) to become less visible in TWS mode has been fixed.[/p]
  • [p]A bug that caused the number of machine guns or cannons in the stat cards of some vehicles to be incorrect has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
[p] [/p][h3]Locations and Missions[/h3]
  • [p]A bug that caused the minimap of some locations to be semi-transparent has been fixed. (Report).[/p]
  • [p]\[Operation] Saipan — air spawns have been forced on so that all aircraft can spawn in the mission and to make the initial conditions more fair.[/p]
[p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.[/p]

Monthly Decals for January!

[p][/p][p]Happy New Year everyone! We hope you’re all keen to pick up some more historical decals this year, thank you for your continued interest in these monthly events. As always we have 5 new decals and 5 from previous events, this month has a nice variety of different styles, with quite a few rare markings as well. We’d also like to thank our decal artist for giving Michelangelo a run for his money with the emblem of GC III/7! As always please keep leaving your suggestions for more decals, we’re always keeping an eye on those and include interesting examples when we can.[/p][p][/p]
[p]The following decals will be available from January 12th (11:00 GMT) until February 12th (09:00 GMT)[/p][p]All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.[/p]
[p][/p][hr][/hr]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p]Commando Yank Mural, USA[/p]
[p]GC III/7 Emblem "Tête de furie", France[/p]
[p]Earn 20000 score while using American Tanks[/p]
[p]Finish in position 1-5 five times while using French Aircraft[/p]
[p]
[/p][hr][/hr][h3][/h3][h3]Commando Yank Mural[/h3][p]“Commando Yank” painting, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, U.S. Army. Commando Yank is an often forgotten superhero from the golden age of comic books. He was never renewed after his initial run and remains in the public domain, with his final appearance being in 1948.. He was a very popular character among American military personnel during the mid-1940s, embodying a strong sense of patriotism and “getting the job done his own way”, sentiments which appealed greatly to many Americans serving in the war. It was painted on an M3 Halftrack, number 402198, which was captured and photographed by axis forces in Tunisia in early 1943. The mural of Commando Yank was painted on the right side of the halftrack in front of the door.[/p][p] [/p][h3]GC III/7 Emblem "Tête de furie"[/h3][p]The emblem of Groupe de Chasse III/7 (3rd fighter group of the 7th fighter wing), French Air Force. The short-lived squadron operated for just over a year between May 1939 and August 1940, flying the Potez 630, MS.406, and for a short time the D.520. The marking of the group is a depiction of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s “Damned Soul”, a sketch of an anguished head. Through interpretation and subsequent derivative works, the head was given the name “The Fury”, though this is more of a historical nickname than an official title. The striking name and image made for a fitting group emblem, and several aircraft bore the marking. Though as copying Michelangelo with basic equipment was something of a challenge, the quality and colors of the head differed dramatically between aircraft. The marking would most often be painted behind the cockpit on their MS.406 fighters, with the head facing towards the front.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr]
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[p][/p]
[p]5th Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem, Japan[/p]
[p]“Happy New Year!” Inscription, USSR[/p]
[p]55. V-Fltl Emblem, Germany[/p]
[p]Destroy 20 Aircraft using Japanese Ground Vehicles[/p]
[p]Play 20 battles while using Soviet Tanks with a minimum of 60% Battle Activity[/p]
[p]Score 20000 Damage while using German Coastal Vessels[/p]
[hr][/hr][p]
[/p][h3]5th Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 7th Armored Division, JGSDF. The 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment was formed on March 25th, 1981, and contains various general and specialized anti-air vehicles and equipment. The 5th Company operate the Type 81 SAM system, which is incorporated into the unit’s emblem. It depicts the roman numeral “V” splintering into a missile, aimed at what appears to be the silhouette of an F-16.The shark was chosen as the unit’s animal chiefly for its agility, swiftness, and ability to react and strike new threats quickly. The emblem was painted on some Type 81 SAM vehicles, positioned on the sides of the missile launchers on hatch closest to the base of the launcher rail.[/p][p][/p][h3]“Happy New Year!” Inscription[/h3][p]"С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ!" (Happy New Year!) Inscription, Soviet Army. While Soviet inscriptions were generally more fierce and patriotic during the Second World War, a small number of examples were more lighthearted. For most combatants, holidays served as brief moments of respite amongst the fighting. The Soviet Army at the time did not recognize the holiday officially, insisting instead it was a time of heightened focus, as the enemy could take advantage and attack. This did not stop soldiers from trying to make the event feel as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, however. Efforts ranged from sharing luxury rations to amateur performances of music and theatre, and, demonstrably, the occasional merry inscription was painted somewhere or other. This message was painted on the right side of the turret on a KV-1 in Moscow at the end of 1941, before it headed back out to the front.[/p][p][/p][h3]55. V-Fltl Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of 55. Vorposten-Flotilla, Küstensicherungsverband Norwegische Westküste (55th “Picket” Flotilla, Coastal Defence Unit Norwegian West Coast), Kriegsmarine. The 55th was formed in June, 1940, and performed coastal defense duties around Bergen. A “picket” is a small boat specialized for harbor and shore defense, and is more of a term applied to a boat fulfilling this role rather than a specific class of vessel, though they are generally fairly small. The emblem was loosely inspired by the panther marking of 4. SFltl, of which several boats were incorporated into the 55. V-Fltl. The crossed swords and the almost frightening panther’s head give the marking a strong defensive impression, making it a fitting choice for such a unit. The marking was most often applied on the flotilla’s S-Boats on the side of the hull to the left and right of the bridge, and was also painted on their M-Class minesweeper above and to the sides of the bridge.

[/p][hr][/hr]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p]Meritorious Warrior V Inscription, China[/p]
[p]92. jaktflygdivisionen "Ivar Blå" Emblem, Sweden[/p]
[p]Finish in position 1-3 three times while using Chinese tanks[/p]
[p]Destroy 40 players while using Swedish Aircraft[/p]
[p]
[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]Meritorious Warrior V Inscription[/h3][p]“Meritorious Warrior V” (功臣号) inscription, PLA. The tradition of naming a tank “Meritorious Warrior” (or, simplified, “Hero Tank”) stems from the first ever tank of the PLA, a captured Chi-Ha Kai. The tank performed exceptionally in battle, and received this moniker to cement its legendary status. Throughout each generation, a new vehicle and crew are selected to carry the name, serving as a way to honour the legacy and history of the PLA and serve as a strong symbol of pride. Crews must compete in order to earn the right to carry the title, with only the best of the best receiving the honour. While each variant of the marking has no official name, it is generally named after the generation of tank they are applied to. This marking in particular was painted on the turret side of a ZTZ99A in 2018, on the ERA blocks.

[/p][h3]92. jaktflygdivisionen "Ivar Blå" Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of 92. jaktflygdivisionen "Ivar Blå" (92nd Fighter Division “Ivar Blue”), Swedish Air Force. The squadron was formed on July 1st 1940, initially fielding J8 and J11 biplane fighters, before transitioning to the J21 after the war, and later to the jet-powered J29 and J34. The emblem of the squadron was inspired by Western cartoons and named Bonzo. The name at least is likely directly inspired by the character Bonzo the Dog, created by George Studdy in the 1920s, though the designs are very different overall. Bonzo would also appear as a helmet emblem for the division’s pilots, and still could be found around the Säve Air Base after the division’s disbandment in 1968. Bonzo was painted on the nose of several squadron aircraft. On the J21 the emblem was quite large, while on the J29 it was much smaller, often painted in between the nose and the cockpit.

[/p][hr][/hr]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p]2ª Escuadrilla de Chatos Emblem, Spain[/p]
[p]3° Squadrone Blindo “Savoia Cavalleria” Marking, Italy[/p]
[p]No. 1 Fighter Squadron Emblem, IAC, Ireland[/p]
[p]Win 15 matches while flying Aircraft[/p]
[p]Defeat 40 players using Italian Light Tanks[/p]
[p]Defeat 40 players using British Aircraft[/p]
[hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]2ª Escuadrilla de Chatos Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of 2ª Escuadrilla de Chatos (2nd “Chatos” Squadron), Spanish Republican Air Force. Chatos translates to “Snub-nosed”, which was the nickname of the I-15 in Spanish service, due to its round, blunt engine. The squadron fostered great renown during the conflict, notably during the Battle of Jarama, and also for their success as night fighters, which for the time was an impressive feat for how rudimentary their aircraft were. Their fame was also spurred on in part by their iconic emblem, which led to their unofficial nickname of “Escuadrilla Los Pingüinos” (The Penguin Squadron). Little context remains surrounding the origin of the emblem and its design, but it was most commonly painted on the fuselage to the rear of the cockpit.[/p][p][/p][h3]3° Squadrone Blindo “Savoia Cavalleria” Marking[/h3][p]A marking of the 3° Squadrone Blindo “Savoia Cavalleria” (3rd Regiment "Savoia Cavalry"), Italian Army.The origins of the Savoia Cavalry go back hundreds of years to 1692, when it was established as a classic cavalry regiment. It would go on to be renamed, restructured, and reequipped numerous times, giving the unit a rich and detailed history. As of 2013, the regiment is attached to the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade, acting as the heavy reconnaissance element. The regiment is equipped with a small number of Centauro armored vehicles. This stylized dragon was a personal marking of one particular vehicle, and was painted on the lower-right plate, next to the wheel well.[/p][p] [/p][h3]No. 1 Fighter Squadron Emblem, IAC[/h3][p]The emblem of No. 1 Fighter Squadron, Irish Air Corps. Despite not engaging in combat during the Second World War, the Irish Air Corps was equipped with early Hurricanes and Gladiator biplanes during the conflict, before upgrading to Seafires after the war ended. The marking depicts the head of a Black Panther along with the inscription “Beag ach Fiachmhar”, or “Small but Fierce”. The emblem was positioned towards the nose on the fighters in operation with the squadron, usually under the engine exhaust or on the cowling. Later jet aircraft in operation would also bear the emblem to the side of the nose. [/p][hr][/hr][p]
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.

[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]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 going into 2026! Next month marks one year since this event was renewed, maybe we can get some stats on the most popular markings over the past year, if that would be interesting. We hope you enjoy these small decal side quests, have fun collecting and we’ll see you in February![/p]

Screenshot Competition – Overkill!



Welcome to the 206th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!


Thanks for sharing all of your screenshots with us last week! For the upcoming theme, we’re focusing on sheer firepower. Landing hits to get the kill is a bit more difficult, but so much more satisfying! Go and grab your favorite heavy-hitters, and may your aim be true! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 206th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen206. You have time until the 16th of January 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 a tank or ship with a caliber of over 130mm, or an aircraft with a caliber of 35mm or more.
    You must add the #WTscreen206 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 205th edition – Whiteout![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3639202417
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3639846854
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3638063039

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3640121096
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3640902803
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3641156378

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