War Thunder News

[p][/p][p]Hey everyone! We’re back with some more historical decals for March, we hope you liked the selection for February and are keen to collect some more! Quite a few rarer markings this time around, Erika proved to be especially obscure. We found one fuzzy photo of it in an old emblem book in our office, and as always our artist Colin did a great job of recreating it for the game. A note for the wizard, as the original placement was internal the decal won’t be able to be placed on the original location in the game (we’ve applied it directly to a skin for the screenshot), but we’re sure you can come up with some great spots for it all the same.[/p][p][/p]

[p]The following decals are available from March 12th (11:00 GMT) until April 13th (09:00 GMT).[/p][p]All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.[/p]

[p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3][/h3][h3]Erika Inscription[/h3][p]A personal inscription of Hans "Waldi" Waldmann, 6./JG 52 (6th Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing), Luftwaffe. Hans joined JG 52 as a sergeant on the 21st of August 1942 flying the Bf 109 G-2. He achieved his first victory only weeks later on the 7th of September, and less than a year later had already tallied 50 aerial victories. In total, he would achieve 125 victories while part of JG 52, before transitioning to JG 7 and the Me 262 in the final year of the war. Hans painted several markings on his aircraft over his career, one of the rarest and least documented was the inscription "Erika”; the name of his girlfriend. It was painted at an angle under the cockpit on the port side of his Bf 109 G-6 during the tail end of his time with JG 52.[/p][p] [/p][h3]"GBU Wizard" Art[/h3][p]“GBU Wizard” artwork, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, USAF. Following the prominent Air Force tradition of personal nose art, F-117 pilots in the Gulf War had to not only be tactical with their aircraft, but with their markings as well. As the aircraft were painted with special RAM paint, personal markings were forbidden on the exterior of the aircraft as to not compromise the special radar-absorbing properties of the coating. Unperturbed by this restriction, pilots painted their personal markings on the inside of the aircraft on the internal bomb bay doors instead. Most of the artwork focused around the mystical nature of the F-117, with many examples of artwork pertaining to magic and sorcery. This quintessential example was painted at the edge of the internal bomb bay door on F-117 81-10797, with the accompanying text "Spell Bound" off to the right.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p]
[/p][h3]MPK OVR Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of Anti-Submarine Ships of the Water Area Defense Brigade, Soviet Navy. In the early 1970s, a special commission was created to design naval emblems for specific ship types and roles in the navy. Artist Valentin Pechatin led the design team, creating the majority of the emblems by 1972. Each element of the base shield was meticulously designed; the five points on the shield represent the four major fleets and the Caspian flotilla. The blue triangle and white stripes at the bottom represent the collar on sailors' uniforms. The missile in the bow was the standard emblem used by these ships, but certain vessels had the coat of arms of a city painted instead. Positioning varied slightly, but common placements were on the front of the bridge under the far right window, the sides of the bridge, or to the side of the radio station.[/p][p][/p][h3]"Winking Clown" Emblem[/h3][p]“Winking Clown” emblem, F Battalion, 16th Company, 2nd Section, British Tank Corps. This somewhat unsettling emblem belonged to a British Female tank, serial number 2716, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Seymour. Not many details on the tank’s service and crew are known, with sources even conflicting on the first name of the tank’s commander. Records of the tank go cold after the Third Battle of Ypres on July 31st, 1917. It does not appear after this point or in any salvage logs, which strongly suggests it was lost in the battle. The marking itself is similarly mysterious, it may possibly be based on a French Pierrot clown, as the nickname of the tank "Feu D'enfer" (Hellfire) was also French. It was positioned on the hull of the tank on the starboard side under the driver's cabin, next to the battalion letter F which appeared before the 10.[/p][p][/p][h3]Danish Dynamite Emblem[/h3][p]“Danish Dynamite” emblem, Royal Danish Army. In the 1990s, a handful of Leopard 1A5DK tanks from the Jutland Dragoon Regiment were sent to Bosnia as part of Peacekeeping duties under UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force). The tanks were part of NORDBAT 2 (Nordic Battalion 2), a reinforced Swedish-Danish-Norwegian mechanized battalion under Swedish command. As the tanks were operating out of Denmark in UN colors, many of their markings related to their home country in some form as a way to represent themselves. One of the most archetypal of these markings was “Danish Dynamite”, which was painted small on the bore evacuator on Leopard 1A5DK No. 16177.

[/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]VI Gruppo Caccia "Gamba di Ferro" Emblem[/h3][p]Emblem of the 32ª Squadriglia, VI Gruppo Caccia "Gamba di Ferro" (32nd Squadron, 6th Fighter Group, "Iron Leg"), Aviazione Legionaria. While there are several variants of the "Iron Leg" emblem, this more stylized variant was the first, created in honor of the squadron’s Captain, Ernesto Botto. Ernesto was hit on his right thigh by an I-16 over Mediana. Despite the shot shattering his femur, he was able to shoot down one I-16 and disperse the others, landing his aircraft in a field shortly after. He survived but lost his leg. After amputation, it was replaced with an iron prosthetic. Once he found his way back to his squadron, he found that the artistically inclined Sergeant Major Benassi had created the emblem in his honor, painting it on the fuselage behind the cockpit on the squadron’s CR.32 fighters. The emblem would be adopted as the marking of the entire 6th Fighter Group, and Ernesto would go on to be known as the "Iron Leg."[/p][p][/p][h3]33rd Fighter Division emblem[/h3][p]33rd Fighter Division emblem, PLAAF. The division was formed in 1960 in Hubei, composed of two regiments and equipped with the MiG-15bis. In 1969, the division moved to Chongqing, where they would develop the identity of the "Fog City Eagles" (雾都雄鹰). The emblem of the division is a golden eagle with a stylized "33" tracing its outline. The division still holds a legendary reputation, with one of the squadron's pilots, Jiang Jiaji (蒋佳冀), being the first pilot to win the "Golden Helmet" award at the annual air combat competition three times. The emblem is painted on the J-11 fighters of the division, on the outsides of the vertical stabilizers under the roundel, and on the port side of the fuselage under the rear of the cockpit; it is not painted on the starboard side due to the positioning of the cannon.

[/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]51e BCC Emblem "Alsace"[/h3][p]An emblem of 51e Bataillon de Chars de Combat (51st Tank Battalion), French Army. The 51st was formed in September 1939, composed of a handful of giant Char 2C tanks. Despite their imposing nature, the army considered the tanks obsolete by the outbreak of World War 2, and deliberately kept them out of combat. They were instead used as propaganda machines; appearing in films and media as morale-boosting “unstoppable” super tanks. To cement their legacy, each 2C was named after an old French region. Number 93 was Alsace, and along with the nameplate, this emblem of the heraldic shield of the region was painted on the side of the turret. After the German breakthrough, number 93 and the other 2C tanks were loaded onto a transport train to prevent their capture. Due to a block on the railway however, the crews were forced to scuttle the giant tanks, with all but one being destroyed on the evening of June 15th, 1940.[/p][p][/p][h3]7th Armored Brigade Emblem[/h3][p]The emblem of the 7th Armored Brigade, IDF. The emblem was created by a soldier in the brigade’s maintenance department in 1948, incorporating many key details. Interestingly, the badge was the first example to include the number into the design itself. It consists of a flag, representing the Israeli colors, and a red arrow, which represents the breakthrough of the Burma Road. The crossed bolt and rifle represent both infantry and armor working together, as the group was initially a mechanized brigade before becoming a full armored brigade. While brigade emblems are not regularly placed on modern vehicles for security reasons, historically they were more common, and the emblem of the brigade could be seen on the front plates and bumpers of their armored cars in the late 1940s.[/p][p] [/p][h3]14th Infantry Division Emblem[/h3][p]Emblem of the 14th Infantry Division, Imperial Japanese Army. The emblem of the division undeniably resembles the Mitsubishi logo, and while there are circumstantial links to this likeness being deliberate, there is limited conclusive evidence to draw on. The 14th operated Ha-Go tanks manufactured by Mitsubishi, and during the 1940s, their logo was depicted with a more rhomboid shape, matching the emblem of the 14th closely. It could also be a visual reference to the codename of the division, “照兵団” or “Shining Division,” with the emblem intending to emulate rays of light. These kinds of markings were often less standardized and informal in the later war years, and aside from their basic shape, deriving the meaning behind the design is regularly speculative. The emblem was placed on the turret sides of the Division’s Ha-Go tanks while deployed in Peleliu in 1944.[/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][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][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]That’s all for today! We hope you enjoy unlocking this collection. The team are hard at work finishing up the major update, so until then have fun and we’ll see you soon for more![/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Today we’re looking at the prototype of the most modern wheeled tank destroyer of the Italian Army: the Centauro II (P)![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Development of the Centauro II (P) wheeled tank destroyer began in 2011 as a response to the identified shortcomings of the previous model in modern warfare and asymmetric conflicts. The key drivers for the new vehicle’s development were the outdated electronic architecture of the baseline Centauro, which was incompatible with the SICCONA network-centric command and control system, and the insufficient level of protection revealed during operations in Iraq, Kosovo, and Somalia.[/p][p][/p][p]Structurally, the Centauro II (P) represents a major modernization, incorporating technologies developed on the Freccia armored fighting vehicle. The vehicle features a completely redesigned hull with a V-shaped bottom for improved protection against mines and IEDs, a new layout with isolated fuel and ammunition compartments, and a modern surveillance suite and electronic countermeasure system. The primary armament is a 120 mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, housed in a new turret with improved armor and ammunition isolated from the crew.[/p][p][/p][p]The first prototype was presented in 2016, and a pre-production batch of 11 vehicles has been built to date, each of which serves to test and refine the final configuration of future production vehicles.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the Centauro II (P)![/h3][p]Meet the working prototype of Italy’s latest wheeled tank destroyer, the Centauro II (P), which  incorporates all of the latest global technological tank improvements for vehicles of this class. Let’s get acquainted with the second-generation Centauro and explore what sets it apart from the previous design![/p][p][/p][p]Compared to the first series, the Centauro II (P) has undergone significant exterior changes. It received a new HITFACT Mk II turret, with the most significant and valuable change being its division into a crew compartment for the commander, gunner and loader, and compartments away from the crew. In addition to this, the automatic loader and 6-round first-stage ammunition stowage are now located behind an armored bulkhead at the rear of the turret. The reload speed is now independent of crew skill thanks to the autoloader![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The compartment that houses the autoloader and ready-to-load ammunition features blowout panels, increasing the Centauro II (P)’s survivability. The main gun is generally similar to the 120 mm cannon found on the first-generation of vehicles, although it’s a bit lighter. It now can fire the excellent DM53 APFSDS round with over 620 mm penetration![/p][p][/p][p]Moving onto the hull now, which has also been transformed! It now has a trapezoidal shape and reinforced underbody armor for protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. The hull also features spaced armor protection against anti-tank grenades. However in reality, the Centauro II (P)’s armor can only reliably withstand machine gun rounds. Most autocannons can penetrate the armor, as well as all armor-piercing tank shells and ATGMs of course.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Centauro series is renowned for its excellent speed, despite its increased weight of 30 tons, the second series here is no exception. The Centauro II (P) features a more powerful 720 HP turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a respectable power-to-weight ratio and quickly accelerating the vehicle to speeds exceeding 100 km/h.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]One of the Centauro II (P)’s significant drawbacks is its size, particularly its height. The roof of the already tall turret houses two machine guns, one rifle-caliber and one 12.7 mm in a remote-controlled mount, as well as a cylinder-shaped panoramic sight. Concealing the Centauro II (P) will be difficult, and the turret’s slightly awkward positioning toward the rear must also be taken into account, as it limits the gun’s depression angle.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s the Centauro II (P) for you! This fast and lethal vehicle is waiting for you at rank VIII of the Italian light tank line, coming in War Thunder’s first major update of 2026. We’ll continue to share more dev blogs and other information on our website, so be sure to check it out![/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]The JAS39D is a later modification of the Swedish Gripen, incorporating the upgrades from the JAS39C with a twin-seater cockpit to facilitate training missions while not compromising on combat capability.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]As the Cold War ended, Sweden’s military doctrine gradually began shifting from strict neutrality toward increased international cooperation and NATO interoperability. This transition drove the development of the modernized Saab JAS 39C variant, which incorporated in-flight refueling capability, upgraded avionics, improved radar as well as compatibility with NATO weapons and communication systems. Parallel to the development of the C modification, Saab also began work on a two-seat counterpart, the JAS 39D, which was intended to replace the earlier B model.[/p][p][/p][p]While primarily intended for operational conversion training, the JAS39D retained full combat capability, allowing it to perform air defense, strike, and reconnaissance missions alongside single-seat aircraft. Because of the second cockpit, it carried slightly less internal fuel than the JAS39C, but it gained value in complex mission profiles where a weapons systems officer could manage sensors, electronic warfare, and communications. Overall, around 30 JAS39D’s have been produced, serving not only with Sweden, but also several other countries’ air forces such as Czech Republic, Hungary, Thailand and South Africa.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the JAS39D![/h3][p]In today’s devblog, we would like to showcase a unique modification of the JAS39 stemming from the later generations of this incredibly capable Swedish multirole jet fighter. Being developed in parallel to the JAS39C which seasoned Swedish pilots are most familiar with, the JAS39D expands the Gripen family in War Thunder by introducing a special twin-seater version as a new squadron aircraft available in the Ninth Wave major update. That being said, let’s dive right into the details![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The JAS39D represents a further development of the successful Gripen series of Swedish jet fighters. Equipped with the same RM12 afterburning turbofan engine powering the earlier Gripen fighters, the slightly heavier twin-seater JAS39D promises very comparable flight characteristics shaped by excellent maneuverability and lightning fast top speeds reaching up to Mach 2. As such, the JAS39D can easily be thrown into dogfights with most other contemporary jet fighters found at the top ranks![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Where the JAS39D truly shines however, is in its expanded selection of onboard weapons and systems compared to the earlier modifications of the Gripen. Unlike the early A modification, the JAS39D takes advantage of its system upgrades and offers an expanded selection of advanced weapons, chiefly among them the Rb99 (AIM-120) ARH missile. While this enables the JAS39D to strike aerial opponents from a long distance, ground targets will also have a hard time evading the Gripen’s precision strikes thanks to a greatly expanded selection of guided missiles and bombs of various calibers. In short, the JAS39D retains its versatility thanks to its multirole design while only sacrificing a small reduction to its range due to the twin seater cockpit reducing the onboard fuel tank size. The JAS39C’s 27 mm autocannon was also sacrificed to house the second pilot seat.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The JAS39D will soon be making its way to War Thunder as part of the Ninth Wave major update. Pilots will be able to obtain the new Swedish top dog either through squadron activity or by purchasing it with Golden Eagles. In the meantime, make sure to stay tuned to the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update![/p][p][/p][p]Please note that the vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before being added to the game.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Please welcome two more unique Hungarian aircraft! The WM-21 light-reconnaissance bomber and the WM-23 prototype fighter, arriving in War Thunder in the Ninth Wave major update.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Vehicle History[/h3][p]Developed in Hungary based on the earlier WM-16 model, the WM-21 Sólyom (“Falcon”) was a two-seat biplane intended for short-range reconnaissance and cooperation with ground forces. Its prototype first took to the air in 1937. Serial production of the WM-21 was established at several Hungarian enterprises, and by 1944, 128 machines had been built, of which 80 were used as trainers after retirement from active service. The aircraft saw their first combat use in April 1941 during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. With the start of the war against the USSR, the WM-21 biplanes were actively used for reconnaissance and close support of Hungarian troops in Ukraine.[/p][p][/p][p]The WM-23 Ezüst Nyil (“Silver Arrow”) fighter was developed by the Hungarian company Weiss Manfred based on the German Heinkel He 112. In the late 1930s, Hungary purchased a license to produce the He 112, and engineers began creating their own modification, adapted for Hungarian engines and armament. The first and only prototype took to the air on February 23, 1940. Testing of the aircraft continued for about a year and revealed a number of problems. During another test flight, the right aileron failed, leading to a serious crash. The damaged prototype was not restored, and the program was closed.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Introducing the WM-21 and WM-23![/h3][p]While we’re still finishing work on the major update, we’d like to introduce you to a pair of interesting aircraft that’ll be arriving in the Hungarian branch in the Italian aircraft tree. In the spotlight today are the WM-21 Sólyom and WM-23 Ezüst Nyil![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The WM-21 will arrive at the very start of the line in Rank I. This early Hungarian “Falcon” is a light-reconnaissance bomber, equipped with fast firing rifle caliber machine guns and 12 small 10 kg bombs. While relatively slow and hefty for a bi-plane, its strong machine guns will still allow it to pose a threat to early aircraft.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The WM-23 is a more serious contender, arriving at Rank II. This all-metal monoplane was an attempt to adapt the German He 112 to Hungarian engines and armament. It features a top speed of over 500 km/h and a pair of rapid fire 12.7 mm Gebauer machine guns supplemented by a pair of 8.56 mm caliber machine guns in the wings. It’s fast, agile, and can climb well, making it a powerful new contender for the lower ranks.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s all for today, keep an eye out for these distinctive Hungarian machines in the Ninth Wave major update, where they’ll make for an excellent start to the Italian tree. Until then, keep an eye on the news while we wrap up the work on the major update![/p][p]Please note that the vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before being added to the game.[/p]

We enjoyed reviewing all of your recent submissions last week! This competition is back to being focused on action and results of combat. You can capture the final moments of a dogfight in the skies, a graveyard of tanks at a capture point, or battleships slugging it out with each other! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 214th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen214. You have time until the 13th of March 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 damaged or destroyed vehicle.
You must add the #WTscreen214 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 213th edition – Pioneers of Battle![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3675777449
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3675912942
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3676498457

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3677246812
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3676673655
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3677036088

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