War Thunder News

We loved getting to see the screenshots you captured last week, thanks for sharing them with us! Summer is heating up, so find a place to cool down! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 129th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen129. You have time until the 26th of July 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]

Take a screenshot on a map with snow and ice.
You must add the #WTscreen129 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 128th edition – Three’s Company![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3289496592
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3288258589
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3288211501

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3289581820
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3288205194
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3292241380

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

On July 20th 1951, the first flight of the Hawker Hunter jet fighter took place. The Hunter saw extensive use in dozens of conflicts around the world and is still in service with the Zimbabwean Air Force. A total of 1,972 Hunters were produced.

[h2]The Hunter FGA.9 is temporarily available for Golden Eagles![/h2]
This jet is available for 8,910 Golden Eagles.

When: From today until July 22nd (09:00 GMT).
Where: Great Britain > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

About this aircraft

• The Hunter FGA.9 is a multi-role fighter with excellent guns in the form of 4 x 30 mm ADEN cannons with 600 rounds of ammunition. This is a fast and fast-climbing aircraft, suitable for all types of attack. You’re able to take 2 x AIM-9E air-to-air missiles for air attacks, or 4 x 1000 lb bombs or 36 x SNEB rockets that can also be combined with bombs for ground attacks!
  

Today we’re showing the main tank reward for the new Battle Pass season, which is the Israeli Sholef featuring a 155 mm gun mounted on a Merkava MBT chassis!

[h2]Sholef A Premium Tank Destroyer for Israel at Rank IV[/h2]

Features:

• Shells with a radio fuze.
  
• Autoloader.
  
• Large in size.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
In 1980, a group of Israeli defense companies began developing a promising 155 mm self-propelled gun on the chassis of the Merkava Mk.1 tank. As a result of this work, two vehicles were presented for testing — the Sholef-1 in 1982 with a 39-caliber gun, and Sholef-2 in 1987 with a long-barreled 52-caliber howitzer. Both prototypes were successfully tested and were even used for combat duty on the border with Lebanon, but the choice of a new self-propelled type of vehicle for the Israel Defense Forces was made in favor of the American M109, causing the Sholef project to close in 1993. The first prototype of the Sholef V.1 is on display at the Beit Ha'tothan artillery museum; its 39-caliber gun was replaced in the museum by a later 52-caliber one.
[/expand]

[h2]Meet the Sholef V.1![/h2]

This is the Sholef V.1, an Israeli tank featuring a self-propelled gun that is set to be the main ground reward for the new and upcoming Battle Pass season. The gun is a high-explosive slinger with different types of HE shells, the chassis is well-protected and mobile, and there’s the added premium status on top which makes this vehicle an excellent choice to start researching the Israeli ground forces tree. Let’s take a closer look!



The Sholef V.1 is going to be an alternative to one of the first vehicles in the Israeli ground forces tree, the American M109 howitzer. The Sholef V.1’s gun is a 39 caliber long 155 mm howitzer which is housed in a turret with hydraulic guidance drives. This gun can fire three types of HE shells: the M107 from the M109, and two M401 shells with a contact and radio fuze. If you’re accurate enough, you’ll be able to hit helicopters or planes with these shells.

Interesting: The 155 mm Sholef howitzer is widely known outside Israel as the Slammer.



The shells stored inside the Sholef are housed in two massive mechanized drum-style ammunition racks, which will be modeled as an autoloader in the game, meaning the rate of fire of the 155 mm gun does not depend on the skill of the crew and is 5 rounds per minute.



The chassis of the Sholef V.1 is from a modified Merkava Mk.1 tank. In terms of maneuverability and speed, the Sholef is somewhat inferior to the M109, but is significantly superior to it in terms of protection. The hull of this tank can easily withstand autocannon fire and bomb explosions, and can survive hits from tank guns. However, the turret of the Sholef V.1 is very vulnerable due to its compact layout, so make sure to stay away from the front lines if possible! Unless you’re feeling brave.



You can get the Sholef V.1 in the new and upcoming Battle Pass season, starting July 24th, as the main prize for the pass! We’ll be publishing the main Battle Pass news article soon, so be sure to follow the news on our website. Until then, see you around!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The first Japanese supersonic aircraft, the T-2, was developed by the Mitsubishi Corporation and first flew on July 20th 1971. Production continued until 1988, with a total of 90 fighters being produced and exclusively used in Japan.

[h2]The T-2 Early is temporarily available for Golden Eagles![/h2]
This jet is available for 8,910 Golden Eagles.

When: From today until July 22nd (09:00 GMT).
Where: Japan > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

About this aircraft

• The T-2 Early relies on its high top speed and climb rate, as well as its J/AWG-11 pulse-Doppler radar to detect enemies in advance. This multi-role fighter uses the AIM-9E and AIM-9P air-to-air missile and great JM61A1 cannon with a good amount of ammunition. For ground attacks, the T-2 Early can use regular bombs and unguided rockets.
  

Introducing the new Esports Trophy III, featuring camouflages created by authors from WT.Live! This new trophy includes 20 camouflages for various vehicles: 10 aircraft and 10 tanks. For this new trophy, we wanted to honor mid-tier vehicles with unique creations from our artists.





Like the previous Esports trophy, the new trophy can be obtained by simply playing regular War Thunder battles. In the future, it’ll also be possible to obtain by participating in Esports events in War Thunder tournaments with an increased chance! PlayStation and Xbox players can purchase the trophy in the Item Shop for 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!

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]Armored Apex FINAL[/h2]

This weekend, from 16:00 GMT, Twitch Drops will once again be accompanying the final stages of the 3rd Major Eport event of the year! Here’s a sneak preview of the BO7 matches on Saturday 20th July.



[FOLLOW]

Watch the tournament and get Twitch Drops also on the official German, French and Russian War Thunder Esport channels!

[h2]“Armored Apex” pack + add link to Armored Apex stream pack [/h2]
For War Thunder Esports fans, don’t forget about this small but very cute pack that contains a unique decal and title.