1. War Thunder
  2. News

War Thunder News

Skink: The Bird-eating Lizard



The Skink is an experimental Canadian self-propelled anti-aircraft unit, developed on the basis of the Grizzly medium tank. Designed with the sole purpose of shielding Allied units from hostile air attack, the highly anticipated Skink is finally making its way to the game, arriving as part of the next major War Thunder update!

Briefly: A late-war prototype Canadian SPAAG, based on the Grizzly I medium tank and fitted with a quadruple 20 mm turret.

[h2]Skink, SPAAG, Britain, Rank IV[/h2]

Features:
  • Quadruple 20 mm turret
  • High fire density
  • Excellent gun handling
  • Adequate protection
  • Average mobility
  • High profile


In War Thunder, the Skink will be a new SPAA unit joining the ranks of the British ground forces tree at rank IV, following the release of the next major update. Being a long-awaited addition for many tankers, the Skink will substantially bolster the anti-aircraft capabilities of the British ground forces tree at the mid ranks. Let’s get into some more details then, shall we?





At a first glance, the Skink may strongly resemble the formidable German Wirbelwind - an SPAA unit that should be familiar to many veteran War Thunder tankers. The resemblance should primarily come from the vehicles’ identical weapon arsenal. Namely, much like the Wirbelwind, the Skink features a quadruple 20 mm turret with an astonishing rate of fire. Coupled with an excellent hydraulic turret drive, the Skink can respond to an air attack in mere moments and subsequently fill the skies with hot lead.





The Skink is based on the Grizzly I medium tank, which in turn represents the Canadian license-produced version of the American M4A1 Sherman tank. Therefore, the Skink inherits the characteristic Sherman mediocre protection: it’s able to deflect the occasional medium-caliber anti-tank round but it remains vulnerable to high-powered anti-tank cannons such as the German PaK 40, even at longer engagement distances. Yet the Skink offers one crucial advantage over the Wirbelwind that all of its aspiring commanders will appreciate: an enclosed turret. Unlike the open-topped Wirbelwind, the Skink is immune to strafing aircraft, in turn making it even more dangerous to pilots since it can’t be destroyed as easily!



The Skink is soon arriving to War Thunder ground battles as a new rank IV British SPAAG and will become available to all players upon the release of the next major update. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news to catch all the latest developments surrounding the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

The War Thunder Steam Guide Contest - Winners!



[h2]Welcome to the winners of the first War Thunder Guide Contest on Steam![/h2]

We are impressed by all the high quality guides entered in this competition and therefore have decided to pick 10 winners instead of 5! If you didn't win, we saw your guide and thought it was really well done and we appreciate your entry. But there can only be so many winners! Overall, a huge well done to everyone!

[h2]The winners[/h2]

The following 10 winners have been selected - each have won the Snail Decal and the specified amount of GE, out of the max of 3,000. Outstanding work, guys!





A Beginners Guide to WarThunder - by Penguin Red
Prize: 3,000 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840220531

Практические советы для новичков и не только (Practical advice for beginners and not only) - by Leman_AD
Prize: 3,000 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2852266939


Tips and tricks to ease the SL grind via wagers. - by Iamsupernoob
Prize: 2800 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840580842


Crew skills and how to get the most out of them - by Eriksson VIII
Prize: 2600 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840216593


Sim: For beginners (and anyone alike!) - by Daleks2377
Prize: 2600 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840272562


British Aviation - Overview and Recommendations - by Aquilae Mira
Prize: 2600 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840282704


Getting started with simulator air battles (a guide for beginners) - by Der Gouda Ganove
Prize: 2600 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840347724


Crucial Tips For Beginners - by PizzaTime2020
Prize: 2600 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840317428


The Japanese Tanks Manual - by ✪︎ Fullsets |
Prize: 2400 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840506140

Флот для новичков и/или тех кто его не понял (Fleet for beginners and / or those who do not understand it) - by ScienceDestroy
Prize: 2400 GE + “Steam Snail” decal
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840416064


And, as previously announced, the following guide creators have been awarded 1,000 GE and the special “Steam Snail” decal.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2803148061
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2338583723
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2649904720

Thank you so much for all your entries!

[h2]Looking for more?[/h2]

These guides were created in the War Thunder Community Hub Guide section - a place where the community helps the community. There are hundreds of guides on Steam, so if you’re a new player and wanting to learn the ropes, or a veteran who wants to pick up a tip, then give the guide section a visit!

Click here to visit the Guide section

Until next time!

Aircraft engine fire extinguishers



In the upcoming major War Thunder update, we plan to introduce the engine fire extinguishing systems for planes and helicopters.

The first engine fire extinguishers were used during WWII. At the moment, such systems are equipped with almost all military aircraft - both planes and helicopters. In the upcoming major update of the game, we plan to add the aircraft engine fire extinguishers, and this is how they will work!

There are two types of fire extinguishing systems for aircraft engines - automatic and manual. We will introduce a new modification to the aircraft modifications list, which is called EFS/EFS(a), depending on the extinguisher's type. Automatic fire extinguishers are activated with the destruction of the capsule with the fire-fighting agent by extremely high temperatures occurring during engine fire. Manual systems are activated by pressing the “Toggle Extinguisher” button (default key is “6”). Once the system is activated, it may take a few seconds to cease the fire, which will make the engine inoperable, and during this period it will not be possible to restart the engine. However, it can help to save the aircraft! You’ll have a chance to “come in on a wing and a prayer” to the field, or even continue the fight, especially in the case of multi-engine aircraft. After the repair at the airfield, the engine will be restored, same as the fire extinguisher, making it available again.



In order to avoid accidental toggling of fire extinguishers and shutdown of engines in flight, the activation of fire extinguishing systems is possible only in the event of engine fire. In addition, you can also disable the fire extinguishers before the flight, if you decide not to use it in combat for some reason - just uncheck the checkbox in the ‘Modifications’ menu.

In the next War Thunder update, the fire extinguishers will be available to some aircraft and helicopters (see the list below). As we study the documents, we plan to add this modification to other models of combat aircraft, which were equipped with them in reality.

List of aircraft:
A-10 (all versions), Harrier (all versions), AV-8 (all versions), F-14A Early, P-61 (all versions), A-26 (all versions), Tu-4, B-29, B-17 (all versions), PB4Y (all versions), PBJ (all versions), B-24 ( all versions), B-26 (all versions), B-25 (all versions), MiG-23 (all versions), Su-22 (all versions), Su-17 (all versions), Su-7 (all versions), Q-5 (all versions), A-5C, J-7 (all versions), MiG-21 (all versions), MiG-19 (all versions), Yak-38 (all versions).

List of helicopters:
EC-665 Tiger (all versions), A-129 (all versions), A-109, AB-205, Lynx (all versions), YAH-64, AH-64 (all versions), AH-Mk1, AH-1 (all versions), UH-1 (all versions), Ka-29, Ka-50, Ka-52, Mi-24 (all versions), Mi-35, Mi-28 (all versions).

Pre-order: VRCC Centauro



The export version of the venerable Italian wheeled tank destroyer designed for Spanish land forces, coupled with an unique decoration and Premium bonuses hits the shelves of our online store as a special pre-order pack!

[h2]VRCC Centauro, light tank, Italy, rank VI. Premium.[/h2]

Features:
  • Max speed 110 km/h
  • Deadly armor-piercing rounds
  • Thermal imager
  • Light armor


The VRCC Centauro is a Spanish variant of the legendary wheeled tank destroyer that will come to War Thunder with the next major update. And now you may pre-order the best Premium vehicle in the Italian ground vehicles tech tree and get special bonuses of the pre-order pack!

Incredibly fast and armed with an excellent laser-sharp 105mm gun, the Centauro is one of the most popular vehicles for high-rank tank battles. The new premium VRCC Centauro, built on the basis of earlier versions of this combat vehicle, is distinguished by a different armor scheme of the hull’s front (alas, the protection has not increased though) and later smoke grenade launchers. Most importantly, commanders will have access to excellent DM33 armor piercing fin-stabilized rounds able to overcome 400 mm of the armor - and these shells, like other modifications, are available immediately from the get go!

In the game, the vehicle is decorated with the insignia of the Spanish 8th Light Cavalry Regiment “Lusitania”. Together with the VRCC Centauro, Premium Account time and a good supply of Golden Eagles, the owners of the pre-order pack also receive an unique decorator - a shortened version of the Spanish assault rifle.

Pre-order bonus: unique "Automatic rifle (Italy)" decoration:



Pre-order bonus: "Knight-errant" decal:



[h3]This vehicle is available on our Gaijin Store. [/h3]

HJ-9: The Red Arrow



The HJ-9 is a Chinese wheeled ATGM carrier which entered service with the PLA in the late 1990s as a platform for a newly developed anti-tank missile. Coming to War Thunder as part of the next major update, the HJ-9 will soon reinforce the top ranks of the Chinese ground forces tree with a highly capable new tank hunter!

Briefly: A late 1990s Chinese wheeled missile carrier, equipped with the powerful ATGMs.

[h2]HJ-9, tank destroyer, China, Rank VI[/h2]

Features:
  • Superb mobility
  • Powerful missiles
  • Thermal vision
  • Retractable launcher
  • Light armor


In War Thunder, the HJ-9 will be a new wheeled tank destroyer awaiting tankers at rank VI of the Chinese ground forces tree following the release of the next major update. Combining excellent mobility with potent ATGMs, the HJ-9 will give Chinese tankers access to a deadly new tank hunter unlike anything previously available in their tree!

Immediately upon obtaining the HJ-9, the vehicle offers its prospective commanders a four-barreled retractable ATGM launcher, firing powerful ATGMs of the same designation. Possessing a tandem warhead and a range of 5 km allows tankers to reliably knock out even more advanced combat vehicles, outfitted with reactive armor, and at a considerable distance at that! Furthermore, thanks to the presence of thermal imaging, this process is made even easier, regardless of light or weather conditions.



Being based on a shortened version of the Chinese ZSL92 APC, the HJ-9 features excellent mobility, typical for most wheeled vehicles regardless of rank. Specifically, the HJ-9 can reach an excellent top speed of 95 km/h on paved roads thanks to its 290 horsepower diesel engine. On the other hand, the vehicle’s comparably low combat weight and the resulting high power-to-weight ratio enable it to cross even rougher terrain with relative ease - just be wary of boggy areas and deep snow as these considerably hamper the mobility of wheeled vehicles in general.





In most cases, wheeled vehicles don’t feature heavy duty protection so as to not hamper their mobility. This principle also applies to the HJ-9. Engineers only equipped the HJ-9 with steel armor up to 12 mm in thickness as well as bulletproof glass for the windows. Needless to say, this makes the HJ-9 highly susceptible to everything but small arms fire and shrapnel. Aircraft in particular may prioritize the HJ-9 over other targets due to its poor protection and lack of a defensive roof-mounted machine gun. As a result, commanders are best advised to make the most use out of the HJ-9’s excellent mobility and constantly change position after each engagement to ensure they remain an elusive target on the battlefield.





The HJ-9 will soon be arriving to the top ranks of the Chinese ground forces tree as part of the next major War Thunder update. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to our news as we continue unveiling what other exciting new additions and features await you in the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!