War Thunder News

There’s a skilled marksman in town! Meet season 16 of the Battle Pass, featuring a flying boat and the main reward, the devastating Sholef Israeli tank destroyer. This tank features a 155 mm gun that’s capable of taking out a range of enemies thanks to its ammunition range. All in season 16!

To receive Battle Pass rewards, you’ll need to regularly log into the game and complete tasks and challenges. Each level of the Battle Pass will earn you a prize, be it a player icon, loading screen, title, decals, decorations, or 2 brand-new premium vehicles!

NEW! For the naval vehicle this time, we’ve created a trophy featuring 3 naval Battle Pass vehicles from previous seasons that were not available in coupon form, and 1 naval event vehicle. When opening this trophy, you’re guaranteed to get either the PT-658, MTB-422, Z25 or TKA-106 if you don’t already have them. If you have them all, you’ll get some Silver Lions and Collector Golden Battles Wager instead.

In the future, we’re planning to rotate different Battle Pass trophies that contain a different set of event vehicles that were not available in coupon form too.

The maximum reward for this wager is 1000 GE. You need to win 12 battles using rank III — VIII vehicles while destroying at least one player vehicle in each match. If you lose your match or don’t destroy a player three times the wager will be over.



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When: July 24th until October 23rd.

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[h2]This Season’s Rewards[/h2]

We’ve got a new set of decals, decorations, a profile icon a trophy containing previous naval Battle Pass vehicles, and two vehicles lined up for you this season! See the full list in the Battle Pass tab in the hangar, or check them out on our Wiki. Here’s some key rewards for Season 16:

[h2]Trophy with a previous vessel[/h2]
1 random naval vehicle (PT-658, MTB-422, Z25 or TKA-106) from previous Battle Pass seasons or events.

Opening this trophy will give you 1 random naval Battle Pass vehicle from the previous seasons, or one from a previous event. If you already own all of them, you’ll be given Silver Lions.

[h2]PBM-5A Mariner[/h2]
A Premium Hydroplane / Torpedo Bomber for the USA at Rank III

The PBM-5A is a huge flying boat featuring 100, 500, 1000 lb, AN-MK1 bombs and Mk.13 torpedoes. For defensive armament, there’s 8 machine guns. A fun aircraft for naval, ground and air battles!



[h2]Sholef V.1[/h2]
A Premium Tank Destroyer for Israel at Rank IV

The Sholef V.1 is a tank destroyer featuring a huge 155 mm gun fitted onto a Merkava Mk.1 chassis. This gun is housed in a large turret, can fire HE and fuze shells and has an autoloader. Perfect for taking out a range of enemies!




[h2]Decals[/h2]

4 decals!







[h2]Decorations[/h2]

3 decorations!



[h2]Profile Icon[/h2]

Skilled Marksman


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All Rewards and Challenges for Season 16

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[h3]About the Battle Pass[/h3]

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If you’ve got two Coupon Upgrades from stages in the previous season, then you can claim the new Battle Pass for free! Exchange them in the purchase menu of the Skilled Marksman season.

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The Battle Pass is a seasonal event where players can earn many rewards, from Silver Lions and boosters to exclusive season prizes: decorations, profile icons and premium vehicles. The rules are simple: you earn progress points and use them to unlock new stages, earning valuable prizes in the process.

You can unlock new stages and receive awards at any time during the season.


You can access the “Battle Pass” window through the promo block on the right side of the hangar screen.

[h3]How to participate[/h3]
Play

• You get progress points every day for entering the game.
  
• From 1 to 5 points.
  

Complete Battle Tasks

• You can check your Battle Tasks in the game. Complete them and receive progress points.
  
• From 2 to 5 points.
  

Complete Season Challenges

• One Challenge is available at the start of the season. Every week you get a new one, while three more can become available by unlocking stages.
  
• 30 points.
  

Learn more about the Battle Pass

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
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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.
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[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.