During the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the unexpected appearance of the Russian-built Tupolev SB-2 bomber in Chinese skies caught the Japanese Army off guard. The SB-2's speed at altitude was nearly equal to that of the Nakajima Ki-27, which had only just been introduced to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF). This performance gap rendered the SB-2 almost impervious to Japanese fighter interception, leaving a significant impression on Japanese military planners. Thus, the Kawasaki Ki-48 was conceptualized in 1937 as a Japanese equivalent of the Soviet-built bomber.
The CV90 is a series of vehicles built to withstand extreme weather and fulfil a wide range of battlefield situations. Despite their intent to be used as jack of all trades, masters of none military assets, their ability to fight both enemy armour and airborne threats is separated and maximised in the anti-air-focused Lvkv 9040C and anti-tank-focused Strf 9040 BILL. This article will explore these two developments of the Swedish army and their more niche roles on the battlefields of War Thunder.
The Kawasaki Ki-45, a Japanese aircraft active during World War II, experienced an unusually long and challenging development phase before its eventual deployment. Despite its struggles, it played a crucial role during the war’s final months as Japan’s only operational night fighter, tasked with defending against American B-29 night bombings—though it had not been originally designed for this purpose.
The M8 Light Armoured Car, commonly known as the “Greyhound”, is a low-tier reconnaissance vehicle. It has a 37mm cannon paired with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. It features decent mobility, enough armor to withstand small caliber machine guns, and heavy machine gun fire from the front, which can even extend to autocannons at longer ranges. While its mobility may not be the best, it is still enough to allow you to flank enemies and utilize your fast fire rate to destroy enemy vehicles side on.
On December 21, 1964, the American tactical bomber F-111, nicknamed the ‘Aardvark,’ took to the skies for the very first time. The name ‘Aardvark’ translates to ‘earth pig,’ reflecting its distinctive design. The bomber’s story began in 1961, when the U.S. Air Force and Navy outlined requirements for a new strike aircraft. This two-seat supersonic platform needed to feature a heavy combat payload, twin engines, and a variable-sweep wing. The F-111A entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1967, replacing the Republic F-105.
The Fiat G.55 Centauro is truly a fabulous flying machine developed by the Kingdom of Italy during World War II. In this guide, I will cover the variant denominated serie 1. The G.55 is a World War II fighter found in the fourth rank of the Italian aviation tech tree. It was used by the Regia Aeronautica and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in 1943–1945. It was designed and built in Turin by Fiat and was arguably the best fighter produced in Italy during World War II. It was regarded as “the best Axis fighter” by the Luftwaffe when compared to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. In this guide, you will learn how to dominate the skies in this magnificent flying machine!
The U.S. Des Moines-class cruisers were a class of cruise ships built as heavy cruisers for the United States Navy during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Famous for their powerful armament and design innovations, as well as their long service life, they represented a remarkable achievement of naval engineering during the Cold War. This was the last heavy cruiser class commissioned by the United States. That being said, they provided an important role within the Navy for decades.
The TB-3M-27-32 is a rare and very solid low rank bomber. Although it is quite slow, it has a very good payload for its rank and good survivability. It has various payload options ranging from FAB-100 bombs to FAB-500. It has a total of 5 gunners with an overall good coverage, particularly above the aircraft. The aircraft's large size makes it somewhat durable against enemy fire, although it will struggle to fly at all with extensive damage due to its already very low top speed.
Among the many armored vehicles that saw service during World War II, few have attained the mythic status of the Panzerkampfwagen VI, also known as the Tiger I. This 57-ton beast marks the beginning of the German heavy tank line and is a textbook example of a tank of its class, capable of inflicting and taking heavy damage due to its powerful armament and thick armor protection.