#france

The S.O. 4050 Vautour (vultur) IIN late is a second-generation two seat French interceptor fighter aircraft with all-weather capabilities that entered service in 1956. During its service, it participated in several conflicts in Israel, shooting down two Jordanian Hawker Hunter fighters. In France, it served as a launching platform for the first French radar-guided missiles. However, it was soon replaced by the much more advanced Dassault Mirage III, which was capable of supersonic flight.

The Rafale, developed by Dassault Aviation, is the centerpiece of the French Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Air and Space Force), and is arguably one of the best multirole aircraft in service today. However, developing such an advanced machine was no easy task. France chose to create a combat aircraft that could replace a wide array of legacy platforms, from reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence to air superiority and naval operations. The Rafale embodies the concept of, as Dassault calls it, an “omnirôle” aircraft, designed to excel in every mission, performing multiple roles in a single flight, and doing so without requiring major modifications to the aircraft itself. In this article, I will explore the history of its development, from the prototypes to the pre-production models.

The VBCI-2 (MCT-30) is the premium variant of the VBCI family of wheeled IFVs, equipped with the 30mm Bushmaster Mk. II in a crewless turret. Despite being armored enough to withstand light autocannons, at least from the front, it is one of the most mobile wheeled IFVs in the game and when paired with the 150 rounds of Mk.258 APFSDS, it can take out almost any tank from its side within seconds.

French 203 mm/50 model 1924 was used by the French heavy cruisers during the Second World War, most notably Colbert and Dupleix. It came equipped with SAP and HE shells, with the latter having a very large explosive filler compared to the SAP shell but poor penetration, while the former having just slightly larger explosive filler than SAP but offering a contact fuse, which might be preferable under some circumstances. Lacking a dedicated AP shell, it struggles to deal with heavily armoured cruisers.

The AMX-50 Surbaissé is the last modification of the AMX-50, built to be a lighter version of the Surblindé, it is an accumulation of several years of design and prototyping to create a French tank killer. Offering the 120mm SA46, a six second reload, decent armor, and good mobility, playing the Surbaissé is an experience you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else in War Thunder.

The F-84G is often one of the first jets for many players. It can be used for both air combat and ground attack, making it a solid multi-role aircraft. Although it is a bit older compared to jets like the MiG-15 or F-86, it can still hold its own and compete well against these more modern aircraft.

Contrary to public belief, the 330 mm OPf Mle 1935 shell was not classified as a Semi-Armor Piercing type of ammunition. Historically, the Dunkerque class was designed to counter ships like the Graf Spee, which were lightly armored compared to other capital ships. One theory suggests that the 330 mm OPf shell was designed as SAP to fulfill this purpose. There are currently two claims that attempt to support the classification of the 330 mm OPf shell as SAP: the burster cavity was too large and the hardened cap was too thin compared to typical AP shells. However, additional historical and technical context disproves these claims and instead suggests that the 330 mm OPf shell was designed as AP. The historical context will be first established before addressing each of these claims.

Dunkerque can best be described as a ship that excels in downtiers but struggles significantly in uptiers. While she may be an exciting vessel to unlock, being the ultimate French ship in the game at the time of her release, it is important to moderate expectations. Like all other vessels at BR 6.7, she finds herself in a challenging position, where many top-tier ships can penetrate her magazines, while she cannot retaliate effectively.

Dunkerque's history was not filled with epic victories in combat or spectacular achievements; nonetheless, she participated in two major historic events that changed the balance of power in the Mediterranean, making her an important vessel from an historical perspective, even if she did not sink any hostile vessels in anger.

The Char 2C bis was a French attempt to modernize the ancient relic of the Great War that is the Char 2C… with an archaic howitzer. Needless to say, this attempt was a failure, and the sole vehicle was modified back to its original form a few years later. However, in War Thunder, this gargantuan “super-heavy” tank has been given a new life as a new “derp gun” monster, capable of delivering a massive 11.22 kg of explosives that can defeat even a much more advanced enemy with ease.