Ground Vehicles
The diminutive Scimitar armed reconnaissance vehicle is one of the more famous British armoured vehicles from the Cold War. It is one of the members of the versatile Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T) family and has seen service in all corners of the globe. Its small and almost endearing shape has been flown the British flag in conflicts all across the world for 50 years, and has become something of a favourite among its crews and the wider public.
The summer of 1943 was hot in more ways than one. Near Kursk, one of the largest battles of the Second World War was about to begin. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, along with thousands of armored vehicles and aircraft, were concentrated on both sides of the front. The Wehrmacht was preparing Operation Citadel, hoping to regain the strategic initiative after its defeat at Stalingrad. The fields of the Belgorod and Oryol regions became a vast staging ground, where thousands of fighting vehicles started their engines in the early morning haze.
Some combat vehicles get a special kind of attention from War Thunder players, and sometimes even earn their own nicknames, although not always flattering ones. The French AML-90 wheeled light tank and its South African cousin, the Eland 90, are perfect examples. Today, we’re taking both of them for a spin to see why players have grown so fond of these little machines.
In the Pacific War, it quickly became apparent after the initial deployments of the Japanese Chi-Ha tanks that they lacked sufficient armor and firepower to contend with the American M4 Shermans and M3 Lee/Grant. Consequently, development of successors began as early as 1940; one of these was the Type 5 Chi-Ri (五式中戦車 チリ / Medium Tank Type 5 Chi-Ri). Parallel to this, the Ho-Ri, intended to serve as a heavy tank destroyer, was designed based on the Type Chi-Ri. However, due to a shortage of raw materials, which were allocated to the Type 4 Chi-To rather than the Chi-Ri, it never entered serial production; only a single unfinished Chi-Ri prototype was built, while the Ho-Ri project was abandoned entirely, with only a scale model ever being constructed.
Throughout the Second World War, the Wehrmacht captured large numbers of Soviet T-34s on the Eastern front, many of which were repaired and returned to service, under the designation Panzerkampfwagen 747(r). While most of these examples remained largely unchanged apart from the addition of German radios and paint schemes, etc, a fair number were converted into various vehicles capable of fulfilling roles far beyond that of a medium tank.
After the First World War, many engineers became fascinated with controversial and sometimes downright bizarre ideas. Tanks had only recently appeared on the battlefield, so there was still no consensus on how this new type of fighting vehicle should be designed. Every country had its own vision of the future.
Did you know that you can make your tanks have a manual transmission? By default your tank will use an automatic transmission, however you can make your tank have a manual transmission. Automatic manages shifting for ease of play, while Manual mode provides precise control over engine RPMs, gear selection, and neutral steering—ideal for steep climbs and stabilized combat. It’s one more thing to do during the heat of a battle, but can be worth the reward.
The Type 75 SPH: a vehicle that was ahead of its time and played a key role in defending Japan for over 40 years. But how does it perform in War Thunder? Is it significantly different from other self‑propelled guns, and what are its strengths and weaknesses? Read more about this samurai in the article!
The PT-76 is a legendary amphibious combat vehicle designed by Soviet engineers specifically to cross Europe’s rivers and other water obstacles. Unfortunately, in the game, its amphibious capability is rarely useful, and this comes at the cost of extremely thin armor. On the other hand, this machine has a two-plane stabilizer and HEAT shells that can punch through almost any armor. So, how can you make the most of this unusual “swimmer”? Read on!
The Panther series is one of the most iconic tank lineages in history, and its reputation lives on in War Thunder. Fast, well-armed, and well-armored, the Panther is an absolute joy to play. It’s also one of the few tanks in the German tech tree that doesn’t heavily sacrifice armor for speed, giving it a playstyle that stands out from many of its German counterparts. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at the Panther’s strengths and weaknesses, the tactics that suit it best, and how to get the most out of one of Germany’s most iconic cats.
