#history

The Saab 39 Gripen, often called the JAS 39 Gripen, is a highly capable multirole fighter aircraft renowned for its exceptional maneuverability, advanced avionics, and cost-efficient operation. Since its first flight in 1988 and subsequent introduction into service in 1996, Gripen has become the cornerstone of the Swedish Air Force and has since been adopted by several other nations around the world.

The A-5C (Q-5III/强-5III), NATO reporting name: Fantan, is the export version of the Nanchang Q-5 during the early days of China’s paid military sales in the 1980s. China was in desperate need of funding after economic reforms, and since previous aircraft exports were essentially given as aid rather than sales, military factories were also searching for a means to generate funds for their new projects.

The development of Japanese armoured vehicles began like many other industrial nations, inspired by the pioneering tanks of World War I. Domestic production started in the late 1920s, with Japan's tanks battle-tested during the Sino-Japanese conflict and the early Pacific campaigns of the 1930s. However, stagnation set in due to budget cuts and turmoil in tactics, leaving Japan's tank forces outdated by World War II. Development in the 1940s was largely defensive, and the tanks on the frontlines were from the 1930s, giving a false impression of Japan’s capabilities. After the war, Japan relied on U.S. equipment until regaining sovereignty, when development resumed. Since the 1950s, Japanese tanks have embraced NATO principles while incorporating unique innovations, focusing on advanced, defence-oriented designs to maintain a robust self-defence force.

This article will explore the development and service history of the Sd.Kfz. 234 heavy armoured car family, which includes the Sd.Kfz. 234/1, 234/2, 234/3, and 234/4. The Sd.Kfz. 234 series were the last to be produced by Germany during the Second World War, and were relatively uncommon. Despite this, they remain some of the most well-known armoured cars of their time. 

Japan purchased the Tiger E (Chassis No. 250455) under the advice of General Hiroshi Ōshima, the Japanese ambassador in Berlin. General Ōshima had visited the Eastern Front, where he saw the formidable Tiger tank. In May 1943, Japan made an offer to acquire either the blueprints or an actual model of the tank. The plan was to ship the tank to Japan by submarine, intending to strengthen Japanese tank forces and serve as valuable research material. However, the transfer was never completed due to the increasing dominance of Allied naval forces. As a result, the Tiger I was loaned "back" to the Germans and subsequently used in the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion in Belgium.

The Fall of France led the United States to frantically find ways to counter the new threat profile of the German panzer divisions. This led to the formation of the Tank Destroyer Branch whose main purpose was to blunt any German armored exploitation attempts with a mobile tank destroyer force to eliminate the enemy tanks. While such a tank destroyer was in development, the urgency for a vehicle led to a conversion of a M4A2 hull with a larger, open-topped turret carrying a high-velocity 3-inch gun into battle. This weapon system would be adopted as the 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10.

Back in 2023, I visited the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection at Fort Benning, Georgia (now Fort Moore) for the first time. One of the vehicles that piqued my interest was the MBT-70 and XM-803. I have enjoyed both vehicles in War Thunder, and seeing them in person was a great experience. In this post, I included a short history of each vehicle and some pictures I snapped while there.

The LOSAT-CCVL is a very unique vehicle in War Thunder in both looks and gameplay. Boasting low survivability, no gun elevation whatsoever, but the best penetration for a kinetic penetrator in game, the LOSAT needs little to no introduction. Lets take a look into what makes this "Tank" special!

From the spring of 1942, the General Board of the US Navy brought up a new fleet destroyer design for consideration. The design was expected to improve on the existing 2,200-ton Sumner class by raising the top speed from 36.5 to 38 knots with a moderate increase of 300 tons in displacement. This began a series of design studies that evaluated the potential characteristics of an improved Sumner/Gearing class. By the end of 1948, the design was drastically different from the destroyer envisioned 6 years before and formed the basis for the Mitscher class destroyer leaders.

Carrier aviation was a relatively new field when World War II began, with some nations starting with biplanes as their main carrier aircraft. However, as technology marched on and aircraft became more sophisticated and robust, the need to mate the new technology to existing roles proved pivotal to keeping the equipment the most advanced. As such, when the US Navy pursued the F3D-1, it aimed to have the first operational jet aircraft that was carrier-capable.