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After WW1, a new type of tank emerged: the “Land Battleship”. This type of tank would be developed by multiple nations and in multiple forms. The Soviet Union was particularly keen on this design and continued work on it into WW2. This obsession would lead to two tanks in WW2, the SMK and T-100. Their complex development history would involve other well-known tanks that you may not know were linked.

Marat was a Soviet battleship of the Sevastopol class. Between 1928 and 1931, it underwent a major modernization, acquiring a modified silhouette and enhanced air defense, as well as improved living conditions for the crew. During World War II, Marat played a significant role in the defense of Leningrad; even after sustaining serious damage and partial flooding, it continued to shell enemy positions until the end of the siege. You can read more about this fearless veteran in the article!

While somewhat rare, the KV-1E is extremely annoying to face, primarily due to its incredibly thick armor, which allows it to block shells from tanks that are above its level. While similar to the other KV-1s, the KV-1E still has a different playstyle that can be a joy to experience if done right. In today’s article, we are going to look at the different strengths and weaknesses of the KV-1E, which tactics to use, and how to get the most out of this Soviet bunker.

The Yak-130 is a modern two seat Russian trainer with powerful engines and an ordnance loadout that packs a punch. Made to prepare future pilots for the complexity and maneuverability of 4th, and even 5th generation fighters, it is a real force to be reckoned with due to its high tech and supermaneuverable nature. Not only is the Yak-130 a menace in War Thunder, but this powerful trainer also has a unique history full of complications and many interesting partnerships.

After Operation Uranus, the counteroffensive of the Battle of Stalingrad, it became painfully obvious that the USSR needed mobile heavy guns in order to destroy German fortifications and heavy tanks. The Red Army did have the KV-2 heavy tank for this duty at the time, but mass production of the KV-2 had ceased when the Kirov Plant was moved to Chelyabinsk. The new anti-fortification vehicle had to be faster than the KV-2, with thicker armor, and mount the powerful and more accurate ML-20 howitzer on a less expensive platform. The gun was too long and its recoil too powerful for it to be mounted in a turret, so a casemate structure was opted for. This would result in the soon-to-be-famous SU-152 'Zveroboy'.

In 1944, the Sukhoi Design Bureau started working on a new twin-engine fighter. The design process was slow, but the bureau soon acquired a captured German Me 262 Schwalbe ("Swallow"), which profoundly influenced the project's subsequent development. This culminated in the Su-9 in 1947, which retained the Me 262’s layout but had a different fuselage and wing design. Soon after, the Su-11 was created based on the Su-9, featuring more powerful TR-1 engines. However, in the game, the Su-11’s performance is much superior than that of the Su-9 or the Me 262. It stands out for its excellent acceleration and incredible energy conservation. Is it really that good?

The T-26 mod. 1939 was one of the final variants of the T-26 tank, featuring significant improvements over the earlier versions such as a conical turret and thicker, better armor. Around 1300 such vehicles were manufactured by 1940. In War Thunder, this tank is a reserve in the Soviet tech tree. Although it’s slow and has weak armor, this tank features a good gun, making it a powerful weapon in skilled hands.

The T-34-57 was developed as a specialized tank destroyer capable of going head-to-head with the Wehrmacht’s new armored vehicles. In the game, this vehicle is valued for its powerful 57 mm gun, which can penetrate virtually any opponent. However, this firepower comes at the cost of weak armor and a cramped layout. So, how should this vehicle be used in the game, taking all its pros and cons into account?

Among the few helicopters with a coaxial rotor system that do not have a tail rotor is the Ka-29, a small multi-role shipborne helicopter. It’s not only cute, but also very dangerous, being one of the best early Soviet helicopters. How does it perform in the game? What’s the history of the bun? Read more in this article!

The SMK is a very unique vehicle. Featuring a highly unusual layout and weapons complement, presenting a very large profile and offering surprisingly adequate mobility, it can be very challenging to use for new owners. The aim of this article is therefore to help the reader understand how to best utilize and combat this monster of a tank.