World War I left a lasting mark on military doctrine. Breaking through trenches and networks of fortified positions proved to be a very important but incredibly difficult challenge, and for a long time, no one could find the perfect solution. There was artillery, there was air power, there were other long-range strike options, but what the reality of the battlefield really demanded was a protected, reasonably mobile vehicle that could punch through enemy lines. Over time, that need gave rise to the idea of the super-heavy tank, a kind of “mobile fortress”. One such vehicle was the Tortoise, a true moving bunker wrapped in thick armor and armed to the teeth.
Most late heavy tanks in War Thunder are found at the same battle rating. Different nations bring their “final forms” of the class here — vehicles that, one way or another, represent the ceiling of what heavies can do. And among them, one French machine stands out: the AMX-50 Surbaissé. Why? Because it breaks the usual heavy-tank stereotype on pretty much every point. Watch this...
It is often assumed that the history of combat helicopters began in the second half of the 20th century. The images that usually come to mind are from Vietnam: formations of transport Hueys coming in to land under enemy fire, or swarms of attack Cobras escorting troops above the jungle canopy. Later, another war came to be symbolized by the Soviet Mi-24: the famous “Crocodile” flying over the mountains of Afghanistan.
Some aircraft are meant to be the best at one specific thing. Others try to do everything. Among German World War 2 aircraft, the Focke-Wulf 190 F-8 is exactly that kind of all-rounder. It also recently showed up in the Hungarian line within the Italian tree — a perfect reason to take the strike Focke for another spin.
By the mid-1970s, the Israeli Army had built up an impressive fleet of American M109 self-propelled howitzers. By the standards of the time, their range and rate of fire were considered perfectly adequate. But in the context of regular border clashes, IDF command wanted a more modern and more effective system. The task of creating a “howitzer of the future” was assigned to the engineers at Soltam, who by then already had experience in artillery design.
Among multirole helicopters, the American UH-60 Black Hawk stands out for its long history and intense military career. Drawing on lessons learned from the Vietnam War, Sikorsky built a tough, reliable, and versatile transport, one of the finest multirole helicopters of the modern era.
Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Hungary’s fighter aviation relied largely on foreign aircraft. In the mid-1930s, the Hungarian Air Force purchased Fiat CR.32 and CR.42 fighters from Italy. But aviation was advancing at a breakneck pace: outdated biplanes stood no chance against the latest monoplane fighters in terms of speed and firepower. The Royal Hungarian Air Force urgently needed a modern replacement.
Some older aircraft in War Thunder get a literal second life with each update. Long-forgotten machines suddenly start playing in fresh colors and roll back out of the hangars. Today is exactly one such case. We’re dusting off the Bearcat machine gun... No, wait. The machine gun Bearcat, the F8F-1!
War Thunder has plenty of HE slingers. You’d think there’s nothing left to surprise you. But every time a new one shows up, the interest comes right back. Because HE vehicles are all about emotion... and you can never have too much of that! Today we’re taking a look at Britain’s AS90.