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?

Many Garfords remained to take part in the Russian Civil War after suffering relatively few losses in World War I. Some others were captured by the Germans, Czechs, and Balts, among others. After the war ended, they continued to serve in the Red Army and in states that could not afford new armored vehicles.

The Garford was a Russian armored car with a 76 mm cannon that saw service in World War I. It was very different from the armored cars of the era, which were typically light vehicles armed with machine guns. The Garford entered service a year before the British Mk. I, and despite its underpowered engine and poor weight distribution, it was popular with crews and effective in combat.

The development of jet aviation brought the world such famous deltas as the MiG-21 and the Mirage. However, their American counterparts did not enjoy similar success. The Air Force was left with only a failure of F-102 and an attempt to improve it, the F-106. This attempt was successful, and after the aircraft entered service in 1959, pilots deeply loved it for its excellent performance. In the game, the Delta Dart lives up to that love. It's a fast aircraft with powerful air-to-air weapons and an unusual missile layout in the bomb bay. So, what's the catch?

The British Vickers Mk. E had an unusual fate. In its home country, it never entered service or was produced in significant quantities. However, it became known as one of the best tanks of its time thanks to its production in the USSR under the designation T-26. Soviet tanks saw action in Spain, Finland, and China, and more than 10,000 were produced.

Lockheed is known for making unusual aircraft. The company's legendary creations include the F-104, the U-2, and the SR-71. Another well known plane is the F-117, the first stealth aircraft with its distinctive shape. But why and how was it designed this way? Read more in our infographic.

The F4D-1 is the only carrier-capable delta-winged fighter which was employed by the US Navy. The plane itself represents the era of early jet aviation when designers experimented with unusual solutions. In the game, the F4D-1 Skyray differs significantly from other jet fighters and aircraft with similar wings. Like the latter, it can turn sharply toward the enemy, and it carries good weapons. However, its low maximum speed is disappointing, and like other delta wings, it quickly loses energy. So, how do you play it?

The G-5 class boats were the product of Soviet active coastal defense doctrine. To accomplish their mission, Soviet designers built the fastest torpedo boat of its time to attack large ships. However, this came at the expense of range and seaworthiness, negatively affecting the combat effectiveness of these vessels. In War Thunder, however, these two factors do not affect the G-5, which is a fast and maneuverable torpedo boat albeit with weak armament and low survivability.

Swedish aircraft are known for their unusual designs, such as double delta, the canard configuration, and the “Flying Barrel.” The series of unique designs began with the Saab 21, a pusher propeller-engine aircraft that was later changed to a jet engine.

The Soviet MiG-15 gained fame during the Korean War as the F-86 Sabre's most notable adversary. Its swept wing, powerful engine, and small size gave it a significant advantage over its outdated enemies and predecessors, such as the F-84 and MiG-9. Due to these characteristics, it was also used by Hungary, China, East Germany, and many other Soviet allies. In the game, the MiG-15 shines with its excellent maneuverability, energy retention, impressive climb rate, and strong airbrake—so useful when fighting Sabres. But are these characteristics offset by poor gun position, awful roll, and ineffective rudder?