Var thunder naval battles. What's in War Thunder? Sea battle and the time factor

WOT's oldest competitor landed at Gamescom 2016, showed off his fleet and answered players' questions.

This material is a kind of digest for those who have not particularly followed War Thunder lately and are not aware of what was happening there. And there have been quite a few events lately.

Sea battles - knights of the sea

Naval battles will appear in WT this year, and the closed beta will start immediately after Gamescom.

The start of closed testing of naval battles is already this year! Their basis will be the “knights of the sea”: torpedo, artillery and missile boats, coast guard ships, patrol ships - the so-called “small” fleet, which during the war made up the majority of the ships that served in all troops and in all waters.

  • It was decided not to introduce the heavy fleet (ships larger than a destroyer) into the game, since they were too slow and clumsy, which delayed the gameplay, making it uninteresting. Therefore, only fast ships were left in the game, which are more suitable for the concept of War Thunder battles.
  • Access to testing is given out during broadcasts from Gamescom 2016. You can also buy a package with one of the early accesses (for or rubles).
  • Open testing is planned for 2017.

  • Ships of all nations represented in the game will be added.
  • Large ships (cruisers, battleships, aircraft carriers) will be controlled by bots in some modes for the first time. Based on the test results, perhaps these ships will be given control to players.
  • For naval battles, separate locations will be created in the setting of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean.
  • Water is created based on NVIDIA Waveworks technology.
  • There will be no submarines and here's why:

The gameplay of submarines is specific - they are quiet hunters who sometimes waited for their “prey” for weeks, struck and disappeared. A discovered submarine is guaranteed to be dead. And in speed they were, as a rule, inferior to even very slow ships.

  • Tests of joint battles between ships and aircraft are currently underway.

A little more details can be found in the video:

Ship preview

S-100 model 1945 (Germany)

The S-100 class torpedo boat, model 1945, is a true child of the war. The boat was created in 1943, taking into account the experience of military operations in the English Channel against the British military and merchant fleets. As a result of long research and experiments, German engineers created an excellent torpedo boat for active combat operations and patrolling of sea areas and straits, in which many of the shortcomings of earlier classes of boats were taken into account and corrected.

For the design of the boat, the shipbuilders chose wood as a light, elastic and reliable material. The wooden structures of the ship were made from different types of wood - oak, cedar, mahogany, Oregon pine. The double casing of wooden cladding was divided by metal bulkheads into 8 waterproof compartments. The deckhouse of boats of this class was armored; the thickness of the steel sheets was 12 mm, which provided good bulletproof and anti-fragmentation protection.

  • Maximum speed: 42.5 knots (almost 80 km/h).
  • Engines: three 2500-horsepower Mercedes-Benz diesels.
  • Weapons:
    • two tubes for torpedoes of 533 mm caliber,
    • automatic 37-mm cannon (analogue of the famous FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun),
    • one twin and one single installation of 20 mm C/38 cannons,
    • at the stern there is a twin mechanism for releasing depth charges,
    • Rifle-caliber machine guns could be installed on the sides of the armored tank.

Japanese patrol torpedo boat Type 11 PT-15

Became the last of the ships of this type in Japanese service. The vessel retained the characteristic features and characteristics of post-war Japanese boats, which were built in the shipyards of Western bloc countries. The PT-15 has good seaworthiness thanks to the successful contours in the midship frame area, which became a characteristic feature of Japanese post-war ships.

Despite its solid armament and external massiveness, in War Thunder this torpedo boat is always at the forefront thanks to its excellent top speed. The main task of the PT-15 is to destroy sea targets, regardless of their size, and the boat copes well with this task. Four large and powerful torpedoes weighing 1800 kg each are the main argument in the fight against large ships.

  • Maximum speed: 40 knots (over 70 km/h).
  • Engines: two gas turbines, with a total power of 11,000 hp.
  • Weapons:
    • four torpedo tubes with American Mk.16 torpedoes,
    • two automatic 40-mm Bofors L60 cannons on the bow and stern of the boat.
  • Crew: 28 people.

Project 183 "Bolshevik" (USSR)

It was developed in the post-war years, taking into account the experience of combat use of both equipment obtained under lend-lease and Soviet boats. The design of the boat competently took into account the properties of coniferous and deciduous wood, successful geometry and a power plant of four diesel engines gave the boat good speed and maneuverability, and the combination of artillery and torpedo weapons made the boat a truly universal soldier.

The large Project 183 torpedo boat is a godsend for those players who like active, energetic play. The boat takes off perfectly from a standstill and maintains an excellent speed for its class. Four automatic cannons have good accuracy even when firing at long distances, so you can be one of the first in the team to start shooting enemy ships. The rate of fire of the guns is low (about 300 rounds per minute), but high-explosive fragmentation shells are equally good against the hull of boats and their crews.

  • Maximum speed: 44 knots (over 80 km/h).
  • Engines: four diesel engines with a total power of 4800 l/s.
  • Weapons:
    • two torpedo tubes,
    • two twin 25 mm 2M-3 cannons,
    • up to 12 depth charges.
  • Crew: 14 people.

Fairmile D: sea dog (UK)

Throughout 1941, engineers of the British Royal Navy were busy developing and testing a new type of gun and torpedo-gunnery boats to counter the German “schnellbots” - torpedo boats that blocked the actions of British warships and merchant ships in the English Channel. The requirements for the vehicle were quite clear - the boat had to become a universal platform for mounting powerful weapons of various types, and also have a speed of at least 30 knots in order to somehow resist the fast German sea predators.

Fairmile Dee is one of the most popular boats of World War II. The different production series differed primarily in their armament - quite soon the cannon and machine gun armament was significantly strengthened, torpedo tubes and depth charges began to appear on the boat, and many artillery boats were modernized into torpedo and artillery boats. Our guest today is an artillery boat of the Fairmile Dee project from early production series.

  • Maximum speed: 32 knots (just under 60 km/h).
  • Engines: four, with a total capacity of 5,000 horsepower.
  • Weapons:
    • one automatic 40-mm cannon 2-pdr QF Mk.IIc on the nose,
    • twin 20-mm Oerlikon Mk.V cannon at the stern,
    • two coaxial heavy machine guns.5 Vickers Mk.III,
    • two coaxial machine guns of rifle caliber .303 Vickers No5 Mk.I on the bridge,
    • a pair of Mk.VII depth charges.

Project 1124 armored boat: river "Katyusha" (USSR)

Available for pre-order for 1899 rubles.

Large river armored boats of Project 1124 were developed in 1933-34 for a wide range of combat missions in river waters (primarily the Amur, from where they received the unofficial nickname “Amur”) and, despite the simplicity of the design and the great inconvenience of crew accommodation, they combined the most advanced at that time the developments of Soviet industry.

Boats of the 1124 series went through a glorious battle path: the Battle of Stalingrad, Western Europe, the Far East - these river tanks supported infantry actions from the water, landed soldiers in the rear and flanks of the enemy, were the first to break into the waters of European cities and destroyed enemy fortifications with cannon and missile fire.

In War Thunder, the version of the boat equipped with the Katyusha MLRS is a real monster in the hands of a skilled captain. The T-34 tank turret, located in the bow of the boat, allows targeted fire at vital enemy modules and compartments even from long distances.

  • Maximum speed: 21 knots.
  • Engines: two 900 hp, Hall-Scott gas engines or two 1200 hp, Packard 4M-2500-W-12 gas engines, 2 fixed propellers.
  • Weapons:
    • two 12.7 mm machine guns,
    • installation of M-13-M1 unguided rockets, the legendary Katyusha, capable of unleashing a simultaneous salvo of 16 missiles,
    • T-34 tank turret located in the bow of the boat.
  • Crew: 15 people.

PT-109: Kennedy torpedo boat (USA)

Available for pre-order for 2399 rubles.

Elco patrol torpedo boats were designed to perform a wide variety of missions not only in the coastal zone, but also on the open sea. The United States Navy placed a government order for 94 units of 80-foot (24-meter) torpedo boats immediately after the country became involved in World War II. The boats turned out to be very successful and were subsequently actively modernized (mainly by increasing firepower).

The War Thunder game is about to receive a large-scale update: it has already been announced by Gaijin Entertainment, the update is called “Knights of the Sea”. As you might guess, its developers dedicated it to naval battles.

The start of open beta testing of the update is scheduled for this year; missile, torpedo and artillery boats, coast guard ships, and patrol vessels will collide in fierce battles in the sea.

Creative director of Gaijin Entertainment Kirill Yudintsev said that for developers, a high level of realism is one of the main design features. The authors strive to create technology as it was in real life, without changing its characteristics. Classic capital ship battles are a competition of patience and planning that can last from several hours to even several days. Since in War Thunder battles of all branches of the military take place together, gamers will have the opportunity to simultaneously control aircraft, tanks, and a fleet on the same battlefield.

As it turned out, Gaijin Entertainment began working on the development of the fleet even before starting work on the tanks, but the authors were in no hurry to introduce a heavy fleet into the game, since such battles would be too protracted and therefore uninteresting. Or, as an option, make the ships unrealistic in terms of physics and controls. That is why that part of the combat fleet was created that is very fast and maneuverable, and which is extremely rarely reproduced in the gaming industry. The local ships and boats will be fast and dangerous enough to compete equally with aviation in the sky and tanks on the ground.

What is important is that none of the nations represented in the game will be left without their own line of warships. While testing is ongoing, the alpha test team and other invited players will be able to take part in it. In addition, owners of one of the two Starter Sea Sets with unique ships, which are already available for pre-order in the game store, will have the opportunity to test the fleet.

The first such set contains a Soviet river armored boat of Project 1124, armed with the legendary Katyusha launcher. But the second set includes the American torpedo boat PT-109, also known for the fact that the future US President John Kennedy once served on one. Either one or the other ship will be available in closed beta testing. More details about these ships can be found in the development diaries.

Visitors to the Gamescom exhibition in Cologne will be the first to take part in the naval battles of War Thunder. The stand will have a special closed area where guests will be invited to try themselves as the captain of a warship. And since not everyone will be able to attend the exhibition, for others who want to see the fleet in action in the game, it is planned to organize a video broadcast in which the authors of the game themselves will talk in detail about the new mode, show ships of different countries, and also hold a drawing for access keys to the closed beta. testing among broadcast viewers.

Naval battles will appear in the popular game War Thunder along with the Knights of the Sea add-on.

The closed beta test for Knights will begin this year. Those interested will be able to try torpedo, artillery and missile boats, coast guard vessels, and patrol ships.

“A high level of realism is one of the key design features for War Thunder. We do not change the characteristics of the equipment and create it as it was, as close as possible. Classic capital ship battles are a contest of patience and planning, with battles lasting from a few hours to several days. In our game, where battles of all types of troops are joint, and players can control planes, tanks, and fleets, there is no possibility of speeding up time by 5-10 times or changing the size and speed of ships. The development of the fleet in War Thunder began even before the development of tanks, and as tests showed, battles on a heavy fleet, ships larger than a destroyer, would have been too long and uninteresting, or would have required making the ships completely unrealistic, only resembling real ships in appearance and names. Therefore, we decided to recreate that part of the battle fleet that was rarely reproduced in games. Ships that are more suitable for the formula of our game are fast, swift, dangerous, real Knights of the Sea, worthy and equal rivals for planes in the air and tanks on the ground,” says Kirill Yudintsev, creative director of Gaijin Entertaiment.

All nations in War Thunder will receive lines of warships. Access to testing will be given to the alpha test team and other invited players, as well as owners of one of the two Starter Sea Sets with unique ships, which are already available for pre-order in the game store. The first includes the Soviet Project 1124 river armored boat, armed with the legendary Katyusha launcher. The second package included the American torpedo boat PT-109, on which the future US President John Kennedy served and accomplished his feat. Both ships will be immediately available in closed beta testing. You can read more about these ships in the development diaries.

Visitors to the Gamescom exhibition in Germany will be the first to take part in the naval battles of War Thunder. At the game stand there will be a special closed area where guests can try themselves in the role of captain of a warship. For those who cannot attend the exhibition, in a special video broadcast from the exhibition, the game developers will talk in more detail about the new mode, present ships from different countries, and also hold draws for access keys to closed beta testing among spectators.

Source: Gaijin Entertainment press release.

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