The latest War Thunder update is, quite literally, fire. A convoy of destructive new vehicles awaits.
Things are Heating Up in the Latest War Thunder Update "Fire and Ice"
Flame-throwing tanks are coming to War Thunder. This initially made me question the realism that the action-packed military MMO prides itself on. But it turns out they're a real thing, and I am grateful to the latest War Thunder update for educating me on this knowledge I never knew I needed.
In fact, the Fire and Ice update goes pretty heavy on the fire theme, by introducing the aforementioned tank - called the Churchill Crocodile - the American flamethrower boat "Zippo", and the napalm-dropping American carrier-based A-1H Skyraider attack aircraft. Suffice to say that these destructive vehicles are particularly nasty, and designed to wreak infernal havoc on enemy combatants - especially those hiding out in forests.
The Churchill Crocodile will be the longest tank in the game thanks to the extra trailer of fuel that it hauls around the map. But what it lacks in manoeuvrability it makes up for in destructive capability, with the flamethrower being particularly effective against light vehicles. It is also useful for hitting enemies behind light cover.
Other vehicles in the latest War Thunder update include the Japanese Fuso battleship, which carries six twin 14-inch guns which provide good aiming angles and the 2S38 "Derivatsia-PVO", a Russian anti-aircraft artillery module with a 57mm cannon mounted on a modified BMP-3 chassis. Which is a lot of jargon - but the important info is that it is an uninhabited turret that includes automatic target tracking for air targets, and can even deal with tanks.
As for where the 'Ice' in the Fire and Ice title comes in, we'd wager it has something to do with the two new maps: Rocky Canyon and Arctic. It's certainly not as prominent as the fire but serves a thematic purpose nonetheless.
Finally, some visual improvements have also been implemented, including realistic volumetric holes on aircraft fuselages, and enhanced local smoke and fire effects. Hitting the water will also now reveal a new, reworked splash effect.