War Thunder Opens Pre-Orders for HMS Duke of York at 79.99
The Rank VI British battleship will join the game with its next major update, and the pack includes 30 days of Premium time and 3,000 Golden Eagles.
Gaijin opened pre-orders for HMS Duke of York on October 19. The Rank VI premium battleship for Great Britain will join War Thunder with its next major update, according to the developer’s Steam announcement.
The pack costs 79.99 and includes the ship, 30 days of Premium account time, 3,000 Golden Eagles, the “The King’s Speech” title, and the “White Rose of York” decal. It also lists another unique pre-order bonus that will become available after the next major update. Steam players can access the Gaijin Store from the in-game hangar through Shop > Online Store.
Armor and anti-aircraft guns define Duke of York’s role
The in-game ship uses its 1943 configuration, with 10 356 mm main guns, 30 20 mm automatic guns, and 133 mm secondary guns that fire proximity-fuzed HE-VT rounds. Those secondary shells can threaten aircraft at long range and exposed crew on enemy ships. The vessel also carries a seaplane.
Protection is the battleship’s main strength. Its 381 mm main belt, 330 mm turret barbettes, and 152 mm armored deck cover the citadel, though the largest guns remain a danger at long range. Mobility is average, similar to HMS Prince of Wales, and the main battery is not among the strongest at Rank VI. Medium-range fights are recommended to get the most from its guns.
The ship’s real-world record includes the December 1943 Battle of North Cape. HMS Duke of York took two hits from Scharnhorst without serious damage, then struck the German battleship at least 10 times with its main guns, slowing it enough for British destroyers to launch the torpedo attacks that sank it. The chase and battle lasted more than 10 hours.
Which part of Duke of York’s setup would matter most in a British naval lineup? For coverage of its planned arrival with the next major update, stay connected on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Players progress through technology trees across multiple nations, unlocking increasingly advanced military vehicles. The game offers three realism tiers for each vehicle type: arcade, realistic, and simulator modes. Originally developed as a flight simulator under the name "World of Planes," the game expanded to include tanks in 2014 and naval forces later, becoming a combined-arms experience. A mobile version was released in 2023.
- Genre Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person, Virtual Reality
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release January 28, 2013
- Publisher Gaijin Entertainment
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