I have the MRV in the tech tree already, because it was more numerous and newer. The FSV is in as a premium because, well, in the game they’d function almost the same. So I thought why not have one a premium.
Also, where is that Bushmaster M113 from?
sorry, i didn’t do due diligence when looking at the bushmaster one. i saw the image in a news article talking about Australia sending them to Ukraine 2 years ago, but it turns out it is produced by a Turkish company FNSS.
the article was talking about bushmaster vehicles and it turns out that that image is a 25mm SABER Turret.
I’ve updated this post with some different camos for both halves of the ANZACs and linked it in the op.
+1
Australia was butchered so bad with only premiums and a squadron in US? Not sure I understand what the driving force was behind this decision since the top tier tanks being shared door was opened long ago. France has leopards and everyone has t-series. Unlike many others, though, this alliance makes lot of sense up until modern day. I hope this will be actualized.
Just a little update, I plan to remove the KF41, M60A1 and M551 as soon as I can (need to redo the pictures of the tree). It does not seem like trials vehicles should have a place here based on other trials vehicles in the game.
Edit: After discussing with some friends, and observing tanks in game like the Tiger I for Japan, I have decided to also keep the M60A1 and M551. We may not have owned these vehicles, but we still used them for a purpose, it’s part of our history, and they had Australian markings on them so they come with a unique skin to boot.
+1 for Britain, would much rather this than India.
On second thought, given the KF41 had a level of Australian technology in it, I’m going to leave that in there. So will probably just remove the M60A1 and M551 since they were just on loan from USA for evaluation.
Honourable Mentions
This post will include some tanks and vehicles I haven’t used in the suggested tree for one reason or another. Some could be added at a stretch, some didn’t really exist in any completed form. And some just wouldn’t fit the current game, so if they were added they’d be kinda useless. (I will add specs and possibly other vehicles to the below over time)
AELT (Australian Experimental Light Tank)
Spoiler
Brief: There is little to no official documentation on this tank, but strangely enough the remnants of the prototype still exist. It was an experimental mock up of a light tank using locally available components, and based on the Local Pattern Carrier. Also known as “Chassis 160” (the 160th LP1 Carrier chassis). Aside from the word of mouth saying the design was a total failure and barely able to move, we don’t even know what the final product would have looked like as it seems no turret design was ever produced. So clearly, it’d be impossible to justify its existence in the game. The best outcome would be to plonk the Rhino Armoured Car’s turret on this hull and assume it could move.
Main Armament: Unequipped but likely would have ended up a 2 Pounder
Secondary Armament: Unknown
Armour: 30mm
Crew: Unknown
Powertrain: 85hp V8
Weight: Unknown
Top Speed: 48km/hr
Bob Semple Tank
Spoiler
Brief: Yes, yes, one of the greatest tank…memes of all time. As much as everyone loves to joke about the Bob Semple being op and coming to the game, it literally only has 0.303 machine guns for armament, and probably not with enough elevation that could be used as AA either. The Bob Semple would therefore be quite utterly useless in the game, and the proposed 37mm version was never built. The only way we see it in game is either, the machine guns have enough elevation to use as SPAA (and you’d just have to REALLY want the Bob Semple to add it that way), or Gaijin does a “Dreams Come True” version with the 37mm.
Main Armament: 6x 0.303 Bren mg
Secondary Armament: The Haka
Armour: 12.7mm
Crew: 6 Māori Warriors, or maybe just other regular Kiwis
Powertrain: 127hp V8
Weight: 18t
Top Speed: 24km/hr
Bob Semple Tank - Wrath Incarnate
Matilda Frog & Matilda Murray
Spoiler
Brief: The Matilda Frog and later upgraded Murray design were Australian flamethrower modifications of the Matilda II, replacing the 2pdr main gun with a flamethrower. The Frog, being the earlier design, saw action fighting the Japanese, while the upgraded Murray was too late for the end of the war. As the flamethrower is the only primary weapon of these Matilda variants, it really wouldn’t be suitable for the game, being unable to kill even most reserve tanks.
Main Armament: Flame projector, ~80m range
Secondary Armament: Co-ax 7.92mm BESA mg
Armour: Up to 75mm, possible add-on track armour
Crew: 3
Powertrain: 190hp Leyland 6cyl
Weight: 27t
Top Speed: 24km/hr
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/australia/matilda-frog-and-murray-ft-flame-tank/
Other Designs From The Australian Cruiser Program
Sherman for Australia
Spoiler
Brief: Australia had 3 Shermans on hand, one M4A2, and two M4s for various trials. They were retained for decades after being used for training and target practice. But with New Zealand actually using Shermans operationally, an Australian one would be a pointless and far less historically significant addition.
Main Armament: 75mm M3 cannon
Secondary Armament: Co-ax 0.30cal M1919A4 mg
Armour: Up to 63mm on hull, 76mm on turret
Crew: 5
Powertrain: 410hp
Weight: 32.5t
Top Speed: 47km/hr
Australian Shermans by Paul D. Handel
Prototype M113 with 7.62mm Minigun
Spoiler
Brief: When I first heard about this prototype I was intrigued about its potential use as an SPAA in War Thunder. It’s an M113, mounting a 7.62mm minigun. A joint venture between USA and Australia in Vietnam, whereby Australia provided an M113, American provided the gun, and Australia did the testing. I have not found any pictures of it, but in the end it wouldn’t be suitable for the game anyway. The document link below states that the gun had less than 25 degrees of elevation, which is abysmal for an SPAA.
Main Armament: XM-134 7.62mm minigun
Secondary Armament: Probably none
Armour: Up to 45mm
Crew: 3
Powertrain: 300hp 6cyl
Weight: 12t
Top Speed: 68km/hr
AWM103 R980/500/11 - [Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force (HQ 1 ATF):] Stores and Equipment - Tests and trials - Minigun for M113 | Australian War Memorial
Leopard 1A2 MTTU
Thales Australia Bushmaster
Electro Optic Systems
I love you! (Where did you find it??!) And do you mind if I put one of them in the above post?
On a HDD, file date says 2008ish, before that I’ve no idea but it must have been online somewhere, my memory’s good but it’s not perfect. They aren’t my photos so I can’t tell you who to credit, and I’ve got no objections to you using them however you want, so go for it. Information wants to be free
cough classified stuff is a thing cough