Summary
Several ground vehicles are modelled with their late-war engine governor – for example the Maybach HL 230 P30, limited to about 2,500 rpm / 600 PS instead of its rated 3,000 rpm / 700 PS.
This suggestion does not ask to remove that limit. It proposes an optional, time-limited Governor Override for Realistic and Simulator Battles: the driver can temporarily run the engine at its rated output, with a limited budget per spawn and a real risk of engine damage.
It represents the same trade-off between power and engine life that led to the governor in the first place, and it follows the logic War Thunder already uses for aircraft emergency power (WEP).
Historical background
- The HL 230 P30 was rated at 700 PS at 3,000 rpm. It powered the Panther, Jagdpanther, Tiger II and Jagdtiger.
- From late 1943, the HL 230 was derated to about 2,500 rpm (≈600 PS) in order to extend engine life.
- The governor was a protective measure: the engine kept its rated capability, but using it meant faster wear.
Current situation in-game
Since the August 2025 changes, the Tiger II family and the Jagdtiger use the governed figures (600 hp / 2,500 rpm). This is historically defensible for vehicles built in 1944–45, and this suggestion keeps it as the default.
However, War Thunder does not simulate mechanical wear or long-term reliability. Only the cost of the governor is represented (less power). The other side of the trade-off – rated power, available at the price of wear – does not exist in the game.
Proposal
- Activation: a new keybind (toggle), available only on eligible vehicles.
- Effect: while active, the governor limit is lifted: up to 3,000 rpm and 700 PS, the engine’s rated figures. Gear ratios are unchanged.
- Budget: each spawn gets a limited amount of override time, for example 3 minutes in total (to be tuned by the developers). The budget does not regenerate during that life, since it represents wear.
- Penalty: once the budget is spent, the override can stay engaged, but the engine takes progressive damage (yellow, then red). A destroyed engine immobilizes the vehicle until repaired, like any engine hit.
- Feedback: a small gauge next to the gear/RPM indicator shows the remaining budget, similar to the engine temperature indicator on aircraft.
- Game modes: Realistic and Simulator Battles (Arcade already uses boosted engine output).
- Eligible vehicles: vehicles whose in-game engine is modelled with a documented governor limit, e.g. Tiger II (H), Tiger II (P), Jagdtiger, and other HL 230 P30 vehicles modelled as governed. The final list is up to the developers.
Why it fits War Thunder
- Existing precedent: aircraft already have time-limited emergency power, with overheating and engine damage when abused. Some real aircraft even had a mechanical stop on the throttle, such as a wire, that the pilot could break to get extra power. A governor override is the ground equivalent.
- Historical baseline preserved: default performance stays governed. Nothing changes for players who never press the key.
- Meaningful decisions: choosing when to spend the budget (relocating, escaping a flank, reaching a key position first) adds depth instead of a flat buff.
- Low implementation cost: no thermal model for ground vehicles is needed; a simple timer and the existing engine damage states are enough.
- Easy to balance: limited bursts, capped per spawn, real risk of immobilization, and the budget can be tuned per vehicle without touching BR or base engine data.
Anticipated questions
“Is this historical? The governor was there for a reason.”
Yes, and that reason is exactly what the mechanic models. The 700 PS / 3,000 rpm rating is documented; the governor protected the engine, it did not remove its capability. The override is a gameplay abstraction of running an engine beyond its service limit and paying for it, just like WEP time limits on aircraft.
“Isn’t this just a buff?”
It is optional, capped per spawn, and overuse is punished with engine damage. Players must choose when to use it, and misusing it can cost them the vehicle.
“Why not simply go back to 700 hp?”
Because the governed engine is the correct baseline for 1944–45 vehicles. This proposal keeps that accuracy and adds the missing half of the trade-off, instead of replacing one number with another.
Sources
- T. L. Jentz & H. L. Doyle – Germany’s Tiger Tanks: D.W. to Tiger I, p. 76 (HL 230 governed from October 1943)
- M. Green – Tiger Tanks, p. 91
- M. & G. Green – Panther: Germany’s Quest for Combat Dominance, p. 203 (HL 230 P30 derated to 2,500 rpm from November 1943)
- D 656/43 – Tiger, Ausführung B – Handbuch für den Panzerfahrer (1 September 1944): HL 230 TRM P30 listed as the Tiger II engine
- T. L. Jentz & H. L. Doyle – Germany’s Tiger Tanks: VK45.02 to Tiger II: HL 230 P30 rated at 700 PS at 3,000 rpm
- Yes, in Realistic and Simulator Battles
- Yes, in Simulator Battles only
- No
