🪖 Operation: Beacon Blunder
An Open Letter to Gaijin Entertainment Regarding Tactical Realism in War Thunder
From: The Desk of Oberstleutnant (Ret.) Hans-Dieter “No Mirrors in Combat” Stahlhelm Date: 10 October 2025
To the esteemed developers at Gaijin Entertainment,
It has come to our attention—via binoculars, satellite imagery, and the collective groan of realism enthusiasts worldwide—that your latest implementation of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 in War Thunder includes certain… flamboyant features unbecoming of a battlefield asset.
Namely:
A Rundumkennleuchte (rotating beacon light)
Side mirrors suitable for parallel parking in a Lidl parking lot
While we appreciate your commitment to 3D modeling, we must respectfully remind you: War Thunder is not a Bundeswehr driving school simulator. The battlefield is not the A9 Autobahn. And the enemy does not yield to flashing lights.
🎖 Tactical Breakdown
Let us review the operational doctrine:
Mirrors: Useful for reversing into a garage. Useless when reversing out of an ambush.
Rotating beacon: Signals “I am here!”—which is precisely what artillery crews avoid doing.
Combat realism: Not achieved by equipping your howitzer like a Berlin tour bus.
The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a precision instrument of destruction, not a carnival float. In actual deployment, such accessories are removed or stowed to reduce visibility, minimize profile, and avoid giving enemy drones a disco show.
🧠Suggested Fixes (Before Someone Paints It Neon Green)
Remove the Rundumkennleuchte from combat scenarios.
Stow or detach mirrors when entering battle mode.
Add a toggle for “exercise mode” vs. “combat mode” if you must show off your modeling skills.
📢 Final Words from the Front
We, the simulation purists, salute your ambition. But realism is not just rivet-counting—it’s understanding context. A howitzer with mirrors in battle is like a sniper wearing a hi-vis vest.
Do the right thing. Let the PzH 2000 fight with dignity. No mirrors. No beacons. Just steel, smoke, and silence.
Yours in tactical fidelity, Oberstleutnant (Ret.) Stahlhelm Founder, Realism Enforcement Division (RED)
(This post in steam forum on feedback thread was deleted several times from mods)