Thermal Binoculars
- Yes
- No
If yes, then:
- Only thermal-less vehicles
- Only thermal-having vehicles
- For all vehicles (where applicable)
- Yes, only vehicles w/scouting (Lights & SPAA)
- No, all classes (where applicable)
The following poll is optional. If you don’t want any of these restrictions, don’t vote.
- One generation less than integrated thermals
- Limited battery life
- Requires live commander
- Generation Presets
- Real Specifications
Greetings! Today I am suggesting a new feature that complements the standard binoculars: hand-held thermal imagers.
The idea is straight forward: eligible vehicles would retain regular binocular functionality, with the option to toggle the thermal imaging mode.
I made this pitch primarily with thermal-less scout vehicles/light tanks in mind, but can be expanded to cover more classes and eras depending on reception.
Initial Criteria:
-Scout vehicle/ light tank
-Rank V or greater
-BR 7.0 or greater
-Operator nation used handheld thermal imagers in the vehicle’s service-period.
Regarding requirements, they should be quite lenient, as minor equipment like binoculars is rarely recorded. It’s something many forces use, but is never written about. The specifics should be hand-waved for gameplay’s sake, or no vehicle would get this feature. If you can prove an imager was in service with the respective nation at the right time, it’s fair game IMO.
Capability:
With the initial scope of the suggestion, we are limited to 1970 to early 1980s technology. We’re talking generation 1 thermal imaging in a portable format, so less capable than the early thermals we have in-game. The binoculars would have less resolution and range. Despite this, the ability to spot heat sources through light vegetation and smoke, day or night, would still be useful.
Equipment - examples:
AN/PAS-7, the first practical hand-held thermal imager (USA, 1974)
How it would look in-game, if real specifications are used (154x48)
Various in-game renditions - if you are interested
Tank seen through real AN/PAS-7
In-game recreation - resolution (156x48)
Resolution + 1.7x contrast
Resolution + 1.7x contrast + CRT lines + hue
Thorn EMI “DFOV/HHTI”, first mature British handheld thermal (GB, 1982)
Resolution (Specs vs Gen?)
Currently War Thunder does not model the specific imagers, but rather has a set of generation presets that decide the resolution.
The question is, should hand-held thermal imagers have their real specifications, or should they also use the generation presets? For me this is a balance between realism and consistency with the rest of the game.
If generations are to be used, then IMO the very early imagers would be deserving of new presets “Gen 0” with a resolution of 300x150, and “Gen -1” 190x75. Assuming the restriction that thermals are one less gen than the integrated one, it would look like this:
Integrated thermal = gen 2, then binocular = gen 1
Integrated thermal = gen 1, then binocular = gen 0
No integrated thermal, then binocular = gen -1
“Gen 0” (300x150)
“Gen -1” (190x75)
Vehicles - examples:
USA:
-XM800T
-M551
GB:
-Fox
-VFM5
These are just a few examples of thermal-less vehicles from the two nations I have sufficient documentation for. After the addition of the mechanic this mechanic would be given to vehicles via bug report, with the required sources.
Afterword:
The addition of thermal binoculars would benefit a number of light vehicles that otherwise lack thermal capability, thus improving their efficiency in their intended role: reconnaissance.
It would also not be overpowered, as this suggestion is mainly concerned with the earliest thermal technology, which was limited in resolution and range. In other words: an interesting side-grade to regular binoculars. You trade clarity for easier target acquisition.
Note: This suggestion is not in violation of the “sub 10.0 night vision embargo”, as thermals are equally useful during the day.
What do you think of this idea? Would you like to see thermal binoculars on vehicles that already have integrated thermal sights, or in more modern vehicles?
Cheers!
