War Thunder 2.57.1.43 Patch Notes (23rd July 2026)

The Scimitar Mk.2 is now live in War Thunder's latest patch, available as the reward vehicle for the Scimitar Strike event that kicked off today. This upgraded reconnaissance platform gives British tankers a heavier, more durable take on the existing Scimitar without changing how you'll play it.

The upgrade centres on survivability. The Mk.2 gains composite armour and slat screens that can shrug off smaller-calibre fire and occasionally absorb early-generation ATGMs, a genuine step up from the standard variant. That extra protection costs speed and weight, but the new Cummins diesel engine and automatic transmission with reversible gearing keep you mobile where it counts. You'll still hit 80 km/h forwards and backwards on roads, giving you the flanking options light tanks demand.

The 30 mm cannon remains the same three-round clip system, so trigger discipline matters. APDS rounds will punch through side armour on most tanks and the front plates of SAM vehicles and lighter targets, but the low rate of fire means target selection is crucial. If you're already comfortable with the standard Scimitar, the Mk.2 offers a straightforward alternative rather than a playstyle shift. The full changes, including the Scimitar Mk.2's exact performance figures, are below.

Scimitar Mk.2: An Event Vehicle Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank VI
At a glance: High speed and reversible transmission 30 mm cannon with APDS rounds Additional composite armor elements and slat armor screens

Introducing the Scimitar Mk.2!

Meet the agile Scimitar Mk.2 reconnaissance vehicle, equipped with add-on armor. This new model is the vehicle reward in the Scimitar Strike event that started today!

Using the Scimitar Mk.2 in Battle

You’ll feel familiar with the Scimitar Mk.2 if you already played the variant of the Scimitar already in the game. The main differences that the Mk.2 has is a new turret and additional armor on the sides. This makes it more resistant to smaller caliber guns, and it can even withstand hits from some early gen ATGMs if you’re lucky! More armor means more weight, which is the case for the Scimitar Mk.2. However, it does have a new engine and automatic transmission with a reversing transmission, allowing you to still get into good positions and reverse away from danger when needed.

The Scimitar Mk.2 has a 30 mm cannon that can fire APDS rounds. Make sure to utilize these as much as you can by aiming for the side armor of most tanks, which the rounds will be able to penetrate. They will however be able to penetrate the front of many SAM/SPAAs and light tanks. You can use this vehicle’s speed to excel at flanking maneuvers and rapidly capturing or contesting objectives. Its main drawback, as with the first Scimitar, is the autocannon’s relatively low rate of fire, resulting from its three-round clip feed system. Make sure to keep this in mind when picking your targets.

Feature Spotlight: Mobility

Like all light vehicles in the game, the Scimitar Mk.2 relies on mobility to survive. It’s a heavier vehicle than its predecessor, but it still retains excellent mobility, being able to reach speeds of up to 80 km/h on paved roads. This is excellent, but the icing on the cake with the Scimitar Mk.2 is its reverse transmission, which also allows the vehicle to reverse up to 80 km/h as well!

Developer comment: The Scimitar Mk.2 has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the regular Scimitar. It has slightly improved protection due to the slat armor, but this comes at the cost of slightly reduced speed. This puts this vehicle in a good position to be an event vehicle, as it doesn’t differ much from the variant available in the tree: players who are not interested in it are not missing out on a unique playstyle, but players who do want to get it get another versatile light tank for their British Rank VI lineups if they like.

Vehicle History

In 2009, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by the British Army to upgrade FV107 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles for operations in Afghanistan. Engineers replaced the gasoline engine with a Cummins BTA diesel engine and installed an automatic transmission; they also enhanced mine and ballistic protection and added specialized crew seating and an air conditioning system. The vehicle received new sighting systems, forward-facing cameras, and updated communications equipment. The hull was raised to improve interior space, and an emergency escape hatch was added. The vehicles could be fitted with additional armor and slat armor, which increased the combat weight of the vehicle of the Scimitar Mk.2 to 12 tonnes.

A total of 50 vehicles were upgraded; they entered service in 2011 and were first deployed to Afghanistan in September of that year.

So that’s the Scimitar Mk.2 for you! You can get this vehicle in the Scimitar Strike event that started today. More info in the link below!

Click here to find out more details about the Scimitar Strike Event

Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.