War Thunder Battle Pass Season 24 turns battlefield improvisation into reward design

War Thunder is leaning into field repairs, improvised engineering and mechanically questionable genius with Battle Pass Season 24: “Do It Yourself.” Running from July 22 at 12:00 GMT to October 21 at 12:00 GMT, the new season is themed around crews forced to make do without proper hangars, tools or specialists — and its two headline vehicle rewards reflect that perfectly.

A Battle Pass built around battlefield improvisation

The concept behind Do It Yourself is stronger than a standard vehicle drop because the theme is immediately readable. This is not a season about clean factory prototypes or polished military doctrine. It is about machines modified under pressure, where resourcefulness matters more than elegance.

Gaijin’s two new reward vehicles fit that idea: the IAR-81C (DB 605), a Romanian fighter fitted with a Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine from the Bf 109 family, and the FIAT 6616UB, a Somali field modification of an Italian armored car carrying a 57 mm rocket pod. Both vehicles are strange in the right way. They look like solutions born from necessity rather than design-room perfection.

That gives Season 24 a clear identity. The rewards are not merely “new aircraft” and “new ground vehicle.” They are machines shaped by wartime shortages, field modification and practical improvisation.

IAR-81C DB 605 brings a faster Romanian fighter to Italy

The first headline reward is the IAR-81C (DB 605), a Rank III Premium Fighter in the Italian aviation tree. Historically, the aircraft came from Romanian attempts to address engine-supply issues by testing the IAR-81 with a DB 605 engine associated with the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

In War Thunder terms, that gives the aircraft a clear gameplay hook. Compared with the standard IAR-81C, the DB 605-equipped version is described as offering a noticeable improvement in speed and climb rate. It can also carry either Wfr.Gr.21 rockets or two 50 kg bombs, giving it some light strike flexibility alongside its fighter role.

This makes it a natural mid-tier Premium for players who enjoy aircraft that sit between historical oddity and functional combat tool. It is not just a collector’s piece. The better climb and speed profile should make it more useful than a simple variant, while the ordnance options keep it aligned with the season’s makeshift-combat theme.

FIAT 6616UB is the season’s most chaotic reward

The FIAT 6616UB is probably the vehicle that best sells the entire season. Officially presented as a Rank IV Premium Light Tank for Italy, it is based on a Somali modification of the FIAT 6616 armored car, fitted with a 57 mm rocket pod mounted on top.

The important detail is that the rocket pod does not have independent aiming. It follows the turret horizontally, which immediately suggests a vehicle that rewards aggression, timing and close-range opportunity rather than careful precision. The base vehicle is described as fast and agile, with a rapid-fire 20 mm cannon and the ability to unleash a 16-rocket salvo in close combat.

That sounds exactly like the kind of vehicle that will generate ridiculous battlefield moments. It may not be subtle, but subtlety is not the point. The FIAT 6616UB is the season’s “someone actually built this” reward — a scout vehicle with a burst of improvised firepower that could punish soft targets or surprise opponents at short range.

The Warbond Shop adds the Bf 109 T-2 for the first time

Season 24 also refreshes the Warbond Shop, with the Bf 109 T-2 appearing there for the first time. This German fighter was originally designed around carrier-based operation, though the T-2 version lacked the carrier equipment and was instead used from short mountain airfields in Norway.

In-game, Gaijin frames it as a typical early Bf 109 with good climb rate, two 20 mm cannons, two 7.92 mm machine guns, and the option to carry either a 250 kg bomb or four 50 kg bombs. For players who missed previous opportunities to obtain it, its Warbond Shop debut is one of the most relevant parts of the season.

Other listed Warbond Shop vehicles include Project 123K (A-10bis), Strv m/41 S-I, USS Frank Knox, Yak-3 for France and M4A4 (1st PTG) for China, giving players several different branches to consider depending on where they are building lineups.

Decals trophies and customization reinforce the theme

The cosmetic side of Season 24 also follows the “field mechanic” concept. The Battle Pass includes decals such as “Do It Yourself,” “Just a scratch,” “Caution! Fragile” and “Load Master,” along with decorations including Reactive armour, Homemade Sledgehammer and Homemade Raft.

The Warbond Shop adds the new “Black Widow” pin-up decal, while the “Road Signs” decoration trophy returns for players who want more customization items. It is a smaller part of the season, but it helps keep the reward track visually coherent. This Battle Pass is not just about two unusual vehicles; the entire reward language is built around improvised field identity.

Progression keeps the usual Battle Pass structure

Season 24 follows War Thunder’s established Battle Pass structure. One level requires 10 progress points, which players earn through daily login activity, Daily Tasks and Battle Pass Challenges. The paid Battle Pass costs 2,000 Golden Eagles, while the improved version costs 2,500 Golden Eagles and includes an extra 150 progress points, equal to 15 levels.

The IAR-81C (DB 605) appears as a non-tradable vehicle coupon at level 51, while the FIAT 6616UB appears at level 75. Upgrade Coupons at levels 105 and 125 can make the vehicles tradable on the Gaijin Market or be used together to obtain the next Battle Pass.

For players pushing deep into the season, the track continues up to the “Handyman” title at level 150, which neatly fits the theme.

A focused season for players who like odd machines

Do It Yourself works because it has a clear mechanical personality. The IAR-81C (DB 605) is a pragmatic performance upgrade born from engine-supply pressure. The FIAT 6616UB is a wild field conversion that looks built for chaotic close-range moments. The Warbond Shop adds a notable first-time appearance for the Bf 109 T-2, while the decals and decorations keep the improvised engineering theme intact.

This is not the flashiest Battle Pass War Thunder has ever had, but it is a coherent one. Season 24 knows exactly what it is selling: resourceful machines, rough solutions and the kind of battlefield engineering that only has to answer one question — does it work? More information here.