War Thunder marks the US Navy’s birthday from October 13 at 11:00 GMT to October 16 at 11:00 GMT. The event cuts the USS Maryland Pack and three premium American ships by 30% in the Gaijin.Net Store, and adds a free “Emblem of the US Pacific Fleet” decal for players who earn 3,000 mission points in American naval battles.
Updated: October 13, 2026.
Why October 13
The US Navy’s birthday marks the Continental Congress’s decision to establish a naval force, adopted on October 13, 1775. War Thunder’s announcement describes the modern tradition, in which the most senior and most junior sailor present cut the cake together using a naval dirk as a symbol of continuity between generations. Gaijin turns the date into a three-day naval sale.
US Navy Birthday sale at a glance
| Item | Rank | Discount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| USS Maryland Pack | VI | 30% off | 79.99 to 55.99 |
| USS Cowell | III | 30% off | 3,416 Golden Eagles |
| USS Helena | IV | 30% off | 5,614 Golden Eagles |
| USS Des Moines | V | 30% off | 5,614 Golden Eagles |
The USS Maryland Pack bundles the super-dreadnought USS Maryland for the USA with 3,000 Golden Eagles and 30 days of Premium account. The three individual ships sit under USA, Bluewater fleet, and Premium vehicles in the in-game tree, and the USS Cowell can only be bought during this promotion. New naval players may find the Rank III Cowell the cheapest entry point, while the Des Moines is the high-tier pick for its autoloader.
The ships and what they carry
The USS Cowell is a Rank III destroyer named after John Cowell, a US Navy officer killed in the War of 1812. Five 127 mm main guns handle surface targets, seven 20 mm Oerlikon cannons cover aircraft, and up to ten 533 mm torpedoes plus six depth charges handle threats below the waterline, which makes it a versatile low-rank pick.
The USS Helena is a Rank IV light cruiser named after Helena, Montana. A torpedo damaged it at Pearl Harbor; after repairs it struck numerous Japanese ships near Guadalcanal by autumn 1942, then was sunk by a torpedo in July 1943. Five turrets carry three 152 mm guns each, backed by 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft guns.
The USS Des Moines is a Rank V heavy cruiser laid down in May 1945 and named after the Iowa capital. It never saw combat and was the first US Navy ship fitted with 203 mm autoloading guns; a fully trained crew cuts the reload to 6 seconds, which rewards an aced crew.
How to claim the free decal
The birthday event keeps the sale and the decal on the same clock, so anyone chasing the decal can do the ship shopping in the same window.
The “Emblem of the US Pacific Fleet” decal runs on the same October 13 to 16 window. Earn 3,000 mission points in random battles using a Coastal or Bluewater USA vessel at Rank III or higher, then collect the reward manually. Progress is tracked in the hangar under Nickname, Achievements, Holidays, and US Navy Birthday, and the decal appears under USA and Fleet in the customization menu once claimed.
Gaijin published the full details in the official War Thunder news post for the US Navy’s birthday. The event follows the October decal set and update 2.59.0.62.
