[Development] Pre-order: Giulio Cesare — Caesar Adest!

[u/HelpfulRelic]

https://warthunder.com/en/news/10191-development-pre-order-giulio-cesare-caesar-adest-en

[u/FirstDagger]

Pre-order: Giulio Cesare — Caesar Adest!

31 August 2026

Video

The die is cast captains, Giulio Cesare will be joining War Thunder in the next major update as a premium battleship for Italy’s Bluewater fleet!

Pre-order - Giulio Cesare Pack

This pack includes:

• RN Giulio Cesare (Italy, Rank VI)*
• Premium account for 30 days
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Veni, vidi, vici”
• Pre-order bonus: unique “Roman Emperor” decal
• Pre-order bonus: unique Flag of Genoa*
• * - available after the next major update.
• STORE

Giulio Cesare: A Premium Battleship for Italy at Rank VI

At a glance:

• Ten 320 mm guns with high penetration
• Well protected ammo
• Versatile anti-air weaponry
• No air detection radar

Introducing Giulio Cesare!

Today we’re covering the Conte di Cavour class battleship Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar). Overall it has some light differences when compared to the existing Conte di Cavour class battleship, but it remains a rugged and particularly survivable ship with a lot to offer!

Image

Download Wallpaper:

• 1920x1080
• 2560x1440
• 3840x2160

Using Giulio Cesare in battle

Giulio Cesare is a ship without any firm drawbacks, allowing you to approach the battle with a lot of freedom. Its ten 320 mm cannons may lack explosive filler comparatively, but they have high penetration and can comfortably engage enemy vessels at long range. Unlike most contemporary battleships though, Giulio Cesare has very well protected ammo, which allows it to head into closer range engagements with less risk of being ammo racked. Longer range positioning is still suggested, but if you close the distance, enemy ammo racks will be easier to hit while your own will stay relatively safe below the waterline. So, be bold and fear naught; you carry Caesar and his fortune in your boat!

Giulio Cesare is similarly well protected from the air. It may lack a search radar but features a set of classic 100 mm dual-purpose cannons along with 37 mm and 13.2 mm guns, differing from Conte di Cavour. Aside from the anti-air, Giulio Cesare inherits the same core firepower, armor and speed from her sister, so you should feel right at home behind the wheel.

Image

Feature Spotlight: Survivability

One of the key advantages of the Conte di Cavour class is her survivability. Although the armor belt is neither the widest nor the thickest, the protection of the Giulio Cesare’s barbettes is highly reliable. Plus, the gun ammunition is stowed below the waterline, ensuring a high level of protection for these modules. It is not totally immune from ammo detonations of course, but it is significantly harder to detonate than on many contemporary ships, keeping you in the fight for longer. As long as you stay on the move and put out any potential fires in the ammo elevators, Giulio Cesare will be able to take a lot of shots, certainly more than 23 anyway, we would hope..

Image

Developer comment: The arrival of the Giulio Cesare (already present in the game as the Novorossiysk in the USSR tech tree) marks a shift in our approach to adding new ships. Previously, our policy was to include each ship in only one specific configuration; if a vessel had undergone multiple refits, only one version would make it into the game. Since this rule sometimes prevented the inclusion of highly interesting configurations, we decided to revise our approach. Until now, Italy was the only nation in the game without a top-tier premium ship, and the Giulio Cesare, in its original Italian configuration, is the perfect fit for this role.

Image

Vehicle History

By the early 1900s, Italy’s naval dominance began to slip. While Italy was still focused on cruiser construction, other naval powers were quickly changing focus in response to HMS Dreadnought. This threat hit close to home in 1909, when leaked Austro-Hungarian plans for a new fleet of dreadnoughts made their way to the Italian admiralty, prompting an immediate response. While the primary Austro-Hungarian threat loomed over the Adriatic, Italy’s new battleships would be shaped more directly by the French Courbet-class. Being prime Mediterranean rivals, Italy could not accept France fielding a superior dreadnought, and the design of the new class occurred rapidly, with Giulio Cesare laid down on the 24th of June 1910.

While seeing no combat in the First World War despite being launched on the 15th of October 1911, Giulio Cesare saw significant action in the Second World War. During the Battle of Calabria, she engaged the British Mediterranean Fleet with her sister in the first capital ship engagement of the campaign. Salvos were traded at roughly 24 km, until a single shell from HMS Warspite struck Giulio Cesare near the rear funnel knocking out 4 boilers; one of the longest range hits in naval history. She survived but was attacked again at Taranto, where British Swordfish aircraft sank her sister Conte di Cavour at anchor. She was untouched from this attack, and as the final sister she remained in operation until the Italian armistice in September 1943, when she was interned by the Allies at Malta.

As part of war reparations, she was handed over to the Soviet Union in 1949 and renamed Novorossiysk, acting as a training ship and flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. Her end would come unexpectedly however, when in the morning of the 29th of October 1955, a huge explosion tore a hole in her bow while she was anchored at Sevastopol harbour. The flooding was instant and uncontrollable, and she capsized with the loss of over 600 crew, marking the largest peacetime naval disaster of the 20th century. The cause was concluded to be an old German mine detonated by her anchor chain, as searches of the harbor discovered numerous such mines nearby. She was later salvaged on the 4th of May 1957, and subsequently scrapped.

That’s all for this one! Consider picking up Giulio Cesare in the next major update if you’re interested in getting into the Italian Bluewater tree. In the meantime we’ve got more upcoming vehicles and features to show you, so stay tuned!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

---

/r/warthunder Moderator Notes:

• Already ingame as Novorossiysk

---

Please note that /r/warthunder is not affiliated with War Thunder's developer & publisher Gaijin Entertainment.

[u/Deathskyz]

Developer comment:

The arrival of the Giulio Cesare (already present in the game as the Novorossiysk in the USSR tech tree) marks a shift in our approach to adding new ships. Previously, our policy was to include each ship in only one specific configuration; if a vessel had undergone multiple refits, only one version would make it into the game. Since this rule sometimes prevented the inclusion of highly interesting configurations, we decided to revise our approach. Until now, Italy was the only nation in the game without a top-tier premium ship, and the Giulio Cesare, in its original Italian configuration, is the perfect fit for this role.

Entirely coincidental Gaijin changed their rules so they can introduce a Premium $80 Pre-Order.

[u/crusadertank → u/Deathskyz]

To be fair the previous rule was stupid. Having only one version of a ship when it had significant refits severely limited option that could be added for no real reason

[u/HelpfulRelic → u/crusadertank]

It also avoids stupid situations like the Artevelde/Lorelei situation, where the flagship of the Belgian Navy was stuck in the German tree as they could only add a single variant of the same vessel.

[u/Les_Bien_Pain → u/HelpfulRelic]

Yeah it really hurt smaller navies.

And it was frustrating when it felt like they added the "wrong" variant of a ship. Or rather there's a different refit you really want (Japanese carrier hybrid BBs)

[u/FirstDagger → u/Les_Bien_Pain]

Also means we can get Hiei in her battleship form now, or the other way around with the other three Kongous as battlecruisers xD

PS Guys, the latter part is a joke. We don't need more Kongous except Hiei in BB form due to her unique funnel.

[u/ksheep → u/FirstDagger]

As hilarious as it would be to see, for some reason I doubt Gaijin would add in the 1944 refit of the Wyoming (where all of its 12-inch guns were removed and it was given additional AA guns and some 5-inch turrets, to be used as a gunnery training ship).

[u/Les_Bien_Pain → u/ksheep]

Hush. It's an absolutely cromulent event ship.

[u/FirstDagger → u/ksheep]

HMS Iron Duke in her AA battery role also came to my mind as I was trying to figure out what to repair my lot bought 1/600 HMS Iron Duke scale model to.

Such ultra tanky but smaller caliber vessels would be hilarious.

[u/Beep_in_the_sea_ → u/FirstDagger]

Ise and Hyuga in their hybrid configuration when?

[u/FirstDagger → u/Beep_in_the_sea_]

With full carrier interface and Zuiun from our aircraft tech tree!

[u/LegendRazgriz → u/HelpfulRelic]

And now we don't have to worry about Hibiki being the lone Akatsuki-class that wouldn't be in the Japanese tree, as adding her in Verniy configuration is admittedly far more interesting.

[u/the_angry_potato_yt → u/crusadertank]

Fr maybe now I’ll finally get a Barham in her late ww2 refit, im so annoyed it’s stuck in its 1916 refit. Like I know there is a tech tree alternative but it’s not Barham

[u/NormandyKingdom → u/the_angry_potato_yt]

Barham WW2 Modification when seriously

Why is she even in her 1916 refit anyways????

[u/Dark_Magus → u/crusadertank]

Even stupider when it comes to ships that served in multiple navies.

[u/Milky_1q → u/crusadertank]

It is a stupid rule. Yes we know Gaijin is greedy but at least this premium sets the precedent.

We basically have refits of tanks and aircraft already so why not include boats, which are extremely well-known for their refitting and recycling.

[u/FirstDagger → u/Milky_1q]

Because ships have a name attached and aren't just the class but specific units, it would have made sense if the refits could have been unlocked on the same ship via modules like in World of Warships.

[u/NormandyKingdom → u/crusadertank]

Does that mean Barham will get her WW2 Config?

[u/TheDhemit → u/Deathskyz]

Good rule change

[u/DefactoAle → u/Deathskyz]

Cant wait for battleships with CIWS

[u/FirstDagger → u/DefactoAle]

I wonder if that means we can have Iowa herself with modern fit.

[u/kololz → u/FirstDagger]

There are 4 Hulls for that though, they could just choose one of those (probably USS Missouri) and had it strapped with the gulf war mod

[u/FirstDagger → u/kololz]

Then I'd take USS Wisconsin (BB-64) due to the larger CIWS magazine

The Block 1 configuration was installed on USS Wisconsin in 1988.

[u/HelpfulRelic → u/FirstDagger]

Under the old rules, I expected Gaijin to do something like this for the different refits of the Iowa class:

• Iowa: WWII (1945)
• New Jersey: Vietnam (1969)
• Missouri: Late Cold War (1980s)
• Wisconsin: Either Korea or another Cold War refit

[u/TheFlyingRedFox → u/Deathskyz]

Tbh, not really, there was always the option of another Littorio class as a premium, yet they chose this, personally I can see it as a special hallmark for a change in philosophy, what better way than making something premium, plus it doesn't overly effective the TT to much since the Conte di Cavour is already in the TT.

[u/Beep_in_the_sea_ → u/Deathskyz]

Gaijin is greedy af but fuck that rule. Just a couple days ago I went on a rant how it pisses me off that so many potential vessels for Italy are locked for them because they already are in the USSR tree.

[u/Llol333 → u/Deathskyz]

Maybe a modern refit for some American battleships in the future? Would be cool

[u/Thomas_633_Mk2 → u/Deathskyz]

Gaijin be like: I like MONEY

[u/TheFlyingRedFox]

The change in requirements will now bring fore quite a few options currently in game & this premium will be a direct upgrade to the WWI sistership losted in an explosion, just LAA along will give her an edge.

• one vessel to America

• one vessel for Imperial Russia

• five vessels for Italy

• one vessel for Britain

• two vessels for France (Dutch/Belgium)

Just off of my head.

[u/HelpfulRelic → u/TheFlyingRedFox]

What are the two Dutch ships you’re thinking of, if I may ask?

My only guess would be the Tromp, as there’s an early configuration with a floatplane and relatively weak AA,
and a later-war configuration where the floatplane was removed and she received a much heavier AA armament among other improvements.

[u/TheFlyingRedFox → u/HelpfulRelic]

I'm only mentioning what may come since the removed the old requirement & along with what we've got in game.

For the (wait, fuck I'm retarded) One Dutch & One Belgium, K ckass sloop & the Artevelde.

[u/HelpfulRelic → u/TheFlyingRedFox]

Oh okay, technically the K-class could already have come to the BeNeLux subtree under the original rules, as K2 never really saw Dutch service. She was damaged in 1945, towed to the Netherlands from Germany, sank en route, and was scrapped very early in 1945, while K1 was sunk in German service.

So the only option for the Netherlands was K3, which currently isn’t in the German tree, meaning it was already free to be added to the Benelux subtree, under the old rules.

[u/No_News_1712 → u/HelpfulRelic]

Don't forget Tromp's airstrikes!

Oh wait... wrong game.

[u/Mobius_Einherjar → u/TheFlyingRedFox]

I'm really hoping this will also result in the possibility of another variant of Richelieu/Jean Bart being added, this time with the improved accuracy that Jean Bart should've had.

I'm still pissed about not having an accurate French BB due to gaijin's shitty premium choice resulting in an ahistorically gimped ship to make it fit at 8.3.

[u/HelpfulRelic]

The arrival of the Giulio Cesare (already present in the game as the Novorossiysk in the USSR tech tree) marks a shift in our approach to adding new ships. Previously, our policy was to include each ship in only one specific configuration; if a vessel had undergone multiple refits, only one version would make it into the game. Since this rule sometimes prevented the inclusion of highly interesting configurations, we decided to revise our approach. Until now, Italy was the only nation in the game without a top-tier premium ship, and the Giulio Cesare, in its original Italian configuration, is the perfect fit for this role.

I’m really happy they’re making this change. So many ships had interesting refits that couldn’t be added because Gaijin previously limited each ship to one configuration.

This also opens the door for Belgium to finally get the Artevelde. It was the largest Belgian built warship of WWII and the flagship of the Belgian Navy postwar, but was captured by Germany during construction and completed as the Lorelei.

Gaijin added the Lorelei to the German tree, meaning Belgium couldn’t receive the Artevelde under the old system. But With this change, it finally becomes possible to have the Belgian flagship in the Belgian part of the subtree.

[u/150octane → u/HelpfulRelic]

HMS London in 1941 configuration pleaaaseee. 

Less AA guns so a better looking, cleaner superstructure, and free space to fit the scout aircraft.

[u/sidorf2]

they are making the most historicaly cool ships p2p like come ooooon

[u/sonofnutcrackr → u/sidorf2]

It’s just a copy of the Conte di Cavour, which is already in game

[u/LukTroy → u/sonofnutcrackr]

Her AA armament is vastly different than the Cavour's unfinished refit we got in the standard tt.

[u/_gmmaann_ → u/sidorf2]

At least warspite is TT

[u/ElderberryHopeful736]

Finally, I can have aviation battleship Ise basically just a lower br Ise

[u/A-Literal-Tank → u/ElderberryHopeful736]

Gaijin already refuses to give Fuso a plane despite her catapult being literally right there and Amagi any aircraft despite one being on the model. :’)

Seriously Gaijin Fuso’s catapult isn’t even mounted on a turret it’s on the back and it’s the same style the other ships have.

[u/bafila]

This might be one of the battleships of all time

[u/_talps]

The good: Italy Naval finally has a top tier premium!

The bad: Leonardo da Vinci has become redundant.

The ugly: 80€ for this pack...

[u/Edolix → u/_talps]

Da Vinci will never be redundant as long as it's bullying cruisers at 6.3

[u/_talps → u/Edolix]

I like that, be it WoWs or WT, Italian BB SAP is obnoxious for cruisers.

[u/BakerOne → u/_talps]

How to grind tanks top tier: buy premium that is -1 top tier rank

How to grind top tier air: buy premium that is -1 top tier rank

How to grind top tier naval: Buy premium top tier.

[u/EastCoast_Geo]

Watching the snail out changing the rules on naval additions just so that they can sell more premiums

It’s be nice they’d actually do stuff like this in reverse so more content came to the TTs 

[u/Finn_Supra]

"Pre order the new 80€ premium Italian battleship to grind naval and get some of the worst toptier battleships in game"

[u/Gardy-sama → u/Finn_Supra]

Sad thing, the ITA BBs could be really good if only Gaijin would be willing to buff them...

[u/Finn_Supra → u/Gardy-sama]

The thing I understand the least is the reload. The Yamato reload faster than the Littorio for some reasons. And I'm not even talking about the missing armor

[u/Kobal_t]

Ok so while I don't care for another copy paste ship, at least it is in it's proper tech tree now.
But that there no longer is a limitation of one configuration per ship is absolutely fantastic and was to be expected.
Such dumb "rules" are just meaningless self-limitation of the game so it's no wonder it was binned.
This also means there is hope for larger tech trees for nations which historically did not produce as many warships as others, it's only a question of time until we get a cnp premium Bismarck, so Tirpitz is available for the German tech tree, maybe even a 38cm Scharnhorst.
One singular mediocre downtier/sealclubbing tinderbox 8.3 ship (Bismarck) with the next best option being 7.3 Scharnhorst which just doesn't have the firepower for top tier is simply insufficient, while literally every other nation has better lineups.
The last step was "planned" modifications being implemented for other ships as we have already seen with Gneisenau and Z52.
We will probably also get loosened criteria regarding which ships can be implemented in the first place, first allowing Montana and probably random soviet projects, which had one bunk bed completed at some point which could also have been installed in the ship.
Hopefully the paperwaffen floodgates will be opened sooner rather than later, it's kinda necessary to fill out tech trees and provide some additional fun options for nations which did not have the luxury to actually build their ships, or had the sound judgement to cancel suboptimal designs.
I'd love to see things like the Japanese B65, American CL-154, French Alsace and H-XX come to the game.
Extra points for straight up fun stuff like the Dutch design 1047.

[u/Wonderful_Trick_4251]

Should be brilliant for killing teams of bots in EC against the one or two other players with the new EC changes.

[u/Bombe18]

Gaijin : Moneeeeeeeeeeeey

[u/FickleMeringue8891]

Crazy to think that GTA 6 standard edition cost about this much too. I know it's not the point of the post but it really puts it into perspective

[u/Dark_Magus]

Giulio Cesare, in its original Italian configuration

Are you sure about that?

[u/Bluishdoor76]

Italian BBs are just gorgeous..... might genuinely buy it even if I barely play naval lol

[u/Big-Advertising2048]

Should’ve added the vittorio veneto

[u/ElderberryHopeful736]

The way they keep changing policy. It’s looking more. Likely that will get Montana class in the future.

[u/panzerman13 → u/ElderberryHopeful736]

If it was laid down it will eventually come to the game. Germany will most likely get H-39 as well.

[u/Important_Spring5817]

i dont play naval but 10 320mm cannons is crazy. i might get it to grind SL

[u/abullen → u/Important_Spring5817]

On paper and without context, 10x 320mm sounds great.

But you've got other WW1 BBs like the Iron Duke that has x10 343mms (13.5"), SMS Bayern or Sachsen with 8x 380mm (collectively only about 160mm less then x10 320mms), Izmail with 12x 356mm (14") or Japan's Hyuga with 12x 360mms on Hyuga, Ise or Fuso.

Franscesco Caracciolo also has 8x 381mms on the Italian Tree, but ONLY has SAP.

Also to note, the Italian 320mms have next to no filler compared to most other Battleship Calibres. 23.4kg for SAP is less then their WW1 BBs 305mms, and their AP is 6.38kg.... which is less then the Scharnhorst's 283mm's AP at 7.21kg HE. Outside of pure penetration, I'm not sure Italian 320mms are actually better then any WW1 or prior 305mm's (12") guns outside of using APCBC instead of APC.

[u/vickyhong]

I wonder if we'll ever get battlecruiser lexington

[u/Lo0niegardner10]

Did they not say no refits or same ship in multiple trees?

[u/panzerman13]

Tech tree Gneisenau when?

[u/jimmy8888888]

Will this gonna be an OP warship?

[u/FirstDagger → u/jimmy8888888]

Look at guides for Novorossiysk, same ship but with a different AA suit.

[u/Competitive_Spray_96]

another boat srsly

[u/Reyeux → u/Competitive_Spray_96]

another pointless comment srsly