Commanders!
Another piece of content coming in early July (in addition to the already announced Pantsir skin) is American-themed and tied to the annual July 4 celebrations in Armored Warfare. It is a special skin for XM1302 called Drifter.
The skin is semi-historical in the sense that neither the camouflage nor the markings were ever applied on the XM1302 prototype. After all, the vehicle never reached service. But what if it had? That’s the idea this skin is exploring.
The real Drifter was a M551TTS Sheridan belonging to the 82nd Airborne Division, 73rd Armor Regiment and 3rd Battalion, Company B, as identified by the markings. The B-34 designation is commonly attributed to the Drifter. This particular tank was first photographed during a 1984 military exercise Operation Ocean Venture that took place in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, aimed at demonstrating the U.S. capability to keep the Caribbean shipping lines open. The Sheridan in question landed at Vieques Island in Puerto Rico.
Several years later, the same tank would participate in Operation Just Cause, the successful 1989 invasion of Panama in order to depose Manuel Noriega, who had become very active in drug trafficking in the late 1980s. For this operation, the tank was repainted to the standard 1986 NATO pattern, which is the appearance we based the skin on.
The tank’s final mission took place as Operation Desert Storm where most of the references come from. The tank was repainted once again to sand color and was mostly used for security duties, especially once the heavier Abrams units started arriving. And that’s where Drifter’s combat history ends along with all other Sheridans in U.S. service. Some would serve as OPFOR vehicles before finally being retired in 1998.
As with similar such skins, this one will also unlock three overprogression modules of the XM1302:
- Improved Autoloader (General)
- Improved Autoloader (Burst)
- Improved Engine
In addition to the skin, we’ll also have for you a new camouflage called Bright Star 82. This camouflage was used by the U.S. troops stationed in Egypt during the 1982 Bright Star joint exercises.
And, of course, we’ll have three decals for you – this time, it’s three inscriptions based on real-life designs.
Anuwubis – this inscription was seen on an M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams tank belonging to the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment in 2020.
Big Chungus – this inscription was seen on an M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams tank belonging to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division during an exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, February 2026.
Ironclad – this inscription was also on an M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams tank belonging to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division during an exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, February 2026.
And that’s it, commanders. We hope you’ll enjoy this content and, as always:
See you on the battlefield!
