British Tank Commander Leaks Classified Document so that War Thunder can Fix Their Game

[Taf the Ghost]

On one level, this is hilarious. On another, guy is about to find out what happens when "little people" leak classified information. 

 

Also, how much you want to bet the "classified" document is freely available in the darker places on the net already?

[Senzelian]

Meanwhile at Wargaming:

 

[Master Disaster]

14 minutes ago, CarlBar said:

4. The Individual in question did in fact provide documents he wasn't supposed to. I find that unlikely, he's had plenty of opportunities over time to share stuff he shouldn't have and has even had to inform the thread that a document detailing some feature he hoped to be able to share has been declined.

Yeah, gotta be honest and say that, the more I think about it, the more I'm finding myself doubting that a serving soldier would be this dumb.

 

Providing classified documents to win an internet forum argument?

[CommanderAlex]

9 minutes ago, Senzelian said:

Meanwhile at Wargaming:

 

God, I love World of Tanks. 

[Senzelian]

5 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Providing classified documents to win an internet forum argument?

That'd be something I'd expect from an average person. And if this was murica, I'd expect them to go steal a tank and drive it into Gaijin's headquarters.

[CarlBar]

4 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Yeah, gotta be honest and say that, the more I think about it, the more I'm finding myself doubting that a serving soldier would be this dumb.

 

Providing classified documents to win an internet forum argument?

 

Yeah. This. He's clearly from the info he has shared in the past got a very high level of access to the CR2. Why would he suddenly take leave of his senses and start sharing classified info knowingly?

 

As a further note having seen the original image and to put into context what was shared it was an assembly diagram of the mantlet area. You know how old car books had those images showing the engines exploded out and then with everything in it's proper place. It was the latter for the CR2 mantlet area left side. If he really wanted to "win an internet argument" he could have shared much more damming and dangerous stuff than that.

[Sauron]

[SolarNova]

Sounds like a company/Developer whos primary purpose is to milk MTX cash, covering their ass so they dont have to spend extra time and money fixing their sh*t.

[ARikozuM]

Let him go. A schematic/manual doesn't really protect anyone, especially if the document is still blacked for the most part. 

[BuckGup]

10 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

Its so important that most militaries on earth do not allow civilians to take photos of active and/or serving military hardware (except under very specific and controlled circumstances) because they're worried pics will end up in the hands of the enemy.

 

Its life and death stuff, literally.

Yes and no. China has stolen thousands of blueprints and have tried to recreate planes and aircraft carriers from the US but it's very hard even with all the information needed. So they often work extremely poorly or not at all. The fab applies to fabs and why it's so hard to do so

[kuddlesworth9419]

Anyone manage to grab a copy?

[da na]

That's funny... why would you do that? It's a game, he's not getting paid for it! 

[Shreyas1]

16 minutes ago, Mel0nMan said:

That's funny... why would you do that? It's a game, he's not getting paid for it! 

you greatly underestimate what someone would do to win an internet argument

[Brooksie359]

11 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

Yeah, he was a soldier in the military. He is paid for, and expected to, meet a certain standard of behaviour. The army does not fuck around with this type of stuff and no, they won't use him as an example, they don't have to use him as an example.

 

For all intents and purposes he committed treason and for a serving soldier that's just about the worst thing you can ever do.

I mean they probably can't let them go even if they wanted to as it would create a horrible example. 

[CerealExperimentsLain]

ITT: A bunch of civilians thinking that a member of the military posting classified military documents to win an internet argument about a video game should be no big deal to that military or that individuals career as their screw up makes national headlines.

 

This guys next posting: Guarding a jar with a bee in it, where he can't bother his CoC again:

 

[Guest]

are they going to fix the model or no then?

[Shreyas1]

36 minutes ago, RorzNZ said:

are they going to fix the model or no then?

They can't, since its going to be based on classified info. In fact by doing this that guy made it so that the model cannot even be close to the fix anymore

[Sir Asvald]

8 hours ago, Senzelian said:

Meanwhile at Wargaming:

My Stronk KV-2 is no more  The Stalin power is gone. FeelsBadMan.

 

 

[CarlBar]

3 hours ago, kuddlesworth9419 said:

Anyone manage to grab a copy?

 

If anyone has i'd advise against posting it, could get LTT into trouble if it is classified. The problem really right now is we don't know.

[CarlBar]

3 hours ago, CerealExperimentsLain said:

ITT: A bunch of civilians thinking that a member of the military posting classified military documents to win an internet argument about a video game should be no big deal to that military or that individuals career as their screw up makes national headlines.

 

This guys next posting: Guarding a jar with a bee in it, where he can't bother his CoC again:

 

 

I don't watch TV so can't say whats been on there but the only actual journalist article I've seen has been from the UKDJ, which aren't exactly national news. I even just checked the BBC website, no mention.

 

Your right that if it is still classified it's going to cause a huge mess, but it still then comes back to what happened vis a vis how it got released. I don't believe the military would take askance with him specifically if it turns out he in good faith believed he'd been cleared to share it. It coudl fi real however very well delay the CR3 programme, he's never given his exact identity, but it's clear from various deployments, (and reasons for why he's not going to be around for several weeks when he's been not posting), he's mentioned that he's extremly senior. If i had to guess probably one of the senior tank commanders, possibly even the most senior tank commander of the regiment. 

[KE2012]

I'm familiar with the British Army's processess; the guy or girl who leaked the information is for the lack of a better word screwed. It does not matter how 'small' the information is, the fact it was classified above Offical means they are in the hurt locker.  

[Bombastinator]

16 hours ago, Shreyas1 said:

 

Summary

 Here's a funny one. An alleged British tank commander and war thunder player leaked classified documents (basically the user manual) on the Challenger 2 MBT so that Gaijin would fix the model on the challenger 2, specifically the gap between the main turret and hull. This is a violation of the Official Secrets Act, and can carry up to a 14 year punishment in prison if persecuted. Much of the document was heavily redacted though, it was still classified information being shared. Unfortunately, since the information is classified, Gaijin now cannot make the changes.

 

Image from War Thunder Forum

 

Quotes

My thoughts

 The information being leaked doesn't seem to be that big of a deal in my opinion, I mean sure its classified, but I highly doubt that foreign powers are going to care about the gap between the turret and hull. For this reason I also doubt the leaker is going to get put in jail or anything. Not an expert in how these things are handled though. Still quite a funny story

 

Sources

https://www.pcgamer.com/war-thunder-fan-says-tank-is-inaccurate-leaks-classified-military-documents-to-prove-it/ 

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/classified-challenger-tank-specs-leaked-online-for-videogame/

They would.  It’s a prime target point for rpgs.  It’s such a big deal that the Israeli merkavah(sp?) was considered a problem tank because of it.  Weird fixes were added like this weird Chain mail skirt thing. Dunno how well it works.  Maybe fixed the problem.  I don’t know.

[Bombastinator]

15 hours ago, Eigenvektor said:

Leaking classified documents because, whoops those aren't commonly available (duh), is beyond stupid. It's just a game. Why would someone put their job and freedom in jeopardy for such a minute detail is mind boggling.

 

If the leaked information is found to reveal some weakness that could endanger the lives of other troops, it could be punished pretty severely. Or they could go after him simply to make an example of him (or the next person might leak stuff that is actually important)

Even the lack of a weakness would do that because enemies wouldn’t aim for it and waste ammo.  Tank battles happen fast.  Sometimes the dog only gets one bite.  This is potentially a big deal. 

[Ithanul]

16 hours ago, KE2012 said:

I'm familiar with the British Army's processess; the guy or girl who leaked the information is for the lack of a better word screwed. It does not matter how 'small' the information is, the fact it was classified above Offical means they are in the hurt locker.  

Even as someone that works with and around US military.  I sure would not want to be that person who leaked info over onto civilian channels.

Usually on info concerning battle platforms such as tanks, vehicles, aircraft, etc. militaries tend to be very protective of that info.  Even if that info is something as basic as the top air speed of an aircraft or effective ranges of battle platforms.

[KE2012]

On 7/18/2021 at 2:58 PM, Ithanul said:

Even as someone that works with and around US military.  I sure would not want to be that person who leaked info over onto civilian channels.

Usually on info concerning battle platforms such as tanks, vehicles, aircraft, etc. militaries tend to be very protective of that info.  Even if that info is something as basic as the top air speed of an aircraft or effective ranges of battle platforms.

To be honest, while I would not want to be that person, I equally would not want to be their troop comander, the amount of G1 they have just inherited must be astronomical. But yes, typically information like this is not in Civ Div for good reason.