Wargaming is turning up the heat this 18th, as World of Warships prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence with the 15.5 update.

Expect a fresh coat of paint on the New York Port, a brand-new narrative campaign, and an event pass packed with special camouflages, ships, and destruction effects. They have even tossed in a new customisation feature called 'decals' alongside various quality-of-life improvements.

The real meat of the update is the 'Nation of Dawn' narrative campaign. It is split into four chapters exploring colonial history and the long road to independence, with a new chapter unlocking each week. Rewards include historical commander John Glover, the seasoned commander John Paul Jones, the Betsy Ross flag, the Tier 8 American premium cruiser Congress, fresh destruction effects, and special permanent camouflages for Tier 10 ships.

There is also an event pass marking the 250th anniversary. The first progression line offers the Statue of Liberty commander—complete with unique voice lines—the Stars and Stripes permanent camouflage, and a 'Firepower' supply container. The final prize? A 'Freedom' permanent camouflage for the Baltimore.

If you are feeling generous, the second progression line can be unlocked for 2,500 doubloons. This nets you the 'Go Navy!' permanent camouflage for the Helena right away, plus the 'Revolution' camouflage, the American premium battleship Arizona, and the 'History of North Carolina' permanent camouflage for the North Carolina. Finish it all, and you will walk away with a new '13-gun salvo' destruction effect.

Ever wanted to make your warship look a bit more... you? The new decal feature allows just that, drawing inspiration from historical symbols, mottos, and art. It is currently limited to Tier 9 ships, but we are told to expect an expansion later on.

On top of that, Italian submarines Pietro Micca and Pietro Calvi are entering early access, bringing the iconic 'exhaust smoke generator' consumable to the table. These subs pack semi-armour-piercing shells and a buffed main battery reload booster, perfect for catching unsuspecting foes off guard.

Rounding things off, we have improved shadow rendering, a new season of Clan Battles, three new Brawls, and the addition of the rare Tier 10 battleship Sete de Setembro to the Armoury.

For the full lowdown, head over to theofficial World of Warships websiteto see the details for yourself.