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War Thunder Tank Combat Tool

War Thunder Armor Penetration Calculator

Calculate effective armor thickness, penetration at angles and distance, compare shell types, and master weak spot targeting for ground battles.

🎯 Penetration Calculator

Calculate if your shell can penetrate enemy armor at specific angles and distances.

Armor-Piercing High Explosive
10mm Typical: 80-200mm @ 100m 700mm
0° (Flat) 45° (Angled) 80° (Steep)
Penetration Result
✓ PEN
Penetration Chance
100%
Shell Pen @ Distance 144mm
Effective Armor 100mm
Armor Multiplier 1.00x

Shell Type Info

💥 APHE
Armor-Piercing High Explosive
✓ Excellent post-pen damage
✗ Lower penetration than APCR

Angle Difficulty

Easy

Flat armor - maximum pen effectiveness

Effectiveness: 100%

📊 Shell Type Comparison

Shell TypeBest UseAngle PerformanceRange Performance
APHEGeneral purpose, best damageGood (up to 45°)Moderate loss
APCRClose range flat armorTerrible (30°+)Heavy loss
HEATLong range snipingExcellentNo loss
APFSDSTop tier armorExcellentMinimal loss
APDSMid-tier armorGoodLow loss

💡 Penetration Tips

📚 Understanding Penetration

  • • Penetration values are given for 0° at specific ranges (usually 10m or 100m)
  • • Angled armor multiplies effective thickness (45° = ~1.4x thickness)
  • • HEAT/HEAT-FS maintain pen at all ranges but struggle vs ERA
  • • APFSDS has minimal pen drop and ignores most angles
  • • Always aim for flat surfaces when possible (driver ports, turret rings)

🎯 Shell Selection

  • • APHE is best all-around for most situations (good pen + damage)
  • • Use APCR only for flat armor at close range (Tiger turret face)
  • • HEAT-FS is great for long-range sniping (no pen loss)
  • • APFSDS for heavily armored targets at any range
  • • HE for open-top vehicles and overpressure kills

🔍 Weak Spots

  • • Lower front plate (LFP) is usually thinner than upper plate
  • • Turret ring and gun mantlet often have gaps
  • • Cupolas and hatches are weak points on many tanks
  • • Side and rear armor is typically 50-70% thinner
  • • Driver/MG ports are common weak spots on early tanks

⚔️ Combat Tips

  • • Angle your armor 20-30° when possible (not too much!)
  • • Wiggle turret to make weak spots harder to hit
  • • Use terrain to hide lower plate (hull-down position)
  • • Wait for enemies to expose flat armor before shooting
  • • Learn armor layouts in Protection Analysis hangar feature

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Shooting at Extreme Angles Critical

Problem: Shell ricochets even with high penetration

✓ Solution: Wait for target to turn or reposition for better angle

Wrong Shell Type for Target High

Problem: Using APCR against angled armor wastes shot

✓ Solution: Use APHE/AP for angles, APCR only for flat surfaces

Not Using Protection Analysis High

Problem: Don't know where to aim on enemy tanks

✓ Solution: Study common tanks in hangar Protection Analysis tool

Ignoring Distance Medium

Problem: Shell loses penetration at range and bounces

✓ Solution: Use rangefinder, aim for larger weak spots at distance

Over-Angling Your Tank Medium

Problem: Exposing thin side armor trying to angle front

✓ Solution: Keep angle under 35-40° to protect sides

Shooting Tracks/Wheels Low

Problem: No damage to crew/modules, just immobilization

✓ Solution: Aim center mass for crew/ammo, tracks are last resort

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🎯 Quick Reference: Common Matchups

Tiger I vs T-34-85

Tiger: 165mm APHE pens T-34 at any angle

T-34: Aim for Tiger turret face (100mm flat)

✓ Tiger advantage at range

Sherman vs Panther

Sherman 76mm: Cannot pen Panther front

Must flank for side shots (40mm)

✗ Avoid frontal engagement

IS-2 vs King Tiger

IS-2: 205mm APHE vs 150mm armor

Must hit flat areas (turret, lower plate)

⚠ Close range recommended