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.
Shell Type Info
Angle Difficulty
Flat armor - maximum pen effectiveness
📊 Shell Type Comparison
| Shell Type | Best Use | Angle Performance | Range Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| APHE | General purpose, best damage | Good (up to 45°) | Moderate loss |
| APCR | Close range flat armor | Terrible (30°+) | Heavy loss |
| HEAT | Long range sniping | Excellent | No loss |
| APFSDS | Top tier armor | Excellent | Minimal loss |
| APDS | Mid-tier armor | Good | Low 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
Problem: Shell ricochets even with high penetration
✓ Solution: Wait for target to turn or reposition for better angle
Problem: Using APCR against angled armor wastes shot
✓ Solution: Use APHE/AP for angles, APCR only for flat surfaces
Problem: Don't know where to aim on enemy tanks
✓ Solution: Study common tanks in hangar Protection Analysis tool
Problem: Shell loses penetration at range and bounces
✓ Solution: Use rangefinder, aim for larger weak spots at distance
Problem: Exposing thin side armor trying to angle front
✓ Solution: Keep angle under 35-40° to protect sides
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