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Armor Protection Analysis Tool

War Thunder Effective Armor Calculator

Calculate effective armor thickness from angles, armor types, spaced protection, ERA, and composite armor. Learn optimal angling techniques and protection mechanics.

🛡️ Armor Calculator

Calculate how armor angles and types affect protection. See effective thickness and ricochet chances.

10mm Actual thickness 300mm
0° (Flat) 45° (Angled) 85° (Extreme)
Standard armor steel - baseline effectiveness
Protection Result
Moderate
Actual Thickness: 100mm
Effective Thickness: 115mm
Multiplier: 1.15x
Total Protection: 115mm
Ricochet Chance
5%

Armor Type Info

RHA (Rolled Homogeneous)
Standard armor steel - baseline effectiveness
Common on:
Most WWII/Cold War tanks
Effectiveness: 100%

Protection Breakdown

Base Armor: 115mm

Quick Reference

Optimal Angle
25-35° for most tanks
Ricochet Zone
60°+ auto-ricochet
Danger Zone
45°+ exposes sides

🔬 Armor Mechanics Explained

📐 Angle Mechanics

  • • Effective thickness = Actual thickness ÷ cos(angle)
  • • 30° angle = 15% more effective thickness
  • • 45° angle = 41% more effective thickness
  • • 60° angle = 100% more effective thickness (doubles)
  • • 70°+ angles cause automatic ricochets on most shells

🛡️ Armor Types

  • • RHA (Rolled Homogeneous): Standard reference at 1.0x
  • • Cast armor: 0.9x effectiveness (10% weaker)
  • • Structural steel: 0.45x effectiveness (very weak)
  • • Composite: 1.2x base + special HEAT resistance
  • • ERA: Defeats HEAT/ATGM but single-use protection

📦 Spaced Armor

  • • Multiple plates reduce shell effectiveness
  • • First plate must be penetrated, reducing shell power
  • • Gap allows shell to tumble/fragment
  • • Track armor adds 15-30mm equivalent protection
  • • Side skirts defeat HEAT premature detonation

🎯 Weak Spots

  • • Lower Front Plate (LFP): Usually 30-50% thinner
  • • Turret ring: Thin armor between hull and turret
  • • Driver/MG ports: Flat spots on angled armor
  • • Cupolas: Commander hatches with thin armor
  • • Side/rear: 50-70% thinner than front armor

💡 Angling Tips & Techniques

🎓 Basic Angling

  • • Angle hull 25-35° from enemy for optimal protection
  • • Keep turret pointed at enemy while hull is angled
  • • Don't over-angle - sides become easier to penetrate
  • • Pre-angle before peeking corners
  • • Use terrain to hide lower plate while angled

⚔️ Advanced Techniques

  • • Sidescraping: Angle 60-70° with side armor facing corner
  • • Reverse angling: Back up while angled (protects engine)
  • • Wiggle: Constantly adjust angle to make aiming difficult
  • • Baiting shots: Angle, take hit, return fire during reload
  • • Compound angles: Use terrain slope + hull angle together

🔧 Tank-Specific

  • • Tiger I/II: Angle 25-30° (avoid over-angling weak sides)
  • • Panther: Already angled UFP, keep hull straight
  • • T-34: Already angled, wiggle turret for bounce chance
  • • IS-2/3: Can angle 35-40° with strong side armor
  • • Sherman: Angle UFP but LFP still vulnerable

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • • Over-angling and exposing thin side armor
  • • Angling pre-angled tanks (Panther, T-34)
  • • Staying angled while enemy flanks you
  • • Angling against HEAT-FS (angles don't help)
  • • Forgetting to angle after firing (most vulnerable)

🚜 Armor Examples by Vehicle

🐅 Tiger I Front
UFP: 100mm @ 10°
LFP: 100mm @ 25°
Turret: 100mm @ 0°
Side: 80mm
⭐ T-34-85
UFP: 45mm @ 60°
LFP: 45mm @ 45°
Turret: 90mm @ 0°
Side: 45mm
🦅 Sherman M4A3
UFP: 63mm @ 47°
LFP: 51mm @ 53°
Turret: 76mm @ 0°
Side: 38mm
🐆 Panther D
UFP: 80mm @ 55°
LFP: 60mm @ 55°
Turret: 100mm @ 10°
Side: 40mm
⚒️ IS-2
UFP: 120mm @ 30°
LFP: 100mm @ 30°
Turret: 160mm @ 0°
Side: 90mm
👑 King Tiger
UFP: 150mm @ 50°
LFP: 100mm @ 55°
Turret: 185mm @ 10°
Side: 80mm
🇺🇸 M1 Abrams
UFP: 35mm @ 82°
LFP: 35mm @ 0°
Turret: 40mm @ 35°
Side: 70mm
🇷🇺 T-72B
UFP: 60mm @ 68°
LFP: 80mm @ 0°
Turret: 200mm @ 30°
Side: 80mm

📊 Angle Effectiveness Chart

Angle100mm BecomesMultiplierStatusRecommendation
0°100mm1.00xFlatNever expose
20°106mm1.06xSlightMinimal benefit
30°115mm1.15xGoodOptimal range
45°141mm1.41xStrongWatch sides
60°200mm2.00xExtremeSides exposed
70°292mm2.92xRicochetSidescraping

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Key Takeaways

1️⃣

Angle Smartly

25-35° is the sweet spot for most tanks. Provides 15-25% more protection without exposing weak side armor.

2️⃣

Don't Over-Angle

Past 40-45°, your side armor becomes an easier target than your angled front. Know your tank's side thickness.

3️⃣

Armor Type Matters

Cast armor is 10% weaker than RHA. Structural steel is 55% weaker. Check armor type in Protection Analysis.

4️⃣

Use Spaced Armor

Tracks, side skirts, and spaced plates add significant protection vs HEAT. Position to maximize this advantage.

🔗 Related Tools

🎯

Penetration Calculator

Calculate if shells can penetrate your effective armor at various angles and distances.
💥

Shell Damage Estimator

Estimate damage when your armor is penetrated. Calculate crew casualties and module damage.
⚔️

Gun Comparison

Compare gun penetration values against your effective armor thickness.