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Post-Penetration Damage Analysis

War Thunder Shell Damage Estimator

Calculate post-penetration damage, crew casualties, module destruction probability, and one-shot kill chances for all shell types in War Thunder.

💥 Damage Calculator

Estimate internal damage after successful armor penetration. Calculate crew casualties, module destruction, and kill probability.

Vehicle Presets

Armor-Piercing High Explosive

Shell Caliber (mm) 88mm

20mm 183mm

Explosive Mass (grams) 64g

TNT equivalent

Hit Location

Hits crew and multiple modules

Spall Fragments Generated 15

Armor fragments created by penetration

Target Crew Count 5

2 (Light) 4-5 (Medium/Heavy) 6 (Heavy)

Damage Result

Damage Score: 251

One-Shot Kill Probability

90%

Crew Knocked Out 4 / 5

Damage Rating Excellent

Spalling Level High

Shell Damage Info

💥 APHE

Explosive filler detonates after penetration

Best vs: All tank types - most versatile

Avg One-Shot: 85%

Hit Location Info

🎯 Center Mass

Hits crew and multiple modules

Damage Mult: 150%

Kill Chance: 70%

💡 Best general aim point

📊 Shell Damage Tier List

S-Tier Damage One-Shot: 70-90%

APHEHE (vs light)

Reliable one-shot kills

A-Tier Damage One-Shot: 50-70%

APFSDSHEAT-FSHESH

Good damage, may need follow-up

B-Tier Damage One-Shot: 30-50%

APDSHEAT

Moderate damage, precise aim required

C-Tier Damage One-Shot: 15-30%

APAPCR

Poor damage, multiple shots needed

💢 Damage Mechanics Explained

💢 Post-Penetration Damage

• Spalling: Armor fragments that fly into crew compartment
• Explosive filler: Detonates inside tank (APHE only)
• Kinetic penetrator: Long rod that damages along path (APFSDS)
• Shaped charge jet: Burns through modules (HEAT)
• Blast overpressure: Pressure wave kills crew (HE on light tanks)

👥 Crew Damage System

• Each crew member has health pool and can be knocked out
• Losing gunner prevents firing for ~5 seconds
• Losing driver immobilizes tank temporarily
• Losing 3+ crew members usually results in kill
• Commander loss affects spawn points and targeting

⚙️ Module Damage Effects

• Engine: Reduced mobility, fire risk, can be repaired
• Transmission: Cannot move, faster repair than engine
• Ammo rack: Red = explodes, yellow = damaged, black = destroyed
• Gun breach: Cannot fire, medium repair time
• Tracks: Immobilized, quick field repair possible

🔥 Fire Mechanics

• Fuel tank hits have 40-60% fire chance
• Engine hits have 20-30% fire chance
• Fires deal damage over time to crew and modules
• FPE (Fire Extinguisher) required to put out fires
• Without FPE, fires usually result in destruction

🎯 Damage Optimization Tips

📈 Maximizing Damage Output

• Learn ammo rack locations for common enemies
• Aim center mass when ammo location unknown
• Use APHE over solid shot whenever available
• Target fuel tanks for fire damage over time
• Shoot breech to prevent return fire while repositioning

🎯 Shell Type Selection

• APHE: Primary ammo for 90% of situations
• APCR/APDS: Only when APHE cannot penetrate
• HEAT-FS: Long range or when APHE unavailable
• HE: Against open-tops, SPAA, and overpressure targets
• Always carry 5-10 HE rounds for opportunistic kills

🎖️ Target Priority

• Kill enemies that can kill you first (gun pointed at you)
• Disable enemies by shooting gun breech/barrel
• Immobilize threats by shooting engine/transmission
• Save one-shot capable enemies for last if safe
• Prioritize enemies reloading or distracted

🔄 Follow-Up Shots

• If first shot doesn't kill, immediately fire again
• Target different area for second shot (spread damage)
• Shoot ammo racks even if already yellow/black
• Don't assume enemy is dead until "Target Destroyed" appears
• Wounded tanks can still fire back - stay aggressive

🔍 Damage Comparison by Shell Type

Shell Type	Damage Mechanism	Avg Crew Kills	One-Shot Rate	Best Target
APHE	Explosion + Spalling	3-5	70-85%	All tanks
AP	Spalling only	1-2	15-25%	Ammo racks
APCR	Minimal spalling	1	10-20%	Ammo only
APDS	Small penetrator	1-2	30-40%	Modules/crew
APFSDS	Long rod damage	2-4	60-70%	Modern tanks
HEAT	Shaped charge jet	2-3	55-65%	Mid-tier tanks
HEAT-FS	High-velocity jet	2-4	60-75%	Cold War tanks
HE	Blast + fragments	All (overpressure)	90% (light)	SPAA/Light
HESH	Internal spalling	3-4	70-80%	Light armor

💡 Pro Tips for Maximum Damage

🎯 Ammo Rack Hunting

Learn common ammo locations using Protection Analysis. Ammo racks guarantee kills.

• T-34: Hull floor and sides
• Tiger: Hull sides, turret rear
• Sherman: Sponsons (sides)
• Panther: Hull sides, turret

💥 APHE Superiority

Always use APHE over solid shot when available. 3-4x more damage than AP/APCR.

• Kills 3-5 crew vs 1-2 for solid shot
• 70-85% one-shot rate
• Only use APCR if APHE can't pen

🔥 Fuel Tank Fires

Fuel tanks cause fires that kill crew over time. High damage multiplier.

• 40-60% fire chance
• Burns crew and modules
• Often fatal without FPE

🎖️ Center Mass Shots

When ammo location unknown, aim center mass for maximum crew/module hits.

• Hits multiple crew members
• Damages engine/transmission
• May hit side ammo racks

⚡ HE Overpressure

100mm+ HE shells can overpressure light vehicles and SPAA for instant kills.

• No penetration needed
• 90%+ kill rate on light targets
• KV-2, ISU-152 excel at this

🔄 Follow-Up Shots

If first shot doesn't kill, immediately fire again at different location.

• Don't wait to confirm kill
• Spread damage across tank
• Wounded tanks can still fight

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📖 Understanding Damage Numbers

Damage Score Interpretation

0-50 Points Minimal Damage - Multiple shots needed

50-100 Points Moderate Damage - 2-3 shots to kill

100-150 Points Good Damage - Likely kill

150-200 Points Excellent Damage - High kill chance

200+ Points Devastating - Almost certain kill

What Increases Damage?

Shell Type aphe

Shell Type