Shell Mecanics Explained/Tank Shells Guide

[crimfobic 270]

Following are the "working" principles of all shell types.  

 

AP: Armor Piecing. (Solid Round) The most basic shell type. This shell will penetrate armor and will create some spalling, which will travel inside the tank, hurt crews and damage modules.

 

APC: Armor Piercing Capped. A Solid round with additional softer metal cap that increases penetration on sloped armor. But, this will decrease aerodynamics.

 

APBC: Armor Piecing Ballistic Cap. This projectile is more aerodynamic, which decreases loss of kinetic energy over distance.

 

APCBC: Armor Piecing Capped Ballistic Capped. Combines penetration on slopped armor and huge aerodynamic improvements.

 

APHE: Armor Piecing High Explosive. Very deadly.  Slightly less penetration then solid AP shells. Upon penetrating armor (which creates spalling), a delayed fuse activates inside the tank that sends a sphere of fragments in all directions. For activating delayed fuse, the shell has to pass a minimum thickness of armor. You can find this information in the shell info tab of your tank while in hanger.

 

APCR: Armor Piercing Composite Ridged:  Consists of a high density core, surrounded by a lighter shell of metal. Due to its lightness it achieves a higher velocity and results in high penetration. Upon penetration only a smaller denser core gets inside the tank.

 

APDS: Armor Piercing Discarded Sabot:  Similar to APCR but a light casing is discarded once the shell leaves the Gun barrel. This makes it more effective over longer ranges.

 

APDSFS: Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot Finn Stabilized. This Ammo type is stabilized by using fins. It is a very long, thin round. Reason for this: It will concentrate more kinetic energy on a small area when penetrating armor.

 

----APCR, APDS and APDSFS all have high velocity. This makes it easier to aim at moving targets with less bullet drop and less "leading" of the target.

 

Chemical rounds: These have a fuse sensitivity less then 1mm, you cannot shoot through trees and buildings.

 

HE: High Explosive: Upon contact the explosives inside the round detonate, sending shell fragments in a sphere around the explosion. Very effective against lightly armored vehicles. You don't even have to hit the target. You can land a round in front, beside or close to a target and still cause damage. This is handy for killing soft targets hiding around corners. Damaging armored tanks is still possible by shooting copula's and mounted machine guns on the tops of tanks. Shooting below the hull (The Ground In Front) will also cause damage with this shell.

 

HESH: High Explosive Squash Head: This is effective on thicker armor. Upon contact, hesh shells deforms, sticking to the outside of the armor and detonating. After detonation, it sends a "shock wave" through the armor, knocking metal off the internal part of the armor sending high speed spalling on the inside of the tank.

 

Hope this helps. I'm sure there is more to add. Feel free to do so. This is just a general guide to help.

 

 

[Turra 1,439]

Watch this video too! 

I found it helping

 

 

[blastedryan 967]

Just saying, there's at least 3 different shell guides pinned in various sections of the forum. Is there a reason for another one?

[crimfobic 270]

It's great that there are threads of this nature in the forums. This one, is a simple reference for "New Players" that they can come and refer to when needed. Since, new players are apt to visit this section for information, it would be wise to have it at their disposal. Easy to find. 

[Brighty_07 8]

HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank): chemical round that uses a shaped charge to apply extreme pressure to a very focused part of a tank's armor to make the area affected act like a fluid, thus flowing into the tank like liquid shrapnel. (i may have messed up a few details, but i thought id add on to the OP since this shell was missing. feel free to correct my info if u find somewhere i messed up)

Edited July 27, 2021 by Brighty_07
forgot to state full name