War Thunder Penetration Calculator

Calculator Inputs

Shell Type

Base Penetration at Reference Range (mm)

Reference Range (m)

Target Range (m)

Distance Decay per 100 m (%)

Shell Diameter (mm)

Armor Thickness (mm)

Armor Angle from Vertical (°)

Spaced Armor (mm)

Armor Quality Modifier

Normalization Override (°)

Penetration Graph

The chart compares estimated shell penetration against the target’s calculated effective armor across distance.

Example Data Table

Shell	Base Pen	Range	Armor	Angle	Effective Armor	Outcome
APCBC	185 mm	500 m	120 mm	55°	195.2 mm	Marginal
APCR	230 mm	800 m	150 mm	45°	223.4 mm	Possible
HEAT-FS	320 mm	1000 m	180 mm	60°	387.0 mm	Weak
APFSDS	410 mm	1500 m	220 mm	68°	560.1 mm	Unlikely
AP	145 mm	300 m	90 mm	35°	114.8 mm	Strong

Formula Used

1) Range-adjusted penetration: Penetration at range = Base penetration × range factor.

2) Range factor: For longer range, factor = 1 / (1 + decay × distance step). Shorter range applies a small capped bonus.

3) Applied normalization: Effective normalization = shell normalization + overmatch bonus.

4) Adjusted angle: Adjusted angle = armor angle − applied normalization.

5) Effective base armor: Effective armor = adjusted armor thickness ÷ cos(adjusted angle).

6) Total effective armor: Total effective armor = effective base armor + spaced armor penalty.

7) Margin: Penetration margin = penetration at range − total effective armor.

8) Estimated chance: A logistic-style score converts the margin into a readable probability, then reduces it when ricochet risk increases.

How to Use This Calculator

Choose the shell type that best matches your round.
Enter the shell’s known penetration value and reference range.
Add the expected combat range to the target.
Set armor thickness, slope angle, and any spaced armor.
Adjust armor quality if the plate performs above or below nominal.
Leave normalization blank to use the default shell behavior.
Press calculate to view penetration margin, ricochet risk, and chart.
Export the result summary as CSV or PDF.

FAQs

1) Does this calculator match every in-game vehicle exactly?

No. It gives a structured estimate. Specific vehicles, shells, plates, and updates can behave differently. Use it for planning and quick comparisons, not exact replay-level prediction.

2) Why does angle matter so much?

Sloped armor increases the path length through the plate. That raises effective armor and can also push the shell toward ricochet territory.

3) What does normalization do here?

Normalization reduces the effective impact angle for capped or stable shells. That makes steep armor slightly less punishing than the raw slope number suggests.

4) Why does APCR often feel worse on angled targets?

APCR usually has weaker normalization and stronger sensitivity to slope. It can look strong on flat armor yet struggle badly once the target angles the plate.

5) What is spaced armor penalty?

It represents energy loss or disruption before the main plate. Chemical rounds and some sub-caliber rounds can be affected differently, so the penalty changes by shell type.

6) What is overmatch ratio?

It compares shell diameter to plate thickness. A larger ratio can reduce ricochet issues and slightly improve how the shell handles angled armor.

7) Why does the graph keep armor flat across distance?

Armor values do not change with distance in this model. The shell loses or maintains penetration, while the target plate remains the same reference obstacle.

8) Can I use this for real ballistic evaluation?

No. This page is for game-style estimation only. Real ballistic analysis depends on materials, velocity curves, metallurgy, shell construction, and controlled testing data.