World of Tanks Penetration Calculator
Armor Penetration calculation for winning performance
Result
Understanding Penetration Mechanics
Penetration in World of Tanks is determined by comparing your shell's penetration value against the target's effective armour thickness. This calculator takes into account normalization, impact angle, and overmatch rules to give you a precise probability of damaging your target.
The calculator simulates the RNG (Random Number Generation) distribution of shell penetration (±25%) to provide a percentage chance of successful penetration.
Impact Angle & Normalization
Different shells normalize differently upon impact. AP shells have 5° normalization, APCR has 2°, while HEAT and HE have 0°. Normalization effectively reduces the angle of impact, making the armour thinner.
Penetration Drop-off
AP and APCR shells lose penetration over distance. AP shells lose approximately 4% per 100m, while APCR shells drop faster at about 6% per 100m due to their lighter projectile mass. HEAT and HE shells maintain their penetration regardless of distance since they rely on chemical energy rather than kinetic energy. This calculator factors in distance to give you the actual penetration value at your engagement range.
Overmatch Mechanics
Overmatch rules (Double and Triple) allow AP and APCR shells to penetrate steep angles that would otherwise ricochet. If your caliber is more than 3x the armour thickness, you will not ricochet!
Gunnery Optimization With an Armor Penetration Calculator
Armored vehicle combat in World of Tanks is a balancing act between superb armor and optimal gunnery, where choosing between armor-piercing and high-explosive shells can determine victory. To make every shot count, it's best to determine how effective each shell fired can be, and an armor penetration calculator helps us identify which targets must penetrate for maximum damage.
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Tune Your World of Tanks Gameplay In Seconds
Armor is a big part of both WoT and its sister game, World of Warships, also from Wargaming. Both utilize armor plating, and employing the right gun calibre and high velocity shells makes for a world of difference in how you achieve critical damage to enemy modules. The presence of this armor plating means the point of impact matters, and that shell strikes at angles beyond 30° often ricochet rather than penetrate.
Strategically, it makes sense to attack where the enemy tank armour is weak, such as the turret cheeks or lower plate, but you also need to ensure that you're able to penetrate even if your aim is off by a little.
How the WoT Penetration Calculator Works
The penetration calculator only requires a few basic figures like shell coefficient and overmatch values, but you'll need to ensure that each one is accurate for the best results. Set your ammo type and parameters, such as the shell's caliber (100mm for APCR or 105mm for AP shells) and armour penetration value. You'll also need to indicate the type of armor you intend to attack, as well as its nominal armour measurement in mm (like 26mm side armor or 34mm turret roof).
You'll get a working percentage indicator for your current armor penetration based on the impact angle and normalization mechanics, showing whether your shell penetrates to deal shell damage. Adjust the angle to see which approach yields better results when armor at an angle affects your penetration chances, as low velocity shells follow a more dramatic ballistic trajectory beyond 500m compared to high muzzle velocity rounds.
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