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Ballistics helper

Armor Penetration Calculator

LOS thickness vs shell pen with an angle diagram. Teaching model — finish the shot in protection analysis.

Scenarios — tap one, then edit

Tune inputs

Plate model: likely penetrates

135 mm margin

250 mm pen vs 115 mm LOS · teaching model only

Breakdown

Margin vs pen (normalized, not a hit %)77%
LOS multiplier1

Angle vs LOS thickness

30° · nominal 100 mm → LOS ~115 mmShell pen 250 mm (clears model)

How to use this tool

War Thunder armor is volumetric and shell-dependent. This tool only models the common teaching formula: line-of-sight thickness ≈ nominal thickness ÷ cos(impact angle). Vehicle+shell database penetration is deferred until verified pen-at-range tables exist in our cache.

A teaching model for line-of-sight armor thickness versus shell penetration at a given impact angle. Use it to build intuition — then verify shots in the in-game protection analysis.

  • APFSDS rarely ricochets the way WWII APCBC does — angle still adds LOS thickness.
  • Use protection analysis for weak spots, tracks, and compound angles.
  • Caliber and shell type matter more than a single mm number.

Limitations

  • • Not a substitute for the in-game protection analysis viewer.
  • • Ignores volumetric hitboxes, ERA, cages, and multi-layer armor.
  • • No attacker/target vehicle picker yet — public datamine lacks pen tables and armor geometry.
  • • Reload and ammo SL cost tools are likewise blocked until those fields sync.

LOS thickness vs War Thunder armor

A common classroom formula is LOS thickness ≈ nominal thickness ÷ cos(impact angle from the normal). Enter the penetration value for the range you will actually shoot, the plate’s nominal thickness, and the impact angle. The diagram shows whether that simplified model “clears” the plate.

Real War Thunder armor is volumetric. Overmatch, ricochet thresholds, spaced armor, ERA, tracks, and compound angles are outside this calculator. APFSDS, HEAT-FS, and APCBC also behave differently with angle.

Why there is no attacker/target database (yet)

A full “tank A shell B vs tank C weakspot” tool needs verified pen-at-range tables and armor geometry. Those are incomplete in the public Vehicles API sync we use. Until a trustworthy source is wired, WT Charts keeps this as an honest teaching slider instead of a fake armor oracle.

Read the armor angling guide for positioning theory, and use Vehicle Comparison for optics and gun stats that we do sync.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use 10 m penetration?
Only if you are at point-blank. Prefer the shell card value at your actual engagement distance.
Does this replace protection analysis?
No. Always finish the shot in the hangar armor viewer.