Armor

All vehicles have armor, which protects them from enemy fire. Some vehicles are heavily armored and others are less shellproof, yet armoring on most vehicles follows a common principle: the front armor is usually thicker, while the sides and rear are more vulnerable. Hull armor thickness is measured in millimeters. In vehicle characteristics, these values are displayed as front/side/rear armor. If a vehicle has 75/45/45 mm hull armor, a shell with a 60 mm standard penetration will pierce its sides and rear (assuming a direct hit), but will not penetrate the front.

IS-3 armor scheme. The variations of color represent different values of the armor thickness in millimeters.

Apart from side and rear armor, most vehicles have common weak spots: the lower glacis plate, the commander's cupola, and the top surface of the turret.

Armor Penetration

A crucial factor in determining penetration is the angle at which the shell hits the target's armor. The ideal angle is perpendicular to the armor plate—in this case the shell has to pass through the least possible amount of armor plate in order to penetrate it. The perpendicular shell trajectory—the shell striking the armor plate exactly "square on"—is referred to as the normal.

The deviation from the normal is the so-called impact angle which determines the effective armor thickness. It is the actual armor thickness the shell must plow through in order to penetrate and deal damage. The greater the impact angle, the greater the effective thickness of the armor.

Keep in mind though, shells do not always penetrate vehicle armor. They can also bounce off the surface—this is called a ricochet. A ricochet can occur with Armor-Piercing (AP) and Armor-Piercing Composite Rigid (APCR) shells if the angle at the point of impact is greater than 70 degrees. High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shells can ricochet at angles greater than 85 degrees (see Ammunition). Only High-Explosive (HE) shells never ricochet: if they don't penetrate the armor, they explode on its surface.

Penetration

Ricochet

 

There is another important rule of ricochet mechanics: if the AP or APCR shell caliber is more than three times the nominal thickness of the armor, no ricochet will happen at any impact angle. HEAT shells ricochet at angles greater than 85 degrees, regardless of the caliber.

Remember these core rules of penetration and ricochet when firing at enemy vehicles. Always try to reduce your shells' angle of impact to maximize their chance of penetration. Moreover, you can make the most of your own armor and increase your chance of survival. Don't face the incoming fire directly: keeping your armor offset slightly will increase the impact angle of incoming shots, as well as your effective armor thickness.

Effective Shooting

Here are some useful techniques that you can use in combat to deal more damage.

Leading Targets

To hit a moving target, aim and shoot at the front or ahead of the enemy vehicle. The greater the distance and the greater the speed of the enemy vehicle, the farther ahead you should aim.

Auto-Aim

Activate Auto-Aim when you are focused on maneuvers and cannot aim your gun manually. It allows you to automatically lock on an enemy vehicle, aiming at its middle.

Auto-Aim does not take into account the opponent's weak spots, movement, and terrain obstacles.

Destroying Modules

Your enemy is so tough that your shells do little or no damage? Switch to destroying modules—tracks, in particular. This tactic is especially effective against heavily armored vehicles of higher tier. Knocking out tracks can keep the opponent immobilized so that your more powerful allies can focus and destroy the enemy. In the end, you will be rewarded for the damage caused with your assistance.

Pay attention to the specific damage mechanics of wheeled vehicles' suspension. Destroying it with one shot is almost impossible—you are more likely to destroy one or several wheels. With each wheel destroyed, a wheeled vehicle is slowed but does not stop completely. Destroy all the wheels to make its speed drop to the absolute minimum, leaving it with no chance of escape.

Terrain and Cover

Safe Positions

Always take advantage of terrain on the battlefield! Hide behind boulders, hills, and buildings to protect yourself from enemy fire or while you wait for your gun to reload. To stay safe from SPG fire, take cover behind large rocks, buildings, and other tall, massive objects.

In addition to staying safe, you can use terrain to gain a position where you can fire effectively without taking damage yourself. The tank in the picture is positioned behind a rise, so that opponents can see only its heavily armored turret. Meanwhile, the more vulnerable hull is hidden and safe.

Dangers on the Maps

Be cautious in your maneuvers: terrain can be dangerous! Don't plunge off steep cliffs! If you're lucky, you'll just take damage to your vehicle, modules, and crew, but most likely, your vehicle will be destroyed.

Lakes, bays, deep rivers and canals—any deep water can be hazardous. Be careful while driving across bridges or finding shallow places to cross deep water. If your vehicle—specifically, the engine compartment—goes under water, you have only 10 seconds to save it from drowning.

Upon performing extreme maneuvers, your vehicle may fall onto its side or even overturn – light and fast vehicles have this issue more often. A vehicle laying on its side is not only immobilized, but also almost defenseless: its view range, accuracy, and firing speed are significantly impaired. An overturned vehicle cannot fire at all and self-destructs after 30 seconds.
Your teammates can push your vehicle carefully to bring it back onto its tracks, but this does not always work.

Autoflip

You can use the auto-flip mechanic in some game modes. If your vehicle is overturned and immobilized for a period of time, the auto-flip will automatically set your vehicle back onto its tracks. The following conditions need to be met to activate this mechanic:

  • The vehicle is on its side or overturned.
  • The vehicle has not moved for 3 seconds.

As soon as your vehicle meets these conditions, a timer starts, which will trigger the auto-flip mechanic. It should be noted that if your vehicle takes ramming damage or your teammates attempt to right your vehicle back onto its tracks, the countdown will restart.

Known Issues

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  1. The suspension module may be damaged during the auto-flip.
  2. If the vehicle flips over in the arches, it may get inside the building.
  3. The vehicle may fall onto its side again if it was flipped back on another vehicle.
  4. If there is another vehicle on top of the overturned vehicle, it will flip over on top of that vehicle.
  5. The vehicle may be flipped over onto other vehicles in its proximity.
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Spotting and Concealment

Vehicle's View Range

It's hard to fight an enemy you can't see. The earlier you spot enemy vehicles, the more advantage you have in battle. That's why spotting is one of the core elements of World of Tanks game mechanics.

View Range is the maximum distance at which your vehicle can spot opponents. This parameter is defined by vehicle characteristics, modified by crew perks and skills.

To have a complete picture of your vehicle’s spotting and view range capability, you can use special circles on the minimap that depict proximity spotting range, view range, maximum spotting range and vehicle draw distance.

  1. Proximity Spotting Circle. A 50 m radius in which the vehicle is automatically spotted despite obstacles and concealment.
  2. View Range Circle. Shows the View Range value of your vehicle, adjusted in accordance with the skills and perks of your crew and equipment mounted on your vehicle.
  3. Maximum Spotting Range. The maximum spotting range of all vehicles cannot exceed 445 meters. Even if your View Range exceeds this value, you won't be able to spot an enemy on your own beyond this distance; however, it will be easier for you to detect concealed vehicles within this range.
  4. Draw Circle. Shows the maximum draw range within which other players' vehicles can be seen on your battle screen. This value is always 565 meters.
You can turn on the display of these circles in the game settings. Go to the General tab and select the necessary options in the View range Indicators on the Minimap section.

Another essential component in spotting and keeping track of the enemy is Signal Range. Your vehicle's Signal Range is the maximum distance at which you can exchange information with your allies about other vehicles' position. Signal Range values are defined by radio characteristics, modified by crew perks and skills.

If your ally spots an enemy and is within range to share this information with you, the icon of the spotted vehicle will appear on your minimap, even if the vehicle is beyond your Draw Range and cannot be seen directly. So you'd be wise to get the best radio available!

Concealment

Staying out of the enemy's sight will help you survive the battle and deal more damage. Learn to conceal your vehicle!

Thick bushes and fallen trees can conceal your vehicle. Remember, your entire vehicle must be blocked by the foliage, otherwise you will not be hidden. The exception to this rule is your gun: if your gun extends beyond the bush, it will not ruin your concealment.


If you are within 15 meters of the bush, you will be able to see other vehicles through it. You'll be not only out of sight, but also in position for an ambush.

A vehicle is concealed the most when it is not moving. Only Tier V or higher light tanks keep their concealment values unchanged while moving or standing still.

Concealment drops dramatically when you fire a gun. Shooting also negatively affects the flora within a 15-meter radius, making it transparent. At the same time, gun and turret traverse do not affect the concealment of any stationary vehicle.

You can improve your vehicle's view range and reduce it's visibility by using equipment, consumables, special crew perks and skills, camouflage, and Directives.

Improving View Range and Concealment

View Range
Binocular Telescope

Provides a +25%/+27.5% bonus to view range for a stationary vehicle.

Coated Optics and Its Variations

Depending on the equipment type, it provides from +10% to +13.5% to view range, both stationary and on the move.

Commander's Vision System

–10%/–12.5% to the concealment of moving enemy vehicles.
–15%/–20% to the concealment of enemy vehicles behind foliage.

Commander skill Recon

Increases Maximum View Range. The skill is even more effective if observation devices are damaged.

Radio Operator skill Situational Awareness

Extends View Range.

Optical Calibration Directive

Provides a +2.5% bonus to vehicle view range with Coated Optics or its variations mounted.

Concealment
Camouflage Net

Provides from +5% to +15% to concealment of a stationary vehicle depending on its type.

Low Noise Exhaust System and Its Variations

Provides between +3% and +8% to vehicle concealment, both stationary and on the move, depending on the vehicle's type.

Crew skill Concealment

Reduces vehicle visibility. Comes into effect after training starts. Significantly reduces visibility if all crew members have this skill trained to 100%.

Camouflage

A vehicle exterior customization that reduces visibility in battle.

Sixth Sense: A Special Commander Feature

Alerts you when your vehicle has been spotted, allowing you to change position and take cover. Does not reduce visibility. Available to all commanders by default.

Increased Focus Directive

Increases the effect of Sixth Sense, a special commander feature.

Natural Cover Directive

Provides the Concealment skill trained to 100% or increases its effect.

Exhaust Insulation

Provides +2% to concealment of a stationary or moving vehicle with Low Noise Exhaust System (any class) mounted.

View Range and Concealment
Crew Perk Brothers in Arms

Provides a +5% bonus to major qualifications and all skills for the entire crew.

Improved Ventilation and Its Variations

Depending on the equipment type, provides from +5% to +8.5% to all crew skills.

Improved Radio Set

+1.5 s / +2 s to the duration an enemy vehicle is visible to you.
–1.5 s / –2 s to the duration your vehicle is visible to the enemy.

Vent Purge Directive

Provides a +2.5% bonus to crew perks and skills with Improved Ventilation or its analogs mounted.

Improved Consumables (Chocolate, Case of Cola, etc.)

Provide a +10% bonus to all crew skills during one battle.

Field Modification

Increases the view range and concealment of a vehicle, depending on its tier, type, and role in battle. Field Modification is available for Tier VI–X vehicles.


Tanks and Tactics

World of Tanks features five vehicle types, and each of them requires certain tactics on the battlefield.

Light Tanks. Light tanks are the eyes and ears of the team. They are the fastest tanks and have great View Range, but usually thin armor and fairly poor firepower.

Medium Tanks. Multi-purpose combat vehicles. They combine mobility, firepower, and relatively good armor, so they are useful both in frontline combat and in a support role from mid-range. However, Medium tanks should not fight alone: a solo Medium tank is typically easy prey, while several in a pack can quickly dismantle opponents.

Heavy Tanks. Heavily armored vehicles with powerful guns. Their main role is to push a flank or meet an enemy push, dealing massive damage and blocking enemy fire with their thick armor. This type of vehicles is relatively slow and usually has a low fire rate. Also note that heavy tanks are usually the favorite targets of enemy SPGs.

Tank Destroyers. These are snipers with accurate and powerful guns. Generally compact and easy to hide, they seek to fire at long distances while staying completely unseen. Tank destroyers are often turretless, poorly armored, and slow, so they are vulnerable in close combat.

Self-Propelled Guns. SPGs provide long-range firepower for their team using HE and Armor-Piercing shells. They are able to hit targets almost anywhere on the map, and their HE shells deal splash damage, sometimes to several vehicles at a time. Shells of 139.7 mm caliber and greater also have a stun effect, which temporarily weakens all vehicle characteristics of the target. SPGs are slow, and their armor is extremely weak.

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