Ammunition load in Tanks

[CSKA'Nikolai]

I'm not too sure what mechanics are in this game but does reducing the ammunition load minimise the chances of ammunition load exploding or perhaps increase the tanks acceleration/speed?

[Katokevin]

Mobility? No. Survivability, yes. Reducing the amount of ammo you take will reduce the actual amount in the tank. Now, depending on the age of the model and when it may have last been updated, ammo may be loaded in blocks (so taking 4 shots for example may remove a block of 4, but not one by one). Though newer and more updated models will model every single shell individually.

For the most part, take what you need. In most tanks, you generally won't go through an entire load. Generally, you are often just going to need anywhere from 15-30 rounds at most. Though do take into account your reload rate as a faster reload may get you to fire more.

[Stridswombat]

It empties out ammo racks at certain intervals reducing the chance of getting ammo racked. This also applies while you use up ammo in combat. Overall only bring the ammo you think you will need to keep as many ammo racks empty as possible.

[CSKA'Nikolai]

Well at the moment I usually carry around 40 and depending what BR as well. Lower rank I tend to use more ammo and also a decent load. I have tried testing out of my chances when getting hit and always the same results even with only 1/3 of the max ammo load. I think some players in general, well the ones that take me out, know what their doing.

[burg4401]

if your tank has First-order ammo rack the turret ammo will get refilled so it dosen't mater.

Low br is still ok, they start to refill the ammo in the mid tears. (kt2 h refills ammo)

https://warthunder.com/en/news/5375-development-first-order-ammo-racks-and-automatic-loaders-en

[CSKA'Nikolai]

Also does Shell choice influence survival ability if a tank gets hit? For example if I has a tank full of HE or HEAT shells, do I stand less chances of survival compared to a tank with only APCR? I'm rather new so I'm not too sure what mechanics this game has.

[kamikazi21358]

Originally posted by 3xA'Николаи:

Also does Shell choice influence survival ability if a tank gets hit? For example if I has a tank full of HE or HEAT shells, do I stand less chances of survival compared to a tank with only APCR? I'm rather new so I'm not too sure what mechanics this game has.

Not currently.

Originally posted by 3xA'Николаи:

increase the tanks acceleration/speed?

I had a conversation with someone about this, I think it would be an interesting thing to test. But I have not noticed a difference personally.

It does for aircraft though.

Originally posted by 3xA'Николаи:

~~~

You heard multiple accounts of bringing less than full load, and it increases your survivability. It does.

But now for the unpopular opinion: why I think it doesn’t matter, and 90% of tanks I just bring full load anyways.


First of all: how often does it save you? 1/30 battles? 1/50 battles?

For reference, I played over 100 battles in my T-62, multiple respawns each battle, and I can vouch it only saves you only, 1/50 battles or so.

Problem with this:

1. Tier with APHE, it doesn’t matter. If you get penetrated, you’re dead anyways. The explosion will knock out your crew, and hit the ammo you do have. The rare times that this might not happen, you’re so crippled that the 2nd shot will end you anyways.

2. Tiers with APFSDS, HEAT-FS, and more... it doesn’t matter still. Because simply, people are not going to aim for that dank secondary ammo rack in the dark corner of the tank. They’re going to aim for the crew. They’re going to aim for the main ammo rack. Leopard 1, T-62, T-55, Type 74, etc., they’re aiming for that big ammo rack in front, the one you cannot empty. When I played the 100+ battles in the T-62, the number of times I got ammo racked from the smaller ammo racks on the turret rear and such, was about 2-3 times the entire time. And the thing is, did it matter? Those shots would have killed most of my turret crew, my breach, or whatever. The 2nd shot would have finished the job regardless, all it does is potentially buy 8-9 seconds at most.

Yes, it increases your survivability. Barely. You’re not going to notice that much difference at all. There are only some tanks I take less than full load, examples would be the T-35 (which has multi-hundreds of rounds, and does occupy the entire tank with ammo racks everywhere), and KV-2 (entire turret sides lined with propellant, 40+ second reload means you’re not going to expend the multi-dozens of rounds).


So, what about bringing the full load?

If you play Arcade, might not matter too much. RB half the time, no either. However, Maginot, Kursk, Sands of Sinai, and Simulator Battles... running out of ammo, yes with a full load, is an actual concern. I have done it, and often do run near low. And to refill, you have to drive all the way to a cap point, if one is available.

Often? Hardly. But you sometimes I am put in a situation that I do expend 30, 40+ rounds.

But of course, I don’t bring entirely just AP and stuff. I do like to bring a diverse load of ammunition — AP, HEAT, APCR, HE/SH, Smoke, etc, I do like to bring a diverse load of ammunition. Which is useful, APCR isn’t overall useful, but there is that 2% of the time it is essential. HEAT does have it’s advantages over AP. Even HE, despite popular option, I find useful in some situations.

And the other reason, this is entirely not gameplay related. But just simply realism: not that many tanks purposely bring less than full load? Dying nations and under equipped armies don’t fully supply their soldiers and tanks, I came to WT from WoT because it was the more realistic option — to me, it just felt wrong to take less than full load, to not take HE shells. But this isn’t a gameplay aspect.


This isn’t a common opinion I think. But everybody emphasises “it increases your survivability!” whether be forums, YouTube, or whatever. Yeah, but the difference is just pathetic, and my opinion: diverse, fully equipped ammo load is more important, to be prepared for when you need those secondary shells or are put it a battle that you expend ‘more than 15 rounds’ — yeah I have actually seen people run out of ammo when they do that. This is my perspective.