Question about shell types and porpuse

[Pak0tac]

So ive been wondering, so far all my tanks up to tier IV were using AP shells (stock) which was a nightmare and then i usually upgraded to the APBC shell as soon as i could, while ignorning APCR shells pretty much always.
So my question is, in real life AP shells have higher penetration values then APBC shells because they have higher mass tungusten cap, while APBC got soft cap to allowe it better penetration chances hitting at angle, while sureficing overal hit velocity and weight, thuse those shells can only pen through thinner side armor.
And APCR shells are practically pure tungustan sharpened arrow heads that are designed to cut through steel platings like it was butter, but those shells because they were very hard, and with no explocive mass, they couldnt penetrate angled armor at all, and the armor they would penetrate, they were like bullets, no explosion (unless hitting the ammo rack)

but it appears in this game, there is no point in using anything except APBC shells, AP shells have pen values that are lower (no logic there...) and APCR shells, well i havnt fount a single use for them yet, as pretty much all my shots are at an angled armor.

Do you guys use any shells except APBC shells? (AP? APCR?)
and im talking only about ww2 shell types, not post war advanced shells

[kamikazi21358]

APCR is purely situational, I only use it 1% of the time.


APBC is superior to the AP shell. The ballistic cap gives it better aerodynamics and sloped armour penetration. Unless the AP shell is actually heavier or something, there really isn’t a reason why it would penetrate more that I know of.

APCBC is the superior shell if available. It has the ballistic cap with the cap over the AP shell, giving it all the advantages, and more penetration.


APCBC > APBC > APC >~ AP, there is no reason to use the inferior shells that I am aware of. If APCBC is available, use it. If not, use APBC. APC doesn’t work at longer ranges at AP, so I bring a couple AP if I use mostly APC, but APC is better than AP. Etc.

[ulzgoroth]

I...don't think your 'in reality' is actually much related to reality, especially with the 'tungsten cap' bit.

[Pak0tac]

Originally posted by ulzgoroth:

I...don't think your 'in reality' is actually much related to reality, especially with the 'tungsten cap' bit.

https://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=836
"These rounds were the result of some bright spark working out that you could get more oomph out of an anti tank shot by increasing the density of the penetrating bit (using tungsten) and encasing it in a lighter outer full bore cover. The shape of the round led it to being called “arrow shot” by the Russians. The Germans perfected this with their Panzergranate 40 (PzGr40) round, which they found went through T34s like a hot knife through butter, and with it ruled the battlefield for a couple of months during late 1942, then they ran out of tungsten"