Comprehensive list of What ammo you should take and how much per tank?

[Owl]

Title says it all

I really am trying to make the best of ammo and all that because I only used to bring ONE type before without even thinking

So I was wondering if there was a comprehensive list somewhere of Recommendations of what ammo you should take for which tank, and how much of it it

[[MadTs] Phyrys]

There's this that is not so bad : https://forum.warthunder.com/t/simplified-effect-of-tank-ammo/6906

[AttackerCat]

I'm not sure if there's a comprehensive list, given different vehicle and ammo types and at different BRs. Below is my main philosophy, of course your mileage may vary and I'm sure others have their thoughts as well.

With a few noted exceptions, by general rules are:
If modern:
Highest pen APFSDS (usually 15-20 rounds, maybe more if smaller caliber gun), about about 5 HEAT - maybe some proxy HE if the tank has it for helis or a drone.

If cold war era/pre APFSDS:
Either highest pen AP/APHE (no APCR), then some APDS, then 5 or so HEAT.
If tank doesn't have AP, then Load HEAT instead (tanks like RU 251)
Number of rounds will vary on how much damage I feel they do and how long the reload is.

If WWII and under:
Highest penning APHE/APCBC for main round, ~5 HE shells, and for a select few tanks, some APCR (75mm Jumbo for example)
Generally higher ammo counts because it can be easy to rattle off more shots and not die as fast as later tiers.
There are some situations where you may not need the highest penning APHE round, like with Tiger Is. The Pzgr. round has far more explosive filler than the Pzgr.39 round, while only 10mm less pen. It has so much explosive filler you can overpressure things sometimes without even meaning to.

I pretty much ignore APCR, HESH, and in later tiers HE across the board, with a few specific exceptions.

My main reason for keeping some HE or HEAT rounds at all times is twofold. Overpressure for the main reason, and in some, like the M103 for example, having a HEAT shell I can use as a backup if the AP doesn't pen for some reason is helpful in some situations.

[frantictictac]

always take some he or heat, especially for medium or large calibers - 105+ mm
he for light armored vehicle - AA, light tanks, etc.
heat for heavy armored tanks - sometimes more effective, depends on situation

[Wolfsmaul-GER]

every tank has modeled ammo storages that get smaller or "removed" the less ammo you put into a tank, if possible you want to avoid ammo in the turret of your tank, in the hull in the very front or on the sides very forward, good examples would be the tiger 1H that has a ammo storage on the very front side of the hull and the tiger 2 that stores some of its huge shells in the back of the turret

[Chikuwu]

Originally posted by AttackerCat:

I'm not sure if there's a comprehensive list, given different vehicle and ammo types and at different BRs. Below is my main philosophy, of course your mileage may vary and I'm sure others have their thoughts as well.

With a few noted exceptions, by general rules are:
If modern:
Highest pen APFSDS (usually 15-20 rounds, maybe more if smaller caliber gun), about about 5 HEAT - maybe some proxy HE if the tank has it for helis or a drone.

If cold war era/pre APFSDS:
Either highest pen AP/APHE (no APCR), then some APDS, then 5 or so HEAT.
If tank doesn't have AP, then Load HEAT instead (tanks like RU 251)
Number of rounds will vary on how much damage I feel they do and how long the reload is.

If WWII and under:
Highest penning APHE/APCBC for main round, ~5 HE shells, and for a select few tanks, some APCR (75mm Jumbo for example)
Generally higher ammo counts because it can be easy to rattle off more shots and not die as fast as later tiers.
There are some situations where you may not need the highest penning APHE round, like with Tiger Is. The Pzgr. round has far more explosive filler than the Pzgr.39 round, while only 10mm less pen. It has so much explosive filler you can overpressure things sometimes without even meaning to.

I pretty much ignore APCR, HESH, and in later tiers HE across the board, with a few specific exceptions.

My main reason for keeping some HE or HEAT rounds at all times is twofold. Overpressure for the main reason, and in some, like the M103 for example, having a HEAT shell I can use as a backup if the AP doesn't pen for some reason is helpful in some situations.

wouldnt ever bring that many HE shells and especially in ww2 tanks because most longtime players still hang around 4-6BR. Especially the shell combined amount should be still generally low, because its specific to all tanks. Some tanks can take up to 24 shells combined with them without putting them into vulnerable spots, and its always tank specific.

[Chaoslink]

I’d recommend as well about 5-7 HE, a few smokes if applicable, a few APCR if applicable and the rest APHE for WWII stuff. Most penetrations are kills anyway at those BRs, so don’t be afraid to take a decent amount. Especially down in the 4.7 and below range, taking less ammo really doesn’t matter for most tanks.

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Chikuwu:

wouldnt ever bring that many HE shells and especially in ww2 tanks because most longtime players still hang around 4-6BR. Especially the shell combined amount should be still generally low, because its specific to all tanks. Some tanks can take up to 24 shells combined with them without putting them into vulnerable spots, and its always tank specific.

Personally, I don’t feel like ammo count matters too much until you’re in the 88, 90, 100mm and other big guns when reloads start being like 8-10 seconds. Before that, most ammo isn’t too big and penetrations are often just kill shots anyway. It’s only when you hit those much larger shells that things get bad and less ammo matters.

[Owl]

This has actually been very helpful

However I’ve been having trouble with APDS and HEAT-FS in terms of pen…(specifically Patton Tanks like the M48 or M60)

Is HESH any good?

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Owl:

This has actually been very helpful

However I’ve been having trouble with APDS and HEAT-FS in terms of pen…(specifically Patton Tanks like the M48 or M60)

Is HESH any good?

You're definitely in the BRs of keeping less ammo, I'll start by saying that. Check the internals of your tank and lower your ammo counts then load into test drive to see exactly what ammo was removed and try to clear any easy to hit spots from storing it.

HESH is something I've not used too much, but from what I've seen it can be unreliable. When it works, its pretty decent, but a lot of the time it seems like it just doesn't do what its supposed to.

[Owl]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Originally posted by Owl:

This has actually been very helpful

However I’ve been having trouble with APDS and HEAT-FS in terms of pen…(specifically Patton Tanks like the M48 or M60)

Is HESH any good?

You're definitely in the BRs of keeping less ammo, I'll start by saying that. Check the internals of your tank and lower your ammo counts then load into test drive to see exactly what ammo was removed and try to clear any easy to hit spots from storing it.

HESH is something I've not used too much, but from what I've seen it can be unreliable. When it works, its pretty decent, but a lot of the time it seems like it just doesn't do what its supposed to.

So pretty much just stick to the Pen round and some form of Explosive?

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Owl:

So pretty much just stick to the Pen round and some form of Explosive?

Hard for me to say, you're kinda at BRs I don't really care to play much. That's usually the play though. AP and some HE for light targets.

[Owl]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Originally posted by Owl:

So pretty much just stick to the Pen round and some form of Explosive?

Hard for me to say, you're kinda at BRs I don't really care to play much. That's usually the play though. AP and some HE for light targets.

Fair enough honestly

[SIX]

14 of the best pen ammo you have and you will be fine. You will rarely run out and if you do it just means you are probably already spawn camping.

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by SIX:

14 of the best pen ammo you have and you will be fine. You will rarely run out and if you do it just means you are probably already spawn camping.

Eh, not all of the best penetration rounds are actually the best ones to use. For instance, the Tiger I has two APHE rounds and the lower penetration one is far better because it has enough filler to overpressure once it does penetrate, meaning basically any penetration is a kill. There’s also things like APCR which will have a higher penetration but do basically nothing when it does get through and it tends to bounce a lot as it has horrible performance against angles.

So just saying “use the highest penetration rounds” isn’t really good advice. It really comes down to what tank (or gun really as many tanks use the same gun and it’s performance doesn’t really change) and what ammo it gets access to on an individual basis.

[SIX]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Originally posted by SIX:

14 of the best pen ammo you have and you will be fine. You will rarely run out and if you do it just means you are probably already spawn camping.

Eh, not all of the best penetration rounds are actually the best ones to use. For instance, the Tiger I has two APHE rounds and the lower penetration one is far better because it has enough filler to overpressure once it does penetrate, meaning basically any penetration is a kill. There’s also things like APCR which will have a higher penetration but do basically nothing when it does get through and it tends to bounce a lot as it has horrible performance against angles.

So just saying “use the highest penetration rounds” isn’t really good advice. It really comes down to what tank (or gun really as many tanks use the same gun and it’s performance doesn’t really change) and what ammo it gets access to on an individual basis.

OP is playing 7.7 I think he already knows all of that he was mostly asking if HESH or HE or smoke are needed and could revolutionize his playstyle.