crucially, SAP shells do not lose penetration over distance. It’s the ammo type for min-maxers who want to get the most damage. SAP shells are situational and require a deep knowledge of armor thicknesses on different parts of a ship. Just like AP shells, SAP ammo explodes after a slight delay. Semi-armor-piercing shells offer a bit of both, sitting right in the middle in explosive power and penetration. AP shells punch through armor but lack in explosion damage. HE shells have poor penetration but incredible explosive power. You want to shoot at thinly armored section of a ship, possibly nearby vital ship modules. It’s important to know a ship’s weak points to get the most out of your shots, as HE shells can do massive damage when fired at the right part of a ship. HE shells also have a chance to set modules ablaze.

They’re fused to blast on impact in an explosion of flame and fragments. HE shells sacrifice penetration power for sheer explosive damage. They can be absolutely devastating in the hands of someone who knows the inner layouts of their target ship.

AP shells are the least explosive of the three ammo types, but they have the most penetrating power.ĪP shells are best used in situations where you’re sure of a direct hit to a vital module. The fuse is designed to explode shortly after penetration this gives the shell time to break through armor before dealing bursting. The penetrator at its tip is ultra-thick, which leaves less room for explosives.

Armor-piercing Shells (AP)Īn AP shell has a sharp-pointed, high-density casing. A shell is made up of a casing, an explosive charge, and a fuse the three ammo types are differentiated by the makeup of those three components. There are three primary shell types that you can load into your main batteries: Armor-Piercing (or AP), High-explosive (or HE), and Semi-armor-piercing (or SAP).

Ap vs he world of warships cruiser