🧨 1. HEAT / HEAT-FS (Shaped Charge Shells)
Name Meaning Use Case
HEAT High-Explosive Anti-Tank Penetrates armor via a focused explosive jet.
HEAT-FS Fin-Stabilized HEAT More accurate, faster version of HEAT.

📌 Penetration is constant at all ranges but less effective vs. sloped armor, ERA, and spaced armor.

🧲 2. Sub-Caliber (APCR / APDS / APFSDS)
Name Meaning Features
APCR Armor-Piercing Composite Rigid Early sub-caliber shell; weak post-pen damage
APDS Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot Faster, deeper penetration than APCR
APFSDS Fin-Stabilized Sabot Modern shell, excellent at penetrating thick armor

📌 Great vs. modern armor, but has poor post-pen damage against crew/modules.

💥 3. APHE / APCBC (Armor-Piercing Explosive)
Name Meaning Description
APHE Armor-Piercing High-Explosive Penetrates and explodes inside target
APCBC Capped with Ballistic Cap Better long-range performance

📌 Excellent for knocking out crew and internal components — especially effective at mid BRs.

💣 4. HE / HE-VT / HE-TF (High Explosive)
Name Meaning Use
HE High-Explosive Explodes on contact, large area damage
HE-VT Variable Time Fuse Detonates near aircraft or in air
HE-TF Timed Fuse Anti-air shell — explodes after a delay

📌 Very effective against open-topped vehicles, light armor, or aircraft.

⚙️ 5. Fragmentation Shells (SH / HE-FRAG)
Name Use
SH Shrapnel-based, fragment damage
HE-FRAG High-Explosive with fragmentation

📌 Effective against infantry (PvE), open vehicles, and soft targets.

🪖 6. HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head)
Name Description
HESH Explodes on armor surface and uses shockwave to cause spalling

📌 Only effective against flat, thin armor. Very weak against modern MBTs.

🔥 7. Incendiary / Smoke / Chemical (Utility Rounds)
Type Description
Incendiary Fire damage — ignites modules or enemies
Smoke Deploys smoke for cover or to block sightlines
Gas/Chemical (Not fully implemented in-game)

📦 Quick Comparison by Effectiveness:
Shell Type Penetration Post-Pen Damage Best Against
HEAT High Medium Early/mid armor
HEAT-FS Very High Medium Precise hits on weak spots
APHE Medium High Crew/modules
APFSDS Very High Low Modern armor
HE Low High (AOE) Open or unarmored targets
HESH Medium Situational Flat, thin armor