Do we need the same kill count system for Ground targets and Naval battles as Aircraft has?

Game Discussion General Discussion
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I’ve been in many situations in Ground Battles where a teammate is getting shot and focused by an enemy tank. I jump in, help finish off the enemy to save them, and instead of a “thanks,” I get accused of stealing their kill. It creates unnecessary frustration and sometimes even toxicity in chat.

In Air Battles, this problem feels much less common because of the critical damage and assist system. If you heavily damage an aircraft and someone else finishes it off, the rewards are often shared more fairly. Players who contributed meaningful damage still get proper credit, which reduces arguments over who “deserved” the kill.

So this got me thinking: should Ground and Naval modes adopt a similar system?

In modes like War Thunder Ground Realistic Battles or Naval Battles, it’s very common for multiple players to engage the same target. One player might disable the gun barrel or breach, another knocks out the engine, and someone else lands the final shot. Under the current system, only the final blow gets the full kill credit, which doesn’t always reflect the actual contribution.

If a shared or “critical damage” mechanic were implemented:

  • Players who disable key components (gun, turret ring, engine, crew) could receive stronger assist rewards.
  • The final blow would still matter, but earlier contributors wouldn’t feel robbed.
  • Teamplay might improve, since helping finish a dangerous target would feel rewarding rather than risky in terms of score.

On the other hand, some players might argue that Ground and Naval combat are fundamentally different from Air combat, and that survivability and repair mechanics make it harder to fairly assign “critical” status.

What do you all think?
Should Ground and Naval battles use a similar shared kill/critical damage system as Aircraft modes, or is the current system fine as it is?

A “meme” displaying the current reaction some players have:

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i fear it will be quite difficult to define severe damage for a tank because of the wide variety of vehicles we have and infinite on-demand repair.

How will it be different from a MAUS to a BMPT. crew number isnt as relevant because tanks can be operated with just two, same with barrels. Is an autoloader equal to a human loader?

exquisite meme i might add

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I mean it can be if you deal critical damage and somebody kills it before they have repaired-?

Aircraft has the same system, since if they get to the runway before its dead it resets

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Solution: I’ve learnt to enjoy the fireworks when my teammates explode.

In all seriousness though, I do think it’s a good idea. Only change I’d make is to give a separate reward for “severely damaging” a tank, and killing their crew.

My idea:
Killing 50% or more of a tank’s crew = 50% kill reward

Destroying mobility or firepower = 25% each

Whoever kills the tank will get unclaimed portions, as an example,
player A destroys the engine
player B kills the crew

Player B will get the unclaimed firepower portion.

The exact percentages could be moved around but that’s the core idea.

On planes, severe damage is reset when you repair. It could be carried over for tanks.

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It already exists in naval. They just added a severe damage to it. Doing enough damage gives you the kill credit if someone finishes it off.
It doesnt make sense in ground as a vehicle can repair and recover from all non leathal damage. There is no point in which the crew gives up unless they are dead.

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The game dynamics in Air battles as opposed to ground and naval battles are
really a good bit different.
I don’t follow the “kill stealing” train of thought, you can’t actually steal a kill.
However, there is a something to be said for “bad tactics”, “tunnel vision”
and complete disregard for what team mates are doing and so on, in air battles.

One of the single most annoying things I find happening regularly in Air AB
is having a team mate(or 4 or 5) right on my tail, trying to shoot thru me at
an enemy plane I have been on for a reasonable amount of time.
First of all, if I am already on their 6, then they have gotten by me and forced me
into a poor angle of attack. This is the second worst way to go after an
enemy plane(the head on attack is by far the worst, but you see it all day long)

Shooting thru your team mate trying to kill the target they are already engaged with
is simply, poor sportsmanship, bad form and not a very good idea . . to say the least.
But it is very common . . I fly up and look down and see 4,5 or even6+ team mates
all chasing . . ONE plane. This is a sign we are going to lose the match . .
One or two guys going after an enemy is ok, anything more . . poor play . .
bad tactics, no stategery . . . (they really need to add the mechanic tanks have
where you cannot even fire thru or at a team mate to air battles . . . I mean really)

If you find yourself behind a team mate going after an enemy you should:
Break away and find another target, or break off and get another angle of attack.

Sad thing is a majority of pilots in the game now simply acquire the nearest target
(regardless if other team mates are attacking it) and fly directly at it, going as fast
as possible, guns blazing(and often waaaay to far out to do any good) and simply
hoping to get some hits, a kill or assist. Not that many dogfighters around anymore.
(Even if it is Air AB . . )

So, to me, there is some form of “respect” as to what your team mates are doing in planes

Tanks . . . different story, if I fail to kill an enemy tank and a team mate finishes them off,
thanks . . . you prolly saved me. Is there similar “thoughtless” play & actions??
Sure, but to a much lesser degree I’d say . . it’s just not the same on the ground.

Naval . . . Ai has been the biggest problem as far as “kill stealing” goes . . . by far
Have I ever spotted an enemy ship and seen it had 8%, 12% or 16% crew left
and began banging away at it??? Heck yeah, anybody that says they haven’t
. . . is prolly story telling. But with the implementation of the Severe Damage
mechanic to naval, things have gotten a lot better. Perfect? . . . nah, but better.

The three modes are separate in the match dynamics, some things carry over,
others are unique to the mode. At any rate, it shouldn’t be anything to get mad about
but many do . … and act out in bad ways . . . doesn’t help anything . . .

All this is my personal opinion and nothing more . .
The guys on your team for that match are your brothers in arms, help them
when you can, protect them as best you can and try to work as a team.
They may be your enemies the very next match . . . then by all means . . . shoot them
repeatedly . . . … ☻

Don't Be Hatin'

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Just ignore them.
You might have just saved them from destruction.
And there’s ground missions specifically for rescuing a team-mate .

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Naval has this system in place… Mostly.

The problem is when I do just shy of severe damage and someone does the killshot for them to get the kill for simply finishing off the target that’s both on fire, flooding and mostly inoperable since multiple things are knocked out.

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