Think you’re being a little over-optimistic there.
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Yes, on the dev server, overpressure mechanics have indeed been restored, which already makes the shell feel a bit more impactful. However, when hitting a thick plate—anything over 65mm—the damage is still ridiculously low, just like before. I hope they’re working on that. Still, adding overpressure is a step in the right direction; now they just need to significantly boost the shell’s damage output.
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Is it really?
For people who don’t have access to the DEV server, here is a comparison of the FV4005 shooting the coupola of a Tiger H1 on the LIVE vs DEV:
LIVE:
DEV:
To be honest, currently the biggest problem about HESH on the live server, is that it doesn’t overpressure correctly. With the fix, its going to make tanks relying on HESH a lot better.
Of course, the post pen damage could probably be a lot better (on shots that doesn’t overpressure), however at least it is a step in the right direction.
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We’re in full agreement on that point: HESH will become more viable again, but the problem of ridiculously low damage when overpressure doesn’t trigger remains.
But I really hope they are working on that point—which is possible.
DEVSERVEUR 5 september :
✅Overpressure is indeed back, which is already a good thing. BUT
❌For example, with the FV4005, when the armor plate is thicker than approximately 65mm, the damage disappears completely, just as if you were firing standard HE rounds.
⚠️Explanation : Here is exactly why Gaijin’s current calculation is completely at odds with historical reality: A fundamental confusion between kinetic and chemical effects. In reality, a HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) shell does not need to penetrate the armor. It flattens against the plate, spreading its plastic explosive (16.8 kg of PE4 for the FV4005) before detonating. It is the violent shockwave passing through the metal that tears away the inner face of the armor, creating lethal fragments (spalling). The larger the shell, the more massive the shockwave. The “cancellation script” trap in the game code: In War Thunder, Gaijin coded HESH by linking its effects to a raw penetration value within the algorithm. As soon as the shell hits a plate thicker than ~65 mm, the game determines the thickness is too great to be “pierced.” To save on server processing, the script instantly cuts off the damage algorithm. The spherical explosion is literally “killed” by the code. That is why a 72 kg shell containing the equivalent of 21.7 kg of TNT can strike a heavy tank’s glacis and vanish without even breaking the gun barrel or track located just 20 centimeters from the impact point. What is needed for a complete rework: The return of the “Overpressure” mechanic in the next update will fix issues where shots were absorbed by optics or light tracks—an excellent first step. However, until Gaijin decouples the internal spalling calculation from the plate penetration value, HESH will remain physically inaccurate. A 183 mm shell should shatter or fracture any steel plate through sheer shock impact alone, regardless of its thickness.
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Wow that was quick actioning my bug report LOL
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/h27T8EWZm7jl
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Spalling and scabbing is indeed its own issue and will hopefully be fixed, however the lack of explosive damage was why HESH was hugely underperforming.
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There is a bug report open for 4 years now.
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/s8C7Sngj09nd
When do we get a fix for something they introduced.
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Working HESH means, all soviet tanks without era should be one shoot kill. So they never gonna make it working.
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maybe no
I played two rounds made like 20 hits and managed only two kills. It does no damage at all. I aced the AVRE just by playing it naturally its unplayable right now.
Yeah, but things might still change. The HESH bug is my main concern in the game. I’ve been watching its evolution for five years and complaining on the forums for over two. I think I’m one of the players who has fought hardest for this cause—just look at the number of messages I’ve posted in this thread alone. And yes, I have to say that in those five years, things have never moved this fast. Hopefully, they keep it up and finally finish this rework once and for all. They need to focus on it 100%. It’s all well and good to release cool planes or tanks, but the priority should be fixing critical logic bugs. If it were just the HESH issue, it wouldn’t be so bad, but the thing is, HESH affects the actual game mechanics. A mechanical bug is extremely serious—especially one that’s been going on for five years.
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I’d like to remind you that this was entirely possible between 2019 and early 2021.
BTW its not completely fixed. 120mm HESH still wont overpressure in the same manner that a 4kg HE TNTe shell will
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Just curious, does the bonking power the dev server FV4005 have also apply to the AVRE/CEV or are they still having a struggle bus moment?
Interesting, when hitting the very edge of the cupola on the Tiger H1 which is a raised edge, the smaller HE over pressures but the HESH doesn’t. However if you hit further down, both of them overpressure the Tiger.
Not sure if the HESH have smaller overpressure radius or that because it hits that raised edge, it then acts differently
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i found the same, its almost like the hesh’s radius is smaller for whatever reason? because the actual penetration value seems to be correct. But you have to be MUCH closer to the plate for it to work.