What Does "Hull Down" Mean in World of Tanks?

Everything you need to know about what hull down means in World of Tanks.

This article will explain what the term "hull down" means in World of Tanks. World of Tanks is full of all sorts of terminology and phrases which can be confusing for new players and sometimes even semi-experienced players. One of these terms that are used frequently is “hull down,” so read on to learn what hull down means in World of Tanks.

What Is the Hull?

The Renault FT has a small hull and a rounded turret so it's a good idea to take advantage of this by trying to ensure only the turret is exposed.
The Renault FT has a small hull and a rounded turret so it's a good idea to take advantage of this by trying to ensure only the turret is exposed.

One of the first things you need to understand about what hull down means in World of Tanks is what the phrase is talking about when it refers to the “hull”. The hull is arguably one of the most all-encompassing terms when it comes to talking about the armor of a tank.

It’s important to know all the different armor names in World of Tanks as this will help when deciding where to aim or when reading guides about good combat practices.

The hull of the tank is everything sans the turret and tracks. It is the top of the tank, the front, the sides, and the back. The hull also consists of more precise pieces of armor like the glacis, but for now, we’re just interested in what “hull” means.

What Hull Down Means

While some rocks and structures provide excellent protection, hiding behind anything in the environment is a good way to go hull down.
While not all rocks and structures provide the same amount of protection as others, hiding behind anything in the environment is a good way to go hull down.

Now that you know what the hull is it will be easier to understand what hull down means in World of Tanks. Hull down refers to the act of positioning your tank so as to have your hull protected from danger. “Down” is a relative term when it comes to talking about hull down and doesn’t necessarily mean the hull is in a down position.

A rounded turret or one with good armor values will be able to bounce shells or not be penetrated by shots.
A rounded turret or one with good armor values will be able to bounce shells or not be penetrated by shots.

The idea behind being hull down is that the hull of your tank is protected with only the turret being visible to the enemy, such as from behind a rock, through a window, or from a slope. The ideal use of this position is for tanks with a rounded turret or one with a lot of armor or even with tanks that have weak hulls.

By only showing the turret, it makes for a smaller target for the enemy to hit and when the turret is extremely strong, it can lead to non-penetrations or in the case of well-rounded armor, bounced shots.

Enemy tanks in a hull down position can cause chaos for your plans. Be sure to work around them with your team or avoid them if you can.
Enemy tanks in a hull down position can cause chaos for your plans. Be sure to work around them with your team or avoid them if you can.

There are a few tanks that are notorious for going hull down and are quite difficult to dig out when they enter this position. Keep an eye out for any T29s, IS-3s, IS-7s, and T34s that are in a hull down position as they will be extremely difficult to engage in combat.

Now whenever someone refers to going hull down, you will know what they’re talking about and be able to react accordingly. Take some time to review guides like how to angle your tank for better armor and where to aim to deal more damage as understanding hull down is an important aspect of protecting yourself and knowing how to deal with enemies who take a hull down position.

The next step to take is learning how to go hull down and ensuring you are performing it successfully. If you read this guide you should now know what hull down means in World of Tanks.

Sam Chandler is the Australian piece of the AllGamers puzzle. Out of all his gaming-related passions, collecting N64 games, speedrunning, and Souls games rank among the most important. You can reach Sam through Twitter, @SamuelChandler, or through his email, sam.chandler@allgamers.com, at any time of the day or night on either side of the globe.

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