Crew skills

Crew Skills are the added attributes to the crew performance and effectiveness, being for the pilots, gunners of multi-crew aircraft, tanks, ships, and airfield/hangar/port mechanics.

Basics

Crew skills are War Thunder's way of simulating the experience and skill gained by air, ground, and naval crews through combat missions, allowing them to perform/endure tasks more efficiently and effectively as they increase in skill over time, such as how quickly aircraft are repaired by ground crew, how fast the tank's loader can fit shells into the gun breech, how accurate bombers' gunners' fire is, or the amount of g-force that can be sustained before a pilot begins blacking out.

Crew experience is gained in the form of "Crew XP Points", earned by participating in battles. The number of points accrued for crew experience depends on the research points obtained in a battle, as well as the game mode of the battle. In Realistic and Simulator battles, for every 100 the player will receive 1 crew XP point which would be distributed to the crew of the vehicle used. In Arcade battles, every 100 will grant the player 3 crew XP points, but this higher rate also has the crew experience spread out among multiple crews. Another way to obtain crew XP point is by purchasing them with Golden Eagles via the "Accelerated Training" tab on the top right corner of the Crew Training window.

During lulls in between matches in the hangar, pay attention to the bottom left corner of the crew slots, which have a numerical value representing the crew level. The colour of this text indicates crew XP point accumulation: a regular silver font showing regular crew XP point amount, and a glowing gold font showing a large amount of unused crew XP points.

Crew XP points can be used by either clicking the "Crew Training" button on the Crew tab of the infocard on the left-side of the Hangar UI, or by selecting the desired crew and clicking the "Crew" button. Both methods will open a window where crew XP points can be spent by pressing the "+" button next to desired skills. The more points invested, the more skilled the crew is, and the more points will be needed to upgrade to the next level.

Shared crew skills

Logistical services

These two skills do not affect in-game combat, but rather allow you to repair your vehicles for free over time, if you uncheck "automatic repair" on the right of your line-up bar. This function is mostly used by players who play many nations at once and don't mind a small wait in order to save some precious Silver Lions .

These skills are shared between crew types, which means that points in these skills will affect a crewed vehicle no matter what type of vehicle it is.

• Repair Speed - Affects the speed at which vehicles are repaired. Repair time can be shortened up to three times when fully researched. For example, the base repair time of the Bf 109 F-4/trop in AB is 7 hours 50 minutes, while with repair speed it is reduced to 2 hours 36 minutes. This skill also affects the repair time of aircraft that have landed on a friendly airfield during a battle.
• Repair Rank - Determines the maximum aircraft rank to which the "Repair Speed" skill is applied. Has a total of five stages corresponding with the number of vehicle ranks in the game. For instance, the Bf 109 F-4/trop requires repair rank 3. If the repair rank is lower, the repair time will remain at 7 hours 50 minutes no matter how high the repair speed skill is. This skill is one of the few not affected by crew qualification levels.

Air vehicles crew skills

General

• G-Tolerance - Influences the tolerance of the pilot to acceleration in manoeuvres (g-forces), increasing the critical amount of "G's" that the pilot can sustain without the player's vision being darkened/reddened and losing control of the plane after a certain period of time, representing the pilot's loss of consciousness (also known as G-LOC). In "Mouse Aim" mode, this skill also affects the control accuracy of the aircraft.
• Stamina - Allows the crew to resist fatigue for a longer period of time. Accuracy and g-tolerance gradually decrease, depending on the time spent in the session and the amount of g-forces sustained. In addition, the skill has an effect on aiming accuracy in mouse aiming mode.
• Vitality - Reduces the likelihood of the pilot receiving a mortal wound. For the novice pilot the second .303 bullet hit (from MG 15 or similar) or comparable shrapnel impact is usually fatal, while a pilot with their vitality maxed out can, with a measure of luck, survive one hit from a .50 (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun.

Pilot

• Keen Vision - Enhances the detection range when spotting enemies, i.e. the maximum distance at which the target indicator may appear. This ranges between 4 km (untrained) to 8 km (maxed) (3-5 km in RB/SB). Detection is only made within a cone in the direction of view of the player. Maximum detection distance is also dependent on the size of the target, lighting conditions and other factors.
• Awareness - Enhances the detection range of enemy targets between 400 m (untrained) to 800 m (maxed) (300-500 m in RB/SB). Detection is carried out in all directions around the aircraft, regardless of the direction that the player is observing.

Defensive armament

• Number of Experienced Gunners - All skills with gunners are reduced proportionally to the difference between the amount of gunners on the selected aircraft and the number of experienced gunners in the crew. For example, an He 111 H-6 bomber has 5 gunner positions. If there is a crew of only two experienced gunners all their skills will be reduced by 60%, with four - 20%, with all five positions filled, their skills will be fully effective.
• Fire Accuracy - This skill only applies when the gunner is controlled by AI. Increases the traverse speed of a turret, increases the maximum burst length by up to 3 times, increases the distance at which gunners can start firing at a target by up to 275% (55% in RB/SB), increases the distance at which the targets direction can be anticipated, increases the chance of simultaneous fire and "leading" the target, removes miscalculation in "leading" the target (decreased by 7 times for RB/SB when researched completely).
• Fire Precision - This skill only applies when the gunner is controlled by AI. Reduces scatter of the gun by 2.5 times (2 times in RB/SB), increases the burst length by up to a third when fully researched, increases the distance at which the gunners open fire in arcade battles by a marginal amount (up to 8%), increases the chance of simultaneous fire and "leading" the target just like fire accuracy.

Logistical services

• Reload Speed - Increases the rate at which the weapons are reloaded in the air and on the airfield. Reduces the rearming time by three times for cannons & machine guns, two times for bombs, rockets and torpedoes and four times for turrets when fully researched. For example, fully leveling La-5FN crew's reloading skill will cause the rearmament time of cannons to go down from 40 seconds to 13.3; bombs will be reloaded in 20 seconds instead of 40.
• Weapon Maintenance - Increases the efficiency of vehicle's weaponry. Reduces the overheating speed of primary weapons, as well as spread of bombs and rockets for aircraft, reduces the chance of weapon jamming due to overheating by up to 3 times, reduces the angular velocity of bombs, rockets and torpedoes by up to 3 times, thereby significantly improving their accuracy.

Ground vehicles crew skills

General

• Keen Vision - Determines at what distance the player can see an enemy ground vehicle, as well as ability to see ones that are under cover. The game server only sends information of a vehicle that's concealed to the client when the player is at a minimal distance from the enemy. This distance is around 563 m if your crew is looking directly at them, with crew that's not levelled up. The distance of direct vision spotting is tripled when player uses binoculars or sniper scope, but vision becomes very narrow. You can also use your third person camera to spot enemies within 235 m of your hull's front and in 97m around your vehicle. Leveling up keen vision to the max on all of the crew members adds bonus vision up to 63% of base, "ace" the vehicle for another 63%, to get about 222% vision effectiveness in total. Scout vehicles have modification "improved optics", that multiplies the skill's base power by 30%, helping them to scout and notice danger earlier than anyone else (at best, 1621 m without binoculars). In Arcade mode it also affects the distance at which you can see markers on the enemy (through non-solid obstacles), affects how much it tells you about enemy (if enemy is too far it simply says class of enemy's vehicle without displaying the full vehicle name), how much of an enemy vehicle must be exposed to notice and mark them, and maxed out even allows the player to see enemies through walls, although at very close range, and only when looking at them. Note that in Arcade "absolute detection" doesn't mark everything in 360 degrees around you, only line-of-sight and line-of-movement spots work, so keep turning camera around when driving in towns and mountains.
• Field repair - Increases the basic rate at which damaged parts are repaired (by up to 50%). It most strongly affects track repair. The average level of this skill of all crew members is taken into account when calculating the total multiplier.
• Agility - Determines the speed with which a crew member can replace another fallen one. The average value of agility in the crew is what counts - spending all of the points on one disposable crew member won't benefit the player any more than distributing the points would.
• Vitality - Reduces the likelihood of receiving a mortal wound.

Driver

• Tank Driving - Affects the rate at which the driver automatically switches gears and applies the brake, thus improving the acceleration and responsiveness when turning. Default gear switching time of driver is 1 second, the skill itself can reduce pause by 0.36 sec, and together with other factors it can be reduced to 0.1 sec. Braking time reaction is 0.14 sec, reduced by skill to 0.11 sec, and together with other factors it can go down to 0.07 sec.

Gunner

• Targeting - Influences the speed and precision of the gun's traverse and elevation. An experienced gunner aims horizontally and vertically at the same time. An inexperienced gunner does this one at a time. An experienced gunner can also improve turret traverse speed. In the case of ATGM carriers, the skill may affect the responsiveness of missiles.
• Rangefinding - Affects how accurate and precise the gunner's estimate of distance is upon using the "Rangefinder" function.

Tank Commander

• Leadership - Improves all crew member's skills by up to 10%. This skill isn't affected by the qualification level of crew with the vehicle in question, and is one of the most expensive to train.

Loader

• Weapon Reloading - Decrease the time required for loading the weapon by up to 23%. Full skill level shortens reloading time by roughly 11% on it's own. This skill has no effect on tanks with autoloader systems.

Demonstrating the way the "reloading" skill affects the selected crew - with skill level 0

Demonstrating the way the "reloading" skill affects the selected crew - with upgraded skill

Radio Operator Gunner

• Artillery Strike Calling Time - Decreases the time between calling the strike and the shells being fired (from a base level of 13 seconds to a minimum of 10 seconds).
• Artillery Targeting Accuracy - Increases the targeting accuracy of artillery by reducing the shells' scattering (from a base level of 57 m to a minimum of 45 m
• Radio Communication - In Arcade mode, it highlights all enemies around the player on the minimap, if any allied vehicle sees them (including aircraft), with default range of 250 m, which is very helpful during and against flank attacks. In Realistic mode, it increases the range at which the enemy players detected by the allied team are displayed (through red arrows pointing downward). Either effect can be increased up to 500 m.

Media

Crew Skills Guide - skDoger

Naval vehicles crew skills

Ship commander

• Leadership - Improves all crew member's skills by up to 5%. This skill isn't affected by the qualification level of crew with the vehicle in question, and is one of the most expensive to train.
• Crew interchangeability - Lowers the required number of crew for your vessel to remain seaworthy.
• Radio Communication - In Arcade mode, it highlights all enemies around the player on the minimap, if any allied vehicle sees them (including aircraft), with default range of 250 m, which is very helpful during and against flank attacks. In Realistic mode, it increases the range at which the enemy players detected by the allied team are displayed (through red arrows pointing downward). Either effect can be increased up to 500 m.

Observers

• Air targets detection distance - Increases the distance at which aircraft will be rendered and outlined by a marker.
• Surface targets detection distance - Increases the distance at which ground and naval vehicles will be rendered and outlined by a marker. This skill also increases the distance at which the full vehicle name is displayed (otherwise, simply the class of vehicle is displayed instead).
• Enemy torpedoes detection distance - Increases the distance at which torpedoes and their trails are rendered and marked.

Engine room

• Ship control - Reduces the time between sending the command and applying the change in engine speed mode and rudder turn.
• Fire prevention - Reduces the chances of a fire in the engine room, in the engine compartment and in the transmission.

Gunners

• Main caliber reload speed - Reduces the reload time of the main guns.
• Auxiliary caliber reload speed - Reduces the reload time of the auxiliary guns.
• AAA caliber reload speed - Reduces the reload time of the AAA guns.
• AAA gunner accuracy - Improves the accuracy of the AI gunners when firing the AAA guns. This skill has no effect when the AAA guns are being manually aimed.
• Auxiliary gunner accuracy - Improves the accuracy of the AI gunners when firing the auxiliary guns. This skill has no effect when the auxiliary guns are being manually aimed.
• Distance fuse set accuracy - Improves the accuracy of the distance fuse when using an airburst-capable shell.

Damage control

• Unwatering time - Reduces the time required to unwater the vessel.
• Fire extinguishing - Reduces the time taken to extinguish a fire, as well as reducing the received from a fire.
• Breach repair - Reduces the time required to repair the hull of the vessel.
• Survive leadership - Reduces the penalty gained for attempting to unwater, extinguish fires, and repair the vehicle simultaneously.

Qualification Levels

Players can level up their crews' skills through two ways - spending the aforementioned crew XP points and investing in crew qualification through Silver Lions .

Unlike skills, qualification levels (beyond "Basic" - the training achieved by spending crew points) are acquired only for a named vehicle. Qualification is an exceptional skill of the crew in controlling this particular vehicle. To learn it, a certain crew level needs to be achieved. Crew level is the sum of the levels of all skills learned by the crew.

Air vehicles

Spending crew points, in aircraft crews, accounts for 50% of the attainable skill levels. There are three levels of qualification altogether before one can reach the full 100% of the crew: "Basic", "Expert" and "Ace".

Diagram showing the distribution of skill levels through the levels of qualification.

The first level of qualification, "Expert," increases all skills by 3 levels, meaning a full 30% increase in efficiency. The second level afterwards, "Ace," increases these skills by another 2 levels, adding up to a total 50% increase with a jump of 5 levels.

In order to use these skills at their maximum level, a pilot needs to research them up to level 5 and obtain two qualifications to reach up to level 10. For instance, a pilot who levelled the "Keen Vision" skill up to 5 will detect targets approximately 6 km away; after getting the "Expert" qualification he will then see enemy targets at 7.2 km; finally, reaching "Ace" grade qualification will increase this detection distance to the maximum of 8 km.

Ground and Naval vehicles

In the case of ground crews, "Current skill level" accounts for 40% of the required qualification to reach the maximum skill level, the "Top" level. The remaining 60% are delegated to the two qualification levels - "Expert", and "Ace", as well as the bonus provided by the Tank/Ship Commander's "Leadership" skill.

Diagram showing the distribution of skill levels through the levels of qualification

Crew points to level

The following charts should be used to gauge the amount of crew XP points needed to level up a skill. Every skill with the exception of the "Repair Rank" skill is increased by increments of 0.5 levels.

The maximum achievable crew level for aviation crews is 75, for tank crews is 150, and for naval crews is 100.

Highlighted colour skills - the unique skills of a crew member

Air crew

Skill	1		2		3		4		5		Total
Logistical services
Repair Speed	12	35	55	80	110	140	170	205	240	275	1322
Repair Rank	0		120		240		390		590		1340
Reload Speed	16	60	120	190	285	385	505	640	780	930	3911
Weapon Maintenance	22	64	110	160	215	275	330	395	470	530	2571
Pilot
Keen Vision	15	50	90	145	195	270	340	415	500	600	2620
Awareness	15	50	90	145	195	270	340	415	500	600	2620
G-Tolerance	22	64	110	160	215	275	330	395	470	530	2571
Stamina	22	64	110	160	215	275	330	395	470	530	2571
Vitality	27	80	150	225	320	415	520	640	760	890	4027
Defensive armament
Number of Experienced Gunners	0	170	230	300	360	430	490	560	630	690	3860
Fire Accuracy	12	29	55	80	110	135	165	195	235	265	1281
Fire Precision	12	29	55	80	110	135	165	195	235	265	1281
G-Tolerance	17	40	60	100	110	150	160	200	215	250	1302
Stamina	17	40	60	100	110	150	160	200	215	250	1302
Vitality	17	40	60	100	110	150	160	200	215	250	1302
										Total	33881

Ground crew

Skill	1		2		3		4		5		Total
Logistical services
Repair Speed	12	35	55	80	110	140	170	205	240	275	1322
Repair Rank	0		120		240		390		590		1340
Driver
Keen Vision	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Field Repair	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Agility	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Vitality	23	70	125	185	255	325	400	480	570	660	3093
Tank Driving	11	24	50	70	85	110	130	155	180	205	1020
Gunner
Keen Vision	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Field Repair	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Agility	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Vitality	23	70	125	185	255	325	400	480	570	660	3093
Targeting	11	24	50	70	85	110	130	155	180	205	1020
Rangefinding	11	24	50	70	85	110	130	155	180	205	1020
Tank Commander
Keen Vision	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Field Repair	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Agility	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Vitality	23	70	125	185	255	325	400	480	570	660	3093
Leadership	16	60	120	200	290	400	515	650	800	970	4021
Tank Loader
Keen Vision	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Field Repair	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Agility	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Vitality	23	70	125	185	255	325	400	480	570	660	3093
Weapon Reloading	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Radio Operator Gunner
Keen Vision	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Field Repair	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Agility	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Vitality	23	70	125	185	255	325	400	480	570	660	3093
Artillery Targeting Accuracy	8	18	25	45	50	55	75	75	90	100	541
Artillery Strike Calling Time	8	18	25	45	50	55	75	75	90	100	541
Radio Communication	11	24	50	70	85	110	130	155	180	205	1020
										Total	71130

Naval crew

Skill	1		2		3		4		5		Total
Logistical services
Repair Speed	12	35	55	80	110	140	170	205	240	275	1322
Repair Rank	0		120		240		390		590		1340
Ship commander
Leadership	16	60	120	200	290	400	515	650	800	970	4021
Crew interchangeability	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Radio Communication	12	29	55	80	110	135	165	195	235	265	1281
Observers
Air targets detection distance	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Surface targets detection distance	16	60	120	200	290	400	515	650	800	970	4021
Enemy torpedoes detection distance	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Engine room
Ship control	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Fire prevention	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Gunners
Main caliber reload speed	16	60	120	200	290	400	515	650	800	970	4021
Auxiliary caliber reload speed	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
AAA caliber reload speed	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
AAA gunner accuracy	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Auxiliary gunner accuracy	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Distance fuse set accuracy	11	24	50	70	85	110	130	155	180	205	1020
Damage control
Unwatering time	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
Fire extinguishing	15	50	100	155	230	310	395	495	600	710	3060
Breach repair	16	60	120	200	290	400	515	650	800	970	4021
Survive leadership	20	47	100	135	175	215	260	310	360	410	2032
										Total	50571