Difference between revisions of "Night Vision Devices"

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The images below sohw the same view through a 500 x 300 thermal imager (the lowest resolution in game) and a 1200 x 800 thermal imager (the highest resolution in game). Notice how the higher resolution imager produce a noticeably less blurry and more detailed image. This effect is more pronounced at longer ranges.
 
The images below sohw the same view through a 500 x 300 thermal imager (the lowest resolution in game) and a 1200 x 800 thermal imager (the highest resolution in game). Notice how the higher resolution imager produce a noticeably less blurry and more detailed image. This effect is more pronounced at longer ranges.
  
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{{Notice|Click on an image to open it in full screen and get a better view}}
 
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File:Thermal Vision Low Res.jpg|A [[T-80U]] seen through an 500 x 300 thermal imager.
 
File:Thermal Vision Low Res.jpg|A [[T-80U]] seen through an 500 x 300 thermal imager.

Revision as of 19:24, 26 September 2019


Introduction

Update 1.91 "Night Vision" added Night Vision Devices (NVDs) to a number of high tier tanks and helicopters. These devices provide a significant advantage in the now more common night battles. Two types of night vision devices were added, image intensifiers and thermal imaging systems. In addition infrared (IR) searchlights were added to tanks which historically had them.

Night vision devices are usually unlocked as tier 3 - 4 modifications, however, some tanks or helicopters have them access to them at tier 1 - 2. In addition, some tanks have the option to upgrade their image intensifier to a thermal imager, by unlocking a second modification (on some tanks the thermal imager is included with the original modification).

Tanks and helicopters can have different night vision devices for different crew members, for example, the gunners' sight may have a thermal imager, while the commander's (or in the case of helicopters the pilot's) view may have image intensifiers, and the driver's view a less powerful image intensifier. The commander's night vision system can be used in binoculars or third person.

Controls

Night Vision Controls
Control name Default Keybind
(PC keyboard & mouse)
Description
Night Vision Mode  ??? Toggles between standard view and image intensifier / thermal view
IR Spotlight  ??? Toggles the IR searchlight on and off
Changing the colour scheme of the thermal sight  ??? Toggles the thermal sight between White Hot and Black Hot modes
Msg-info.png Images in this article were created at night with the weather set to "Blind" so represent the operation of Night Vision devices under worst-case conditions (or close to it).

Image Intensifiers

The most basic type of night vision device is an image intensifier. These devices work by amplifying the light which enters the sensor, as well as converting some light from the infrared spectrum into visible light. When image intensifiers are activated the screen picks up a green hue and you are generally able to see much further. Image intensifiers suffer from noise interference; this appears as a form of TV static over the screen; it is quite noticeable on early image intensifiers however more advanced systems (generally found on newer tanks) are less susceptible and the effect is much less noticeable, leading to them proving much clearer images.

Msg-important.png Image intensifiers can only be used a night.

Factors affecting performance

There are a number of characteristics which affect the performance of image intensifiers, these are the resolution, the light multiplication factor, and the susceptibility to noise. While individually some of these elements may have only a small impact on image quality, newer image intensifiers will have improvements to most or all of them, providing much better image quality.

Resolution

Different image intensifiers are capable of producing images at different resolutions. The higher the resolution that an image intensifier is capable of outputting, the clearer the final image will be. The image intensifiers on tanks in-game typically have a resolution of 800 x 600 or 1600 x 1200, the difference between these resolutions is minimal and is often only noticeable when looking at long-range targets.

Below is an example of looking at a T-80U, located approximately 1.25 km away from the player, using an 800 x 600 intensifier and a 1600 x 1200 intensifier (all other stats are equal). Notice how the distant tank is slightly clearer and the barrel is visible with the higher resolution image intensifier.

Msg-info.png Click on an image to open it in full screen and get a better view

Light Multiplier

The light multiplier of an image intensifier determines by how much it will amplify the available light. Image intensifiers with a higher multiplier will produce a brighter image with more details visible. At present there is not a massive difference between the most and least powerful image intensifiers on tanks, however, it is noticeable, more so when an IR searchlight is in use.

The images below show the view of a target from a T-80U through the main gunsight (light multiplier of 9.0) and the driver's periscope (light multiplier 5.0), the target is being illuminated with an IR searchlight. Notice how the image through the gunsight is generally brighter and details like the grass and bushes are much more visible (there is obviously a zoom difference, but you can see that more is visible regardless).

Msg-info.png Click on an image to open it in full screen and get a better view

Noise

In-game image intensifiers are subject to noise. This presents itself as something resembling TV static covering the screen. Due to a difference in optics, sensors and associated circuitry, more advanced image intensifiers suffer much less from this issue and provide a much clearer image, whereas older and more rudimentary electronics are more susceptible to injecting noise on the final image. The images below show the same view when using an image intensifier with a high noise level and a low noise level (all other stats are equal). Notice how the high noise level sight looks slightly fuzzy and has a sort of static effect over the image, while the low noise one is relatively clear.

Msg-info.png Click on an image to open it in full screen and get a better view

Infrared Spotlights

The effect of turning on an IR searchlight on visibility

In addition to image intensifiers, some tanks are fitted with Infrared searchlights. Infrared (IR) searchlights are like regular searchlights, but they emit light on the infrared spectrum instead of the visible light spectrum; this means that the light they produce cannot normally be seen. However, as image intensifiers use light from the infrared spectrum and convert it to visible light, so IR searchlights can be seen through image intensifiers.

When activated an IR search not be visible unless you are looking through an image intensifier. If you are looking through an image intensifier then the area where the light is pointing will be brightly illuminated. The effect of an IR searchlight can be seen in the image to the right.

While IR searchlights obviously make seeing targets a lot easier in poor conditions their use does have a major drawback: any other players using image intensifiers can also see the light from your searchlight. As seen in the images below, by activating your IR searchlight you will immediately give your position away to any enemy players who are using an image intensifier. Other players on the ground will see the area where your light is pointing lit up, and the light itself will appear as a bright spot on the screen. Likewise, a helicopter will see the area lit up, and even though they may not be in a position to see the light itself, due the spread of the beam the lit-up area will form a sort of triangle with the tip pointing towards the source.

Factors affecting performance

The main differentiating characteristics between different IR searchlights is their maximum range, and how wide the beam is. The maximum range is the furthest distance at which the IR searchlight can still illuminate objects. The beamwidth is measured in degrees and determines how wide the beam is, it can be seen in the image below.

Some IR searchlights are also slightly more or less powerful (brighter) than others, but at present, the difference between those currently in-game is so small it is not worth talking about.

A top-down view of a tank with its IR searchlight on, showing the beam width.

Thermal Imagers

Thermal imagers are more advanced than image intensifiers; they use the infrared radiation emitted by objects to produce images showing temperature. Anything which is warmer than the background will stand out clearly on thermal imaging cameras. In game thermal imagers are usually only available for the gunner's sight. When a thermal sight is activated the colour scheme of the screen will change significantly to one of the two thermal imagining modes available, white hot and back hot. In white hot mode the terrain will appear as dark grey and thermal signatures (vehicles, fires, projectiles, etc.) will appear somewhere between lighter grey and bright white, depending on their temperature. In black hot mode the terrain will be be light grey and thermal signatures will show as between darker grey and black depending on temperature. Thermal imagers allow for targets to easily be spotted at very long range.

The two thermal modes can be seen in the images below. Notice how the engine compartment of the Abrams is much hotter than the rest of the tank. Also notice how a tank hiding in the bushes, which would normally be hard to see can easily be seen with thermal imaging.

Msg-important.png Thermal imagers, can be used both at night and in the day to improve visibility.

Factors affecting performance

Like image intensifiers, thermal imagers can only produce an output of a certain resolution, this resolution is the main differentiating factor between thermal sights on different vehicles. Most thermal imagers in game have a fairly low resolution leading to somewhat blurry and less detailed images, however some have higher resolutions, proving clearer images.

The images below sohw the same view through a 500 x 300 thermal imager (the lowest resolution in game) and a 1200 x 800 thermal imager (the highest resolution in game). Notice how the higher resolution imager produce a noticeably less blurry and more detailed image. This effect is more pronounced at longer ranges.

Msg-info.png Click on an image to open it in full screen and get a better view

List of vehicles with Night Vision Devices

As of v.1.91.0.96

Ground vehicles

Vehicle Country Commander Gunner Driver Infrared
Searchlight
Infrared Thermal Infrared Thermal Infrared
CM11 China flag.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png
␗M48A1 China flag.png X X X X X
␗M60A3 TTS China flag.png X X X
␗M113A1 (TOW) China flag.png X X X
␗PT-76 China flag.png X X X X X
Т-62 №545 China flag.png X X
ZTZ59D1 China flag.png X X X
Type 69 China flag.png X X X
ZBD86 China flag.png X X
AMX-10RC France flag.png X X X
AMX-30 (1972) France flag.png X X X
AMX-30B2 France flag.png X X X
AMX-30B2 BRENUS France flag.png X X X
AMX-30 Super France flag.png X X X
AMX-40 France flag.png X X X
Leclerc France flag.png X X X
Begleitpanzer 57 Germany flag.png X X X
JPz 4-5 Germany flag.png X X X
KPz-70 Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard 2A4 Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard 2A5 Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard 2K Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard I Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard A1A1 Germany flag.png X X X
Leopard A1A1 (L/44) Germany flag.png X X X
mKPz M47 G Germany flag.png X X X X X
M48A2 C Germany flag.png X X
M48A2 G A2 Germany flag.png X X
Panther II Germany flag.png X X X
RakJPz 2 (HOT) Germany flag.png X X X
TAM Germany flag.png X X X X X
Centauro I 105 Italy flag.png X X X
Centauro I 105 R Italy flag.png X X X
Ariete Italy flag.png X X X
Ariete (P) Italy flag.png X X X
Ariete PSO Italy flag.png X X X
M47 (105/55) Italy flag.png X X X X X
M60A1 "D.C.Ariete" Italy flag.png X X X
M113A1 (TOW) Italy flag.png X X X
OF-40 Italy flag.png X X X
OF-40 Mk.2A Italy flag.png X X X
OF-40 (MTCA) Italy flag.png X X X
OTOMATIC Italy flag.png X X X
▅M41A1 Japan flag.png X X X X X
▅M42 Japan flag.png X X X X X
Type 16 Japan flag.png X X X
Type 74 (E) Japan flag.png X X
Type 74 (G) Japan flag.png X X
Type 89 Japan flag.png X X X
Type 90 Japan flag.png X X X
Centurion Mk 10 Britain flag.png X X X
Challenger Mk.2 Britain flag.png X X X
Challenger 2 Britain flag.png X X X
Challenger Mk.3 Britain flag.png X X X
Chieftain Mk 3 Britain flag.png X X
Chieftain Mk 5 Britain flag.png X X
Chieftain Mk 10 Britain flag.png X X
Falcon Britain flag.png X X X X X
Striker Britain flag.png X X X
Swingfire Britain flag.png X X X X X
Warrior Britain flag.png X X X
Stormer HVM Britain flag.png X X X
Vickers Mk.1 Britain flag.png X X X X X
ADATS USA flag.png X X X
M1 Abrams USA flag.png X X X
IPM1 USA flag.png X X X
M1A1 USA flag.png X X X
M3 Bradley USA flag.png X X X
M41A1 USA flag.png X X X X X
M42 USA flag.png X X X X X
M47 USA flag.png X X X X X
M48A1 USA flag.png X X X X X
M60 USA flag.png X X X
M60A1 (AOS) USA flag.png X X X
M60A1 RISE (P) USA flag.png X X X
M60A2 USA flag.png X X
M103 USA flag.png X X X X X
M163 USA flag.png X X X X
M247 USA flag.png X X X
M551 USA flag.png X X X
M901 USA flag.png X X X
▃Magach 3 (ERA) USA flag.png X X X X X
MBT-70 USA flag.png X X X
▃Merkava Mk.1 USA flag.png X X X
T54E1 USA flag.png X X X X X
T92 USA flag.png X X X X X
T95E1 USA flag.png X X X X X
XM1 (Chrysler) USA flag.png X X X
XM1 (GM) USA flag.png X X X
XM803 USA flag.png X X X
ASU-57 USSR flag.png X X X X X
ASU-85 USSR flag.png X X
BMP-1 USSR flag.png X X
BMP-2 USSR flag.png X X
IT-1 USSR flag.png X X
Object 120 USSR flag.png X X
Object 685 USSR flag.png X X
Object 906 USSR flag.png X X
PT-76B USSR flag.png X X X X X
SU-122-54 USSR flag.png X X X X X
T-10M USSR flag.png X X
T-55AM-1 USSR flag.png X X
T-55A USSR flag.png X X
T-62 USSR flag.png X X
T-62M-1 USSR flag.png X X
T-64B USSR flag.png X X
T-64A (1971) USSR flag.png X X
T-72A USSR flag.png X X
T-80B USSR flag.png X X
T-80U USSR flag.png X X
2S6 USSR flag.png X X X
ZSU-23-4 USSR flag.png X X X

Helicopters

Vehicle Country Pilot Gunner Gunsight
Infrared Infrared Infrared Thermal
AH-1F USA flag.png X
AH-1G USA flag.png X X
AH-1S Kisarazu Japan flag.png X
AH-1Z USA flag.png X
BO 105 CB-2 Germany flag.png X X
BO 105 PAH-1 Germany flag.png X X
BO 105 PAH-1A1 Germany flag.png X X
G-LYNX Britain flag.png X
▄H-34 France flag.png X X
IAR 316B France flag.png X X
Lynx AH.Mk.1 Britain flag.png X
Mi-4AV USSR flag.png X X
Mi-24A USSR flag.png X X
▂Mi-24D USSR flag.png X X
Mi-24P USSR flag.png X X
◊Mi-24P Germany flag.png X X
◄Mi-24P HFS 80 Germany flag.png X X
Mi-24V USSR flag.png X X
Mi-35M USSR flag.png X
◄SA 313B Alouette II Germany flag.png X X
SA 313B Alouette II France flag.png X X
SA 316B Alouette III France flag.png X X
SA.341F Gazelle France flag.png X
SA.342M Gazelle France flag.png X
Scout AH.Mk.1 Britain flag.png X X
EC-665 Tiger HAD France flag.png
EC-665 Tiger HAP France flag.png
EC-665 Tiger UHT Germany flag.png
UH-1B USA flag.png X X
UH-1C USA flag.png X X
UH-1C XM-30 USA flag.png X X
◄UH-1D Germany flag.png X X
Wasp HAS.Mk.1 Britain flag.png X X

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

External Links