Damage Log Analysis

How did my plane get destroyed?
Why didn't my target explode when I shot it?

Often, the answer to questions like these are in your logs. Targetware automatically creates a log every time you play, which records many of the events that take place. You can control many of the logging options in config.txt. You can learn more about those options here.

Log Event Descriptors:

Events in the log are organized into several categories, which help understand what has happened.

Strike: Each time a round hits a part of an aircraft or target, a strike is recorded.
Overpenetration: Occurs when a round passes all the way through an object.
Explosion: Describes the amount of energy in the explosion and the blast radius, and an object if one is struck.
Damage: Effects from damage to specific parts.
Structural Damage: Damage done to aircraft parts from events other than explosions, G stresses, and the like.
Positive G Stress: Lists the cumulative stress damage from positive G forces on the aircraft.
Negative G Stress: Lists the cumulative stress damage from negative G forces on the aircraft.
Projectile: Anti-Aircraft rounds.
Ordnance: Player launches ordnance such as rockets and bombs
Ground Collision: Damage caused by impact with the ground
Gear Collapse: Damage to landing gear
Fueltank: Indicates a fuel tank effect, such as an explosion.

Looking at the Log in Detail

Below is a small excerpt from a log in which I struck an enemy aircraft. Each line describes a lot of information about what happened.

STRIKE #1: 7.70mm APIT, Curtis P-40N Warhawk left outer wing: 1.2 kJ
OVERPENETRATION: Curtis P-40N Warhawk, 7.70mm APIT, after 1 parts hit

Line 1: "STRIKE #1: 7.70mm APIT, Curtis P-40N Warhawk left outer wing: 1.2 kJ"

STRIKE #1: The first impact of the round. A single round will sometimes impact multiple parts (see below).
7.70 mm APIT: The caliber and type of round (Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer)
Curtis P-40N Warhawk: The type of aircraft struck.
left outer wing: part of the aircraft that has been struck.
1.2 kJ: 1.2 kilojoules of energy delivered to the struck part.

Line 2: "OVERPENETRATION: Curtis P-40N Warhawk, 7.70mm APIT, after 1 parts hit"

OVERPENETRATION: The round when all the way through the object. "Penetration" does not necessarily go complete through an object, a round can penetrate X depth into an object of Y depth where Y>X.
Curtis P-40N Warhawk: The type of aircraft struck.
7.70mm APIT: The caliber and type of round (Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer)
after 1 parts hit: A single part was struck before the round penetrated the object entirely, in this case, the left outer wing, as described in the previous line.

Taken together, these lines show that one 7.70mm APIT round struck the left outer wing of a P-40N and went completely through, doing only minimal damage to the wing.

Multiple Strikes

Rounds can strike multiple parts. This is indicated by increasing numbers in the Strike line, e.g., "Strike #2," "Strike #3," etc., as seen in the following excerpt.

STRIKE #1: 12.70mm API, A6M2 Zero 21 left outer wing: 3.8 kJ
STRIKE #2: 12.70mm API, A6M2 Zero 21 left inner wing: 3.2 kJ
STRIKE #3: 12.70mm API, A6M2 Zero 21 left wing cannon: pen 4.8 kJ

In this case, a single .50 caliber (12.70mm) API round strikes three parts: the left outer wing, the left inner wing, and the left wing cannon of the enemy A6M2 Zero. However, there is a new factor in the third strike line: "pen 4.8 kJ". This means that 4.8 kJ of energy has been delivered to the indicated part, but there is also a Penetration Effect.

Penetration Effects

"Pen" in a Strike line indicates a penetration effect may have occurred. These vary by the part hit. A penetration effect is something that happens in the target part due to penetration. It could be something like an aileron or flap getting stuck, a gun could jam or get damaged, a leak could be started in a fuel tank. It is something more than just destruction of the part hit.

In the except below, an A6M2 Zero has struck my SBD with a penetration effect, sticking my right airbrake.

13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right airbrake, 1.3 kJ, 22.47% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right airbrake, stuck

"Pen incen" means that a penetration and an incendiary effect may have occurred. These can cause fires and other ill effects, such as explosions, if severe enough.

14:01:43 STRIKE #1: 20.00mm HEIT, Akizuki** Class DD Hull: pen incen 16.7 kJ
14:01:43 EXPLOSION: 17.3 kJ, 2.1 m radius
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 5, 10.9 kJ, 2.20% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 5, fire

** The Akizuki Class Destroyer is standing in for a US Navy Destroyer in this scenario.

G Stress Damage

You can damage your own aircraft through maneuvers that exceed its the G tolerance. Such damage accumulates with continued stress.

12:25:48 POSITIVE G STRESS: F-86F-30 Sabre left inner wing, 0.00%
12:25:48 POSITIVE G STRESS: F-86F-30 Sabre left inner wing, 0.01%
12:25:48 POSITIVE G STRESS: F-86F-30 Sabre left inner wing, 0.02%

Example Log Analyses

SBD vs. Zero

I took and SBD to attack Japanese tanks need Henderson Field in the Operation Watchtower scenario of Target Rabaul. After spotting the tanks, I dove and dropped. My log recorded the following:

13:32:28 ORDNANCE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless center bomb exploding
13:32:28 EXPLOSION: 1052167.5 kJ, 80.7 m radius
13:32:28 EXPLOSION: Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium Tank Hull: 33.5 kJ, 5.0 m
13:32:28 EXPLOSION: Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium Tank Main Gun: 30.7 kJ, 5.1 m
13:32:28 EXPLOSION: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless left inner wing fuel: 1.3 kJ, 8.6 m
13:32:28 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless left inner wing fuel, 1.3 kJ, 0.56% damage*

*Because I'm the victim, the detailed effect of the damage is recorded in my log. Note that this is for targets, this is not recorded in my log. While my log records that I damaged the enemy tank's hull and main gun, it does not record how much they were damaged. They may have been nearly destroyed or only nicked.

Since I didn't destroy the tank, in anger, I turn my guns on it, which turns out to be futile. As indicated below, though my rounds struck the enemy tank, "Stopped" means that no damage was done.

13:33:24 STRIKE #0: 12.70mm API, Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium Tank Left Side Armor: stopped.
13:33:24 STRIKE #0: 12.70mm API, Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium Tank Top Armor: stopped.

An enemy Zero gets behind me and my tail gunner opens fire. One round first hits his forward fuselage and then hits his left inner wing.

13:36:17 STRIKE #1: 7.70mm API, A6M2 Zero 21 forward fuselage: pen 1.3 kJ
13:36:17 STRIKE #2: 7.70mm API, A6M2 Zero 21 left inner wing: pen 0.2 kJ

The Zero strikes my right airbrake and makes it stick! Good thing it was down at the time or it would have been stuck in the up position.

13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right airbrake, 1.3 kJ, 22.47% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right airbrake, stuck

The Zero strikes my right mid wing with several rounds and the damage accumulates, freezing the right flap in place. No wonder my plane was handling odd - I'd forgotten it was down.

13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right mid wing, 0.4 kJ, 1.82% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right mid wing, 0.4 kJ, 2.23% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right mid wing, 0.4 kJ, 2.60% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right mid wing, 0.5 kJ, 3.12% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right mid wing, 0.4 kJ, 3.54% damage
13:36:42 DAMAGE: Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless right flap, stuck

But now the Zero overshoots me and passes in front of my guns only a few seconds later. Three .50 caliber (12.70mm) Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer rounds strike the Zero's left outer wing, but pass through.

13:36:48 STRIKE #1: 12.70mm APIT, A6M2 Zero 21 left outer wing: pen incen 1.1 kJ
13:36:48 OVERPENETRATION: A6M2 Zero 21, 12.70mm APIT, after 1 parts hit
13:36:48 STRIKE #1: 12.70mm APIT, A6M2 Zero 21 left outer wing: pen 1.1 kJ
13:36:48 OVERPENETRATION: A6M2 Zero 21, 12.70mm APIT, after 1 parts hit
13:36:48 STRIKE #1: 12.70mm APIT, A6M2 Zero 21 left outer wing: pen 1.0 kJ
13:36:48 OVERPENETRATION: A6M2 Zero 21, 12.70mm APIT, after 1 parts hit

The Zero eventually fell to my tail gunner.

Betty vs. Destroyer

Later, while trying to bomb Allied ships, a Destroyer strikes my Betty, causing extensive damage. All eight fuel tanks are struck for only minor amounts of damage, but tank 5 is caught on fire! This is the result of the pen incen effect done be the 20mm HEIT round in the Strike line.

14:01:43 STRIKE #1: 20.00mm HEIT, Akizuki** Class DD Hull: pen incen 16.7 kJ
14:01:43 EXPLOSION: 17.3 kJ, 2.1 m radius
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 1, 4.2 kJ, 1.43% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 2, 5.0 kJ, 1.08% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 3, 8.1 kJ, 1.79% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 4, 8.8 kJ, 1.78% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 5, 10.9 kJ, 2.20% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 5, fire
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 6, 11.2 kJ, 2.49% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 7, 11.1 kJ, 2.42% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 8, 10.4 kJ, 3.53% damage

** The Akizuki Class Destroyer is standing in for a US Navy Destroyer in this scenario.

The explosion damages much of my aircraft, most of it minor, but several parts are heavily damaged or totally destroyed, including the bomb bay doors, the dorsal gun, and the left and right beam guns! Even the bombs still within the bomb bay are damaged - but at least they don't explode.

14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 bomb bay, 13.0 kJ, 100.00% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 v-stab, 35.7 kJ, 27.03% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 forward fuselage, 7.6 kJ, 63.56% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 dorsal blister gun, 21.3 kJ, 100.00% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 left beam gun, 20.4 kJ, 100.00% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 right beam gun, 26.6 kJ, 100.00% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 tail cannon, 9.9 kJ, 24.25% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 250 kg bomb # 3, 11.2 kJ, 4.48% damage
14:01:44 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 250 kg bomb # 4, 12.0 kJ, 4.78% damage

That burning fuel tank from before has still been burning, and it finally explodes!

14:02:24 FUELTANK: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 5 exploding
14:02:24 EXPLOSION: 209833.1 kJ, 47.2 m radius

All the remaining fuel tanks explode. Below is a representative sample from fuel tank 1. The penetrating and incendiary effects from the explosion cause a leak and set the tank on fire. Although the tank was 100% damaged in this example, making the leak and fire irrelevant, it is possible to cause leaks, fires and other effects at lower levels of damage.

040316 14:02:24 EXPLOSION: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 1: pen incen 746.1 kJ, 2.3 m
040316 14:02:24 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 1, 746.1 kJ, 100.00% damage
040316 14:02:24 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 1, leaking at 186.52 kg/s
040316 14:02:24 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 fuel tank 1, fire

Somehow, engine 1 barely survives all the explosions but has been 90% destroyed and suffered a power loss. But the end is inevitable.

14:02:24 EXPLOSION: Mitsubishi G4M1 engine 1: pen incen 753.4 kJ, 2.3 m
14:02:24 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 engine 1, 753.4 kJ, 90.72% damage
14:02:24 DAMAGE: Mitsubishi G4M1 engine 1, power loss
14:02:24 ALERT: bloo exploded.

Shooter Log vs. Victim Log

A shooter's log file does not describe the amount of damage done to parts of a victim or target. Only the part struck and the energy delivered is recorded there. However, the victim's log records the part struck, the energy delivered and the amount of damage done, including any effects from penetration, G forces, structural damage, etc. Thus, the shooter never knows the exact effects of his strikes on the victim.

For example, in the excerpt below, my aircraft, a Rufe, strikes Yak's F4F-4 with a 20mm High Explosive Incendiary Tracer Round with a penetration effect. The round explodes and damages several parts, including two fuel tanks. As the shooter, my log does not reflect the results of the penetration effect, the victim's log records those.

01:40:01 STRIKE #1: 20.00mm HEIT, F4F-4 Wildcat left inner wing: pen 20.3 kJ
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: 115.8 kJ, 1.7 m radius
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: F4F-4 Wildcat left inner wing: 115.8 kJ, 0.0 m
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: F4F-4 Wildcat forward fuel: 37.8 kJ, 1.2 m
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: F4F-4 Wildcat aft fuel: 57.9 kJ, 0.8 m
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: F4F-4 Wildcat left middle gun: 29.0 kJ, 1.4 m
01:40:01 EXPLOSION: F4F-4 Wildcat left inner gun: 35.3 kJ, 1.3 m

However, often the effects will be visible in game. In this case, the F4F-4 started to burn and the left wing came off. Which explains the following log message six seconds later:

01:40:07 ALERT: Yak destroyed by bloo of 352nd Fighter Group (exploded).