THUNDERHQ
YOUR NEXT MOVE

Ground RB / Vehicle Database / Profile

Excelsior

Excelsior

Great Britain · Heavy tank · Rank 3 · Premium

Battle Ratings

Arcade4.3
Realistic4.3
Simulator4.3

These are archived ratings; check the game for current values. The history below shows recorded ratings and announced changes.

Vehicle Overview

Nation
Great Britain
Class
Heavy tank
Rank
3
Acquisition Type
Premium

View official War Thunder Wiki entry ↗

Battlefield Role

Fight from cover with teammates nearby to watch your sides. When the enemy fires, use their reload to take a shot and pull back.

Strengths

Your gun and armor can lead a push when they match up well against the enemy.

When to spawn

Bring it when you can hold a lane from cover. In an uptier, rely more on your position than your armor.

Common Mistakes

  • Repeating the same peek. Once an enemy has your range, move to another angle before firing again. A second shot from the same opening is easier to anticipate.
  • Firing without a retreat. Choose cover you can reach during the reload. Do not cross into an enemy firing lane just to finish a damaged target.

Survivability and Armor

Crew
5 persons

Keep your sides and rear out of view. The lower hull and area around the gun may also be weak spots, depending on the tank and the shell hitting it.

Keep exposed sides and the fighting compartment behind cover. Check the incoming round and impact angle in Protection Analysis before relying on the armor.

Ammunition

M72 shot · AP

Use against armor and aim for crew or critical modules. A penetration alone may leave the enemy able to return fire.

M48 shell · HE

Use against exposed crews, aircraft where applicable and lightly protected targets. Avoid spending the shot on heavy frontal armor.

M89 · Smoke

Place smoke between the enemy and a crossing or retreat route. It blocks sight; it does not stop incoming fire.

M61 shot · APCBC

Use against armor and aim for crew or critical modules. A penetration alone may leave the enemy able to return fire.

Ready Rack and Carry Load

First-stage capacity
28 rounds
Maximum capacity
80 rounds

Carry enough for the route and resupply plan. A listed first-stage capacity alone does not establish a safe spawn load or prove that another rack is empty.

Mobility

Maximum forward speed
48 km/h
Maximum reverse speed
3 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio
15.7 hp/t
Engine power
628 hp
Weight
40.1 t

Top speed is not cross-country pace. Check the reverse route before taking a firing position.

Optics

Gunner

Night equipment
Unknown
Magnification
1.9×–3.5×

Commander

Night equipment
Unknown

Driver

Night equipment
Unknown

Armaments

Primary weapon
75 mm OQF Mk.V cannon
Secondary weapons
2 x 7.92 mm BESA machine gun (coaxial)
Reload
6.5 → 5 s

Economy

Crew training
10,000 SL
Expert crew
165,000 SL
Ace crew
470 GE
Ace crew research
710,000 RP

Battle Rating History

Excelsior · confirmed changes
DateGame modeBattle rating
No confirmed battle rating changes are recorded.
Archived rating records
Recorded snapshots
Date / sourceArcadeRealisticSimulator
October 8, 2026Site profile snapshot4.34.34.3
Sources and data checks

Vehicle data checked October 8, 2026. Crew optics checked October 22, 2026. Speeds use Realistic Battles values. Reload depends on crew skills and qualification; damage can reduce performance. Unknown equipment is not a confirmed absence.

Community discussion

Excelsior vehicle guide · 0 comments

← Back to vehicle database