>>1934278
Non-penetrating HE shells explode in a sphere, simulates spalling and does critical damage checks to all modules and crew in its explosion range.

Penetrating HE shells gain the same properties as AP shells and has the explosion radius removed, but does critical damage checks to all module and crew in the shell path.

If you want to do critical damage missions with HE, with the HE rework from 2021 you must purposely aim for non-penetrating shells on a fast firing gun like the Tortoise.