Fuel tank damage caused by hydrodynamic ram has became increasingly widespread. Summary and analysis of the research of hydrodynamic ram in recent decades provide a reference for future research work. Hydrodynamic ram research has an early start, early experiment and theoretical analysis formed the theoretical basis. With the progress of the test apparatus and the introduction of finite element method, test results has became more and more accuracy, hydrodynamic ram effect research entered a new phase. But for the hydrodynamic ram effect, there are so many problems, they will be the focus of future work.