Tank crewman conduct guide

[Nikita]

Now that tanking is being fixed and that a lot of new players might be inbound, I just thought that a brief guide on tanking conduct and teamwork might be in order.




Number one: do unlock your tank on a combined arms map with only one to two tanks. You may get the occasional nut who refuses to do what you tell him to, but if you lock your tank all the time, you also lock out the crack driver who will get you to that flank shot on the enemy Panzer IV every time. On Gumrak and other armor-only maps, locking your tank can be justified to ensure that your team has more tanks on the field.

Second, if you are team-tanking as a tank crewman, keep in mind that it's just good manners to let your tank commander decide what position he'd like to take. As soon as you enter the tank, if you type out "Want me to drive or gun?," you'll instantly make a good impression, believe me. He was in the tank first and had the courtesy to unlock the tank for you, so defer to his preferences. If you think that you know how to gun and aim for weak points better than your TC, speak up, but please be willing to drive if necessary. Similarly, if your commander wants to drive but you feel that you are the better driver, voice your opinion, but be prepared to defer.

Thirdly, please drive instead of sitting in the Hull MG position. Once the tank is in a great position, you can certainly switch to the Hull Gunner and hose down some infantrymen, but until then, you can simply drive far more effectively than the Tank Commander can with his limited view through the gunsight. In addition, since the driver's view is better, you serve as an extra pair of eyes to spot enemy armor. In fact, I'd recommend staying in the driver's spot the majority of the time, only using the Hull MG when targets present themselves.

Fourth, follow all orders from your tank commander! Unless there is an enemy sapper charging your tank that he has failed to spot, you should move where you are told to, when you are told to, at the speed you are told to, the way you are told to. You can always propose something different over chat or vehicle voice channel, but don't go careening around the battlefield in defiance of his cries to stop.

Fifth, be aware of when the main gun is loaded and when your commander is lining up a shot. Between shots, yes, you can duck back down from the ridge or around a corner, but don't move when he's trying to shoot, unless he's specifically ordered you to. Inform your Tank commander if you want to move.

Sixth, as a Hull MG gunner, don't just spam. The tracers can give your tank's position and orientation away, letting an enemy tank, engineer, or AT soldier stalk your vehicle. Fire only at actual or suspected targets, and if your commander tells you to take your finger off the trigger, do comply.

Seventh, as a crewman, actively search for threats. You're not just there for the free ride. Let your TC know where the enemy AT rifleman is, and if you can give him a range estimate on an enemy tank, then you're being a fantastic crewman.

Eighth, and perhaps most importantly, be mindful of how helpful you are actually being as a crewman compared to how helpful you would be as a rifleman. There should never be three people to a tank. On an armor map, the Hull MG is practically useless, and on a combined arms map, it's almost guaranteed that either the driver or more likely the Hull MG will be just sitting there doing nothing for a significant amount of time. Chances are, you'd be more helpful as a rifleman getting up close and personal with the enemy in the capzone. And if your team is begging for someone to be Commander and drop smoke and artillery or for an Engineer to blow an obstacle, please go fill the more important role.






In general, just keep in mind that in the Second World War, the tank commander's orders were sovereign. There's a reason for that. They did it that way because that was how the tank operated best. When the tank commander has the final word on fire and movement, the tank operates as a cohesive entity. When various crewmen are off doing their own thing, the tank cannot function. Follow orders and do your best. If your commander is more experienced, it's also a great way to learn if you don't have much experience in tanks.

Feel free to add any other guidelines you can think of! Keep in mind that this is an etiquette and conduct guide, not a tips & tricks guide per se.

[PeteAtomic]

I just jump out and run away to find an automatic weapon

No, I'm teasing. Good post. Tanker is a role more people (myself included) should try to get out of their comfort zone and try.

[Tea and Crumpets]

I hereby solemnly swear to ahere to these rules.

[Major_Day]

Tanking is being fixed? in what way?

[Nikita]

Originally Posted by Major_Day

Tanking is being fixed? in what way?

Well, the AI is now much more reasonable, and a few bugs (setting PIV's turret orientation, barrels waving around randomly after crewmen are killed, etc...) were fixed.

This isn't official at all, but yesterday a bunch of us were in a realism test on gumrak with a lot of devs, and enough people were complaining about the differences between the Panzer IV and T-34 that one of the devs finally said that they were looking into the armor/penetration calculations, but that it wouldn't be in the coming free weekend patch. Again, it's unconfirmed.

[Major_Day]

Any mention of fixing the gun firing off to the left or right of where its actually aimed when you're on an uneven surface?

[Coopsta]

Originally Posted by Major_Day

Any mention of fixing the gun firing off to the left or right of where its actually aimed when you're on an uneven surface?

I believe that's realism, not a bug.

[Major_Day]

Originally Posted by Coopsta

I believe that's realism, not a bug.

No i don't think so, because it only happens occasionally,not all the time,and it also happens on level ground,but even less often.
Watch the first two shots on this video as they fire off to the right of centre of the crosshair,and i have to compensate for that by aiming left with the next two,this is on level ground.

[Nikita]

Originally Posted by Major_Day

No i don't think so, because it only happens occasionally,not all the time,and it also happens on level ground,but even less often.
Watch the first two shots on this video as they fire off to the right of centre of the crosshair,and i have to compensate for that by aiming left with the next two,this is on level ground.

Yes, I know what you're talking about. I don't think they mentioned it. If you have video of the phenomenon, it might be worth posting a bug report about.

[Mormegil]

Originally Posted by Major_Day

Any mention of fixing the gun firing off to the left or right of where its actually aimed when you're on an uneven surface?

I believe that may be location specific. I would take a screenshot of your overhead map, and put it in the bug section.


As far as the T-34 versus the Panzer IV, I think one of the reasons the T-34 brews faster is, the ammo locations in the T-34 are more centered than in the Panzer IV. Most people just aim for center mass. You're more likely to hit that T-34 ammo box, than the Panzer IV's more peripheral ammo locations.

Here's a post I made with what I believe are the ammo locations.

That said, I think the PTRS is still too overpowered, as it can penetrate frontally on the T-34 (and maybe the Panzer IV).


To give some further info on the tank bug fixes for the AI - Yoshiro mentioned the new system will model the AI to be less accurate than a typical human player, shoot poorly on the move, and not open fire until told to by the tank commander.

[schepp himself]

This will sound noobish because it is...

My teampartner and me want to get into one tank in a combined arms game. How do we manage that? If I spawn as a tank commander and he later chooses to join me as a crewman, does he get teleported into my tank or is he respawn with me when I get desroyed?

Oh, and thanks for the tips, OP, I actually like being a tanker. But only with an additional crewman.

Greets
Schepp himself

[Nikita]

Originally Posted by schepp himself

This will sound noobish because it is...

My teampartner and me want to get into one tank in a combined arms game. How do we manage that? If I spawn as a tank commander and he later chooses to join me as a crewman, does he get teleported into my tank or is he respawn with me when I get desroyed?

Oh, and thanks for the tips, OP, I actually like being a tanker. But only with an additional crewman.

Greets
Schepp himself

You can use the Squad Selection menu. Pick Tank Commander, and have your friend choose Tank Crewman in your tank 'squad'.

[Mormegil]

I'd like to add that you should bind your Squad Voice Chat to something easy to reach (I use TAB). Squad VoIP in a tank is Tank VoIP. Same with Squad text chat.

[I. Kant]

My name is I. Kant and I endorse this message.

(maybe apart from the "never three people in a tank" bit; fond memories of Leningrad and all three seats being taken)

[specta3]

Good post Nikita ,

Not even been in a tank in MP yet , but this post helps ,me understand the tank code of conduct) They should sticky this inside the tank)))