Some notes on using the Pz. IV J

[Xenopera]

(Mildly autistic rambling inbound)

There’s been a fair few topics uploaded here about the disparity between the T-34-85 and the Pz. IV J, the starter tanks for the Berlin campaign. This isn’t about that really. It’s fairly obvious that, at least head-to-head, the Pz. IV is at an extreme disadvantage. The T-34 has a bigger gun, sloped armor, an electric drive, etc etc etc.

So, how do you beat one of these, even before they fix the damage models?

Here’s some things I’ve noticed can help a LOT.

Don’t think of the Pz. IV like a tank, like in moscow or normandy where you can slug it out with another tank. Play it like a thin-skinned tank destroyer. Your greatest advantage, by FAR, is that you have immaculate optical sights.

Post up behind some garbage with your barrel exposed, lurk at the end of streets and in weird angles, figure out where the T-34s are coming from and find an angle where they aren’t coming right at you.

What i’ve noticed about T-34s, is that their players, who’re usually newer, is that they play very cockily. They surge down the road at full speed, gun directly ahead, commander exposed and without infantry support. If most allied tankers were bright, T-34s would be a monstrous thing to fight.

Luckily, as i’ve said, they aren’t cautious at all.

Keep hull-down as much as possible, The t-34-85 doesn’t care about your frontal armor at all, and it’s HEs will just smash through your side armor. However, your turret is kinda weird and spacious, and AP shots have a better chance of missing the crew or pinging off a schurzen. Compared to the Pz. IV, T-34 turrets are tall and kinda bulbous, they’re a great target and easier to pen than the hull. The turret ring is the best place to hit, but beggars can’t be choosers.

A trick that works for me but might not for you is if a T-34 is coming your way with the commander exposed, try raking your turret sight downwards while firing your MG. If you do it right, the burst will kill the TC before he can button up, and then your tank sight will be in perfect main gun position on the turret cheek or turret ring.

And no matter what, absolutely always stay at LONG range. T-34-85s have kinda shitty sights, so precise shots become a little harder at extended range. Two, it negates their electric drive advantage by making sure you don’t have to turn your turret very much to get an equivalent range of motion.

REMEMBER: This is what close-up battles between T-34s and Pz. IVs looks like. Don’t let it happen to you
.

[alvaroLOL]

@116426409

REMEMBER: This is what close-up battles between T-34s and Pz. IVs looks like. Don’t let it happen to you

looks like a usual train station invasion match

[Xenopera]

it’s basically the archetype of everything you DON’T want to have happen as a pz. IV

[Shiivex]

On the first Picture, as Herman Goering strasse map, if right on the start of the match you go left on the hill and drive a little further you I’ll be behind a friendly spawn covering you from anti tank players and have direct sight of enemy tank spawn with trees covering you. Also, a direct MG sight on enemys spawning on the house on the left going into the objective. By far the most efficient spot in-game to play as a tanker. Imo.

Thank me later.

Any spot that you place your tank that is in front of incoming tanks is always a bad spot. Even if you are behind cover. If your shell doesn’t penetrate or kill the enemy tanker you I’ll be at risk.

Play on the sides., flank, stop your tank at a advantage point, listen for engines and cannon shots, and wait.
Avoid he spam or its usage at all. MG is all u need for enemy soldiers.

Most tank deaths are caused by reckless driving into the batlefield. Most pz4s don’t stand a chance not only because the tank is inferior, but also by players that only know the w key. Even if it means getting in front of a panther.

Also, only Fire, when you are certain it ill penetrate.know when and where to shoot.
Ps: that sights are exacly like panther ones. The gunner perk with improve sights help Alot to stabilize the sights on quick moves. Try to get it on the gunner position. Helps Alot on german high magnification zoom.

[ErikaKalkbrenner]

yep,

you can pretty much snipe russian tanks with this thing.

i love it, it’s clunky, slow, but at the end of the day, it can get the job done.

one thing that if you allow me to include, it’s where to shoot the t34:

since, not many knoes where to do that and visually, helps alot of people:

Frontal armor:

i’ll start with the front armor:

( i made this when i was on the bus, so be to the very least, gentle )

either way,

( green = guaranteed pen )
( yellow = sometimes it can pen )
( red = don’t even try it )

Side Armor

this second part, bare with me for a moment,

this can “feel” somewhat " not right " but i’ll explain it why in a few moments:

the reason why i made the barell red, and the compartment red, it’s because the barell it’s really hard to put it out of action. like, sometimes it works, others not so much. like, it’s not consistent. because as i said, even if you get it, with a clean shoot, the barell can still work despite being orange/red.
it’s like a gamble situation. so that’s why i marked it as " don’t even try it ".

and the red compartment in the right center(ish) is because if you shoot there, you will most likely over pen, and make no damage what so ever. so it’s not worthed to shoot there as well.

weather the yellow, you can shoot there, and pen. but sometimes, gears can absorb damage ( not many times, but it’s good to know it. and weather for the engine, you can pen it 10/10 but i personally don’t feel like to suggest to shoot there. because, if he is not looking at you, than fine. if not, don’t count to magically shoot the engine, and the whole tank blows up because fuel cans are near, unfortunately in enlisted does not work like that.

but nontheless, you can still have the wider green areas:

Rear Armor:

and lastly:

if you manage to sneak behind one, i generally suggest to go for the turett, and than the engine. because the first thing tankers do when they get shoot at the turett, is go in full traverse.
you will benefict from the element of surprise. ( especially since they can’t tell where they got shot from )

and to avoid that they escape, shoot the engine.
they will be too slow to replace the gunner, and put out the engine.

bare in mind, that as soon you will shoot the engine, the player might decide to leave the tank.
and you do not want to let dangerous mens with machineguns running for berlin and wipe out “innocent” german nps. ( of even entire squads ).

in conclusion:

hope this can somewhat be usefull for someone.

cheers^^

P.S:
don’t go for tracks, you just waste a potential shell that could easely cripple the enemy tank at any moment and angle.

[Xenopera]

I normally catch my T-34s with a quartering turret shot as they drive past me, the sides of the turret are a little funky, but they’re normally head-on enough to punch through.

Great little infographic btw, should be helpful to newer players.

[ErikaKalkbrenner]

unfurtunately, in current version of enlisted, i didn’t included too much about the turett because of the visual glitch.

generally, if you are one the side, or behind, you can go for the turett.

but on the front, it’s really hard since sometimes that thing it’s not facing you ,and others are.

but nontheless, you can still pen the turett ring, and the hull.

[Xenopera]

I try not to assume the turret is looking where it actually is, and more gauge where it’s looking by behavior. Commander peeking? Tank driving forwards at high speed? In this case i assume that the turret is looking directly forwards, and i tend to be correct.

It’s only when they’re creepin around i get a little antsy.