Continuation of my post about Stalingrad tanking. This time I’ll discuss German vehicles, hoping it might help a few out here struggling in this fantastic battlefield setting.
- Pz3j
Pros: 5 crewmen tank, for an entry tank it’s quite good. Accurate high velocity canon. Rather nimble. Unlike it’s t70 contender, has commander view and as such great situational awareness.
Cons: sloooow turret traverse. Very weak shell post damage. The few armour it has won’t protect against much. The underdog of Stalingrad tanks.
When driving it:
Use your vehicle as a sniper and use cover extensively. Remember you have much better peripheral vision and situational awareness than your opponent thanks to your commander view, as such chances are you will spot your enemy first. Use that small respite wisely, do NOT shoot on sight! While your gun can indeed pen t70 and t34 turrets, it does bare minimum post pen damage, so take your time aiming for that weak point on the unsuspecting tank.
When facing it:
The pz3j is a very easy prey. Whatever vehicle you use can pen it from anywhere, save from some ricochets on an angled hull. In doubt, aim for that weak turret, and remember there’s 5 crewmen to take down.
Tip: use the pz3j stealthily, as an ambush vehicle. If you see a KV ahead, try to keep behind cover, you can’t really take it on reliably.
- Pz3N
Pros: most criminally underapreciated vehicle in Stalingrad. Very fast reload speed. TWO mg34. 5 crewmen like all German tanks. Incredible anti infantry capability. Good maneuverability. Alpha strike tactic*. Commander view = good situational awareness.
Cons: Very poor anti tank properties, it’s NOT that tank’s role. Rather squishy.
When driving it:
Keep in mind you’re NOT using this tank to fight other tanks and you’ll be fine. It’s purely an infantry support vehicle, and it fills the role admirably. In can spam HE shells around at Incredible speed and as we know, HE causes concussion. Remember that annoying map start where you must cross a railway to attack a very well defended building filled with Vasily snipers? Those don’t shoot when concussed. HE that building like there’s no tomorrow and watch your team cross effortlessly the railway.
When facing it:
Don’t expose your flanks and you’ll be fine. That opponent is not a good anti-tank fighter.
Tip: what I lovingly call the “Alpha strike*”. From battletech table top game. You see an enemy riflemen squad ahead, you pop your commander out then spray BOTH lmgs on them WHILE shooting HE until your lmg runs hot, then IMMEDIATELY get back in the safety of your turret. There shouldn’t be anything left of the riflemen…
- The Pz4F2
Pros: Very good main gun with good post pen damage, great both as anti tank AND anti infantry capability. 5 crewmen. Commander view.
Cons: at this tier, it’s a glass canon, it’s armour won’t protect much.
When driving it:
You’re no longer the hunted tank, you can finally fight back with good efficiency. Aim at any Soviet tank’s turret, left or right of the gun, to knock them out, even the fearsome KV! Keep in mind however, that even the t70 can still kill you easily; you don’t have armour. Try angling your hull to at least protect that area, but there’s nothing you can do about your turret.
When facing it:
The turret. Knock it’s turret out at all costsand hopefully it’s main gun component as well. It might back off even after a crippling blow as it have 5 crewmen, so do NOT give the pz4 any time to recover. It’s also a better sniper than you, so keep pressure on it to nullify it’s distance advantage.
Tip: angling the hull is key. Many enemy tankers are impatient and shoot center mass. Angling might save you from this.
- Pz4G
Identical in every aspects to the F2, but it has slightly better hull armour and looks “cooler” in general.
Fire tank:
To be used in the same fashion as the Soviet fire tank.
That’s it for Germany’s Stalingrad vehicles. I hope it could help a bit those with tanking difficulties. I also recommend shooting some tanks in practice mode to familiarize with each opponent’s weak spots.
Have fun tanking, ladies and gents!
