Certain people play tank and would rather greyzone or sit back and mg’ snipe, but when attacking a point we need HE in the building to clear them out, it can clear fortifications and defenses, including enemy troops waiting for our assaulters.
I have played a few matches now in Tunisia, where 2 tanks mg sniped whole game, one point after another sat on bridges and did not move literally.
This does not help the team win or really is a good use of tank, the idea to is to break defenses and push and destroy enemy armour, not mg snipe…
Sorry for rant but seen a few too many games like this recently.
Yeah the problem with that is explosive packs. I agree tankers should push a little more with their tanks, but infantry should also be mindful of the tankers on their team, and help defend the tankers from getting piled on by enemy infantry with explosive packs or TNT.
Notionally this is what is brought up all the time in these kinds of games, the infantry should protect the tank, and I don’t wanna say that it never happens because if some guy runs out in front of you you’re gonna kill them, but it’s not something that they do, the infantry player has their own concerns and it’s not the guy in the giant bulletproof metal box.
A couple of times today when I was doing the daily challenges and I was sitting on a rifle trying to get my rifle kills I watched a couple of our armored vehicles run into the pointe and I kept thinking they’re idiots because they’re gonna get themselves killed in two seconds…
So I just kept my eye on them and sure enough I wound up killing two or three of the enemy soldiers with their TNT bundles out but I couldn’t see everything and they were blown up very quickly.
maybe they add an option for infantry squads, where pressing X while looking at a tank will cause your squad to follow the tank, using it for cover and shooting anyone who comes close. And a quick chat option “need infantry support” for tanks.
As an avid tanker, there is simply no time for any of that finesse. Friendly troops have to be prepared and in position to intervene. If I have to call for help its too late.
Most of the tankers will frequently spam the “v” key to provide long to medium range indications, but once the enemy closes to throwing range its often too late, esp for the slower and less maneouverable vehicles.
The problem with inf vs tank balance (silly det packs aside) is mobility.
For the better part the devs have reasonably well implemented tank mobility and the AI crew reactions in applying player inputs to achieve it. So it takes a bit of time for the driver to find the right gear to turn the tank or the gunner to turn the turret, many of which are manually traversed.
The same cannot be said for infantry, who suffer very little encumbrance penalties despite carrying multiple weapons and large grenade packs… They can bunny hop out of arc of fire of MGs esp when closer to the tank, where they can exploit the tanks historically accurate traverse and elevation mechanisms.
At this stage mobility fantasy > authenticity and so the experienced tankers are often overcautious even to the detriment of the tactical gameplay, because remember the game only rewards kills not tactics.
Even when tankers do advance beyond the grey zones to gain LOS on objectives and attempt to suppress them, somehow the enemy sill manages to “sneak” their det pack wielding suicide bombers to get you… Often right through a sea of blue icons around you…
It depends on the tank like tanks with large caliber guns can get away from sitting from a distance as long as he gets a good shot on the objective but if its something like a T-60, Stuart or Puma then it doesn’t help much.
Also depends on the map too where there are maps like Kahif Cave are just horrible for tanks.
Always looks like for people is difficult to use the tank for its intended role rather than playing as a tank destroyer far, far away. ( which, I can understand for those said tanks, since you don’t have a turret ) but shouldn’t take too long for people to understand and push up near infantry, while not remaining in the gray zone. Otherwise you are just farming kills and not really contributing to your team if the enemy keeps defending or attacking the objective.
I like to play fun aggresive tanking but remember that at any given moment the enemy team can have as many as
10 squads x 9 soldiers x 3 explosives each = 270 potential one hit kill explosive packs flying your way.
Plus all kinds of AT rifles and grenade launchers.
And you can’t even machine gun the guy running straight at you with your hull MG because you need to turn your turrret first.
The problem is that pushing tanks get destroyed really quickly without infantry cover. And with infantry cover they get destroyed quickly.
Infantry covering the tank would have to eliminate all enemies in a 15m radious. This is next to impossible to do by one person on maps with so much clutter.
If even one soldier gets through, that’s it, the tank is a fireball.
Of course you don’t have to go at their throat, but you can still use them in effective range that is not entire miles. You’re effectively pointless to your team as you do not support your infantry by staying far away from the battlefield.
If I can play around repositioning my self with the range of the objective at 50 meters, I’m sure anyone else can.
People seem to forget the fact that urban combat for tanks is literal nightmare. And 80% of maps (except Tunisia) is in fact urban combat.
Tho I still judge grey zones campers, move with infantry and you’ll be safe. You can respawn your tank in 2 minutes smh.
I’d say that by staying in the grey zone you’re supporting infantry about as much as they usually support you. Probably even more. Personally I don’t like staying far behind, it isn’t satisfying or fun. Unfortunately, it’s the natural evolution of using tanks (unless it’s full PvE where nothing matters).
At closer range there are too many threats, the vision is too limited, too much cover for infantry, and not enough support for you. It’s an annoying tactic and it ruins immersion (because it makes you hyper aware of the artificial “grey zone”), but it’s understandable why people use it.
When I’m playing with the tank I try to be effective in killing enemy tanks and infantry equally.
And most of the times I don’t rush to the enemy capture point attacking when no friendly infantry is near. That’s suicide and nonsensical for me. We need to move together.
When we’re being attacked I stay in the back, because it’s the part of the enemy to attack. For me that’s logic. Staying hidden if needed, to take out enemy tanks with one click.
I try to avoid being in the grey zones. My priorities are to have fun, support my team by shooting High Explosive rounds into the enemies as much as possible …and to move forward with them.
Infantry and tankers should support each other to win. The recently added possibility to repair tanks as as infantry helps here.
Newer players won’t be comfortable with manouvering the vehicle including 5 crew members.
