Author Topic: Tank Gunnery (Read 911 times)

WPerry1151 · « **on:** January 05, 2007, 04:31:04 PM »

Okay, I've been playing for several months now, and just started using tanks. I was in a huge tank battle today, and I have extreme trouble finding the correct range. Now I spent 8 years in the U.S. Army, 2 1/2 of it as an M1A1 Abrams crewman (6 months as a driver and 2 years as a gunner). I understand using Kentucky Windage to find the range. Fire a round, see where it lands, then correct and fire again. But I am sitting still, shooting at a target sitting still, and just can't find the range. I'm talking 7 or 8 rounds fired downrange. Some of these targets are withing MG tracer range. Then somebody from across the valley hits me with his second shot.

What am I not doing right. There has to be something I'm missing here. Thanks for any help.

Murdr · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2007, 05:00:57 PM »

Are you using the zoom function (z key to toggle& [] keys for magnification level) while in the gun position? That really helps get a precise sight picture.

Other than that I'd just say that in game experince really helps. After awhile you can just look at a vehicle and have a good idea of the range from its size relative to your sight scales. On longer range shots, I use background terrain (a tree, rock, bush, shadow, whatever..) as an 'aiming stake', and make adjustments relative to the chosen background aiming point.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2007, 06:12:53 PM »

One of the tricks I use is...

First your ranging round while zoomed in. Place your mouse pointer over the spot where you round landed. Move the gun around and use the mouse pointer as your crosshairs. In most cases you can get pretty close with the second shot, and norrow it it better if ya need a third shot

GunnerCAF · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2007, 06:52:45 PM »

A few things I can think of, use the ground visibility range. This will show more ground objects, and less far objects.

Another tip for very far shots, zoom in all the way, press F8 and keypad 5 to lower your view. F8 will put your view in pan mode. This will allow you to pan your view down slightly with keypad 5 (or your joystick view hat)You will be able to see where your rounds are falling on the far shots.

Gunner

Fianna · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2007, 11:39:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by The Fugitive
One of the tricks I use is...

First your ranging round while zoomed in. Place your mouse pointer over the spot where you round landed. Move the gun around and use the mouse pointer as your crosshairs. In most cases you can get pretty close with the second shot, and norrow it it better if ya need a third shot

Can you go a little more in-depth?

Murdr · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2007, 05:31:43 AM »

Sound very much like what we would do when direct firing mortars, except with a mortar the site and gun can be moved independent of each other. He is marking the impact with is pointer, then moving his gun so the pointer is on the target. This will give you both the elevation, and deflection corrections needed to bring the impact point to the target.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2007, 09:02:09 AM »

OK lets see if I can explain this better...

You fire a shot, and it lands we'll say 20 feet left and 20 feet short of the target.

you then put your mouse pointer on the spot where your round landed. As you now elevate the gun and rotate your turret the mouse pointer will stay in the same position in the site.

So by moving the gun so the pointer moves up 20 feet, and to the right 20 feet you can home in on the target.

Of course you can't "tell" your moving 20 feet, but you really didn't "know" you were off by 20 feet in the first place. Its like "If shot #1 landed where I have my "pointer", then shot #2 SHOULD land where I PUT my pointer."

Hope that clears it up. Next step I guess would have to be trying to get some screen shots of it in action. Let me know if ya thin that would help.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2007, 11:29:57 AM »

Make sure before you start a vehicle mission that you go to set-up and set ground detail to 3 miles (max). Then use your zoom to get a close view on your target.

WPerry1151 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2007, 01:27:00 PM »

Okay, thanks for all the advice, I'll give them a shot and see what happens.

Fianna · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2007, 01:34:51 PM »

Got it now. Thanks Fugitive!

mrshiver · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2007, 09:17:47 AM »

To score first shot hits with minimal ranging rounds you need to practice offline to train ur eye to detect the range just by the size of the target.

There is a Tiger and a T-34 on the base when you're offline. Drive off the base with the tank of your choice to start practice.

Always keep your view zoomed all the way in while in the gunners position. Walk ur rounds into the target. When you get consistent hits move to a different range. Practice like this and in no time you will find yourself getting first shot hits, and kills.

Don't know what the Abrams has for sights. But spent 5 yrs myself as a tanker in M-60A1's, used the 105 sight a grerat deal which is similar to the sight in the game. Just like a gunner on a real tank. You gotta train to be proficient. From one gravel churner to another