Tank Sights: An Observation or Two

[SmokinLoon]

With the update to the tank sights, I thought I would post photos of the differences in optical quality.  It should be no surprise that the Germans are on the top of the list and early/mid war sights of Soviet and US tanks are on the bottom. Bravo to HTC for adding in optical clarity as well as the historical accurate sights!    Tank battle are a whole new area of enjoyment, no more same same in optics.      

First, the 3 German tanks:






Then the 2 Soviet tanks:




The 4 different US sights in the game (minus the LVT-4):
[from worst to best]








British Firefly (surprisingly poor optic quality in the Firefly, seems to be on par with M4/75mm???)


 ...and the 76mm 17 Pdr Q.F. Mk IV L/55 AT gun


The Panther, Tiger, and Firefly all have variable zoom power (2.5-5X for Panther and Tiger and 3-6X for Firefly), while the US M4A3 (W) 76mm has a 5X fixed power.  I think it is very apparent at  longer ranges the Panzer IV and T34/85 now take a back seat without question to the higher power zoom capable tanks at the 2000 yards and longer ranges.  Try and even find a target at 2000 yards in the M3/75mm, T34/76, or the M8, it is almost impossible.  Finding the range and impact point at long ranges certainly favor the 4 high power zoom tanks, no doubt.  Now the key is to *learn* the gun sights and what each and every mark means in those reticules.  They are not just cross hairs or triangles, there are measurements in every line, every gap, and every dot in those sights.  I hope someone can post some links showing how to operate those sights.  All I currently know is how to gauge the range based on how full the enemy tank is inside the German triangle reticule.  

[Raptor]

Does this mean less tanks shooting aircraft down using main gun?

[hitech]

If you wish to know sight  marking sizes or spacing bring up the target at  3333 yards. Then Each circle will be 1 mil.

HiTech

[SmokinLoon]

Does this mean less tanks shooting aircraft down using main gun?

Unfortunately not.  That, along with dive bombing heavy bombers are the two biggest travesties in the game.  However, I've taken the stance that if you come in low enough to get shot down by the main gun then you cam in lower than typical ground attack airacraft SOP allows so you deserve it.  Also, if you get bomb****ed-raped by a Lancaster carpet bombing a spawn point, then shame onyou for not having a squaddie or countryman giving you air cover.   

The point of the thread is to give a nod to HTC for modelling optical clarity, and to show the actual differences between the reticules and optics.  I would like to thing the British would be able to compete with the late war US optics, though. 

[BigKev03]

I agree that the new sights have changed GV fights as we know them.  No longer will you have those in the game sit and register kills at ludicrous ranges.  the other night I was in a panzer and after two ranging shots I hit my target (a 76mm M4) about 6 times before he blew.  Reason is that you cannot pinpoint where your shot will go because you cant super zoom to the spot where you want to hit.  With the panzer sight I have just about got it down to getting the range in two - three shots and that is at long range.  HTC could not have mad me happier with the new changes.  It makes people earn their GV kills now.  I see more GV battles that resemble manuver battles that sit and shoot at 2k+.

BigKev

[W7LPNRICK]

With the update to the tank sights, I thought I would post photos of the differences in optical quality.  It should be no surprise that the Germans are on the top of the list and early/mid war sights of Soviet and US tanks are on the bottom. Bravo to HTC for adding in optical clarity as well as the historical accurate sights!    Tank battle are a whole new area of enjoyment, no more same same in optics.      



The Panther, Tiger, and Firefly all have variable zoom power (2.5-5X for Panther and Tiger and 3-6X for Firefly), while the US M4A3 (W) 76mm has a 5X fixed power.  I think it is very apparent at  longer ranges the Panzer IV and T34/85 now take a back seat without question to the higher power zoom capable tanks at the 2000 yards and longer ranges.  Try and even find a target at 2000 yards in the M3/75mm, T34/76, or the M8, it is almost impossible.  Finding the range and impact point at long ranges certainly favor the 4 high power zoom tanks, no doubt.  Now the key is to *learn* the gun sights and what each and every mark means in those reticules.  They are not just cross hairs or triangles, there are measurements in every line, every gap, and every dot in those sights.  I hope someone can post some links showing how to operate those sights.  All I currently know is how to gauge the range based on how full the enemy tank is inside the German triangle reticule.  

Nice work up.

[STEELE]

Unfortunately not.  That, along with dive bombing heavy bombers are the two biggest travesties in the game.  However, I've taken the stance that if you come in low enough to get shot down by the main gun then you cam in lower than typical ground attack airacraft SOP allows so you deserve it.  Also, if you get bomb****ed-raped by a Lancaster carpet bombing a spawn point, then shame onyou for not having a squaddie or countryman giving you air cover.   

The point of the thread is to give a nod to HTC for modelling optical clarity, and to show the actual differences between the reticules and optics.  I would like to thing the British would be able to compete with the late war US optics, though. 

Tank busters came in pretty darn low
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix5xN8hlGLo

[B3YT]

My grandad worked on IId and C with 6 squadron , they would play javelin with the cleaing rods by wedging them against the firing pin then  letting fly .

[SmokinLoon]

Tank busters came in pretty darn low
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix5xN8hlGLo

Great video.  I enjoy watching the films the British and US military made for their people on the hope front.    Hopefully, you know that the video was staged and that RAF SOP set up dive angles of 45 to 60 degree for their ground attack aircraft, including their "Hurruhken" IID.     I will have to dig out exactly where I read that.   

[hitech]

Does anyone wish to do some art and spread sheet work to make up some ranging sheets like below for all vehicles?

To use the chart simple messure the Sherman in length width or hight.

Find the mills on the chart, The appropriate column gives you it's range in yards.



If anyone does ,private message me your email and I will send you the base spread sheet which includes all vehicle dimensions.

HiTech

[Lusche]

I have a problem with the German TZF sights in game.

Everything I read indicated that the spacing between the triangles is always the same, including the distance from large triangle upper corner to the next (small) triangle:


(From the Tigerfibel)








But in Aces High, the triangles are not equidistant. The space between center (full) triangle and it's neigbours is 1.5 times wider than between the other (smaller) triangles:










(sight pictures enlarged)










And this messed up my tries using the gunsight. Example:

M4 at 295 yards:



As there are 4 "Strich" between each triangle, one would come to the conclusion the M4 is covering 4x4= 16 Strich. Knowing a Sherman is 2.64m wide (Wikipedia ) I would calculate the distance as 165m = 181 yards. If you look at the range readout in the picture, that's obviously wrong...

Formula is  ((width in m) / (Number of Strich))x1000 = Distance in Metres.

[bustr]

Is the distance tag for GV anything like the tag for aircraft. If it says 400 it could be anywhere between 400-200 until it changes to 200?

[Lusche]

Is the distance tag for GV anything like the tag for aircraft. If it says 400 it could be anywhere between 400-200 until it changes to 200?

basically yes. But as you can see, at the distances featured above the distance readout is accurate to the yard.

[hitech]

Lusche:

Thanks , is fixed for next weeks patch.


P.S. A Strich is the same as a Mil.

HiTech

[W7LPNRICK]

In my T-34/85 I still get ridiculously long, lob shot, one shot kills, when I can barely see the tank in the sight. Use a dry erase marker on the commanders position and draw a giant "T" with a dot near your ranging shot. Then adjust from there.