Vehicle Sweet Spots

[JimmyD3]

We have a young man in our squad (Stabby) that runs around in an M8 in Midwar, and kills everything including Tigers, he is awesome in it. That got me to  thinking about the "sweet spot" on the different vehicle's for shooting. Does any one have any pictures or graphics that depict these locations? 

[SmokinLoon]

Ultimately, no.  I do not have any legit data to back that up, but if there the only entity that I will listen to on the matter is HTC.  Of course there are be places like between the turret and hull, or other such natural places of weakness.  But I doubt there are "weak" spots on the armor.

Otherwise, it is all about kinetic energy and angle of impact.  The M8 can beat 81mm of armor when close enough to pee on it.  The Tiger and King Tiger both have 80-82mm of armor on the rear hull.  So, it the conditions are right (close with near perfect 90° impact) flip a coin and hope for the best.   

[WEZEL]

Have him come to late war and look me up 

[chaser]

I spend most of my time in a GV but I rarely up anything but an M18. I've discovered a few sweet spots on most every tank

Panzer F and G: From the front, hit them in the turret. Very rarely takes more that one to the turret. From the side, Shoot them in the back half of the side armor. Again, very rarely take more than one toejam.

Panther: From the front, hit the very bottom of the hull as low as you can without shooting under them. It takes 2-3 shots depending on the range. From the side, go for the front half of the side armor. One shot will do it almost everytime.

Tiger: From the side, put your shot in the front half of the side armor. Depending on range it will take 1-2 hits for the kill.

Tiger 2: The beast! From the side, shoot anywhere from the front of the side armor to the middle. Takes at least 3 shots and occasionally more. From the rear put one in the turret to disable it, then put 1-2 shots in the rear hull.

T34/85 and 76: Much like the Panther. From the front, place your rounds as low as possible on the hull. You can also put your first round in the turret to disable it, but it needs to be pointing at you or at a 90 degree angle to you, else it will ricochet. From the side, place it near the center of the side armor but a little to the front.

All M4's: Again much like the Panther. from the front, your rounds should hit the hull as low as possible for a one shot kill. From the side, place it near the front of the side armor. Usually only takes 1 round but occasionally 2.

M8's: Pretty much anywhere will one shot kill them.

M18: I personally avoid shooting these in the turret. It very rarely results in a one shot kill. Instead go for anywhere on the hull or sides no matter which way it's facing. I've never had it take more than one shot at any range to kill one when I hit somewhere besides the turret.

M3's: From the front, put your round right in the grill. From the side, avoid hitting high and to the rear, instead hit the near the front, perferably in front of the driver in the engine.

I believe I covered everything. I intentionally left out jeeps and SKD's (for the simple fact that I can't remember ever seeing or killing an SKD.)

If anyone has anything to add to this list feel free.

[SmokinLoon]

I spend most of my time in a GV but I rarely up anything but an M18. I've discovered a few sweet spots on most every tank

Panzer F and G: From the front, hit them in the turret. Very rarely takes more that one to the turret. From the side, Shoot them in the back half of the side armor. Again, very rarely take more than one toejam.

Panther: From the front, hit the very bottom of the hull as low as you can without shooting under them. It takes 2-3 shots depending on the range. From the side, go for the front half of the side armor. One shot will do it almost everytime.

Tiger: From the side, put your shot in the front half of the side armor. Depending on range it will take 1-2 hits for the kill.

Tiger 2: The beast! From the side, shoot anywhere from the front of the side armor to the middle. Takes at least 3 shots and occasionally more. From the rear put one in the turret to disable it, then put 1-2 shots in the rear hull.

T34/85 and 76: Much like the Panther. From the front, place your rounds as low as possible on the hull. You can also put your first round in the turret to disable it, but it needs to be pointing at you or at a 90 degree angle to you, else it will ricochet. From the side, place it near the center of the side armor but a little to the front.

All M4's: Again much like the Panther. from the front, your rounds should hit the hull as low as possible for a one shot kill. From the side, place it near the front of the side armor. Usually only takes 1 round but occasionally 2.

M8's: Pretty much anywhere will one shot kill them.

M18: I personally avoid shooting these in the turret. It very rarely results in a one shot kill. Instead go for anywhere on the hull or sides no matter which way it's facing. I've never had it take more than one shot at any range to kill one when I hit somewhere besides the turret.

M3's: From the front, put your round right in the grill. From the side, avoid hitting high and to the rear, instead hit the near the front, perferably in front of the driver in the engine.

I believe I covered everything. I intentionally left out jeeps and SKD's (for the simple fact that I can't remember ever seeing or killing an SKD.)

If anyone has anything to add to this list feel free.

Just a note for everyone to remember: if you get the turret of an M18, M8, or Firefly smoking it is no longer a threat, period.  Leave it be and work on other targets, especially if a defense is holding on by a thread.  I watched 3-4 fighters try and chase down an smoking M18 once upon a time and leave the town unguarded and the other team just waltzed in and capture the field.  I was stuck in a tracked Panzer IV with no shot.  I've also seen multiple tank engage a fleeing M18 with a smoking turret while receiving hostile fire.    Anyways, ALL of the firepower is located in the turret of an M8, M18, and Firefly (no hull MG). If it smokes and it moves then that means it is certainly the turret that has been damaged.

Also, if you have any HE then forget using AP vs M3's, M8's, and M18's. A near miss will ruin there day.  But if all you have is AP then on an M3 anywhere cab forward will do.  Hitting the troop compartment from the side with AP is not going to do much, but hitting the track will slow it down in a big way.   

[redcatcherb412]

Just a note for everyone to remember: if you get the turret of an M18, M8, or Firefly smoking it is no longer a threat, period.   

.
I used to ignore some of them after turreting them especially if other targets were available. BUT, the unknown factor of sups on their side, a jeep otw, I now just go ahead and try to finish them. After leaving a few turreted tanks go, and turning my tank or turret to obtain another target only to get shot in the asz by the tank you just turreted, it's better to just finish them if you have a clear shot.

[SmokinLoon]

.
I used to ignore some of them after turreting them especially if other targets were available. BUT, the unknown factor of sups on their side, a jeep otw, I now just go ahead and try to finish them. After leaving a few turreted tanks go, and turning my tank or turret to obtain another target only to get shot in the asz by the tank you just turreted, it's better to just finish them if you have a clear shot.

Very good point.  I guess if the situation warrants it then fire all ya like, but if you see that M18 smoking at 1400 yards and you know there is an M3 trying to get by you I wouldn't be too focused on trying to get the M18 especially if losing a field is on the line. 

[chaser]

Just a note for everyone to remember: if you get the turret of an M18, M8, or Firefly smoking it is no longer a threat, period.  Leave it be and work on other targets, especially if a defense is holding on by a thread.  I watched 3-4 fighters try and chase down an smoking M18 once upon a time and leave the town unguarded and the other team just waltzed in and capture the field.  I was stuck in a tracked Panzer IV with no shot.  I've also seen multiple tank engage a fleeing M18 with a smoking turret while receiving hostile fire.    Anyways, ALL of the firepower is located in the turret of an M8, M18, and Firefly (no hull MG). If it smokes and it moves then that means it is certainly the turret that has been damaged.

Also, if you have any HE then forget using AP vs M3's, M8's, and M18's. A near miss will ruin there day.  But if all you have is AP then on an M3 anywhere cab forward will do.  Hitting the troop compartment from the side with AP is not going to do much, but hitting the track will slow it down in a big way.   

Good point on the HE rounds. I generally forget about them because the ammo loadout on the M18 is only 45, so I never take any HE with me.

[WWhiskey]

I always carry HE rounds in every tank I drive.

[chaser]

I always carry HE rounds in every tank I drive.

I can burn through 45 AP's in no time, so it doesn't benefit me to load any up in the M18.

[Iraqvet]

I always carry HE rounds in every tank I drive.

I do the same....Most prob you will be going/ spawning to an enemy base and you can take out a few guns. Or my favorite reason to have HE onboard is Storches or planes that come in to mark or strafe you. Nothing more satisfying than a well placed HE in the belly of a con.

[icepac]

Anybody had luck exploding the 88s right above enemy GV?

[JimmyD3]

I do the same....Most prob you will be going/ spawning to an enemy base and you can take out a few guns. Or my favorite reason to have HE onboard is Storches or planes that come in to mark or strafe you. Nothing more satisfying than a well placed HE in the belly of a con.

Yeah I love that to. Nothing better than downing an IL2 or B25 with an HE round .  Sure makes everyone else standoff a ways/

[chaser]

I do the same....Most prob you will be going/ spawning to an enemy base and you can take out a few guns. Or my favorite reason to have HE onboard is Storches or planes that come in to mark or strafe you. Nothing more satisfying than a well placed HE in the belly of a con.

While true, I haven't ever had a problem killing them with AP shells. They don't usually blow up immedietely but they loose a wing or their tail every time I hit.

[MK-84]

Yeah I love that to. Nothing better than downing an IL2 or B25 with an HE round .  Sure makes everyone else standoff a ways/

An AP round has the same effect, and superior ballistics in most cases.