M4A3 75 as mobile artillery

[Sabre]

In another post, someone mentioned that the M4A3 75 could be used quite effectively for indirect, long-range fire (i.e. arty). I was wondering if anyone would care to share how this is done.  The main problem I have in doing so today is that every time I fire the main gun on a tank, the tube doesn't return to the azimuth and elevation I had it on, making it very hard to adjust my aim. Also, of course, when firing indirectly, the current gunsight's sight-picture keeps you from seeing where you're aiming when the gun is trained upwards at very high angles. While you can certainly fire it from the tank cmdr's position to over come this, the lack of any kind of gunsight in that position again makes aiming and (especially) correcting aim very difficult. I used to use the mouse pointer to help with this. I would aim the gun, then put the mouse cursor where I believed I was aiming. I'd fire the round, and move the gun back so the cursor was back on my aim point. The round would hit, and I could then see precisely how far off my aim was by seeing where the crater was in relation to the cursor.  Now, unfortunately, the mouse disappears when the clipboard is minimized, or when I fire the gun if I keep the clipboard up; I have to them move the mouse to get it back.  I've also got no idea how to aim the rockets.  Any pointers (pun intended) would be appreciated.

[Butcher]

I had a down pilot in a town direct my artillery once, if you get to close to a town it flashes, I was using the commanders view to range my artillery - while you won't wipe out a town very fast, I did manage to knock down a sizable number of buildings including the large and small section of town before I ran outa HE.

Hills are great, some maps have giant hills near a base which is ideal for indirect as you can range much further and see a town much better.

[save]

german 88mm flak where frequently used for indirect fire.

http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/88mm-antiaircraft-gun/88mm-antiaircraft-gun-introduction.html

[BuckShot]

I use this method with rockets at long ranges when I can see the target:
1. Estimate elevation, usually so you can't see target anymore.
2. Hit f8, bring fov down with hat switch so you can see the target, but leave the rocket angle alone.
3. Fire one or two rockets and watch for their explosions. Their flight takes a few seconds.
4. Adjust: use stick to adjust angle, hat switch to adjust veiw in f8 mode.

Once you're on town, let em rip.

Does anyone have another way to shoot m4 rockets?

~S~ Buck

[icepac]

I use a very small dot sticker and stick it where the shell lands so I can be more consistent with landing hits.

[pembquist]

You put your finger on the screen where you think/want the round to land. Fire and then move the gun so your finger is where it started, adjust,repeat. When they do away with firing from the commander position I predict much less long range shelling.