Spotting from a tank.

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Spotting from a tank.

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Steel Panthers World At War & Mega Campaigns >> SP:WaW Training Center >> Spotting from a tank.

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Spotting from a tank. - 7/11/2003 9:03:00 AM

arethusa

Posts: 145
Joined: 5/12/2003
From: GTA, Canada
Status: offline

There've been a number of posts on this Forum regarding spotting of enemy units. I remember one in particular a while ago where somebody went to 'preferences' and increased the spotting ability of their units to its maximum value because they couldn't see how a tank could watch an enemy leg-unit take up position on top of a bare paved road and the next turn be invisible to the tank.

I've only been in an turreted vehicle once (actually a LAV) and so didn't get the full feel of visibility, or lack thereof, but was always aware that it was hard to see out of them, especially when buttoned. But I didn't really know how bad it actually was.

Then, surfing the net the other day I came across the following item. It's an account of a reporter in Finland who got to drive a WW2 T34/85, what he called a 'Scaup'.

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/T34tank1.html

Not only does he tell how impossible it is to see what's going on outside, it's a really interesting look at just what it's like to drive one of these behemoths. The story of how to start the engine, engage the clutch, steer and so on is worth a look. It gives some idea too of the maintenance required and just what battlefield immobilization repairs might entail. :eek: :(

My apologies if this link has been posted before as I haven't seen it. But even if it is elsewhere in here, it's worth reading again.:)

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- 7/24/2003 5:47:04 AM

tmac

Posts: 160
Joined: 4/16/2003
From: Syracuse (Home of 2003 NCAA Basketball Champs) NY
Status: offline

Thanks Arethusa, thats a great story on the link. I've been assigned as the driver of a M113A2 armored personnel carrier for a year. I can vouch for the maintenance, it is constant, but IMO a little less involved than that old T-34, lol. I always tried to drive with at least my head out of the hatch, because you can't see s*** throught the vision blocks. It really would cause you to slow down (unless in danger, then just resign yourself to "ramming speed"), and you don't have a prayer of seeing infantry coming at you. You gotta hope you run them over first.

(in reply to arethusa)

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- 7/24/2003 9:45:04 PM

arethusa

Posts: 145
Joined: 5/12/2003
From: GTA, Canada
Status: offline

In regards to the constant maintenance of military vehicles, I remember when I was in the artillery we had two 3/4 trucks that always had to stay together.

One of them didn't have a starter motor so we couldn't shut it down unless there was another one nearby that could tow it fast enough to get it going or had cables. (No big hills in the area. And don't even think of men pushing it fast enough cross-country to get it going!) :(

The other one didn't have a battery so it couldn't be shut down unless there was another one there with cables to start it or tow it.

The deuces were too big to be effective towing and so high that using cables with them to the little ones wasn't good either.

So, both trucks had to stay together and we could never shut both of them off at the same time. One always had to be left running.:p

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"Good military intelligence is worth at least as much as an extra regiment."

(in reply to arethusa)

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