BF2S Forums tank advice

You've had the game 2 and a half years.

Gamematt wrote:

- aim for enemy tanks tracks, 2 hits = kill
- 1 hit kill is hard, because you have to deflect your shot on the enemy tanks armor so that it hits between the turret and body (don't try it, too hard)
- keep moving so that you are harder to hit for enemy tanks and/or infantry
- stay near cover (building/trees/walls, anything you can slighty hide your tank behind), come out to shoot, go back to reload

Do it.

Go to Secrets of Battlefield. You must not come here often because someone links to this site about once a week.

http://www.secretsofbattlefield.com/hitpoints.php    <-- tells you about the one-hit kill spot on tanks
http://www.secretsofbattlefield.com/tankshits.html

Enjoy

all of the above and: be an engi

There is a very good guide here on bf2s.com. This is the best guide I have ever read and I have read a lot of guides.

My own tips in addition to the guide:
1) Play on servers whit many players on them(at least 40 or so, preferably 64)! The more people are on the server the easier is tanking.

2) Never capture flags! I mean: NEVER(especially on air maps)! Just aim at the spawn points and shoot them constantly from safe distance and from cover (if it is possible), and let your infantry to cap the flag. It's your infantrymen's duty to capture the flag, not yours, as a tank driver.

3) Use the tank for defending rather than attacking. Attack only if your team is in a better position than the enemy ie. your team has more flags, more vehicles than the other team.

4) Change camera views frequently!

5) Many people stress the importance of shooting while moving. I don't think it's so important. Sure, it's good if you can do that but I think there are something more usefuller. Namely: Situation awareness and using cover. In 1 vs. 1 against another tank the most important thing is being aware that an enemy tank is approaching (and what direction it is coming from) and being the first to shoot at the other tank (and hit it of course). In order to become aware that an enemy tank is coming, watch your minimap constantly, and pay attention to your teammates's spottings. After you became aware of its approach the best tactic is to use cover and shoot from long distance. Come out of cover and shoot then immediately go back to cover. Wait a sec untill reloading then repeat. If you get hit, repair while being in cover. Pop smoke before getting out for repairing!

6) Be squadleader and ask for supply box if you have found a good camping spot.

7) The best advice I can give you: Watch the minimap and never be between two enemy flags! Be sure that the flags behind you belong to your team. If one of them get captured by the enemy, drive behind it and do suppressive fire at its spawn points and vehicles until it is captured back.

thanks for the tips everyone we'll see how it goes.

My main tip is LEARN THE MAPS. Go locate empty servers, spawn, and take the tank for a spin. Then go park the tank in flag-capping spots and see where you can spot it from. Practice aiming at stationary vehicles, and even moving ones if you can find a server with a few people in. Learn to use the HUD markings.
After that, watch other people in the tank. See where they go, how they do things. After a while, take up the gunner seat on top and analyse the positioning and movement. Build up some time and points.

Eventually, you'll be confident and competent enough to take one for a spin.
Another tip is to fire the cannon when sure, remember the splash damage radius, and pay attention to using the co-ax.
KEEP MOVING! KEEP LOOKING! Your view on the inside is tiny. Swing the turret around as much as possible to keep alleys and holes covered. If you get hit and can't see where from, get away fast or you'll get raped.
If you hear a diving aircraft, FLOOR IT. Reverse or forwards, try and make something miss. That's the difference between life and death.

Also, spend some time as AT to understand the other side of the equation. I find my experience pissing off armour whores to be invaluable in tanks.

Best kit is engineer, as you can fix other vehicles in a convoy and fix your OWN tank, and also take up mines.

Resources:
This forum. Search the techniques and guides section.
BF2S wiki. These guys know what they're doing. Armour AND AT guides.
Wikipedia. Read up on ballistics and the tanks in question.
High-scoring armour drivers. When the action dies down a bit, ask a question or two. Most people love bragging and teaching stuff.