Commanding a tank

[thy_raven 0]

Was just wondering, how as a commander of a tank can you order the gunner to attack a target you can see?

In OFP it was lovely and fluid with you just painting the target with RMB and then just giving the fire order, the same doesn't work as you have the .30 cal sights instead now. The only way i've managed to get the AI gunner to shoot anytihng, is either wait until he eventually notices a target (which sometimes doesn't even happen if i'm right next to it) or unless i go into the squad menu, select the gunner, hit 2 and then tell him specifically to target a specific thing.

Is there a better way? something more akin to the old OFP way?

Many thanks

Raven

[Crush.lv 0]

Well, you can just hold the right mouse button on target for a sec or two, that will target it. If you just tap the button, it opens the sights.

You can press TAB to cycle targets. But only if gunner has the cannon selected, not mg.

You can also press 2 and select a target from the list.

[armored_sheep 56]

http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ArmA:_Manual#Comanding_in_Tanks

[thy_raven 0]

many many thanks, makes using vehicles and flying helo's sooooo much simpler.

cheers guys

[-=seany=- 5]

I have been struggling to get used to how tanks operate in ArmA for a while now. I am a former OFP Player and some things I just find very confusing. when I am the commander in a tank and Sabot/heat is loaded I can select targets using my RMB and I can see a targeting box for the target and that the gunner has "locked" it. I can also then use the RMB to instantly deselect a target and straighten up the turret, also the LMB fires a round.

This is not possible when you switch to the main machine gun. With that I have no targeting reticle so I cant tell if its locked and I also can't fire unless I use the "command fire" button on the keyboard and on top of this is cant select "no Target" unless I press 2,1 via the backspace menu. So why the double standard for main gun and main machine gun? it seems to make no sense to me coming from Operation Flashpoint where the whole tank fire control system seemed so intuitive.

I wonder why everything in the game is not targetable like in OFP? (by which I mean everything, buildings, manned and unmanned vehicles, civilians, enemies and friendlies all have a visual target box) I think that is where the problem lies.

[frederf 0]

Changing weapons (120mm / Coaxial 7.62):

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. Press "Switch Weapons" button (default F).

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

Ordering gunner to attack target with current weapon:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. LeftMouseButton with commanding cursor over target.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

Ordering gunner to stop targeting target:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. RightMouseButton with commanding cursor over empty space.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

[DVD 0]

The tank commander needs a "turn off engine" option for the tank driver.

And realod HEAT/SABOT should be a option in the action menu if the main gun is selected, like in OFP.

[frederf 0]

Reload Heat/Sabot is an option... when you're the gunner. You can even order your gunner to do this through the command menu.

Having access to the entire action menu of the AI would be very nice though. I don't know why they left out the ability to order an AI to use his action menu to turn engine off remotely.

[thy_raven 0]

have noticed something odd, when commanding in a tank or a helo, when pressing the command button the crosshair appears with the square around it, which is all good and fine.

but when i've played online in a helo with a friend, when i didn't have a squad, when i pressed command button, nothing appeared. just like i was holding ALT instead. the strange thing is, when i tried the same thing in a tank the crosshair appears, even tho i have noone in my squad. is this a bug or intentional for some reason?

[-=seany=- 5]

Ordering gunner to attack target with current weapon:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. LeftMouseButton with commanding cursor over target.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

Ordering gunner to stop targeting target:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. RightMouseButton with commanding cursor over empty space.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

The problem for me is that these two functions do not work properly when I switch to machine gun,

"Ordering gunner to attack target with current weapon:"

with the machine gun selected I can target by holding down the space bar then RMB over the target, but the only way I can fire is when my cursor is directly over the target I just selected then I press space then LMB. The target also has to be live enemy infantry, i cant fire this way at an empty vehicle or building for example. when I target it and then use space LMB to try to fire, it issues the move command.

"Ordering gunner to stop targeting target:":

Again, these controls don't work when I use the machine gun. With a target already "locked", I press space then RMB over empty space and nothing happens, I have to press Backspace,2,1 to select no target with the machine gun.

Sorry my explanations arnt the best, Im just trying to work this out hope you can help.

PS, I just noticed doing some more testing, that the Main gun also cannot Spacebar RMB to set no target or Spacebar LMB to fire if you select a building (works on empty vehicles though), you have to use the keyboard. you can always select targets though, even without the space bar just by RMB over anything.

[frederf 0]

have noticed something odd, when commanding in a tank or a helo, when pressing the command button the crosshair appears with the square around it, which is all good and fine.

but when i've played online in a helo with a friend, when i didn't have a squad, when i pressed command button, nothing appeared. just like i was holding ALT instead. the strange thing is, when i tried the same thing in a tank the crosshair appears, even tho i have noone in my squad. is this a bug or intentional for some reason?

When commanding a tank I think the other players in it are part of a temporary group because they are inside a tank you are commanding. And the "crosshair square" is the default command move icon. This is why you can give orders like "FIRE/CEASE FIRE" or "FORWARD" "RIGHT" or "FAST".

I guess the helo isn't built the same way. If you were the leader of the squad and the gunner was also a squad member, then you should get the commanding mode cursor.

[frederf 0]

Ordering gunner to attack target with current weapon:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. LeftMouseButton with commanding cursor over target.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

Ordering gunner to stop targeting target:

1. Press and hold "Commanding Mode" button (default space).

2. RightMouseButton with commanding cursor over empty space.

3. Release "Commanding Mode" button.

The problem for me is that these two functions do not work properly when I switch to machine gun,

"Ordering gunner to attack target with current weapon:"

with the machine gun selected I can target by holding down the space bar then RMB over the target, but the only way I can fire is when my cursor is directly over the target I just selected then I press space then LMB. The target also has to be live enemy infantry, i cant fire this way at an empty vehicle or building for example. when I target it and then use space LMB to try to fire, it issues the move command.

"Ordering gunner to stop targeting target:":

Again, these controls don't work when I use the machine gun. With a target already "locked", I press space then RMB over empty space and nothing happens, I have to press Backspace,2,1 to select no target with the machine gun.

Sorry my explanations arnt the best, Im just trying to work this out hope you can help.

PS, I just noticed doing some more testing, that the Main gun also cannot Spacebar RMB to set no target or Spacebar LMB to fire if you select a building (works on empty vehicles though), you have to use the keyboard. you can always select targets though, even without the space bar just by RMB over anything.

The commanding mode cursor is context-sensitive. It orders attacks on known enemy targets and moves on empty terrain. There is a way to target neutral or friendly things, I know, since I've accidentally targeted a building with a Mk19 and fratricided a few folks or opened up on some repair trucks. The AI gunner is very very dangerous with stray clicks.

Stop using RMB!!! RMB orders "target" LMB order "attack." Pretty much everything you want to do in a tank doesn't use the RMB, use the LMB.

The tank gunner (AI) will not attack a tank with the MG, no. Basically it has to be a target that the MG will damage before the AI gunner will open fire with the MG against it.

I'm not sure about deselecting targets. Try RMB in empty space without pressing SPACE first. I always use 2,1 myself.

[-=seany=- 5]

I think I should post a video or some thing, I'm not explaining this properly.

[Varry 0]

when should i use sabot and when to use heat?

[Big Dawg KS 6]

when should i use sabot and when to use heat?

Sabot -> Heavy Armor (Tanks, or anything else HEAT can't penetrate)

HEAT -> Everything else

[forsythem 0]

I think I'm missing something obvious, but I've searched through this forum, the included manual, and the online manual linked above, and I can't find a way to zoom my view as a tank commander as I could in OFP...

Either in the turned-in or turned-out positions, the keypad + and - keys have no effect, and I can't find any other views as a commander that will allow that.

OFP tank commanding was excellent - the zoom view allowed you to find and target enemies far away, currently I'm restricted to those close enough for me to see and identify... at which point I'm usually dead...

Thanks!

[wamingo 1]

Try the 1.07b patch or wait for 1.08. There should be zoom then.

[forsythem 0]

Try the 1.07b patch or wait for 1.08. There should be zoom then.

Okee dokee... in that case I'm glad it was actually missing, not that I was too lame to be able to find it...

I've tried the current 1.05 and the 1.07 updated beta patches, and neither of them has it as yet.

So has anybody actually successfully played a tank mission then? If so, do you use the number keys to assign targets to the gunner?

Thank you!

[frederf 0]

Try the 1.07b patch or wait for 1.08. There should be zoom then.

Okee dokee... in that case I'm glad it was actually missing, not that I was too lame to be able to find it...

I've tried the current 1.05 and the 1.07 updated beta patches, and neither of them has it as yet.

So has anybody actually successfully played a tank mission then? If so, do you use the number keys to assign targets to the gunner?

Thank you!

Easiest way I've found is to hold the <Commanding Mode> button and left click on the tank or soldier target.

The target according to the command interface in your vision is several degrees wide and bright red so as to be easy to click on.

[joblue 0]

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