M1 Abrams Loader... World's Bravest Soldier

[frederf 0]

Whatever ArmA2OA M1 Abrams variants that have a loader... he cannot turn in. He cannot load the 120mm cannon or rather its loading happens just fine without him as with.

In official missions he draws small arms fire and cannot possibly be expected to survive hanging out in the breeze. How in the world did this blindingly obvious oversight get past BIS? It's readily apparent within the first 3 minutes of play testing mission #3 of the campaign.

[Big Dawg KS 6]

He doesn't do much anyway, so no harm in losing him/leaving him behind.

Or, this just occurred to me, put him in the back of one of the bradleys.

[NoRailgunner 0]

Just wonder why BIS made such a wrong decision?

Now it looks even more that they are not using or playing A2 and OA. Or BIS is putting all blind eyes on and hope that someday someone from the community will fix it?

Since A1/A2 vehicles with exposed gunners have at least 2 unrealistic features:

1. those exposed gunners/loaders cant turn in

2. those exposed gunners/loaders are drawing primary all small guns fire on them - even AI in tanks and with AT launchers are shooting/killing those exposed gunners/loaders before using their ATs.

If there is an engine limitation that cant be "stretched" or circumvent - dont make it worse and ridicule the simulation statement.

[Big Dawg KS 6]

1. those exposed gunners/loaders cant turn in

I'm suspecting because these vehicles have no interiors, and no optics for the turned in units to look through. What do you do then when a player turns in? Add optics which wouldn't be there IRL? Force them into 3rd person? Or just show a black screen? None of these seem like a good solution...

[NoRailgunner 0]

Well why not simulating that the loader can get in and out?

BIS could add small viewblocks so the loader could see whats going on in front and/or to the left side. Interiors would be be the best choice.

[Baron von Beer 0]

Than players can avoid the position. Leaving him exposed because there's no interior modeling is a pretty poor justification for "doing it" totally wrong. Not to mention, the loader should only be out there in extreme circumstances, or if using the main gun is not anticipated.

This does bring another thing to light that would be very nice: if crewman could turn in/out individually. Then the loader could come in and out on his own, and in other cases just because the commander is sticking his head out, the driver doesn't have to as well, etc.

[rübe 127]

Guess who just died as the only one from my team in mission 03: Pathfinder. :rolleyes:

[frederf 0]

I put my loader in the back of a Bradley. However during the common "cut scene" like breaks the mission decides to get clever and shuffle people around vehicles... so he was on the ground and got run over by an IFV.

I shed a tear for the hundreds of fallen M1 loader crew members.

[Imperator[TFD] 444]

They're slightly useful to me, they draw small arms fire that otherwise wouldn't be coming in your direction because AI won't target a tank with small arms.

So until he dies, he helps you locate small infantry units by locating where their fire comes from.

[Iroquois Pliskin 0]

They're slightly useful to me, they draw small arms fire that otherwise wouldn't be coming in your direction because AI won't target a tank with small arms.

So until he dies, he helps you locate small infantry units by locating where their fire comes from.

That's an exploit and everyone uses them against AI enemy tanks while in a M1 with a crew of 4.

ACE2 did an M1A2 with 4 crew seats, loader/m240 gunner can turn in and there is a simple interior/glass window if you're looking with 1st person view.

[nettrucker 144]

He doesn't do much anyway, so no harm in losing him/leaving him behind.

Or, this just occurred to me, put him in the back of one of the bradleys.

I hate losing man. I did not rush in Pathfinder. I moved with caution scanning the area all the time.

In any case it was a poor design decision that the loaders of the tanks can't get in. Poor bastards.LOL.

just my 2 cents.

regards

[CarlGustaffa 4]

I did not rush either. Lost the mission first time due to taking too much time.

In Arma2 the TUSK only had RWS, M2 could not be fired when turned out. Loader station compensated for that. The same approach is used in OA. So skip having the loader present in normal missions, and let that seat be free for the commander if he wants to use a gun when turned out.

Edited July 7, 2010 by CarlGustaffa

[Murklor 10]

Well you got to wonder why an Abrams need a loader to begin with. Enemy tanks dont fire at it anyway so no need to return fire. He could be... Say the bartender instead? Even commanders need to drink.

[frederf 0]

The loader is needed because that's how the 120mm round gets out of the locker and into the breach. Or perhaps I'm missing the point of the question.