M1 Tank Platoon 2 [solve]
 
 =====================
 ::Radon::
 radon@myrealbox.com
 radon@gamebox.net
 =====================
 
  M1 Tank Platoon II
  ==================
 TROUBLESHOOTER
 
 Andrew Wright, whoås been shut up inside his virtual M1 for
 months, pops his head out the hatch long enough to provide a few
 hints on MicroProseås hugely impressive M1 Tank Platoon II...
 
 MicroProseås M1 Tank Platoon II is one of the best sims there is,
 full stop, and itås so realistically modelled that anything that
 works in real life works in the game.
 As in the real world, planning is the key. No plan ever survives
 contact with the enemy, but without one your sunk. Look at your
 assets, the units the enemy is likely to have and the terrain
 involved. In offensive operations, look for safe corridors that will
 shield you from fire as you move into position Ñ low ground is
 ideal. In defence, analyse the terrain and look for killing zones
 where you can damage OPFOR without taking risks.
 Donåt just head straight for the objective when you attack. Identify
 lesser objectives that will lead to the main one. For example, drive
 the enemy armour off hills overlooking the objective, or deploy
 long-range anti-tank missile-capable units such as M2 Bradleys to
 cover high ground behind the objective.
 Focus on your mission Ñ it might seem like fun to deviate from
 your plan to knock out a few hapless T72s at 2000m, but it wastes
 ammo and can jeopardise the mission.
 Scouts are vital, so if you have infantry vehicles, detach one or
 two for scouting - minus their infantry complement. Just keep
 them moving fast and close to cover. When they do spot the
 enemy, pull them straight back. Choppers, which can spot over a
 wide area, are excellent scouts, too. Just call them up and send
 them wherever you think the enemy forces are.
 Donåt waste your artillery or air support by only calling it up when
 youåre in trouble. As soon as the game starts, get pounding likely
 enemy positions.
 Move in dispersed formations but fight en masse. Bunched-up
 forces are vulnerable to all kinds of attacks, so move with your
 vehicles well spaced. When you attack, do it with everything
 youåve got. If necessary, halt your lead elements and wait until
 the rest catch up before launching the actual assault. Try to
 concentrate your forces against smaller enemy formations. The
 chances are youåll annihilate them without loss.
 
 PLAN.GIF
 Note the use of waypoints to manoeuvre the platoons into position
 behind the ridge. Once in place, the two teams will edge forward
 into hulldown positions and start the assault.
 
 Know your enemy
 Know your enemy and learn how to prioritise your targets
 quickly. M1s are largely impervious to anti-tank fire over 1000m,
 so target any tanks Ñ even T72s Ñ inside this range. T80s and T90s
 up to 2000m are also a threat, while the least appreciated threat
 is the ATGM. Forget the BMP-1s as their AT-4 Spigot ATGMs canåt
 penetrate an M1 and neither can BRDM-2s or BTRs. However, later
 vehicles like the BMP-2 and 3 and the BRDM-3 carry effective
 ATGMs with ranges up to 3000m, so donåt ignore them.
 If youåre attacked from the side, virtually anything can kill you, so
 be ready to back up or face your attacker very quickly. The Shift-
 G hotkey, added in the version 1.2 patch, is vital as it turns your
 tank to face either the CITV or 50-calibre gun, depending on
 which view mode you are in.
 
 SHORT RANGE.GIF
 These T72s have no chance against the M1ås powerful gun.
 T80.GIF
 T80s are a different proposition entirely from the older T72s.
 Treat with caution!
 MG.GIF
 If all else fails, the 50-calibre will punch through the armour of
 most light-armoured vehicles.
 
 Poor bloody infantry
 Itås very tempting to leave your infantry vehicles - Bradleys, LAVs
 and M113s Ñ under cover and fight it out with your M1s. However,
 TOW-equipped vehicles like the M2 Bradley have long-range
 firepower (up to 3750m) that shouldnåt be ignored. They can be
 placed 1000m to 2000m behind the M1s and still do some
 damage.
 US infantry units consist of four or five soldiers armed with AT4s,
 Javelins and Stingers. Although the AT4s have a range of only
 300m, the Javelins can kill out to 2500m. The Stingers are also
 excellent against anti-aircraft weapons.
 The main problem with infantry is that they can be spotted at
 unrealistically long ranges and canåt go to ground, so are always
 vulnerable. Best tactics are to dismount infantry on reverse slopes,
 where they can hit anything coming over the crest very hard.
 Spread your men out. The default formation is close line abreast,
 so one shell can often take them out. You need to manually move
 them, a unit at a time, to make them less vulnerable.
 The only worthwhile cover for men is a burning vehicle, although
 they are less visible (it seems) if placed next to trees.
 
 ONFOOT.GIF
 A five-man infantry team dismount from their Bradley. Note the
 guy with the excellent Javelin ATGM.
 
 ONFOOT2.GIF
 OPFOR troops Ñ read Soviet/Russian Ñ have only short-range RPG
 anti-tank weapons.
 
 THERMAL.GIF
 Always use your thermal sights when spotting. These OPFOR
 infantry wouldnåt otherwise have been spotted.
 
 VULNFOOT.GIF
 Infantry on foot are extremely vulnerable.
 
 Ten top tips
 Beware of roads Ñ the enemy AI expects you to use them.
 When crossing a crest line, do so with as many tanks as possible.
 That way, if thereås a nasty surprise, you donåt have half-a-dozen
 125mm shells heading towards just one vehicle.
 When advancing, keep your infantry-carrying vehicles 1000m or
 more behind the spearhead M1 platoon. However, keep your air
 defence vehicles just behind the M1s for maximum effect.
 In an assault, place your M1s in wedge formation in the centre,
 with Bradleys or LAVs in echelon left and right to form a large
 wedge formation. Use smoke generators to create a screen, and
 call in artillery to keep the defenderså heads down.
 Itås hard to hit moving forces with artillery, but if you use the
 zoom map to work out a rough speed and direction, then lead off
 several hundred metres, with practice you should get the strike
 right. The other trick is to call for artillery straight on to the first
 OPFOR scout vehicles you see Ñ by the time the rounds start
 landing, the main force should be arriving.
 Before calling in air support, do your best to get rid of air defences
 (called SEAD Ñ suppression of enemy air defence Ñ in US military
 jargon). This includes ZSUs and self-propelled SAM launchers.
 The best defence against infantry-launched ATGMs is to call in
 mortars or artillery right on top, then launch smoke and take
 evasive action.
 Donåt split your platoons except for vital scouting missions. Single
 M1s will be punished severely by OPFOR. Splitting a platoon into
 two two-tank sections for overwatch purposes is acceptable, but
 losses tend to be higher.
 Donåt just look for one firing position, look for several. Fire three
 or four shots and then retire or advance to the next firing position
 and so on. This minimises the chance of an OPFOR artillery strike Ñ
 or a visit by Havocs and Hinds.
 Accurate firing is essential. Keep your crosshairs on your target
 and follow the target smoothly. Lase it for range, either with the
 spacebar or joystick button 2, and then fire. Donåt forget to
 consciously follow through for a second afterwards. That will you
 will hit nine out of ten targets out to 2750m.
 
 HULLDOWN.GIF
 Hulldown positions reduce the chances of a hit, although it didnåt
 help this BMP-3...
 
 WEDGE.GIF
 A three-platoon wedge formation with refused flanks on either
 side is very effective under the right conditions.