The tank pulpit.

Tychandrus · Post by **Tychandrus** » 2005-10-20 16:36

I did a quick search and found no similar threads regarding this issue, so let me be the first to raise it.

As we are all aware, in vanilla BF2, you can duck down into the pulpit of the tank's turret when you want to avoid being shot. Granted, this isn't always effective in Vanilla BF2 because anything explosive sent your way will generally take the tank commander out of his pulpit.

I was wondering if this could be taken further in Project Reality. Here is what I suggest;

The ability to duck into the pulpit and close the hatch above you so that you become truly protected. Granted, when this is done you no longer have the ability to shoot at opposing infantry with the mounted machine gun, but you are safe from anything explosive that may hit the top of the turret.

While in this position, I propose that the commander should still retain his ability to scan the environment surrounding his tank so he can spot targets for the operator of the vehicle's turret, I'm not too unfamiliar with the system that the Abrahams uses, which I believe is some sort of periscope system for searching and painting targets for the gunner. This leaves the issue with the other two tanks though, for the MEC and the Chinese. I'm unaware of the T-90 has a system like this, or the Chinese tank (I know not its name).

Any further thoughts?

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-10-20 18:55

Im not sure about the abrams but i believe (may be wrong) in the challengar 2 the commander's position moves independently from the rest of the turret so that while the turret is engaging a target the commander called out for him, the commander can then scan the area for another target and so on.

I like the idea of closing the hatch, but at the top of the turret any serious explosive threat and youre toast. it would be more useful to stop people from shooting down into the turret.

Tychandrus · Post by **Tychandrus** » 2005-10-20 19:11

Does that mean that, even with the hatch closed, you would still be vulnerable to something explosive hitting the turret of the tank? I was under the impression that those hatches were armoured.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-10-20 19:28

well, they are. but not as much as the rest of the tank. generally the top and back are i belive the lighter areas of the tank armor wise. so say you have a tank going down a street, and an enemy pops up from above and fires a rocket down on the turret, the entire tank is more or less toast if its an effective AT rocket (like the ones used in BF2), much less the guy under the hatch, hes the first to go in that case. to a grenade, the guys probably safe under the hatch, a helo rocket or two, again, whole tank is toast, atillery shell: toast (unless it is the arty that breaks up in the air and rains anti personel bomblets, then he should be safe but those arent factored into BF2.

Thats what i meant by serious explosive threat. if something is made to take out a tank, its best bet is the top of the tanks body, thats why the javelin AT missiles come down at an angle against armor.

Still, the hatch closing is a good idea, it will stop I'd say, most shrapnel and of course bullets.

Enforcer1975 · Post by **Enforcer1975** » 2005-10-20 19:35

Tychandrus wrote:Does that mean that, even with the hatch closed, you would still be vulnerable to something explosive hitting the turret of the tank? I was under the impression that those hatches were armoured.

You will be needing a crane to lift that hatch if it was armored...

Most modern AT missiles are top attack.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-10-20 21:18

the hatch, i believe, is armored, just not the the extent of the other, comparably more readily attackable parts.

Nevermore · Post by **Nevermore** » 2005-10-21 04:33

Anything with a hinge or similar attachment device would also be a weak point in armor...most tanks are weaker on the doors to explosives, as well as anyplace where armor joints/slats come together, this is where you are trained to aim dumbfire rocket projectile weapons, the spaces between the turret and main body of the tank, the tracks, the rear where the radiator/engine is etc.

Eddie Baker · Post by **Eddie Baker** » 2005-10-21 05:05

The Abrams, the T-90 and some upgrade packages for the T-72 and T-80 have the capability to fire the commander's anti-aircraft machinegun from under armor (closed hatch). I believe in the case of the T-tanks, this is done by remote control. The Abrams commander's cupola (and its attached periscopes) can rotate 360-degrees to scan for targets, and the newest versions have the commander's independent thermal sight which can do the same thing.

Tychandrus · Post by **Tychandrus** » 2005-10-21 11:07

Might it be doable for the Project Reality mod, Eddie? Assuming the idea does get enough positive feedback?

Eddie Baker · Post by **Eddie Baker** » 2005-10-21 19:46

Well, "buttoning up" is a good idea, which I'd also like to see implemented, but I am not a coder, so I don't know how possible it is in the engine.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-10-21 21:33

i wonder if its possible to do something like the front ramps on the higgins boats in BF42, except faster. you can do the duck action for quick cover and if things go way down hill you hold the down arrow until the hatch gets closed, of course it wouldnt take very long but its not as fast as a crouch.