Why do we have tracers rounds?

[CanuckCommander]

Okay i did a search on tracers and didn't find anything.

My question is why do we have tracers rounds for weapons other than light machineguns, heavy MG's, tank coax-guns, etc. In other words, why do we have tracers for rifles such as M16s, L85s?

I thought in the real world, these rifles do not use tracers unless maybe on a night mission or something. Tracers simply give your position away and doesn't help guide your bullets if you have a rifle with a 30 round magazine.

Or maybe this was implemented for balancing purposes because it can help increase battlefield awareness, which is usually lacked in a FPS.

Can someone answer this? THx!

[Jaymz]

Tracer rounds are used in all kinds of situations (night/day) and in all kinds of weapons. Many soldiers I've spoken to tell me that they load out their rifles with all the tracers at the start and end of the mag, so when they stop to reload friendly forces will know the direction of the enemy. That's just one method but the most common is to have the tracers on intervals of four (which is what we have in PR).

Just FYI, the colours....

BLUFOR = Red

OPFOR = Green

Insurgents = None since in RL they're commonly known not to use them to stay concealed.

[Razick]

My question is why do we have tracers rounds for weapons other than light machineguns, heavy MG's, tank coax-guns, etc. In other words, why do we have tracers for rifles such as M16s, L85s?

I thought in the real world, these rifles do not use tracers unless maybe on a night mission or something. Tracers simply give your position away and doesn't help guide your bullets if you have a rifle with a 30 round magazine.

Learn to fire a rifle past 500 yards and you will appreciate when those little worms pop out. Makes hitting your target less of a guessing game at range. Besides people have working ears and will quickly find you after you just wasted thirty rounds trying to hit him.

[milobr]

Yes, plus modern combat doesn't require you to stay concealed and not reveal your position unless you're a sniper or scout.

[MrD]

standard infantrymen get supplied ammo where one round in five is tracer.

They become very, very useful. They allow your section mates to know what you are firing at. They provide an additional element of terror to the enemy when the are landing on target.

You keep a few of them in your pocket to single load in for spotting purposes additionally, shoving one or two in and shouting "watch my tracer, watch my tracer" and then firing them at enemy you feel are a threat and needing more fire bringing on them.

A small group operating behind enemy lines most likely wouldn't pack them, would give them back to the armourer (except those they carry for specific targeting purposes), but a fully supported army would use them as they are supplied.

[charliegrs]

the same holds true for PR. this question kinda answers itself as to why we have tracers. if youve ever been in a squad, and someone in the squad spots an enemy and doesnt have time to tell everyone else, and he starts shooting, well youl know where hes shooting by following his tracers. its extremely useful.

[bosco_]

OPFOR are MEC and China.
BLUFOR are Brits and US.

[Expendable Grunt]

30 round tracer mags in officer kit for .8!

[Deadfast]

Tracers are good for revealing the enemy's position to the rest of your squad/team.

All they need to do is just look where the tracers are going to.

[Thermis]

Having full load out tracers for officer kits might be helpful. Or an option to load a mag of tracers, or tracers every other round. IRL this is how officers and NCOs help to direct fire on targets. It would be more true to life and easier than having to put new attack markers on everything during a firefight.

[gclark03]

In the game, OPFOR tracers are yellow, not green. Also, if they really wanted an element of surprise, why wouldn't the OPFOR use red tracers, or the BLUFOR use green?

[Eddiereyes909]

30 round tracer mags in officer kit for .8!

I second this.

[Spec]

In the game, OPFOR tracers are yellow, not green. Also, if they really wanted an element of surprise, why wouldn't the OPFOR use red tracers, or the BLUFOR use green?

yellow? Maybe my color settings are wrong, but thats green to me.

If you want to confuse the enemie, pick up one of their rifles.

The thing i wonder is, what if for example the MEC would fight china AND USA/Brits? Wouldnt they use a different color then? The russian project is afaik going to fight both, arent they?

[Warmagi]

Why they using different colours? The same why they using different uniforms.

Still no ring?

To avoid friendly fire as much as possible.