Why does everyone do so poorly with armor?

[doop-de-doo]

The elements of Anti-Armor are (AFAIK):
Mines/Artillery IEDs
Suicide vehicles
Man-portable rockets
Fixed position rockets
Air-to-surface missiles
Bombs

Communication is intel.

Get good intel BEFORE advancing.
Include AA in your tank squad.
Work with air support if possible.
Support the infantry.
Don't tard rush.

[Hunt3r]

The problem is that in a map like Kashan, it's really very very easy to win if your infantry keep up their part of the deal, capping flags, falling back as needed, etc. All it takes is for one squad that knows how to use the tanks, which applies in pubs, especially. I can very easily catch two tanks by surprise, as long as I know the general area in which they are, which can be something as broad as "up north".

I just played a round of Kashan 64 as MEC, who was losing from the start. I managed to take out 2 TOWs, once while the missile was still in flight, and we lived through it, and also a Black Hawk. I also managed to take out their FOB in North Bunkers. Then, I RTB, jump in a BMP3, go out to transport some guys, and get TOW'd for my trouble. I then return in a T-72, take out another Black Hawk, and a tank before I ctd'd. If I didn't CTD, I would have probably taken out the other tank that was with it.

So all in all, 2 TOWs, 2 Black Hawks, 2 FOBs, 1 supply truck, and two tanks, being optimistic. I'd also guess about 4 infantry too. I returned 1 T-72 to main, and used a BMP3. Being worst case scenario, I lost about 30-40 tickets for the team, but made the US Army lose around 64 tickets for their trouble.

[Rudd]

people don't do well in armour because they dont use any recon imo. they think recon means getting out of the tank to listen, thats not recon, recon is working with an infantry squad or a commander or scout chopper.

The problem is that in a map like Kashan, it's really very very easy to win if your infantry keep up their part of the deal, capping flags, falling back as needed, etc

this is the thinking that is best left behind, its not US and THEM. you are 1 Team, you are arms and legs of a body, you can't play a game of tennis with just an arm, you gotta get those legs moving too.

my favourite setup -

2 tanks, 1 APC/IFV, that way I am the firesupport for an infantry squad, and I can transport them as well.
This effectively turns 2 6man squads in to 1 12man squad with a far wider range of capabilities.

Enemy armour? your tanks can take the front row, infantry can get a HAT off your APC, your APC might also have AT capability.

Enemy AT? your infantry can move up, neutralise the AT and then the armour can mop up the rest.

an infantry squad with a HAT is powerful

a tank squad is powerful

a IFV is powerful

an infantry squad with a HAT, moving with an IFV that has AT and ammo flanked by heavy armour is nigh on impossible to stop.

Add a helicopter in to the mix for mobile supply drops and reinforcing friendlies, and it just gets sweeter and sweeter, if ther is CAS avaliable the infantry squad can mark targets for you, hell if your tank goes down and you are bleeding, the infantry's medic can save you, and you can get temporary kits from the APC. All you need to do is stay calm, move deliberately with specific responsibilities assigned

Its not US and THEM, you are one team.

If one of you suffers, you all suffer, if one of you suceeds you all suceed. All it takes is a quick chat in text or mumble to get stuff rolling.

Mumble SL meetings not using the radio are remarkably effective in this scenario, as this leaves the radio channel clear, and your nearby squad members can hear the planning taking place so that they understand what is expected of them.

[Hunt3r]

For the most part, this sounds like an attractive solution, but you have to realize that the infantry also have to stay in the bunker complex or risk getting picked off by long range weapons like armor and TOWs/snipers. The fact is that while tanks and IFVs should be used in this way whenever possible, infantry will live longer if they aren't near the big and intimidating targets that draw all the fire. Armor is a breakthrough weapon, and should be used as cavalry in PR, not as a weapon to do frontal charges. IFVs can transport infantry, but if there's transport helicopters, those will get the job done far better. Unless IFVs can take heavy autocannon to the front, and tanks be able to take a single TOW without getting tracked, and shrugging off MBT sabot to the front, then AFVs will have to act as cavalry, using the flanks to deliver punishing fire, and running off before the enemy can react. AFVs have immense mobility in PR, it's a waste to not use it. IFVs can transport infantry, but if they stay with infantry dismounts, they're putting themselves at undue risk by staying there, rather then running off to rejoin the MBTs and continuing their cavalry mission.

I used a Bradley for maybe 20 minutes on Kashan, and for the cost of one, or maybe two Bradleys, I took out a T-72, and a BMP-3. 3 more unaccounted kills, too, possibly from destroying another tank or an APC.

[Pronck]

I see that the biggest problem on INS is that you don't have a good kit that could disarm mines/IEDs. So the tanks aren't able to get into the city safely. And because most servers aren't advertising for the use of mumble you won't get far with an infantry squad supporting you. So the best solutions are : EOD Rifleman

Setup;

M16A4/M4 W/Aimsight (No ACOG!)
Wrench (Which cannot repair things, only disarm explosives)
Shovel
3x Incendiary Grenades
2x Smoke
Binoculars
Patch.

WHen you got that kind of kit, the insurgents won't be able to make bomb-cars when they capture the kit.

And if you got a good mumble server , with all the people from the game server on it your inf. escort will be much better and will escort you safey trough the city.

[lromero]

I see that the biggest problem on INS is that you don't have a good kit that could disarm mines/IEDs. So the tanks aren't able to get into the city safely. And because most servers aren't advertising for the use of mumble you won't get far with an infantry squad supporting you. So the best solutions are : EOD Rifleman

Setup;

M16A4/M4 W/Aimsight (No ACOG!)
Wrench (Which cannot repair things, only disarm explosives)
Shovel
3x Incendiary Grenades
2x Smoke
Binoculars
Patch.

WHen you got that kind of kit, the insurgents won't be able to make bomb-cars when they capture the kit.

And if you got a good mumble server , with all the people from the game server on it your inf. escort will be much better and will escort you safey trough the city.

That sounds like a good idea but it shouldn't replace the engineer kit

[Bunnyman]

The fact is that while tanks and IFVs should be used in this way whenever possible, infantry will live longer if they aren't near the big and intimidating targets that draw all the fire. Armor is a breakthrough weapon, and should be used as cavalry in PR, not as a weapon to do frontal charges. IFVs can transport infantry, but if there's transport helicopters, those will get the job done far better.

Not sure I agree, it seems like a decent idea to have a mix of units in most cases. A transport heli can get wasted much quicker than an APC which can hide behind tanks if only for a moment and quickly disperse its infantry before the APC blows. If you are an enemy firing at a vehicle column and trying to take on tanks, you blow an APC at the back but then you have a squad running around your targets have just multiplied. If you throw in an attack helicopter to the combination, they can really give you a headache whilst you are trying to deal with all the different elements. I think what you are saying is that an inf unit is best moving quickly in any case, but it will always be vulnerable on its own anyway even if it is drawing less attention to itself.