Tanks: with or without a gunner?

**Zhohar** · 04-25-2009, 03:48 AM

Simple question: when in a tank, do you prefer someone sitting inside of F2 or no? Why?

I'll post my thoughts once I see a few replies but in general -- I prefer to tank alone.

**Reaperassault** · 04-25-2009, 04:02 AM

The second seat is so-so, defiantly not necessary but has its moments. I wont say never but there are more than likely more important things to do than sit in that tank gun.

Mercenary90 · 04-25-2009, 04:23 AM

I find having the second seat filled is better when working alone, as its sole purpose (in my opinion) is to suppress engineers from damaging you with their Sudniks/Mitchells/Pilums.
Otherwise, you can simply use the inter-squad Teamspeak channels to ask another squad to rocket certain engineers.

**pred011586** · 04-25-2009, 04:23 AM

I'd also say alone, but I guess it depends. Having someone in the gunner seat means he can hop out to repair you no matter where you are without risking having the tank stolen. On the flip side... the gunner seat is kinda... well, reaper said it best with "so-so". Anytime you would need the gunner seat it's almost as easy to just switch and do it yourself. More often than not I'd prefer to drive tanks solo.

**Razcsak** · 04-25-2009, 04:42 AM

Its a decent way to keep an engineer with you for easier repairs, since they cannot keep up on their own. It allows a tank, especially the EU ones. to operate with a PDS, IDS, and be almost fully functional while being repaired in combat. So, yes, but not for the sake of keeping a gunner.

**Hablos** · 04-25-2009, 05:28 AM

For me it depends on the situation. I like to have an engineer in the second seat in areas with lots of infantry cover, like Belgrade and some areas of Verdun.

**Mixa** · 04-25-2009, 05:43 AM

On infantry + armor maps I'd say always, on armor maps there is no need.

Mainly why on infantry maps gunner is useful:

A)Prevents purest pilium maniacs from wrecking you because you can't tell where shots come from.
B)Allows either one to bail from tank to repair, or to get those 4 guys emping and t-bagging your tank

Has many other uses though, for instance engineer may bail and take extra shot on that walker!
C) IDS + PDS is golden combo. You can tell when that walker is incoming behind the corner, or when some1 is trying to flank you with pilium. You will also have emp grenades and mm bait with you so have huge counter against anything trying to kill yo

On armor maps can't really see why you need 2man tank. Distances are so much bigger that you really don't gain huge benefits from anything I pointed up there, and that other person is most likely used better somewhere else!

**LordKelvin** · 04-25-2009, 06:02 AM

I prefer having a gunner who I know can do the job well, coming in as engineer with motion mine bait and PDS. I come in as support with IDS and EMP nades. Ideally, this way we never run out of ammo ( hop out, drop a box, get back in), we can see armor and infantry coming at us, and I can have on the go repairs. Not to mention, if the SL is the tank driver your SM can spawn directly in the gunner seat, no exposure necessary.

On armor maps with a gunship, I'd like to have the second seat gunner pack a SAAW and man the turret against the gunship. Tank MGs are effective against gunships, and he can hop out for a quick SAAW shot if the gunship gets close.

**big-eye101** · 04-25-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hablos

For me it depends on the situation. I like to have an engineer in the second seat in areas with lots of infantry cover, like Belgrade and some areas of Verdun.

I second this.

Plus having an engy in F2 is allways a very good idea

FredWest66 · 04-25-2009, 10:09 AM

I prefer to have someone in my tank, providing my squad isnt around me already, to warn me and spot those pesky guships out.

**DrBeat** · 04-25-2009, 10:32 AM

It isn't necessary, but if someone wants to sit there be my guest!

**Specterr** · 04-25-2009, 11:08 AM

It is always good to have an extra grease monkey around with you, same reason why a walker is so much more effective with two even on maps like Tunis and Belgrade where its AA is useless, actually come to think of it the tank MG is better than the walker MG (for stability and overheating) so in theory it's more effective to have a 2nd in a tank than a walker.

**Lyramion** · 04-25-2009, 11:27 AM

I like a repair monkey on top better !

Having a Gunner depends on the map I guess. When you play a real Armor map and use the Tank as real Sniper a Gunner is just wasted manpower. He can even give away your position by wildly firing at enemy armor lol

On Belgrade a Gunner is a must since the ranges cannot be abused in a satisfiying way.

**Holy** · 04-25-2009, 09:06 PM

I just like to fill it with a support or engineer so I can get some ammo or repairs if I need it.

TheDarkPenguin · 04-25-2009, 09:48 PM

yes, i would. I would first make sure it isn't a bullet spammer. Like, for me, i had a round on belgrade where i jumped in a second seat. I got 8 kills in two minutes, having 2 of them be RDX'ers and 3 more being engys shooting at it. Also, a second guy is good if he is engy because he can get out and repair, as I did.