Tank Warfare

[Vamaw]

This guide is for those of you who don't know how to use their tanks effectively, or just don't know what tanks are anyway.
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What is a tank?

Your average everyday tank is the most iconic unit in warfare. They've been in use since WWI and will continue to be used until the world realizes how useless war really is (in that case, until the end of time). They're armored units with much more health than the troops in the infantry branch, but can be much more vulnerable in some areas. Tanks strive in flat plains but are extremely vulnerable in urban provinces. This makes them a very unreliable troop type (not including mechanized infantry).

How do I use my tanks?

They're called tanks for a reason, they tank damage, absorb it, this is why they're usually a front-line unit, while they can also be used defensively, they're arguably more useful on the offensive end. The main difference between infantry and tanks is that infantry dies easily, and while tanks do a good amount of damage to infantry, infantry can't do as much to tanks. They're best used as an anti-infantry team, especially against Militia, which is really, really bad against tanks. When in a tank-against-tank situation, the winner is the one has a bigger stack, higher leveled units and a more diverse stack. However, tanks are extremely vulnerable against 2 units, the fearsome Anti-Tank, and airplanes. Both can do a LOT of damage to tanks, this is why you should never, ever make tank only stacks.

So what should I do when facing Anti-tanks and Airplanes?

To face both of these Dilemmas you need a diverse unit stack, by diverse I mean Anti-air and infantry. Usually, a tank stack combined with some mot. (motorized) infantry and SPAA (self-propelled-Anti-Air) is best. Mot. Infantry for the Anti-tank, SPAA against pesky tactical bombers. You'll need to get some reinforcements every once in a while though, this stack is usually meant for blitzkrieg tactics, and isn't meant to last a long time.

One more unit you don't want your tanks to face are rockets. No, not the level 1 rockets that can easily be shot down. I'm talking about level 2 (and up) rockets, every gold-whales favorite nuisance. While they can be easily avoided by moving your units, a stack sitting still will become easy prey for an enemies rockets. No matter how much Anti-air you got, these type of rockets will always hit a still target. While not as much damaging at lower levels, these pests are really annoying at higher levels, especially nuclear ones, but by that time you'll probably have your own too. The key to avoiding rockets here is to keep moving, even if you don't see a rocket headed your way, keep moving your stack around, even in circles.

How many tanks are there?

There are 5 main armored units, and 2 support units:

Armored Car

The simplest form of an armored unit, you usually start off with two in every game. These Speedy Wagons are very good for capturing enemy provinces early for their sheer speed compared to infantry. At the start of the game you usually send them to an unguarded enemy city to destroy it's infrastructure, it can also be used in plains as a defensive unit for their health (which is a bit higher than infantries). Even though they're cheap, they become worthless mid-late game since they're outclassed by many other units including the much better light tank. Very vulnerable to other tanks and airplanes, average against infantry

Light Tank

This is the second Armored unit you can unlock in the research tree. overall, it's an average unit, much better than the armored car, but only really dangerous at level 6 an upwards of that. They're best used to capture enemy provinces quickly, just like you would with an armored car. Although they can also be used in the front-line as an attack unit, best paired with infantry and anti-tanks. They can be mass produced due to their relatively cheap price and production speed, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you know your enemy doesn't have a lot of anti-tank units. Decent against infantry, Decent against tanks, vulnerable against airplanes.

Medium Tank

The Medium Tank is an all round unit for all your attacking needs. They come in between light and heavy tanks. they deal a good amount of damage to infantry and a bit more damage to tanks, making them effective against both. Very useful as an attacking unit due to their damage values and best paired with infantry, anti-tanks and anti-air. While still being very vulnerable in urban provinces, they're very powerful in plains. While their speed isn't on par with the light tank, a battle between the two would easily result in the medium tank winning. Good amount of damage to both infantry and tanks, vulnerable against airplanes.

Heavy Tank

This unit is the gold-standard in tank-warfare. Combine an immense amount of health points with one of the highest damage values in the game and you'll get the heavy tank. A slow moving fortress of a tank. Heavy tanks do an unholy of damage to both infantry and tanks, while doing more damage to tanks than infantry. They have much more health points than most other units in the game, and are usually used as either a defensive unit, or an offensive one. While on defense, they're best put in plains, where they can do an extreme amount of damage to any tank or infantry unit unlucky to get in it's way. Just one heavy tank unit can hold off a horde of units long enough for backup to arrive. While as an offensive unit, they do pretty much the same thing, obliterate any enemy unit in their way. Although still vulnerable to anti-tanks and airplanes, that can easily be swayed off by accompanying your tanks with other support units. I wouldn't advise moving with this unit in an urban province unless they have some infantry to accompany them, they're very vulnerable in those areas. Great amount of damage to infantry, even greater damage to tanks, vulnerable against airplanes.

Tank Destroyers

This unit is the armored version of an anti-tank. They're very damaging to other tanks, but vulnerable to both infantry and airplanes. These are defensive units, not meant for attacking due to their low attack values. While they are seen as the best anti-tank units. They're outclassed by both the regular anti-tank, and the heavy tank, which both do a better job really. Bad against infantry, Great against tanks, vulnerable to airplanes.

Self-Propelled Anti-Air

These are one of the best support units in the game. If you're ready to march on enemy territory, and fear your enemy might try and counter with planes, these are the units for you. Speedy, double the health of the original anti-air, and very damaging to Airplanes that try to attack (especially at higher levels). While they're very weak against infantry and armored units, they're a support unit, which means you should always accompany them with other troops. The urban province penalty still applies to these units, which means they're much weaker in cities, but the plain bonus (which adds 50% to damage, and defense values) outweighs the urban penalty. Best used in an army on the move. Bad against both infantry and tanks, Great when defending against Airplanes.

Self-propelled Artillery

The best support unit in the game, they're just like normal artillery, but a bit more damaging and have double the health. While at first glance you may think that this unit is just an artillery with wheels, while they're actually very, very dangerous in numbers. Just 10 of them can reduce any stack to ashes. Combine about 5 self-propelled artillery with an equal number of Self-propelled anti-air and you'll have on of the best combinations in the game. These units are best suited to pounding enemies from a safe distance since they can easily be destroyed by any unit in close range. put these units in the back, launch your initial stack forward and watch your enemies fall. Good against tanks and infantry, vulnerable against Airplanes.

Mechanized infantry

An armored version of the standard infantry unit. These units have no disadvantages while in urban territories (and also no advantages while in plains) so these units are best suited to accompany other armored vehicles into cities where normal infantry usually has an advantage. While they aren't so great at attacking other tanks, and still vulnerable to airplanes and anti-tank, they pack a punch against any sort of infantry unit in the game. A bit expensive but useful late-game. Great against infantry, decent against tanks, vulnerable to airplanes.

When should I produce tanks?

Produce them if your country has a lot of oil, and preferably, a lot of plains. For example let's compare between Libya and Poland.

Libya: lots of oil, very flat, perfect for tanks to strive.

Poland: much less oil than Libya, relatively hilly, not as good for tanks to be useful.

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Conclusion

Diversify your stack, watch the anti-tank and airplanes, don't mass produce tanks unless you know you've got enough oil. Tanks can cause a real problem to anyone who isn't prepared, use them tactically and efficiently, and your enemies won't stand a chance.

(Sorry for the long post tell me if you don't understand a certain word or segment or if I missed something)

[Ryan04px2025]

The member 'Ryan04px2025' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Dice 1' : 1

[Vamaw]

Thanks for the reply I'm trying to make a series of guides exclusive to this forum.

[Schrez]

Heavy tanks aren't that good for an offensive type of play, they're very slow. However for defensive, they're very, very good, especially if you've got anti-air with them, making them very deadly against oncoming unarmoured unit or even armoured units. They're basically a moving fortress. This is my first reply on the website, not really sure what I should say, lol.

[Ryan04px2025]

Yes indeed. Schrez, you can like by pressing the plus sign on the right of each post. Just to let you know. You can read the rules and and all that. I will make you a moderator of a specific aspect of the forum. Once again, welcome. I should've let you make your own introduction

[Ryan04px2025]

Anti Air


Anti Air is technically in the armoured branch but not a tank. You can add self propelled anti air to a attacking unit to protect them. Point out that they are not used to attack, they are normally used to defend your troops. They cannot attack planes because anti air cannot fly into the sky and come back down, they can only defend. You can change your title to armoured unit.


Armoured Car

I think it is called armoured vehicle. I agree with your points in this paragraph. You normally use it to attack enemy territories in the beginning of each game. (Day 1 -3) After that, you can use motorized infantry and light/medium tanks. They are easy to build but too basic so I suggest that you start with light tank and try not to produce armoured vehicle/car.



Light Tank


You have to research Armoured Vehicle to research light Tank. I recommend that you research light tank in Day 1 so that you can produce this in provinces that have infrastructure and industrial complex other than armoured vehicle because this is generally better and stronger. But if you think that it is vulnerable against airplanes, you can also add in anti air.


Medium Tank


I agree that it is very helpful. They are very helpful against crashing through enemy lines. Once again put in anti air. Please note that the heavier/more armour there is, the unit will generally be slower. If you want to speed it up, you can add motorized unit to speed up the tank. Yes, the heavy tank will win the medium and the medium will win the light and the light will possibly win the armoured vehicle but each of them are stronger but slower


Heavy Tank


I personally do not use heavy tank because I think that you will not go to the point of using it. They are really slow and can be researched in a late time period where your medium tank already rules. You can use them in plains because they are weak in urban territories. They are really expensive to produce and I do not recommend you to mass produce it. Well, technically, you cannot do it.


Tank Destoryers


It comes to mind that they destroy tanks easily. But how do you desotroy tank destroyer when they are near your tanks? For me, I will send forward a couple of infantry units and maybe some mechanized/motorized infantry under the infantry tech branch. After the destroyer is finished the tanks will continue. So always accompany some other units with your tank.


Self Propelled Artillery

I agree that they are very powerful and almost twice as powerful as the not self propelled one. But just 10 will reduce a stack to ashes. You cannot get 10 easily without removing your tanks and infantries our of the way. Producing a couple of these will be enough.


Mechanized infantry


This unit is pretty good because it has no disadvantages in some terrains but it does not fall into the infantry category.


For Poland, you can produce tanks after you conquer other provinces that have plains and border with other countries.




Long post are ok. Kind of like a Manuel and a place to refer to if you have any questions.

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