Hell Let Loose: Tank Commander Role Guide
4 min readDo you have what it takes to lead a tank crew through the battlefield? Not afraid to make daring plays with your tank and change the course of a battle? Meet the Tank Commander, a role that will challenge even the most experienced players.
As a Tank Commander, you’ll be leading a tank crew consisting of yourself and two crewmen. Your unit will have the following setup:
- Commander: You
- Driver: Crewman
- Gunner: Crewman
In times of need, or crewmen being MIA, you may need to take up the mantle of driving or gunning your tank – so keep that in mind!
Playing the Tank Commander, you’ll unsurprisingly find most of your time within the tank in the Commander seat. This position within the tank grants the widest visibility range, giving you a 360-degree view around your tank via the periscope. If you’re swapping between seats in your tank, the periscope will lock itself in the position you last left it.
From the Commander position, you’ll be able to keep valuable information to both your driver and gunner, who have far less visibility than you. Use this advantage to call in obstacles, threats and allied/enemy movements that your crew would otherwise be unaware of.
Key Duties
Commander
Calm under pressure, tactical and mindful of their surroundings. A successful Tank Commander embodies these three traits.
You will decide where your tank goes, what targets to prioritise and when to engage the enemy. This rings true for not only managing your own crew but also the requests of the infantry Officers on your team.
The Tank Commander has access to the Officer voice channel, which means you’ll often receive requests for armour support in key battles. Sometimes you’ll have to make tough decisions, such as where to provide help and who to leave without armoured support.
Keep in close contact with other armoured units on your team to maximise your presence on the battlefield, whether that’s by working closely together, or ensuring you’re spread out to cover enough ground.
Tank Defender
The Tank Commander’s loadout is far superior to that of a crewman, armed with an SMG compared to their pistol. Because of this, you should be prepared to jump out of your tank if the opportunity arises to attack enemy Engineers and other infantry that may be harassing you up close. Taking this approach also means both the driver and gunner can remain active, keeping the tank both mobile and dangerous.
This is a risky move, but it can make all the difference in keeping your tank and its crew alive or rolling over a rapidly placed AT mine.
Loadouts
American Tank Commander
- M1A1 Thompson
- Colt M1911 Pistol
- Bandages
- Westinghouse M3 6×30 Binoculars
German Tank Commander
- MP40
- Walther P38 Pistol
- Bandages
- Dientsglas 6×30 Binoculars
Combat Tips
Look before you leap – Using your binoculars will allow you to scout the path ahead for enemy mines or ambushes. When safe, take the opportunity to do this – especially on paths and roads.
Better together – Tanks are strong on their own, but stronger when working alongside infantry or other tanks. This will reduce the chance of your tank being isolated by the enemy, flanked and destroyed.
Eyes in the back of your head – If you find yourself driving or gunning as a Tank Commander, leave your Commander periscope facing behind the tank. This will allow you to quickly check if the enemy is sneaking up behind you.
Stay vocal – Talk to your crew, inform your driver on where you’d like to go, tell your gunner ahead of time what you’d like them to prioritise and inform your crew of threats, obstacles and troop movements as soon as possible.
A friend in need – Listen out for allies requesting assistance via comms. Tanks can quickly change the tide of a battle.
Ask and you shall receive – If your tank is damaged and far from HQ, use either Officer or proximity comms to request a repair station be built. You can also ask a friendly Engineer to come and repair your tank.
Are you ready to take the role and lead your crew into victory? Don’t forget, Hell Let Loose will have another Closed Beta Test from 26th to 29th of April, so pre-order your copy today if you want to be able to participate, and also get the opportunity to give two Beta Keys to your friends so they can also play with you.
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