I hope that talking through some basic points on armour has been useful. Talking about armour is a very popular and cheap alternative to actually using it, hence the phrase: talk is cheap. I am aware that the notes above do not offer many tactically interesting tips. So, in order to ensure that the reader is left with a comprehensive set of answers I offer the following:
Don't get lost. The best way to avoid this is to follow a Big Tank and not a Medium-sized Tank. It is very easy to get lost in armoured vehicles as there are much more interesting things to do than map read. Spinning the turret round, operating the BV (Boiling Vessel) and looking cool are just a few. The infantry, bless them, move in and out of the armoured role with a resulting impact on skill fade. When returning to armoured warfare after time well spent assisting the tourist board in London, the transition is not always seamless. Suddenly the battlefield flashes by at 40 kilometers per hour instead of 25 kilometers per day and two radio nets begin squawking in one's ear. This can lead to rapid disorientation. By contrast the RAC stay in the role and have had time to develop greater turret awareness (i.e, they ignore at least one net). Consequently, when forming up near armour, follow the big stuff - it's much more likely to be heading in the right direction.
Don't get crushed. This is simple and leads on from the point above. When lining up near armour, slot in behind the Troop Sergeant and not the Troop Leader. The reason for this is that the Troop Sergeant has had years of tanking experience, won't get lost and won't crash into you or anything else. The Troop Leader is by no means such a safe bet. The Sergeant is easy to spot, as his tank is the one with all of the bits still attached, no dents in the bins and some paint. The Troop Leader is the exact opposite.
Conclusion
I hope that readers now feel armed with a quiver full of salient points that they should be able to use to cloud a variety of issues related to armour. At the very least, having digested the text above, short work should be made of TEWTS (Tactical Exercises Without Troops), and more time spent in the hostelry!
A Short Guide to Armor Tanks and Techniques
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