Tank spotting 1km clear day -

[Euri]

Did some tests (with various blue and red tanks) and the conclusion is that in all cases, irrespective of the type of tank, a tank unbuttoned will spot quick an enemy tank at his 12 o clock 1km away on clear flat terrain. 

Conclusion: Always unbutton

[Muzzleflash1990]

IIRC someone did adhoc tests long ago. They seemed to indicate that unbuttoning improved short range spotting, especially for tanks to the sides, but buttoning up improved long range spotting especially to the front, since then the narrow-vision improvements provided by optics exceeded the wide field of vision by the eye. (Of course in WW2 games, unbuttoning is generally always better).

About your conclusion, sure, but many tanks are not in the open (if they are then often hull-down), rather they are between foliage, where thermal vision might do better?

Edited October 26, 2016 by Muzzleflash1990

[Euri]

The parameters where 1km distance, day clear, tanks facing each other. Thus, other things being equal, unbuttoning improves spotting during a clear day. Period. :-) 

[Machor]

And there's nothing surprising with this finding given the fact that the TC has binoculars.

My personal 'rule' from experience is to keep any TC who has thermals buttoned. Also, consider that getting your TC killed by a sniper pretty much mission-kills the tank.

[Kuderian]

From page 15 in the Black Sea manual ;

* Buttoned-up armored vehicles spot enemies to their flanks less effectively.

[Euri]

1 hour ago, Kuderian said:

From page 15 in the Black Sea manual ;

* Buttoned-up armored vehicles spot enemies to their flanks less effectively.

Applies also to the dead front (12 o clock)

[c3k]

There are some differences. Now, at short ranges, sure, the head out wins. (Until he gets shot.  )

But, some tanks *cough - Abrams - cough* give the TC some pretty friggin' good spotting devices. Thermals with magnification. Vehicles like that do better with the TC buttoned up...at ranges beyond "short" and especially with conditions other than "day".

[Euri]

33 minutes ago, c3k said:

There are some differences. Now, at short ranges, sure, the head out wins. (Until he gets shot.  )

But, some tanks *cough - Abrams - cough* give the TC some pretty friggin' good spotting devices. Thermals with magnification. Vehicles like that do better with the TC buttoned up...at ranges beyond "short" and especially with conditions other than "day".

Dont you believe me that based on my testing it applies to all tanks in long ranges? Happy to share the test file

[Euri]

Here it is, to whom it may concern :-) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9z2aTq5oxcqaGMzZGNjSTBiRGs