How to use the BMP-1?

[Obi-Wan]

The BMP is a strange thing. It is not fast enough to be a real light tank (it's about as fast as a Panther A) therefore a 279 (god I hate this cancer 279) reaches a cap point about at the same time as you. You are so badly "protected" even normal machine guns from a T29 will kill you. And the depression isn't enough to use it hull down. So what are you supposed to do with it?

[burg4401]

Play rb, being able to be killed by mg is no good in ab. some things are just no good in ab.
grind the 2nd missile......mouse aimed.
then you become death.

[Obi-Wan]

I am playing only RB, it''s just the situation was forced to CQB by the T29 and I had no choice but to engage. The rockets are ... so so...they're only 4, the mouse aiming is not that accurate (basically I pray every time I hit something vital).

[Shard]

You said mouse-aiming, so I guess you already got the BMP-1P upgrade (it's pretty important). If you get the engine upgrades (Filters, Transmission, Engine) you should notice a considerable difference. That said, the BMP-1 is pretty sluggish for a light tank.

I often find it to be performing the best, when you go to a route you know enemies will take, and then defend it. If your are staying still you'll always have your missiles and your main gun ready to fire. The combined firepower is excellent for keeping multiple enemies away. Otherwise just flank and stay in hiding until you spot enemy light tanks, your gun and missiles will make short work of any lightly armoured target. Always use your main gun as your first measure, either ammo-rack your opponent or take out their gunner/barrel. If you find it necessary, use the missile only to finish them off in CQB.

I always found it to be a bit overhyped. Sometimes I do have an exceptional moment where I can take out a ton of enemies with my armament, but most of the time I also end up being killed instantly. Never use it alone on the frontline.

[Obi-Wan]

Originally posted by Shard:

You said mouse-aiming, so I guess you already got the BMP-1P upgrade (it's pretty important). If you get the engine upgrades (Filters, Transmission, Engine) you should notice a considerable difference. That said, the BMP-1 is pretty sluggish for a light tank.

I often find it to be performing the best, when you go to a route you know enemies will take, and then defend it. If your are staying still you'll always have your missiles and your main gun ready to fire. The combined firepower is excellent for keeping multiple enemies away. Otherwise just flank and stay in hiding until you spot enemy light tanks, your gun and missiles will make short work of any lightly armoured target. Always use your main gun as your first measure, either ammo-rack your opponent or take out their gunner/barrel. If you find it necessary, use the missile only to finish them off in CQB.

I always found it to be a bit overhyped. Sometimes I do have an exceptional moment where I can take out a ton of enemies with my armament, but most of the time I also end up being killed instantly. Never use it alone on the frontline.

Since this is WT and the team always does whatever Valak tells them to, alone is often how you'll find yourself. I played it just now and I was at 7.7 (Leo 1 + Bmp + Tiger II + jagdpanther + Wirble) and I got to the long wall zone on Middle East so I sniped a Obj 120 that was climbing up near C and then immediately got killed by a T-54 from behind the wall....I assumed at 7.7 most would use heat so being behind the wall, I would be protected. Nope.

[11hunter22]

What holds it back imo is it's combination HUGE silhouette + bad gun depression. You have to expose your giant hull if you ever want to be able to kill anything, compare that to the R3 t106 which can hide its already small hull and still be able to kill anything. And it's significantly faster and can evade/ hide from planes.
I wouldn't want to trade those advantages for 4 lousy rockets

[RustyNail]

While there are vehicles in the game that I really do not like - the BMP-1 is not on that list. It's not an easy vehicle. I almost never get more than 3 kills in it. To get that far I had to learn by failing.

It's simple: you've already identified some of its limitations. Once you know what doesn't work - the solution is always: do something different.

Try not to be seen or heard until you're ready to deliver the knockout. That's not easy to do- not at all - but it's the cornerstone of success in the BMPs. Your smart opponents will spray you with HMG/20mm on sight. You cannot let them see you.

[Slyke]

If you want to be useful (if not truly effective), what you do is
- flank (but not too deep or too far),
- prefer shallow cover (in some cases you can even lob your main gun rounds over it),
- spot as much as possible (preferably from cover), especially targets in position to do the most harm and those that are out of the way (you can take the time since you aren't going anywhere, might as well spot those whom your more aggressive team mates could have missed),
- when attacking stay in the second echelon and only move up or cap if you're safe or there's no other choice,
- "snipe" enemies caught in the open with missiles, otherwise use those for extra heavy targets.

The vehicle is super awkward to use and vulnerable, but it has lethal armaments and it can spot.

[Obi-Wan]

The problem is that due to gun depression, bad gp, you cannot aim the rockets from a safe place. So that already limits you.

[Obi-Wan]

It doesn't matter anyway. It's the worst game of all time, right up there with Driver San Francisco and Big Rigs.

[Slyke]

Exactly so. That's why I placed spotting is way up on the list and using your weapons (or even moving outside of presumably "safe" zone) is at the bottom. You'll have to REALLY pick your targets and timing well to do anything. And while you wait for the opportunity to strike, just stay hidden and spot for your team. You'd be surprised how much doing that increases your win rate.

Ideally you should also never take it as backup. Positioning and knowledge of where the enemy is (and isn't) is extremely important for this vehicle and you usually don't have that on your second spawn. Not to mention that it tends to get shredded by airplanes in late game.

<Edit>
Ah, never mind. Sorry I've wasted my time explaining how to do better in the worst game. Good luck doing something else. -_-

[Ben Doverson]

Just use it as intended - cover your troops. Hence don't

[Stellar Fox]

at least it's a better vehicle than the leopard 1.