Why do infantry shoot tanks with their weapons?

[Cagedglobe]

Any ideas?

[xmax]

They aim at sights. I suppose it based on after-battle statistics observations.

[andrey12345 v2.0]

Originally posted by Cagedglobe:

Any ideas?

Let's look at the other side. Why should they _not_ shoot at the tank with their weapons, is there any reason not to do it?

[Cagedglobe]

Do they only target sights? Anything else they try to do to the tank?

[WhipMyWombat]

it was very common for infantry to do whatever they could to destroy or hinder a tank not really much else to say

[Dr. Jimmy Brungus]

Originally posted by andrey12345 v2.0:

Originally posted by Cagedglobe:

Any ideas?

Let's look at the other side. Why should they _not_ shoot at the tank with their weapons, is there any reason not to do it?

Because a smart soldier would know his rifle is ineffective against a tank and would likely not want to draw attention to himself.

[andrey12345 v2.0]

Originally posted by Dr. Jimmy Brungus:

Because a smart soldier would know his rifle is ineffective against a tank and would likely not want to draw attention to himself.

If we use this logic, then there is almost nothing to shoot at the tank. It is difficult to recognize the type of tank during a battle (even to determine whether it is a tank or not a tank is difficult), the probability of hitting is also usually low, especially if the tank is moving, therefore, all weapons can be considered as ineffective.
But in real life tanks are hitted, and mostly when it is ineffective, so your option is unsuitable scenario.

And a more realistic scenario is that the shelling of tanks leads to
1) that their sighting devices and external equipment are damaged;
2) it has an extremely annoying effect on the crews, since from inside the tank there is no way to determine if a shell hit has not penetrated or just a bullet;
3) shelling does not allow tankers to get out of the hatches to detect targets (including anti-tank guns);
4) shelling distracts tankers from AT guns and other important targets.

That is why in the game soldiers shoot at tanks from almost any weapon, if, of course, you or AI allow to do this.

[♥†€XP€N$IV GRI££†♥]

To make tanks button up and reduce sight lines. Tanks also usually have equipment or supplies carried on the external which small arms can destroy. Enough small arms fire or preferably heavy weapons could damage tank mgs, optics, and bullet proof glass panels like on a cupola or covering vision slits.

Also imagine being in a tank trying to communicate, stay focused, and calm while bullets ping off your vehicle left and right. I'd imagine this has at least some effect on moral. Knowing if you get stranded by mechanical failure your trapped in a storm of bullets, waiting to be picked off by an AT round or captured by an advancing enemy. All buttoned up and shelled hard enough by HE and the over pressure can blows out the crews ear drums or even kills them. With small arms their pinned or risk death.

As fore game mechanics it's better to toggle the AI so inf platoons hold fire until tanks are engaged then select targets for inf to focus fire. That can really slow down the rate at which a tank fires and distracts them from more valuable assets. I think it messes up the tanks aim a tad too.

[Waiting to Visit Japan (^.-)]

Originally posted by andrey12345 v2.0:

Originally posted by Dr. Jimmy Brungus:

Because a smart soldier would know his rifle is ineffective against a tank and would likely not want to draw attention to himself.

If we use this logic, then there is almost nothing to shoot at the tank. It is difficult to recognize the type of tank during a battle (even to determine whether it is a tank or not a tank is difficult), the probability of hitting is also usually low, especially if the tank is moving, therefore, all weapons can be considered as ineffective.
But in real life tanks are hitted, and mostly when it is ineffective, so your option is unsuitable scenario.

And a more realistic scenario is that the shelling of tanks leads to
1) that their sighting devices and external equipment are damaged;
2) it has an extremely annoying effect on the crews, since from inside the tank there is no way to determine if a shell hit has not penetrated or just a bullet;
3) shelling does not allow tankers to get out of the hatches to detect targets (including anti-tank guns);
4) shelling distracts tankers from AT guns and other important targets.

That is why in the game soldiers shoot at tanks from almost any weapon, if, of course, you or AI allow to do this.

Army training film supports the dev response.
Jump to 03:45 if you can't wait. (^.^)
4:04 is explicit about the value of shooting optics etc. (per dev point 1 above).
After that it goes into using specialized weapons and unique tactics to "lure" the tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTZfBKw5Mc

[Quick173]

I recall reading that infantry lacking AT weapons would try and separate the attacking tanks from their supporting infantry. Presumably with the attacking infantry suppressed this would make tanks vulnerable to hand held AT weapons used by the troops on defense.