Anti-tank rifles are my favorite kinds of weapons in FH2, just as they were in FH1, and I read through every thread in this section and didn't see any threads that were specifically for these rifles (as opposed to other methods of dealing with armor). So I'm hoping to make a thread to discuss tips and tactics for using AT rifles, get some questions answered, and so on. Chip in and don't be shy.
A few questions I've got to start us off: (I know a lot of these seem like they might be answered by in game practice, but I've probably got 10 hours of practice with the Boys rifle done already and I'm hoping this thread can both teach people new things they didn't know about AT rifles as well as confirming things you've never been sure of).
1 - I've used AT rifles for killing infantry plenty of times in the couple of days I've been playing FH2 but often it seems one or two shots miss a perfectly stationary soldier. I've read in other threads people talking about how excellent the Boys and Pzb are for 'sniping' but so far no luck in that for me. Sure it's effective if you hit someone, but even aiming in the same spot on someone's body it still takes three or four shots to get one hit. Is the rifle less accurate than a normal rifle, or is it just a practice thing?
2 - I haven't practiced much long distance shooting with AT rifles yet, how does the bullet drop compare to a normal rifle like a No4? What's the deviation like? Does a shot from an AT rifle penetrate more armor the closer you are, or is it the same penetration at 20m as at 200m?
3 - I think in real life the Pzb has slightly better armor penetration than the Boys rifle. Is this the same in game? Is there a noticeable difference or, if there is one, is it so small that it doesn't really matter?
4 - I should probably know this just from reading books on WW2 vehicles by now but real world knowledge doesn't mean anything if you don't have confirmation of the way something's represented in game. I know the turret cupola is a weak spot, but are there other weak spots? Tracks, vision ports, hatches, engine covers, exhaust? What are the weak spots? We all know the front is stronger than the sides, the sides stronger than the rear, the top and bottom weaker still, but what are some specific parts to aim for? I smacked seven shots off the front of a Pz II on Tobruk earlier tonight and it only blew up on the seventh shot, while other times it's gone up in two rounds. What's the deal?
5 - From messing around in single player I still can't really tell if a round is penetrating a vehicle or not. I think that if you fire and get no hit indicators, you either missed or the round didn't penetrate, and if you get hit indcators, you're doing damage. Is this correct?
6 - I think I've read a bit about how in FH2, the angle of impact for tank shells can stop a round penetrating or do less damage than it would have if the round hit squarely. Do bullets, specifically AT bullets, act the same way?
I hope someone can answer at least a few of these for the benefit of everyone, and just shoot the breeze generally about AT rifles. Which do you prefer? Do you keep the kit with the sticky bomb as an Allied AT soldier or ditch it if you find one of the kits with a thermos? What are your favorite targets? Jeeps or static guns or what?
Don't be shy, let's get a good discussion going.