Machineguns

[Exel]

narwan said:
Yes you do. Not always, I agree with that. If the enemy hasn't spotted you yet it may indeed be better not to. But when he has or you can assume he is about to, you should let loose with all you have.

As I said, in a "panic" situation you would still let loose with all you've got. But it's not the standard procedure for tanks to engage other tanks with MGs. If you have to do that, you're already screwed.

As a side note, many modern MBTs, like the Leopard 2 series, can't even engage with their MG when they are loading since the gun tube is raised for loading. And firing with the MG at a tank is never an alternative for loading the main gun. And once you've loaded, you will engage with your main gun, again not with the MG.

Infantry was (and possibly still is) trained to fire away with all available weapons when engaging armor.

If they are spotted and engaged, lack any cover and don't have any place to cover or hide in the vicinity, then that would make sense. Otherwise the best option for them is to disengage - and keep their heads down and hide! If they lack AT weapons that is, and what point would they have in engaging with small arms if they had true AT capability?

The best option would imo be to have the small arms fire as an option when ordered. But I doubt we can have a separate "fire with all weapons" command in SPMBT.