When using your light tank to scout, some of the most important questions you can ask yourself are: Who are my shooters? What am I going to find when I get to that spot? Can I get away?
It does very little good to spot an area that nobody can shoot. This can take a couple of forms:
It does very little good to spot an area that nobody can shoot. This can take a couple of forms:
Valley on Lakeville
I can't tell you how often I see light tanks go valley on Lakeville at the beginning. There's almost no point in doing that. The Lakeville valley is dominated by a ridge in the middle. Until you crest that ridge, you really can't shoot anything on the other side of it. So it doesn't matter if you have 10 triangles sitting behind you, anything you spot on the other side of that ridge isn't getting shot.
AND...if a shooter does come up on the ridge to shoot...they can spot for themselves. Anything they'll be shooting at is likely to be at close to intermediate range. You're really not doing much good. Also, since the enemy likely has a HT or MT who has pushed up to the ridge, you're almost certainly getting spotted yourself - and now shot at by all the enemy triangles. Also you're in a situation where your LTTB is brawling with 430Us, frontally, at close range - that's going to be a short, pointless, battle for you.
The ONE exception is if you have a couple of good artys who have sat back where they can get shots into the valley. Then MAYBE you can do some good - but probably not much good.
Don't take your light tank to the valley on Lakeville. You can be far more useful either on the middle road, or along the lakeside of the town - at least in the early game.
9 Line on Serene Coast
This is another spot I occasionally see light tanks go at the beginning and it's almost always a waste of time; especially from the south spawn. What happens on the 9 line mostly happens at close range. MAYBE if you have a triangle at K8 who can shoot for you there's some value, but realistically your heavies are probably going to the G9 area anyhow, so they can spot. Most of the time what happens if you take a LT to the 9 line is you end up in a close range, frontal, brawl with enemy HTs and you'll usually lose that.
Later in the game you may be able to go there to flank and support. Early game your LT is probably more valuable in the West.
Caveat: From the north spawn there's some value in trying to get to the E8 area at the start to get lights on enemy HTs crossing over. But be sure you can get out again and aren't trapped.
Overall, though, there's no point in putting your T92 between your heavies and their heavies.
Overall, though, there's no point in putting your T92 between your heavies and their heavies.
Know Your Team
When I play light tanks one thing I always do during the countdown is look over our roster and try to figure out whose guns are the most dangerous for us and how I can help them stay active. If I have 3 good arty I'm more likely to be aggressive and spot deep into the enemy backfield to get our arties some shots. More likely I'm staying aware of where our top TDs go so I can try to light targets for them.
Helpful Video
FourTankersandDog has a good playlist of light tank play. See it here at YouTube.
Taugrim has a good video on light tank tactics. See it here at YouTube.
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