Tank crew: Formation orders?

[Catfish]

Hello, just wondered how i command other tanks into action, or better with which key assignments?
Like in StuG mission you meet friendlies and are supposed to order them to form up, help or follow - how?

Thanks.

[Skycat1969]

Single Player: You can only radio to your platoon; and you have to be the platoon commander to issue orders to other tanks. Then it becomes a game of micromanaging three other vehicles in addition to your own. Use the radio for the formation control. You can "paint" waypoints and targets from the commander's hatch using your mouse cursor, but you'll still have to use the radio commands menu to finalize orders. It's easiest to just tell the whole platoon to fire at will and follow you.

[Catfish]

^ ok I will try to use the radio then, but at the beginning of this mission the radio transmits one last information and then comes the message that "radio is out".
Maybe it does work later in the missi0on again(?), problem is to get there lol.
Thanks, will try! Edited March 28 by Catfish

[Skycat1969]

I haven't played any of the missions. Maybe radio out is a scripted event for story-telling purposes.

[Catfish]

In the mission description they write (and I quote) use ^ 2 and 4  for formation.
Nothing with "4" works, not with r alt 4 or l alt 4, l shft 4 or r shift 4, nor l ctrl 4 or r ctrl 4.

No "switch to radio" or anything possible in tank crew key assignmants existing anyway.
This is an AWFUL description of key commands and you cannot play the mission. What does this mean and HOW does it work??

Edited March 28 by Catfish

[Skycat1969]

Is it the StuG III single mission that is included with the StuG?

[Catfish]

^ Yes. And the descrption reads:

"Tip: to make other friendly tanks you encounter regroup with you, use 2 [this "2" is raised/exponent/superscript] -> F4 (formation) and change the form type to your liking."

I do not understand this key assigmnment, nothing works here.
So i am the only one after three years who cannot figure out this, in the only mission the StuG is part of 

Edited March 28 by Catfish

[Skycat1969]

I just played this mission. I got the three friendly StuGs to follow me but I didn't survive crossing the big field. It's a cool mission to play in VR though.

Anyhow, drive the tank from the commander's position. Avoid the first camp (to your left) when the mission starts, go right instead, and there is a grove of trees at the other end of the field. On the other side of the trees you'll find some barns or warehouses, and the three friendly StuGs there waiting for you. I parked in front of them and opened the command menu (the tilde key, aka the " ~ " key), and I issued my orders from there. I think it was Movement --> Echelon Right --> Platoon. Move forward a little and you should hear the other tanks start their motors or begin to follow you.

[Catfish]

Ok will try this next.
You cannot imagine how often i met the three other StuGs without being able to communicate 
I even managed to reach the next waypoint alone, but a third T-34 got me after hitting a Churchill and another T-34.
Tilde ~ key is it? Alright then .. just have to find the right key on a german keyboard.. but that's the first big hint, thanks!

[Gutholz]

on german keyboard the command menu is ^°

left of the 12345 row, under escape key.

at least that works for aircrafts and gunners.

[Catfish]

Last try i skidded downhill short before the warehouses and hit a tree, damaging both tacks and the transmission.
So opened the hatch, switched off the engine and repaired, which took some 15 minutes or so. When climbing up before the warehouses I saw two AA Gaz trucks shooting at the three standing StuGs, which I took out both. So waiting maybe a good idea too .. ;)

[Nacht]

I seem to recall that the mission creator stated that there are some random actions. So the mission won't always be the same every time you play it; for example, I've never seen any Russian AA trucks in that point you said.
By the way, here's a little spoiler: when you reach your destination, you'll have the option to Rearm, Refuel and Repair, and that will come in very handy.

[Catfish]

Thank you all!  The tilde ~ key (^ on german keyboards) did the trick, was able to go further than ever before. Only the poor 3 other StuGs are shot up every time.
I wonder how this StuG 'G' was improved to take out T-34s when this is almost impossible in game. On the other hand one hit from a T-34 is enough for a StuG ..

The mission really changes every time, different adversaries and places they show up, this is quite well done.

[Aapje]

The StuG was used mainly in an ambush role, so they would have the advantage of firing when the enemy was within lethal range and firing first. At distances where the cannon of both tanks are lethal, the tank that fires first usually wins. The StuG also has twice the fire rate of the T-34, increasing its advantage in a duel even further, since it can correct its shots faster.

The real G also had a ranging system, while the tank in game apparently does not.

The mission in game is very different from how the tank would actually fight in reality, so it basically makes you do things the tank is not good at, rather than use it in the way that made it such an effective tank in reality.