Ability to Lock Orientation on TEL Units

Suggestions Gameplay
,
1
[Would you like to see this in-game?]
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Key Benefits:

  • Tactical launcher placement behind cover with fixed firing direction.
  • Prevents auto-slewing to targets, enabling fixed arcs for survivability.
  • Boosts TADS mobility and strategic depth in single-player control.

Current Limitation
Multi-vehicle SAMs (USA/Sweden NASAMS 3 & US CLAWS, Russia Buk-M3, Japan Tan-SAM Kai) use TADS for locks/guidance and TELs for launch. TELs auto-slew tubes to locked targets, exposing them in open areas, misaligning behind cover (buildings/ridges), delaying fires, or hitting obstacles.

Proposed Feature
Bindable “soft lock” toggle (Ground > SAM Controls):

  1. Switch to TEL, position/orient (e.g., peek tubes sideways from cover).
  2. Press “Lock Orientation” - fixes azimuth/elevation.
  3. Return to TADS; locked TEL fires in fixed arc without slewing.
  4. “Release Lock” restores control (per-TEL, minimap icon).

Mirrors IRL remote-fixed setups for quick response.

Affected Vehicles

Nation System Components
USA NASAMS 3 TADS + 2x TEL
USA CLAWS TADS + 2x TEL
Sweden NASAMS 3 TADS + 2x TEL
Russia Buk-M3 TADS + TELARs
Japan Tan-SAM Kai TADS + 2x TEL

Why It Improves Gameplay

  • Cover Use: Hide hulls behind buildings/rocks on maps like Sun City, Rhine, Cargo Port - fixed tubes trade traverse for protection vs CAS.
  • TADS Freedom: Skip babysitting; scan/relocate radar dynamically.
  • Faster Fires: No slew delays or misalignments.

Manual control stays optional.

  • Fixes arc nerfs flanking/low-threat response.
  • TELs are still some what vulnerable to bombs, but reduces the chance of being seen.

QoL for city/rocky maps.

Multi-vehicle SAMs already struggle in War Thunder’s top-tier air attrition wars but very much have extra struggle time with exposure. Fixed orientation adds for better defense.

Pain Points;

  • Auto-slewing exposes TELs, prevents peeking from cover, causes delays/obstructions.
  • TADS swaps leave radar vulnerable.

Pros

  • Ideal for urban/rocky maps (Sun City, Rhine, Cargo Port) alike.
  • IRL-aligned (NASAMS/Buk remote postures).

The major Con being: Wrong-facing risk: Which is still Player choice. Sideways launches affect lethality which can also affect player response if positioned wrong.

3 Likes