How do you become an effective artillerist?

The_Chieftain: I have to say, I am rather disappointed at the level of maturity shown by many on this thread thus far.   For a more useful response, I make the following suggestions.   Firstly, and most importantly, the words "Self propelled" in "self propelled gun" are far too frequently forgotten. For some reason, an unGodly amount of arty drivers find some place near spawn, and sit there for most of the game. This is entirely the wrong thing to do. You have tracks, use them. Stay as close to the front lines as you think safe.   This will give you a number of advantages. Firstly, you have a much shorter time of flight. Between when you fire and when the round lands, an enemy tank can change course or speed. Having a shorter time of flight reduces the effect of this problem. Secondly, you will likely have a smaller aiming circle. You're usually waiting long enough to get your shot off, may as well do what you can to make it more likely to count. Thirdly, you won't be where the enemy mediums and lights will come looking for you. You'll be amazed how often I've seen tanks which could otherwise be doing significant damage to my team roaming around the spawn zone trying to get that easy artillery kill. If you aren't where they expect, you will survive longer, and they'll be useless longer. Fourthly, when you do find yourself under attack, you can realistically expect help. Nobody will come back to help you if you're in the spawn zone, but if you're near your friends, then when the enemy chases after you, your friends will be happy enough to have the target brought to them. Fifthly, by moving forward, you open up a lot of new angles, especially across the map. You will have likely noticed the tendency for enemy tanks to hug pieces of cover in the expectation that it will provide protection against artillery fire. By moving forward, they no longer obtain the benefits of cover, and you can then engage what are likely to be easy, stationary targets.   That done, your next question is of where to engage: Do you support the push, or bolster the defense? It is my opinion that supporting the push is far more advantageous. As mentioned, keep a very good eye on the minimap. You will have to try to anticipate up to a full minute ahead as to what is likely to happen. Will that tank you are hoping to support when you're loaded and aimed in still be alive in 40 second to support? Is a breach likely to happen? Where is that tank you want to hit likely to be heading for? You get the idea.