The weapon handling in Tannenberg leans towards realism, so you will have to learn how to handle bullet drop, leading your targets and different reloading methods.

As in real life bullets have gravity and take time to travel. We can distinguish two elements you should take into account: Bullet Drop and Leading Targets.

Bullet Drop
Bullets will slowly drop towards the ground due to gravity. In Tannenberg this is implemented realistically for the weapons of the period, which in practice means that bullet drop is not very noticeable at short distances. If your target is 100m away the bullet will drop a distance of around 5cm. So adjust your aim height based on the target distance. With some of the longer ranges of Tannenberg this can make hitting moving targets more difficult.

Leading
Target leading is more important. Since bullets take time to reach to their target you should aim a little ahead of the target to compensate for their movement speed. At a distance of 100m it takes around 0.2 seconds for a bullet to reach a target. You will get the hang of this after practicing for a while.


-Note gif from Verdun-
While standing and using ironsights you will have difficulty stabilising the gun because of the weight. This means that your weapons will sway a little and your sights will not perfectly align. You can reduce this effect by crouching or going prone. You can temporarily reduce weapon sway by holding your breath before you take a shot, which both reduces sway and increases your zoom.

As in real life there are different loading mechanics for different weapons. There are three different weapon reload types in Verdun:

• Bullet-by-bullet: Can only be loaded one bullet at a time, like the M1895 Nagant revolver.
  
• Bullets and Clips: You can load individual bullets, but you can also load several bullets at once with a stripper clip, if you have fired enough shots for there to be space. For instance, the Kar98AZ allows both options.
  
• Stripper Clips/Enbloc: The gun only accepts clips, and has to be fully emptied before reloading. The 'Mannlicher M95' is an example of such a weapon.
  
• Magazine: Can reload full capacity at any point with a fresh magazine. For instance, the Luger.

If you happen to run out of bullets or encounter an enemy in close quarters you can resort to a melee attack. You are able to perform a melee attack with any weapon, but some are better than others. There are 3 possibilities:

• Melee Weapon: A powerful way to kill the enemy in one hit at close range. Left click to perform a melee attack.
  
• Bayonet attachment: Some weapons have a sharp bayonet attachment. Press the Melee button ('F' by default) to stab at the enemy.
  
• Bash: Every other weapon has a bash attack you can use - it has lower damage but can still be effective. Press the melee button ('F' by default) to bash.

Russia's standard infantry rifle during the war, but because of Russia's slow production before the war and due to lost rifles throughout WW1. They would contract the Chatellerault, New England Westinghouse, and Remington companies to build around 3 million rifles.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1891 Rifle
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• M1891 Bayonet

A shorter version of M1891 Rifle was issued to mounted infantry with a bayonet, and the Cossacks were issued it without a bayonet. Its intermediate design would serve as the base for the Soviets' "M91/30" Rifle leading up to the WW2.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1891 Dragoon
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips

This was Russia's bolt action carbine after the Russo-Japanese War. It would go onto see service during WW1 with cavalry, sappers, machine gun, and artillery crews. It has a very specific rear sight, not found on any other Mosin-Nagant, and didn't use a bayonet.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1907 Carbine
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips

Austria-Hungary's standard rifle for its infantry during the Great War, it is a straight-pull bolt action rifle with Mannlicher's "en-bloc" charger system that held five rounds in its internal magazine.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M.95
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• M1895 Bayonet

Often confused for Austria-Hungary's cavalry carbine, but it was issued to special units instead since it is designed to equip a bayonet and had sling swivels fitted differently. Otherwise, it is a shorter version of the standard M1895 Infantry Rifle with Mannlicher's "en-bloc" system.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Stutzen M.95
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• M1895 Knife

During 1890, Austria-Hungary began converting their old M1888 straight-pull rifles over to semi-smokeless powder, and the old sights would be modified in 1890 as well to account for the change. It would continue to use the same five-round Mannlicher "en-bloc" charger system.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M.88-90
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• M1895 Knife

A German bolt action Mauser rifle firing cartridges from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine. This was the standard issue German service rifle from 1898 to 1935

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Gew. 98
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• Seitengewehr
  
• Goerz 3X custom *Attrition+RDM Only*
  
• Grabenmagazin *Attrition+RDM Only*

A shorter version of the Gewehr 98 originally made for cavalry and support unit use. The original model Karabiner 98, with a shorter barrel than the G98, was produced from 1899 to 1908.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Kar. 98
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• Seitengewehr

The Gewehr 88 was recommissioned by the German army in 1905 (and 1914) with a new model that used stripper clips instead of a 5 round enbloc. It has a near identical barrel to the Lebel 1886, but looked notably different due to the addition of a barrel sleeve.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Gew. 88/05
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• Seitengewehr

Developed alongside the Gewehr 88, the Kar 88 was designed for use with cavalry units. With a shorter barrel, lighter weight and reshaped bolt handle, it fulfilled its role well - it did however retain the barrel sleeve. With several carbine variants being produced later on it often saw its way to the frontlines of the Great War.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Kar. 88
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• Goerz 3X custom *Attrition+RDM Only*

Roumania would contract their own standard infantry rifle from ÖWG Steyr before the war until Austria would stop exports in 1914. It was designed from lessons learned from the Gewehr 1888, as it has a strengthened turning-bolt action and Mannlicher's "en-bloc" system.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1893 Rifle
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• M1893 Bayonet

Introduced as Roumania's cavalry and artillery service weapon before the war, it's the carbine version of the Model 1893 Mannlicher Rifle. It would go onto see service throughout the armed forces after being pushed into Moldavia in late 1916.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1893 Carbine
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips

Bulgaria would adopt this carbine in 1891 with ÖWG Steyr making a little over ten thousand before the war. Its design would be identical to Austria-Hungary's Cavalry M1890 Carbine, where the improved bolt would go onto be incorporated into the Model 1895 design of rifles and carbines.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: M1890 Carbine
Ammo: 5
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• 1917 "Ersatz" Bayonet

The Winchester 1895's lever-action design was modified to use 5-round stripper clips in 7.62mm Russian. Due to Russia being desperate for small arms though, it would adopt the rifle as the "Model 1915", and would be the only lever-action to see ground combat during WW1.

Weapon Type: Lever Action
Short Name: Winchester
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips

The Type 30 was adopted in 1897 (or 30th year of the Meiji Period) as Japan's service rifle with its own sword bayonet. Despite its less powerful 6.5mm cartridge, Russia alone would buy around three-hundred thousand in 1914-1915 to make up its shortages of rifles.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Type 30
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• Type 30 Bayonet

The Type 38 rifle, like the Type 30, would continue to use the 6.5mm cartridge but it would be improved, strengthened, and fitted with a dust cover. Russia would purchase some from Japan in 1914, and Britain sold a large number in 1916.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Type 38
Ammo: 5
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Stripper Clips
  
• Type 30 Bayonet

It is an 8mm bolt action infantry rifle which entered service in the French Army in April 1887. It is a repeating rifle that can hold eight rounds in its forestock tube magazine plus one round in the transporter.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Lebel
Ammo: 8
Reload: Single Bullets
Available Attachments:

• Rosalie Bayonet

After the success of the Berthier carbines, full-length Berthier rifles were introduced. Lighter and easier to handle and load than the Mle 1886/M93 Lebel rifle, the Berthier rifles proved more suitable for offhand shooting and easier to maintain in tropical environments.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Berthier
Ammo: 3
Reload: En-Bloc Clips
Available Attachments:

• Rosalie Bayonet

Italy sold around 400,000 of these obsolete four-round rifles to Russia during 1916. The Vetterli-Vitali was fitted with a magazine in 1887 which was loaded with a charger. The charger was manually removed after all of the rounds were held in the magazine.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Vetterli
Ammo: 4
Reload: Single Bullets and Stripper Clips
Available Attachments:

• Vetterli Bayonet

In 1870 the "Berdan I", a trap-door, large bore, single-shot design, would change to a bolt-action and become the "Berdan II". This rifle would be produced between 1870-1892 in Russia, and the US, with over 1 million being made before being replaced by Mosin-Nagant.

Weapon Type: Bolt Action
Short Name: Berdan II
Ammo: 1
Reload: Single Bullet
Available Attachments:

• M1870 Bayonet

Based on the Martini-Henry, a breech-loading rifle originally brought into service by the British in 1871. The rifle used a distinct lever-action as its reloading mechanism. Several licensed variants such as the Steyr or Rhode Island produced variants were used by Roumania and Turkey; some ended up in the hands of Bulgaria after the Balkan Wars.

Weapon Type: Breech Loader
Short Name: Martini
Ammo: 1
Reload: Single Bullet Lever Action
Available Attachments:

• P1876 Bayonet

The Werndl series of rotary-drum breech loaders, with an external hammer, would launch ÖWG Steyr after 1868. In 1873 the design was improved and then in 1878, the whole series would be modified to use a new M1877 11.15x58R bottleneck black-powder cartridge.

Weapon Type: Breech Loader
Short Name: Werndl
Ammo: 1
Reload: Single Bullet Rotary-Drum
Available Attachments:

• M1877 Bayonet

A very sharp, single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sword. It was mainly used by mounted and dismounted Cossack officers and soldiers during WW1. With a length in between a straight sword and a cavalry sabre, plus its slightly curved blade, it would be very effective at slashing and thrusting attacks.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: Shashka

Russian officers and Dragoon officers would often carry the M1881 Sabre into battle during the war. Its simple but effective design would see more changes during and after the war, and still see service throughout the Russian Civil War and WW2.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: M1881 Sabre

The Common Army (k.u.k.) infantry officer's sword had a slightly curved and broad fullered blade with an iron hand guard. It would be effective in close combat, and would continue to see service with officers and NCOs during WW1.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: M1861 Sabre

The M1887 entrenching tool was carried by most infantry and used for field works. In the close confines of a trench, rifles and fixed bayonets were often too long for effective use, and entrenching tools were often used as auxiliary arms for close-quarter fighting. From 1915, soldiers on both sides routinely sharpened the edges of entrenching shovels for use as weapons.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: Feldspaten

From 1915, soldiers on both sides routinely sharpened the edges of entrenching shovels to be used as weapons and Russia was no exception to this. Many versions of this entrenching tool would be produced throughout the war, and then turned into a melee weapon.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: M1912 Shovel

This 7-shot revolver's sealing ability was intended to use the maximum amount of energy from firing each unique cartridge, with the bullet seated within the case. Its design slowed down the weapon due to need for loading and extracting spent cases through its Abadie-style loading gate.

Weapon Type: Revolver
Short Name: Nagant
Ammo: 7
Reload: Single Bullets

This 8-shot, double action revolver was issued to Austria-Hungary's armed forces during WW1, as the standard-issue revolver. The ejector rod being beneath the barrel would speed up reloads, but each round would still need to be loaded manually through the Abadie-style loading gate.

Weapon Type: Revolver
Short Name: Rast & Gasser
Ammo: 8
Reload: Single Bullets

The original M1879 design was heavy and cumbersome. In the early 1880’s Germany decided to make the revolver a little easier to handle. By reducing its weight, the M1883 came to be. A single action revolver, it was still ‘old tech’ for its time but did the job until the C96 Mauser and P08 Luger came along.

Weapon Type: Revolver
Short Name: Reichsrevolver
Ammo: 6
Reload: Single Bullets

The Russian S&W No. 3 was designed by Smith & Wesson under contract to the Imperial government, but then reverse-engineered by Russian gunsmiths and produced in European arsenals for a substantially lower price.

Weapon Type: Revolver
Short Name: S&W No. 3
Ammo: 6
Reload: Single Bullets

The official standard French sidearm during the Great War. It is commonly referred to as the "Lebel" revolver when actually manufactured by St. Etienne. The double-action revolver was well designed for its time and served all the way up until the Second World War. Would even see service in Roumanian hands.

Weapon Type: Revolver
Short Name: Mle. 1892
Ammo: 6
Reload: Single Bullets

The Pistole Parabellum 1908 is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol. One of the first semi-automatic pistols, the Luger was designed to use a toggle-lock action, which uses a jointed arm to lock, as opposed to the slide actions of almost every other semi-automatic pistol.

Weapon Type: Pistol
Short Name: Luger
Ammo: 8
Reload: Magazine-Fed

Fed with a 10-round clip, the large magazine and effectiveness made this handgun a favorite amongst soldiers. It saw military service by German units half-way through WW1 and were also carried by officers from other nations as private purchases.

Weapon Type: Pistol
Short Name: C96
Ammo: 10
Reload: Fixed Stripper Clips

The Roth-Steyr M1907, or "Repetierpistole M.7." was the first adopted semi automatic pistol by a major power. It was fed using a 10 round stripper clip from the top.

Weapon Type: Pistol
Short Name: M.7 Roth
Ammo: 10
Reload: Fixed Stripper Clips

This 8-round, stripper clip fed, semi-automatic, 9mm pistol would be the evolution of the Roth-Steyr M1907. Wouldn't be adopted by Austria-Hungary as the "Model 1912" until after 1914 however. It would see most of its service with Austria-Hungary, and Roumania during the war.

Weapon Type: Pistol
Short Name: Steyr-Hahn
Ammo: 8
Reload: Single Bullet and Stripper Clips

The Frommer Stop is a Hungarian designed pistol with a long recoil design. It uses the special 7.65mm Frommer cartridge in a 7 round box magazine.

Weapon Type: Pistol
Short Name: Frommer Stop
Ammo: 7
Reload: Magazines

This grenade was designed with a fragmented sheet metal body attached to a wooden handle, making it heavy. Complex to arm; it had a primer on the handle as well as a safety ring which was removed before throwing. Often called the "Lantern Grenade" due to its shape.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M1912 Lantern
Fuse Time: 5s

An improved, lighter version of the M1912 "Lantern Grenade", as instead it was completely made out of sheet metal. This Russian grenade would often be called the "Bottle Grenade" and its Picric Acid, high explosive charge was effective up to around ten meters.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M1914 HE
Fuse Time: 5s

This Russian grenade is no different from the Hand Grenade Model 1914 other than one difference. This "Bottle Grenade" has a fragmentation sleeve, which would increase its max effective range up to around twenty-five meters versus ten meters.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M1914 Frag
Fuse Time: 5s

This "Alt" model hand grenade for Austria-Hungary was designed before the war with a round cast-iron body filled with steel balls, making it fairly heavy. It had a cardboard handle that'd go through the entire body and was filled with high explosives, which was activated by its pull cord.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: Rohr Frag
Fuse Time: 5s

This "Neu" model hand grenade would have a cylindrical cast-iron body without any steel balls which made it much lighter, and was adopted in 1915 for Austria-Hungary. Its cardboard handle would still go through the cast-iron body and was filled with high explosives.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: Rohr HE
Fuse Time: 5s

The first of its series, the M15 Stielhandgranate was a peculiar design. Nicknamed the "Potato Masher" it featured a long stick (stiel) with a string coming from the bottom attached to the stick with tape.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M15
Fuse Time: 5s

An improvised explosive made by the Germans out of 6 of the M1917 stick grenades. The main disadvantage with these bundled grenades was they can only really be thrown short distances and this makes for a far riskier task for the grenadier getting within range of target.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M17 6x
Fuse Time: 5s

The F1 percussion grenade was designed during the War. The F1 was designed to use a lighter-based ignition system, but later it began using a percussion cap fuse.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: F1
Fuse Time: 5s

Filled with about 500 grams of liquid Chloropicrin, a fast effecting irritant of the lungs, this light weight grenade would be good at clearing bunkers but a gas mask would be effective against it.

Weapon Type: Gas Grenade
Short Name: Chemical Grenade
Fuse Time: 5s
Duration: 60s

Filled with toxic Chlorosulfonic Acid, which produces thick white smoke once exposed to oxygen. This smoke grenade was used widely after 1917/1918 by the German Army as it was effective at covering troop movements and even forcing enemies from trenches and bunkers.

Weapon Type: Smoke Grenade
Short Name: Type N
Fuse Time: 5s
Duration: 60s

Various ranks were issued field binoculars for reconnaissance purposes. The glasses were issued to all group leaders (usually NCOs) but officers would usually purchase their own pair.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: Binocs

*Attrition Only*
Developed in 1915 by Heinrich Boker, it is a compact fighting knife that is especially useful for trench warfare.

Weapon Type: Melee
Short Name: Boker Knife

*Attrition Only*
An improvised explosive made by the Germans out of 9 of the M1917 stick grenades. The main disadvantage with these bundled grenades was they can only really be thrown short distances and this makes for a far riskier task of getting the grenadier within range of target.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M17 9x
Fuse Time: 5s

*Attrition Only*
While the M15 had the simple string taped to the stick, the M1917 model used a cap at the bottom of the stick to prevent both humidity from affecting the string and offering better safety. The cap had prongs lining the bottom of it to allow for better grip in the muddy trenches.

Weapon Type: Grenade
Short Name: M17
Fuse Time: 5s