Archibald

That's Squadron Leader Bigglesworth to you, or Sir for short! And stand to attention when you're addressing an officer! :mad:

Er... No. The PZL P.24 was a gull-wing monoplane: The aircraft in the SCII screenshot is a low wing monoplane, like one of these: A private venture by PZL, the P.24 was basically an improved P.11 . The Polish Air Force never took it into service, but it was exported to Turkey, Rumania, Bulgaria and Greece. The most numerous aircraft in Polish service in 1939 was the PZL P.23, which is probably the plane you're thinking of. This looks nothing like the picture in the screenshot however, which is of a single seat aircraft. [ June 11, 2005, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

When I first saw the screenshots of SCII those figures looked naggingly familiar. Anyone who grew up during the seventies in the UK will probably remember them when prompted. There's the commander figure from the HQ unit on the far right: He comes from the Airfix Afrika Korps set, which was available in both 1:72 and 1:32 versions and were REALLY COOL! Here he is doing his funky thang on the 1/32 box cover. I'm on nostalgia overload at this end. The three figures used for corps and army units come from the German Infantry set, likewise available in 1:72 and 1:32. They are the second and third figures here: And the first figure here: Here's the 1/32 box cover: I presume that the model figures were used as the basis for the graphics in much the same way as model armour was used for the graphics in CM:BB. I think they look pretty damn good.

Best. Post. Ever.

Best. Post. Ever.

1 - Tim Page 2 - Michael Herr 3 - Last I heard he was still alive and living in Australia. I think you might have confused Tim Page with Sean Flynn, who is probably the most flamboyant character in Herr's Dispatches. Flynn is reported to have been executed in Kampong Chan Province, Cambodia, in 1971. Here's my favourite Tim Page quote from Dispatches. He'd been asked to author a book to "take the glamour out of war": Now for my questions!: 1 - What toy company produced the figures used to represent corps, armies and HQs in the SCII screenshots? 2 - What set of figures does the HQ unit's officer with his arm raised come from? 3 - What set of figures do those used to represent corps and HQs come from?

You want even better choice than the Hurricane? What about the Gloster Gladiator? Foreign users included: Belgium Eire Finland Greece Iraq Latvia Lithuania Norway Portugal Sweden A few even ended up as target tugs in the Luftwaffe, having been captured from the Soviets in 1941, who in turn had taken them from the Latvians in 1940.

On second thoughts, the Hawker Hurricane might be a better candidate as the mount of choice for minor countries. Foreign users included: Yugoslavia Iran Rumania Turkey Poland (although only one ever got there) Belgium Finland [ June 07, 2005, 03:49 AM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

Call me Mr Picky, buuuuuuuuuuut........ The screen shots look great, but there are a few inaccuracies which are eating away at my soul: 1. in the first screenshot the Polish Air Force is represented by a Polikarpov I-16, which would definitely not have been the aircraft of choice for the fiercely anti-bolshevik Poles. I realise you have to use a generic aircraft to represent minor countries, but outside of the Spanish Republicans I can't think of any country in Europe that got I-16s from the USSR. A better choice of aircraft for Level 0 minor air forces might be the Morane Saulnier MS 406. Foreign users included: Lithuania (never delivered) Turkey Poland (en route to Poland when war broke out) Finland Croatia 2. In the second screenshot French units are represented by an RAF roundel. For most Frenchmen that alone would be grounds for instantly dissolving the Entente Cordiale. 3. This is where I get really sad. In the last two screenshots the crown used to depict the British and Imperial forces is the St Edward's Crown, which has only been in use by the UK's armed forces since Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953. From 1910 to 1953 the King's Imperial Crown was used . There. Said it now. Feeel much better. Think I'll go and lie down now... [ June 06, 2005, 11:25 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

Korut Zelva for Number 17!

All matches were to be played by 31st May, by which time Europe was leading 4 - 3. VICTORY IS OURS!!!

Right will triumph. Europe will prevail! [ May 29, 2004, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

I vote we keep playing.

VICTORY! Field Marshal Keitel, on behalf of the Fuhrer, has accepted the unconditional surrender of the allied powers. Germany and her allies look forward to the the rebuilding of Europe and the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity. SIEG HEIL! My thanks to JerseyJohn for an exciting game. Things were getting very tense in the USSR for a while. I look forward to Ryder Cup 20005 and SC2. [ May 07, 2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

04 Oct 42 GREAT VICTORIES WON! Ostfront The savage fighting in the east continues, as yet another bolshevik attack is beaten back. Masters of mobile warfare, our Wehrmacht have launched a lightning counter attack between Leningrad and Moscow. Two Soviet armies and a corps were destroyed, and for the first time in this war a Front HQ was captured in the course of a daring 150 km penetration by the three panzergruppen. General Ivan Petrov was caught in his shirt tails by the surprise dawn arrival of our panzers. He is now enjoying the hospitality of Field Marshal von Rundstedt's table before beginning his stay as a guest of the Reich. Fierce defensive fighting has seen the line successfully straightened in the south. A panzergruppe is still cut off in Rostov, but has inflicted tremendous damage on its besiegers at little cost to itself. Meanwhile, the Donets Basin has been the scene of the destruction of another American army. The Anglo-American contribution to Stalin's survival is being whittled away. She: Have we lost many dollars, Delano? He: Don't worry, Eleanor, we are paying only in human lives. (Our thanks to HEIL! magazine) So desperate is Auchinleck that he has been forced to place English ground forces in the front line against the Wehrmacht. After three years of fighting through it's puppets, England will at last begin to pay the butcher's bill. Triumph of Axis Soldarity in the Mediterranean The two pronged Anglo-American naval attack in the Mediterranean has been decisively defeated in a breathtaking display of Axis co-operation. Ju-88s and Stukas flying from Sicily have worked in conjuction with the Regia Marina to win a gigantic naval victory. In the Western Mediterranean, another US battleship squadron has been sent to the bottom. Off Southern Italy, utter disaster has unfolded for the Royal Navy. Italian submarines, battleships, and carrier aircraft have combined with our torpedo and dive bombers to sink two battleship squadrons and a precious carrier group. It is the greatest defeat in England's naval history. Sieg Heil! Advertisement Viennese Fashion: the bridge of elegance from nation to nation. Women throughout time have always loved things that are elegant, beautiful and delight the eye. Viennese fashion has always fulfilled these womanly longings and has built a bridge of elegance and beauty for the women of all countries with its world famous creations. Although the struggle for the future of Europe claims all our resources, Viennese fashion is still exported to friendly countries, and in Vienna we are already working toward peace. It is a testament to Germany's strength. A symbol of its willingness to serve beauty even when battles are raging. Proof that when victory has been achieved, an abundance of fashionable things will go from Vienna into the world. Advertisement [ May 07, 2004, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

6 Sep 42 Desperate Fighting in the East Stalin is throwing the remainder of his reserves into battle in a last effort to save the tottering Soviet Union. Much of Army Group Centre was briefly surrounded, but bold counter attacks from both inside and outside the pocket established contact with them again. At least four Soviet corps were smashed in the kesselschlacht, with many more heavily damaged. The Bolsheviks are losing men faster than they can replace them, which should soon allow the Wehrmacht to return to the offensive and final victory! The Anglo-American navies appear to be attempting a simultaneous attack against the Regia Marina from the eastern and western Mediterranean. The initial Italian losses have been quickly avenged with the complete destruction of an American battleship squadron off Oran. Only the American Air Force remains to be bested by the Axis in combat! The English naval regatta has appeared again, this time off the coast of Norway. The Luftwaffe attacked the transports carrying the English First Army, causing heavy damage. No doubt they will scuttle back to port again after this. Advertisement Since 1891 Hauff has been a leader in the chemistry of photography. Hauff film and plates are preferred by professional and amateur photographers alike for their excellent technical qualities: a fine grain which allows for enlargements, and the ability to show contrast even under weak lighting conditions Hauff developers are the result of experience and a demanding tradition: Metol, one of the first and today still the most common developer in the world, was developed in the Hauff laboratories. Indeed, the photographs taken by creative Germans during their vacations on Strength through Joy trips are convincing evidence of peace! They demonstrate our desire to peacefully enjoy all that life has to offer, to see the world's marvels, and to meet the peoples of other nations not only through diplomatic notes, but through direct person- to-person contact. After the weapons of Germany and its allies have built a true and lasting peace in Europe, creative Germany will once more explore the wide world, visiting the nations of our liberated continent, and we will be happy to welcome guests from other nations to our beautiful homeland. Hauff film and Hauff plates, long-tested and improved during the war, will be ready to capture these coming happy memories of peace. Advertisement [ May 06, 2004, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

23 Aug 42 Bitter Fighting in the East The Foreign Armies East section of the Abwehr assess that Stalin has brought his Siberian Army west to face the Wehrmacht in front of Moscow. They have launched a series of reckless attacks which temporarily encircled much of Army Group Centre and captured Minsk and Smolensk. In a series of bold counter attacks we have succeeded in straightening the line. The Rundstedt Pocket, Minsk and Smolensk have all been relieved. The Soviets have taken the usual massive casualties. Advertisement Rolling wheels: vitally important elements of traffic in the war economy of today and for the peace time economy of tomorrow. After we are victorious, the rich wartime experiences of the German auto industry will benefit all the nations in a free and happy Europe. The proven Borgward truck will once again be one of the most useful. Borgward: Automobile and Motor Works Advertisement [ May 06, 2004, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

9 Aug 42 Americans Defeated at Rostov In some of the fiercest combats of this war, the Soviets have launched a major attack. After fierce defensive fighting, they have been stopped with heavy losses. Army Group Centre have reached the Moscow suburbs, and are preparing for the final push to the Kremlin. Army Group South have won a major victory. The American army in Rostov broke and ran in their first major battle. Tens of thousands of terrified yankees have been taken prisoner, and the city is now safely in German hands. The habitual American arrogance must have taken a knock on receiving the news. Army Group North's drive towards Leningrad has been given a fillip by Finland's declaring war on the Soviet Union. This fierce nation, of impeccable nordic stock, will prove a valuable ally as the war in the east approaches it's climax. Advertisement On the roads of Europe, German Ford trucks testify to the work of German industry. The agile, reliable and easy to maintain Ford truck will be a welcome help in solving the major tasks that await our continent after the war. Advertisement [ May 06, 2004, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

26 Jul 42 Baltic States Liberated After fierce streetfighting, Riga has been taken. Thousands of cheering Latvians, thankful that the two year nightmare of Soviet rule is over, greeted their liberators with garlands of flowers. Elsewhere, the German advance into the Soviet interior continues. Our troops have smashed a Soviet army south west of Moscow and begun the task of reducing the American army holding Rostov. Advancing units in the Donets Basin are now only a hundred kilometres from Stalingrad. The Wehrmacht's main problem now is not the Red Army or the Anglo-Americans, but the sheer size of the area conquered and the spiteful devastation left behind by the retreating Soviets. The Todt Organisation, with the enthusiastic help of the local population, are working flat out to restore the shattered infrastructure of the liberated territories. Our labours have been hampered by die hard bolsheviks left behind by the speed of the German advance. Hated by the local population, these fanatics have attempted to cause destruction and disorder in our rear areas. A recent anti-partisan drive in the Pripet Marshes saw thousands of them hunted down and mercilessly destroyed. Advertisement Focke-Wulf has been building airplanes for 20 years We join in the vastly increased use of labor and technology in the German aircraft industry. We are thus helping to solve the great tasks of the day, the fulfillment of which will bring about a New Order in Europe. After the victorious end to this war for European self-determination. we will return to peacetime production. Using the knowledge we have gained as well as our proven productivity, we will build better planes to meet the high expectations of coming European air traffic. Advertisement Off Norway, the English summer cruise has sailed away. Presumably they have returned to port to stock up on gin. [ May 06, 2004, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

12 Jul 42 To Moscow! the headlong advance towards the Kremlin continues with a huge breakthrough by army groups Centre and North and the capture of Smolensk. The city fell so quickly that the NKVD did not have time to carry out their usual destructive rampage. The Wehrmacht are now only a hundred kilometres from Leningrad and Moscow, Riga is now cut off, and is steadily being reduced. The Battle of the Taman Pocket has ended in a heroic fight to the last man and the last round. Outnumbered by over ten to one, our troops fought until their positions were overrun. At the end, General Staff officers were manning guns side by side with the ordinary landser. The Luftwaffe saved many thousands by the efforts of their transport aircraft, flying missions until American armour arrived on the runway itself A New Era in the Mediterranean The Regia Marina has unveiled it's latest and most powerful weapon, the aircraft carrier Aquila, whose aircraft saw their first combat over Malta. The arrival of this powerful new asset will further discourage the English from any adventures in the Mediterranean. Not that the English seem to require much to discourage them. Their fleet's summer cruise has brought them to Bergen, where they are making the usual absurd posturings of imminent invasion. [ May 07, 2004, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

28 Jun 42 Thunder on the Don Our panzergruppen continue their headlong charge into the Soviet hinterland. Another breakthrough in the Donets Basin has brought our boys to the banks of the Don within 50 km of Voronezh. In the course of their pursuit another Soviet army, trying to fall back to Voronezh, was encircled and destroyed. The rich resources of the Ukraine are now in our hands, and are being reorganized along German lines. After a short battle with a dispirited local militia, Kharkov has fallen. With the hated red banner torn down, the swastika now flies over the Gosprom building. To the north, Army Group Centre have punched a hole through the Soviet line west of Smolensk, and exploiting units are now poring through the gap. This is expected to precipitate another panicked withdrawal on the part of the Bolsheviks. Our corps in the Taman Peninsula has been subjected to a massive attack by American, Canadian and Soviet forces under the command of General Claude "Whisky Sniffer" Auchinleck. In an epic defensive battle our corps has inflicted gigantic losses. Luftwaffe transport crews are flying round the clock to keep them supplied during their temporary encirclement. That Stalin has called for the assistance of "capitalist" armies is a measure of the desperation now being felt in the Kremlin. It is a measure of the alarm felt by Roosevelt and and Churchill that they should have agreed to the dispatch of troops to a land beset by wicked tyranny. "Lincoln: My dear colleague, I shed blood to end slavery." Washington: "...and I think that our colleague today is doing exactly the opposite!" (Our thanks to HEIL! Magazine) The English have characteristically declined to commit any ground forces to the battle of the Taman Pocket. It would also seem that their "showing the flag" cruise in the Channel has come to an end, with the motley English regatta returning in shame to their own ports. Our luftflotten patrolling the Atlantic Wall report no more English activity. Churchill's bluff has been called! [ May 03, 2004, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

14 Jun 42 Across thr Donets The Wehrmacht continue to advance at lightning speed through the Ukraine. Our panzergruppen smashed through the Soviet positions south of Kharkov and are racing across the Donets Basin. Forward units are approaching Rostov from the north. In the Crimea, the Sevastapol garrison has been bypassed, the Kerch Strait crossed, and a corps landed in the Taman Peninsula. They are now approaching Rostov from the south. Army Group Centre have chased the fleeing Red Army to the outskirts of Smolensk. In White Russia, a desperate but futile defence of Minsk led to savage streetfighting before the city could be pacified. The Wehrmacht and the Todt Organisation are working closely with grateful White Russians to restore the battered city. In Odessa, stay-behind NKVD units have attempted to blow up large parts of the city and foment a popular uprising.This was speedily crushed by elements of the 1st SS Panzer Korps, who were refitting in the area. The city is now enjoying the benefits of German rule again. Great Victory at Sea The Soviet Baltic Fleet have sortied from Kronstadt in an attempt to engage our squadrons bombarding the port of Riga. In a short sharp engagement, the superior gunnery of the Kriegsmarine utterly destroyed their attackers. England Postures The empty show of strength in the Channel continues. English units aare scurrying back and forth in a frantic attempt to distract our attention from the great struggle in the east. The Allied regatta is now hovering off the port of Brest, which is standing up well under continuous air and naval attacks. Two luftflotten, equipped with the brand new Focke Wulf TA152, are waiting in France to greet Churchill's so-called "invasion" in person. Italian Economy Surges Ahead! With her industrial plant now operating at peak output, Italian munitions production is reported to have increased by another 5%. The economic powerhouse of the Mediterranean continues to grow in strength, and is keeping pace with the steady growth in German production. [ May 03, 2004, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

The bandwidth-guzzling posters are actually from a number of sites. To find an image's source right-click on it, then click on Properties. The Properties window has the URL of the image's source, so all you have to do is cut and paste it into your browser address window and you're almost there. Thanks you for all the compliments. As ever, JerseyJohn is much more gracious at acknowledging them than I am. [ May 01, 2004, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

17 May 42 BOLSHEVIKS COLLAPSE! FINAL VICTORY IN SIGHT! The entire Bolshevik front, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, has broken. Disorganized Soviet forces have been pushed back behind the Dnieper and Dvina rivers with dreadful casualties. Hundreds of thousands have surrendered without a struggle. The capital of the Ukraine is now under German control. Minsk is all but surrounded. The vital Ukrainian coalfields are in Germany's hands. East of Kiev, a titanic armoured battle has been won. In the greatest tank battle in history, our panzergruppen have utterly destroyed two Soviet tank armies. Stalin's last hope, his "advanced" armour, has been crushed by German industry and valour! (Our thanks to Die Wehrmacht Magazine for the aerial photograph) A gigantic hole has been torn in the centre of the enemy's front. Nothing stands between us and Smolensk, and from Smolensk the road leads to MOSCOW! England Panics! Alarmed by the prospect of another of their stooges facing collapse, England is threatening to leave her island den and meet the Reich in battle. Doubtless this is a frantic ploy to divert us from the death blow being delivered to the Bolsheviks. Let them come! We are ready! Auchinleck Sacked The WMD scandal has rocked England to her core. Only after the several thousand crates had been buried was it discovered that WMD stood for "Whisky, Malt, Distilled (officers for the use of)". Churchill is reported to have struck Auchinleck with a decanter on hearing the news. [ May 01, 2004, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

19 Apr 42 Breaking the Line The great battle in the east is reaching it's crescendo as the Wehrmacht smash their way towards Kiev. Four Soviet corps defending Kiev have been crushed, and the city is now all but encircled. OKW are confident that the enemy's Ukraine front is on the verge of collapse. Elsewhere, Army Group North have succeeded in breaching the Soviet defence line on the Neman River. The road to Riga lies open! Bringing their full enthusiasm and the fresh strength of youth, our Labor Service girls are serving in the regained German territory in the East. (Our thanks to Das Deutsche Madel Magazine) England Finds New Victims Unable to face the Axis in open battle, England has taken the novel step of invading countries she recently granted self government to. The Irish Free State's tiny armed forces have been overwhelmed by a massive invasion from Ulster. For the second time in twenty five years Dublin lies devastated, awaiting the will of the English. Around the world the truth will echo: Cromwell's men are here again! England's name again is sullied In the eyes of honest men. (Lyrics from "The Men Behind The Wire" by Pat McGuigan) Iraq's tiny military have also felt the English knout. Despite constant attacks from Anglo-American aircraft, forces loyal to Rashid Ali and the Golden Square are fighting with exemplary fanaticism among the ruins of Baghdad. British Shell Brest - Lido Destroyed Newsreel at eleven. [ May 01, 2004, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]