Elefant

Philippe, as always you ride to the rescue. Thanks

US vs USSR was doable in Steel Panthers. Anyone remember that one? A lot of fun mowing down the Russian infantry hordes with quad 50's on the back of American halftracks. Not so fun in Sherman tanks running up against IS-2's.

Thanks Sanok, I have downloaded mods but not scenarios. Anyone want to recommend a must have scenario? Please nothing like Cracking the Egg, I can't win as the Russians

Zeveroboy, I am a little further into the book and yes, the translation is a little off, but some of the stories are great. For Infantry stories I recommend The Forgotten Soldier, by Guy Sajer. If you can get it, try Knights of the Black Cross. Finally, the memoirs of Hans Von Luck are better than Guderians if you can believe it.

I absolutely love CMBB, CMBO etc. and saw CMBB special edition for $20 tonight. Are the extra scenarios and the 200 mods worth it? Will their be conflict issues with CMMOS? Uh basically, will my cmbb experience be enhanced greatly with special ed, or should I stick to CMBB?

Hello all, I picked up a book tonight Armor Battles of the Waffen SS 1943-45 by Will Fey ISBN 0-8117-2905-2. Gripping, inside the turret accounts of tank battles at the platoon level and below.

Steiner, I am only reiterating that the decision to not take out Malta was Hitler's, Mussolini's et al. and not Rommels. Rommel clearly understood the importance of neutralizing Malta as most of his POL, reinforcements etc. ended up on the bottom of the Med from attacks originating from Malta and Force Z. Huge mistake for OKW to not invade Malta. Greater mistake for Hitler to neglect the NA Theatre until the very end.

Sorry Steiner, In regards to Malta. From The Rommel Papers by B.H. Libbell-Hart page 203. "After the plan for Malta (Operation Hercules) had been worked out, Mussolini went to Berchtesgaden, for a conference with Hitler. Here it was agreed that the attack on Malta should be launched after Rommels offensive in Africa. But soon after this agreement Hitler showed renewed doubts, that the Italians could not keep anything secret, that they had not the fighting spirit for such a difficult venture, that they would not be punctual in arriving to support the German parachute troops, that their navy would not face the British, and were thus likely to leave the German troops stranded without supplies."

Michael, the story would have been different at Juno if the forces i.e. panzers, Rommel envisioned had been in place.

concur

Rommels ghost and I will agree that the naval gunfire support and air support would have been devastating. Rommel, was aware of the overwhelming allied fire support from his time in DAK, that is why he advocated for the panzer divisions to be as close to the beaches as possible. Rommel knew and history has shown us that the panzers would be massacred while moving up from their assembly areas in the rear to reinforce the front. However, when the boats are heading towards the beach you have to lift the bombardment to land them. Then you are left with DD's closing on the beach and direct firing with 5 inchers which would peel open a tank in 1 shot, but I doubt the accuracy would be very good. So there are thousands of guys, soaking wet, seasick, no anti-tank guns, no tank support as the shermans were under 30 feet of water, carrying only the ammo on their backs fighting for their lives while being raked with MG fire from the heights and Panther tanks with grenadiers engaging them on the beach. Remember, that Omaha was almost evacuated, if panzers and infantry support had been available, there would have been no one remaining to evacuate.

Gentlemen, Rommels defenses would not be fixed a la Maginot line, but as the invader penetrates the line, you would effect a fighting withdrawl as additional anti tank gun screens and mines were laid along the enemys avenue of approach. Bog them down and then counterattack. Hold in the East, win in the West and back to the East for??

Michael, Rommel was absolutely right that the best time to stop an amphibious invasion is at the beach and not when the invaders have had time to land, and bring ashore, tanks, artillery, supplies and a lot more men to consolidate their hold and begin building up for the eventual break out. If the panzer and panzer grenadier divisions had been at the invasion sector that morning the invasion would have failed.

You have the discerning eye David I, Rommel's proposal was for 200 AT guns for each division.

I will fire up MikeyD's Warm Place to sleep chop chop. In Danube Blues he initial forces are Hungarian but German reinforcements come in on turn 5. I'll keep you posted. Have you ever looked at this game? They are making a West Front game in addition to RGW. http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/agwshots.htm