George MC

Hi MPK Slaving away at work ) Link for the discussion about 'Play As They Lay' at The Proving Grounds is http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/tip_results.html?sku=235 I think my version of the adapted rules comes from Bannon DC so all thanks to him :)for the original idea. Cheers fur noo George Mc ps I'll post my version to you this evening when I get in from work.

I've a copy of these 'play as you lay rules' that I've been using (with some adaptations). If you like email me at gmcewan@totalise.co.uk and I'll send them on to you. I think there is a discussion about this over at The Proving Grounds. I'm just going to work but if I have time latter I'll post the link here. I'd echo the comments made by MPK - and add some ops don't represent consecutive days. They may represent a series of short sharp actions seperated by short periods of time while boths sides refuel/rearm/reorganise etc without neccesarily breaking contact. Hence 'play as they lay' simulates that, whilst overcoming some of the shortfalls of the CMBB operation system. Might be worth adding the AI never plays by these rules

Thanks to you both! Have a great time on the Eastern Front Cheers fur noo George

Hi Aragorn2002! Thank You Glad you are enjoying the series. These scenarios are a joint effort, so credit where credit is due - Charlie Meconis, my co-author and designer has done the bulk of the research into this whole period. It's thanks to his extensive research referencing and cross-refrencing sources that the scenarios are as accurate as the information available allowed them to be. We've a couple of more scenarios set around this time in the pipeline and all going well they should be available mid summer. Thanks again for your very positive feedback. Cheers fur noo George

Just posted this at The Proving Grounds. set in February 1943. Frustrated by his inability to force the Northern Donets River line directly in front of Kharkov, Rybalko notes that the Russian 6th Army to his left in the south has made a breakthrough over the Northern Donets through a gap between retreating and badly scattered German forces there. After crossing the river, the 6th Army’s 350th Rifle Division is about to seize the town of Andrejewka on the river’s north bank. Rybalko decides to use his veteran mobile reserve, the 6th Guards Cavalry Corps, to exploit this breakthrough at Andrejewka, outflank the SS Panzerkorps to the south, and encircle them around Kharkov—a fitting sequel to Stalingrad. On the high western bank of the Northern Donets east of Kharkov, SS Panzerkorps can see long columns of Red Army troops heading south. Already stretched thin, “Leibstandarte” sends mobile Kampfgruppe Guhl to deny the flank to the south. It races toward Andrejewka to block the roads heading into town. Part of the Kampfgruppe comes from the III. armored battalion of the division’s second Grenadier regiment. The newly-equipped Battalion is commanded by veteran SS Sturmbannfuhrer Jochen Peiper. Now a new strategic consideration entered the picture. The veteran German 320th “Berlin Heart” Infantry Division was heroically fighting its way out of encirclement to the east and heading for Andrejewka, hoping for safety. That division was also needed to help hold Kharkov. Everyone is heading for Andrejewka as fast as they can go on the frozen steppe. A legend is about to be born. Both Charlie (my co author and designer) and I have been very meticulous to research the Soviet side and give the Soviets their own identity rather than a faceless 'Red Horde' - as the bravery shown by the Soviet units during this fighting was equally as exceptional. You can download it here:- http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=785 As always any feedback etc would be most welcome.

hehe, save your candles for the blizzards - I'm just passing by to check and see. </font>

Aye you still kicked my butt! I could'nt see that happening for all the smoke from my burning panzers George

Hey glad you are enjoying it. Charlie and I are are just putting the finishing touches to an operation(Peiper's Chariots of Fire) set in the same period covering some further actions of Peiper's unit when it clashed against the hard fighting 6th Guards Cavalry Corps. Keep an eye out at The Proving Grounds. Cheers fur noo George

Another intersting read if you would like to find out how men endure combat and the effect it has on them check out "The Face of Battle" by John Keegan. It, quote, "examines the physical conditions of fighting, the particular emotions and behaviour generated by battle, as well as the motives that impel soldiers to stand and fight rather than run away..". Another book in the same vein worth reading is "Firing Line" by Richard Holmes which covers the same subject but in a differant manner. Both are, I would suggest essential reading for anyone looking to gain an insight into why men endure combat. Cheers fur noo George

Heh! Heh! Me too. I was convinced I was missing something and spent ages hunting for the info. Ach weel - it would be a great facility. Cheers fur noo George

It was the "preview" screenshots I was thinking off. So I'm not that daft, or perhaps I am!! Cheers for the reply Sergei Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi! I'm maybe being very dense here, but how do you upload an image of the map of your scenario. I've been all over the edit/update section in the authors login to no avail. If I'm being dense and the answer is blindingly obvious, don't say, just nod your head pityingly, then let me know how to do it? I'll be your friend for life, not in a weird stalking sort of way, more just a warm glow of comradeship Cheers fur noo George

The nickname, originally, was worn with some pride ( I assume?) by the unit as the vehicles in the unit sported a blowtorch painted on the vehicles. Peiper is quoted in the biography by Agte (excellent piece of work re the research - readers can make up their own minds as to the sentiments in the book) as saying the nickname came about due to their habit of attacking Soviet positions in villages at night. The thatch in the houses caught fire due to tracer rounds etc - hence the nickname. This nickname was then given differant connotations after the war with the allegation, denied by Peiper and hence maybe the source of the alternative view you mention above, that they were deliberately going around setting fire to houses with blowtorches. This allegation was I believe part of the case that was made against Peiper after the war for his being tried for war crimes. This series of scenarios recreating several of the actions involving Peiper's unit were born out of a desire to recreat some rather audacious, couragous and ultimately bloody actions that were fought by both Soviet and German units during the winter of 42/43 around Kharkov. Additonally Peiper evolved armoured mounted infantry tactics that were for the time exteremly innovative. Both Charlie (my co author and designer) and myself have been very meticulous to research the Soviet side and give the Soviets their own identity rather than a faceless 'Red Horde' - as the bravery shown by the Soviet units during this fighting was equally as exceptional. Hope this info is of use. Cheers fur noo George

Peiper was on his own here. In fact he did'nt bother to hang around and wait for the rest of the division to arrive but pissed off and headed for Fedorowka. By the time the rest of the division caught up he was sitting tight on his bridghead repelling all comers. I know of two other games going on around this, none are going the same way for the players! If you want email me at gmcewan@totalise.co.uk and I can fill you in on all the lowdown. Cheers fur noo George

Hi Guys Cheers for the feedback I'm part way through playing as a PBEM against Ken Federoff. We started playing on an older version which has a differant flag set-up. At the moment my Russian infantry are taking a pounding from the Blowtorch boys but hanging in there! look forward to hearing how you get on. Cheers fur noo George

Hi Radetzky and aragorn2002! Cheers for downloading the scenario - hope you have as great a time with it as I have had creating it (and currently PBEMing it with Kenfederoff),and look forward to your comments. Cheers fur noo George PS This is where you get to find out just how effective SPW were and why Peiper's gang were called the 'blowtorch battalion' or 'blowtorch squadron'

oops sorry! never thought. Thank you for the mod David kind as ever. Email with your ritual butt kicking should be waiting for you when you get back from, eh work? Cheers for the post J2D - I'm now the proud owner of one white washed flaktrack! Cheers fur noo George ps when tank commanders have their brains blown out by snipers is that bad?

Should'nt you be working? Kick my arse? You and who's army - oh! the American Army - bring it on!

Hi Just uploaded this scenario at The Proving Grounds - link below:- http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=734 This battle covers Peiper’s III ‘Blowtorch’ (armoured) Battalion from SS Panzergrenadier Regt 2 attempts to seize a bridgehead over the Msha River during the Battle Of Kharkov, Winter 1942 - 1943. It is best played as a H2H but also works playing against the AI (with a bonus for experience). This a joint designing effort between myself and Charlie Meconis. As always feedback much appreciated. Enjoy Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi Could anyone do me a favour and email me the above mod? I'll gldaly send a copy of some LARGE maps I've done for CMBB in return. I appreciate CMMODS is not available at the moment - and there could'nt be a better reason Thanks for the anticipated help. Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi Forgot_to_duck Not a problem just drop me an email at gmcewan@totalise.co.uk Cheers fur noo george ps only proviso is after you play drop us an email with some feedback see no such thing as a free lunch eh?

I've found it very difficult at times to get exact orders of battle, and on some occasions actual maps as a reasonable scale for Eastern Front scenarios. The OOB stuff mainly affects the Soviets, although more info is becoming available. With that in mind I then call the scenario semi-historical in that for some or all of the above reasons it is not an exact recreation. Another issue is you sometimes have to tweak the CM parameters a wee bit just to make the AI do stuff. If you want to take a look at some semi-historical drop me a line at gmcewan@totalise.co.uk and I'll email you some stuff - save the download time and me typing names Cheers fur noo George

Hi Jason C Thanks for the tips - great stuff. Do you know though whether in an operation if your troops lose their skies whether they get them back? I'm designing an op which by rights should have cavalry but as horses are not modelled I thought ski troops would be a sub for horse mounted infantry. It is a BIG map with snow I'm designing so the Russians do have to be able to move reasonablly speedily. I don't won't to give them trucks as this will limit a) their approach play against the AI c) they did'nt have a lot of trucks in this action. Any help would be much appreciated. George Mc

I've done a few tests and yes ski troops with skis can 'run', ski, over snow for lobger without tiring. When they come under fore they ditch the skis and as we know they stay off. Does anyone know if in an operation when they ditch their skis, do they get them back after each battle, or are they lost and gone forever? Cheers fur any help George Mc

Hi Mark contact me via gmcewan@totalise.co.uk Cheers fur noo George