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George MC

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Posts posted by George MC

    Play-Them-Where-They-Lay

    in Combat Mission - Scenario Talk

    Posted

    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 smile.gif

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    New Scenario at TPG - "Peiper's Chariots Of Fire"

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by aragorn2002:

    Another excellent looking map and no doubt (after playing Bridgehead at Fedorowka several times I'm certain of that)another great and challenging game. Thank you, George, for handling this fascinating period at the eastern front,I'm really, really enjoying your work!

    Hi Aragorn2002!

    Thank You :D 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

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    New Scenario at TPG - "Peiper's Chariots Of Fire"

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    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. smile.gif

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    Ode to theTank Hunter team...

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by M Hofbauer:

    </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Rollstoy:

    I am going to put a candle in the window tonight:

    Herr Hofbauer has posted after over a year of absence!!!

    Now I have hope again ...

    Best regards,

    Thomm

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

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by David I:

    Late 1941 Russian Counterattack. I was the Russians and my T-34's were doing a number on my opponents PzIII's and II's. I got points for exiting units so my Infantry advanced behind my tanks.

    When the dust clears, 47 dead Russians, every man in the reinforced platoon! No survivors... :(

    47deadrussianswithcomment8lw.th.jpg

    The beauty of this game is that it's cool, even when the unaccountable, very bad thing happens to you. :D

    DavidI

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

    George

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    New Scenario - "Bridgehead at Fedorowka" Winter 1943

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by philwil:

    Great battle so far, and tough! I'm on turn ten, against the AI, Soviets. It's a beautiful map, and a really punishing scenario. I've already lost one flank. Keep 'em coming!

    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

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    Taking Prisoners

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by phil102:

    Security Guard

    From what I have read, particularly 'Armageddon' by Max Hastings, it seems that if troops were going to surrender, they often decided, in advance of a critical combat situation, to do it.

    There is a very simple reason for this. If you have been engaged in active combat with enemy troops and those enemy troops have suffered some casualities in the exchange, it is highly likely that if you decide to suddenly stop shooting and put up a white flag that you will be summarily executed on the spot.

    If however, you surrender before you have fired a shot it is likely that you will at least escape immediate death and will be herded to the rear and into captivity.

    There are a very large number of recorded instances of this type of action by troops on the ground.

    Just my 2 cents

    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

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    Scenario Depot - Uploading images of your scenario map?

    in Combat Mission - Scenario Talk

    Posted

    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? tongue.gif I'll be your friend for life, not in a weird stalking sort of way, more just a warm glow of comradeship smile.gif

    Cheers fur noo

    George

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    New Scenario - "Bridgehead at Fedorowka" Winter 1943

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    Originally posted by simovitch:

    I read somewhere that Peiper was rather indignant about his men being referred to as the "blowtorch battalion". He goes on to refer to the fact that he used blow torches not to torch the local neighborhoods, but to heat up the transmissions on his vehicles during those winter months. The nickname caught on with adverse connotations, with the help of the nazi propaganda machine.

    sound fishy? :confused:

    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. smile.gif

    Cheers fur noo

    George

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    New Scenario - "Bridgehead at Fedorowka" Winter 1943

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    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! smile.gif

    If you want email me at gmcewan@totalise.co.uk and I can fill you in on all the lowdown.

    Cheers fur noo

    George

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    New Scenario - "Bridgehead at Fedorowka" Winter 1943

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    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 :D

    Cheers fur noo

    George Mc

    0

    The most realistic scenarios?

    in Combat Mission - Scenario Talk

    Posted

    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 smile.gif

    Cheers fur noo

    George

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    Ski troops: Speed and stamina?

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    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 B) play against the AI c) they did'nt have a lot of trucks in this action.

    Any help would be much appreciated.

    George Mc

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    Ski troops: Speed and stamina?

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    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 smile.gif

    George Mc

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