George MC

So I'm starting work on the AI Plan for the first phase of the Soviet attack into Wiking's right hand flank, SW of Tluszcz. As part of creating AI Plans I tend to do a quick and dirty play in hot seat mode. In this case I selected to the two assault groups from 76th Guards Rifle division (Soviet LHS - 234 Rifle Regiment CO - Guards Lieutenant Colonel Shkurko Vasily Stepanovich; and Soviet RHS 239 Rifle Regiment CO Guards Lieutenant Colonel Maxim Gavrilovich Gorb both units at around 60-70%) and just sent em forward... Arrayed against em two companies from II/Germania at around 50% strength. In RL the initial assault started a kilometer south east, with the guardsmen breaking through with no difficulty (not sure they even met any opposition apart from some German outposts). When they came into this sector the Germans were under a ferocious artillery bombardment. It's useful to see which German units spot first and do the main killing. Then I can start to plan the arty support (in RL they used smokescreens but creating this in the AI plan and AI limitations in smoke use mean I have to ID the long range firing positions arcs of fire in game and then play the AI fire support smoke accordingly. They did have some armour support (from what I can work out this seems to have been an overlap of the 8 GTC assault groups who the CO thinking they'd breached the main German lines sent em in) but I've left that out just now. I'll focus on creating the initial AI Plan for the infantry then 'layer' the armour onto that, using triggers etc to provide some co-ordnination but also help stall the attack if the German player can do enough to slow the initial attack.

Hopefully you'll like this - most of the German and Soviet units are around 50-70% of actual ToE. Thanks - never sure how they shape up till done, and then how they are received. Though I really enjoy the research and creating these. So I tend to view em from a purely intrinsic POV, though gerat when others like em too! Cheery!

Can you confirm that your Black Sea game on your PC is the same version as used to generate the turn? i.e. v2.10 (Game Engine 4)

One down. 120+ to go...

8th Guards Tank Army in its assembly area. Foreground unit is part of the 59th Guards Tank Brigade. “M3A1 x 2; 10 x T-34; 21 x M4A2. Tank battalions were brought together into one battalion” ref 8th Guards Tank Corps AAR 17/8/1944. I'm not sure this will be the final force used in the scenario. I'm still untangling the actual course of events and how they went into action. The AAR I have shows them going in as a column so the assumption is they went in as deeply echeloned formation (which would tie in with doctrine) and also accounts for some of the early contact they made with the German armour in this sector. The rifle regiments from the 76th Guards seem to have broken the German lines (pretty quickly) so the armour went in by around mid-day to late afternoon BUT German account mention one armoured engagement in the morning where they KOd 12 'tanks'. The 8th Guards Tank Corps had been pretty badly mauled by this stage was way understrength. So whilst it sounds a huge unit its actually comparatively small and easy handled in CM terms. The 75 Rifle Division attacked into this sector with two Rifle Regiments - though at moment unsure of their exact strength. Suspect be reduced given been in combat for a while so most likely 70% or even lower. A zoomed out view showing the whole 8th Guards Corps including SU regiments. NOTE: 60th Guards Tank Brigade not shown as they came into action the following day from what I can gather. Facing them were one German battalion (202 men) and elements from Wiking's Panther battalion with around 22 Panthers

Large armoured actions. Tanks!! Both sides (politically) are ***** Seriously fir me wargaming sparked from interest in Russo/German front WWII and tanks. But I do also play modern. Different pace. Similar but very different.

Jeez oh…

Same issue another take on effect of western sanctions

Yea sir! Quality

Excellent update@Monty's Mighty Moustache enjoying this

Oh shucks! Thank you This is the wee slice of Syrian map I used as the terrain template. I had to make some tweaks to allow reasonable framerates and ability to play it! (this was done when you'd get regular OOM crashes when in the editor). Ah coll - yeah thought was what you had done. It was very effective Yup I'm with you having the ability to create an accurate topo map would be prefect for planning. Add my name to the list supporting that facility in game! Cheery!

Wow - my morning just got better. Brilliant stuff, appreciate the kudos I'm pleased that the aim of Armour Attacks! - you don't need technological overmatch to win, has been clocked. Thanks for the time in writing this. useful insights and actually useful info from a design POV. Oh and a wee question from how did you make that excellent contour topo map? I'm assuming you used screens from the 'elevation' section of the editor? pps the actual terrain used in this scenario is a RL bit of terrain from Syria.

Excellent mate Its truly satisfying to see scenarios played as I envisaged/hoped they might be and brought to ‘life’.

Douglas Nash - From the Realm of a Dying Sun series worth getting. Or Norbert Bacyk Warsaw: Battle for Praga July - September 1944 v. 2 (Operations / East Front): The Tank Battle at Praga July - December 1944

Ah cool - was just checking as there is an in-game effect when you misapply a patch that causes a noise like a jet roaring overhead! Doesn't sound like you have that. Just checking!

Just clocked “incessant wind sounds”. You should only hear any wind effect when the winds are strong in game. Do you still hear the same noise ( or like a roaring jet) when you fire up a mission? Does the noise go away if you select no wind for the scenario in the editor?

Aye putting radically different contours in parallel together does create that terrace look. One solution is only put in place the key contours and let the game engine smooth the slope. You might have to play about to get this to work and create the terrain effect you want. But also keep in mind some valleys might have terrace features due to ancient river systems post ice age.

I'm a continuous contour man myself. 'Spot' contours lead to odd elevation artifacts like cones or chasms. I avoid for that reason. Minimum impact on load times no impact in game play.

No way in-game to turn down volume of ambient noise but there are various sound mods that tone down the ambient noise. You can find em on CMODs. e.g. https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/cm-mod-warehouse/combat-mission-battle-for-normandy/cmbn-sound/quiet-background/

In the UK most recent (high profile) prosecutions have involved those going to Syria to fight. In this context its inevitably meant they've come to the attention of the CPS under counter terrorism laws. though the get out clause "That prohibition does not extend, however, to enlistment in a foreign government’s forces which are engaged in a civil war or combatting terrorism or internal uprisings." In the UK its mainly been those who are accused of 'serving' with ISIS which is a terror organisation hence being prosecuted under anti-terror laws. There is this one a ex-brit soldier who fought with YPG https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/james-matthews-isis-british-soldier-terror-charge-syria-army-uk-a8770781.html And another one https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/daniel-burke-terror-charges-dropped-soldier-isis-syria-news-a9599561.html

Hers a link to uncut version with analysis.

Wonder what the life expectancy of a tactical drone operator in a command group is? Like that guy will stand out!

Not sure if this been posted as yet. summary and analysis of current situation especially in the south.

Ground to air seems effective.

Sky news team ambushed. https://news.sky.com/story/sky-news-teams-harrowing-account-of-their-violent-ambush-in-ukraine-this-week-12557585