Commanderski

One more T-90M can be added to Orix list. I wonder, what unit could use it.... 150th MRD? Wagner? Invisible 3rd Corps?
Looks like close artillery shell explosion with side hull penetration with fragments
 

A Panther tank weighs about 45 tons or so and was about 10 feet, 9 inches wide.  The bridge may hold up to wheeled traffic but not to tank traffic. I don't think this would hold up to a Panther crossing over it.

A Panther tank weighs about 45 tons or so and was about 10 feet, 9 inches wide.  The bridge may hold up to wheeled traffic but not to tank traffic. I don't think this would hold up to a Panther crossing over it.

In my next Youtube video I'll be taking a closer look at the CMBN Market Garden scenario "Counterattack at Son", which I believe was created by @ASL Veteran.
The "Counterattack at Son" scenario map has two bridges on it across the river Dommel. One that can hold tanks, and a foot bridge. The following has been written in the Designer's Notes about the foot bridge:
"I was uncertain as to whether the small bridge across the Dommel that is located south of the canal was large enough to hold vehicles. The modern bridge there appears to have wheel tracks across it that would be suggestive of vehicles passing over it. The area immediatly west of the bridge didn't appear to have any roads and indicated that perhaps the bridge was not suitable for heavy vehicles. In the event, I decided to make the bridge a footbridge since I knew for certain that the attack from the previous evening was conducted down the Tow Path alongside the canal. It seemed logical that if the small bridge could hold vehicles that it would have been used for the evening attack (the day before) and since that attack went down the down path, that leaned towards the southern bridge being unsuitable for tanks or armored vehicles".
I assume that when the designer says he's seeing wheel tracks, he is referring to images of the bridge as seen on google earth.
So today I visited the scenario location to shoot some footage for the video, and ofcourse I also went to see this bridge to find out if it would support a tank or not... What I found looked like a somewhat improvised construction, yet build with steel for support. Unfortunately I'm a dimwit when it comes to engineering and I have no idea how strong something like this would be.
Now, who here among us would like to like to chip in and tell me whether you think this bridge could hold a Panther tank? 😁 Any interesting details about why you think so would be appreciated! The bridge may have been replaced by a newer one, but my theory is that if it was replaced, they would have put one back that was at least as good as the old one - so if this one isn't strong enough, then the bridge in 1944 probably wasn't either.
The width was about 2,7 meters/ 9 feet.


(better image quality and a few more pics:)
https://freeimage.host/i/tFOK0u
https://freeimage.host/i/tFOfUb
https://freeimage.host/i/tFOC5x
https://freeimage.host/i/tFO2s9
https://freeimage.host/i/tFOobV
https://freeimage.host/i/tFOzzB

About shooting on firing range
On the screens the story of shooting from wounded soldier. Of course it's just a story, but I will not be surprised if the cause of conflict was that, described under.
In short, among mobilized in this unit there were some number of Muslims, citizens of Russia, and three of them - tajik, azerbaidzhanian and adygean have written reports that they reject to participate in the war. After this unit commnader, lt.colonel Andrey Lapin lined up soldiers and delivered a speech on the theme  "this is a Holy War". This caused some turmoil among Muslims - tajiks said "This is not Holy War for us, Holy War is Dzhihad only - the war with infidels". 
Lt.colonel Lapin answered "Then Allah is a coward if he doesn't allow to fight for that country, to which you swore the oath". This caused big rage among mobilized Muslims and even some officers-Muslims were shocked. Between Russians and Muslims short hustle started, but officers could calm down soldiers and as if conflict was extinguished. But most offended tajiks decided to revenge and since 1,5 hours, when their unit was sent to firing range shot out Russians, preliminary adviced Muslims to stand aside (thouigh several Muslims, like and author of this post were wounded). All shooters were not mobilized, but contractors. Lt.colonel Lapin was killed first of all. Two tajiks were killed by warrant officer, who issued bulltes. In the moment of shooting he was in facility with ammunition and had a pistol. So, he came out and killed two tajiks - sen.sergeant Bikzot, and Anushe (rank not mentioned), the third tajik jr. sergeant Amizonda (whos documents I posted above) was wounded, but managed to escape and still hasn't been found.
This soldier said the third number of losses - 32 only dead (including both shooters) and he doesn't know how much wounded exactly and said "two helicopters were needed to transport them to hospital"


   @sburke you can take into account lt.colonel Andrey Lapin, probably 138th MRB of 6th CAA, Westerm military district 

Wilhelmstrasse, in the Z sector, Central berlin. This area holds so many Nazi ministries like The Air Ministry (no major damage and still exists today). The Ministry for propaganda and enlightenment, (partly destroyed but large sections still exist today). Also Wilhelmplatz which Hitler's New Reich Chancellery faces, West side, the platz was concreted over some time in the 30s, to make suitable for large crowds to listen to Hitler speak from his balcony. Also the huge Kaiserhof Hotel, (Goering married his second wife there) and all the top Nazis stayed there. Hitler lived there for a while, also the Old Reich Chancellery, where Hitler also lived for a while. The Borsig Palace, incorporated as part of the chancellery. This area was heavily bombed and shelled so all the roads are gone and replaced with mounds of rubble and debris. Cheers for looking.
From Battle for Berlin Mod, Phaze 2, coming soon.

Wilhelmplatz defences

Notice the New Reichs Chancellery in the background showing Hitler's balcony, (I sampled the balcony texture from an actual photo to ad some realism). 

The Kaiserhof Hotel in the centre background.

The 88's are still a great AT gun even in 1945.

T34-85 destroyed in the rubble, Bombed out cityscapes are not ideal tank country but are needed for their firepower support.

Bombed out ministry buildings make great defence positions.
Cheers

The Battle for Berlin, Moabit Prison Area, this huge prison, which still exits today, is a real tough nut to crack. All the streets are really wide and very hard to advance down, even though you must to get to the Moltke Bridge, also there are about 100 prisoners still in the prison, you have to take some recon and sapper units to blow the walls and set them free, the dilemma is you may lose a few or all of this force, you will not receive any victory points if you do set them free the prisoners can be armed and will help you, destroy the Fascists in the park north of your area, it will be hard to do this without them but it's the players choice we can assume that if they are not liberated then they would certainly be shot by the local SS units attached to the area. Your choice....meanwhile your other units must push down the Moabit Strasse, as time is of the essence, if you are delayed to long then the glorious prize of the Reichstag may be diverted to Konevs 1st Ukrainian Front... so get this job done as victory is close.

The Main Prison Entrance objective.

Moabit Prison, Moabit Strasse, Berlin... A house of horrors.

Strangely the Prison is really beautifully designed group of buildings with statues adorning the entrance buildings.

The assaults begin simultaneously, the recon and sapper teams lead the way through the back of the prison to liberate the prisoners, whilst the other 3rd Shock Army troops pour down Moabit Strasse to rush the prison reception and clear the place of all German troops.

The rescue teams, reach the prison walls where the German guards told them them they would be. The Sappers prepare the explosives and wait by the walls...

They quickly arm the prisoners who can fight an blow more walls to release more prisoners.

Are these troops mad? They run down the street, they must be drunk, don't they know what awaits them?

The Soviets bring up some big ISU 152's to bolster the attack, but within 2 -3 minutes 5 ISU are in flames, the Germans rain down on them, mortar, anti-tank and HE shells, the carnage is unspeakable and unstoppable.

Our Commissars and Commanders told us that the Germans were finished and only a few Prison Guards remained to be finished off. OK so what and where was that fire from, the noise and smell was unforgettable the cries of the dying and the fearful would haunt those who survived this ordeal forever...we must move on and take the objectives...

The tank commander discovers through his bins what had caused the death of all his SPW's, and immediately orders an urgent mortar attack to suppress this reign of fire...

Forward our sergeant screams, we must get moving, we recover our thoughts and head off down the street again... into the smoke, into the ground, into Hell...

The Germans even have armoured support and makes a short appearance on the road before disappearing again... A radio message comes in from the rescue party asking for urgent assistance, they released the prisoners and moved to the park area, where they were met with large resistance from SS 88's and MG's and even an armoured counterattack... What can we do? The commander wants to help but we are stuck on this street any movement forward just brings on mortar attacks... maybe they will send us some more tanks or at least a huge smoke screen?????
What will be the outcome?  You can soon find out. Be the commander play this scenario  so you can determine the outcome? Failure is not an option... 
This is a scenario, called Moabit Prison Break, coming soon for the CMRT mod Battle for Berlin... Download the current mod here: https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/cm-mod-warehouse/combat-mission-red-thunder/cmrt-scenery/cmrt-battle-for-berlin/
Work in Progress.
 
 

Sky News are reporting it Ukraine war: Eleven volunteer soldiers killed in Russian military firing range shooting, Kremlin ministry of defence says | World News | Sky News

There are rumors that shooters were natives of Tajikistan, having Russian citizenship - many tajiks came to Russia, they have dirty job in Moscow and some other large Russian cities like unqualified workers on buildings and garbagers. But they could receive Russian citizenship. Russians mostly treat them with contempt, calling "churki", so likely the shooting is a consequence of ethnic conflict.  Reportedly there were three shooters - two were killed in skirmish, one escaped. Reportedly 22 KIA, 16 WIA, but uncondirmed yet.

At the Russian school, where future officer studied - sen.lt. Andrey Grakov, who was killed in Ukraine, was hanged memorial plaque, where in cirсumstances of his death was confirmed the strike at S-400 on 5th Aug. Grakov was commander of radar crew (on plaque has written MLRS - looks like multi-functional and fire control radar 92N6E) - all were hit by fragments, he has died in hospital next day.  

92N6E

01:40:00
 
The news is there is no news
They could atleast give us a estimated date.

Love the way ian points the finger at Battlefront's code for the delays.  What a bunch of maroons.

Struggle for Pomerania – RZM Imports Inc   Just got this great looking book. It has a beautiful fold out color map. I found it for $60 on Ebay brand new. Another online store has it for $70. JJ Fed books aint cheap!

So how long does it usually take from pre-order to release? 4 weeks? 6 weeks?

I just love taking screenshots.  It's like a whole niche "photography" thing.  CM plays into it so well.
Fallschirmjagers in the snow and on the hunt.



 

Guy on the left is obviously tyred..

Great shout, I was thinking the same.
Plus his work also contradicts a lot of the 'history' about tank numbers, losses etc. but it seems very well researched and believable.
Expecting something similar I recently bought and started to read 'Demolishing the Myth, the tank battle at Prokhorovka' by Valery Zamulin.  It's not quite the same but one aspect is that the idea of vast numbers of opposing tanks slogging it out in a frenzied coming together is not what actually happened.   He also gives some good reasons for successes and failures, like poor decision-making on the Soviet side.

I'll host these links for a few days. Get them while they are HOT!! And a big thanks to the creators of both of these campaigns!
Thunder Over Ponyri:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0at3bcstky8yasx/Thunder Over Ponyri.zip?dl=0
Zitadelle:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hoo2hfyvb6yvk72/Zitadelle.zip?dl=0
Kursk mod pack is included with the Zitadelle zip, parts of which can be used in both campaigns.
 

Thanks for taking the time! 😎 Dumped them into CMBN and they do work as intended. Re final version could have textures/UV´s look like in photo below. At time of battles in 1944/45 these were hardly 5-6 years old so still look rather "fresh".

Made some quick concrete like texture in GIMP (Grey + Noise) and dumped it in. (CMBN you enter germany, US frontline view, Movie shader, Shadows and Shading ON) Here´s how it looks thus far.

Imagine a Bergepanther to recover immobilized tanks...

+1.  THIS!  Lots of interesting tactical problems can be added to scenarios when you have both obstacle belts AND the ability to attempt a breach. 

UKR Su-24M despite losses still in action
 

UKR troops liberated Stelmakhivka and likely Andriivka villages, Luhansk oblast in 18 km W/NW from Svatove
UKR troops near village council building in Stelmakhivka

I can't do English version of map right now, so here Ukrainan - in violet squares Stelmakhivka upper and Andriivka lower, Svatove (Сватове) in low right corner

@sburke
Major Valeriy Golubev, unit and data of death unknown. His schoolmate writes he was in HQ, during developing of "strategic offensive operation" and enemy missile has struck the building, causing his death and all 20 of personnel, who were in HQ in this moment
Lt.colonel Aleksey Kondrashov, artillery battalion commander, unit and data of death unknown.
Lt.colonel Oleg Tashmatov, battlion commander (by other info - deputy of brigade commander) of 83rd air-assault brigade, Eastern military district. Got killed on 24th September in Kherson oblast from missile strike. 
 

On LostArmour write missiles hit grain elevator, where ammunition dump was established. Red dot on the map is a place of strike - railway station Karan' in Andriivka settlment 17 km SE from Volnovakha