KiloIndiaAlpha

I've spent the last four years heavily involved in large scale computer assisted exercises (CAX's) with both the UK and the US. These exs were at the operational level and simulated units down to co and sometimes plt/section size. We did these exs to train 3* generals and their staffs and, as you can imagine, this involved US army, marines, navy, air force, int, SF, logistics.. We, the Brits, participated on a similar organisational scale. (Joint force at brigade level). We had a lot of fun, worked very hard and learnt a heck of a lot: In general terms the US are way ahead of the Brits in the acceptance of technology in a training environment. Hopefully the UK military will become less reactionary over the next decade or so, particulary as young officers of today, brought up with technology, become the senior officers of tomorrow.But, with respect to any UK officers on this board, my (substantial) experience with the UK miltary (especially army) leads me to conclude that most are luddites and actually 'afraid' of the hardware/software. There are several key aspects of warfare that CM and similar do not simulate. (This is not a criticism, simply an observation. There is no need for much of what follows in a tactical game) 1. Intelligence gathering. The int effort involved in large exs/operations is MASSIVE. The simulation of int gathering assets in a CAX is complex, difficult and very important aspect. It is much more than the fog-of-war and can range from an OP or listening post to a surveillance satellite. Almost all of it is classified and could therefore not be fully/accurately simulated in a commercial game. 2. Logistics, logistics and logistics.! How does the saying go? Amateurs think tactics, professionals think logistics. Again the software development involved to handle logistics is a major part of the overall development and its importance can not be over emphasised. The actual combat simulation is quite small in comparison to 1,2 and in my experience handled and resolved in a quite crude fashion. Indeed all commercial (modern warfare) games I've played handle combat resolution in much greater detail than any of the miltary games. IMHO the reason for this is that combat is 'sexy', the simulation of it is interesting and the customer wants detailed resolution. No one wants a massive logistics model in a commercial game, no one wants to spend hours counting beans and bullets and planning, in detail, the night-move of an infantry brigade through the rear areas. (Perhaps they do, but only once...!) Anyway I'll stop rambling now... But in summary there is perhaps an opportunity for commercial games in a military training environement (believe me I banged my head against this one for over four years!) but it will require a different mindset from the miltary and a change in emphasis in the games, this change perhaps making them less desireable to the civilian wargamer and thus reducing the games commercial viability.

Just reading the thread on MG34 etc. In theory the belt fed mg is 'better' than a mag fed gun. However... The belts can be a major problem. ever tried carrying belts through scrub, woods etc, they snag easily and if you lose a cartridge then you WILL get a jam. Much better to use a magazine and if your number 2 is good then he will be counting the rounds off and have a new mag in within 1-2 seconds of the last round of the old mag. In addition you have much less chance of a jam and if, when the mags are issued, you empty them and re-load with one less round than they came with then the chance of a jam is almost zero. Of course belt fed MG's are 'better' in some circumstances, eg fixed position. But if you want mobile, reliable section fire support then give me a magazine fed gun.

15% is probably about right. The average GI was a pretty poor soldier. USMC a bit better but neither of them first-rate Soldiers.

Ol' Blood & Guts Thanks, I thought someone would bite.

Sorry it doesn't really answer my question. 1. 340 MB is not a large download on a fast link 2. I write/design network software for a living. Implementing a secure server is not difficult and not expensive.

Question for Big Time Software When CM ships it may take us Europeans some time to receive the software by snail mail. Would it be practicable for electronic payment to be made and then allow the purchaser to download and cut a CD. (Of course this assumes access to a high-speed data link, which some of us do have). Thanks An impatient european

Manic, Have you done that about which you speak so eagerly? Have you ever ambused a co of guerillas and left their wounded out overnight so as to demoralise the survivors? It's NOT fun.

" What a thrill, the rush of adrenaline flow, fear, excitement of dropping behind enemy lines, cut off from supplies, reaching down for your soul and a basic primitive instinct to survive. Getting close enough to an enemy tank for a kill..... Thats me." Sure... That lasts for about 1 hour then you realise that a violent death is probably what you'll get. You don't want to die, be mutilated have parts of your body blown off. You'll see your friends blown into oblivion, no trace of them at all. He was no different than you, so you are next. Absolute FEAR is the reality of war, not excitement. Ok the first time under fire gives you a massive adrendalin rush, after that.... you want to go home. Not beacause you are a coward, you are just human and want to live.

Did you win or lose the American Civil War? A Brit.

Hello CM'ers. Have a look at this site http://www.tankmuseum.co.uk/home.html It's dedicated to tanks and AFV's and worth a visit (real visit not just a virtual one!) In particular the Panther, Tiger and Tiger2 are.. well see for yourself!

Captain Manieri, plese lern propper gramur an lern two spel korectly. it is urrytateing reedin ure bul

"...refused to merry him because he was not jewish." Hitler wasn't merry because he lost the war.

You cannot teach assholes to whistle. KIA

Just been playing Chance encounter and I destroyed a Stug 3 with a bazooka at a range of 140 yards. It was the third shot and the first hit at a primarily frontal aspect. I have some reservations about this and would welcome the opinion of other CM'ers. KIA

I've hobby wargamed on and off for over twenty years and I get a lot from it. Also I've been involved professionally, from a technical position, in very large scale computer assisted exercises (CAX) with both US and UK armed forces and I know the benefits/drawbacks of CAX's. Sometimes, in my introspective moments, I wonder why I wargame and why I enjoy it. A lot of it I feel is the intellectual challenge of beating an opponent(enemy?). But perhaps we all have a very thin veneer of civilisation over us which can be quite easily removed. So, why do you wargame? (Or if the opportunity arose would the game element be removed?) KIA

--- Big coding issue In fact, it is impossible to map two textures onto one polygon (or one defined area). We would have to have a second set of walls for each and every building. --- ? Could you not check if the viewpoint is internal to the building and then map the corresponding texture to the walls? i.e if (vpInternal()) {map(internalTexture)} else {map(externalTexture)}

Who/ Glen Miller?

Heheheh

Any chance, please, of another scenario? Mike

They are!

IP Games?

An AFV is actually a specific type of a more general vehicle known as Tracked Wheeled All Terrain.

My paternal grandmother was in the second Falschirmjager regt and fought extensively in Greece.