John Kettler

Dogface 21, It's a flame tank based on the Stuart, specifically the M-3A1 version. Judging from what THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE: From Laboratory to Field (one of the U.S. Army in World War II green volumes) says on page 154, the Satan was made by removing the 37mm armament from obsolescent M-3A1 chasses and replacing them with a Ronson flamethrower in a howitzerlike protective shroud. Range using compressed carbon dioxide as propellant was 40-60 yards with unthickened oily fuel and 60-80 yards with thickened fuel. Twenty four such conversions were done on Hawaii, and the Satan had its combat debut at Saipan in June 1944 and went on to fight at Tinian as well. There is no mention of even one having been shipped to either the U.S. or the ETO. I therefore conclude that the weapon is missing from CMBO because not even one ever served in Europe. If interested in flamethrowers of WW II, Chapter VII (pp. 136-166) is a must read. Hope this helps. Regards, John Kettler

Time for a quick update. Tom and I are doing a fine job of butchering squad after squad. Bodies all over the place. CDIC and I are rolling smoothly and are exchanging fire with enthusiasm and at often frighteningly close range. Kingfish and I are like two small deranged boys maniacally and methodically tearing the wings from flies. Unfortunately, we're the flies. The battle is merciless, is being fought across almost the entire board, and the casualties, considering the forces, are considerable. Wild Bill is a perverse genius who delights in driving the players mad. The action is ferocious. Keeping my ongoing AAR current is driving me mad, but it'll be good reading if I don't crack first. Regards, John Kettler

I've noticed that CMBO has a terrible time dealing with PBs and the like on steep slopes. The resulting visuals range from disturbing to comical. Nor do I know how the code is handling this matter internally. Has CMBB handled the keeping PBs and such level problem? Also, have any provisions been made to dig such positions into the side of a hill or even a cliff face? I shall be most interested in the responses, assuming I get any. Regards, John Kettler

The last turn against Ben was way too exciting for my tastes, the result of suddenly encountering a platoon or more head-on advancing on my far left when I leapfrogged forward myself. All of this was complicated by fires from his center after swamping surviving elements from my earlier assault. Casualties were heavy. Even more exciting was my version of "The Beast." This one featured American infantry suddenly debouching from behind my Stu, scurrying after my Stu beastie, taking fire from my guys on the rear hill, and the object of intended destruction as well, which was merely advancing to enfilade on the right. What I find really ironic about this is that he's complaining about my marauding armor when he himself initiated the armored rear area raids. Mine was in well chosen positions way back in my setup zone for most of the game. I've got multiple plans in motion to handle certain tactical situations and to generate new ones to further discomfit Ben's troops. Quite a battle! Regards, John Kettler

Time for a battle update. I sent thousands of rounds into Ben's MG and squad? in the area I'd heavily mortared. With pinning fires in full cry and my assault force split into teams I went charging round the slope--into the teeth of a squad eating ambush. My effort to kill his M-10 TC buttoned the beast, but cost me the shooter. Grr. I enjoyed far greater success by putting to flight an MG behind his big hill on the right. Since no good deed goes unpunished, my fire base on the right was mortared. I did manage to extricate the survivors from the jaws of the ambush. My revenge was sweet, though, for while Ben battled to hold off my inexorable general advance on the left, I slipped in and seized his VL. I own both now! This endeavor was helped by some smoke I fired and by catching one of his units on the hop while it was scurrying over to repel my attack on the left. The M-10 and friends are attempting to kill one of my vehicles, but I sent another one forward to a really nasty new position. The advance continues! Regards, John Kettler

Stixx, your briefing concerning our game should preserve you from a flareup of RSI, since very little has happened. Capitalistdoginchina, I'll resend the last turn to you. Kingfish and I are blowing up vehicles, killing infantry, and doing other things of a martial nature. Further details fall under the cone of silence. Regards, John Kettler

Tanks a Lot, Outstanding!!! Keep up the great work! Sincerely, John Kettler

Those pushing elsewhere for a properly modeled 25 pdr., plus Morris Quad and ancillary items, take heart! I present you with an example of 25 pdrs. firing over open sights. It's taken from the battle of Villers Bocage and is reported in OVERLORD: D-Day & The Battle for Normandy, by Max Hastings as part of the war memories of Trooper Dennis Huett of the 5th RTR. On page 208 of OVERLORD it says: "Scout cars radioed that enemy tanks were approaching 'and stuff started flying about.' They once traversed their turret violently to meet an incoming tank, only to discover just in time that it was one of their own. A nearby battery of 25-pounders was firing over open sights." Armed with this information, the historians and grogs here ought to be able to figure out which RA unit was so hard pressed that it switched to direct fire. Regards, John Kettler

TeAcH, I think the BER is terrific, but not everyone here has a PC. When will we see a Mac version or some way to work it into a PC-to-Mac PBEM game? If such options existed, I would've long since used the BER in my PBEM battles. Regards, John Kettler

I don't see PBs very often, so maybe I missed something during a version change, but I've now noticed that when a tank targets a PB the usual choice menu for main gun versus MG only doesn't appear. You target the PB with the main gun. Period. I even retargeted to make sure of this. Nor have I noticed any MG fire from the tank being directed at the PB. Could someone explain this to me, please? Why is the tank owner denied, say, the ability to use MG fire only and is forced to use the cannon and nothing but the cannon? When firing at a similar target (stone house) I still have a choice of weapons. I'm confused. Sincerely, John Kettler

The postponed forever war against Kingfish is resumed...with a vengeance! Let's just say it was exciting from the very first turn. Regards, John Kettler

The TD? is now positively identified as an M-10. Sadly, it cost me a 250/1 to find out. The LOS went through what I thought was cover. Oops! May have damaged a split squad or similar nearby before receiving the high velocity present in the face. Gave something infantrylike a lead and HE shower on a nearby rise. My infantry attack continues toward Ben's center and rear, following a preassault pounding which really riled him. What's actually happening in this battle is anyone's guess. Regards, John Kettler

Tanks a Lot, Keep this up and you'll be working for KwazyDog! I'm sure it took hours to make all the requested improvements, but you have every right to pat yourself vigorously on the back. The improvements are dramatic. Would it be possible to pull the point of view out some, that we might see what this looks like in a tactical environment, rather than being practically in the firing slit? Whether you can do this or not, congratulations! Sincerely, John Kettler

Treeburst155, Given all the moans, lamentations and cries of the excluded back when you announced the selectees for Rumblings, how is it that we now can't find someone to jump in to replace Stix (sorry, mate!), who's leaving us? Frankly, the mere thought that we're not being stampeded blows my mind. Yours in shock, John Kettler

Tanks a Lot, Please post a picture of the latest design iteration. Am intensely curious! Thanks! John Kettler

Advertisement Wanted: Section II opponent to battle and kill. Stixx and Tom need not apply. If interested, please contact Treeburst155 directly and request a map for our fight. Regards, John Kettler

Yes, Ben and I finally got our turns sorted out. The result? Support fire pandemonium! His was on my advancing troops on the left, mine on the defenders to the left center rear. Ben still thinks he's Yahweh, for again we have the burning bush. We also had the HQ that would not die. Under fire from six different axes, the platoon HQ? near the 250/9 slaying M-10 on my far right flank seemed to repel bullets and was unfazed by a hail of lead. It did displace a bit and eventually ducked from view. I've taken several measures to continue the advance and discomfit Ben. Time will tell. Regards, John Kettler

Treeburst155 is so funny! In my entire CM career to date, not just ongoing, completed, or aborted games in the Invitational, I have used rockets three times, of which two were in the Invitational. Total rocket expenditures to date do not exceed 75 rockets. The reaction to their use is historic, for Allied troops hated Nebelwerfers passionately. The incredible HE load delivered in a short period and bursting above the ground (warhead at back end), the tremendous blast, and the built-in whistle all worked in unholy unity. We need to remember, too, that, these things were employed in mass. A 15 cm. Werferabteilung (3 batteries) could fire 108 rounds (6 rds./launcher x 6 launchers/battery x 3 batteries) in 10 seconds, 648 in 90 seconds. For some reason BTS alloted 25 rds./battery, which is why my numbers may seem wrong. As for Mick_Oz's idea, I shall apply decoy discrimination techniques. If he wishes to kill me, have Ben Galanti send me a turn! The sooner I complete my game against him, the sooner we can fight. Regards, John Kettler

Tanks a Lot, Now we're making progress! What you need to do next is deepen the embrasure and use light and shadow to increase the visual contrast. As someone else suggested, you need to figure out where your presumed light source will be (alas, no dynamic lighting anytime soon) and position your shadows accordingly. The only way to have the light hit the embrasure the way you have it now is for the fortification to point due east and for it to be sunrise. As for the propaganda poster, I personally have never seen photos of one on the outside of a fortification. I have real doubts about getting the thing to stick to rough concrete in the first place, and it would weather rapidly (deteriorate badly) even if it could be made to stay up. Personally, I'd suggest a painted slogan. Alternatively, try the door. The German speaking grogs here can no doubt help with suitable phrases. I congratulate you on a tremendous piece of evolving work and on your willingness to listen to those trying to help you. Whoever hosts your mod will have a busy server. I know when people see your mod, they'll want it. They already want it! Regards, John Kettler

For the record, I never said word one about chain link fence. I did talk about wire mesh, of which I'm familiar with two main types in this sort of application. There's the gridded stuff I described and the much smaller hexagonal stuff so fine it'll even keep baby chicks from escaping. Tanks a Lot, the fortification's looking good. I roger your technical problems and congratulate you on the door handles and the antigrenade screening, also for getting rid of the embrasure beveling completely. What are my chances of getting the stairstepping (narrowing rectangular funnel with square edges) around the embrasure? Regards, John Kettler

Bah! The UBB demon scrambled my graphic! Think side view of stairstepped embrasure with no bevel whatsoever; sides of embrasure are stairstepped laterally. Overall effect is like a partially open telescope. Sorry for any confusion. Regards, John Kettler

Tanks a Lot, You've made considerable progress, but you're not there yet. Let me try a crude graphic to illustrate the concept I'm trying to convey. Embrasure (side view) Not to scale ************************** * * *** *** *= (MG or cannon here) *** *** * _________________________*____________________ The sides of the embrasure are also stairstepped, only laterally this time. The screens should be on the outside, the idea being to keep grenades away from the embrasure altogether. The mesh can be considerably larger, say, four to six inch squares or thereabouts. This keeps grenades out but facilitates aiming by the occupants. Is there any way for you to paint a ventilator on the roof? Where is the door handle? We're talking about an armored door here. It's heavy. Is there any way to radius or maybe slightly blur all those hard primary corners in the basic structure's design? I think you're going to have a marvelous looking fortification mod when you get done. I'm simply trying to help you flesh out a great basic concept. Keep up the good work! Regards, John Kettler

Tom has finally been heard from mit turn in hand, and we managed to get several turns played tonight. I put some lumps on his boys, so I feel better. As for preserving FOW in the new scenarios once they're released to the public by not reading the AARs, I strongly concur. You'll be kicking yourself otherwise. Regards, John Kettler

Yes, my immobilized 250/9 became a victim of the Stealth TD. I kid you not. No sound contact, no gray icon, no nothing. An instant later, there's an M-10 or somesuch, and it trundles up and fires before my 250/9 can stop firing at Ben's platoon HQ which was a real grenade threat, being upslope and close. One shot K-kill! I sent a swarm of bullets at that fatally distracting HQ, managing to cut it a bit. The other action this turn was on my far left, where a hail of lead directed against an apparent MG seemed to put it to flight, allowing me to advance on several axes. Treeburst155, you can clamber out of the basement. For now. Regards, John Kettler

Ben, great minds think alike! My plan was to race over there, set up in defilade and ambush you from the flank as you made your leisurely way back to your lines. Was I ever surprised when you sped up, closed, and I found myself facing you head-on! Fortunately, I prevailed in the duel. Yes, I am using rockets on Ben's center. If they annoy you, Ben, blame Treeburst155; he kept asking to see me use them again. It's also cheap entertainment for Kingfish and Jarmo. I predict lots of action in the next turn. Regards, John Kettler