John Kettler

If you're tried of Christmas carols and such, here's a classic piece of American poetry of a decidedly darker shade and superbly performed. Regards, John Kettler

Haiduk, It isn't every day we get a chance for such a close look at the sorts of incidents which has triggered wars in the past. Not good! Regards, John Kettler

Johnlondon125, If you do get CMBB, see if you can find a copy of the CMBB Strategy Guide, too. It is a veritable encyclopedia of AFVs, artillery, small arms, soft skins, tactical aircraft and more. Even has aerosans! Has the complete breakdown of firepower scores (discrete bullets NOT modeled in any CMx1 game, only shot, shells, bombs, rockets and such) for every unit type in the game, from every combatant. Strongly recommend young eyes, great vision or some sort of magnifier, for the tables are dense and the print tiny. Regards, John Kettler

Johnlondon125, If you get CMBB, you can fight Barbarossa to the end of the war, using not just Germans but their allies, too. Was fortunate to be able to play a Beta (?) Demo of it at Actor's house before the Beta Demo was released online. Back then, the Demo was before, not after, the game release, building up demand, enthusiasm and excitement. In the case of CMBO, the delay in game release forced BTS (what BFC used to be called) to release additional Beta Demo scenarios because we had played the original ones to death and the audience was extremely restive and clamoring for either the game or new scenarios. The new scenarios bought BFC the time to finish the game, which revolutionized computerized wargaming. CMBB came after that and provided perhaps the most extensive, broadest and deepest wargaming capabilities ever fielded. There will never be another CM equivalent, for the work and cost would be astronomic and would, if feasible, put a tremendous hit on BFC by removing the ability to segment WITE coverage via a whole series of games--presuming we're still alive when the first Eastern Front CM games for early war finally arrive! Regards, John Kettler

Just happened to see "Brothers in Arm" listed on a content aggregator, and when I investigated, found several entries. This History Channel show is about a group of highly experienced veterans in military and law enforcement in Ogden, Utah. Their stock in trade, at their lavishly equipped facility, is firearms restoration, but they delight in building all manner of antique and strange firearms, whose duration, sadly, is only for an episode, so they can fire them to see how they worked, or didn't. This is a super informal firm full of skilled, passionate men. Cross weapon pros with big kids who love explosions and you'll have some idea of what to expect. Was going to post the trailer, but some dunderhead left in home surveillance system footage of a brutal M on F attack which aired before the segment, so scrapped that idea. Their knowledge of AFV nomenclature was poor, but their rebuilding skills impressive, especially for a first time effort. When you see the AFV, take careful note of what's not inside the fighting compartment. Call it educational. Regards, John Kettler

In looking at the results, I find myself wondering what might happen were BFC to, say, put out versions in Japanese, Mandarin and Hindi, together with new games, such as Combat Mission: China Burma India or Combat Mission: Against the Rising Sun. Strongly suspect this would be a good move, if doable. BFC has already, in its CMx1 days, created a specialized military training version of CMAK targeted specifically on Australian troops fighting in Greece, so there is some sort of precedent for creating tailored games for specific audiences. Something else which I think could do well would be the Spanish Civil War, naturally available in a Spanish edition. It is a popular topic for miniature gaming, and the visuals are tremendous, given the colorful uniforms, Fifth columnists, volunteers, distinctive buildings and the presence later on of both German and Russian forces. Granted, what I'm talking about would go way past that specialized training game for military cadets. While some might view this idea as crazy, I believe that the longstanding and understandable concentration on the familiar ETO and WITE, together with less familiar MTO, may be unintentionally limiting the pool of CM gamers at a global level, thus sales. Now, I'm not saying BFC has the ability to do this, or is prepared to operate so far out of its normal target audience, never mind putting out new games reflecting what happened in the CBI,PTO and Spain neck of the woods, but I believe what I've described is worth a think. What say you? Regards, John Kettler

user1000, A Sherman 105 carried a small quantity of HEAT rounds specifically to deal with Panzers. Page 48 of the CMFB Manual shows 5 rounds, but 457 mm armor penetration at 0% (Wiki below) would do a lot more than spall a Panther's frontal armor. Would expect the whole tank would need replacing, along with most/all of the crew, not just the driver and tank and crew remainder otherwise intact. Of course, if a tank appears and the Sherman 105 is set up for FS, then the first round will be HE, whose ability to cause spalling on impact with substantial sloped armor is unknown to me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M101_howitzer Regards, John Kettler

LukeFF, Have been on the CM Forums since January 2000, during which there have been all manner of discussions NOT on the GDF about various military and civilian people, not to mention multiple threads and a fair number of OPs regarding military books. Yet there is only one person being singled out by you for posting such, and that's me. This is twice in one week, and I'm tired of it! The GDF is, by Forum activity standards, practically dead, so it makes sense to put posts where they will be read. I deliberately made this post to what I felt was the best Forum for it that WASN'T the CM GDF, but you're still on me about it. Face it, you want me gone. Only then will you be truly at peace, yet I am NOT the one causing an uproar on the Forums. You are. You're the one acting like negative vibe Moriarty here, not me. This is harassment under color of authority you do NOT have. Stop! Regards, John Kettler

Found out about this guy via a miniature series called Stoessel's Heroes, which cover soldiers and other combatants on both the Allied and Axis end. The brief paragraph on a private who captured a city (yes, you read that correctly) is a must read for students of war and the power of will and creativity alike. I give you the incredible story of French Canadian Private Leo Major. Not only was he a WW II hero, but he did it again in Korea against the Chinese. According to one of the comments, not only does the IDF know him and study his actions, but twice his tactics to take a city have been used successfully. Unfortuantely, I do not believe CM can accommodate the weapon load this man took into battle or the Stealth mode changing footwear afforded him. https://owlcation.com/humanities/World-War-2-History-Leo-Major-the-One-Eyed-One-Man-Army Trailer (with English subtitles) from what looks to be a superb doc about him. Must see! Regards, John Kettler

After reading that, I find myself wondering how the Germans held out as long as they did in the face of such stupendously lethal mortar fire. Suspect it had a lot to do with the way the Russians handled their artillery in general, lack of flexibility, long response times (if not completely tied to a fire plan) and other degrading factors in theoretical mortar and artillery performance. Because of lower projectile stresses and thinner case walls for mortar bombs, I'd expect that the rifled FA wouldn't be anywhere nearly as bad as the mortars, even with cast iron shells. Regards, John Kettler

The Russian approach to recycling leaves much to be desired. It starts by stealing an S-200/SA-5 GAMMON long range SAM. How long range? Sites in Syria could shoot halfway across the Med! https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-40900219 Regards, John Kettler

Going clear back to when CMBO was in development, there has been a lot of effort put forth trying to properly understand the nitty gritty of Panzer armor, an effort which I believe far eclipses far harder to get info on the Soviet side of things, though quite a bit of work went into understanding terminal effectiveness of vs Russian AP projectiles and their various limitations and causes thereof. Happily, while looking into T-34 books, this popped up, and am I glad it did! This thing is gold clean through. It looks at gun barrels, armor plate and shells. It's got such things as US analyses of armor samples taken form a T-34 and KV-1 sent to the US by the Soviets and some of the scariest live fire comparison tests ever. If you think I'm exaggerating, take a look at what happened when the Soviet cast iron 82 mm mortar projectile went against our own steel 81 mm mortar projectile. Tests against 1" thick pine witness boards found the Soviet mortar shell put out an almost incomprehensible 9 X more hits and 8.1 X more total perforations at 40 feet as a result of a hurricane of shell fragments our 81 couldn't begin to match. No wonder Ivan was in love with mortars! Artillery shells using cast iron or steel bodies are also covered. As for tanks,, coverage is much more than the early T-34 and Kv-1, in fact extending through the IS-2,. It delves into AP shells and shot, including arrowhead, where direct comparisons are made between it and US HVAP down to the level of tungsten carbide core weights. This paper can be read readily, but the level of technical information is eye watering, a condition worsened by the fact that the text was typed and that this was microfilmed, making reading fine print in the tables exciting and making the photos hard to see in the bargain. This was originally SECRET, with a distribution which was a Who's Who of American military ordnance. If Herr Tom loses his mind reading this paper, I'm not responsible! http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/011426.pdf Paper Presented at Meeting on Trends in Soviet Metallurgical Developments Central Intelligence Agency Washington 25, D. C. I! 16 April 1953 Regards, John Kettler

Wicky, Great story, and everyone who's walked through the area has indeed been fortunate. One of the things I marvel at is that in Russia so much still seems to be on or just below the ground line, resulting, for example, in finding soldiers' remains in the woods, instead of having to dig several meters deep, as in the case of some WW I entrenchments in Flanders. My English Comp teacher would've flayed whomever wrote that headline, for who knew a road had mine sleuthing abilities? Pretty extensive field, and I wouldn't, if there, be so blithe about the state of that old ordnance, considering a guy here in the States obliterated himself a few years ago while grinding rust off a Civil War 11" Dahlgren shell recovered at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Seems the shell was fitted with a waterproof fuze for naval warfare and that the grinder removed the protective wax and ignited the powder train. KABOOM! Regards, John Kettler

Interpretations of what's going on vary, but the latest news indicates Japan will get back two of the four northern islands seized by the SU late in the GPW, with more possible. The return of the two is based on Japan's signaling acceptance of the 1956 treaty which ended hostilities between the two nations, but depending on how negotiations go, Japan might get more back, or at least have the use of them, with Russia maintaining ownership, as it were. Naturally, Japan wants back all four, and both nations have committed to addressing this northern island issue now, instead of kicking the can down the field for later generations to address. Would expect making Japan happy would make things easier on Russia, opening up previously blocked trade possibilities and putting some desperately needed money into Russia's relatively weak economy, the product of sanctions and low oil prices. Reducing the number of island garrisons alone would save Russia millions of dollars a year, regardless of any potential trade benefits. Nice to know things will be calmer somewhere on this strife-ridden planet! https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-Relations/Japan-and-Russia-to-push-peace-talks-with-island-return-in-sight?utm_source=paid.outbrain.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=BA US interest&utm_content=RSS Regards, John Kettler

Regards, John Kettler

Though this is ostensibly a kit review for the Dragon model, it has some great pictorial material on this potent 251 variant, both of the training sort and combat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKNatBiDemQ Regards, John Kettler

You've heard of a two headed calf, but try this instead. Found it an arresting image. Believe it's real, but if so, sure hope none are loose in the wild! Regards, John Kettler

Found this both amusing and educational. Regards, John Kettler

Wicky, Thanks for this. Very well done and most amusing. Have passed it to a gaming group I play miniatures with. Regards, John Kettler

Regards, John Kettler

General Jack Ripper, My brain hasn't undergone such an extraordinary philosophical workout since I took a Philosophy honors course on The Great Chain of Being. A simply phenomenal piece of critical work, which I believe it at least Master's level in terms of the sophistication and rigor of the analysis. I never felt that the ST society was fascist, and I think Heinlein's approach to citizenship was brilliant. Believe it was Ben Franklin, a philosopher himself, who pointedly remarked "That which we receive cheaply, we esteem not." Clearly, Heinlein believed that the greatest prize in society should be obtained only by sustaining the greatest risk, potentially outright fatal in the attempt. Always loved the line regarding (near) universal right to serve. Went something like "It might be testing nerve gas on Pluto while sitting in a wheelchair..." As a student of the Classics, I note that the term of service for a Roman citizen in the legions was twenty years, but in the auxilia, whose members consisted of non-citizens, it was twenty-five to become a Roman citizen. The Mobile Infantry was so lethal a job that you attained, providing you survived, the same functional result in roughly a tenth of the time. The comments, based on quick skim, are worthwhile. Was fascinated to read that the only nonfiction book used in the curriculum at West Point is ST. ST is used to teach military leadership, and though I was never in the military (VN War ended before my draft number came up), the ethos expressed in that book is burned into my consciousness to this day. I recall that whole discussion which occurred when a recruit complained of being roughed up by the DI, who responded with things he could lawfully do, particularly on the battlefield, including killing the recruit who wouldn't fight or ran and that he, the DI, had an affirmative duty to do so. That shook me up, but later in life, I read account after account of officers shooting their men if need be. There is a book by one officer about such incidents, and it is called The Men I've Killed. All in all, I think this video was a tour de force. Am deeply grateful you posted it. Shall share it! Regards, John Kettler

Kurt Knispel was in the thick of it from Barbarossa until late in the war. He was gunner or TC in practically all principal Panzers except the Panther and racked up a total of 168 kills. Not only is the most informative, but it got lots of wonderful clips of weaponry and fighting at various times and places during the war. Has some shots of destroyed Russian tanks with lots of markings and slogans visible, too. Spot read comments and found them informative and insightful. Input from veterans and their offspring on their own encounters with the Panzers were especially valuable. Regards, John Kettler

Mattis, If I haven't done so already, welcome aboard! Which is the great find, the Tiger 1 emergency cannon trigger or the clutch of Tiger tank Bosch spark plugs? Regards, John Kettler

Combatintman, As CM has evolved, the level of realism and consequent need to really go into detail has rocketed. CMx1 had no incremental damage, but now it gets down to subsystems and shotline modeling of which ones got hit, how badly and what this does to the overall functioning of the tank. Part of that picture is redundancy, and when your cannon is electrically fired, you're screwed without a backup. Tanks typically have a power traverse and a manual mode, and we already have such things as the variable rate of Panther turret traversing speed as a function of engine revs, so why is it all that odd to think about fighting a Tiger 1 with the electrical system down temporarily or for duration of the fight. Something else not modeled is that the T-34/76 had, in the early war ones, at least, really awful turret drive motors, with the net result that lots of tanks had manual only. But I will also admit to being on an info high since I made the happy/fatal mistake of going to the auction sites. Wicky, Now, that's impressive. "The perfect gift for your favorite Tiger 1 restorer!" Regards, John Kettler

Wodin, Emailed you but haven't heard anything back. Did you get it? Regards, John Kettler