von Lucke

Have to agree with you there. Looks like the view out on the mesa (I live in New Mexico) --- all it needs is a few tumble-weeds, and it'd be just like home...

Would that be the DAK's elite Wireless Intercept Company? I know they got taken out during the battle --- their loss cost the Germans dearly. It was thanks to their signal intercepts that Rommel seemed to have the telepathic ability to locate the Allies in the vast emptiness of North Africa.

One hell of a glorious victory wasn't it... </font>

6th and 7th Australian Divisions left for New Guinea in January '42, while 9th Aus. Div left for Syria about the same time. However, 9th Aus. was rushed back to Africa in July '42, just in time to take part in the attack by XXX Corps, on 10 July, (along with 1st South African Division) on the Tel el Eisa and Tel el Makh Khad heights --- just across the Libyan border, near the Med coast. It started with what German accounts call the heaviest artillery bombardment since WWI. Rommel heard the gunfire all the way down south, where he was attempting to flank the New Zealanders. Rommel immediately broke off his attack, and rushed his mobile troops north; only to find that the Australians / South Africans had obtained their objectives and crushed the Italian Sabratha Division in the process. It was only the timely intervention by von Mellenthin and a kampfgruppe frantically put together from Panzer Armee HQ and elements of 164th Lt Div that kept the whole front from collapsing. With the arrival of Rommel, the Aussies / SA troops dug in and endured almost continuous counter-attacks until 14 July. The NZ attacks on Ruweisat Ridge would immediately follow, and draw off Rommel's attentions. However, during these desperate attacks to their south, the Aus / SA troops were constantly making feints and probes in an attempt to draw off / pin down Axis forces in their sector. Finally, as Second Ruweisat failed, it was decided that the Aus / SA divisions (with the aid of 1st Armoured and a brigade from 50th Div.) would break the Axis line at Miteirya Ridge on the night of 26 - 27 July. It was a disaster. Two Northumbrian battalions and an Australian battalion were overrun before British tanks could reach them. Some 400 Australians and 600 British were lost. This would pretty much mark the end of major operations until Rommel attacked the southern end of Brit defenses on 30 August. The 9th Aus Div, however, would remain as the anchor of the northern-most defenses (fighting off the occasional Axis diversionary attack), until October. Between 10 July, and before beginning operations in October, the 9th Australian would suffer 2500 casualties. Not exactly reserve duty in Alexandria, now was it? Perhaps the Australian availability dates should be tweaked along with the German arrival date?

OK, so I'm late to the party, but since I have a much clearer picture, I thought I'd slap it up:

Yes, they were there. They were also crewed by British troops. Have to purchase seperately, I'm afraid. I've seen pictures (one pic in particular, taken at bir Hakeim), that shows an ecclectic mix-n-match of kit: Pieces of British and old-style French uniforms, helmets, weapons --- all mixed together at random. (The only thing they seem to have in common is a long scarf carelessly looped around their necks). The Free French troops in NA wore just about everything --- usually all at once. Yah, I was kinda hoping the kepi blanc would make it in --- at least for HQ units. And the 75mm portee would have been nice too.

D'oh! Ya know, I've seen those two holes in just about every picture of the M3, and I always thought it was some kind of liscence plate holder or sumfink!

Yep, I just noticed this too. German units should appear in April 1941. </font>

This has been a "bug" with the editor since CMBB.

The M3 Lee / Grant is listed as having two MG's: One co-ax, and one bow. AFAIK the M3 didn't have a bow MG --- there were one or two co-ax, depending on model. And what about the commander's MG turret / coppola on the Lee? I know that would be almost impossible to model with the current engine, but maybe we could get it as a flexible mount?

Hey, now this one I like.

Yah, just try killing a BA64 with a 'shreck --- it's more effective to area fire the sukhoi and let the blast take it out!

Yah, just try killing a BA64 with a 'shreck --- it's more effective to area fire the sukhoi and let the blast take it out!

Churchill T31954/R (Name of commander not known), October 1942. This site has all the info you prolly ever want to know about "KingForce" and it's 6 Churchills at el Alamein. According to the author --- who served with the North Irish Horse at the Battle of Longstop, BTW --- the Churchill Mk III's at Alamein were reworked models (hence the "R"), i.e; formerly Mk I's or II's. He has this to say about their first combat action: "Led by Major King, Churchills went into action for the first time since the Raid on Dieppe. Everything considered, they acquitted themselves well despite Cpl Kelly Appleby's tank having to leave the field when its 6-pdr gun failed to return from the recoil position. Major King's tank, although it had been hit eight times without being penetrated, claimed hits on four Panzers. Of the six Churchills engaged, 2nd Lt. Appleby's tank was destoyed after being hit in excess of fifty times, eight of which coming from "friendly fire." Later examination showed that the Churchill, despite all the hits, was only penetrated three times. Sadly, Appleby and three of his crew were killed, the one survivor being wounded. By day's end, the enemy having withdrawn their forces from the Kidney Ridge area, KingForce withdrew in order get the remaining five Churchills ready for whatever may lie ahead."

Technically speaking, it's a fasciste: An axe wrapped in a bundle of sticks --- the Roman symbol of justice, and the source of the word Fascist.

True --- but back in the day, I didn't have no fancy silicon chip to do my To Hit rolls and check my Penetration Tables for me. Many was the Sunday afternoon I brow-beat my brother into a game of Tobruk. The game actually spurred my interest in WW2, as the first book I ever read on the subject came about from playing that game.

Yes, but unlike the other CS tanks, it still uses the 2lbr model. Can a 3in. Howitzer form be grafted on to it? Also, what's up with the pointed-headed Commonwealth types (no, not Dorosh!) --- those helmets are just a bit too distracting. And speaking of helmets: I like the French OG-style helmets, but why did they have to code the Company level commander wearing one? Wanted to see a blue and red officers kepi there.

I find that a 500pt ME / Armor / 21+ turns / all other settings Random (including Computer Chooses Forces) tends to give a very good game.

Played through a moderately large scenario (not to give it away, but it involved some French folk being attacked by some German folk in June of 42). My impression is that infantry is somewhat less brittle than it was in CMBB: The attackers kept on coming --- whereas in CMBB, attempting to cross all that open space would have led to a lot of crawling about. What was especially telling was that at the end, when I checked the morale states of the attackers, I saw very few Routed or Broken results. In CMBB, red morale states would have been the norm at the end of a scenario. Did seem to get more surrenders then usual, though. Same with the defenders: The French guns / MG's actually kept up a decent rate of fire even after coming under fire themselves --- and most of them lasted out the game --- unlike the CMBB "die a lot now" once a gun has been spotted. (Though, I'm not sure how much that had to do with most of them being in sand-bagged emplacements --- not sure what the bonus for that is, since they look like walls). Mortars seem to be a lot more adept at finding and re-quiring targets: Set mine for area fire on some gun positions, and they almost instantly picked up other targets (more guns, thankfully) to direct fire --- and switched between targets as they became suppressed.

I'm usually in favor of big manuals, but not in this case, for two reasons: (1) this is basically CMBB, and I already know how to play that; and (2) the 32 page quick manual is very useful - it has quick reference pages on the inside glossy covers as well as on the back. The quick reference pages have a brief explanation (i.e., a couple of sentences) of all of the hotkeys, all of the morale states, and all of the orders. I think I'll refer to it more than I would a 200 page rehash of CMBB. Plus, it has a couple of Bill Mauldlin cartoons. </font>

Yesterday in New Mexico, as well. Yah, what is with that load program, anyway? Almost thought it was busted when it started repeating itself there at the end --- but I have my copy now, and all is well...

Ah, finally, my T34 collection is complete! Za MickeyD!

Wow --- like, deja vu!

Nothing with the game, per se. But I use this little applet to do the same thing for me.

Heh. I've played "Line of Defense" only once, so far. First, the P-51 went after the German StuH with rockets --- a few turns later it strafed a Greyhound with it's .50cals. Equal opportunity air support.