Andreas

That's how I do it. The starting point is a real tactical problem, and the scenario is the instrument to enable people to have fun dealing with it (or not, depending on whether they like my scenarios). "Historical accuracy" to me is to stay true to the historical conditions in which battles were waged. Not counting the tanks/men and the last minute undulation on a 2x2km map.

Just released this. Enjoy.

'The Dirt Road' - of special interest for early war fanboys. Here is the general briefing: Download it here. I'll submit it to the Depot when the Depot is up again, seems down at the moment.

Well, thank God for that. That allowed the RAF Tiffy pilots to hang around and drink tea after all, far from all the dangers. They must have been pleased for sure. It worked so well too, one wonders why the Americans actually had to land in Normandy and engage in ground combat, instead of just letting the USAAF do the work for them. Nice statement, unfortunately reality in the form of operational studies undertaken on the battlefield has a habit of disagreeing with it. Shame.

Late-war ISU122 and ISU152.

Sorry Mike, they expected me to work. The cheek of it. Then in the evening I had to teach John and Kip how to play Skat. Digging the trench for the correct ambiente was a bit of an undertaking, and when we started cutting trees in the park for a bunker to play in they called the police, so I only got home late.

Actually, I recall a Canadian history mentioning the first "Royal Tiger" bagged by a Canadian unit was in Italy. Misreported? </font>

Since I presume you need this for a scenario, or sumfink, are you interested in the Soviet units or do you have that data? I have Chuikov's 'Stalingrad' at work today.

Many things, many things. How about: Panzer II flammpanzers; </font>

I am German. I don't even know what humour is. Das ist ja alles nicht zum Spass hier.

BTW - focusing on the early part is probably a good idea, since it is much better documented. It was then attempted to clear the valley w again (at a heavy cost) by 12.PD and attached KGs of other divisions under the command of XXIII.AK. In repeated attacks from 21.Dec to 12. Jan 1943 the division fails to clear the valley, taking heavy losses. They gain an area of 4x5-6km. The attacks are called 'Fuchsjagd' (Fox Hunt) 1-3. On the first day of Fuchsjagd the division loses 25 KIA and 134 WIA. At the end of the period II./PGR5 numbers 4/9/137, and II./PGR25 9/20/196 (Off/NCO/OR). The divisional history notes "From 13. - 15. Jan the division is relieved, and beginning on the 16th leaves the often cursed Luchessa Valley."

There just weren't enough German Panzers about to bother, would be my guess.

Just looked through the history of 12.PD, which helps to put these loss figures in some context. At the beginning of August 1942 it's two PzGren Rgt had the following strengths (Off/NCO/OR) PzGrRgt5 38/191/1066 (total 1,295) PzGrRgt25 34/129/880 (total 1,043) This includes the heavy weapon companies, the AT and IG companies, the four battalion and one regimental staff, which means that the actual number of riflemen was far lower than 2,338. There is no need for further analysis to show that losses on the scale outlined by you would be crippling if incurred just a few days running.

Does anyone know if the Bovington paintjobs are closer to reality?

You need to be ridiculously handsome, highly intelligent, softly spoken but with a resolve like steel, of fine breeding, imbued with an impeccable taste, and a prime specimen of Designorus Superiorus Eclatanta. Like me, basically. Alternatively, try bribery.

They should be used to that in Chicago.

That is so obvious, why bother mentioning it?

Not if all the buildings are in Pompey Red!

Ah well, that puts the 'extortionate' in perspective. I paid £106 on Ebay (card was never used though, wrapping untouched). Very nice and crisp. I think I go back to a completely unmodded CMBB now.

Maybe for the Panzerschreck, but if the PIAT indeed had a bubble sight, and out to 350 or so metres, I can not see much of a problem. I believe that even out to the maximum range for DF you would fire at an angle, because of the low muzzle velocity?

Der Kessel (in particular Mensch) was actually the innovator behind laying down the framework of what constituted a Byte Battle. There is a solution in the works to make at least some of them available again in the (hopefully) not too distant future.

Assesment based on one time fluke barrage or general perception of the weapons system and its capabilities ? </font>

Just installed a 32MB AGP Radeon in my G4/400. Bought it at an extortionate price at Ebay. But it makes a whole different world to the CM experience. Very nice detail, crisp graphics, fast scrolling. No issues with smoke/fog as far as I can tell at the moment.

Great work BTW Michael. Would be interesting to see more of them, in particular some dealing with the Italian theatre.

Buy CMAK. Get someone to do a 'Normandy Mod' for it. You're set, except for King Tigers and probably Jagdpanthers.