Andreas

McAuliffe, great stuff. Does something like this exist for Belgium?

I have a picture of a half-track tractor mounted 8,8cm Flak from the campaign in France, and there is a clear reference in Glantz' 'The initial period of war on the Eastern Front' to two of these being with an attached Flakabteilung to (IIRC) 6. PD in Heeresgruppe Nord during the opening stage of Barbarossa, where they saw action against KV-1. Incidentally, a Lieutenant Helmut Schmidt in that unit would become prime minister of Germany 1974-1982. No idea about numbers of these vehicles though.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Paul T. Gardner: Andreas, I'll definately do a search. I did it the hard way not so long ago - just browsing through. I want to make sure I've got them all though. Have a good time on Sunday - that's what I call getting in the mood - visit the battle site on the anniversary!! Where do you live? Is it far to go for you? I live in the suburbs of London, so Belgium is just a train ride away. I must visit the Ardennes myself sometime... Until then, I will let CM transport me there <hr></blockquote> Funny that, I live in the burbs of London as well - SE23. Where do you live? Will go with Kip and Peter_NZer. I am thinking about Normandy in the summer and maybe Arnhem/Huertgenwald in September/October.

Nice one Marcel! Go the Wessex lads!!!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Doodlebug: I do believe you're right Andreas. Oh how those naughty CM player's abuse the pure science of scenario design. Once the genie's out the bottle you just can't put it back!<hr></blockquote> Well, I could just do a new version without the vehicle in it. I did the scenario before the bug was discovered though. Anyway, that's my line and I am gonna stick to it

Deserves a bump, freely given since I don't have a life. Also, where are all those Commonwealth grogs when you need them? Ah yes, trashing each other about Gallipolli. Hello, anybody home? What's the story with the SP to towed AT gun mix in the AT Rgts RA? Get on with it.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Doodlebug: Once upon a time in a scenario far,far away there lived a Sdkfz7/2. One day while out driving he met some strangers. He reversed up and down just in front of his new friends and killed two Daimlers, one Humber, three MMG Carriers, one White Scout Car, a Jeep and occupants, a Sexton and mauled two squads of infantry all inside two minutes. For he was a magical half track impervious to AP, HE and small arms. When he'd finished introducing himself he drove away and lived happily ever after. Not one of my finest hours.<hr></blockquote> The Limey stuff sounds suspiciously like one of my earlier scenarios. Hmmmm...

Brekafast at Buchholz Station is another classic, by Moon. Actually, have you done a search on the Scenario Depot (link in my sig), for scenarios in December/January with the US in them? That should give you all of them. BTW - I am off to Bastogne on Sunday, first time, I really look forward to it. If I get my camera to work, I may even post some pictures here.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PawBroon: [QB] Each AT RA had batteries like this if I'm correct: 4 Towed 6Pdr 4 Towed 17Pdr 4 Archers [QB]<hr></blockquote> Hmm, I would have thought they had two 12-gun batteries with two six-gun troops each, and that they would all be 17-pdr by the time of Normandy, with the 6-pdr relegated to the infantry battalions as organic AT artillery. Not sure how the Archer fits in. Michael? Simon? Brian?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gordon: Pawbroon, What do you mean by "Reg ones?" I thought they would have carried the parent Division's formation sign and the appropriate battery markings. Or am I missing something? Gordon<hr></blockquote> I think you are right. Sorry about the misunderstanding - did think you meant towed and SP, and not Wolverines and Achilles when you talked about mixing. I have no idea is the answer in that case. I would assume a more chaotic mixing.

Archers even - meeting Lady Archer the other night must have seriously disturbed me. Anyway. Gordon, I am not 100% certain, but I would bet that SP AT (excluding the Archer) and towed AT assets were not mixed below regimental level. I.e. Troops and batteries were either towed 17-pdrs/Archers or Wolverines/Achilles. Would be interested to hear other views/knowledge though.

Except that Archer's were never anywhere near the RTR, being a part of the RA. I am sure no self-respecting soldier in the RA would want to be seen hanging dead out of the turret of a vehicle with an RTR sign painted on it, which, given this was the Archer, was a likely prospect. Now stop yapping and get the Wessex Wyvern on the mod, silly Frenchman.

43rd Wessex Division please. That would be 59th AT Rgt RA. Great stuff Marcel.

Peterborough is the pits. Nice Cathedral, with a ring-road around it. Power station. If you bulldozed the place tomorrow, nobody would feckin' notice or miss it. The only place I can imagine being worse is Doncaster. Well, and Hull, and, err, well, let's just pretend the midlands don't exist, we'll all be the happier for it. I am sure there are other places that call themselves Peterborough, probably in the US and Canada. They never had neither sense nor taste. Urrrggghhhh.

Andrew, from our visit to the Imperial War Museum there are a few pictures of a desert Daimler. You can find them by using my membership number and IWM as cue for the thread title. Sorry, am on a slow connection, so I won't search now, and I am busy the next few days. If you can not find them, email me, and I send them to you post New Year. I have a dig for the pictures from Bovington.

Great stuff Marco.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Herr Oberst: In another game against Moriarty, I'm positive this [sneer]scenario[/sneer] is the result of some drunken, whoring episode by Andreas. I'm also sure that Andreas passed out, leaving the laptop powered on, and his cheap date, (read hooker), sat down to amuse herself (after he paid for an hour and used thirty seconds) by creating a CM scenario that Andreas promptly took credit for. I suppose in a way, he did purchase it, and this scenario is "paid for" goods. Why else would weather be foggy (from alcohol no doubt) and wet (from... nevermind)?<hr></blockquote> Well Herr Oberst, what can I say, apart from that you obviously would not notice a quality scenario if it came along, whacked you over the head with a sign saying ‘Quality Scenario’ and proceeded to bash your face repeatedly into the star it got awarded on Scenario Boulevard. Let’s see, ‘wet’, hmm, could it be that it had been raining, and was rather ‘wet’ when the Ardennes offensive started? Or ‘fog’, yes, of course, nobody ever heard of morning fog where you live, which is either the Happyhappy Planet, where the sun always shines, and it rains candy, or shudder Australia, and we won’t go there. Now be a good boy, run along and get yourself a good and well-deserved spanking from Morearty. Shoo. Ps. I just hope you play the Germans. Pps. Divulging more info than necessary constitutes a ‘spoiler’. Since that is probably to complicated a word for you to comprehend, here’s a translation for the moronic: you like, err, tell stuff, like, dude, and then the others, like, without playing, like, know the surprises, dude. Not cool, dude. I hope that was at a level of English where we may have some hope you can grasp at least the main point I am trying to make here. Ppps. I hope you hate it.

BTW Slappy, send me a feckin' turn, I feel the need to grind your Canadian wussies into a pulp under my German Ubertanktracks. If you have time to peddle The Untruth™ here, you can as well busy yourself Dieing-A-Lot™. Get on with it.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Slapdragon: Idiots! Everyone knows mine dogs worked underground only, tunnling underneath enemy fortifications. Chalk one up for Andreas and his inability to handle any language but German bar argot.<hr></blockquote> Hah! Exposing your scant knowledge in public like the dirty old exhibitionist that you are, hiding behind the one book you ever read like a flasher behind the cover afforded by his trench-coat. Trust an employee of the department of infinite justice and an academic of South Carolina origins (Graduate of the University of Gritz Frying, Hillbillyville, no doubt) to mess up his animal knowledge. Well, as long as you can tell the sheep from the sheepdog, you'll be alright, I guess. Those were the mine badgers you are talking about. Why would dogs tunnel anywhere? Pillock.

Well, Elvis has not been here yet (and I know why), but instead of stealing his line, I shall restrict myself to wishing that you all get a collection of 'Friends' videos for Christmas.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sergei: You ignorant fool! It was unmanned, controlled via radio. And as to the talks about the organ in the back, well that isn't a BM-13! No, it is the SM-17 Sabakamashina, called as Hundwerfer by the Germans. It was designed to shoot parachute-wearing minedogs so that they could drop on top of heavy German tanks and achieve a top penetration. SM-17 was fitted afterwards to counter the German superheavy tanks like Königstiger. P.S. I think the small turret on top of the forward turret is from T-40 or T-70.<hr></blockquote> If there was any further proof needed that idiocy held a firm grip on this board, one need not look beyond this post. Clearly, the SM-17 was never intended to launch mine dogs. After the RSPCA complained to Churchill in 1942, threatening to throw him out of office, any further support by Britain to the Soviet Union was made contingent on abandoning the mine dog (not without food and shelter though - unsurprisingly, the campaign 'Give a mine-dog a home' was stopped after some nice old ladies were blown up petting their dogs while having tea). The launcher was intended to parachute mice into German Panzer laagers, where they would chew through the electrical cables. As is documented by von Mellenthin. In recognition of their service, the mice launchers were redesignated Guards Mice Launchers in Spring 1943. The vehicle seen in the first post here was present in the fight at the outer encirclement of Stalingrad, and was instrumental in stopping German 48th Panzer Corps. One reason for the failure of operation Mars earlier in the war was the presence of the 1st SS Cat Brigade which launched a vicious counterattack, annihilating the mice in their dropzones.

There was a chap a while back asking about the operation by UK VIII and XII Corps to clear the Wehrmacht from the west bank of the Maas. Unfortunately I can not find the thread in question. I today wrote up the mention of the battle for a friend in H.Essame's 'The battle for Germany', and since I had it typed anyway (my scanner crapped out on me), I thought I could just repost it here, in case others are interested too. This was the prelude to the operation the other chap asked about. <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>From Major-General Hugh Essame: The battle for Germany: Although Montgomery had for the time being placed operations in the Peel Marshes in cold storage, his opponent, Model, had other views. The 15th Army at Antwerp was now in desperate straits: somehow or other means had to be found to relieve the pressure on them. Montgomery's forces were widely extended, and their eastern flank along the 'Market Garden' salient was peculiarly vulnerable. A blow here from the Peel marshes might well force Montgomery to abandon the offensive north-west of Antwerp. Model, engaged in training and rehabilitation, had available north of Aachen a force in every way suitable for a powerful armoured threust. the XVLII Panzerkorps under General von Lüttwitz. Its main components were the 9. Panzerdivision, 11,000 strong with at least 22 Panthers and 178 other armoured vehicles of various types, including SP guns, and the 15. Panzergrenadierdivision, 13,000 strong and with further tanks. Model decided to use it against the centre of the thinly held line of the 7th US Armoured Division at Meijel, and to carve out a chunk six miles deep. The weather in the last half of October was cold and overcast; the war seemed to have expired with the rapid decline into winter. It seemed as if both sides had settled down to a policy of live and let live. Suddenly, about half an hour before dawn on 27 October, a violent artillery bombardment lasting 45 minutes descended on the posts of 7th Armoured Division along the Deurne canal. Hot on its tail came two armoured columns of the 9. Panzerdivision: one carried the town of Meijel, and pushed on along the Asten road.: the other thrust north towards Deurne. By nightfall both had advanced some five miles beyond the canal. At dawn next day, General Sylvester, the commander of 7th Armored Division, relieved of responsibility for the northern part of his front by General O'Connor [OC VIII Corps, I believe], struck back on both roads. Both of these counterattacks came to naught. Early on the third day, 29 October, the Germans renewed their offensive, and on the right drove the Americans back a further five miles. The situation was alarming. If the 7th Armoured was wiped off the map, the rear area of 2nd Army, packed with administrative units, and very few frontline troops, lay wide open to an armoured attack. The alarm spread rapidly amongst the Dutch. Only 10 miles away near Helmond, was the HQ of British 2nd Army. Bad news travels fast. For the first and only time in the campaign, the staff and clerks took to slit trenches and prepared to face a hero's death. No one was more surprised at the speed of the advance than Model himself. Ever an opportunist, he had already pressed von Rundstedt on the second day of his attack to give him the 116. Panzerdivision and six additional artillery battalions to enable him to turn what originally had been designed as a limited operation into a large-scale raid in the British back areas, of the type Rommel had already made familiar in North Africa. Von Rundstedt would have none of it. the force had already lost some 30 tanks: it was wanted for another role. [short discussion of the Ardennes offensive] Nonetheless, he [Model] had to call of the attack. Although he did not know it, it had already achieved its aim. To plug the gap, Montgomery had already pulled out 15th Scottish Division, followed by the 53rd Welsh Division, from North-West Holland, and they now arrived to relieve the 7th Armored Division. Reappraising the situation, he reached the conclusion that clearing the Peel Marshes, and thus closing with the Maas was obviously going to take considerable time, and the combined efforts of VIII and XII Corps.<hr></blockquote> Essame was a brigadier in 43rd Wessex Division during the campaign in North-West Europe. His Brigade was fighting in the southern part of the operation, the attack on Geilenkirchen. Hope that was mildly interesting to some to while away the time during the long, dark tea-time of the soul, aka Sunday afternoon.

God, call yourself grogs. Quite obvious to anyone with even half a brain, and even the most basic knowledge of WW2 that you could pick up in a torn and soaked copy of GI Joe, this is a real vehicle, called 'Kätchens Mutter' (Mother of Katyusha) by the Germans. Captured vehicles were pressed into German service as Kampfküchenspüle Sdkfz. 1993® schwer 27 B/6. Jesus Christ, the standard this board has lowered to. Unbelievable. Et tu Kwazy?

Right you suckers. In the spirit of the season (and I am not talking 'fat blokes who may or may not be paedophiles in red but certainly do unspeakable stuff with moose' sort fo spirit), I have done what Germans like to do come mid-December. Decided to go to Belgium. Since I can not go in a tank, I decided to bring a bit of the festive spirit to the Americans by building a scenario in which the Germans get stuff, to advance down one of these new-fangled diagonal maps, and use it to kick the living daylights out of the gum chewers, who also have stuff, in order to defend themselves from the vicious kicking that Fritz (incidentally, the name of my grandpa and my nephew) likes to inflict on gum chewers. You know what happens when a bunch of Fritzs with stuff hits upon a bunch of Valiant Defenders of Democracy™ with stuff but without B52s or Marines? Well, someone will get stuffed. Why am I telling you this, you ask? Because it could be you. SSNs need not apply. Battle will be ready tomorrow. I need two of you losers to give it a go PBEM. Oh, did I mention that SSNs need not apply? Finally I found a use for this hierarchy thingy. Email in the profile. Get cracking. Prove that there is a reason you deem yourselves part of humanity. Don't make me go all medieval on you lot again. On the double.

Paul, I have also got a historical Bulge battle at Der Kessel. Called 'Bure', it is about the begin of the counterattack at the apex of the German penetration, where the UK 6th Parachute Division was inserted. They had to deal with Panzerlehr there. So if you get bored of playing/fighting the US, have a go at that one