Andreas

It often worked the other way round. It was not a question of the Germans defending the river lines, but the Red Army seizing bridgeheads before the Germans could establish a defense. Once that has happened, the battle shifts to the bridgeheads. Red Army bridgeheads were established from the move (the first units at a riverline were supposed to just get across, with anything that would float and could be collected from the vicinity), in many places (the idea being that it is better to have many small bridgeheads that can be merged later), and with total disregard for safety and procedures (the idea being that while you get people killed that way, you get more people killed if you have to assault a fortified riverline by an assault crossing - see the Rapido crossing by the ill-fated 36th US division for a taste of what can go wrong). In general, this approach seems to have worked well. While it is a legend that no Red Army bridgehead was ever extinguished, as von Mellenthin claims, it is true that most were not in fact cleared. Red Army bridgeheads were very bad news. The Red Army also was a master at piling 'stuff' into very constricted bridgeheads to enable a breakout. They did that in Romania in August 1944, and on the Vistula in January 1945, and again on the Oder. It was a combination of speed, recklessness, and very dogged determination on the part of the Red Army bridgehead defenders that made opposed river crossings a relatively rare event for the Red Army, and certainly one on which they did not have to rely very often (if at all) for their late-war offensives.

A very good book from the Allied perspective is Major-General Moulton's 'The Norwegian Campaign of 1940 - a study in tri-dimensional warfare', which I picked up for a ridiculoous amount of money at Bovington. From the German side, the best source is most likely the currently out of print and totally unavailable (including ZVAB and Abebooks.com) "Weserübung", published as volume I of the series 'Operations of WW2' by oldenbourg on behalf of the MGFA. In German, of course. I have not seen this book, but if is is 10% as good as Frieser's 'Blitzkrieg Legende', Vol. II of this series, it must be the last word. An earlier (1960s) work on this is by Hubatsch, and has been used by Moulton. Moulton is a great writer. He commanded a Commando Brigade at the Walcheren landings, and for some weird reason has ever since been fascinated with amphibious warfare. His book 'The battle for Antwerp' is a cracking read.

Pretty soon after Berli's slave drivers allow him some time off and I win the lottery.

I also want a face mod that makes all the British troopers look like characters from 'Dad's Army'.

Pubs, square-towered churches, black cabs, sheep, turnip fields, half-timebered houses, bowler-hats. I want it all. Clearly I live on the edge.

Both my new CMBB scenarios are now up at the Depot for review.

I recommend to anyone to check out the link to the Axishistory forum I provided. Seems pretty much complete to me what is written in that thread. Forces, commanders, landing and drop zones, etc.etc.

Not quite sure how that is going to help me with desert camo Cruisers, and Afrika-Korps palm decorated Panzers. Or indeed the desert uniforms (since I need 1941 formations, and not 1943 formations).

Axishistory forum on units for Operation Sea Lion Hans - one click is enough.

No, they look too much like the bloody desert or Italy, and the guy's uniforms and tank colours don't do it either. So modders, pull your finger out, and get on with it.

That's for Rune. I went for 'Enjoyment', instead of 'Replayability'.

4th Battalion, The County of London Yeomanry A Yeomanry regiment is a territorial cavalry regiment.

That would have been a bloodbath with a very uncertain outcome. Ouch. Thanks for posting these. I never heard of this proposed operation before.

'Meet the Queen's', and 'Opening the Corridor', are now on the Scenario Depot, waiting for reviews. I'll blame any mishtakes on JonS, because I can.

Well I just tried to start on some of those scenarios, but I just can not suspend disbelief sufficiently.

Just used it for the first time to submit battles. Very nice bit of work Keith. Everything works as advertised - I particularly like that I can edit the categories for review.

Another vote for: 64 Days of a Normandy Summer (very good account of the TOTALIZE offensive) Tank! (Stonking!) Tank Tracks (Excellent) The South Albertas is quite different, not being a personal memoir, but a regimental history by a writer who was not present at the events. It is probably the best regimental history out there.

Excellent stuff John. Got any more? Oh, and have a look at Der Kessel. I named the scenario thinking of your distinguished military career, defending hillocks in Surrey.

If not, why not?

Cromwells, not Shermans.

Jentz is not giving us info on sPzAbwAbt (SP) with Nashorn/Elefant, or independent Stugabteilungen, so these would be additional. Hetzers would most likely be part of divisional AT battalions. 31. ID at some point had 31 Panzer III lang. There were quite a few Flammpanzer in Italy.

FJ-PD HG LSSAH 16. SS PGD 16., 24., 25.PD 3., 5., 29.,90.PGD sPzAbt 504 PR69 with I./PR4 Sturmpanzerabt. 216 Panzerabt. FKL 301 sPzAbt 508 Tigergruppe Meyer 2., 3. Pz.Sich.Kp Pz.Einsatzkp.35 On 15th March 45 the following units were left (with operational tanks): 26.PD (7 Stug, 63 Panzer IV, 5 Flakpanzer, 22 Panther) 29.PGD (12 Stug, 44 Panzer IV, 7 Flakpanzer) 90. PGD (38 Stug, 1 Panzer IV, 8 Flakpanzer) sSPzAbt 504 (32 Tiger) All from Jentz, Panzertruppen.

Who cares what Kent, Sussex or the East End feel, really? It is difficult enough to understand what they say, speaking with their funny accents. Please note - the above is a free sample of German humour. Harharhar.

Some aspects of the Italian campaign, e.g. the initial withdrawal after the Salerno landings, were clearly a holding action, designed only to give time to prepare the Winter, and then Gustav lines. The moving pockets in AG Centre are not holding actions on the other hand. They are just a desperate bid for survival by encircled forces, mostly operating without a connection to each other, or higher HQ. Most of these pockets were destroyed very quickly.

Probably a mix of variants, if it was the same situation as in 31st Armoured Brigade. Normal TO&E regarding armament would be: 2x 95mm CS in Coy HQ 5x Troop with 3x 75mm Churchills ea. May well have some 6-pdr Churchills, at least early on in Normandy.