GilaMonster

I'm looking for opinions here from the more grognardious among us. I recently ran an M3A1 Scout Car up a road on Turn One with orders plotted to carry it well into and out of the enemy side of the map. The scout came upon at least one enemy platoon making a first turn dash towards the VL. The M2 began firing as the vehicle continued along the ordered path at "fast" speed. My opponent tells me that a dozen guys were taken out by the .50 cal by the end of the turn. This doesn't seem right to me for the following reasons: 1) The vehicle was moving fast over a rural dirt road and later off the road. (Bumpy?) 2) The enemy was running when first sighted. 3) Due to fog, general visibility was only two hundred meters. It seems to me that a gunner bouncing along a dirt road at 40+ mph who first sights running enemy infantry at less than 200 meters would not have a great deal of time to react to his discovery. He might get off a few bursts as the vehicle speeds along, but would his fire be accurate enough to incapacitate a dozen running men? Also worth noting is the fact that the casualties were not from just one target. In less than 30 seconds he fired on several enemy squads as new ones came into view and earlier contacts were lost from sight. The gunner went from target to target very quickly and with excellent accuracy while moving fast on a rural dirt road. Imagine what damage I could have done if I had sent two M3A1 Scouts up that road. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Smoker

NoNonoooooo Gila

I played the original version of Elsdorf and lost 2 Challengers (?), 2 Shermans, and 2 Priests on the turn of arrival of the German reinforcements. I couldn't believe it. They appeared right behind me. It was over right then and there. ------------------ Gilamonster

A very interesting thread. I have nothing constructive to add but to say that I would probably enjoy the game even more if the vehicle crews were done away with altogether. I know nothing of modeling realism of the WWII battlefield. I just think it would be a funner game to play if the crews were removed. They are just too distracting to the tanks, etc.. Gila

Hi guys! I searched for awhile but couldn't find the answer to this question: Is a knocked out jeep worth just as many victory points as a knocked out Sherman? The end game summary leaves me with the feeling that a vehicle is a vehicle and only the number, not the type, matters. Thanks, Gila

This was my M3A1 scout car that did the above. Like Ash, I've come to love fast vehicles, especially around turretless stuff on open maps. They can literally run circles around them, keeping them buttoned and in general wreaking havoc in the enemy rear (taking out light armor and such). Even if the .50 cals are toned down a little they will be my favorite. I just hope that aggressive use of these vehicles is not considered gamey. When used aggressively they do remind me of "Rat Patrol" however. On the other hand, imagine trying to bring a gun to bear on a fast moving vehicle while you're buttoned up in your turretless, slow vehicle. Not easy I'll bet. Gilamonster out.

You have to HIT the Sherman before the shrecks will do any damage. Then I'm sure the Sherman will die. Gila

I think I heard that on "Platoon". Anyway, which would you rather have, 2 platoons of Vets or 3 platoons of Regulars? That's about the way it works out on the points. I'll take the vets any day. Gilamonster

Thanks for all the responses. They were pretty much frontal shots. I had my understanding of AT stuff wrong. I now understand that RANGE has no effect on the penetration ability of zooks, but armor thickness does. That explains everything. Thanks again fellas! Gilamonster

I HIT a Tiger 4 times with two different bazooka teams and did zero damage. I thought armor thickness was not a big issue with bazookas, shrecks, and fausts. Did I have extremely bad luck or are Tigers just that tough? Shrecks seem to have no problem with Shermans. Gilamonster

It sounds excellent! I'd like to give it a shot. ------------------ Gilamonster

This is a very interesting topic. Having just started to do PBEM I do not wish to get "blacklisted" for poor etiquette. I'm mostly concerned about the force selection aspect of Quick Battles since I haven't the foggiest what is historical or not. I've been just spending the points any way the computer will allow me to. I also don't see the problem with brave, highly motivated jeep and AT teams working together to get close enough to a tank to nail it. I would suspect if the troops are less than veterans it probably wouldn't work. I haven't tried it yet. It seems to me that foolhardy maneuvers don't pay off in CM too well. I'm just an old man having fun so watch out for highly mobile panzershrecks if you play me. I like the concept. ------------------ Gilamonster

I turned 71 this past D-Day. My son got me set up with a computer a few months ago since I was getting bored. He says I have a "great rig" for computer games. Retirement has taken on a whole new meaning since I got hooked on CM. ------------------ Gilamonster

Here's a good one I saw. A Sherman gets taken out by an AT team on the second floor of a very nearby building. The two surviving veteran tankers run to that very building. After several minutes, when the crew was "OK" again, I sent them up the stairs to get revenge with their pistols. When the Schreck team saw the pistol wielding duo they pivoted their schreck towards them. That was all they did before dying. Sweet revenge for the tankers, and a panzerschreck as a souvenir. ------------------ Gilamonster

Thanks for the link, Horrido. Now I know what they look like. Gila