Havermeyer

I use the combo when I have a nice field of fire from supporting infantry. Depending on troop quality, you get the targeted troops to break, in which case they run into a withering field of fire before they seek cover again. Good point about HE and AP. I typically allow the tank to fire the main gun for only one minute when I am unaware of near threats. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I studied under a professor who worked with Heisenberg. He was typically cagey when it came to his involvement with the German effort to develop the bomb. Plus he has gotten crazier over the years... but on more than one occasion he intimated that Heisenberg worked to thwart the Nazi effort to develop the bomb. This could be revisionist wishful thinking on his part. I've read elsewhere that Heisenberg seriously doubted the feasibility of developing the bomb (I believe I picked this up from Richard Rhodes book, The Making of the Atomic Bomb). I STRONGLY RECOMMEND picking up The Making of the Atomic Bomb for those interested. It reads easily, and when it comes to dropping the bomb it is very sobering. As an American you root for the scientists and pilots, but the devastating effects of the bomb immediately sober your exuberance. Rhodes, I believe, purposely buries you in survivor accounts to counter any euphoria you may experience... ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

It is a nice battle. I played through 50 rounds, before just doing the mad rush to the objectives. The "logistics" are currently fairly annoying. With numerous vehicles travelling great distances over curvy roads... is there a faster way of convoying vehicles and having them stick to the road? A lot of time is spent moving material-- I saved at round 40 and the next 10 turns were spent massing a wave assault (I grew fatigued with the "logistics"). I will return to it though and play a little more sanely later. It is an immensely enjoyable scenario though with great surprises... ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I would have used the 12 105 FOs and leveled Singling. I'm vindictive about this scenario. I did have the most success in Singling hitting the right flank-- BUT THE MUD knocked out **6**!! And then those other buggers showed up on the right... You are an honorable gentleman to explore the effect of mud on tracked vehicles in CM. I will horde this knowledge accordingly. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

this whole topic has gone to the birds... ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Thanks... you give me hope... now if only the m*d doesn't bury too many... ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Anyone win with the Americans? I gotta know. This is a repeat post from scenario talk, but the traffic on CM general is better... Tough battle. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Welcome pod person. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I suggested to my dear spouse I paint a number of rooms in the home while she is away. Picked up >30 paint chips of varying colors, of which we've only knocked out 5. With D-Day tomorrow, I may be in the clear to play without abandon-- with my gal having left thinking I was gung ho to do honeydos... But darn it... we just ran out of time, and couldn't pick the color we wanted with so many to choose from... shucks. PBEM opponent Juardis! YOUR'RE TOAST! ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I swept right and feinted left (as Amis). I had a stuart across the bridge on the last turn, and troops about 15 m away from the island left. I had completed the right side and was pushing troops toward the left, and had a sizable presence in the town. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

The ranging sounds reasonable. It does drive me crazy risking a troop to keep the tank interested, while over a turn or three I move a tank into a flanking position-- only to have the MG open up. It's very frustrating husbanding the Sherman into a good kill zone only to have the guy fail on first shot and watch the panzer gun swing into the kill EVER SO SLOWLY. You get the one maybe two shots than ZIPPO! ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I've seen this happen often, I distract a tank and move a killer into position, but upon reaching a hull down position or creeping around a hill/building-- the tank opens up with an MG before the main gun when target is in LOS. The enemy tank is buttoned, so I feel fairly confident I'm going to get the first shot (and if a german tank, maybe 2 or 3) before I reverse out-- and I don't need to make him button up-- I don't think I need the MG. But the MG opens up and seemingly tips off the buttoned tank. Then the interminable swing of german gun and BLAM! I tip my killer off to target the tank prior to the move, and select the main gun-- but still he opens up with the MG fire once the enemy tank enters LOS (tipping off the enemy!)! It's maddening. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I think I played this op last night... I scored a total victory with minor losses (6 vehicles). My furthest advances had me 3/5 to 4/5 across the map (probes, at best). This was my first op, and it turned out too easy, methinks... ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I took a history of war course in college-- we spent 2 days on it. Spent 3 days on WWI-- the instructor (he having served in 5 wars) couldn't stand the tedium of CW and WWI. Interesting factoid, typically each casualty required a man's weight in lead fired. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

And another thing... I think the briefing, if done well, really helps establish the mood and adds to the immersive qualities of the game. ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Scenario (snip) models the "intelligence" assessment realistically. It lies. It misjudges the enemies' composition and quality, and promises reinforcements which in actuality are not modeled to exist in the scenario. I think the developer should take liberty to fudge the assessment, and make the promises superiors always made... "...and expect reinforcements in 15-20 minutes...", or expect air support, or arty support-- and never get it. The grognard may not like "historical" scenarios taking such liberties... but other developers should really consider it. IMHO Havermeyer

I'm reposting this from Scen Talk. More appropriate here... In scenario (snip) I pushed a nebelwurfer spotter forward on a kubelwagen to target some US AT guns a probe discovered. Nearest troops were hundreds of meters from target. Needless to say the battery succeeded to burst two shells in trees KILLING 30 SS TROOPS!!!! The mission was going splendidly till this mishap (I still pulled out a tactical). I rewarded Mr. Initiative by running him into the gunsights of the AT weapons-- THAT DIDN'T GET EVEN ONE SHELL-- THE NEAREST FALLING 200m FROM TARGET!!!! ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Tried the stand and pound... lost no tanks to mud and no tanks over 10 turns to killers-- knocked down a lot of buildings. But when trying to push into the city, I lost all but one tank on the middle road of death.

In scenario (snip) my Nebelwurfer spotter called a beautiful strike, resulting in two tree bursts-- killing 30 of his fellow SS! They were hunkered down HUNDREDS OF METERS FROM TARGET. After everyone had changed soiled trousers, I sent the little "go-getter" trotting into the two Ami AT guns HE COMPLETELY MISSED, THOUGH CLEARLY SAW! Thankfully, the suppressing fire kept the Ami rifles down, but the AT gun got a bead and... BLAM!!! ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

Great scenario. Called the Nebelwurfer in with troops no closer than 200m (and not many that close). Nebelwurfer spotter gets a bead on a nice cluster of guns and calls the strike. HELL RAINS ON EARTH! Two beautiful tree bursts-- KILLING 30 OF MY MEN!!! HUNDREDS OF METERS AWAY FROM TARGET!!!! CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT FOR SPOTTER!!! So next time I'm going to target my own troops... couldn't hurt, and I may get just one pickle in the Barrel. (BTW, I still pushed on and earned a tactical). First encounter with the mongo rockets... and I don't think I killed a SINGLE ENEMY TROOP!!! Another cluster of troops sitting in RESERVE soiled their trousers and ran another 100m away! With the spotter spent, I sent the little bastard trotting into an AT gun. Adios, Mein Herr! ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

So far: To spouse: "I'm just checking email!!" In the game, it's most often the tank driver and gunner: Shoot him! Shoot _him_!!! NO!!! HIM!!! NO!!! GET OUT!!! BACKUP!!! SMOKE SMOKE!!! (damn) ------------------ "Two World Wars and One World Cup, do da, do da!" --British Hooligan, sung to Camptown Races

I loved the speed of the city attack. The risk to reward was huge. There was enough time to move the sherman and 3 sqd/1 HQ to the far right Ami flank to attack the Germans on their left flank with significant force. The most important aspect was the arty (incl. the mortar). I wasn't certain how fast to push, but with 3 turns left I could do a coordinated push across the entire front. I avoided loss of armor by keeping them on the flanks (luck first time). The rolling arty spent his time flattening buildings waiting for the troops to get in place. I played twice, and both times I didn't gather the objectives until the very last turn. Great scenario-- though I'm not certain it will help me when trying to tackle a larger force/more experienced in a larger city setting. Methodical will likely carry the day. However, in most attack situations I try to push one group as fast as possible to scuttle the opponents setup.

I've attempted twice to get the Americans in deep. A sweep on the right flank bogged 6 tanks, but I pushed as far as the church before losses mounted too high. The only reason I made it that far, was because the panthers were bogged. The AT bunker LIVED the whole game, as the germans killed my guys carring the satchel charges EVERY TIME. A thrust and cover up the middle road got me to the church as well, but the panthers and the AT bunker pounded my tanks. The reinforcements are merely cannon fodder for the panthers, distract them a little while while the AT bunker kills the rest. Again, the guys with the satchel charges died. I still lost 4 tanks to mud, and 2 tanks to first round fire. While the germans have some nice AT weapons, the best weapon is mud. The left flank is death. The general wants Singling-- I'll have to give it to him as tinder.

The germans and the mud are formidable in the scenario. I lost 1/2 my tanks to mud in one maneuvering attack. In another the german AT and panzers whacked just as many in short order. Haven't tried standing back and pounding the town to rubble-- but when panzers are plinking shermans at 700m it is pretty tough. Greath scenario-- but I want more arty as the americans. ------------------ "That's some catch, that Catch-22."

This was the fourth mission I played and the briefing really threw me, because the germans did fine in defending. The germans performed more in a fire, cover, withdrawal manner-- trying to keep fewer multiple lines of fire-- but concentrating it. Tried to keep CnC good, and keep exposed units from being overrun by the obviously fanatical brits. I never lost the main objective-- but got really annoyed with the brits getting the bridge. Dunno if this was a psychological test you put in Fionn (can't recall if there was a flag down there...), but I chewed up a couple of squads late in the game trying to rush the brits and push them to the other side.