Franko

SPOILER WARNING! <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wayne: I made up a scenario last night just for fun and spent an hour trying to figure out how to make the bridges match up with the oncoming road so this little alteration was up my ally. I assume that you used the HASL KG Pieper for some of your reference. Why did you leave off the north and west edge of the map? A lot of terrain and I assume there was no action in those areas worth depicting? Also, I was wondering why so few half tracks for the Panzer Grenadiers? Were they not not mounted during the advance? Not carping on you but curious. Whenever I played the HASL game I mounted the PGs on SPW 251s. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> SPOILER WARNING... The Panzergrenadiers were NOT mounted in the initial advance. In fact, the 11th SS Panzer grenadier company were mounted in SPWs, but they were Peiper's reserve (simulated in the game). Also, he did not want to waste precious fuel on the halftracks . His fuel situation was already getting critical. The initial attack was led (largely), by Fallshirmjagers who were pilfered from another division, who had no such transport. Mounting your infantry on halftracks is generally not a good idea on the tactical level anyway, unless you know the enemy does not have any anti-tank capability..and especially in Heavy Fog. The portions of the map you refer to were not materially important until the 21st or so, or perhaps the night of the 20th (omitted, you'll note). The only strong counterattack worth noting during the operation time is the thrust from Targnon and Stoumont Station, which is depicted.

No problem...thats why I email it to you fine folks, so you can find things I may have missed. When you design a scenario or write a briefing, you can see it just too often so you don't even notice the most glaring mishaps. Thanks! I'll change that for version 1.01 thanks F.

I have submitted it to CombatHQ, but it has not been posted yet (I just did it today, as a result of "overwhelming demand".

Sorry to repost this, but someone suggested that I make it clear that I was actually offering a new operation to folks (my last topic made that unclear..sorry). I will be happy to email it to anyone who wants it (unless you've already contacted me). Heres the briefing again: Stoumont December 19 - 20, 1944 (11 Battles) Ardennes Offensive, Northern Shoulder Location: Stoumont-Targnon, Ambleve River Valley, Belgium Weather: Bad Ground Condition: Wet Night falls on the Sixth Battle. Scenario Author: Frank M. Radoslovich (Frankrad@pacbell.net) After a sizeable German armored force broke through American lines on the 18th of December, it sought an exit from the Ambleve River Valley. After siezing the bridges at Stavelot and Cheneux, these heavily armored troops had been re-buffed at Trois-Ponts and Habiemont. The force then attempted another breakthrough at Stoumont on the 19th. In the balance was the fate of one of the most historically intriguing forces in the Western Theatre in World War 2, the infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper. Scenario Note: During this historical period represented by this operation, there was no snow to speak of in the area depicted in the map. A thaw had began on 18 December, melting the snow and turning the frozen ground soggy. So, unlike many other Ardennes scenarios, there is no "snow". REALISM NOTE: If you want to mimic the real battle as much as possible, do not actually begin the game until you have a "fog" setting for Battle 1. In other words, exit out and reload until you get a "fog" setting for the first battle, ideally "Heavy Fog." The real battle began that way, and you should too! Sources: Arnold, James R. Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble in the West Astor, Gerald A Blood Dimmed Tide Dupuy, Trevor N. Hitler's Last Gamble Folkestad, William B. The View from the Turret: the 743rd Tank Battalion in World War II Hoyt, Edwin P. The GI's War MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets Parker, Danny S. Battle of the Bulge Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, Norther Sector, Volume 4 and 5 Reynolds, Michael The Devils Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader The Official U.S. Military History of the Ardennes Offensive Michellin Maps U.S. Army Signal Corp Photos Also, Advanced Squad Leader, Kampfgruppe Peiper I and II. Of course. 30th Infantry Division, Official History

Huge Map Extensive Research Version Check out the Briefing Text..you interested in checking it out? lemme know. Stoumont December 19 - 20, 1944 (11 Battles) Ardennes Offensive, Northern Shoulder Location: Stoumont-Targnon, Ambleve River Valley, Belgium Weather: Bad Ground Condition: Wet Night falls on the Sixth Battle. Scenario Author: Frank M. Radoslovich (Frankrad@pacbell.net) After a sizeable German armored force broke through American lines on the 18th of December, it sought an exit from the Ambleve River Valley. After siezing the bridges at Stavelot and Cheneux, these heavily armored troops had been re-buffed at Trois-Ponts and Habiemont. After these setbacks, the force attempted another breakthrough at Stoumont on the 19th. In the balance was the fate of one of the most historically intriguing forces in the Western Theatre in World War 2, the infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper. Scenario Note: During this historical period represented by this operation, there was no snow to speak of in the area depicted in the map. A thaw had began on 18 December, melting the snow and turning the frozen ground soggy. So, unlike many other Ardennes scenarios, there is no "snow". REALISM NOTE: If you want to mimic the real battle as much as possible, do not actually begin the game until you have a "fog" setting for Battle 1. In other words, exit out and reload until you get a "fog" setting for the first battle, ideally "Heavy Fog." The real battle began that way, and you should too! Sources: Arnold, James R. Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble in the West Astor, Gerald A Blood Dimmed Tide Dupuy, Trevor N. Hitler's Last Gamble Folkestad, William B. The View from the Turret: the 743rd Tank Battalion in World War II Hoyt, Edwin P. The GI's War MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets Parker, Danny S. Battle of the Bulge Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, Norther Sector, Volume 4 and 5 Reynolds, Michael The Devils Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader The Official U.S. Military History of the Ardennes Offensive Michellin Maps U.S. Army Signal Corp Photos Also, Advanced Squad Leader, Kampfgruppe Peiper I and II. Of course. 30th Infantry Division, Official History

Stoumont December 19 - 20, 1944 (11 Battles) Ardennes Offensive, Northern Shoulder Location: Stoumont-Targnon, Ambleve River Valley, Belgium Weather: Bad Ground Condition: Wet Night falls on the Sixth Battle. Scenario Author: Frank M. Radoslovich (Frankrad@pacbell.net) After a sizeable German armored force broke through American lines on the 18th of December, it sought an exit from the Ambleve River Valley. After siezing the bridges at Stavelot and Cheneux, these heavily armored troops had been re-buffed at Trois-Ponts and Habiemont. After these setbacks, the force attempted another breakthrough at Stoumont on the 19th. In the balance was the fate of one of the most historically intriguing forces in the Western Theatre in World War 2, the infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper. Scenario Note: During this historical period represented by this operation, there was no snow to speak of in the area depicted in the map. A thaw had began on 18 December, melting the snow and turning the frozen ground soggy. So, unlike many other Ardennes scenarios, there is no "snow". REALISM NOTE: If you want to mimic the real battle as much as possible, do not actually begin the game until you have a "fog" setting for Battle 1. In other words, exit out and reload until you get a "fog" setting for the first battle, ideally "Heavy Fog." The real battle began that way, and you should too! Sources: Arnold, James R. Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble in the West Astor, Gerald A Blood Dimmed Tide Dupuy, Trevor N. Hitler's Last Gamble Folkestad, William B. The View from the Turret: the 743rd Tank Battalion in World War II Hoyt, Edwin P. The GI's War MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets Parker, Danny S. Battle of the Bulge Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, Norther Sector, Volume 4 and 5 Reynolds, Michael The Devils Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader The Official U.S. Military History of the Ardennes Offensive Michellin Maps U.S. Army Signal Corp Photos Also, Advanced Squad Leader, Kampfgruppe Peiper I and II. Of course. 30th Infantry Division, Official History Want to see it? Let me know, and I'll send it to you..I researched this one for months. Frank

Well, I just finished one on the same subject, and submitted it to Boots and Tracks. Whoops! I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Here's my text from the General Briefing. Stoumont December 19 - 20, 1944 (11 Battles) Ardennes Offensive, Northern Shoulder Location: Stoumont-Targnon, Ambleve River Valley, Belgium Weather: Bad Ground Condition: Wet Night falls on the Sixth Battle. Scenario Author: Frank M. Radoslovich (Frankrad@pacbell.net) After a sizeable German armored force broke through American lines on the 18th of December, it sought an exit from the Ambleve River Valley. After siezing the bridges at Stavelot and Cheneux, these heavily armored troops had been re-buffed at Trois-Ponts and Habiemont. After these setbacks, the force attempted another breakthrough at Stoumont on the 19th. In the balance was the fate of one of the most historically intriguing forces in the Western Theatre in World War 2, the infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper. Scenario Note: During this historical period represented by this operation, there was no snow to speak of in the area depicted in the map. A thaw had began on 18 December, melting the snow and turning the frozen ground soggy. So, unlike many other Ardennes scenarios, there is no "snow". REALISM NOTE: If you want to mimic the real battle as much as possible, do not actually begin the game until you have a "fog" setting for Battle 1. In other words, exit out and reload until you get a "fog" setting for the first battle, ideally "Heavy Fog." The real battle began that way, and you should too! Sources: Arnold, James R. Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble in the West Astor, Gerald A Blood Dimmed Tide Dupuy, Trevor N. Hitler's Last Gamble Folkestad, William B. The View from the Turret: the 743rd Tank Battalion in World War II Hoyt, Edwin P. The GI's War MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets Parker, Danny S. Battle of the Bulge Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, Norther Sector, Volume 4 and 5 Reynolds, Michael The Devils Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader The Official U.S. Military History of the Ardennes Offensive Michellin Maps U.S. Army Signal Corp Photos Also, Advanced Squad Leader, Kampfgruppe Peiper I and II. Of course. 30th Infantry Division, Official History

Thank God the AI was improved. I was beginning to wonder whether I was slipping: since loading the patch, I have NOT one a game. Dammit. But its a good thing, really. Frank

I love the fact that the 1st SS Panzer Division got its ass handed to it three times (Mortain, Aachen, Bulge) by the humble 30th Infantry Division. "Great Fighters", my ass.

Actually, I just finished one. It took me three weeks. Its based on the battle at Stoumont, and the furious fight around St. Edouard's Sanitorium. Its BIG though, and I haven't finished the text. It was VERY thoroughly researched. You can go to www.wargamer.com and download "Parker's Crossroads", my first scenario designed for public release. I'll be happy to send anyone a "beta" version of my Stoumont scenario, if you'd like.

Its stuff like this that makes me LOVE this game. All kinds of wierd stuff happens like this in Combat. Once, a Sherman knocked out a King Tiger with a SMOKE round (see "Death Traps", by Selton Cooper). The German crew panicked because they thought their tank was on fire. I think they were all gunned down by the Sherman's MGs as they bailed out.

I'd love to be a tester. Send scenarios my way, folks. Frank

Thanks Manx! I will be on the East Coast next week, so I will not be available by email much of the time. Sorry! If you want the scenario, please go to Manx's site. It may be up on Wargamer and TheGamers net soon, too. Frank

I have a HUGE new scenario for all of you, if you're interested. I worked on it for several years (yes, years), because I submitted it for West Front, and other games. Shoot me an email and I'll send it to you. I will be also posting it on various sites. The following text is from the scenario briefing: "Parker’s Crossroads -- The Defense of Baraque de Fraiture. It is December 23, and the battle which will become known as “The Battle of the Bulge” is in its seventh day. On the march route of the 2nd SS Panzer Division is a group of farmhouses and outbuildings, known to the locals as “Baraque de Faiture”. This "village", if it could be called that, sits on Highway N-15, which links Bastogne, Houffalize, and Liege. The road is a supply artery for the US army, anchoring a sensitive corrider between the 3rd Armored and 82nd Airborne Divisions. Unfortunately for the defenders, the 2nd SS Panzer Division needs to seize the crossroads if it will have any hope to break through to the Meuse river. Baraque de Fraiture stands on high, wind-swept ground. There is snow on the ground. At an elevation of just over 2,200 feet, it is the second highest point in the Ardennes forest, and much of the countryside is wooded and marshy. The area around the crossroads is cleared, but the surrounding area is lined with thick fir trees. The stage is set for the desparate defense of what became known as "Parker's Crossroads". Pick the U.S. side, and you will serve as Captain Junior Woodruff. Pick the German side, and you will serve as SS-Obersturmfuhrer Horst Gresiak." Frankrad@pacbell.net

I can NOT believe that none of you mentioned the Finish film called "The Winter War". Saving Private Ryan esque, definitely. F.

There's another string with this title, but most of the stories there are amusing. This has a little different tone, so I thought I would start it. My father was an ordinary rifleman in the 1st Cavalry Division, and was wounded twice. He told me this story this story during Thanksgiving, three years ago, the year before his death of cancer. As we were eating our dinner, my dad, who didn't talk about the war much, suddenly looked straight ahead during dinner. I asked him what was wrong. My wife and mother stared at him. He said that he was thinking of one day when he had a hot turkey dinner in November, 1951. He said he had been on the line for weeks, and it was first hot meal. He got his food, and sat down heavily with the rest of the guys in his platoon (there were only about 8 or so left), ate their meal. One of the guys, called "Negro Joe", said "Hey Mike, there's a gift for you under that the tarp over there." My dad, being naive and only about 20 years old, lifted up the tarp, and saw the mangled body parts of dead G.I.s. He then hit "Negro Joe" over the head with his mess kit, and everyone had a good laugh. Then, the platoon sargeant came up and ordered them all back on the perimeter for the evening. There was lots of Chinese activity again, so they went up. A cold night passed. Just before the sun came up, they heard chatter and "gook talk" coming close to the wire. One of the corporals, or whoever was in charge, said wait until they get about 30 yards away, and let 'em have it. They let 'em have it. My dad was behind a thirty cal, and he said he blew off hundreds of rounds. Then there was silence. About an hour later, my dad said, the sun came up. "Then" my dad said, "we found out we killed our own guys". He began crying, we put our forks down. "Eight of our own guys". He left the table. My dad passed away two years ago, buried with full military honors in a rather humble cemetary in San Diego. I am ashamed to say that it was only this year I went to my first memorial day service. Frank

Hey, its too easy to like the King Tiger or the Panther, or other so-called Glamourous tanks. I like the Panzer IVH with side-skirts, and the Sherman. They were the workhorses. A word to scenario designers--dont crowd your scenarios with super tanks...they were rare on the battlefield. F.

Count me in, too.

What on earth do you guys do for money while you wait for the sales to kick in? Are you in deep with the Banks? Are you upside down? Do you have venture capitalists? Do you just have piles of cash around? Are your spouses rich? I mean, you've been working on this for THREE YEARS! Tacops must be selling well or something. F.

For godsake, SHIP!