Paul T. Gardner

AndrewTF, The scheme you have rendered so masterfully is not a winter scheme. Many of the Hetzers manufactured in Czechoslovakia during 1945 were painted in Czech colours, due to shortages of standard German paint. The scheme you have modded was quite common on these vehicles, consisting of a base coat of khaki (dark green), earth brown and cream. On this last point, I think maybe the light tone is too bright white? I think it was more a dirty cream. Having said that, it looks great for use as a winter camouflage as is. "Very soon" is not soon enough [ August 05, 2002, 05:47 AM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

25 as of May

JasonC, the two cannot really be directly compared. Published accounts often speak of 'close air support' missions flown by Stukas during the Blitzkrieg campaigns early in the war. Most of these authors are ignorant of the true nature of this type of operation however. Close air support operations are those mounted against targets in the battle area and in close proximity to friendly forces. Due to spotting difficulties experienced by Sturzkampf pilots from their nearly mile high vantage points (5,000 feet was the average start altitude for dive attacks), there was always a risk that bombs might fall on the very troops they were supposed to assist - as in your example. Thus, in truth, for most of the time the dive-bomber's objectives were well behind the battle area - what would now be termed 'battlefield air interdiction targets', such as artillery and supply lines. I've often wondered what the results would have been if Germany had regained control of the skies with its jets, and built a serious strategic bomber force such as the allies had. I think Overlord might not have been possible, and many Allied storage parks would have been bombed to hell. However, 'what if' threads can be very frustrating, so I shall stop there... Rgds [ June 25, 2002, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

Ari Maenpaa, I understand your point, though from what I've read I don't think the 'unvieling' of German attacks was a particularly widespread occurance in terms of Allied tactical air superiority. Sure, if you imagine swarms of Jabos over the front you might logically think that they are going to spot any 'attack' as soon as it kicks off. However, I think that most allied tactical airpower was fairly concentrated, and mostly flew CAP, or in the vicinity of a FAC once contact had been made. Thus, although labelled as an constant threat by moaning German landsers, it was not quite as omnipresent as one might imagine. Importantly, it often arrived on the scene once a serious attack was identified, and in this respect, it was an important part of the Allied artillery response. The point I'm coming to is that the chance of a German attack sliping under the 'Jabo net' were actually quite high, though once the attack was under way the Jabos would arrive on the scene quite quickly and contribute to the Allied riposte. With regards Aliied alertness, I think from what JasonC is saying, ther Germans would often break through regardless. Therefore, if you couple this with my reasonably educated hypothesis, I think that Allied Tac-Air was not especially important in revealing German attacks. Rgds [ June 25, 2002, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

Very interesting indeed JasonC. Wisbech__lads' comment also hints as to why the Germans failed to sustain any of their breakthroughs, and links with you comment on their lack of infantry 'durability' in the face of artillery fire. I think people overstate the effectiveness of Allied Jabos in hindering German AFV movement, (or at least certainly in destroying AFVs) and miss the more devastating effect on the German war machine of removing its airborne artillery. In denying the Germans tactical air superiority, the part played by Stuka type aircraft was greatly reduced, thus removing this element from the Blitzkrieg 'formula'. I think one of the tasks of this element was interdicting enemy artillery situated well behind the front line. Special thanks for the American 'TOE' for CM fights. I wouldn't mind fighting as the allies once in a while, but more often than not, my research leans heavily towards German matters, and leaves me somewhat bereft of knowledge on the Allies. Rgds [ June 25, 2002, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

Excellent work Joshik. I use your beta PzKpfw.V Ausf G late as is. I love it! Once again, great work. Rgds. [ June 19, 2002, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

Thomas Goetz, I'm glad you don't let that info go to waste, I find it very interesting. Thanks for the correction BTW - I knew I was pushing the boat out by saying 'directly based on German designs' but my interest is in late war German design and development (vehicles as well as aircraft), and so I'm a bit bias. I also have a crackpot theory that the Americans and Russians played down the extent of inluence German technology had on their postwar designs because of the coldwar. After all, if you're vying to be the numero uno world superpower, you're hardly going to give much credit to a third rate, and recently defeated 'superpower' for your latest designs? Deeper research into this shows that it was more a case of playing up the plus points about a piece of equipments' capabilities rather than playing down its origins. The latter point sort of gets lost in the 'hey look what we've got' competition. I'm still a bit suspicious though, given the pervading thoughts at the time, as to just how accurate the history books are on this matter. Rgds [ June 18, 2002, 07:41 AM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

A few points - It is widely thought that Patton wished to fight the Soviets at the conclusion of WWII, and indeed many Germans thought that the US would side with Germany as the war drew to a close in order to repel the Red menace from Europe. As notable a figure as Adolf Galland held such views. He offered to use his new jet equiped units to fight for the Americans against the USSR, however, they refused him and merely asked that he surrender and turn over his planes. Also, regarding the German view on this point, I have this quote from Rudolph Salvermoser, A Großdeutschland Veteran, by Robert Witter on Feldgrau.com: Thomas Goetz notes most of the well known incidents US and Soviet met in battle, though an interesing and somewhat unrelated point about US and Soviet pilots meeting in Korea is that the technology they were flying was directly based on German research and development. The MiG-15 is based on the (Kurt Tank/Focke-Wulfe) Ta-183, and the NA F-86 Sabre on the Messerschmitt P.1101. Also, I guess it's worth mentioning that the British Royal Navy even helped against the Soviets when in December 1918 they prevented the fall of Tallinn (Estonia), allowing the Estonian Army to force Red Army units back from their push into the Baltic States. Rgds

You're right Michael, US 5th Army (Brit 10th Corps + US 6th Corps) landed at Salerno, and pushed up the West side of Italy, Brit 8th Army (5th + 13th Corps), pushed across the straights of Messina accompanied by landings at Taranto, then pushed up the East side of 'the boot'. These Armies together comprised the 15th Allied Army Group. They faced the German X Army (Vietinghoff), and later after the landings at Anzio the improvised XIV Army (Mackensen) also. These comprised the German Army Group C. To complicate things, there was also a XIV Panzer Corps (Hube, then Senger Etterlin). This probaby just complicates things right? Rgds

Hehe, no points for originality my friend, and oh - none for spelling recognition either. Loser, I presume?

Hi Mom.

Very nice Captain Wacky. Whilst steaming through RtCW I thought about how nice it would be to have the sprites from RtCW in CM. Maybe sometimre in the future eh? But in the meantime this is the next best thing. Thanks. BTW, I LOL at your head of customer service. We could do with him in our company. Rgds

CoolColJ, Those mods look fantastic! The JT is full of beautiful details. I too use it once in a while, and I'd like to see something different on its hide. Not that the MDMP version is bad, its just that everything else has more than a few options available. I don't think I've seen the Panther or KT mod in the backround either - they look like spot-on late war paint schemes. Any chance of getting hold of those as well? Rgds

Flamingknives - hehe, you got it my friend. I thought I was the only one who thought that stuff!! That's why I play Epic 40K - a real mans game. Epic was designed before they cut the guts out of 40K to make the prime gaming age about 14. Good marketing strategy doing that though. Just not great for gaming... not like CM is anyway. Epic is much more like CM for the tabletop. Sort of. Are there anymore Games Workshop fans on the Forum that you know of?

Hehe, Capt - I laughed pretty hard at your remarks too. Don't think your off-the-wall posts go unnoticed. I don't see too many people reply to them, and frankly, I don't think many people are unhinged enough to but I laugh nonetheless... redwolf - some good points there. If you'll excuse me, I was particularly amused by you usage of "abandonation". I was wondering if that was a bit like damnation? It reminded me of Abbadon the Despoiler (WH40K anyone?) but that's another story. BTW, I think the word you're after is 'abandonment' though I'm no wordsmith either... Like I said, good points though - no offence intended. Rgds

*bump*

BTS, I know you have one or two things to work on at the mo, but are there any plans for add-ons to CMBO or CMBB? I mean such as vehicles and the like (I am thinking of MS Flight Sim aircraft additions as an example). Is this even technically possible with CMs current engine? I know there have been many discussions on what vehicles people would like to be added, and that many would prefer not to see operationally controversial vehicles such as the PzKpfw VIII 'Maus' and JS-III added, so why not give people the choice? Perhaps a '1946' CD? I know some of the limelight will be taken away from CMBO when CMBB comes out, but I suppose it actually depends on which theatre you want to fight in really - given that the engine is pretty much the same (I know there are a great many changes having said this though). Maybe the longevity of the games would be enhanced by vehicle and TOE add-on CDs or downloads? If this is not possible with CMBO, then maybe you could leave things 'open ended' with CMBB? I don't mean 'crackable' by this. I'm just thinking that if you can build vehicle models and put them in the game now, then what would stop you - as creators of the game - doing so at a later date through an add-on? Glaring lack of technical knowledge in this area shining through now... Having said all this, I must say that I still thoroughly enjoy CMBO to the same extent as the day I got it - what with all the Mod Experts out there, but I guess I'm just used to you giving us everything, and then spoiling us again anyway... I've no idea when you might fit something like this in, but here's to hoping. Rgds [ March 05, 2002, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Paul T. Gardner ]

steelmtn, I've pulled together a few links for you. Bit of a mish mash, and not totally focused, but in the right direction... http://salts.britwar.co.uk/salt7.htm http://www.onlineconversion.com/armor.htm http://www.isl.tm.fr/en/scientif/pages/d1/d1_e.html http://www.warships1.com/W-Nathan/M79apdoc.htm Rgds

Someone asked already - but a few posts back - does anyone have a link to this? Rgds

PawBroon, sorry, no mails from you as at 5 mins ago! I was not being snotty... Thanks for the links (and previous efforts ) Rgds

Obviously another person that enjoys a bit of scandal. I'm not German, yet magically by reading the title thread and the content of the first message I can glean that SgtChris is refering to a PBEM competition for Germans only. Maybe for speed of reply, or language convenience - nothing ominous though I should think. Rgds

Hmm, either you're very politically correct or you need to read some objective history. I assume that you follow the 'pop history' crowd in your knowledge of WWII? All Germans are evil, extremely nationalistic fascists? And for the Allies this is called patriotism eh? SgtChris is talking about the german CMBO PBEM League, so yes, one must be German I assume. In the nicest possible way - grow up. Rgds

Hi, I've looked hight and low for the aforementioned StuG schemes - does anyone have a link? Thanks

Were the infantry squad in wooded terrain? The only thing I can think of is that the AP round shredded some trees or undergrowth on its way through the sqaud, thus increasing casualties - remember that incapacitated or wounded also removes men from a squads 'OK' strength, not just KIA. Rgds

Take it easy Tom, it's done when it's done... All the best