Kingfish

John, I didn't model the opening phase columns, but thanks to help from JonS I was able to recreate 'Halpenny force', which was part of phase II. The OOB is as close to historical as the game engine allows, and yes, the scenario is a bear. Also included is KG Wunsche. The scenario is basically one giant semi-fictional meeting engagement. Do a search at TSD II for "Dueling Sledgehammers".

Unless the gun is inside a concrete pillbox, in which case you'll need a superhero.

Thanks John. To get a feel for the battle for Maltot I recommend you d/l Andrea's scenario 'Maltot'. I converted it to CMAK a while ago and believe he posted it on his website.

You can get SS Mechanized as early as Sept '43 up to April '44, then it skips May (not sure if by design) then back again from June to March '45.

I second this suggestion. The map is without doubt one of the best depiction of the British zone in Normandy, specifically in the area this Op covers. Make no mistake, it is a beast of an Op. By the time both sides receive the bulk of their scheduled reinforcements the game may be too big for even a Cray-II. Another worth considering would be Little Stalingrad by Michael Dorosh.

Its worth using area fire on trenches for at least a turn before assaulting it. It would either pin, or uncover, any enemy units hiding in the trench. Had you done so, and the gun uncovered, you could have utilized the MMG, BAR and section HQ to pin it down while assaulting with the squad.

The 1st Bn / Coldstream Guards is listed as one of three armored regiments in the Guards armored division Guards Armored Division Not sure, but I would think that having started as a Sherman equipped unit it would have stayed that way. A switch to Cromwells would have been perceived as a downgrade, and the Allies had far more Shermans than Cromwells in reserve. Having said that, they might have been switched to Comets, which were a Cromwell variant so to speak, although with better armor and gun. Wiki says the Brit 11th armored was the only unit to be completely re-equipped with Comets, so the other divisions may have gotten enough to field a battalion or so. Just a guess on my part.

According to Normandy battlefield tours there is an 88mm casemate located mid-photo. Is it the large structure shown right of center about midway down from the top of the photo, with its side walls set at a 45 degree angle? If not, where is the casemate? [ June 22, 2008, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: Kingfish ]

Sly, Your comment has me thinking you are confusing me with someone else. I don't remember ever coming away from our playtest with a dislike of you or your playing style. We tested two of yours - Norrey and the one set in the Ardennes (Snow, steep hills and a Kingtiger is all I remember). I gave some feedback and that was it. I also know that none of the scenarios I designed for the first tournament had any bridges. Last Road out and Panzers in the Peel were my creations, IIRC. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding? I certainly don't want any negative feelings floating around.

Normally I would agree with you, but in this instance I didn't give the defender any ammunition, so the attacker holds a slight advantage.

Which just so happens to be right here. To get CM-scale maps follow along: -click on the map at bottom right to move the red cross to the region of choice -click on the 'CARTES' icon at far left -click on 'CARTE IGN' button -shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar from 35% to 100% -click on the zoom button at upper right (magnifying glass icon) -window the area you wish to zoom in on. Continue windowing to zoom in closer. A half dozen mouse clicks gets you this: Once you have the towns and road net laid out you can shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar to the left to reveal an aerial photo of the terrain:

Which just so happens to be right here. To get CM-scale maps follow along: -click on the map at bottom right to move the red cross to the region of choice -click on the 'CARTES' icon at far left -click on 'CARTE IGN' button -shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar from 35% to 100% -click on the zoom button at upper right (magnifying glass icon) -window the area you wish to zoom in on. Continue windowing to zoom in closer. A half dozen mouse clicks gets you this: Once you have the towns and road net laid out you can shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar to the left to reveal an aerial photo of the terrain:

Which just so happens to be right here. To get CM-scale maps follow along: -click on the map at bottom right to move the red cross to the region of choice -click on the 'CARTES' icon at far left -click on 'CARTE IGN' button -shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar from 35% to 100% -click on the zoom button at upper right (magnifying glass icon) -window the area you wish to zoom in on. Continue windowing to zoom in closer. A half dozen mouse clicks gets you this: Once you have the towns and road net laid out you can shift the 'CARTE IGN' bar to the left to reveal an aerial photo of the terrain:

Keep in mind that I had a total of 6 scenarios ready for round 2, so there are still 3 that haven't been released.

Two things I've come to realize so far: 1) Brian Reid's book is a must have 2) I shall have Brian Reid's book Those scans were wicked, guitar-wailing Ninja cool -but- they still leave me with unanswered questions. Was the counterattack still in progress, as the book appears to be saying at the end of pg. 287, or did the Germans pull back into ambush positions as alluded to at the beginning of pg. 288? Don't answer - I need an excuse to pick up a copy of NHB. Thanks to all for your help (so far). BTW, is Reid working on Tractable?

Two things I've come to realize so far: 1) Brian Reid's book is a must have 2) I shall have Brian Reid's book Those scans were wicked, guitar-wailing Ninja cool -but- they still leave me with unanswered questions. Was the counterattack still in progress, as the book appears to be saying at the end of pg. 287, or did the Germans pull back into ambush positions as alluded to at the beginning of pg. 288? Don't answer - I need an excuse to pick up a copy of NHB. Thanks to all for your help (so far). BTW, is Reid working on Tractable?

Two things I've come to realize so far: 1) Brian Reid's book is a must have 2) I shall have Brian Reid's book Those scans were wicked, guitar-wailing Ninja cool -but- they still leave me with unanswered questions. Was the counterattack still in progress, as the book appears to be saying at the end of pg. 287, or did the Germans pull back into ambush positions as alluded to at the beginning of pg. 288? Don't answer - I need an excuse to pick up a copy of NHB. Thanks to all for your help (so far). BTW, is Reid working on Tractable?

Sadly, no.

Sadly, no.

Sadly, no.

I wonder if anyone could lend a hand at clarifying the sequence of events on the afternoon of August 7th, 1944, starting from the midday bombing by the USAF up to last light. What I am particularly interested is the time the Polish 1st Armored Division entered combat in relation to the German counterattack. As I understand it, the bombing occured at around 1300 hours, and the Poles left their starting positions just north of St. Aignan at 1335 hours Source: Operation Report of 1st PAD Meanwhile, the Germans had begun their counterattack earlier. Reynolds describes Meyer ordering his troops forward once he spotted the pathfinder aircraft overhead, so as to be out of the target area. This to me indicates the Poles ran into the German counterattack just as it was beginning, and were then thrown back with heavy losses. Again, from OR / 1st PAD: I do not know where area 108556 is, but am assuming this is between St. Aignan and St. Sylvain. Am I correct in the sequence of events, or did the Germans launch their attack even earlier, perhaps with Wittman's elements advancing first along the Caen-Falaise road while Prinz's Mark IVs stepping on the gas a little later and further east? [ May 26, 2008, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: Kingfish ]

I wonder if anyone could lend a hand at clarifying the sequence of events on the afternoon of August 7th, 1944, starting from the midday bombing by the USAF up to last light. What I am particularly interested is the time the Polish 1st Armored Division entered combat in relation to the German counterattack. As I understand it, the bombing occured at around 1300 hours, and the Poles left their starting positions just north of St. Aignan at 1335 hours Source: Operation Report of 1st PAD Meanwhile, the Germans had begun their counterattack earlier. Reynolds describes Meyer ordering his troops forward once he spotted the pathfinder aircraft overhead, so as to be out of the target area. This to me indicates the Poles ran into the German counterattack just as it was beginning, and were then thrown back with heavy losses. Again, from OR / 1st PAD: I do not know where area 108556 is, but am assuming this is between St. Aignan and St. Sylvain. Am I correct in the sequence of events, or did the Germans launch their attack even earlier, perhaps with Wittman's elements advancing first along the Caen-Falaise road while Prinz's Mark IVs stepping on the gas a little later and further east? [ May 26, 2008, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: Kingfish ]

I wonder if anyone could lend a hand at clarifying the sequence of events on the afternoon of August 7th, 1944, starting from the midday bombing by the USAF up to last light. What I am particularly interested is the time the Polish 1st Armored Division entered combat in relation to the German counterattack. As I understand it, the bombing occured at around 1300 hours, and the Poles left their starting positions just north of St. Aignan at 1335 hours Source: Operation Report of 1st PAD Meanwhile, the Germans had begun their counterattack earlier. Reynolds describes Meyer ordering his troops forward once he spotted the pathfinder aircraft overhead, so as to be out of the target area. This to me indicates the Poles ran into the German counterattack just as it was beginning, and were then thrown back with heavy losses. Again, from OR / 1st PAD: I do not know where area 108556 is, but am assuming this is between St. Aignan and St. Sylvain. Am I correct in the sequence of events, or did the Germans launch their attack even earlier, perhaps with Wittman's elements advancing first along the Caen-Falaise road while Prinz's Mark IVs stepping on the gas a little later and further east? [ May 26, 2008, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: Kingfish ]

Ah, you got someone to improve it. Good call.

One of Franko's hallmarks is to give one side's reinforcements (the Germans in this case) a very low chance of arrival. I believe in this Op there is the possibility of getting Tigers, which alone would wipe the map clean of Russian tanks. However, you have a better chance of hitting the powerball than seeing these appear.