IntelWeenie

Oh, dear. I'm afraid "on-call" may be a semantic challenge murky enought to challenge "sniper vs. sharpshooter"! :eek: For that matter, what are the thoughts on how the FOs are currently modeled (taking into account cost, delay times, etc.)? Are they more representative of a battery at the exclusive call of a unit (less likely for the higher levels, although I won't deny it happened in some cases) or are delay times supposed to (help) represent the FO having to wait his turn for battery access? This is where I think there's something of a disconnect in the arty model now. The tasking and chain of command for a FO for Bn level mortars is quite different than for a FO for Army 8" guns. In the game, the only real differences are price, delay time and # of rounds fired.

Hmm. Just thought of somefink. Will heat "shimmer" be modeled in CMAK? Just as disruptive to accurate fire as fog, I would think (and a lot more common in the desert, too)

Especially for Platoon and Company commanders when no one had radios and all command and control was done with flags and hand signals...

Another random "marker" thought... Instead of just having TRPs, make "fire mission markers". These would be purchased like normal TRPs (but in the arty category) and placed on the map (by either attacker or defender - not available in ME) during setup. Where they would differ from the current system is that there is no Arty Observer involved, but they are "fired" during the normal course of a game using their own orders menu and would not be adjustable (since there's no FO). These markers would basically take the place of higher-headquarters (Div, Corps, Army) FOs for most pre-planned fire. The cost of the higher-HQ FOs may need to be increased a bit also since I feel they are now a little too flexible in use. I don't think you'd see a battery of guns from Corps or Army assets being placed "on-call" to a company or even Battalion too often in any army in WWII! Hans, yes, I remember seeing a film back in my Army days about how arty is "done". I never knew until then that there were so many different little factors that could have such great impact on accuracy! I'm not too sure about counter-battery fire. That might push the boundaries of Bn and lower combat a little too much, I think... :confused:

Most of the price difference between infantry types is related to weapons and number of squad members. Yes, buying infantry as a formation makes all the little parts cheaper. I think that's mainly to discourage "cherry picking" (picking units that results in a badly ahistoric force mix, like having 6 Arty observers supporting a mere platoon of infantry).

Fuggetabout the M163! Since rarity is off in this thread, I'd rather have the Sgt. York! (prototypes only, but twin 40mm Bofors L/70s in a fully enclosed turret on an M-60 cahssis) That or the M42 Duster (still twin 40mm Bofors, but open topped on a Chaffee hull)

*Disclaimer* I am not, nor have ever been, a redleg! *End Disclaimer* As I understand it, you don't need to actually fire rounds to register a target. Most of the work is done mathematically using maps and firing tables. Spotting rounds were (and still are) used to make small adjustments to compensate for variable conditions like wind direction/velocity, relative humidity, barrel wear, etc.

Grrr! :mad: If I weren't such a nice guy I might take that personally... Revisiting the whole sniper/sharpshooter debate probably won't help too much right now, since CMBO and CMBB are "done". If you make a convincing enough argument you may see some change in CMAK, but I doubt it. I tend to side with the game as is, since I prefer to think that (real) snipers hade more of a role in static operations and for the most part tried to avoid the big battles (it's too easy to get hurt by mistake!).

I thought you only get this bonus if you have not moved? That would make this less of an issue for attackers, but still an issue nonetheless. I, too, would like to see some changes to the artillery system. For boresight markers, how about combining them with the old ambush markers?

Maybe it should read "Really free to place units".

Time is not as important for smoke as is wind speed. If you would have fired smoke, most of the shells fired during the first turn would have "spread" enough to be effective at covering movement the next turn. The problem is that with strong winds, it dissapates as fast as it is fired, so you don't get a very good smokescreen. I love using 81-82mm mortars this way since they have very high ammo loadouts which make for dense screens. They also have much faster response time than higher level arty, so it's easier to time your fire mission.

Actually, isn't this a pic of the super-secret Maus-mit-Hetzer-Ohren? (a.k.a. Mickey the Hetzer)

Yes, I have a comment. Don't apologize for something that requires no apology. I am not a communist, but I don't hold that against you or anyone else who might be, too. Your beliefs (political, religious or otherwise) are yours and no one here has any right to comment on them or hold them against you in the context of this forum. Game on, people!

US Armored Divisions usually were composed of semi-independent formations called "Combat Commands". These were essentially reinforced combined-arms regiments and could operate independent of the division, but were still "owned" by it.

OK, since you opened the Soviet camo can 'o' worms, I want to see this next... I followed the link you gave and saw this near the bottom. The caption says it's an IS-2 from 4th GTA, summer '44.

It is an infantry carrier converted from obsolescent tanks. Similar in purpose to halftracks, but better armored. There were several versions that were created by removing the turret and installing extra seats, etc. They were used mainly by Canadian forces.

I started playing on medium maps over the weekend (still staying at 500-600 pts) and I think I like it even better. The extra space really opens up a lot more possibilities for the attacker without making it too big an area to defend.

Cool 'flage! :cool: Anyone have any info on use of camo on Soviet vehicles in WWII? I'm not disputing it happened, just wondering how much/how often...

Wow, I just got through reading the threads in question. :eek: and :mad: turning to The stuff you can miss here in two days! I'm fully behind all you modders out there (no homosexual pun intended) who bust your buns (again, no pun) making historically accurate mods for the rest of us to enjoy.

The US Army used "T" designations for tanks that were not yet fully accepted or "typed". When they were accepted, the "T" becomes a "M". Likewise for the "E". It denotes an automotive change that is not finalized. When it is, it usually resulted in an different "A" designation. Thus, the T26E3 Pershing was technically an operational prototype that was latter fully accepted as the M26. Now you also know how the Sherman "Easy-8" M4A3E8 got it's unusual designation!

The same ones who would use the gamey unarmed 'recon' jeeps and motorcycle dispatch riders .... Move out! Draw Fire! :eek:

I like the smaller battles, too. It makes it much easier for those of us with kids & early jobs to play a quick game or two after the kiddies are tucked in.

Ok, Ok! BFC, please include motorcycles in CMAK so Eichenbaum, et. al. can use them for recon (and so the rest of us can gun them down mercilessly with MG fire)

I believe that most hills are numbered for their height in meters. (above sea level?) At least, that's been the case for all of them I can remember! :confused: I think you always see 3 digits because anything less is not much of a hill (except in Holland) and anything more is, well, more of a mountain and probably already has a real name. (edited for content, spelling) [ August 15, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: IntelWeenie ]

That's because the infantry is better modeled in CMBB. They don't charge across open ground like they used to in CMBO. I've found in CMBB that you really need to coordinate infantry fire & movement more so than before...