Grisha

Hi John, I think there are a few I-16s still flying around actually. And more than a few Yak-3s though they're powered by Allisons. Unfortunately, no La-5FNs. Those were nearly all wooden and none survived the war.

Thanks, YankeeDog. Not quite the frothing-at-the-mouth-soviet like back then anymore, but I'll always be ready to play when it comes to the Russian front.

Totally agree there, Michael. That would be a blast (no pun intended).

No argument there, Michael. My comments were of a general nature, not a response to the demo being played out. Which I'm eagerly keeping my eye on just to see what happens!

YankeeDog, it's been awhile since I played the newer versions and I only played them a couple times to be honest. My heart has always been set on the Russian theater for WWII. I thought Fortress Italy would grab me due to the terrain, but so that didn't work out. I didn't even check out how scenarios are made. Of course, this all changes with Red Thunder. I'm a sucker for Russians. Izvinite!

The RPG-43 was fairly effective. Hell, there's a modern Russian version that was used on our own vehicles in Iraq and its results were pretty nasty. The main problem was distance. They only go as far as you can throw them. In the forests around Moscow and Minsk this is okay, but out in the steppes of the Ukraine not so much. Soviets did make use of panzerfaust for whatever that's worth.

Okay cool. I have Afghanistan, Battle for Normandy and Fortress Italy of the new ones. Didn't realize this. Most of my experience has been with CMBB and CMBO(edited).

I don't know, Tux. Going from pumping a level to get your wheels up or down to a push of a button must have been a joy. Not to mention the excellent radios in every KingCobra. Talk about amenities. The heater! All that space in the cockpit! I bet those poor pilots got used to them PDQ

Excellent, Battlefront! Can a scenario have that assigned a discrete percentage value, like say 60%?

Given what Soviet operational art was capable of from 1944 on, it would probably be a wise choice to research the Soviet operational situation for any given tactical engagement or battle of interest. For example, the initial assaults of the Soviet strategic offensive operations in summer of 1944 could easily make for a terrible scenario. One of quickly dwindling assets for the German player as he is hit by ferocious rocket and artillery barrages, thick coverage from direct fire artillery, all the while with 60% or more of German tactical positions known and 10 to 16 times the number of Soviet forces attacking. Something less powerful would have occurred, of course, though likely in less important areas of operation that were expected to maintain pressure rather than force a breakthrough. Probably the scenario most agreeable to what CM personifies is the exploitation battles fought by the tank armies as they advanced toward their operational objectives. There were many locations along their advance where ad hoc defenses were put together by German forces. Not to mention the vital battles to hold objectives by these very same tank armies until main forces caught up as German strategic reserves counterattacked.

Also, no rockets on the P-39 likely because there were two 50s in nacelles on the wings.

The VVS loved the P-39. They had a number of aces who flew it. Their second highest ace, Pokryshkin, swore by it. They did rig it so that one button triggered all weapons though. It was used for ground support at times, but only to the extent that fighter aircraft are ever used in a ground support. The Soviets considered the P-39, first and foremost, a fighter aircraft. The P-63 was not officially used in the European theater. It's employment was in the Manchurian theater against the Japanese. My understanding was that it was mainly a case of not receiving them in time for use in Europe. And, I don't believe the P-63 saw much use at all in WWII with the VVS. The P-39's popularity with the Soviets partially arises from the fact that almost no Soviet aircraft flew much above 20k feet, and usually it was lower at around 16k feet. The sweet spot for combat air actions in the Russian front was anywhere from 10k feet on down. At these altitudes the Allison engine in the Bell fighter was more than adequate for the task.

Yeah, typical SOP for small unit Soviet infantry tactics defined platoon as smallest independent unit. Platoon leader operated command within visual range primarily. So, wide open terrain, not too bad. Woods, however, you need to keep it tight, which can be good and bad.

An IS-2 was more often used in the opening breakthrough assault that would punch a hole that would introduce tank armies into German operational depths. The T-34 or M-4 were more often the tank to see combat under hasty combat conditions as a tank army ran into a hasty defense at a town along the way to their objective. They were often in independent heavy tank regiments and brigades, rather than in a tank corps/army.

Let's go, play! I want to see how it plays. Btw, a hasty attack with katyushas is completely possible and realistic. All tank armies in '44 had rocket artillery assets, usually 82mm. Check it out. Actually they had a lot of diverse assets precisely so that they could effectively conduct exploitation into German operational depths. They didn't have any of those serious STAVKA level arty assets like artillery division, but they did have very dedicated air assets, down to regiment level. Seriously though - play!

I had so much fun with CMBB back a decade ago. Lots of gaming and lots of commentary and people of similar interests. It was a great game for its time and the one I wanted more than all the others. And here we are over ten years later and the Russian front is back on the table with the latest engine that Battlefront has to offer. I am seriously looking forward to CM2RT, so many thanks to the crew at Battlefront and the two dudes who started it all (I still wish I could play that air war game over Europe you guys made in another incarnation. The music was perfect too). My opinion alone but if you do what you did for CMBB I'll be more than pleased with it. I've already ordered the damn thing. Keep up the good work and thank you.

Very much looking forward to the Eastern Front, but the upgrade it important too. Having Marketgarden to play with will be fun. And, for now, CMFI should be a real nice change.

Glantz really shines with his earlier works, which were more focused on why and how the Soviets won, not so much where and when and who. These were all works from the 1990s and earlier, while he was still in the Army. His real forte is doctrine and method, rather than history.

Think I'm gonna get the Fortress Italy game too. Having fun with CMBN.

I only just saw this today. Great news.

Interesting news, BF. Looking forward to this development. Is there any chart showing planned update/module scheduling? Even something tentative would be helpful. I realize things tend to change over time, but it would be more informative to get the big picture on theater direction.

Wait, I'm just realizing this game has been out for over a year now. What? No Russian front yet? Bozhe moi

Just bought CMBN + Commonwealth bundle, and looking forward to playing it soonish. Boy, it's been awhile since the CMBB days, eh? When will the T-34s start rolling again?

When BF get around to making the Soviet-German side of this, I'll be there, cash in hand. How could I not?

Never mind. I went ahead and purchased the initial game version.