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Grisha

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Posts posted by Grisha

    Fun Fact: Patton won the battle of Kursk?

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    Patton won Kursk? Hehe, actually it was Razvedka and Maskirovka, 'Reconnaissance/Intelligence and Deception'. Soviet reconnaissance and deception, that is. Glantz believes that 'Lucy' and Ultra were actually small players in the unravelling of operation Zitadelle.

    The Kursk salient was literally begging to be attacked by just being there, and most German armor units were already deployed there from the fall/winter 42/43 campaigning around Kharkov. Soviet intelligence data collection methods were quite efficient by this time, as were the many means of acquiring that intelliegence: air, agent/partisan, radio, engineer, artillery, and troop.

    After the fiasco of Kharkov in late '42 the Soviets were now determined to be as pragmatic as possible in their operational assessments, taking great pains to confirm German intentions for summer of 1943. The picture emerging from their own intelligence efforts seemed to be confirming Soviet analysis on German intentions, but the Soviets wanted to know when, and continued razvedka on all levels. Outside intelligence also corroborated with Soviet findings, but was generally too vague to be of any real use in pinning the launch date. In the meantime, intense work was done on defensive works, and masking the redeployment of a large numbers of units into the area. Soviet intelligence confirmed that their deception efforts were quite effective as the Germans showed no reaction to the huge scale of Soviet buildup in and around the Kursk salient. Also, the Soviets planned the counteroffensive as an integral part of the defense of the Kursk salient, to be launched just as it became apparent that the Germans were running out of steam.

    Operation Zitadelle was doomed from the start, though Prokharovka was a bit dicey for the Soviets.

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

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    Philosophy -OT-

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    Von Schmidt,

    If you've read Clausewitz, then I strongly suggest you read John Keegan's A History of War. He has a very intriguing response to Clausewitz. John Keegan, btw, wrote Face of Battle, and is a very well respected military historian.

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

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    Best Wargames of the 90s!

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    Best wargames?<UL TYPE=SQUARE>

    <LI> East Front Series (GMT)

    <LI> EastFront (Columbia Games)

    <LI> Great Battles of History (GMT)

    <LI> Down in Flames Series (GMT)

    <LI> Ukraine '43 (GMT)

    <LI> Combat Mission (BTS)

    <LI> EastFrontII (Talonsoft)

    <LI> SPWAW (Matrix)

    <LI> Pacific War (Columbia Games)

    <LI> TOAW (Talonsoft)

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    [This message has been edited by Grisha (edited 01-08-2001).]

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    CM2....how's it coming along.......?

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    Well, if you look at German allies and rank them by numbers, it would be:

    1. Romania

    2. Hungary

    3. Italy

    Finland fought from its own frontline, and after 1941 quit all offensive operations, so I tend to look at them as a special case. The Continuation war was probably mostly an aerial affair until 1944 when the Soviets began offensive operations against Finland.

    So, if there are going to be any German allies, then the Romanians have got to be in there.

    ------------------

    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    0

    CM2....how's it coming along.......?

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    Well, if you look at German allies and rank them by numbers, it would be:

    1. Romania

    2. Hungary

    3. Italy

    Finland fought from its own frontline, and after 1941 quit all offensive operations, so I tend to look at them as a special case. The Continuation war was probably mostly an aerial affair until 1944 when the Soviets began offensive operations against Finland.

    So, if there are going to be any German allies, then the Romanians have got to be in there.

    ------------------

    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    0

    Was the Wehrmacht stuck in 1941?

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    A couple of things to bear in mind concerning the German campaign in the Russian front:<UL TYPE=SQUARE>

    <LI> While German tactical intelligence was quite good, German operational intelligence was very poor. Countless times the Germans were caught by surprise operationally with Soviet offensives, the earliest incident being the winter counteroffensive in 1941.

    <LI> German contempt for the Russians, probably borne out of their social beliefs (aryan theory), allowed them to under-estimate the Soviets throughout the entire war and even after it was over.

    Regarding Soviet and German tanks, I think John Waters summed it up quite well when he stated that German tank design centered on tank killing, whereas Soviet tank design focused on exploitation and maneuver.

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

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    The CM2 Grog Book List

    in Combat Mission Archive #3 (2001)

    Posted

    If you really want to understand the Soviet method of war, then these books are great:<UL TYPE=SQUARE>

    <LI> Soviet Military Operational Art, Glantz

    <LI> Soviet Military Intelligence in WWII, Glantz

    <LI> Soviet Military Deception in WWII, Glantz

    <LI> Soviet Partisan Movement, Grenkevich

    <LI> Soviet Tactical Maneuver, Glantz

    A great book that imparts the Russian experience in WWII is Werth's War in Russia.

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    [This message has been edited by Grisha (edited 01-03-2001).]

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    Soviet "Panzertruppen" Equivalent?

    in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)

    Posted

    Guards units weren't 'elite' in the sense that Spetsnaz is, but they were better than regular Red Army units. As Commissar points out they were given the best equipment, and first priority in reinforcements/replacements.

    Another thing is skilled soldiers were frequently transferred to Guards units, and I'm sure the best graduates/technicians from the many Soviet military academies were also assigned to Guards units.

    Finally, Soviet combat experience was rigorously collected, and evaluated to determine the most effective methods of operational and tactical maneuver. Those found most valuable were published in yearly combat regulations. As the years passed these regulations became more and more refined, so that by '44-'45 Soviet operational art and tactics were very effective. The level of elite training within the Guards units most likely followed this progression, though I sure exceptions did occur.

    So, to finally answer your question, the level of training/experience within Guards units was probably within a range that stayed higher than regular troops, but steadily increased until the end of the war. And if I had to put my finger on it, I'd say Guards units were at least a step above the general level of troop training, if not two, for any given year.

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    0

    CM II in our future?

    in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)

    Posted

    Maximus,

    Barbarossa & Beyond??? Please, we can do better than this. Much better. I have nothing but respect for you, Maximus, but such a title reminds me of an Oingo Poingo song - outrageous pastel colors, short spiky hair, ska beat, heads bouncing in strange manners. Very distracting to the mind.

    No, it must be a title that hits home, evotes the epic struggle, the snatching of victory from almost certain defeat. Something like Death or Victory sounds much more apt, and besides, its so Russian smile.gif

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    0

    Squad leader continues to get pounded. What a shame.

    in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)

    Posted

    SL was one game I played a lot of in the seventies, focusing mostly on the Russian front scenarios (Iron Cross). It was such a fine tactical game that incorporated many innovative features at the time, like morale, leadership, weapon breakdowns. No tactical wargame of WWII even came close to SL back then.

    Now, the title has been prostituted to this 'Johnny-writes-home-to-Betty-Boop-in-between-killing-Germans' fiasco. What a shame to the name of Avalon Hill as well.

    And to think, that once, way back in the sixties and seventies, Hasbro made a real fine G.I. Joe ... rolleyes.gif

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    Best regards,

    Greg Leon Guerrero

    0

    Frontlines in Campaigns

    in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)

    Posted

    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I also note that in my experience people take insult when and why they want to and for reasons peculiar to their circumstances. I get around this (if not exactly with ease) by simply refusing to take insult. That's not to say I can't imagine something being "insulting," of course I can. But I do not allow myself to feel this reaction.

    If you or anyone else is not strong enough or possessed of the capacity or whatever it takes to see and act on this wisdom, that's too bad. Then go through your lives feeling all the insult you want. It's on you, though.

    -- Tris<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    It seems that in denying the veracity of Insult you have unknowingly ended up embracing the concept of insulting behavior. Thus, you void your own comments among those who value civility, and mutual respect. This type of behavior will produce few friends, but I fear this is no concern of yours either. In any case, an unfortunate state of affairs, sir.

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