jshandorf

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mensch: your tanks move?? any vehicle I buy has moving fire and smoke is just sitting there.... wierd, do you have a patch or something that lets you move your vehicles? ----- "Thats no fair they got Tigers!"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Har, Har. Your a really funny guy, Mensch, I'll kill you last. Jeff

Hey, BTS. I was wondering if you are eventually going to work on making the tracks and tires of vehicles move. With that said the textures are great but when I zoom in and watch my tanks move out it would be really gripping if I could actually see the tracks move. Just a thought. Jeff

Oh yeah, trying playing with someone a quarter way around the world. Damn. Sometimes those timezones just don't match up right. Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Elijah Meeks: Jeff, Philisophical ponderings have far more of an effect on humankind than any tool. You can shoot and kill a man with an M1 but can you define what makes a man with an M1? Can you explain purpose and existence to a Jagdtiger? Can you argue the merits of freedom vs. safety using an MP40? These tools are excellent catalysts but they have a base effect. Or, to make it plain, your psyche is an island, it only has what you bring. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You are correct in some respects, but people tend to listen more and alot harder when they are staring at the business end of a rifle. Philosophy has its place it life but by no means is it the be all end all of change. Basically there is a time and place for everything and this place is a perfect place to discuss, debate, and define any topic under the sun. Do we do this to become more enlightened? Yes. But do we do it more becuase we enjoy it? Definitely. Our discussions here aren't going to change the world, so lets not act like they will, is all I am trying to say. Oh, and pass me the peanuts. Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by M Hofbauer: excuse me everybody, but it just occurred to me, that the question presented itself to my conscience, What is the purpose of discussing the purpose of war? where will it take us? will it feed one more starving man, will it advance technology or society? excuse me, but isn't this thread a classic example of what a colleague of mine always refers to, excuse the harsh words but they are most fitting, as "brain masturbation"?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Are you saying that ALL verbal discourse should have some positive tangible effect on humankind? Personally I could give a rats ass about feeding one more starving man or advancing technology blah blah blah... I just want to have a good conversation about something that interests me. If that is what you want to call “brain masturbation” than most of the world should be blind by now. What’s the deal with getting all high minded? I think we can all agree that philosophical debate rarely has a significant impact on life in general, that is, compared to a M1 Garand. Jeff [This message has been edited by jshandorf (edited 08-31-2000).]

So, let make sure what we are defining "war" as meaning. I am assuming we are using war to mean "a group/tribe/government use of violent force upon another." Basically the ONLY purpose for war is for one group of people to force it's will upon another. Be it a tribe of a hundred, or a government of millions its purpose is singular and the same. In a sense it is a form of diplomacy and in some instances it is the continuation of it in other forms. For people here to tie war into feelings of aggression and man’s violent nature is silly. War is a product of a social group. Governments cannot hate because of the obvious, they don’t have feelings. They are the product of our own creation. Now before someone runs off and posts some message before they actually read my post or even think first (it happens a lot) I am fully aware that governments are composed of people and that people have feelings but that is besides the point. No matter how many people might “feel” the same way none of them all feel exactly the same. We all have out own opinions, thoughts, and yes, feelings. The only purpose of a government going to war is to unite us in a singular purpose and that is to force our will/beliefs upon another government. Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CavScout: One often wonders where they get these statistics. Cav<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> One, such as myself, gets said information from a friend who happens to be an Airborne Ranger in the 2nd Battalion, Charlie company. The other information comes from having atleast passing skills in math. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CavScout: This assume they would fire on the position of the TOW gunner, if it was even know, over taking evasive actions. It would take a rather cool tank crew to sit in the open and line up a shot that could well miss. Cav<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> With todays laser range finders, and general fire control, hitting a target is easier than spotting it. See, if you would have actually read my post, I said that the TOW gunner better pray that his target doesn't spot him, cause if they do, it doesn't take much to swing the main turrent on a modern MBT to line up a shot. Have you ever seen a TOW missle in flight? It is freakishly huge, slow, and noisy. When it takes on average 10 seconds for your round to impact, believe me, someone is going to see you steering it in. Jeff [This message has been edited by jshandorf (edited 08-30-2000).]

Case in point: The average life expectancy of the gunner of a TOW launcher is about 9 seconds. The math is simple. A TOW rockets moves at, on avergae, 187 meters per second. The average time to max range (3750m) is about 20 seconds. Now... A .50 cal machine gun or even a 120mm rounds moves MUCH faster than that, aproximately 5x to 6x. A TOW gunner better pray they don't spot him before his missle reaches the target. Think about it.. A TOW gunner could fire at a tank at 3000 meters. Lets say the TC spots the incoming missle 5 seconds later. That puts the missle at 2000 meters from the tank. This gives the tank crew 11 seconds to respond. More than enough time to kill the TOW gunner and therefore make the TOW round miss. Jeff [This message has been edited by jshandorf (edited 08-30-2000).]

Well, I am a programmer and I work with a bunch of different software that can export and merge all sorts of different files. I specificaly work with databases but there have been times I have exported or imported from a flat text files, which is the format for the PBEM movies. I don't see why the text files cannot be merged into one continuous text file. Granted I don't know the specific layout of the text file but it does seem possible. As for size problems texts files compress quite nicely. Jeff

I was just reading andother topic about target priority and I was wonder in the current version 1.04 what would a tank do in the following situation. "Tank A spots an AT team that is within 50m and has just fired at them. Tank turns to open fire on the AT team. 5 seconds later a enemy tank(Tank appears at, say 750 meters, and proceedes to line up a shot on Tank A. Does Tank A: 1. Continue to fire on bazooka team? 2. Keep hull facing towards bazzoka team and turn turret to engage Tank b? 3. Turn hull facing towards enemy tank and keep firing at bazzoka team with turret? 4. Disengage AT team and engage enemy tank? I am not sure if anyone can really answer this question considering we may not know what goes into factoring threat assesment. But if the threat assesment is simple such as (from low to highest) AT Team, AT gun, Tank or TD. Or does it actually figure in range to target, LOS of target, possible kill % on self from target, etc... Just curious.... Thanks, Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff Heidman: David, I think you are correct to an extent, but I also think you go to the other extreme, i.e. you are too quick to assume that every problem has, or should have, a tactical solution. CM spends a LOT of time touting how realistic it is. Indeed, that is what most people like about it. I know it is one of the things I like about it. So when my AT team apparently has no ability at all to defend itself from a man wielding a banana (2 cents to whoever catches the reference first), I tend to think it is a failing in the system, not a failing in myself. Now, it might be a small, or even inconsequential failing, but it is a failing nonetheless. All the tactical thinking in the world is not going to get around the fact that when two AT teams bump into each other, it is kind of silly for them to start slinging zook or schreck rounds at each other from a range of 10 ft. If AT teams are meant to be an abstraction of integral squad weapons, then they should have just put the men into the squad with the weapon, the way they do with Panzerfausts. But, as Fionn pointed out, that is not the case. In all armies, dedicated AT teams existed and where not integrated into the squad generally. This is not an abstraction. Jeff Heidman<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> "I want you to attack me with the banana! Come on! Do it, man!" "AHHHHHH! (Man charging istructor)" "(Instructor pulls out gun) BANG!" Monty Python was the best. Jeff

All I know is that I am looking forward for the next Survivor since it will be in Australia!! Did you guys know that 4 of the top 5 deadliest snakes are indigenous to Australia’s outback! Oh yeah! Go, brown snake! It’s your birthday! Go, brown snake! It’s your Birthday! And lets not forget the Crocodiles that grow to in excess of 20 feet!!!! Ooooo! And the poisonous guanas and spiders!!! Yes! We WILL see someone die! Now that’s Survivor, baby! Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jager 7: Ok....time to toss my hat in on this one. First, I for one have yet to see extremely accurate Off-Board arty in CM. Nothing near the 30 Meter sheaf referred to. Not calling anyone a liar, I have just never seen it. Secondly, that link to all the metro and ballistic data is great. It proves that there are indeed many variables that affect the fall of shot in artillery. Having said that let me add one more item.... ...That is why God made FO's. We identify the target, we locate the target, we call for fire on the target and last and most importantly....we ADJUST fire onto the target if there is time. In CM all arty missions I have seen are Adjust Fire missions. This adjustment and prior registration by the battery has eliminated or reduced the effects of most of the variables. It is very easy to adjust artillery fire onto a target and achieve a Fire For Effect that has a sheaf of 100 meters in radius. If we call for a Converged sheaf (all guns are dialed in to hit the same point) we can cut that radius in half or less. To summarize; if the fire is observed and adjusted by an FO, you had better hope the supporting battery runs out of ammo or find a new place to hide. Fionn, VT is nasty stuff, shame on you for using that against your opponent. And by the way...VT has a somewhat greater casualty radius per shell as it is an air burst with nothing but air to slow down the fragments. Can't say whether this has been factored into CM or not. Hope that helps explain away some of the thoughts that artillery is most often inaccurate. Out here...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Thinking about now it seems to me that when I observed ground impacting arty it was more spread out then then airburtsting artillery. (Insert Fionn gloat here) I wonder if someone could do a test between the two.... Hmmm... Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fionn: I think Jeff feels arty is too accurate because I'm pounding him with VT shells . Poor platoons...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You are only one of many people I have played against where the artillery falls with uncanny accuracy. Check out the link I provided above. I think it will open your eyes on the complexity of FO spotting artillery. Jeff

Here is some idea on how complicated it is to correctly target artillery. http://www.evac.ou.edu/jmpbac/appl.html

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madmatt: You 'feel' it is unrealistic or you have some real world data to back up your feelings? FYI, there are several active and retired military personel that have real world artilly experience. Now that being said tell us why you think its too accurate and we will be all ears. Back this up with some hard data and changes can (and have repeatedly in the past) be made to the gamne to better reflect reality. To be honest I thought it was a little accurate myself in the begining (although I have never seen an off-board 30 meter grouping) but was quickly overwhelmed by the knowledge of 'professionals' that do artillery work every day and they seem to like it just fine. Madmatt <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Huh? That is why I asked for anyone with real world experience. I was atempting to see if my feeling was a "correct" feeling or and "incorrect" feeling. I am not talking motars I am talking off-map artillery. What is everyone elses experience with the groupings of thier off-map arty? Thanks, Jeff

Don't forget that the upper hull penetration could have killed the commander AND damaged the vehicle enough where it has become immobile. Jeff

In all the games I have played I feel artillery is way too accurate. Sometimes all the atrillery aimed at me falls within a 30 meter diameter. I feel that even with a FO with LOS on a target getting all your arty to fall within about 30 meters is way too unrealistic. Given the wind and minor flucuations between shots because of gun displacement and shell imperfections and lets not forget most of these rounds are coming from miles away they should not have sucha close grouping. Anyone have any "real world" exp. with this? Thanks, Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Blue Macs: the Walther P38 was the 9mm pistol but i am still looking for that ss symbol on one. hmm interesting <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No... It is a 9mm Luger, but it has a special name because of the little symbol "insignia?" on the pistol grip. As mentioned before it was issued to SS Officers. Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by EScurlock: Point well taken. I remain highly skeptical of Soviet leadership's regard for the life of the individual, especially in comparison to the very contentious leadership I've had the privilege to serve under, but concede that you're entitled to your point of view. I of course am very biased, having personally seen the hard work that the U.S. Air Force has done for its troops. Hopefully without protracting this argument further let me just say the Russian officers I've had occasion to meet are very impressed. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Okay, I can accept that Russian High Command and even down to their officers maybe act in less regards to their men’s lives but I think this may be inherent in the training they have received and the Russian military philosophy, than actual callous concern for life. Jeff

Okay.. Here is a question for the German Handgun grognard. What was the name of the 9mm Luger that some SS Officers used during WWII? The symbol for the name of the gun was found on the pistol grip. Go get 'em! Jeff [This message has been edited by jshandorf (edited 08-21-2000).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by EScurlock: O.K. I'll bite. I don't know a bloody thing about submarine rescue but I know the men I've served under. They care about the missions they're required by their pollitical leaders to perform, and the men and women under them. If it costs lives to perform the mission it's a regreted but understood cost of the proffesion. That doesn't mean they don't care. Every officer I've served under does care very much. Remember this: war is politics by other means. In the USA the separation between the military and the political government is distinct enough that I can say with confidence: It's the politicians that get our boys killed not the generals. The generals are just doing their dirty work. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> My point was that the Russian military is no more careful or careless with the lives of their men as we are. I was saying we are similar in that way. This is not some condemnation in any way. Soldiers do thier job and sometimes it means sending other soldiers to die so that the rest may live. This a fact of the reality in the military. Helicopter crash, subs sink, arty falls in the wrong place, etc.. That scene in Saving Private Ryan where Capt. Miller rationalizes the sending of men to their deaths under his command so that other men may live was very to the point and I think it captured the true face of command decisions. Jeff

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BAR: there is really no logical comparison of the .50 cal and the MG42 for ammo load reasons as the MG 42 used roughly a 30-06 round.(Don't know the exact cal 7mm or 8mm) I usually take almost 250 rounds of mixed 30-06 and 7.62 NATO (.308) to the range every Sunday for my Garand and M14. The .50 cal round is absolutely huge in comparison. I understand the tripod factor and other accesories weigh in, but if the LMG 42 has no tripod it should be able to run along with the .30 cal LMG Browning as if it were a 'schreck or 'zooka.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> The size of a MG42 round is 7.92mm x 57mm. Jeff [This message has been edited by jshandorf (edited 08-21-2000).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WARPIG101st: I can't give any factual numbers but I can tell you what I have witnessed while I was ARTY. I currently posses a peice of "shrapnel" from a 155mm shell that was produced in 1944 and was fired during a NTC rotation in 1998. It is 14 inches long and was found inside of an M60 tank where the loader would be sitting. That particular fire mission we fired PD and there was still enough power to puncture the turret. So I would have no doubt that an airburst round could easily immobilize anything available durring WW2. By the way I spent 7 of my last 8 years as a connon fire direction specialist (13E) in the U.S.Army Shandorf, it's good to see other people from my hometown. Used to live over by Birchgrove Elementary. [This message has been edited by WARPIG101st (edited 08-19-2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yes, yes. Good old BP. Say.. Since we are in the same time zone we should start a PBEM sometime. Currently I am playing a game with Fionn and I after that I am going to upgrade to 1.04 so in the meantime I don't want to start any new ones. It may take a while since Fionn is 6 hours ahead of me getting our turns to each other is really slow. Lets stay in touch. Jeff

Must be an inside joke. :-|