Snake Eyes

I always use the Psychic Hotline. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by coralsaw: ps. Maybe then you can afford to get somebody in that knows how to program the minimisation thingy.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> How about we all chip in and buy Charles a big fat reference book? Then all Steve has to do is give him a few days of vacation so he can read it. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop [This message has been edited by Snake Eyes (edited 11-21-2000).]

Here you go! http://history.vif2.ru/ ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Olle Petersson: A small scenario I've designed with 20-30 units firing at their max ROF takes >5 minutes to crunch on my PII/300.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Wow! I'm surprised to read this. I have an ancient Pentium Pro 200 and it never takes more than about 1 minute to calculate a turn, even large 3000+ points with lots of action going on. How much RAM does your system have? My system has 128MB. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

Did someone mention Cossacks? What's a Cossack without his horse? Just another grunt? ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Time Software: ...Now it is more likely to say, "HOLY CRAP!! That is a Tiger!! CRAP!! AP is just bouncing off it. Fire Tungsten at the bastard, I don't care if we only have one!!"...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It's good to read that the TacAI's IQ just increased. Thanks for listening to the troops. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SlowHand: ...any plans in the future to support, say, 8-player games?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> BTS has given TCP/IP team play a low priority. Maybe in the distant future. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

FYI: Here is a photo of the T-34 lineage. (l-r) BT-7, A-20, T-34 M40, T-34 M41 As a side note, Guderian paid an official visit to the Soviet Union prior to hostilities and came back with an estimate that the Soviets had 7000-8000 tanks. His claim was discredited as being rediculously high. In fact, the Soviets had 28,000 tanks. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop [This message has been edited by Snake Eyes (edited 11-20-2000).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Marlow: I read once that, due to its favorable length to diameter ratio, a dachshund fired from a Pak 37 could frontally penetrate the turret armor of a Sherman Jumbo...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Please be more explicit in your descriptions. You are referring to the 'miniature' dachshund being fired from the Pak 37. Standard dachshund were used exclusively in Pak 75's. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

When it was discovered during the Spanish Civil War that the Flak 88 could be used in a direct fire role, it was discounted as being too GAMEY. German SOP required that weapon systems be used only for the purpose they were intended. As a consequence the German Sitzkrieg of France was initiated in the winter of 1939. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glider Rider: The slobbering pup left our tank at Mach three...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Now that's disgusting! Everyone knows that only hamsters and gerbils can attain such velocities. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

ScoutPL, I thoroughly enjoyed your previous dissertation 'Infantry in the Attack'. I've added it to my personal reference book on tactics. I also gleaned a lot of good advice from your posts, as well as others, concerning recon/scouting. I'm looking forward to your new treatise. Thanks! ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

It's wise to learn the capabilities of each of the enemy's weapon systems. You can then maneuver to take advantage of those weaknesses. The Hetzer has a slow ROF due to a cramped crew compartment and thin side and rear armor. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

I can't speak to the TacAI, but it could use some delicate tweaking. The panzerfaust was ridiculously effective. IF it hits, it should penetrate just about any Allied vehicle from any aspect. Its primary weakness was its short range, although that improved over time as new models were developed. Allied anti-tank rifle grenades have a much smaller warhead and are therefore less effective. Gammon bombs must be hand delivered, thereby restricting their usefulness. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

The one phrase that I find myself repeating game after game is, "THIS IS INTENSE!!!" ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

I like your idea and your work. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

Combat experience showed that a TD was often called upon to perform the duties of a tank; a task for which it was not prepared. US tank strategy finally evolved to the concept that tanks should/could/would fight other tanks. That was the death knell for the TD. May it rest in peace. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop [This message has been edited by Snake Eyes (edited 11-14-2000).]

I would like to thank von Lucke for sharing the reference of a battle in which Sturmmörser participated. I would also like to thank Bastables for emailing to me a CM thread reference concerning the Sturmmörser. The thread also included a link to a very good web page on Sturmmörser details http://members.aol.com/sturmpnzr/sturmi.html . These actions exemplify the best of this forum. Too often I see discussions like this turn into battles based on ego. We all have our opinions concerning what should and should not be included in CM. We also have differing priorities concerning how the work should progress. There is plenty of room to discuss these topics with respect and politeness. The fact that this topic may have been seen before by some shouldn't preclude its repeated presentation. There are many new members to the forum that did not have the chance to participate in past threads. If veteran members find discussions such as this one to be repetitious and boring, then don't participate. Skip the thread and move on to another. It amazes me that BTS is willing to provide this forum in the first place. And then for them to closely follow the multitude of postings surprises me even more. It also indicates their willingness to listen to CM gamers and allow them, in some degree, to participate in the development of CM. We have been given this opportunity and we should continue to use it for the betterment of the CM system. When I see the future CM I envision an entire series of games or modules being developed over the coming years. The fact that some vehicles were left out of CMBO does not mean that they can not or will not be included in future CM releases. The inclusion of a few rare vehicles with each release seems a reasonable request. Its just a matter of which vehicles and which release. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bastables: Sturmtiger, yes very useful, in a 90 min/turn game you could get all of 3 rounds out of it <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Do you have a reference for Sturmtiger's ROF? I've been unable to find one, so your assistance would be appreciated. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff Heidman: Fair has nothing to do with it. Everyone seems to think that including their pet vehicle is just a matter of BTS deciding to do so. It is simply a matter of where to allocate finite resources. Should BTS include the SturmTiger or the M26? The AVRE or the Panther II? The Brumbar or the Firefly? In general, BTS has chosen to spend their finite resources on those weapons which saw combat as opposed to those which did not, but would fulfill some peoples desire to play with a-historical weapons. I think that was a good decision. Granted, given an infinate amount of time and resources, we would all love to see everything posible. But that is not the case. Jeff Heidman<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Not everyone thinks that it’s easy to add vehicles to the game engine. It’s understood that it requires considerable effort on the part of BTS. No one is advocating the inclusion of rare vehicles to the exclusion of common vehicles, either. However, BTS has chosen to include some rare vehicles already. Case in point: PSW 234/2 Puma 101 produced PSW 234/3 Heavy AC 88 produced Jagdtiger 77 produced Flammpanzer 38(t) Hetzer 20 converted Pershing M26 20 saw action Super Pershing T26E4 1 produced I think BTS can best determine how they spend their development and programming time. But as you can see from the above list, they have taken the time to include some ‘pet vehicles’. Since BTS has offered this forum for players to discuss the game, it’s important for players to voice their opinions concerning the inclusion of rare vehicles in the future. The inclusion of a few rare vehicles with each CM release would be very welcomed. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Croda: While I agree that the more they add, the cooler the game becomes, I also agree that BTS drew their line at the right place. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No argument here. I understand that BTS is working with limited resources. They made the right choice in getting CM published as soon as they could. The extra fluff can be added in patches and/or CM2+. Nonetheless, I will continue to lobby for the inclusion of rare vehicles, especially the Sturmmörser. We are all interested in alternate history by the very fact that we play CM with its historical scenarios. The inclusion of rare vehicles expands the experience. If you reference my first post in this thread you will see a quote from BTS which indicates that they were willing to include Sturmmörser in CMBO, but didn't have enough information concerning its use. So they have set a criteria which is the guideline for inclusion of rare vehicles. It is incumbent upon us, the players, to voice our desires to have rare vehicles included and it is also our responsibility to provide references to BTS that will assist them in the modeling. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lordfluffers: Woa!!!! That's not a good enough reason to add a Sturmtiger... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Oak: It's all a matter of preference... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I must agree with Oak. If you don't like the idea of using rare vehicles such as the Sturmtiger, then don't include them in games you play. But to preclude those of us who are interested in seeing what the impact of these extraordinary vehicles had or may have had on the battlefield is unfair. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop [This message has been edited by Snake Eyes (edited 11-13-2000).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Oak: Any plans to add these vehicles for the Germans? They weren't all that common (save the sIG 33), however it would be nice to use them in a scenario. The Panther II (schmallturm, 88mm) would be nice to use hypothetically (or the Panther with IR for night fighting).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Posted by Big Time Software on January 03, 1999 at 22:52:48: In Reply to: Re: Sturmorser. posted by Lokesa on January 03, 1999 at 22:40:13: : Bigtime, you got to include this Well, you can do something to stack the odds in your favor; find us a battle that even ONE of the 18 Sturmtigers took part in We have unit numbers, strengths, and vague deployment areas, but not one word about them in combat. Because they are so few, and we can't find a battle to stick them in, the big old bad boy of Germany may well have to miss CM's initial release. However, an exciting battle description, complete with OBs, might make us work a little harder to find a way of getting it into the initial release <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'm on a personal crusade to get the Sturmmörser (aka SturmTiger) in the CM series. So far I've gleaned the following: A prototype Sturmtiger was transported on August 12th of 1944 to Pruszkow and next day was moved to Warsaw to take part in the German attempt to contain the Polish Home Army's Uprising. This Sturmtiger saw action in Starowka and Mokotow districts of Warsaw. One of the projectiles which failed to explode is still on the display in Museum Wojska Polskiego in Warsaw. On August 28th, after successful debut, it was brought back to Alkett plant in Berlin-Spandau. In the early September of 1944, newly formed PzStuMrKp 1000, equipped with two Sturmtigers arrived in Warsaw. From August to December 1944, Alkett completed only 18 Sturmtigers which equipped four Panzer Sturmmorser Kompanie (PzStuMrKp) - 1000, 1001, 1002 and 1003, which served on the Western Front. Each company was to be equipped with 14 Sturmtigers. Seven took part in the Ardennes Offensive (PzStuMrKp1000 and 1001), while most of them took part in the defensive battles along the River Rhine. Sturmtigers proved be an excellent defensive weapon and had to be either destroyed by a heavy artillery bombardment or an air attack. It is reported that one single shot fired by Sturmtiger from PzStuMrKp 1001 completly destroyed three M4 Shermans. Reference: http://www.achtungpanzer.com/sttig.htm Additional information: 10 used in East with first action August 1944. Formed 3 companies the 1000, 1001, 1002. The 1000 and 1001 were used in the Ardennes offensive with 4 tanks each. Company 1001 saw action in western Eifel. In March 1945 their last action was east of Bonn. Company 1002 saw action in the Reichswald area. In March 1945 they moved to Rheinberg. Here is an interesting link which includes a Quicktime movie of the Sturmmörser firing: http://www.geocities.com/madsin72/esturmti.html If anyone has additional information please post it and/or send me an email. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop

U.S. Army 12/64-12/67 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)* 6/65-2/67 82nd Airborne Division 2/67-12/67 * As a side note, the 11th Air Assault Division was the designation during development of air assault tactics at Ft. Benning, GA. The division was redesignated as the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) in 7/65.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by :USERNAME:: Plasma?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Super-heated gas, traveling at 20,000 fps. ------------------ It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. -Aesop