Gpig

Those videos DO pass the sniff test. It's understandable to not want to believe it.

found the location on Google maps, where this youtube vid was filmed by drone (appears to show Russian troops evacuating a wounded soldier on the back of that IFV)* *the first 22 seconds of video is filmed at an unknown location. The remaining video overlooks an area that you can see on google maps 50.6126261409432, 30.295619319789765 Youtube vid, drone view

I was thinking the same thing. As he was standing there reloading the RPG I was saying "get down, man!"

And why so much effort was generated to deny all those ports to the Allies. They were blown to bits, jammed up with scuttled ships, and secreted with long-delay-explosives (like Cherbourg, Naples, Antwerp etc.). So important to see Rail bridges getting blown up, Belarus railways being ****ed with, and the attention given to the RF's convoys.

That's great info, thank you Gkenny!

Hi, I'm curious if the Soviets called their companies "alpha" "Bravo" "Charlie" etc.. Or was it a numbers only type set-up. On the radio nets, did they use the Soviet equivalent of the Alphanumeric alphabet? Were call-signs and radio procedure similar to use in NATO countries? "Charlie Foxtrot One, this is Alpha Two, OVER" (but in Russian, of course). Cheers, Gpig

I read "The Liberator" by Alex Kershaw and it was great! I've watched the first two episodes of season 1. It's pretty darned good. Stays pretty close to the source material, but there is a fair amount of dramatization thrown in (mostly with purpose). Thumbs up!

Poor quality German troops caught up in Market Garden buzz-saw. They were flanked by Brit Para Recce forces in Vickers mounted jeeps. But most of this damage was done by the trusty 2inch mortars.

Barkman cleaning up at the corner

Hello CMr's, Just got the Normandy/Commonwealth pack and I'm itchin' for a good ol' PBEM game. Drop me a message and let's get rollin' Gpig

Baa Baa Black Sheep of Brothers

I know what you mean. It looks a bit odd. However, it might allow for some good integration of 3D backgrounds and models (like the tanks, planes etc.). This technique could provide more flexibility to filmmakers. it could also be a much cheaper way to produce movies about WWII, showing us some of those amazing events we can only read about.

Yup. It basically looks like it was run through a photoshop filter However, the nice thing about doing it this way is you can easily integrate 3D animation into the BG. For example, Mk IV Panzers and M10 Tank Destroyers etc., are likely 3D models rendered along with the actors. Oh yeah, thanks for the heads-up. I fixed the link

Based on Alex Kershaw's book about his experiences as a company commander from up through the Italian "Boot" (including Anzio), Southern France and into Germany with the 157th regiment. Was a really good read. The movie looks like it has added an entire dramatization that was absent in the book. The whole "dirty dozen/band of brothers" angle has been manufactured. Still, if it stays mostly true to the book it should be a compelling visualization. Youtube trailer

Based on Alex Kershaw's book about his experiences as a company commander from up through the Italian "Boot" (including Anzio), Southern France and into Germany with the 157th regiment. Was a really good read. The movie looks like it has added an entire dramatization that was absent in the book. The whole "dirty dozen/band of brothers" angle has been manufactured. Still, if it stays mostly true to the book it should be a compelling visualization. youtube trailer

Awww, damn. A great loss.

Re-reading Company Commander, by Charles B. MacDonald. This time I'm revisiting all the locations on google earth. Adds a crazy appreciation. Finished The Liberator, by Alex Kershaw, which was is not unlike Company Commander and also quite good. Two of my favourite books about the Canadians in WWII are, - South Albertas, A Canadian Regiment at War by Donald E. Graves, and, - No Holding Back, Operation totalize, Normandy, August 1944, by Brian A. Reid I'm curious if anyone can recommend a good book regarding the strategic operation and tactical responses (from any nation) to the ISIS apocalypse that befell the middle east these last 6 years? Cheers, Gpig

I agree that Apocal knows what he's talking about. I took care to differentiate between "conflict" and small scale engagements in my blatherings. How about the Spanish American war for a conflict? From Wikkipeida: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Model_1892-99 "According to contemporary, perhaps sensationalized accounts, the Krag's complex design was outclassed[1] by the Spanish Mauser during the Spanish American War, and proved ill-suited for use in tropical locales such as Cuba and the Philippines. American soldiers found themselves unable to match the volume of fire displayed by the Spanish 1893 Mauser rifle, with its box magazine that could be fully reloaded with clips, and a high-velocity, flat-shooting 7mm cartridge which was quickly dubbed the 'Spanish Hornet'. During the American assault on the strategic Cuban city of Santiago, a small force of 750 Spanish troops armed with Model 1893 Mauser rifles defended positions on San Juan and Kettle hills. The attacking force consisted of approximately 6,600 American soldiers, most of them regulars, armed with the then-new smokeless-powder Krag-Jorgensen rifle and supported by artillery and Gatling gun fire. Though the assault was successful, the Americans soon realized that they had suffered more than 1,400 casualties in the assault. A U.S board of investigation pinned the blame on the superior firepower of the Spanish Model 1893 Mauser rifles, although modern analysis has determined that many of the casualties were due to superior Spanish fortifications on the high ground. With the Krag's replacement with the Mauser-derived M1903, the rifle is tied for the shortest service life of any standard-issue firearm in US military history (1892–1903)." Gattling guns usually make up for any differences, I imagine.

Thank you Mr. Emrys, that's where I was meaning to go. Albeit a pre-modern conflict, and that there were many more rifles among the native warriors is not in doubt, there is some evidence that Custer was not only outnumbered but out-gunned. Was there not also some battles (or A battle) between the British and the Zulu wherein a choice of rifle was disastrous? Or was it an ammunition problem. Can't recall... It's an interesting topic you pointed out, Apocal. "At any rate, I can't imagine a single conflict in the modern era that was decided by the choice of rifle." I'd be curious to know where else that might be a factor. I think for small scale engagements there would be many. Like the Wagon Box fight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagon_Box_Fight or the Fetterman massacre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Cloud%27s_War#Battle_of_the_Hundred_Slain.2FFetterman_Fight Gpig

Little Bighorn? (Not quite the modern era, I'll grant you.)

Go Canucks! Especially that snorkel-equipped platoon. Gpig

Hi John, CM has a WIDE ANGLE function (alt C on my computer). This distorts the view near the camera, but allows a wider field of view overall. That is what you are seeing in Vencini's screen grab. Cool, eh?

Great news, thanks! Adding it to my wish-list. Gpig

For the upcoming Bridge Too Far module, It would be great if the British Player on the Arhnem bridge head could use the Dutch underground and their "spies" telephone network to relay intel on German troop movements. Only if the player decided he could trust the Dutch underground, that is. (Which apparently the Brits did not, in real life.) ;-)

Cool video. Didn't even notice that Sherman hiding there until the Tiger backed up.