Marlow

Oh, fun times in Ye Old BFC Forums. First we have Senility slapping around Legend in his own mind in the debate over the relative merits of CMBO by stately PBEM, or TCIP (AKA CM for Ritalin addicts). That was very nicely played, but I can’t help but feel a little cheep and used for reading it. Really Seanachai, a little like kicking around the neighbor’s un-housebroken puppy, wasn’t it? Then we have our resident pool stooge Mikey loose on the board sharing his “wisdom” on all things AI (after all, artificial intelligence is the only type intelligence with which he has any familiarity at all). The discussion is over a new found bug that lets the AI use smoke for 120mm off board mortars, while humans cannot. Rather than bother checking himself, he misreads a post, and then spouts off at those of us that have: Then later, after it is clear that he is a moron, and that humans cannot use smoke, he is quick with the “never mind.” As one of the “dumb-f*ck humans,” let me say well done Mike. Lastly, the identity of our mystery guest: Roxy = Paula Jones

Guess we were right after all. Next time check before spouting off.

[ August 12, 2002, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

Indeed the AI 120mm mortars will fire smoke. I just set up a test battle with 5 120mm spotters and 2 shermans w/o main gun ammo. I sent the Shermans forward until they found a couple of the spotters, and then opened up with the MGs. A couple of turns later, the smoke began to fall. It had to be from the 120s, as the Germans had nothing else. Good catch Porajkl.

Exactly. This type of range is what SMGs are intended for. I have not said that SMGs in their proper role are not effective, only that the tight shot group at 100 meters for automatic fire from a SMG is highly unlikely. [ August 09, 2002, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

Might reduce the effect of recoil, but without the butt solidly against the solid shoulder and without a good cheek weld, your accuracy would be greatly reduced. Maybe the basic fundamentals of marksmanship don't apply to Finnish SMGs?

Well, if it is truely put forth as not fixed, then it is a fraud. Semiautomatic from a rifle is one thing (I would expect that to be accurate. However, I have fired 9mm SMGs on automatic before. "Low" recoil or not, anyone who could put 50 rounds of automatic fire into a human sized target at 100 yards would be extremely (inhumanly?) good. The shot grouping shown would be impossible.

Maybe and no. Here's the original site about Suomi SMG. http://www.guns.connect.fi/gow/suomi1.html M</font>

Quite possibly the bench test in question involved mounting the weapon to the bench, not a shooter firing from a supported possition. This tests the basic mechanical accuracy of the weapon, and would be an expected part of an acceptance trial. I suspect this to be the case, since the grouping at 100 m for one long automatic burst would otherwise be very unlikely (for any weapon, let alone an SMG). [ August 08, 2002, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

Fire from a bench rest is next to meaningless for actual combat accuracy.

I'll fling somfink your way my misbeggoten former squire. As for your ignoble lineage, it is as lasting as those crusty stains in your airfarce issue shorts. A note to all the others I had games with: I am easing my way back into the PBEM thingy, and will be contacting you shortly.

WTF is the Shave-ian House? It sounds like some sort of "gentleman's ranch" that specializes in some of the more exotic practices (not that there is anything wrong with that). It is nice to see you expanding your (w)horizons beyond the Cesspool drain commission. So, Madame Jo, how is the commute from SLC to Reno? [ August 05, 2002, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

and don't forget that he can't spell Caesar.

They were live, and it was a blast (pun intended).

ASL vet, a few comments. First on the time to set up a bangalore. Even with a quick instruction course, I could set up a section of several segments relatively quickly. The 4 hours for a 100m section is either very conservative, or reflects the dificulty of preparing such a long section. Experienced engineers should be able to clear a 20m path in a lot less than 48 minutes. (also, parts of the bangalore can be prepared prior to battle, thus reducing time to place the charge). On the 30 meter casualty radius. Such a mine would not be expected to take out everyone in that radius, it is instead the radius in which casualties can be expected. Take a look at the casualty radius for a hand grenade (IIRC, often in the 10 to 20 meter range, with a much larger "danger radius" in which casualties are possible).

Hey Mikey, You spelled Caesar wrong.

I probably rate myself as a regular/vet, and I haven't had too many problems with the rules as they are in general. The only changes that I made was to add to the OOB one spotter of the next largest size in the battle. If I had no spotter, I added a 81mm, if I already had an 81, I added a 105. I did this for two reasons, first to give the U.S. a little more realistic level of fire support, and second to give myself a couple of extra points. Also, in the one battle where I was on the defense against a German armor attack, I added a 57mm AT gun platoon. This worked pretty well, as in the first three battles (two attacks and a defend) I had major victories with between 15 and 30% casualties. I like some of Wreck's new rules, and will probably use them instead, but I will likely adjust the force size multiplier up a little bit. Up to this point, I fought the battles like any other QB, without too much thought to force preservation. The fourth was where the campaign idea had a big impact. It was a ME, where I had an combined arms auxilary force, (which netted me one M5A1 in the way of armor) and the AI had an armor force (lots of hetzers and StuGs. The map was flat farmland with very little cover. If it had been a normal QB, I would have fought it out, and probably had my hat handed to me with very high casualties. As it was, I decided to ignore the VLs, use what ambush tactics I could (given the sparse cover), and then withdraw well away from the VLs. I gave up the victory (took a loss), but I only had 21 casualies, and managed to dish out about 30 and a tank to the Germans. In the campaign setting, where you are trying to keep your men alive, as well as win the battle, this was a victory of sorts. [ August 02, 2002, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

A couple of other ideas: How about some way to add AT assets to your force during a German armor attack or ME. In a lot of battles with the U.S. on the defense or ME, there is no supplemental force, and therefore only the base infantry company. This force would be hard pressed under an attack by armored forces. Maybe a random roll, or use of favor points to get the battalions AT gun platoon or a TD or two for the battle. Also, arty is a little sparse for the U.S. Since arty is a part of the supplemental force, and that random selection is based on only a small part of the total force you will be using, the arty you get (if any) is far less than would realistically be available. I would give the option to reduce the points used in selecting the supplemental force and give a roll on an arty availability table (something like 1-3 81mm, 4-5 105, 6 155). Alternatively, leave the support points alone, and make the roll(s) on the arty table only available on a random role of 1-3 (modified by favor points).

Interesting. A couple of quick comments: In determining the German force, you should roll force type first. If you get Volksturm, it should automatically be an infantry force. Also, maybe a roll before German force selection, and on a 1 or 2 (or something) use unrestricted German force type, random force composition and random quality.

Hey Mikey, you spelled Caesar wrong.

Well the rest of the site is complete crap trying to pretend it is cynical humor, but in comparison, the review isn't half bad.

Here you go Jo, two that are short and sweet: Christmas Surprise (12 turns, tiny) and Unkindest Cut (15 turns, small). Also, I have lowered myself to play that abomination of a QB that you sent me, even though the computer only gave me two conscript Kubelwagon. After I kick your spotty arse in this one, I'll send you a real battle. [ July 26, 2002, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

The Zero was very overrated and generally inferior to the 109s and 190s that the Germans already had. Its positive points were that it was very maneuverable and had a good climb rate, but this was not enough to defeat allied fighters that were using proper tactics. Even relatively early in the war, most allied fighters were faster in level flight, and virtually all were faster in a dive. The key was for allied pilots to stay away from the zero’s strength (a low speed turning fight) and stick to a high speed hit and run style of fighting (B&Z). It was when the allied pilot tried to out turn the zero that he got into trouble. If proper tactics were used, then the allied pilot could use the higher speed of his aircraft to pick and chose when to engage, and run away if the situation favored the Zero. It is no coincidence that virtually all late war fighter designs (including Japanese designs) sacrificed low speed maneuverability for speed. [ July 26, 2002, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: Marlow ]

Don't blame us for your problems. The number of U.S. and European corporations among the world's largest are about evenly split. In the top 50, it is about 20 U.S., 20 E.U. with the rest from Japan.

[grit teeth] I agree with the Rent-a-Car on this one. [/grit teeth]. The MBT(may it shine as a beacon forever) is home to inmates of a great many political stripes. To post this quote where Sir Peng (in admittedly entertaining style) does his best Susan Sonntag/Michael Moore blame the victim schtick in this thread is just not appropriate. We need to stick to the best personal attack traditions of the Cess, and not drag politics into it.