Clubfoot

Although this will be my last post to this thread, I'll depart with one parting shot. Skipper's assertion that Solzhenitsyn's work is anti-Soviet propaganda is utter hogwash. Eleven million dead bodies isn't propaganda. If you want a truly accurate depiction of the terror the Soviets faced under Stalin and his ilk, I strongly suggest his work. Until Skipper shows me his personal account of the Gulag/NKVD experience, I'll rely on the accounts of those who actually faced it. Namely the 3 ex-Soviet, naturalized American Professors (two of whom were soldiers arrested during the war, and not miles from the fighting either) whose tears were impossible to argue with and who consequently referred me to 'Archipelago' for, as they put it, "the single most truthful account of the Stalinist horror". I'd be interested to see your proof of this work as "propaganda" other than a quote from a pro-Soviet writer or your own personal opinion. Clubfoot. [This message has been edited by Clubfoot (edited 03-22-2001).]

Well, not under enemy fire anyway. But when your routed troops flee over that hilltop and 200 m. through those trees to their rally point only to find their Company HQ alongside a freshly arrived squad of Blue board thugs, their choices would historically have been to run BACK towards the enemy, or face incoming fire from the NKVD. Clubfoot.

If you wish to know how common such mistreatment of the Soviet soldier was, which was very, I might add, read Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago". Although it mainly covers his years in various Gulag's and labor camps, it also covers his arrest (at the front during an arty shelling) and the reasons for it (a greedy NKVD officer who coveted his nifty map-case). Soldiers of the NKVD had quotas to fill which not only included the arrest of x number of "traitors to the State" and common criminals (free labor), but also the execution of x number of saboteurs (typically ANYONE who owned ANYTHING) and "inciters of revolution"or "freethinkers". This was most common during Uncle Joe's reign and especially during the war. Maybe the presence of NKVD could act as some sort of combat modifier similar to an HQ unit while lowering morale slightly. In other words, the Soviet soldiers would be spurred to greater effort with guns at their backs, but they wouldn't be happy about it. Clubfoot.

Try this link: http://www.combatmission.com/mods/pcmodman.asp Clubfoot.

I threw a lengthy tantrum after which my wife inquired, "Did you actually LOOK inside the damned book?" oh dopey me. Clubfoot.

The Depot was a sub. of The Gamer's Network, not really CMHQ. Hope that helps. Clubfoot.

CM... time consuming? Let me dig out my World in Flames and 3rd Reich boxed sets... Clubfoot.

Just did a little unscientific test and the results suggest that hiding is neither tiring, nor does it increase recovery time of tired troops. Two seperate platoons of regular rifleman w/ no AT resources and identical HQ units traversed 600m of heavily wooded ground at fast pace. All units 'tired' within 6 sec. of each other. All units then became 'weary' within 6 sec. of each other. Upon reaching their destinations (again, 6 sec. window) one platoon merely sat there while the other hid. All units then adopted the now familiar 6 sec. timeframe to revert first to 'tired', and then to 'regular'. Clubfoot.

And starting Monday night (8pm central I think?), 'Small Arms of the second World War'. Clubfoot.

Mr. J, We're shooting for next Friday. Clubfoot.

Or your opponent could just be talkin' trash. Clubfoot.

Harv, Please know that before I say this I realize fully that time isn't cheap and what I suggest would require an ENORMOUS amount of work.... My suggestion is for the database not only to be online, but maybe include a link as well to the actual file at it's home site. I can't imagine anyone would say no, not in this community. This would prevent you from having to store the files on Boots n Tracks' server and fill the roll of the defunct Scenario HQ. I know, I know. Incredibly time consuming and not remotely realistic if you would like to enjoy any form of life outside the CM world. But I thought I'd throw it out there anyway. Clubfoot.

Here borg borg borg...

Roberto, Desert Fox-Desert Rats should be out next Friday. I finally dug up enough dough to get the website up and it's under heavy construction. You can have a look at the coming soon page at: http://www.dfdr.net The mod's state of completion could be considered 95%. It must still be assembled from it's individual parts which currently reside on three hard drive's in two countries. The file transfers are hot and heavy right about now and the site's webmaster and myself are compiling the info in a couple of manners. One big, fat zip with all the terrain, vehicles, missions and whatnot as well as several smaller zips with the individual components. Many thanks to you and everyone else who has shown interest in the project! Clubfoot.

The picture, to be absolutely honest, is in Europe but not from WWII. It's from the closing days of WWI. Hope I didn't misrepresent myself. I'm not sure the slit was dug to conceal a body in, however. But more so for the dirt used in building a small 'hillock' to lay behind. I'll admit the cover provided was minimal, but preferable to laying in open ground. Clubfoot.

That is indeed an excellent idea! And surely not too difficult to implement. Please? Pretty please? Clubfoot.

Shellscrapes or fighting bevels were employed by several forces of the war. They are not foxholes, or even miniature foxholes. They are earth removed in a shallow "ditch" (typically 6 to 8 inches deep and 2 to 3 feet long) with the "waste" or excess dirt piled in a mound at the fire-facing end. Although they did not remotely equal the protection of a foxhole, they did provide some cover and minimized the visible profile of a prone soldier. They can be and were dug in 5 minutes and less. Pick up a copy of Macksey's 'Rommel:Battles and Campaigns' for a photo of this practice being employed not before a battle or in a lull, but during a firefight. This could probably be modeled in the game by having a small cover bonus applied to any units which don't move for several minutes. The bonus would of course only apply to fire coming from a forward firing arc. just my .02 Clubfoot. [This message has been edited by Clubfoot (edited 03-15-2001).]

Thanks Manx, the site looks better than ever. Clubfoot.

It should also be noted that fog is the attacker's friend. Typically, an attacker knows exactly where his objective is and can often make an educated guess as to defensive positions. The defender, however, must usually decide which avenue of attack his enemy will take and arrange his forces accordingly. Fog limits the long range spoiling abilities of defensive MG's, pillboxes, and AT guns. With a clear LOS, a defender can jockey fire bases about to guard against the attacker's troop movements and assaults. A much shorter LOS means a lot less time to react to an enemy push because you simply can't see it until it's on your doorstep. Fighting in the fog often boils down to infantry vs. infantry. Typically an attacker has more infantry and no longer must concern himself with smoking assaults and faux assaults or long range attrition of his troops by dug-in, prepared defenses. My .02 pfennig Clubfoot.

Here borg borg borg...

Well, I fooled about with this a little today, but with the bevelling of the texture required to achieve a proper wrap-around, I probably won't go hot&heavy on a full set of these until DFDR is done. Here's a look at the first two bits of tinkering. I wouldn't call the results a drastic improvement, but a mild one maybe. You be the judge. Clubfoot.

Had that surgery a couple of years ago my friend. It'll be a bummer at first, but soon you'll be fit as a fiddle. No more not being able to tie your shoes. No more fidgeting in place every 20 seconds to try and alleviate that phantom pain shooting from your hip down the back of your leg. I had a ruptured and a herniated fixed (L5S1&2), but was up and around pretty good after about a week. Here's to your rapid recovery and return to the battlefield. Clubfoot.

Frank Capra newsreels and a keg of Warsteiner will get you over a few bumps. Clubfoot.

And although it's not modelled in CM, reversing hastily out of an assault often meant rolling backwards over the infantry you were supporting. Clubfoot.

The price of the CD and it's effect on both my work attendance and personal relationships would have to be weighed against all the money I've saved not having a life since I got the Uberdisk. I'd say I'm in the black! That's it, "CMBO: The game that will actually make you money!" Clubfoot.