Amedeo

I talked about 85mm plates just because the Soviet pamphlet used them as a reference. I didn't imply that Tiger side armour was 85mm thick but that Soviet intelligence assumed that the "85mm" figure was representative of the Ferdinand side protection. And the latter is comparable to that of the Tiger, since also on the Ferdinand the actual side armour is 80mm thick. My base point was that the original statement by Bigduke that that Soviet bookled showed that the Soviets themselves thought that "85mm" thick German armour was defeatable by 76mm guns had to be clarified. The fact is that the booklet itself suggests that the only way to defeat Ferdinand's side armour with ordinary AP/APBC rounds is by using 57mm ATGs or 76 and 85mm antiaircraft guns. 76mm field guns are given a chance to penetrate at 300m only if using APCR ammo. This is only to remark that CMBB modelling of L/41.5 76mm Soviet guns is adequate. Having said so, I'd note that I totally agree with the position that states that there are actual and documented problems with the game's modelling of the infamous 50mm+30mm armour, the early 85mm ammo and the turret shape and size of some soviet tanks (notably the T-34 and the IS series). And I agree with the fact that these "faults" makes impossible to represent in correct terms many AFVs matchups that were very common during the mid-war timeframe.

Not the 76mm on the T-34 and not with vanilla AP/APBC ammo. If one reads the penetration tables in the aforementioned booklet one should conclude that tank or field 76mm guns, firing standard AP/APBC rounds, had no chance against German 85mm plate. The only 76mm rounds that are listed as capable of penetrating 85mm plate at 300m, and under, are HEAT (broneprozhigayushchiy) rounds or APCR (podkaliberniy). Basic AP/APBC (broneboynyy) rounds are listed as capable to defeat 85mm plate only if fired by the 76mm antiaircraft (zenitnaya) gun. There's no mention of L/41 76mm guns being able to penetrate 85mm plates with AP. The booklet seems to support the modelling of CMBB Soviet 76mm guns that are not capable to penetrate the sides of Tigers and Ferdinands even at point blank.

The SU-122 was not intended to be a tank killer. But, as it was already pointed out, the 122mm guns mounted on the ISU-122 and IS-2 were not the same weapon that armed the SU-122. The D-25 gun had excellent anti-tank capabilities and was issued with AP and APBC rounds (namely the BR-417 and the BR-471B). OK, you have not to believe a russian conscript remembering war stories without double.checking his facts. Nonetheless there are some German official reports that confirm some parts of the conscript's tale... For example have a look at this old post: http://www.battlefront.com/community/showpost.php?p=260648&postcount=106 Moreover, the Inspector General of the Panzertruppen added the following comments on this report: [...]In regards to Point 5 and 6 - A time when there are 12.2cm tank guns and 5.7cm antitank guns on the Eastern Front, just like 9.2cm (sic) antitank/antiaircraft guns on the Western Front and in Italy, the Tiger can non longer disregard the tactical principles that apply to the other types of tanks. [...] Statements like "thick fur", "impregnable" and the "security" of crews inside the Tigers, which have become estabilished within other units and also partially within the tank troops, must be wiped out and forgotten. [...]

Since the code is already there I presume it would be easy to "retrofit" this feature to all the IFVs/APCs with firing ports. I hope to see it in the next patch...

Yes, officers said that the only use for a pistol was suicide and, to say the grim truth, AFAIK pistols weren't even used for that, since all the anecdotes I heard of, regarding Soviet soldiers that, how to say... didn't want to fall alive in the hands of the dushmany, involved hand grenades (e.g. pilot Konstantin Pavlyukov that, incidentally, managed to carry with him in his Su-25 an AK with five magazines, two hand grenades and... of course, a pistol... so I presume that we're safe assuming that everyone had an AK, as DreDay said).

Actually some SVD rifles were equipped with night vision scopes, although, AFAIK, this wasn't the norm, even in Spetsnaz units.

Nooo..... you just reminded me of thermobaric weapons! Give us RPO and artillery support with TOS-1! (I would also like to have flamethrowers and laser guided 240mm mortar rounds but I am aware that the current incarnation of the CMx2 game engine is not able to handle these)

Did mujaideens use ATGMs during the Soviet-Afghan war? http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3411/75170163lk2.jpg http://generalhamidgul.com/images/pics/pic24.jpg I presume the above evidence proves they did, but the real question is: was that use so widespread to make it worth to include ATGM equipped units in CMA?

MiG-23 CAS icon shows a MiG-25 Artillery and Air support buttons still show a M109 and an F-16 (as in CMSF)

And also the greatcoat! Since the 3D model has wrong dimensions here too...

While I agreee that that should not happen early in the war, AFAIK many Soviet soldiers (especially Spetsnaz and VDV) returned to the older calibre since it was considered (right or wrong) to have better stopping power, so it sould not be uncommon to see some AKM and AK-74 rifles mixed even at squad level. Right. It would be nice to see VDV troops with BTRs and BMPs, although I would retain (in the game) the various BMDs just to have more stuff! BTW, it seems that the game doesn't check availability dates when setting up QBs, so it's only a scenario design issue. True. AFAIK there was no change in OOB for MR squads. I think this could be easily modelled using the same system BFC uses for the Bazookas in the upcoming CMN: Bazookas in armored infantry units can be acquired by squads or be left in the HTs. Overall CMA is a nice game but I agree with you that those Snowball guys didn't probably do all their homework! I already pointed out some inaccuracies in Soviet uniforms... it's worth noting that CMBB rendering of Soviet uniforms was in some respect more accurate that CMA, even if the first was researched by a US company and the second by a Russian one! Not to speak of the fact that in CMx1 we had different 3D models and textures for officers... I hope this feature will return in CMN.

AKM uses 7.62x32 SVD uses 7.62x54R I would not say that the two are only "slightly different version" of the same ammo. Since the game tracks these two types of ammo separately I would presume that they are not intechangeable in CM:A, as they are not interchangeable in real life. (Although there's a possibility that the game engine uses the 7.62x54R only for GPMGs i.e the PKM machineguns to simplify things... I dont' know, but I hope it doesn't)

... and some, as I already said, are also plain wrong. Fortunately there's nothing that a good modding cannot resolve (with the possible exception of greatcoats' lengths)

Also, the icon of the MiG-23 CAS shows a MiG-25! Moreover, it would be nice to modify the wrong or anachronistic uniforms: -change with an appropriate pattern the modern digital camo found on some mujahideen fighters -change (to pale blue) the red shoulder straps on Soviet VDV troopers -change the black ushanka fur cap to gray and use the correct badge -change the greatcoat! Soviet Army greatcoats had no fur collars, were gray (and not khaki) and ended below the knees and not over! (BTW there was a fur collared khaki winter jacket that was issued during the mid '80s but it was a jacket not a greatcoat...)

Got the game! Here are my forst impression after a quick "browsing" and playing... PROS -Different feel from CMSF, it's really a new game and not a modded Shock Force. -Extended timeline (1978-1992) with respect to the Soviet-Afghan war proper (1979-1989) that allows to recreate also the fight between the Regular Army and insurgents in the months before Soviet intervention and the ensuing civil war. -Shilkas! CONS -No check for equipement avalability dates in the Quick Battles (i.e. you can get BMP-2 in 1979) -Too many wrong uniforms! DVD troopers with red shoulder straps, fantasy greatcoats, officers' hat badges for enlisted troops etc. I'm not implying that the above mentioned cons are a deal breaker (I bought the game and I still mantain that, at that price, for me, it's a bargain) but just imagine the uproar if in CMBB Tigers could appear in 1941 QBs or Gebirgsjaeger had azure forage caps!

In my humble opinion the best film about the Soviet war in Afghanistan is still "Afghan Breakdown", despite it's nearly 20 years old.

In my humble opinion I think that, after CMSF and CMA another heavily asimmetric conflict will be a "game" too far for CMx2! I think that CM excels at reproducing mechanized combat, better than guerrilla or infantry-heavy scenarios. My suggestion would be a Central-European Cold War game (1983 could be the right date... it was the war scare year). I know that probably, as BFC said many times, Cold War ain't gonna happen but, for sure, it would be more interesting than a SF2 set in present day Europe (exactly who would fight, why and where?). Speaking about actual conflicts, for the above mentioned reasons, I'd prefer the Arab-Israeli wars to Chechenia, Vietnam or the Falklands. And, instead of going for the 1956, 1967 or 1973 wars, I'd vote for a Lebanon '82 game (that could also use a lot of CM:SF terrain/units). My 2 eurocents!

Exactly my feelings. I don't think anyone is dishing out the game because of the graphics. I did point out a couple uniform-related inaccuracies just because the CM series already spoiled us in this regard. And I didn't comment about the accuracy of the simulation itself not because I favour eye-candy ove realism (I'm a wargamer not a modeller) but because I consider it a given, judging from my CMBO/CMBB/CMAK/CMSF experience. I will get CMA as soon as possible because I like the CMx2 game engine and I am interested in that particular conflict. Regards, Amedeo

Moreover, they should not have red shoulder boards even in a parade! I presume (and hope) that the infantry models and textures are not final. There are a few things that do not look right for what concernes Soviet Army uniforms. Take, for example, screenshot #29. What are the soldiers wearing? It's not the "old" shinel' nor it's the "new" padded jacket with fur collar introduced in 1985. Moreover the shapka-ushanka has a kind of fur colour that I never saw on enlisted soldiers hats, not to speak of the metal badge... Regards, Amedeo

Yes. But I presume the 3D models in the beta version are not final. Regards, Amedeo

They're Lee Enfields. A very common weapon there, before the "AK flooding". Regards, Amedeo

PPSh-41s are shown in the hands of Afghan Army soldiers. BTW there's also a Muj with what appears to be an FN FAL rifle in screenshot #1. Regards, Amedeo

Speaking of Soviet SAMs bringing down B-52s over Hanoi or F-117s over Belgrade, now you can try it yourself! Just download this free simulator: http://sites.google.com/site/samsimulator1972/home Regards, Amedeo

IMHO NATO will be the last module for CMSF. After all, what's the point in investing additional effort in that game just to give n-options for the Blue side but keeping the Red side practically as it is? Considering also that the customer base is already asking for other CMx2 games. I preordered CMSF and got both modules. Not exaclty my cup of tea but I have to admit that there's no better tactical computer wargame around, AFAIK, so I still found myself playing CMSF instead of other games I got in the meantime and that are collecting dust on the shelf after being on my HD for a week or so. Nonetheless, I am almost sure that my gaming time with CMSF will drop abruptly after I'll get CM:N and will go to zero if and when a Central European version of SF will be done (I still mantain that Cold War would be the best option but it seems it won't happen). So, for me, IDF module: no thanks. I'd rather play an historical CM Arab-Israeli wargame (possibly set in 1973 or 1982 rather than 1948 or 1956).

If you look for a realistic war movie about the Afghanistan war, get a copy of: "Afghan Breakdown" (Afganskii Izlom). Way, way better than "9 Rota" or "The Beast"...