jwxspoon

The current .50 cal we use has a SLAP round designed for armor penetration that is quite effective. Up until the late 1980's most of the ammunition we used was vietnam era and conformed to WWII/Korea specs, but the new ammunition became readily available to US forces in the 1990's, IIRC. jw

Great article! Thanks for the heads-up. jw

Amen

35

February 1945 assault on a German Ammunition Supply point and vehicle repair facility. American paratroopers and American armored infantry...and a few surprises... Get it at http://www.dragonlair.net/combatmission/ and please review when finished! jw

In my experience with artillery, you FEEL it more than you hear it (although it is load too) - but when that pressure wave slams through your chest you are awe inspired. One time when on TDY to England AFB, in Louisiana, we were using hand held LTD's (laser target designators) to call in A-10's that were equipped with Pave Penny pods (allowing the pilots to see the 'splash' of the laser agins the target. They were dropping 'dumb' bombs, 2000 lb unguided bombs. One landed so close to use that we were stunned...felt like we had fallen and had the breath knocked out of us. [ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: jwxspoon ]</p>

I love these stories. These guys made history, and we owe it to history to get as many personal accounts from them as we can. My Grandfather on my Dad's side joined the Navy in 1908 at the age of 16, lying about his age to get in. He was able to see the world and by the time World War I rolled around he was a fireman (loading coal into boilers) on a US Destroyer. Some of his stories about the storms in the atlantic would curl your hair! Anyway, his Destroyer was torpedoed in the Atlantic. The ship went under water in less than 90 seconds from the first hit. My Grandpa knew he would die unless he got out quick, especially when the water hit the hot boilers, so he and two others squeezed out of a porthole that he said was not much more than 10 inches wide. He had broken bones and a dislocated shoulder, but he got out of there, which is more than he could say for many of the others in the Boiler Room, especially the big guys. They were rescued after floating for two days. He was sent to England, where he boarded a Hospital ship, and travelled home to the US on the Hospital ship. Along the way the Hospital ship was torpedoed! This time they had more notice and opportunity to get out and the loss of life was minimal. Grandpa was mustered out of the Navy, spent a few months knocking around in the oil fields of Oklahoma, and then went to the recruiter and joined the Army! He went over with Gen. Pershing and fought until the end of the war. He brought back all kinds of cool souvenirs - bayonets, an early-model luger with a very long barrel, and some other cool stuff. My Dad still has his uniform. If I can figure out how to do it, I will post pictures from 1910 when he was navy and 1918 when he was Army... anyway I thought it was a great story. Too bad I didn't appreciate those stories when he was alive, I would've asked him many more questions. JW

Swamp will kick your ass! He is up to 34 wins straight (I represent 3 of them). Go to the tournament house and seek him out. Heheheh

That is truly a neat web site. Thanks for posting the location for us! JW

Hey that's how I use the 37mm German flak wagon - I drive it forward until I get close to the enemy, and then I back it into combat.

I'm getting excited....

In the scenario "Fun" the first 15-20 turns are recon forces against each other....after that the heavier reinforcements start to arrive. This is a great PBEM scenario but not against the AI.

I love the Wiltz scenario. Also, some of the Byte Battles at Der Kessel are outstanding.

I also had a software version of Ambush called...get this - "Computer Ambush". Original, I know. I played it on my old Atari 800 whenI was a wee lad. JW

On the way. I refer you to the cautions within the thread before you play. JW

On the way Herr Fubar

On the way...

On the way.

Version 2.0 is out and at the scenario depot. I have really appreciated all of the comments on this one! I will endeavor to do as well with my next scenario. JW

I played this scenario from both sides against the AI, and won both times, narrowly as the British and decisively as the Germans. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenario. Thanks Wild Bill! JW

Send it on over, I'm a scenario junkie. JW

I seem to remember also reading that during heavy artillery prep fires before an attack the Russians would also leave "lanes" 100-200 meters wide that were not hit with artillery. This supposedly would allow the armor to rush through the lane at the end of the artillery fire, with the intention of moving into the enemy's rear area and cutting off retreat as well as reinforcements.

I just finished a game in which an American squad approached through scattered trees to within about 25-30 meters of my Puma. They fired a side shot into the Puma with a rifle grenade, knocking it out. This was the first time I can remember an American squad doing this in my 75 games or so playing CMBO. JW

Fire it over, Mr. Genex to jweatherspoon@sc.rr.com

On the way. I refer you to the post above yours for some extra caution. Jeff