Kiltie Lad

I, too, am eager to lose each of these Stalingrad scenarios. And losing an entire operation? HooHa! Thanks for all your hard work guys!

I just visited Tom's, Mods and Modders, and DeanCo to see if any CMBB Mods were out and didn't spot anything new. Has anyone yet had time to develop new mods for CMBB (or is everyone busy playing it, like me)? I'd like to see a Mod Forum, or eventhough I haven't tried modding, it's still cool to see discussions about it (like Pawnbroon does in M&M'es). A question: About when did German tanks begin dropping the Feldgrau tank paint and begin camoflauging their tanks? I'e been playing mostly 1941 scenarios, so everything is grey.

Hello CM Friends, It's Shawn the Travelling American reporting from Grenoble. Well, to my (limited) knowledge, I am the only American CM guy currently traveling in Europe. I'd like to report that I am alive and well and heading for some sailing in Croatia. However, I have managed some extrordinary WWII wargasam moments. First, I spent a great week in Normandy with my bestest buddy, Paul. I'd like to thank the Forum Friend who recommended that *we take flashlights (torches for you Brits), as we put them to great use in the numerous bunkers. We even managed to find a secreted bunker high on the Bluff of Omaha at Easy Green Exit. Paul spotted a chimney poking out of the ground about 6 inches, and after some searching under the gorse, we found a trench that led to a hidden bunker. Without the flashlights, there's no way in hell I would have gone down there! We then went to Belgium and spent three days examining The Bulge. At the fantastic museum at La Gleize, while wandering the streets with my copy of "Bulge Through The Lens" full of Then_and_Now photos, I met an old gentleman who it turned out was the curator of the museum. He took the book and proceeded to walk me all over the village shozing me where each photo was taken. Great moment! Then it was on To Duxford for the overwhelmingly huge Air and Land museum there. And then on to London, where I was invited to Andreas' flat for a terrific preview of Barbarossa. The fun continued as I recrossed to the continent and drove to the Musee des Blindes (that's Tank Museum to us non French speakers). Well, I gotta tell you, I had to do a pants-check as I walked into the German armor room. For there I beheld in almost one glance the following: Tiger I & II, Panther, P III? P IV (with mesh skirt armor), P II, Lynx, all the Marders, Jagdpanzer IVs (one was so penetrated that I stuck my camera inside and fllashed away), Stug IIIG, Stug IV, Brumbar, and various trucks. Now, I ask you, could you have just peed your pants a little bit? hehehe The American, British contingents were cool too, but the Russians had a T34 76c, KV I and an SU 100 which rocked! I highly recommend the tank museum in Saumur if you can ever get there. Well guys, I gotta get on a train for Croatia. Hope everyone's summer is going great. See you on the Steppes in Sept!!! Shawn

Here, Here! for the post from Jim Crowley; and a very special thank you to Simon Elwen for waiting for me to show up at London Bridge Station. I would have never have made it to Andrea's flat without you, and despite the super crowded train ride during London rush hour to get to Forest Hills, I will not ever forget the experience of meeting friends who share our interest. We seemed to marvel at how honest our comraderie is. There is little else in the military historical community outside the world of pure academics where people from vastly different backgrounds and locations can come together and because of the bond forged between us for the love of this game, felt as if we had known one another for years. I enjoyed sharing my recent experiences traveling around Normandy and the Bulge with the guys while the BBQ fired up and Andreas disappeared to get the computers going. Hey, Andreas, no worries about not tending the Barbie! Like I told the guys, "I'd rather have you in there cranking up the game than out here tending the grille!" Between the American and South African contingent,we had the grille well in hand. As to the new game, what can one say? It must be seen to be believed. Like Jim says, it's no CMBO set in the Eastern Front. We fought in Eastern Orthodox churches instead of Norman churches. We enjoyed a new interface that has a lot more detail and simple to see info on weaponry, etc. We saw tanks that didn't just go up in flames immeiately when scratched (and that was even by 88's). It does seem that the firing characteristics are more realistic, but that may just be me whining about my stuff seemingly getting perforated too easily! What a great addition to what is forming up to be a great two month vacation. The world is a very small place, indeed. And when it's populated by the likes of the friendly, intelligent guys I met last night at Andreas' place, I'm not worried that the world is getting smaller-only more intrigued. All the best everyone. I'm finding that trying to get online while traveling abroad isn't as easy as I hoped it would be, so you won't see many posts from me here (unless there are lots of internet cafes on the Adriatic coast). Cheers! Shawn McCaslin (aka. Kiltie Lad)

If you can help me with an install problem I'm having with CM on my new laptop, please refer to my post in the technical forum. I leave for 2 months of travel in Europe in a week and HAVE TO HAVE CM WITH ME! Ahem, brothers, I hope you understand my dilemma and forgive me for posting here too. Cheers! Brother Shawn

Hi Guys! Got my new Dell Inspiron 8200 and am trying to load CM. At 31% completion,I'm getting a hangup. The message is : Component:2. Medium Install to HD (although I ordered it to do a full install) File Group: Sounds1 File:D:\WAV\00000801.WAV Error: Incorrect function I've tried reinstalling, but it dies out at this point each time. Any ideas? Also, is it possible to buy a network adapter from a non Dell computer store (as I'm leaving for Europe in a week and don't have time to wait for a shipment)and simply transfer all my CM files from my home PC to the laptop? Wouldn't I be able to transfer all my mods at the same time? Thanks!

rife grenade isn't as good as a faust, that is true. I've seen them used against mg nests and inf in buildings. The Gammon bomb will take out a tank, but only at close assault range (ie. the Tiger getting tracked in Ryan close). Gammons will be used against inf and buildings too like a satchel charge.

Thanks for the great information from you both. As I mentioned, the Dell was the recommended way to go and I do want to buy a laptop that will be capable of handling CM. Why bother getting something that may have difficulties while one is on the road? The DVD and CD burner would be a welcome addition too. I will probably be playing while in my hotel room as well. May send an email or two using battery power, but that shouldn't present problems. What about power adaptors for the battery recharger and the laptop itself? Should I ask at the computer store or look for one on the Dell website? Thanks Guys!

Thanks for the tips, guys. Don't think I'll do the Apple thang tho. I'm a PC boy through and through eventhough I know losts of people very happy with Apples. Do you guys recommend getting an extra battery or do you think I'll be able to charge up? Also, will I need an adapetor for the recharger? Thanks!

I'm heading to Europe for the summer and would like to bring along CM (especially if CMBB comes out this summer). Any suggestions for a laptop? So far, a friend has suggested a Dell with 15" monitor, UXGA 32 meg video card (is that good enough?), Pentium 4 chip, 30-40 meg HD, built in modem and network card. To check email while abroad, would you suggest a wireless system (so the B&B owner doesn't flip when I ask if I can plug my modem into her phone jack)? While I don't expect to get a computer capable of playing CM for cheap, I'm not made of money either for what I would consider a secondary system. Thanks in advance!

I'm heading to Europe for the summer and would like to bring along CM (especially if CMBB comes out this summer). Any suggestions for a laptop? So far, a friend has suggested a Dell with 15" monitor, UXGA 32 meg video card (is that good enough?), Pentium 4 chip, 30-40 meg HD, built in modem and network card. To check email while abroad, would you suggest a wireless system (so the B&B owner doesn't flip when I ask if I can plug my modem into her phone jack)? While I don't expect to get a computer capable of playing CM for cheap, I'm not made of money either for what I would consider a secondary system. Thanks in advance!

This has been a truely entertaining thread and has exhibited the very best of what this forum is all about. It started with a very interesting question, which I wanted to learn more about, and which I did learn more about by following links and reading the various postings of quite erudite gentlemen who had no problem providing evidence from various sources. Then P51 shows up and immediately made this historian's (MSc) teeth set on edge. While one likes to be kind and gracious, especially to new posters, one must expect the gentle requests for further clarification of source material to be met with a polite, "hold on and I'll get it for you when I'm able." Instead P51 raises his hackles and deliberately eludes these requests. My eyebrows raised too at this time. I've never heard of a research organization being so secretive, well, maybe the CIA, but I gather this organization isn't any CIA. I wanted to be kind, and never thought to call the guy a fake, but I expected with each click to see his source material laid out neatly, which would make his bold assertions about being so in-the-know plausible. Nada. Well, chippie, any learned professional such as yourself should certainly know that bold assertions as to the historic record require bold back up. And you didn't provide it. Say what you will about all the important organizations you serve, but to these ears it simply rings hollow. Not willing to provide your evidence, but only to impugne the integrity of those who politely at first, and then, understandably, a bit more zealously later, requested that you back up your claims, smacks of elitism. And elitism, dear sir, will earn you nothing on this board. Warfare is a big, messy business. I believe that it is next to impossible to make sense out of individual incidents in the cacophany of battle. The fact that this one tank may have been struck by shells and rockets is completely plausible. Supporting what one thinks by recounting the information that led one to believe what one does believe exhibits the very best in communication skills. Bravo to the Forum! Bravo to the members who have made this one of the most informative posts in a long time. Vivre la Difference! Debate is good. Providing supporting documentation for your debating point is even better. Cheers All! Shawn David McCaslin Alexandria, Virginia Seamus660@AOL (and I ain't afraid)

I've never seen a "stuck turret" before. I've seen immobilized tanks and I've seen "gun hit" tanks where the main gun won't fire, but I've never seen a turret get jammed. Too bad for you on that rush.

Well, how come your post accepted 'Devil" and mine didn't? This is a weird system.

I don't know about you guys, but posting on this forum can be maddening. Not only does it miss about half the letters I type, but it won't accept the name of the Lord of the Underworld to describe a particular place on a very well known battlefield. Geesh. I would have thought that as grownups we would be able to conduct ourselves as such. Wait, sorry, I just remembered there is such a thing as "The Peng Challenge" on this forum. I take back the accountability as grownups thing. hehehehehehe Edited twice to make up other cute words for simple ones the editor leaves as blanks. Gawd! [ May 26, 2002, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Kiltie Lad ]

Found a great site that I wanted to make you all aware of if you didn't know about it already. It's called "RZM.com." I found out about it from fellow CM'er, LAWYER. He showed me a book he had bought there that compares WWII era photos from the Bulge with the modern view. I had really enjoyed this format and way of visiting battlefields in Bill Frassanito's Civil War books in which he did the same thing. Now when I visit Gettysburg, not only do I know what the field looked like during the battle, but I can also step gingerly around a boulder where a fallen soldier breathed his last (or was carried there by the photographer for greater effect, ie. "The Sharpshooter" in 's Den). This book on the Bulge and a two volume set on Normandy should prove invaluable to me when I visit Europe in July. Looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you at the "George" with Simon Elwen, et al. (see "Two Amis..." in this forum). Cheers! Shawn [ May 26, 2002, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: Kiltie Lad ]

Does anyone know which .wav file the tank idling sound is produced from? I'm talking about the really annoying one that is present whenever at least one AFV is in a game and which will drive you to utter distraction while in "Orders Phase." I usually turn down my speakers and then forget to turn them up again during the movie. And, as we all know, there is just as much to what you can hear in this game as what you can see. If I eliminate this .Wav file, will it goof anything up in the game? Thanks in advance!

I feel a big, bloody booze up coming! Simon Elwen has offered to meet us in Tunbridge Wells(or maybe London). He is going to corral fellow Brit CM'ers that he knows. OMG, can you see about 10 or so of us, pissed, and arguing about muzzle velocities and penetration values? The lasses will be all over us!!! It will be the easiest line I've ever used on a woman! It will be, uh, what were we talking about? So, lads, two sunburned, battle-crazed Americans (plus Runyan99 if he's anywhere aboot) will be arriving on English shores somewhere around July 7-8th. I'll have my laptop with CMBO loaded (wouldn't it be nice if CMBB was out then)and looking for trouble, and liquid bread, and, well, women too (but notice my priorities!). Thanks for all the posts here, guys. Already ordering recommended books and guides thru Amazon. I'll keep posting here, even as we arrive, to coordinate plans, tell you of our adventures, send along pickies, and make you drool! Cheers! Shawn McCaslin & Paul deHolczer

Good you were on he defence, as conscripts and green generally don't attack at all. They will move to jump off points, but then, they don't jump off. I had conscript and green volk in a scenario, whose name can't recall now, in which they did a pretty decent job. They had tons of shrecks and fausts, and were pretty good about lying low til the armor got close. If you are on the defence and are chosing your forces, you may want to leaven your regular guys with green volk in order to extend your lines or use for listening posts. Cheers!

Thanks for the advice and personal emails, guys. I'm very proud of the community we have built. I was watching a rebroadcast of Band of Brothers tonite. At the end the narrator speaks of how easy things were in America at the close of the war and asks if the civilians will ever be able to comprehend the meaning of freedom like the men who served in places like Normandy, Holland, the Bulge and Hagenau. How appropriate for me, as my girlfriend, who was also watching and had just asked me during dinner why I felt the need to spend a month wandering battlefields in Europe, just looked at me with eyes that showed greater understanding. It's all about understanding, ain't it?

Max, I'd love to see the pictures you may be able to find from Normandy! Feel free to email me with them. The idea about arriving via the ferry is also quite good. Maybe I should start my own tour company and bring tourists onshore from landing craft! The distances are, indeed, not much to an American. Hell, we'll drive 20 miles to get an ice cream. Thanks for the info., we will definitely factor that in. Where is a good place to get Normandy and Bulge maps, guys? Should I try to get them Stateside, or once in Europe? Thanks again, and glad this is whetting the appetites of fellow CM'ers. Wouldn't it be cool to get a group of us together at the same Norman village, have a couple of laptops, some good books about a local battle and refight it over Stella Artois and port? Hmmmmmm....

Guys, thanks for all the good ideas and advice. Heard also that the museum in Samur is also quite good. Since that isn't far from Normandy, will probably check it out too. My buddy has decided to take the tour going from England (eventhough we aren't "tour" kind of people) as he thinks it will provide a good overview and will give us an opportunity to explore more deeply when I arrive 3 days later. I'm so used to touring American Civil War battlefields, which are relatively compact, that trying to get detailed ideas of what I want to see at Normandy and the Bulge kind of boggles my mind. Any recommendations of places to go in the Bulge? Still, appreciating your advice!

AND... for any of you radio listeners who might remember "The Greaseman" show, he used the word "Doodads" as a synonym for, well, balls. Every time I see the word, "Doodads" on the forum, I have to smirk. hehehehehe

So watch out Brits! Actually, we are flying in to London first week of July, and will do the several museums other CM'ers have suggested (still looking for others too, guys)and then crossing the Channel to visit Normandy, Bulge, Waterloo (man,the Prussian Jagdpanthers tore up those columns of cuirassiers!)and any other places of WWII interest (still seeking advice from youse guys with local knowledge). My friend has found a tour company in Britain that will load us up in a coach and take us over, which has all the appearances of being competent, but who knows? I favor getting on the ground and finding someone on site whom I can test a bit before committing my battle-thirsty Euros. There's nothing worse than shelling out dough only to find out I know more than the guide. Anyone have suggestions as to which philosophy might be best, or competent tour guides (primarily of Normandy and Bulge)? Also, any of you lot in the UK that wouldn't mind hoisting a few with two friendly, history buffs who've spent plenty of time abroad (he- school, me- a hotel porter in Bayswater, and grad school in Southampton), that aren't goofballs, let me know. Arrive first week of July. Hell, I'll even buy a pint for a Pengger! Cheers! Shawn McCaslin (here or Seamus660@AOL.com) [ May 16, 2002, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: Kiltie Lad ]

That had to hurt! I rarely have luck with FT's. Usually they never even get a chance to fire their weapon. I have, however, been rudely surprised by some of these s popping up at the edge of a wood upon which I was advancing and ruining my day. Before I could bring fire down upon them, they displaced to another woodlot behind the first and waxed me again! I yanked an Iron Cross off a body and walked over to the FT team and pinned it on them myself!