PiggDogg

Guys, In both CMBO & CMBB, when I am in an orders phase, if I accidently hit the Windows key on the keyboard, the game & computer crash all the way back to the boot screen & the computer reboots. :eek: Two questions: (1) Why does this happen? & (2) How can I prevent this (other than not being stupid and not hitting the Windows key ) ? My system which I built in July this year: WinXP Pro AthlonXP 2100 Soyo Dragon mobo 1 gig PC2700 ram Chaintech nVidia GF4 Ti4200 128meg ram WD 60 gig HD Cheers, Richard

Guys, Chill out on this flame war stuff. I'll be polite & stop here on that subject. One must remember that for all of WWII but especially for the last 2 to 3 years of WWII (1942-45), the overriding problem and influence in the British strategy was a severe lack of manpower, especially infantry manpower. :eek: Without spending too much time on this subject, this Brit manpower shortage dictated the total Brit war effort from grand strategy to tactics at the company and squad level. The Brit tendency and desire to achieve overwhelming force in battle (such as, El Alamain, Overlord, the Brit Normandy & Caen battles, etc.) reflects and eminates from the manpower shortage. In addition to the Brit normal inate caution, this manpower problem was a major part, if not the biggest single problem and influence behind Brit WWII caution at all levels. Is this good? Is this bad? I don't know, but it is a fact. Cheers, Richard

Michael E, I had not heard of these defilades before, but I am always willing to learn. Chin defilade would seem to be safer for the dear tank commander. However, if one unlucky hit were to occur to the TC in chin defilade, a persistent and permanent wound would result. Ouch. :eek: Cheers, Richard

Guys, Both "enfilade" & "defilade" come to English from French (probably from William The Conquoror and his Norman followers). Ultimately, the French came from the Roman Latin, but I shall stop here. Michael, Your definitions are correct and the way that I understand the definitions. One addition that I understood to defilade is to protect from fire by getting close to the ground and/or by using the low folds in the ground. Here is the Webster College Dictionary definition of defilade: "To arrange (fortifications) so as to protect the lines from frontal or enfilading fire and the interior of the works from plunging or reverse fire." Cheers, Richard

Favre, Here are some educated opinions. Best, meaning fastest with every super whammy feature = Radeon 9700, approx $350 online. :eek: Probably best for buck with most of the new super whammy features = GeForce 4 Ti4200 with 128 meg ram, approx $150 online. Cheers, Richard

Michael, Another person who knows about, much less having seen, "Attack & Retreat" !!!! Holy Smoke !!!! :eek: Another weird person besides me. By the way, it is a good movie. Cheers, Richard

If I am not mistaken, the Italian 8th Army was along the Don to the north and west of Stalingrad by a substantial distance. There was a Roumanian army to Stalingrad's immediate north and west. In a later Russian offensive against this flank (a few weeks after the initial Russian thrust that surrounded Stalingrad), the Italian army was crushed. I would have to pull out one of those old books and old S&T games to check this all out. Cheers, Richard :cool: [ October 02, 2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Apache, 2700 is bigger than 2100, thus 2700 must be better (and faster) than 2100. Also, when I built my AthonXP 2100 system in July of this year, I chose PC2700 over PC2100. I just figured that 2700 was faster than 2100, & the price difference was not significant at that time. Cheers, Richard

Gunner, In early July 02, I built an AthlonXP 2100, 1 gig ram, & GF4-4200-128meg. My logic? With this high CPU, the 4200 should last for at least a year and maybe two and be able to handle any game coming out during the next year or two. In the year or two if I feel that I really need a super whammy new vid card (unlikely), I can buy a new super vid card at that time. Also at that time, I can put the 4200 into my old P2-400 with a TNT-16 meg vid card. Only an opinion. Cheers, Richard

Som, I might suggest GeForce4 Ti4200 w/64 or 128 meg. It has enough and most of the up to date goodies and a pretty low price. Try to purchase from NewEgg, TCWO, FTI Computers, among others. These are reliable and have quite low prices, but probably not the rock bottom lowest. I personally would not go with the rock bottom vendors. Cheers, Richard [ September 27, 2002, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Shatter, Try NewEgg, TCWO, FTI Computers, all good companies. :0 I suggest that you get a GF4 Ti4200. Because you have such a relatively slow CPU, either the 64 or 128 meg models should both probably be OK. I have the 4200-128 meg. However, I have it in a system that I built during this past July with an AthlonXP 2100. Cheers, Richard ;p

Keith, Half squads, scouts, pointmen. In my earlier posts in this thread, I was saying 'suicide guys'. I was being cute. These few (and say few, maybe 6 to 10 half squads per batallion) advance ahead of the main body and require the enemy to shoot at the scouts and thus reveal the enemy. When the enemy is exposed, my main body (hopefully, from decent cover) applies superior firepower upon the enemy. Would one prefer that one's main force in bad cover walk into enemy ambushes and enemy fire patterns. Or, would one prefer that these few half squads in bad cover to do the walking? :confused: Personally, I prefer that a few scout guys be exposed in bad cover to enemy fire (and suffer some casulaties) and allow my main force (from decent cover) to batter the enemy. :eek: If one can't overpower the enemy after having suffered a few casualties among the few scouts, then he would have even less chance overpowering the enemy after having heavier casulaties amongst the main body. Just call me silly. And many people do. See answer above. Remember, in CM, the attacker hopefully should have more men and more firepower than the defenders. Remember, against a competent oppoent, the attacker will suffer casualties. Hopefully, the casualties are among the more numerous and harder to kill with one shot infantry scouts, than among the easier to kill with one shot and heavier firepower tanks, SP-HE guns, mortars, FOs, MGs, inf guns, etc. Cheers, Richard [ September 26, 2002, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Noobie, It is 11 of 10 !!! :eek: How silly to ask. "Why does the amp knob go to 11?" "Uh, because it goes to 11." Quick gist of Spinal Tap dialogue. Cheers, Richard :cool:

Scipio, Sorry to be so overly retentive, but were the expensive production costs for the Fjg-42 or for the Mg-42? :confused: My guess is that the Fjg-42 had the more expensive production costs, otherwise the Germans would have produced the Fjg-42 instead of the Mg-42. Cheers, Richard

Pak & Bullet, We all live pretty close together. I'm in windy and wet Metairie. Maybe we can do some CMBB & CMBO sometime soon, if, or course, we don't get blown away. :eek: Also, Big Dog (from this board) is in Mandeville. He & I have known each other & have played conflict simulations ( wargames) since about 72 or so. Gosh, I feel some old. Good luck with the storm. Cheers, Richard

Guys, Someone is talking about wine? Someone is talking about whining? :confused: Some people love wine. Some people love to whine. Personally, I prefer a good bier, like a stout or porter. Guinness is certainly wonderful & I love it. In fact, later today, I get a nice bier or two and watch the Saints (I'm in New Orleans) vs da Bears. It should be a good game. I'll just quitely wimper until CMBB comes. But tomorrow is a new day of anticipation and waiting with bated breath. Cheers, Richard

Guys, End It All works really well with my WinXpPro. Presently, I have seen no need for me to get End It All II. That skull & crossbones on the icon looks ominous. Apache, Yep, hitting Ctl-Alt-Del 128 times is a real pain that End It All, well ends. Cheers, Richard

Guys, A number of years ago (maybe very late 80s or early 90s), S&T Magazine had a game in the magazine called "Fortress Stalingrad". It was a corps (Russkie) and division (Germie) level game that covered from the Russian initial thrust through the surrender. Usually the S&T games were pretty historically correct as simulations. This game had a good historical feel, and I felt it was good as a simulation. As a result of that game, two large impressions were obviously presented. (1) The initial thrust was launched on nearly a shoe string. If I remember correctly, the spearhead forces were 2 mech corps & one tank corps. They took a big chance and hit the jackpot. They did a really good job and the Germans cooperated. (2) If the German 6th Army had attempted to break out early in the encirclement, they almost for sure would have broken out with substantial loss to both sides. However, the bulk of the 6th would have gotten out. I might pull that game out of the game closet and revisit the simulation and situation. Cheers, Richard [ September 18, 2002, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Apache, Might I suggest one small modification in your video card choice. You might consider a GeForce4-4200 with 128 meg ram instead of 64 meg. Of course, 128 meg is better than 64 meg. Also, the 128 should not be much more expensive than the 64 meg, maybe $10 or $20 bucks. Cheers, Richard

Spook, You evil, evil guy. :mad: I don't have enough time in my life to play CMBB & CMBO. Now, you entice me to play a Napoleanics game (which I certainly would love)!! You are a bad, bad boy by trying to insure that I get no sleep at all. However, I only have one body, & I want to preserve it. Thus, I shall concentrate on CMBB for now and maybe do some Napoleanics in between CMBB & CMBO games. Indeed, thanks for the recommendation. I shall take it. Cheers, Richard

Mike, Yep. Usually, suicide guys, er scouts suffer 50%, 60%, or so casualties. However, they do their job and save massive casualties to the mail line attackers. :eek: As you know, as an attacker against a skilled opponent, one expects to take pretty heavy casualties. However, if the attacker can keep the casualties near one to one, he should win. The defender will run out of men and, most importantly, firepower at a greater rate than the attacker. Life of a suicide guy, er scout, is short, but useful. Cheers, Richard

Ales & Mike, It is a combat column. AND It is my turn. ... maybe. Only a few days more before we can have Russian combat columns. Cheers, Richard

Fredericus, True, but possibly a bit oversimplified. The Napoleonic line formation was 3 (for most everyone) or 2 (for the Brits, Kings German Legion, and a very few other Brit allies) ranks (except for the very, very rare four rank line) shoulder to shoulder. These ranks were the unit's front facing toward the enemy. This was quite good for shooting at the enemy. Certainly in line, there are more men to the right & left than behind and before one. However, there were a "lot" more men to the right and left than there were behind and in front. True for marching column. However, much less than true for combat column. The Nappy march column certainly had many more men behind and before one than to the left and right. It was 3 to 6 ranks wide as its front with the rest of the unit stretched behind. It was generally used when the men were not under fire. In contrast, the Nappy combat column 'usually' had 6 to 10 ranks depth. Sometimes but less frequently, they might have 12 or more ranks. It was generally used to move men quickly when under fire while presenting at least some firepower toward the enemy. Assuming a somewhat small batallion of 250 men in a 12 rank column (unusual), the resultant combat column would have a front of 20 men by a depth of 12 men. A regiment of 900 men in a 15 rank column (quite unusual) would have a 60 man front by a 15 man depth. [One would love to shoot at such a target. ] Taking these just above examples (which were not the norm) and without getting into symantics quibbling, in both of these cases, there are more men right and left than there are behind and in front. True, for the marching column out of the fire area. True for the combat column in the fire area. True, but not fully. In the Nappy area, the march column was used for marching out of the fire area. The combat column was used for marching in the fire area and for attacking. I don't fully understand what is meant here, but I shall comment. I know of no Napoleanic case of a 50 front by 240 deep combat column (12000 men). However, I would be happy to be enlightened. Further, as set forth in my second post in this thread, 12000 plus striking rounds would not be needed to rout such a combat column. All that is required is 'enough' (and that may be many rounds more than 12000) effectively fired rounds (obviously from enough stout, resolute troops) to harm the front few ranks of the combat column. This causes destruction to the front ranks and causes the rear ranks to freak out. The rear ranks freak out (lose heart, panic, etc) because they can't participate in the fighting, and they don't know what is happening in front of them except that they can hear death & destruction. When the rear ranks rout, the forward ranks follow. :eek: In Nappy times, in normal battle, a 50 front by 240 deep combat column just would and did not work. Cheers, Richard [ September 16, 2002, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Michael, Actually, Napoleonic attacks hardly ever came to actual physical contact, that being bayonet to bayonet, clubbed musket to clubbed musket, fist to fist. Usually except for some rare occasions, either the defender or attacker will have retreated or will have broken and run at least when the range closed to approximately 20 to 30 yards if not at some longer range. The psychology was for both sides is: "Oh, my god (oh, mon dieu), there are a large bunch of other guys up ahead with muskets and pointy bayonets. I and my buddies don't want to be impaled." People have a real fear of having a sharp metal stake driven into their body. The continuation of the pshchology is: The defenders would think: those attacking guys look pretty determined, we are getting the crappe beaten out of us by those supporting arms, & it looks like they are going to make it to us. We are getting out of here. :eek: The attackers would think: those defending guys look pretty determined, they & their supporting arms are beating the crappe out of us, & it looks like they are not going to break. We are getting out of here. :eek: Of course in the Nappy days (& for that matter in American Civil War days), one can certainly find some rare occasions where attackers & defender actually crossed bayonets. However, such occasions were the small minority. :eek: Cheers, Richard :cool:

Pillar & Mike, Sorry that I did not distinguish between march & combat column. The march column is the 3 or 4 rank formation used to march. This is what all of us use when we are in 'formation' in the military. The combat column is in essence a real, real deep line, 6 to 10, maybe 12 ranks deep. Of course, the frontage is 1/2 to 1/3 or even less of the same unit in line. As an aside, as was stated in "The Face Of Battle", generally when combat columns would rout, the rear ranks routed first subsequently taking the more forward ranks with them. :eek: The psychology was that the rear rank fellows could not, except for walking over the broken bodies of their more forward comrades, see the brew ha ha, death, and destruction going on in and to the front ranks. After a while of only hearing the destruction going on ahead of them, the rear ranks would break and run. The foward guys who had been taking the beating would see their rearward fellows rout. Then, mostly because of the rear rot, the forward guys would join the rush to the rear. I would say that Leaky's picture is a modern (WWI) combat cloumn. Indeed, it might be substantially less dense than a Napoleonic combat column, but it is quite dense for the WWI or WWII battlefield. Indeed, considering the lethality of the weapons of each era (Nappy & WWII), the WWII column is probably more vulnerable to WWII firepower than the Nappy combat column was to Nappy firepower. :eek: In each case, a combat column is one effective way to have many casulaties inflicted quite quickly. Cheers, Richard [ September 16, 2002, 02:05 AM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]