PiggDogg

Wacky, I thought that your "success then die by NKVD" post was serious. You needed to make it more obvious by content and by: :eek: :eek: . That would have helped in making your intent obvious. I was actually going to ask you for your sources. Cheers, Richard

If one is under spotted arty fire, do the following: (1) if in woods/tall pines: (a) if the arty is less than 105 mm, probably sitting it out will be ok, but unpleasant ; ( if the arty is 105 mm or larger, get out of the way fast or die . (2) if in heavy building (expecially 2 story): (a) if the arty is less than 105, sitting it out is ok ; ( if the arty is near 105, OK to sit ; © if the arty is near 150/155mm or bigger, split the scene or you will die. Even big building get nuked when hit by two or so 155s :eek: . If the arty is unspotted & one is not too concentrated, even if the arty is up to 150, probably one can sit it out expecially if in heavy buildings. If one gets hit by spotted 150 arty or larger, he will see his men die in droves :eek: . Cheers, Richard [ February 22, 2002, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Guys, I have not read the erudite reviews of Marshall's Men Against Fire. Nor have I read Marchall's critics. Questions: (1) What were essences of the the various main criticisms of Marshall methodology? :confused: (2) What were the alternate theories (percentage of firers) in contravention to Marshall's theories? :confused: I'm looking forward to gaining additional knowledge. Cheers, Richard

Everyone, Now the $64,000 question: Is Marshall's premise that during WWII, relatively few soldiers fired their weapons valid? :confused: :confused: Obviously, opinions vary. Jason C, where are you? You should have a most informed, erudite, & educated opinion on this subject. Cheers, Richard [ February 19, 2002, 02:07 AM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Munter, Thanks for reccommending the "Natural Killers" article. It was quite interesting and most informative and enlightening. :eek: :eek: Cheers, Richard :cool: :cool:

Bucket, Thanks. But darn, Fort Lewis is a somewhat decent length jaunt from New Orleans. :eek: However, I'm leaving now. Should be there shortly. Cheers, Richard

That Cigar Smoker tank was actually smoking. :eek: :eek: However, it was fine camo from the Brit special services troops. It was set up in order to lull the Krauts into ignoring it. Then, it sprung to life and into action and whacks that evil KingTiger. Cheers, Richard :cool: :cool:

Bucket, I guess Peter Mansoor can be found at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, & such, or at other locations? :confused: Cheers, Richard

Michael, Even at 50% of troopers firing, a few people put out a lot of firepower. I have never been in combat, but I do remember in my US Army Reserve rifle range training, a few of us with M-16 on single shot fire absolutely beat the crappe out of targets. I would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of angry fire. :eek: Ah yes, I remember Pork Chop Hill with Gregory Peck. That was a great flick. :cool: Cheers, Richard

Michael, Hackworth? First name? & where can I find some of his work? :confused: Cheers, Richard

It has been quite a few years since I have read Men Against Fire by S.L.A. Marshall. In the past few days, upon going through a box of books in my attic, I found my copy of this most wonderful book. I am going to re-read this tome. If I remember correctly, as a result of numerous first person interviews of many U.S. Army troopers in northwestern Europe, Marshall discovered and verified that in whole engagements/battles only a very small percentage of soldiers (despite imminent danger) even fired their weapons, much less firing their weapons accurately. :eek: If I remember correctly, in regular line troops, 10% to 15% even fired at all. In more elite units (paras), about 25% of the troops fired. Crew served weapons (mgs, vehicles, tanks, etc.) had a greater tendency to fire than their individual weapon brothers. A very few soldiers do a lot of action. :eek: If I remember correctly, soldiers really try to preserve thier one and only life. Here are some random thoughts: (1) If only about 10% to 20% of troopers even fire at all, the few weapons that fire put out a lot of fire power, killing power, stopping fire. :eek: (2) In nearly all recent and past war movies (Pvt Ryan, Sands of Iwo Jima, Band Of Brothers, etc., etc.) everyone (well, 95 plus percent) fire like Sargeant York (well, almost like the sgt). Hey, some boring movies if few fire like in The Thin Red Line. (3) I'll think of many more things as days go by & as I re-read Men Against Fire. (4) How does this relate (or not relate) to my most favorite of games, CM1, CM2, CM97, etc? :cool: (5) Think, think, think; wonder, wonder, wonder. Cheers, Richard [ February 17, 2002, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Trooper, Good story about the Jagdpanther & Pershing. Entertaining and enjoyable. Also, PzIV/70 & Hetzers are good together with some Stg 42s with that infantry killing 105 as anti infantry support. :cool: Tigers die too easily from Allied 76s & 17 lbers. However, they do kill all normal Allied vehicles. PzIVs are near trash. They die way, way too easily even by Allied 37s & 40s from the front. :eek: :eek: Time to go, Cheers, Richard

Dave, Good info. Thanks. You might try PzIV/70s in similar tests. The 70s should do better, but they may not have the same bang for the buck. This is now your new task & job. Cheers, Richard :cool: :cool:

Weasle, I must clarify my opinion a bit that was in my earlier post in this thread. When one uses 'withdraw', one should 'properly' withdraw. A 'proper' withdrawal occurs as much as possible through covering terrain (woods, buildings, depressions) out of enemy fire and ends in covering terrain out of enemy fire. If one does this, they should not be easy targets. :eek: If one's troops are outgunned and will almost surely lose that immediate firefight, they should 'properly' withdraw. Every second that troops remain in superior enemy fire will cause them to suffer additional unneccessary casualties. :eek: Bad, bad. Cheers, Richard [ February 03, 2002, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Everyone, Remember, FT teams can only be really used against enemies that are about to die anyway. This means that anyone, & I mean anyone, who might be able to shoot at the FT team must be surpressed or dead. Otherwise, the FT team will be dead. :eek: :eek: Indeed, I really have not mastered FT teams use, but I do know the ideal. One additional tactic for FT teams is in defense, with a number of supporting & close friendly infantry squads, against advancing enemy infantry that enters a nearby building. If the friendly supporting infantry can keep the advancing enemy infantry's heads down & the FT remains hidden or unidentified, the FT team can torch the nearby building across an open space as the enemy infantry enters the building. :eek: :eek: Also, FT teams can torch cover (trees & buildings) to deny that terrain to the enemy. :cool: Cheers, Richard

One should use the 'withdraw' command most frequently whenever one is outgunned and/or when one has to get away from the enemy & their fire instantaneously. :eek: As for the quality of troops that 'withdraw' is most useful, 'withdraw' is most useful for conscript & green troops. Normally, these crappy troops have 20, 30 second, or longer command excution delays. With the 'withdraw' command, the crappos split the scene just like the cracks & elites. :eek: :eek: :eek: Also, sometimes, 'withdraw' can help troops (especially the crappos) 'begin' a lateral move behind the lines toward new positions. When, using 'withdraw' frequently, well, & without hesitation, one will be well rewarded. Cheers, Richard [ February 03, 2002, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ]

Those Daimler ACs are the most irritating pests that can harry German vehicles. :eek: :eek: & yeah, thost pests should have some HE so that they harry the German infantry. Spread the misery out to those Krauts. Cheers, Richard

The short & simplified explanation of the 'early war' (& actually whole war) Axis tactical advantage over the Russian (& the Western Allies): Despite the Germans having generally tactically inferior weapons (inferior firepower), they had superior doctrine/tactics [thanks, JasonC ] which allowed them to apply (usually by maneuver) that inferior firepower more times in a limited amount of time. :eek: :eek: The real, real short & over simplified explanation is: the Germans did more while the Allies sat. :eek: :eek: Cheers, Richard

With spotters, be very careful in bringing them forward. The way that you do that is have the FO move or run from the rear of cover (buildings [heavy are better] & woods [heavy & tall pines are better]) toward the enemy side of the cover. When they get within within 15 to 20 meters of the enemy side of the cover, have them crawl forward to near the cover's edge. Also, have the cover more than about 100 meters of the nearest enemy infantry. If you do the above, spotters should have little problem remaining unspotted by the enemy. In fact, on occasion in big, nasty firefights, my FOs have remained unspotted (or at least not shot at) within 50 meters of the enemy. :eek: :eek: Also keep in mind that vet & better troops can discern enemy troop types much better than their less experienced bretheren. Indeed, I never have problems with my spotters (& I just love lots & lots of big arty used like a scalple) unless I violate my above directions. Cheers, Richard :cool: :cool:

Splatty & Yaphank However, at the instant of firing the first round & with long, long arms, the mortar crew runs to cover & out of the blast radius as that round blows a hole in the roof. :eek: :eek: So, you see, mortars can be fired from inside of buildings. Ha. Cheers, Richard

Congrats & this is great for the rest of us CMers. The 5th staff member is kind of like having a new child added to the family. The best part is that this 'child' can be worked to the bone & I am sure that he will be. Cool. Cheers, Richard

Sodball, If you were playing VillersBocage, there were Brits & no Amis. Brits (as far as I know) don't have 50 cals. Maybe those 303s (I think that they are 303 cal & not 50 cal) wacked poor Wittmann. Bad boy, unlucky boy. :eek: :eek: :eek: Cheers, Richard

Jason, Holy cow. How do you do it? Compliments to you again on your tome. :eek: Also, thanks. The information is quite useful and informative. Keep 'em coming & I'm looking forward to the next. Cheers, Richard

roodboy, Never ever, let German halftracks get near (500-600 meters or shorter) to any US 50 cal, infantry or vehicle mounted. :eek: :eek: It is simple, if the German halftracks are foolishly placed anywhere around US 50 cals, the Axis halftracks will die. US halftracks are great German halftrack killers. This fact & the Axis halftrack vulnerability to 50 cals makes the usefulness of German halftracks somewhat limited. Cheers, Richard

Moose, Sounds like you guys are some blind. :eek: :eek: What you should do is to order you guys to open their eyes (Control-alt-O). It works a lot better that way when one tries to see. Cheers, Richard