Paco QNS
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Posts posted by Paco QNS
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Found this article
War in the Sahara, Bogart-Style by Kenneth Koyen.
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The boardgame Turning Point: Stalingrad had a nice map of both the city and the suburbs, based on aerial photos.
You can see another view of the board in the article Consider the odds, sir!
and even get the PDF rules here (9,8 MB):
http://www.avalonhill.com/rules/TPS.pdf
Regards and forward.
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Go to the Scenario depot
It is "Stalingrad the movie scene",
or "S. the movie" by Daniel Haeni.
It´s quite interesting, and reflects well the film. Against the AI, is winnable, BTW.
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They were also sent as lend lease to the Soviet Union (tough not to CMBB).
IIRC, some of them were sent via Persia.
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"The Trick" to reduce ammo wastage with OB mortars is to give them a "Rotate" order -I´m too lazy, but I´ll try to discover searching who invented this-. The more degrees off target, the more seconds it will employ first rotating and then backing to point their target (around 20 seconds delay per 90 degrees. Maximum is 40 seconds for a 180º rotation). Obviously, the target will be free of bombardment the first part of the turn, so is a good idea to alternate the mortars in the pair with different delays (mortars always must be used in a two battery, or more).
((In older times, another trick was to give the mortar a tiny movement order, but my present experiment -with CMBO and a 3" mortar targeted via HQ- doesn´t work; probably only to for direct fire?))
Regards.
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About the rifle grenades, in the Pacific, this report:
Second Marine Division Report on Gilbert Islands-Tarawa Operation
you can find the following cites -and many others, on all weapons- :
r. The 2.36 Rocket Launcher AT, M-1 (Bazooka) was not used in this operation inasmuch as they were received at WELLINGTON too late to issue to the troops. However, it is believed that this weapon might have been effective against the lighter emplacements encountered provided that the electrical firing system could be kept dry during the ship-to-shore movement.
s. The M9-A1 AT rifle grenade was found to be very effective against light tanks, the smaller emplacements, and the apertures of larger emplacement. It is recommended that the universal launcher now available for issue that can be used on the Carbine, M1, and M1903 rifles be issued in lieu of the launcher now in use in this command, and that a replacement launcher be packed with each box of grenades.
r. The "Bazooka" was not available and therefore not used.
s. The AT Grenades were somewhat effective against pill boxes but due to the structure of the pill box walls they were unable to penetrate and were only effective when they could be projected through the small gun slots in the pill box. They proved most effective against the light tankette.
15. The 2.36 Rocket Launcher A.T., M-1 was not used.
16. The A T grenade was moderately effective against the weaker pill boxes.
r. Not used.
s. Yes, when fired into the entrances.
r. No.
s. No. Had it been available, it would have been of great value in destroying Jap emplacements which held up our advance and caused nany casualties.
P. The 2.36 Rocket Launcher A.T., M-1 (Bazooka) was not used by this LT.
Q. The M-9 A.T. grenade was used by this LT against enemy emplacements and pillboxes and was not effective. The M-9 A-1 A.T. grenade was not available.
r. None used
s. M9 grenades were not sensitive enough to detonate on impact on sand covered emplacements
R. None observed.
S. Yes, the M9AT grenade was effective; but it is believed that the M9A-1 would be much more effective.
Anti-tank grenades - Some discharges became ruptured. -
Almost all railroads I´ve seen are built on a bed of crushed rocks, about twenty centimeters of high and around double that under the soil level.
It depends heavily on the terrain, drainage and annual-rain-index. Main problems are karstic soils and others with little consistency. Heavy rains dissolve them, when drainage fails to prevent eroding.
Do a search on Google Images, using "ferrovia" -and ignore the brazilian pictures-.
Here is a modern pic
Ferrovia Lugano-Ponte Tresa, cerca de Orcesco
Please reformulate, if you question remains unanswered.
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Thank you, Martin.
Best regards.
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I am playing this Op, but there is a problem.
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possible
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for those playing from the german side
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In the US briefing, it is referenced as a 4 battle op, though once on play there are 5 battles.
Is it to allow a) skip the night combat and/or
use another battle to take the Mesarinolo Mount?-very useful, if (
. At the beginning of the fourth battle, my roadblocks are 500 yards apart from the Highway Nº 87 !! -- - -
And congratulations, Moon. I like the operation very much. A river crossing, taking a mountain -and a town, too-, you can´t ask for more !! (oh, and fighting german tanks also).
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Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo para todos.
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--- Or: what do you expected in this topic? ---
I tried this battle, from the allied side, giving the italians a +1 Experience Bonus.
Judging the initial set up -historical- too "interesting" to my taste, I asigned half the tank force to support my infantry attack.
a)Arty Plan: Pre-targeted the sandbagged positions in TentMosque, SallyPort, and the dual and foursome in the left and right flanks of my easterly combined armas attack. Also pre-target the center HQ position, and the dual sandbagged forts of the main gate -didn´t used a shell in the last, though-.
b)East Assault: The infantry will probe the defenses, with an initial jump-point staged in the cemetery, to assault the SallyPort. To prevent an ambush there /too obvious/ a recon was made in a wide front, clearing also a external sandbag -near the TentMosque-. The Matildas were extremely useful, only two inmobs -the M menace-, and one KO by inmob+gunhits. Another couple distracted the TentMosque -being also inmobilized-. The last Matilda supported the advance into the Camp. Only cleared the Port and the four houserows to the HQ -only disputing this (not taking it), with a Rifle squad versus a Bersaglieri inside the building in the end turn-.
The assault was too cautious, and slow. ((Lesson learned: half the 3´ mortars ammo will have been better invested in smoke, helping the infantry attack, and not trying to smash guns)).
c)West tank attack: a real duck shooting of italian "tanks". Two inmobs by mines and another in front of the guns of the MainGate. The rest of tanks entered the Camp -unsupported-, and suffered one Abandoned and two KO -one of them a BREW-UP by a Platoon HQ (Tte. Viale)-. At end, one Matilda was holding a northern flag and two others were near the General HQ.
((Lesson learned: better have joined the tanks with the infantry and then mutually support them)).
FINAL TALLY: Major Victory as Allied, 74% to 26%.
160 men OK (404 axis OK); 59 casualties (290 axis cas.); 14 KIA (69 axis KIA); 5 captured -Matilda crewmembers- (62 axis captured); 8 axis guns destroyed; 6 allied vehicles destroyed (27 axis vehicles destroyed).
All in all, a nice and entertaining scenario. ((Mental final note: stay in roads to avoid mine losses))
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_ Beg pardon, but that is neither an IZ or IZM.
This is an IZM
And an IZ was almost identical, but with a mini-turret on top of its turret, mounting another MG.
Around 15 vehicles were used during the SCW. The 11 survivors were returned to Italy or/and NA.
Articles here:
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/spain/Spain-1.html
and here -in spanish-:
http://www.panzernet.com/articulos/historia/carrossps2/fichasguerracivil.htm
http://www.panzernet.com/articulos/historia/carrossps2/guerracivil4.htm
Regards.
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edited to correct:
Yes, that was an IZ -though the turret seems squared to me, and it lacked the coverwheels -
Here is another view:
from:
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/Italy/ItalianArmoredCars.html
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[ December 08, 2003, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Paco QNS ]
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The icon is named "fasces".
http://www.livius.org/fa-fn/fasces/fasces.html
You can found them closer than you think:Fasces: set of rods bound in the form of a bundle which contained an axe. In ancient Rome, the bodyguards of a magistrate carried fasces.//...//
The use of fasces by the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini is quite another story. In 1921, he called his political movement Fasci di combattimento, fascio being the Italian word for peasant organizations and labor unions. When il duce chose the ancient Roman fasces as symbol of the fascist party, he was at the same time playing with the similarity of the words fascio and fasces, chosing an ancient symbol, and drawing a parallel between fascism and earlier progressive movements.
http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Virtual_Tours/Artifacts/bronze.php
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CMAK landed today at Seville, Spain. Just for the long weekend.
Yessss.
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Preordered to BFC.
All my percentages belong to them.
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Confirmed, though it is the bolt head.
Citing
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~nightingale/mg42.html
(more exactly, citing the google cache from that page)
1 Recoil Booster Designed to trap muzzle gases and increase the weapon's recoil.2 Front sight The MG 42 was fired with conventional iron sights for use in the light machine-gun role.
3 Barrel The MG 42's quick release barrel could be changed by an experience gunner in five or six seconds.
4 Bolthead and firing pin When fitted with a lightweight bolt head the MG-42 proved capable of achieving rates of fire as high as 1800 rounds per minute .
5 Bolt The MG-42 was recoil operated the working parts locked at the moment of firing by locking rollers which were forced into sockets by the bolt.
6 Belt-feed cover The MG-42 did not have a magazine option like the MG-34:it could only fire the standard 50-round ammunition belts.
7 Trigger The trigger release was very well engineered it took an experienced hand not to waste ammunition as a half second burst fired 10-12 rounds.
8 Recoil / return spring This had to be immensely strong to handle the MG-42's potent rate of fire returning the working parts forward up to 25 times per second.
9 Butt Like the rest of the MG-42's parts the butt was designed for ease of manufacture.It was largely made of plastic.
Technical Specifications for MG-42
Type General-purpose machine gun.
Calibre 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser (0.31 in)
Length 1220 mm
Barrel Length 533 mm 4 grooves right-hand twist.
Weight 11.5 kg with bipod:32 kg with Lafette 42 tripod.
Muzzle velocity 755 m / second.
Rate of fire 1200 rounds / minute.
Effective range 500 metres direct fire:3500 meters indirect fire.
Ammo feed 50-round belt (usually clipped in fives to give 250 rounds)
Unit cost 250 RM (c.550 including tripod)
Combat ExperienceThe MG-42 incorporated lessons hard-won in combat on the Eastern Front.Both the cocking handle and the catch for the top cover to the working parts were designed so that the gunner could operate them wearing mitts or with a stick or rod.This was vital in the sub-zero Russian winters where contact by bare flesh on cold metal could cause severe injury.The MG-42 also functioned well in other climates : dust and dirt in North Africa and Italy was less likely to jam the MG-42 then the more temperamental MG34.The MG-42 was lighter and slightly more compact then it's predecessor but used the same operating principal of short recoil assisted by gas pressure from a muzzle velocity of the MG-42 at 755 meters a second was the same as the MG34 , but the most distinctive chance was the rate of fire-the MG-42 ripped through belted ammunition at a cyclic rate of 1,550 rounds a minute. .
Barrel Change
This high rate of fire heated up the barrel of the MG-42 even more then the MG34 and so the quick change system was simplified.The gunner had only to reach forward of the working parts push a retaining catch on the housing forward and the barrel swung out to the right.Taking care because it was very hot , he then pulled it to the rear and it was free.To replace the new barrel he simply reversed the procedure.A trained machine-gunner could complete the whole process in under 30 seconds.This high rate of fire could be reassuring to a nervous soldier , but the vibration it produced was a problem : the MG-42 was less accurate then the MG34 on the bipod.Though soldiers were trained to fire short bursts this was sometimes hard to remember in the heat of battle.Entusiastic use of the weapon also got through a lot of rounds which meant that the three-man crew needed to carry heavy loads of ammunition.The snarling fire of an MG-42 was unmistakable , often likened by Allied soldiers to the sound of tearing linoleum.One veteran recalled " the hysterical shriek of the MG-42's furious rate of fire "....." i remember my first reaction....was one of amazement at the crushing fire power of those guns.It seemed to me that the German soldier seldom used his rifle.He was a carrier of boxes of light machine-gun ammunition of which they seemed to have an endless supply."
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IIRC it is variable (changing the bolt).
Regards.
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Pheasant Plucker :
Yep in Tunisia.I'm not sure about the towering mountains in the background though, was there such huge mountains around in the desert?-------------------------------------
The Matildas II weren´t there, though.
BTW, A little test:
How many tanks can you see in "Fun in the sun..."?
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Happy birthday !
What´s the title of the first CMAK pic?
"Eight Army going up" ?
Congratulations to all the team, and keep the good work!
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They stockpiled quite a bunch of all things before the war (tungsten mainly from China).
During WW2, both Portugal -with gobernment imposed limits- and (mainly) Spain sold tungsten to Germany. Mostly, per auction. Bidders were both Germany and Great Britain -to block german boughts-. Later the U.S.A. also entered in.
Spain´s production went from 225 Tons. in 1939 to 3.974 Tons. in 1943 ( 17,66 times ).
Prices escalade from 639 $ /Ton. in 1939 to 27.397 $ /Ton. ( 42,87 times ).
Good article (in spanish) withs graphs -though incomplete- in last pages:
http://www.unizar.es/eueez/cahe/caruana.pdf
Another article
""A Wolfram in Sheep's Clothing: Economic Warfare in Spain and Portugal, 1940-1944""
(go to "Download the selected file" at the end of webpage to get the PDF)
http://ideas.repec.org/p/rut/rutres/200008.html
Regards.
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// Off topic .Semantic-and-strictly-neutral-post//
Re to Elvis :
Firstable, "cabron" is not a spanish word -with the local-variant exception related later in (2)-.
1)"Cabrón" -with an accented "o"- means:
a) Buck, or he-goat;
In a figurative+vulgar+insultant sense, the consenting-adultery husband; Also figurative, a bad intended person;c) In Chile -localism (not the announced before)-, a ruffian.
2)"Cabron", pronounced //caaaaabronnnn//-closing mouth at ending and gritting teeht-: In Cádiz´s carnival jargon can be both a mild derogatory term and an admirative-envious sting. ((Carnival in Cádiz is a sort of "Peng city" ! ))
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For what is worth, a couple cites:
Around Stalingrad, winter 1942-43:
http://www.vor.ru/55/Stalingrad/History_10_eng.html
In the Chapter 3: Pertinent Aspects of Nazi-Soviet Warfare During the Winter ofSergei Zasukhin – a Russian soldier remembered: “We were given great uniforms – warm woolen underwear, shirts, warm coats, valenki (warm boots), fur hats, and fur gloves. Besides, to feel ourselves more comfortable we were given special light fur coats and special woolen masks that covered the whole face except for eyes and mouth, certainly. We all had white camouflage.With such uniforms we could easily live everywhere, even in the deep snows of Stalingrad. We used to dig one meter deep wholes put some fir-tree branches, covered ourselves with cloaks and did not give a damn about frosts”.
1941-42
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Chew/CHEW.asp#3
Regards.Deep snow hampered movement on foot. In one instance a unit of the 52d Infantry Division required nine hours to advance two and one-half miles-unopposed-through five feet of snow. Consequently, trampling lateral and rearward paths assumed tactical significance. For example, the German commander of Company G, 464th Infantry, realized on 15 January 1942 that his positions would soon become untenable. He therefore detailed a few men with minor wounds to trample a path from the village held by the company towards a nearby forest. During the ensuing Soviet offensive, that path prevented his unit from being trapped by the enemy. -
Correct name will be "Carretera de Málaga" when leaving Granada, and the opposite in the other way.
No autopistas ((double road, asphalt, bridges on every crossroad)) (nor autovias -that´s a free "autopista"-) till much later.
Will follow in next post.
A spanish link:
http://www.aecarretera.com/historia2.htm
Regards
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This source:
"Greek ground forces in Crete and their small arms, Nov 1940 - May 1941" by Alexis Mehtidis
http://orbat.com/site/history/open4/GreekGroundForcesinCreteandTheirSmallArmsrev.pdf
suggests there was a misunderstanding, and they were "probably British 0.303 Nº 3 Pattern 14 built in the U.S.A. -hence ´American type´-"
(in page 6, under Gendarmerie).
Who knows? Either one, another addition to a logistical nightmare.
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Off topic, note the use of the infamous "Chauchat" LMG.
Regards.
use another battle to take the Mesarinolo Mount?
Role of Company H.Q.
in Combat Mission: Afrika Korps
Posted
From "Mine were of trouble", by Peter Kemp (cited by Mark Hannan):
------------------------From the "Directivas Circunstanciales ... de Alfereces Provisionales" 1938: