Erwin

Re insignia the point I am trying to make is that they would be subdued. What we see in some pics esp the Brits are bright red patches that would be rather easily seen. I really like the way Aris has been fading the vehicle patches out so that they blend in with the camo a lot better... unless one gets very close.

There are quite a lot of US helmets... check thru the repository for earlier last year after CMBN came out.

You need Juju's interface mod which makes the buttons' position very clear.

I agree with you re the difficulty. I was just pointing out that unless the uniform is completely different all you can do is the arm patch and maybe the face. And one may simply not see any difference from regular Brits.

You (eventually) get a JgPzV in the KG Engel campaign, and it is having a lot of fun dancing with the KTiger. (Great campaign btw.)

The main thing about the Ghurkas is their fiercesome Kukri knife. Otherwise...

Yes, apparently it will be featured on Shrapnel's site according to them.

I keep seeing the screens that show during loading and it's hard to see any insignia. Common sense would dictate no colorful anything being kept to give away positions. Need to make sure your pics are not rear area types, or in safe zones or PR pics.

Is that from Shrapnel Games?

I know I feel like I'm burning out just watching the pace of mod production. I can barely keep up with installation! So, I dunno how Aris does it. Must be taking a lot of "pick me ups".

Yes. I suggest for greater clarity: "Frontier Post #11 guards the interior areas of Tajikistan – via Spilhu pass north to Shuroabod, which is only 20 km east of Kulyab." Good luck with the scenario!

RUSSIAN BRIEFING: After the collapse of USSR In 1991, Tajikistan became an independent state. Immediately, a struggle for power between different groups began. This struggle led to full-scale civil war in 1992. From 1993 onwards, Islamite forces fought against the legitimate government of the Republic of Tajikistan with increased support from adjacent Afghanistan. Kulyab – the southern outpost of Tajikistan government forces - became the main target of Islamite's efforts. Many attempts were made during the spring 1993 by Islamist forces to penetrate the border and link up with other antigovernment forces in Tajikistan. CURRENT SITUATION: Russian forces remain in Tajikistan from the Soviet era. They consist of Border Guard (Moscow and Panj border detachments) and mechanized infantry (201st motorized infantry division) with some air support. Their main duty is to defend the local population and the Afghan-Tajikistan border. Border defense is based on a series of independent frontier posts. Each post has a garrison of 40-60 men armed with small arms and grenade launchers. In the case of enemy attack on a post, a Maneuver Group with armor and air support is ordered to come and help. Our Border post's garrison must hold out until help arrived, then destroy or throw off the enemy. Frontier post #11 "Bug" is situated in the Kulob region of Tajikistan in the mountainous valley of the Panj river. The valley is about 600 meters wide surrounded by 200-300 meter high mountains. The post guards the interior areas of Tajikistan – north to Shuroabod, which is only 20 km east of Kulyab. The Islamist enemy has started to cross the border during the evening of 29 May 1993. The weather is cool and clear with a gentle western wind. Because all Islamist attempts to penetrate our border on our west flank, at "Moskva" area (in March 1993), and on our east flank, at "Leningrad" area (in April 1993) were repulsed by our forces, the Islamist forces are attacking the center. Their vanguards usually consist of conscripts who have received only basic military training. Better trained enemy soldiers enter the battle only after initial success is achieved. Frontier post #11 is located some 10 km from the closest adjacent post. Reinforcements can only reach this area after a long and difficult march. This post controls a critical part of border and must be held. As garrison commander you possess a force of 41 men armed with small arms and grenade launchers. One platoon is placed at barracks for rest, one platoon is now on guard duty at the border post and nearby fortified area. Immediately after the enemy (about 100+ men) was sighted, you sent a request for support to higher headquarters. Because of night beginning to fall, you can expect reinforcements in about 2 hours. But, 2 Mi-24 Hind helicopters have been dispatched for your support from the airbase at Moskovsky. The air support will arrive within 40 minutes. You task is to hold out until help arrives. Try to maintain low friendly casualties. Do not waste ammo. You must immediately move all your forces at the fortified defense area because the houses of the border post are a death trap. You must maintain a clear picture of the position of enemy forces to provide precise aiming for your airstrikes. Davai!!!

Denis: Change that sentence to: "The post guards the interior areas of Tajikistan – north to Shuroabod, which is only 20 km east of Kulyab."

Ok, thanks. Out of loyalty and respect for your work, I shall simply copy Patboy's improved bmp('s) into my Aris folder.

I continue my appeal for faded, work uniforms with barely seen insignia. Currently, the colorful insignia are guaranteed to stand out in any foliage for the convenience of snipers.

Do we need both mods at the same time, or can one simply combine the folders?

YOUR ENGLISH IS QUITE GOOD, DENIS. I JUST CLEANED IT UP A LITTLE. In 1991 after the collapse of USSR Tajikistan became an independent state. Immediately, a struggle for power between different groups began. In 1992 this became a full-scale civil war. The Northern government with Russian support managed to almost destroy the opposition. The Islamic opposition backed by Afghanistan forces under Ahmad Shah Massoud were pushed into the remote mountain regions at the south and east of the country. All attempts undertaken during spring 1993 to support Massoud's Islamic opposition with large military forces were repulsed by Russia's border-guards stationed here since the Soviet era. The Tajikistan-Afghanistan border was controlled by separate frontier posts and maneuver groups supported by armor and aviation. All head-on clashes with such forces led only to immediate defeat. Fortunately, Russian forces are small in numbers and poorly supplied. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989 and the collapse of Najibullah regime in 1992, Ahmad Shah Massoud, "Lion of Panjshir", became Minister of Defense and accumulated many weapons. During the Afghanistan civil war he tried to enlarge his controlled territory, and the Tajikistan civil war offered him great opportunities. Massoud's forces received huge reinforcements from Tajik's refugees. Although they received only basic training, these former refugees burned with a desire to return and establish an Islamic state in Tajikistan. Massoud used these contingents as a vanguard. Then more experienced mujahedeen fighters – veterans of anti-USSR campaigns – would be committed to battle. The main target for Massoud's offensive was the city of Kulob (Kulyab). This city is a suitable jump-off point for an offensive to Dushanbe and to unite all Allah's forces in the Qurgan-Tyube (Quorgonteppa) and Khorog (Khorugh) regions. Frontier post #11 "Bug" is situated in the Kulob region of Tajikistan in the mountainous Panj River valley. The valley is about 600 meters wide surrounded by 200-300 meter high mountains. It is close to the border post situated in Shpilhu pass. The post guards the interior areas – to Shuroabod, just 20 km east of Kulyab. (DENIS: THESE LAST COUPLE SENTENCES CONFUSED ME. SO AM NOT SURE I DID THIS CORRECTLY.) The action starts during the evening of 29 May 1993. The weather is cool and clear with a gentle western wind. Because all attempts to penetrate the border on the left flank "Moskva" area (in March 1993), and on the right flank "Leningrad" area (in April 1993) were repulsed, Massoud decides to attack in the center. Today the target is Border Post #11. Located some 10 km from the next closest post, it cannot rely on reinforcements arriving quickly. Border Post #11 controls important parts of the border. If we manage to seize it, we can easily support our comrades in Tajikistan. The garrison consists of a maximum of 50 men without heavy weapons. Enemy reinforcements could arrive only by one road from the North. If we seize the post, we can easily repulse them. Your detachment consists of 131 men armed with grenade launchers, MGs and small arms. Fire support is provided by mortar battery (3x82mm mortars). Your soldiers have a lot of small arms ammo, and enough rocket grenades. Mortar ammo is unfortunately limited. Most of yours fighters are former refugees with only basic training. The only veterans are recon squad and soldiers from the grenade launcher group. We start attacking in the evening because this makes difficult for the enemy to redeploy his forces and to conduct air support. You have around 2 hours to complete the mission before the first enemy reinforcements arrive. Advance quickly with all forces. Do not conduct long flanking maneuvers. Time is not on our side! But avoid a head-on attack too. The best initial position for attack is on the western slopes of Hill 935.4. Attack and capture the fortified defensive area. When the enemy retreats to the post fire at the buildings with grenade launchers. Then start a final attack. Do not waste your mortar support. At the initial stage of the battle make a short fire assault on post's houses. Next, use your remaining mortar ammo before your main attack to destroy the enemy in his trenches or houses. Allāhu Akbar!!!

The order in which one splits up a squad sometimes leads to different compositions (ie: sometimes a smg and a rifle rather than 2 rifles). Also, if you split off an AT team as a 2nd split, you will get an AT team with an inf symbol, and the remaining 4-6 men with no AT weapons get the AT symbol. And re scout life expectancy, to paraphrase M. Python: CO: "This is goodbye, Dimkins" Dimkins: "Oh don't say that sir, there's always hope... let's say Au Revoir." CO: "No, Dimkins. This is goodbye." Actually if you use em carefully, I find they can survive (mostly).

? Look good to me.

I first saw that "Emperor's Call" a few years ago. I keep it on my computer for whenever I need an emergency laugh. I mean, it would have been interesting to show a poll sequence of just how much of the population was unhappy with a well-ordered Imperial system that provided for so many. Darth Vader must have had a hell of a lot of aspirin or advil stocked away. (Hmmm... knowing this audience, I better insert a here.)

I use 2-man scouts all the time. But never to deliberately start combat, only to see what is out there - so with very restricted arcs. Their big, perhaps only advantage is that 2 guys can find good hiding spots easier, and are harder for the enemy to see and shoot at than 3 or 4+. Whether a higher morale scout is better is a good question. CM2 is so subtle that unless one is comparing Elites with Regulars or worse I find it impossible to determine any difference.

You can't have too much weathering as from a distance you can't tell - it just "looks right" - and in close one can marvel at your graphics skills. So, plz leave it as is.

Now, that is service! Thank you.

+1 to that. Altho' I like modern warfare,CMSF would have "meant" more had it been set in Iraq... altho' Syria is a sort of stand in. I thought Cold War 70's was a very popular subject (maybe only in those days?). I suspect BF was seduced by Aussie govt development money and dreams of US DoD contracts when they developed CMSF.

Slightly off topic, but addressing the Chinese expansionism in those days... a Serbo-Croat pal of mine tells me that Croatia is today being overrun by ethnic Chinese who are emigrating there en masse from China. Sounds weird, but she visits there often.