Erwin

Thanks for the work you did.  But, you describe 11th armoured as the Desert Rats, when that was 7th armoured.  11th was "The Black Bull".
 

Thanks for the work you did.  But, you describe 11th armoured as the Desert Rats, when that was 7th armoured.  11th was "The Black Bull".
 

Thank you Kaunitz for the very informative (June 5 post) video re platoon formations and scouts!
The video answered many questions I have had for years of playing WW2 CM games:
1)  A platoon would be spread out covering about 150 yards when moving (either column or in various combat formations).  
2)  A typical 13 man squad would consist of two 2-man scout teams, a 2-man BAR team and a 5-man fire team and leader plus radioman/messenger.  
3)  Scouts would be dozens of yards and even a few hundred yards in advance (or on the flanks) so long as visual contact was maintained with the platoon (or squad) leader.
This raises issues in the WW2 CM games.  1)  We cannot split our 13 man squads in this way.  2)  It's rare that the CM2 maps allow sufficient long distances for proper scouting tactics or platoon dispersion.
Also around 1800 there is a pic of a tank called "Fury" - just like the movie.
The other videos in the series are probably worth studying as well.

Here's some helmet p0rn for you all but especially Frenchy  - pure filth!


Announcing (taken from the readme) ...
Lucky_Strike’s - SS helmets
This mod uses the superb work of Tashtego, Jaquinot, EZ, JorgeMC and of course Battlefront, as a starting point. It unashamedly borrows, amalgamates and hacks their work plus adds some brand new textures inspired by genuine WW2 Waffen SS helmet covers and camouflage ‘effects’, as well as some ‘probable’ applications. There are 15 possible helmets all numbered and ready to install and enjoy, or hack some more if you prefer!
I design these mods for my personal gaming experience. I use a custom version of BarbaricCo’s WarMovie shaders ADVANCED v.112 for CMBN. Below you can see what the mods look like in game with some of EZ’s fantastic uniform mods. Please don’t expect the colours within your own game setup to look exactly like they do in the preview images.

Files are at CMMODS III here
Lots more preview images - go knock yourselves out!
All thanks and praise to Tashtego, Jaquinot, EZ, JorgeMC and anyone else I forgot for their original mods, help and inspiration, and of course to the guys at Battlefront for such a great and enduring game.
Lucky_Strike
 

When FI is complete they would have most of the units that would be needed for NA.  Considering the popularity of CMSF I and II you'd think that people would love to get back to the desert in WW2.

Dear GOD.... I hope so... Operation Compass, BattleAxe, Crusader, Gazala Battles... hell could you win a campaign as the Italians vs the UK?    So many great battles.  Sidi Barrani,  Bardia,  Tobruk, Bedda Fomm.  1st and Second German campaigns.  You could do some UK LRRP scenarios.  Naval support, Air Support...   To me it was a damn good Combat Series.

By the way, regarding fighting in woods, this might be interesting (the channel also features a video on us. rifle squad tactics which is highly recommendable): 
 

Looks great!

I like the theory that happy people don't accomplish much - why should they - they are happy with the way things are.  
ie: The world is moved forwards/changed by the disaffected folks with bad childhoods who have an axe to grind/chip on their shoulder/something to prove.  NB: PR often presents such people as happy, but if one digs into their BG, there's usually something dark. 
 
 

For average gamer purposes that looks amazing.  Hope the historical accuracy grogs don't put you off.

Welcome back, Koh...

yes

Impressive work, guys.  100% accuracy is less important than the feel and the visuals imo. "Verisimilitude."

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.

Later war features more US forces, which is probably the largest market for the CM games.  Most of us on this board loved the early war period, Rommel in the desert, Barbarossa etc.  But, we here are only a hundred(?) or so - so a tiny % of the existing market for the CM games.  

Gorgeous.

I like the subdued colors of the upper pic.  But, in the summer sun, it could be quite likely that RL colors are similar to the lower pic. Looks like a typical shot from a "Move To The Country" ("how lovely it would be") reality TV show (that seems to make up about 50% of all UK TV these days).  😎

Yes... 
Also, CMSF1 scenarios heavily penalized one for friendly casualties (and often for using too much ammo as well).  That really taught one to preserve friendly forces as well as ammo.  Made me a much better CM1 player.  But, it was a shock to play the later WW2 titles and then CMBS where bloodbaths seemed to be more normals and acceptable.  

Very good video.  Makes me want to go out and buy the game... at least another 3 times.

...And as Mike said, giving Goering and the Luftwaffe some fun/glory would also be a third reason why Dunkirk wasn't crushed immediately.  Taken altogether it looks like an xnt decision to halt the German attack - just that with the benefit of hindsight H underestimated the first of many Churchill's "Nuts" moments ...
PS:  To my amazement the spousal unit LOVED the movie!  Said it's cos it's not yer typical "warbore" movie, but done in a very innovative style.  She liked the relationships of the desperate men and their struggle to survive.
So, take your sigothers...  Maybe if "Dunkirk" does well enuff we'll see a resurgence of quality movies on WW2.

Yes, that's what I recall as well.  Thanks for the clarification.
What I also liked about CM1 was that sound contacts were not accurate the way that they are in CM2.  You could blast away at a sound contact in CM1 and miss by many meters.  It took me some time to realize that if you shoot at an enemy sound contact in CM2 it's highly likely you can suppress or do damage.  That seemed less realistic than the way it was implemented in CM1.  But, then again, perhaps in RL, sound contacts are actually accurate(??)

+1

CONTACT 
As soon as 1st platoon dismounts in front of NAI 3, they make contact.

It appears to be a squad sized element split between two buildings. Bradley gunnery is up to a high standard, and rounds are immediately pumped into both buildings before the enemy has a chance to fire at my dismounting infantry.

The enemy is suppressed, and friendly infantry begins to cautiously advance forward to clear the rest of the complex.

Suddenly an enemy ATGM flies out from behind NAI 3 and slams into a Bradley, destroying it and killing the driver.

Moments later, an Abrams in overwatch spots a BMP-2 hiding behind NAI 3 and destroys it with a HEAT round.

Just as suddenly, more enemy infantry are spotted in the buildings, and a close range firefight breaks out.

The firefight is short and violent. No friendly casualties are suffered.

A lull in the fighting momentarily occurs, and I use the opportunity to push up a scout team armed with a javelin to try to get eyes on the second BMP-2 to the rear of NAI 3.

As the scout team is moving up, they are suddenly engaged by the second BMP-2.

30mm HE rounds streak down the road and explode against trees and the ground, though miraculously none of my scouts are hit by the fire. One of the scouts is armed with an AT-4 and takes a shot at the BMP.

 
Unfortunately the shot falls short, but the scouts are able to crawl out of the line of fire and suffer no casualties. The BMP poses a problem due to its positioning, but the encounter could have gone much worse.
A survivor of the Bradley’s barrage pops up and fires a few bursts. This time, the enemy’s aim is good, and I suffer a casualty.

My infantry, as well as an Abrams in overwatch, return fire with small arms and coax. Its enough to finish off the lone enemy soldier.
The BMP-2 is in a good keyhole position, covering down a road that separates my infantry from the buildings on NAI 3. Crossing a road like this is already a very dangerous thing to do, and is known as a Linear Danger Area (LDA). In order to deal with this serious threat, I move Scout Team 3 off of their observation post and down into a position where they can get eyes on the BMP and engage it with their Javelin.

The scout team is able to get into position and take aim. The scout fires moments later, and the missile hits its mark.

On the right flank, 3rd platoon advances cautiously into the woods covering NAI 1. It doesn’t take long to find the enemy. A fire team takes fire from it’s front and suffers a minor casualty. Thankfully, the soldiers body armor prevents the wound from being serious.

One of the scout teams helping to clear the woods pushes up and spots the enemy. They begin engaging with rifle fire and grenades.

Having pinned down the enemy, the scout team capitalizes on the situation and rushes the fighting position.


The scouts kill the remaining enemy soldier and occupy the fighting position for themselves. In this short but violent exchange, I was lucky. I only suffered one man lightly wounded, while killing 2 enemy soldiers and taking their fighting position. The last thing I want to do is get sucked into a costly close quarter fight in these woods. It’s not even my main objective.

Moments later, another enemy position is discovered further into the woods, on a very slight reverse slope.

 
My goal is to quickly sweep the edges of the forest for enemy assets that can pose a long range threat to my advance down the MSR, such as ATGM teams or artillery spotters. Once these threats have been found and neutralized, the infantry will fall back and let the armored vehicles strongpoint the position. That way, if the enemy decides to attack out of the woods, they will be cut down in the open by my vehicles.
Here is an overhead view of the woods covering NAI 1:

This should help to illustrate my intentions with NAI 1. I would need much more than a platoon of infantry to clear these woods, and even then it would be long and bloody. It simply isn’t worth the effort. The good news is, the terrain appears to be too dense for the enemy vehicles to emerge in any semblance of order or speed. As long as NAI 1 is strong pointed by friendly armor, I should be able to keep it bottled up and it will not pose a threat to my advance down the MSR.
2nd platoon (infantry) along with elements of 2nd platoon (armored) and the Task Force command element move forward to establish new overwatch positions along the right side of the MSR.


A call comes over the radio informing the JTAC that the Apache called in on the possible enemy armor concentration behind NAI 1 is now on station. Moments later, a missile is seen streaking into the sky.

The shot came so fast that the Apache pilot didn’t have time to pop flares in defense. The enemy missile hits the Apache, destroying it. This is an expensive lesson to learn. The airspace is not safe for aircraft. Half of my available fire support is now restricted until I can proof the airspace.
However, there is hardly any time to contemplate this new dilemma. The two tanks from 2nd platoon (armored) advance to a berm and discover…

What appears to be an entire enemy tank company in a reverse slope position, at point blank range. Before either of my tanks have a chance to react, one of the enemy tanks fires at Number 3 tank. The round impacts the berm, causing no damage. My tanks are quick to respond. In rapid succession, they pump 2 rounds into targets to their direct front, destroying them.


The exchange is not one sided. Before either of my tanks have a chance to reload, number 3 tank takes a penetrating hit to its lower glacis plate.

The Abrams is destroyed, but all 4 crewmen survive the hit and are able to bail out of the tank without suffering a casualty.
While this is happening, the infantry from 2nd platoon dismount their Bradley’s and begin advancing on NAI 11. They are immediately greeted by a hail of gunfire from enemy infantry occupying the buildings on NAI 11.


The fire causes no casualties, and is quickly returned and silenced by 25mm HE fired from the Bradley’s overwatching the infantry as they dismount.
I’m now in a precarious position. I have deployed infantry and their Bradley’s dangerously close to enemy tanks in a reverse slope position. Further, I now only have 1 tank directly observing and engaging what appears to be a company of enemy T-72s. If the T-72s are able to maneuver out of the reverse slope position, they could destroy a significant number of Bradley’s and Abrams at point blank range with just a single volley. I have tanks in overwatch positions, but they would likely not be able to react in time to prevent a mini-catastrophe.
In response, I quickly maneuver 2 teams of Abrams to either flank of the reverse slope position to keep the enemy engaged and hopefully pin him down/destroy him so the T-72s cannot threaten my IFVs and infantry in the open.

What happens next is pure chaos.