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Perhaps these were only "field modifed Shermans" as wikipedia states: "In June–July 1944, the Army accepted a limited run of 254 M4A3E2 Jumbo Shermans, which had very thick armor for the front plate, sloped somewhat more steeply to eliminate the forward hull entryway bulges on the upper portion of the original glacis plate, and the 75 mm gun in a new, heavier T23-style turret, in order to assault fortifications." So they would not have been in theatre until later, but as the vehicle pack includes German modified French vehicles then I guess US field modified shermans are still in scope.

I will have to recheck my sources, but it said later in the normandy campaign they came about from engineers welding extra plates onto a standard sherman.

Reading about this tank recently, and i am gutted that it did not make it into the vehicles module. It was only in Normandy in small numbers ~120 but they would have seen a lot of combat as they were so popular for assaults and tank killer duties. Any chance of a vehicle module upgrade to add this in?????

Title says it all, weather is getting warmer but I need my fix of winter WW2 battles. Anyone know anything on the bulge game release?

Never reload - enjoy the challenge of still winning despite the setback.

Yes it is amazing how these old games had AI all sorted out Also you should see the complaints about the totalwar AI on its forum before you hold it up as being better that CM!! As commented above "smoke and mirrors" sums up PC game AI perfectly.

That is a bit of bombshell Steve, I personally think the graphics are not holding the game back (but like anything can always be improved) but I hope this niche is alive and well in a few years and the company has plenty of drive for a game engine 4+. The game series has evolved so much in 10 years, i am excited about the what it could become with another 10 years for development.

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

Over-penetrate? I assume you mean miss all the vehicles critial parts (including the crew) and leave 2 nice ventilation holes?

I had one of my russian main battle tanks immobilised by a plowed field, they are better than anti-tank mines

I have not found them to be much use so far in BS. They are all armed with assault rifles just like the infantry but when i tried to combine 2 crew into a vehicle to use one as the gunner he just went in as a passenger (it was not is original vehicle) so I could not find a way to man the vehicle mounted weapon.

i like the idea of a theme week, everyone to create a tiny battle x vs y and make it a bit of a competition for best in class. As long as it started small scale and re-using existing maps as an option (as mapmaking can take some time might) it might get some interest going.

I live in Southampton (England) - did i miss something?

Looks like a great first module to me, deployment of NATO spearhead force and campaign. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31149958

**spoiler*** the AGL is a awesome weapon, i did win this one first time, but even after thinking i had taken out the AGL team they had just retreated upto the forest in the corner of the map where they setup again with even better arc of fire!!

I never knew that, thanks Sergei

I see there are 3 months to choose from in the QB setup srcreen, does it actually change anything (unit availability or graphics) or is it just there for future expansions to use?

I am in the UK and could not stay up that late to watch the game, but it sounded like it was a great game so will be watching it tonight. Then just the 6 months wait until the season starts again (they really should play more games)!!

I must admit to be struggling with the Russians at the moment, I thought it was because i am more familiar with the US side from CMSF days. However I am on mission 3 of the Ukraine campaign and so far so good, so i am starting to think it is about my tactics against the US as the Ukraine has the same equipment as the Russians.

I enjoyed this one as well, Russian do have night vision on their weapons (those US ones on the helmet look really unwieldy but must be better when on the move). I managed to get 2 SA-13's and took out the flanking APC, but took a lot of hits and my remaining troops just managed to limp out in time. If it was not for the casualties i would have been happy enough but I will have to have another crack at this one to do better.

We-Go Elite

One thing to note, the drones would not have been much use trying to spot a stationary sniper team in cover. However a platoon moving in the open would have been picked up quickly by the US drone.

Just played the small battle August morning, and absolutely loved it - everything that is good about CM for me every soldier and bullet counts. Black Sea looks to a really good game overall the new tech is awesome, making me think in a very different way to my WW2 approach to battles.

Just as an update - I have now given my money to BF but the servers are so overloaded my download has not even started yet

Good to hear - I am on the edge of my seat waiting to give BF my money when it opens to everyone