TSword

Andreas, Sorry but your conclusion is somehwat contradictory to what you posted: Fact 1: In DV for use after May 1943, it's absolutely clear that it was desirable to fire the 8.8 while being on wheels (limbered pos). Fact 2: In the EARLIER DV published Sept. 1942 contradicts Fact 1 a bit in emphasizing that it is DESIRABLE to fire from fixed positions, no mention is made that firing on the carriage is prohibited. Now we can conclude that after May 1943 the 8.8 in essence was fired while on wheels, if the DV was taken as a guideline. In reading between the lines it may be obvious to say that the way the 8.8 was used depended highly on the tactical circumstences. In 1941 & 42 in the desert vs. heavy armored Brit. tanks were the firepower of the 8.8 was essential for the fast moving formations it's highly probable that the 8.8 was mainly used on the carriage because time and movability is of utmost importance. On the other hand a fixed fortified positions may be more desirable for untrained Flak-crews in a defensive posture. However according to DV of 1943 and after the 8.8 had to be preferably deployed on the carriage. Btw. german troops were trained to use their brain and not to adhere strictly to some DV, which were ment as a guideline. Greets Daniel

Too bad, no AAR yet where the attacker actually won. Still waiting... Greets Daniel

Mace, thanks for the nice model-picture !! The driver didn't have to drive it up to the demolition site, the thing was remote-controlled. It was manned for road marches and movement into the jump-off point. Hannibal Barka, Right, if deployed in masses an even easier method would be to create some strong Highvoltage electrical sparks (Broadband radiofreq-emitter). On the other hand the thing is quite a small target and doesn't have to stop and shoot but instead only explode 500 kg of explosive in front of your face.... Greets Daniel [ September 17, 2002, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: TSword ]

Hi, anybody heard anything whether the Heavy Demolition carrier has made it into CMBB ? To the history in the East of this remarkable device: In May 1942 Tankdetachment 300 F.L. with 2 Companies consisting of PzIII as remote-Control units and the Sd.Kfz 301. In Spring 1943 the 'Radiocontrol units' were enlarged to 3 light companies. From April to June 1943 a Total of 61 StuGIII were issued to the Radiocontrol units. Radio controlled units were deployed at Kursk. FKL 312 (10 StuG's and 36 B IV) as support for Tiger Abt. 506. FKL 314 supported PzJg Abt. 653. FKL 311 was subordinated to Grossdeutschland-Division in August 1943 and stayed there until May 1944. To the B IV: Radio controlled tracked vehicle with a 500 kg explosive Charge which could be dropped. For road marches the unit could be manned by a driver. The B IV was used primarily to destroy difficult targets as bunkers and the like and to breach minebelts. A snippet from Kursk: Deployment of Pz.Kp.FKL 314 at I./Pz.Jg.Rgt. 656 A very dense and deep echeloned Minebelt denied access to the russ. MLR (HKL = Hauptkampflinie). According to attackorder the 3rd Cpy started to explode lanes through the minefield. Because of the deepness of the minefield 12 B IV were used. The lanes then could be traversed by the Control tanks without damage.... In the further commencment of the battle 7 B IV were exploded. One of these plunged into a trench manned by infantry, the attacking infantry was exploded together with the B IV. Two B IV were guided to a heavy defended piece of wood and exploded. After this no resistance was encountered anymore. During the whole attack 4 B IV were knocked out of which one detonated (Fuze was already attached), the other 3 burned out without explosion. Deployment of Pz.Kp.FKL 312 at Tiger Abt. 505: The deployment of the Cpy in advance of the Tigers as reconaissance was in accordance with tactical necessities and was a good success: One B IV was used against a Paknest of 2-3 Pak's and accomp. Infantry at 800 m range and destroyed the strongpoint completely. One B IV was used vs. a T-34 at 400 m range. The T-34 was destroyed as he tried to ram the B IV. 3 B IV were guided towards 3 heavy gunbunkers and completely destroyed them. 1 B IV vs. an AT-Bunker guided, reached it, was hit and started burning 10 m in Front of the Bunker the ensuing explosion destroyed the Bunker. 2 B IV vs. an AT-Position and an Infantry Gun position, both destroyed. 1 B IV was attacked by Molotov-Cocktails, the unit was exploded and had an anihilating effect on the enemy position. Four B IV were knocked out by defensive fire. In total 20 B IV were used in four days. PzKp FKL 301: Report about deployment of a B IV unit during a Reconaissance in force vs. Belsek at 14.8. and the destruction of a bridge by use of a B IV. 1.) Order: Reconaissance in force vs. Belsek with a FKL-Platoon and a Platoon PzGren F.E.B (??). After reconaissance of the ground, both platoon deployed along a ravine west of the village. The FKL-Platoon took reverse slope position. The Grenadier-platoon advanced under the firecover of the StuG's within 600 m of the Eastern village border. At the same time 3 B IV were used for reconaisance of which one reached the eastern village border. The strong rifle- and MG- fire lessend as the B IV advanced towards the Village. The enemy seemed somewhat unsure. The Grenadiers received strong Mortar-fire and Art.-fire of a battery from the vicinity of Kotelwa. The B IV after a short retreat was again guided towards the village border and the charge dropped. The B IV itself was guided back. The confusion during and after the ignition of the charge was used by the Grenadiere to retreat. Success: The enemy lost several dead and wounded, several MGs and 3 mortars. Losses: None 2.) Order: Destruction of a bridge at Cholowdewtschia by use of a B IV. The bridge was laying under enemy fire. An explosion by a B IV was therefore necessary. The B IV was guided to the bridge from a reverse slope position. The enemy acted cautiously so that the B IV could reach the bridge. The commando to drop the charge failed after which the B IV had to be detonated. Success: Bridge was destroyed Losses: None Experiences: The B IV was guided toward the bridge from a range of 500 m without trouble. The enemy seemed surprised and acted cautiously. The 18 ton wooden bridge was completely destroyed. The whole 25 m length of the bridge was destroyed below the river surface. Wouldn't it be nice to have such a device in CMBB ? (Exotic true but nevertheless big fun i suppose....) Imagine the face of your PBEM opponent as a horde of B IV's approaches his positions... Greets Daniel

Nidan1, I see no problem in simulating horses other then performance restrictions. Behaviour can be simulated with exactly the same algorithms already in the game (panicking, morale etc.). 3 Horses are mounted by Inf the same way tanks are (Of course additional animation sequences have to be made, which when made with motion tracking is quite expensive..) There are two desriptions of russian Pony-riders outrunning tracked german vehicles, in Last Victory in Russia, on pursuit on the snowcovered hilly steppe, the vehicles throwing tracks, braking axles and producing severe headaches in the futile attempt... Hope to see that and motorcycles and bycicles after the engine rewrite !! Greets Daniel

Chad, Andreas, Fully agree, the gun should be able to fire in limbered condition as was done in africa regularly. The few 8.8's always traveled behind the tanks and were put into action as soon a tank-counterattack or heavy opposition was encountered. The leading tanks throwing dust and smoke while the 88 got into position behing them, then the tanks retreated into save positions and the 88 blasted away relocating after a few shots. In unlimbered pos the 10-man crew should be able to move the thing quite easily a short distance on flat and dry ground especially paved roads. We moved fully loaded 4 ton trailers quite easily with 4 men on paved and flat roads. (The most important job was the man on the brake and steering axle, because once moving the thing has his own mind...), i know, got nearly crunched by one... Greets Daniel

New working of the machineguns together with Arcs and the cammo-bonus have serious impact on the way one will attack with inf in the future, no go without proper supressive fire. Cammo Bonus for AT-guns, in general better concealment and new penetration algorithms and differences in optics performance will change tankfighting considerably. I think one will soon find out how important and effective combined arms really are relative to CMBO. Manouvering will become more interesting and rewarding especially in the 'early' Scenarios vs. the Russ. Ubertanks (KV-1, T-34) recon, manouvering, combined arms will be paramount for success. One of my first scenarios will have an infantry patrol and capturing of soldiers for investigation as it's main objective. Another will have the breaken through enemy advance along a road (rel. narrow long map) where your mobile force has the task of intercept and to destroy it, while 1 or two stronpoints have to delay the enemy and many more.... Greets Daniel [ September 10, 2002, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: TSword ]

Hitler moved to Berlin in Feb. 1945 after being in the Adlerhorst near the Western Front for several days near Rundstedt's HQ. As Hitler realised that everything was lost he decided to go back to Berlin and stay there no matter what. His last ressort was there. He took over Power in Berlin and he would fight there to the end. If for instance Hitler would have left Berlin to the South as Himmler and many others insisted, the fight would have commenced probably some weeks longer. Berlin and the death of Hitler was the key to end the game. Germany was Hitler and Hitler was Germany (If one reads the Wolfsschanze protocols or the extremly interesting memoirs of his private clerk Traudl Junge this becomes evident by itself), he was the spirit behind the whole no doubt (It's unbelievable the kind of control and influence Hitler had on people around him). After 1943 Hitler's dead would have put an abrupt end to Nazigermany, only the unconditional surrender clause would have hindered this a bit. Himmler, Goering or Goebbels wouldn't have had the power to take the kind of control of the Wehrmacht as Hitler did. The Allieds would have been able to kill Hitler up to 1944 in Wolfsschanze relatively easy by a massive air raid since the shelters were not strong enough up till then. Strange in retrospect that it was never tried. Greets Daniel

Torsion bar suspension does not necessarily mean better suspension. Actually there was a torsion bar suspension tried out with a pre-war PzIV prototype which was found to be inferior to the actual suspension then implemented for the PzIV. Panther had the most sophisticated torsion bar suspension used in WWII with actually two bars coupled per wheel thus giving the tank an exceptionally soft ride (more then 50 cm travel, only half of that possible with a single bar and much lower resonance frequency) and thus superior crosscountry speed. Greets Daniel

Gryphon, P3's up to version G had a 10 gear Maybach Variorex Gearbox thus allowing much higher speeds then 40 km/h especially when going slightly downhill before overrevving the engine. Starting version H a less complex 6 gear SSG 77 Gearbox was introduced which reduced max. possible speed before overrevving the engine. Btw. www.jagdtiger.de has a fine moviesection of a restored StugIII G (And even better a beautiful restored Panther G) where one can hear the distinct sound of the Maybach engines. Greets Daniel

AM, Very vague information How was target aqcuisition done, buttoned or unbuttoned ? What means prepared/unprepared crew and all the other modes ? Where those executed also with german tanks and compared accordingly ? What state did the german crews have prep or unprep ? Where the crews for the german tanks trained on and familiar with the tank ? Were the german crews trained with german training methods to the level according to war years ? Greets Daniel

How does Sewer moving actually function in CMBB ? Can one post squads in them to intercept possible infiltrators, or mine them or booby trap them ? Will a sewer always end within a building or always again on a street or mixed ? How many Squads can enter/exit at a time ? Can sewers be marked as unknown to the other side ? Can an unknown Sewer be detected with time ? Very interesting feature for urban fighting Greets Daniel

Grisha, Dickfeld mainly encountered MiG-3's in 1942 (Which they did shoot down to the point were the MIG-3 pilots refused to fight them. They even dropped invitations for a 2-man (Dickfeld & Graf) vs. as much MIG-3's the russians may bring in the air over a russian airfield, of course nobody showed up). It was not before being stationed around Mineralny Vody late 1942 before they encountered some lend-lease planes in the South. Greets Daniel

Sorry to ask this, but were are the actual CMBB-mechanics for airsupport covered ? Will there be on call strikes as was the case regularly in german battlegroups ? There were smoke grenades to mark targets for the Stukas and major objective battle groups had liason officers riding in the command vehicles at the head of the formation to call for air support within CM-battle timescale (Stukas circeld overhead and waited for target acquisitions by the liason officer). Also is it possible to mark a certain bunker or area for airsupport (Simulating Stukas attacking) to have a kind of airbarrage (Stukas being the really heavy artillery). Timing of this barrages was key, since they had a very effective suppressing effect but not killing the defenders when being dug in, so it was essential to have the barrage exactly timed before the attackers charged the positions as was emphasized and stressed in german attack tactics regulations. Will the Stukas scream and terrorize the conscript troops ? Greets Daniel [ September 08, 2002, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: TSword ]

Sirocco, have to agree to a great extent ! Although we have to wait only a comparable short time for the new game (hopefully) and the scenarios show some of the new important features they still are a bit pale and probably not very convincing to new gamers. Chance Encouter and Valley of trouble were really two of the best scenarios with diff. tactical possibilities and showing off a great part of the game. I can life perfectly with it, but honestly, was utterly disapointed to see such a bad balanced an ahistorical (bad pick) of german and Russian force in Citadel. Citadel stays for massive ari, trenches, bunkers, masses of Russ-infantry and tanks, mines and german combined arms (SS-Pz never did attack in a way as in Central Citadel for instance other then by accident). Something in the line of Valley of trouble would have been matched much better, instead one receives 14 tanks opposing part of a AT Bat. and no inf something which was the absolute exception. (Maybe the sizelimit for the Demo also played a part) On the other side Yelnia and the Tutorial are quite nice but again very limited tactics wise (terrain) and thus suffering in replayability. However once CMBB will out we will see a flood of scenarios never seen before i think, since CMBB opens completely new possibilities, because of the changes and enhancements in the engine and the vast timescale covered. Me for my part already have several ideas for some scenarios never seen before in CMBO (A big tear for no Russ.Cavalry and recon-Bikes). Greets Daniel

BFC, BTS Can understand your time limits ! For the future wouldn't it be nice to integrate a small API-set into the next version to allow the community (All the Modders) to enhance the games playability in differnt directions like say Rosters, OOB's, force selection, dynamic map creation -> support for big campaigns Projects already forming ? Only API's to read out some parts of the database, and to edit very specific points (force selection and map creation). I suppose you have some kind of DB or lists in your game at runtime which could easily be read by some linked Dll's. So you could concentrate on the essentials, while we the crowd could tweak the surroundings and interface. You wouldn't loose a single dollar on the contrary ! Greets Daniel

Had several brew ups and explosions already. One T-34 exploded in Yelnia by a violent 150 m range penetration through the turret front by 3.7 ATG (The whole front screamed Hurraa). One P3 exploded while being hit square in the lower hull flank by a 7.62 cm HE round of a KV-1S. Several others brew up in Zitadelle. Have you also noticed that Molotov cocktails may ingnite the terrain and start a small fire (Cool thing) ? Greets Daniel

Someone noted: "X = Engine on fire = Bail as soon as you realise this is the case. (this might take some time to notice!)" Some tanks were fitted with fireextinguishers, in case of (the ones i know for sure..) Tiger and Panther an automatic extinguisher was installed with a warning lamp at the drivers panel for an engine fire. There was also a second extinguisher in the crewcompartment which could be operated freely (It's filling was something Halon-like). In case of an engine fire smoke was normally not pushed into the crewcompartment as long engine run, because the fans created a lower pressure and sucked it out. (A Tiger or Panther with engine fire was something really spectacular, because the fans would create a towering flame (suck air in from the gills and push fire out the fan opening). Greets Daniel

Try the following, To simulate a NKVD-officer, put a grim looking HQ- or MG- Squad behind the advancing troops with advancing area fire shortly behind your troops, maybe they will take the bait. This will eventually enhance the moral state of the betrayers a bit, and bring them to their feets again and towards the direction of the enemy. Greets Daniel

Wait until the MG42 makes it's appearance late 1942, then the real massacres will start. Greets Daniel

I think the Tutorial can only be won without extra troops if one is lucky with the ATG in killing both Tanks early. SPOILER WARNING With a gun and a Squad and 1 HQ one can get the Russians panicked using arcs on the open between two forests. Posting the other Squad together with a HQ in ambush near the entry point into wood with flag kills eventual intruders. But key is to neutralize tanks early. Greets Daniel

Yes would be great, BUMP !

Never experienced premature change to HE. Had an empty KV-1S in Zitadelle two P3 left, openend up on one of them with HE in the flank at 500 m and BOOM the P3 exploded in a fiery explosion. Also all my ATG always use their AP up to the last round (with Vehicle Arc fire or targeted by me) and not switching to HE by their own. Greets Daniel

JohnDSalt, When half the crew is injured with broken legs and arms, heavy concussion of the rest, naturally bailing out takes somewhat longer.... In the games i've played so far the crews bailed rather quick. No problems so far. Greets Daniel

Good work Chad ! I found a typo. The production of P3 ceased in August 1943 in favour for StuG III- and Panther- production. Moreover P38t was still very prominent in Mid 1942 in german tankarsenal. Greets Daniel [ September 04, 2002, 07:01 AM: Message edited by: TSword ]