winkelried

Here some stuff I found making scenarios 1) Bofors 40mm AA guns are not available in May 1942, although I have at least two sources claiming that the 1st DFLF at Bir Hakeim was delivered 8 40mm Bofors AAG in early May 1942. 2) The Free French soldiers show the old French helmet in May 1942, although all pictures I saw the Free French were carrying British helmets. 3) I cannot load the French 81mm (transport class 3) on the Universal Carrier (Class 6) and the Bren Carrier (Class 3). Is there something wrong. and a fourth one: WHERE IS THE "KEPPY BLANC"???? And the BB3? A Chevrolet Portee mounting the 75mm Field Gun

Yes I did. The next is on the way.

Yep, but to be read with care. E.g. there are very different figures on the losses occured to the FFL: The 900 casualties don't hold probably. There are 193 graves at the Bir Hakeim memorial (this includes also losses occured during the escape) and the 90. leichte Division's war diary (Ia = Chief of Staff) lists 350 wounded and dead. For the prisoners the 90. leichte mentions 25 Officers and 820 NCOs and men. Also the material found by the Axis was significantly lower, they state 15 75mm guns, 5 25 pdrs, 6 4cm (47mm ATG or Bofors AAG) and 2 AAGs. They also laid hand on 130 trucks, 60 of them still in useable condition. Also the date of June 8th for the first attack of the 15th Panzer division's KG Baade cannot be established without doubt. There is a report from 15. Panzer which states that Baade departed only on June 9th. (Report of Lt. Dr. Kämpf to 15. Pz Ia). The attacks in the North of the French position on June 8th were probably the work of Kampfstaffel Kiehl (a relatively small combat group of Rommel's personal staff) together with Italian infantry (Pavia and Trieste). Eventually supported by some tanks of Ariete. To my knowledge KG Baade did not muster any tanks at this time (it consisted basically of KG Dedekind). Something like 1 reinforced batallion of Panzergrenadiers, 1 Artillery battery (105er) and some light Flak (Report of Lt. Kämpf to Ia 15. Pz). Maybe somebody has better source material.

And you can be sure that you'll see some additional ones coming from an old legionnaire like me I just need the game in my hands to do the programming. Research is done "Nous ne sommes pas ici pour nous rendre!" (We are not here to surrender) the reply of Gen. Koenig on the first request to surrender.

The only reference for WP shells I found in my readings is the battle described by Belton Y. Cooper in his book "Death Traps". He describes how a company of Shermans (17 tanks) got shot up by a few King Tigers. One Sherman 75 took two KT's out with WP ammo, before getting hit. Only one other KT was destroyed by a 76 Sherman. Cooper describes, that the KT crews bailed out, after they got hit by the WP because they believed that the KT had been seriousely hit. He also says, that the fumes of the WP entered the crew compartement through the engine room and a crack in the front plate (where the upper and the lower front plate were connected). Only one of the 17 Shermans seems to have used the WP ammo, obviousely there was no SOP to use this ammo. This supports the CMXX people's attitude on not including this type of ammo in the game.

Let it be Christmas ! What else should I do besides playing with my baby girl, opening Xmas presents, skiing, snowball battles, watching Lord of the Rings 3, and other boring stuff ... Let it be Christmas

Let it be Christmas ! What else should I do besides playing with my baby girl, opening Xmas presents, skiing, snowball battles, watching Lord of the Rings 3, and other boring stuff ... Let it be Christmas

On the average I don't see any difference between vehicles and fixed guns, although I mostly play the Soviet side. The M17 usually are quite ok. Best is to position them (and AAGs in general) in scattered trees. This reduces the visibility to aircraft considersably (at least it seems so).

I use trucks only with a good road system. Cross country they're usually quite useless. On the other hand I quite often buy MG Carriers. They have transport class 6, run at 30 mph and are fully tracked. At a good discount of the HT. Good for FO's, most ATG's, MGs and mortars. And they carry an MG.

I don't think that the target correction does the job. The delay would be too long to effectively keep the infantry pinned (I believe). In the army we used the "Harrassing" mission quite often, to get enemy infantry to advance more carefully (thus slower) or tanks/APC to close their hatches. The arty / mortars would fire just a few shots every minute. Would be nice in CM, wouldn't it: one or the other squad getting into "Pinned", the tank commanders getting their head down - the ATG would be difficult to spot Then the "Suppress" mission would be used, if you wanted the guys just to keep their heads down. The arty / mortars would fire at a reduced rate, although on a more regular basis than with the "Harrassment" mission. In CMBB he squads would be continually pinned. And then naturally we would use the "Destroy" or "Smoke" missions, as we know them already in BB.

I don't think that the target correction does the job. The delay would be too long to effectively keep the infantry pinned (I believe). In the army we used the "Harrassing" mission quite often, to get enemy infantry to advance more carefully (thus slower) or tanks/APC to close their hatches. The arty / mortars would fire just a few shots every minute. Would be nice in CM, wouldn't it: one or the other squad getting into "Pinned", the tank commanders getting their head down - the ATG would be difficult to spot Then the "Suppress" mission would be used, if you wanted the guys just to keep their heads down. The arty / mortars would fire at a reduced rate, although on a more regular basis than with the "Harrassment" mission. In CMBB he squads would be continually pinned. And then naturally we would use the "Destroy" or "Smoke" missions, as we know them already in BB.

I am lucky though ... the politruk just left me the choice to get shot for loosing the FO or leaving the cable behind. A real friend.

I am lucky though ... the politruk just left me the choice to get shot for loosing the FO or leaving the cable behind. A real friend.

I got the message. Didn't know about the copper thing, so I have to be a bit more prevoyant as a commander, or my politruk will write some ugly things in his report ...

I got the message. Didn't know about the copper thing, so I have to be a bit more prevoyant as a commander, or my politruk will write some ugly things in his report ...

I always understood, that one of the motivations for Eisenhower/Roosevelt (?) to stop at the Elbe and not to attack Berlin were the losses to expect from such a venture that late in the war. And the same motivation drove Truman to drop the bomb on Japan to avoid the perspective of loosing hundreds of thousands of American lives with an invasion of Japan.

1) FO Retreat "Normal" FO's move slower than normal troops (Movement class Slow). Probably to lay the cable. That's ok with me. What I don't understand is, that they also do so when they have shot their full ammo allocation. Here the situation. In an operation I defend and have a FO in a very forward position to fire against advancing enemy troops. All ammo spend the FO should retreat to fight again in the next battle. But the guy still moves "Slow". Why ? On a retreat the guys would just take their phone and run. Leave the cable where it is. What can I do ? 2) Slower Fire Rate (Maybe a - late - proposal for CMAK). I miss the option for a slower fire rate with artillery (e.g. using harrassment fire). Currently it is only possible to use the fire missions "Destroy" and "Smoke" (eventually with a large firing area). There should also be a "Harrassment" fire mission, where the guns would fire with a slower rate and therefore the ammo would last longer. This is needed in delaying action or when I want the enemy to keep his heads down. Good idea?

1) FO Retreat "Normal" FO's move slower than normal troops (Movement class Slow). Probably to lay the cable. That's ok with me. What I don't understand is, that they also do so when they have shot their full ammo allocation. Here the situation. In an operation I defend and have a FO in a very forward position to fire against advancing enemy troops. All ammo spend the FO should retreat to fight again in the next battle. But the guy still moves "Slow". Why ? On a retreat the guys would just take their phone and run. Leave the cable where it is. What can I do ? 2) Slower Fire Rate (Maybe a - late - proposal for CMAK). I miss the option for a slower fire rate with artillery (e.g. using harrassment fire). Currently it is only possible to use the fire missions "Destroy" and "Smoke" (eventually with a large firing area). There should also be a "Harrassment" fire mission, where the guns would fire with a slower rate and therefore the ammo would last longer. This is needed in delaying action or when I want the enemy to keep his heads down. Good idea?

Personally I prefer two of the the good ol' 57mm ATG with two MMG carriers as prime movers. This costs you just 320 points (veteran ATG) in 03/45, a bit more than 2 T34/85 and less than two SU-100. The ATGs have a high fire rate (6 to 8 shots per minute), are hard to spot and difficult to hit Get them in a good position (flanking, forest) as a pair and they get out 6 to 8 shots each in the first minute you let them open fire. You bet that they score hits and the penetration is comparable to a T34/85 and the tungsten pretty close to the SU-100. I killed a full King Tiger Platoon from a flanking position on 800m with this kind of team. 2 of the KT's didn't even have time to return fire And BTW, when you buy the whole Mechanized Guards Motorized Rifle Bn (Tank) '44 you get 4 of the bastards at a bargain price (85 pts instead of 112) ! I the use the T34s (be it 76 or 85) as vehicles for my tank riders and to hunt small game (such as Pz IV, Halftracks etc).

I tested a tactical variant against the computer: (1) Soviet Defense (Fixed Setup) - a stretch of the frontline is blocked with roadblocks starting at the left edge of the map. The obstacle is not visible to the enemy. (2) German (Test) Attack - Does a tank pass? I give a "Fast" order with one single waypoint just behind the enemy obstacle. (3) I push OK and watch. The tank drives around a bit. (4) I can give orders again. Oh wonder !!! the TacAI has traced a new route around the whole obstacle. I dont' even see the roadblocks. Is the TacAI Big Brother ? Screenshots on Request

I tested a tactical variant against the computer: (1) Soviet Defense (Fixed Setup) - a stretch of the frontline is blocked with roadblocks starting at the left edge of the map. The obstacle is not visible to the enemy. (2) German (Test) Attack - Does a tank pass? I give a "Fast" order with one single waypoint just behind the enemy obstacle. (3) I push OK and watch. The tank drives around a bit. (4) I can give orders again. Oh wonder !!! the TacAI has traced a new route around the whole obstacle. I dont' even see the roadblocks. Is the TacAI Big Brother ? What does the guy really know ?

I love the russkies because they can do human wave

Hi Moon, exactly what I say in my post. The 29 secs are ok. Flag waving etc. What I don't understand is the ADDITIONAL penalty I get for my tank commander to solve a simple problem, like driving on a road, around a house. Or does it take you an additional 5 seconds before you leave home for each road bend you need to drive down to the office ?

... continued: I strongly believe that there should be some platoon level orders in CMAK. Like give the platoon leader an order and a formation (e.g. column, line, wedge etc.) and then the tanks follow the leader in the defined formation with the current distances and try to stay within the same formation. E.g. by slowing down or moving faster.