Brent Pollock

Woohoo! Haven't played one yet but I've had them donwloaded for a while. Thanks!

We got up to Turn 9 results before he left for holidays...

Result: Left : Artillery continues to be absent – phew! Found an ATG hanging out on the left wall of the factory: must’ve been set up to get a quick flank shot as a StuG rounded the corner. Frankly, I’m amazed it didn’t get zapped by a stray 152 mm shell. It ends the turn in rough shape after one of my squads works it over for about 40”. Left: end of turn 9 Centre: Ugh – that platoon on the left corner is crumbling and the FT team’s snuffed it. A Russian squad pops out of the sewer in the midst of them all to add to the mayhem. The AA gun has been spotted in the deep left of centre as it starts peppering on of my squads that’s made it to the end of the factory. The light AFV indeed turns out to be the FT tank: got to watch that. The StuG, after some shuffling, finally starts to land rounds onto the building, and the partner has shown up: it should drop next turn, or soon after that. Centre: end of turn 9 Right Flank: Gaddammit – when will I learn that you’re never TOO far from a sharpshooter. The COs of both reinforcing Pz IVFs get whacked in under half a minute. Otherwise, things move along well enough. No HE falling, not even much in the way of mortar fire…no more buwwitts, perhaps? The pioniere are starting to get back into the swing of things now that both Pz IVGs are pounding the strongpoint. Right: end of turn 9

It does all seem a tad baffling...I take it that the "da big gunned" HT was armed with the short 75, yes? I'm guessing he winged an unbuttoned SU-152 CO whilst blasting canister at a different target.

Glad it's still generating interest. Updated to Turn 9 orders. My opponent will be away for a week so there will likely be little new stuff until Nov 15/16.

Results: Left Flank: The 152s seem to have stopped. Nothing much happens during the scouting other than finding a squad in the outpost building on the left side of the other factory. Left flank: end of turn 8 Centre: My right side factory platoon seems to be crumbling under small arms fire: maybe because some of them are half-squads? The FT dishes some more hot stuff and attracts fire in return. I’ve spotted a T34 and light tank well behind the factory, and the other T34’s star didn’t disappear when the second one showed up: this’ll give my AFVs some breathing space. The StuG IIIE is in position to pound the building giving my guys grief…for some reason I put the StuG IIIF in Hunt mode so it’s lagging behind. The good news: the suppressing fire seems to have been effective on the guys in my backfield. Third bunker spotted nestled in the clump of buildings to the left of the factory. Centre: end of turn 8 Right Flank: The 76 mm rain has ceased but the mortar and small arms fire is giving my guys problems. The only hope for this company is that there is precious little supporting it and that two Pz IVGs will be enough support. Left: end of turn 8 --------- Turn 9 Orders: Same as before, with no sewer orders. Centre: Same as before, but now the StuGs get to fire in support. Right Flank: Same as before but we’ve received 2 x PzIVF and 2 x infantry platoons and 1 x 105 spotter on this flank, so expectations have risen. Also, both Pz IVs are in position to pound the building. [steve will be on holiday for a week starting tomorrow, so don't expect much action in that span] [ November 07, 2003, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

If you mean Hubert Meyer's work, I've got the English language version here at home (ISBN 0-921991-18-5). Picked it up here in Calgary at the store in the Museum of the Regiments.

Updated with orders for Turn 8...

--------- Turn 8 Orders: Left Flank: More 152-phobia on the left side of the factory. The other guys are going to send some assault half-squads into the rubble to see what they can see. Some LMG half-squads start firing on the Soviets that set up behind our central start line: those guys are harassing my stragglers, so I need to relieve that pressure. I hope the StuGs get into position this turn. Centre: Time to dish firepower on the left side where I’ve run into a platoon or so and the light mortars. Central platoon goes exploring. Right side tries to whack the AC and prepare for this “Light Armor” sound contact that seems to be heading our way….could be the FT tank. Right Flank: Keep crawling. More smoke called for from the Pz IV, and then I need it to shift to the right edge to try and deliver HE on the squad that is about to chop up my FT man. Sure hope the OBA runs out of ammo really soon.

Well, as I stated above, I can't really fault him there as I did the same thing: no TRP in the Centre. As far as I can tell, that was the only "lacking". Charging out of the factory towards my guys didn't help, but I don't think having them sit tight would've made a huge difference, they just would've died in the factory instead of outside it. The amount of smoke I called in was designed to cause a thorough eclipse of the sun right in front so my guys could be free from incoming fire until they hit the factory. Considering that his artillery is busy mauling 1/2 to 2/3 of my flanking forces, he isn't doing abominably.

Turn 7 results: Results: Left Flank: Same as last turn: more 152 mm pain, the StuGs aren’t in a support position yet and the scouts don’t spot anything…although there are a few hints that a general contraction is underway of Russian troops towards the centre. Centre: Redeployment continues. Reinforcements encountered on the left side of the factory and I seem to have found a couple of 50 mm MTRs. Stragglers still taking it on the chin. Right Flank: I’ve lost the 20 to 30 guys to this artillery, and the PzIV stopped after one smoke round…thanks guys…big help. [ November 05, 2003, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

I hope it's not too late to put in a plea for the CMAK rulebook to have one change from the CMBB rulebook: no background image of a soldier on every page. I found it makes some sections hard to read as the background varies. I remember when the Avalon Hill GENERAL (RIP) tried this and no one much liked it. Just because desktop publishing lets you do something doesn't mean you should [ November 04, 2003, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

Fear not: The screen shots are embedded as hyperlinks, so you shouldn't have to wait for them to load when you view the AAR thread (at least that's what happens when I access it using my home and work computers). If you want to look at the picture, you can click the link and wait for it to open in a separate window...or you can ask me for it and I'll send one zipped.

Why would I have wanted to enlarge the set up area in the editor? That would've ruined the FOW for me because I would've seen the Russian set up zones, yes? As I stated, someone else had generated the map. All of the units did eventually fit into the designated set up zone, but it took me some time to "select-and-move" them out of the jumble. [Does some digging in the QB Maps folder...] Here it is, "SP-QB Rubble-Axis Atk.cme". It's one of the QB maps from the Stalingrad pack.

Had this occur a while back when setting up someone's pre-made factory map (sorry, it's been quite some time so I don't remember who's it is....it's taken me this long to figure out how to use the free picture host site). What you're looking at is pretty much an entire or company...or more, set up right on top of the infantry gun. I have no idea what would've happened if I'd just hit go... Side view Top view From what I can tell, this happened because the German set up zone is a one tile strip around the outside, and it's not an overly large map. [ November 03, 2003, 10:12 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

...Turn 6 results and Turn 7 orders. and links to SCREENIES, now that I've figure out how to use a free picture hosting site. [ November 04, 2003, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

Results: Left Flank: More of the same from last turn: the 152 mm HE continues to inflict damage on my greyboys and the factory. The StuGs have started backing up, but I don’t think they’ll be in position for a couple minutes. The scouts don’t spot anything. Left: End of Turn 6 Centre: The slaughter continues, with fleeing Russians getting shot in the back by one or two full platoons at once. Both FT teams in the factory start squirting, with the most spectacular one being on the right side – bunker go BOOM! Bunker go boom! Stragglers running about 50:50, but the right side should be easier with the bunker nixed. The 105 mm HE drops into the rear of the factory. A T34 has finally been spotted: it looks like its moving into the back of the factory to shore it up. Centre: end of Turn 6 Right Flank: The pioniere continue to take mortar and OBA fire. PzIVs dishing smoke and moving up to help. Right: End of Turn 6 --------- Turn 7 Orders: Left Flank: No change in plan. Centre: Time to start exploring, with one platoon going to the left, another two forward (after resting up the tiring/tired guys) and another going right. Trying to explore and extract the stragglers from their predicament. Harassing 105 has been lifted and shifted, due in 5’. Right Flank: No change. The first PzIV is now in position to dump smoke into the danger zone. [ November 03, 2003, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

--------- Turn 6: Orders: Left Flank: More artillery avoidance via sewer moves is in store for the guys in the left side of the factory. Everyone else is going to fan out ahead and to the right to see what they spot. The StuGs are going to back up, head right, and drop a building near the central factory to try and give them some dust cover and knock around the Russians. Centre rest up for 40” or so and start scouting. A FT team and a couple squads will try to get into position to flame the bunker. The MG team in the backfield is still on its own. Artillery from the third 105 mm HE FO will start to drop into the rear of the Soviet HQ Bunker in a wide pattern, just in case something’s shown up back there. Right Flank: Fan out to try and weather the artillery storm. The PzIV is switching to smoke now that the Maxim’s running for it. Maybe the smoke’ll break up some LOS for the incoming HE spotters. One FT Team will probe ahead and take their chances. -----------

...and Turn 5 results.

Turn 5 Action: Left Flank: Before they can hit the sewers, another 5 or so guys get KO'd by the 152 mm barrage. First Factory tile gets obliterated. Remaining guys creeping forward. Centre: No big surprises. Mainly rest and recuperate for the guys in the factory while the poor buggers who didn't make it in are having a bit of a struggle. A Russian AC puts in an appearance and gets driven off. The MG in the backfield is still unharmed and has completely buzz-sawed the closest squad. Right Flank: The Maxim's been spooked but the pioniere are pinned by on-board mortar and off-board OBA (76 mm?). I don't know if the two Pz IVs are going to be enough support to help an early push...perhaps I should pull back across the street and hope the HE falls on empty buildings. Still no sign of either T34, the ATGs or the last bunker. Don't know if the right flank has stepped on the other TRP.

CDIC: Thanks for chiming in! Also, as a temporary bone thrown to those wanting screen shots, here's the Preview screen available via the Scenario Depot section on the battle: SP OBttV Preview Screen The bottom of the picture is the back right-hand corner of the German edge. I'm still working on getting a handle on this "free-pix-host" thing... [ November 02, 2003, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

Gaddamit Dorosh! Ya got my heart rate up an' everything!

...rather than setting up screen shots, would you guys rather I just sent you the movie file and the Password? Please respond directly via e-mail instead of posting directly here; I'll see what the consensus is by next weekend. Before then, anyone (except my opponent ) who requests the movie/password should receive it within a day or so of sending me the request. I am still considering posting screenshots, but maybe just the overall set up and some highlights. [ November 01, 2003, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Brent Pollock ]

Screen shots: that's the next step for me, investigating the Free-picture-host they mention in the FAQ...anyone able to give me idiot-proof instructions. On the upside, I did figure out how to insert the hyperlink to this thread in the pointer thread I embedded in the CMBB forum...so there's hope for me yet.

It's been updated to Turn 5 orders phase...