Trommelfeuer

Just awesome! :eek: Please release these goodies when they are finished and release the winter versions in a separate pack! Regards, Sven

Just did it, I also added my AAR. I'm sorry for messing the AAR up, I didn't know how to add bold / italic letters or images to it, so it's quite a strange read right now...but after all, the AAR is not that bad... I'll try your other scenarios in the future, right now I'm busy with the Stalingrad pack for CMBBB... Grettings, Sven

Of course you are right, I knew there was something waiting for me...and without my fast Daimlers, lots of smoke and even more luck my units would have been butchered by the 88mm Flak battery in the first turns... ...I also thought I was doing a good job, but when the Panthers came my impression changed...I fought them off though, and was feeling good again, but then the Tigers came...argh, I thought: "Ja, that's it, now my troops are going to drown in blood..." I'm not going to write the complete AAR, because it would really have too many Spoilers in it (When and where the Axis reinforcements arrive wouldn't be such a nice surprise for other CMBO-gamers if I tell 'em.. ), and it would take me a long time to write it (too long), although I only needed 50 of 60 turns to win. Allied Attacker 56 casualities ( 16 KIA ) 1 mortar destroyed 9 vehicles knocked out (1x Daimler AC, 4x Sherman III, 3x Cromwell IV, 1x Cromwell VI) Men OK: 394 Score: 86 Axis Defender 339 casualities ( 107KIA ) 96 captured 2 mortars destroyed 6 guns destroyed (4x 88mm Flak, 2x 20mm Flak) 34 vehicles knocked out (2x truck, 1x Sdkfz 251/1, 3x Flakpanzer Wirbelwind, 4x Sturmgeschütz IIIG, 8x Sturmgeschütz IIIG (late), 8x Panther A, 4x Panther G, 4x Tiger) Men OK: 49 Score: 14 This scenario is very good, it offers many surprises and you are forced to use good tactis or you'll certainly lose. I made many mistakes, just to name a few: * Most of my infantry squads were separated from their hqs, it took a long while to reorganize this mess. * I deployed most of my units in and near the town, the other mission objectives were taken but the defence was very weak. Right flank: 3x Sherman III and 2x Daimler AC held the victory flag without infantry support, their infantry support was (Lt Mead and his engineer squads)going berserk in the forest until they were low on ammunition and had high casualities. But the engineers were very succesful, here's their score: Lt Mead: 10 infantry casualities caused, 1 gun destroyed, 3 own casualities. Sgt Higgins: 12 infantry casualities caused, 1 infantry captured, 1 gun destroyed, 6 own casualities Sgt Sexton: 27 infantry casualities caused, 1 infantry captured, 1 gun destroyed, 6 own casualities ---> And this was against veteran Fallschirmjäger, not against a bunch of green troops... Centre: 2x Wasp, 1x MMG carrier, 1x Sherman III, 1x Sherman II, 1x Piat team and 1x rifle team held the flag there, oh boy... Left flank: All my other units and most of my reinforcments were rushed there except for four Cromwells...(right, those four Cromwells were destroyed, but their sacrifice safed the day...) I think I've learned how to improve some of my tactics while playing this scenario, and I had much fun... (...and I learned to curse the RAF, my air-support was strafing the same Wirbelwind wreck again and again...) Greetings, Sven [ November 03, 2003, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

(Click on the image above to get to the source!) CONTENTS Chapter 1. The Offensive I. The Elimination of Russian Forces in a German Rear Area 1. The Blitzkrieg Bogged Down in Mud 2. Desperate Improvisations 3. The Snail Offensive 4. The Scorpion Offensive 5. Cavalry Brigade Model in Operation SEYDLITZ II. Some Improvisations Used during Operation ZITADELLE 1. The Crossing of Russian Mine Fields 2. A Flak Division Serves as Corps Artillery Chapter 2. The Defensive I. Improvised Hedgehog Defenses II. Defensive Improvisations in Extreme Cold III. A Moving Pocket Regains the German Lines IV. Zone Defense Tactics V. Improvised Fortresses VI. Defensive Improvisations in East Prussia Chapter 3. Troop Movements I. Furlough and Troop Trains under Partisan Attacks II. The Commitment of Furlough Battalions Chapter 4. Combat Arms I. Infantry II. Artillery III. Combat Engineers as Infantry PART THREE. IMPROVISATONS IN THE FIELDS OF SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION Chapter 5. Indispensable Expedients I. The Panje Column II. The Corduroy Road Chapter 6. Other Expedients I. Improvisations in the Construction of Bridges II. Improvised Road Maintenance III. Deceptive Supply Movements IV. Invasion Barges as Means of Transportation V. Transportation over Frozen Waterways VI. Fuel Conservation Expedients VII. Railroad Tank Cars Towed across the Baltic Chapter 7. Supply by Airlift and by Aerial Delivery Containers I. The First German Experiments II. The Stalingrad Airlift Chapter 8. Supply and Transportation Problems in the Arctic PART FOUR. TECHNICAL IMPROVISATIONS Chapter 9. Clothing and Equipment Chapter 10. Shelter Chapter 11. Weapons Chapter 12. Technical Training for Arctic Conditions Chapter 13. Improvised Front-Line Propaganda PART FIVE. ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVISATIONS Chapter 14. The Manpower Problem I. The Situation at the Outbreak of War II. The Luftwaffe Field Divisions III. Maintenance of Combat Efficiency IV. The Employment of Women in the Armed Forces Chapter 15. The Organization of Special Units I. Staffs II. Special Formations III. Last-Ditch Improvisations 1. The LEUTHEN Project 2. Other Desperate Measures Chapter 16. Political Measures Introduced by the National Socialist Party I. Civilian Labor Procurement II. The Volkssturm III. Paramilitary Units During the Last Stage of the War PART SIX. CONCLUSIONS Chapter 17. Are Improvisations Inevitable? I. Avoidable Improvisations II. Unavoidable Improvisations and their Minimization III. Improvisations in Extreme Emergency 1 Chapter 18. The Relative Value of Improvisations MAPS 1. 6th Panzer Division (22 June 1941-20 January 1942). 2. The Snail Offensive (End of January to Beginning of April 1942). 3. Operation SEYDLITZ (Situation on 3 July 1942, the Second Day of the Attack). 4. Improvisations in East Prussia. 5. Corduroy Roads in the Leningrad Area. 6. The Withdrawal Across the Dnepr. (Click on the image above to get to the source!) CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2. PRINCIPLES OF NIGHT COMBAT I. General II. Physical and Psychological Factors III. Exercise of Command IV. Orientation V. Reconnaissance VI. Security VII. Movements VIII. Assembly IX. Attack X. Pursuit XI. Defense XII. Retrograde Movements XIII. Position Warfare CHAPTER 3. RUSSIAN NIGHT COMBAT METHODS I. Characteristics and Training of the Russian Soldier II. Movements III. Reconnaissance IV. Infiltration V. Offensive Operations VI. Defensive Operations VII. Retrograde Movements VIII. Partisan Warfare CHAPTER 4. GERMAN NIGHT COMBAT METHODS I. Movements II. Reconnaissance III. Offensive Operations IV. Defensive Operations V. Retrograde Movements CHAPTER 5. TRAINING I. General II. Individual Training III. Weapons Training IV. Unit Training APPENDICES Training Schedules I. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Tank Company II. Twelve Week Night Training Schedule for Armored Infantry Troops III. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Antitank Elements IV. Ten Week Training Schedule for Close Combat at Night V. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Organic Engineer Elements Within the Tank or Self-propeled Antitank Gun Battalion VI. Eight Week Training Schedule for Organic Engineer Elements Within the Armored Infantry Regiment VII. Eight Week Night Training for the Engineer Platoon of an Armored Reconnaissance Battalion MAPS 1. General Reference Map 2. The Region around Shala 3. Russian Infiltration by Night (17-21 August 1943) 4. German Preparations for a Night Attack (30 September-2 October 1941) 5. German Surprise Attack by Night (21 January 1944) 6. German Night Withdrawal (25-27 September 1943) WWII AIRBORNE OPERATIONS-historical study (Click on the image above to get to the source!) CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. GERMAN AIRBORNE OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II Section I. Principles of Employment................................... II. Airborne Tactics.......................................... III. Parachute Troops.......................................... IV. Air-Transported Troops.................................... V. Troop-Carrier Units....................................... VI. Reasons for Success and Failure........................... VII. German Air Landings after Crete........................... CHAPTER 2. ALLIED AIRBORNE OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II Section I. Passive Defense Measures.................................. II. The German Warning System................................. III. Counterattack in the Air.................................. IV. Antiaircraft Defense Fire................................. V. Counterattack on the Ground............................... VI. Counterlanding into the Enemy Airhead..................... VII. An Appraisal of Allied Air Landings....................... VIII. Reflections on the Absence of Russian Air Landings........ CHAPTER 3. CONCLUSIONS Section I. Evaluation of Past Airborne Experience.................... II. Limitations of Airborne Operations........................ III. Advantages of Airborne Operations......................... IV. Requirements for Success.................................. V. Antiairborne Defense...................................... VI. Future Possibilities...................................... APPENDIX. NOTES ON GERMAN AIRBORNE OPERATIONS Section I. Equipment of German Parachute Troops...................... II. German Employment of Troop-Carrier Units.................. III. Technique and Tactics of Airborne Operations.............. These books are in the out of print section and they are avaiable FOR FREE on the web, just check it out / print it, it's a good way to learn more about this stuff / get background information / get ideas for your CMBB / CMBO / CMAK missions... Greetings, Sven P.S. I stumbled across these great sources when I saw a link on Tom's Combat mission HQ a while ago, unfortunately the site is down... [ November 02, 2003, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Normandy (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Northern France (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Po Valley (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Rhineland (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Rome-Arno (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Sicily (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Southern France (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Tunisia (Click on the image above to get to the source!) NOTE: You'll find more interesting Archival Material on different U.S. WWII campaigns / operations here: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/online/Bookshelves/WW2-List.htm ....check it out! Regards, Sven

To Bizerte With the II Corps (23 April-13 May 1943) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) Utah Beach to Cherbourg (6-27 June 1944) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Anzio (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Ardennes-Alsace (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Central Europe (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Egypt-Libya (Click on the image above to get to the source!) WWII CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia (Click on the image above to get to the source!)

There's much more cool info there, for example: (Sorry for being a bit off-topic here...) United States Army in World War II - Reader's Guide (Click on the image above to get to the source!) THE ARDENNES: BATTLE OF THE BULGE (Click on the link above to get to the source!) ANZIO BEACHHEAD 22 JANUARY - 25 MAY 1944 (Click on the image above to get to the source!) Bastogne: The First Eight Days (Click on the image above to get to the source!) CROSS-CHANNEL ATTACK (Click on the link above to get to the source!) Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) From the Volturno to the Winter Line (6 October-15 November 1943) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) Omaha Beachhead (6 June-13 June 1944) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia (Click on the link above to get to the source!) Salerno: American Operations From the Beaches to the Volturno (9 September-6 October 1943) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) St-Lo (7 July - 19 July 1944) (Click on the image above to get to the source!) [ November 01, 2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Michael Dorosh wrote: EDIT - is Trommelfeuer thinking of "Last of the Mohicans"? Yup, that must be the one, thank you, I only know the german version of this film and I wasn't sure what the original title is. ( And I didn't know what the english translation for "Mohikaner" is...) Regards, Sven [ November 01, 2003, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Here's a translation of the text of this cool video... Die Balka the ravine INTRO Diese Kampfgruppe "Einheiten eines Panzerkorps" sind hierher beordert wurden, um die Situation zu klären. Das Armeegruppenkommando unter von Manstein beabsichtigt die überdehnten russischen Einheiten einzukreisen und ihre Spitzen zu zerstören, um sie dann an das Ufer der Donetz und der Miusflüsse zurückzuwerfen... This Kampfgruppe (battlegroup), "units of a tank corps" were orderd here to clear the situation. The army group command under the command of von Mannstein intends to encircle the overstretched russian units, to destroy their spearheads and afterwards to throw the russians back to the Donetz and to the shores of the Mius rivers... OUTRO Keine der beiden Gegner konnte an diesem Tag einen klaren Sieg davontragen, aber die Deutschen hatten in diesem Sektor ihre Chance vertan die Russen aufzuhalten... None of both enemies could achieve a clear victory this day, but the germans had lost their chance to hold the russians in check in this sector... Regards, Sven By the way...is the music taken from the film "Der letzte Mohikaner" ? (The last Mohawk ?). I like it very much! ( the music...) [ November 01, 2003, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Bourquebus ridge( by Henk Stoffers )- SPOILERS BELOW!!! The British attack to break out of the caen area. Operation Goodwood was spearheaded by the 11th Armored division. 3rd Royal tanks and Fife and Forfar yeomanry regiments moved out early in the morning. Waiting for them were the Germans heavy pounded by a brutal air and artillerybombardment but still ready to fight. This attack proved to be a huge failure for the Brits,can you do it better? Yes Sir, I think so! I'm not through with this scenario (...'cause I lack the time to do more then several turns a day...), but this battle is very enjoyable! It's getting better and better with every turn! Setup Two Daimler ACs and four Sherman III with mounted infantry (1x platoon hq, 2x engineer squad, 1x rifle squad) form my "spearhead on the road. Two Wasps and one MMG carrier are on the left side of the road. A Humber SC is waiting further back on the road. All other tanks are near the railroad tracks. One column with four Sherman III and one Sherman II to the left, the same to the right, and four Fireflies in between the railroad tracks. All infantry troops are mounted. While taking a look at the area one thought comes to my mind - this is bad terrain...so many rough areas, my tanks near on the railway embankment can be easily spotted from miles away...this is going to be a deathride...anyway - we have our orders so let's go! Turn 1 Order Phase: Two german assault guns (Stug IIIGs over 1500m away on the far right flank south-eastwards) and one unidentified truck (over 1400m away on the left flank) are spotted. All Fireflies and the tanks left to the tracks aim for the Sturmgeschütze and the tanks right to the tracks aim for the truck. The columns are ordered to advance slowly straight ahead. Two 3 inch mortar FOs and their company hq are ordered to disembark, My "spearhead" is ordered to ignore the targets and race with full speed on the road to the far right flank. The Wasps and the MMG carrier shall advance near the road and take cover in a wheat field before the road makes a turn, the Humber SC is ordered to wait behind. Action Phase: One StugIIIG is quickly knocked out by Sgt MacDonald's Firefly, the other Stug disappears behind clouds of smoke. The columns near the tracks are in disorder because some commanders try to reverse out of LOS of the Stugs. The FOs are going into position in between the tracks. My spearhead is advancing very fast on the road with the Daimlers far ahead. When they reached the road-turn to the right, cannon fire from the woods some 700m to their left can be heard. MacAlister's Daimler is almost hit, he orders his driver to maintian speed and calls for help. Turn 2 Order Phase: The 3 inch mortar FOs aim for the woods where the cannon fire came from, Lt Whitesell calls for smoke rounds and Lt Archibald calls for fire for effect. I try to bring some order to the messed up tank colums by ordering them to move on. Cpl Clancy's Humber SC is orderd to follow the spearhead at full speed. All other units maintain orders. Action Phase: The Daimlers gain LOS to the unidentified cannon in the woods and spot a Sdkfz 251/1 and a Wirbelwind straight ahead. Sgt MacAlister is sweating like a madman, tracers from the Wirbelwind and the Sdkfz 251/1 fly past, he opens fire on the Wirbelwind and misses. The sharp crack of the unidentified cannon is heard again and again - the Daimler is not hit. The race goes on, death flies past, but with speed and luck he manages to score a side-armor penetrating hit on the Wirbelwind, disabling the sucker, and it seems like a miracle - the cannon in the woods loses LOS to the Daimlers. Sgt Vane seems to have a lucky day too, his Daimler gets through the fire and past the dangerous gun in the woods. The Crew from the knocked out Wirbelwind is taken under fire. Several Shermans and Fireflies open fire on the cannon in the woods and force the crew into cover. The Wasps and the MMG carrier leave the road and hide in the wheat field. Turn 3 Order Phase: No big change of orders here, some tanks remain firing on the cannon in the woods and others are orderd to fire smoke rounds into the woods. Three Sherman III have LOS to the Sdkfz 251/1 to the south-east. The Shermans with the mounted engineers also fire smoke rounds into the woods. I'm still waiting for the 3 inch mortar fire, but this will take at least another 55 seconds... Action Phase: Sgt Cotrell's Sherman III scores a hit on the Sdkfz 251/1, the vehicle blows up and sends oily black smoke to the sky. The crew and some infantry bail out and head westwards. The "spearhead" Shermans roll on, firing smoke rounds into the woods, some shots from the unidentified "woods"-cannon fly past while MacAlister and Vane kill the Wirbelwind crew. The four Sherman III are leaving the dangerous area nd drive past the woods to join the two Daimlers. The StugIII (late) to the south-east comes into view again and is destroyed by Sgt Fife's Firefly. Another oily black smoke marks the destruction site of an enemy vehicle. The Humber SC "flies" over the road and is not threatened by any fire. At the end of the turn the first 3 inch smoke rounds and grenades start falling into the suspicious woods. Turn 4 Order Phase: The "spearhead" Shermans with the mounted infantry are ordered to leave the road and advance to the woods from the south-east, five Sherman IIIs and one Sherman II are ordered to leave the dangerous area near the tracks and drive to the north-east. (..the colums are still in quite disorder...) All other units maintain orders. Action Phase: Smoke and explosions run through the woods, my troops keep on moving, MG 42 chatter is heard from somewhere (from the east?), but nothing big happens. Turn 5 Order Phase: The Daimlers ACs and the Humber SC are ordered to hunt for the crew and the passengers of the Sdkfz 251/1. All other units keep on moving. The 3 inch mortar FOs quit fire and move to the north-east. (...which should prove to be a fault...I should have fired more smoke-rounds into those woods...) The engineer squads get disembark orders near the woods. Action Phase: The Daimlers and the Humber drive over the railway embankment and gain LOS to the passengers of the Sdkfz 251/1. It turns out to be a battalion hq! In the crossfire of three armored vehicles they die a quick death. Sgt Vane is wounded during the action. The surviving crewmember of the Sdkfz 251/1 is running for his life... The two engineer squads, their platton hq and the rifle squad disembark and check weapons before they will storm into the woods. Everyone else keeps on moving. Turn 6 Order Phase: Sgt Higgins and Sgt Sexton's engineer squad shall advance into the woods an take out the damned unidentified enemy gun. Lt Mead is right behind them to do the same. Sgt Morrow's rifle squad will do the same while two Shermans stand ready to provide covering-fire when the smoke clears and two Shermans have orders to move around the edge of the woods. The Daimlers and the Humber are ordered to advance eastwards to the hills to kill the Sdkfz 251/1 crew on the way. All other units keep on moving. Action Phase: Higgins'engineers and Morrow's men stumble across a gun - it's a 88mm Flak! (Flak =Flugabwehrkanone = anti-air cannon) The gun-crew is aiming at Sgt Clay's Sherman III. In seconds the "Acht-Acht" crew is torn apart by handgrenades, mg and rifle fire. The gun is destroyed. A company headquarter opens fire on Higgins' men from 10m away and causes two casualities. Lt Mead and Sgt Sexton's men storm into another "Acht-Acht"...man these woods are a deathtrap... Threatened to be overrun the gun crew is trying to fire at Sexton's men, but it is too slow...all but one crew members are killed, the survivor raises his hands and surrenders. Lt Mead loses one man in the fight. Meanwhile Sgt Clay's and Sgt Ellington's Sherman III have moved along the edge of the woods and a third "Acht-Acht" Flak comes into view. They quickly open fire with cannons and machineguns and destroy this deadly weapon, one crewmember survives and surrenders. Sgt Clay is credited with the destruction of the gun. A loud crack indicates another gun deeper in the woods, 800m to the north Sgt Nevis Sherman III is hit on the railroad embankment and catches fire after some seconds. All five crewmen of Nevis' tank survive (although they are burned, bruised and shocked..), the mounted infantry has also no losses but they are quite shaken and panicked. Lt Mead recalls:" I thought I was dreaming. It all went so quick, we had destroyed three deadly guns in one minute, I couldn't believe it. The cannon fire deeper in the woods, the firefight of Higgins men and the moaning of my deadly wounded comrade took me back into reality. We were still in a very dangerous situation and our tanks near the railway embankment to the north were threatened. We had to move on..." To the south-east the Sdkfz 251/1 crewman dies and another Stug IIIG comes into view. (...it has no LOS to the Daimlers, only to my Fireflies in the centre...) Turn 7 Order Phase: Mead's and Sexton's men are ordered to move deeper into the woods to destroy the fourth gun and to look for enemy infantry, Higgins' and Morrow's men shall take out the enemy company headquarter. Three fireflies and three Sherman III aim for the "new" Stug IIIG. My tanks on the left flank are ordered to reach for the street that leads to the town to the north-east. The Wasps and the MMG carrier shall move straight to the east. (to the victory flag in the centre) Everybody else keeps on moving. Action Phase: The enemy company headquarter soldiers are killed by rifle fire and a demolition charge. Mead's and Sexton's men storm the fourth "Acht-Acht" Flak and disable it by killing the crew. The Sturmgeschütz (Stug IIIG) to the south-east is destroyed by MacDonald'S Firefly. HMG barking is heard from deeper within the woods. Enemy HMG fire is also coming from the east and is forcing Sgt Baldrick's mounted rifle squad to disembark near the railway embankment, two casualities are left behind, the others run for cover. The two POWs are guarderd by Morrow's men. Sgt Clay's, Sgt Ellington's and Sgt Camden's tanks are turning eastwards again...Sgt Baldrick's Sherman III stays near the engineeers. The five Sherman IIIs and the Sherman II have reached the street. (Morrow's men guard the POWs, Clay's Sherman III turns his attention westwards, Nevis' tank can be seen burning in the background...) Turn 8 Order Phase: Higgins, Mead and Sexton have orders to join forces to advance eastwards to clear the woods...the damned mg must be somewhere near... The Daimlers shall advance farther eastwards. (to the victory flag located there) The tanks on my left flank have to advance now, I order them to drive on the road through the nearby woods towards the town. The fireflies have also order to turn to the town to the north. Action Phase: As the tanks on my left flank start to drive to the woods, two large caliber artillery rounds come down near the road. A HMG is spotted near the vitory flag in the centre, a Shermans III, a Sherman II, a Firefly and the MMG carrier open fire. Sgt Meier's mounted rifle squad is pinned by the enemy mg, they have to disembark and run for cover. Nothing else than movement happens. Turn 9 Order Phase: Higgins, Mead and Sexton have joined forces and shall sneak westwards through the woods. Sgt Baldrick's Sherman III advances along the edge of the woods in the same direction. I have no reason to change the other orders so I keep my men going. Action Phase: The two Wasps are near enough the enemy HMG in the middle and start a firestorm with their flamethrowers. The enemies leave their foxhole and die a painful death. Another HMG team further up the hill reveals it's position and opens fire. My 3 inch mortar FO's have reached their position in a small forest, they have LOS to the outskirts of the town and to the church in the middle of the town. Everyone else is on the move. Turn 10 Order Phase: Keep on moving boys! I suspect there are enemy troops hidden in the church (maybe even a forward artillery observer ?)...so the 3 inch mortar FOs aim for the church and call for fire for effect. Action Phase Mead and his two engineer squads sneak through the woods when suddenly a Fallschirmjäger squad opens fire from their foxholes. They are positioned on a small hill 25m away from Higgins' squad. A fierce firefight begins, Stielhandgranten are thrown downhill and egg-handgrenades and another demolition charge are flying uphill... Two of Sexton's men and six Fallschirmjäger die during the fight. The remaining Fallschirmjäger lose their nerves and run away... In the south-east another Stug III comes into view, it is showing it's broad-side to MacAlister's Daimler AC. MacAlister waists no time and fires a shot straight into the side armour of the enemy. The Sturmgeschütz is immediately knocked out and it's crew runs away. In the middle Cpl Thomas' Wasp is hit by many mg rounds and one crewmen is heavily wounded. The german mg keeps on spitting lead and kills one man of Nolan's rifle squad. To the north-east Sgt McGregor's Sherman and two other Shermans are near the town when they spot some german infantry in rough terrain. Mg and HE rounds mow them down, it was a platoon hq. McGrecor enters the outskirts of the town, and when his tank reaches the T-crossroads, a german truck, another Stug IIIG and several german Wehrmacht soldiers in the town are spotted. (MacAlister knocks another german AFV out of action...) Turn 11 Order Phase: McGrecor's, Page's and Houghton's Sherman III aim for the spotted Stug III in the town and are ordered to reverse. Walters' rifle squad, Lancaster's and Carter's rifle teams, Graham's 2 inch mortar team and Ridley's platoon hq have orders to disembark and take cover behind the stone walls. Nelson's Sherman III, Roland's Sherman II, Cottrell's Sherman V have orders to leave the woods 500m south-west the town and join McGregor and the others. Lt Larrington's platoon hq calls for his men to assemble in the woods, his squads are in disorder and far away from another. Bailey's and MacDonald's Fireflies are 450m to the south of the town and shall cross a wheat field to reach the T-crossing. Fife's and Gibson's Fireflies are still farther away to the south west, but they have roughly the same destination. My brave engineers are ordered to hunt the retreating Fallschirmjäger... Action Phase The retreating Fallschirmjäger in the woods decide to run in the wrong direction-they are running to the north, straight in front of Baldrick's Sherman III...they are quickly mowed down. My engineers reach the western edge of the woods and are greeted by a hail of machinegun bullets, 150m of open rough terrain are between them and the enemy HMG, which is positioned in another small forest to the west... In the town things go crazy, Houghton destroys the Stug IIIG and the truck, now two guns reveal their position to the left and to the right of the T-crossroads by firing at MacGregor's Sherman...many ricochets are the result, it seems the unidentified guns are some small caliber ones. Another Stug IIIG becomes visible but before it can do any damgage it is knocked out by Sgt Page's Sherman III. After this two more Sturmgeschütze IIIG come rolling into view, it seems I've found a nest here...one is put out of action by MacGregor and the other becomes a victim of Houghton's gunner. Graham's 2 inch mortar is destroyed and Walters' squad loses one man in a fire exchange with enemy soldiers in the scattered trees near the town... But you know, before the turn ends a fifth Stug III shows itself...and the first 3 inch mortar rounds start falling. Turn 12 Order Phase: My engineers have orders to avoid the direct approach to the enemy HMG, they shall run back into the woods and go around the mg to attack in from the south. Other orders are only aiming for targets. Action Phase In the town, the church catches fire and heavy 3 inch mortar rounds fall all over the place.The fifth Stug IIIG is destroyed by Houghton's Sherman III, the unidentified light gun (20mm Flak) is abandoned and some Wehrmacht soldiers run for cover. Walters' rifle squad has another casualty and is pinned down by two Wehrmacht squads firing out of the scattered trees. Walters' men are panicked and try to crawl to the next building but are pinned down. Carter leads his rifle squad next to Walters' men and is also taken under heavy fire. Carter disobeyed orders (...he had orders to keep his squad behind the stonewall and to provide fire support for Walters' men...) to help his old friend Walters... Some Stug III crewmen are running for cover to the forest. Until now at least six german infantry squads are spotted in the scattered treeline... In the centre the lonely german HMG is still holding out against two Wasps (one damaged), one MMG carrier, one Sherman III, one Sherman II, a rifle squad and a Piat team...really tough guys... At the end of the turn the church crashes into rubble... (Five disabled Sturmgeschütze, retreating crewmen and the burning church can be seen here...) Turn 13 Order Phase: Baldrick's Sherman is ordered to advance over the small hill to attack the enemy mg directly. 8 tanks have now assembled near the T-crossing and are given different targets. Page, Houghton and MacGregor are ordered to drive straight over the stonewalls towards the scattered trees to support Walters's and Carter's squads. Nelson, MacDonald and Bailey are ordered to advance on the road into the town... In the centre of the map everyone is waiting for Bannister to crush the german MG beneath his Sherman II tracks... On the right flank Baldrick is ordered to drive on top of the hill to attack the german HMG in the forest while the Mead's engineers are still running through the woods to get into the back of the enemy... Action Phase While Page, Houghton and MacGregor are driving over the stonewalls a Wirbelwind Flak-Panzer emerges behind the burning ruins of the church and rumbles through the battered town. Before it can hide behind a small building MacGregor's gunner sends a grenade into it's side armor and it comes to a halt, oily black smoke begins to drift into the sky. Another Stug IIIG moves onto the road and is quickly knocked out by MacDonald's Firefly. Walters's and Carter's squads are down to seven and six men, but Page, Houghton and MacGregor send most of the germans fleeing deeper into the scattered trees. The second unidentified light gun is destroyed by a 75mm grenade from Page's Sherman III. In the centre the lonely german HMG team is still holding out against overwhelming odds... On the right flank Baldrick's Sherman III reaches the hilltop and is immediately forced to button up because of heavy incoming mg fire. The Sherman is also spitting lead and fires grenades at the german HMG team when suddenly a Panzerschreck team near the german HMG postion opens fire. Two Panzerschreck grenades are fired, both fall too short to harm Baldrick's tank but his driver looses his nerves and reverses downhill to get out of the line of fire. ...Update coming soon... Greetings, Sven P.S. I'm sorry for my poor english... [ November 02, 2003, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Excellent movie, Hut ab! The music fits also very good! Mehr davon! Regards, Trommelfeuer

Always nice to read AARs ! Just a small suggestion: It should be "The Pioniere roll on." instead of The Pionieren roll on. Plural of Pionier is Pioniere. Regards, Sven

Thanks a lot for the additional information gentlemen! Regards, Trommelfeuer

I played Rune's scenario...I'll try your version "playing" as the Tommies soon! Thank you for pointing out that you also have created a "Bourgebous Ridge" scenario! Regards, Trommelfeuer

Yup, it's definetly there... ...and it causes deadly airbursts! :eek: (The Panther turret manual calls it the "2,6cm Sprenggranatpatrone mit Zeitzünder Lp" (explosive round with time fuze). This was a high explosive round that had a range of 7-10 meters and with the timed fuze of 1 second would normally explode 0.5 to 2 meters above the ground. This round was fired from a normal Leuchtpistole (flare gun) or Kampfpistole (rifled flare gun) using the Nahverteidigungswaffe tube as a large pistol port. It was used to combat close assaulting infantry in the "dead zone" around the tank.) ----> http://www.custermen.net/nahvert/nah.htm Regards, Trommelfeuer [ October 28, 2003, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

This is a very nice scenario! I played it as the germans and got -no surprise- a total Axis victory. Allied Attacker 521 casualities ( 116 KIA ) 131 captured 11 mortars destroyed 70 vehicles knocked out Men OK: 77 Score: 3 Axis Defender 29 casualities ( 7 KIA ) 1 gun destroyed ("Acht-Acht Flak") Men OK: 531 Score: 97 Allied surrender (on turn 37 of 45), Axis total victory. A few questions came to my mind while playing through this: 1. I set an ambush for the british reconaissance vehicles (some Stuart V & White scout cars), after I had knocked them out I ordered my troops to hide again to set a new ambush for the following tanks ( Sherman V, Sherman VC Firefly, Cromwell IV, Cromwell VII, Cromwell VIII and Challenger), this was very effective. Now, should this be possible? Shouldn't the crews / infantry of the reconaissance force warn the following troops where my guns / troops are hidden? (The 88mm Flak gun I lost was commanded by Rottenführer Hoffmann, he decided to ignore orders and didn't hide again, his gun shot 1x Stuart V, 2x White scout car, 1x Sherman V, 2x Cromwell IV and caused 8x infantry casualities...he died shouting orders when a direct hit destroyed his gun...) 2. Why wasn't there more Allied air support? I only noticed two aircraft during the battle, they didn't do any damage... 3. Why is there no Allied heavy artillery support? Those 2 inch mortars are pretty useless in my opinion... 4. Why is this game so damn cool and does even simulate Nahverteidigungswaffen for german tanks? After knocking out every allied tank I ordered a counterattack, many Tommies were caught between five Panther G and four Panzer IV and Waffen-SS infantry, at first I thought they wouldn't surrender but after horrible losses they showed some sense and threw their weapons away... Thanks a lot for this scenario! Regards, Trommelfeuer. P.S. Where can I get a nice british vehicle crew Mod ? I searched http://www.combatmission.com/ and http://cmoutpost.net/ but I cannot find (for example) Ed Durkin's british vehicle crew... Any ideas where to find them? [ November 01, 2003, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

My grandfather was with the 3rd Waffen-SS "Totenkopf" division in the "Frankreichfeldzug". The following is out of his memories which he gave to me (I'm really sorry for my bad english): He was the "Gewehrführer" of the first (of two) heavy machinegun groups of the "Divisonsbegleitschutz". The "Totenkopf" was on the march when on 21.5.1940 a large-scale tank-counterattack near Arras took place. Wave after wave of allied tanks attacked the columns. Panzerjäger bring their 3,7cm AT-guns into positions and open fire on the allied tanks. Horrified the Panzerjäger realize that their 3,7 cm grenades do only ricochet from the tanks. Even the order to fire at the tanks at close ranges doesn't bring any success. Now the tanks are very near and drive over the guns and crews. Meanwhile a 10,5 cm field battery has been unloaded into position on the open street and joins the firefight. Here the disadvantage of the (tchechische) "Kastenlafette" becomes clear. On the open street the rams cannot be steadied, and the guns find no fixed fire-positions, with every shot they make a big "jump" backwards. Parallel to the "forward-march" street of the "Totenkopf" advances the 7th Panzerdivision under the comand of Erwin Rommel. Rommel realizes our critical situation and orders an "Acht-Acht" AA-battery to help in the crisis-zone. Under the command of Rommel the AA-battery takes up the fight with the tanks and in a few minutes some enemy tanks are already burning. The enemy tank commanders, who had stood in their open hatches, now close them and button-up, and when the first Stukas attack, they try to get away in a "zick-Zack" (?) route. There had been 60 french and 74 english tanks in this attack.... Regards, Trommelfeuer. P.S. Could anyone help me in translating the following from german to english, please ? Der Marsch führte über Mastricht und Cambrai, kleine Geplänkel konnten den Vormarsch nicht aufhalten. Am 21.5. wird die Division beim Vormarsch nach Norden im Raum Arras von einer Panzerarmada angegriffen. Panzerwelle auf Panzerwelle rollt auf die im Marsch befindlichen Divisionsteile zu. Die Panzerjägerabteilung geht in Stellung und nimmt den Abwehrkampf auf. Mit Entsetzen müssen sie feststellen daß die 3,7 cm Geschosse wirkungslos abprallen. Selbst der Befehl die Panzer auf kürzeste Entfernung abzuschiessen bringt keinen Erfolg. Die Panzer sind jetzt nahe heran und überrollen Geschütze und Mannschaften. Inzwischen hat eine 10,5 cm Feldbatterie auf freier Straße abgeprotzt und den Feuerkampf aufgenommen. Hier zeigt sich der Nachteil einer Kastenlafette. Auf der Staße findet der Sporn keinen Halt und die Geschütze lassen sich nicht "festschiessen", sie machen bei jedem Schuss einen großen Sprung zurück. Parallel zur Marschstraße der "Totenkopf" marschiert die 7. Panzerdivison unter ihrem Kommandeur Erwin Rommel. Rommel erkennt die krisenhafte Entwicklung bei uns und beordert sofort eine "Acht-Acht" Flakbatterie an den Krisenherd. Unter Rommels Leitung nimmt die Flakbatterie den Kampf mit den Panzern auf und in wenigen Minuten stehen schon einige Feindpanzer in Brand. Die gegnerischen Panzerkommandeure, die bislang in den Panzern frei in ihren Luken standen klappen nun die Luken zu, und als dann noch die ersten Stukas angreifen, versuchen die Panzer im Zickzack-Kurs zu entkommen. Die Zahl der angreifenden Panzer belief sich auf 74 englische und 60 französiche. Rommels Einsatz der "Acht-Acht" Flak zur Panzerbekämpfung hat Maßstaäbe für die spätere Verwendung der Flak im Erdkampf gesetzt, und uns hat er gelobt, weil unsere Gewehrgruppe sofort die MG Nahsicherung der Flakbatterie übernommen hatte. Der Marsch Richtung "Bethune" wird fortgesetzt und die mit englischen Militärfahrzeugen übersäte Straße muss wieder und wieder freigeräumt werden, bevor es weitergehen kann. Wir sind immer wieder erstaunt über die Güte und Reichhaltigkeit der englischen Ausrüstung. Am 24.5 wird der "Lys" und der " La Bassé-Kanal" im Sturm überschritten und es werden drei Brückenköpfe gebildet. Hitlers Haltebefehl zwingt zur Einstellung der Angriffshandlungen und der Aufgabe der Brückenköpfe. Von allen Stäben scharf kritisiert gab er den Engländern erneut Gelegenheit, sich festzusetzen und diese Kolonialprofis haben diese Chance auch mit allen Mitteln genutzt. Das Kanalgelände ist eben wie ein Brett und wird von Entwässerungskanälen durchzogen. Einzelgehöfte, von dichten Hecken umgeben beherrschen das Landschaftsbild und das Grundwasser lauert nur einen Spatenstich unter dem Boden. Dieses deckungsarme Gelände wurde von Militärprofis beherrscht die teilweise eine 25-jährige Militärdienstzeit aufweisen konnten, durch den unsinnigen Haltebefehl konnten sie alle Schikanen der Verteidigung nutzten. So hatten sie beispielsweise Schiess-Scharten in die Hecken geschnitten und die MGs 2 Meter zurückgezogen, dadurch war es uns unmöglich die Feuerstellungen zu erkennen, weil der Geschossknall verzerrt wurde und das Mündungsfeuer nicht erkennbar war. Ähnlich gingen sie mit den Leichtgeschützen vor. In den obersten Stockwerken öffnete man die Fenster und Zwischentüren, zog die Geschütze in den hintersten Raum zurück und eröffnete von hier aus den Feuerkampf, und wir konnten nur raten woher der Beschuss kam. Am 26.5. griffen wir erneut an, nur diesmal unter erheblich schwereren Bediengungen, nicht in der Verfolgung eines geschlagenen Gegners sondern im Angriff auf ausgebaute Stellungen, die noch zusätzlich durch einen Kanal geschützt wurden. Eine kleine persönliche Episode nebenbei: Als Übergangsstelle bot sich die Möglcihkeit, 2 Kähne im Kanal zusammenzuschieben und diese mit Behelfsmitteln zu verbinden. Also, die 2 S.M.G. zur Sicherung der Übergangsstelle in Stellung gebracht, Infanteriesicherung links und rechts, und die zwei Gewehrführer machen sich zum rüberschwimmen fertig. Lappe links, ich rechts, Lappe ist der bessere Schwimmer und ist als erster am Kahn oben. Ich habe gerade das Deck erreicht als Lappe aus der vorderen Wohnluke stürzt und schreit: "Da sind noch Tommys drin!" Rein iss Wasser und weg ist er. Das Gewehr 1 ist feuerbereit und will die Bordwand durchlöchern. Ich bin an Bord geblieben und warte ab. Vorne rührt sich nichts, also gehe ich zum Lukenrand und schreie nach unten: "Händs up und kommt rut!" Keine Reaktion, Lappe ist inzwischen wieder an Bord und beschliesst nochmal runter zu gehen. Vorsichtig pirscht er sich ran und mit einem Satz ist er unten. Nichts geschieht, plötzlich ein brüllendes Gelächter und Lappe winkt, ich solle näher kommen. Unten angekommen stehen wir uns im Halbdunkel in einem großen Wandspiegel, als Spiegelbild, gegenüber. Die Anspannung und das Halbdunkel haben so irritiert, daß Lappe sich selbst als Tommy gesehen hat. Ein befreiendes Lachen ist die Folge und die Behelfsbrücke wird erfolgreich beendet. ...Der Schandfleck der "Totenkopf"... Am 26.5. geht auch die 4. Kompanie, I. Batallion, 2. Regiment unter der Führung von Obersturmführer Fritz Knöchlein über den Kanal. Bei "Le Paradis" stößt er auf härtesten Widerstand. 100 Mann des britischen Royal Norfolk Regiments weisen seine Angriffe ab. Viermal greift er an und wird abgewiesen. Seine Kompanie verliert 17 Gefallene und 52 Verwundete. Beim 5. Angriff kapituliert der Gegner. Knöchlein ist rasend vor Wut. Ein Teil der Verwundeten zeigen Verletzungen auf, die auf "Dum Dum" Geschosse schliessen lassen. Es war militärisch geübtes Recht, wer mit "Dum Dum" Geschossen angetroffen wird, wird sofort erschossen, hier war es aber unbewiesen. Knöchlein hat sich über jedes geübte Kriegsrecht hinweggesetzt und und die Gefangenen vor die Maschinengewehre führen und erschiessen lassen. Seine Tat löste ein empörtes Entsetzen aus und die Reaktionen reichten von Versetzungsanträgen zu anderen Einheiten bis zu Duell-Forderungen. Eine Tatsache bleibt, der Ehrenschild der SS Totenkopfdivision wurde auf ewig befleckt und gab den Kritikern der Waffen SS Gelegenheit, die Truppe als "Führerhörig" und "Fanatisch" darzustellen. Knöchlein wurde nach dem Krieg von den Engländern zum Tode verurteilt und gehenkt... Unerbittlich sind die Verfolgungsgefechte, der Panzereinsatz wird durch das Poldergelände immer schwieriger und der Engländer setzt seine besten Einheiten als Nachhut ein und opfert sie. Am 27./28.5. erreicht die Totenkopf "Bailleul" und hier kommt der endgültige Haltebefehl. Die Engländer fliehen in Richtung Kanalküste und Kanalhäfen, und jetzt glaubt Göring an seine Chance und verspricht Hitler die Engländer mit seiner Luftwaffe matt zu setzen. Die "Leibstandarte" hatte die Küste erreicht und war im Begriff Dünkirchen zu nehmen und den Alliierten den Weg zur Küste zu versperren, sie musste ihr Vorgehen jedoch aufgeben und wurde zurückgezogen. In den Augen Hitlers sind die Engländer geschlagen, an der Küste festgenagelt, und seine schnellen Truppen stehen für den Stoß auf Paris zur Verfügung. Die Fehleinschätzung: "Görings Luftwaffe könne die Kapitulation des englischen Expeditionskorps herbeiführen" ermöglicht die Flucht und das "Wunder von Dünkirchen". 300.000 gut ausgebildete Soldaten können entkommen. Sie ließen alles zurück, Waffen, Panzer, Fahrzeug und Gerät, aber das Wichtigste, ihr militärisches Können bleibt unbeschadet und in wenigen Monaten standen bereits neue Einheiten. Das Beispiel Dünkirchen hat gezeigt, daß eine Luftwaffe ohne Zusammenwirkung mit Bodentruppen keine Kriege entscheiden kann. Man kann als Erklärungsversuch nur anmerken, daß der Generalstab, von der Schnelligkeit der Geschehnisse überrascht, die sich bietenden Möglichkeiten nicht erkannte und dementsprechend nicht nutzen konnte. [ October 24, 2003, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

"But one hour and ten minutes after taking the drug, with one man climbing a tree to feed the birds, the troop commander gave up, admitting that he could no longer control himself or his men. He himself then relapsed into laughter." Lol! Greetings, Trommelfeuer

Sorry, my written english is very bad... I meant, I started the AZL, CMBB starts too, I skip the CDV intro, then I went to the market...when I came back the AZL was finished but the WG soldiers were still there. Next step was trying it again for three times, "watching" the process, but unfortunately without success. Anyway, thanks a lot for your work for the CMBB community, at least I have the authentic "Dienstgrade" for SS-soldiers. I will try all AZL versions, perhaps I'm lucky and it works... MFG, Trommelfeuer

Yes, I waited several minutes after starting the AZL(meanwhile I was at the market)I think I've got to check that again, thank you very much for your fast reply to my question! Edit: hmm...the AZL starts, MS-Dos window disappears after the correct time, but I still got that WG-stuff... I think my PC doesn't like me... Perhaps I've got the wrong CMBB-version? I've got the "ergänzte CDV-1.02 deutsch" version...(but I used the multlingual 1.02 patch, 'cause the CDV-1.02 patch doesn't work..) MFG, Trommelfeuer [ April 01, 2003, 05:19 AM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Really nice! Could you please tell me if the "Antizensurlader Version 3" affects the mispellings in the briefings or does it also affect the mispellings ingame? I tried "Eberswalde Last Stand" and had a look at the unit information of a SS-unit...it's still WG.... (...also die SS-Einheiten sind dank deinem Uffz. Patch auch als solche zu erkennen, UST, usw...aber wenn ich ENTER drücke, und mir die Einheit "genauer" anschaue, dann steht da immer noch 'Deutsch-WG-Infanterie'...kann man da was zu machen? bin ich zu deppert? :confused: ) With friendly greetings, Trommelfeuer

Yo, "seek & destroy" is a good choice for your video! I think CMBO, CMBB and OFP are simply the best & most realistic games in your film, the pictures may not be moving, but the quality is really nice! Thanks for the entertainment! MFG, Trommelfeuer

I had really a great time playing "Fiedhofshügel" / "cemetery hill", thanks a lot for this one! It's a very good & tough scenario, it's very interesting to see the outcome of different tactics... I had a tactical victory last time (69:31), both sides agreed on a ceasefire after turn 14... Here you'll find an AAR of my last battle on cemetery hill... it's written in german.... http://www.cdv-board.de/deutsch/showthread.php?s=dabd65a93159a0d525e1a3394c656c41&threadid=5936 With friendly greetings, Trommelfeuer [ March 28, 2003, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

I think it's best to spot the enemy first with Panzerspähwagen or some other recon-unit. Sometimes the enemy will reveal his ambush positions when you open fire at suspect spots...(trenchlines, woods...) Hmmm...if you run your soldiers into enemy lines without providing them with enough firepower to suppress allied soldiers who open fire on your leading elements, then it's true, your soldiers will be blown to bits....but if you leave enough soldiers to "watch" over the advancing ones, they'll still get hit, but not that worse....(especially mortars / heavy machine gun teams are useful for this...) MFG, Trommelfeuer [ March 28, 2003, 07:09 AM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

Yap, thumbs up for this one, very good action-packed CMBB film! MFG, Trommelfeuer [ March 25, 2003, 06:29 AM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]