John1966
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Posts posted by John1966
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If a mortar is selected and shows a red "X" next to their platoon and a green circle next to the Company HQ, that does not mean the mortar has C2 with the Company HQ, it means the mortar is out of C2 with its platoon HQ, but the platoon HQ is in C2 with the Company HQ.
Fair enough but the mortars have always had the green light and not the the red x. Their C2 status is not the issue.
1. The mortars must have good links all the way up their chain of command to an HQ with a radio (in most cases this means they must be in contact with their immediate superior, but in a few cases they must be in contact with their Section HQ and the Section HQ must be in contact with the Platoon HQ).
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2. The mortars must be positioned beside a stationary vehicle with a radio.
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3. The mortars must be within voice range of the spotter.
This is not what the manual says (unless I've missed a bit - possible). It's also not my experience. If there is a Coy HQ with a radio next to the mortars then, as far as I understand, the mortars should not be "out of contact" with any spotter who is in radio communication with the Coy HQ.
You are saying this is incorrect? The manual talks about using the section HQs etc for spreading the mortars out, it doesn't state that it is only those who are the correct position in the chain who can maintain the contact status of the mortars. The implication is that the Coy HQ can maintain that contact (regardless of C2). Are you saying that the Coy HQ cannot provide the necessary "link" for arty spotting?
That would also make the Coy HQ slightly less useful than I'd thought.
"Out of contact" in the artillery interface doesn't tell you anything about the C2 status of the selected spotter.
I realise this. But the red cross on the interface is saying they are also out of C2. They are "out of contact" for spotting purposes as indicated by the artilliery interface and they are out of C2 as indicated by the unit display. I realise that these are two different things and would not necesarily be the same as each other in all cases. What I am saying is that both these circumstances seem to have come about as a result of no communication with the Coy HQ (unless you are right about the Coy HQ being unable to provide the "link" for spotting purposes).
The battalion HQ is on the map in this scenario.
Aha, you are quite correct! Actually I'd forgotten about that. The battalion HQ got wiped out when a very flukey mortar shell (that quite clearly missed where it was supposed to go) landed in their jeep! (Odd that I should forget such a memorable moment but I'd rather got wrapped up in this radio business)
Alas, the battalion HQ is no more.
But that's even more rum. That Coy HQ has a green light saying that it is in C2 with a battallion HQ that isn't "fictional and off-board" but actually no longer exists (total wipe out - no wounded). Not sure what to make of that.
Still reckon Captain Carlson's radio isn't working.
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Roger that - perhaps that is one of my main problems. But I rarely find I have enough time to investigate everything - and in this campaign I am awarded for enemy kills as well as objectives.
I suppose its not an actual difference with CMx2 but I notice that the scenarios are all a lot longer than they were in CMx1 (on average).
As a result you do actually have the time to advance slowly and do proper recon and spotting. I'm yet to find that I'm under any time pressure. Funnily enough this is actually of of the hardest things to get used to.
The battlefield seems a lot more dangerous place than it was in CMx1 (whether it really is or that's just an illusion created by seeing individual men go down, I'm not sure) so you really need to be playing it a slower pace. But I still get that CMx1 "press on, press on" itch that always seems to take over.
Calling in arty forces you to slow down as it also seems to take a lot longer than it did in CMx1.
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Do you have a save file? I'm no beta tester, but I'm very curious now
.Might have. How do I share such a thing?
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Checking the manual here and its all about communication links. I think this talk of weapons platoon HQs and "artillery network" is a bit of a red herring : ) If the company HQ is in visual with the mortars then the spotters should be able to call it in as long as they are in contact with the Coy HQ. Remember, they were "out of contact" not "denied".
The C2 is an issue because it works in the same way. The manual talks about the C2 links in reference to spotting. No mention of a seperate "artillery network". Yes, a lowly unit may not be able to call in a high level asset but in that case it would say "denied" (and is unlikely to apply to the company's own on-board mortars anyway).
The spotters are "out of contact" with the mortars that the company HQ has visual with and everyone out of visual with the company HQ is out of C2. This MUST be a communication issue.
In fact, I would be certain it was the company HQ radio simply being broken if it wasn't for the fact that the company HQ was shown as in C2 with battalion HQ.
On the other hand, this is, of course, an off-board fictional battalion HQ that doesn't really exist within the game. In those circumstances I might guess that the company HQ being in C2 with battalion HQ is just an unchangable default status.
In which case that radio is broken and I confirm that it doesn't always just last a few turns.
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"out of contact" in the artillery interface tells you nothing about the C2 status of the spotter. A unit that can call indirect fire will always be able to unless the qualified spotter is killed. C2 status or even the outright loss of the radio will not change this. The mortars were "out of contact" because:
1. The mortars were out of C2 with their immediate superior HQ.
2. The mortars did not have an alternate means to receive fire missions (a vehicle with radio parked nearby).
Whether or not the platoon HQs or FO have C2 links with the Company HQ has no effect on the "out of contact" status for the mortars, so we can set that aside.
Our only question now is why the Company HQ's subordinate platoon HQs and FO do not have radio C2 links to the Company HQ.
Hoolaman was correct earlier: there is a small, random chance for radio failure, which should only be temporary (a few turns) when it occurs. But if the Company HQ has a radio link up to Battalion, then that is not what is happening.
The mortars were in C2 as the Company HQ was stood next to them (and the green light confirmed this).
It was the rest of the company who were out of C2 even though the company HQ had a radio. (I did not notice that the rest of the company were out of C2 at first. This just came to light as I was trying work out why no-one on the battlefield, other than the company HQ could contact the mortars).
These two issues look linked to me. No-one on the battlefield can contact the mortars that are stood next to a Company HQ (even though all other arty is accessable and contactable). Everyone in that company who is out of visual with the same company HQ is out of C2.
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Sounds like the Coy HQ radio is up. Are you sure the platoon HQs haven't recently been moving, taking casualties, etc.?
The thing is, it's the ENTIRE COMPANY that isn't in visual that are out of C2. To be honest, I've lost track of which/when the platoon HQs moved but that FO has been sat on its derriere (calling off-board arty with no problem) for some time and it is not in C2. I've moved Capt. C to get up that hill and start earning his pay with the rest of the company. As soon as he gets out of visual contact with those mortars (i.e. as soon as I get a chance to do another couple of turns) I will look with great interest as to whether THEY remain in C2.
Those mortars were out of contact from turn 1 before a shot was fired. F company has generally been on the move but that FO is sat perfectly still. He could get arty from every source except the company's own mortars (until I moved the weapons HQ). And he is STILL out of C2 (along with everyone else).
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Well moving the weapons HQ closer to the mortars has solved the no contact problem as far as spotting is concerned, as you'd expect. However, F company are all still out of contact for C2 purposes so his radio can't be working.
Except for the fact that Capt C. is in contact with battalion HQ according to the display. So maybe it IS working?
Perhaps its receiving but not transmitting?! ; )
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That should read:
'However, you have confused me with "artillery net". '
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I shall check all that out later (as I'm supposed to be working right now). However, you have confused me "artillery net". I thought that having a Company HQ with a radio next to the mortors should mean that those in contact with that Company HQ could spot for them. Sure its always worked before. Certainly never had this "out of contact" thing before.
However, Company HQ is out of contact with eveyone not in visual for ALL PURPOSES (ie spotting for arty AND C2 c&c) so it still looks like Capt. C can't work the radio.
Are we certain faulty gear isn't modelled?
Hmmm, if it's a bug then I suppose that is faulty gear. That's pretty Zen...
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Are the mortars the ones from Carlson's Company (4th platoon, I guess, if it's a standard US leg infantry coy.
Yep. But remember everyone who is out of visual with Capt. C (i.e. everyone EXCEPT the mortars) is also out of command. So I'm sure this is a radio issue.
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After a movement it takes a while for the platoon HQs set up their radio's, so if they are out of visual range and radio is the only form of communication they will be out of command. It is hard as it is run and talk while not getting shot, let alone using of those clumsy WW2 radio's.
FO's are bit special I believe (or there was a bug).
Yeah, but that FO is the thing. He can contact the off-board arty but is clearly out of contact with the good captain.
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Sorry, "Carlson".
Better get his name right for the court martial...
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Puzzling. Maybe Cpt. Carlson is taking a nap?
Michael
Quite.
It's all a bit complicated but what I can be certain about is...
FACT: F company's FO can contact off-board artillery.
FACT: F company's FO is "out of contact" with F company's mortars.
FACT: F company's FO is out of command (along with everyone else out of visual range with Captain Carlson - But apparently the platoon HQs have weaker radios so lets not dwell on that and stick with the FO).
CONCLUSION: Link is broken at Captain Carson's end.
Captain Carson is in good order (and is clearly in visual contact with his mortars) and has a radio icon.
So either his radio is broken (and has been sice secenario start) or some outside fact is effecting it. Buggered if I know what though.
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How long have the platoon HQs been stationary? Do the mortars belong to the same company?
Yeah, they're the same company. It says "out of contact" rather than "denied" so its definitely a contact issue.
Not sure how long they've been stationary but if it's a movement issue should they also be out of command? Haven't ever noticed it being an issue before although I may not have noticed units being out of command in the heat of battle before...
However, the company forward observer is currently accessing the off board artillery and I'm pretty sure he accessed the other company's mortars earlier on (although I could be mistaken). He can currently access the off-board artillery but is "out of contact" with his own mortars. He, too, is out of command. So as far as I can see, it can't be a problem at his end otherwise he should be "out of contact" with the off-board arty, not just his own. The link must surely be broken at the other end?
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If the mortars are within 50m of an HQ shouldn't they be in command, as per the manual?
They are within Captain Carlson's command. Should have said. He can bring in mortar fire from these three mortars (but he's at the back and has nothing to shoot at except some unthreatening looking flora and fauna).
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One thing not explicitly stated in the manual and not shown at all in the UI is that radios can fail in the game.
This shows up as an inexplicable missing link that lasts two or three turns.
Now this is interesting. It does just look like Captain Carlson's radio isn't working. However, he still has the radio icon and it's lasted the whole game so far (thirty-odd turns).
Could Captain Carlson have been issued with a duff radio?
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A couple things to check for:
1. Do all the platoon HQs still actually have their radios? Meaning the radio operator isn't a casualty and the radios are shown in the GUI?
2. The radios only work when HQs are stationary, not while moving. Radio comms usually are made a few seconds after ending a move order. Your platoon HQs definitely need to be stationary to reach higher command via radio, and therefore also to call in arty and mortars via radio.
Don't thinks that's it. One platoon has lost its radio but the rest of the company have the little red x on their display.
They're all in a wood at the moment and I was wondering if terrain has an effect. However, the forward observer has been able to call in G company's mortars and off-board artillery.
So the problem seems to at Captain Carlson's end...
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I thought I had all this C2 stuff sorted but apparently I haven't...
I'm playing Bois De Baugin and three mortars are out of contact for everyone.
The three mortars in question are all within 30m of Captain Carlson the company commander of F company who has a radio.
This has been the case throughout the scenario.
On closer examination, I realise that all the platoon HQs of F company have a little red cross next to F company on their display so I assume that the problem is simply that Captain Carlson is out of contact with his platoon HQs (and, in fact, everyone else). But if he has a radio and so do the platoon HQs, why is he out of contact? I thought that posession of a radio was all that was required.
What am I missing here?
This situation has persisted since scenario start and the good captain is in good order.
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I concur that it's hit or miss. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Sometimes its instant. Sometimes they steadfastly refuse to rejoin. And sometimes they re-join when you've given up trying to get them to. Definitely not mixing my squads up. Can't see a pattern to the do they/don't they circumstances.
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Oh, and end-of-level bosses.
Obviously...
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The dialogue from the opening scene of Windatalkers (2002) everytime a squad gets hammered.
"Damn you, John Enders" (or something like that)
Dear Lord that's a bad movie...
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It seems that applying this legislation is patchy in the UK. I had my steel box edition delivered no problems - no charges nothing. Could be that up here in the People's Free State of Scotland that the postal service is more enlightened?
Well one of the guys at the post office was trying to tell me that the reason for the charge was that customs randomly open packages and then charge £18.52 for doing so. As I say, I had to explain to him that I think it's just import duty and that I have to pay it as I'm in importing it. Then they photocopied the documentation so that I could try and make BFC pay it. I explained that I don't think you can make the exporter do that. After all they'd just pass the cost on. Well they moaned and scratched their heads and said it wasn't fair. Completely undermined my whole pre-planned "this is a disgrace" demeanour. I had to practically force the money on them...
My point being that if those who work in the system haven't got the slightest clue how it works then it stands to reason that the application of legislation is going to be pretty random.
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Of course, the 8 pounds admin fee is steep, but I fear the rest is perfectly legit.
Oh, I'm sure its legit. In fact, I ended up trying to explain it to the guys at the post office who thought it was a mistake. However, if it's 20%, it looks like they calculated from the amount in dollars (I think - I can't remember the exact cost) and arrived at a figure in pounds. I couldn't check it in the post office because none of the staff knew anything about how it worked.
It's also galling when I can't actually buy the said product from within the EU anyway, so "adavantage" doesn't really come into it whether it's legit or not. No choice.
And just to add insult to injury, the post office won't accept a debit card payment on it (or not at this branch anyway). Cash only. Its like the 21st century never happened...
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I had a squad behind a wall with nothing much in front of them and a half-track went past (behind them) and sprayed them with what was probably 0.30 cal and caused casualties. Definite friendly fire. Re-played it several times. No doubt about it. I was impressed in a furious kind of way.
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Cats Chasing Dogs Objectives
in Combat Mission Battle for Normandy
Posted
This is all very odd. Not sure I understand this 240 point bonus to the Americans.
I just played as the Germans and (in what turned out to be a turkey shoot) took, what I assume to be, maximum points. Every American vehicle destroyed, 75% of US personnel were casualties and zero German casualties (not so much as scratched paintwork on the ACs).
"Wow", I thought (after the auto-end). Total Victory with over 10 turns to go.
Excepet it wasn't. Only a major victory due to those pesky "bonus" 240 points. Is a Total Victory actually possible with those 240 points? Anyway to stop the Americans getting them?