Mortarman Deke

Updated to the Battlefront Repository a T-72 Meeting Engagement mission with changes to enemy vehicles, and an allied artillery fire for effect replaces the allied tactical nuclear barrage. The cache file is: MeetingEngagementv5.ca The script file is: Meetingv5.pd The file name in the Battlefront.com Repository is T-72 Meeting Engagement Howitzer FFE. This is the Single mission T-72 Meeting Engagement mission with the enemy T-55A's and SU-100's replaced by Leopard 1A4's and Shturm-S's, and the allied Leopard 1A4's and infantry replaced by 3 T-55A tanks, and an SU-100. The allied T-55A's, SU-100 and the two T-72's and additional SU-100 under your command are positioned in the dry lake beds on the south side of the map near your starting position. The enemy Leopard 1A4's & Shturm-S's have the same script commands as the 2 T-55A's and the SU-100's did. Additionally, the 2 enemy T-72's, 2 Shturm-S's, and infantry squad remain the same with the exception that an SU-100 is added to their force as well. Shortly after the beginning of the mission the allied Artillery fire for effect will begin. The 2 T-72's and SU-100 are under your direct command so be sure to issue the command to Open Fire to them as soon as possible. You can hold them in reserve until later in the battle - thus you can have them engage the enemy and maneuver at your discretion. Enjoy! Mortarman Deke

As soon as the Battlefront.com administrators clear the file I just uploaded this one will be available for download from the Battlefront.com Repository. The file name is T-55 Mountain Factory. In this mission you are part of a T-55A crew in support of an assault on a secluded industrial zone located in the mountains. The cache file is: MountainFactory t55.ca The script file is: MountFac t55.pd This is an enhancement to the T-55 Breakthrough Mission - Mission 3 in the T-72 BOF campaign. Here is the mission summary: Your T-55A crew is to support the capture of a secluded industrial zone from enemy forces. The allied forces you are supporting consist of two teams each being a T-72B and an infantry squad. Your orders are to arrive at allied front lines north of your current position and move out with allied forces firing at will at enemy forces. Intell reports that enemy forces have no less than four countermech' squads dug in around the industrial zone, and have what appears to be two maneuver elements. One is an infantry squad, and the other is a tank/infantry combat team consisting of 2 Leopard 1A4 tanks and a detachment of RPG gunners. Commander's Intent is to eradicate the enemy forces in the area so that allied forces can collect the petroleum and metal resources located throughout the industrial zone structures. Good use of terrain in this mission is critical. The enemy units are crack shots with their Sprut-B and B-11 anti-tank guns, and the Leopard 1A4 crews are veterans of many battles. Recommendation, if you have not already done so, set your player's tank armor to 2.0 versus 1.0 to get a more realistic and enjoyable experience playing this mission. Enjoy! Happy Holidays! Mortarman Deke

I have a T-55 Mountain Factory/Industrial Zone mission that I am almost done testing, and an improvement to the T-72 Meeting Engagement mission that is also almost ready for upload to the Battlefront Repository, but needs a little tweaking for a howitzer fire for effect. I should have these ready for upload very soon, and will have mission summaries for both when I upload them. Have a great Thanksgiving! Mortarman Deke

I uploaded a new version of the T-55 Defense Mission I had previously added to the Battlefront.com Repository. It's called T-55 Defense Mission V2. Here is the summary: The cache file is: VillageDefense t55.ca The script file is: VillageDefense t55.pd The differences from the previous enhancement are: 1) Each enemy group is reduced in size by one tank to improve game play performance. 2) Each SU-100 is replaced by a Leopard 1A4 tank. 3) The artillery/mortar fire for effect script point located on your position has been removed from the map to improve game play performance. This is the Level 2 mission using the T-55A as the players tank. You have 2 other T-55A's in your command. In support of you, there are a Sprut-B AT-gun and crew in a tank trench,and an infantry squad. There are two offensive groups, both consisting of one T-72, a Leopard 1A4, an MTLB, and an infantry squad. I recommend that you go into CFG mode and double the player's tank's armor level so you essentially have a T-55AM. Be sure to command your two other T-55A's to open fire and to take defensive positions immediately. This is a challenging mission, but you and your tank platoon and support elements can pull it off. Good luck!

I just uploaded a new mission for the T-72B placed in the single mission meeting engagement environment. This will be available for download as soon as the Battlefront administrators approve my uploaded file. In this mission, your tank and crew are tasked with supporting a hastily organized defense of a large ammunition storage facility at the center of the map/environment. Here is the Mission Summary Your T-72B tank and crew are tasked with supporting an ad-hoc defense of a critical ammunition storage facility. The force you are supporting consists of a tank/infantry combat team made up of a T-72B, 2 T-55A's, and an RPG tank hunter infantry squad. The T-72,T-55's, and infantry are under orders to maneuver to defendable positions and repel any attacking forces. Command has been required to withdraw most of the armor and artillery resources in the area to aid in a major offensive and unfortunately has left the ammo storage facility undefended until your armored contingent arrived. Given that the ammo storage facility is well behind allied lines, extensive fencing and barriers have not been required. This is presenting a problem now, as intell has reported that the enemy appears to be planning a smash and grab objective raid on our ammo storage facility. Your job is to prevent enemy forces from being successful in carrying this raid out. The enemy forces in this mission are broken into three parts. Group one is 2 T-55A tanks, group 2 is two T-72B tanks and an infantry fireteam, and group 3 is 3 Shturm-S's, an SU-100, and an infantry fireteam. These groups will approach from different directions and will pop out of hidden areas in the terrain at relatively close range. Most of your engagements will take place between 200 and 500 meters in this mission. For your enemy to complete their mission, they need to destroy all allied forces in the area to allow for them to grab as much ammo as possible and make off with it. Your mission objective is simple. Destroy every enemy vehicle, and kill every enemy soldier. Don't let them succeed. Command currently does not have additional forces in the area to reinforce or replace your tank/infantry combat team. I had a great time putting this mission together and testing it out. The close range engagements are a real rush, and I think that fans of T-72 BOF will really enjoy this one. Mortarman Deke

I have finished testing of a new T-55A mission that I have put together in the T-34/85 Ambush mission environment. I will upload this one to the Battlefront Repository today, and it will be available as soon as the Battlefront.com administrators approve the files. Here is the overview of this mission: Recent successes in a series of battles allied forces have had against the enemy have pushed front lines forward sufficiently close to a strategically important enemy radio re-transmitter facility used to relay and re-transmit radio communication between a large amount of enemy units. Commander's Intent is to approach the facility, draw out, and destroy the mechanized forces protecting the enemy radio re-transmitter facility. This will allow for a technically skilled infantry squad to be safely transported to and dropped off by APC at the outskirts of the facility. This infantry squad and MTLB are currently located adjacent to a recenly captured enemy helicopter landing pad to the west of your starting point. The infantry squad and MTLB are ordered by command not to move out or engage the enemy until it is confirmed that the unit protecting the re-transmitter facility has been destroyed. Once this occurs the infantry squad will board the MTLB and will travel to the re-transmitter facility to conduct their technical operation. Your T-55A and crew are operating in support of an allied tank platoon consisting of a T-72B and two T-55A's which have orders to search and destroy all enemy mechanized forces in the area. You are to maneuver with the platoon at your discretion and assist with the destruction of enemy tanks and cavalry fighting vehicles as rapidly as possible. Given that command wants to minimize the risk of destroying the communication towers, artillery support will not be provided for this mission. However, command has sent elite infantry anti-tank forces into the area under cover of darkness overnight which are now pre-positioned and will provide direct fire support for your tank force during the attack. These forces consist of an economy of forces RPG tank hunter infantry squad, and a counter-mech squad dug in with a Sprut-B heavy anti-tank gun - which was towed into position by the MTLB. The enemy force consists of three elements. An armored cavalry force consisting of 3 Leopard 1A4's and a Shturm-S. A mech/infantry team consisting of two Shturm-S's and an infantry fire-team. Both of which are in the vicinity of the re-transmitter facility to the northwest. Finally, the third element is an infantry squad patrolling the battlefield area and will likely turn up during your attack. The enemy forces are known elements of an elite armored cavalry division, and command urges you not to underestimate their capability even if the battle is going very much in your favor. I personally have had a great time playing this mission, and I hope you enjoy it!

Hi Dragonfire, I have uploaded my new T-72 mission Armored Clash, and the updated T-34/85 Mech' Ambush mission to the Battlefront Repository. The new T-72 mission will appear in the Repository as soon as it's approved by Battlefront. Thanks! Mortarman Deke

I have wanted to produce a new mission for the T-72 in that fantastic Commando mission map and environment for quite some time. Well, I have finally made one and have uploaded the map, script file, and read me doc to the Battlefront Repository under the file name T-72 Armored Clash. Here is the synopsis: In this mission you are operating in support of a small armored task force whose objective is to retake a village recently captured by enemy mechanized forces north of your location. The opposing forces have also roadblocked the highway that passes through the village. Access to this roadway is critical to allied war efforts in this area. Therefore allied command is ordering an armored assault immediately with the resources we currently have in the area. Your tank is a T-72B and you are in direct command of a T-55A and an SU-100 which are held in reserve. You are in support of two maneuver elements. One consisting of 2 T-55A's, an SU-100, and an RPG tank hunter fire team. The other consisting of 2 T-72's. Both maneuver elements are under orders to search and destroy enemy mechanized forces. On the approach to the battlefield, a brief artillery fire for effect will be conducted on an exposed enemy roadblock check point recently identified by allied intelligence. As your maneuver elements move out, take up an overwatch position of your preference and provide direct fire support for your forces. Your enemy has three groups making up their force in the area. They have an armored cavalry force that will approach from the northeast consisting of 2 Leopard 1A4's and 2 Shturm-S's, an armored cavalry force that will approach from the northwest also consisting of 2 Leopard 1A4's and 2 Shturm-S's. These two elements have been alerted to your task force's approach and are under orders to search destroy your forces. The third group of the enemy's armored force is stationary and is currently deployed in and around the village to the north. This third element consists of 2 Leopard 1A4's, a Shturm-S, and an economy of forces RPG tank hunter infantry squad. The air in this mission environment is very clear so expect to exchange fire with the enemy at very long ranges - on the order of 2 km at times. There will be some very short range exchanges as well between allied and enemy armored units when they encounter each other in the denser wooded areas and in the rolling hills. To successfully complete the mission, destroy all three enemy groups, and take up a position in the village. If you are immobilized order the T-55A and SU-100 that are in reserve to move into town. If you are defeated, feel free to watch the battle between allied and enemy mechanized forces unfold in the post mission fly through. Enjoy!

I have successfully assembled a new T-72 mission in the old T-55 Commando mission map, and I am in the final testing phase. In this one you are part of a small armored task force that has to take back territory seized by a numerically and in some ways technically superior force. The enemy force consists of two maneuver elements each consisting of 2 Shturm-S's and 2 Leopard 1A4's, and a stationary force holding the village to the north consisting of 2 Leopard 1A4's, a Shturm-S, and an economy of forces RPG tank hunter infantry squad. Under your direct command besides your T-72B is a T-55A and SU-100 which are held in reserve. You also have two maneuver elements that you are in support of one consisting of 2 T-72's, and the other consisting of 2 T-55A's, an SU-100, and an RPG tank hunter fire team. The exciting thing about playing in this map is that the air is very clear making most of the engagements at extreme range - on the order of 2 km. Some of the engagements by the maneuver elements are as close as 60 meters though as the allied and enemy forces clash in the forested area in the center of the map. There are a few kinks - but nothing major - that I need to work out yet as the amount of units in this mission is pushing the game to its limits. Kinks such as debating to include or not include a small artillery fire for effect on an exposed enemy check point as allied forces approach the battlefield. Once this mission is working well, I will upload it to the BattleFront Repository. Also, I am near completion of an improved version of the T-34/85 Mech' Ambush mission. I have improved the T-34 with a stabilized main gun, and an improved fire fighting system. Also the flight of 3 enemy Mi-8's now patrol the whole map on orders to search and destroy. Plus an enemy economy of forces RPG tank hunter infantry squad has been added that also has orders to patrol through the whole map on orders to search and destroy. I will be uploading this updated version sometime this week to the BattleFront Repository. Have a great week! Mortarman Deke

Hi Blackbird, I'm very happy to see that there are other fans of this great game out there. I think that you should do what I did and start dabbling with T-72 BOF's Mission Editor in the cache file of the T-72 BOF game you installed on your computer. I have played around with it a lot. I have uploaded 8 missions for T-72 BOF to the Battlefront Repository. Most are updated versions of the missions from the T-72 BOF campaign. A couple are new missions altogether. It doesn't stop there though. I have numerous new missions I have not shared, and have played around with changing the weapon systems in the tanks. For instance in the T-34/85 OMG Mission I uploaded, I gave the user's T-34 a stablized main gun, and an internal firefighting system. In missions I have not uploaded, I have switched out the T-34's 85mm gun with the T-55's 100mm gun. I have also put a guide feature into the Mi-8 helicopter's rockets. The later did not work out to well - but I still was able to do it and they did guide. Also, I have found that you can add Atomic bomb strikes to the game, MLRS fire for effects, as well as howitzer artillery and MLRS smoke fire for effects (artillery barrages). One of the next things I'm going to try is to switch out the rockets on the Mi-8 with B-11 107mm guns. It may be a dead end, but we'll see. Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that you don't have to wait for someone else to design, develop, and market a sequel to T-72 BOF, you can learn how and make new missions on your own with this one. :-) Mortarman Deke

I just uploaded a new T-34/85 mission in which you are part of an Operational Maneuver Group or (OMG). Here is the synopsis: In this mission, you are part of an Operational Maneuver Group (OMG). An OMG is a task force that has broken through enemy lines and rushed into enemy territory with the sole intention of destroying and disrupting supplies and command infrastructure. The troops in an OMG conduct these efforts until they are killed, run out of ammo, fuel, and supplies, or rejoin allied forces. Your modernized T-34/85 tank, the two Shturm-S's, and the tank hunter infantry fire-team are a small part of an OMG that has broken through enemy lines. Your team has been notified that there is a fuel and small arms ammunition supply convoy passing nearby. Being within their territory, the convoy will have minimal security, consisting of BRDM-2's and some infantry. Expect the convoy to scatter upon seeing your forces, and make a run for the nearby supply base which is their destination. Your team's task is to destroy the entire convoy - the fuel trucks, the jeeps carrying small arms ammo, and the BRDM-2's. The enemy supply base that that the convoy is headed for, has veteran mechanized forces protecting and patrolling the surrounding area. Command intell reports that 2 T-72's, an SU-100, an MTLB, and an infantry squad make up the mechanized force. Engaging and destroying the mechanized force is not a mission requirement. If you have to engage the enemy force or make the decision to do so, take up positions in the nearby town and use the buildings as partial cover to fight the T-72's and SU-100. If you do engage this mechanized force from the town, expect an exciting and nail biting tank engagement that will take place entirely within a range of 650 meters. Your T-34/85 in this mission, is modernized with a fully stabilized 85mm tank gun, gunner sight, halon firefighting system, and improved BPS, BKS, and OFS shells. The gun stabilizer can be turned off an on from the Gunner's position by hitting Ctrl S on your keyboard just like in the T-55A and the T-72B with the exception that there is no stabilizer light on the T-34's gunner display like there is in the T-55 and T-72. This mission uses the Single3.pd script file. The Single3.pd script file included with this zip file has some modifications from the Single3.pd script file that you have in your T-72 BOF Data file. If you do not want to lose the current Single3.pd script file that you have please rename it or move it to another file on your computer. Replacing the Single3.pd will not impact the play of the original mission it was intended for which is the "Revenge" single mission in T-72 BOF. I have a great time playing this mission and I think you will too. Enjoy!

Well, thank you Dragonfire! I appreciate that. Alright, my new T-72 BOF mission to capture an enemy radar site has been uploaded to the Battlefront Repository. As soon as the webmasters/administrators review it, it will be available for download from the T-72 Balkans on fire area in the Battlefront Classic Games area in their Repository. Have a great week! Mortarman Deke

I'm finishing up testing a new T-72 Balkans On Fire mission that I will upload to the Battlefront.com Repository this week. The new mission is set in the map/environment used for the T-72 training/shooting range. This particular mission's objective is to capture an enemy radar facility. I will need to test it one or two more times before uploading as I changed and created a lot of scripts and all the mission objectives. So far the mission has been working great without any bugs. Anyway, your force consists of the T-72B tank, along with two T-55A's, and an MTLB with an economy of forces infantry squad made up of 4 automatic riflemen and 3 RPG gunners. Your enemy force has four elements operating independently of each other. 1) A small armored cavalry element consisting of a Leopard 1A4 and a Shturm-S. 2) A mechanized infantry element consisting of 2 T-72's, an SU-100, an MTLB, and an infantry squad. 3) A stationary counter mech force consisting of a Sprut-B anti-tank gun, and an infantry squad including at least 3 RPG gunners. 4) A flight of 2 Mi-8 helicopters. In order to complete the mission, you need to defeat the above mentioned forces, and move your forces to the hill on which the radar antenna is situated to capture the enemy radar site. As you approach the battlefield, an enemy supply depot is situated to your right front as you approach. In order to ensure your right flank is clear, Allied Command will conduct an MLRS rocket strike on that storage facility to destroy it which you can watch from safe distance as you get ready to move out. Allied Command will also be providing a 7 minute fire for effect of howitzer artillery in an area of what is perceived to be a likely enemy rally point in the enemy defense of the area surrounding the radar facility. I have a feeling that those of you out there like me that are still playing T-72 Balkans On Fire will really enjoy this mission. I will try to finish up testing this mission by tomorrow evening and upload it to the T-72 Balkans On Fire area in the Battlefront Repository tomorrow night 3/5/2012 or Tuesday 3/6/2012. Have a great week! Mortarman Deke

I'm glad that you like it Dragonfire! Have a blast!

I just uploaded to the BattleFront.com repository, an improved version of the Level 7 Power Plant assault mission from the T-72 BOF campaign. In this mission you operate a T-72B tank and are to be the base of fire for a maneuver element consisting of 2 T-55A's and an infantry squad. Under your direct command is an occupation force for the power plant grounds consisting of an infantry squad and an MTLB. Allied artillery will be hitting the power plant grounds with 5 minutes of continuous HE fragmentation fire once the mission starts. Defending the power plant is a well equiped mechanized force consisting of three tanks (a T-72 and 2 Leopard 1A4's), two APC's (an MTLB and a Shturm-S) and three infantry squads. Intel reports that the 2 APC's arrived each towing a heavy anti-tank gun. Thus the occupying force reportedly has deployed two counter mech' squads with long range heavy anti-tank crew served weapons covering the power plant grounds. They have also been in position long enough to bury mines in some of the approaches to the power plant. If you download and play this mission, my recommendation: Take up a hull down position along the road south of the power plant, and engage the enemy mechanized forces occupying the power plant grounds to allow the manuver element to approach and take position in the occupied area. Once the enemy tanks have been neutralized, approach the power plant, and give the command to move into the grounds to the APC and infantry squad under your direct command. Watch out for the two enemy counter mech' squads on your approach to the power plant. Enjoy!

You're welcome! I just played the Meeting Engagement with the allied tactical nuclear strike again. Oh man! I think I just had the best experience ever playing this game. An atomic detonation blew behind a Shtum-S 1500+ meters in front of me and the APC flew about 800 meters through the air toward me and then proceeded to cartwheel right at me for another 400 meters. I saw this cartwheeling APC coming toward me right in my gunner's sight. I was like a deer caught in a car's headlights. I thought it was going to hit me. LOL! That was awesome! Just amazing.

Hi There! I uploaded a few T-72 Balkans On Fire missions in the Battlefront.com repository. All five of these were uploaded as zip files containing the level cache file, the script file that supports them, and a text file with a discussion. Here are the details. A new T-55 mission based off the level 2 campaign mission where you are part of a T-55A tank platoon defending a town that has a commanding view of an adjacent valley. Your platoon has an allied Sprut-B anti-tank gun and an infantry squad supporting you in your defense. Your enemy has two mechanized teams that will advance on your position from two different directions. Both teams consisting of 2 T-72's, an SU-100, and an MTLB with an infantry squad. This one is definitely a challenging gun fight. Be sure to command your tank platoon to open fire and take defensive positions immediately after starting your tank. Another one is new take on the T-34/85 ambush mission which should be viewed as a sequel to the original T-34/85 ambush mission. In this one you have a Shturm-S under your command, and allied forces now hold the base at the northwest of the map. Your enemy consists of an armored cavalry reinforcement being moved through the area to recapture the base and use it as a jump off point for future operations against your forces. This enemy force consists of 2 T-72's, 2 Leopard 1A4's, and a Shturm-S. In support of them is a flight of 3 Mi-8 helicopters that will fly through the intended path of the convoy and clear the way for the mechanized force. Then there is an improvement to the T-72 Crossroads mission. This one has you in a T-72 with a pair of T-55A's and an infantry squad under your command. In support of you are two additional allied infantry squads and a multiple launch rocket system (MRLS). Your enemy consists of 3 T-72's, 3 SU-100's, 3 infantry squads, and an Mi-8 helicopter. Once the mission starts, the MRLS will begin to conduct a fire for effect on the enemy position. You won't see the MRLS, but you will see the periodic explosions from the rocket impacts. Please read the read me text file included in the zip file for this one, as it uses the script11.pd script file which has the MRLS script in it. I just mention it because you risk overwriting your script11.pd file. The only difference is the MRLS script. You can delete the MRLS script if you open the file Level11projectV2.ca in the missions editor and delete the script near the town on the map that is a little white flag labeled script point [atomic]. The next is an update to the single Meeting Engagement mission in which allied forces conduct a tactical nuclear strike on your enemy mechanized force. This is a T-72 mission in which you are part of a T-72 tank platoon with an infantry fire team under your command. You have an allied T-55A tank platoon consisting of 3 tanks to your right flank. Both the 2 T-72's and infantry under your command and the T-55A's are situated in the dry lake beds at the south side of the map near your starting position. Your enemy consists 4 Leopard 1A4's, 2 T-72's, 2 Shturm-S's, and an infantry squad. The nuclear strikes will begin shortly after the mission starts, and the first detonation will cause the grass everywhere to disappear. The craters, dust and smoke plumes, and effect on target from these explosions are huge. On one occasion I saw a Shturm-S get launched 200 meters through the air. Expect surprises and tenacity from the enemy even with the atomic detonations in this mission. Read the text file included in the zip file with this upload as well, because like the other T-72 mission with the MRLS support, the atomic strike is a script in the script file single4.pd. Then finally there is a new take on the T-55A Commando mission. This one has the enemy T-55A's replaced with 2 T-72's, and the enemy T-34/85's replaced with a Leopard 1A4 and 2 Shturm-S's. You have a counter mech' element under your command consisting of 2 B-11 anti-tank guns, two RPG soldiers, two officers, and an MTLB all positioned defensively in a dry lake bed toward the south central part of the map. The allied recon team is reinforced with an additional RPG soldier. My recommendation is to not command the counter mech' element to move, but do command them to open fire. This will allow the B-11's and RPG soldiers to ambush the enemy armored force once then venture to the south center of the map. It's really great to see shots from the B-11's hitting the enemy T-72's from your gunner's sight or the heavy machine gun sight while you are also engaging the enemy tanks. Enjoy!

Thank you Dragon Fire & Moon! I appreciate it!

Thanks Moon. I have to be honest though. I've been to the repository page before, and have a username and password... I also consider myself to be at least a reasonably computer savy person... but I gotta say, I've been over that page top and bottom a few times, and I don't see any link or instruction of where to go on the repository page to upload a file or files. Where is that located on the repository page? Thank you!

Hello out there! I have some pretty cool missions for T-72 Balkans On Fire, and I would like to share them. How do I upload these missions to www.battlefront.com? I discovered how to add incoming allied fire support to the missions including but not limited to Multiple Launch Rocket System barrages and atomic weapons - no kidding! :-D I also have a great T-55 mission in which you are defending a town from a two pronged mechanized infantry assault consisting of T-72's, SU-100's, MTLB's, and infantry as part of a T-55 tank platoon supported by a Sprut-B anti-tank gun and an infantry squad. Anyway, I'd like to share some of these, but I can't seem to figure out how to upload these missions with all their components (script files, etc.). Any help advice that any of you could provide would be great. Thanks!

Hi Dragonfire, I'll figure out how to upload the files and I'll get this one out there. Thanks!

I've had T-72 Balkans On Fire for about 4 years now. Still is an excellent game that surprises me on a few occassions. I've made some modifications to the Commando mission to make it more interesting. I mentioned in a previous post to this forum that I replaced the enemy T-55's with T-72's and the three enemy T-34/85's I replaced with two Shturm-S's and a Leopard 1A4. It made the mission a lot more exciting. Well, I took it a step further... I added an allied counter mech element in one of the ravines. It consists of 2 B-11 AT Guns, 2 RPG gunners, an MTLB, and two officers attached to the 2 guns. It makes for a really good base camp and it tends to produce a fantastic gun fight between the enemy mechanized forces and my T-55 and the allied counter mech team. On one occassion I had to learn how to push a disabled enemy tank out of the way with my tank. I had knocked out one of the enemy T-72's while it was coming down a hill side, and the crew bailed out and the tank came rolling right through my position and came to a stop right in front of one of my allied B-11 AT guns. I found that driving up to the disabled tank and coming to a stop right at the back of the disabled tank and then putting my tank into 1st gear with my tank's front end touching the back end of the knocked out tank works well and let me push the enemy T-72 out of the way of my B-11 crew. Unfortunately, my T-55 crew and I were trajically surprised by a Shturm-S and we met our demise after the Shturm guided missile hit the side of my T-55's turret. Much to my satisfaction, one of my B-11 crews knocked out the enemy Shturm-S seconds after it advanced from the hull down position it had positioned itself in before killing my tank. Good times good times!

So I have begun to use the missions editor. I found that there is some difficulty in changing the player's tank, but I have found out how to correctly change the enemy vehicles and link them to AI Commanders. I have been experimenting with the Commando mission mostly. I changed the three T-34/85's to two Shturm-S's and a Leopard 1A4, AND changed the T-55's to T-72's. Whew! This mission got interesting again. Use of terain for dead space and hull down positions in this mission are now even more critical than before. I have also started to involve the Mi-8 helicopters more in various missions. I've also experimented with making their rockets guided AT missiles. This didn't work so well, so I will work to make the rockets full blown OFS/BKS unguided rockets. From the unit parameters in the missions editor it looks like this will be totally possible. Another thing that has added some realism to the missions is doubling the players tank armor strength in the CFG mode. It makes the T-55A more like a T-55AM and the T-72B really like a T-72B and not a T-72M1 with guided missile capability. The enemy weapons still have significant effect, especially the BKS shots and missiles, but not so much on the turret fronts or frontal hull armor... The BPS shots are still dangerous if you're within 1000 meters of your enemy - if they are in a T-55, T-72, SU-100, or a Leopard 1A4. Anyway, I've been playing this game since late 2005, and it still surprises me from time to time and blows me away on the battlefield with a Shturm-S that I didn't see in time for instance. Plus with the use of the missions editor, there is a lot of undiscovered ground that has just openned up for me. Good times, good times.

I bought T-72 Balkans on Fire a couple of years ago, and have never gotten tired of playing it. I have cleared all the missions, and have a couple of favorite ones. Lately though I've been playing the "Meeting Engagement" single mission a lot. I love facing off against the array of T-72's, Shturm-S's, T-55A's, and SU-100's all at once. Plus the way that the enemy forces change up their behavior everytime I play the mission. I have to say that my hat's off to the crew that created this great game. Way to go!

Hi Baghr, I assume you are aware that you hit the "Ctrl W" keys to active the manual range entry option for the tank's gun sight. Additonally, I assume that you are aware that you use the "U" key to raise elevation, and the "I" key to decrease elevation in the gun barrel when in manual range entry mode. The BPS round (kinetic energy penetrator) scale is at the far upper left, OFS round (HE Fragmentation) scale is top center-ish, and the BPS round (HE Anti-Tank) scale is upper right on the gunner's sight. When you active the manual range entry by hitting the Ctrl and W keys and raise the main gun barrel elevation using the U key you will notice that a horizontal line with a diamond shape in the center of the gunner's sight will raise up over the different projectile scales on the upper half of the gunner's sight. Where the horizontal line crosses the range scales indicates the range that the different types of rounds will fly at that particular gun barrel elevation. For the coaxial machine gun I use the BPS range scale. Does this answer your question about interpretting and using the manual range scales? Regarding accurate 1st, 2nd, 3rd shots... this requires experience as a gunner. All of the T-34's projectiles have a pretty pronouced flight arch because they are relatively slow moving. Because of this you will need to accurately set the range using the range scales to get an accurate 1st shot. Additionally, you will need to take into account whether your tank is on a perfectly flat surface, or if your tank on an inclined plain. If the surface you are on is not flat, but rather canted - say for instance you are on a hill side then you will have to aim well enough to the right or left of you target to account for the altered trajectory that you shot will take. Generally you will not get an accurate first shot with the T-34's 85mm gun at long range because your target may be travelling too fast. Also, when using HE Frag rounds on infantry in the open, the 85mm HE Frag rounds need to be very close to have effect on infantry in the prone position. There is not as much shock and shrapnel from the 85mm HE Frag round as there is from a 100mm or 125mm shell of the same type. The T-34's coaxial machine gun however, is very effective at 1000 meters and beyond, so adjust that weapon onto target when dealing with infantry at long ranges. Try to avoid infantry at close range with the T-34 or T-55 because the RPG-7 is pretty effective against these tanks. I hope this helps! Mortarman Deke