Fizou

It would be great with a ballpark estimate on "the year ahead". What can we expect other than Bulge? It would also be very cool if we could get a few thoughts on the respective families futures. Whats next for BN? Nothing planed at the moment? When do you expect FI and RT to get modules etc. Bones always seem to atract whiners but I hope that wont discourage BF, most people appreciate the bones and dont constatly view everyting as a glas half empty.

There's sliced bread!?

Alderman, and we will in due time. If one feels CMx1 is superior to CMx2 just keep playing CMx1.

Thanks for the kind words guys! ----------------- The 17th minute.. with 23 minutes to go. The light probe towards the PAK 40 trenches are closing in. A few hundred meters out and its time to let them have some MG fire. From the contacts and hard spots it only looks like a few half squads. We should be able to halt such a small force with the (limited) resources on hand. Artillery keeps falling on the town. I try to keep all men hiding except for the ones at the immediate front. The relative light caliber shells havent caused much problems yet except for limiting our ability to re position. No real need for that as of yet though. As artillery pounds the city the enemy is bringing up more infantry to prepare the assault on the built up area. The Fallschirmjäger hold their fire for the right opportunity. The infantry is joined by armor. It looks like the Tommies will try an attack on our right flank. We will greet them with automatic weapons and panzer fausts! Overview. Enemy tanks re position for what looks like a right flank attack. Infantry are moving in that direction as well. A light probe is headed straight into the lions den. We have an ample supply of close quarter weapons to fend them off once they move into Valkenswaards outer buildings.

Stunning mods nevertheless! I love the worn off paint.

Its a combination of a lot of mods. Aris among others. I'll put it in DB if you want?

15 minutes in.. a barrage starts to fall on the outskirts of Valkenswaard. It looks like a pretty wide area target but not too big shells (4.2 inch mortars or 25 pounders?). It also seems like its not too many guns/tubes or a pretty slow/medium mission. Enemy tanks on overwatch.. Shells/bombs fall close to the enemy approach. They wont be able to move any closer without risking casualties form friendly fire. In the background the lone green devil is making a run for it after having expended his only Pz faust. Close yet so far away. MG fire from a Sherman brings the lone para down after his heroic action against the Bren Carrier. A few paras try to take out a Sherman TC before they re position. No luck this time. Overview, 25 minutes to go. Red circle is roughly enemy barrage area. Fat arrow main thrust. Thin arrow light probe towards ATGs.

The fighting around the Grain elevator intensifies! The Italian Engineers continue to blast holes in the solid walls of the Grain elevator to gain LOF to the US troops on the other side of the River. A assault squad is caught in a deadly exchange with Engineers on a floor above them. The US troops on the other side of the river provide heavy fire support and soon have a second .30 cal in action. They Italian bolt action rifles will have a hard time competing. Never the less, taking the Grain elevator will be a bloody ordeal. On the right flank of the Grain elevator, Italian Engineers and Bersaglieri gain the upper hand on the US infantry covering the Allied approach to the Grain elevator. The cover is key here and the US infantry will have to do something to improve their situation. Fortunately a second platoon is on its way to bolster the attack. In the center, the US Engineers and Shermans continue to attack the trenches held by Panzer Grenadiers. Casualties mount, and its clear that proper infantry needs to be diverted to aid the assault. This Sherman rushes in and drains the trenches with .50 cal from close range. The TC gets shot seconds later. The tankers need to keep their heads down or we will soon have more TC casualties. The explosion is from US Engineers blowing a hole in the wall leading to the trenches. At the Saw mill heavy fighting continues. The crew of the IG in the trench is cut down by MG fire to the last man. Progress is slow and the tanks exposed.

The enemy respond quickly to the small arms fire from Valkenswaard. Smoke, HE and MG fire is returned in volume. A few men is killed as they redeploy to new positions. We will take on the enemy infantry one row of buildings into the town, where there tanks cant help them. A heavy smoke screen is deployed by the enemy. I use it to my advantage and redeploy a few forward units. Note the heavy barbed wire that cover most approaches into Valkenswaard. flammenwerfers are deployed and ready to greet the enemy as they breach the first row of buildings. The Fliegerhorst lose a HMG to long range tank fire when its finally spotted. Most of the Fliegerhorst are held in reserve and for flank security. The slow enemy advance is trapped under a rain of deadly mortar fire! The closest explosion in the above screen actually KO:s the Bren Carrier just next to it. During the next turns we see a few enemy infantry go down to the mortars and the rest are pinned in place. The slow ROF mission will keep them in place for a while. Overview after 14 minutes. I must remain on map for another 16 minutes. If possible I will try to stay put and contest the hex to force the enemy to spend another PzC turn to take it - bringing our reinforcements closer to the main parts of Valkenswaard. The thin red arrow is a light infantry probe/recon. The thick arrows indicate the enemy main effort.

In the outskirts of Valkenswaard the men from Fallschirm-Schule Valkenswaard and Luftwaffe Fliegerhorst Gruppe Weiss ready them selves as the rumbling of tanks is heard from the south west. The mood is swaying as combat draws near. Rumors of the immediate transfer for renown commander Hardenberger to the eastern front to halt the red hordes is disheartening, but comfort is taken in the promises of heavy panzerjägers soon to reinforce kampfgruppe Kerner. If the enemy can be delayed here, our superior tank hunters will surly turn the tide of battle to our favor once more. Pressed against the walls, peaking out of windows, the approaching enemy is spotted moving closer. Entrances have been minded and booby traps set, machineguns and mortars are trained on the approaches. Violent explosions are heard to the south west and east as enemy tanks start to trade rounds with the entrenched PAKs from 900 meters. It was a clear mistake to think the guns would be able to deal with the large number of enemy tanks. Even in trenches and with the aid of TRPs the upper hand is soon gained by the Shermans. I thought the high grain would keep the guns concealed longer... Three guns are taken out in quick succession by mortars and tank fire. They guns manage to KO two enemy tanks, they score penetrations on three more Shermans but they are not KO:ed. The last gun is now hiding, and the tanks seem to focus their attention on Valkenswaard itself. After the grueling exchange between tanks and guns the enemy start to slowly approach the buildings of Valkenswaard. Several ambushes are in store for them. They slow approach also gives time to have mortar fire directed on their advance. Nerves of Krupp staal. The Green Devil fires the faust in just the right moment, it explodes right under the Bren Carrier. Atleast one occupant is killed in the explosion, others are under heavy MG fire as soon as they exit the destroyed APC.

Odin, they havent lowered the bar yet. We dont know what things other than units and formations are in, but its stil in alfa. Im sure we will know more in due time and it will be more features to warrent full game price.

I dont think BF will disapoint and I think its sad when people jump to that conclusion given BF track record.

Pink circle, grain elevator and docks. Purple circle, saw mill. The heaviest fighting is taking place at the saw mill so far. In the center the allies are staring to draw closer to the large church which seems to be heavily defended with a extensive trench system. Engineers from 7th inf regt fire down into the enemy trenches. Long range support provided by .30 cal mg. The all rifle engineer units not really suited for combat are supported by Shermans that are supposed to do the heavy lifting. Here cleaning out a trench from Grenadiers. Heavy fighting around the saw mill. The engineers have a hard time gaining ground (lack of assault weapons and fatigued from earlier actions). Without the Shermans they would be in no position to take the mill. One IG has been destroyed, another is under fire with engineers just meters away.

We are doing the 14,6 battle as a tag team 2 vs 2 (Me & Kohlenklau vs Kuderian and Poesel). The assault from western Ribera over the Verdura stream is done without much resistance, under a heavy smoke screen. The enemy is clearly defending further into the central parts of the city. Parts of the 1st Bn is immediately diverted north to take control of the high grain elevator by the dock. Its a VP location and commands the surroundings with great LOS. A GI goes down on the advance. Italian engineer troops occupy the grain elevator. The Italians occupy the upper floors. I have them under fire from the opposite side of the river. A platoon is moving in to clear out the tall buildings. A .30 cal fires from the other side of the river.. forcing defenders to vacate the top floor. The Italian engineers will have a though time against the modern US weapons. Another squad returns fire across the river. The floor below has been blown by the engineers, not sure if this was a mistake or if they want to bring more guns bearing on the other side of the river (only top floors have windows).

Awesome umlaut, and thanks for making german decals too!

Simultaneously as the bridge over Verdura (south west of Ribera) is secured by the Allies, the initial assaults on Ribera itself is underway. Earlier there has only been light fighting in the north eastern parts of the city. A depleted Para coy was chased, encircled and destroyed by Italian Bersaglieri and Engineer troops in the outskirts of town (over two battles, the Italians reinforced by German PzGren for the second battle. This took place ten hours earlier during the morning hours). The assault on the city is split in to two as it covers two hexes, and to make it more manageable. The battle in Hex 15,6 (north eastern part of Ribera) has already been fought to its conclusion. The Axis conducted a organized, fighting withdrawal to central parts of the town (Bersaglieri, Engineers and AT guns from 15th PzGren Div). They will appear as reinforcements in the Hex 14,6 fight at the mark they left hex 15,6. We are currently on the 10th of the 11 turn PzC scenario, this means there is a full turn remaining with the possibility for the Allies to assault again, from three sides, or even encircle the Axis. In Hex 14,6 the 1st Bn of the 7th Inf Regt is supported by Shermans from 66th Regt, 2nd Armored Div and attached Corps Engineers. The initial plan is to force a crossing over the fordable streams and secure a foot hold in central Ribera. From there the US troops will probe and see how hard the enemy resistance is. If the resistance is very stiff the ground taken will be consolidated and the attack cease. Then a new assault will be coordinated during the next turn, from three, or possible all sides. This might force the enemy to surrender, or be easy targets for the heavy allied artillery. For the current 14,6 assault the 7th Inf Regt can rely on USS Buck (DD) and short barreled 105 mm guns. Unfortunately for the Allies, the liaison officers from the Royal Navy have been wounded/killed earlier during the day, limiting the heavy cruiser HMS Ulster to fire missions close to the shores, far from Ribera. The enemy forces in Ribera is estimated as a reinforced PzGren Coy with additional PAK 40 AT guns from the 3rd Bn, 104th Regt, 15th PzGren Div, with a depleted Bn of Italian Bersaglieri and Engineers from XII Corps. The Axis have dug in and reinforced their defense for hours. USS Buck has provided important fire support during the whole day. 105 L16 M3 Howitzer Major General Matthew B. Ridgway (center), Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division, and staff, overlooking the battlefield near Ribera, Sicily, 25 July 1943. Each officer wears the distinctive jump jacket and pants with large pockets and boots. (Matthew B. Ridgway Collection). From wiki.

Thanks Phil :-) . It has been a great ride, thanks for taking part! ------------ The retreat will soon be cut of for the majority of the German force. The last part of the German resistance is focused behind point 108. But resistance is now pointless. Once the bridge is cut off I will offer them terms to surrender to the Allies. A para from 504th PIR overlooks a enemy MG42 nest that has been destroyed. The Grenadiers of the 15 PzGren Div have fought to the bitter end. The bridge is cut off, and the Germans surrender on their one initiative. This is a great victory for the Allies, taking the 300 VPL hex and removing the deadly Grille from the enemy roster. Most of the craters around the bridge is from the action playing out eight hours earlier when the PzGrenadiers took the bridge forcing the paras and Rangers to retreat. They then had ample time to dig in.. perhaps they had been better served to continue the chase and destroy the para and Ranger formations.. to link up with the remaining defenders in Ribera? Many options on the strategic level to consider. I had probably stayed put too if I was the German CO. Not all Germans were cut off apparently. My nemesis, Division commander Gen-Maj Kuderian escapes and will be able to lead the defense of Ribera. End screen. As you can see from the numbers this was a one sided affair. But the enemy still forced a large allied formation to attack, and they will most likely not be able to take part in the attacks on Ribera.

The attack moves past the Village and infantry and tanks take up positions in the thin woodline just beyond the Village, overlooking the river. Another Grille is quickly turned into scrap with three penetrations from a Sherman 75 mm. At the road junction close to the bridge the Germans have dug in machineguns and a PAK 40. The positions is quickly overwhelmed with fire from four Shermans. Note the blue circle. Another PAK 40 on the other side of the river, on a ridge line. Its is potted moving over the bridge earlier and is soon taken under fire by Shermans. Two ATG knocked out and the Shermnas reign supreme. The right hook joins up with the units that has taken the Village. They continue to push towards the bridge. Several German positions are run over, some Grenadiers decide they have had enough. Just behind point 108 the Rangers and Airborne are held down by a Grille providing the Grenadiers with close support. Point 108 have been heavily defended and the Germans have a reverse slope defense. Small counterattacks have been beaten back by the Allied troops holding objective point 108. As the Shermans roll up the enemy line the Grille is soon destroyed, reliving the men on point 108.

The nose is tightening. The Village and point 108 are under assault as the right hook is moving in on the bridge. A Sherman from 2nd Armored Div, 66th Regt race through the Village that has been cleared out by the infantry to help deal with a Grille. These SPA have tormented my forces during most part of the day, taking part in three battles on map, and as off map support in another. Many men from 3rd Ranger Bn and 504th PIR have fallen victim to their HE. Finally we can hit back with armor. The Sherman puts a hole in the right side hull of the Grille - killing two in the crew. The Sherman puts another shell through the tin can Grille. Clean through penetrations. Another two crew are killed and the SPA bursts into flames as the lone survivor exits in terror. Seconds later the Grilles ammo storage cooks off in a catastrophic explosion. Very satisfying to finally being able to hit back!

At 1930 hours the action cease at Verdura river bridge (Battle Blue 3 in this post: http://community.battlefront.com/topic/109233-allied-aar-a-route-to-ribera-or-a-bridge-too-far-cmpzc/?p=1533683 - taking place simultaneously as the two battles in Ribera). The bridges over Verdura have been heavily contested during the day (one bridge destroyed earlier by German heavy artillery) and at 1800 hours the American 2nd Inf Bn of 7th Inf Regt assaulted the areas commanding the remaining bridge supported by paras of 504th PIR and Rangers of 3rd Bn together with Shermans from 2nd Armored Div. The bridge had earlier gone from Axis to Allied, back to Axis hands and was now finally captured by the Allies. The PzGrens from 15th PzGren Div, supported by their HQ unit and Grille SPA put up a though fight but did not have the numbers to hold on to their positions. The German force had been depleted during the actions earlier during the day and the fresh American 2nd Bn had barely seen any combat up til this point. Below follows a short recap of the action. The US force press forward to take Point 108 and the Village in the center. At the same time a inf coy is moved around the right flank to try and cut of the bridge as soon as possible, catching the remaining German forces and heavy weapons on the east side of the river. The Village is softened up with the airborne 75 mm pack howitzers before the units from the 2nd Inf Bn assault from two directions. Airborne clear the woods just south of the Village. The right hook moving in on the bridge. Some units start to withdraw to the other side of the river. The VPL looks to soon be in firm Allied hands.

Open a free flickr account is one way

Thanks umlaut, you have quickly become a master modder.

Thanks Denis! Looks great.. and love the options

Love the options Umlaut!

Here is the link if anyone missed that its released http://cmmods.greenasjade.net/mods/5492/details Thanks again Juju!