A Canadian Cat
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Posts posted by A Canadian Cat
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The Blitz is running two scenarios this month.
Sign up for the September Scenario of the Month has started over at the Blitz. This month the scenarios are:
CMBN: H2H Hameau
CMBS: UA in Unity is Power
The forum post on theBlitz for sign up.
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38 minutes ago, Splinty said:
Let's not forget the stories of how Russian soldiers coming home from Ukraine are treated.
One possible explanation is that is the only "safe" way citizens can get out their frustrations with the war. Yelling at one solider who is now a civilian is a lot safer than joining a protest march.
QuoteFrom what I've read it's worse than how US vets were treated during the Viet Nam era. On the other hand US vets returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan were judging from my own experience, were treated very well, regardless of people's opinions on the wars themselves.
Yeah, thankfully more people seem to have learned that the political decisions about going to and conducting the war are not being made by the people who fight them. I'm glad we have done better at that recently.
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I built models as a teenager - I played several miniature rules based table top battles. Sadly that had the down sides we are all familiar with, that meant I didn't get a much out of it as possible. I tried a few board games which helped with the resources and time issues but still no really good FOG. I never found computer games satisfying. One day I was talking to some friends at work who were recounting exploits of yore playing a game called Combat Mission via email. What they were excited about was CM Beyond Normandy had been announced. I was shocked because this was exactly what I always wanted but never found.
I immediately bought all the CM1 games and started playing with them and when CMBN came out I started playing that. I play pretty much every day now. My only regret is that I didn't hear about CM1 when it was first released. My other regret is my friends that introduced me to CM no longer play. While I totally embraced the new game they either found it too much work to play or became frustrated with the more realistic spotting in the new game.
I have tried a few times to get them on board but they would rather play other FPS games that I cannot care less about. Sigh. Thankfully there are lots of people on line who are happy to play.
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1 minute ago, Vergeltungswaffe said:
Same here, and he's not wrong.
For sure the more I play CM the more I realize that using the terrain for your advantage as much as possible is super important.
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Nice, thanks for sharing.
My favourite quote from the article:
QuoteFifty percent of tactics is dirt. Your techniques are meaningless if you choose poor ground
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11 minutes ago, Vanir Ausf B said:
None of them hit on the first shot but I did not actually count Group 1s shots to first hit, to be honest. The point of the test was a quick sanity check, not an in-depth statistical analysis.
Oh I get that. Sometime wild claims get made and it's nice to check for sanity so they don't get absorbed into the form lore.
Thanks.
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6 minutes ago, Vanir Ausf B said:
Group 2 tanks to achieve the first hit was 2,4 and 3 respectively.
And what were the shots to first hit of the first PzIV? I think I can guess but I figured you had the data
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20 minutes ago, cesmonkey said:
as the Russians say
Remind me again what is the first rule of "what the Russians say"?
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37 minutes ago, billbindc said:1 hour ago, The_Capt said:
Hope all the bad Crimeans leave once the RA collapses. Hope those that remain are neutral of supportive of Ukrainian liberation. Hope we don't have to do mass deportations that can start to look like ethnic cleansing, with a sinister far right undertone. Hope Russia does not arm anyone and everyone who is willing to make trouble for liberation. Man that is a lot of points of failure.
I agree with the above but it's worth remembering that Ukraine now has probably not just the most effective army in Europe but also the most effective anti-Russian security services. They have rooted out Russian networks in controlled territory quite effectively since the war began and would efficiently do so in Crimea too. Added in, no language barrier and the high likelihood that Russia's most vehement supporters will flee to the mainland and I like the GUR's chances.
@The_Capt sounds right about a lot of points of failure. If @billbindc is correct that will help a lot but the big factor is good governance. If the Ukraine can make the previously occupied territories livable and even marginally prosperous they have a slot at preventing insurgencies from getting going.
There is a lot of moving parts there. A lot.
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8 minutes ago, Battlefront.com said:
Example... many SUVs and extended cab pickup trucks have seatbelts for 6 people (3 front, 3 rear). Therefore, they can seat 6. However, it is unusual to have 6 people in a SUV
For sure. I'm not sure that's equivalent though. Yes, my car seats 5 but honestly you don't want to be the 5th. Four is what is actually comfortable. But this is a private plane with a standard configuration for 15 or 8. I'm sure there are customized versions too. The point is my car has four real seats and a fifth can be squeezed in you hypothetical SUV has four real seats and six can be squeezed in. This plane has an 8 luxurious seats configuration or a 15 super comfortable seat configuration. No one is squeezing 8 or 10 people on that plane all those passengers are supper comfy right up until the missile blew holes in the fuselage.
Assuming they were actually alive before take off
13 minutes ago, Battlefront.com said:Hell, in the US it is unusual to have more than 1 person in an SUV
Oh yeah - guilty as charged - except I have a small car at least.
8 minutes ago, Battlefront.com said:Well then, we are once again faced with the most obvious answer... the most likely explanation for anything "mysterious" in Russia is incompetence and/or stupidity and/or hubris.
Yep
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2 minutes ago, Haiduk said:
Even less than 10 - due to passenger list, from these 10 people onboard there were 7 passengers and 3 of crew (2 pilots and stewardess). Also the second Prigozhyn's business jet Embraer 650 also flew to St.Peterburg, but remained intact.
Indeed 10 people on board - 7 passengers and three crew works for the Embraer 600's 8 passenger configuration even.
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13 hours ago, kimbosbread said:
I cant believe all 3 top Wagner guys would be on same plane. Especially after a coup attempt. These guys aren’t idiots.
I totally agree that it was unwise to all travel together. I'm not sure about that last part though
13 hours ago, kimbosbread said:Did they all get on the plane already dead? Is the manifest fake (and we tipped Wagner off)?
EDIT: A friend points out that 10 passengers is a lot for a junglet jet.
@Battlefront.com No, I was literally responding to the implication that the jet would not seat 10 passengers. You can feel I missread that but I don't think I did.
Bottom line the plane can easily hold the passengers and crew reported to be on board.
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12 hours ago, kimbosbread said:
EDIT: A friend points out that 10 passengers is a lot for a junglet jet.
Lets nip that in the bud. While it is entirely possible the occupants were not who we were told or already dead - but the size of the plane is not a problem. CNN reports the type of plane as and Embraer Legacy 600 which has a 13 passenger configuration and and 8 passenger configuration. So 10 passengers is a totally normal number.
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14 hours ago, Battlefront.com said:
OK, two most plausible scenarios is the plane crashed because of shoddy maintenance due to sanctions or Putin decided it was time to get rid of him. My money, and I think most people's money, is on the latter. All other possibilities are really unlikely.
I think it is also possible that it could have been just some one in the military that was sore about the Wagner guys shooting down Russian pilots during the coup attempt. As many have said Putin is weaker why not have a few Generals decide its time to get rid of Prig and ordering some Air defence forces to take down his plane.
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1 hour ago, TheVulture said:
BBC has an eyewitness video of Prig's planet going into the ground.
Now we just need and eye witness with video of Prig getting on the plane...
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Nice description by @Centurian52 I do nearly exactly the same but I don't save each and every turn for later review. I do frequently watch turns with the camera locked on specific units that I have already identified as being involved in something interesting.
One thing I do in addition is: normally I press the BRB with the camera positioned, as @Centurian52, suggests to see the whole battlefield (typically camera position three or four) so I can start the next turn already with the camera in position. However, if something dramatic is unfolding or I have some unit doing something tricky that requires attention I might keep my camera on level one or two. An example is a tank that is taking aim just as the minute ends or a squad that I am trying to give buddy aid that is having trouble getting into position. That way I remember to adjust orders or just have an enjoyable start to the next turn.
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1 hour ago, Phantom Captain said:
Between a rock and a hard place.
LOL now if one or both of those tanks misses high...
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28 minutes ago, kevinkin said:
Note the terms used: "seems to be advocating."
No, you reached a conclusion of your own. You can make the argument that such decisions would do that but you cannot claim they think that is the outcome.
I think they are right that providing more weapons would not cause a nuclear war. You might think it would. I'd ask what your concern is based on but a) you have already made thar case so no real need to do it again and b) Steve asked us not too.
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7 hours ago, kevinkin said:
Thanks for the report. I jumped to the conclusion and the writer seems to be advocating pushing Russia to the brink of nuclear war in an effort to call their bluff.
I have not read the full thing yet but nothing you quoted says anything about calling Putin's nuclear bluff. Seems like you are jumping to conclusions there.
7 hours ago, kevinkin said:The writer seems to be inferring the US election and results could be a factor. Well yes they are. But that should not drive the overall strategy. I don't think the policymakers in DC are going to "abandon Ukraine or, if possible, Europe altogether".
I think everyone should be extremely concerned about one of the possible change in presidential scenarios and it's effect on the war in Ukraine.
I think you are correct that a lot of the political wheels will not want to abandon Ukraine. But they don't get the final say. The damage to international relationships recently done is not repaired and another round of helping Putin is not going to be neutral to Ukraine's position at all.
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33 minutes ago, Battlefront.com said:
Ukraine not having a clear cut victory does not mean Russia somehow won.
Which was in part my point. And other people's. We are viamently agreeing
33 minutes ago, Battlefront.com said:The question about what "winning" means for Ukraine is an entirely different discussion requiring an entirely different analysis.
And that was what I thought we were talking about. Again in part. Can Ukraine be happy with a victory the includes a frozen conflict? Do they get all that they want if the Russian army still controls some territory? Maybe it looks better if they cut thier losses off and let them keep some sliver but what about the Russian bills that claim whole provinces as part of Russia? Can they still get NATO membership in that situation?
Of course it is Ukrainian's decision in part but if Ukraine wants NATO membership these issues matter to how well the Ukraine wins.
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1 hour ago, Battlefront.com said:
The war could end tomorrow with Ukraine surrendering on terms favorable to Russia or the war could continue in a frozen state for another 10 years and the fact is that Russia will still be a loser by its own standards as well as more objective ones.
I am totally in board with the notion that Russia/ Putin has lost. I'm just not sure a frozen conflict with Ukrainian territory under Russian control could be counted as a victory for Ukraine.
Personally I hope this discussion is mute and Ukraine gets what it wants.
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6 hours ago, Hapless said:
Of course, Mexico might be unable to regain it's international borders and a frozen conflict might develop... but that isn't going to make the US less crippled and Mexico less undefeated.
Correct but I think the pessimist point is that it would prevent Mexico from joining the SATO alliance and since the is the main thing they want Mexico still looses.
Personally I think the bit that @Butschi missed is that regime change is extremely likely if the the RA looses that much territory as is an RA collapse. This kid of frozen scenario is my big fear but I have had a lot less worry about that in recent weeks because the UA seems to be doing the right things and working towards eventual success.
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On 7/28/2023 at 2:19 AM, Paper Tiger said:
I had a quick look at the 'Tiger' mission and the attacking Pioneers' morale is Extreme
Oh good point. I totally forgot that motivation will effect this too. Duh
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4 minutes ago, Sojourner said:
Russians stage plasticine protests to oppose war
This kind of humorous and minor thing can gain ground and change minds. Some of it is covered in this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153412252-how-to-start-a-revolution
4 minutes ago, Sojourner said:"Ukrainians ... are not particularly impressed: Plasticine will not stop bombs."
A sentiment that is entirely understandable.
The Blitz Scenario of the Month program
in Combat Mission Black Sea
Posted
The Blitz is running two scenarios this month.
Sign up for the September Scenario of the Month has started over at the Blitz. This month the scenarios are:
CMBN: H2H Hameau
CMBS: UA in Unity is Power
The forum post on theBlitz for sign up.