Hilts

Excellent sound mod! I particularly like the bigger gun sounds and all the explosions from light mortar up. Great work..... Thanks very much!

Following on from Bruce's post, check this out...... http://dday7.channel4.com/?intcmp=homepage_main

LEFT FLANK.......Larcher's Panzer II opens fire with machine gun and catches enemy troops in the open near the Northern Approach. HMG team sprints across open ground to set up their MG42 in the top floor of the end house. Should give good FOF over the Northern Approach when the assault goes in. Enemy mortar shells still landing in the vicinity of the road junction. I am unable to rescue my dead and dying men at the moment due to this. Also there is an enemy armoured car with a 37mm gun way over on my left flank ,which I think is also covering this junction so I am reluctant to advance my AFV's any further up the road, at the moment. I am trying to set up my ATG to deal with this but am having trouble with deployment.

RIGHT FLANK.........The first tank dual of the battle takes place. Munchbach's Lynx spots the Stuart behind the trees and opens fire. The shot hit's the Stuart's turret but glances off. The Stuart returns fire hitting a tree branch before reversing out of there and breaking off contact. Stummel moves up searching for targets and on the lookout for enemy armour. Scouts armed with MP 40s cross the road and open fire on fleeing enemy troops.

LEFT FLANK......German forces consisting mainly of pioneers now occupy the terraced houses and get ready to carry out an assault on the Northern Approach. Panther, in support puts three shells into the building where enemy troops were seen, in preparation for the assault. RIGHT FLANK.......Leading elements of 2nd Zug come across an enemy team hiding behind the hedge on the left. They open up with enfilade fire causing three enemy casualties. The others run away. Panzer II moves into position. There is a Stuart somewhere behind the trees in the centre background

Thanks. The idea was to try and get the pictures to tell the story rather than a lot of difficult to follow narrative. I had this vision of posting the pictures as if a war reporter were on the scene taking them and sending them back with a minimum of dialogue. I hope it's working. I have a Pentium Dual Core 3.07 GHz processor with 4 GB ram and a NVidia Geforce GT440 graphics card.

Things hotting up on left flank as 1st Zug gruppe moves towards it's first objective, the Northern approach to the town. A squad races over open ground crossed moments earlier by the scouts. What looks like a mortar round (I have no idea where from) lands amongst them killing one and incapacitating two others. The fourth one was caught in crossfire. A Panzer II opens up on American units just north of the town.

Ten minutes into the battle and my troops have advanced to their positions without too much trouble. Still no definite sign of enemy armour apart from a couple of Stuarts in the town. Though there is sound contact of a tracked vehicle approaching down the Argentan Road, which is a bit alarming as HQ informed me that American reinforcements would be coming from the East and South. I am almost wishing they would show up so that I will at least have some clue as to what I will be up against. I fear that it is going to be very hard work without those missing Pz IVs. I am very low on firepower..... 1st Zug scouts sprint across open terrain towards the house in the centre. My scouts reach the first enemy positions and discover eight dead and dying Americans behind the hedge line. This is the position after 10 minutes of fighting.

Hey Aris, Good to see you back and by the way many thanks for all your mod work in BN and FI. I think I nearly have them all! Am playing a CMBN battle and in it there are some Stug III early's. I have noticed that the 421 decal on the left skirt is the wrong way round. Would it be a big job to alter it?

The advance continues.... Pioneers move alongside the hedge and observe the buildings for any sign of enemy activity. They appear to be deserted. Stummel on left flank moves into position to observe down the main road. PzII on left flank moves into position to support infantry assault on the buildings On the right flank PzII and Ober's Panther move into the cornfield flanked by friendly infantry on the look out for any American troops armed with AT weapons.

The game gets even better when you take on a human opponent. You should consider getting a PBEM game going when you are comfortable with your tactics.

Well, knowing my luck I'm pretty convinced it will be a truck! BTW I wish BF would get something done about that vehicle smoke. It's behaviour looks vaguely ridiculous compared to Aris's efforts. Stukas would be good!

Sappers in the centre come under fire from enemy units in positions across the field. Finally manage to get the HMG42 set up after being pinned down. It opens up sending a hail of bullets into the hedge line. An infantry squad and the Pz II over on the right flank also open fire on enemy positions behind the bocage. The hail of bullets is too much for them and they are seen running away

The Nebelwherfer attack on the town is deafening! It looks like I may have hit something interesting in the town, judging by that plume of black smoke that's rising. In the centre, the sappers sprint to the hedge line. They come under fire from the building in the centre background. Sniper is tasked with taking care of it and the enemy fire ceases, temporarily. 2nd Zug gruppe's advance continues on the right flank without difficulty. They have nearly skirted the wood and are preparing to swing round and advance toward the town. 1st Zug gruppe makes good progress on the left, advancing troops in numbers to the far bocage line. The Pz II advances. Was ordered to go through the hole in the bocage but decided to go round it! Just as well that ATG with LOF down the main road was previously destroyed.

I don't know mate. Not familiar with the term. Do you mean "up the middle"?

Not too much happening. Still moving into positions. Pioneer section has got into a fire fight with numerous enemy units in the next field. I take my first casualty. Rushed an HMG team forward. They are deploying at the moment, should give good fire support. 2nd Zug moving along the edge of the wood without any problems. Ober's Panther advances. Rocket attack continues on the town HMG team deploys MG42 to give covering fire across the field Ober's Panther takes up a new position Here's where we are after 5 minutes.

HMG team attached to pioneer section moves up from the church to take up positions behind the bocage. Now that the edge of Geoffern Forest is secured it's time to move some armour up. A view from the American lines. 2nd Zug gruppe will move along edge of Geoffern Forest to try and flank and neutralise enemy scout units in foreground.

So far my troops have been under orders to hold fire. I order the pioneers to engage enemy behind the hedge at their two o'clock position and return fire. They do so with enthusiasm and we see at least one American drop. Sappers blow a hole in the bocage on my left flank so that I can advance to the next bocage line without coming under fire from enemy scouts at two o'clock, due to the sloping terrain.

Thanks. The terrain mods are by Aris and the buildings are by Tanks a Lot. Many thanks to them for enhancing the game!

Not too much happening yet. Scouts sent out to both flanks and in the centre to try and draw enemy fire and reveal enemy positions. They succeed. Advance US elements discovered in numerous locations in front of the town. Under enemy fire but no casualties as yet. Pioneer scouts draw enemy fire from numerous directions A combination of rockets and mortars take out the menacing looking AT gun in the square. I may be able to advance the armoured column down the road now. A routed AT gunner heads towards oblivion The Nebelwherfer bombardment continues on the town My FO's in the church tower spot a Stuart lurking in the town on the right flank. So far it has escaped the rocket attack. Apart from an armoured car on the left it is the only armour I have seen so far.

FO's plan the Nebelwherfer attack .....Moments later rockets scream over head and land on the town half a click to the south

2nd Zug scouts head out to check the wood on the right and bocage line on the left. All other troops ordered to hold positions and check for enemy units An enemy ATG is spotted in the town square with line of fire right down the main road. Mortar section engages with direct fire. ...but the shot falls short.

Yes, I was thinking that! I usually play H2H and if I were playing as the US the first thing I would is throw a few 75mm shells at that tower. I am relying on the fact that the AI doesn't have enough nous to do that.

Oops forgot about that! No fausts in the Stummels but one extra in the Hanomag towing the ATG. Cheers!

Gaunt faced German combat engineers wait in the churchyard for the order to advance. 2nd Zug Gruppe 1st Zug Gruppe The church-tower gives an excellent view of the battlefield. I have my Forward observers and KG Engel HQ here. 4th Zug mortar positions with a good view down the main road.