chas_in_mlb

Ballantine's mammoth collection of histories of the Second World War are plentiful and cheap. Go check out any used book store and you'll see loads of them. Probably for $2 each. LIST of the issues. Pretty extensive.

Isn't that the same thing???

Like how a low hedge blocks your LOS to the building behind it? Tank Commander: "Bn HQ thinks that that building just ahead of me is an enemy position. Let's pump a couple of HE rounds into it and see." Gunner: "Sorry, skip. No can do. There's a hedge in the way. That would negatively affect property values." Tank Commander"So we should wait until an MG in that building mows down half a squad?" Gunner"Uhhh... yeah, that should be fine."

It doesn't, specifically. It's a general statement. I just don't like set up for the result before I even attempt it. It defeats the purpose. I'm cool with difficult and tough assignments, that's part of life- but being set up to fail is something of a mind-f**k. If I wanted that, I'd hang out with my ex-wife. So if the Allies lost that battle, I should, too? So we're supposed to follow a scripted event? What's the fun in that? I disagree. The challenge and fun of it is to figure the thing out, like solving a very difficult riddle. I highly respect your (unpaid) efforts at campaign design, but designing a scenario to be an exercise in futility is just that- an exercise in futility. OK, I see by what you are saying that a campaign is a type of script. I just happen to think that the player should be the one writing the story; please don't take this as me sh**ting on your efforts. I'm just suggesting a different paradigm. Someday I'll try writing a campaign of my own.

I found this site on WW2 Infantry Battalion organization and tactics somewhat useful, hopefully you will too, if you are new to infantry tactics wargaming.

I really despise the "you are supposed to lose this battle" idea. It's like playing a game by a script. Scripted games are in my mind a huge waste of time. You're better off reading a book.

I have a little tip on holding the toolshed. I don't put any troops in the farmhouse- they just get chewed up by the MG42's on the ridge above them. I place the MG and the ammo carriers behind the farmhouse, facing into the house. I split up all my squads into assault teams and then split the remaining team, which gives three assault teams- who carry most of the grenades. One assault team I place between the toolshed and the hedgerow, the other I place on the ridge with an immediate order to move fast down where the hedge-lined path leading up to the hill and to the farm house bends. The third one I place behind the hedgerow at the top of the path. All units firing arcs are 25m max- they will open up on the MG42 on the hill facing them, and that will be enough to get them casualties. I place rifle and rifle/BAR teams with the assault teams, to get maximum defensive firepower. I will post a couple of screenshots of the setup to give a better idea. Four replays and I have yet to lose the tool shed, and my guys always get lots of kills.

Great!!! Thanks alot for that- this crappy bug has cost me some lives. So BF gets to send the letters home, right?

Best laugh I had so far this morning. Thanks for that. I pretty much also do what you describe here- without the cover arc. I will try that.

Wasn't there a saying "A good scout is a dead scout"? My scouts often die but just as often they rack up kills. More than once I have sent them up, they take fire and give them the hide order. If I have enough volume of fire, the bad guys will often pull back, then the scouts rush the position and more than once I have caught bad guys taking a breather. One scout team I had took out an MG 42 team and a platoon leader. Needless to say those guys didn't have to scout any more that day. Some other squad went on point after that. I make them move fast over open terrain for short rushes- less than 40m, and alternate the rushes with the hide command. I make them hug the hedgerows wherever possible.

Is there any particular reason why I can't use my MMG or HMG's from behind a hedgerow? Verrrry frustrating. They are deployed, by the by.

Here is a link to excellent scans of the German situation maps.

I'll bet your cat LOVES you....

I finally managed to beat out a Total Victory in "Hell In The Hedgerows". **spoiler alert** I managed to do it by a heavy prep. bombardment of suspected German positions and holding most of my troops back- one platoon cleared the ville, taking some casualties. One other platoon moved up our left, while the mortars and pack howitzers were concentrated on the two pillboxes on their right flank. Every available machine gun and one squad was detailed to covering fire while I tried to infiltrate bazooka teams up along the far left edge of the battlefield. Most were cut down, but one intrepid bazooka man managed to make it past the storm of fire, and took out the first pillbox. I would have managed to take out at least one more, but ran out of time. I only exposed the bare minimum of troops to enemy fire, and for the most part my mortars were dreadfully inaccurate. Only by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the two boxes on my left were I able to make any headway at all. I tried smoke, but it was anemic at best. Due to the weather?

Found this terrific map archive that shows the daily FUSAG situation maps for the Normandy campaign. With my compliments. Normandy Map Archive

I can't tell you how many times I've seen troops expose themselves to fire entering buildings by going around the building and ignoring the safe route inside via an obvious door. On top of that the designers have never heard of entering a building through a ground floor window, which is a good idea when the opposite side of the building is in the enemy's LOS/LOF.

yeah, figured it out. Sorry to waste your time.

How do I get my guys to hold their fire? I need to figure out how to get them to pop everything that moves.

OK, but how do I tell my guys not to open up on them? And if I use demo charges to create alternate routes will that not alert them to my presence? I take back what I said. It's not ridiculous. All I could do was put men in the two buildings nearest the jump off point; enemy teams came at us and we had to kill a few. Enemy spotted=point 425. Tactical victory, which I assume isn't too bad.

The patrol mission (#3) is kinda ridiculous. How is it scored? I just end up in a shooting match with the Germans in the field and behind the hedge. It never ends.

Ahh, yes. That must be what I was thinking of. Danke.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that this can be done. If so, how do I do it? Thanks.

Ayi, caramba. I've been reading up on this thread. Treeemendous. Looking 4-ward to it.

If I was able to convince my PC to run properly on the 'net I'd challenge the gentleman to some HTH. A cool story. Thnx 4 sharing.

Muy gracias.