Ts4EVER

Generally the element of complete surprise is hard to model in games like this.

Driving into that infamous ambush at Ogledow: Will I be able to do better?

I am not an expert on this, but I researched it for a different topic a few years back. First of all: There is a lot of bs on the internet about it. For some reason Wehraboos flock to this technology like flies to ****. You will find all kinds of stories, like it being used to destroy whole units of Comets in 1945 and that kind of thing. This is all nonsense, just like talk of a second variant (often called "solution B") that is said to have been installed on Jagdpanthers. So beware what you believe. With that out of the way, here is (to the best of my recollection) what I could ascertain back then: This system consisted of two parts: one big IR searchlight, installed on a SdKfz251 Halftrack, called "Uhu" (German for a kind of big owl). This was used to illuminate enemy positions at night. The Zielgerät, also called "Sperber" (after a kind of raptor bird) was installed on the turret of Panther tanks. Inside these tanks was a "Bildwandler", basically a screen that showed IR light in apparently very low resolution green. Note that this was installed on top of the turret, NOT hooked up to the gun sight, making its use extremely limited. The allies had the capability to detect and show IR light at this point. If the Germans had fielded these in any number, it would have been made obsolete almost immediately on account of the units using it being lit up like an IR christmas tree and easily detectable by anyone with an appropriate system. From the top of my head, the British had one called "Tabby" that was not used, but worked well enough for the designers to use it to drive their car without headlights in blackout conditions back in Britain. As for use, the system was tested by various units, but as far as I could tell they almost all returned it before actually going into combat. The one exception was the Müncheberg Division, which famously fought in the Oderbruch, the Seelow Heights and Berlin. I don't recall exact numbers, but they received a Panther unit outfitted with these and used them in combat as well. Again there is a lot of bs about this out there: I have an otherwise good German book about the Seelow Heights battle where they describe an engagement in detail in which this unit inflicted heavy casualties on Russian forces. According to Russian documents, these losses were all imaginary. Model companies sell kits called "Nachtjäger". This is a cool sounding marketing term, but not real. What seems to be the case is that these Panthers were supported by Begleitgrenadiers, which were equipped with the "Vampir" IR scope on their MP44s. This was basically a big searchlight on top of the rifle and a scope to pick up these rays. It was powered by a big battery pack. This was a very unwieldy system, but the idea was that these guys would ride on top of the Panthers and provide close support against infantry in the dark. There are sources out there claiming that the Panthers were modified by wielding extra armor plates above the engine deck to create a kind of "fox hole" for these Begleitgrenadiers. The sources claiming this were otherwise good, but I have never seen pictures of this modification and can't imagine how it would work without affecting turret traverse, so no idea. Generally speaking, this system was only used in the east and only around Berlin. Any other use is probably made up until I see actual evidence. The effect of it seems to have been marginal at best.

Sadly the Volkssturmgewehr apparently still fires full auto.

Hi, note that I played this campaign months ago, the videos are released on a schedule. So I might not remember that many details. There will be a final installment with some thoughts at the end. Generally speaking some points: 1. There were instances of partisans starting directly next to your setup zone, so you start under fire: big no-no in my view. 2. Sometimes American units carried over between battles, even though, as I understood it, the battles took place in parallel. So that was a bit weird. 3. Some of the pre planned artillery right outside the setup zones felt a bit cheap to me, although in most cases it was not a huge deal. 4. As I wrote earlier, the first non-historical scenario was skipped by me because it felt like an unfair setup, you will get more details in the last video, I guess.

One day he will walk into the briefing room in the morning all like "Gentlemen, I have decided to invade Ukraine!"

By now it is the other way around, I would say. But let's not further spam this with offtopic stuff.

Or some typo somewhere that they quickly fixed

Well yeah, maybe that would be a workaround, but I think an "official" setting for it with everything (gameplay effect and lighting graphics) integrated would be nicer and actually probably not a massive drain on ressources.

Reading about the Wessex Division right now and it strikes me how often Artificial Moonlight is mentioned in the later campaigns. I wonder if this could be a good inclusion in the new FB model, maybe even as just another "weather setting".

Looking forward to the Ogledow campaign, especially because I made a map for this exact area for the Forgotten Hope 2 Mod for BF2. Due to the gameplay limitations of that engine, it is scaled down a bit, but the general look is similar: http://forgottenhope.warumdarum.de/fh2_maps.php?map=51

Maybe, but what I always said was kinda missing is an AI trigger for unit state, so that the AI can be coded to abort attacks after receiving a certain percentage of losses and withdraw. This would make defensive scenarios a lot less "all or nothing".

I just picture the plane flying and the missile just randomly falling out. "LAUNCH DETECTED"

Similar to the Nazis in WW2, the Volksgrenadier Divisions were re-equipped with StG44s, more seasoned divisions got them last.

Generally, losses aren't that bad in this one. Best to bring as many weapons to bear on one target as possible. If you move up 4 SUs at once, 1 or 2 will get popped, but the rest will be able to chuck HE at the AT guns.

Have they heard of zig-zagging trenches?

The final historical scenario in this campaign, again a beautiful map.

Doesn't that just kinda mean they might be right? Considering the Iraq war was probably a mistake and in hindsight completely based on lies.

Except in terms of reliability.

I'm sure if there was a guaranteed long term contract, the German military industrial complex would be all too happy to produce as many tanks as they could ever use....

If anyone speaks German and is interested in a less stupid leftist perspective, the recent Jacobine magazine has an interesting analysis of Russian imperialism.

TBH I wouldn't buy a vehicle pack, but if it was paired with new scenarios or campaigns, then sure. Regarding late war stuff, I am not as enamored with late war German heavy projects as some others might be, but I think it would be cool to have more options for second rate kind of units. For one thing, reading about the battle for Vienna, the amount of French tanks, some of which are already in other engine 2 games, is quite surprising. Also I know that at least one E series project was actually used, I think an open topped tank destroyer? Forgot the actual designation.

Sounds like they need some kind of "intervention" by China and India. Not the normal state-like intervention, mind you, but one where Putin comes into the conference room one day and everyone is there going "It is about the invasions." and then they all read out their statements one by one etc.

I mean, it's not like I teach at fancy private schools for kids with rich and educated parents, but those Ukrainians are something else... We have started joking that they might be more useful at the front.

Well yeah, but the Syrians and Afghans have to put up with a lot, if not more, as well, and they tend to know how to sit still and show at least some motivation. But this is not the place for that.