Vet 0369

The problem with the U.S. Grenades wasn't primarily with the pin snagging and pulling out, it was from the users bending the pin (the pin was like a split cotter pin) to make it easer to pull out. Some then used tape or a rubber band to keep the spoon lever from springing if the pin pulled out. I believe there is a picture of Gen Ridgeway in Korea with his grenades spoons taped. The Germans weren't the only soldiers to use "stick grenades". Other countries used a stick. They just had different ways to arm it. Also, the Germans used at least two types of grenades, concussion and fragmentation. Stick grenades could be thrown further.

Carlos H. was an exceptional sniper, that is true, but I must in all modesty say that if I have an M-1 or an M-14 rifle and a minute to "dial in my dope," I'll hit a man's head 7 or 8 times out of 10 at 200 yards. That's with open (aperture or peep) sights. It really isn't difficult at all. The term "max effective range" was defined by the USMC as the range at which ANY Marine can be expected to inflict a casualty on the enemy. The max effective range for the M-14 I carried was, I believe, 460 yards. We fired for qualification at 500 yards. I think the M-1 max effective was 600 yards, and the Soviet Nagant was even longer. An exposed tank commander or an exposed machine gunner is a prime target and meat out to about 300 or 350 yards. I'm getting the feeling that most of the "fire on commanders and machine gunners" is based people's perceptions with modern 5.56 mm arms. Additionally, regarding team leaders and gunners and and such getting hit first, they are the ones we were trained to take out first. I honestly don't have any "reality" issues with that, not withstanding the frustration when it happens to me? Just my my two cents.

ARRRRGH! Just started my Mac download and my browser is saying almost an hour.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The text I was referring to is the status text for the selected unit that appears in the box at the left corner of the "battle" screen. I checked a couple other missions, and they have the same color text (it looks OK in those though). Maybe the gray shading of the text box background is off. It seems too light to give a good contrast between the light blue text and the white ground. I've had to move my view so the unit status has trees or something dark as a background. As I said, I found it very hard to read the unit status.

I'm currently playing the demo training mission and haven't checked the other missions, but my text is in a light blue font. I find it very difficult to read. I'm using a Mac Pro with El Capitan. Does anyone else have blue text?

Well, that's very possible. Ergo the "hope it works." If not, no big deal. My PBEM opponent won't buy it until it's download only anyway. More than enough content in all the other titles that I haven't played anywho.

I received an e-mail yesterday that my preordered digital version is ready for download, but I didn't read it until I was a work today. I'll have to try downloading tonight. Hope it works.

Having now followed all of Bud's previous AARs, all I can say is Bud is the "God of Awesomeness!" I wrote an exposition once in a "Reading for Rhetoric" class in college where I used a flashback technique. The professor handed it back with the comment "it's extremely difficult to use a flashback to relate a story, and it takes a very skilled writer to do it well. You obviously failed the technique. Please don't attempt it again." She would be prostrating herself before Bud!

Bud, you're a true Master. I have followed "Rundstedt" and "Apache," and I stand in awe of your creativity and vision. Now I must read the others before CMFB hits the store. I greatly appreciate everything you're done. I hope your wife is feeling well and recovering rapidly. I continue to pray for a rapid and pain-free recovery.

Oh look, the driver is wearing a bathing cap!

Welcome aboard Capt! Please be aware that you've just entered a deep, dark pit of obsession from which you'll NEVER emerge. All of the CMx2 engine games (CMSF, CMBN, CMFI, CMBS, and soon to be released (we hope and pray and beg) CMFB) are so immersive that you'll sit down at 1700 " for a quick few minutes" and look up to realize it's 0300. Add to that the best forums (with the most knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, opinionated, and cantankerous members) you'll find on line. Prepare for a lifetime of simulations.

And if you haven't bought the game yet (except new formations modules such as Commonwealth), just download the Demo game from the download area. They all contain a manual.

Repeatedly it looks like! :-)

Any bones on when we might be able to preorder?

This mission is difficult playing the Russians for sure, but I'd suggest playing as Melm did. Lead slowly with your recon troops (hint: that's why you have phase line objectives). When (if) they spot the Brads, bring up your ATGMs (or just someone with a LASER desiginator). Think getting the Brads to pop smoke needlessly. My opponent forced my Brads to run out of smoke, which makes it a lot easier to hit with an ATGM when you really need to. My Brads never saw what was lighting them up. Be aggressive. Maybe you can beat the Brads into position. Remember, an attacking force should have a 3-1 advantage over the defender. Anything more and I'd start getting into spoilers. Be creative and flexible.

Bradleys ARE equipped with LASER warning devices!

I played this as an H2H as the Americans on warrior level. Even though I was able to take out most of my opponents MLTBs with my Brads and Javs (no spoilers on the number or types of Amis), he was able to take out two of my Brads with ATGMs. I took out a bunch of his troops with harassing mortar fire and MG teams that slowly fell back. He surrendered when he felt that he couldn't complete his mission with his remaining units. Unfortunately, he didn't notice his T-90AM reinforcements before he surrendered.? i haven't played vs the AI, so I don't know how the designer set up the Amis or the Russians, but take heart the Amis aren't really that strong. One major factor that we did notice is that although one was able to hit and force a Brad to retreat more than once, the MLTBs seem to be quite blind. The comment about "scores of infantry and IFVs" and the "counterattack" confuses me because the mission briefing contained only one reinforcement, and that was in the first 5 or 10 minutes of the battle. I'll have to play that on the AI myself.

My memory might be faulty (especially at my age), but I seem to remember the Sturmtiger on the right side of the berm and a Jadgtiger on the left side of the berm (Allied viewpoint).

I believe that BF explained this in another post. The explanation was that while a BMP carries a nine-man squad, three will remain in the BMP to man it while the other six exit. You are able to "bail out" the three that stayed behind, but I haven't tested if you can combine with the other six. I think it was Steve who said BF did this to make the BMP less confusing for game play reasons.

Well, I could, and probably still can, put 10 rounds into a group you can cover with your hand at 200 and 300 yards. That is with an M-14 or a WWII M1 in the prone position with standard aperture sights. I know I can hit a man's head at that distance. If the vehicle is moving it's a little more difficult. An exposed TC might not even hear a missed shot depending on how noisy the environment is. As a Marine or soldier, I'm going to be aiming for the highest value target and hope no one spots me. I'd say that a good marksman with a rifle could very conceivably take out multiple TCs before he gets taken out himself. Remember, the tanks will be protected by infantry. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES - November 10, 1775 - 240 years young!

Since the RPO is a rocket-propelled warhead that shouldn't depend on speed or inertia to penetrate it's target, the only time distance should become a factor is in the "To hit" calculation. I can understand how range could be a factor in actually hitting the target. I don't think I'll make the mistake of using them against an MBT though.

How did you assess "incompetence?" Was it the view of the soldier rolling on to his back on the frozen ground in simulation of setting up in combat? I haven't checked the manual yet, but what does an RPO weigh 20 lbs., 30? Have you ever tried to get 40-60 lbs off your back, in the cold, without exposing yourself to fire. I have, and it ain't graceful. Based on his targeting (if they were all his hits, a lot of hits for a man with two tubes), I'd consider him to be quite competent.

Not a "CSI," but there's a mod in the files repository (AAS Mord's Hi Res Forensic Hit Decals) that will highlight the penetrations AND the ricochets with a hot pink highlight. It's a very helpful mod for an investigation. It works very well. I have one instance in the last mission of the American campaign where a Bradly killed an immobilized (and probably gun disabled) T90 with a 25mm through the lower side of the the hull. The mod highlighted the penetration perfectly and I spotted it immediately. I really like the mod.

Try playing through to the end. Believe it or not, 36 minutes is a lot of time. Develop your battle plan and go for it. You might not make it, but you might be surprised at how much time you still have when you end the mission. Most of us rush through the mission when we actually have plenty of time. If you fail, then start the mission again. If you saved your setup turn, you can just select that one and start from there. Good luck and hang in there.

I'm not really sure who said this, I think it was a general in the American Civil War. (is it a civil war when the "break-away" loses and a revolution when it wins?) the general said " a man can be a hero when his belly is full and his feet are dry, and a coward when he is hungry and has cold, wet feet." Vlad was obviously in an elite unit. Studies have shown that many infantry men never fire their weapons in a fire fight. They actually believe they are firing, but aren't. Also, muscle memory and reaction are developed through repetition. They take over so the soldier doesn't even have to consciously think about it. The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. I get frustrated when my "normal" or "Veteran" troops cower, but I know it happens, so I don't worry about it. However, I definitely don't expect my "elite" or "crack" troops to cower though. I'd to thank Vlad for providing us an opportunity to converse with a real, knowledgeable balance to our sometimes my optic viewpoints, Not withstanding our persistent prejudices