Chibot Mk IX

I know there have been complaints about the CM SMG's performance, which piqued my curiosity about their effectiveness at long ranges. To shed light on this matter, I conducted a series of tests using CMRT, comparing the StG 44 and the SMG. The results were quite surprising, as the SMG outperformed the StG 44 at long range. In this article, I will share the details of these tests and the implications they hold.
 
Test 1: Area Firing at Buildings
For this test, I deployed a 3-men StG44 team (split from an 80% headcount Sturmgrenadier Squad), a 3-men MP40 scout team, and a 3-men PPSh-41 scout team on the map. The target command was given to fire at buildings located 180m away from them. The results were fascinating. The StG44 fired single shots, the MP40 fired short bursts, and the PPSh-41 employed a combination of single shots and short bursts. (Video link attached)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ElUaGi7WM
 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivbvr1qbu6ul5n21wuedo/05-SMG-StG-evaluation.btt?rlkey=07pg80esu7mypeihj6scj8ni1&dl=0
 
 
Test 2: Lethalness Comparison between MP40 and StG44
To compare the lethality of the MP40 and the StG44, I set up an open terrain map with buildings blocking the line of sight between left and right. Both the MP40 and StG44 teams were placed in one-story buildings. At a distance of 180m, a Soviet rifle platoon was positioned in front of each team. I began the scenario as Soviet under scenario testing mode. A "hold fire" order with a target arc was given, and the number of casualties and bullets fired were recorded over five minutes. Surprisingly, the MP40 team caused twice as many casualties as the StG44 team. 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkwf0av9adv4rkyertluy/06-SMG-STG-Evaluation-II.btt?rlkey=p9t19j7j7laew6juz5ajcy9yt&dl=0
 
 
Test 3: SMG vs. Sturmgrenadier Platoon
In the final test, I assembled a Sturmgrenadier platoon and an SMG platoon in an arena. The PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in the SMG platoon demonstrated a significant advantage compared to the StG44.the German side managed to secure one victory in ten tests, it could be considered a lucky outcome, as the Soviet side lost two squad leaders in the first turn.
 

Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/58ou60suywb05dj0b9rwz/07-SMG-STG-evaluation-III.btt?rlkey=7z89kmv246d05f6t1qvxtdhbn&dl=0
 
 
Conclusion:
Based on these comprehensive tests, it is evident that the SMGs in CMRT exhibit a level of overpowered performance at long ranges.
 
 
**************************************************************************************************************

While the StG44 was once known for its fire superiority at 100m in CMx1 versions, the current results indicate a clear shift in the dynamics.
 
The effectiveness of SMGs at extended distances calls for further study and testing.

I know there have been complaints about the CM SMG's performance, which piqued my curiosity about their effectiveness at long ranges. To shed light on this matter, I conducted a series of tests using CMRT, comparing the StG 44 and the SMG. The results were quite surprising, as the SMG outperformed the StG 44 at long range. In this article, I will share the details of these tests and the implications they hold.
 
Test 1: Area Firing at Buildings
For this test, I deployed a 3-men StG44 team (split from an 80% headcount Sturmgrenadier Squad), a 3-men MP40 scout team, and a 3-men PPSh-41 scout team on the map. The target command was given to fire at buildings located 180m away from them. The results were fascinating. The StG44 fired single shots, the MP40 fired short bursts, and the PPSh-41 employed a combination of single shots and short bursts. (Video link attached)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ElUaGi7WM
 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivbvr1qbu6ul5n21wuedo/05-SMG-StG-evaluation.btt?rlkey=07pg80esu7mypeihj6scj8ni1&dl=0
 
 
Test 2: Lethalness Comparison between MP40 and StG44
To compare the lethality of the MP40 and the StG44, I set up an open terrain map with buildings blocking the line of sight between left and right. Both the MP40 and StG44 teams were placed in one-story buildings. At a distance of 180m, a Soviet rifle platoon was positioned in front of each team. I began the scenario as Soviet under scenario testing mode. A "hold fire" order with a target arc was given, and the number of casualties and bullets fired were recorded over five minutes. Surprisingly, the MP40 team caused twice as many casualties as the StG44 team. 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkwf0av9adv4rkyertluy/06-SMG-STG-Evaluation-II.btt?rlkey=p9t19j7j7laew6juz5ajcy9yt&dl=0
 
 
Test 3: SMG vs. Sturmgrenadier Platoon
In the final test, I assembled a Sturmgrenadier platoon and an SMG platoon in an arena. The PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in the SMG platoon demonstrated a significant advantage compared to the StG44.the German side managed to secure one victory in ten tests, it could be considered a lucky outcome, as the Soviet side lost two squad leaders in the first turn.
 

Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/58ou60suywb05dj0b9rwz/07-SMG-STG-evaluation-III.btt?rlkey=7z89kmv246d05f6t1qvxtdhbn&dl=0
 
 
Conclusion:
Based on these comprehensive tests, it is evident that the SMGs in CMRT exhibit a level of overpowered performance at long ranges.
 
 
**************************************************************************************************************

While the StG44 was once known for its fire superiority at 100m in CMx1 versions, the current results indicate a clear shift in the dynamics.
 
The effectiveness of SMGs at extended distances calls for further study and testing.

Just before I hit the post button I run another test and noticed something weird, PPSh-41 and PPS-43 have different rate of fire when issued area fire command. As the attached video shows, PPS-43 behave more like a MP40.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEh66ZGUtB0
That partially makes sense as PPS-43 has full auto mode only while there are several versions of PPSh-41 can make single shot. However the question is , will this fire rate difference cause any lethalness difference in CM gameplay?  This is something I need to look into later.
The fire rate table has been updated
  min 0 min 1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5   Rate of fire StG44 0 53 97 151 194 251   50.2 MP40 0 126 248 379 492 624   124.8 PPSh-41 0 77 167 227 308 392   78.4 PPS-43 0 149 299 423 551     137.8  

Just before I hit the post button I run another test and noticed something weird, PPSh-41 and PPS-43 have different rate of fire when issued area fire command. As the attached video shows, PPS-43 behave more like a MP40.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEh66ZGUtB0
That partially makes sense as PPS-43 has full auto mode only while there are several versions of PPSh-41 can make single shot. However the question is , will this fire rate difference cause any lethalness difference in CM gameplay?  This is something I need to look into later.
The fire rate table has been updated
  min 0 min 1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5   Rate of fire StG44 0 53 97 151 194 251   50.2 MP40 0 126 248 379 492 624   124.8 PPSh-41 0 77 167 227 308 392   78.4 PPS-43 0 149 299 423 551     137.8  

I know there have been complaints about the CM SMG's performance, which piqued my curiosity about their effectiveness at long ranges. To shed light on this matter, I conducted a series of tests using CMRT, comparing the StG 44 and the SMG. The results were quite surprising, as the SMG outperformed the StG 44 at long range. In this article, I will share the details of these tests and the implications they hold.
 
Test 1: Area Firing at Buildings
For this test, I deployed a 3-men StG44 team (split from an 80% headcount Sturmgrenadier Squad), a 3-men MP40 scout team, and a 3-men PPSh-41 scout team on the map. The target command was given to fire at buildings located 180m away from them. The results were fascinating. The StG44 fired single shots, the MP40 fired short bursts, and the PPSh-41 employed a combination of single shots and short bursts. (Video link attached)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ElUaGi7WM
 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivbvr1qbu6ul5n21wuedo/05-SMG-StG-evaluation.btt?rlkey=07pg80esu7mypeihj6scj8ni1&dl=0
 
 
Test 2: Lethalness Comparison between MP40 and StG44
To compare the lethality of the MP40 and the StG44, I set up an open terrain map with buildings blocking the line of sight between left and right. Both the MP40 and StG44 teams were placed in one-story buildings. At a distance of 180m, a Soviet rifle platoon was positioned in front of each team. I began the scenario as Soviet under scenario testing mode. A "hold fire" order with a target arc was given, and the number of casualties and bullets fired were recorded over five minutes. Surprisingly, the MP40 team caused twice as many casualties as the StG44 team. 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkwf0av9adv4rkyertluy/06-SMG-STG-Evaluation-II.btt?rlkey=p9t19j7j7laew6juz5ajcy9yt&dl=0
 
 
Test 3: SMG vs. Sturmgrenadier Platoon
In the final test, I assembled a Sturmgrenadier platoon and an SMG platoon in an arena. The PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in the SMG platoon demonstrated a significant advantage compared to the StG44.the German side managed to secure one victory in ten tests, it could be considered a lucky outcome, as the Soviet side lost two squad leaders in the first turn.
 

Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/58ou60suywb05dj0b9rwz/07-SMG-STG-evaluation-III.btt?rlkey=7z89kmv246d05f6t1qvxtdhbn&dl=0
 
 
Conclusion:
Based on these comprehensive tests, it is evident that the SMGs in CMRT exhibit a level of overpowered performance at long ranges.
 
 
**************************************************************************************************************

While the StG44 was once known for its fire superiority at 100m in CMx1 versions, the current results indicate a clear shift in the dynamics.
 
The effectiveness of SMGs at extended distances calls for further study and testing.

I know there have been complaints about the CM SMG's performance, which piqued my curiosity about their effectiveness at long ranges. To shed light on this matter, I conducted a series of tests using CMRT, comparing the StG 44 and the SMG. The results were quite surprising, as the SMG outperformed the StG 44 at long range. In this article, I will share the details of these tests and the implications they hold.
 
Test 1: Area Firing at Buildings
For this test, I deployed a 3-men StG44 team (split from an 80% headcount Sturmgrenadier Squad), a 3-men MP40 scout team, and a 3-men PPSh-41 scout team on the map. The target command was given to fire at buildings located 180m away from them. The results were fascinating. The StG44 fired single shots, the MP40 fired short bursts, and the PPSh-41 employed a combination of single shots and short bursts. (Video link attached)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ElUaGi7WM
 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivbvr1qbu6ul5n21wuedo/05-SMG-StG-evaluation.btt?rlkey=07pg80esu7mypeihj6scj8ni1&dl=0
 
 
Test 2: Lethalness Comparison between MP40 and StG44
To compare the lethality of the MP40 and the StG44, I set up an open terrain map with buildings blocking the line of sight between left and right. Both the MP40 and StG44 teams were placed in one-story buildings. At a distance of 180m, a Soviet rifle platoon was positioned in front of each team. I began the scenario as Soviet under scenario testing mode. A "hold fire" order with a target arc was given, and the number of casualties and bullets fired were recorded over five minutes. Surprisingly, the MP40 team caused twice as many casualties as the StG44 team. 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkwf0av9adv4rkyertluy/06-SMG-STG-Evaluation-II.btt?rlkey=p9t19j7j7laew6juz5ajcy9yt&dl=0
 
 
Test 3: SMG vs. Sturmgrenadier Platoon
In the final test, I assembled a Sturmgrenadier platoon and an SMG platoon in an arena. The PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in the SMG platoon demonstrated a significant advantage compared to the StG44.the German side managed to secure one victory in ten tests, it could be considered a lucky outcome, as the Soviet side lost two squad leaders in the first turn.
 

Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/58ou60suywb05dj0b9rwz/07-SMG-STG-evaluation-III.btt?rlkey=7z89kmv246d05f6t1qvxtdhbn&dl=0
 
 
Conclusion:
Based on these comprehensive tests, it is evident that the SMGs in CMRT exhibit a level of overpowered performance at long ranges.
 
 
**************************************************************************************************************

While the StG44 was once known for its fire superiority at 100m in CMx1 versions, the current results indicate a clear shift in the dynamics.
 
The effectiveness of SMGs at extended distances calls for further study and testing.

I know there have been complaints about the CM SMG's performance, which piqued my curiosity about their effectiveness at long ranges. To shed light on this matter, I conducted a series of tests using CMRT, comparing the StG 44 and the SMG. The results were quite surprising, as the SMG outperformed the StG 44 at long range. In this article, I will share the details of these tests and the implications they hold.
 
Test 1: Area Firing at Buildings
For this test, I deployed a 3-men StG44 team (split from an 80% headcount Sturmgrenadier Squad), a 3-men MP40 scout team, and a 3-men PPSh-41 scout team on the map. The target command was given to fire at buildings located 180m away from them. The results were fascinating. The StG44 fired single shots, the MP40 fired short bursts, and the PPSh-41 employed a combination of single shots and short bursts. (Video link attached)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ElUaGi7WM
 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivbvr1qbu6ul5n21wuedo/05-SMG-StG-evaluation.btt?rlkey=07pg80esu7mypeihj6scj8ni1&dl=0
 
 
Test 2: Lethalness Comparison between MP40 and StG44
To compare the lethality of the MP40 and the StG44, I set up an open terrain map with buildings blocking the line of sight between left and right. Both the MP40 and StG44 teams were placed in one-story buildings. At a distance of 180m, a Soviet rifle platoon was positioned in front of each team. I began the scenario as Soviet under scenario testing mode. A "hold fire" order with a target arc was given, and the number of casualties and bullets fired were recorded over five minutes. Surprisingly, the MP40 team caused twice as many casualties as the StG44 team. 

 
Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkwf0av9adv4rkyertluy/06-SMG-STG-Evaluation-II.btt?rlkey=p9t19j7j7laew6juz5ajcy9yt&dl=0
 
 
Test 3: SMG vs. Sturmgrenadier Platoon
In the final test, I assembled a Sturmgrenadier platoon and an SMG platoon in an arena. The PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in the SMG platoon demonstrated a significant advantage compared to the StG44.the German side managed to secure one victory in ten tests, it could be considered a lucky outcome, as the Soviet side lost two squad leaders in the first turn.
 

Scenario attached
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/58ou60suywb05dj0b9rwz/07-SMG-STG-evaluation-III.btt?rlkey=7z89kmv246d05f6t1qvxtdhbn&dl=0
 
 
Conclusion:
Based on these comprehensive tests, it is evident that the SMGs in CMRT exhibit a level of overpowered performance at long ranges.
 
 
**************************************************************************************************************

While the StG44 was once known for its fire superiority at 100m in CMx1 versions, the current results indicate a clear shift in the dynamics.
 
The effectiveness of SMGs at extended distances calls for further study and testing.

Just before I hit the post button I run another test and noticed something weird, PPSh-41 and PPS-43 have different rate of fire when issued area fire command. As the attached video shows, PPS-43 behave more like a MP40.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEh66ZGUtB0
That partially makes sense as PPS-43 has full auto mode only while there are several versions of PPSh-41 can make single shot. However the question is , will this fire rate difference cause any lethalness difference in CM gameplay?  This is something I need to look into later.
The fire rate table has been updated
  min 0 min 1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5   Rate of fire StG44 0 53 97 151 194 251   50.2 MP40 0 126 248 379 492 624   124.8 PPSh-41 0 77 167 227 308 392   78.4 PPS-43 0 149 299 423 551     137.8  

That is likely to be the reason based on current information I have.
StG guy are just using single shot at 180m while MP40 guy fire short bursts.
 
The first test I did is to have a StG, MP40 and PPSh team area fire the buildings at 180m distance. I only did this test one time so maybe I need to retest it couple times, anyway the table below records how many bullets are fired 
  0min  1 min  2 min  3 min  4 min  5 min  StG44 0 53 97 151 194 251 MP40 0 126 248 379 492 624 PPSh 0 77 167 227 308 392  
PPSh also seems to love single shot when area targeting the building. But I noticed them were using full auto/ short burst when facing the sturmgrenadier platoon (need more test to confirm that).
 

FYI, I did a test compare a 3 men StG 44 team with a 3 men MP40 team at 180m distance. I would say, MP40 is twice deadly as StG44
180m test, 5 min
  test 1
test 2
test 3
test 4
test 5
test 6
test 7
test 8
test 9
test 10
                        3 men StG44 team kills
  5
5
4
7
7
8
2
5
7
7
expended ammo
  225
237
226
229
229
235
224
227
236
228
                        3 men MP40 team kills
  10
12
10
7
9
11
10
8
10
10
expended ammo
  551
533
576
582
581
609
575
582
589
587
And then in a different test, I put a platoon of PPSh in front of a platoon of StG 44 at 180m distance. The StG 44 platoon is decimated in less than 3 minutes
Will send a report in general discussion later this week. 
 

That is likely to be the reason based on current information I have.
StG guy are just using single shot at 180m while MP40 guy fire short bursts.
 
The first test I did is to have a StG, MP40 and PPSh team area fire the buildings at 180m distance. I only did this test one time so maybe I need to retest it couple times, anyway the table below records how many bullets are fired 
  0min  1 min  2 min  3 min  4 min  5 min  StG44 0 53 97 151 194 251 MP40 0 126 248 379 492 624 PPSh 0 77 167 227 308 392  
PPSh also seems to love single shot when area targeting the building. But I noticed them were using full auto/ short burst when facing the sturmgrenadier platoon (need more test to confirm that).
 

FYI, I did a test compare a 3 men StG 44 team with a 3 men MP40 team at 180m distance. I would say, MP40 is twice deadly as StG44
180m test, 5 min
  test 1
test 2
test 3
test 4
test 5
test 6
test 7
test 8
test 9
test 10
                        3 men StG44 team kills
  5
5
4
7
7
8
2
5
7
7
expended ammo
  225
237
226
229
229
235
224
227
236
228
                        3 men MP40 team kills
  10
12
10
7
9
11
10
8
10
10
expended ammo
  551
533
576
582
581
609
575
582
589
587
And then in a different test, I put a platoon of PPSh in front of a platoon of StG 44 at 180m distance. The StG 44 platoon is decimated in less than 3 minutes
Will send a report in general discussion later this week. 
 

Robotyne area.
Soldiers of 78th Special purpose regiment "Hertz' " of Air-assault Command dismount from own Oshkosh M-ATV to advance to treeline. Two Bradleys of 47th mech.brigade covers them and shoot at the enemy
Reportedly Russians yesterday conducted several counter-attack at our flanks and forced our troops slightly withdraw from outskirts of Robotyne. 

It would make defence more complex for the Russians- for example:

ATACMs flies on a ballistic trajectory while Storm Shadow is a cruise missile, so one of each fired at the same target presents two different air defence problems at the same time (fast but telegraphed ATACMs vs slower but stealthier Storm Shadow). Mix in decoys, Storm Shadows changing direction etc and things can get real confusing real fast.

This might prompt the Russians to concentrate more air defence on more important targets, leaving other (still important) targets less well defended.

There's also the EW game- the Russians are inevitably going to get their hands on some kind of salvageable internals from whatever weapons are used, at which point they can dig into the systems and figure out how they can jam or spoof them. They've already apparently gotten hold of a Storm Shadow, so from here on out there's a possibility that Storm Shadow strikes can be degraded by EW effects.

Having more different types of weapons in the mix keeps things fresh (as it were), so there's always something up Ukraine's sleeve that the Russians haven't developed a counter to yet. At the same time, depending on the specifics, even if the Russians have worked out how to jam ATACMs and Storm Shadow, they might not be able to jam both at the same time because EW cna be finicky, or if they can, they might need more rare, expensive EW assets concentrated to do so.

Stuff like that.

Some new impressions from the Campaign "Our Father":

This tweet is a little bit of misleading. It highlights ICM vs fortification, but as many of us have learned from CMCW, the ICM is not effective against a fortified enemy. ICM can be deadly against exposed enemy especially personal and soft skin vehicle, so it is handy in fend off RUS's counter attack. ICM also improves UKR side's counter-artillery efficiency, pose a threat to the hovering NOE Ka-52. But this is not a magic bullet that can make the Russian fortification line melt away in a short period of time.

This tweet is a little bit of misleading. It highlights ICM vs fortification, but as many of us have learned from CMCW, the ICM is not effective against a fortified enemy. ICM can be deadly against exposed enemy especially personal and soft skin vehicle, so it is handy in fend off RUS's counter attack. ICM also improves UKR side's counter-artillery efficiency, pose a threat to the hovering NOE Ka-52. But this is not a magic bullet that can make the Russian fortification line melt away in a short period of time.

EDIT
Thanks to @Monty's Mighty Moustache who picked up a briefing error in TTP No2. This has been amended and the attached zip file below has the updated file.
This series of three missions is very loosely based on several of the ‘Tank Battle Problems’ detailed in the Nafziger publication ‘the German Tank Platoon in WWII: Its Training and Employment in battle’.
Whilst the series of ‘problems’ outlined in the book appear to be pre/early war I have updated the fundamental concepts to a later period in the war i.e. 1944.
The key intent of these tank tactical problems is to give the player new to using German armour an opportunity to use them in a more doctrinally ‘correct’ manner within the limitations of the Combat Mission game engine.
This series complements the German halftrack (SPW)/panzergrenadier training lessons in the CMRT Battlepack 1 where the main focus is on using SPW in Combat Mission.
For the tactical problem series the German player uses Panzer IVs. This tank was used in significant numbers during the war and though starting to become outclassed by 1944 by the Soviet T-34/85 was still a significant part of the tank strength of most panzer divisions. Though Panthers were slowly starting to form the main panzer strength in the panzer regiments. The player cannot rely on superior armour/armament to bully through this series as the Panzer IV’s armour is comparatively speaking, inadequate. 
All the missions are best played as German Vs Soviet AI. 
There are NO German AI plan. 
Each tactical problem has a ‘Tactical Top Tips’ at the end of each briefing (under ‘notes’) which may help the player new to using tanks in Combat Mission get the most out of them.

Plan is when done to convert them to Soviet versions so players can contrast.

If you get a chance to give em a whirl I'd appreciate any and all feedback thank you.



You download  https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/cm-red-thunder/cm-red-thunder-add-ons-scenarios/cmrt-german-tank-tactical-problems/
 
 

This tweet is a little bit of misleading. It highlights ICM vs fortification, but as many of us have learned from CMCW, the ICM is not effective against a fortified enemy. ICM can be deadly against exposed enemy especially personal and soft skin vehicle, so it is handy in fend off RUS's counter attack. ICM also improves UKR side's counter-artillery efficiency, pose a threat to the hovering NOE Ka-52. But this is not a magic bullet that can make the Russian fortification line melt away in a short period of time.

If you've played BF2:RP then you're probably familiar with this map, as it was my inspiration for the creation.
An American combined force trying to capture a harbor. Only the Russian AI has been completed so far (only one plan), so play BLUE only!
 

Pavlovsk Bay_Std.btt

Not really. Those of us unwilling to log in to the Twitter can't read threads or view author feeds. We just see the first tweet.

yes, body parts everywhere and the seat soaked in blood.  Not sure that I would be too thrilled to remove the body parts and sit in a pool of blood to take over the driver's position when the enemy is still firing at my tank.
 

Well but since CM decides to actually switch positions inside a tank it surely could do it as realistical as it could in this situation. 
In Cmx1 you often got the state "shocked" if one crewmember got hit, which often was the commander, looking out his cupola. 
 
This left the tank motionless for a few seconds before he either fired back or hit the reverse. 
That felt at least more realistic indeed. 
 
I had this instance with a tank gunner: He got shot (and luckily only him), was replaced immediately and the replacement fired back in the same second on the threat that caused that one casualty. He didn't hit due to panic and the rumbling of the tank as he drew backwards but loosing crewmember feel less impactful in this situations, as rare as they be. 
 
A somewhat similar occasion is with heavy weapons teams, especially with German hmg. 
If the gunner is hit, the weapon automatically and instantly transitions to the next dude in the team. 
And yeah I understand it that it would be the priority for all the team members to retrieve the weapon but it could be with a little few "shock" seconds ("oh no Karl got hit! Wait, better get the gun working again! " in a abstracted fashion) 
This way however I had one very odd occasion in a battle: In a night brawl my us forces stumbled upon an oddly spread out (semi deployed) hmg team. They started shooting, and quickly hit the machine gunner. But the MG warped instantly to the next guy 10m away and in another direction to my us squad. He shot immediately and hit a few guys, before got taken out. But again the MG warped to the next one in another direction and as his buddy before him he started shooting as well. I got pretty much the same situation with another HMG team in the same battle, which felt like a mad "whack the mole" game of some sort.
 
I'm not really complaining and I canceled it of as engine limitations. It was quite entertaining though.

Follow up…ok, I think I have got the only solution that makes any sense: Putin and Prig are in love but cannot admit it to each other or themselves.  Only a rom-com scenario makes any sense in what we have seen - hear me out (and yes I am sober as I type this) 
Prig and Putin have known each other for years - him a working class ex-con trying to go straight, Putin a golden haired princess who is so lonely at the top.  They have been sharing stolen glances and smiles for years but neither has the courage…their worlds are too far apart.  Prig is desperate to get Putin to really see him, instead of a boom box outside in the rain he rolls up to Moscow with T90s and MLRS.  It was a romantic gesture of the highest order.  A demonstration of power and masculinity while being vulnerable at the same time.
Putin, like a sexy fox, flees to St Petersburg to hold up with a couple girlfriends…he can’t cope with all this - it is too much too fast.  He is into Prig but the man is both intoxicating and terrifying.  Putin throws out threats but he really does not mean them, inside his heart is pounding - should he?  He mustn’t.  He is so confused right now.  Should he call in airstrikes or run out on the M4 into his man’s arms?
Prig is wailing into the night with an electric guitar (and AD systems), he is in love so hard it hurts.  He bashes out With or Without You by U2…Russia holds it breath, the two star crossed lovers both in love and hate at the same time.  They resent each other for making that love into something that threatens to consume them both.  Finally Lushenko, a girlfriend to both from way back I the day talks them both off the ledge - “you are both love struck fools, stop now before you say something you cannot take back!”
Prig realizes it first.  Putin is a fox to be lured and must feel in control.  Prig has come on too strong.  He dials it back, goes back to the dorm and tells all the guys “he totally scored” but inside he is tortured by the waiting game.  
Putin has fooled himself that he is back in charge but deep inside knows it is too late.  He says strong words but everyone at work knows the truth - FFS would they just do it already.  Their love is self-destructive and wholly doomed but neither can look away - it is a storm that must happen….to be continued.

Like any good Muscovite, in these troubling times, we should stay calm, wait how things play out and watch the ballet.