IronCat60

Oh don't get me wrong, I am all for a EU army. It's time for someone else to step up and let their sons and daughters play fireman to the worlds hot spots. After all, all it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to stand by and do nothing.
And as far as it being a "soft army" all I can say is Rugby is like American Football. Only they don't wear all the fancy protective gear for a similar contact sport.

Speak of the devil!
 Here is a actual picture of the Volkssturm Rollstuhl Truppen in action!

 
Plus a museum picture that shows the only surviving model of a early American attempt at a cost effective scout car.

The Germans were all into hiring the handicapped and the first to experiment with the Rollstuhl Truppen.
Check out the small wheels on the device this guy is packing. Either it's a wheelchair or the grim look on his face is because he is pissed he still has to use training wheels on his bicycle. And look at the face of his comraden to the left. That guy is like "Was ist das? Trainingsrad?"
"Hans could never figure out why the others were mad at him and picking themselves up off the ground when he rode up on his bicycle with the playing card placed on his frame so that it made a cheerful "rat-tat-tat" noise when it struck the spokes of his rear wheel".

 

When you are at the snack counter at the movie theater and your trying to decide on the popcorn or the Milk Duds. Sure the Milk Duds are bigger but can only be used in the direct mode into your mouth because they are hard to see in a dark room. But the popcorn, ah the popcorn! That can be used in the direct or indirect role as the object is easier to see where it strikes so you can adjust it's trajectory. Plus it comes with a whole lot more rounds thus making it more applicable to hunger suppression until the main effort is conducted at a restaurant after the movie.
Or you thought you heard something so you look around for the sound contact icon so can get a idea as to what it was. Oh it's just the kid getting fussy again.
 
 

Speak of the devil!
 Here is a actual picture of the Volkssturm Rollstuhl Truppen in action!

 
Plus a museum picture that shows the only surviving model of a early American attempt at a cost effective scout car.

The Germans were all into hiring the handicapped and the first to experiment with the Rollstuhl Truppen.
Check out the small wheels on the device this guy is packing. Either it's a wheelchair or the grim look on his face is because he is pissed he still has to use training wheels on his bicycle. And look at the face of his comraden to the left. That guy is like "Was ist das? Trainingsrad?"
"Hans could never figure out why the others were mad at him and picking themselves up off the ground when he rode up on his bicycle with the playing card placed on his frame so that it made a cheerful "rat-tat-tat" noise when it struck the spokes of his rear wheel".

 

First off just think of the enormous amount of diversity in terrain, equipment and operations that relates to this subject. Even when covering just this one geographical area. Then develop a game that covers the endless variety of situations and possibilities that occur in combat (Well S.L.A. Marshall and a huge staff took a huge amount of time to write a huge book covering this subject). Develop a A.I. that is smart enough to handle this environment and make good decisions. Not just for the enemy force. Lets make it control all the individual units so they react in a realistic manner. Make a game control that covers the vast majority of actions a unit would use. And make it easy enough and intuitive so the user doesn't get frustrated. Oh yes, also you have to find a balance in all this so it appeals to the casual and hardcore wargamer. 
The absolute in depth beauty of the graphics and textures for the equipment and and uniforms that came with the game. I still stick with the original uniforms that come with the game. Sure I do use a couple of mods like one that allows variations of the German Smocks and camouflage on the U.K. helmets. For the enormity of the subject they did a great job on covering it.
The vehicles are a pure delight. Watching them roll across the terrain is like getting a glimpse into history. Excellent work on getting the basic color schemes for each nation. I did have one vehicle, a SPW250-3 that had no camo on it whatsoever. Just used Gimp. Cut and past the corresponding hull parts from another SPW250 and done.  
The variety of terrain types and buildings must have been a huge list they had to narrow down to a general set that related to most situations. And they did a wonderful job on choosing the major types. I did go full on mod to change the landscape terrain to something that looks good to my bi-focal, color blind eyesight. I put together a mix of mods from several different creators. The pavement textures are standard except for the one with the "big rectangular blocks". To me the scale of the blocks was so big that a crane would be needed to place each one. So I scaled them down from 1024 to 256. Put together a 1024 tile with the 256 tiles and there ya go. Man manageable size stones.
The editor is one of the highlights of this game. It is easy to use, does what you want it to do within certain limits and possibilities. The fact you can build a simple map to designing a full blown battle with directions for the A.I. is a testament to its flexibility and solid design.
And let's not forget the audio. Realistic voices in the language of the nation it covers. Sounds of weapons and vehicles.  The whole spectrum of special effects. Plus a great musical score. A fantastic job on getting the realism right and a important part of the immersion into the environment.

We could turn this into a comedy sketch that would make Monty Python proud. Or in memory of Abbot and Costello, a "Eula comes First, You come Second" kinda of routine.
 
"This parrot is dead."   "No it's not. It's sleeping!"

I'll volunteer to give it a try. I am getting ready to start another round of PBEM with a guy in Canada. So I can test that aspect out. Load time, how long it takes to save, does the usual capping uploads limit for attached  files on e-mails make a large map with lots of units feasible, etc. etc. Plus I have made most of the maps we use from actual maps of the area.
The only question I have is the terrain hedgerow central or is it the more open terrain found in the British sector. I am asking because my opponent plays the Canadians and I am Herman the German. So we usually try to square off on ground similar to the real thing.

No disrespect to you or the deceased was intended. On the surface my attitude towards such matters may seem flippant but it is a defense mechanism.
To satisfy your quest for justice over this remark I will inform you that my life is a absolute nightmare due to combat PTSD. It destroyed my marriage, alienated me from my parents, and siblings and I have no friends whatsoever. I really do not eat or sleep much. My counselor fears that I may do something drastic to myself. If I was to cease to exist no one would notice or mourn for me.
So if this statement does not meet your need for retribution then I do not know what in God's amazing universe will.
"There are only two things that are infinite. The universe and mans stupidity. And I'm not so sure of the universe" Albert Einstein
"I'm surrounded by assholes!" Dark Helmet, Space Balls (oh hell, there I go again, quick someone report me to the mods so they can bend my dog tags and send me to Antarctica)
 

No disrespect to you or the deceased was intended. On the surface my attitude towards such matters may seem flippant but it is a defense mechanism.
To satisfy your quest for justice over this remark I will inform you that my life is a absolute nightmare due to combat PTSD. It destroyed my marriage, alienated me from my parents, and siblings and I have no friends whatsoever. I really do not eat or sleep much. My counselor fears that I may do something drastic to myself. If I was to cease to exist no one would notice or mourn for me.
So if this statement does not meet your need for retribution then I do not know what in God's amazing universe will.
"There are only two things that are infinite. The universe and mans stupidity. And I'm not so sure of the universe" Albert Einstein
"I'm surrounded by assholes!" Dark Helmet, Space Balls (oh hell, there I go again, quick someone report me to the mods so they can bend my dog tags and send me to Antarctica)
 

No disrespect to you or the deceased was intended. On the surface my attitude towards such matters may seem flippant but it is a defense mechanism.
To satisfy your quest for justice over this remark I will inform you that my life is a absolute nightmare due to combat PTSD. It destroyed my marriage, alienated me from my parents, and siblings and I have no friends whatsoever. I really do not eat or sleep much. My counselor fears that I may do something drastic to myself. If I was to cease to exist no one would notice or mourn for me.
So if this statement does not meet your need for retribution then I do not know what in God's amazing universe will.
"There are only two things that are infinite. The universe and mans stupidity. And I'm not so sure of the universe" Albert Einstein
"I'm surrounded by assholes!" Dark Helmet, Space Balls (oh hell, there I go again, quick someone report me to the mods so they can bend my dog tags and send me to Antarctica)
 

No disrespect to you or the deceased was intended. On the surface my attitude towards such matters may seem flippant but it is a defense mechanism.
To satisfy your quest for justice over this remark I will inform you that my life is a absolute nightmare due to combat PTSD. It destroyed my marriage, alienated me from my parents, and siblings and I have no friends whatsoever. I really do not eat or sleep much. My counselor fears that I may do something drastic to myself. If I was to cease to exist no one would notice or mourn for me.
So if this statement does not meet your need for retribution then I do not know what in God's amazing universe will.
"There are only two things that are infinite. The universe and mans stupidity. And I'm not so sure of the universe" Albert Einstein
"I'm surrounded by assholes!" Dark Helmet, Space Balls (oh hell, there I go again, quick someone report me to the mods so they can bend my dog tags and send me to Antarctica)
 

Man them 1930's Germans were ahead of their time. Did you see that computer nav system, the tinted windows on the top section of the cockpit. And the inflight entertainment system. Where you can listen to such popular tunes as Panzerlied  and Horst-Wessel-Lied. No wonder they had rockets, jet aircraft and re-engineered UFO's by 1945.

Pigs fly every time there is a football game!
 

Thank you for your in depth reply panzersaurkrautwerfer!
 
I found it very educational to hear it from the treadheads mouth. I guess that I recall the early M1's and the teething problems it had during my time at Ft Hood. As far as the friend who is a Stryker computer tech, he was a 19D so I will be talking to him about some of the "stories" he has reported. After all 19D's are the redheaded stepchild of the armor and infantry community.
 
And the tanker Master Gunners were never so forth coming with the amount of information on the rounds available to the main gun. Your wealth of information puts everything into a new perspective. We even shared the info about the then experimental sabot round for the Bradley (XM919??) and how in Ballistics Class we theorized and wrote a extra credit thesis on what angle and range that round could penetrate the lower side armor of the T-55 and T-62. The tanker Master Gunners were basically like "105mm, load big shell. Sabot, HEAT. Gun go boom. Load another shell. Machine guns carry lots of bullets. We have laser range finder, you have to guess, ha ha to bad. Turbine engine. Like old Mazda commercial your Bradley goes put-put-put ours goes zoom."  
 
Also I went into combat with the 1st Cav Division in Desert Storm and I should have tempered my tirade with the memories of how well the tanks performed in that arena. Yes we were a Task Force Brigade. 2 Companies of tanks and 2 Companies of Infantry. The scouts were out on the flanks and in line with my platoon which was the lead element for the entire division. We had tank Companies on the right and left of the diamond formation and a infantry Company bringing up the rear.
 
As there was no one else in front of us but the bad guys we called ourselves "The Flaming TRP's". That is because I envisioned the tankers talking on the net after initial contact and saying something to the effect "Ok, see that burning Bradley to the right? Don't go over there that's were the minefield starts. See the two burning Bradley's on the left? Careful, that is were the AT Gun is dug in."
 
Once again thank you for that most insightful and well stated rebuttal. I must go now, somewhere a village still needs a idiot.   

I bet the crew built that wall because they were crapping bricks and pissing cement in fear when they saw that RPG team!

PanzerShrimp,
 
I can confirm your frustration at no barbwire for the Germans in Quick Battle. Does not matter if you pick attack or assault against them, play German or Russian side, the barbwire just does not exist for the Germans.
 
I have posted this before myself as have other players and the most frustrating part is there seems to be no official statement forth coming from higher up as to the fact they recognize the fault and what they plan on doing to resolve it.
 
Am I wrong about that last paragraph? If so please show me where a valid response from Battlefront exists. And don't get me wrong folks. I respect and admire this gaming company's work and dedication. I do own just about every title and add-on they have produced. It just seems like the ball has been dropped on this play.

Hey there Phantom Captain, first off let me say you have a proud linage in your family! Wow Merrill's Marauders, I have read about those guy's exploits and they were tough as nails and then some!
 
Ok to answer your question. I taught MOUT for awhile and in real life it was the 2/All/2 rule for clearing buildings. This was applied if you could not work all the buildings from the top downwards, the ideal way to clear a building. With four teams work your way down both sides (2) of the street covering the movement of the bounding team from both sides in a criss-cross over watch. Once the bounding team has entered the next building they work their way up to the top of the building (All floors) Now from the building your team is in you should be able to see into two (2) other buildings and recon the floors by observation or direct fire. If the buildings across the way are taller than yours that warrants a small team to check out those floors. Also if a building has sturdy construction that direct fire cannot penetrate or a maze of rooms then that too needs further inspection. By observing into two buildings you can narrow down the ones that require more attention and basically skip the ones that are observed empty or do not return fire when fired upon and get down the street quicker.
 
Machine guns are always bringing up the rear and stay on both sides of the street with whatever team is the covering force. Other machine guns should also be kept at a distance and orientated to fire down the length of the street and parallel with the axis of advance. This includes the route friendly forces are advancing up and the next street over on the left and right. This is used to prevent lateral reinforcement of enemy positions by blocking fire up the streets parallel with the axis of advance.
 
As the game has open floors and the bad guys generally are not shy about firing at anything in range this should hopefully help you out.

Ok I did a career in the military. Both Marine Corps and Army. The last part of my gig was a Plt Sgt in Bradley Mechanized Infantry. I am also Bradley Master Gunner Qualified. Just stating that so you know I am not just a village idiot. And yes I know opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and they all stink. But here is some facts to mull over with a cup of coffee and a good doughnut to provide a balanced breakfast.
 
I have hung out with the tank master gunners on several occasions and I always asked the same question, We support the tanks in close terrain environments but how come the tank has lost the interest, ability and mission capability of supporting the grunt. And how can the armor community continue to glorify a Cold War weapons system without realizing the world it operates in has changed and the tank needs to change to meet these new demands.
 
There is no HE round that can knock out a bunker or devastate a house like the M4 Sherman or the M60A3 tanks. Sure they have a canister round but that is no good for the aforementioned targets that are busy pinning the infantry down. A Sabot round and a Heat Round are lousy substitutes as they make neat holes in targets but lack the explosive power for a area kill radius. HEAT rounds will not go off unless they hit something hard. If fired at troops in the open it will usually skip off the ground and it just buries itself in wet ground. Machine Guns on the tank are not the answer. If they could solve the problem the infantry could extricate themselves.
 
Speaking of extricating themselves.The M1 has gotten heavier and heavier in armor tonnage to were the current bridging equipment and recovery vehicles can barely hold their own against them. It is well documented that M1's fell through bridges in the Middle East or crushed culverts causing the following vehicles to detour to another route. I have a friend who is a civilian technician for the Stryker computer systems. He spent a lot of time in the sandbox and he said it used just piss the Stryker troopers off something fierce when a M1 would bust up a approach route causing them or follow on forces to use a different route that caused delays and a security risk to the forces using the detour.
 
This is another lesson we need to remember is that a lumbering armored behemoth is not the answer in armored warfare. At 70 tons for the current M1 you think we would remember the German monsters of the same weight and fuel consumption needs and what befell them before they could even get into combat. Plus the weight of the M1 has placed more of a restriction on what types of terrain it can operate on thus restricting avenues of approach to a objective.
 
And let us not forget the 4 miles per gallon turbine engine that kicks out 1700 degrees of heat. Time to get rid of that logistical nightmare, After idling for just 8 hours a M1 will suck the fuel tanks dry. That is if the heat build up doesn't cause a engine fire. See funny thing about turbine engines is that they are aircraft engines and the more air flow around the engine the better it cools off. The Army stated they wanted the turbine engine because it could produce the 1500 horsepower needed to power the tank. Guess what ladies and gentlemen the newest iteration of the Leopard tank has a 1650 horsepower engine and OMG it is a diesel engine that sucks a hell of a lot less fuel. Also a diesel engine starts faster than the 40 seconds minimum to get a turbine engine running.
 
So what do you think? Has the military gone off on a tangent with the M1 as a glorious killer of tank hordes and has forgotten the linage of the tank. The British tried the tank vs only tank concept with the Cruiser tanks that had no HE to fight enemy infantry and look where that got them, The humble beginnings of the tank was to support infantry and then it evolved into a balanced machine capable of support and taking on enemy armor as that threat became more prolific on the battlefield.
 
Infantry takes and holds the ground, It defeats threats against it with combined arms supporting it's effort. Right now the tank is missing part of it's potential in contributing to the combined arms doctrine.

I know full well of the "other side of the coin" with the Russian crimes they commited and the suffering. I also remember Uncle Joe was in charge and was the author of the Katyn Forest massacre of the Polish Officer Corps. Not to forget the countless other atrocities he initiated such as the "Blocking Units" used to shoot their own soldiers who fled the battlefield. And as the inhumanity of both sides progressed the SOP became "paybacks are a bitch".
 
Also look at the U.S. and our inhumanity to our own countrymen during WW2. We dispossessed hundreds of Japanese citizens from their homes and businesses then put them in internment camps. However we let the German decendents run free all over the East and Midwest of the country.
 
Plus look at modern times. Just because a person is of Middle Eastern ethnicity or practices the Muslim religion puts them under scrutiny.
 
The first casualties of any war is innocence and humanity.

Leather helmets used in motor-racing were adopted as head protection. The design of the leather helmets was a ridged dome of pressed and glued together leather to absorb impact. The inner layers are cushioned by quilting a pattern of "pockets" filled with shredded leather or horse hair. A "skirt" around the lower half provides protection from the elements as all early race cars were open cockpit.     
 
This is a photo of a vintage Italian race car helmet.
     

Leather helmets used in motor-racing were adopted as head protection. The design of the leather helmets was a ridged dome of pressed and glued together leather to absorb impact. The inner layers are cushioned by quilting a pattern of "pockets" filled with shredded leather or horse hair. A "skirt" around the lower half provides protection from the elements as all early race cars were open cockpit.     
 
This is a photo of a vintage Italian race car helmet.
     

Should have known the British military would use "Tardis" technology in some form or fashion. Makes me wonder about their rucksacks if they can do that with a ration box.

This is documentary made for Russian Television about the Great Patriotic War and the Soviet Army's rise from defeat to victory. It even covers the war against Japan in the last chapter. There appears to be 18 chapters in all. The narration is in English but the maps are in Russian.
 
The interesting thing about this series is that they are honest about the mistakes made and needles loss of soldiers if that is the truth of the situation. Something that rarely happens in Russia, objective journalisim.
 
The reenactments of the battles are good and the CGI for the tanks, artillery  and aircraft looks great.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A6UWkK2U4s      This is chapter one, Operation Barbarossa.
 
May we always remember the great sacrifices and losses the Russian people endured in the war. Salute comrades.