Rinaldi

Some shots from a singleplayer run through of Feierabend. I'd highly recommend it. Read about it here: https://rinaldiaars.blogspot.com/2022/01/feierabend-aar.html
I tried something a bit more narrative, because I forgot I cannot write creatively to save my life. 

From a scenario i'm currently working on...Some intense fighting going on 😎...
The aftermath...

 

I chuckled.

ITT

ITT

ITT

Every. Single. Soviet campaign mission is a battalion level action, and the final battle is a regimental action. And all of them are on large maps that accommodate the force size. Most of the US missions are battalion level as well. The training scenarios for the Soviets are all battalion level actions, and a good number of the independent scenarios are battalion and larger actions as well.
The record is so beyond broken at this point. Have you even played Cold War? Sheesh.

Worth minding the 'Soviets' in the NTC cam[paign are all set to 'veteran' or 'crack'+ so hot on spotting. Regulars or below will be less so.
Given you've been through the NTC crucible you might be pleasantly surprised with 'normal' Soviet units

Thank you both, glad you enjoyed it. I hope to get a few more blog posts out before I return to England later in January. 

Thank you both, glad you enjoyed it. I hope to get a few more blog posts out before I return to England later in January. 

Merci, I am glad you are enjoying it. I hope to get the next update written in the next day or two now Christmas activities have calmed down.
MMM

Thank you both, glad you enjoyed it. I hope to get a few more blog posts out before I return to England later in January. 

Thank you both, glad you enjoyed it. I hope to get a few more blog posts out before I return to England later in January. 

Mishlmao.webm

The Eighty-First Minute
KG Leino -  Die Mitte
"Herr Hauptmann! Ich habe deise Panzer gefunden!" - Obergefreiter Jokinen, 3/2/1
3 Gruppe of 2 Zug get to the wall and eyes to the East.

They spot a two man HQ team moving out from the trees. Perhaps this is the remains of the same team that Tiger 2 inflicted some casualties on when they were retreating? 3 Gruppe cant resist and open fire.

Something bigger replies with sustained MG fire...

followed quickly by a large projectile. I think we have found the remaining tanks from the platoon that were on the objective. The shell misses and impacts the buildings behind. 3 Gruppe hit the deck.

As this was going on a SPW is moving up to a position behind some building to provide some fire support. It's moving through what I thought was dead ground (can you tell how this is going to end?).

3 Gruppe stick their heads up again and another shell comes whistling in on the same trajectory as the last one...

and impacts the SPW that had just arrived and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, destroying the vehicle and killing the crew. The HQ Tiger had just been moved up too and was narrowly missed.

We get the sound contact in the trees. It's only one but I assume the other one is there and this now confirms that there are at least 2 Soviet tank platoons in the AO. I'm comfortable now saying that he has at least a company: one destroyed tank on the left, at least one tank in the middle, one dead on the objective and at least two on the right.

Jean Rambeau, that pesky Alsatian, is also trying to get eyes on the tanks and pushes forward behind the cover of trees to try and get some intel. The 251/17 and Tiger 2 overwatch. A HMG team from 4 Zug is setting up in the building behind, uncovering yet more dead Soviets.

1 Zug are finishing their sweep, a Trupp from 1 Gruppe finish tending to some wounded and then cross the street to check the last building. Remember those random spotting rounds I mentioned?

Damn. But look at the pile of Soviets in there!

The rest of the Zug are pushing onto what was formerly KT1, the hill surrounding the town, to get eyes to the South in case he decides to counterattack from that direction.

KG Koskela - die Linke
The StuG pushes up with the Panthers following using short stops to allow the StuG to maintain distance. The destroyed T34 comes back into view. It's not marked as knocked out yet.

Panther 1 seems to have decided it needs to rectify that situation and starts rotating at turn's end.

No contacts yet. The other Panther is to the right putting MG fire into the trees.
KG Perala - das Recht
Not much to report, the advance continues and there is no reaction from the forces at the farm. We may be able to sneak through.

SITMAP

It didn't take as long as I thought it might to find the tanks that retreated. It only fired two shells and having checked the LOS from his spot it seems he can't actually target the ground where my forces are so it was the TacAI firing at my troops when they opened up on that HQ unit. The HQ unit was moving toward the objective so is this a start of a counterattack?
I've updated the blood board to reflect the loss of a SPW from 2 Zug/1 Ko.

MMM

Excellent BDA. It's often worse than it looks until you zoom in and count heads and ammo. It's clear you've given your opponent a bloody nose as well and your main striking power remains intact.  I think what's clear here is that he doesn't have an actual actionable reserve. As far as I am concerned in these conditions a platoon of T-34s is not much of a reserve at all unless extremely carefully handled. Then again, he can try and pull them all back and concentrate...

Although I also think that certain applications of artillery against AFVs (especially in CMBS) seems underwhelming at times, imo Soviet tactics / doctrine does 'work' or have application in CM.
But imo Soviet doctrine / tactics aren't to brainlessly rush into the enemy objective command & conquer style. Imo would the war actually have played out according to CMCWs backstory, I don't think many Soviet commanders will try to push a MRR blindly into a route where the whole recon / forward security element (or both) have become smoldering wrecks.
In my experience in CMCW the USA forces shine when used as one would use a scalpel or similar precision tools, which can be neatly used to cut away the strongest enemy assets while bounding forward under overwatch. Scout, smoke, shoot & scoot, suppress, flank, etc.. (aka recon pull). Engage enemy at distance with TOWs etc, cut off their head than move in for the kill.
The Soviet forces work better with the 'sledgehammer' approach. Choose a place for a main effort (imo ideally after your recon/forward security got a feel for the composition of enemy defenses), bombard the crap out of any potential strongpoints / defenses threatening your main effort. Setup strong firesupport positions (ATGMs, AGL, etc), isolate the main effort / objective by smoking off other parts of the battle field. Than fully commit to the push, move boldly from fire position to fire position and keep shooting anything vaguely suspicious. Continue shooting for good measure. (aka more like a command push).
The sledgehammer approach does usually produce casualties faster. But that's a different issue than the question of whether it 'works' in CM imo. It certainly works better for USSR forces than trying to play them like they are US forces (at least for me).

Of course all battles are different but some things are universal, which don't care about doctrines. Don't rush all your tanks into the open if there's a bunch of potent ATGMs / enemy tanks in good positions waiting for your to do exactly that. Whether your playing USSR, USA, modern or WW2; it will remain true.
Maybe you can get away with it if it if your rolling with a bunch of M1A2SEP against AT-3 Malyutka's or T-55s. But than you're not getting results because of good tactics anyway. 

Bonus Update - BDA and The Next Phase of Battle
As promised here's a breakdown of my remaining infantry strength. Note the armour and vehicles are not included, I've lost no armour thus far and only three SPWs, two destroyed and one immobilised, 2/2 has suffered two of those SPW losses though and is down to one running vehicle.
I'll break it down by company.
1 Kompanie
The assault element. I think I got off quite lightly as I expected them to be more or less wiped out taking the objective. I lost (by my reckoning) 14 men: 5 from 1 Zug, 7 from 2 Zug (they were tasked with gaining the foothold) and 2 from the weapons Zug.
The remaining strength is shown below. Whilst I "only" lost 14 men that obviously hits hard when I didn't have that many to start with. Morale across the board is pretty good considering.

2 Kompanie
After the disaster on the left 1 Zug was more or less wiped out. 2 Zug helped with the SBF in the attack on the objective and took six casualties and lost two SPWs (one destroyed, one immobilised).

3 Kompanie
These guys took some casualties in the initial recon phase but are my strongest unit as they pulled flank security during the attack.

BDA on Objective ROT
I only saw maybe the remainders of a platoon retreating from the objective but he may well have been pulling them back long before I saw any. I think not though given the amount of casualties remaining in the buildings. I count maybe 2 platoons destroyed/captured not to mention the destruction of 3 x ATGs, 1 x AA gun, 3 x MG teams and 4 HQ teams. I'm confident given the mix of weapons and teams that it was a cavalry squadron defending the objective and if the ones who retreated are not badly mauled they will probably not be all that enthusiastic to carry on the fight.
What next?
OK so what are my plans? Well initially my plan was to capture the objective and then reorient and smash down the highway, grab objective SCHWARZ and then wheel right towards BLAU. In conjunction with this an attack would be launched down AoA4 towards GRAU to get him fighting in more than one direction.
I misjudged the amount of time it would take to capture ROT and it will take time to move additional forces over to the left given the restrictions to vehicular movement so I am going to have to modify the plan a bit.
A reminder of the identified avenues of approach on this map:

OK so where do I think he's defending? I am reasonably confident that he has a regiment of cavalry as per the briefing and a company of T34s in the AO.
A reminder of the template for a cavalry regiment:
1 x recon platoon 1 x sapper platoon 4 x cavalry squadrons each w/ 3 platoons, 1 MG platoon, 1 SMG platoon, 1 AT Rifle platoon 1 x mortar squadron 1 x infantry gun battery 1 x AT company That gives a total of 583 men, 4 x 45mm AT guns, 4 x 76mm infantry guns, 3 x 82m mortars, 12 x AT rifles, 8 x MMGs.
I've identified 4 x 45mm guns, two of which are knocked out, destroyed 4 x AT rifles teams and also spotted 1 x 76mm field gun and that does not appear in the TO&E for a cavalry regiment, also the presence of the 61-K tells me this is a reinforced regiment. I can't rely on there not being any more AT guns out there based on this template.
I can only hope that he is not at full strength as the thought of facing 3 more squadrons with what I have left does not fill me with hope. I've plotted where I suspect he will have set his forces (only numbered the squadrons and tank platoons as the squadrons will likely be supplemented by the sappers, recon and infantry gun batteries) up on the map and numbered them and added the FEBA. Let's go through each of the numbered items in turn.

1. Cavalry squadron + AT guns
Given the amount of contacts I've seen in the treeline along with Maxim MGs and 45m ATGs I'm confident that it's a squadron guarding the highway. Strange to see the ATGs not guarding the actual road though, I would have made sure that they were covering the approach instead of the ground to the right.
2. Cavalry squadron + AT guns + AA gun
The one that was holding the objective. I feel they may have retreated into the woods to the East of the objective as that's what I would do as I would want eyes on what I was up to. I also suspect that that is where he pulled his remaining two T34s back to from the objective.
3. Cavalry squadron
Not an actual objective so it could be less than a squadron but as it's the smallest organic unit I'd expect the whole lot of them to be in there. I've spotted AT rifle teams too which leads me to believe he has a squadron in there supported by tanks. Likely they don't have any AT guns, I'd expect them to be kept further back.
4. Cavalry squadron + ATGs
One squadron back at GRAU but they are probably lining the treeline at objective BLAU too so could be thinly spread. The treeline at BLAU is the perfect place to set up some AT defences.
5. T34 Platoon 1
The one that was on ROT. I saw them retreating in the direction of the trees to the East so I will assume for now that they are guarding AoA5 and 6. They are down to 2 tanks, although they could have been reinforced. I need to locate them.
6. T34 Platoon 2
I know there are at least two T34s guarding AoA4 at KT4. I've seen no sign of the third member of the platoon.
7. T34 Platoon 3
I have no idea where these tanks are located. I knocked one out on AoA1 and if I were him I'd pull the remainder back and guard the approach to BLAU from SCHWARZ so that's where I've placed them.
Of course all this needs to be confirmed  So my plan is to split my forces into Kampfgruppen and recon in force up AoA1 and AoA4. If the forces are laid out as above then AoA 5/6, whilst being tree-lined and having a few pinch points may well be open for an attack straight into GRAU. As I don't have time to gather my forces on one axis I think the best bet at this time is to attack across a broad front and make him defend attacks from different directions. It's about all I have time for.
Kampfgruppen
KG Leino
These are the forces on ROT at the moment. They will try and get eyes on where T34 platoon 1 has gone and guard against a counterattack. If he does not counterattack then they will launch a holding attack of their own and exploit any success that comes of it, but I'm not expecting much.
This KG consists of:
1 Ko. THQ T2 KG Koskela
This KG will push up AoA1 and see what is guarding it. They will be using travelling overwatch with the StuG out front closely followed by the Panthers and 2 Ko. in its SPWs. This is an armour heavy formation as they simply don't have many infantry left.
2 Ko. P1 P2 StuG 1 KG Perala
This KG will push up AoA4 and try and bypass the tanks at KT4 and get behind them for an assault on GRAU. They will consist of:
3 Ko. T1 StuG 2 If I do attack with KG Koskela and manage to punch through it will give him a dilemma as to what to do with the forces at the farm on KT4 as they could get behind these forces. With the attack coming up AoA4 too it will be interesting to see how aggressive he wants to get, but I'm getting ahead of myself. We're still very much in recon mode, scouting up AoA1 and AoA4 and trying to get eyes into the trees beyond ROT.
Should be fun and of course I choose to remain as flexible as I can, these probably will change.
MMM

Wasn't allowed to keep it, of course, just visit the wee beastie. Okay, it's huge, which is why you can only see about half of it. This is the export version of the what we called then the Mi-24D/HIND D, the nightmare of the muj until CIA-supplied 14.5 mm HMGs, other AAA and MANPADS. (especially the Stinger) arrived. Have my hand on the gun camera housing and am standing next to one of four launch rails for the AT-2 radio guided MCLOS ATGM. All told, it also has 4 x UB-32 32-shot  57 mm rocket pods (two visible, but with business ends in shadow behind me and to my left). That black thing almost touching the door is the nasty quad 12.7 mm light auto cannon in its turret. Am allowed to say this helo is in Lancaster, Texas, but I am not allowed to say where I got to see another iconic threat, the mighty Su-25/FROGFOOT, still less post a pic.

Will say, though, that it's a beast up close, sits very high on its wheels (greatly reducing the chances of sucking debris into its engines) and fairly screams its roots in the Northrop Grumman A-9, which lost the AX competition to the A-10. The tough old bird was in bad shape, as in having no wings or tail assembly on it (were near it on the floor), the canopy off, the entire instrument panel removed. The cockpit was a sea of switches, and one instrument still present was the landing gear status indicator display. The ejection seat frame was still in, as were the stick and rudder pedals. The exterior paint was extremely bleached out and chalky looking, so the bird had spent years exposed to the weather. Thrilling as it was to see this aircraft, was greatly disappointed the heart of it, the left underside of nose mounted GSh-2-30 cannon wasn't present at all and had apparently not been in the plane when received. Did see the forward barrel support bracket was still in place. This is in stark contrast with China, which decades back shipped a pair of MiG-15s to Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. Those fighters arrived with fully functioning armament (1 x NR-37 (yes, 37 mm cannon that ate B-29s alive over NK) and 2 x NR-23 23 mm cannon each)--plus ammo. This caused a fair degree of excitement in a number of quarters!

Regards,

John Kettler

I just wanted to recognize the heroism and valor of Private Urich, who will surely be on the short list for the CMO. This is from mission 3 of Task Force Raff.



This Panzer4 on the road was a real menace. He had traded a few shots with an M4 at the flanking location built into the mission. Neither tank had good angles, but the Pz4 managed to make my TC pop smoke and pull back. He also dropped a round into one of the buildings lining the street in town and killed about 5 paras, plus used his MG to lock down anything on the street. In stepped Urich with his trusty bazooka. While the PZ4 was still trading shots with the M4, Urist ran out to within about 50m of the Pz4. I would point out that at this time that building you see on the right in the third picture still had 2 active MG teams, and at the same time (I didn't know this when I asked Urich to step up) a platoon was about to attack across the field to Urich's right. Nevertheless Urich moved up, took aim, and missed with his first shot. Naturally. But ever cool under pressure, he took a deep breath and planted two more into the hull of the Pz4. Good damage, but not even a crew loss! Now the barrel had swung back his way. Urich and the Pz4 gunner fired AND the turn ended all at the same moment, locking the first two screenshots in. You may be thinking that the big golden jet passing through Urich might be the backblast from his bazooka, or even a tracer from the hull MG. It is, in fact, a round from the 75mm gun of the Pz4. It hit him, and then his round hit the Pz4 right by the MG port, causing the (full! No casualties!) crew to bail. With the tank gone I had total control over this road, and used it well. Your sacrifice will not go unremembered, Urich the hero. 
Perhaps one of the cinematic, Hollywood moments in all my time with any CM game. And pushing that next turn button was more intense than almost any other. Shame I had to lose him, but you have to respect the way he went out. A true masterpiece. 
Then assaulting the farmhouse in the last screenshot, I had a squad of guys run in on assault orders in pairs and get gunned down by a single German with an MP40. In 60 sec, the entire squad was wiped. TacAI giveth, TacAI taketh away. 

Blatantly borrowing from @Bil Hardenberger's blog to practice some scenario creation and pound the podium a bit...some screens:



Read it here: https://rinaldiaars.blogspot.com/2021/12/combat-mission-as-visual-aid-bringing.html

Blatantly borrowing from @Bil Hardenberger's blog to practice some scenario creation and pound the podium a bit...some screens:



Read it here: https://rinaldiaars.blogspot.com/2021/12/combat-mission-as-visual-aid-bringing.html

It's been causing me a headache!

Outstanding Blog post!!!  Highly recommended, if you are even mildly interested in tactics and the Soviet way of war.  
BIl 

In truth I don't think it would make for too interesting a scenario, but I'm happy to share. Find it here: https://mega.nz/file/SpwQRD6A#7kTU23eUzciUTyyARU76ZYAGXb1nNAiB9B7b6m0S-Wc