HerrTom

A Ukrainian convoy on its way to relieve a besieged base. Motor Rifle troops dismount from their BTRs to clear the town ahead. @George MC really crafted a gem with this mission. I always find myself coming back to it...

Don't forget your Proposition 65 warning! May contain chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects and cancer!

Ukrainian infantry advance under cover of a BTR-4E just to the north of Kiev. Gotta use copious amounts of smoke!

I'm honestly surprised to know it was ever even allowed! Is this allowed in US or other NATO militaries? Maybe it's just the industry I work in, but I've always been under scrutiny - can't use cameras or anything of the sorts while working without express permission from those higher on the totem pole than me.

Also seems to be informative in how the US intelligence community views Russia in terms of threat: primarily a nuclear one. Thanks for the link John, it's good evening reading!

@Sgt.Squarehead you should put both of them in the "Combat Mision Black Sea\Data\z\" folder, or in the "mods" folder in Documents. One of them is for the plain old BMP-2, the other for the BMP-2M. The 1.4 version shuffled both of those textures around.

1831 I take that back. Nefyodov's gunner is dead, killed by an ammunition cookoff while escaping the fallen tank. The tanks are failing to spot anything in their current positions. They're going to creep forward so that we can destroy the Ukrainian heavy units covering the crossing point. Group IGREK is almost in position around the dachas. I hope they will be able to start engaging some enemy BMPs that have already opened up on the leading elements of GERTSOG. A BTR of Group GERTSOG eats 30mm cannon fire. Fragments enter the cabin from the automated turret and critically injure the gunner. The traffic jam continues, but the first platoon of MAGNAT has exited the forest paths and is heading to staging positions among the eastern dachas. ZVER has been surveying the battlefield and fired a couple of ATGMs against enemy forces in Pridniprovs'ke. A couple of smoke columns are visible - one from a suspected BMP and another unknown. An ATGM has been identified in a barn on the shore, which Group CENTR will engage and destroy. We're not off to a great start. The Ukrainians are in more forward positions than expected. I was expecting them to be in fairly covered positions to contest the landing itself rather than the positions to contest the crossing they are in now. The initial exchange of fire is going to be at long range across the river. I expect to be able to win this with my heavy armor support, though my BTRs will be less than helpful in this role.

Well, no one is dead yet. Maybe you're right!

1830 Sergeant Nefyodov of Group CENTR did not get the memo about staying hull-down. He drove his tank straight down the road, confident in his armour's ability to protect him and his crew. Bang! The tank shook as an ERA block exploded. Bang! A second ERA block detonated, leaving the tank unharmed. Maybe there was something to his brashness? Another ATGM screamed towards his tank. Spalling from the impact lacerates the driver's arm, and the crew loses its nerve and bails out. No one is dead, and for that Nefyodov is thankful. Also in Group CENTR, Sergeant Karpukhin fires on a BMP spotted on the far bank. The shot lands true and the BMP explodes. Meanwhile there is quite a traffic jam driving through the forest trails! It will be a few minutes before I'm able to start staging my troops along the bank. I suspect two Ukrainian infantry platoons facing the dachas, and also a T-64 hiding in artillery zone 212. If intelligence is correct, I suspect a recon platoon or mechanized infantry platoon defending the western side of the bridge. They may prove too difficult for Group STOROZH to dislodge. ZVER is busy entering the battlespace and will soon start engaging targets opposite the dachas.

Thanks for the camera help! Seems like it worked. We'll be getting started tonight!

To tag on to PzSKrWfr Combat aircraft design traditionally focused very much on the don't be hit portion of the onion. I have my own doubts about the A-10's survivability in a region saturated with MANPADs, SHORAD, and AAA. The A-10 flies low and slow - great for targeting tanks, but also exactly what all these mobile AD systems are designed to engage. An A-10 might be able to survive a 23mm shell, but can it survive 100? How about three or four Strelas? Perhaps this is a very Cold Warrior mindset of mine - but if you want to be survivable on the modern battlefield in your aircraft you want to be low, fast and low-observability. The latter protects you from air observation and the former from ground interception. This focuses more on the don't be seen and don't be hit aspects compared to the don't be killed category the A-10 focuses on. Is this as effective at engaging ground targets? Hell no. Is it less likely to be shot down? Yep. All in all (surprise!) it depends on your mission!

That is true about category A. I see (as of the 1980s TO&E - I'm no expert on modern organization). A MRR should have: 24 mortars of 120mm and 82mm calibres - 2B11 and 2B7 18 howitzers of 122mm calibre - 2S1 Gvozdiki and D-30 A MRD should have: 72 mortars of 120mm and 82mm calibres - 2B11 and 2B7 72 howitzers of 122mm calibre - 2S1 Gvozdiki and D-30 54 howitzers of 152mm calibre - 2S3 Akatsii 18 MRLs of 122mm calibre - BM-21 And going down in scale, according to ADA21636 the motor rifle battalions should have 8 mortars of 120mm or 82mm calibres

Sorry for the long wait everyone. My buddy is trying to figure out why he doesn't have any key bindings for the camera. How he played the last game without WASD is beyond me. John, I believe you're right! Battions should have organic mortars up to 120mm, regiments howitzers lf 122mm and divisions 152mm. Unforgivable!

Good catch. You can also see the ПР launch authorization pop up for a fraction of a second. To launch rockets you need to have the authorization (computer telling you the target is in range) and hold down the fire button for about half a second. The pilot must have great reflexes! Concerning regardless that the fire control is so susceptible to what sounds like relatively minor EW.

I imagine it's very likely they were training rockets - so no warhead. The explosion you see is probably solid rocket fuel only. Don't get me wrong - very dangerous - but not as dangerous as HE-FRAG!

Man! Wrong on two counts... This will be fixed on future versions.

Sure! Playability. I absolutely didn't misread the markings on my reference map! Though CMBS didn't have a big rail bridge anyway.

You guys rock! I'll for sure be using this.

IanL's tactical icons Aris FX, with a few subtractions if I remember correctly (Obviously the most important - HerrTom's explosions!) Kieme's mods for the terrain and unit textures A compilation of various sounds I no longer remember the sources. On top of everything, I run ReShade to get the colour grading and ambient occlusion (the latter I think is super important to adding a lot of depth to the image) @Haiduk sure thing! I'll PM you when I get a chance.

I think it's probably possible, but the air controller would have to be good enough to tell the pilot exactly where to go and you still have limited ability to actually hit what you want. In the above example the only way I could get near the target was by screaming in at Mach 1.2 at treetop level. Which makes me think. It would be kinda nice if we could really do a "one pass and haul ass" in CMBS. If I could get an SU24 to drop its payload in one go I feel like it might be more effective!

With my (obviously 150% true to life and accurate) experience flying Viggens in DCS the low attitude strike missions barely give you time to see your target. In the above I had maybe 3 seconds to line up the bridge and drop. Out of 12 bombs only one actually hit the bridge. I can't imagine picking a single building out at that level without GPS or targeting pods! I'm sure Duchess will tell me everything I said is wrong though.

Weather & Environment The initiation of Operation RUSALKA will be 1830 hours on 3. June 2017. Ground conditions are damp and expected to continue to deteriorate. Meteorological intelligence informs us that the temperature will drop from 20°C to about 18°C by midnight. The light rain we are seeing is expected to continue until noon tomorrow. There is a slight northwesterly breeze that will stay consistent until nightfall between 6 to 12 km/h with gusts up to 18 km/h. Terrain The area of primary interest for the initiation of operations is the group of Dachas. Aerial photography shows a small complex of buildings forming a line along the river. The properties are surrounded by hedges that may prove difficult for our BTRs to traverse. 2 Company MAGNAT will likely have to move around the dachas - the platoons will split on either side of the main group of dachas to make the crossing. Scouts show that a large portion of the opposing bank has line of sight to the crossing point. This crossing will require significant smoke munitions expenditure to guarantee a safe crossing. Combined with heavy suppressive fire this should still be achievable. In the centre of the area of operations lies the long bridge across the Dniepr. Unit CENTR will take up positions here to neutralise enemy positions with direct fire. They will be directed to destroy key buildings on the opposite bank that offer good lines of fire upon the river. Finally, to the west there is a field of reeds at the muddy outlet of the river for STOROZH to reach the riverbank. Provided they can avoid bogging, they will cross here under ATGM and mortar cover.

I'm glad you think it could be a battle pack mission! Nope, it's my own. I found I really enjoy making maps at least in CM. Still have to learn AI and flavor objects, but it's still fun! I've been reading about Soviet artillery planning and tried to apply some in practice. If one thing is sure, I'm going to drop a lot of ammunition on the other shore!

As always, in case you're unfamiliar with Russian/Soviet tactical symbols: From the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979) And now a continuation of the briefing... SIGNAL 3. Battalion Command : KOROL (king) 1. Company Command: GERTSOG (duke) 1. Platoon : TATIANA 2. Platoon : ULYANA 3. Platoon : FYODOR 4. Platoon (weapons) : KHARITON 5. Platoon (tanks) : CENTR 2. Company Command: MAGNAT (magnate) 1. Platoon : CHELOVEK 2. Platoon : SHURA 3. Platoon : SCHUKA 4. Platoon : ZNAK 5. Platoon : IGREK Reconnaissance Platoon : STOROZH (watchman) Antitank Platoon : STRELETS (archer) Grenade Launcher Platoon : ROGATKA (slingshot) Organic Mortar Battery : NOZH (1, 2) (knife) Regimental 2S3 howitzer battery : SHPAGA (1, 2, 3) (sword) Divisional 2S7 howitzer platoon : PALASH (greatsword) Mi-24PN flight : ZVER (beast) EXECUTION MANEOUVRE GERTSOG (1. Company) will approach the dachas along the western path through the woods in column. Upon reaching the buildings, they will deploy in line formation and prepare to cross the river. CENTR (5. Platoon) will take position along the axis of the bridge to provide fire support. MAGNAT (2. Company) will also approach the dachas along the eastern path through the woods in column. Upon reaching the buildings, they will also deploy in line formation and prepare to cross the river. IGREK (5. Platoon) will advance alongside 1. Company and take positions near the dachas to provide fire support to the crossings. STOROZH (Reconnaissance) will advance through the dried creek to the west and prepare for their own crossing to the west of the bridge. They will form a distraction for the enemy, to disrupt the enemy defense as GERTSOG and MAGNAT cross the Dniepr. STRELETS (ATGM) and ROGATKA (weapons) will deploy among GERTSOG, MAGNAT and STOROZH and provide a base of fire for each crossing. Once the main body is across the river, fire support elements will mount and make their own crossings. Once the area is cleared of heavy weapons, the tank platoons will storm across the bridge. FIRE SUPPORT Fire phases will be divided into three phases: DYNYA (melon) will initiate fire plans, with all batteries firing at designated targets with the objective of destruction. When the order to cross is given, fire missions will shift to phase YABLOKO (apple). Fire missions during this phase will be aimed at suppressing enemy ability to fire or maneouvre to protect our assets as they cross the river. As our forces make landfall, fire missions will shift to phase GRUSHA (pear). Fire missions during this phase will be designed to cut off the defenders from reinforcements as they are run out of their positions. NOZH (mortars) will be on call to strike targets of opportunity, and will be providing smoke for the crossing at fire phase YABLOKO. Upon fire phase GRUSHA, the mortars will fire on zones 112 and 113 to suppress defenders attempting to contain the beachhead of STOROZH. SHPAGA 1 and 2 (2S3) will be tasked with striking target zones 211 and 212 respectively, until fire phase GRUSHA corresponding with the crossing attempt, after which they will shift their fire to focus on zone 213 as forces approach the shore. SHPAGA 3 (2S3) will be firing on zone 111 until fire phase GRUSHA, after which it will shift fire to zone 112. PALASH (2S7) will be firing in support of the main crossing effort and will hit zones 211 and 212 until fire phase YABLOKO. The heavy guns will then shift to suppressing forces in zones 112 and 213. ZVER (Mi-24PN) will be given free reign of the opposite bank, hitting any targets of opportunity the pilots can find. A preliminary map of the plan is below, but as I further develop my fire plan I will create a new one. I have an itching feeling I got carried away with the signals here... let me know if it's too confusing and I'll lay off it! I blame Sierra Nevada! Tomorrow - terrain reconnaissance!

Oh good god no. I despise that website! I'll keep using Imgur for now.