S-Tank

What's your point, dude? Just because countries in the global south were colonized and victimized in the past doesn't make them arbiters of morality and the common good forever. In fact, I think it's pretty disgusting that people from India, Vietnam, or South Africa can't empathize with the Ukranian people trying to fight off their historical colonial oppressor. You'd think those countries would understand it far better than those of us in the west.

Almost at the end of Broken Shields, only one mission left. It's been one hell of a slog.

Hey folks!
This is my second video AAR and I decided to use a bit of a different style with this one.  Let me know what you all think!  It's by no means perfect but I poured a lot of effort into this one.  Special thanks to @domfluff and the CM discord community for helping me through the editing and creation process!
 

A tripod mounted heavy machine gun is a complicated piece of machinery, that needs to be correctly sited to be effective. This is what the "deployed" state represents - it's not only on the tripod, but properly levelled and firmly positioned.

CM adds a time penalty to setting up machine guns inside buildings. This is supposed to abstract the difficulties of preparing the position - knocking out windows, moving furniture, creating a stable and raised base to fire from, etc.

Obviously it can still be a good idea to fire from buildings whilst deployed, but you need to allow for enough time to do it. The UI will show you this additional time. 

0847

Task Force Oldendahl's infantry are on their way to secure Vertesszoloes' South flank (Bottom-Center).
0848

Task Force Weber (Top-Center) clears the North woods. Vogt's radio operator (Bottom-Left) transmits the orders for taking the hamlet.

Oldendahl (Left) and Weber (Right) will assault the flanks of Vertezzoloes. Schmidt's panzers (Bottom-Center) will be the base-of-fire.
0849

Aufklärung Pioneers slip into the hamlet's rear. No contacts.
0850

Weber (Bottom-Right) reports that his task force is in position.

Shortly after, Oldendahl's HQ (Bottom-Left) radios that his men are standing-by. Vogt confirms: the assault begins now.
0851

The violent crack of a 14.5mm anti-tank round shatters the silence. Task Force Oldendahl's veterans know that sound, all too well.

Unterscharführer Hamblen's section opens up with the MG, on the brick building. Ricochets fly around, dangerously.

One of Hamblen's men is wounded (Bottom-Center). The assistant squad leader's (Right-most) semi-automatic rifle fire finds their target.
0852

Screams are barely audible over the storm of gunfire. After dispatching a contact, Hamblen's assistant yells "Cease Fire!". The machine gunner got too carried away.
0853

After the gun-fire dies down, reports are transmitted to Vogt. North of Vertesszoloes is clear. Oldendahl suggests at least one anti-tank platoon in the Center.
0854

As Weber's task force probes South-ward, another anti-tank blast comes from the Center. Unterscharführer Hiller and his Aufklärung Pioneers hug the ground.

Obersturmführer Hauer's Panther sends an HE shell at the contact. There's a split second of quiet, and then a cavalcade of PPSH fire.

Task Force Oldendahl's infantry spot the PPSH fire, and answer with their own automatics.

Unterscharführer Gloser's infantry section steals Oldendahl's thunder, as part of Task Force Weber's advance.
0856

Vertesszoloes is clear. Vogt transmits the go-code to continue clearing the road. Towards House A!

I just messed around with various filters and effects in GIMP for a bit until I achieved the desired result.

End of Meijel Mayhem, Tactical Defeat for me as the German's but mostly cause I ran out of time, was playing for fun and focusing on force preservation (lost only 3 tanks - 1 PzV, 1 Luchs, 1 JzPzIVA). Nice scenario, lots of issues regarding movement to consider, an open flank, mud off-road, canals, mines, choke-points. Quite interesting overall.
 
In progress game Battle for Chaumont - Second Round, again trying to keep everyone alive. Lost a PaK40 and a StuG III, one JgPzIV damaged so far. I spent the first 10 minutes setting up C2 links, something I didn't do when I played this a year or two ago. I felt it was necessary as you get 4 or 5 separate formations as the Germans and they can't all deploy close to each other so it required some HQ's and platoon leaders to act as liaisons, but it was well worth it. Once the spotting information got disseminated to the StuG brigade and the Jagdpanzers, we could edge forward and engage the various Sherman positions one at time. Still got 59 minutes left, gotta get the infantry moving into the town now...

It's basically just the stock textures with some markings added, I can PM you the link if you're interested.

Appreciate all the feedback. More will be coming, after Christmas. So, have a good holiday, everyone!
It's a rare luxury to have historical persons help with editing. You're correct -- it almost looks like one large farm, to me. I wanted to call it "Small Town", but I shortened it to "Town", for brevity. It's simply meant to indicate the terrain type of that specific objective, as small as it may be.
My thinking is that their best prepared forces are around Vertesszoloes. Once I have broken through, it should be a quick dash out of the woods. I am concerned, that I may be giving the Soviets more time to react. Time will tell if I am correct, or if I made another classic mistake of the Eastern Front!

Execution
0841

The Panthers of Task Force Center arrive at the entrance of Verteszoloes. The Hauptsturmführer Schmidt (Bottom-left TC), peers across the snowy slope.
0842

Task Force North takes second place, Weber's HQ riding on-top of the StuG IV. The convoy is here, and the infantry are not far behind.
0843

The Southern Task Force's infantry are almost in position. Oldendahl rides in his staff car, as the panzergrenadiers hold their grumbling.
0844

As Weber's infantry catches up, Sturmbannführer Vogt (Bottom-most Kubelwagen) arrives at the scene.
Hauptsturmführer Wöhler (Left-most Kubelwagen) gives him the situation report.
0845

Obersturmführer Kahl is the last to arrive, he somehow got separated from his Aufklärung Pioneers' Schwimmwagens. 
Wöhler (Kahl's CO) gets chewed out by Vogt, as the offensive is already behind schedule.
0846

The Aufklärung Pioneers carefully probe the north side of town. Unterscharführer Hiller reports no contacts. It's quiet.

The Kampfgruppe's Forward Observers creep towards the south side of town. Obersturmführer Ross reports no contacts. It's too quiet...

Into Lithuania by SeinfeldRules. A neat little scenario.

Almost at the end of Broken Shields, only one mission left. It's been one hell of a slog.

No real luck with heavy tanks, I'd thought about the Challenger from Shock Force but it looks out of place with RCWS. The FV432 works a bit better.
Coming round to the idea of a West German replacement instead. With a lot more time I could try to reskin the M48 and M113A1, maybe try swapping the CMSF Leopard for Abrams then play around with parts from CMA and CMBN for infantry.

Into Lithuania by SeinfeldRules. A neat little scenario.

Into Lithuania by SeinfeldRules. A neat little scenario.

Almost at the end of Broken Shields, only one mission left. It's been one hell of a slog.

Everybodys have his own ways to show "horses" ! 😃 ok not funny !
JM

Into Lithuania by SeinfeldRules. A neat little scenario.