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John Kettler vs. CMBN--The Learning Curve!


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Sigh. It looks like, as a general rule, the .30 MGs on the jeeps are correct. A very nice force breakdown.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080801081611/http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Reconnaissance/united_states_cavalry_reconnaiss.htm

Wiki, for this unit, at least, indicates that at least some of the jeeps could have .50s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/106th_Cavalry_Regiment_(United_States)

Regards,

John Kettler

There are .50cal armed jeeps in the Sicily TOs of CMFI. Perhaps they were just rare as hens' teeth in Normandy.

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Sigh. It looks like, as a general rule, the .30 MGs on the jeeps are correct. A very nice force breakdown.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080801081611/http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Reconnaissance/united_states_cavalry_reconnaiss.htm

Wiki, for this unit, at least, indicates that at least some of the jeeps could have .50s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/106th_Cavalry_Regiment_(United_States)

Regards,

John Kettler

Next time you do a battle where you pick your own troops, you should pick elite/fanatic/+2 jeeps with .50's. You'll be able to perform decisive actions like Rat Patrol:

RatPatrol2.jpg

The really good troops also get their own lunchboxes (which helps morale):

RatPatrolLunchBox.jpg

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eltorrente,

"I don't always take MG jeeps, but when I do, I prefer either SAS or Popski's Private Army versions." That said, I loved Rat Patrol as a kid!

Regards,

John Kettler

Ha - yes, me too. When I was a kid, it would come on really late at night (at least it seemed late to my 7 yr old mind), I think on weekends. It was reruns when I was watching it - in the mid seventies.

I always had vivid memories of them taking out everything they saw with those .50's, and narrow escapes as they jumped over the dunes. Great stuff.. I checked, and the disks are available on Netflix. I think I'll check them out and get inspired to do some jeep-ops. :)

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eltorrente,

"I don't always take MG jeeps, but when I do, I prefer either SAS or Popski's Private Army versions." That said, I loved Rat Patrol as a kid!

Regards,

John Kettler

Amazing how a beer commercial [can I mention the brand? And if I do, will they pay me?] can have such a general cultural effect.

I prefered the show Combat.

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Ahh, the memories...

I had to learn and play the "Rat Patrol" theme song for my middle school band, and played it in the Memorial Day Parade (which actually was very uncool at the height of the Vietnam era, circa 1967-68). I could probably still play the part if someone handed me a kazoo.

I think of "Rat Patrol" every time I see those MG-mounted US jeeps -- especially now that I'm seeing them scoot around on my Tunisia CMFI map!

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Rankorian,

'Twas a bit of whimsy that struck, inspiring me to write that riff. The commercial is, indeed engrained in our culture, but not, say, as deeply as Clara Peller's famous "where's the beef?"

Broadsword56,

Really? That's amazing. Never heard of such a thing being done for band. Are you sure we lived in the same country?!

Regards,

John Kettler

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  • 2 weeks later...

(a terrible, agonized scream is heard, followed by)

"I frigging HATE Groundhog Day!"

Somehow, in a manner wholly unknown to me, I have managed to lose the entire engagement with the recon AC Zug, having been mysteriously looped back to before the move immediately preceding contact. I'm still reeling from this and briefly contemplated abandoning the scenario outright, but have now partially regrouped and shall rinse and repeat.

Regards,

John Kettler

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Alas, the brownie points seem to have all been used up in those few moments in time which now seem like a dream, and a beautiful one at that.

It was fast and furious all right. It happened fast and I was furious. Instead of getting the drop on the Germans, they got the drop on me. Despite having several MG jeeps well out ahead, what gets hit twice, wiping out a jeep and two of the three occupants? Yes! The trailing mortar jeep. Not surprisingly, the survivor is both pinned and panicked. He's presently cowering in a ditch to the right of where the jeep and his buddies got clobbered. The HQ Greyhound apparently took a hit of some sort in that deadly minute, but I think it may've been a fragment through a fender or something like that, seeing as how everything still, amazingly, seems to be working. If there's any good news, it's that my MG jeeps reacted immediately and hit two closely spaced Pumas! The closer one to the crossroads got stitched down its right side, while the one behind it and more nearly nose on to my force took some hits to the right front.

As soon as I can, I'm going to bring a mortar into action, but for now, the forward MG jeeps, with their .30 cal. MGs (how I wish I had .50 HMGs instead), are going to play "distract the Puma," while the HQ Greyhound attempts to slay a cat. I believe at Armored Cav school this is called "developing the situation?"

And how did the situation develop? That depends, I suppose, on your definition of the word! If, by martial disaster, you learn the enemy force is bigger than you'd previously thought, then that would qualify. The previously identified heavy recon Zug is now, painfully, known to be at full strength.

HQ 2nd section came to grief when Baker, probably the best man in my unit, decided that rather than engage in place as ordered, he would try to "improve" his position. While he was moving and tracking when he should've been shooting, so too was the bows on #2 German AC. Radio reports are fragmentary and, frankly, verge on the unbelievable. As best we can tell, with the German ACs popping smoke, maneuvering wildly on the one hand and trying to envelop us on the other by advancing one AC toward the crossroads, Baker got one in the kisser, had his mount killed outright with a hit through the weapon mount, yet the dolt and crew got out unscathed. Please don't ask me to explain it. Best not to second guess miracles! Since I thought maybe a Panzerschreck or some sort of other antitank weapon was operating from the treeline to my extreme right past the bocage and slightly forward, I had an MG jeep with orders to hose down that treeline. Bad idea. You see, the "weapon" in the treeline" turned out to be the weapon behind the treeline, in the form of the deadly 4th AC, in trail of the other three. Why deadly? Guess which distracted MMG jeep is no longer with us? And you haven't heard the half of it.

Armored Cavalry school drilled into our heads "the aggressive spirit of the U.S. Cavalry," but Baker went way too far. Instead of accepting the miracle of survival with grace, he and his men dismounted and, rather than retreat behind the nearby bocage, went charging across the fields at the entire German recon platoon. Not kidding! The Germans have decided to recognize their courage with 50mm HE.

And what happened to the Germans for all this loss? More bullets whanging off armor, maybe some wheel hits on another, plus the faint possibility that Baker may've fired and hit one of the Germans, but all concerned were way too busy to say for sure, uncertainty compounded by great billows of smoke popped by the big ACs. Stay tuned.

Wait one. Okay. Baker ate it, but his men seem to be handling themselves well, maybe better, without out him.

[Note for BFC]

Don't know whether or not this is generally true for all M8 Greyhounds, but my M8 Section HQs seem to be a label shy in the UI. Everyone is listed by function there, except the Radio Operator. This is consistent over several of my ACs. When a Greyhound crew bails, the Radio Operator is directly listed, though. Odd.

[back to the war]

The situation remains very confused, worsened by that damnable German smoke. Even so, progress is being made in this struggle between my mixed force light recon unit and his apparently pure heavy one. I thought I was going to have to relieve a vehicle commander, but it now appears he didn't botch an easy shot on an exposed target. Rather, he couldn't quite see what was happening from where he was, yet nearly got hit anyway. As the round went screaming by about two feet over his head, he ducked, thus missing out on the accompanying coax fire. 1st Section HQ crept north slowly on the road, angry and spoiling for an opportunity to hit back. This intention was rewarded when out of the smoke rolls one of the hulking German ACs, partially obscured from the engaged side, but also silhouetted by smoke behind. Blam! One through the left hull. Seconds later came another shot. Blam! If I had to guess, I'd say that one went through the left turret side and out the right. I'm pretty sure that cat's out of the fight, but there's no way to be sure.

My plan at this stage is to slip the unengaged M8 forward to work it into firing position. Meanwhile, I'm going to get that 60 set up. Could really use some fire support right now. The odds are still heavily against us, but at least we've drawn some real blood. Clearly, the Germans were expecting a much lighter force than us. A jeep only force would've been toast, what with the phenomenal German gunnery.

The next minute remains fairly quiet, except the remains of Baker's crew, now short the Gunner, successfully execute a mad dash to the nearby woods. The sole mortar is now setting up shop, and I'm probing forward.

(Radio traffic comes in on the command net. We hear an enthusiastic "Hot damn!" from the Radio Operator).

The cavalry has arrived! 2nd Platoon has joined the party. This is both great and worrisome. Judging from the view coming out of the railroad culvert to my left rear, the bridges over the Seine are clear. Since orders are to drive deep into German lines and report back via radio, 2nd platoon can theoretically go charging off and make good on those orders. But there's no cover, the Germans are deadly shots, and at the very least, I'm now going to have to screen with my battered force while 2nd platoon begins to work its way forward.

"2nd Platoon. Disregard previous order. Repeat. Disregard. Rush Seine bridges. Repeat. Rush Seine bridges. Acknowledge. Over."

"Roger. Out"

Responding to new orders, Second Platoon swiftly sorts itself out and makes a headlong drive to those vital bridges over that unusual arm of the Seine. Meanwhile, we learn that Bakers aren't confined to our side!

Baker's counterpart turns out to be what I vaguely recollect as being a Zug Fuehrer. Ask me, it sounds like some awful stomach condition. Anyway, he must've thought he had fire superiority, for out he rolls from the smoke, readily distinguishable by the crow foot antenna they taught us to watch for, coming smartly toward us. Bad move. Went something like this, as seen from 1st Section HQ M8, which did most of the shooting. Blam! "Good hit! Right upper hull." Blam! "Smack through! Right upper hull." Festivities were interrupted when the armored scout car suddenly took a direct hit from another previously unseen Puma, clobbering two guys and causing the others to go pelting off back down the road. The other M8 finished off the Puma with a third shot into the lower hull. Out popped the Germans, who hit the ground and opened up on the remnants of Baker's crew, evidently visible and caught slipping forward to provide eyes on our left front and flank. Incredibly, despite brutal losses, those men are still in the fight.

Regards,

John Kettler

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The situation with 2nd Platoon is a complete SNAFU, which has mated with a FUBAR. Trust me, you don't want to see the kid! We've got a jeep, which seems to be fine, stalled in the middle of the narrow railroad bridge over the Seine. In turn, this has aborted my planned dash over the river.

[Note to BFC: That jeep simply WON'T go where it should. No matter what I order, the display shows the jeep going off the bridge and into the river. The jeep can't or won't move, and though I've looked at everything I could think of, following a complete failure of the jeep to move forward. This has completely undone my plan to tie the remaining enemy down at the crossroads, meanwhile racing across the Seine.]

The two AC crews continue to shoot at each other, which is when Baker's boys go hog wild on the new Puma. I think it arrived buttoned, but otherwise, it would've been in short order. Shot after shot hit the turret face and gun mount. And somewhere in all that mess, the 60, having dropped range twice, actually got a proper mortar shoot going. One landed on the rear deck of the Zug Fuehrer's former mount, and the others landed all around the new arrival. Wouldn't be surprised if the tires got shredded, but there was no way to tell. Baker's crew is down to one Scout, who fights on!

Regards,

John Kettler

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Don't know whether or not this is generally true for all M8 Greyhounds, but my M8 Section HQs seem to be a label shy in the UI. Everyone is listed by function there, except the Radio Operator. This is consistent over several of my ACs. When a Greyhound crew bails, the Radio Operator is directly listed, though. Odd.

Yeah, this was noted WRT tanks as well. Not sure if there is a reason for this (the phrase "Radio Operator" or "Assistant Driver" being too long to fit into the UI for instance) or just an oversight.

Michael

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...We've got a jeep, which seems to be fine, stalled in the middle of the narrow railroad bridge...

Oh yeah, baby. Bridges are still all farked up.

Some rules of thumb:

  • Don't stop on them. Ever. Pray enemy action doesn't force a stop.
  • Don't place waypoints in the middle of them. Or any nearer than you can help.
  • Do place waypoints shy of the start and end of the bridge with one single, straight movement leg down the centreline of the roadway, as near as you can manage.
  • Do jigger with your view when you're placing these two vital waypoints until you are as sure as you can be that your waypoints are not somehow occluded by the "hidden volume" of the bridge model. Looking at the bridge end-on, from whichever end is appropriate for which waypoint you're placing works, and looking at it side-on when trying to place waypoints at either end, can work if you're cautious and don't try and shave the placement too close to the bridge.

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<snip>

  • Do jigger with your view when you're placing these two vital waypoints until you are as sure as you can be that your waypoints are not somehow occluded by the "hidden volume" of the bridge model. Looking at the bridge end-on, from whichever end is appropriate for which waypoint you're placing works, and looking at it side-on when trying to place waypoints at either end, can work if you're cautious and don't try and shave the placement too close to the bridge.

Excellent rules for sure. The one thing I would add, is that for setting those all important waypoints near the ends of the bridge being above the bridge looking down works consistently.

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Unfortunately, that's where movement ended. Also, having not had to deal with a bridge since the CMBN Demo, I fear I've lost my hard won bridge crossing expertise. And, yes, I have lots of experience trying to plow through stone abutments, interior walls of bridges and more.

Is the MG jeep a write off, or should I try reversing my way off the bridge? It's patently clear there's no way to advance.

While it's common to talk of cavalry clashes as "skirmishes," this is, at the scale involved, an all out battle, with casualties to match!

During all the chaos around the bridge, I believe there was a brief glimpse had of yet more German screening forces close to the northern exit from the road. PFC Ianata is about to become my lead element and, unknown to him, will soon be hoofing it across the Seine, Radio Operator in tow. I need eye on those guys.

Regards,

John Kettler

P.S.

I sure hope BFC sorts out the bridge crossing code. What a pain!

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Am delighted to report 2nd Platoon has pretty much gotten itself sorted out and now somewhat resembles a military formation, moving generally east and about halfway down the branch of the Seine away from the river proper. The flank guard jeep for 2nd Platoon now has visual contact with 1st Platoon, what's left of it. PFC Ianetta did manage to finally reverse off the railroad bridge, though trailing the rest of his unit so much as to constitute a rearguard!

A Troop HQ came roaring into the fight--and got its teeth kicked in immediately. Lost an MG jeep and crew to what we think is that diabolically sited fourth Puma. If there's any good news there, it's that the jeep took a hit which almost certainly would've destroyed the accompanying A Troop HQ M8 (not the one with the Troop Commander in it).

1st Section continued its stubborn fight. The last M8 hunted forward, but didn't see a thing before reversing. If there's any good news it's that the mortar team seems to really have that tube dialed in. This time, the rounds came crashing down all around the Puma hiding behind the wreck of its boss, and one landed right on it! Rang that turret like a bell!

Am going to continue to reorganize 2nd Platoon, am going to slip 2nd Platoon's flank guard forward and hunt the last 1st Platoon M8 further up the slope this time. I shall also attempt to keep the A Troop HQ from getting killed in a misguided desire to get into the fight. Half its jeep strength is gone already, leaving only 3 vehicles. Since no more firing has been heard from the treeline for at least a minute, I can only conclude those brave men have lost that most unequal fight with a Puma.

Regards,

John Kettler

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1st Platoon's in even worse shape than I'd realized before. Couldn't figure out why the 60 stopped firing. Turns out the shot which wiped out the A Troop HQ jeep knocked out the mortar team and the tube, too. The survivor of that debacle was last seen fleeing west. Mind, that was reported to me after orders had been issued.

Speaking of reports, the one I got before was garbled. Where it matters. That was the A Troop HQ which narrowly escaped 50mm immolation, not the escort M8. It is on the road to Domfront (?), stuck behind a welter of wrecked jeeps, a smashed mortar, bodies and a burning M8.

The German shooting is one for the books, as my last M8 found when it took two successive rounds through the gun mount. From what appears to be another Puma Zug practically due north by the far end of the map. The fatal shots came from one crossing a field while moving to our left by heading generally west. Neither the Section HQ M8 nor the flank guard jeep ever found that 4th Puma from our first batch of enemies. 1st Platoon is now effectively destroyed, but it has acquitted itself well, having killed two Pumas outright and injured a third.

Fortune favors the bold. Sometimes. This was one such occasion. The A Troop HQ M8 pumped out round after round of HE in an effort to finish off the last located Puma, ultimately succeeding and setting it ablaze.

Forget racing north on the road and going deep past enemy lines. As things stand now, I'll be lucky to hold from where I am. I am forked between one Puma on my end (forward extreme right) and an entire Zug to my front, with at least one element now slightly to my left front. Am beginning to think all the honors gunnery graduates from their recon school are here in my sector. 600 yards plus, short halt firing, two through the weapon mount. Unreal.

Regards,

John Kettler

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2nd Platoon begins its general advance, following some initial delays smashing through a wooden fence, only to come under fire from what is suspected to be the Puma seen moving across our front. 2nd Section HQ M8 takes one in the left front hull, puts one fired a second later going the other way. Nails the German AC right through the hull front! Incredibly the hit M8 is still fully functional and continues on in what the communiques like to call "a short, sharp exchange of fire." Out here, that sort of thing can get you killed. A Troop HQ's M8 continues to blaze away, but to what effect we know not. For a force taught to stick and move, we're stuck and we're not moving. Yet.

Regards,

John Kettler

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Michael Emrys, womble and ian.leslie,

Do the CMFI types have to suffer through the same bridge crossing insanity as we do, or was this finally fixed in 2.0? If the latter, the I'm really looking forward to 2.0. I'm also looking to cover armor arcs. I hope they work as well as they did in CMBB. Having such arcs should greatly improve the utility of antitank weapons, to include tanks!

Regards,

John Kettler

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2nd Platoon has now entered the battle, but has accomplished little. Why? No LOS to anything worthwhile. I have learned there is some sort of German presence in the treeline where the remnants of Baker's crew made their last stand. My guess? AC crew, likely with one Schmeisser in the weapon mix. Whatever's in there is the object of considerable attention from one of my MG jeeps. I have two M8s on the hill in an effort to see something useful. NO sign whatsoever of the still unlocated presumptive other Puma. Maybe it's an ATG instead?

All I can say is there are strong indications the Pumas near the Domfront exit think there's wounded prey to be had and are coming to collect it. Why weren't we issued bazookas?

A miracle of sorts has occurred in that the formerly thoroughly traumatized 1st Platoon mortarman and his precious tube have been found and are about to join 1st Platoon HQ on the hill and continue the fight. That'll happen once the 2nd Platoon flank guard jeep (currently moot) makes the pickup and delivery. The last elements of 2nd Platoon are finally beginning to catch up with the rest of the platoon.

Regards,

John Kettler

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Action's now general to my front, and man, is it hot! A Troop HQ and a Section HQ, both in turret defilade behind the hill, find a pair of Pumas ahead and get the kills.

Rapid fire Turret Face, Weapon Mount and Upper Hull penetrations dispose of the left one, while the other's done in by the combined effects of three penetrations of Upper Front Hull and Front Lower Hull, coupled with a finishing shot through the Right Upper Hull. How it survived long enough to back out like that I couldn't say. Another Puma on the move front left also was hit and mauled with a penetrating Left Upper Hull hit, but it may well be alive--and angry. Another M8 was in the earlier fray, too, but in all the chaos, I couldn't tell you what did or didn't happen there. My damage? One scared mortar team. The 50mm HE landed in line but long, about two AS away. Too close in my book.

(We hear a prolonged scream of rage and frustration, followed by an untoward sense of relief and even a bit of satisfaction)

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable. We pierced that Puma four times running, thought it was dead, but it wasn't. Three more penetrations later, it snaps off a single shot, Immobilizing the A Troop HQ M8. Took two more penetrating shots to finish the thing off. After watching all the through and throughs emerge from the back side and strike the ground, I wonder why HE isn't used instead? Can't possibly be any worse than the trash I'm shooting!

Regards,

John Kettler

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The quiet sound of the seemingly interminable falling rain is interrupted by a SPOTREP from the HQ Section M8. Then the dog barked thrice with its 37mm, hitting and thrice penetrating the Right Upper Hull of what we believe was the wounded Puma. At the third bark, the nasty feline exploded.

Oh, my so-called Assault Guns have arrived. Am sure THEY'LL be survivable on a battlefield rife with high velocity cannon fire. What I really need right now are tanks. Real tanks. Instead, I get toys. Do they even bother to think back at HQ?

Regards,

John Kettler

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Should've enjoyed the rain, instead of opening my big mouth!

A Troop HQ took a direct hit from left front. Another cursed Puma! Driver's hit and injured. The Germans have fed their fire support into the fight, in the form of two halftrack based guns of some sort. Unfortunately for them, one of those halftracks is now a bloody ruin.

Regards,

John Kettler

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Today's lesson is on the difference between how things look and how they really are.

Having pounded every visible German AFV to scrap, I thought that was a good time to push northeast with an MG jeep and what turned out to be Second Section HQ. Not my best decision this year.

The passage through the wheat went fine, for I was on the reverse slope and was unhittable by the Puma somewhere forward left and whose day I was trying to ruin with mortar fire. Trouble appeared when the jeep got enfiladed from slightly front extreme left (in front of second tier of woods after first major hill on eastern side was driven past) and hit by an estimated halftrack MG. And hit. And hit. So much for the jeep. That was the good news. In trail, therefore presumably at least in less danger, comes 2nd Platoon's HQ M8. It gets the special reception committee in the form of two hits in the turret, wrecking the vehicle and all aboard. Against this, I killed one armored halftrack and may or may not have franged some of the passengers. Another MG jeep, seeking to avoid all manner of fire went racing through the field, across the road and right up the side of a small plateau atop which sits a small manor and outbuildings. It's presently in the very definition of "extremely exposed" and may or may not be able to continue onward.

I've also discovered even Section Leader M8s apparently lack transceivers. Oops! That completely ruined my plan to run a mortar shoot while observing from one. Save for that one great shoot, I seem to be all thumbs when trying to get my mortars to hit targets. Then there was one destroyed by fire and one the flank guard jeep was supposed to pick up and bring back. Was supposed to, but didn't. So I have ammo on the hill and a tube and gunner way down south by the map edge. One M8 Assault Gun is about to take on a Puma in direct fire. With my hill to the east of the road masked by smoke, it's practically the only usable weapon I have.

Regards,

John Kettler

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