A Stalingrad Operation for CMBO? Sure, why not! **Help needed**

[[Wiking]]

Well, I decided to do the unthinkable; I decided to make a Stalingrad Operation for CMBO.

Why not, I guess. All the people here seem very anxious to get CMBB. But, since it won't be out for months, perhaps I should try to make the wait a bit easier. :cool:

What I will do is make a standard Operation with standard CMBO units, terrain tiles, etc. I'm not talking about doing the whole modification; I do not have the time or the will to do it.

I'll be using the Germans as Germans and the Poles as the Russians.

Now to the heart of "why I need help";

1. I need someone to help me get an URL of a good page with maps of Stalingrad (prewar, please) and the close surrounding area.

2. The URL of a good site with lots of info on the Stalingrad battle. Everything from day one to the last minute (I read a lot of books about the battle for Stalingrad, even made a presentation about it in school, but still I need more info).

3. Names of historical leaders, units, soldiers, Stalingrad specific locations like the Stalingrad Red Square or the Red October factory, ...

4. If anyone knows (or can get the address of an appropriate web-page) of other units except Panzer IIIs and Tigers that were used on the German side in the battle, and are featured in CMBO.

5. Were the Katyusha missile launchers used in the Battle of Stalingrad?

6. I also need a few mod makers with a few spare minutes. If you could modify some Polish tanks just a bit. Nothing fancy; draw a red star on them, erase the Polish markings or write something in Cyrilic on them (thats why I chose the Poles; the unit voices sound a lot like Russian (ok, ok; only to non-Russians and non-Poles )

7. Also, does anyone know if you can change the enviroment from Summer to Winter in an operation (that way I could do the whole battle). If not, I'll make an operation that will not cover that much of a time frame.

8. And last but not least; anything you can do to help me in my effort to make the suffering of having to wait for CMBB a bit easier; send anything you can (be it any mods you have that might be useful, maps of Stalingrad or even applying for a tester to:

Empire@email.si

I'm also planning to include the snipers Zaitsev and König (I know, I know... but it might be fun!).

So, what do you think?

[ 06-30-2001: Message edited by: SS_Obergruppenführer ]

[Panzer_Meyer]

Hey,

Sounds interesting, keep us updated and tell us how it goes.

I know one sites with good info on the stalingrad battle. Here you go:

http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/

This site has some Stalingrad topographical maps, before it was bombed.

Hope the info on that site is usefull, but I think it is.

Good luck on your project, can't wait to see the end result!

[StugIII]

I've got ALL weekend and Stalingrad happens to be my favorite subject. I'll drop you an Email with a bunch of information as soon as I mow the lawn.

Finally a purpose in life.

[Mr. Johnson--]

Yes Katyusha launchers were used.

Wasn't Stalingrad 40 miles long north to south?

I don't think you will be able to make an operation and make it fun. Maybe several scenarios all along the same theme.

I made a Prokhorovka scenario, you know Kursk 43', and using Polish tanks is not really on option if you ask me. Use Pumas as thinly skinned PZ-IIIs. I used American M3A375W+ as T-34s. And I found during my reseach that there was a heavy brigade of lend-lease Churchill tanks at the battle and used those. Jumbo 75s for KV-1s, and I guess 105 Shermans as KV-2s.

[Michael Dorosh]

I would purchase the Red Barricades ASL module if I were you; I am sure there will be a big race to convert this to CMBB this winter.

It has a historically accurate map, divided into 40 metre hexes, plus fairly good orders of battle.

If you like, and if I can find the time, I suppose I could try and convert the map for you - it covers the fighting in one of the larger factories in Stalingrad. The special types of terrain there might make it a difficult one to do.

Will you be needing Russian uniforms?

[[Wiking]]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I could use Russian uniforms. And I do realize the Stalingrad front was much too big to be represented in a CMBO operation. But I will do my best with it. I will concentrate only on Stalingrad itself. I was thinking along the lines of a huge map, with several battles. From the outskirts of the city itself to the Volga river and beyond. I see now that all the battles have to be of the same season. That makes it a bit of a problem. The scenario will not be entirely historical. Well, it will be. But only until the attack begins. All the reinforcements will be historical, as well as the leaders (von Paulus, Chuikov, ...).

What I mean is: For example; if a player was playing the Germans, and won every battle, it will have to be understood that the Germans took Stalingrad, were not encircled and the battle was a lot shorter than several months, therefore no winter maps were created. If a player was playing Germans and lost several battles, it will have to be understood that the Germans (and their allies) were encircled, but the player lost ground so fast, only days, not months were necessary for their defeat. Meaning that I will not recreate the real battle itself, only forces, force allocation, etc. But the player will then have to do his part as either von Paulus or Chuikov to claim victory over Stalingrad (the same as in any other CM Operation).

Hope you get what I mean

Still need: 1. Modders for minor work (red stars on Polish tanks, Soviet victory flags instead of the Polish and maybe a small flag under the unit ID).

2. Any historical data and/or any kind of help you think would be useful.

Mail it to Empire@email.si !

I think I will be making this scenario for some time. Weeks definitely; a month probably (depends on how far I'll take the whole mod thing ).

[[Wiking]]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr. Johnson-<THC>-:

I made a Prokhorovka scenario, you know Kursk 43', and using Polish tanks is not really on option if you ask me. Use Pumas as thinly skinned PZ-IIIs. I used American M3A375W+ as T-34s. And I found during my reseach that there was a heavy brigade of lend-lease Churchill tanks at the battle and used those. Jumbo 75s for KV-1s, and I guess 105 Shermans as KV-2s.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well. Thanks for the advice, but since I'll be concentrating on the actual city fighting, there is not a lot of need for mass concentrations of Soviet armor. The infantry is more important. The only prob. is finding a suitable replacement for Panzer IIIs.

Hmm. BTW, why aren't they in CM?

[[Wiking]]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by StugIII:

I've got ALL weekend and Stalingrad happens to be my favorite subject. I'll drop you an Email with a bunch of information as soon as I mow the lawn.

Finally a purpose in life. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey, thanks!

[MikeT]

Actually the biggest problem for my own plans for a Russian mod was the language files. What I really need are those files. Do you have these done yet? I do have an electronic version of Red Barraicades map that eventually I will turn into cmbs. I can have Russian uniforms made for me fairly quickly. I already have more Russian front scenarios that could be turned into CMBs, in fact I already have the very first scenario from the boardgame CMBO is based on worked up. I used Shermans in Russian markings in place of T34s and have shorty barreled Stugs both done already.

So have about a joint effort. Find someone that can do the language files and I will get the uniforms done. If interested contact me at home.

Maybe it is an ego thing but I would love to beat BTS to the east.

MikeT

desertcmt@home.com

[Mr. Johnson--]

I told you, use Pumas as PZ-IIIs.

[MikeT]

Pumas is what I used for 50mm MKIIIs in the desert mod. The used the same main gun and while the armor is less on the Puma its speed is higher so things balance out, somewhat.

Fortunately the Russians had a great deal of Western armor and vehicles. So those can be used with some confidence.

MikeT

[[Wiking]]

Hi. Thanks for the very big interest in all of this.

The Pumas would be a nice conversion for the PzIII yes, but they look completely different. How about PzIIL from CMBO? It looks a lot like the panzer III, although it performs a lot differently.

So, now we have modders for the Russian uniforms and a few people willing to contribute maps, info etc.

I'm not sure about the voice-overs. Its hard to find someone who wants them done. I wouldn't exactly call it priority, but they would blend in nicely. I was thinking of doing the Soviet flags. I would also need some help in building the right scenarios. I have only aerial maps of Stalingrad, but none which show elevation or depressions.

[PeterNZer]

When reading about the Stalingrad battle it always gives me shivers.

I read many books about it, including many first-eye accounts.

The bravery displayed and the immense suffering of the soldiers in the Kessel is unbelievable. Reading this, all the while knowing that they are all fated to die, was always a very depressing experience for me.

Lindan