tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post4172302330810979988..comments2024-03-18T13:26:35.800-07:00Comments on Archduke Piccolo: Stalemate at SchlammdunskArchduke Piccolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-43821734200190752712013-04-22T02:11:04.941-07:002013-04-22T02:11:04.941-07:00All valid points here gentlemen, and no offence wa...All valid points here gentlemen, and no offence was taken at all. I was just clarifying what I meant in order not to sound like someone who knew what he was talking about.<br /><br />I think I see what they are trying to do with Red units, and understand it to a certain degree with regard to command and control...But I do believe that proven and better equipped units (Guards) should have a little more flexibility such as what both you and Brian have suggested.<br /><br />Earlier in the year when a few of us were playing a Eastern CD3 game I found it most gratifying as the single German player to fend off two Soviet Brigade size units due to the ability of my command units, just like the real thing I suspect. <br /><br />I think TOE's always should be treated with a suspicious mind for especially Eastern encounters, and both Al and I tend to be quite relaxed about house rules.<br /><br />A nice little topic this!Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666481879639671282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-48619643552124297152013-04-21T23:08:33.729-07:002013-04-21T23:08:33.729-07:00Paul and Brian, I value your opinions both. Gold....Paul and Brian, I value your opinions both. Gold. I think I just misunderstood Paul's observation in re command (infantry) stands - or perhaps took a very liberal interpretation. I hunted down your sources, Paul, and confirmed one thing: except for the particulars of AA and the M/c unit, my Mech Bde is pretty much on the money. I like the look of the possible add-ons as as well... mmm.<br /><br />I never really minded the command restriction all that much except that for a rifle battalion of 14 stands, you tended to find the shooting stuff (rifle, SMG and ATR stands) moving around trailing the support weaponry (mortars, ATguns, MMG) around more or less uselessly, after them. The ATR stands, by the way, I treated as rifle stands unless there was some serious ATRing I wanted them to do.<br /><br />One of the forums I found (following Paul's direction, and then wandering around) remarked that getting a Mech Bde onto even a large table would be quite a challenge. I never found it so - but then, my Mech Bde is chronically short of transport, a circumstance I do not consider unhistorical - even for a Guards formation. At the moment, anything that requires a truck, tractor or half-track to move it, gets one. Everything else walks. My other infantry brigades will get draught horses if they are lucky.<br /><br />I think a 'little solution' to the command problems with the Red army, would be to have a staff stand at battalion level - especially battalions that have more than, say, 10 stands. That at least would give you some flexibility - some articulation between your 'sharp end' stands and their support stands.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ion Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-21730847716821633352013-04-21T04:21:44.675-07:002013-04-21T04:21:44.675-07:00Quite an interesting thread on Soviet organisation...Quite an interesting thread on Soviet organisation there - and from some of the posts I see that I am not alone in thinking that the Russians get a little short changed in CD! Modelling a Signals stand for a Motor Rifle battalion would be quite a nice addition, but to me Megaphones in the Red Army always seem to scream Commissar, such as portrayed in the movie 'Enemy at the Gates', rather than having a c3 function. However, that's just one blokes impression and part of the fun of having toy soldiers is creating toy armies that capture how you think they should look.<br /><br />I didn't see your reply to Ion regarding the use of light mortars as being pure eye candy as I was still writing my huge meandering comment to Ion as you were posting your reply. I think using light mortars on stands as eye candy is a good idea and would make for some nice looking command stands. <br /><br />I hope that everything I write regarding CD comes across as being in the form of politely worded suggestions and opinions - if it hasn't come across that way then please accept my sincerest apologies as causing offence was the last thing I intended to do.<br /><br />Kind Regards,<br />Brian Uncle Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975932783227453858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-64275970917202518442013-04-20T17:47:44.360-07:002013-04-20T17:47:44.360-07:00http://testofbattle.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=436...http://testofbattle.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4366&sid=78371e1ac6ac7cf5490046ad5ba06689<br /><br />Scoll down. Its in the actual TOE's that have not been changed into the CD format (Sigs Pl).<br /><br />Again I was simply referring to light mortars and including them into stands as eye candy rather than weapons stands.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666481879639671282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-56377027388999171302013-04-20T05:22:39.550-07:002013-04-20T05:22:39.550-07:00CD does in many ways hamstring the Red Army over t...CD does in many ways hamstring the Red Army over the ammount of command stands it lets them have. Generally you get one Command Infantry at battalion level and should think yourself lucky for that Comrade!<br /><br />Armies of the Second World War (AotSWW) does list a few earlier ToEs that give more in the way of command stands, but CD3 didn't revisit the issue, unless there something in one of the CPQs (I am lacking 7 out of the 16 issues so there exist plenty of room for a revisitation of the issue that I have missed - so I would be interested to see where Paul has gotten his ToE from. If it was a house rule change to make them more playable, then that's fair enough too! <br /><br />Depending on the figures you could use the light mortars on the weapon stands for 1939-1941 Rifle Divisions (each rifle company is meant to have one weapons stand). Sadly, AotSWW doesn't list them as being part of the Motor Rifle Companies :( However, given some research it could be possible to squeeze in a weapons stand somewhere....<br /><br />The Reds also are meant to have command infantry stands for their rifle companies during the same period - of course AofSWW has the notation that divisions in the west should have these removed due to the purges of 1937 falling harder on the Western Military Districts. <br /><br />Given some of the stuff that I have read has pushed the argument that the bulk of the officers purged were recycled after a suitable time in the gulags, I could see some merit in having some rifle companies being able to retain their command infantry stands, or having them put back in as time goes on. Given decent sources and a reasonable argument and I will be amiable to many things on the table top:) <br /><br />As to the flags and megaphone figures, use them as a Zampolits stand (treat as Command Infantry Stand) detached from a higher formation. Of course you only get one stand per mechanized brigade, so maybe you could use some of the megaphone boys as Agitprop stands? or as part of a NKVD blocking unit - with a mmg stand too!<br /><br />Anyways, that's my two kopeks worth - Nice AAR - and we should have a CD game again soon!Uncle Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975932783227453858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-29792513752433932602013-04-20T05:08:53.262-07:002013-04-20T05:08:53.262-07:00Hi again Ion, for the light mortars I was referrin...Hi again Ion, for the light mortars I was referring to the 2" type such as in the Revell Brits and the knee mortars in the Japanese. I am not sure the Soviets bothered with these and instead went straight into mediums at 82mm.<br /><br />Quite true about the Command Infantry stand for the Reds, but again I was referring to the Brits and Japanese.<br /><br />My mistake if I confused matters.<br /><br />Cheers PaulPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666481879639671282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-91931910145792050222013-04-20T01:49:45.232-07:002013-04-20T01:49:45.232-07:00Cheers, Paul.
I didn't know Soviets got a Com...Cheers, Paul.<br />I didn't know Soviets got a Command stand at company level - was that a change in CD3 or 4? Time was I had to do some tall staff work to get any kind of articulation into my Soviet battalions.<br /><br />Even so, my Mechanised Brigade never lost but once (and that in a demo game for a complete beginner). With such a record, my Mechanised Brigade, whether in the Red Army or in the Pan-Andean People's Republican Army, is designated Guards. Even my Tank Brigade has not yet earned that status...<br /><br />Cheers,<br />IonArchduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-26878136783812819342013-04-18T04:21:00.150-07:002013-04-18T04:21:00.150-07:00Re:The light mortars which you are quite correct i...Re:The light mortars which you are quite correct in saying they do not really have a place in the TOE, however given that they were nominally the Pl commanders artillery I rather like fielding them with the Command Infantry Stand at Company level, just for looks mind.<br /><br />Battalion HQ sounds just the place for the flag bearers, perhaps only in your Red Guards TOE?<br /><br />Motorized Rifle Battalions and other Red units should have a Signals Platoon at Bn level...Megaphone poses?<br /><br />I think this would make a fine topic Ion.<br /><br />Regards Paul<br /><br /> Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666481879639671282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-55489061516123452052013-04-16T04:30:25.508-07:002013-04-16T04:30:25.508-07:00Hard to say how the thing would have gone with Com...Hard to say how the thing would have gone with Command Decision. Not a set Tony is keen on, and his army is set up for 1:1 figure scale anyway. <br /><br />With the same amount of toys on the table, I would have had the equivalent of a Tank Brigade (somewhat reduced) plus and infantry Brigade, though of course most of the support inventories would have been absent.<br /><br />The LMG stands get subsumed into my Brigade organisation, the 6 Rifle company stands always including one LMG stand. But the Light mortars stands don't really have a place in CD.<br /><br />Although most of my stuff is plastic, I did pick up some 20mm metal Soviets, which go quite well with them. I want to include the flag bearers somewhere in the organization, but haven't been able to make up my mind where. Battalion HQs probably... but then. I also have some dudes bellowing through megaphones...<br /><br />Ideas? (I might make this a topic for a posting shortly...)Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-83099139414739360342013-04-14T22:15:26.138-07:002013-04-14T22:15:26.138-07:00Super AAR Ion, totally agree with you on the rules...Super AAR Ion, totally agree with you on the rulesets, and I can imagine if you had of set this up for CD it may have been a pure romp for your Reds.<br /><br />Of course the forces would have been somewhat larger I suspect.<br /><br />Nice to see WW2 back on your site after a long break as well.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666481879639671282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-73725299284123037812013-04-14T16:24:38.254-07:002013-04-14T16:24:38.254-07:00When my guys had reached their immediate objective...When my guys had reached their immediate objectives and had shot up the German armour so drastically, the German airwaves began a frantic crackling in order to bring the whole force into a defensive stance (actually it was the sound of comms dice rattling on the table).<br /><br />I had of course to change my stance too, if I wanted to advance, but it would have taken a fair while. In the end probably the Russians could have sorted themselves out, the German smoke screen would have disappeared, and we could have carried on with a fair chance of success. Maybe.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-80981565551311694662013-04-14T16:22:21.037-07:002013-04-14T16:22:21.037-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-21343325245499547242013-04-14T16:11:54.082-07:002013-04-14T16:11:54.082-07:00The Panzer Marsch system is quite simple and might...The Panzer Marsch system is quite simple and might well work for solo. At the beginning of the game, on a rough map you draw arrows to where each platoon is to go, and what sort of stance they are in: 'Full Advance, Cautious Advance, Halt...' and so on. This places some limits upon what units can do.<br /><br />From then on each platoon uses these lines as an axis of advance. One of the pictures above shows the main lines approximately. The fact was, I had none extending beyond the road running across my front except on the right where 1st Platoon lined the front edge of the wood there.<br /><br />Any change to orders requires a message to be sent from BHQ to the unit concerned, by the appropriate comms channel. Strictly speaking, I think a message from BHQ to a Tank Platoon ought probably take 2 turns, having to go through the Tank Company commander. But you have to roll better than a 1 or a 2 (depending on the army) for comms to go through. Until then, the recipient unit can not act upon the new orders.<br /><br />My Russian organisation was very simple: a tank company and a rifle company with an MG company subordinated to it. Tony's was a deal more complex, though I can't accurately tell you the details. Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-61867133706257405692013-04-14T15:59:30.772-07:002013-04-14T15:59:30.772-07:00Yes, I reckon that is a fair summation. But I ha...Yes, I reckon that is a fair summation. But I have a feeling that Panzer Marsch's IGo-UGo system can lead to easily to 'stickiness' such as occurred in this game. But I've experienced similar things in other rule sets as well. <br /><br />A similar thing happened shortly after I started wargaming. Slightly outnumbered to start with, my Confederates had taken heavy casualties with an attack that looked promising but failed with some terrible shooting. I had 11 dice in one volley, wanting a high roll. Six of them turned up 1's, the rest about what you'd expect. Somewhere about 26 hits, when I could reasonably have expected 10 more.<br /><br />At any rate, my aggressive intentions having turned turtle, I went over to the defensive and consolidated a strong position. The enemy probed a bit, but declined to mount a serious attack. Drawn battle.<br /><br />In my view that was not altogether unrealistic for the ACW.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-54051175725326078082013-04-14T15:50:18.294-07:002013-04-14T15:50:18.294-07:00Glad you enjoyed it. Tony allows that it reads be...Glad you enjoyed it. Tony allows that it reads better than it really was... :-)Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-246589938117903592013-04-14T15:49:38.064-07:002013-04-14T15:49:38.064-07:00For Panzer Marsch I wish I could field TWO rifle c...For Panzer Marsch I wish I could field TWO rifle companies! But for Command Decision I can field one Tank, one Mechanised and 3 Rifle Brigades. Of the latter, though, a couple are rather under-equipped... :-)<br /><br />Overall I agree with you: infantry is still the Queen of the battlefield.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-22459899135690761642013-04-14T10:21:51.258-07:002013-04-14T10:21:51.258-07:00Interesting. I like the fact that although the Sov...Interesting. I like the fact that although the Soviets blasted the German armor they couldn't put together an offensive. I'm intrigued by rules with orders writing but not sure how to use that in solo games.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15428727065347379281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-87976042336840446962013-04-14T05:02:48.977-07:002013-04-14T05:02:48.977-07:00Good work that man - there are battles of course, ...Good work that man - there are battles of course, where both sides lose...Conrad Kinchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683395740934527502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-90554597484995591242013-04-14T02:56:02.485-07:002013-04-14T02:56:02.485-07:00A good batrep indeed. My WW2 forces still lack the...A good batrep indeed. My WW2 forces still lack the infantry to make playing with them more interesting. Andrew McCoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18203034461676669716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-51294599615754860472013-04-14T01:50:30.432-07:002013-04-14T01:50:30.432-07:00nice battle report, a good read for a Sunday eveni...nice battle report, a good read for a Sunday evening at home.Daisy Gowan Ditchburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476802587483833107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-62892977871707119672013-04-13T23:23:29.202-07:002013-04-13T23:23:29.202-07:00Good on you, mate! Good on you, mate! Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-5387576163850832372013-04-13T22:15:46.629-07:002013-04-13T22:15:46.629-07:00Good batrep Archduke, enjoyable read on a Sunday m...Good batrep Archduke, enjoyable read on a Sunday morning....at work!The Angry Lurkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227314379603418332noreply@blogger.com