Sunday, 16 September 2012
Release date: 8th November, 2012
Release date: 8th November, 2012
(Night of Thursday the 8th AEST)
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the launch of Operation 'Torch'
(Night of Thursday the 8th AEST)
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the launch of Operation 'Torch'
Monday, 14 May 2012
OPERATION 'COBRA'
What a disastrous start to a major operation! It was a tragedy all around with Bradley losing his good friend (and the proponent of the US armored warfare tank destroyer doctrine) Lt.Gen. Lesley McNair - one of 4 of the highest ranking US deaths in WW2. 111 other US soldiers killed and 490 wounded by inaccurate bombing by the Eighth AF. Those pilots and crew must have felt horrible when they found out! One of those tragedies that wars involve. I feel for them and the families of those who died.
Nonetheless, the Panzer Lehr division was devasted by the concentrated carpet bombing that came their way. Estimates vary but something like 70% of equipment lost and 1000 men killed are mentioned. In any case, it was not long after that that they were deemed incapable of combat. Still, they were able to make a credible defense after a couple of days and, together with 17SS PG and 2SS Pz on their flank, held the American onslaught back - for a few days!
The capture of Avranches unhinged the whole German defense in Normandy but Hitler, fresh from his own bombing incident of 20th July, was also unhinged. He decided the best form of defense is attack and if you can't die gloriously in a hopelessly lost cause you should attack! Operation 'Luttich' was folly from inception and disaster in execution. It's worth reading about for its military craziness and left me thinking perhaps Hitler was the best commander the Allies had. :)
It failed miserably but where is the fun of that in a game? So, I made the 4 German divisions stronger than they were in real life and the US air force and RAF weaker. That way the attack, when it comes, seems intimidating but remember, the AI is your friend and it will not mount a coordinated attack. 'Luttich' is fairly easy to contain as Brittany is made open to the oncoming 3rd Army.
This sets the scene for the German disaster of the Falais Pocket...
What a disastrous start to a major operation! It was a tragedy all around with Bradley losing his good friend (and the proponent of the US armored warfare tank destroyer doctrine) Lt.Gen. Lesley McNair - one of 4 of the highest ranking US deaths in WW2. 111 other US soldiers killed and 490 wounded by inaccurate bombing by the Eighth AF. Those pilots and crew must have felt horrible when they found out! One of those tragedies that wars involve. I feel for them and the families of those who died.
Nonetheless, the Panzer Lehr division was devasted by the concentrated carpet bombing that came their way. Estimates vary but something like 70% of equipment lost and 1000 men killed are mentioned. In any case, it was not long after that that they were deemed incapable of combat. Still, they were able to make a credible defense after a couple of days and, together with 17SS PG and 2SS Pz on their flank, held the American onslaught back - for a few days!
The capture of Avranches unhinged the whole German defense in Normandy but Hitler, fresh from his own bombing incident of 20th July, was also unhinged. He decided the best form of defense is attack and if you can't die gloriously in a hopelessly lost cause you should attack! Operation 'Luttich' was folly from inception and disaster in execution. It's worth reading about for its military craziness and left me thinking perhaps Hitler was the best commander the Allies had. :)
It failed miserably but where is the fun of that in a game? So, I made the 4 German divisions stronger than they were in real life and the US air force and RAF weaker. That way the attack, when it comes, seems intimidating but remember, the AI is your friend and it will not mount a coordinated attack. 'Luttich' is fairly easy to contain as Brittany is made open to the oncoming 3rd Army.
This sets the scene for the German disaster of the Falais Pocket...
Sunday, 13 May 2012
CHERBOURG
A difficult scenario to make interesting because the Germans were so weak. The main interest in this scenario is the Fort du Roule, which was a multi-level beast of a structure. The US soldiers were able to take out the top level but took ages to get to the big guns on the lower levels. Due to its position on a hill commanding most of Cherbourg it continued to be an issue for a long time after it was initially attacked. This can't easily be replicated in PzC so I created a custom unit for the fort and made it fairly tough. Engineers will still be able to knock it out more easily than in reality.
The city and port of Cherbourg are done on a large scale with prestige bonuses for the hospital (rescuing US POWs) and finding the German commander huddled in a cellar!
Some naval action comes later with the arrival of USSs Nevada, Texas and Arkansas.
A fairly easy scenario with the time limit the only real problem for a DV.
A difficult scenario to make interesting because the Germans were so weak. The main interest in this scenario is the Fort du Roule, which was a multi-level beast of a structure. The US soldiers were able to take out the top level but took ages to get to the big guns on the lower levels. Due to its position on a hill commanding most of Cherbourg it continued to be an issue for a long time after it was initially attacked. This can't easily be replicated in PzC so I created a custom unit for the fort and made it fairly tough. Engineers will still be able to knock it out more easily than in reality.
The city and port of Cherbourg are done on a large scale with prestige bonuses for the hospital (rescuing US POWs) and finding the German commander huddled in a cellar!
Some naval action comes later with the arrival of USSs Nevada, Texas and Arkansas.
A fairly easy scenario with the time limit the only real problem for a DV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)