Elephant Hunt: Semi-Interactive AAR

[Mad Russian]

Only the gunner managed to crawl out of the tank. His body was found in the grass days later.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The Message Log shows that we hit the German machines 8 times in 80 seconds but only managed to get a single damaging hit on the tracks of one machine.

The Germans got 14 hits that resulted in the loss of 10 T-34's.

In 80 seconds we lost the equivalent of a tank company for a single damaging hit.

The losses were spread through the battalion:
1st Tank Company lost 4 tanks.
2nd Tank Company lost 3 tanks.
3rd Tank Company lost 3 tanks.

3rd Tank Company better find some solid ground or there will be only smoking wrecks marking their graves.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The Order of Battle is getting thin.

Half of our tanks have been knocked out so far!

The Victory Level indicator is climbing. While we are losing tanks we are not losing ground. Hopefully we can stop the Germans here and at least keep them from advancing any further.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Yoozername]

From looking at the game, it appears the side superstructure is a '9' and the hull is an '8'.  I don't believe that the lower hull is modeled specifically.  I doubt there is much of a chance of getting kills except at point-blank range. 

[Mad Russian]

I think we all agree. That's why the order was given to charge in to point blank range.

Since this is a new vehicle, facing the Russians for their first time, I've not gone and checked the values for the Ferdinand. I've not checked at what range and from what angle the vehicle would best be taken out.

What I have done is trusted Mobius. I've trusted him and his research to provide the best actual data on the vehicles/guns and translate that to game data. I've trusted him to give me the 'correct' data, so that the game plays as close as possible where gun vs armor is concerned.

Just like I trust Stridor to have given the 'correct' physics application into the game. So that the slope of the hill, etc. will affect movement.

Once the game is over we can dissect the best possible chance for a kill. Just as in a real battle. But I didn't want to know that in this. This is my first time taking on a Ferdinand in PCO and I wanted to just use what overall knowledge I have of the vehicle from a historical context.

To give myself as much of a "You Are Here In This Commanders Boots", kind of an experience as possible.

As you pointed out, I made the scenario. At one time I knew what was in it. Since that time though the AI has taken control of what I put in here and done it's own thing. I'm known for having playtested my scenarios until they 'work'. Normally, that means A LOT.

In this instance, I took a chance. I didn't playtest this scenario. I just put it together and we played. I'm not worried about the outcome because in this instance I wasn't worried about it being balanced but historical. Most actual fights are anything but balanced.

I'm happy with the outcome so far. We've had to do exactly what the Soviets had to do to beat the Ferdinand with tanks. We've had to 'get in their back pocket', and as in real life, that's been very costly.

I've had fun with the scenario and the interaction with you guys. Playing the battalion commander that doesn't necessarily want to die for his country, but wants to win the engagement, only to the point where I thought he might be able to question orders, has been fun.

Once the charge orders were given, the battle, tactics and outcome have pretty much been taken out of our control. Again, as it is in real life.

Will we kill a Ferdinand? I don't actually know. I hope so because it's what we set out to do. If not we are at least lucky enough to not have gotten actual soldiers killed in the attempt.

Good Hunting

MR

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Yoozername
From looking at the game, it appears the side superstructure is a '9' and the hull is an '8'.  I don't believe that the lower hull is modeled specifically.  I doubt there is much of a chance of getting kills except at point-blank range. 

Location numbers roughly correspond to lower to higher from the ground.

[heinrich55]

I think this has a very historical feel to it. If they were disabled by mines or track hits, the infantry closed with them and burned them and their crews.

If they were still rampaging, well.....close and ram or hope your shot penetrates. And, you need overwhelming numbers to give the elephants way too many targets to choose from.

Are we sure our good Lieutenant didn't swap out tanks just before the attack and he is in the slow one?

[rickier65]

Since this is a new vehicle, facing the Russians for their first time, I've not gone and checked the values for the Ferdinand. I've not checked at what range and from what angle the vehicle would best be taken out.

What I have done is trusted Mobius. I've trusted him and his research to provide the best actual data on the vehicles/guns and translate that to game data. I've trusted him to give me the 'correct' data, so that the game plays as close as possible where gun vs armor is concerned.

Just like I trust Stridor to have given the 'correct' physics application into the game. So that the slope of the hill, etc. will affect movement.

Once the game is over we can dissect the best possible chance for a kill. Just as in a real battle. But I didn't want to know that in this. This is my first time taking on a Ferdinand in PCO and I wanted to just use what overall knowledge I have of the vehicle from a historical context.

To give myself as much of a "You Are Here In This Commanders Boots", kind of an experience as possible.

Interesting, I hadn't thought of it this way. I'm still curious as to how this turns out.

Thanks!
rick

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: Rick
I'm still curious as to how this turns out.

Thanks!
rick

Aren't we all. Have the Grandson over here this weekend and in addition to that must get ready for a trip to Houston this coming week. I'll get done what I can with the game before then.

The process of taking screen shots then naming those I want to keep and running them through Photo Shop to change them to jpg files takes time. So far, in 13 turns I've taken 505 screen shots. Those all have to be looked at, corrected, cropped and resaved into jpg files for those that end up here.

The actual playing of the turns takes next to no time compared to putting the screen shots and posts together.

Good Hunting.

MR

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: Rick
I'm still curious as to how this turns out.

Thanks!
rick

Aren't we all. Have the Grandson over here this weekend and in addition to that must get ready for a trip to Houston this coming week. I'll get done what I can with the game before then.

The process of taking screen shots then naming those I want to keep and running them through Photo Shop to change them to jpg files takes time. So far, in 13 turns I've taken 505 screen shots. Those all have to be looked at, corrected, cropped and resaved into jpg files for those that end up here.

The actual playing of the turns takes next to no time compared to putting the screen shots and posts together.

Good Hunting.

MR

Enjoy the time with your grandson! that's certainly more important than crushing the elephants!

And I know these AARs take time and I'm enjoying this one so thanks for the time you've put in!

Rick

[Mad Russian]

Okay, time to finish the hunt.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

How close do we have to get? We can reach out and touch them now!

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

We are getting exactly the kind of action we want. A close range melee where we can target the Elephants from all angles.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

As 1st Tank Company races to close on the center assault gun the roar of the closes Big Cat's gun thunders of the scream of the T-34 engines.

This is a race against death. Who will win? Can our T-34's get close enough and hit the monsters enough times to destroy them?

Or will they be destroyed trying.............

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The Germans are deadly in their shooting and a T-34 goes quiet.


Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

It's German gunnery against Russian guts.

As they face off our gunners do not balk in their determination to bring the German machines into their gunsight's.

T-34 after T-34 is engaging the German machines.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

T-34's are well under 200 meters now. This is the range we were looking for.

This is where we want to be!

Now, we live, or, die for Mother Russia!

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

1st Tank Company is not alone in it's charge into the teeth of the enemy fire.

3rd Tank Company charges forward as well.

So close as to feel the heat of the German cannon when it fires! But we must charge to the flanks, to stop here means death!

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

2nd Tank Company only has 4 tanks that can answer to call to battle.

One of those is lagging far behind. The sad news is that if he survives he will most likely be promoted as the new commander of the 2nd Tank Company.

We need live veterans to lead the new recruits! They don't have to be heroes.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

These last 40 seconds have been brutal. We lost 6 more tanks for only 2 hits.

The time has come to stop the Charge and FIGHT!

Good Hunting.

MR