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I was deploying my force in a PBEM a couple days ago (GE-Belgium, 5/40, SPWAW 7.1, C&C off) and decided to assign a few tubes to drop a pre-bombardment. Using my (Belgian) FO as the spotting unit, I picked a couple 77mm howitzers and 60mm mortars to do the job...then decided to cancel the mortars. I hit the 'cancel' button repeatedly, then tried to cancel all the other firing units, but could not. Remember this was during deployment, so all units are in contact and all arrival times are 0.1, plus the 'cancel' button wasn't grayed out (I don't think I've ever seen that anyway). Any ideas as to what's causing this?

Perhaps a rat in the wine cellar you FDC is setup in ate through the field telephone wire after the command to commense fireing had been given and before the countermanding order to cease the fire mission had been given. Your batteries never got the word. Those Belgians were set up with WWI technology and had few "Wireless" radio sets to communicate with. They still heavily depend on commo wire between field phones.

Later,
Zaxilon

Did you say something?:rolleyes:

Goblin

Originally posted by zaxilon
Perhaps a rat in the wine cellar you FDC is setup in ate through the field telephone wire after the command to commense fireing had been given and before the countermanding order to cease the fire mission had been given. Your batteries never got the word. Those Belgians were set up with WWI technology and had few "Wireless" radio sets to communicate with. They still heavily depend on commo wire between field phones.

Later,
Zaxilon

Great. You've been reading REMF's book, 'Speculative Situations', again :rolleyes:

That really had to annoy artty crews.


FO: I need to paint point 75,45 with fire from 4 105's 6 81mm mortars and a 75mm FH

Artty : Will do

FO: Belay that make that 6 105's

Artty: Roger

FO: On second though make that 3 105's, 4 81's, 2 75's and a Ballista.

Artty to himself: get a few extra right on the entrance exam as this is what it gets you.

Originally posted by zaxilon
Those Belgians were set up with WWI technology and had few "Wireless" radio sets to communicate with. They still heavily depend on commo wire between field phones.

Later,
Zaxilon

I had this happen with my Russian force in '45. I just figured country characteristics were on and the commissar couldn't get the orders through committee fast enough

Seriously now. PBEM games do not allow you to change your mind and cancel moves. I do not know if this works for artilary planning also but it could.

Gary

Good point Gary, but I was playing a PBEM turn from a different battle this AM and was able to order, and then cancel a fire mission. I thought about the units becoming 'out of contact' during the turn, but then realised I've never seen that happen before either unless the unit (or spotter) becomes suppressed, which wasn't the case here.

Here's a couple more 'clues' that may help someone come up with a solution:
-All the arty is on-board.
-After the first and second turns I noticed I could not cancel any missions, even if I used the firing unit as the spotter.
-I've seen this happen once before (with 7.0); like Jackk's case I was playing as the Russians.