vahauser
Posts: 1644
Joined: 10/1/2002 From: Texas Status: offline
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FlashFyre, Cataclysm is basically YOUR campaign template modifed to fit a Generated Campaign instead of a WW2 Long Campaign. Indeed, the differences between the Cataclysm and FlashFyre formats are very minor. But that's not the point. Whether you play FlashFyre or Cataclysm, neither of those campaign formats make judgments on what is "historical" or not. Anybody can play either of those campaign formats and still apply historical forces and historical doctrines. Both campaign formats are "historical independent" as it were. Stacking rules, however, make some HUGE assumptions about what is and is not historical. And that is what I am trying to discuss here. Goblin, You say that stacking rules "make sense". But they don't yet make sense to me. Hence this thread. Indeed, I am trying to make sense out of stacking rules. So far to no avail. Also, defensive frontages are meaningless in this discussion. Everybody knows that units could be strung out for miles defensively. I'm more interested in assault frontages, because that is where the densities are highest. Historical instances of assault frontages are what I'm looking for. Glenn, That is an interesting theoretical table you've supplied. Unfortunately, the numbers given seen to vary wildly and seem to be based on theoretical models instead of what actually took place on the battlefield. I'm looking for actual historical on-the-battlefield assault densities. For example, that 4km assault frontage for a 1940 Soviet Rifle division is obviously of little value because they attacked the Finns on much narrower frontages during the Winter War, and they had to completely reinvent their tactical doctrines as soon as the Germans invaded in 1941. As an aside, I had a working acquaintance with Charles Sharp (the C.S. Sharp on your list) during the early 1990s when I was on the staff of the Europa Boardgame Series. At that time he had just received his PhD and was working on a comprehensive Soviet OOB for WW2. We had some wonderful arguments. Heh. Anyway, the theoretical models are nice and they are pretty, but I'm looking for actual historical assault frontages. I am currently googling on the web for some actual combat maps with units and frontages. I have found a few but want to find more. Of interest, though, one Soviet map (from a source by David Glantz) has the entire II SS Panzer Corps attacking at Kursk on a frontage of roughly 10km (3 reinforced SS Panzer Divisions (yes, I know they were called panzergrenadier divisions but we all know they were panzer divisions) plus corps assets assaulting on a frontage of roughly 10km). THAT is the kind of historical data I'm looking for. I'm also looking for the actual unit maps for Peleliu and Iwo Jima to learn about actual battalion/company frontages on those islands. Battle of the Bulge, Berlin, Stalingrad, Vistula-Oder, etc. Those are the kinds of unit maps I seek. --V
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