Battle of Arracourt - Lorraine Campaign

Ithikial

Ithikial

FGM 2ND IN COMMAND
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Just a query to the community.

Has anyone created any scenarios surrounding the Battle of Arracourt or elements of the Lorraine Campaign of Sept '44 more broadly?
 
Someday, when copious leisure time abounds in my life, I have delusions of creating CMBN scenario's from all of Pete Pollard's ASL scenarios WG231-WG242. I prefer company sized battles and these seem to fit that bill.


I have a map and forces created for the first one, "Prelude to Operation Lüttich". I just haven't gotten back to programming AI plans nor testing play balance. Truth be told, programming the AI intimidates me somewhat. It is on my bucket list and has been there for the past two years.

I agree with Rico that Lorraine, Cobra, and Dragoon have a lot of rich material to offer. I would like to see or contribute some.
 
Has anyone got a relatively detailed topographic map for the Arracourt or Lorraine? Say 1:25,000(ish) scale? Preferably from 1944.

After searching on and off over the weekend I'm coming up empty.
 
Badger73 said:
I agree with Rico that Lorraine, Cobra, and Dragoon have a lot of rich material to offer. I would like to see or contribute some.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The American centric campaigns are a little light on in terms of content, which is surprising given the US centric community (to an extent). Dragoon however will probably require the Free French being available inside CMBN first. Maybe a 'French Pack' one day? Would also require a different terrain set more in line with the Mediterranean.
 
Ithikial said:
Has anyone got a relatively detailed topographic map for the Arracourt or Lorraine? Say 1:25,000(ish) scale? Preferably from 1944.

After searching on and off over the weekend I'm coming up empty.
Click to expand...

I haven't found any free topo's at 1:25k. Here's something at larger scales

1:250,000 - 1954
Rennes: NM 30-12
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/france/txu-oclc-6617501-nm30-12.jpg
5km per grid
Mortain is in grid 65-539​
1:100,000 - WWII Topographic Map Series
McMaster University
http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww2/ww2_Fran_Belg_Holl_ndx100k.htm

Avranches-Fougeres: Sheet 6 G
http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo:8846
1 km per grid
Mortain is in grid 58-10​

The McMaster maps have downloads at higher resolutions and cover the campaign areas. At 1k grid squares you can zoom closer with a decent reference for estimate of distance with reasonable elevation lines.
 
Cheers Badger. Good sites espectiattion the Canadian one, however the maps they've got posted literally stops like less than one mile south of Arracourt. Very frustrating. :p
 
@Ithikial, consider looking into Geoportail Advanced. URL = http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil
-> Click on "Version avancee"
- -> On left, click on "Cartes IGN" view (although "Cartes de Cassini" is tres cool without being useful!)
- - -> Enter "Arracourt, 54370" in search box.
You should see a traditional topographical image result. You can center and zoom. Contour lines appear nicely.
Images from here might help you align the other maps you're trying to join. Good luck and good gaming!
 
Looking forward to your work on this topic @Ithikial, your "Lions of Carpiquet" campaign is blowing my mind!
 
Bletchley_Geek said:
Looking forward to your work on this topic @Ithikial, your "Lions of Carpiquet" campaign is blowing my mind!
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Thanks for the kind words Bletchley. Remember it's still 'in testing' so any feedback please send it through! Looking for a formal release around Christmas after I finalise a bit of a Scenario Designer thoughts doco. Two years of work and I have a lot of research material lying around here.
 
I am on the second scenario, as I wanted to finish before XMas the also excellent "NEDForce at Les Grandes Bonfaits" by George MC.

I have been interested in making stuff covering some episodes of the Lorraine campaign. So interested as to start working on a big map - now I am thinking about two 4x4 kms maps, but that's gonna take ages - for the bridgehead of the XII Corps north of Nancy, the going was tough for the US Army there.

I would certainly be interested in reading your notes, you have achieved a remarkably flexible flow for the campaign, even if the tools are somewhat limited.
 
Understood. It's a German site. The Security Certificate may be out of date. I've not encountered any adverse results. I also use Firefox. My PC uses MS Security Essentials, Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, and Super Anti-Spyware. It augments GeoPortail and may not be necessary for what you need.
 
I also saw that resource being posted on the BFC forums... that was quite a keeper!

Very good resolution, up to 3 meters per pixel at the highest zoom level, in Western Europe. In the former USSR the best I can get is 5 meters per pixel, though.
 
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