tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post4043018991582897860..comments2024-03-28T22:08:48.577-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: The Crossroads, Part TwoOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47982308584494806882021-02-04T07:16:25.824-08:002021-02-04T07:16:25.824-08:00Martin - Eine ausgezeichnete und prägnante Erkläru...Martin - Eine ausgezeichnete und prägnante Erklärung, mein Herr!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65702949263204124502021-02-04T07:15:13.194-08:002021-02-04T07:15:13.194-08:00StB - That's what we call minutiae. Think of i...StB - That's what we call minutiae. Think of it this way, the Germans are very logical, once a value can be measured in centimeters, they tend to use centimeters, as opposed to millimeters. But in spoken German, it's my experience that they'll use whatever rolls off the tongue better. For instance, the Me-109 is typically referred to as the "May hundertneun," i.e. Me is pronounced as a word ("may" is the German pronunciation of "me").<br /><br />Also, what Martin said.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-25835950560343066042021-02-04T01:23:00.807-08:002021-02-04T01:23:00.807-08:00There was no hard and fast rule for that one; exce...There was no hard and fast rule for that one; except that Germany always has been fully metric (in WWI and WWII). So you might say "Das Zwei-Zentimeter Flakgeschütz verschießt die Munition 'Granatpatrone 20 X 138 mm B' (spoken: zwanzig mal hundertachtundreißig Millimeter)" = the 2cm AA gun uses 20 X 138 mm ammunition; and you would be correct in both cases.<br />In case of the .50 cal BMG the Wehrmacht used either "1,27 cm" or just called it "üSMG (a)" = überschweres amerikanisches MG = very heavy american MG. <br /> <br />On the other hand, foreign ordnance and vehicles always were a challenge to describe accurately; e.g. the 6-pounder. The Wehrmacht called it "5.7 cm PaK 209(e)" and "5.7 cm PaK 202(a)"; the 'e' and 'a' standing for 'Englisch' and 'Amerikanisch' respectively. MartinFromGermanynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-72279173611076761862021-02-03T23:14:22.980-08:002021-02-03T23:14:22.980-08:00I thought the Germans switched to cm at 20mm+?I thought the Germans switched to cm at 20mm+?SCOTTtheBADGERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12859188068159799373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-15687588082944034302021-02-03T18:02:12.125-08:002021-02-03T18:02:12.125-08:00Hahaha!Hahaha!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-12210607145722678292021-02-03T17:16:36.532-08:002021-02-03T17:16:36.532-08:00You are closer to Lancaster PA than I am. I just ...You are closer to Lancaster PA than I am. I just figured it was wafting in on the breeze!!STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89343020654943811962021-02-03T13:56:42.287-08:002021-02-03T13:56:42.287-08:00STxAR - Alrighty then...STxAR - Alrighty then...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-55881686178385292822021-02-03T13:56:00.170-08:002021-02-03T13:56:00.170-08:00William - Yes, that was worded in a rather awkward...William - Yes, that was worded in a rather awkward manner, I like your fix, so I took it! (I'll have to make a list of all youse guys who helped edit this thing!)<br /><br />I try to remember to stay metric when it's the Germans speaking, it's tough some times!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36109978406836782022021-02-03T13:50:59.343-08:002021-02-03T13:50:59.343-08:00😁
You guys...😁<br /><br />You guys...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-44908736643307301602021-02-03T13:50:01.448-08:002021-02-03T13:50:01.448-08:00A good idea, of course, by this stage of the war, ...A good idea, of course, by this stage of the war, many of the Wehrmacht's vehicles had a lot of wear and tear on them.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89587656858115617682021-02-03T12:46:49.019-08:002021-02-03T12:46:49.019-08:00The unimog had a spec on engine noise. I think it...The unimog had a spec on engine noise. I think it was supposed to idle undetected at 100 meters or some such...STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89627222731634677192021-02-03T12:42:58.929-08:002021-02-03T12:42:58.929-08:00John you will the kewpie doll. I see it now. I b...John you will the kewpie doll. I see it now. I blew that thing up till I could feel it on the screen. I had the muzzle in my mind as the grip. Now, the lift the dot makes it obvious. More coffee? more coffee....STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-72540761227081316282021-02-03T12:39:56.097-08:002021-02-03T12:39:56.097-08:00Throw me down the stairs my hat. Throw me down the stairs my hat. STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24398731233454795542021-02-03T12:35:00.966-08:002021-02-03T12:35:00.966-08:00Not a typo, but a minor suggestion:
"So a f...Not a typo, but a minor suggestion: <br /><br />"So a few guys would have to rotate through manning those guns through the night."<br /><br />"So a few guys would have to rotate through the night manning those guns"<br /><br />Pickett's charge is a good analogy. <br /><br />Ditto on what Beans said on the German description of the M2. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-82992942548794365252021-02-03T12:21:17.816-08:002021-02-03T12:21:17.816-08:00At this point in the war, only the top Nazis like ...At this point in the war, only the top Nazis like Hitler and Goebbels think they can still win.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-73352803187055946262021-02-03T12:17:59.921-08:002021-02-03T12:17:59.921-08:00Agree on the ominous lead in, "...holder of t...Agree on the ominous lead in, "...holder of the Knight's Cross,"is just the sort intro just before the character has to "leave the stage" as it were. Stopped twice before I could read through the end :)<br /><br />Since U.S. artillery is already close enough for H&I fires, it doesn't seem the Germans would have much hope of holding the crossroads even should they take it. Not a great position to be in.<br /><br />/<br />L.J.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05046074015910766131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-10969313704865178582021-02-03T11:28:20.808-08:002021-02-03T11:28:20.808-08:00Look again, it says 1.27 cm.
You guys look way ha...Look again, it says 1.27 cm.<br /><br />You guys look way harder at the photos I use than I do. Y'all have a good eye for detail.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-90805585281125716932021-02-03T11:22:31.497-08:002021-02-03T11:22:31.497-08:00Another good installment.
One typo- the .50 BMG i...Another good installment.<br />One typo- the .50 BMG is 12.7mm not 1.27mm<br />Photo comment about the guy in foreground. Looks like he might be holding binoculars in left hand with eyepiece to the right. He has M1911A1 .45 auto in standard hip holster, but weird angle- muzzle pointing toward his ankle, and you can see the stud for the holster flap and the checkered back of the mainspring housing.<br />John BlackshoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-79603695641958321462021-02-03T11:20:36.863-08:002021-02-03T11:20:36.863-08:00Ah, good catch. (I should have the Germans and the...Ah, good catch. (I should have the Germans and the Americans at the same level of organization then I wouldn't make those kinds of mistakes. Well, I still would, at least now I have an excuse!)<br /><br />As to characters surviving, I have some hard choices to make in the near future. I want to keep things as realistic (and non-Hollywood) as possible, so...<br /><br />Things are bound to change.<br /><br />One of the reasons I began this series is to keep my mind off politics. It's good to know that I'm helping others to do so.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59908139352141844992021-02-03T11:02:09.253-08:002021-02-03T11:02:09.253-08:00Sarge,
Wouldn't Lt Hernandez be going from squ...Sarge,<br />Wouldn't Lt Hernandez be going from squad to squad rather than "platoon to platoon"? We're still dealing with a 2nd Lt Platoon Commander, right?<br />As with the others, this series is "dessert" from keeping current on the woeful state of our country -and likewise I'd like to see Von L and Sauer survive the war. I know it's both unlikely and somewhat unrealistic, but I've grown attached to both of them.<br />Boat GuyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-56723322783982517302021-02-03T09:45:43.725-08:002021-02-03T09:45:43.725-08:00An excellent comparison!An excellent comparison!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-9247995390259031322021-02-03T09:37:08.310-08:002021-02-03T09:37:08.310-08:00Don't have a good feeling about this....sense ...Don't have a good feeling about this....sense of forebodings. Feels like the night before Pickett's charge. Masterful writing!Thomas DelPuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16901978958794416127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47146197808761562262021-02-03T09:37:05.094-08:002021-02-03T09:37:05.094-08:00One wonders how long he can dodge the bullet, so t...One wonders how long he can dodge the bullet, so to speak.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-815931671159644352021-02-03T09:35:50.491-08:002021-02-03T09:35:50.491-08:00After many years of working the 2300 to 0700 shift...After many years of working the 2300 to 0700 shift, I was still sluggish as Hell in the hour before dawn.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59972834564624534832021-02-03T09:30:24.646-08:002021-02-03T09:30:24.646-08:00Well, Herr Major escapes another incident of heavy...Well, Herr Major escapes another incident of heavy metal poisoning, by that much. Whew. You really ratcheted up the suspense and painted a very vivid picture of the upcoming battle.<br /><br />The Stu44 round was roughly compatible to the M1 Carbine, roughly, as both were good for killing up to 300 yards at most. The fully auto '44, though, was a beast to maintain on target at full auto, so users tended to 'spray and pray' just like the later generations of AK-47 users. Stil, suppressive fire is suppressive fire.<br /><br />Nice job on giving the M2 stats in centimeters. Really gives that authentic WWII German feel to it.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.com