Official HFQ Snippet #10

BTW: the next one's likely to be delayed, since Sharon and I will be in Europe for two weeks. (Sorry we're not getting far enough east for a face-to-face, Dilandu! )

________________________________________________

OK, but maybe Croatia then, are we enough west for you?
Thank you for the snippets and have a nice trip!

tootall wrote:

And what exactly is the distance from the Gap to Guarnak?

Guarnak to the front line in the Sylman gap: about 250 miles. Guarnak to the Ohlarn gap: about 250 miles. Guarnak to the Northland Gap (via the route I outlined) about 1000 miles.

~Tonto

tootall wrote:

So if he does have the bulk of his forces in Guarnak- he can react- retreat etc.

One data point--Wyrsham thought he could move troops from where his forces were located to Alyntyn before Green Valley could fight from Charlztown to Alyntyn. That's 1100 miles from Guarnak or 1350 from the Sylmahn gap. At least--that's what he thought during the autumn. Compare that to the 400 mile distance from Charlztown to Alyntyn.

~Tonto

I had read that due to the extreme cold the powder in the .30 carbine rounds wasn't burning properly, catastrophically reducing muzzle velocity, to the tune of there were reports that some people claimed to be able to see their rounds in flight. Given the fact that all of the charisian rifles have power to spare,I don't expect that to be a problem.

It would be interesting if Christian soldiers survive due to AoG bullets failing to penetrate their child weather gear.

Theemile wrote:

USMA74 wrote:The wikipedia article on the M1 carbine cites several references for the Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Ball, M1 (7.62X33) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_carbine failing to penetrate the quilted cotton garments worn by Chinese soldiers during the Korean War. The official US Army Center of Military History records are silent on the subject.

If memory serves, 1) the marines who reported that were using m-1 carbines - firing .30 combine rounds (an elongated pistol round), not M-1 Gerand rifles which fired .308 caliber bottlenecked rifle rounds - totally different bullets. 2) The Chinese Uniforms in questions were half soaked and the outer layers frozen with frost forming on the surface - It wasn't just the quilting that stopped the marine firepower, but the ice as well.

ericth wrote:snip
With respect to where the fighting takes place, I'd like to see what the barflies think on where would be the best places to prepare for the Mighty Host of God and the Archangels. That's assuming that facing the Host will be primarily defensive, at least at first. That's actually one reason I dont think "slam the back door shut" means Cat Lizard Lake. It's a very long supply line and closer to the Might Host.

One offsetting factor is the supply dump at Lake City. Take that the stored supplies for the MHoGatA vanish. Everything they need will have to be shipped anew. That reduces their options and perhaps forces them to disperse their formations to more ably those formations.

Another way to reconcile those quotes is to assume that the forces at Sylmahn's Gap will reach Guarnak before the roads turn to soup. There is currently a blocking force there of approximately 30,000 men. Like Tonto, I had assumed most of Wyrshym's forces were in Guarnak. The ICA forces in the Sylmahn could punch out Wyrshym's rearguard if he decides to retreat.

All in all winning a race to Lake City would reduce the GHoGatA's options significantly and slam the door behind Wyrshym.

PeterZ wrote:

ericth wrote:snip
With respect to where the fighting takes place, I'd like to see what the barflies think on where would be the best places to prepare for the Mighty Host of God and the Archangels. That's assuming that facing the Host will be primarily defensive, at least at first. That's actually one reason I dont think "slam the back door shut" means Cat Lizard Lake. It's a very long supply line and closer to the Might Host.

One offsetting factor is the supply dump at Lake City. Take that the stored supplies for the MHoGatA vanish. Everything they need will have to be shipped anew. That reduces their options and perhaps forces them to disperse their formations to more ably those formations.

Another way to reconcile those quotes is to assume that the forces at Sylmahn's Gap will reach Guarnak before the roads turn to soup. There is currently a blocking force there of approximately 30,000 men. Like Tonto, I had assumed most of Wyrshym's forces were in Guarnak. The ICA forces in the Sylmahn could punch out Wyrshym's rearguard if he decides to retreat.

All in all winning a race to Lake City would reduce the GHoGatA's options significantly and slam the door behind Wyrshym.

are you talking purely about the winter campaign or thinking ahead to the full fighting season?

Tonto Silerheels wrote:tootall wrote:

And what exactly is the distance from the Gap to Guarnak?

Guarnak to the front line in the Sylman gap: about 250 miles. Guarnak to the Ohlarn gap: about 250 miles. Guarnak to the Northland Gap (via the route I outlined) about 1000 miles.

~Tonto

dont forget that one is going north [effectively] and one south so that might make a quite a difference to the time taken even tho the distances are similar.

It would be interesting to see the Mythbusters investigate this.

Undercover Fat Kid wrote:I had read that due to the extreme cold the powder in the .30 carbine rounds wasn't burning properly, catastrophically reducing muzzle velocity, to the tune of there were reports that some people claimed to be able to see their rounds in flight. Given the fact that all of the charisian rifles have power to spare,I don't expect that to be a problem.

It would be interesting if Christian soldiers survive due to AoG bullets failing to penetrate their child weather gear.

Theemile wrote:[quote="USMA74"]The wikipedia article on the M1 carbine cites several references for the Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Ball, M1 (7.62X33) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_carbine failing to penetrate the quilted cotton garments worn by Chinese soldiers during the Korean War. The official US Army Center of Military History records are silent on the subject.

Weird Harold wrote:

PeterZ wrote:So, if BGV holds Lake City/Lake View, he has primarily ice lizards come summer and very few dragons. I doubt ice lizards would do well carrying freight in summer.

That's another reason for opening the passes for reinforcements come springtime; those forces will be equipped -- with Dragons (or Steam Tractors) -- for summer campaigning.

A lot will depend on initial successes and the resulting attrition. Once the passes are open and the blocking forces destroyed or dispersed (to the mercy of Gen. Winter,) The next strategic goal should be securing the canal to the North-east through the Ohlarn Gap, to Fairkyn and the Ice-ash River.

Only when the Guarnak-Ice Ash canal is secured (securing the river can wait for summer-troops or amphibious assault from Hsing Wu's passage) should BGV extend his perimeter north-west to Five Forks and the New Northland canal.

By the time he's ready for that move, reinforcements from Glacierheart should be in position to cover his left (SE) flank, and the RSA should be able to support his right flank.

If BGV attacks Wyrshym in Guarnak, he will arrive in Guarnak in about 2 months as BGV has to travel ~1,000 miles. This assumes that Wyrshym has most of his forces in Guarnak. Winter will be over for the most part. Sure the weather will still be cold but killing cold. Shelling the buildings alone won't be enough in the early spring. They will have to fight house to house. Talk about a nightmare!

If the ICA heads to Lake City immediately, Wyrshym has to either assume he can't make it before the GHoGatA arrive at lake City or pursue BGV to defend Lake City. If he assumes the former and is wrong, his army starves until RSA reinforcements hit Guarnak. If he moves to defend Lake City, his army might be destroyed in a successful defense but will secure the supplies the GHoGatA needs to punch out what remains of the ICA in Northern Siddermark. Wyrshym's army survives intact only if BGV indeed loses the race to Lake City.

Wyrshym can avoid combat with BGV until Spring and there is nothing BGV can do about it. His only chance at degrading Wyrshym's force before late Spring is to force him out of Guarnak and letting General Winter wreak havoc. I don't see Wyrshym leaving Guarnak to meet BGV and fighting a battle of movement in the open.

So, the only way BGV will slam the door behind Wyrshym by Spring is to attack something Wyrshym MUST leave Guarnak to defend. Lake City.

isaac_newton wrote:

PeterZ wrote:
One offsetting factor is the supply dump at Lake City. Take that the stored supplies for the MHoGatA vanish. Everything they need will have to be shipped anew. That reduces their options and perhaps forces them to disperse their formations to more ably those formations.

Another way to reconcile those quotes is to assume that the forces at Sylmahn's Gap will reach Guarnak before the roads turn to soup. There is currently a blocking force there of approximately 30,000 men. Like Tonto, I had assumed most of Wyrshym's forces were in Guarnak. The ICA forces in the Sylmahn could punch out Wyrshym's rearguard if he decides to retreat.

All in all winning a race to Lake City would reduce the GHoGatA's options significantly and slam the door behind Wyrshym.

are you talking purely about the winter campaign or thinking ahead to the full fighting season?

I am actually thinking about the summer. If they have to ship enough food to feed all their troops and not use the surplus built up at Lake City, more cubage has to be used to carry supplies and less to carry troops forward from those rear bases. That will reduce the GHoGatA's options. To make sure his side has all the flexibility they can get, Wyrshym has to defend Lake City. Even if it means marching through the deadly winter to do it.