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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:42 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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More I think about it, my example is totally realistic. Two examples: One of the most famous stand-up fights was the Iron Brigade versus Jackson at Brawner's Farm. Both sides stood shoulder to shoulder, 100 yards apart, and blazed away. Casualties were over 30% 83.3 men is pretty close to 33% of 250... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:20 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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That works about right, since the officers and file closers (Sergeants and above) most often were not on the firing line. Standing in ranks, the men, front and rear ranks, take up a yard per two men. I've been there, done that, shoulder to shoulder, and anything closer really cramps individual movem... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:55 am
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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Another abstract look at Rifle fire: First, the maximum number of men that can fire on a 125 yard front is 250 men. Second, although it is often said that a trained rifleman can get off three shots a minute, there is a lot of spilled powder and shots that go in the air, so let us suppose TWO aimed s... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Confederate Patriot's Dispatch - 6th Edit. |
John Ferry |
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:22 am
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Replies: 5 Views: 6341
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Read the James Thurber snippit, "If Grant had been drunk at Appomattox" It is a part of "Thurber Carnival." I played Grant. |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:50 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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In the conversations between Gens Frost and Hebert, there is discussion of pdt numbers. The numbers in pdt weapons data are not percentages, so 2.9 at 1 hex and 2.2 at 2 hexes, are not material to effects. |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:46 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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I felt that four hexes or even three should be the engagement ranges for rifles. Rifle qual in the Marine Corps (in 1965) incuded being able to hit a washtub target ten times at 500 yards with an M-14. That is four hexes. Sniper territory, not line infantry. Anyway what made me drop another note her... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:39 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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Emory Upton correctly decided decided that one of the reasons that assaults failed was because attackers stopped to fire instead of charging in and overwhelming the defenders. Hood triumphed at Gaines Mill with that tactic; Robinson's division stopped to fire at Laurel Hill and got clobbered. Any wa... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Vassal? |
John Ferry |
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:27 pm
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Replies: 5 Views: 7208
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That is a quote from John Pope, who kept his headquarters where his hindquarters ought to be ; - ) |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: The best western movie ever made |
John Ferry |
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:58 am
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Replies: 83 Views: 70128
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Lots of posts, so surely someone has nominated "The Searchers" In the nearly annual Hollywood effort to screw John Wayne out of an Oscar, this was the biggest injustice. |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:59 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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General-- Of your examples, 2.5 % and the casualties inflicted !0% seem the most realistic. I once suggested a "flexible" casualty rate where players could choose what worked for them, more or less like some of the other optional rules. J Ferry 2LT USA |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:57 am
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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Forgive me, but the last few posts prompted some thoughts, and also some memories. Years ago I was hunting with a replica Enfield and I saw a buck coming straight at me thru open woods, well over 100 yards away. So I aimed, compensated a bit for the distance, and fired. That buck went down like a st... |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:58 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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Sometimes it is hard to be humble. Looking forward to more data. |
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Forum: American Civil War Topic: No Better Place to Die |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:29 pm
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Replies: 7 Views: 13347
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When I visited the field some years back, they had a FANtastic map of the battlefield, one big sheet with situations from throughout the two days of action. I used the map to model the terrain for an "Age of Rifles" scenario I built. I still have the map, some the worse for wear. J |
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Forum: Mason Dixon Tavern Topic: Effectiveness of the Rifle |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:15 pm
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Replies: 49 Views: 46353
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As I said, a rather simplistic approach. A little research would probably produce the correct figures for my example, including the amount of ammo expended at Gettysburg. Artillery fire would be well under 10%. I would lower casuaty rates and raise fatigue effects. |
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Forum: American Civil War Topic: Servants of the Wind |
John Ferry |
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:24 pm
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Replies: 2 Views: 9387
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I encourage the membership to check out the reviews for my book on Amazon and Kindle. It is 99% history and 1% fiction, just to tell a helluva story. John |
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