SPHACK - Steel Panthers Editor Utility v1.6 by Nicholas Bell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT'S NEW IN V 1.6   The name has changed!  Since SPEDIT is copyrighted by
                      VisionComm, the marketing division of Software Projects
                      Inc (software for MVS, VM and VSE IBM operating systems
                      (mainframes). SPEDIT is their flagship product and is 
                      marketed in the United States, Canada and Europe. So
                      save me a lot of trouble and do not refer to my 
                      editor as SPEDIT anymore nor distribute my old SPEDIT.
                      ANd if your wondering why SPHACK, well it seems that
                      a whole bunch of other folks are already using all the
                      "good" names (now that I know to look!) and I couldn't
                      bring myself to using my own name in a program.
                      
                      Anti-Heat Armor editing added

              V 1.5:  Formation Editor Added
                      Unavailable Date bug fixed
                      Units colored coded in view
                      Minor bug fixes
                      Armor Penetration Comparision Table
              V 1.2:  Unit availability dates added

***********************PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS!**************************
Contains important unit, formation and weapon editing information. You'll save 
yourself a lot of frustration!  And while I don't mind further explaining how
the editor works, it does get rather old when the answers are right here.
******************************************************************************

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Users of this program must accept this disclaimer of warranty:

 "This software is supplied on an AS IS basis. The author specifically 
  disclaims ANY warranty, expressed or implied, as to the fitness for any 
  particular purpose of the software. Under no circumstances will the author 
  be liable for any direct, consequential, special, indirect, or other damages 
  including, but not limited to, loss of data, profit, or the use of the 
  software arising from the distribution, use, misuse, or inability to use 
  the software. YOU USE THIS SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK. BY USING THE SOFTWARE, 
  YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USAGE SET FORTH IN THIS DISCLAIMER."

NOTICE
~~~~~~
This program is not in any way connected with or endorsed or supported 
by Strategic Simulations, Inc.

TRADEMARKS
~~~~~~~~~~
Steel Panthers is a trademark of Strategic Simulations, Inc.

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program is being released by the author as freeware. It is NOT public 
domain! You may copy and use the program freely. You may distribute it to 
whomever you like but:

         1. Do NOT distribute modified versions.
         2. Do NOT bundlle with other programs.
         3. ALWAYS distribute with the documentation.
         4. Do NOT charge a fee for distribution.

No other limitations are placed on the usage of the software. No monetary fee 
is charged for the use of the software.  However....

                           *** WARNING ***
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program makes permanent modifications to the following files in the 
STEEL PANTHERS program: OBBR, OBMA, OBPZ, OBJA, OBUS.  If you have any problems 
please copy ALL these files back into your STEEL PANTHERS directory from your
STEEL PANTHERS CD.  Note that Steel Panthers V 1.12x also contained OB?? files
so if you want to use them (they include a few additional weapons and some
modifications to existing weapons) unzip that patch.  If future versions
of Steel Panthers include OB?? files, use them instead of those on the CD.
Unless of course you purchase the product new and it contains the official
version 1.2 or whatever.  Bottom line? Use the most current OB?? files if you
don't like the results of your editing.
                            
INSTALLATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copy the SPHACK.EXE file into your STEEL PANTHERS main directory and type
"SPHACK" <return> to start the editor.

EDITOR LIMITATIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Changes made to weapons will be in effect in all campaigns, canned scenarios,
and user-generated scenarios.  Weapon OB is read every time SP is started, 
and is not written to the scenario *.dat file. So if you edit a weapon and 
make a scenario  with it and want to pass it on to  someone else, you must 
also give them your OB?? file.

Changes made to units, however, will only be in effect in "new" scenarios
where the program has to access the database to create the scenario. Unit
information in canned scenarios and canned campaign battles for the computer
player is stored in the respective scenario and campaign files, not the
OB?? files.  You'll have to use the unit editor provided in Steel Panthers
to change these.  Units altered will show up if player controlled in canned
"historical" campaigns, in long campaigns, and in player or computer generated
scenarios.

Let me repeat that editing _units_ will have NO effect on any scenarios you 
already have.  Regarding campaigns, the following example should clarify what
works:

You edit the Panther into a Panther II with an 88/L71.  You edit the T-34/85
into a T-34/100, giving it a 100/L53.  If you choose to play a "historical"
campaign like "Warsaw," your T-34/85s will be T-34/100's.  However, since
the German units are "hardcoded" to the campaign, they will still be just
plain old Panthers, not those Panther II's you edited.   This occurs because
the program has to access the database to create whatever units you choose to
start the campaign, but does not access the German unit database.

Long campaigns should be fine since the battles are generic and the program
accesses the database for both the player's and the computer controlled units.

If you want to see what's in OBMBT, copy it to OBPZ. Back up your OBPZ if you
plan on using it again.  Using a different OB?? will really mess up things.

EDITING UNITS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unit information is stored by country in the OB?? files.  The editor lists
the file and the countries units associated with it.  If you cannot find the
Allied unit you want to edit, be sure to check the OBMA file. It seems to be
collecting file for odds and ends.  Since editing units is country specific, 
if you want to edit a weapon used by more than one country (some model of the 
Sherman, for example) you will have to edit that weapon in each country's 
file.

UNIT EDITING DEFINITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NAME: 15 character maximum.  

ARMAMENT: Weapon - Use (v) View to determine weapon number to enter.
          It's probable that weapon slots (1-4) may have limitations on
          employment of weapons.  (eg, note AAMG positions)  One thing I
          cannot understand is why squads always have their LMG as the
          second weapon.  Since weapons are fired in the order of their
          position, one would want the most lethal weapon to fire first,
          not the rifles (which studies have shown were hardly used by
          anyone).  This is especially true for the Germans.  The whole
          squad existed to support the LMG with ammunition and flank
          security.

          Ammunition - This is maximum load for each type.  HE and AP loads
          do not seem to vary too much. HVAP and HEAT vary a great deal, 
          almost a random choice between 0 and the maximum load entered.
          Note that there is no "total" ammunition function - you have to
          make sure you do not exceed the unit's ammunition carrying capacity
          by adding the HE, AP, HVAP, and HEAT loads yourself.  Of course,
          most AFV's were routinely overloaded when ammunition was available,
          despite the increased risk of a catastrophic cook-off when hit.

          Fire Control - Refers to the optical and range finding systems
          of a unit with DIRECT FIRE CAPABILITY only.  A higher value is 
          better. In game terms it probably impacts on the Ph (probability of 
          hit) and the increase in Ph when a unit fires more than once at a 
          target.  Value of '10' seems to be the highest - for the FLAK 18/36 
          88mm gun.  It had a huge rangefinder and a simple analog computer.

          For comparision purposes, the M1A1 (with its laser range finder and
          computer system) in the OBMBT has a firecontrol value of 40.

          It might be interesting to give off-map artillery some Fire Control
          rating to see if it improves their accuracy. (it does, see IDEAS)

ARMOR:  Each point equals 10mm of armor with the increase due to slope 
        already calculated in.  Modified thickness of armor equals the
        actual thickness divided by the cosine of 90 degrees minus the
        slope of the armor, or something like that.  Never mind the math, 
        use this table:

        Slope of Armor        Modified Thickness      Effective Thickness
        10-15 degrees               X 1.0                    X 1.0  
        20-25                         1.1                      1.1
        30-35                         1.2                      1.2
        40                            1.3                      1.5
        45                            1.4                      1.9
        50                            1.6                      2.4
        55                            1.7                      3.0
        60                            2.0                      3.7
        65                            2.4                      4.6
        70                            3.0                      6.0

        Slope of armor is from vertical.

        MODIFIED THICKNESS is the thickness used in Steel Panthers.  For
        example, the T-34c had front hull armor of 4.7cm sloped at 60 degrees.
        4.7 x 2.0 = 9.4 rounded down to 9, the value you see in Steel Panthers. 
        
        However, for all you purists, you might want to consider modifying all 
        the AFV's and giving them Effective Thickness instead.  This is based 
        on ballistics tests and physics.  Not only is the thickness of the 
        armor increased because the projectile has to go farther due to the 
        angle it hits the armor, but the penetration of the projecticle is 
        decreased because a greater surface area of the armor is absorbing 
        the impact.  Of course you will need to know the armor slope of all
        the AFVs to do this.  Maybe I'll get around to listing the data. 
        Maybe <g>.
        
        If you use effective thickness, combat will really change. You'll
        have to manuever to get flank shots or get in real close most of the
        time in order to penetrate the frontal armor of most AFV's (unless 
        you've got 88's of course :).

        Note that Steel Panthers does not model any aspects of the actual 
        effectiveness of the metal used as armor.  German face-hardened armor 
        was much stronger than thickness alone would indicate.  Soviet armor 
        was inferior, normally very brittle. (if I remember correctly, this
        reduced it's effectiveness by 20-40%)

        If you want this kind of detail included in your simulation of
        tactical combat, you must try HPS Simulations "Panthers in the 
        Shadows" or "Tigers on the Prowl."  It's all there, and more.

********VERY IMPORTANT!********************************************************
        The Panther, JadgPanther, King Tiger, JadgTiger, JgPz IV and Hetzer do 
        NOT have the slope calculated in.  It is done by the program based
        on the MODIFIED THICKNESS Table.  For example in SPHACK you will see
        that the Panther has a front hull armor of 8.  If you check it in the
        encyclopedia, it has a front hull armor of 14.  This is because the
        program is multiplying the Panther's 8 cm armor X 1.7 (since the
        armor is sloped at 55 degrees) = 13.6 rounded up to 14. There may be  
        other tanks.  ALWAYS check your edited data in the scenario editor or 
        the encyclopedia to make sure something odd hasn't popped up.

        Arnaud Bouis explained to me that SSI had planned on doing the calc's
        for all AFV's in this manner, but for whatever reason decided not to.
        Guess the late war German tanks had been done so they left that part 
        of the program in.  Seems like it would have been easier to eliminate
        that subroutine and do them all the same!  In any case I doubt it 
        makes any difference, since all the other AFV's have the modified
        armor value plugged in, making it easier for you to edit.
        
ANTI-HEAT ARMOR: The effectiveness of the armor against heat weapons.  Take a
        look at the late model Pz III's and IV's to see what SSI did to
        represent the turret and hull skirts.  Note that if a unit has a
        ANTI-HEAT value of 0, the program automatically uses the normal AP
        armor rating.

SPEED:  There seem to be maximum limitations.  These limitations may be 
        controlled by the unit CLASS.  For calculating speed, each turn
        equals 2 minutes, each hex 50 meters.

SIZE:   Impacts sighting and Ph.

MEN:    Large squad sizes may cause odd things to happen to the unit's 
        graphic.

COST:   This *may* (haven't confirmed it yet) be a powerful antidote in Allied 
        campaigns to the ahistorical large numbers of German panzers the 
        computer always gets.  If you increase the cost of panzers, maybe the
        computer won't be able to afford as many.  Make those TIGERS a bit
        more rare...It will certainly make it easier for YOU to purchase units 
        in a campaign if you lower the cost of the units of your country 
        before starting the campaign <g>.

NATIONALITY:  Self explanatory.

CHANCE RADIO:  Percent chance that unit will have a radio.

CLASS:  The weapon class seems to control how a unit behaves and what 
        functions it can perform.  For example, if you make a TIGER I
        a mineclearing tank, it will clear mines (and still kill a lot of
        enemy tanks).  Haven't experimented with helicopters yet - may not
        be implimented.  I can imagine a lot of ingenious uses for changing
        a unit's class.

UNIT GRAPHIC:  The graphic seen when playing the game.  If you want to change
        a unit's graphic, first determine what you want it to look like and
        determine it's number.  Sorry, I don't have the programming ability
        to let you "view" the hundreds of various vehicle and squad graphics.

SIDE VIEW:  The side view of the unit shown in the encyclodpedia and when
        purchasing units.  These are .LBM files and are found on the CD.

AVAILABLE/UNAVAILABLE:  Due to SP's odd method of keeping dates, all 1939 
        dates will default to 9/39.  Furthermore, all unavailable dates in
        1945 will default to 12/45.

EDITING FORMATIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editing formations is pretty self-explanatory after editing units.  There are
a few things to keep in mind.  If your're going to attempt to make a new
formation, it must be in the same OB?? file as the other formations of the
same country.

The program may not recognise new formations (the type made using empty
slots) for campaign games and battles.  Let me know if you find out otherwise.

It is also important to understand that the program does NOT ONLY use the
units you put into a formation.  Although I am not sure on the exact details
of how SP picks units, it chooses the units by unit CLASS and AVAILABILITY.
If you make a new formation available in 1944 for the US and put M4A1 and
Rifle Infantry in it, the program may end up any variety of Sherman and 
infantry available, eg Jumbos and SMGs.
  
Arnaud Bouis explains what Formation Type (formerly Unknown 1) does:

"I had a talk with the SP database designer and here is what he told me
 about the unidentified formation type:

 The unidentified field is the formation type.  Type 5 is for HQs, type 4 is 
 for amphibious units and naval support, types 1, 2 & 3 are distinctions that 
 no longer matter.  In the early betas of the game, formations were divided 
 into those found only in mechanized units (type 1), those found only in 
 infantry units (type 2), and those common to both (type 3).  These 
 distinctions  (types 1, 2 & 3) were eventually abandoned during development.

 This exactly sticks to the results of my tests."

EDITING WEAPONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weapon characteristics are stored in the OB?? files.  Each OB?? file contains
duplicate weapon data (and country specific unit formation data used in 
constructing scenarios).  The WPNEDIT program will modify all OB?? files 
simultaneously without distribing the formation data.  The reason all OB files
have to be modified even though they all contain identical weapon data is
because STEEL PANTHERS loads the weapon data based on the opponents. For 
example, OBPZ controls the German and Soviet weapon data.  OBUS controls the
German and US weapon data. Thus if you were to only modify the 88 L56 in OBPZ, 
then if you fought the Americans, the 88 would be unmodified.  In any case,
you do not have to worry about it.  Note that weapon characteristics are not
scenario dependent like unit characteristics.  If you change the penetration
value of a weapon it will have that new value in all scenarios old and new.

Be sure to check the entire list when modifying a specific weapon, since
many countries have specific versions of their weapon.  Use the (v) View
function to check the entire weapon list and you will see how the specific
country's weapons are grouped together.  Some countries use the same weapon,
eg Britain and Germany both use RIFLE weapon number #1, while the Japanese
use Rifle weapon number #205.  Note that some weapons are duplicated, eg their
are 2 entries of the 88mm L71 Pak (#62 and #150).  #150 is titled 88 L71 
Pak 43 while #62 is merely a 88 L71 Pak.  Same weapon, same values, but
probably some weird situation involving ownership. Perhaps a situation where
Rumanians used it against the Germans?

*******************************IMPORTANT***************************************
I just want to make it clear that weapon data is read from your current OB??
file every time you start a scenario or saved game.  The data is NOT in the
scenario *.DAT file.  So if you add or modify a weapon and then create a
scenario using it, you must have that same OB?? file for that new or modified
weapon.  This is on a country by country basis.

EXAMPLE:  You edit a new experimental German wire-guided anti-tank missile
and you also make a 106mm Recoilless Rifle for the Americans.  You then make
a scenario using both.  In order to play that scenario, you must have BOTH
the modified OBPZ and OBUS files in your Steel Panthers directory. This
means if you upload your scenario, you must include those OB?? files.

This is NOT MY FAULT <g>!  It has nothing to do with how SPHACK works - it
is how Steel Panthers works.  Complain to Gary if you don't like it.

This problem does not exist if you create or modify units using the existing
weapons because unit data is written into the scenario *.DAT file.

DEFINITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is from the STEEL PANTHERS V1.1 documentation:

 "Key:
  HE= High Explosive value, used to determine HE attacks against
  soft targets like infantry. 
  AP Pen.= Max unmodified penetration for the AP round.
  HVAP Pen.= Max unmodified penetration for the HVAP round.
  HEAT=  Max unmodified High Explosive Anti-tank penetration. 
  Range= Max range for the weapon, in hexes.
  Accuracy= Number of hexes the weapon will have an unmodified 50% chance to
  hit its target. Example= Accuracy is 8, this means the weapon will have 
  from 1 to 8 hexes, a unmodified base hit chance of 50%. Note this number
  can go up or down due to various modifiers in the game."

HE PENETRATION: This appears to be the armor piercing capability of HE ammo. 

PROJECTILE SIZE:  Size has a major impact on the lethality of HE fire and in 
determining the damage resulting from successful armor penetration.  It also
controls the WEAPON'S SOUND EFFECT and CRATER size.

HVAP RANGE: Maximum range for that weapon firing HVAP.  Note that
HVAP (Hyper Velocity Armor Piercing) is really a generic term.  The Allies 
actually used APDS (Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot) and APCR (Armor Piercing 
Composite Rigid).  The Germans only used APCR, and then in very limited 
quantities because of limited supplies of tungsten.

WEAPON CLASS?: Appears to be the classification of the weapon which may effect 
               how/when it is used, or may trigger some routine in the program. 
               It may also have something to do with weight or who is allowed 
               to use it.  This needs more testing.

            Value       Classification
            1           Small Arms
            2           ??  LMGs, small MTRs, ATR, grenades, etc - 
                        stuff carried by infantry.
            3           ??  MMG, HMG, mortars, Hvy ATR, some light arty
            4           Anti-Aircraft
            5           ?? Weapons carried on AFVs & other assorted towed guns
            6           ?? Various guns and artillery
            7           ?? Various guns and artillery.  Heavy & larger than #6
            8           Flame weapons
            9           Flamethrower
            10          Naval Support
            11          Aircraft

WEAPON SIZE?:  Arnaud Bouis has informed me that according his sources, this
               is currently meanlingless data which was not implimented in
               Steel Panthers.

For purposes of modifying range and accuracy, each hex equals 50 meters

When modifying penetration values, each point equals 10 centimeters (as does
each point of armor on the AFV's)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A very special thanks for the help testing, bug hunting, and comments of   
these fine individuals.   This really became a group project.

Ralph Dowsing 
John Waters 
James Cox 
Rick McCammon
Pascal Ode
Arnaud Bouis 
Tuomas Seijavuori

Of course we have to thank Gary Grisby for Steel Panthers.  I've enjoyed all 
his other excellent wargames since 1984.   

CONCLUSION
~~~~~~~~~~
If you have problems, bug reports, suggestions, contact Nicholas Bell at:
72162.1667@compuserve.com.

Enjoy!
Nick
4-21-96

APPENDICES
~~~~~~~~~~
I.   Decimal Offset Map
II.  Ideas for Editing
III. Armor Penetration Comparision Table


I. DECIMAL OFFSET MAP OF OB?? FILES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WEAPONS
0000  Weapon Names  15 character maximum
3750  Clasification? 
4000  Null
4250  Weapon Size?
4500  Projectile Size
4750  HE/AP Penetration*  
5250  HE/AP Soft attack factor*
5750  Accuracy
6000  Range
6250  HVAP Range
6500  HVAP Penetrattion
6750  HEAT Penetration
7000- 9250 Nulls

*Each weapon is alloted 2 bytes. First byte is HE Penetration/value, second 
 is AP Penetration/value.

UNITS
 9250  Unit names  15 character maximum
13000  Unit Class
13250  Unit Graphic
13500  Size
13750  Men
14000  Weapon Slots  Each unit has 4 slots, one byte per slot.  Slots are 
                     alloted in order.
15000  Ammunition  Each unit has 8 bytes.  HE and AP ammo loads for all 
                   4 weapon slots alloted in sequence HE,AP,HE,AP etc
17000  Speed
17250  Armor  Each unit has 14 bytes allocated.  First 7 are standard
              AP armor ratings in order front hull, side hull, rear hull, 
              front turret, side turret, rear turret, top.  Second 8 bytes
              are for HEAT armor ratings. In identical order.
24000  Radio
24250  Available Start Month/Year
24500  Available End Month/Year
24750  Cost
25000  Nationality
25250  Side View in Encyclopedia (2 byte integer)
25750  Null
26000  Fire Control
26250  HVAP Ammunition 
26500  HEAT Ammunition
26750- 32514 Nulls
       
FORMATIONS
32500  Formation Names
35500  Country
35700  Units in formation, 10 bytes per formation
37700  Available
37900  Unavailable
38300  Formation Usage

II. WHAT CAN YOU DO? IDEAS FOR EDITING   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Rick McCammon: 
My first discovery was that SPHACK enables you to transfer tanks between 
nationalities, to serve as captured equipment. This feature alone makes the 
program absolutely great.
In one day, I've been able to do the following:
Create a cave and "cave defender" units for the Japanese.
Create aerosans for the Finns.
Liberate the Finnish "sled" from its misidentity as a Heavy Truck so that 
now the unit is available to be used.
Load Napalm onto my late-war U.S. aircraft.
Create an M4 mortar carrier and an M3 GMC for the U.S.
Create a Crusader AA tank, a 75 GMC and a Wasp mkIIC for the British.
Correct some small errors of classification in the SP database that prevented 
some units from ever showing up as choices...

More great ideas from Rick:
I've been able to make everything from a booby trap to individual leaders. 

I've also found several small errors in the database and the formation 
structure that prevented units (like the British DD Tank Platoon) from 
appearing. There's one German ART piece with size of 99 and crew number of 0, 
for instance.

Also, by changing the Unknown Variable of the Battalion HQ from 5 to 0-3, you 
can start off with your own choice of HQ Squad or Individual Leader in Battle 
Generated Scenarios.

I don't know why the Germans and Russians have Destroyers, Cruisers and 
Battleships, but the NOBA is very detailed. To make them appear as Selections, 
you can change that Unknown Variable to 3. For some reason, however, NOBA is a 
different category from regular Artillery, though they both appear to share 
that category.  I'm thinking about doing away with all the NOBA, except 
possibly leaving a Destroyer for the Germans and Russians and possibly a 
River GunBoat for the Russians. I could use the room in the database for more 
ground troop units.

SP's own scenario editor is, of course, excellent, but one problem I think the 
program itself has is with the "canned" squads. For instance, every GE squad 
from '39-'43 and '43-'45 has to have the same equipment. This, to me, is a 
constricting limitation. So: I've used SPHACK to create SS squads, 
GE conscripts, Partisans, Guards Infantry, LMG teams to add extra firepower.
I haven't even gotten to the other countries yet!!

Oh, I also worked it out so I could combine squads, with a Mixed Infantry 
formation. So I can have regular Soviet squads and the much tougher Guards 
Infantry squads in the same platoon.  Also changed all the costs and altered 
all the movement factors.  I am going to put in lbm pix for all my new units. 
I may have everything done by mid-summer (maybe). Then I may try my hand at 
doing a Modern Version. I would copy the MBT database by hand into the other 
databases, so as not to lose the graphics.  Then I'll be ready for the insane 
asylum. My wife says I'm halfway there already!!

From James Cox:        
The primary ways I intend to use the formation editor is to create smaller 
formations for some units (who needs 7 Flammpanzers when you only get 49 units 
total) and to alter the makeup of the computer forces.  For example, a Panzer 
plt 43 has a default composition of 4 Panzer IVGs. This means that by 6/44 
when the IVG is no longer available the Pz plt 43 used by the computer has 
roughly a 65% chance of using Pz- IVHs and 35% chance of Panthers. By changing 
the default composition to Pz-IVH the percentages change to about 80% Pz-IV 
and 20% panthers. This allows the user to make rare units slightly more so in 
randomly generated battles.

From Rainer Verlack:
I already changed the He111 to a Ju 88 that was more suited for a ground 
attack role.

From Bob Gerver:
A couple new features I've been playing with using SPHACK...
Naval battles - the graphics aren't there for warships, but I've been able to
have some intense battles at sea.
Aircraft caught on the ground. 'Course, they can never take off <g> but it
adds a lot of realism.

From Thomas V. Olszowy:
I managed to solve the my desires for unwimpy bunkers and improved artillery 
accuracy.  I've been offline for a few days so somebody has probably already 
posted this idea.  I increased the fire control rating of off board artillery 
with the result of much closer shot groups.  Instead of the usual three groups 
of three to four shells landing 2-300 meters away from each other I've 
decreased it to a lateral spread of perhaps 100-250 meters.  With a burst 
radius on a 155/150mm being about 40 meters this seems about right when 12-16 
shells land.   I've succeeded in immobilizing tanks on a regular basis with 
155mm and easily destroyed unprotected infantry.   This still assumes your 
enemy is dumb enough to park in the open.  Too high a fire control rating and 
all the shells land in the same three hexes.  There still is a random chance 
of one set of three shells falling way off target, but it is better than 
the fruitlless massive barrages that never hit what they were aimed at.

Ran into a glitch of some type.  Put together a bunker with a 280mm naval
gun.  Had to change weapon type from artillery to howitzer to get it to work.
But it still will not automatically target and and can only do manual direct
fire at hexes.  Realistically that probably is not far off, but it is
annoying, anyone have any ideas?  I was putting together a scenario dealing
with some of the more massive Normandy defenses.  280mm landing on a hex with
a landing craft is pretty ugly.

III. WEAPON PENETRATION COMPARISION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following data has been assembled for use in editing SSI's Steel Panthers
using SPHACK.  No attempt has been made to make this an exhaustive
list - I just wanted to show some of the main weapons.  Please forward any new
information to me, Nicholas Bell, 72162.1667@compuserve.com  

Range is pointblank or less than 200M if nothing is noted.

Penetration is standard AP (or APC, APCBC since SP doesn't differentiate) 
unless noted.  All penetration measurements have been converted to 0 degree
angle of impact.  SP uses the max penetration as a base point for penetration
calculation.

Note that sources cannot even agree on weapon length in calibers, so it's
not surprising they cannot agree on penetration.   Fortunately, there's alot 
of data which coincides, too.  It's up to you to make the call, every centi-
meter counts.  And you can see for yourself that SSI doesn't know everything
either.  They made judgement calls that I don't agree with.  Of course, you
don't need to agree with me either <g>!

SOURCES
~~~~~~~
The following sources are but a few which I have. They get rather repetitious.
The sources are not listed in any order of importance (or any order for that
matter!).

SP - SSI Steel Panthers

HPS - HPS Simulations data from "Panthers in the Shadows" and "Tigers on the
      Prowl."  Both HPS wargames are regarded as the most realistic available
      on the market today.  Scott Hamilton uses ballistics calculations to
      determine penetration, not test range tables.

NB - (Me, Nick Bell :)  These figures are based on a compilation of data I
have been working on for over 20 years. Unfortunately, when I was a teenager
I didn't think I'd have to list sources in the future.  I know I based these
figures on books I read in college (the physics department was interested in
ballistics, I guess), books I don't have anymore (FM Senger und Etterlin for
one - it was my brothers book), and wargames like SPI's TANK! and Yaquinto's
"Panzer" and others.  Other considerations are my general distrust of
published manufacturers range tests, but unfortunately there isn't much else
to go on.  However, I tend to downgrade/upgrade weapons because the HISTORY of 
their use belies the figures.  If some of these weapons worked as qouted, they
would not have been discarded as useless by the troops and there would not
have been Government investigations into the failure of industry to provide
adequate weapons for their soldiers.  On other side of the coin, the SU-152 
and JSU-152 were major threats to the TIGER I (just read "Tigers in Combat"by 
Schneider and "Tiger: The History of a Legendary Weapon" by Kleine and Kuehn 
to understand this).  The measly capabilities of the 152L20 in Steel Panthers 
doesn't match the historical reality.  

TC  -  "Tank Charts"  Miniature Rules, by Brian Stokes, Forrest Plublications,
        La Habra, California, 1980.

TR  -  "Tractics" Miniature Rules, by Mike Reese, TSR, Lake Geneva, WI. 1975

EGT -  "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two" by Peter Chamberlain
        and Hilary Doyle. Arco Publishing, New York. 1978

EIW - "Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II" by Ian V. Hogg,
       Bison Books, London. 1977.

FM  -  FM 9-13 Ammunition Handbook, Department of the Army, 1973.

GMF - "Handbook of German Military Forces"  Louisiana State Uninversity Press,
       Baton Rouge, 1990. (reprint of intelligence document published by the
       War Department in March 1945)

WW -  "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare" edited
       by Bernard Fitzsimons, Columbia House, New York, 1978.  Note that
       Ian V Hogg is the Editor for Land Weapons.

TIGER - "Tiger: The History of a Legendary Weapon 1942-45" By Egon Kleine and
       Volkmar Kuehn, JJ Fedorowicz Publishing, Winnepeg, Manitoba, 1989.


WEAPON          COUNTRY         RANGE   PENETRATION     SOURCE
20mm L50        Soviet                  2               NB
                                        4.9             TC
                                @200m   5.5             HPS

20mm L55-60     German                  6               SP
                                        3               NB
                                        4.5             TC
                                        4.6             TR
                                        2.4             EGT
                                        5.8 (APCR)      EGT
                                @200m   4.6 (APCR)      HPS

20mm L65        Italian                 4.9             TC

28mm sPzB 41    German                  9               SP
                                        10              TC
                                        7.2             EGT
                                @500m   6.2             EIW
                                        6.3             GMF
                                @200m   8.4             HPS

37mm L46        German                  7               SP
                                        5               NB               
                                        5.9             TC
                                        8.5 (APCR)      TC
                                        4               EGT
                                        7.6 (APCR)      EGT
                                @500m   4.3             EIW*
                                @500m   4.8 (APCR)      EIW*
                                @400yd  5.8 (APCR)      GMF
                                @200m   6               HPS
                                @200m   7 (APCR)        HPS
                                @500m   4.8             WW*
                                @500m   5 (APCR)        WW*
*Interesting to note that world-renown weapons expert Ian V. Hogg cannot
even agree with himself.
   
37mm L53        US                      9               SP
                                        6               NB
                                        6.3             TC
                                        9.8 (APCR)      TC
                                @1000yd 5.2             EIW
                                @200m   6               HPS

2 Pdr           British                 8               SP
                                        6               NB
                                        6.8             TC
                                @300m   5.5             HPS

45mm L46        Soviet                  7               SP
                                        6               NB
                                        5.9             TC
                                @500m   6               EIW
                                @300m   5.5             HPS
                                @500m   5               WW

47mm L40        Italian                 7               SP
                                        6.3             TC
                                @300m   6               HPS

47mm L43        Czech/German            8               SP   
                                        6.6             TC
                                        4.2             EGT
                                        12 (APCR)       EGT
                                 @200m  6.5             HPS
                                 @200m  10 (APCR)       HPS

50mm L42        German                  8               SP
                                        9               NB
                                        6.3             TC
                                        12.6 (APCR)     TC
                                        6.5             EGT
                                        11.5 (APCR)     EGT
                                @300m   6.5             HPS
                                @300m   8 (APCR)        HPS              

50mm L60        German                  9               SP
                                        10              NB
                                        16.5 (APCR)     TC
                                        11.7            TR
                                        8               EGT
                                        15.6 (APCR)     EGT
                                @250m   8.8             EIW
                                @250m   14.1 (APCR)     EIW
                                @1000yd 6.7             GMF 
                                @300m   9               HPS
                                @300m   14 (APCR)       HPS
                                @500m   7.8             WW
                                @500m   12 (APCR)       WW

57mm L52        US                      11              SP
                                        10              NB
                                        10.9            TC
                                @1000yd 6.7             EIW
                                @300m   8               HPS
                                @1000yd 8.7             WW

57mm L60-73     Soviet                  11              SP
                                        10              NB
                                @500m   10.3            EIW
                                @500m   12 (APCR)       EIW        
                                @500m   10.4            FM
                                @500m   13.7 (APCR)     FM
                                @300m   11              HPS
                                @300m   16 (APCR)       HPS
                                @500m   10.3            WW              
                                @500    12 (APCR)       WW

6 Pdr           British                 11 (AP)         SP
                                        11 (APDS)       NB
                                        10.9 (AP)       TC
                                        17 (APDS)       TC
                                @1000yd 8.8             EIW (unclear if AP or APDS)
                L45 ATG         @300m   7.5             HPS
                L45 ATG         @300m   11.5 (APDS)     HPS            
                L52 Tank Gun    @300m   8               HPS
                L52 Tank Gun    @300M   12 (APDS)       HPS
                                @1000m  8.8             WW
                                @1000m  17.5 (APDS)     WW

75mm L24        German                  6               SP
                                        6               NB
                                        6.9             TC 
                                        6.5             TR
                                        5               EGT
                                        7 (HEAT)        EGT  
                                        10 (HEAT)       EGT  (different shell type)
                                @300m   4.5             HPS
                                        7.5 (HEAT)      HPS

75mm L31-34     Italian                 9               SP
                                        7.8             TC

75mm L38-40     US                      10              SP
                                        9               NB
                                        9.4             TC
                                        9.6             TR
                                @300m   6.5             HPS

75mm L43        German                  13              SP
                                        13              NB
                                        17.6 (APCR)     TC
                                        11.7            EGT
                                        15 (APCR)       EGT
                                @300m   11.5            HPS
                                @300m   14 (APCR)       HPS

75mm L48        German                  14              SP
                                        15              NB
                                        13.7            TC   
                                        17.6 (APCR)     TC
                                        12.1            TR
                                        12.7            EGT
                                        17.1 (APCR)     EGT   
                                @500m   12.4            EIW
                                @500m   13.8 (APCR)     EIW 
                                @1000m  9.7             FM
                                @1000yd 12.2            GMF
                                @300m   13              HPS
                                @300m   15.5 (APCR)     HPS
                                @500m   13.2            WW
                                @500m   15.4 (APCR)     WW
                                
75mm L70        German                  19              SP
                                        18              NB
                                        18.4            TC
                                        21.2 (APCR)     TC
                                        17.7            TR
                                        16.5            EGT
                                        23.2 (APCR)     EGT
                                @500yd  16.9            GMF
                                @300m   15.5            HPS
                                @300m   19.5 (APCR)     HPS

76.2mm L16      Soviet                  3               NB
                                @200m   5.5             HPS

76.2mm L26      Soviet                  5               SP
                                        7               NB
                                        7               TC

76.2mm L41-42   Soviet                  9               SP
                                        12 (APCR)       SP
                                        10              NB
                                        8.6             TC
                                        12.1 (APCR)     TC
                                        10.5            TR
                                @500m   6.8             FM
                                @500m   9 (APCR)        FM
                                        10-12 (HEAT)    FM
                                @300m   7.5             HPS
                                @300m   10 (APCR)       HPS

76.2mm L52 (r)  German                  13              NB     
                                        13.3            TC
                                        11.7            EGT
                                        16.2 (APCR)     EGT
                                @1000yd 9.9             GMF
                                @300m   11              HPS    
                                @300m   14 (APCR)       HPS
                                @500m   12              WW
                                @500m   15.8 (APCR)     WW

76.2mm L54      US                      12              SP
                                        18 (APCR)       SP
                                        12              NB
                                @300m   9.5             HPS
                                @300m   16.5 (APCR)     HPS
                                @1000yd 10              WW
       
3" Gun          US                      14 (APDS)       NB
                                        14.6            TC
                                        24.6 (APCR)     TC
                                @300m   10.5            HPS (M1/MB)   
                                @300m   17.5 (APCR)     HPS (M1/MB)
                                @300m   11              HPS (M5)
                                @300m   11.5            HPS (M7)
                                @300m   16.5 (APCR)     HPS (M7)
                                @1000yd 10              WW

77mm L49        British                 14              SP
                                        17 (APDS)       SP
                                        16.1            TC
                                        25.1 (APDS)     TC    
                                @300m   14              HPS
                                @300m   19 (APDS)       HPS

17 Pdr L58-60   British                 17              SP
                                        22 (APDS)       SP
                                        19 (APDS)       NB
                                        19              TC
                                        30 (APDS)       TC
                                @300m   18              HPS  (ATG)
                                @300m   15              HPS  (MK4/7 on Firefly)
                                @300m   19.5 (APDS)     HPS

85mm L51-53     Soviet                  13              SP
                                        17 (APCR)       SP
                                        13              NB
                                        14.8            TC
                                        21.8 (APCR)     TC
                                @1000m  10              FM
                                @1000m  12.7 (APCR)     FM
                                @300m   11              HPS

88mm L56        German                  17              SP
                                        16              NB
                                        25.8 (APCR)     TC
                                        14.4            EGT
                                        20.5 (APCR)     EGT
                                @300m   14              HPS
                                @300m   19 (APCR)       HPS
                                @500m   14              TIGER

88mm L71        German                  22              SP
                                        22              NB
                                        22.6            TC
                                        30.9 (APCR)     TC
                                        24.3            EGT
                                        28.4 (APCR)     EGT
                                @1000m  20              EIW
                                @1000m  23 (APCR)       EIW
                                @500yd  22              GMF
                                @1000yd 20              GMF
                                @1500yd 15.6            GMF
                                @300m   20              HPS    
                                @300m   24 (APCR)       HPS             
                                @1000m  19              WW
                                @1000m  24.1 (APCR)     WW
                                @500m   20.5            TIGER

90mm L50-51     US                      16              SP
                                        25 (APCR)       SP
                                @1000   12              WW

90mm L52-53     US                      15              SP
                                        18              NB
                                        18.6            TC
                                        31.2 (APCR)     TC
                                @300m   13.5            HPS
                                @300m   20.5 (APCR)     HPS

90mm L73        US                      22.8            TC

100mm L55-60    Soviet                  21              SP
                                        17              NB
                                        24.5 (APCR)     TC
                                @300m   18              HPS
                                        15.3            WW
                                        21.7 (APCR)     WW

122mm L18-22    Soviet                  6               SP
                                        10              NB
                                        12 (HEAT)       HPS (no AP)

122mm L43       Soviet                  20              SP
                                        16              NB
                                        20.4            TC
                                @300m   16              HPS
                                        12 (HEAT)       HPS

128mm L54-58    German                  22              SP
                                        27.5            TC
                                        22.6            EGT
                                @500yd  25.4            GMF
                                @300m   18              HPS
                                @1000m  23              WW


152mm L30-32    Soviet                  8               SP
                                        17              NB
                                @300m   7.5             HPS

INFANTRY WEAPONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PzB 39          German                  3               SP
                                @300    2.5             EIW
                                @100m   3.7             HPS

PzFaust         German                  20 (HEAT)       SP
                                        14 (HEAT)       EIW  PzF 30 K
                                        20 (HEAT)       EIW  PzF 30, 60, 100, 150
                                                        GMF concurs with EIW
                                        20 (HEAT)       HPS

PIAT            British                 11 (HEAT)       SP
                                        7.5 (HEAT)      EIW
                                        10 (HEAT)       HPS

2.36 Bazooka    US                      14 (HEAT)       SP
                                        8 (HEAT)        EIW
                                        12 (HEAT)       HPS

PzSchrecke      German                  15 (HEAT)       SP
                                        15 (HEAT)       EIW
                                        14 (HEAT)       HPS

Rifle Grenade   all                     7 (HEAT)        SP
                                        6 (HEAT)        EIW  US M9
                                        4, 9, and
                                        12.5 (all heat) EIW various German types
                                                        GMF (as EIW)
not listed by SP is
the Soviet RPG-43 Hand grenade          7.5 (HEAT)      EIW  
                                        15 (HEAT)       HPS

.50 cal - 12.7mm MG                     3               SP
                                @200m   1               HPS

Boys ATR        British                 2               SP
                                        2 @500m         EIW

Wz35 ATR        Polish                  2               SP
                                        2 @300m         EIW

PTRD            Soviet                  3               SP
                                        2.5 @500m       EIW
                                @100m   3               HPS

end of file
