[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Olefin

I am not talking about steam ships - I am talking about steam locomotives.

Check back over the old threads. We've discussed the use of rail before and it's been shown as unfeasible until significant reconstruction of infrastructure (ie the rail lines themselves) has been completed.
Additionally, there's problems with marauders, petty dictators, New America, and sooooo many more issues we could discuss just them alone for a month!

Originally Posted by Olefin

But if guys can do it in Poland in Going Home they can sure as hell do it in the US.

Yes, Going Home does have that. It also shows us some of the problems such as destroyed bridges, ripped up lines, etc. Furthermore, the PC group isn't expecting to have to hold any portion of the line for longer than it takes to actually roll over it - ie about a mile ahead of the train and about half a mile behind.
In the US, Milgov (and Civgov) aren't going to be devoting resources to reconstruction if their work will be torn up the moment their backs are turned. Troops and resources are needed to secure the lines, guard the trains, set up rest and refuelling stops. Just protecting and servicing a hundred miles of track when the countryside is hostile is going to take a LOT of manpower and resources.

So sure, a single train may get through, maybe even a few trains, but the moment a hostile group realises trains are running again, you can bet an ambush will be set up. It's a LOT easier to attack a train than it is a convoy of trucks too - the train can't divert to an alternate route.

Originally Posted by Olefin

Frankly no military would be that stupid to not reinforce that division and make it a priority.

Once again, perhaps there wasn't a NEED for reinforcement early enough to plan for part of TF34 to divert there. Also, getting troops from the east coast, as already discussed, is fraught with difficulties.
It's all well and good to say something ought to be done, it's another to organise the logistics for it.

Originally Posted by Olefin

And before you go all canon on me - the game basically stopped in mid April of 2001 as far as the US goes. There were a few isolated Challenge articles but thats it. Any projections in HW are just that - projections - and in this case of one author and not GDW as a whole.

Reread my earlier comments. I'm not saying reinforcements will never get to the 49th AD, just that they're not getting there before April 2001.

Originally Posted by Olefin

i.e. the Challenge magazine article that has a nuclear sub commander in charge of the Hyman Rickover. If they had him then why wasnt he in Last Submarine.

Umm, perhaps because he wasn't in the area at the time he was needed? Perhaps he was better utilised where he was?

Originally Posted by Olefin

You can defend canon all you want - but its flat out wrong here.

In your opinion. Others, many others who have spent decades studying and developing the game strongly disagree with you.

Originally Posted by Olefin

Some of the modules have stuff that makes no sense and should be ignored.

Again, your opinion. As has been stated time and time again, the apparent problems can be worked through and explained. It just takes a little time and effort. Sure, it's easier to simply throw out what you don't like and start fresh, and everyone's entitled to do that if they wish, but nobody is entitled to declare everyone else must follow suit!

Originally Posted by Olefin

As for reinforcements and those who say they couldnt get troops to the 49th.

Sigh....
It's a timing and logistical issue...

Originally Posted by Olefin

And the module states that they only used 1400 out of 43,000 men for reinforcements?

Check on the various threads where this has already been discussed. To summarise, not all those 43,000 actually went to the US, many were not military (dependants), a number weren't army, and then there's the crippled who are not longer suitable for military service.

Originally Posted by Olefin

Thats what Chico and the others in the DC group were saying all along, that it was time to put HW and Kidnapped on the shelf and start over again at April of 2001 and make a timeline that made sense.

Umm, what?
Ignore Howling Wilderness, which details the situation up to April 2001, and start fresh at April 2001?

Originally Posted by Olefin

As for those who said they sat down and war gamed it first

It's not a claim, it's a fact.

Originally Posted by Webstral

Sail, my friend.

Sail does seem to be the most likely method and you've already covered most of the important problems. The first transportation by sail might take a while to organise - gathering the necessary boats and crews, ensuring they aren't needed for fishing (which will be a major problem given the sudden influx of people to feed). There may only be enough boats excess to minimum survival requirements to shift a few hundred people at a time which would mean several journeys down around Florida and back and all the dangers that entails.

Originally Posted by Webstral

Fortunately, the Operation Omega orders are issued well in advance of the TF Omega departure date.

No doubt, however planning (as discussed elsewhere) is unlikely to begin until after July 2000. The 49th AD's (for example) need for reinforcement may not become apparent until October or later, well too late for significant changes to the Omega plan. It may take even longer to communicate their need to where the "available" troops are, further delaying the possible reinforcement.

Originally Posted by Olefin

And we know there are ships making the run from Norfolk to at least the Texas area.

Yes, we do know there is some shipping. We don't see much evidence of them being particularly large, or large enough to carry more than a few dozen people at a time.