NEWS

Prowlers

Posted by: Lightning
06.08.2009 13:30 GMT

Hello and welcome back to another update of Forgotten Hope. Today we have 2 renders and a whole bunch of in-game screenshots on the menu, but before we move on to those, we would like to welcome another new developer. Winterhilf will be helping us out by developing the singleplayer mode for our maps. Welcome Winterhilf!

On to the renders. First, we have the British Achilles (shown here with a Canadian skin). It was modeled and skinned by Agus.

The Achilles was little more than an M10 with a 17 pounder gun, rather than the standard (and much weaker) 3 inch gun. During the course of the war, some 1100 were converted, but only 125 were ready in time for D-Day. Unlike the Americans, who used their M10s as tank hunters, the British used the Achilles as mobile anti-tank gun. After a position had been taken over by infantry, the Germans would often mount an immediate counter-attack, so there would not be enough time to set up a 17 pounder artillery gun. With the Achilles, a powerful gun could be rolled into place to stop the German tanks. In this defensive role it also suffered less from its poor armour, as it nearly always got the first shot.

The next render is of the German Wirbelwind (Whirlwind) and it was made by Toddel, Jodonnel and Rad.

As the Germans lost their air superiority halfway through the war, their interest in self-propelled anti-aircraft guns grew stronger. In early 1944 this resulted in the Möbelwagen, a Panzer IV with, instead of a turret, a 37mm FlaK. This design was, however, only a stopgap until a better design was developed. In May 1944, the better design first rolled out of the factory. This model was called the Wirbelwind (Whirlwind) and it was armed with a 20mm FlaKvierling. Unlike the Möbelwagen, it had a permanent 9-sided armoured 'box' around the gun to protect the crew. This 'box' was open at the top, as the gun produced too much smoke for it to be closed. Either 87 or 105 were produced (the Wehrmacht service records and factory production records list different numbers). It was eventually replaced in late 1944 by the Ostwind, which was armed with a more powerful 37mm FlaK.

Finally, we have some in-game screenshots. The two below show the Stuka-zu-Fuß firing its rockets and an American soldier taking out a StuG 40 Auf. G with his M1A1 Bazooka.

Next up, some screenshots of the Marder I.

The Panzer IV Ausf. H

And last, but certainly not least, the Tiger II!

And a wallpaper.

More screenshots of the Marder I, Panzer IV and Tiger II can be found on our forum.

That's all for now, but be sure to come back later for another update. Until then, feel free to visit our IRC channel and our public forums to discuss this update and other news.


Tell your Friends

Falaise Pocket

Posted by: Lightning
15.07.2009 21:00 GMT

Hello and welcome back to another update of Forgotten Hope. This week we are showing off the new map 'Falaise Pocket', but before we go to the screenshots we would like to welcome a few new developers. We have added as many as 3 new mappers to our team in the past few weeks; Fuchswiesel, who made today's map, Sorken and Spaetzle. Welcome to the development team guys!

After the German lines in Normandy were broken, during Operation Cobra, Hitler felt that the situation could be turned around, by attacking the flank of the allied advance and cutting the advance off. Most German generals however, saw the looming threat of encirclement and only a month later they were proved right. The offensive at Mortain had failed and the allies were now on all sides of the German army. As the situation became clear, the German army had to make increasingly desperate attempts to break out of the pocket. This map focuses on the small town of St. Lambert-sur-Dives, in the middle of the 'Falaise Gap' (the hole in the pocket through which the Germans could escape). The map was made, as mentioned earlier, by Fuchswiesel.

The loading text:

"August 18th, 1944. For the past month the Allies have exploited the American breakthrough at St. Lo and have nearly encircled the whole of the German seventh army. Until yesterday, a small gap remained, centered around the town of St. Lambert-sur-Dives, but with elements of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division having secured this small town, the Falaise Pocket is now a fact. The German high command however, isn't willing to write off the 50,000 men inside the pocket just yet. As the 1st Polish Division is holding off attempts to re-open the gap from the east, the Canadians must hold out against the increasingly desperate attacks from the west..."

As usual, you can find the minimap in our maps section.

That's all for now, but be sure to come back later for another update. Until then, feel free to visit our IRC channel and our public forums to discuss this update and other news.


Tell your Friends
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