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border-top:1px solid #393939; clear:both; display:none; width:100%!important; position:relative; z-index:999999!important; height:90px!important"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="footerAd_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px"> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hpssims.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hpssims.com"><U><IMG SRC="d687d3a0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <I>Squad Battles Series by HPS Simulations/ John Tiller Games.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Command</div> <div> F.Lee Harmon </div> <div> <IMG SRC="db0735a0.jpg" border=0 width="115" height="346" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I>The Pixel Re-enactor</I></div> <div> <I>Seelow, 1945</I></div> <bR> <div> TF Echo-Four</div> <div> <I><B>Budak</b></I><I>,</I> Ozgur</div> <div> <I><B>Conner,</b></I> Jeffrey</div> <div> <I><B>Harden</b></I>, Laurence</div> <div> <I><B>Hook</b></I>, Lee</div> <div> <I><B>Kappely, </b></I>Wyatt</div> <div> <I><B>Konczal, </b></I>Tom</div> <div> <I><B>Plume</b></I>, Randy</div> <div> <I><B>Wulfes,</b></I> Thomas</div> <bR> <div> SB Comrades </div> <div> <I><B>Blackburn, </b></I>Dave</div> <div> <I><B>Ciampa , </b></I>Tom</div> <div> <I><B> Deaton,</b></I> Craig</div> <div> <I><B>Hamilton</b></I>, Rich</div> <div> <I><B>Marsh,</b></I> Louie</div> <div> <I><B>Mike</b></I>, Red</div> <div> <I><B>Thomas</b></I>, William</div> <div> <I><B>Tiller,</b></I> John</div> <div> <I><B>Walter,</b></I> Dierk</div> <div> <I><B>Wilder</b></I>, Bill</div> <div> <I><B>Williams,</b></I> Edward</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 18"><U>Link</U></A> </div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="e49315b0.png" border=0 width="561" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></b></div> <div> News From the Front - Recent Updates</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C0C0C0" FACE="Times New Roman" >  Task Force Echo-Four is proud to have delivered</FONT><I><B> </b></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>65</b></I></FONT><I><B> </b></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C0C0C0" FACE="Times New Roman" >scenarios to the SB community as of this date</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>23 September</b></I></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800ffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">JUST CAN NOT SEEM TO GET ANYWHERE AT THE SITE? THAT IS BECAUSE TASK FORCE ECHO FOUR HAS RELOCATED AND THE NEW SITE IS UP AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS. THIS SITE IS SCHEDULED TO BECOME MY WIFE'S ALBUM FOR BABY PICTURES, SO YOU BETTER BOOKMARK THE NEW ONE. =)  </b><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C0C0C0" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbattles" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbatt"><U>http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbattles</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800ffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </b><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C0C0C0" FACE="Times New Roman" >What does this mean for you and us?</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">No more pop up adds</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Both <I>Outpost Echo-Four</I> and <I>Hell's Half Acre</I> will be merged</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">all of the material mentioned on the site will be available in one place</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">No crappy downtime</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Unlimited Space</div> <div> The new URL for the site (now called <I><B>Task Force Echo-Four</b></I>) is the following <A HREF="http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbattles" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbatt"><U>http://www.wargamer.com/hosted/squadbattles</U></A></div> <div> It will take a bit to move everything over there, so bare with us. Should have it up within the week-two maximum.</div> <div> Back to work</div> <div> Frank</div> <div> <I><B>14 September</b></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Task Force Echo Four welcomes aboard new member <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>Tom Konczal</b></I></FONT>. Tom will be found exclusively skulking in the Jungles of Vietnam over at <I><B>Hell's Half Acre</b></I>, yet none the less we give him a hearty welcome here at OPE4.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">AvR - Custom Scenario </b></I></FONT><I><B>-</b></I> Ozgur Budak hits again with number one in his <I><B>State Farm 79 series</b></I> (not to be confused with Jeff Conners' ASL conversion) <I><B>"First Encounter".  </b></I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">AvR- Custom Scenario - </b></I></FONT><I><B>Einundvierzig no.#3 "Kherson: Soldiers of the Sea"</b></I> has finished playtesting and is now available. BTW_ You are not missing number two in the series, it just has not been completed yet. I had to some deep sea fishing for a bit of info involving the Sokolow scenario and it is in the works.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>08 September</b></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Board Game project just keeps rolling with another addition by Ozgur Budak for AvR titled <I><B>"Two Long Bars"</b></I>. This action is at Kalinin in Nov. of 1941 and features support from the infamous Hans Rudel.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Due to some upcoming projects that I have in the works, the <I><B>SS:</b></I><I><B>Einundvierzig</b></I> scenarios will be released as they are completed instead of releasing the entire package at once as originally planned. This is being done because of the projects immensity and the time it will take to complete it in entirity. That said, scenario one; <I><B>Panzermeyers' Bluff</b></I><I><B> </b></I>is<I><B> </b></I>uploaded and scenario 3 <I><B>Kherson:</b></I> <I><B>Soldiers of the Sea</b></I> (both involving LSSAH) will be done very shortly.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Final Touches being put on Jeff Conner's first AotR scenario designing effort<I><B>, Knife in the Back at Sowchos 79".  </b></I>Hell of a slugfest.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Added a scenario archive of non TFE4 personell's scenarios</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Also finished up some alt art work of mine for P&F and Pacific War which you'll have to travle over to Hell's Half Acre to check out. Thomas just made a good sized update himself.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Lastly, I put an updated picture of the evil seed in the site news below for those who have been asking about Sascha. Awwww...precious......chomp. AAAAAAHHHHH!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>02 September - </b></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>17 SCENARIO UPDATE!</b></I></FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ozgur has finished up his<I><B> Mortain Battlepack for the ES_BGP project</b></I>. 8 scenarios focusing on the fighting around the Avranches in August 1944. Tough for the Germans, but a whole new world of balance compared to the stock versions of Mortain. He has also completed his <I><B>Eagles Strike Alternate vehicle art package</b></I> (WWII Resources) which looks amazing. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Thomas has completed<I><B> 3 more BGP conversions.</b></I> The first two are for ES. These battles finish off scenarios number 11-20 in the ES_BGP project and they have been packaged in with the first 8 scenarios to make one large download. (<I>You must download the BGP_ESBP2.zip to get these files.</I>) Third scrap is ASL_AR#6. This fight squares off an NKVD company vs. elements of the Nordland Regt./SS Wiking Division in urban combat ala Rostov 42.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">New Guest article from <I><B>Marc "Bayonet" Belizzi.</b></I><I><B> </b></I><I><B>"The Offense" </b></I>is part one in a 2 part series on getting up there and kicking some ass for whatever banner you happen to be flying at the moment. Marc is a Major is the US Army and a former Rifle Company Commander who knows his medicine. Extensive info for those who want to brush up on their game or for those who just want to see how the real world infantry operates.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">New scenario submissions from one of Wild Bill's Raiders, <I><B> Kevin Kinscherf .</b></I> These 6 scenarios cover the fighting around Borisov during Barbarossa (July 1941) and are et up to have different options, 1 is best played as German, 1 H2H, etc. Hearty thanks to Kevin. Salute.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BGP_AR#4 <I><B>"Dead of Winter" </b></I>appears to not have been working properly. I uploaded a freah version of it for those who may have had problems with the original.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>27 August</b></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hell's Half Acre is open for business........see site news below. Busy on a real update for the site. Roughly 4 or 5 scenarios and a remedy for a currently non working scenario. Hang in there, been busy in Asia. ;-)</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>24 August</b></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8c0c0c000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BGP-ES#17</b></I> was not working properly due to a renaming error on my part. This has been remedied and corrected files uploaded. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Riflemans' Herald - SB News Sept.</div> <bR> <div> Because the SB:WWII material keeps piling in the way it has been and more than likely will continue to do so at OPE4,  TaskForce Echo-Four possessed no other option than to start up another website focued on Asian wars titled <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>"Hell's Half Acre"</b></I></FONT><I><B>.  HHA </b></I>caters to all past, present and future Squad Battles material dealing with Asian and Far Eastern Theaters.</div> <bR> <div> The site is now finished and hosts almost <I><B>60 </b></I>scenarios! The site will also host a page for the upcoming Blitzkrieg Eagles Strike Mirror Match Tourney (space reasons). I have put all of the custom scenarios and work that I have for Vietnam, TOD, Korea and P&F up on <I><B>HHA</b></I>, so if you did an Asian scenario and you hate my guts, please drop me an e-mail so I can whack your stuff from the site and save some web space. ;-)</div> <bR> <div> So all of you Pixel Leathernecks and Bitmap Boonie Rats, grab your duece gear and double time over to Hell's Half Acre. Enjoy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Too many firefights, not enough loot?</b></I></div> <div> 2003 seems to be the year of Squad Battles releases does it not? With <I><B>Korea</b></I> being released in the 2nd quarter and quickly overshadowed by <I><B>Advance of the Reichs'</b></I> release a month later, many SB series fans seemed a bit overwhelmed and exhausted with trying to keep up with the series a few short months ago. Now here comes SB7 just chicken necking around the corner.</div> <bR> <div> Squad Battles has taken a few blows on the last two releases. Trotter's PC Gamer review of <I><B>SB Korea </b></I>seemed rather harsh for an obvious lack of understanding of the game mechanics and a few typos. With all the variety, nationalities and 70 scenarios, Korea is often hailed by fans of  Squad Battles as the best of the series to date. This is despite it's lowly 64% rating from PC Gamer which seems to have resulted from the Chinese opening a can of whoop ass on Trotter at Kapyong. LMAO.</div> <bR> <div> I have not seen any reviews of <I><B>Advance of the Reich</b></I> as of this moment, but the lack of stock scenarios balanced for PBEM often leaves one with a bad first impression that seems to make a 180 degree turn to praise after more than a few hours with the game. Personally, AvR is my favorite SB game to date and massive after market support is being put into it from this end.</div> <bR> <div> Soon SB7 will hit the shelves as it is already showing up on order forms at DIY wargame distributors in Europe. Will it recieve the same coup de grace as SB:KW? My concern is that fans may be swayed from picking the game up due to past vibes, or thinking that it is just part deux of a past SB release. SB7 is an excellent game and offers as much variety as KW. 60 scenarios, 3 campaigns, numerous nationalities, etc. It was a blast to work on and SB fans will be very satisfied, in my opinion.</div> <bR> <div> You may have noticed that I am not kicking out the scenarios like I once was. This is due to the fact that I am working away on the <I><B>Einundvierzig Battlepack </b></I>for AvR. These are historical scenarios being balanced for PBEM play and my trusty cohort and I are playtesting number 3 in the series (a wicked streetfight with LSSAH and Red Marines at Kherson, Ukraine SSR) as I type. I had planned to do 10 scenarios, but it looks as if it may be more. If not more than 10, the first battlepack may cover the Leibstandarte exclusively. Breaks your heart huh? Yeah, mine too. lol.</div> <bR> <div> Additionally, I am slowly but surely working on a project for the aging SBV, that covers the US 3rd Marine Divisions' Operation Kingfisher around Con Thien and the DMZ during the late summer of 1967. Scenario one is being playtested at the moment and I plan to do 6-10 scenarios. Vietnam is a great game, seems to have gotten a lot of support in the beginning, but it seems to have died away in the past year...we'll change that. ;-)  That'll be going up on HHA when it is completed.</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="df347da0.jpg" border=0 width="327" height="218" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></b></div> <div> All for now.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Frank</I></div> <div> 22 August 2003</div> <div> <I><B>echo-four</b></I></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:echo-four@inlandnet.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:echo-four@inlandnet.net"><U>echo-four@inlandnet.net</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> My Wargaming and Military Rap Sheet</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>WarGaming:</b></I></FONT> Tactical or subtactical level and turn based. Anything beyond the tactical level gives the creeps. Never wanted to be pogue (REMF for you Army doggies) and war on that level is definetly rear echelon. Favorite games of the past <I>Twilight 2000, Advanced Squad Leader, Ambush!, Charlie Company, Panzer General.</I> Currently play all <I>Squad Battles</I> games religiously, and HPS' <I>Early American Wars (1776, 1812, F&IW)</I> and the <I>Campaign Series</I> periodically.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>Design:</b></I></FONT>  I have worked on two HPS' Squad Battles projects as playtest coordinator - scenario designer;<I><B> The Korean War</b></I> and  <I><B>Pacific War</b></I>. I am currently working on a future SB project and have recently designed a few <I>Pacific War </I>scenarios for the United States Army. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>Military</b></I></FONT><I><B> </b></I>US Marine Corps (1989-1992). Parris Island.<I><B> FMF : </b></I><I><B>E</b></I><I><B>cho Company, 2/3 Marines, 1st MEB</b></I>. 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. <I><B>Operation Desert Shield, Storm, Sword.</b></I></div> <div> Task Force Organization  </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/1mardiv.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/a"><U>1st Marine Division, 1st Gulf War</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>Military History</b></I></FONT>  Ground Warfare. WWII has always been my main interest, but I do not limit myself to the period of 1939-1945. Extremely interested with the exploits of regular ground forces with elite standing. Waffen SS, GroßDeutschland, select Fallschrimjager Divisions, US Marines, ROK Marines, US Army Airborne, British Paras and Marines, French Foreign Legion,  Soviet Naval Infantry, Ghurkas, etc.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Also interested in many wars and conflicts from the age of rifles until the present, but lately conflicts against the Russians have consumed my pursuit of military history. <I>Russo-Japanese War, Russo-Polish War, Russo-Finnish War, Nomonhan and Changkufeng Incidents, Russo-German War and finally the Soviet-Afghan War.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>ATTENTION, YOU ARE IN AMERICAN WEB SPACE! </b></I></FONT><I><B>The opinions and the statements </b></I>on this site are those of the author and only his. Any third party represented on these pages has nothing to do with the blabbering of the sites creator . I post no disclaimer. Being an American, I reserve the right given to me in the US Constitution to say whatever I may, when ever I feel like it, and however I wish to say it. You also reserve rights by said Constitution to believe what ever you may concerning my statements; be them in a political, religious, or personal point of view. Freedom for me and not for thee does not exist here. Feel free to e-mail me with any comments. <A HREF="mailto:echo-four@inlandnet.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:echo-four@inlandnet.net"><U>echo-four</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://members.myactv.net/~rplume/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.myactv.net/~rplume/"><U><B><IMG SRC="b9f2c320.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></b></U></A></FONT>     </div> <div> <I>                                          </I></div> <div>       </div> <div>        </div> <div>     </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>