ETO Battle of Britain campaign Mark II

[33lima]

I pull up and around to take stock, turning on the TAC. Apart from the nearby Spitfire, I can't tell friend from foe, amongst the other aircraft in the vicinity.

Looking around, I soon spot a 109 slipping past underneath...

...but before I can react, another Spitfire blasts him out of the sky, the pilot reporting his success on the blower. I'm not the only one having a good day!

And it's not over yet! Another single-seater crosses my path and I instinctively turn after him. It's a 109, and this time, he's all mine!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

The Hun does his best to get out of my line of fire...

...and for a while, he gives me the run-around.

But not for long. The Messerschmitt bursts into flames as my rounds whack into him. The pilot sensibly bails out.

No doubt about that one!

I can't have many rounds left, so hopefully, there aren't many Huns left, either!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

Sure enough, that seems to be about it. The Hun pilot is drifting down under his silken canopy close to our base, where the chaps on the ground will have had a grandstand view of the action. I trust they are suitably impressed!

I ease back on the throttle and the boys are soon forming up.

I'm practically in the circuit so I waste no time lining up for a straight in approach.

For a moment, I think my flaps aren't going to come down, but all is well and I sink gently towards the same grassy runway that I left a few minutes ago,

The landing lights, if not also the navigation lights, are really superfluous in the circumstances, but I doubt if anyone down there is bothered; I'm not. In fact I'm feeling rather chuffed!

I actually manage to make a decent landing, too.

All that remains is to have the usual chat with the Intelligence Officer and sort out how we did.

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

It's hardly a surprise that the sortie is rated as a successful one.

I could have sworn I got four 109s, but I'm happy enough to be credited with three.

So that's how a CAP mission works out! Now I know. But with the enemy still firmly entrenched on English soil, I'll have to concentrate on the higher-valued interception missions, until the tide of battle has turned, in our neck of the woods.

Incidentally I'm working on a simple little modification of the briefing text file which will kill those repetitive objective descriptions, substitute slightly less boring success messages, and introduce rather more encouraging (and less nasty) ones for mission failures. So far, I've completed those for interception missions, and hopefully they will start appearing in the next mission report.

 

[33lima]

609 Squadron, Chilbolton, morning, 18 July 1940

Another fine July morning and it's another interception mission ahead.

The next screen shows the results of my briefing file text mod. The first mission objective statement (under 'Overview') is now a bit more succinct (there are a range of these, chosen at random, this one being a quote from a certain film). Likewise the 'flavour' text is now chosen at random from one of 'Sailor' Malan's ten rules of air fighting. In between, the two repetitive descriptions of the objective are now just blank space. It's not brilliant, but it's better than it was!

Be that as it may, I'm soon on my way.

A turn to the right brings me around onto the required Vector, up to the north-east.

Then it's onward and upward into clear blue skies, towards whatever's waiting for us out there!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

As I start to climb, a quick check with the TAC/Controller shows we're in the clear and have nearly thirty miles to go.

I decide to warp to save time and as usual, come out several miles ahead of the interception point, to give myself sufficient time. At this point, we're at about twenty thousand and nine miles out.

I reduce the TAC's range to four miles - the default eight is a bit far, as a visibility aid. Two groups of Bogies appear.

The one close to us happens to be a group of Dornier 17s, who are more or less directly below.

The ones ahead and slightly left will be our targets, though. They are also Dorniers.

Time to get busy! I start ordering the boys to attack, a pair against individual bombers. I hold my height for a while, in case the escort shows up.

But the only action is the chatter on the R/T as the boys report making their first attacks. Now, it's time for me to make mine!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

I bank left and look down at where the raid should be. At this point, I realise there's an airfield down there - Farnborough, no less.

Spiralling quickly down, I can soon make out the Dorniers. They're passing underneath and behind me.

I tighten my downward spiral as tightly as I dare, holding off the encroaching darkness.

I'm going much too fast, though, and my momentum brings me around in a wide sweep which takes me below the bombers.

I throttle back and pull up and into them, but I'm still going too fast. I end up crossing just above and behind the Huns, who take full advantage of the opportunity for a spot of target practice.

Finally, I end up behind one of the Dorniers, tired of being a target in a Hun shooting gallery. Now it's time for the boot to be on the other foot!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

The Dorniers start a left turn and I turn with them. My first burst is a bit wild - poor for line and not enough deflection.

The next effort is a bit better...

...and after the third burst, I can see a tail of fire beginning to unfurl just behind him.

After another burst, his wing tanks are well ablaze and it's time to break off.

That was a bit of a ropey start, but despite catching some hits myself, I now seem to be back in form. Relieved, I look around for another Dornier.

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

I'm not long finding another pair if bombers. After pausing briefly to order the boys to resume attacks, I bore in after the nearest one.

The Dornier seems to wilt under my fire and falls off to the left.

I give the Hun a last quick squirt from the Brownings then pull up over him.

The bomber staggers on, wings level but steadily losing height.

His descent takes him over Farnborough, just as bombs burst next to some blast pens on its perimeter track.

Evidently, there are other bombers requiring my attention!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

There are indeed other bombers requiring my attention, and they're not far away!

Once again I order into action any of the boys who are not otherwise occupied, then pitch in myself.

I come under accurate return fire and have to abort my first attack.

Suitably chastened, I pick out a bomber who's a bit further away from the rest of the bunch.

He's starting to burn as I break off the attack.

It's all a bit confused and hectic, but we seem to have the upper hand, and there are no escorts about...I think.

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

For all the Hun bombers buzzing around, Farnborough seems to have got away lightly. Whoever bombed those blast pens did a good job, though.

Right, where did that Dornier go, that I just set on fire? There he is! The flames seem to be dying back if anything, though. Time for another crack at him!

My next attack settles the matter in spectacular style.

By now, although it is still flying normally, my own aircraft has plainly taken a bit of a beating.

Time to take stock. The TAC reveals that there's still plenty going on. We're not quite done here yet.

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

What the Dorniers are trying to do is hard to tell, but several of them are still trying to do it.

I come in for another go, but my ammo finally runs out!

All I can do is get out of the way and try to get some of the others to tackle these particular Dorniers.

But they're all tied up. So it looks like these fellows will live to fight another day.

For me, this particular battle is over. It's now time to think about getting down, before something important stops working.

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

As I descend, I take a quick glance down at the instruments and don't notice anything amiss.

Farnborough looks like as good a place as any to put down.

All goes well - until I try to drop the undercart. No joy! Even the emergency system doesn't work. And the flaps don't want to play, either.

So I come on rather fast, fishtailing gently to slow her down.

I land smoothly enough but the kite goes on fire, leaving me limping away ruefully.

Anyhow I'm credited with two or three Dorniers - I can't remember - and the mission is rated a success. Also a success is my briefing text mod, which uses one of the success messages of my own devising.

Not a bad start to the first mission of the new day!

 

[Daiwilletti]

Now there's an improvement! Great to see some new briefing messages!

 

[33lima]

Thanks for the encouragement! It's still a WIP and as I didn't think much of 'You crashed' as an outcome message as seen above, I have now changed these too, with the two equally boring alternatives replaced with (so far) one hopefully less uninteresting one, as follows. They are somewhat RAF-centric but better that than too bland I think. I'm hoping the text strings aren't too long!:

<Outcome Type="PlayerRescued">
<Default>
<Text>You bailed out but luckily, were soon picked up by the army.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerAtBase">
<Default>
<Text>You made it back to your airfield - miracles will never cease!</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerKilled">
<Default>
<Text>Sadly, your luck has run out and you got the chop.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerCrashed">
<Default>
<Text>Your aircraft has been written off, but you lived to fight another day!</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerCrashLanded">
<Default>
<Text>You force-landed and your kite is a mess, but you managed to walk away from it.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerDitched">
<Default>
<Text>You ditched your aircraft and got rather wet, but were picked up by the ASR boys.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerCaptured">
<Default>
<Text>You came down behind enemy lines and were quickly captured. For you, the war is over!</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerDiedInBailout">
<Default>
<Text>Your parachute failed to open, and you are now pushing up the daisies.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerAborted">
<Default>
<Text>Mission was cancelled.</Text>
<Text>The mission was scrubbed - a waste of time, petrol and nervous energy, basically.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerAbortedCampaign">
<Default>
<Text>Your leave has come through! Get a good rest, and we'll see you again soon enough.</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>
<Outcome Type="PlayerBailout">
<Default>
<Text>You bailed out and can now apply for the Caterpillar Club, if you aren't already a member!</Text>
</Default>
</Outcome>

 

[33lima]

609 Squadron, Hinton-in-the-Hedges, early morning, 19 July 1940

Well, we've moved again, this time to a Bomber Command airfield north-west of London. Things are not looking too rosy. Despite recent successes in the air, the enemy has expanded his bridgehead. The Controller decides to scramble us against a raid to the south.

Well, at least the new briefing mod seems to be working. The new bits are the order to scramble under the title 'Overview' (which latter I could not change) and instead of repeating the order another two times, you get a different one of 'Sailor' Malan's Ten Rules for Air Fighting, each time.

Here I am, ready to start up, with the sun still low on the eastern horizon. Three Spits are lined up behind me; the other four are already airborne, awaiting us.

The first indication that all is not as it should be comes as I'm taking off. There's a whooshing, crashing sound behind me and the R/T comes to life with pilots reporting that are 'taking heavy damage.' This is a considerable understatement. Two Spitfires seem to have collided, their severed tails spinning into the air.

Crikey! That must be a bad moon rising, over there! Or setting, I suppose.

What was all that about? I have no idea. Well, there's no point crying over spilled milk, or smashed Spitfires. I might as well get on with the mission!

...to be continued!

 

[33lima]

As I come around in a wide, leisurely turn towards the south, I'm suddenly aware that I can hear the rumble of gunfir. We are no-where near the front line - it's the airfield's Ack Ack! I notice the black bursts over to the right, then see a flock of small aircraft, lit by the early morning sun, flash past and tear into the boys forming up behind me. 109s!

I issue a hasty attack order which probably just confuses the situation, as these marauding Huns aren't our targets. I shove forward the throttle and start turning after them.

It's too late to stave off disaster. The first two Spitfires are already going down.

It seems that all I can do is exact some retribution, before they get me, too. There are plenty of Huns to chose from...

...and I waste no time in making my choice. Time to get to work!

...to be continued!

 

[Daiwilletti]

Well, at least the new briefing mod seems to be working. The new bits are the order to scramble under the title 'Overview' (which latter I could not change) and instead of repeating the order another two times, you get a different one of 'Sailor' Malan's Ten Rules for Air Fighting, each time.

Hi 33 Lima, one place where "overview" might be editable is in one of the Dialogues folder's xmls. If I can get my addled brain to remember I'll have a shuffle around later on the CFS3 computer.

The AI spitfires are horribly twitchy on takeoff. If I touch a brake for any reason in my takeoff process, the AI respond immediately which is highly unrealistic and causes nasty prangs.

 

[33lima]

Hi 33 Lima, one place where "overview" might be editable is in one of the Dialogues folder's xmls. If I can get my addled brain to remember I'll have a shuffle around later on the CFS3 computer.

The AI spitfires are horribly twitchy on takeoff. If I touch a brake for any reason in my takeoff process, the AI respond immediately which is highly unrealistic and causes nasty prangs.

Thanks for that - especially how to avoid those behind having a pile up if they 'see my brake lights come on'!

I had a look in the dialogues folder and didn't see anything useful, although I was actually looking for the apparently non-editable advice in briefings on waypoints and giving orders, which isn't too bad. I'd prefer to be able to close up the overview/objective with the 'flavour' text which follows but couldn't find that setting anywhere, either.

I don't know if it's a co-incidence, but getting mugged by 109s just after take-off for the first time came right after I installed the version of your campaign you sent me!

 

[Daiwilletti]

LOL, definitely a coincidence, its down to spawns! I had two different fighter formations mug me within 5 minutes of each other, after takeoff this afternoon. By the time I got to the intercept point I was out of ammo and had to try and distract escorting fighters so that the bomber objective could be damaged. Still failed the mission but five wingmen survived, thanks to my shooting down at least 3 of the "bouncing" fighters after takeoff.

One thing about large formations - I've read that the maximum number of aircraft able to be specified in a spawn formation is 16, and that for many formation types (strangely some are better than others) you can more reliably get only 8. Hence I've been experimenting with three spawn files listed for a single die roll entry in a spawn table. The trouble is, there is a random element to where exactly the formations of 8 planes appear. I can give two bomber formations on the one line of the spawn table, identical spawning parameters and they can be 100s of meters, or separated by 30 seconds, apart.

It is only with missions as opposed to campaign missions that big BoB-type formations can reliably be assembled, it seems.