Input needed

[Shadow Wolf 07]

SW 07
Do you ever sleep!! I haven't finished all the missions in the 2020 versions and here you are doing 2023. Wow.
Thanks.

Sleep? Plenty of time to sleep in the next world! Joking... I saw your post just before crashing for the night.

Just so you'll know, during one of my stays in the hospital, I had my laptop with me and even found time to crank out a couple of missions. Mission building gives me something to do besides wasting away in front of the TV. I hope my work brings you and all others challenge and enjoyment.

Cheers

 

[Captain Kurt]

It most certainly does!!

 

[scoobyman32]

I'll second that!

 

[highpockets]

Absolutely! Come back to the home carrier full of holes

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Help needed:

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

 

[Hiede]

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

At the bottom of the readme it lists what scenery objects he used.
Xavier,Lindsay Watts and Wolfi are probably the ones that have what you're looking for.

Hiede

 

[UncleTgt]

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

Both are in Xaviers Japanese Hangars package

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=280&id=2786

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you UT!

 

[Hiede]

I guess I was wrong when I said they might be in Xavier's packs,silly me what do I know?

Hiede

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I finished updating my first mission - a what if mission over Wake Is. It took me quite a while, with all the ships and alternate waypoints. I will test fly it and hopefully post some pics tomorrow.

title_string"=Saratoga-A Wake 'What If' Relief-1B3
"summary_string"=Bastion; you and the rest of VMF-221 will launch at noon, loaded with light bombs. Your mission: to reinforce the air assets of the Marine garrison on Wake Island. Take off and immediately take up a 305-degree heading for 65 miles to the island. Before landing, assist the Marines in repelling any attacks or landings in progress if called upon to do so. Otherwise support our dive-bombers' attack on any nearby enemy transports and their escorts. You will remain on the island to help cover the relief force, which should arrive after dark today. Watch your fuel consumption.
"objective_string"=A "what if" scenario: Saratoga arrived at Pearl on 15 December, refueled, and departed for Wake Island the following day. The ship was assigned to Task Force 14 She then completed a rendezvous with other ships, carrying reinforcements and supplies, and the slow replenishment oiler Neches. Saratoga's task force was delayed by the necessity to refuel its escorting destroyers on 21 December, before reaching the island. This process was prolonged by heavy weather, although the task force could still reach Wake by 24 December as scheduled. After receiving reports of heavy Japanese carrier airstrikes, and then troop landings, TF 14 was recalled on 23 December, and Wake fell the same day. This mission scenario finds us with the Marines still holding out and Saratoga launching her air strikes in support as planned.
"intelligence_string"=Intel reports that the Japanese carriers and battleships, previously reported to be sailing off Wake, have retired to the south, towards the Philippines. In addition, no enemy submarines are suspected to be operating in the Wake area. Weather is clear with light clouds and the wind is out of NW from 338 degrees at 10 knots. We are turning into the wind in 15 minutes. Man your planes!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Brewster F2a3 MF15_VMF-221

Cheers:
Shadow Wolf 07

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Weekly update:

Sorry for the lack of screenshots, but life has kept me from flying lately. I have, at least completed (for testing) 3 more missions. I am currently working on an "Operation Watchtower" CAP mission. The one I just finished is the SBD-3 version of the initial strikes on 07 AUG. The other two that need flight testing are: the F4F-3 version of the wake relief and the F4F-4 version of the initial strike on Guadalcanal.

The strike missions take off at dawn and visibility over the target area is darkened, so the screenshots won't show the true detail. I used "87 Days'" Henderson 42 as background scenery.

I will try to record the mission(s) with FRAPS and post a YouTube link to them if successful.

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

"title_string"=Saratoga-B_Guadalcanal_Invasion Strike-1B3C
"summary_string"=Able: As part of "Operation Watchtower," you and your flight will take off at dawn; 0550 hours. Link up with the Strike group and proceed on a 052-degree heading for 155 miles to the unfinished airstrip at Lunga Point. Arriving at 0650 hours, as the naval bombardment lifts, VS-2 will bomb, strafe and disperse the construction battalions, working on the airstrip AND provide close support for the Marine landing force. Your flight is to concentrate its efforts on targets on and in the vicinity of the airstrip. Upon expenditure of your ammo or on order from the SG Leader, regroup at RP-3. and return to Saratoga,
"objective_string"=Hit by a torpedo and in for repairs, Saratoga missed the battle of Midway but now she's back in action and serving as Admiral Fletcher's flagship. The Japanese have nearly completed an airfield on Guadalcanal. CINCPAC has approved 'Operation Watchtower,' a plan for the Allies to go on the offensive, starting in the Solomon Islands. The US Marine Corps' 1st Division will execute an amphibious assault of Guadalcanal, capture and make operational the airfield there. The Allied carrier force (Saratoga's TF 11 and TF 18, centered around the carrier Wasp) managed to successfully reach a point southwest of Guadalcanal without being detected by the Japanese because of thick fog and haze. Saratoga launched 24 Dauntlesses and a dozen Wildcats early on 7 August to attack and neutralize targets on the island in support of the Marines' landings.
"intelligence_string"=We hope to catch the enemy by surprise. His nearest response forces are several hours away in Rabaul. We therefor anticipate no air opposition for the first three or four hours. The fighters accompanying you will deal with any intruding aircraft. You can expect little or no coordinated ground fire. The Japanese defensive preparations for the airfield are incomplete and sparse. The skies are clear with light cloud cover. Winds are 10 to 12 knots below 3,000 feet, out of 112 degrees... good flying weather. This mission should be a cake walk. Come home safe!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless VS-2
"airfield_string"="Saratoga CV-3"

Three samples. These are brighter than the originals, they have been enhnced:

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Absolutely! Come back to the home carrier full of holes

Like this?

 

[highpockets]

SW 07 --"Zactly"

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Update:

I have updated 13 of 49 missions for the Saratoga campaign to include some newer aircraft and ships, better structure with way-points, altitudes and speeds. I've done up to the end of her participation in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. And I plan to test fly these before I move on.

The next set of missions will include raids on Buka (SI), Rabaul, Nauru, Wotje and Engebi Islands. As before, where feasible I am doing missions over each "target" for F4F/F6Fs, TBFs and SBDs.

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A coupe of quick screenshots using the new VF-5 F4F-4:

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Ooops!

A setback: my install crashed Tuesday evening... but fortunately I had just completed a full backup last Friday. I was i the process of building my next mission:
"On 23 January 1943, Saratoga launched 18 F4Fs of VF-3, 24 SBDs of VB-3 and VS-3, and 17 TBFs of VT-3 for Henderson Field, retaining 16 F4Fs and 15 SBDs for self-defense. The next day they attacked the Japanese airfield at Vila, Solomon Islands after it had been bombarded by 4 Allied light cruisers. The aircraft returned to the carrier without loss later that afternoon."
I was trying to switch from UT's Solomon Islands (87 Days) scenery to Solomons_Airbases_43late, so I would have the airfields at Vila and later, Buka. Both MB, when I try to load a mission and Free Flight et al crashed.

So I quickly updated a copy of my back up. This time I will read the instructions more carefully and if necessary PM Uncle Tgt for assistance or clarification.

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Another update with a question

Having solved my scenery issues, I am moving on.
I inserted a new mission, the Vila raid described in the above post. Building it from scratch it took me a couple of days to complete but I finished it yesterday:


[strings]
"title_string"=Sara-G2_Vila Interdiction Strike_1-F4Fa
"summary_string"=Good morning men! Your mission for today is a strike on the airfield at Vila. Ottawa you and Chippewa will take off at noon, 1200 hours, and climbing to 12,000 feet, link up with the first wave of Strike Group Warrior. Proceed 175 miles on a 303-degree heading to RP-COPPER, arriving there at 1300 hours. Continue SW on a 225-degree vector for 30 miles to the target area. Ottawa, you are to provide high cover over the airstrip, intercepting any CAP present and any aircraft that try to take off. Once the strike concludes, you will be informed by the bomber leader. Then you are free to engage targets of opportunity with gunfire before regrouping at RP-SILVER - 10 miles SSW of the target airstrip. From SILVER, proceed due south for about 70 miles to rendezvous with Saratoga at RP-LEAD.
"objective_string"=The Japanese had developed the base at Vila Plantation as a staging area for strikes out of Rabaul against Guadalcanal. It had become a nuisance and the Allies had decided to neutralize it with shelling and bombing strikes. On 23 January 1943, Saratoga launched 18 F4Fs of VF-3, 24 SBDs of VB-3 and VS-3, and 17 TBFs of VT-3 for Henderson Field, retaining 16 F4Fs and 15 SBDs for self-defense. The next day they attacked the Japanese airfield at Vila, Solomon Islands after it had been bombarded by 4 Allied light cruisers. The aircraft returned to the carrier without loss later that afternoon. Note: Despite this and subsequent strikes, the Japanese managed to keep Vila operational until it was abandoned in September, 1943.
"intelligence_string"=The weather for your mission looks good. Winds are 10-12 knots out of 120 degrees, with visibility of 15+ miles and scattered cloud cover above 10,000 feet. AA ground fire should be degraded by the 4-hour naval bombardment, which will lift just prior to your arrival over RP-BRONZE. The duration and intensity of the barrage should also prevent any enemy CAP from taking off to oppose you.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F4F-4 Wildcat VF-5
"airfield_string"=Henderson42

This will be the last mission employing the Wildcat. Saratoga takes on CAG-12 with Hellcats next mission. MY only question for now is whether to make missions on the same strike, but with the player in an Avenger or Dauntless. These I would set up as random alternatives to the core mission (F4F). Your thoughts?

Cheers:
Shadow Wolf 07

 

[highpockets]

Avenger.
One of my comic characters I read as a kid during WWII was Buz Sawyer and his gunner , Roscoe Sweeney flying the Avenger, Hence my Avatar
Nothing too technical about that, just like the look of the "beast".

 

[UncleTgt]

Another vote for the TBF.

This would help as a transition link between the Wildcat airgroup & the Hellcat airgroup