• There seems to be an uptick in Political comments in recent months. Those of us who are long time members of the site know that Political and Religious content has been banned for years. Nothing has changed. Please leave all political and religious comments out of the forums.

    If you recently joined the forums you were not presented with this restriction in the terms of service. This was due to a conversion error when we went from vBulletin to Xenforo. We have updated our terms of service to reflect these corrections.

    Please note any post refering to a politician will be considered political even if it is intended to be humor. Our experience is these topics have a way of dividing the forums and causing deep resentment among members. It is a poison to the community. We appreciate compliance with the rules.

    The Staff of SOH

  • Server side Maintenance is done. We still have an update to the forum software to run but that one will have to wait for a better time.

Kursk VVS Campaign Released!

Some help needed here...

I have a mission where the player is leading a flight of five La-5Fs accompanied by another five La-5Fs and 2 flights of eight each Ilyushin_il2-HC-37s, attacking a moving armored formation. The fighters (set to "search and destroy") attack with their rockets and then loiter about in case of a roving Bf-109 patrol ,as planned. But there is a problem with the Il-2s.

The AI Il-2s won't attack! :banghead:I have set them with different combinations: search and destroy or strike for the mission assignment; attacking first with rockets or bombs or with all weapons. I have tried different altitudes of attack - 500, 1000 and 150 feet, but no joy. Something tells me a solution is a setting on the dp, but I don't know what or where. :dizzy: In other missions, against stationary targets, the AI Il-2s (player and non-player flight) attack as plotted, but not against the moving vehicles in this mission, hmm... Any suggestions?
 
I have a mission where the player is leading a flight of five La-5Fs accompanied by another five La-5Fs and 2 flights of eight each Ilyushin_il2-HC-37s, attacking a moving armored formation. The fighters (set to "search and destroy") attack with their rockets and then loiter about in case of a roving Bf-109 patrol ,as planned. But there is a problem with the Il-2s.

The AI Il-2s won't attack! :banghead:I have set them with different combinations: search and destroy or strike for the mission assignment; attacking first with rockets or bombs or with all weapons. I have tried different altitudes of attack - 500, 1000 and 150 feet, but no joy. Something tells me a solution is a setting on the dp, but I don't know what or where. :dizzy: In other missions, against stationary targets, the AI Il-2s (player and non-player flight) attack as plotted, but not against the moving vehicles in this mission, hmm... Any suggestions?


Assume you have tried increasing the range that they will open fire in the .dp file? I had a similar issue with A6M2s in a mission I created with them attacking aircraft on the ground (P-40s- Bali) and also found that the distance, direction and height of the initial/previous waypoint (spawned Zeros) from the target was important. Against a moving target, most ai aircraft seem to prefer a stern chase and will spend a lot of time getting into an attack position for that?
 
Just a thought that came to my mind as I read this..

To make an AI attack a moving ship you can change the aircraft category in the DP to 4, which makes the AI plane believe it is a torpedo bomber and makes it attack the ship, also with bombs.

I haven´t tried it, but maybe this also works against moving vehicles?
As I said, it is just an idea, I have no evidence that it actually works.
 
Assume you have tried increasing the range that they will open fire in the .dp file? I had a similar issue with A6M2s in a mission I created with them attacking aircraft on the ground (P-40s- Bali) and also found that the distance, direction and height of the initial/previous waypoint (spawned Zeros) from the target was important. Against a moving target, most ai aircraft seem to prefer a stern chase and will spend a lot of time getting into an attack position for that?

The AI IL-2s have two attack vectors: the first, from 7 miles out and from 12 o'clock with rockets; the second from 5 miles out from 5 o'clock with bombs (all weapons). They just fly by without firing at all! Again, the AI La-5 flight attacks the moving columns from the 12 position with satisfactory results.
 
Greg,

I think Skylane might be right - Thicko's il2's are all set as Category 5, which is described as a Tactical Bomber, like the A20 or Ju88.

I'm not sure how well CFS 2 handles Category 5 in attacks on moving targets.

Category 4 was favoured by Talon for skip-bombing etc on moving ship targets, even 4 engined bombers were changed to this Category.
 
Yes Gents:

I recall vaguely, Talon's work with that issue. I have changed it to Category 4 (it was 5) and will test later. Thanks for the tip! :wavey:

Cheers:

SW07
 
Problem Solved

Yes Gents:

I recall vaguely, Talon's work with that issue. I have changed it to Category 4 (it was 5) and will test later. Thanks for the tip! :wavey:

Cheers:

SW07

It worked, thanks! :applause::applause::applause: The mission is the fighter version of a mission described above:

"title_string"=A_Kursk-S_La5-Counter-Strike Escort-12-3ET
"summary_string"=Dobroe utro, comrades. Our regiment has finally received clearance to launch at 0530 hours. Bars, you will take off and fly SSE on a 142 degree heading for 42 miles to RP-KLEN. There you and Rys will link up with our shturmoviks and proceed another 15 miles SSW until you encounter the Nazi armored column in Sektor S-024. Your primary mission is to cover the Il-2s, but you are loading out with rockets too. Should the opportunity presents itself, engage and destroy as many enemy armored vehicles and AAA assets as possible. If you are attacking ground targets, stay alert and be prepared to break off and tackle any roving enemy fighter patrols or CAP. Once you have expended your ordinance or get a strike concluded message from the Il-2 strike leader, you are free to break contact and regroup at RP-AKATSIYA. From there, return to base to rearm for your next mission. Good luck, comrades and give them hell!
"objective_string"=Flight crews have been waiting for a signal to take off since 0330 hours, but the take-off had to be postponed until 0745 due to low cloud cover. The most seasoned attack aircraft pilots took off at about 0500 hours. At about he same time, 5th Guards Tank Army was closing in for a massive counterattack. Flight crews from the 1st Attack Aviation Corps, 5th Guards Attack Aviation Division struck the enemy's forward units, which later turned out to be units Of the 1st SS Panzer Division (LAH). Note: If you don't have a complete overcast at start, open CFO/Weather/advanced Weather/Clouds and change the cloud cover to 8/8. Remember, the Hummel SP gun is classified for targeting purposes as a ship (S) not a vehicle (V).
"intelligence_string"=Comrades, the weather today is our ally. The overnight, heavy cloud cover has finally lifted to just above 3,000 feet, allowing us finally to take off. That same overcast, going up to 11,000 feet, should at least partially shield you from enemy fighter CAP threats. For you, visibility below 3,000 is good. Your flight and approach on target at such low altitude should also help to confuse the fascists' radar. Your target is a spearhead of the so-called elite 2nd SS Panzer Corps. So you can expect heavy, accurate ground fire both from mobile FLAK units and the other armored vehicles as well. Our forces are about to launch a massive counterattack. and your strikes are the opening phase.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Lavochkin La-5F
"airfield_string"=URSS_Kursk-Mokva


...and a short video, Gad and Grom are the Il-2 flights: https://youtu.be/zBA4vfts0Wk

Cheers:

SW07 :pop4:
 
Last edited:
Finished up and flight tested another:

"title_string"=A_Kursk-S_La5-Air Over Prokhorovka-12-4FT
"summary_string"=Comrades, our mission this afternoon is strictly a bomber intercept. Zeleny, you will take off first immediately after this briefing and fly on a 292 degree heading for 27 miles to RP-PECHORA. The rest of our squadron will follow, but you are not to wait for them. Continue on that course until you make contact near RP-DON in Sektor S-022. Engage, turn back or destroy as many enemy bombers as you can to the expenditure of your ammo. When you are relieved, you can break off and regroup at RP-VOLGA from where you will return to base to rearm for your next mission. Good luck and good hunting!
"objective_string"=The Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army has opened a massive counterattack against the II SS Panzer Corps in the vicinity of Prokhorovka. Constant Luftwaffe attacks are inflicting significant losses among the attacking Soviet units and causing major disruption to reserves and reinforcements. Here, elements of the 295th IAD (Fighter Aviation Division) are being committed to attempt to relieve the pressure on front-line units, so that they can continue their advance. Though the Soviets flew 893 sorties compared to the German 8th Air Corps's 654 sorties over the southern part of the salient, it is Of note that most of the Soviet sorties flown that day were against the XLVIII Panzer Corps to the west and the III Panzer Corps to the south. Low clouds in the morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon inhibited air operations over Prokhorovka for both sides. Over the Prokhorovka battlefield, however, the Luftwaffe gained control of the air.
"intelligence_string"=Comrades, this is a tough but vital mission. The enemy is trying to break up 5th GTA's counterattack with dive bombers and ground attack aircraft. You will undoubtedly find yourselves intercepting up to 30 bombers, escorted by as many as 20 fighters. The 18 of you can expect them to approach in waves of Ju-87s and Hs-129s. Most of the AAA fire you will encounter will be from our own gunners. You will be reinforced/relieved by another squadron of our regiment. The weather this afternoon is problematic - mainly overcast with a chance of thunderstorms, clouds from 12,500 down to 7,500 feet and winds out of the southwest at 12, gusting to 16 knots.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Lavochkin La-5F
"airfield_string"=URSS_Novy Oskol-Solonets
 
Reply...

Greg,

Thank you for the updates on this...this project is really turning into something special, unique, and awesome! :very_drunk:
 
Andrew, thank you for your compliments. I have quite a few distractions but I hope to finish this project in 2022. I keep on cranking out missions from my primary info source. :wiggle::wiggle::wiggle:
 
Next Mission Tested:

"title_string"=A_Kursk-S_Il2-Smashing a Convoy-18-1C
"summary_string"=Dobry den' comrades. This afternoon we are attacking a Nazi road convoy, just the other side of the front lines. Cherny you and Zelty flight are to take off at 1455 hours and proceed on a 180 degree heading for 41 miles to RP-CHITA. There you will link up with your escorts and continue on a 180 for another 12 miles. You should intercept the column there at RP-URAL Attack them with all weapons, making as many passes as your ammo will allow, then regroup at RP-DARYA and return to base. Good hunting!
"objective_string"=1st Tank Army commander sent a telegram to higher headquarters: "Today I spent the day with General Getman's advanced units and saw a group of 9 Il-2s attack an enemy motor convoy of about 200-250 vehicles with trailers on the Dubravo-Butovo road at 1515 hours. Commanding officers and I were simply delighted with the results of the attack. Escort fighters operated well. There were no enemy aircraft in the sky." Note: In this mission, there are many fewer than the 200 vehicles, described above used for playability.
"intelligence_string"=Comrades, it appears that the enemy is continuing his withdrawal, back to his original positions. We have a report of an enemy vehicular convoy spotted at grid N 56.48 E 36.18 moving SW at about 10 mph along the Dubravo-Butovo-Belgorod road. It consists of a large number of fascist vehicles, many of them towing heavy equipment, SP artillery and armored personnel carriers. You should find yourself approaching from the north. Nazi AAA will probably be moderate to intense as you pass over the front lines to the target, but we expect little to no air opposition. You will have fighter-bomber cover, just the same. The weather is excellent. You will have light cloud cover from 8-12,000 feet with light winds out of the SW.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Ilyushin_il2-HC-37
"airfield_string"=URSS_Kursk-Ryshkovo
 
Ooops!

I've had to change the mission listed above and a sister mission, where you are flying as a covering La-5F. It seems that the moving non-combat vehicles turn north, rather than stay on course. :banghead: On examination, I noticed that they have no Gunstations entries on their dps and like ships, turn north as soon as they are spawned. I replaced all the vehicles in the road convoy with corresponding, non-moving infrastructure objects. :wiggle:

I'm gonna re-test these missions today, before I move on. The next two phases are the Soviet counter offensives in the north and in the southern sectors. :running:
 
Whew!

I went ahead with Rami's suggestions and added gunstations entries to the dps for all vehicles used and saved copies for the campaign downloads packet. I only needed to change 7 vehicle dps, so far...

So, these 2 misions are now finished and tested. Moving on...:running:
 
Update:

Currently I am finishing up and testing 2 missions for "Operation Kutuzov," the Soviet counter-offensive in the northern sector. They both involve an attack on an enemy divisional HQ. Due to a lack of airbases north and east of the Orel-Kursk-Kharkov line, I had to launch from quite a distance and take a rather circuitous route, in order to stay out of Nazi airspace as long as possible. The lack of bases? I am too busy and lazy :)wavey:) to research and build more.

I will build between 12 and 20 missions for Kutuzov, then switch to the southern counter-offensive for about 20 missions there, then the campaign files. I plan to pick up the pace, starting this week. :running:

Cheers
 
Two more missions finished:

Cheers :wavey:
 

Attachments

  • Bolkhov-1.jpg
    Bolkhov-1.jpg
    97.6 KB · Views: 10
  • Bolkhov-2.jpg
    Bolkhov-2.jpg
    92.7 KB · Views: 10
  • Bolkhov-3.jpg
    Bolkhov-3.jpg
    188.6 KB · Views: 11
  • Bolkhov-4.jpg
    Bolkhov-4.jpg
    75.7 KB · Views: 10
Hi Greg,

Well done - you're certainly churning out the missions.

Are you having any trouble with the Il-4's textures? I remember them giving me display problems. I had to change the format of the fuselage and wing textures.

Cheers,
Kevin
 
Thanks Kevin:

No, I've had no problems with the Il-4. I have 46 missions finished. so far with 4 of them using that aircraft. I've made some minor dp changes to the payloads, but no issues with textures.

Cheers:

Greg
 
48 Missions Completed...

...and flight tested:

The Latest: "On July 13th, the second day of 'Operation Kutuzov,' in one of the air battles over the Red Army tank formations, commanded by General M.F. Panov, a formation of 32nd GvIAP (Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment) first encountered and engaged a number of Ju-88s, ran them off and then engaged a larger number of Ju-87s, also covered by FW-190s. The FWs held off the La-5 pilots and the Stukas were able to inflict successful strikes, dropping their payloads on the Soviet tank corps."
 

Attachments

  • Bolkhov-6.jpg
    Bolkhov-6.jpg
    102.7 KB · Views: 17
  • Bolkhov-5.jpg
    Bolkhov-5.jpg
    81.5 KB · Views: 12
Your Opinions Wanted:

I spoke with Rami last night about this. I have finished, except for readmes and .cmg file parts 1 and 2 (Zitadel north and south) I am currently working on part/campaign 3 - the Soviet counter offensive (Operation Kutuzov) in the north - and am flight testing mission 5 there.

Your opinion, should I go ahead and finish up 1 and 2 and release them now or wait and complete and release all 4 parts in one package? I can have 1 & 2 release by next weekend. I'll go with the majority opinion.

Cheers

SW07
 
SW

Try turning off the MIP mapping in your display settings and see if that will take care of the aircraft paint schemes blurring. I don't think it is just my eyes anyway :very_drunk:
 
Back
Top