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Time for an unveiling...

Reply...

Good evening,

I wanted to pass along that I settled on three raids which occurred prior to 10 July. Two of these are based on the book "Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers over Great Britain" by Chris Goss, and "Battle of Britain" by James Holland. I created these missions, and I am using these books to create the other fourteen missions, so that I do not rehash what has been done by the other campaigns for this package.

One of these missions include making oil tanks and port facilities at Hull, along the Humber Estuary, which was of course made into GSL. At the spit of land at the end of the Estuary facing the North Sea, I placed a lighthouse, as well as what amounts to a makeshift landing strip, basically created to simulate a road stretching along the spit of land until it reached the main coast. There is also a lighthouse at Flamborough Head.

Here are the mission texts, to give you a preview...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Battle of Britain prelude
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte pilots! Tonight, we will launch our first large-scale assault on England, attacking oil storage tanks and docks in the Thames Estuary. Because of the exceptionally bright full moon, you should have no problems with navigation, so strike your targets hard. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=Before the Battle of France was over, 70 Heinkels of Kampfgeschwader 4 left France to attack port facilities in the Thames Estuary and other targets in Wales. The raid was intercepted by Blenheims, Spitfires, & Hurricanes due to the extraordinarily bright moonlight; it caused the Heinkel bombers to be spotted and provided silhouettes for Royal Air Force fighters. In the ensuing skirmish, "Sailor" Malan brought down two Heinkels.
"intelligence_string"=After takeoff, you'll fly a north-northwest course over France, come ashore near Dungeness, & cross over Kent to reach the Estuary. This will allow you to skirt the aerodromes at Manston and Hawkinge. Once you near Carney Island & Thameshaven, drop your bombs on the oil storage facilities and docks.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Beauvais

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Heinkels over the Humber
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Today, we'll test the enemy's defenses in the East Midlands. The objectives are to strike the oil tanks and port facilities at Hull, and try to identify any planes that you see. We do not believe that the Royal Air Force will use their valuable Spitfires this far north, so you should be able to avoid the enemy with height. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=1 July, 1940 saw Heinkels depart Schiphol to hit a large chemical factory at Middlesborough, with a secondary objective being the oil tanks & the port facilities at Hull. Three German staffel took part in the raid, but other information is unclear about how many He-111s were actually involved. What is known is one Heinkel, flown by Friedrich-Wilhelm Koch, struck Hull, was promptly intercepted by six Spitfires, and had to ditch in the Humber Estuary. This mission is an amalgam of his account and the later raids on Hull, known as the "Hull Blitz."
"intelligence_string"=After departing Waalhaven, you'll fly a northwest course to reach the English coastline. If you can navigate properly, you should reach the coast just below Flamborough Head, where you will then turn south for Hull. Your targets are the port facilities and the oil tanks. If you're intercepted, try to use the cloud cover to shield you.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=Holland - Waalhaven (Rotterdam)

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - "Flying Pencils" over Kenley
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte pilots! This afternoon, we will attack the RAF airfield at Kenley. Today's attempt is a "probing" raid, we want to see how the enemy will respond to us. Your effort will be covered by Messerschmitts from Gunies aerodrome. Hopefully, our attack will damage their aircraft bunkers and hangars, and our Messerschmitts can destroy some enemy fighters!
"objective_string"=3 July, 1940 saw 34 Dorniers hit the RAF fighter aerodrome of Kenley. The bombers were based at Laon, and were from 8/KG 77. The German bomber unit was equipped with Do-17s at the beginning of the Battle of Britain, but shifted to Ju-88s within a few weeks of the start of the battle. The attack did little damage, & the bombers were intercepted by Hurricanes of 32 Squadron.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Laon, your course should take you south of Cape Gris-Nez, where Bf-109 escors will rendezvous with you. They'll then remain with you over England, and keep any British fighters off of your tail. Your target is Kenley aerodrome; try to focus on the aircraft hangars and other buildings.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Laon
 
Start of the Battle of Britain

Rami,

You are doing a great job there. As for the starting date of the Battle of Britain, as others have said, it is open to debate. The best book and the most detailed I have read on the conflict, - 'Battle over Britain' by Francis K. Mason, settles on a convenient start date of 1st July 1940. The Germans had begun their invasion of the Channel Islands the day before and this was the first time that British territory had been directly threatened by the enemy. Before the 10th July Fighter Command had intercepted several raids, each of more than 50 aircraft. The official award of the 'Battle of Britain Clasp' to pilots taking part in battles from 10th July onwards is therefore a little unfair on those previously engaging the enemy.

However, on a similar theme, this Thursday in the U.K. there is a new memorial to be unveiled to the crews of Bomber Command. Since the war they have received little official recognition due largely to adverse publicity following the Dresden raids. Over 55,000 British, Commonwealth and allied airman lost their lives in the night skies over Germany in the years following the Battle of Britain and it is only right that they are remembered for the sacrifices that they made.
 
Reply...

Dick,

Thank you. I'm hoping to have this definitive release ready by 10 July. :jump:
 
Important BoB / Sealion scenery notice...

Good evening,

You may notice that the JHS_England package by Achim has been moved back into the "what's new" section, along with my GSL ports. The reason for this is that with the Sealion project nearing completion, it will require two airfields by Achim that were not included in the original package; Debden and North Weald.

These bases will be used in the Sealion campaigns, so you might as well get a jump on making sure they are all installed and ready. I also put up my GSL ports again; there are new ports at Hull, Liverpool, the Thames Estuary, and an oil refinery at Rochester. I also revised and enhanced the Port of Bristol, and added the Port of Brest, France.

This will allow you to get a lot of the installation process out of the way before the campaign comes out!
 
Reply...

Good afternoon,

I just wanted to pass along a progress update...I have competed five of the six campaigns; 94 out of 108 missions are completed, all the missions that remain are the fourteen missions of the "Kampfgeschwader" campaign.
 
Rami,
Thankyou for all the hard work you put in, when you update your work would it be possible to write a update date tex in the folder with the date of updating so we do not get mixed up.
RJ
 
Reply....

Good morning,

I'm still on track with the Battle of Britain, but ran into a bit of a snag, I'm afraid. I realized that I could not release the package without going back and modifying the British missions to accommodate the infrastructure improvements between July of last year and the present. I also found some minor issues with certain missions, which I fixed, and decided to add a few missions to the British side which give the 18-mission "Battle of Britain" campaign a bit more length.

I'm still on course to finish this project within the month, so you will be fighting over the English skies very soon.
 
Reply...

Good evening,

I was able to knock out a full twenty-one missions this afternoon and evening, so we'll have to see how many more I can get to in the next couple of days.
 
Reply...

Good evening,

I pushed through another eleven missions through tonight, so all of the original missions for the RAF side have been put through the wringer. I am now back to doing the last 14 Luftwaffe bomber missions, and then all the campaigns will all be completed.
 
Reply...

Good morning,

I decided to give you one more British mission. I "reverse-engineered" one of the German "blitz" missions and gave you a British "turkey shoot" scenario. It's entirely fictional, but the premise is fun...six Hurricanes and Spitfires against 16 Dorniers, 16 Junkers, and 16 Heinkels. No escorting German fighters are there to interfere with you.

"title_string"=Battle of Britain - The Coventry aftermath
"summary_string"=To your fighters, gentlemen! German bombers have laid waste to the city of Coventry! However, they still have to make it back across England and then the Channel to make it back to safety in France...
"objective_string"=Even though the Battle of Britain officially ended in October of 1940, waves of Luftwaffe bombers still conducted almost nightly large-scale attacks on British industrial cities. This is an example of such a historical "blitz" raid, although the British intercept is entirely fictional.
"intelligence_string"=The German bombers are returning from Coventry after having destroyed the city. Scramble & make sure as many of them as possible don't get back to their bases in France! Because of their night raid, the bombers may not have any escort. If that's the case, tear into their formation and bring down as many of them as you can!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ia
"airfield_string"=England - Debden West
 
Reply....

Good evening,

I've finished updating all the other missions, including the "blitz" missions, so I'm back to finishing off the last fourteen missions, and then I am done.
 
I am down to this final list...

Good afternoon,

Using the book "Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers over Britain" by Chris Goss, along with the RAF campaign diary, I have created a list of missions that are not covered by the other campaigns on the Luftwaffe side of this campaign package. These missions are for the "Kampfgeschwader" campaign.

I have not decided whether I am going to do all of these, I'm probably going to select fourteen of them, to go along with the "prelude" missions and the "Blitz" missions. I also may combine some of these raids.

1) 04/07/40 - Do-17 attack on convoy in the Channel. (Done - Consolidated with #1)
2) 07/07/40 - Do-17 attack on convoy in the Channel. (Done - Consolidated with #2)
3) 12/08/40 - Do-17 attack on Hawkinge and Lympne. (Done, consolidated with attack on 25/08/40, #9)
4) 13/08/40 - Ju-88s & Stukas attack Middle Wallop, Yeovil, and Warmwell. (Done)
5) 15/08/40 - Do-17 attack on Hornchurch & Gravesend. (Done)
6) 18/08/40 - Attack on Biggin Hill, Kenley, and West Malling. (Do-17s, He-111s, and Ju-88s) [Done - Combined with # 11]
7) 18/08/40 - Do-17s & He-111s attack Hornchurch and North Weald. (Done, consolidated with #15)
8) 24/08/40 - Attacks on Hornchurch, North Weald, and Manston. (Done)
9) 25/08/40 - Do-17s attack Hawkinge. (Done, consolidated with attack on 12/08/40, #3)
10) 26/08/40 - He-111s attack Portsmouth. (Done)
11) 30/08/40 - Dorniers attack Biggin Hill. (Done, combined with #6)
12) 31/08/40 - Dorniers attack Hornchurch & North Weald. (Done - Consolidated with #13)
13) 31/08/40 - Do-17s attack Debden and Duxford. (Done - Consolidated with #12)
14) 01/09/40 - Attack on Biggin Hill, Detling, Kenley, & Gravesend. (Do-17s, Ju-88s, and He-111s) [Done]
15) 04/09/40 - Do-17 attack on Rochford. (Done, consolidated with #7)
16) 07/09/40 - Massed attack on London. (Done)
17) 08/09/40 - Large-scale Do-17 attack on London.
18) 11/09/40 - Massed attack on London. (Done)
19) 15/09/40 - Massed attack on London. / He-111s hit Portland (late-day) (Done - He-111 raid combined with 30/09/40 attack on Yeovil, #23)
20) 18/09/40 - Ju-88s attack London. (Done, and it also covers a similar raid on 30/09/40 involving Ju-88s)
21) 25/09/40 - Heinkels attack Bristol. (Done)
22) 28/09/40 - Heinkels attack Liverpool. (Done)
23) 30/09/40 - Ju-88s attack London / He-111s attack Yeovil. (Done - Heinkel attack combined with 15/09/40 attack on Portland, #19)
 
Reply...

Good morning,

Sc7500 and I were making comments on this one last night...but this is the route they took to bomb Liverpool. It's a strange one, all right....

View attachment 69087

With regard to a mission flown by III /KG 55 against the Liverpool docks, the pilots flew a circuitous route over Cornwall and the Irish Sea to avoid flying a direct route over England. The problem was, I would run out of fuel off the west coast of Wales on the return flight.

When looking at the fuel allowances for the He-111h-3, (Which is very close to the models used over Great Britain) it stated that the He-111 had two 190-gallon main fuel tanks in each wing, as well as a 240-gallon reserve tank in each wing. That gives each wing a total fuel capacity of 620 gallons, for a total of 1240 gallons of internal fuel, not including a drop tank if required.

However, upon checking the air file, it listed a wing capacity of 449.1 gallons. The math works out that it was about 341.8 gallons short. I attempted last night to adjust the air file, and did so successfully. I reached Guernsey (the closest available field at the time) with approximately 2% of my fuel remaining. It's a scraper, but it works.
 
Reply...

Good evening,

Here are the other mission sketches I managed to do today, I will tackle a least a few more tomorrow...
 
Kampfgeschwader more than halfway completed...

Good evening,

The campaign will be 29 missions in length...and 11 missions are totally completed. I have to write the mission texts, due the triggers, and events for the final 18. However, all the flight paths, infrastructure, and timing are already completed. I should be able to progress through these missions fairly quickly. Stay tuned...
 
Reply...

Good evening,

I don't know why I have such an easy time writing these things...they just seem to flow out. :jump:

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Roundabout to Liverpool
"summary_string"=Guden abend, kameraden! Tonight's target will be the dockyards at Liverpool. Your task is to inflict maximum damage upon their warehouses, rail cars, and oil storage tanks, as well as the docked ships. To avoid flying over England, you will fly instead out over the Irish Sea after crossing Cornwall; we hope this will place you out of the range of enemy detection. Make sure to keep an eye on your fuel; this mission places you at the ragged edge of your bomber's range.
"objective_string"=On 28 September, 1940, He-111s from III / KG 55 left Villacoublay to attack the docks at Liverpool. To avoid any interception by the British, they took a circuitous route over Cornwall & the Irish Sea, pummeling Liverpool from the west. However, they were intercepted by Hawker Hurricanes based in South Wales. The Germans shot down a couple of these fighters, & then struck the dockyards hard.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Gurensey, you will fly northwest, crossing Cornwall along your way to the Irish Sea. Escorting fighters will remain with you until after you cross Cornwall, where you will fly unguarded the remainder of the way, with darkness offering you protection. Fuel consumption will be critical for this mission, and you can take a shorter route home if your fuel level reaches critical levels. Be aware...this route will put you at greater risk for interception. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=England - Guernsey

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - "Flying Spades" over Filton
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Today's target is the Bristol Aircraft Factory at Filton. This factory is a major supplier of Spitfires, which have been utilized to great effect against our bombers and fighters. If we can inflict serious damage on the plant, we can severely curtail their ability to manufacture these deadly adversaries!
"objective_string"=On 25 September, 1940, Heinkel He-111s of KG 55 left bases in France to attack the Bristol Aircraft Works at Filton, near Bristol. Because of an error by RAF flight controllers, the Heinkels were able to inflict terrible damage on this factory, halting the production of Spitfires & causing the death of some 350 civilians.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Paris, you'll fly within the safety of French skies until reaching Cherbourg, & then take the shortest route across the English Channel to Bristol. Primary targets are the parked planes, warehouses, & fuel supplies at the Bristol factory. You'll pick up your fighter escort as you approach Cherbourg, & they will stay with you over England. Make sure to put your bombs to good use!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Velizy-Villacoublay
 
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