Kursk VVS Campaign Released!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have been working on a Kursk campaign from the Soviet side. It will be in 4 parts: North Early and Late, South Early and Late. I am using Wikipedia sources and "Air War Over Kursk" by D.B. Khazanov as references. I am trying to keep it as close to historically accurate as possible, with respect to aircraft numbers & types, location etc.

This will take a while to finish, though. I have just completed the 20th and last mission of Part 1 = Kursk norther front July 5-7th. I haven't fully flight tested 17 of them yet. I am considering releasing it as a separate Part-1 of 4 or save it to be released later in one, large campaign package. Opinions? I will at my current pace probably take until late spring to finish the lot.

[arfyhun]

Shadow Wolf, for my penny's worth, I feel the effort you are putting in will result in a great feat, whichever way you package it. Nice one mate!

Graham.

[Captain Kurt]

Large indeed. Logistically, I would suggest keeping it all together. No doubt it will require building a theater, gathering planes, etc. and doing that takes time and effort. Doing that 4 times or keeping a build waiting for a next installment might be more than a player would want to do.

[Rami]

Greg,

I would echo Captain Kurt's comments. I think it would be worth the wait. I might even be willing to help you put together an auto-installer for it.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Greg,

I would echo Captain Kurt's comments. I think it would be worth the wait. I might even be willing to help you put together an auto-installer for it.

An auto-installer? Now, that would be cool. I see your point guys. I'm gonna test fly what I have and get started on the northern phase 2. I am using a lot of the new UT and others' objects. If I had a wish list, it would include more bases and newer aircraft.

[stuart277]

Hi Shadow Wolf
Good luck with this big project.
Cheers
Stuart

[skylane]

Hey Shadow Wolf,
This is a very interesting project, I‘m looking forward to flying these missions.
I agree with the other guys, it will be well worth the wait until all parts are completed.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Okay, you guys have convinced me, though I was leaning in that direction. Once I have finished flight testing the 20 I've already done, I will move on to the next phase.

[Rami]

Greg,

Very nice, the project really looks like it's coming along!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Almost finished with the testing and fixing of the first missions. I found a few problems. Many of the AI aircraft crash on take off. No problem.. I just air-start them. My flight of Yak-7s tend to crash on take off too. My solution? As soon as my engine starts, I hit the throttle and get into the air as quickly as possible then hit X to warp to the next WP before the little buggers have the chance to crash. Could it be something bad in the airfile for the Yak-7s?

I should finish up the test and fix efforts today, then back to mission building. Spring cleaning and my son's surgery recovery have all slowed me down.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have discovered a couple of problems with Thicko's Yak-7. 1. The AI wingmen crash on take off and 2. the alternate textures at Start will not initialize when the Player is using one. Does anyone know solutions? Maybe Maxstuka is considering work on these models? If no solution is found, I'll have to air-start my Yak-7 missions; 6 missions so far. I have a feeling this model and variant will be important in the campaign missions to come too.

[Dirtman]

Yo Wolfman;


Load the mission, select "chase view"

Adjust the view so you can see (from behind) the offending wing-men.

Look carefully (or maybe run FRAPS?) during takeoff - what do you see?

Might give you a clue.


Does the wing man directly behind you also crash?

Yes - air-file?
No - maybe rough terrain on the right side of the runway? (empty beer cans & liquor bottles?)

Lastly ... train your wing-men better & don't let them fly drunk!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Yo Wolfman;


Load the mission, select "chase view"

Adjust the view so you can see (from behind) the offending wing-men.

Look carefully (or maybe run FRAPS?) during takeoff - what do you see?

Might give you a clue.


Does the wing man directly behind you also crash?

Yes - air-file?
No - maybe rough terrain on the right side of the runway? (empty beer cans & liquor bottles?)

Lastly ... train your wing-men better & don't let them fly drunk!

Yes, in the photo you can see Lev-1 & 2 going nose down into the dirt. I managed to hit X and warp out before 3 and 4 joined them, They later flew into each other on the first Attack command.

Anyway, the same take-off-crash routine is duplicated by Thicko's Yak-9 too!

[Rami]

Greg,

Your campaign is really progressing...outstanding work!

[Deathwind]

https://ibb.co/gTmxr2v


https://ibb.co/20rZRvG

here ya go if you can handle that.


[Library Effect]
Lifetime=5
Version=1.00

[Emitter.0]
Lifetime=1200.00, 1200.00
Delay=2.00, 2.00
Bounce=0.00
Rate=10.00, 14.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=-10.00, 10.00
Y Particle Velocity=8.00, 10.00
Z Particle Velocity=-10.00, 10.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00

[Particle.0]
Lifetime=8.00, 9.00
Type=19
X Scale=2.50, 3.00
Y Scale=3.00, 3.50
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.30, 0.35
Y Scale Rate=0.30, 0.35
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=-1.00, -0.98
Color Rate=0.10, 0.15
Fade In=0.00, 0.12
Fade Out=0.70, 0.85
Rotation=-20.00, 20.00
Shade=1
Face=1, 1, 1

[ParticleAttributes.0]
Blend Mode=1
Texture=fx_1.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=125, 104, 85, 90
Color End=125, 106, 79, 0
Jitter Distance=0.05
Jitter Time=1.00
TempK=121.00
TempRate=-0.01
uv1=0.00, 0.50
uv2=0.50, 1.00
X Scale Goal=12.00
Y Scale Goal=8.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you Deathwind. I am finishing my last mission now. It is the escort/fighter version of the one described below:

"title_string"=A_Kursk-SC_BOS-Poltava Base Strike-23-1MT
"summary_string"=Comrades, we launch at dusk. Our mission: to conduct a low level strike on the Luftwaffe base at Poltava. Akula, you and Ezh will launch at 1945 hrs. Climb to 7,000 ft and proceed on a 210-degree vector for 80 miles to RP-SEREBRO, where you will pick up your escort element. Continue at 200 knots on the same heading and altitude for 53 miles to RP-STAL' - 13 miles due north of target at RP-UGOL'. With Ezh in the lead, attack in tight formation, 3,500-4,000 ft BALT on your initial run. Salvo your bombs on the hangars and parked aircraft in the Sector S-03 quadrant of the base. On your second pass, attack the warehouse/barracks area in the NW S-01 sector with cannon and gunfire. Withdraw from the target area to RP-BRONZA. Reassemble there and, with your escorts, retire back across the front to RP-OLOVO, from where you will continue on to base and your escort returns to theirs.
"objective_string"=The city of Kharkov is liberated. This phase of thr Soviet counteroffensive is winding down. In the course of 'Operation Zitadelle', the Red Army Air Force lost about 1,000 aircraft, while the Luftwaffe losses in the same period approached 400, while 270-289 more were severely damaged. When supporting the Soviet offensives, 'Operation Kutuzov' and 'Operation Commander Rumyantsev', some 1,550 more aircraft were lost and according to Luftwaffe sources, 1,463 aircraft of the 4th and 6th Air Fleets were written off with about 1,000 more damaged. This, one of the last missions of 'Commander Rumyantsev', is a strike, aimed at neutralizing the Axis airbase at Poltava. The Nazis hd evacuated their forward airbases in the face of Soviet advances and their rear bases, like Poltava, are packed with aircraft and equipment.
"intelligence_string"=The weather for tonight appears to be excellent - light clouds above 10,000 ft, gentle winds and 50% lunar illumination. Your opposition will come from Nazi FLAK units and roving flights of night fighters. Our own night interceptors will accompany you and hold off the enemy aviation, but the AA fire at your attack altitudes will be fairly intense from all calibers of AA guns. Study your target recon photos for target info and positions. There will be no pathfinder's flares on this one, but we will have a 'bomber's moon' at 50%.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=ALPHA Douglas Boston III Soviet 1
"airfield_string"=URSS_Kursk B


After I package this all up, is there anyone out there who would like to take this an turn it into an auto-installer?

[Deathwind]

I made one the last time the program guides you on making the installer and it worked on my pc but K Driver said it wasn’t working for him so I sent a a regular zip file to be uploaded. I never got any feedback as to the few others who tried it if it worked or not. I’m not on my laptop now to give you a name if the installer maker but if all else fails I could make you one and send it directly to you to try before you upload it.

[Deathwind]

I’ll play [COLOR=var(--ast-global-color-0)]Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe whatever you throw at us is the way to go. I’d probably put all 82 in one campaign but I have discussed a button that gives me more than nine lives in fact I’ve never been shot done for the final time. I’d still be under the water at wake in the stock campaign if it weren’t for that.[/COLOR]

[skylane]

I would suggest separate fighter and bomber campaigns.

[Roxane-21]

I vote for separate fighter and bomber campaigns as well.

[Deathwind]

Thanks but the first story is fictional. The night witch’s were not fighter pilots but made bombing runs often near suicidal type missions but often they made it as they were good at surprise attacks after dark. Pilots were in high demand and only a few women became fighter pilots. Most other women worked as Night Witches or lesser roles such as transport or delivery of aircraft from one location to the next.

[scoobyman32]

Damn, couldn't wait to tell the wife that story DW! Enjoyed the yarn anyway. 😃

[Deathwind]

Damn, couldn't wait to tell the wife that story DW! Enjoyed the yarn anyway. 

I’m sure she didn’t believe those bikini clad pilots could have existed long enough to engage in combat because they would all have frozen to death if they didn’t dress more appropriately than that.

[Rami]

Greg,

I have been dusting off my OstFront install just so I can fly this masterpiece. Thank you for all of your efforts on this!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Campaigns Add-Ons

Description: Kursk, an industrial city in central European USSR, was the site of what was probably the largest tank battle in history. In the summer of 1943, the forces of Nazi Germany attempted to finally crush the Red Army and advance on Moscow to end the war in the East. This is as close to an historical campaign as I could create, using the sources available. All the missions have the player flying as a Soviet pilot and are based on actual engagements, as described in my research sources. Each mission’s Background Briefing gives you an historical description for the mission and its place in the overall battle. Airfields used, unit types, element sizes, and strengths are approximated when not specified, but most often based on historical references.

The campaigns are hybrid, i.e., a combination of linear and dynamic set up. Each time you fly a selected campaign, the missions selected for you will often vary, as well as the mission’s dynamics themselves. Some aircraft are not the exact variant called for in history, but I chose those in the SOH CFS2 Warbirds library that most closely match them. And I attempted to keep the number of downloads to a minimum.

Front lines, cities and contact/engagement area locations are as close as I could find using Google Maps and the CFS2 MB on screen map. The sources for historical data for all of these missions are Wikipedia, Google Maps and “Air War Over Kursk – Turning Point in the East” by Dmitriy B. Khazanov.

This package contains 6 separate campaigns: 1. Kursk northern front. July 5th- 12th – opening phase; 2. Kursk northern front Soviet counterattack – July 12th – August 14th; 3. Kursk southern front July 5th – July 12th – opening phase; 4. Kursk southern front, Soviet counterattack – July 12th - August 23rd; 5. Kursk bomber campaign; 6. Kursk fighter campaign.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit Kursk Air War (USSR VVS).zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.