Psykmoe posted:

Can you eventually upgrade to a later model IL-2 with a rear gunner?

Also, does the game model the effects of altitude? I just built a Mig-3 model in 1/72 scale and the instructions had an info blurb about that particular plane being meant for high altitudes and not being real good lower to the ground where most aerial battles on the eastern front took place.

Popete posted:

The Mig-3 in particular, (2) 7.62mm and a single 12.7mm with I think only 700 rounds. The 7.62s might as well not even be there.

Popete posted:

The Mig-3 in particular, (2) 7.62mm and a single 12.7mm with I think only 700 rounds. The 7.62s might as well not even be there.

Jobbo_Fett posted:

Not. Extreme. Enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Bay6mphcI

Radio Free Kobold posted:

And while we're at it, here's something from Silent Hunter 4. I know it's not planes but warships are cool and submarines are double-cool ok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFN9nvFYHmk

Boris Bolshevik posted:

Today was a good day.

Jobbo_Fett posted:

Shine posted:

I predict Boris actually got to shoot trains and stuff for once instead of mow down hapless 109s.

Xerophyte posted:

Since he's shown such promise at mowing down hapless 109 the commissariat were going to transfer him to a Yak-9 squadron, but due to a bureaucratic snafu he instead got 9 yaks.

"From the War Diary of Boris Bolshevik - 62nd ShAP posted:

October 11th, 1941

06:00
Another morning, another breakfast. I see a number of new faces today, but it doesn't dawn on me until we get to the briefing room. I lean over to whisper to Lihachyov, "Who's the new commander?"

"He was appointed to the unit yesterday, you idiot, now pay attention!" He snapped back at me.

Agafon was still injured, but liked to be a part of the briefings anyways in case he could find an angle to get back into the fight a little sooner. As for Fedot, I guess he must have been busy being briefed by the rest of the staff, and finding ways to get us back to operational status after our loses in men and materiel increased.



I had to double-check the board to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I admit I was happy that I would not be called to action today, especially after my escape from the Germans less than 24 hours ago.



I did not envy the men sent to attack an airfield. In my mind, those would be the best defended targets, and could easily call upon men to take to their machines and reinforce any defenders there.





The day went by uneventfully for those of us that stayed at the airfield. We showed the new members their bunks, where to get supplies. I also began work on a wood carving.




15:30
The morning's mission had been uneventful, surprisingly. I think the men missed their target, so they attacked a recently captured city on the way back, causing only minor damage. Still, it was better then nothing.

The railway attack did not go as planned, with Kovalenko and Ryabov being wounded. On the plus side, both injuries were minor, as the planes were still in good shape, minus a few holes here and there. Judging by their claims, they'd done a significant amount of damage to the station, as well as destroying an entire locomotive, along with its railway cars!


We celebrated with some drinks and songs tonight, and I believe having the day off will help.


Today was a good day.

"From the War Diary of Boris Bolshevik - 62nd ShAP posted:

October 12th, 1941



07:15
Two flights of Il-2s will take to the sky today, battle damage and weather permitting. My day off has revitalized me, and there is a feeling of confidence among the men in the briefing room.


My flight has the shorter of two missions, which I appreciate. Doing a lot of damage today should help the boys on the ground and delay the German war machine, even if just a little.


09:00


The first flight is still out on their combat patrol. We spend the time discussing tactics and ground attack techniques.


After the last man has finally touched down, they head off to the debriefing room and, unfortunately, we learn that they were unable to find their targets.


13:00
After a light lunch, we begin preparations and review the mission before setting off.




Fighter cover should meet up with us at point 2, where we can then continue on to the objective.


15:12


The escorts arrive from slightly above and ahead. At least I won't have to worry about being surprised by any fighters... I hope. The further we advance towards the frontline, the more stressed I become. I only notice this when my hand starts to hurt. I take a moment to think about it and ease my grip.




15:21
Nine minutes after the escorts begin to circle around my flight, I hear Constantin over the radio. "Alright men, we are above the target area, keep your eyes peeled!" I cut throttle and nose down towards the ground, aiming to get below cloud cover and search for targets then.



As I get sight of the town housing the Germans, I spot flashes on the ground. Looks like the enemy AA is awake, unfortunately.

https://i.imgur.com/j6IqhWH.gifv


One flak post is decimated, and I come away with no damage to myself. Banking slightly right, I try to get some distance from the village before turning around again. Best to avoid giving the enemy gunners a larger target if I don't have to. I give it a moment and begin banking right, when suddenly tracer fire flies into my view. Guess I wasn't far enough... I make another attack run, but smoke covers the battlefield and the two targets I was going to attack drift in and out of my view, I abort the run, and bank left. All sights appear to be on me, as more tracer fire envelops my canopy. I hear the telltale sounds of crunching metal and the associated rocking motions imparted of my plane. drat. At least the armourers won't be bored!




15:24
My third attack run goes as well as my first, although I notice a very stiff wind pushing me laterally. The wind must have picked up after my first run... in any case, the powers of mother nature do nothing to prevent the destruction of a 2nd German flak gun, with a brilliant explosion following what I assumed to be the post's ammunition stocks. I find myself just under my flight as I turn to get some distance from the village again. So far I have not seen them actually shoot, but I have heard their voices fill the airwaves with kill claims of their own.

While the rest of the flight banks right, lazily, I turn left, going into a very tight turn and immediately proceed to line up another flak gun to attack.

https://i.imgur.com/e9uqHGI.gifv

It never stood a chance, having been distracted by my mates off in the distance.



After yet another turn, I double back towards my 3rd kill and spot a searchlight with an accompanying flak gun, and set them both ablaze.


As I continue off into the distance, I spot a convoy, and immediately begin to think about how best to approach them and destroy them.


https://i.imgur.com/xnjOsA0.gifv

I take a number of hits on my way out, although I can't pinpoint from where. Tracers were coming from behind, but the damage implies so unit ahead of my shot. Or maybe they were simply metal fragments flying about. In any case, I did not feel confident that I could pull off any more attacks without assuring my death.

15:38(?)


All my dials were out, except possibly my clock. In any case, my instrument panel was shot up, and I chose it was best to land at a nearby airfield simply to get myself out of the sky. While in flight I did some zig-zagging to see if I could spot a leak, to no avail, and preferred running out of fuel or coolant at an airfield then in a forest.




After I had stepped out of my machine I was able to survey the damage. I had about two separate foot-size holes in the right wing and in the fuselage behind my seat. Glass was shattered, and the engine took a few nasty punched... I'm actually surprised the engine kept working as long as it did. One of my cannons jammed after taking the last hits above the enemy, but no other vital parts were damaged.



Later, after hopping off the Ford truck used to ferry me back to my unit's HQ, I met up with the others of my flight, who were all relieved to see me unharmed and in good spirit. My claim for 4 kills goes through, and the commander buys me a drink, having "won" by killing the most enemy today.

Slightly inebriated, I made my way back to the barracks for a good night's rest.

chitoryu12 posted:

IL-2s seem to have very thick canopy glass.

Kibayasu posted:

I guess I might be bumping up LP that's been put aside for one or another but I had this bookmarked for a while until I found the spare time and did enjoy what I saw. To add one last thing, it seems the tracers in https://imgur.com/xnjOsA0 seem to go ahead of you which I guess means the bullets came from behind. Hell of a thing to take a shot directly in the middle of the canopy and not take a hit yourself.

"From the War Diary of Boris Bolshevik - 62nd ShAP posted:

October 13th, 1941



07:50
I couldn't eat this morning. Vitaliy asked me if I was okay, and I told him it was just the jitters. It seems like the war only just started for me and I've started making a name for myself, and I'd be lying if wasn't concerned I was putting a target on my back. He nodded, slapped my shoulder, and exclaimed "Good thing you've got guardians angels watching over you!" "Not unless they refuse to fly" I said with a smirk.



I felt better, if slightly. The roaring engines on the flightline reminded me that our job today would be a hard one, attacking a river crossing that will surely be well defended, either by enemy planes or AAA... or both. Thankfully, the reinforcements in men and materiel bolster the unit's ability to fight, and we'll put them to good use!






08:21
We hear some commotion over the radio. At first I'm lead to believe its our fighter cover, but the open comms appear to be coming from a group currently in combat.


But at least the fighter cover is here. Their lazy criss-cross patterns were enchanting, in a way.


08:36
The target is finally in our sights, and the flight leader orders an attack on any and all enemy targets in the area.


The Germans are already across, with what looks like one bridge destroyed and plenty of targets on either side of the river.



Thankfully for me, they are still busy assembling on the far side of the bridge and I let loose all my explosive stores on the unsuspecting casualties.

https://i.imgur.com/oeZcjI1.gifv
A successful rocket attack on German units caught in the open



After getting some distance and doubling back, I am perfectly positioned to see Georgiy's bombs destroy the intact bridge.

https://i.imgur.com/QBjLhs4.gifv



After pulling away from another pair of destroyed vehicles, I spot some guns returning fire, tracers now filling the sky.

08:38


It looks like an artillery position with decent AAA cover. I alert the flight, but the mission is the bridge and its surrounding units. It might not be the objective, but I can't help but feel like the men on the frontlines will appreciate my efforts here.


https://i.imgur.com/eQurHvk.gifv



In order to gain space and frustrate the AA gunners, I swap between attacking units at the bridge and at the artillery position.


Heavy howitzers spotted after yet another strafing run


08:41
I've taken hits, but my glorious beast flies true still.



I don't want to see how much longer I can stay in the air, however.


My mechanics aren't exactly happy that I come back with so many holes punched into the armoured frame of my Il-2 Sturmovik. I can't tell if my drat rear wheel caused any additional damage, so I simply lie and tell them some heavy flak hit me a few too many times.


11:27
I'm finally out of the debriefing room, the squadron captain happy with my report, with my flight mates helping to solidify my claimed kills. [Some of the cannons wouldn't be added to my official kill score until later, when reconnaissance aircraft could confirm the German losses]





A rough map of the locations of our kills today.



I earned some extra cash after this flight. I sent some home, using the rest to buy alcohol and cigarettes for the men serving with me.


We effectively stopped the push across the river today. Tomorrow may be an entirely different story.



We waved off the 2nd flight, bolstered by the good fortune we experienced earlier this morning. The wait was agonizing


It doesn't go as well. Sadly, there were two injuries and one KIA. Vladislav Kulagin took a nasty hit almost immediately upon entering the Area of Operations and was forced to Return to Base. Thankfully for him, his wounds amounted to some cuts from shrapnel and a plane that will require some time in the shop. Constantin Osipov performed well, destroying two vehicles and a building, but landed awkwardly and suffered a mild concussion. And then... well, we're told Valeriy died a heroes death. Both Iliya and Arkadiy report that, while strafing some train cars [which were confirmed destroyed], he took a direct hit from flak to a wing. He couldn't pull out in time and crashed into an administrative office, his remaining bombs and rockets detonating from the shock and leveling the building.

That night, we sang tales of heroes from a time long passed in honor of him and the others who valiantly gave their lives for the Motherland.

Danann posted:

How do you aim rockets with those sights? Totally not asking because of how rubbish I am at using rockets in War Thunder

ShootaBoy posted:

Boris continues to be the luckiest flyboy I've ever seen played in one of these games. Anyone else would have taken at least a scrape pulling off attacks like that.

Danann posted:

How do you aim rockets with those sights? Totally not asking because of how rubbish I am at using rockets in War Thunder

From the War Diary of Boris Bolshevik - 62nd ShAP posted:

!Diary portion unreadable due to damage!





11:27
Stanislav Shchukin is reported to be okay. His injuries were minor, and we are lucky that Iliya Gulyaev did not suffer a similar fate. His plane, on the other hand...









14:26
I must admit that I am worried about attacking an airfield. The first time we visited the Germans parked on the ground, it went well. Our formation flying raises my spirits, however.


And some Ratas act as cover today.

14:42
The airfield is spotted, but my worst fears are realized...



https://i.imgur.com/S7zNa7f.gifv


One gun run later, and the results aren't as great as I'd like.


14:43
Time seemed to move so quickly, I'm told the rush one feels during combat can make you lose time. I circled around and targeted a pileup of aircraft and maintenance vehicles.

https://i.imgur.com/Ho2H92Q.gifv


The return fire was murderous, and I quickly kept myself to treetop level and egressed eastwards.


The dirt lifting upwards was a reminder that, despite putting some distance from the airfield, I was not yet safe.

14:44
I cross paths with an AA position as I continue back to friendly lines.




14:47
It's quiet on the way back, nobody in sight anywhere. I review my plane for a moment.




14:50
Black smoke fills the sky, and for a moment I am convinced I have yet to cross friendly lines, but in the distance I can spot a plane in distress.


Friend, or foe?


As I approach the plane in distress, it receives some additional "help" from another plane in the area.


14:53
I spot another plane, although this time I am decidedly within my own lines. It appears to be damaged, and eventually it starts to go down.


It seems this pilot would rather bail out then risk a dead stick landing.



Reports from reconnaissance aircraft state that the airfield had 20 or so medium and heavy anti-aircraft guns. We attacked it in clear skies, in broad daylight.


Sadly, Constantin Novikov was shot down and MIA, presumed captured. How we only came away with one loss is beyond me.


The locations of kills, as marked on a map post-debrief




17:32
Word of my deeds has been spreading, and, while the squadron was enjoying some spirits and sharing stories, I was approached by the Squadron Captain and presented with the Order of the Red Star.

I hoped tomorrow's flight wouldn't be in the morning, else I feel I would not have time to recuperate!

Jobbo_Fett posted:

Also could prob do with a few bumps to get to a new page