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Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Primo Victoria
A Normandy 1944 Campaign in DCS




What is DCS?
It's a high fidelity simulator where each button and system is modeled. Players will be flying with dead reckoning, timed navigation, and visual flight rules without the aid of modern systems, facing against German air power over the Channel.


Discord: https://discord.gg/AirGoons
Main DCS thread: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3633891
The other campaign: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=4042524
Current, working, Wiki: https://www.airgoons.com/w/Main_Page

In conjunction with the Long Afternoon War, we'll do a campaign in World War 2, leading up to, going through, and ending after, the Normandy landings of June 6th, 1944.
As contrast, this campaign will not be highly dynamic nor dependent on player choice, but will instead take a different approach where the story telling is from the squadrons itself and the way they face combat. Kill tallies, sortie numbers, and saved airframes is everything. Your individual actions, while important, will be unlikely to turn the tide of the war itself. Instead, your job is to fly the task, survive, and get some bragging rights. The scale of the war is humongous, so no pilot should expect to make appreciable difference to the overall picture.

As such, we also will mostly dictate the situation to the players, who will be expected to fly the given situation. There's no big decisions to be made by any players.

First game to be played:
16th December, Real Time


This will be an ingame date of 15 March, 1944. Initially expect various colder phase air operations over and on the channel, and then during spring game time it will start of with raids preparing for the big Normandy invasion. We won't be doing one game day per ingame day, but rather thematically appropriate lead up, skipping time when necessary. We shall play by ear where the campaign takes us timewise, but for now, March 44 is the start.

Situation:


It's spring of 1944. Nazi Germany's war luck has already taken a turn for the worse after defeats on the eastern front. In the Mediterranean, Allies have landed in Italy and started to squeeze the Third Reich from the South, while Africa has already fallen. Germany is in a long march to defeat, but the final nail in the coffin on the western side is about to fall, as planning for Operation Overlord is well underway. The plan remains unknown still to most rank and file, and normal operations are on the daily menu. The Allies maintain a huge advantage in the air over the Channel, but total air domination is not yet achieved. Sometimes Germans even stage sorties to attempt to hit ships or port facilities, providing bursts of excitement.

However, mostly it's all about bomber escorts, patrolling for ships, and doing fighter sweeps over the Channel and above France.

Four player squadrons are assigned to the channel area, on Southern English coast. Expect the battles to focus on this area both during and before the invasion.
You will also have AI flown bomber units and friendly fighter patrols.


The player squadrons will be:

Out of Lymington Airfield, 122 Squadron, RAF, flying P-51 Mustangs received from the United States.




From Needs-Oar-Point airfield, 1º Grupo de Caça, Força Aérea Brasileira. This squadron in reality fought in the Italian Front, but we shall retcon history. This will be our tie-in with the Long Afternoon War, with the Brazilian F-5 heroes tracing their heritage to this unit, and it's same logo, "Senta a Pua!"




At Tangmere airport, 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, flying Mosquitos.



And at Ford airport, 126 Squadron, Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires.












To play in this Campaign, one needs:

-One of the planes above
-Normandy 2.0 Map
-WW2 Asset Pack


All can be bought from Steam or Standalone, and there's a sale going on for 24 hours from the duration of this post. If you are on Standalone, you can also trial each of those modules at the same time to try this for free.




Expectations:

More realistic flying, with no artificial map markers. You can access the map at any time, but you won't even see yourself on it. Basics of aerial navigation, use of radios, and formation flight should be in your command, as well as the good faith effort to preserve your pilot and airframe and continue to the mission. Decisions to do suicide runs should not be taken lightly unless it would be reasonable in your shoes to decide the mission value of it. Put some personal RPG in it and think of what makes sense.

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Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
This mission will be played in real time the 16th of December, 2023.



FIRST TASK ASSIGNMENT:



DATE: 0500 HRS, 15 March, 1944
TARGET: German U-Boat at Alderney.




From contact with with resistance, we've obtained information on a German operatives arriving to Alderney at a certain time. We have a fairly precise time for the exchange, at 0615 on 15th March. The U-Boat will likely only spend a few precious seconds on the surface.

We do not believe the Germans are aware of our intelligence, so the plan is to coordinate an attack on the Maupertus Airfield, just east of Cherbourg. The Jerries have a quick reaction squadron there, and while they often get bombed, they've been able to sortie out.


Plan is thus:


The 126 Squadron's spitfires will establish a blocking flight over the Channel, circled at roughly the blue marker. They will perform fighter sweep until their endurance is up.
The Brazilians will, under this Spitfire cover, fly into low altitude to perform rocket and gunnery attacks on the Maupertus airfield, hoping to catch as many jerries on the ground as possible. We've obtained the three Flak battery locations from overflights, circled on the attached picture.

While this is happening, Mozzies from 418 Squadron will proceed to Alderney to the submarine's anticipated point, and time their run to correspond with 0615, hitting the boat.
Their escort are the 122 Squadron Mustangs, who will play top cover.

Anticipate the Nazis to have some channel sweep flights out, and possible to sortie a few more. Use the surprise to your advantage, hit the boat and airfield, and scurry out.

What are your questions?


Longis Beach is where the submarine will be, near the old Roman Fort, just north of Essex Farm.



You're looking for a submarine like this:



Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 04:16 on Nov 27, 2023

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
The first mission will instead be played this coming sunday the 3rd.


Sunday Air Goon mission slot opened up, so we're hopping forward into it. Signup in Discord and chat about it. I will post some flight plans here soon.

Alchenar
Apr 9, 2008

Starting a counter on goons running out of fuel and splashing into the sea.

Also on goons successfully landing on the airfield they took off from.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
First briefing.
Expect this style, with perhaps some unit conversion or basic aeronautical math required from flight leaders. In this case, you will receive the Mosquito flight planning to have something to work off of. I expect other flight leads to simply drop theirs in. Ask help if needed.






418 Squadron; RCAF
Mosquitos

Weather:
Few clouds
10 Celcius
Altimeter 28.35
Winds 090 at 4 knots


You will strike the U-Boat at Longis Beach, Alderney. Expect to find the U-Boat surfaced at 0615.
You will hop into your aircraft at 0540, and your engines should be rolling no later than 0545. Takeoff expeditiously, and assemble and orbit with all flights at the Southern Tip of Isle of Wight, at St. Catherine's light house. You will push from this point at at 0559, to arrive at 0615 over Longis Beach.

Strafe the submarine with cannons, and return home. The 122 Squadron Mustangs will be escorting you the whole way while 126 Spitfires proctect the Channel Crossing, and the 1st FAB Thunderbolts hit Maupertus.

You will NOT hit anything else besides the submarine. They are British citizens living on Alderney, and place is full of civilians.


Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 22:49 on Nov 27, 2023

Lumme
Mar 2, 2013
122 Squadron RAF,
P-51D Mustangs

Expected wather conditions:
Few clouds,
Temperature 10C,
Altimeter 28.35 in,
Wind 090 at 4 kn

Good morning gentlemen, our tasking for today is to escort a flight of Mosquitoes from the 418th Squadron while they attack an surfacing U-Boat off the coast of Alderney. Additional cover is being provided by a blocking flight of Spitfires of the 126th Squadron patrolling over the Channel, keeping an eye for any Jerries taking off from Maupertus airbase. This will hopefully not happen as our fresh Brazilian allies should be supressing it with an airstrike at the same time.

Takeoff will be at 0545, we will fly SE for 19 mi while climbing to our escort altitude of 15k ft, and settle for an orbit at the assembly point at the southern tip of Isle of Wight. Expected departure time of the Mosquitoes and us from this assembly point is 0559, but we shall see if our more provincial brethren manage to hit that. After departure we will fly magnetic heading 223 for 69 mi travelling at IAS 192 mph, and after reaching Alderney at 0615, orbit above it providing air cover untill the Mosquitoes are done sending their warmest regards to the U-Boat.

After this we will continue escorting them back, flying magnetic heading 049 for 100 mi back to their departure field, or if the skies are clear, separate from them south of Isle of Wight and return to Lymington. If the bloody Jerries decide to act civilized for once and stay on their fields, with some persuasion from the Brazilians, we should still be back in time for the morning tea.

Lumme fucked around with this message at 00:08 on Nov 28, 2023

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
For the 1st FAB, Brazilian Jugs







Loadout: rockets

We start engines at 0540 at Needs Oar Point, and take off at 0545. We turn towards southernmost point of Isle of Wight as an easy geographical reference, and orbit it at 15000 feet. At 0559, we push together with other flights and proceed to Maupertus Airfield to strafe Germans, flying 175 degree magnetic for 65 miles. Flying faster at 300mph IAS will ensure that we arrive some 3-5 minutes ahead of the Mosquitos to our respective target, and we are striking them as they depart. After TWO PASSES, we reform and fly 350 magnetic for the 77 miles to get home. ONce again, easy to associate over the terrain features, no sweat.

Contingencies:

If either Mustangs or Spitfires need help, and we've expended our Rockets, we can offer help on 124.00mhz to aid them. If Mosquitos are in trouble over Alderney, we proceed with a northern hook to Alderney, avoiding Flak Batteries and ships at Cherboug. If the Spitfires are in need of help, we simply head home and join the fight.

ilmucche
Mar 16, 2016

this game looks wild and seems like a cool project

maupertus is a cool airport, huge runway that's barely used anymore

ilmucche fucked around with this message at 12:25 on Nov 28, 2023

Alchenar
Apr 9, 2008

126 Sdn Spitfires



We taxi and take off immediately, turning towards the Isle of Wight and turning due south on passing St Catherine's Point. We climb all the way to our patrol altitude of 20k ft, which will allow us to perform an initial sweep of the airspace around Maupertus and provide top-cover for the strike-package as it goes in at 15k.

This plan has a conscious risk - in order to get into position and at altitude we need to push immediately and cannot form with the strike package in England. The good means we will be in a position to identify and engage any CAP over the airfield (or we will trigger their alert response early!), the bad is that we will need to rely on comms with the strike package to ensure we don't completely miss them as they commence their attack.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Gentlemen,


Our first combat sorties are only moments away (irl time this sunday, 2000 UTC).


Here's the latest on your likely opposition. Germans have not had an equal footing in the sky in ages, and they are generally combat shy. The Yanks used to send daily fighter sweeps over Normandy to start fights, and Germans are now wisened up to it. They tend to take off when they see a small number of plane, but usually will stay grounded if large formations are detected.


So, on the morning of 15th March 1944, they'll detect the few planes around Isle of Wight. Fighter command thinks that it is fishy enough that it is probable to expect some Germans.

None of the bases in Normandy have had a large number of planes in years anymore, but usually a few here and there for quick reaction. We've circled their usual patrol routes, and you can expect some defenders from Maupertus as you get closer. That is why it is of utmost importance that the Thunderbolts nail them during the early morning with their surprise.


Spitfires, expect some planes to come look at you. We're sure you can handle it, but we are willing to adjust on the fly.






Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Mission 1 is played tomorrow, Sunday the 3rd.
Mission 2 will be played Saturday the 9th.

The Long Afternoon War has to take an administrative break, so we're moving this next mission into its spot.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!

ilmucche posted:

this game looks wild and seems like a cool project

maupertus is a cool airport, huge runway that's barely used anymore

There's a lot of runways on this map that became parks and unused parking lots and storage lots in the post WW2 Europe. It'd be cool to have that many airports still today.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
March 15, 1944, is over.




Kills:



1st FAB:
1x Bf-109 on the ground (Gronank)
1x Bf-109 in the air (Gronank)

126 Squadron:
1x Bf-109 in the air (Alchenar)
1x Bf-109 forced to return (Jabby)

481 Squadron:
1x Type VII submarine damaged or destroyed, unknown (All Mosquitos contributed)





Losses:

1st FAB:
1x P-47, lost to Bf-109 (Vaha)

122 Squadron
1x P-51 Mustang, lost to a stall over the Channel

418 Squadron:
1x Mosquito engine failure, crashed into Channel (Mederlock)





Jolly good work! Good job on timing waypoints and being at the right place at the right time.



Alchenar getting his kill:






Gronank's injured Jug returning home:



Additional swarm of enemy Bf-109s that turned back when players made it too far to the English side of the channel.



Mosquito landing:




Mustang turning home:



The Nazi submarine sitting on the shallow bottom:

Snapshot
Oct 22, 2004

damnit Matt get in the boat
Springfield 1 After action report, March 15, 1944
5 x Mosquito



The morning sortie was to damage a u-boat surfaced outside of Alderney. Due to a mix up on the roster, 5 pilots were scheduled for the morning hop, with Breaky, Mederlock, Arbitrary, and Malakesh warming up mosquitos just before dawn. Some maintenance issues occurred before takeoff, with my a/c suffering engine trouble, and Malakesh's a/c suffering from a jammed brake cylinder and various troubles. Mechanics proceeded to troubleshoot with Malakesh while I handed control to Arbitrary, and hopped in a backup a/c.


Takeoff for the squadron was a couple of minutes behind schedule with Arbitrary, and Breaky proceeding to the rendezvous with Chevy at the aisle of Wight without incident. Mederlock took off late, and was not able to rejoin before the sub attack.


Ingress to the target was uneventful aside from some issues keeping the Mossies slowed down enough to keep the pace specified. However, the initial 2 ship arrived over Alderney on schedule, and was able to identify and strafe the U boat with cannon. Mederlock joined in, spotting the conning tower resurfacing after the sub attempted to dive early. Eventually the sub settled to the bottom of the channel outside Alderney, as shown in the photo taken from one attacking Mosquitos.



On the return leg, Mederlock lost power to one of his engines, and was forced to ditch in the channel after being unable to sustain altitude. In interview after he was fished from the channel by a RAF Air Sea Rescue Walrus, he noted that his temperatures and pressures weren't abnormal, but he was running high boost without setting maximum rpm on the propellers.

Breaky and Arbitrary also suffered familiarization issues with the Mosquito, nearly running the outer wing tanks dry before switching over to the inner tanks.

Overall a successful sortie, with excellent pilotage in an improvised situation by Arbitrary, Breaky and Mederlock. However we can do things better next time: We should be in our aircraft 5 minutes earlier to account for warming up the temperamental Merlin engines. Also, we should run through the basic familiarization course, including emergency procedures as some issues with the night start were shown during the pre-dawn warm up, and during the attack run leading to the loss of an aircraft. Finally, the new secondary radios installed were not included in the equipment briefings and were not used. For future sorties, the HF set installed in the Mosquito shall be used in R/T mode to provide interflight communications.

Images from Deadseed, Vähäkylä, and Muhlump

Snapshot fucked around with this message at 05:36 on Dec 4, 2023

Alchenar
Apr 9, 2008

Debrief: 126 Squadron Spitfires

A difficult start to the day as apparently nobody had informed the airbase there was a mission flying, accordingly the flight started up in blackout conditions. We unfortunately suffered 150% operational losses within 15 seconds of attempting to taxi out of the hanger, with minor damage to two planes and the third catching fire which provided sufficient illumination for pilots Alchenar and Jabby to jump into planes 4 and 5 and navigate to the runway. From there we proceeded on-mission, albeit arriving on station slightly after the thunderbolts had committed to their strike runs and triggered the German alert squadron, which was disrupted by the strike.

Jabby was ahead of me and pounced on one, but displayed insufficient aggression and allowed it to RTB. The flight reformed and engaged the other 109 head on and merging, resulting in this glorious screenshot:


We returned home, 1.5 kills in the air and zero losses, thus proving once again the supremacy of the Spitfire. A video clip of us welcoming Vaha and Gorson back to the mess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGp4DvFEgh8&t=70s


Feedback and reflections
: We grumbled and little and made light of it, but it really was impossible to start out pre dawn. The Spitfire does not have night lights. With the benefit of hindsight - the idea of a pre-dawn sweep makes no sense at all, what Germans were we expecting to find? Mission start timing issues aside, going in high also meant that we were out of position when the strike wing got bounced and struggled to identify targets - we spotted planes heading out North but were too high to identify them and because the German AI flight had been disrupted they looked like panicked goons fleeing for home rather than 109's on the hunt. It would have been far better for us to have formed up with and gone in alongside the strike wing up to the start of their attack runs. Lessons learned for future rounds of mission planning.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
For this coming saturday's mission.






Commander of 418 Squadron,



The French resistance has obtained urgent intel. A group of high level Gestapo officers are holding a meeting a few days from now, at a hotel in Le Havre. These Gestapo Officers are in charge of operations in the local area, and they are responsible for a large number of atrocities and reprisals, and are currently believed to be close to cracking the local Resistance unit. By the request of the local resistance leader, they have decided to ask our help for this somewhat of an unique opportunity.

There are considerations:

-The basement of the hotel has currently French Resistance fighters that are being interrogated. While it is unfortunate, their demise is likely in the attack. The French have reiterated that they understand the cost of this operation.
-There are civilian houses all around the the target. It is of utmost importance to practice precision on this attack, but we can not completely remove all risk from the operation.


We believe the Mosquitos are best suited for this operation. Pay attention to the location of the building and its surroundings, so as to not confuse it with anything else.


We expect the Squadron Commander of 418 to present us with a plan of best cruise and approach to hit the target at the right time and right angle, with the weapon of your recommendation. Escort flights will be planned off of this.

Your task:
-Ensure several large warhead bombs hit the building and the ensuing rubble to maximize the odds of getting all Gestapo officers.


Th meeting will happen on the 19th of March, at 0730 in the Morning. The Gestapo officers are expected to arrive at around 0715, and the meeting will conclude sometime near 0815.

We are forecasting good weather over the Channel.

We'll leave you to plan.



Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Bonus points if someone recognizes the real life mission this takes inspiration from.

MrMojok
Jan 28, 2011

Was it Carthage?

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!

MrMojok posted:

Was it Carthage?

Yeah! It had some tragic side effects, and Netflix has a great Danish-made movie about it, called The Bombardment, that analyzes some of the national collective trauma of it. And some of the resistance members who died in the bombardment had genuinely been part of the decision to ask the Allies to do it, understanding full well what would happen if they'd be imprisoned there.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Likely German response will be from these two airfields.


Fecamp has four to six fighters, FW-190 A-modelsm, stationed at it, and Deauville is known to host a pair of 109s at it.
Obviously if you loiter long enough, you can expect planes from elsewhere, too.

There is some change you might meet German CAP over the Channel, but unlikely at this hour still.

It is up to you to decide if you wish to direct escorts to strafe the runways as they scramble, or if you wish to meet them above Le Havre. The harbor at Le Havre has likely Flak, so it is not a perfect place to do battle, even if low altitude Mosquitos are in a relatively low risk environment.


Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
On 18th March, one day before our game operation, the French Mosquito Squadron overflew Deauville for damage assessment, as it had been bombed by American B-17s.


This is their latest picture. It is unknown where the scattered Bf-109s from JG27 will respond from.

Mederlock
Jun 23, 2012

You won't recognize Canada when I'm through with it
Grimey Drawer


RCAF 418 Squadron , Mosquitos

Good evening folks, looks like we've been handed some Gestapo pigs on a platter courtesy of the French Resistance. As you've already been briefed, there is a meeting of some Gestapo bigwigs in a hotel in Le Havre that we've been tasked to crash. Helpfully, there is a nice long manmade pond right in front of the hotel we're after, which will help get us on target. We're going to take a Hi-Low bombing approach for this mission, to get us there fast and then reduce our exposure to flak and civilian exposure to collateral damage. Make sure to brush up on your knowledge of procedures for this type of bomb run. The plan is as follows:

1. 06:50 Startup with haste and get in the air. Proceed @ 212M for 8nm until you reach a prominent point over the town of Selsey. Climb to 6kft-8kft and hold in a pattern until all Mosquitos are here

2. 07:05 Push out from collection point, bearing 159M for 74nm. Climb at 170IAS until altitude of 16kft using appropriate engine levels, and then level out and cruise in the 2nd gear of the supercharger at 220IAS

3. ~07:25 Prominent N/S cliff face will be in sight, begin dive to 3000' and keep airspeed under control. End dive a few miles along the cliff face, and continue @ 208M at 260-330IAS flying parallel to the cliff. Open bomb bay door, set bomb fuses to Nose and Tail, arm switch engaged and the 2 fuselage bombs selected. Enter a trail formation [single file line] with ~400'-800' in-between each airplane, to avoid splash damage from the bombs released ahead of you by the other Mosquitos. Switch fuel to main supply if you haven't already at this point.

4. Once cliff begins sharp bend to the left, start a left turn and look for a very prominent brick smokestack. Once spotted, end turn ~half a mile south (ie. to the right of) the smokestack and look for the rectangular body of water in town.

5. Look to the far end of the water, the target building is the second from the left. Refer to the images provided in the briefing earlier to familiarize yourself with the structure. Descend to just above smokestack/rooftop level.

6. As the building is just about to disappear from view under your nose, release your bombs and begin a low left hand turn. Make sure to close your bay doors. Keep your eyes on the target building and watch for staff cars or personnel fleeing. Call out on the radio if you see anything noteworthy. Maintain a left orbit until all planes have released their ordnance.

7. If any fleeing targets are identified, light them up with a salvo of rockets and cannon fire. Do not needlessly endanger civilians with this, only take high confidence shots. If the building is not yet destroyed, fly the same approach pattern as the bomb runs and release your rockets into the structure as well.

8. Once all A/C have finished 7., move NW and collect over the farm fields West of the residential area of town. Once all pilots are accounted for, push west and dip below the cliffs and then proceed parallel along them on bearing ~031M

9. Once the cliff face starts to jut out and then dip to the East, turn to bearing 338M and climb to 16kft at 170 IAS. Cruise in 2nd gear at best speed home, maintaining formation with the rest of the flight. Once over Selsey, Turn to 033M for Tangmere and land safely.

Loadout
4x SAP rockets on each wing, full internal fuel, 2x MC 500lb bombs in internal bay. **1 second function delay timer on Nose and Tail fuses.** MC bombs have more explosive filler but less fragmentation, hopefully this reduces the amount of collateral damage to civvies due to shrapnel.

Escort flights

We would like a flight to push ahead of us and strafe, screen, or otherwise engage the hostile A/C at Fecamp in such a way that they don't interfere with our time-sensitive approach. If the Jerry's aren't already alerted and scrambling, try to coordinate the runway strafing with our bomb run at approximately 07:30, to not give the Gestapo a chance to receive any early warning.

We would also like another escort flight to stay with us and/or screen the South/West approaches as we're doing our passes on the target structure. I leave the details to you to figure out what that looks like, or what is feasible for your airframes.

Anyone have any questions? Let's hear them!



Mederlock fucked around with this message at 10:40 on Dec 9, 2023

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Sadly not all landmarks are where they should be, and since we use Isle of Wight's southern tip and the Saint Catherine's lighthouse for navigation, I added it as static objects to the map. It's close enough, but not perfect. If there's other navigation landmarks that we lack in the map, I'll do my best.




Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Tallies:

122 Squadron kills:

1x Fw-190, 1x Bf-109 (Zeph)
1x Bf-109, 1x Fw-190 (Rowen)
1x Fw-190 (Gorson)


126 Squadron:
1x Fw-190(Prime)



418 Squadron:

1x 500 pounder bomb hits directly into the Gestapo assembly inside the hotel.

1st FAB

1x Bf-109 (Gronank)






Loss records:


122 Squadron:
3x Mustangs lost. Two over france, one during landing but survivable.


126 Squadron:
1x Spitfire damaged on takeoff

1st Fab:
1x P-47 engine failure over channel

418 Squadron:
4x Mozzies lost to flak over Le Favre

Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 23:06 on Dec 9, 2023

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!



The next mission date is not yet decided, since we have to figure out some dates on when we can play it.
However, it happens a few game days after the raid on Gestapo headquarters, at 22nd of March. With scattered clouds over the channel, and somewhat gusty winds from the South East, a radar station on Isle of Wight alerts that German bomber formations are detected, approaching from various directions from France.



Operation Steinbeck, also known as the Baby Blitz, was a late war German effort to put pressure on the British Isles. Massing bombers, mainly Ju 88s and Heinkel 177s, Germany attempted bombing raids over London and various southern English towns and radar sites. It came at an appalling cost of aircraft and aircrew, achieving ultimately very little. Both day and night raids ended up with high casualties for the Luftwaffe, and very few for the Allies. The operation lasted from 21st of January to 29 May of 1944, ultimately being terminated to mounting losses and little practical benefit.


This takes our squadrons to the skies on early morning of the 22nd March. Scramble scramble scramble, expect final bearing to Germans be broadcast on radio after departure. Take off time will be 0600 sharp.




Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
There's demanding schedule issues going on still, as I travel next weekend. War is waiting. Ugh.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Saturday the 10th, we fly this mission, at 2000 UTC.

That is 1500 Eastern US time.

Finally!

Vahakyla posted:




The next mission date is not yet decided, since we have to figure out some dates on when we can play it.
However, it happens a few game days after the raid on Gestapo headquarters, at 22nd of March. With scattered clouds over the channel, and somewhat gusty winds from the South East, a radar station on Isle of Wight alerts that German bomber formations are detected, approaching from various directions from France.



Operation Steinbeck, also known as the Baby Blitz, was a late war German effort to put pressure on the British Isles. Massing bombers, mainly Ju 88s and Heinkel 177s, Germany attempted bombing raids over London and various southern English towns and radar sites. It came at an appalling cost of aircraft and aircrew, achieving ultimately very little. Both day and night raids ended up with high casualties for the Luftwaffe, and very few for the Allies. The operation lasted from 21st of January to 29 May of 1944, ultimately being terminated to mounting losses and little practical benefit.


This takes our squadrons to the skies on early morning of the 22nd March. Scramble scramble scramble, expect final bearing to Germans be broadcast on radio after departure. Take off time will be 0600 sharp.





JabbyJabara
Feb 2, 2024
Are we expecting an update on mission? Tactics take off or distance to intercept point? I intend to calculate fuel to be used

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Game starts at 0600 sharp. Engines are off, so rush airborne.


The radar hit is 113 NM away from radar station, the suspected Luftwaffe target.

30+ planes, plus other smaller hits on radar, likely fighter escort joining in.


Expect AI flown Spitfire patrols to assist you. There will be final call out at Point Red from GCI to warn of distance.




Aim to protect three kill boxes: A, B, and C.

If your killbox is empty, pursue any planes you see.


Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 20:17 on Feb 5, 2024

mlmp08
Jul 11, 2004

Prepare for my priapic projectile's exalted penetration
Nap Ghost

Vahakyla posted:

Game starts at 0600 sharp. Engines are off, so rush airborne.


DCS mission editor tells me the sun doesn't begin to crest the horizon until 0622 local time in mid-March of 1944. Recommend we either change the .miz to be more inclusive of players or leave this intercept to the ground-based air defense batteries and dedicated night fighters, based on prior feedback on night-starts. Or intercept much closer to the UK so that we don't have to scramble airborne in the dark and leave behind anyone with light/takeoff issues in order to get to the briefed CAP locations.

We spent a significant amount of time in missions losing aircraft in the dark or sitting on the ground waiting for light before takeoff, with multiple players having to respawn and joining missions late as a result.

Alchenar posted:


A difficult start to the day as apparently nobody had informed the airbase there was a mission flying, accordingly the flight started up in blackout conditions. We unfortunately suffered 150% operational losses within 15 seconds of attempting to taxi out of the hanger, with minor damage to two planes and the third catching fire which provided sufficient illumination for pilots Alchenar and Jabby to jump into planes 4 and 5 and navigate to the runway.

...

Feedback and reflections
: We grumbled and little and made light of it, but it really was impossible to start out pre dawn. The Spitfire does not have night lights. With the benefit of hindsight - the idea of a pre-dawn sweep makes no sense at all, what Germans were we expecting to find?

If you max your gamma slider as far as the game allows, you can see at 0600. On normal "game looks okay" settings, this is what 0600 looks like:



cockpit if you don't max out gamma sliders, but turn them up just a little bit:


Edit:
In testing, I left the date on 15 March. With the mission being on 22 March, it is merely dim in the cockpit, but not obnoxiously dark.

mlmp08 fucked around with this message at 20:42 on Feb 6, 2024

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
FLIGHT PLAN

P-47 Thunderbolts
1st Fighter Squadron of the Brazilian Air Force
Needs-Oar-Point Airport






We depart with utmost urgency and fly visually to Saint Catherine's lighthouse on southern tip of Isle of Wight, climbing the whole time. Upon passage of the lighthouse, we turn to 190 degrees magnetic, aim for 300 miles per hour indicated, and fly for 4 minutes. After that, we establish an orbit unless we detect targets visually, which we will pursue.


Primary targets for us are the Ju-88s.
Secondary for us are the escorts.


Right now, we are counting on the Mustangs to pursue escorting fighters, but we might have to defend ourseves.



Actions on:

-Separation from flight lead: independent patrol and or engagement, no time to waste. Seek rejoin only if reasonable in short timeframe
-Damaged but flyable: pursue hostile planes, these bombers are a high priority
-Damaged beyond controllability for combat: return to our own airport at Needs Oar Point, secondary to any airfield in England. Only under extreme duress land on the fields in Isle of Wight



Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 17:22 on Feb 8, 2024

Lumme
Mar 2, 2013
Alright Chevy Flight,

Quick tasking is as follows, get up, collect ourselves at St. Catherine's lighthouse at the southernmost point of Isle of Wight, SE for 19 miles from the field. Try to reach altitude of 20kft, from there fly magnetic heading 160 for about 5 minutes at IAS 250mph, should put us at Killbox B approx 40 miles out, at there our primary target will be the bombers Bf-109 escorts, bombers are targets of opportunity if you find yourself at a suitable angle to one, i.e. at it's side, but slower allied planes will take care of them. Do not expect the killboxes to be more than a gentle suggestion.
Any stragglers at the field will have to navigate to the Killbox on their own, even if it is me myself. In case of your plain getting so damaged that you cannot engage in combat, navigate back to St. Catherine's lighthouse, magnetic heading 330 for about 40 miles, and turn NW and fly 19 miles back to field, or if unable to land on any available open space.

So to sum:
- Take off from Lymington
- Fly SE 19 mi, climbing to 20kft, form up
- On flight lead command fly magnetic 160 for 5 min at IAS 250 to Killbox B
- Engage Bf-109:s as primary target, bombers as targets of opportunity
- Retreat if your plane cannot engage in combat anymore

What, couldn't hear me over the engines? Well, too bad, Jerry ain't waiting, get in and follow the lead.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Current kill tallies:


122 Squadron, Mustangs
7 kills



1st FAB, Thunderbolts
4 kills

418 RCAF, Mosquitos
1 kill


126 Squadron, Spitfires
5 kills



Let's pad these stats.

The Angry Brit
Sep 17, 2005

Do I pull G's? no sir, I'm married

Vahakyla posted:

Game starts at 0600 sharp. Engines are off, so rush airborne.


The radar hit is 113 NM away from radar station, the suspected Luftwaffe target.

30+ planes, plus other smaller hits on radar, likely fighter escort joining in.


Expect AI flown Spitfire patrols to assist you. There will be final call out at Point Red from GCI to warn of distance.




Aim to protect three kill boxes: A, B, and C.

If your killbox is empty, pursue any planes you see.




Looks like the Charlie kill box belongs to the 126th Sqn's Spits in Ford flight, very good!

Pilost, make sure to bring a slip tank, we don't want thirsty girls with Junkers in out back yard.

We depart Ford; for expediancy once we're airborne we'll form up and push South over the Littlehampton estuary as a navigational aide; look to fly 172 magnetic for 8 minutes at max continuous (265 mph), climbing to 10,000 ft.

From there we'll fly 5 minute legs starting at 60 degrees, returning on 240; if we catch a whiff of the jerries we'll throttle back to combat cruise (250mph).

Be disciplined with your ammo and make your shots count, you're likely to be outnumbered and those Junkers can take quite a beating. If you need to rearm don't hestate to return home, just be sure to make it a quick turn around.

That Works
Jul 22, 2006

Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy


Convince me why I should or should not buy a P47...

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!

That Works posted:

Convince me why I should or should not buy a P47...




It's badass, looks like a flying barrel, and has so many machineguns.

HerpicleOmnicron5
May 31, 2013

How did this smug dummkopf ever make general?


it has been too long since ive flown with yall, and it has been too long since ive flown a spitfire

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!

HerpicleOmnicron5 posted:

it has been too long since ive flown with yall, and it has been too long since ive flown a spitfire

Too long. Time for your triumphant return.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
There'll be a very simple radar station communication that has three conditions it will communicate over radio to the players. (Via text).







The conditions are:


-Nazi planes are on the English side of the channel, inside 35 nautical miles.
-Nazi planes are over the Channel line, the roughly 35-45 nautical mile no-man's land
-There are no germans either at the line or our side at all. They are beyond some 45 miles.

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Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Probation
Can't post for 2 minutes!
Mission starts in three hours on Air Goons Discord.

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