Deadline Manila Campaign

[Kopfdorfer]

Hey Guys,

              NOTE UPDATED SKINPACK    8/1/2018
                               Corrected P35 Hack Skin (RE2000) - empennage undersurface is now the correct colour
               
               I thought it made sense to combine the dropbox materials to one page.

               This campaign was designed to represent the chaotic and desperate attempts by the
               Far East Air Force (FEAF) to stem the Japanese air superiority over the Philippines from
               Dec 8 1941 through early March 1942.
               My goal for the missions is "historical impressionism". There are multiple reasons why the
               recreation of these battles cannot be historically accurate ( aircraft types available , accurate
               maps featuring the correct airfields , and so on) , but if we can recreate the feelings of
               overwhelming Japanese air strength , challenging flying including obsolescent and unarmed
               aircraft , flying out of inadequate airfields , constantly changing bases as they are captured
               by the enemy , then I feel the campaign will be successful.
               Ultimately I hope the participants enjoy (or learn to enjoy) what I find fascinating about
               creating a rich historical recreation.

               Please download the skinpack - having historically representative skins goes a long way
               towards improving immersion.

               Updated Skinpack 8-1-2018 (includes 3 additional skins/1 corrected skin) :
               https://www.dropbox.com/s/dgzxwhkh7jcjopv/Skinpack_Deadline%20Manila.7z?dl=0

                3 Additional Skins/1 Corrected Skin ONLY :
               https://www.dropbox.com/s/avigoeadpxrzraz/Deadline%20Manila%20Additional%20Skins.7z?dl=0

               Campaign Map :
               https://www.dropbox.com/s/zps30y2pwt5qu1j/Deadline%20Manila%20Campaign%20Map.jpg?dl=0

               Dogfight Practice Map with Campaign Airfields :
               https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0mf2fvmb7b0abq/Deadline%20Manila%20Warmup%20Dogfight.7z?dl=0

               I will follow Dave's model and write briefs here for the upcoming Mission.
               Currently planning 6-8 Missions , as long as they are enjoyed.

Kopfdorfer

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~


  Putting the glitchy bit at the beginning of the first mission aside because those kinds of things happen  often enough with IL2. It doesn't behave as expected all of the time, I liked it and am  looking forward to the next one. I think you were spot on with the chaotic, hectic feel to it you mentioned, well done.
Please make yourself at home on the AH site/forums. We're pretty informal about most things. If one of the mods thinks anything you post should be moved anywhere, it's most likely just to make it easier to find.  I'm guessing this is the right spot for it, though.  Thanks for putting this together.   

[_AH_Bear]

Im all for flying it but in the future i think we should stick to our regular game settings.. dot range can be adjusted as it was is ok.. but minimap etc should be on.. at least we should know where we are going..
My 2 cents

[_AH_fraggmann]

I think it is a great concept. I look forward to more...

[_AH_Twenty]

What Fragg said

[Kopfdorfer]

Deadline Manila Mission 2   Enemy Landings in Lingayen Gulf

Intended to be flown Monday 11/12/2017 at the normal time,

Description Dec 22 , 1941

Following 2 days of bombing and strafing attacks on FEAF airfields , the Japanese made their first landings on northern Luzon at Aparri and Vigan on Dec 10 where they quickly activated the local
airfields , and began moving south towards Manila.
On Dec 12 , they landed at Legaspi in the south , and began the southern prong of the drive on Manila.
On Dec 20 , the IJA 56th Regiment landed at Davao , Mindanao.
At dawn of Dec 22 , reports started coming in that Japanese ships had been sighted in Lingayen Gulf. Shortly afterwards , word came in to the HQ of USAFFE that the enemy was landing ground troops near the town of Lingayen.

***

Current Sitrep :
       Allied troops still hold the towns of Dagupan and Lingayen , but Japanese troops in the bridgehead are pushing south. The IJAAF may have established air units at Aparri and Vigan.

28th BS(H)  6 x B17s at Clark Field (BB-49-1) will bomb enemy shipping in Lingayen Gulf
Target : AZ-54 , AZ-55 , BA-54 , BA-55  Make your bomb run parallel  to the coast.

17th FS  4 x P40Bs at Clark (BB-49-1) will escort B17s of the 28th BS(H) attacking enemy ships in Lingayen Gulf.

3rd FS 2 x P40Es at Iba (AY-51-5) will CAP the southern part of Lingayen Gulf.

39th FS 4 x P35s at Del Carmen (BA-48-6) will attack enemy landing craft and ground troops landing at Lingayen. Make your runs parallel to and along the beach.
After Ground Attack CAP Lingayen until B17s are clear of the area.

17th FS 2 x P40Es and 2 x P40Bs at Nichols (BD-46-8)  Attack enemy ships and/or ground troops at Lingayen. After Ground Attack CAP Lingayen until B17s are clear of the area.



***

Kopfdorfer

[_AH_Bear]

Im in for a bomber
:drinking-43:

[_AH_Nimble]

I would be interested in particpating myself.. nice work kophdorfer.... excellent work as a matter of fact... i missed the fires mission but would like to pick up on the next one ... my compliments

[Kopfdorfer]

Considering how to create a value and interest in flying transports...

For some , flying these lumbering beasts holds little interest . For some flying an aircraft
that carries no weapons seems to hold no value or purpose in a mission.
As we all do know , in the reality of war this is not true.
Dwight D. Eisenhower stated that in his view 2 of the main machines that contributed
directly to victory in WW2 were the 2 1/2 Ton Truck and the C-47.

I also personally believe the great fun in IL2 is based chiefly on 2 factors :
1) satisfaction in achieving something that is not easy
2) dramatic tension
For some pilots there is simply a desire to blow stuff up. There are numerous opportunities for the stuff-blower-uppers ,
so I prefer to concentrate on the satisfaction/dramatic tension part of the equation.
How is dramatic tension maximized ? The first method is to infuse the Missions and the Campaign with "Fog of War".
This is why I am stubborn about my settings , which include realistic navigation , limited icons and do not include
minimap paths. I want the pilots to work for their gratification  , and that requires flying as much as fighting.
The second is to have unpredictable and uncertain enemy behaviour. I use a lot of triggers in my missions.
I also do not believe in the mission choreography of  "fly to an area encounter enemy in the area return home"
model of missions. I want the pilots to always be uncertain as to whether and/or when and where the enemy will appear.

I wanted to infuse some of the missions of "Deadline to Manila" with the sense of the vitality
of transport aircraft. In the reality of the history , as the Japanese isolated Luzon and then
Bataan/Corregidor from the outside , supplies such as food , ammunition , fuel , medicine and even intelligence
had to be brought in from the outside. A number of unsung roles were performed day in and day out
from the end of December 1941 until the capitulation of Corregidor May 6 1942.
PT Boats , Submarines , Civil Aircraft of the Bamboo Fleet , and a J2F Duck dubbed "the Candy Clipper"
(See here : https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/on-a-wing-and-a-prayer-the-%E2%80%9Cbamboo-fleet%E2%80%9D-shuttle-service-to-corregidor/ ) performed these roles , with unarmed aircraft usually flying long distances without any fighter cover , and having to land on small rough improvised airfields.

While IL2 does not have any of these civil aircraft , we do have the venerable C-47.
As those of you who flew Mission 1 are aware , I am imposing limited fuel loadouts for this campaign
to reflect the chaotic situation and limited impact of the FEAF (Far East Air Force).
My base fuel load is 50% for bombers and 60% for fighters.

When C-47s are involved as human flown aircraft , a few simple rules will be observed :
1) All C-47s that are not AI MUST be human flown (don't worry you megalomaniacs - there will never be more than a few in any one mission)
    IE they must be the first pilot seats filled for each mission.
2) For every C-47 that doesn't make it to their destination , the fuel loads for the next Mission will be reduced by 10%.
    (I am well aware that if fuel loads deteriorate to , say 40% , it may be necessary for some human flown aircraft to delay take off
    for 10 or 15 minutes.

I thought it would be useful for you guys to get an understanding of why I approach mission building the way I do ,
and how it fits in to the scenario of Deadline Manila Missions.

Kopfdorfer

[_AH_Col._Hogan]

I'll fly a transport.

~S

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~

Thanks for the additional info about your intentions when building missions and the concepts you like to integrate. The additional challenges you build in do make for being a lot busier in the cockpit which adds a lot to the immersion factor for me.  I'm good with flying any slot including transport pilots and gunner seats.       

[Kopfdorfer]

Just to underline - transports won't be in every mission , but I was searching for a way to make them relevant
for the ones they are in.
Just so the pilots understand they are important to fly , to escort , and to land.
Oh , and the Japanese will likely have something to say about it too.


Kopfdorfer

[_AH_Bear]

I like to fly them as well :drinking-43:

[Kopfdorfer]

Mission 3 Deadline Manila
25 Dec 1941

Japanese Troops are closing on Manila from the North and South.
All B-17s are being withdrawn from Luzon to Mindanao.
The USN has also ordered the withdrawal of Naval and Commercial vessels from Manila Bay to
Mindanao , Java , and Australia.
The Japanese are expected to attack the withdrawing units.



There will be NO MINIMAP PATHS for this mission. Time to spread your wings and use your compass.

ORDERS :

B17s Clark (AI ONLY) withdraw to Mindanao.

20th FS Clark Field 2 x P40Bs will escort withdrawing B17s as far as SE Mindoro.
Pancake Orani Emergency Field.

39th FS Del Carmen 4 x P35(Re2000) Patrol Manila Bay Corregidor - Cavite - Manila
Pancake Nichols Field.

17th FS Nichols Field 2 x P40E , 4 x P40C Patrol Manila - Lucena Highway and interdict enemy vehicular movement. An O-46 Observer AC will spot enemy ground targets.
Pancake Orani Emergency Strip.

1 x O-46  (R-XIII Hack) Zablan Field will patrol the Manila - Lucena Highway and direct 17th FS to enemy vehicular targets.
Pancake Nichols.

6thFS Philippine Army Air Force 9 x P-26 will CAP Manila Bay   Cavite - Manila - Corregidor
Pancake Nichols Field.

Kopfdorfer

[_AH_Gator]

I like the setup that we flew last mission. and now you want to change the setup again! no no this is not for me I need mimi map path on.