IL2 M42 Questions

[PatrickAWlson]

Issue 1: Getting the IL2 Ai to engage.  I have had scenarios where the targets are there, both specific McuAttack linked to the target and AttackArea ground targets active in sequence and in both cases the AI circles around the target area.  

 

What loadouts does the IL2 AI actually use?  It seems that it will use some weapons and not others.  No luck getting it to drop internal bombs and forget about rockets.

 

At what altitude will the IL2 engage?  I have had some luck getting it to drop external bombs as a level bomber from 1.5K meters.  However, that is not the attack profile that I want to use.  Now I am trying to get it to attack from a couple hundred meters off the ground and no joy.

 

IL2 M42 turret.  What is the history behind the turret?  Did most have them in 1942?  Most not?  How common?

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[coconut]

In my experience it's quite common that attack planes will fly over the zone to attack once, do a large round trip and then attack, which is pretty frustrating. No idea how to prevent that, sorry.

[Matt]

The best success i had with Il-2 attacks is by giving them loadouts with rockets and internal bombs and when flying at ~400 meters. They will launch rockets first and then attack by dropping bombs.

 

I'm only using AttackArea ground targets, not attack-ground or McuAttack commands (both seem to make them attack targets by level-bombing). They attack both airfield objects (parked planes) as well as moving vehicles pretty reliably that way.

[Juri_JS]

In my missions I set the altitude of the AttackArea MCU to around 400 m. Sturmoviks will first attack with rockets, then bombs and when these are all gone with MGs. As far as I know that's also how it was done in reality.

 

Coconut is right about the attacks of ground attack aircraft, it takes ages for them set up their attack runs and to expend all their bombs and rockets. They will sometimes shot all their rockets at once, but always drop only one bomb per attack. In my opinion especially the dropping of bombs needs fixing by the devs, because in reality ground attack aircraft usually dropped more than one bomb per attack.

The gunner position in the IL-2 M42 was a field modification. In the battle of Stalingrad Sturmovik units used both modified and unmodified Il-2 M42. The gunner position was far from uncommon and according to Osprey's "Sturmovik Guard Units" 1200 single-seaters were modified beginning in Summer 1942, but not all were modified. If it is possible in PWCG I would suggest to increase the percentage of gunner equipped Sturmoviks over time.
 

Edited September 27, 2015 by Juri_JS

[PatrickAWlson]

Thanks for the input.  I will try 400 meters with a longer distance from the last WP into the target area to give the IL2s time to orient themselves and transition from WP altitude to attack altitude,

[LukeFF]

The next patch should bring some improvements to the willingness of Il-2s to engage ground targets more quickly.

[Jupp]

~S~ Fellows,

 

I also wanted the IL-2 AI to directly dive bomb, dropping both bombs at the same time, and then skedaddle to the home base using OnEvent, OnBingoBombs, Land.

 

It is possible. I used Attack Area MCU Advanced / Attack Both Ground Units And Ground / Priority Medium / 350m / 10min / (Y co-ord (altitude) of the MCU = 350(meters))

 

The AI level was set to High, having 2xFAB250, and, their last Waypoint before the drop was 13km away, Y co-ord (altitude) = 1350, priority High. Given all of this, it works!

 

When adding the Attack Ground ticked to an already successful Attack Ground Target ticked, target being dive bombed and bombed immediately, this was the result just now.

 

Of course all the necessary other linkings .etc must be in place & I hope it's still useful information as of this writing (version 1.103). I could upload the example if it's requested.

 

Keep 'em Flying,

 

!S -Jupp-

 

Edited October 22, 2015 by Jupp