Tactical Air War

[Gustav_Hagel]

7 minutes ago, AKA_Relent said:

@Kathon re: USAAF vs RAF, I wouldn’t want to have to choose,  I’d want to be able to fly USAAF and RAF planes.  Can’t you just have all (USAAF/RAF) planes on both USAAF and RAF airfields, but force the aircraft to just use the nationality for that given field?

 

That way, if you want to fly a Spit you can choose to have RAF markings or USAAF markings by choosing the RAF field or the USAAF field, without inventory restrictions.  Think about the Macchi In the eastern front TAW - it’s available to German pilots but has German markings.  Similar thing here - why would I as a mostly allied pilot want to cut my aircraft inventory in half (I.e aircraft type-wise)?

Thinking properly, it might be complicated to split nations. I think we need someone who knows what planes were available in each airfield, thus based on that to separate both air forces if it's reasonable. If it's the case of mixed ones, then makes no sense at all to do it, if there are a majority though of different air forces stationed, there could be limited number of each to simulate North/South RAF/USAAF fronts. Also my planeset is still incomplete for those air forces, I do not know how extensively RAF flew P-47s and in the case of P-51s if they were all located in England. As I've found on wikipedia: "282 under Lend-Lease served in the RAF as the 'Mustang Mk IV'."

@CamusB455 RAF would still have A-20s, check my planeset.

[WokeUpDead]

How picky should we be about historical accuracy of the plane-set given how few western front planes we have? No Mosquito, no Typhoon, no B-26, no A-26, only one variant of the P-51, P-38, and A-20; and that's just the allied side. It will be better once Battle of Normandy comes out, but for now "good enough" is fine by me.

[Gustav_Hagel]

1 minute ago, WokeUpDead said:

How picky should we be about historical accuracy of the plane-set given how few western front planes we have? No Mosquito, no Typhoon, no B-26, no A-26, only one variant of the P-51, P-38, and A-20; and that's just the allied side. It will be better once Battle of Normandy comes out, but for now "good enough" is fine by me.

 

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

@SCG_Gustav_Hagel Some planes have neutral position (minimal drag) for radiators which are halfway extended, the P-39, Yak-7B, Yak-9 and Yak-9T. If you just go by temperatures alone you will get a net performance penalty, and in real life the pilot can guesstimate the position with his own manipulation of the controls, something you can't do with keys. Looking down and counting at wheel revolutions is one of those cases of more cumbersome and harder than IRL.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2020 by -=PHX=-SuperEtendard

[Gustav_Hagel]

21 minutes ago, -=PHX=-SuperEtendard said:

@SCG_Gustav_Hagel Some planes have neutral position (minimal drag) for radiators which are halfway extended, the P-39, Yak-7B, Yak-9 and Yak-9T. If you just go by temperatures alone you will get a net performance penalty, and in real life the pilot can guesstimate the position with his own manipulation of the controls, something you can't do with keys. Looking down and counting at wheel revolutions is one of those cases of more cumbersome and harder than IRL.

 

 

Not sure what you mean by neutral position, I've flown Yak 7 and P-39 (don't have much experience in the latter). I can tell radiators in Yaks are there to adjust temperature, they don't have any neutral position, the thumb rule is radiators opened = more drag, closed = less drag. If I'm wrong I'd like to see sources, as I haven't read any official manuals.

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

2 minutes ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

Not sure what you mean by neutral position, I've flown Yak 7 and P-39 (don't have much experience in the latter). I can tell radiators in Yaks are there to adjust temperature, they don't have any neutral position, the thumb rule is radiators opened = more drag, closed = less drag. If I'm wrong I'd like to see sources, as I haven't read any official manuals.

You just need to test it in game, have the planes flying level and check the speeds with different radiator openings, the Yak-7 with it's big water radiator shutter has higher drag with it closed than with it opened parallel to the airflow. The P-47 works the same in regards to the intercooler shutters, but in the cockpit there is an indicator of it's position.

[Gustav_Hagel]

39 minutes ago, -=PHX=-SuperEtendard said:

You just need to test it in game, have the planes flying level and check the speeds with different radiator openings, the Yak-7 with it's big water radiator shutter has higher drag with it closed than with it opened parallel to the airflow. The P-47 works the same in regards to the intercooler shutters, but in the cockpit there is an indicator of it's position.

Show me either manuals or a video to prove that, rather than anecdotes. I've read 2 manuals and so far none of the P-39 informations that you gave match. 

Note: c. The coolant shutter control (Fig. 10-4) and the oil shutter control (Fig. 10-5) must be adjusted prior to "Take-Off" to suit prevailing climatic conditions. Further adjustment must also be made in flight to maintain the necessary operating temperatures.

I've taken a look at P-47s manual some time ago and I don't recall any of that information other than temperature related and respective flight conditons/regimes. Nothing about half open or neutral position that gives less drag.

Edited August 5, 2020 by SCG_Gustav_Hagel

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

I think this is steering off the issue, since this is about the behaviour of the planes in the sim, and this is how they behave currently, if you can find information that they are wrongly implemented would be nice, I guess. If it satisfies you, in the ww2aircraftperformance page you will find that most of the P-39 test reports mention the use of radiator shutters flush with the airstream (not closed further than that) for the top speed tests. In IL-2 it works like that as well, flush with the airflow gives the best speed.

The P-51 is another example of this for the water radiator. The intermediate opening position has the less drag, this isn't the case for the oil radiator shutter though.


 

Edited August 5, 2020 by -=PHX=-SuperEtendard

[LLv24_Zami]

Personally I don't have problems questimating radiator positions etc without technochat. I don't feel it's very hard to use planes properly without seeing exact percentages all the time after getting used to it.

 

There are few minor issues, like engine selection in multiengine planes and hopefully those will be addressed by devs at some time.

 

But fun addition overall and gives nice immersion boost.

[Gustav_Hagel]

@-=PHX=-SuperEtendard  I've been doing some checking and those optimal settings are mostly related to temperatures, as in this case for P-51 100ºC is an optimal temperature for the engine keep running in level flight. Also doesn't make sense in a P-51 since shutters are controlled by a switch, so pilots flew by optimal temperature showed in the instruments.

In the case of P-39, I've found this document http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/P-39/P-39M-3_42-4706_FS-M-19-1511-A.pdf. Best speed is achieved with flush settings, 13 turns in the prestone shutter, but clearly no one would do that since engine temperature (129ºC) is beyond the optimal limit of prestone outlet temperature (100-120ºC) and max temperature (125ºC). Again, pilots were instructed to push to the limit of 120-125ºC for best performance .

Now need to see if that procedes with Yaks, maybe we can check next Eastern Campaign, but doubtfully it will be an issue since planes were made to be operated and assisted by instruments rather than magical formulas of turns and %.

Edited August 5, 2020 by SCG_Gustav_Hagel

[SCG_Vieira]

10 hours ago, =LG=Kathon said:

One of our teammates carried out test:

1x US truck with linked entity

1x US truck without linked entity

1x Opel truck with linked entity

1x Opel truck without linked entity

and it turned out that  new US static trucks without linked entity are indestructible (also no info in the log files) but axis opel trucks were easily destroyed regardless the linked entity.

So this is a game bug and I will have to report it to the developers. The workaround is generate US trucks with linked entity but changing the script will take time and big number of those truck will increase CPU of the server which may cause "overload messages"

 

Hi @=LG=Kathon, thanks for the quick answer. Would it be possible to replace all american trucks to the model used for USSR for example? You think that might sort the issue until the developers correct it for good?

 

Cheers!

Edited August 5, 2020 by SCG_Vieira

[2/JG26_rudidlo]

10 hours ago, -=PHX=-SuperEtendard said:

You can't tell which engines are selected (all twin engined planes)

Select the engine and pull / push the throttle lever - you will find. 

10 hours ago, -=PHX=-SuperEtendard said:

Ju 88, the bomb selector is in the front part of the nose, it isn't possible to see it properly from the pilot position and the nose gunner position can't crawl into the glass nose to see read it properly either.

You can check it in bombsight view.

[Gustav_Hagel]

I have some questions:

1- Why aren't there any 2cm Flak Vierlings for the Germans?
2- Are there 37mm Flak for the German in the server?
3- Why He 111s and even Fw 190 A8 can carry SC 1000 while it is locked for Ju 88s?
4- Any reason to lock bigger bomb loads such as SC 1800?

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

@SCG_Gustav_Hagel Yes the P-39 had a limited cooling system, that being said at least the test for the P-39M was done in a hotter day that would be equivalent to 20ºC at 0ft altitude for what I can see (not super hot but hotter than standard conditions) and in standard conditions or colder like in winter maps the plane system would mantain proper temperatures at flush position. The oil shutters were also mantained in flush position.

[41Sqn_Skipper]

3 hours ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

Not sure what you mean by neutral position, I've flown Yak 7 and P-39 (don't have much experience in the latter). I can tell radiators in Yaks are there to adjust temperature, they don't have any neutral position, the thumb rule is radiators opened = more drag, closed = less drag. If I'm wrong I'd like to see sources, as I haven't read any official manuals.

 

Spitfire with manual water radiator (e.g. Mk I, V, XII, early IX) have a so called "minimum drag position". Quotes from the Mk II Manual:

 

"The normal minimum drag position of the flap lever for level flight is shown by a red triangle on the top of the map case fitted beside the lever."

 

"For normal cruising flight the radiator shutter should
be in the minimum drag position."

 

"For stretching a glide in the event of a forced landing, the airscrew speed control should be pulled right back
and the radiator flap put at the minimum drag position."

 

You can see the red triangle in this photo:

 

 

 

 

[=LG/F=Kathon]

On 8/2/2020 at 3:34 PM, JG4_Qetzalcoatl said:

Low altitude AAA at approx. 2120.4 was placed among the woods and not visible for attacks, but was shooting like hell at us without a clear line of view. It feels not right this way. Maybe you have time to look at this points.Thanks for your effort, @Kathon!

Fixed.

[Viktor33_33]

11 hours ago, =LG=Kathon said:

 

The solution with only USAAF airfields were easier and faster to implement. It's possible to add RAF airfields on the north as shown on the map but here comes some questions:

1. List of available aircraft on RAF airfields?

2. List of available aircraft on USAAF airfields?

3. If all RAF airfields are closed or captured then some aircraft will not be available on the map at all? The same for USAAF.

4. During registration also choice between RAF and USAAF pilots?

4a. YES => Will RAF pilots be able to spawn on USAAF airfields? If no then what if all RAF airfields are closed/captured? RAF pilots will not be able to fly.

4b NO => So all US pilots (current solution) may use USAAF and RAF airfields?

You can make all airfields mixed with the option of choosing for the RAF and USAF. Perhaps this is not too historical but it solves the problem of closing one of the warring parties. In the deep rear, you can make one airfield per RAF and. As far as I know, they have never been closed on maps.

Edited August 5, 2020 by Viktor33_33

[Giovanni_Giorgio]

Why is the server stopped?

[=LG/F=Kathon]

4 minutes ago, mincer said:

Why is the server stopped?

It's running now.

 

US trucks are now with linked entity so it should fix the problem (we will monitor CPU utilization). There was also bug where destroyed allied trucks in convoys were generated once again in the next mission. Now it's fixed. 

[=LG/F=Kathon]

2 hours ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

I have some questions:

1- Why aren't there any 2cm Flak Vierlings for the Germans?
2- Are there 37mm Flak for the German in the server?
3- Why He 111s and even Fw 190 A8 can carry SC 1000 while it is locked for Ju 88s?
4- Any reason to lock bigger bomb loads such as SC 1800?

1. Wrong question. There are flakvierling38. In the current mission #35 there are 28 of Flak Vierling in total.

2. Yes, in the current mission #35 there are 26 of Flak 36.

3. Probably a bug in the script. Need to check it.

4. They weren't commonly used but we will consider unlocking with some limits.

[HR_Tumu]

Maybe on future, the idea about made another nation flyable with exclusive plane set line... can "open" made different lines with each plane sets per line. And simply call each, like LW1, LW2,VVS1... etc.

 

About historicity..... please dont take it too seriosly. And stay on balance. i think will be more easy . many factors are missing on game ( including some models of airplanes ) for full historicity can be apply. Then allways will be compensating something... stay on balance. historicity , let it only like a guide.

[JG4_Raven]

21 hours ago, Tora said:

Where do we find settings for the server?

 

 

[=19GvFAB=Vlad-Executor]

 

Dortmund is not under attack of tanks, but defense position is present on map.

 

[=LG/F=Kathon]

1 minute ago, =19GvFAB=Vlad-Executor said:

 

Dortmund is not under attack of tanks, but defense position is present on map.

 

Please check changes: 

 

 

• Defense position around the enemy city as additional target. (before only attacked city by a tank convoy had visible defense on the map, now not attacked city can have visible defense)

[JG7_X-Man]

14 hours ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

 
@Talon_ can answer 1 and 2 better than (I believe) anyone here, especially what airfields should be available. My planeset, although incomplete, has planes separated by air force.

3 - In my opinion yes, that should happen, as well as I stick to that suggestion to add jet fuel depot or assign depots to a number of 262 available per map;
4- Yes, they should choose it between RAF or USAAF;
4a - No, they shouldn't be able to spawn, but they also shouldn't lose airplanes when landing in those, maybe count as ditch 1/0/0 for next map would reinforce the mentality to avoid landing anywhere as it was irl. I think there are airfields where both air forces are mixed, Talon knows it better. If all RAF airfields are closed/captured, they shouldn't be able to fly anymore as well as USAAF ones, this should encourage new tactics and coordination.

I think it's a nice mechanic so I can finally decide if I want to fly south and die to .50cals or north to 20mms ?

 

@=LG=Kathon Thank you for even entertaining the idea! Talon_ would be the expert on the subject of 1 and 2 without a doubt, but without VVS, RAF, USAAF and Luftwaffe units coded in IL-2 Great battles (like in IL-2 1946), there is no need to get that detailed.

 

@Talon_ Please confirm my rough draft as of October '44.

 

RAF Volkel had Tempests and Spits

RAF Melsbroek had B-25s and Spits

RAF Eindhoven had Spits

RAF Gilze had Tempest and Spits

 

Y-32 did not have an active USAAF unit until Jan '45

USAAF Y-29 (Ash) had P-47Ds and  P-51s (not until Dec '44)

USAAF A-92 (St. Trond) had P-47Ds

USAAF A-89 (Le Culot) had P-47Ds

USAAF A-84 (Chievres) had P-47Ds

USAAF A-78 (Florennes) had P-38s

 

[Talon_]

2 minutes ago, JG7_X-Man said:

@Talon_ Please confirm my rough draft as of October '44.

 

RAF Volkel had Tempests and Spits

RAF Melsbroek had B-25s and Spits

RAF Eindhoven had Spits

RAF Gilze had Tempest and Spits

 

I can look at this in detail as I do have the sources, however I think it would be wasted effort unless there was something actionable to be obtained. When/if TAW splits Allies into individual factions I'll be happy to give detailed accounts of 2TAF movement based on the 2TAF Trilogy by Thomas & Shores.

[AirWolves=CutCut]

Quick question on over limit. A couple times yesterday we were trying to do some squad ops (We're flying Axis this campaign) and we were unable to get everyone on due to over limits at the airfields. The server wide numbers were way out of balance, 23/11 German advantage. We also had a limited number of airfields, 3 or maybe 4. So the question is, was the over limit due to the limited number of airfields we had available? Or is there a game mechanic that limits when numbers get that out of balance? 

[=19GvFAB=Vlad-Executor]

@=LG=Kathon 
The Ru-version stats of web-taw has no additional information (Aircraft, Took off from, Landed at, Experience)

Can you add this for convenience if it's not difficult?

 

Sample screens.

 

English version:

 

Russian version:

[Gustav_Hagel]

4 hours ago, AirWolves=CutCut said:

Quick question on over limit. A couple times yesterday we were trying to do some squad ops (We're flying Axis this campaign) and we were unable to get everyone on due to over limits at the airfields. The server wide numbers were way out of balance, 23/11 German advantage. We also had a limited number of airfields, 3 or maybe 4. So the question is, was the over limit due to the limited number of airfields we had available? Or is there a game mechanic that limits when numbers get that out of balance? 

player limit, one side outnumbered in 10 the other.

[AirWolves=CutCut]

So to clarify, if a side is outnumbered by more than 10 there is a limit put on the the number of pilots that can spawn from the team with the larger number. Correct??
 

[Gustav_Hagel]

38 minutes ago, AirWolves=CutCut said:

So to clarify, if a side is outnumbered by more than 10 there is a limit put on the the number of pilots that can spawn from the team with the larger number. Correct??
 

yes, the team outnumbering can't have more pilots on its side until the difference lowers

[AirWolves=CutCut]

Thank you sir, that just what I needed to know. Now, time to ask the squad if they want to change sides. I have a feeling this whole campaign is going to be weighted towards the German on numbers. I blame it on the 50 cals ? 

[WokeUpDead]

On 8/4/2020 at 2:07 PM, -=PHX=-SuperEtendard said:

Regarding the tecnochat off option:

There are quite some functionalities missing or lacking in some of the planes cockpits that makes having everything off hamper the user experience rather than improve it in terms of actual realism (compared how the pilots managed these systems IRL).
 

• You can't tell which engines are selected (all twin engined planes)
   
• Some planes only have wheels or push/pull vertical rods for radiator/shutters control, in real life a pilot with it's muscular sensory feedback can adjust to an estimated position only using it's hands without needing to lose situational awareness looking closely at said wheels couting revolutions like it would happen in game (planes affected: Bf 109E-7, Fw 190D-9, He 111 H-6, He 111 H-16, IL-2 1941, IL-2 1942, IL-2 1943, Yak-1, Yak-1B, Yak-7B, Yak-9, Yak-9T, La-5/5F,  La-5FN, P-39L-1).
   
• The MiG-3 with it's wheel control for the flap governor has the same problem, which is exacerbated by it's very slow turning and the current problem of the pilot not being able to just push up the pneumatic actuator to quickly retract them and then set it in neutral (the way it's currently implemented in game you need to have the governor set to 0% and it takes a considerable time waiting for that to happen while looking at it in the cockpit).
   
• A-20B doesn't have a bomb selector visible from the pilot's position, looks like it doesn't have animated the engine shutters control either.
   
• P-47 doesn't seem to have a bomb selector animated in the cockpit either.
   
• U-2VS doesn't have bomb selector modelled in the cockpit
   
• Ju 88, the bomb selector is in the front part of the nose, it isn't possible to see it properly from the pilot position and the nose gunner position can't crawl into the glass nose to see read it properly either.

 

 

In addition, you can't use the auto-mixture feature that's activated when a very specific mixture % is selected. All US planes have this, plus the MiG too.

[Giovanni_Giorgio]

8 hours ago, AirWolves=CutCut said:

Thank you sir, that just what I needed to know. Now, time to ask the squad if they want to change sides. I have a feeling this whole campaign is going to be weighted towards the German on numbers. I blame it on the 50 cals ? 

It is almost always weighted towards Luftwaffe.

[Gustav_Hagel]

5 hours ago, WokeUpDead said:

 

In addition, you can't use the auto-mixture feature that's activated when a very specific mixture % is selected. All US planes have this, plus the MiG too.

That's something needs to be looked into properly, I'm not sure if it's a certain % or a value gap, there's certainly a mark in US planes and also Mig-3's cockpit, might be worth checking that. I know some people who fly VR that simply checked where it was located in the cockpit to adjust auto mixture.

[RedKestrel]

1 hour ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

That's something needs to be looked into properly, I'm not sure if it's a certain % or a value gap, there's certainly a mark in US planes and also Mig-3's cockpit, might be worth checking that. I know some people who fly VR that simply checked where it was located in the cockpit to adjust auto mixture.

AFAIK there is a range of values, not a precise percentage, for the US planes and the MiG. 

I fly the P-47 all the time without tech chat. For mixture I just look at the lever, set it to auto rich on the ground, and then usually don't touch it again, unless I anticipate a long sortie or I start leaking fuel and have to stretch my legs a bit.

[madlarkin8]

There is no longer an option for account recovery visible on the STG2 page and unfortunately myself and 5 of my buddies cant log into our accounts on TAW. The passwords that we all set when we created the accounts are not valid for some reason. This has happened before in previous campaigns. is there any recourse besides abandoning the accounts and making new ones?

[=LG/F=Kathon]

On 8/5/2020 at 8:04 PM, AirWolves=CutCut said:

Quick question on over limit. A couple times yesterday we were trying to do some squad ops (We're flying Axis this campaign) and we were unable to get everyone on due to over limits at the airfields. The server wide numbers were way out of balance, 23/11 German advantage. We also had a limited number of airfields, 3 or maybe 4. So the question is, was the over limit due to the limited number of airfields we had available? Or is there a game mechanic that limits when numbers get that out of balance? 

There is absolute limit 45 pilots per side and relative limit about 12 pilots between sides.

 

But there is an exception for squadrons: In case there is too much difference in number of pilots between sides (over-limit message on the map) members of those squadrons can still spawn and fly together. The “big squadrons” are squadrons with at least 6 active members. How does it work: a member can bypass over-limit message if there is already someone spawned on the server from his squadron. He can do it only once during the mission. As long as he lands on the airfield, ha can take off again. In general it’s to help squadrons fly together.

 

On 8/5/2020 at 9:55 PM, =19GvFAB=Vlad-Executor said:

@=LG=Kathon 
The Ru-version stats of web-taw has no additional information (Aircraft, Took off from, Landed at, Experience)

Can you add this for convenience if it's not difficult?

 

Sample screens.

 

English version:

 

Russian version:

Sure, added to "to-do" list.

 

 

4 hours ago, madlarkin8 said:

There is no longer an option for account recovery visible on the STG2 page and unfortunately myself and 5 of my buddies cant log into our accounts on TAW. The passwords that we all set when we created the accounts are not valid for some reason. This has happened before in previous campaigns. is there any recourse besides abandoning the accounts and making new ones?

PM me. You password has been reset.

[WokeUpDead]

16 hours ago, SCG_Gustav_Hagel said:

That's something needs to be looked into properly, I'm not sure if it's a certain % or a value gap, there's certainly a mark in US planes and also Mig-3's cockpit, might be worth checking that. I know some people who fly VR that simply checked where it was located in the cockpit to adjust auto mixture.

 

The instructions make it seem like it needs to be a certain percentage, not a range. So in the P-51 only exactly 70% will give you auto-mixture, at 69% and 71% you're in manual mode. Only the P-40, P-39, P-47 and A-20 have marks, the P-38, P-51, MiG-3 and all variants of the IL-2 do not. And even in those first four the marks are not very accurate, it's impossible to tell when you are exactly at the precise required mix percentage. 

[CSW_Hot_Dog]

8 hours ago, WokeUpDead said:

 

The instructions make it seem like it needs to be a certain percentage, not a range. So in the P-51 only exactly 70% will give you auto-mixture, at 69% and 71% you're in manual mode. Only the P-40, P-39, P-47 and A-20 have marks, the P-38, P-51, MiG-3 and all variants of the IL-2 do not. And even in those first four the marks are not very accurate, it's impossible to tell when you are exactly at the precise required mix percentage. 

 

... and that is exactly how it doesnt work. There is no manual mode for p38, p51, p47 etc...

 

And if that works like that in game, then its total b*******. But I really think, that it works correct in game, means range for auto lean, range for auto rich etc..

 

instead of trying yourself, that top speed of P-51 is absolutely same at 50%, 60%, 70% or 80% mixture (for given other circumstancies), you mistake people here! So please try it first and then make conclusions!!! Thank you...

Edited August 7, 2020 by CSW_Hot_Dog