Mission Relevance

[PatrickAWlson]

We all know that in different stages of a battle or war different kinds of missions became more or less common.  PWCG does not take this into account in a sophisticated manner, and I would like to give that a shot - or at least think about it.  Any RB3D fans here remember airfield attacks in Fokker Eindeckers?  That's the sort of thing I want to avoid, and I  want to replace it with missions that make you feel like they just make sense.

 

Examples: In PWCG you might get an assignment to attack barges at any time.  However, in the opening phases of Stalingrad there are some well known instances where these attacks were well known.  I would like to inform PWCG that if you are a Stuka pilot flying over Stalingrad in October or November of 1942 your odds of getting a barge attack should increase.

 

Late in Stalingrad attacks against armor should be more prevalent.  

 

For Russian pilots the early stages should focus on German armor and troops in the open.  Later in the city.  After that in the open again.

 

So here are the basics:

Time period.

Location.

Mission type

Mission target

 

Am I missing anything?

 

Next is filling out that data, and that is where I could use help.  Express it in the form of a use case.

I am a Stuka pilot, flying in Stalingrad between October and November of 1942.  In this time the odds of a mission to attack barges near the Stalingrad docks should be increased.

I am a Il2 pilot flying in Moscow on October 1941.  In this time the odds of a mission to attack advancing German armor south of Moscow should be increased.

Kuban has significant stretches of water.  I am bringing shipping interdiction to PWCG BoX (It is already there on the channel map in RoF), but I don't want it to be completely random.  When did they happen?  Who was interdicting who?  What time period?  What were the likely targets?

 

This would affect all mission types but would have the greatest effect on attack and bomber careers, as your targets would be tied to the actual history.  PWCG random generation would not be replaced by this, as that would be boring and probably not realistic.  It's not like every Stuka mission was flown against barges for a month.  The effect should be increased odds of a mission happening at a time and place, not a guarantee.

 

Feedback welcome - especially the use cases.  If you know something about the history of the battles please chime in.

 

[dburne]

I can't help you in regards to use cases at all, but will say the concept sounds very nice!

[LLv24_Zami]

That`s a great idea!

[unreasonable]

For the Kuban the most detailed English language source I have seen is this:  DGalbraithKubanBridgehead.pdf

 

The main sea activity took place at the beginning and end of the battle: first the Soviet landings to try and cut off the Germans - which essentially failed, then at the end the German withdrawal which the Soviets attempted to interdict, without success. Details in the doc.

 

Much of the landing activity - and I expect the resupply of the Soviet landing bridgehead - took place at night, so not so useful for an air campaign, though there were successful air attacks on Soviet destroyers in the final phase.

 

 

[PatrickAWlson]

Got that one and have been using it.  Great diagrams showing front movement.  Anybody interested in Kuban should read it.

 

That is about what I had thought per sea activity in Kuban.  I admit I have not read it thoroughly so it is good to get confirmation.

[Stlg13/Sgt_Schultz]

Would love to see this implemented!

[PatrickAWlson]

I was thinking about how to do it and I think that I have it.  Still need feedback on use cases.  

Kuban

German attacks on Russian shipping early

Russian attacks on German shipping late

 

Stalngrad

German Dive bombing barges early.

German Bombing the city early to mid.

Russian bombing attacks on the city mid-late.

German/Russian air activity focused over the city mid campaign.

 

Moscow:

Nothing special.

 

PWCG already understands battles and has a record of who is attacking who, so no need for that general level.  It's really the more unusual activities that will benefit from this feature.

 

Others?

[unreasonable]

A few general thoughts for your air doctrine:

 

Attacks on airfields.  When one side wants to gain air superiority and has fixed the position of enemy air units, so either at the start for the initially attacking side, or when the defender transitions to counter offensive.  Should be done in strength.

 

Attacks on tank units - only during critical periods when enemy tanks are massed.  Just before offensive attacks on artillery positions and reserve formations.  Otherwise ground attack on rear echelon supply lines more likely.