Polikarpov U2 ❤️"Kukuruznik" Fan Club & Help

[Crashbangwallop]

U-2VS Nightwitch forward base solution?

 

I had an idea about the U-2VS and short range 'Nightwitches' missions, and I'm throwing this out there fo someone else to pick up. I'm really not up to speed with this IL2's Mission Editor, so I haven't a clue whether any of this is possible. In the old IL2 46, I could probably could have got this to work – I really got into it, made a few missions, airfield templates, and a campaign or two - but here I'm clueless. So, here goes.

 

As I'm sure we all know, in Nightwitch missions, the aircraft flew from their rear airfields to a rough base field just behind the front line at dusk, flew a succession of short harassing missions throughout the night, then retreated back to their rear base at dawn. It would appear that the major problem we have with constructing these is that the fields and in-game ground

that would have been utilised as temporary forward bases are too 'sticky'. They aren't suitable for normal take-off and landing.

 

So, how about using the frozen lakes on the winter maps as these forward bases? I've tried this out on the Stalingrad winter QMB solo flight with both a fully bombed-up U-2 and a fully-loaded Ju52 and the ice seems to be able to take it - taking off from Verh. Ahtuba and landing on the long lake in 0927.

 

Having landed on the ice, the 'raid' itself - taking off again, bombing the airfield/Spartanovka, and landing back at the lake was a round trip of about ten minutes, obviously more if you wanted to hang about and 'harass' the empty houses a bit more, so quite bite-sized wee missions, and actually maybe a bit more true-to-life than the awfull in-game 'Career' Nightwitch missions we have at present.

 

These experimental flights were from nearby 'proper' airfields, and then contiued 'as if' actual Nightwitch missions, and if anyone fancies taking up the idea – and if it IS possible – that 'flight' could be the first mission in an 'all-night' mini-campaign of one night's continual raiding, maybe six or seven indivual raids. The snow/forest contrast is pretty handy for navigating in the gloom, and the burning city is a constant fairly atmosperic presence. Obviously, the Stalingrad map doesn't HAVE to be used; it works just as well on the wee Novosokolniki map too, where campfires, lorry lights etc would be very effective amongst the forests at low level. Not having a dirty great river to cross would mean that your target areas could be a lot closer too, so more missions possible during the single night.

 

Whatever, it's just an idea I'm throwing out there. If (as probably) someone's already tried this out and it's not possible, then that will be an end to it. But if not, well, maybe someone with actual ability with the Mission Editor, and lots more time than I have, can pick it up and run with it...

 

 

 

(Posted on both in Mission Editor forum, and on Polikarpov U2 ❤️"Kukuruznik" Fan Club line. Forum mods – you decide... )

[Lusekofte]

You can use roads too. I was flying in mp in a map I cannot remember. I flew over a village with no house's for some reason. I always believed they where populated. 
In this village I was able to take off with about 40  liters  of fuel and bombs. Not even the gardens in front of the houses that weren't there was sticky. 
But I am not sure if the ME allows you to start on icy water or villages. 

Edited March 1, 2020 by 216th_LuseKofte

[Utopioneer]

I'm working on an April 1943 scenario for the night witches. From the grass field airstrip in the map to the targets is 15-30 minutes round trip. Planning on releasing as a cooperative dogfight map with re-arm re-fuel, and MAYBE releasing a scripted campaign.

[Flashy]

2 hours ago, Crashbangwallop said:

U-2VS Nightwitch forward base solution?

 

I had an idea about the U-2VS and short range 'Nightwitches' missions, and I'm throwing this out there fo someone else to pick up. I'm really not up to speed with this IL2's Mission Editor, so I haven't a clue whether any of this is possible. In the old IL2 46, I could probably could have got this to work – I really got into it, made a few missions, airfield templates, and a campaign or two - but here I'm clueless. So, here goes.

 

As I'm sure we all know, in Nightwitch missions, the aircraft flew from their rear airfields to a rough base field just behind the front line at dusk, flew a succession of short harassing missions throughout the night, then retreated back to their rear base at dawn. It would appear that the major problem we have with constructing these is that the fields and in-game ground

that would have been utilised as temporary forward bases are too 'sticky'. They aren't suitable for normal take-off and landing.

 

So, how about using the frozen lakes on the winter maps as these forward bases? I've tried this out on the Stalingrad winter QMB solo flight with both a fully bombed-up U-2 and a fully-loaded Ju52 and the ice seems to be able to take it - taking off from Verh. Ahtuba and landing on the long lake in 0927.

 

Having landed on the ice, the 'raid' itself - taking off again, bombing the airfield/Spartanovka, and landing back at the lake was a round trip of about ten minutes, obviously more if you wanted to hang about and 'harass' the empty houses a bit more, so quite bite-sized wee missions, and actually maybe a bit more true-to-life than the awfull in-game 'Career' Nightwitch missions we have at present.

 

These experimental flights were from nearby 'proper' airfields, and then contiued 'as if' actual Nightwitch missions, and if anyone fancies taking up the idea – and if it IS possible – that 'flight' could be the first mission in an 'all-night' mini-campaign of one night's continual raiding, maybe six or seven indivual raids. The snow/forest contrast is pretty handy for navigating in the gloom, and the burning city is a constant fairly atmosperic presence. Obviously, the Stalingrad map doesn't HAVE to be used; it works just as well on the wee Novosokolniki map too, where campfires, lorry lights etc would be very effective amongst the forests at low level. Not having a dirty great river to cross would mean that your target areas could be a lot closer too, so more missions possible during the single night.

 

Whatever, it's just an idea I'm throwing out there. If (as probably) someone's already tried this out and it's not possible, then that will be an end to it. But if not, well, maybe someone with actual ability with the Mission Editor, and lots more time than I have, can pick it up and run with it...

 

 

 

(Posted on both in Mission Editor forum, and on Polikarpov U2 ❤️"Kukuruznik" Fan Club line. Forum mods – you decide... )

 

This is already totally possible. Using the ME, you can add your own landing strips anywhere on the map, provided you run the game in MODS ON mode. Obviously you would have to pick a spot that is flat and doesnt have trees, but thats trivial.. If you combine that with the Rearm, Repair, Refuel (RRR) logic you can create a scenario where you can have as many take off and landings as you want in one mission (I think..I havent actually used the RRR logic but I believe it works).. see this post:  

 

[JG1_Butzzell]

S! Flashy is correct. It works. It works best on areas that are flat to begin with. As he said, you then need to play in mods on.

[Crashbangwallop]

Thanks for all your responses - all helpful. Interesting about the 'mod' solution. Also...

On 3/1/2020 at 2:56 PM, Utopioneer said:

I'm working on an April 1943 scenario for the night witches. From the grass field airstrip in the map to the targets is 15-30 minutes round trip. Planning on releasing as a cooperative dogfight map with re-arm re-fuel, and MAYBE releasing a scripted campaign.

 

This looks interesting - using the open grass fields completely passed me by

 

I did manage to make a Mission Editor 'cheat' work for a mission where I take off from a frozen lake at the mission start. I made an ordinary QMB single flight on the Novosokolniki map – taking off from Ramenye in a U2. Flew across to the frozen lake in 03031 south of Kozhemyaki and landed. Ended flight, found the 'new mission' in 'Missions' and opened it with Mission Editor. I then just found the aircraft, moved it across to the lake, and saved it as a single mission. Opened up the game again and there it was. It's still attached to all the command and instruction gubbins back at Ramenye, and I daresay if I went on autopilot it would take me straight back there. I set up a whole load of targets in Kozhemyaki (which worked after a while!) and even some dumb machine guns for a bit of involvement, and that's my wee mission. It's about 10 minutes long altogether, so really no need for autopilot at all.

 

If I work at the ME thing (and yes, I've had a look at the videos, and, yes, they're only slightly less mystifying than they were before) I think I could probably actually get some other planes up in the sky. I was thinking another couple of U2s – at least one ahead by two minutes, and another behind just for a bit of atmosphere, so that the target is atmospherically pre-bombed and so I know where it is in the murk. It'll do me for now though

 

Very much looking forward to Utopioneer's work, and Gambit21's campaign. More details about that - with pictures - on the this same thread over on the Mission Making and Mission Editor forum

[Monostripezebra]

Seaborne troubles:

 

[Nolly]

 

Arty spotting mechanic. 

 

Requires refinement but it works.

 

Po2, il2 and ju87 are also easy enough to land and take off from any straight and flat road on the map. (From testing)

 

You can also put down ju52s with ease and he111s, a20s and pe2s, but it's much much harder

[Lusekofte]

On 5/4/2020 at 1:03 AM, -RS-Nolly said:

Requires refinement but it works.

You made a mission with concentrated enemy troops and friendly artillery, then just shot a flare?

Thats it? Or did it require coding?

Love the PO 2, favorite plane Inever really use online. 

Edited May 7, 2020 by 216th_LuseKofte

[Nolly]

Attack area on the target, and a complex trigger on the target that detects the flare.

 

When complex trigger detects flare, attack area is activated for arty.

 

It's not true spotting in that you can't adjust the fire, but it opens up the possibility of "search for target then call in the strike" missions, which is close enough.

 

I plan to adjust it so that if the spotter plane leaves the area during the fire mission the artillery fire gets less accurate.

[Lusekofte]

You sir bring hope to silly people like me. 
Imagine that something worth doing in a po 2 at last. Except from pure amusement 

[Habu]

Here is a flight with my teammate on finish server.

 

 

[jollyjack]

On 9/28/2018 at 5:16 PM, J2_Trupobaw said:

Po-2 will likely become my plane of choice in WW2, and I dread to think what will happen if server operators unleash it on FC birds...

 

Ai ACE it and SP play it against a Bristol; it's no match ....

Edited July 29, 2020 by jollyjack

[Monostripezebra]

On 7/29/2020 at 9:48 AM, jollyjack said:

 

Ai ACE it and SP play it against a Bristol; it's no match ....

 

It was designed for different role.. it is not really on par with the purpose built fighting machines, just by engine power alone.

[Nolly]

 Am I correct in saying that the gunners bombsight still does not work?

[Raptorattacker]

1 hour ago, -RS-Nolly said:

Am I correct in saying that the gunners bombsight still does not work?

You look out of the starboard side of the cockpit, there's a gap around where the wingroot is. They didn't HAVE bombsights, keeping it real!!

Edited October 7, 2020 by Raptorattacker

[Lusekofte]

23 hours ago, Raptorattacker said:

You look out of the starboard side of the cockpit, there's a gap around where the wingroot is. They didn't HAVE bombsights, keeping it real!!

This is the bomb sight and you can not use it

[Sandmarken]

9 hours ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

This is the bomb sight and you can not use it

In vr you can. Just lean over and press the drop button when the target is inside the bombsight

[Raptorattacker]

I tell you what, I can use it and many others can use it. It's the only bomb sight there is so... I didn't make it, I just use it. If you can't use it then there's nothing I can do about it.

 

SO sorry for trying to answer a question with the answer.

 

Over and out

[Lusekofte]

32 minutes ago, Sandmarken said:

In vr you can. Just lean over and press the drop button when the target is inside the bombsight

No I cant. I have a wall too close so I cannot lean that much. It would hsve been better just get it in view by pushing V

[jollyjack]

On 5/1/2020 at 8:09 PM, Monostripezebra said:

Seaborne troubles:

 

 

Maybe LizLemon can fix this?

 

[Sandmarken]

6 minutes ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

No I cant. I have a wall too close so I cannot lean that much. It would hsve been better just get it in view by pushing V

Be the gunner, zoom the view, turn the gun and lean over the edge. It woud be better just to push a button i agree, but we have to work with what we got, i dont think they wil update it anytime soon ?

[Cpt_Siddy]

I really wish to get leaflet drop option, where i can have option to write what i want on them.

 

Imagine dropping them on multiplayer tank battles and the tankers reading them. 

Edited October 9, 2020 by Cpt_Siddy

[Lusekofte]

I like a project. I spent enormous hours in qmb with IL 2 dropping bombs from 100 meter up to 400 meters in level flight to get it right. Same thing with PO 2 

I can hit a mark now doing that without bombsight. I enjoy a hit more this way than a bomber from 6 k. That is my problem with this game. There is not any real challanges to do with the planes I like. And no real purpose. This game have drowned by wishes from majority hotrod drivers. People that really should fly jets in DCS

[Gambit21]

12 hours ago, Cpt_Siddy said:

 

Imagine dropping them on multiplayer tank battles and the tankers reading them. 

 

“Wife due home in 5 min, shut down...SHUT DOWN!”

[Raptorattacker]

12 hours ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

That is my problem with this game. There is not any real challanges to do with the planes I like. And no real purpose. This game have drowned by wishes from majority hotrod drivers. People that really should fly jets in DCS

You could always make a Mission to do such things, that's what the Mission Maker is for? Such marvels as the gentleman up above this message, Gambit21. He's done remarkable things with said piece of software. 

[Lusekofte]

1 hour ago, Raptorattacker said:

You could always make a Mission to do such things, that's what the Mission Maker is for? Such marvels as the gentleman up above this message, Gambit21. He's done remarkable things with said piece of software. 

Nah, I have not the patience anymore, but your point is valid. I had a tone of complaint in my choice of wording. And one should always look for solutions , not for problems. 

This is a great game, but I am utter fatigued by it. I see so much potential but can not enjoy it. 

That is all on me, not the software. I am still on forum to watch over BON progress, I will reinstall it when I find motivation

[NiiranenVR]

Nordmand ( tidligere en del af danmark ?) 

As I understand you mostly fly SP , but you should come to MP FC 

I guess you know , but it's not be in a bomber 'boom and zoom' and then you're dead , but could be a dogfight 

I've have long been 'lone Wolff ' in Fc server but now I'm slowly becoming a part of a group with other old ( I guess ) men and have fun 

If you're interested I will Cover your bomber ......( If you're German - otherwise I kill you .....maybe ) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ADorante]

So I finally found the time to start a SP career. I chose the 763rd NBAP at Severskaya, Kuban map. Now I have to ask abouit what happened on my first try at night bombing career: The first AI U-2VS (fully loaded) starting in front of me didn't clear the tree line behind the end of the runway. All other AI U-2 pilots seemed so frightened that they didn't start at all. Bug or feature? (seems to be reproducible, tracks can be provided for three different take-offs).

OK, I couldn't clear the tree line either, but I made a turn after take-off immediately to reach the first gap in the tree line after getting wise.

[LukeFF]

5 minutes ago, ADorante said:

So I finally found the time to start a SP career. I chose the 763rd NBAP at Severskaya, Kuban map. Now I have to ask abouit what happened on my first try at night bombing career: The first AI U-2VS (fully loaded) starting in front of me didn't clear the tree line behind the end of the runway. All other AI U-2 pilots seemed so frightened that they didn't start at all. Bug or feature? (seems to be reproducible, tracks can be provided for three different take-offs).

OK, I couldn't clear the tree line either, but I made a turn after take-off immediately to reach the first gap in the tree line after getting wise.

 

Thanks, I'll have a look.

[=VARP=Dragunov]

I finished one a few days a go. 1:72.

[Lusekofte]

2 hours ago, =VARP=dragunov said:

I finished one a few days a go. 1:72.

 

 

 

That is beautiful work ?

[LukeFF]

On 12/11/2020 at 12:49 PM, ADorante said:

So I finally found the time to start a SP career. I chose the 763rd NBAP at Severskaya, Kuban map. Now I have to ask abouit what happened on my first try at night bombing career: The first AI U-2VS (fully loaded) starting in front of me didn't clear the tree line behind the end of the runway. All other AI U-2 pilots seemed so frightened that they didn't start at all. Bug or feature? (seems to be reproducible, tracks can be provided for three different take-offs).

OK, I couldn't clear the tree line either, but I made a turn after take-off immediately to reach the first gap in the tree line after getting wise.

 

On 12/11/2020 at 12:55 PM, LukeFF said:

Thanks, I'll have a look.

 

With today's update, this problem should no longer be present. The fix was to change the default bomb loadout to 4x FAB-50. Every bit of weight is critical in a plane like the U-2, and 2x FAB-50 + 2x FAB-100 was just too much - not only did it increase the overall takeoff weight, but the speed penalty is also pretty high with that loadout.

Edited December 16, 2020 by LukeFF

[Lusekofte]

Well finally started to fly a bit. Not much by any standard. 

I tested several ways of approaching a target with PO 2 daylight in Finnish server. 

The only success I have is one survived attack with weeks almost touching ground. , Making only bombs effective. 

Now when landing in wilderness and takeoffs are possible. I find the U2 very attractive to fly, only problem for me now is the ugly appearance of ground close . 

Anyway, This plane need artillery spotting capabilities, there is no way to attack a target feasible, I do not complain about too effective flak , but it seem to have control over where you are even not seeing you. 

The fact that it hit you is  realistic, I can get my bicycle to run faster. 

Do anyone have success attacking ground targets in it? And how?

 

Edited December 28, 2020 by 216th_LuseKofte

[cardboard_killer]

Rockets seem to work best when I fly it.

[Lusekofte]

Yes but I find them very inaccurate at a safe distance 

Are you coming in diving from altitude ?

Edited December 28, 2020 by 216th_LuseKofte

[cardboard_killer]

Safe? In that thing? No; any AA does me in.

[Lusekofte]

7 hours ago, cardboard_killer said:

Safe? In that thing? No; any AA does me in.

Yeah. Just a shame one cannot do something useful in it on servers

[QB.Gregor-]

Thanks to @E4GLEyE and @Sandmarken again for gifting me the U-2. I definitly have a good amount of flight time with it by now. It's featured in my latest video, doing some stunts:

Also thanks to @Raptorattacker for making the awesome "barn find" skin.

[Raptorattacker]

A pleasure and thanks for the entertainment on a Friday morning!

Rap