Vanders EMGv72/v74 for Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta Revison v03

[kraut1]

(picture by Off_Winters)

Revision V03 (23.02.2023) GENERAL REVISION WITH 14 Front Lines

V03 Update (24.02.2023) Historical background data by Stonehouse added

V03 works with EMG v74 exe, tested 21.03.2023

 

Hi,

Today I release V03. It is a major update with 14 front lines based on the historical research by Stonehouse.

All front lines have been checked and updated 1 time but maybe some further corrections are still required.

 

Vander: Thanks very much for your great EMG!

Off_Winters: thanks very much for your great "Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta" Mod!

Stonehouse: Thanks very much for your great historical research and the detailed informations about the front lines, the battle events and the airfields! Without your help my frontlines and airfield definitions would be much more inaccurate!

 

 

Please use the attached settings only in combination with the "Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta"!

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/66068-kuban-autumn-nth-africa-desert-beta-upload-updated-version-to-8-10-01-2023/

The current mod is designed for the desert without trees, but you can try with the additional trees installed.

This mod is not checked / issued by Vander.

Please ask me if there are problems.

 

Settings:

-planes.json (due to special desert mod design all western allied planes = WW2_EAST, all russian planes (not to be used) = WW2_WEST)

 Plane Types according to Stonehouse's research (with few changes).

-Map renamed to Tunisia.

-14 total reworked / new front lines.

-All Airfields renamed according the GUI Map and the data supplied by Stonehouse.

-many new airfields in southern / estern sector of the map

-objectives.json: adapted and tested for the new frontlines

-JSGME (optional, not required for EMG) The EMG settings in the zip: Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v03-emg-settings are JSGME compatible,

if EMG (v72) is in this folder installed:

....\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\EasyMissionGenerator

(I have tested installation and de-installation on my computer)

 

V03 Update (24.02.2023)

Historical background data by Stonehouse:

Stonehouse has created for us a summary of his historical research data.

It is very helpful for us to create EMG missions according to the historical situation in Tunisia from Jan. - Feb. 1943.

The attached Excel file contains 4 Excel sheets with detailed information concerning:

-Major events:

Timetable with location and descriptions of battles, movements of the armies.

-Weather & Terrain comments:

Very detailed information about weather, terrain and transport conditions.

Especially the historical weather conditions (much rain in the desert until March 43) are for me surprising and importent for the weather settings used in EMG for mission design.

-Airbases by frontline move date

This detailed background data was very importent for me for the definition of the airfields and the front lines.

In EMG ca. 70% of the listed airfields are available and defined in the historical front lines, this means if you select a front line the correct date and the correct available airfields are shown in EMG (please consider my "General notes for usage of this EMG Mod for Tunisia" concerning usage of front lines 18thApril, 22nd April, 3rdMay43)

-EMG:

Table of available aircrafts used in 1943 in Tunisia, EMG Type of each plane (attacker, bomber, fighter...), and for 1 specific plane, Hurricane IIc, additional loadout informations to select the additional IIa / IIb armaments.

Tunisia_EMG_mod_historical_background_by_Stonehouse.zip

 

Front Lines:

To avoid in EMG 2 seperated US / UK areas in the Template for one front:

Front lines primarily for US Army

-US-Army, Run for the coast Jan 01, 1943

-US-Army Faid Pass, Jan 30, 1943

-US-Army, Kasserine Feb 14, 1943

-US-Army, Interlude Feb 26, 1943

-US-Army Mar 17, 1943

Front lines primarily for 8th Army (UK)

-8th Army The Mareth Line Mar 17, 1943

-8th Army Medinine Mar 22, 1943

-8th Army Defense of Sfax Mar 27, 1943

-8th Army Gabes Mar 29, 1943

Common US / UK Front lines

-US/UK Front April 9, 1943

-US/UK Sousse April 11, 1943

-US/UK Al Haouaria April 18, 1943

-US/UK Operation Flax April 22, 1943 (with random Ju52 flights from Sicily)

-US/UK Fall of Tunis May 3, 1943 (with random Ju52 flights from Sicily)

Importent for selecting the last 3 fronts (18thApril, 22nd April, 3rd May:

because german side has at the end only one airfield (Tunis) select Tunis for axis:

before front-change -US/UK Al Haouaria April 18, 1943 to US/UK Operation Flax April 22, 1943

and

before front-change -US/UK Al Haouaria April 18, 1943 to US/UK Operation Flax April 22, 1943

 

Link for Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v03-emg-settings

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ctxxk72uxmvtgww/Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v03-emg-settings.zip?dl=0

 

Link for Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v03-emg-full-version

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i2ra0ka56old6fk/Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v03-emg-full-version.zip?dl=0

 

General notes for usage of this EMG Mod for Tunisia

Airfields:

I have created many new Airfields by copying / modifying existing airfields, the new airfields are in generally tested for runway take-offs of a 9-plane lead flight and a 6-plane escort flight. But I was not able to create the airfields for  take offs "on the ramp" (with taxying) and I will be not able to change all airfields for this feature, sorry.

Airfields with special properties:

Bou-Hmed: artificial airfield (no IL2 GB airfield) created by me for the 8th Army fronts 17th march to 27th march, the runway is as good as possible a country road and a bit beside off the road, suitable only for planes with good "offroad" properties (only P40, A20).

Tested today with 6x A20 and 4xP40 (1st attempt 6planes took off, 3 crashed,  2nd attempt all 9 successfully took off)

Coastal Airfields near mountaines where AI has issues to land:

AI will be in many cases not able to land / crashes into mountains:

Gabes, Sidi Mahrsi, Al Haouaria

Because of that and to make shorter missions possible I activated the smaller AF Sidi Daoud:

Sidi Daoud: short runway, suitable for runway take offs of 4-plane lead flight and 4 plane escort flight.

Airstart1: my first attempt to design a offshore airfield far away. (a bit similar as the IL2 1946 il2dcg offmap airfields)

Airstart1 is defined for the last 3rd May Tunis front. You can:

-at Airstart1 location 290km from coast: simulate incoming transports, bombers from Sicily by: Planes start on the runway + Skip Take Off and only a lead flight, no escort!

-near the target: simulate incoming transports, bombers from Sicily by: Planes start near the target (= start in the air), with this option lead flight and escort flight are possible.

-destination for simulation of evacuation transport from Tunis: Transport flight + escort take off from runway, airfield Tunis, scenario transport, Target distance: distant. (I suppose the transport will land and sink in the sea, but you can simulate an intercept or an escort mission up to ca. 290km over the sea.

(because Airstart1 is located in the sea, you see some default airfield components in the water)

Additional random escorted transport flights from Sicily for front 3th May and 22nd April by transport flight groups in template group "Radar_P" and "Radar_R". The transport flights will be spawned by random. Because I am not so good in Mission Editor operation and I had no time available to learn all transport / escort flights consist of individual planes, no flights, squadrons.

 

General notes for usage of EMG by Vander:

-Do not create missions with EMG while IL2 GB is running in the background:

Sometimes "corrupted", for IL2 invisible missions are created.

 

-Do not use option for random plane type for the player's flight

in EMG: Scenario/ Plane type: any,  (of player's flight) Use the "any" option only if you own all IL2 GB plane types listed for the mission.

 

-If you encounter the issue that after clicking on "Create Mission" the message "Generating..." does not change to "Re-Save":

In general this means that EMG can't find the specified target in the specified target distance. I have created for testing many missions to check all target types for each frontline but there is always the possibility EMG does not find a target.

What to do: If "Generating..." does not change to "Re-Save" end EMG, Restart EMG and try:

-Try for the next mission a common target type e.g: artillery, vehicles, airfield, parked planes.

-If the number of "Targets per side" (in Scenario) was 2 or more than try 1

 

-Some planes e.g.:Ju52 crash during take off when wind is too strong, for these planes wind = calm

 

-AAA Skill: I use harmless: in the current IL2 GB  AAA is very accurate and on the other hand the flight plan and the AI comrades do not consider the dangers of the AAA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2024 by kraut1
14.02.24 issue solved, old versions are working again

[Off_Winters]

G'day Kraut,

Thanks for this, its great. I installed and set up with no issue, made a quick attack mission. I had to remove a couple of extra axis planes out of the custom list within the editor to get rid of a couple of plane types that didn't have desert skins available. but other than that it worked very well with all items showing desert schemes etc.

I also made a new background image and changed the Russian stars to RAF roundels (in the media folder) to add into the editor main screen to give it a more of an Desert Mod feel. (attached file if you would like to add to your mod)

If people use the supplied list of aircraft skin details it will make it easier for them to assign skins that suit each plane type. (see screenshot where I have selected blank_02 which equals Clive Caldwell's P40 skin for escort)

thanks again, regards Rob.







media.rar
 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Off_Winters

[kraut1]

2 hours ago, Off_Winters said:

 I had to remove a couple of extra axis planes out of the custom list within the editor

I also made a new background image and changed the Russian stars to RAF roundels (in the media folder) to add into the editor main screen to give it a more of an Desert Mod feel. (attached file if you would like to add to your mod)

If people use the supplied list of aircraft skin details it will make it easier for them to assign skins that suit each plane type.

media.rar
 

Hi Off_Winters,

I am glad that you like the Vanders EMG settings for your desert mod.

-I will add the attached media files.

-please inform me which of the axis plane types to be deactivated (in the planes.json /I do not use the EMG custom plane set).

-If you want that a custom skin to be defined as default (in EMG) I can write it in the planes.json.

Best  regards

 

[Off_Winters]

6 hours ago, kraut1 said:

Hi Off_Winters,

I am glad that you like the Vanders EMG settings for your desert mod.

-I will add the attached media files.

-please inform me which of the axis plane types to be deactivated (in the planes.json /I do not use the EMG custom plane set).

-If you want that a custom skin to be defined as default (in EMG) I can write it in the planes.json.

Best  regards

 

Hi Kraut,

I removed the:
Me262

Arado
Bf109-G-6 late
Bf109-G-14
Bf109-K4
Fw190-A6

Fw190-D9
Me410

some of these showed in the fighters_axis, attackers_axis, bombers_axis and recon_axis part of your WW2_East set. all I did to change it was used the copy preset button to place your preset planes in the custom plane set windrow on the right and then removed the required planes back out one at a time using the remove button and hit the save button at bottom of screen. but if you can change/edit your plane preset then that would be one less step to take in setting up the mission template.

thanks again, regards Rob.


 

[kraut1]

14 minutes ago, Off_Winters said:

Hi Kraut,

I removed the:
Me262

Arado
Bf109-G-6 late
Bf109-G-14
Bf109-K4
Fw190-A6

Fw190-D9
Me410

some of these showed in the fighters_axis, attackers_axis, bombers_axis and recon_axis part of your WW2_East set. all I did to change it was used the copy preset button to place your preset planes in the custom plane set windrow on the right and then removed the required planes back out one at a time using the remove button and hit the save button at bottom of screen. but if you can change/edit your plane preset then that would be one less step to take in setting up the mission template.

thanks again, regards Rob.


 

Thanks,

Okay I understand. I will care for these planes.

But let me say how I suggest to use EMG for your desert mod:

-I would use an extra EMG v72 installation only for desert mod. eg.: on my computer the folder is called "EMG-v72-desert-mod". In this folder I copy at first the default EMGv72 and after that the Modded setting files.

-I myself do not use the custom plane set, from my point of view it is not required.

It is importent to care of the date of the mission (for North Afrika /Tunesia ca. November 42 to May 43)

If the date is defined e.g.: the FW109-D9 will be not listed, because by default:  "service": ["1.9.1944", "1.11.1944", "1.6.1945", "1.6.1945"],

But to avoid misunderstandings I will remove those listed fighter by setting them to WW2_WEST

-I use only the modded planes.json in the zip.

Here an example:

For this date:

Thes axis fighters are listed:

And a suggestion (I will remove if you don't like):

Me410 as Me210

I suppose someone is already working on a desert skin, it has been requested.

The armament can be modified to Me210, I could do this later.

Attached my settings with new planes.json with deactivated late planes, please have a look.

Best regards

 

 

Vanders EMGv72 for Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta Revison01.zip

[Stonehouse]

8 hours ago, kraut1 said:

But let me say how I suggest to use EMG for your desert mod:

-I would use an extra EMG v72 installation only for desert mod. eg.

 

Just a suggestion - you can set up a "mod" under JSGME that mods a standard EMG setup. I use that all the time to swap in custom plane sets but it can easily cope with templates etc etc. It's no different than a mod for IL2, just that the EMG mod has a different folder structure. Mind you EMG is not that big so either way is fine and perhaps from your viewpoint it is easier to have a separate install since you are building the templates. 

[kraut1]

7 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

 

Just a suggestion - you can set up a "mod" under JSGME that mods a standard EMG setup. I use that all the time to swap in custom plane sets but it can easily cope with templates etc etc. It's no different than a mod for IL2, just that the EMG mod has a different folder structure. Mind you EMG is not that big so either way is fine and perhaps from your viewpoint it is easier to have a separate install since you are building the templates. 

Hi Stonehouse,

very interesting for me to see in which different ways EMG can be used.

I am working currently on 3 different "total modifications" (Air War over Italy, SCW, and your Desert Mod) of EMGv72 and I use for each a seperate EMGv72 installation.

But concerning your request for JSGME:

-I suppose that means, that your EMG is installed in your IL2 Great Battles main folder?

-please tell me, in which folder in your ...\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\  your EMG is installed. I will try use the same folder structure to make the settings JSGME compatible.

-by the way I myself modify and use always the planes.json and not the custom_planeset.json

 

Because I have seen now that the Desert Mod covers a huge area of the Kuban Map and we have currently only available EMG airfields / objectives in a very small part of the map I will come back to you and Off_Winters with PM how to proceed.

Best Regards

 

[Stonehouse]

1 hour ago, kraut1 said:

-please tell me, in which folder in your ...\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\  your EMG is installed. I will try use the same folder structure to make the settings JSGME compatible.

It's all good - as long as I can identify exactly what files you are changed/adding I can build a jsgme set up for it. I should be able to get it all from your download. I will put a mod pack together for the tunisia one you just posted when I get spare time over the weekend.........it won't matter that you modify planes.json and in fact in regard to skins etc while more complex you have more control than custom_planeset.json which only limits the choices of aircraft and not all the other stuff.

[Stonehouse]

@kraut1

Actually, it was very easy (I think), and I can just base it off my custom_planeset mod. I've got to go get ready to go out to visit friends for dinner so haven't had time to test it but give the below a go. Only caveat is that the EMG folder must be in the IL2 main folder and is called EasyMissionGenerator - if this name doesn't suit you then you'll need to adjust the folder name in the mod to match the folder name of the EMG install you are modding.

 

Give it a go on a separate install of EMG so if it goes wrong, it doesn't stuff you up. 

 

 

 

Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod.zip

Edited January 13, 2023 by Stonehouse

[kraut1]

1 hour ago, Stonehouse said:

@kraut1

Actually, it was very easy (I think), and I can just base it off my custom_planeset mod. I've got to go get ready to go out to visit friends for dinner so haven't had time to test it but give the below a go. Only caveat is that the EMG folder must be in the IL2 main folder and is called EasyMissionGenerator - if this name doesn't suit you then you'll need to adjust the folder name in the mod to match the folder name of the EMG install you are modding.

 

Give it a go on a separate install of EMG so if it goes wrong, it doesn't stuff you up. 

 

 

 

Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod.zip 1.08 MB · 0 downloads

okay, I will use this folder structure

[kraut1]

V02 with 4 Frontlines released + BF109 mission set

[Azdack]

Hello Kraut. I haven't much skill in pc computing. I play with EMG and  I'd like to play your missions desert airwar as well as spanish civil war. Before making any mistake please can you tell me where to install your files after downloading. Thanks in advance. Regards. 

[kraut1]

Do you have already the Kuban desert Mod by Off_Winters installed?

[kraut1]

3 hours ago, Azdack said:

Hello Kraut. I haven't much skill in pc computing. I play with EMG and  I'd like to play your missions desert airwar as well as spanish civil war. Before making any mistake please can you tell me where to install your files after downloading. Thanks in advance. Regards. 

Do you have already the Mod enabler JSGME and the Kuban desert Mod by Off_Winters installed?

If not I can help you.

[Azdack]

Thanks Kraut. Yes I have JSGME but I haven't the Kuban desert Mod by Off_Winters installed. Do I have to install it first?

 

[kraut1]

3 hours ago, Azdack said:

Thanks Kraut. Yes I have JSGME but I haven't the Kuban desert Mod by Off_Winters installed. Do I have to install it first?

 

yes this mod at first.

[kraut1]

6 hours ago, Azdack said:

Thanks Kraut. Yes I have JSGME but I haven't the Kuban desert Mod by Off_Winters installed. Do I have to install it first?

 

Yes this mod at first:

Now you have Off_Winters Tunisia desert mod installed.

 

Now concerning EMG something optional, not required:

If you are interested in flying some german BF109 missions in Tunisia you could install my small mission set of 20 missions generated with EMG.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/82784-tunisia-mareth-sfax-vanders-emg-bf109-mission-set-for-kuban-autumn-nth-africa-desert-beta-mod/

and the download link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mu8q1154g80erzd/Kuban_Autumn-1943_Desert_Beta_8_EMG_mission_set-BF109-Mareth-Sfax.zip?dl=0

It can be used with JSGME and after installation it looks like this:

 You can try out these missions now without installing Vanders EMG.

 

Installation of EasyMissionGenerator (EMG):

Because you told me, that you are not so experienced with computers I would suggest to install EMG not in the Steam / IL2 Battle of Stalingrad folder to avoid damage to your IL2 installation.

What I do to use many modified versions of EMG:

1.) Create one main folder with Windows explorer for all your EMG versions:

e.g: D:\IL2-GB-EMG or maybe ?\IL2-GB-EMG

 

If you know already how to install the original EMG by Vander proceed directly to 3.)

 

2.)Now you could install for example the original EMG by Vander, it is always good to have it  and I am sure that want to fly some East or West Front missions with the standard maps / front lines defined by Vander:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/43276-il2-great-battles-easy-mission-generator/

https://sites.google.com/view/il2-great-battles-emg/home

content of the downloaded .zip:

Create now a folder for the original EMGv72 in your D:\IL2-GB-EMG and extract or copy the content of the downloaded zip into your EMGv72 folder:

Now you have installed the great original EMGv72 by Vander.

 

3.) Installing for Desert / Tunisia my modification of EMGv72:

You have 2 options:

-install the modified settings and copy them into an copy of the original EMGv72:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t6bn32guvqzb2su/Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v02-emg-settings.zip?dl=0

or

download the full version with pre installed Tunisia modification:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tufcvoxtr8gy4j9/Kraut1s_Tunisia_EMG_mod_v02-emg-full-version.zip?dl=0

I will show you the second option:

in the downloaded zip there is a folder with the EMG for Tunisia:

copy this folder into your main EMG folder:

thats all, in this folder start the EasyMissionGenerator.exe

-and you are at the start screen, were you have to define your IL2 folder and an mission folder

 

Go to Situation and choose Map and Frontline:

If you need further infos I will help you.

Edited February 3, 2023 by kraut1

[Azdack]

Thanks very much it works! I can plan Tunisia missions.

To try I've installed it in my EMG folder

I can read you also have spanish civil war. Tomorrow I'll install it.

Have you some other ones?

Then I guess that to play either Tunisia or spanish civil war or other missions I have to pass from left column in JMSGE to right column.

Thanks again.

Late right now but looking forward to play your missions.

 

[kraut1]

8 hours ago, Azdack said:

Thanks very much it works! I can plan Tunisia missions.

To try I've installed it in my EMG folder

I can read you also have spanish civil war. Tomorrow I'll install it.

Have you some other ones?

Then I guess that to play either Tunisia or spanish civil war or other missions I have to pass from left column in JMSGE to right column.

Thanks again.

Late right now but looking forward to play your missions.

 

great that it works!

To fly with the spanish civil war mod

-you have first to deactivate Off_Winters desert mod (in JMSGE from right to left)

-activate the spanish civil war skinpack (in JMSGE from left to right)

-than I recomment to install my spanish civil war ai and weapon mod with JMSGE (the newest file V04):

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/82446-spanish-civil-war-ai-and-weapon-mod-v04-updated/

(with this mod the Ju52 works as a bomber, the 20mm cannons are deactivated by immediately overheating (BF109B, He70 (IL2).

-and you need my EMG Modification

Best Regards

 

[kraut1]

Revision V02A (04.02.2023) UPDATED SETTINGS WITH EMG config file

Thanks very much Stonehouse for the info concerning the required config file for JSGME!

If someone has trouble to start EMG after deinstalling EMG for Tunisia with JSGME:

The default "clean" EMG settings are in the "default.emg"  file and can be copied to the config.ini

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by kraut1
Info added

[Azdack]

Thanks for your work Kraut1. Actually I created three folder nammed EMG_Basic/EMG_Tunisia/EMG Spanish civil war. Inside all the files needed for those specific missions. So I don't miss up. In JSGME I go from left side to right side or inversely with the mods used for Tunisia or Spanish civil war.

Thanks again.

 

[kraut1]

Hi all,

I have added an very importent information from where I got my informations for this Mod:

Stonehouse: Thanks very much for your great historical research and the detailed informations about the front lines, the battle events and the airfields! Without your help my frontlines and airfield definitions would be much more inaccurate!

[kraut1]

Hi All,

Vanders EMGv72 for Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta Revison V03 (23. Feb 2023)

is released with 14 Front Lines from 1st January 1943 - 3rd May 1943

Edited February 24, 2023 by kraut1

[kraut1]

Hi, EMGv72 for Kuban Nth Africa Desert works with the new EMG v74 EasyMissionGenerator.exe

(1 missions created / flown)