"The Cold Blue" Server - Escort vs Interceptor High Altitude Action

[357th_KW]

Hope everyone's summer is going well.  I've decided to stop running the Thursday flyouts for the time being - turnout has been low lately and it takes up a lot of my time.  I've been doing a lot of traveling and spending time with the family, but I've managed to get a bit of development work done and just wanted to give an update on where the server is at. 

 

We're now running one campaign for a week or two at a time - so the playlist might be all Channel Front, or all Mighty 8th missions etc.

 

I've made some fairly significant updates to the existing Normandy missions, with bug fixes and better and more immersive randomization.  I'm hoping to roll those out in the next week along with a new Normandy mission or two.  I'm also working on updates and expansions to the Forgotten 15th and hopefully we'll see the first new stuff from that in August.  I'm also hoping that we'll be ready to start testing with a 2 hour mission run time around that point - hopefully fewer reboots will help keep players more engaged.  See you all in the virtual skies!

[357th_KW]

This week I've rolled out improved versions of the three existing Normandy missions.  These missions are all set on June 7th, 1944 and each attempt to portray some of the experience of one of the Allied air forces active over the beachhead that day - there's one dedicated to the 2nd TAF, 9th AF and 8th AF.  These received some improvements allowing higher AI counts, more trains and road convoys, more randomized flak as well as some bug fixes.

 

 

Additionally, I've added a new Normandy mission, set on July 25th 1944.  This day is famous for the launch of Operation Cobra and the employment of heavy bombers against German forces near St. Lo, leading to the Allied breakout.  What is less well known is that US fighters of the 8th and 9th air forces were active around Paris that day, keeping German fighters well away from the heavy bombers and attacking German trains and round traffic to prevent any reinforcements from flowing towards the battle area.  The 357th Fighter Group in particular was involved in a dogfight over the city of Paris, where an Fw190 nearly crashed into the Arc de Triumphe.  The new mission is set up on the Western Front map, allowing players to engage in dogfights around the city, as well as attacking road and rail traffic in the area.  

 

 

These Normandy missions will be running for the next week or two - come check them out!

 

 

Server discord: https://discord.gg/mA58nP6YjG

 

[Sheriff88]

I don't see any place on the discord site that says when teams may be logging in. How do we know when there is decent level of activity.When I go on the server it's rare to see anyone else.

[357th_KW]

On 8/4/2025 at 6:51 PM, Sheriff88 said:

I don't see any place on the discord site that says when teams may be logging in. How do we know when there is decent level of activity.When I go on the server it's rare to see anyone else.

 

There's a #flight-planning channel on the discord here that's intended for that very purpose: https://discord.com/channels/1105203273222332498/1127337248573100033

 

I'd been organizing events on Thursdays, but I've just been too busy this summer to keep doing it.  I'd love to see people organize events - if you want to host something, DM me and we can setup a playlist of your choice etc.

[357th_KW]

 

I've rolled out a new mission set on March 18th, 1945 - this exciting mission features a three way battle between USAAF, the Luftwaffe and the Soviet Union! Want to see how a Yak-3 compares to a P-51D or an Fw190D-9? This mission is for you!

 

 

It's based on a historical encounter where mis-identification by pilots of the 359th Fighter Group led to a tragic case of friendly fire - one of a number of encounters that took place between the US and the Soviets during the last weeks of the war. This new mission is also set to a 2 hour runtime - something that I hope to make standard in the future.

 

 

In addition I have another East meets West mission in development, featuring a November 1944 encounter between P-38s of the 15th Air Force and Soviet Yaks - I hope to have that added to the playlist in the next week or so. 

 

 

Come check out this East meets West playlist for the next few weeks!

 

Server discord: https://discord.gg/mA58nP6YjG

 

[357th_KW]

 

I've been working over the summer on extending the missions to a 2 hour format.  We saw a little taste of it last month with the two US vs Soviet missions that featured the Yak-3.  One of those featured a heavy bomber concept where boxes would repeatedly bomb a target, and as they departed from the combat area, a new box would spawn in, giving a steady flow of combat.

 

I've developed a second concept that is now in live testing.  I've rebuilt the Sept 11th, 1944 mission so that now the bombers traverse the map, and then as they break contact they despawn.  Then there is a short intermission (10 minutes, but this will be altered based on testing feedback), during which escorts can do some strafing while returning to base and interceptors can land and regroup.  Then a new formation spawns on the east edge of the map - another box of bombers returning after striking the target - and travels west back across the map, giving a 2 hour mission with the same feel as the current Mighty 8th missions.

 

This new mission features some significant enhancements to AI - they have a much wider range of behaviors, which are all dynamic and will randomize differently every play-through.  AI should be less likely to swarm the player, and all of them have a "morale check" where they may turn and run as the battle turns against them - shooting down the formation leader is more likely to produce this result.  Additionally there is a great chance for large formations of interceptors to attack the bombers as they get further into Germany.

 

If the server loads allow it, there should be some expanded strafing targets that I will add to the mission in the next week or so (a mix of dynamically populated airfields, trains, vehicle convoys and maybe even some barges) - those aren't enabled yet.  I want to make sure the server isn't going to melt in this new format.

 

 

Additionally I'm going to be rolling out an updated version of at least one of the Operation Market-Garden missions (hopefully a little later this week) that features the new AI coding.  In this lower altitude, tactical mission some of the nuances of the new AI should be more apparent.  It will be possible to surprise the AI and bounce them now!  This should be a real game changer for BnZ focused fighters like the Fw190 or P-47.

 

If you have the chance, please come try out the new mission format this week!

 

Server discord: https://discord.gg/mA58nP6YjG

 

 

 

 

[Knarley-Bob]

I just hope they don't follow the same pattern. Combat right off the bat, then combat in the last 10 mins. The middle, milk run.

Just sayin"

 

KB

[357th_KW]

16 hours ago, Knarley-Bob said:

I just hope they don't follow the same pattern. Combat right off the bat, then combat in the last 10 mins. The middle, milk run.

Just sayin"

 

KB

 

There's a much higher chance for big dogfights then there used to be.  Part of what I'm testing is to see if the server loads are viable.  Give it a try and let me know what you think - I'm always interested in hearing player feedback.

[357th_KW]

The updated Sept 19th, 1944 Operation Market-Garden mission has been added to the playlist.  This new update features the enhanced AI coding with limited SA. Come check it out! I'd love to hear some feedback on how these missions play now.

 

[Knarley-Bob]

 Am confused by mission, 1/2 way thru, out of sector. What to do then? Respawn, leave and return to server? 

That doesn't seem to work. Went to different server. A couple times. Asked other player on discord, confusion reigns.

[357th_KW]

19 hours ago, Knarley-Bob said:

 Am confused by mission, 1/2 way thru, out of sector. What to do then? Respawn, leave and return to server? 

That doesn't seem to work. Went to different server. A couple times. Asked other player on discord, confusion reigns.

 

From my post above "Then there is a short intermission (10 minutes), during which escorts can do some strafing while returning to base and interceptors can land and regroup.  Then a new formation spawns on the east edge of the map - another box of bombers returning after striking the target - and travels west back across the map, giving a 2 hour mission with the same feel as the current Mighty 8th missions."

 

 

There are radio messages in the mission saying this as well, along with some text on the in game map.  The strafing zone marked on the map has a number of randomized trains (and sometimes barges on the Rhine) as well as some airfields that are highlighted (Kirtof, Asbach and Breitscheid I believe).  Those airfields are randomized, so that they may be full of aircraft, have just a few, or none at all and they may or may not have flak defending them.  Some trains have flak cars and others don't.  The Axis player airfields are also acceptable strafing targets as always, but these are always heavily defended - though you are more likely to find strafing targets or landing aircraft there.

 

 

The goal is to highlight all the strafing that was done by 8th AF escorts and give players a chance to experience that in a dynamic environment where you're never quite sure what you'll encounter.  Alternatively, you can just fly back to the recovery field and land and then respawn to escort the returning wave of bombers.

 

Edited September 25 by 357th_KW

[Knarley-Bob]

Having a Bendix would be nice, at least to get a general idea where "home" was.

I know that you'll say they didn't have those at that time, granted. But there are so many historical discrepancies in the IL-2 format, that giving a person playing a game a helping hand, wouldn't cause any disruption in the game. I did notice that the 190 I flew the other day had one.

Regards, KB

Edited September 25 by Knarley-Bob

[357th_KW]

 

This Thursday we're having a fall themed flyout featuring the new two hour long missions on The Cold Blue.  These updated missions from The Mighty 8th and Operation Market-Garden campaigns now run for two hours each, and feature new AI code.  The AI now have limited situational awareness and can be caught by surprise!

 

 

The Mighty 8th missions focus on high altitude combat as large bomber formations drone across the Reich.  Operation Market-Garden missions recreate the intense air battles taking place over Arnhem and Nijmegen as the Allies attempt a break-through across the Rhine.  Set in September 1944, these missions feature favorites like the Bf109G-14, Fw-190A8, P-47D, P-51D and Spitfire Mk IX.

 

 

Our Thursday flyout will start with a Euro time slot at 6pm GMT, and for the US crowd we'll start at 9pm EDT and then continue with a late night flight at 10pm PDT.  Anyone is welcome to come and fly!

 

 

Server discord: https://discord.gg/mA58nP6YjG

Edited September 30 by 357th_KW
Fixed times.