Maloyaroslavets at Night [U-2vs]

[CzechTexan]

Maloyaroslavets at Night

DOWNLOAD:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/cez3gb93h05kfow/Maloyaroslavets+at+Night2.zip/file

(new link with edited Mission#1, Feb1.24)

 

Maloyaroslavets at Night is an 11-mission single player scripted campaign in which the Player will fly the U-2vs on the Battle of Moscow map.  Missions are from December 29, 1941 to January 3, 1942.  Before the all-female "Night Witches" were formed, the obsolete U-2vs was flown by all-male regiments at night.  This semi-historical campaign, based on historical events, portrays the role of the night bombers as they fight to liberate the city of Maloyaroslavets during the Red Army's Winter Offensive of 1941-42.

 

***Notes:  A mission is successful when the player destroys a target on a mission.  So, if a target is destroyed, it is not necessary to make a landing at the home airfield.  However, You have the option to land, refuel, and re-arm to takeoff again to destroy more targets.

All missions start on the runway with engine running.

Missions have short flight times, except for the last two missions and these are the most difficult.

When the Temperature is extremely cold, you must keep the engine running high to avoid it freezing up.

I put "Gamma Correction" (in Graphics) set to 1... so I can see easier at night. 

 

I must say, these were fun missions to make and to fly.  My first thoughts were to make a U-2vs campaign as a trial before I make one for the Night Witches.  I think this project exceeded my expectations! 

Yes, the U-2 is slow!  But, it is a joy to fly at night, if you can learn patience!  Hit the fast-forward button, if you must.  I also give the option that it is not necessary to make a landing at the home airfield.  So, if you don't want to take the time for that, you can ESC and move on to the next mission (if a target was destroyed - giving you a successful mission). 

Usually, one or two targets destroyed will give you a successful mission.

 

Also, you will takeoff on a road through the center of a small village.  You may have seen it in some of the videos.  During the war, the main base was situated far from the front line.  Before the missions, they would fly to a forward makeshift airfield and fly several missions per night from this field, and then return to the main base before morning. 

I chose this location because taking off on a road is easier than in a snow-covered field.  Plus, the ground crew and pilots can warm-up between missions in the village houses.

 

Takeoff Tips:  Use the rudder to help stay on the road.  Start rolling slowly and gradually increase speed.  The U-2 will lift up on its own, at the right speed.  Pull up slightly but not too much or it will stall and fall.  Take it easy on the controls - It is a delicate little machine.

 

I also discovered that extremely cold weather can cause the engine to freeze!  During the campaign, the weather turns colder as time moves into January '42.  This is historical.

I had to keep the engine revved higher so that it wouldn't freeze.  It can make for a difficult situation!

Enjoy!--created by CzechTexan

Edited February 1, 2024 by CzechTexan

[Jaegermeister]

It sounds like a cool storyline. I’ll have to check it out when I can. Congratulations on getting it completed and sharing with the community. I know it’s a lot of work so Thanks!
 

?   

 

Edited January 25, 2024 by Jaegermeister

[Sandmarken]

Il make sure to check out this after i finish all your other campaigns ? thx! 

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Great fun flying those old string bags but I'm have a bit of a problem with the first mission, selecting a building marked with a red marker at the side of the railway line, placing all my bombs on target but still getting mission failed after landing, obviously not the ammo dump ! 

[CzechTexan]

The Ammo Dump Target is a little hard to see because it's like mounds of snow.  It is located to the right (west) of the railroad, kind of southwest of the depot. 

[YoYo]

Great! Finally, thank you!

 

Btw. where to install it? I dont see any info how to install it ....

Edited January 27, 2024 by YoYo

[CzechTexan]

drop the unzipped folder here:  Great Battles\Data\Campaigns

When you want to play, in your game main screen, select Scripted Campaign.

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

6 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

The Ammo Dump Target is a little hard to see because it's like mounds of snow.  It is located to the right (west) of the railroad, kind of southwest of the depot. 

Thanks, I shall circle the target and try and locate it, you only get one pass before that flack starts coming up.

[CzechTexan]

59 minutes ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

Thanks, I shall circle the target and try and locate it, you only get one pass before that flack starts coming up.

It's easier for me, since I built the mission, I know exactly where it is ? Sorry for not making the location more clear.

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Followed those accurate instructions and destroyed the target, there is something to be said about flying these old slow biplanes, I seem to get a more realistic feeling of flight.

I like the way you have also set the take off point down the main street of a little village and only just managing to clear the trees on take off and the same when coming into land. Which makes it all the  more fun. well done, keep up the good work

 

Cheers

[YoYo]

 

9 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

drop the unzipped folder here:  Great Battles\Data\Campaigns

When you want to play, in your game main screen, select Scripted Campaign.

Thx, will try Today.

 

Btw. Maybe you know. IRL pilots („Night widows”) turn off engine before attack and bomb something, after dropped bombs they turn on engine again. This provided an element of surprise because the Po-2s glided in silence and the Germans did not hear them.

[CzechTexan]

Yes, that is true.  When I fly these missions, I also idle the engine and glide to the target. 

However, it does not make a difference in the game because the enemy gunners do not "listen" to sound.  The game makes them all deaf!

 

For a mission-maker to work around that problem, the AAA use distance.  AAA shoots when the plane is within a certain distance.

 

Be careful because when the weather temperature drops too low, the engine will freeze during idle.

12 hours ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

I like the way you have also set the take off point down the main street of a little village and only just managing to clear the trees on take off and the same when coming into land. Which makes it all the  more fun. well done, keep up the good work

 

Cheers

That darn hill just had to be there on takeoff!  I did not want it there but it does make a challenge.  Also, not to hit the trees is challenging!

Thanks for the comments!

[YoYo]

Question. I can fly, however I see padlock. Is this normal for custom campaigns?

 

[YoYo]

I feel like the AI (wingmens) are a bit stupid when it comes to attacking a selected target. What is the best command to use? Do you like me or Attack ground targets?

 

Spoiler

Btw. It's good that you added the rearming option, I returned to the airstrip in the second mission, loaded the bombs again and flew over the target. This time I destroyed everything, the first time I only destroyed part of the train and the AI dropped bombs in the field, ups. 

 

[CzechTexan]

6 hours ago, YoYo said:

Question. I can fly, however I see padlock. Is this normal for custom campaigns?

 

I do not know why there is a lock.  Perhaps there is something in the "info" document inside the folder but I don't know what is causing that.  If it works, that's good.

 

For commands to A/I to attack...

Usually, I do not give attack commands when flying the U-2.  I put the formation into a line, single file and go on the bomb run.  Sometimes they follow me and bomb the target and other times they circle around and bomb on their own.  I get in and out.  I don't loiter around and worry about the other planes.  But that's just me.  There is no definitive way to do things.

If I am flying another airplane such as IL-2, my command would be "attack ground targets" but only if I see them circling and doing nothing.  "Do like me" also works but I don't use it as much.

IMO I think if you give commands while they are already preparing for their bomb run, then the A/I gets confused.

 

YoYo, keep it up!  You're doing well!

[YoYo]

 

9 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

I do not know why there is a lock....

 

I found the solution, now its ok:

 

 

In info.txt you use &planes= with the name the lock is present, it should be empty (even if the campaign is dedicated for specific, payware plane).

[Flashy]

Looks like great fun, I will try it tonight!

 

Do you know that if you use mods on mode, you can place an airfield anywhere on the map? I will have to look up how to do it (been a few years!), but you can remove the "rough ground"  effect which causes planes to dig in and flip over when trying to land anywhere other than an airfield. This might be easier for you that using a road..

[CzechTexan]

hi Flashy, I'll look into it.

YoYo, thanks for the tip about the info.txt.

[Flashy]

1 hour ago, CzechTexan said:

hi Flashy, I'll look into it.

YoYo, thanks for the tip about the info.txt.

 

check this thread out:

 

and this one:
 

 

[Flashy]

Just tried the first mission - great fun! Really enjoyed it! 

 

It seems I cant get a mission success result though, so cant move on to the next mission. I destroyed the ammo dumb and a dugout (the game credited me as such) and landed back in the down and it still says mission failed.. not sure if I need to hit something else/more?

[YoYo]

3 hours ago, Flashy said:

Just tried the first mission - great fun! Really enjoyed it! 

 

It seems I cant get a mission success result though, so cant move on to the next mission. I destroyed the ammo dumb and a dugout (the game credited me as such) and landed back in the down and it still says mission failed.. not sure if I need to hit something else/more?

 

I had no problem, but I take 6x50kg, I think I destroyed 2 depo ammo. You can always return to your airstrip and arm yourself again.

[CzechTexan]

3 hours ago, Flashy said:

Just tried the first mission - great fun! Really enjoyed it! 

 

It seems I cant get a mission success result though, so cant move on to the next mission. I destroyed the ammo dumb and a dugout (the game credited me as such) and landed back in the down and it still says mission failed.. not sure if I need to hit something else/more?

I have the goal set too high.  It is set to must destroy 4 objects, including trucks.  I thought that I had changed it to 1 but I guess I didn't.  I wanted every mission to have a low goal - to destroy 1 or 2 objects to accomplish the mission.

So, should I change it to 1 or leave it at 4?

 

Perhaps, Flashy and I got success because the ammo blast destroyed some trucks which makes success easy.

Edited January 31, 2024 by CzechTexan

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Really enjoyed the airfield attack mission, in load out I selected rockets and a wing mounted MG, I went in low and knocked out some of the search light batteries with the rockets and MG and then completed the mission destroying three JU 52's two in the air and one on the ground . I agree that the AI can be sometimes a waist of time, the sooner the Devs do something about this the better, because being a flight leader means nothing at all !!

 

Cheers.

[YoYo]

2 hours ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

Really enjoyed the airfield attack mission, in load out I selected rockets and a wing mounted MG, I went in low and knocked out some of the search light batteries with the rockets and MG and then completed the mission destroying three JU 52's two in the air and one on the ground . I agree that the AI can be sometimes a waist of time, the sooner the Devs do something about this the better, because being a flight leader means nothing at all !!

 

Cheers.

Yes, AI are unfortunately stupid, honestly I see that they fly by themselves and follow commands quite poorly. If they have a target selected in the editor, they should destroy it, but that doesn't happen. From my experience, the „Do you like me” command works best, although they can drop bombs in any field and maybe some of them will hit something.

[Flashy]

9 hours ago, YoYo said:

 

I had no problem, but I take 6x50kg, I think I destroyed 2 depo ammo. You can always return to your airstrip and arm yourself again.

 

Okay I will try change the loadout then and take more bombs. I had the default 4 bombs.

 

I also noticed another issue: if you put the mission on full autopilot, both you and your squad mates drop the bombs too early to hit the ammo dump - I think the attack area might be a bit too big maybe?

[KodiakJac]

On 1/27/2024 at 2:15 AM, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

Great fun flying those old string bags but I'm have a bit of a problem with the first mission, selecting a building marked with a red marker at the side of the railway line, placing all my bombs on target but still getting mission failed after landing, obviously not the ammo dump ! 

 

Same here.  I've flown the 1st mission three times now, and still can't get a completed mission as I'm not blowing up the right target.  Can't seem to find the ammo dump.  

[CzechTexan]

2 hours ago, KodiakJac said:

 

Same here.  I've flown the 1st mission three times now, and still can't get a completed mission as I'm not blowing up the right target.  Can't seem to find the ammo dump.  

Here's a new download link with edited mission file for mission #1:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/cez3gb93h05kfow/Maloyaroslavets+at+Night2.zip/file

I made the Target goal easier to have to kill only 1 object.  Also made the Target Area smaller.

Edited February 1, 2024 by CzechTexan

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

9 hours ago, KodiakJac said:

 

Same here.  I've flown the 1st mission three times now, and still can't get a completed mission as I'm not blowing up the right target.  Can't seem to find the ammo dump.  

Hi Kodiak, Look out for the burning village at the top of your screen and approach it along the railroad track, just to the right of the track you will see what looks like squares or rectangles in the snow that's the ammo dump, you should get a missions successful message when you destroy the target, watch out for those search lights, if they lock onto you, the flack is pretty accurate, so don't hang about.  Good Luck.

[Flashy]

Tried again last night with 6 bombs and succeeded on the first try. So yeah it pretty easy with more bombs..

[YoYo]

I also use 40% fuel. 100% is about 5 hours of flight, which is not all that is needed.

[Mike2945]

An excellent and very original campaign thank you so much!  Two missions successfully completed so far.  I decided to follow the advice to take 6 rather than 4 bombs, but after crashing into the tree tops just after take off on 3 occasions decided that I couldn't manage the addtional weight - reverted to 4 bombs and took off without any problem!  

Again, many thanks - great fun!

Mike

[KodiakJac]

21 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

Here's a new download link with edited mission file for mission #1:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/cez3gb93h05kfow/Maloyaroslavets+at+Night2.zip/file

I made the Target goal easier to have to kill only 1 object.  Also made the Target Area smaller.

 

Thanks! ?

 

13 hours ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

Hi Kodiak, Look out for the burning village at the top of your screen and approach it along the railroad track, just to the right of the track you will see what looks like squares or rectangles in the snow that's the ammo dump, you should get a missions successful message when you destroy the target, watch out for those search lights, if they lock onto you, the flack is pretty accurate, so don't hang about.  Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the tip, Taffy! ?

Edited February 2, 2024 by KodiakJac

[CzechTexan]

I'm so glad you all are having a good time with this!  Choose the different options for what you think is best.  bombs/rockets, more fuel/less, Re-arm-Re-fuel/or not, etc.

[YoYo]

I have a bit of a problem with mission 6. Im 100% sure that I attack good position for artillery I destroyed 2 but I recived report that I destroyed friendly units (?). Unfortunately, I also die from ground fire every time (maybe AAA is too close of this targets). I'll try a 4th time. 

Spoiler

 

Edit: I checked, and looks ok, only Germany units. Maybe I hit wingman's Po-2. 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2024 by YoYo

[YoYo]

I succeeded 6 mission, on the 4th try, I sent my wingmen to the front of me and AAA took care of them. Interesting, I had a friendly fire message again (and penaults for it), looks like something here is from red side (it wasnt the rest Po-2, Im sure). Either way, mission accomplished (6 bombs).

 

Spoiler

 

Edited February 4, 2024 by YoYo

[YoYo]

Mission 7 completed successfully but pls see this, again:

 

Spoiler

Im convinced that I attacked German positions, there were MG and Opel vehicles (marked with fire) there and again I recived this message, strange (when I attacked I was alone):

 

 

Mission completed successfully, but this message is quite strange.

 

[CzechTexan]

2 hours ago, YoYo said:

Mission 7 completed successfully but pls see this, again:

 

  Hide contents

Im convinced that I attacked German positions, there were MG and Opel vehicles (marked with fire) there and again I recived this message, strange (when I attacked I was alone):

 

 

Mission completed successfully, but this message is quite strange.

 

Friendly Fire sometimes happens when foxholes or trenches, etc. are marked as Neutral or Friendly (in this case, USSR).

It's not a big issue since it does not affect the mission results.  I also get those messages but I don't pay too much attention to it.  I'll try better in the future.

[YoYo]

The next ones are very cool missions, even better than at the beginning. I'm on the last one but I've already been killed twice. ?

I have a question - could you make two missions for multi-Coop as a BONUS for this campaign based on these missions? For 3 Po-2? Pretty please :)!

[CzechTexan]

4 hours ago, YoYo said:

The next ones are very cool missions, even better than at the beginning. I'm on the last one but I've already been killed twice. ?

I have a question - could you make two missions for multi-Coop as a BONUS for this campaign based on these missions? For 3 Po-2? Pretty please :)!

I do not know how to make co-op missions.  However, if you can find someone else to make co-ops with these missions, it is fine with me.

[YoYo]

7 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

I do not know how to make co-op missions.  However, if you can find someone else to make co-ops with these missions, it is fine with me.

 

Ok. I don't think it's a big problem ;), because it's probably just a matter of setting the mission type in the general settings. Ok, I'll do it myself, thanks!