JG54 Courland Pocket FW190-A8 / Kurland Kessel 1945 Campaign V01

[kraut1]

Preview video: please switch to 1080p if required

 

I am currently flying this campaign.

Final version will be released when all missions are generated and flown.

 

Final Campaign v01 (18.071.2025) Released

Campaign Download:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/becccwzrz7jzilx/Ostfront_1945_Kurland_Kessel_Jg54_FW190-A8-v01.zip/file

The downloaded campaign folder has to be copied into the IL2GB Campaign Folder.

 

V01 Note: for all who are already flying an ACTIVE Campaign that is in the Ostfront 1945...-V-BETA folder:

Please just copy the new missions from the downloaded v01 campaign into the folder of the active campaign (-BETA) to continue flying the campaign.

 

Requirements: (info added 22.10.2024)

IL-2 GB Battle of Bodenplatte

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/89214-kurland-kurzeme-194445-mod-v04-released-10012025/

(easy installation with JSGME)

 

Campaign Description:

Unit: 6./JG54

Plane Type: FW190-A8

Missions: Semi historical in respect of the historical tasks of 6./JG54

Number of Missions: 88 + 1 short end war mission (depending on random weather settings)

Rank of Pilot: at the beginning Unteroffizier / Sergeant (Wingman), later Section / Flight leader

(for each mission selected by random in respect of rank / awards)

Mission types:

Intercept Missions:  (Defense of Ports, Convoys, Ground Troops, Ammo/ Fuel storages, HQs)

Scramble Missions: (Player's airfield is under attack)

Escort Missions (of ground attack planes, reconnaissance planes)

Ground attack Missions

new 03.01.2025: During the 6th Battle of Courland Pocket we (6./JG54) got some (6) FW190-F8 with Panzerblitz equipment from SG.3 for Anti-Tank missions.

Free Hunt / Patrol Missions

 

Historical Background:

Overall Courland Pocket: 6 Battles from October  1944 to End of War in May 1945

Time frame of this Campaign: 01. January 1945 to 08. May 1945

4th Battle of Courland Pocket: 24.01 ... 30.01.1945

5th Battle of Courland Pocket: 20.02...10.03.1945

6th Battle of Courland Pocket: 18.03...31.03.1945

(concerning the end dates of the battles I found deviations in the different sources, dates estimated)

Sources:

https://ludwigheinrichdyck.wordpress.com/2019/12/08/life-and-death-struggle-for-the-courland-bridgehead/

http://www.kurland-kessel.de/default.html  (in German language)

https://airwarpublications.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-soviet-air-force-over-courland/

 

Campaign Mission Generation (only for information)

The whole procedure to create, test and edit mission a campaign mission takes about 15minutes.

Spoiler

1.) Usage of an Excel Table with random numbers to define the different mission parameters:

-random mission type

-random weather

-random player function in his flight (leader, no2, no4 / depending on rank / ace status)

-front sector

the results of the excel table are used for setup of Easy Mission Generator

 

2.) Easy Mission Generator

further random settings in EMG:

-random enemy plane types

-random targets in case of ground attack missions

-random german plane types for to be escorted flights

-sometimes all enemy mission settings random

-by using randomize enemy airfield together with airstart (near target) the enemy planes will appear in a distance from the target area related to the distance of the airfield to the target area.

-sometimes player mission Escort, but all other parameters random.

-usage of EMG placed AI planes. I have modified the definition of the ambient flights by adding random = 0.6 (60%) probability that an ambient flight appears.

After Mission created by EMG:

 

3.) Short test in IL2 GB:

Start of mission in EMG (ca.20seconds) to see if the Mission parameters, weather and light conditions are okay.

 

4.) Short manual editing of the mission with ME

-if required change of time for sufficient lighting.

-if required adaption of cloud settings to avoid "blind flight conditions"

-tactical markings to planes of player's flight (for 6./JG54 yellow numbers and for 2. Gruppe the yellow horizontal line)

-Installation of my "Wingmen Warning Subtitle Messages" and linking with the player plane to get warnings of nearby enemies during combat (only if german planes are closer than 2.5km)

-Note: the subtitle reports of enemy planes (grid locations) and the subtitle reports of enemy plane sighted near german airfields (heading in 45° steps and 3 different range steps) are already pre-installed in the template files

 

The idea how to fly the campaign:

-I wanted to create a late war Eastern Front Campaign until end of war, because this is currently not possible with IL2-GB.

-I am currently flying this campaign as my current "pilot career"

-For me the main motivation is to survive and to end the war.

-The intention is to fly a realistic number of missions with realistic settings:

   -only with subtitles

   -no icons on HUD or Map

   -the difficulty level for the individual missions is not very high, but if flying with realistic settings the soviet fighters are always dangerous.

   -most importent is just to survive and to return to your side of the front lines. It is not required accomplish the mission targets.

   -subtitle messages during flight:

     -grid locations of detected enemy planes by observers, radar in german, translation:

     Funkmesspeilung: Gegner in xxxx = Radar contact, enemy planes in Grid xxxx

     -Warnings by your wingmen, other german planes closer than 2.5km:

     Nicht identifizierte Flieger in sehr grosser Entfernung = Not identified plane very far away

     Nicht identifizierte Flieger in grosser Entfernung = Not identified plane far away

     Nicht identifizierte Flieger ca. 8km  Entfernung = Not identified plane, distance 8km

     Achtung Gegner in ca.  5km Entfernung = Attention! Enemy in distance 5km

     Achtung Gegner in ca.  3km Entfernung = Attention! Enemy in distance 3km

     Achtung Gegner in ca.  1500m! = Attention! Enemy in distance 1500m!

     Achtung Gegner sehr nah! = Attention, enemy very close (ca.500m)

     -Warnings by the ground observers around the Airfields with Heading (45° steps) / Distance (3 ranges)

-Pilots, who don't want to fly so many missions can remove missions from the campaign folder, but please keep the end of war missions 08.05.1945a/b.

 

 07.12.2024:

The priority for my campaign is to create a realistic high number of balanced combat missions with EMG for a late war pilot career.

Because this is my personal current pilot career I have flown each mission with realistic settings and without time acceleration and without autopilot. Tactical Numbers for the german player's flight are defined and my wingman warning messages installed.

But no further optimizations as individual pictures for each mission, edited mission briefings, ... I have no time available.

 

Because of this Nerpo is working in parallel on a optimized version with additional airfield objects, each mission with individually selected pictures and manually created (russian) briefing.

He has already published the first part of his optimized version of the campaign.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.ru/topic/17255-кампания-за-пилота-jg-54-fw-190a8-курляндский-котёл/

Спасибо!

 

Examples for german - english translation:

Radar Contact: Enemy in Grid 0607

 

Not identified plane, distance 8km

 

Attention, enemy very close (ca.500m)

 

 Here Libau-N (airfield): Enemy, 10km, 000degree

 

 

Small additional idea (I am doing this the first time):

-If you have some experience with text editing of settings files you can enter some individual data of your personal pilot of your campaign / career:

-the file: info.locale=eng.txt

Default empty:

 

In my current pilot career it looks so:

 

And after each mission I create 1 screenshot of my current Awards

 

 

Edited July 18 by kraut1

[Marque]

We are looking forward to the release of the full version of the A8 campaign!!!

Edited October 24, 2024 by Marque

[kraut1]

Preliminary Beta (25.10.2024) released

Current Progress

ca. 35%

33 Missions selected to be published with campaign

Further missions will be published step by step

[Marque]

🙂 👍👍👍!

In some sources I managed to find the following information...

In August 1944, the III/JG.54 fighter group was the first to receive new fighters in the Fw190 D-9 modification.

In September, II/JG.54 was armed with "Doras", and in October, the I/JG.54 group also switched to the Fw 190D. Now the entire JG.54 squadron flew "Doras".

The Fw 190D-9 aircraft appeared in combat units in the autumn of 1944.
The III/JG 54 group supported the actions of the world's first jet fighters Me-262
(Focke-Wulfs covered them on takeoff and landing) from airfields near the Dutch border.

That is, maybe, in addition to the A8, "Doras" also took part in the battles of the Courland pocket?

Maybe at some point they (the Doras) should also be included in the campaign? (I'm just in love with this plane!)😌

Edited October 25, 2024 by Marque

[Marque]

In the editor, I edit the starting location for the Fockewulfs.
(They are behind the road) And they are very close to each other! I spread them wider.
Sometimes the escort group takes off, but there is no command for the attack group to take off.
Or maybe I should contact comrade KONTYR and ask him to draw skins with a swastika? I think many will be only happy))

more.
I heard comments about the MARKING on the airfield. They say that the START position is marked with a "Chevrolet" sign))
Is this historically true for GERMAN airfields?
Well, when I edit missions made by the editor, I remove this sign at the start.🙂

more.
I replaced the Yak-1b with a Yak-9 in some missions.

Edited October 25, 2024 by Marque

[kraut1]

3 hours ago, Marque said:

🙂 👍👍👍!

In some sources I managed to find the following information...

In August 1944, the III/JG.54 fighter group was the first to receive new fighters in the Fw190 D-9 modification.

In September, II/JG.54 was armed with "Doras", and in October, the I/JG.54 group also switched to the Fw 190D. Now the entire JG.54 squadron flew "Doras".

The Fw 190D-9 aircraft appeared in combat units in the autumn of 1944.
The III/JG 54 group supported the actions of the world's first jet fighters Me-262
(Focke-Wulfs covered them on takeoff and landing) from airfields near the Dutch border.

That is, maybe, in addition to the A8, "Doras" also took part in the battles of the Courland pocket?

Maybe at some point they (the Doras) should also be included in the campaign? (I'm just in love with this plane!)😌

Hi, I have ask for this topic in the historical section because I wanted to include the Dora9 too.

LukeFF answered that this information with the Dora 9 for I. II. Gruppe in the Courland Pocket is wrong.

They were only with different versions A6, A8, A9 equiped.

[Marque]

Okay, got it. Thanks!
And I made one mission for myself.
I removed one building from the runway and moved the anti-aircraft guns to another place.
BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY ENEMIES! A VERY HARD MISSION!
🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3BK1EZq-CU

[kraut1]

21 hours ago, Marque said:

In the editor, I edit the starting location for the Fockewulfs.
(They are behind the road) And they are very close to each other! I spread them wider.
Sometimes the escort group takes off, but there is no command for the attack group to take off.
Or maybe I should contact comrade KONTYR and ask him to draw skins with a swastika? I think many will be only happy))

more.
I heard comments about the MARKING on the airfield. They say that the START position is marked with a "Chevrolet" sign))
Is this historically true for GERMAN airfields?
Well, when I edit missions made by the editor, I remove this sign at the start.🙂

more.
I replaced the Yak-1b with a Yak-9 in some missions.

In general the missions are working with the current starting positions. The distances are according EMG standard.

In general the Escort group takes off very early, and some time later the lead or attack group. But it will not take much time to wait.

Normally, if you are not the flight leader you can wait until your leader starts to take off.

The Zabeln Airfield of the mission is in the original Rheinland Map the very small Hilversum Airfield.

This Airfield was not defined by Vander as an Airfield. I had to do this.

Due to the very small dimensions of I have moved the starting point to the edge.

For me IL2 GB Layout of this airfield is a bit strange for me, I but decided that it is required to use it because in this area in the north west of the map are only few original IL2 GB airfields.

You will see in later missions that I have created even 2 improvised Airfields near Liepaja and Ventspils, but I was able to create smooth surfaces.

Concerning plane types:

All enemy plane types are selected by random by emg.

But I have defined the available plane types according to a this source:

https://airwarpublications.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-soviet-air-force-over-courland/

Concerning the Yak 1b (s127): This is a real effective fighter, based on this plane the Yak3 was developed as far as I know.

And now for your information: Because we have currently no Yak-3 and no La-5 I have modified a bit the AI shooting capabilities of the Yak1b and the La-5FN to simulate these more advanced types. In on some occasions they have already nearly shot down me 3 or 4 times.

 

But I like it if you modify the missions according to your requirements.
And you can create your own missions with the Kurland modification of the Easy Mission Generator (download link and description on the mod page) and you can replace my missions as you want.

Maybe you want to have highter difficulty / ai levels for the missions. Or maybe more or less planes.

If you are intersted in using emg please let me know.

18 hours ago, Marque said:

Okay, got it. Thanks!
And I made one mission for myself.
I removed one building from the runway and moved the anti-aircraft guns to another place.
BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY ENEMIES! A VERY HARD MISSION!
🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3BK1EZq-CU

Great!

You can create your own missions with the modified EMG:

 

And when you have some experience with EMG you can modify my templates as you want, e.g. the deleted building.

Edited October 26, 2024 by kraut1

[Marque]

Thank you very much for your work! This is simply threefold respect! 🙂

I really like how carefully you approach the historical aspect of the missions.
And how interestingly you create them! I translate into Russian and then fly with pleasure. Sometimes I share some of your campaigns on our forum.
Forgive me generously!))
From now on, I ask your permission to translate your works and post them on the Russian-language forum.
Due to the specifics of my work (you can see which one on my YouTube channel), there is often simply no Internet, or even a simple phone connection!
Here, downloaded campaigns and missions help while away the time on the ship))
I always look forward to your new works!!!

[kraut1]

Great,

Yes I would like it very much if you translate them Russian post them in your forum!

Only some general note concerning translation the campaigns:

Please rename them a bit, as you want, to avoid male functions just in case that anyone has already installed one of the original campaigns and plays it already.

Importent is only the folder name

and the name in the "info.locale=eng.txt"

You can choose a name as you want.

 

Only for information concerning content in russian language:

If you want to create further allied / russian missions with the 

Kurland EMG Mod

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/89214-kurland-kurzeme-194445-mod-v03-released-22092024/

you can activate by clicking the bat file in the template folder the:

what will activate the ru version of the template that contains some russian / cyrillic Subtitle Reports / 10x10km Grid, if you fly over russian held territority:

 

And maybe you have already seen that in the Mission Pack of the Mod this mod is already installed in some russian missions:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/89385-russian-194445-courland-pocket-il-2-m43-douglas-a20-mission-packs/

 

If you want to create russian missions for the Belgorod / Prokhorovka map you could use my EMG Modification:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/87294-easy-mission-generator-by-vander-tc-map-belgorod-prokhorovka-map-41-43-mod-v03-update-for-emgv85/

(I will post next week a very small patch for the definition of the attack flight in the generic template.)

For this map you could install the russian cyrillic subtitle messages just by loading the group either in the created mission files or in the template

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/87317-radar-enemy-planes-sightings-for-tc-map-german-english-russian-v02/

 

And just in case that youlike these messages they could  adapted  for Moscow, Velikiye Luki and Stalingrad versions too.

 

If you are interested to get allied / russian warnings by your wingmen:

I use a version with audio files for axis / german and allied / english missions

If you like the basic concept you or someone else could create russian audio files for the allied version:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/80131-for-single-playeroffline-german-and-english-audio-warning-messages-update-19052023-2nd-update/

Or if you prefer subtitle warnings by wingmen (in my campaign missions installed)  you could edit / adapt

my german subtitle warnings to the allied side (by changing the country parameters) and by replacing the subtitle texts with a russian version.

To install the group into a mission file takes about 2minutes, some proximities to be linked with player's plane.

I myself use these groups since 6 years for each IL2-GB mission that I fly.

[Marque]

Thank you very much for your attention to my questions and requests! 🙂
I already have the Belgorod EMG, thank you!

Regarding the messages in Russian translation. They imitate the rapid "ground guidance" of a pilot (a group of aircraft).
In the Luftwaffe, the British and the Americans, this was a more common practice than the Russians.
To be honest, I should look for this topic. But, as far as I know, ground guidance was rare in the Red Army Air Forces.
Finally, my wanderings this year are ending and soon I will be able to get down to business with the campaign and the air simulator!

I will still ask my questions! I have a lot of them. And the more I delve into the topic, the more! )) 😉

P.S. 
What do you think about the coloring of Yak aircraft in 1944-45? I think gray and gray-blue colors predominated. (not green)

Edited October 31, 2024 by Marque

[kraut1]

1 hour ago, Marque said:

Thank you very much for your attention to my questions and requests! 🙂
I already have the Belgorod EMG, thank you!

Regarding the messages in Russian translation. They imitate the rapid "ground guidance" of a pilot (a group of aircraft).
In the Luftwaffe, the British and the Americans, this was a more common practice than the Russians.
To be honest, I should look for this topic. But, as far as I know, ground guidance was rare in the Red Army Air Forces.
Finally, my wanderings this year are ending and soon I will be able to get down to business with the campaign and the air simulator!

I will still ask my questions! I have a lot of them. And the more I delve into the topic, the more! )) 😉

Hi, yes I am aware of that depending on the nation, the year and the theatre of war the frequency of messages varied.

The random numbers can be edited.

The plane -grid location messages could be transmitted by other planes, ground observers, radio direction finding units (not radar).

Yes, I agree for Kurland russian messages currently to frequent (66%):

In each grid / 10x10km currently a checkzone with Radius=4000m => Diameter 8000m, this means ca. 20% could fly through a grid at the edges without being detected.

The random in the timer is currently with 66% maybe to high, but it is very simple to reduce this by text editing

The current russian messages are in the Template mission here:

To make it simplier for you to adapt the parameters I group it:

I have changed the random that planes are reported to only 25%.

You can change this in the group as required.

 

extracted Group and updated template mission:

CoopTemplate_RHINELAND_ru.zip

Group-russian-kurland-plane-sightings.zip

 

And concerning all versions of my wingmen warning messages (only if you are interested):

You can edit the random for each message type as required.

If you think that a certain message type is unrealistic or historically not correct you can deactivate it by random 0%

 

Edited October 31, 2024 by kraut1

[Marque]

Thank you! Got it. My editor learning is not at a very high level yet. 🙂
 

[Marque]

working with the editor
https://youtu.be/iQWV35hyE3g

[kraut1]

5 hours ago, Marque said:

working with the editor
https://youtu.be/iQWV35hyE3g

Hi,

Good work!,

Here some informations how to implement at least some of your suggestions in the template files.

 

[Marque]

😃 thanks a lot!!! 
I've already started studying!
I'll write you a private message...

[Marque]

some videos about working with the campaign 🙂
1.  install car AA     https://youtu.be/Q99sFGyNeQ0
2. create a PLANE flying by... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCTi6CgFLcc
3. install Flugzeug  https://youtu.be/Es9440Ix0OM

 

Edited November 3, 2024 by Marque

[kraut1]

comments for optimized ru version of campaign:

Please change for mission with reconnaissance objective:

1945-01-07a:

from:                                                                                        to:

  

 

 

[kraut1]

Preliminary Beta (07.12.2024) Released

Current Progress

ca. 55%

48 Missions selected to be published with campaign

 

Optimized russian version by Nerpo

First part released:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.ru/topic/17255-кампания-за-пилота-jg-54-fw-190a8-курляндский-котёл/

 

 

Edited December 7, 2024 by kraut1

[kraut1]

Preliminary Beta (03.01.2025) Released

Current Progress

ca. 65%

58 Missions selected to be published with campaign

 

Mission types:

new 03.01.2025: During the 6th Battle of Courland Pocket we (6./JG54) got some (6) FW190-F8 with Panzerblitz equipment from SG.3 for Anti-Tank missions.

 

[kraut1]

No Campaign change, but Kurland modification updated:

Small AI modifications: AI rear gunners modified for balanced low settings, strafing attack open fire distance reduced to avoid waste of ammunition, La-5FN / Yak1s127 AI improved to simulate La7 / Yak3

[kraut1]

Last Mission tested today, will be released soon.

[Jackfraser24]

7 hours ago, kraut1 said:

Last Mission tested today, will be released soon.

What a way to end your Pilot Career!

Edited July 18 by Jackfraser24

[kraut1]

Final version released:

JG54 Courland Pocket FW190-A8 / Kurland Kessel 1945 Campaign V01

 

Edited July 18 by kraut1

[JUSTPLANECRAZY]

Thanks for yet another fine piece of work Kraut1 very much appreciated , i shall be trying this one out later today. 

1 hour ago, kraut1 said:

Final version released:

JG54 Courland Pocket FW190-A8 / Kurland Kessel 1945 Campaign V01

 

 

[Jackfraser24]

1 hour ago, kraut1 said:

Final version released:

JG54 Courland Pocket FW190-A8 / Kurland Kessel 1945 Campaign V01

 

This needs to be a full module, I tell you. 

[jollyjack]

Yep, and the Courland area might be on the Karelia Map still not released LoL. More work for Kraut1 alas for version V02.