Update 6.003: "Laughs In German"

[Jackfraser24]

1 minute ago, Sandmarken said:

Thx! Did not realise it was such a late war bird! 

Me neither!

[kraut1]

56 minutes ago, Sandmarken said:

Thx! Did not realise it was such a late war bird! 

I think for scripted campaigns the D5 can be used on the Kuban Map until April 44 and on the Velikiye Luki Map until ca. late January 44 near Novosokolniky / Nevel.

added later:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_offensive?wprov=sfla1

 

Wikipedia:

"Between July 25, 1941 and January 29, 1944, Novosokolniki was occupied by German troops."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novosokolniki?wprov=sfla1

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1 by kraut1

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, Alexmarine said:

D-5 was reaching units only by September 1943, don’t think it will appear there

 

On the other hand it will appear for Odessa 1944 career in bomber and tank hunter role and in the Rheine career as a night bomber

 

I think, if someone built a campaign for the Prokhorovka/Kursk/Tank Crew map - I believe some units were operational near the end on the northern side of the map?

 

Will it also be available for Lenningrad?

 

P.S. One of the things which surprised me - while they mainly converted to night bombers - there were still some attempts at daylight use as late as 1945. This might have been partly due to the speed of advance of the Soviet troops, which meant that they were sometimes outside of effective air cover.

[kraut1]

6 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

 

I think, if someone built a campaign for the Prokhorovka/Kursk/Tank Crew map - I believe some units were operational near the end on the northern side of the map?

 

Sorry, Tank Crew Prokhorovka map not.

When I implemented the TC map into EMG by Vander the very last combat day with german held airfields was already the 6th September 43 as far as I can remember, a bit to early.

[Alexmarine]

9 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

 

I think, if someone built a campaign for the Prokhorovka/Kursk/Tank Crew map - I believe some units were operational near the end on the northern side of the map?

 

Will it also be available for Lenningrad?

 

P.S. One of the things which surprised me - while they mainly converted to night bombers - there were still some attempts at daylight use as late as 1945. This might have been partly due to the speed of advance of the Soviet troops, which meant that they were sometimes outside of effective air cover.

Don’t think it can appear in the Kursk map given that by September the fight was already shifting westward.

A quick check gave me that at least a Gruppe of SG3 was still flying with the Stukas around Leningrad as part of Luftflotte 1 by Summer 1944, guess it depends how much the map/career will cover

 

Daylight Stuka were around the Eastern Front untill the war’s end: apart the G-equipped Staffels some Gruppe were heavily behind conversion to the FW190F so had to soldier on with their Junkers, the large front and the less sophisticated soviets radar/air defence coverage meant daylight frontline mission were still possible there (remember that in the west even the FW jabo had to basically operate at night)

 

[Sandmarken]

51 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

there were still some attempts at daylight use as late as 1945.

It was used against the Ludendorff bridge as late as march 1945! (One version of the stucka atleast) 

Edited October 1 by Sandmarken

[Alexmarine]

8 minutes ago, Sandmarken said:

It was used against the Ludendorff bridge as late as march 1945! 

That was a special case as the Luftwaffe scrambled everything they could throw at it to  try and neutralise it, I am sure that the night attack pilots weren’t exactly thrilled to fly in broad daylight against the western allied air defences and roaming fighters

 

btw: @LukeFF, any timetable for when the D-5 will be added to the Rhine career as we once talked?

Edited October 1 by Alexmarine

[IckyATLAS]

Excellent, new planes map fixes all goodies, thanks. 

I suppose not many will applaud the 1726-6 bridge fix. I do because I had one mission where a armored truck column had to take that bridge and it didn't work properly as one of the bridge sides were too high and so they went under the bridge in the river. I made it static to avoid that. I can now review that mission and do as initially planned to.

 

[BlackSix]

1 hour ago, Alexmarine said:

A quick check gave me that at least a Gruppe of SG3 was still flying with the Stukas around Leningrad as part of Luftflotte 1 by Summer 1944, guess it depends how much the map/career will cover

Jan 14 - Sep 4, 1944. Of course D-5 will be available in the Leningrad career, it's the only new German aircraft there.

 

29 minutes ago, Alexmarine said:

any timetable for when the D-5 will be added to the Rhine career as we once talked?

It's most likely that we'll be able to add all the new aircraft to the existing careers only after the completion of work on the Odessa and Leningrad careers.

[Alexmarine]

4 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

Jan 14 - Sep 4, 1944. Of course D-5 will be available in the Leningrad career, it's the only new German aircraft there.

As I expected, both Odessa and Leningrad will feature it 🫡

 

5 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

It's most likely that we'll be able to add all the new aircraft to the existing careers only after the completion of work on the Odessa and Leningrad careers.

Oh looking forward also to the improved Moscow career, given that Odessa/Leningrad added several early wars soviet planes

[JG4_Moltke1871]

CTD in one of my flying circus career Esc VB 108, 21.12.1916

 

But not at mission start but after about 45 minutes mission time. The Strutters engine endure meanwhile, the game engine not 🤬

[Alexmarine]

@BlackSix, I remembered another question I had:

 

Was the Stuvi sight for the D-5 adopted for the daytime flying SG in the East? Or was mostly a night time flying Gruppen thing?

[BlackSix]

1 hour ago, Alexmarine said:

Was the Stuvi sight for the D-5 adopted for the daytime flying SG in the East? Or was mostly a night time flying Gruppen thing?

I've been drawing front lines and making tactical layers for careers for months now, so I've never encountered this aircraft in the project itself. I can't say anything, sorry)

[Alexmarine]

21 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

I've been drawing front lines and making tactical layers for careers for months now, so I've never encountered this aircraft in the project itself. I can't say anything, sorry)

Don’t worry, once you are touching the subject, if you can, feel free to send me a PM 🫡

[LukeFF]

9 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

Will the 109E4 eventually get the ability to have more correct markings for Romanian squadrons? This already happend with the i153 and hurricane for the Finish air force since they will be represented in the Karelia map. 

 

That would require the addition of a new nation to the database. It works for the I-153 and Hurricane because when you switch nations in the editor you can have a new set of tactical codes. In this case when you choose Germany for these two planes you'll see the Finnish codes pop up.

 

6 hours ago, Avimimus said:

I think, if someone built a campaign for the Prokhorovka/Kursk/Tank Crew map - I believe some units were operational near the end on the northern side of the map?

 

Yes, for instance, in StG 2, they start showing up (in relatively small numbers) in the monthly aircraft returns in June 1943. To be sure, yes, the D-3 was still the dominant type in terms of numbers until the fall, when all the StG units were reorganized as Schlacht units.

 

5 hours ago, Alexmarine said:

btw: @LukeFF, any timetable for when the D-5 will be added to the Rhine career as we once talked?

 

Closer to the full release of the S&L module, when all the new planes will be added to career where relevant/required.

 

2 hours ago, JG4_Moltke1871 said:

CTD in one of my flying circus career Esc VB 108, 21.12.1916

 

But not at mission start but after about 45 minutes mission time. The Strutters engine endure meanwhile, the game engine not 🤬

 

Yes, our team is investigating this right now, thanks. Sorry for the issue. 🙁

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Alexmarine said:

@BlackSix, I remembered another question I had:

 

Was the Stuvi sight for the D-5 adopted for the daytime flying SG in the East? Or was mostly a night time flying Gruppen thing?

 

Pretty sure I have seen it in photos from 1944 on the planes on the Finnish front, yes.

 

EDIT: there you go 🙂

"German Junkers JU-87 damaged by anti-aircraft fire at Immola airbase Finland in 1944."

 

[Sneaksie]

The game has been updated again (this should fix a crash to desktop on the WWI map).

[JG4_Deciman]

Well...

 

It took me 3 starts of the game (all impossible)

each start told me 'new version available, please update'

 

After the 4th start it finaly updated...

 

Deci

[Sandmarken]

29 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

That would require the addition of a new nation to the database.

Maybe just change the japanese faction to Romanias/Finland, or do you still have a plan for it? 🤔

[LukeFF]

That would require new voices, medals, ranks, reconfiguration of career config files, etc. Sorry, it's not in the plans. 

[Alexmarine]

21 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

Pretty sure I have seen it in photos from 1944 on the planes on the Finnish front, yes.

 

EDIT: there you go 🙂

"German Junkers JU-87 damaged by anti-aircraft fire at Immola airbase Finland in 1944."

 

I guess then that probably only the Kanonenvögel  Junkers didn’t adopted it 

[Sandmarken]

8 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

That would require new voices, medals, ranks, reconfiguration of career config files, etc. Sorry, it's not in the plans. 

That's okay. All I wish for is that the Italian or Japanese faction was usable so that they could be modded with voice and other features without disturbing the German faction. Right now, if you use them in the editor, they have no possible voice or callsigns available and won't work with commands, I think. 

[Alexmarine]

37 minutes ago, Alexmarine said:

I guess then that probably only the Kanonenvögel  Junkers didn’t adopted it 

 

1 hour ago, LukeFF said:

 

Pretty sure I have seen it in photos from 1944 on the planes on the Finnish front, yes.

 

EDIT: there you go 🙂

"German Junkers JU-87 damaged by anti-aircraft fire at Immola airbase Finland in 1944."

 

 

I actually went and checked which unit this Stuka must have been part of, during Summer 1944 Stab/SG3, I./SG3 and 1./SG5 operated there with Junkers

[YoYo]

Thanks for the update and E-4, I'll finally be able to do something with I-153 😅.

[Flyhighzz]

No 20 mm gunpods mod for the D-5?

[Hartigan]

In the Finland/Leningrad expansion, is it possible to play as part of Detachment Kuhlmey? At least they operated the following aircraft from the Immola airfield

Source Wikpedia

I./SG 3: 33 Junkers Ju 87 D-5 Stuka dive bombers

II./JG 54: 29–62 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 fighters

I./SG 5: 16 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-3 and F-8 jabos at Alakurtti.

I./NaGr 5: 1–8 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-8 reconnaissance aircraft

 

Thanks again for the excellent update! The Ju-87 D-5 is a great addition with the Stuvi sight

[LukeFF]

19 minutes ago, Hartigan said:

In the Finland/Leningrad expansion, is it possible to play as part of Detachment Kuhlmey? At least they operated the following aircraft from the Immola airfield

Source Wikpedia

I./SG 3: 33 Junkers Ju 87 D-5 Stuka dive bombers

II./JG 54: 29–62 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 fighters

I./SG 5: 16 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-3 and F-8 jabos at Alakurtti.

I./NaGr 5: 1–8 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-8 reconnaissance aircraft

 

Thanks again for the excellent update! The Ju-87 D-5 is a great addition with the Stuvi sight

 

Yes those units (minus the recon one) are planned to be flyable. 

[LLv24_Veccu_VR]

thanks for the update

Edited October 1 by LLv24_Veccu_VR

[wej68]

4 hours ago, Sneaksie said:

The game has been updated again (this should fix a crash to desktop on the WWI map).

I can confirm this fixed my FC career crashes. Thanks for the quick turnaround!

[FeuerFliegen]

We were told earlier that the Bf109 E-4 would be receiving the DB-601Aa as an option.  Will this be coming later?

 

 

Edit:  What about the GM-1 option as well?

Edited October 2 by FeuerFliegen

[ST_Catchov]

11 hours ago, wej68 said:

I can confirm this fixed my FC career crashes. Thanks for the quick turnaround!

 

Sneaksie cares about the important things. Like Viktor. Legends both.

[III/JG53*Viper]

Well, looking forward to get my hands on the Bf-109 E4 template!

On 9/30/2025 at 9:57 PM, LukeFF said:

 

Engine models and the mirror. 

 

Nose spinner is different too but that's just cosmetic. Also no drop tank fuel line in the cockpit. 

The Bf-109 E series did not get a cannon fired through the spinner hub because the engine-mounted "motorkanone" caused significant vibration and mechanical issues that were not resolved until the Bf-109 F series. The Bf-109 was not originally designed for a wing-mounted cannon, and while the spinner was designed with a hole for a potential cannon, the design was flawed, and the feature was not implemented on the E-model. 

Why the Bf-109 E-4 didn't implement the hub gun:

Vibration and Mechanical Issues: 

The primary reason was the severe vibration and operational problems encountered when attempting to fit the motorkanone into the engine bay of the Bf-109 E-series. 

Bf-109 Design Limitations: 

The Bf-109 was initially designed with machine guns firing through the propeller and did not have a wing-mounted cannon. The E-model's airframe and engine mounting were not suitable for reliably integrating the engine-mounted cannon. 

Lack of Resolution: 

The technical challenges posed by the motorkanone remained unresolved for the E-series. This meant the intended cannon was ultimately not installed, though the idea persisted in the design. 

"Motorkanone" Not Implemented: 

Therefore, the opening in the spinner hub was for a gun that never made it into the production aircraft of the E-series. 

Evolution to the Bf-109 F-Series: 

It wasn't until the later F-series of the Bf-109 in 1941 that the design was significantly improved to accommodate the motorkanone. The F-series addressed the vibration and mechanical issues, allowing for the successful integration of cannons into the engine.

[Jackfraser24]

28 minutes ago, III/JG53*Viper said:

Well, looking forward to get my hands on the Bf-109 E4 template!

The Bf-109 E series did not get a cannon fired through the spinner hub because the engine-mounted "motorkanone" caused significant vibration and mechanical issues that were not resolved until the Bf-109 F series. The Bf-109 was not originally designed for a wing-mounted cannon, and while the spinner was designed with a hole for a potential cannon, the design was flawed, and the feature was not implemented on the E-model. 

Why the Bf-109 E-4 didn't implement the hub gun:

Vibration and Mechanical Issues: 

The primary reason was the severe vibration and operational problems encountered when attempting to fit the motorkanone into the engine bay of the Bf-109 E-series. 

Bf-109 Design Limitations: 

The Bf-109 was initially designed with machine guns firing through the propeller and did not have a wing-mounted cannon. The E-model's airframe and engine mounting were not suitable for reliably integrating the engine-mounted cannon. 

Lack of Resolution: 

The technical challenges posed by the motorkanone remained unresolved for the E-series. This meant the intended cannon was ultimately not installed, though the idea persisted in the design. 

"Motorkanone" Not Implemented: 

Therefore, the opening in the spinner hub was for a gun that never made it into the production aircraft of the E-series. 

Evolution to the Bf-109 F-Series: 

It wasn't until the later F-series of the Bf-109 in 1941 that the design was significantly improved to accommodate the motorkanone. The F-series addressed the vibration and mechanical issues, allowing for the successful integration of cannons into the engine.

That is actually very interesting. Thanks for sharing all this information with us. 

[JG_deserteagle540]

What is the size of this update/download? I am at sea and the internet connection is limited.

 

[Heliopause]

1.26 GB it says

[BladeMeister]

Got the campaign and will get the update tonight. Now if I can find the time to actually fly it. Good work 1C. 

 

S!Blade<><

[Vishnu]

I only wish we could continue this venture further into WWII, alas, it's not to be.    Keep up the good work Devs.   What you provide to us WWII buffs is awesome!

 

[Praetorious]

"I only wish we could continue this venture further into WWII, alas, it's not to be.    Keep up the good work Devs.   What you provide to us WWII buffs is awesome!

 

Ive been away from the game for several months, could you elaborate? what's not to be? thank you. 

[BlitzPig_EL]

Development of Great Battles is winding down somewhat, as the team is working on their next new projects, based on a very updated game engine that will render Great Battles rather obsolete.  The first new title is Korea, then they will move to the Pacific.  Great Battles will still be around and playable, but no more major updates, and the new content for Korea and the Pacific will not be compatible with Great Battles.

 

Time marches on.

[Praetorious]

I see, thank you so much for taking the time to explain, yeah time marches on,we have been thru many a incarnation and we will see many more.