Hurricane Diaries (Hurricane MK II)

[Sandmarken]

Timeframe: June-July 1941

Unit: Grupul 7 Vânătoare, 53rd Escadrila 

Aircraft: Hurricane MK II

Duration: 7 Missions

Author: Sandmarken

 

Background: Romania ordered 50 Hawker Hurricanes from Britain in 1939, only twelve were delivered before the country became part of the Axis. These aircraft were assigned to the 53rd Escadrila (Squadron). At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Escadrila 53 used its Hurricanes to defend the Black Sea coast, particularly the harbor at Constanţa. The squadron also provided escort for Romanian bombers and carried out air superiority missions. In the first ten days of combat, the 53rd Squadron managed to score 35 air victories without suffering any combat losses.

 

With some limitations due to map, Il2-engine and available aircraft, all missions in this campaign are based on or inspired by the recorded actions of the 53rd Squadron during the first days of Operation Barbarossa. The unit’s historical home airfield at Buzău lies about 80 km outside the boundaries of our Odessa map, so the nearest airfield at Galați is used instead. 

 

This campaign is made together with @AndreiTomescu. He has done most of the historical research, testing, mission suggestions and also written many of the mission briefings. This campaign could not have been made without the help of a trusted Romanian historian!

 

Install: Download the file, extract it and put the data folder in your main il2 folder. 

 

Skins: Some skins are needed for this campagin, made by @E69_julian57 and Rostic. Many thx to them for good work! 

 

 

File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Q2ng4cukJRx9V0JF9HcEa-gs-garUSK/view?usp=sharing

 

 

Some notes: Do not hide the HUD as it will give vital information about the mission! 

The AI sometimes have a hard time landing at Galati, but the mission will always be complete if the player lands. 

 

Please tell me if you find bugs!

 

I will recommend the romanian voice mod for this campaign! It can be downloaded from the last measages in this thread:

 

Edited October 8 by Sandmarken

[Jaegermeister]

Nice to see you completed this one @Sandmarken, Congratulations!

 

I will look forward to flying it when I get a little spare time. Thanks for all the hard work I know you and @AndreiTomescu put into it.

 

[Sandmarken]

6 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

Nice to see you completed this one @Sandmarken, Congratulations!

 

I will look forward to flying it when I get a little spare time. Thanks for all the hard work I know you and @AndreiTomescu put into it.

 

Thx Jaegermeister! 😁

 

And thank you for helping me out with the editor whenever i ask 😁😄

 

Edited October 9 by Sandmarken

[YR-AndreiTomescu]

here is the direct link for the romanian radio chatter, but this one you have to use it by replacing the german files (copy/paste this over them). Remember to back up the german files before doing that!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gBqRxzPWUQF6FmaNkWpz_U0rp4S20AIi/view?usp=sharing

 

In the other link there is the same mod, but made JGSME ready by @kraut1 . That's better and easier to do. 

 

IMHO, it's incompatible for a SIMULATOR to provide you with german chatter while flying a different country (except if you are Polish and fly for RAF  , and even those guys still spoke in native language when talking to each other, despite british regulations) So that's why this mode (far from perfect!) makes things a bit more immersive.

 

Some say the Spitfire is the most beautiful aircraft, some that Fw-190 was the most feared, some that the MIG-3 was the best.

But the Hawker Hurricane was the widest used!

Besides its primary user, the RAF (and that counts British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, S Africa, India, Rhodesia, plus Norwegian, Polish, Czech) was used by 

- France

- Belgium

- Netherlands

- Greece

- Romania

- USSR

- Yugoslavia

- Portugal

- Ireland

- Finland

but also Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Mexico. 

This was really a world wide used aircraft !

 

In Romania, despite having just 12 bought from UK and 4 captured by the Germans from Yugoslavia and sold to Romania , was the most beloved aircraft by his pilots, even by those who flew afterwards Bf-109 and IAR-80. 

This actual love toward this machine, the trust they put in it, the elation experienced by those early war pilots into being tasked with liberate the territories taken by force one year before (Ribbentrop - Molotov pact, the Nazi-USSR deal), the grim reality of all-out war, the difference between home made propaganda and the true might of the Soviet strength and determination, the fear, disappointment and moral dilemma brought by death and destruction,  are all so vivid depicted by @Sandmarken in this concise campaign dedicated to "those wonderful men and their flying"...... Hawker Hurricanes !

[AcesDarthBubu]

To play this campaign, one must have the yet to release Odessa and Leningard module?

[Sandmarken]

3 hours ago, AcesDarthBubu said:

To play this campaign, one must have the yet to release Odessa and Leningard module?

Yes, and the Hurricane mkII collector plane. 

[YR-AndreiTomescu]

7 hours ago, AcesDarthBubu said:

yet to release Odessa and Leningard module

the Odessa part is released, has been improved since it's first launch, and except for the Career mode, running in full flag. This campaign is on this map. So, in order to play this, one needs:

- Odessa & Leningrad early access 

- Hawker Hurricane Mk II collector plane

         optional:

- romanian radio chatter MOD

 

Also the Bf109 E4 actually used by Romania, Gr 7 Vt , is available and included in this module since its latest patch.

[AcesDarthBubu]

My copy is on steam, so its technically not released yet. Nonetheless thanks for the info, once steam has the module, will surely try this out.

[YR-AndreiTomescu]

1 hour ago, AcesDarthBubu said:

My copy is on steam, so its technically not released yet

oh, sorry, didn't know that. i thought early is early on everything. sorry. 

by the time it gets out, you will have SEVERAL awesome campaigns on this map, with the romanian side. 😉

[Sandmarken]

5 hours ago, AcesDarthBubu said:

My copy is on steam, so its technically not released yet. Nonetheless thanks for the info, once steam has the module, will surely try this out.

It is possible to mix steam and website purchases, but ofc some people rather wait. 🙂

[Jaegermeister]

On 10/9/2025 at 8:46 PM, AcesDarthBubu said:

To play this campaign, one must have the yet to release Odessa and Leningard module?

 

The early release Odessa map is all you need. You can get it now.

 

I see AndreiTomescu already answered this for you above.  

Edited October 11 by Jaegermeister

[SARFlytitus]

@Sandmarken @AndreiTomescu

OUTSTANDING !!!👏👏👏

[Sandmarken]

1 hour ago, SARFlytitus said:

OUTSTANDING !!!👏👏👏

Hope you like the result. It was very interesting to learn about the 53rd and their Hurricanes!

[Marque]

Excellent campaign! So much action in the sky, at sea, and on land!!!

I translated it for our Russian-language forum, and now many are learning to become Romanian pilots.
Many thanks! By the way, many are familiar with your work and love your work!
I flew until 3 a.m. last night and simply enjoyed it!
And the Odessa map deserves special mention! Beautifully done!
And I also have some suggestions for future work!
There's no proper campaign for "Dora"!
One with high-altitude interceptions and battles!
Even in the career, battles take place no higher than 5,000 meters! And often right at ground level!
Perhaps inspiration will strike you with this topic too?
With great respect! A fan of your work! 🙂👍
# And also thanks to Andrei Tomescu!!!

Edited October 12 by Marque

[Sandmarken]

Thanks @Marque! 

 

Im pretty sure there is a high altitude campaign for the Dora 🙂

 

 

 

[YR-AndreiTomescu]

2 hours ago, Marque said:

There's no proper campaign for "Dora"!

Sandmarken is a too modest person.

@Marque Pls check the following older but awesome campaign: "The last stand" by... Sandmarken.

for this i bought the Dora, after i've completed it with the A-8. loved it so much that a wanted to complete with the intended Dora 

2 hours ago, Marque said:

I translated it for our Russian-language forum, and now many are learning to become Romanian pilots

thank you very much! really appreciate this, i like this campaign a lot. especially after testing each mission 10+ times. actually, most missions are quite replayable

[Marque]

I have the "Grünherz Dora" and "Lagnase Dora." 🙃
I've already played them. However...
If Comrade Sandmarken makes the campaign, I think it will shed new light on scripted campaigns!
They'll sparkle with new colors! Circling the ground with Rath or Mesuk is one thing...
But flying at 10,000 m. to intercept a huge flock of bombers is quite another!
Of course, not without battles at medium and low altitudes. War is war! We have our plans, and she has hers!
Sincerely, dear friends!
P.S. By the way... if you don't want to talk about Dora, then maybe the TA-152? 😉
It seems to me that he has somehow been overlooked in our campaigns.

Edited October 12 by Marque

[Marque]

I'm currently working on the "IAP-4 Kurland Pocket" campaign.
It's for a Yak-9 pilot, 1944-45. I've already completed 10 missions, but there are still some stumbling blocks.
It's a collaborative effort. I'm being assisted by Kraut1 and another friend, who helps with historical facts!
And I get my energy from playing other authors' campaigns,
sometimes stealing their techniques for deceiving the viewer and incorporating them into my missions!
Because the Spectator (player) loves to be beautifully deceived! 😄
I wish you success in your creative work!

Edited October 12 by Marque

[Sandmarken]

@Marque It is possible in the furture, and im honoured by your request, but in pretty sure my next campaign must be on the Karelia map or with the RAF on the channel map. Iv waited too long for a good campaign about Dieppe. Since nobody else is making it i might have to do so my self. I also am interested in the Finish airforce. If we get the G.50 or Buffalo. Or maybe something with the later finish 109G4 and G6. 

 

I wanted to do something with the p47, but the AI is so bad at fighting in it that i put it aside. The Ta-152 i do not own, and for the very low numbers of missions it did (no bomber intercepts) i woud have litle to work with. 🙂

2 minutes ago, Marque said:

I'm currently working on the "IAP-4 Kurland Pocket" campaign.
It's for a Yak-9 pilot, 1944-45. I've already completed 10 missions, but there are still some stumbling blocks.
It's a collaborative effort. I'm being assisted by Kraut1 and another friend, who helps with historical facts!
And I get my energy from playing other authors' campaigns,
sometimes stealing their techniques for deceiving the viewer and incorporating them into my missions!
Because the Spectator (player) loves to be beautifully deceived! 😄
I wish you success in your creative work!

Looking forward to it! 😁

[Marque]

Thank you! I wish you inspiration! 🙂

[alpenspion]

On 10/9/2025 at 10:57 AM, AndreiTomescu said:

here is the direct link for the romanian radio chatter, but this one you have to use it by replacing the german files (copy/paste this over them). Remember to back up the german files before doing that!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gBqRxzPWUQF6FmaNkWpz_U0rp4S20AIi/view?usp=sharing

 

In the other link there is the same mod, but made JGSME ready by @kraut1 . That's better and easier to do. 

 

IMHO, it's incompatible for a SIMULATOR to provide you with german chatter while flying a different country (except if you are Polish and fly for RAF  , and even those guys still spoke in native language when talking to each other, despite british regulations) So that's why this mode (far from perfect!) makes things a bit more immersive.

 

Some say the Spitfire is the most beautiful aircraft, some that Fw-190 was the most feared, some that the MIG-3 was the best.

But the Hawker Hurricane was the widest used!

Besides its primary user, the RAF (and that counts British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, S Africa, India, Rhodesia, plus Norwegian, Polish, Czech) was used by 

- France

- Belgium

- Netherlands

- Greece

- Romania

- USSR

- Yugoslavia

- Portugal

- Ireland

- Finland

but also Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Mexico. 

This was really a world wide used aircraft !

 

In Romania, despite having just 12 bought from UK and 4 captured by the Germans from Yugoslavia and sold to Romania , was the most beloved aircraft by his pilots, even by those who flew afterwards Bf-109 and IAR-80. 

This actual love toward this machine, the trust they put in it, the elation experienced by those early war pilots into being tasked with liberate the territories taken by force one year before (Ribbentrop - Molotov pact, the Nazi-USSR deal), the grim reality of all-out war, the difference between home made propaganda and the true might of the Soviet strength and determination, the fear, disappointment and moral dilemma brought by death and destruction,  are all so vivid depicted by @Sandmarken in this concise campaign dedicated to "those wonderful men and their flying"...... Hawker Hurricanes !

Where can i find the Link from @kraut1 for JGSME?

[Sandmarken]

2 hours ago, alpenspion said:

Where can i find the Link from @kraut1 for JGSME?

Its inside the thread somewhere.

 

Edit: here it is, https://www.mediafire.com/file/gj9hm3e1c7b3nzn/Ro_radio_chatter_ver_3_JSGME_20250707.zip/file

Edited October 12 by Sandmarken

[alpenspion]

23 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

Its inside the thread somewhere.

 

Edit: here it is, https://www.mediafire.com/file/gj9hm3e1c7b3nzn/Ro_radio_chatter_ver_3_JSGME_20250707.zip/file

Thank you! 

[Vishnu]

Awesome so far,  although, I did notice a spelling mistake in a yellow header about seeing enemy aircraft in the first mission.   It should read "spotted" not "spottet", also in the 2nd mission, I was stuck in an endless circle with my leader on the last waypoint prior to landing.   The yellow way marker didn't disappear, so I landed and got a mission accomplished anyway, so it was no big deal.

 

I like the fact you put a German pilot in the Hurricane!   Nice touch!  Also the voice mod definitely adds to the immersion!  Keep it up!   I love your campaigns! 

Edited October 24 by Vishnu

[Sandmarken]

9 hours ago, Vishnu said:

also in the 2nd mission, I was stuck in an endless circle with my leader on the last waypoint prior to landing.   The yellow way marker didn't disappear, so I landed and got a mission accomplished anyway, so it was no big deal.

There is some issues with AI landing at Galați that i just cant figure out properly. Just land and pretend the AI land behind you and its all good! 

 

9 hours ago, Vishnu said:

German pilot in the Hurricane! 

A romanian pilot! We do not have the romanian pilot model so the german is a stand in. 😁

 

9 hours ago, Vishnu said:

Keep it up!   I love your campaigns! 

Thank you! 

 

9 hours ago, Vishnu said:

spottet

Thx i fix this when i get the time. 

[YR-AndreiTomescu]

10 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

romanian pilot! We do not have the romanian pilot model so the german is a stand in

Let's just imagine that our romanian pilot got a nice and cozy uniform from his german friend during training/forming that was done by the German Mission in the year prior to the attack on the Soviet Union. 😄😄😄

The romanian officers had to buy their uniforms, actually to order them from tailors, and had quite some leverage concerning how it was done. The lower ranks were issued stock ones. Of course I am speaking about flight uniforms. Also most of the gear (goggles, parachutes) were german models.

[Jaegermeister]

On 10/25/2025 at 3:38 AM, Sandmarken said:

There is some issues with AI landing at Galați that i just cant figure out properly. Just land and pretend the AI land behind you and its all good! 

 

 

It looks like your Command_land MCU is at the wrong end of the runway, and facing the opposite direction. When the leader approaches the runway to land, it has probably already passed over it, and aborts. Also the runway is facing the opposite direction from the takeoff direction. I didn't see anything else wrong with the landing logic.

 

You might try placing the Land MCU at the beginning of the landing path and it should work. In this case, I would just turn the runway +/- 180 degrees and adjust the taxi path so the AI doesn't run into tents or whatnot.

 

 

Edited October 27 by Jaegermeister

[Sandmarken]

4 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

It looks like your Command_land MCU is at the wrong end of the runway, and facing the opposite direction. When the leader approaches the runway to land, it has probably already passed over it, and aborts. Also the runway is facing the opposite direction from the takeoff direction. I didn't see anything else wrong with the landing logic.

 

You might try placing the Land MCU at the beginning of the landing path and it should work. In this case, I would just turn the runway +/- 180 degrees and adjust the taxi path so the AI doesn't run into tents or whatnot.

 

 

Ah, thanks, this explains it, I think. I was sure you could take off and land in different directions (you probably can with the no-taxi takeoff mcu). I found that landing in the other direction would cause the AI to crash into the city. 

[Jaegermeister]

13 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

Ah, thanks, this explains it, I think. I was sure you could take off and land in different directions (you probably can with the no-taxi takeoff mcu). I found that landing in the other direction would cause the AI to crash into the city. 

 

Yes you can, but in reality it would have depended on the wind, so you would most likely take off and land in the same direction. Its just an issue of continuity and realism I guess.

[Sandmarken]

51 minutes ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

Yes you can, but in reality it would have depended on the wind, so you would most likely take off and land in the same direction. Its just an issue of continuity and realism I guess.

Yes, of course! I will experiment with what works best when I get the time. (Just had another kid, so who knows when that'll be!) 😅

[Jaegermeister]

20 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

Yes, of course! I will experiment with what works best when I get the time. (Just had another kid, so who knows when that'll be!) 😅

 

Congratulations! The work never ends, LOL

[Sandmarken]

2 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

Congratulations! The work never ends, LOL

Thanks! And yes exactly! 😅