Dora/Bf109 Ground Attack Mission

I'm trying to create my first single/co-op/multiplayer mission for the Dora with an inclusion for the BF109 when released.

Situation

This would be a standard mission on the eastern front for the FW190 F's or A versions which flew pretty much all ground attack missions but we're substituting the Dora here. FW190's equipped with the MK108 or other 30mm cannons didn't have alot of success attacking Russian armor so they stopped breakthroughs/advances by attacking their supply columns. BF109 often flew escort for FW190 ground attack units and also for the bomber attack units on the western fronts as the FW190 was better suited for both roles. American aircraft units are situated further to the south which was typical as advancing units air fields lagged behind the army but there is a closer airfield they can land and rearm if they have air superiority.

Goals for Axis

1. Stop the advance of the armored forces. This can be done several ways.

A. Destroy the supply columns.

B. Destroy the armored forces.

C. Destroy bridges from supply columns to armor.

Goals for Allies

2. Protect ground forces and seize control in the air. They can also assist the armored groups in their advance when that time comes.

I'm probably about half way through making the mission and looking for tips/feedback on the mission before I go alot further. FW190 ground attack units could fly up to 5 or 6 sorties a day when required on the eastern front and I've included a 2 part play through of one missions (2 sorties). Allies win upon their armor reaching a certain point which I have to fix the triggers to now. I hope to make this a multiplayer/co op match in the future so I'm looking for extra eyes. For a multiplayer map I planned on destroyed convoys respawning at the warehouses until axis forces destroyed them.

Here are videos of the mission and the file can be uploaded from the DCS user files section under uploaded by fastfreddie.

http://youtu.be/9FXalN_TqHs?list=UUmqhC5O6mbKgH9KHPO3LM1A

Sounds cool cminer... Are you going to post the miz for us to look at and offer ideas/ tips?

Sure doom. I've uploaded it under the DCS users files under the name fastfreddie. Any tip/ideas would be greatly appreciated because I'm still learning the mission editor so any help would be great. As soon as the Bf109 K4 is released I'll change the escorting planes to them so everyone can enjoy. Also need feedback on if I'm going to have to reduce units amount due the current engine. I've yet to put in the German defense units till I have everything else in place and running properly. I designed the mission also to concentrate all action to a small area so hopefully I won't have to use the spotting flak.

I think NJG 11 used G-10 and K-4 109's to attack Allied supply columns on the Western Front at night in the early months of '45.

I think NJG 11 used G-10 and K-4 109's to attack Allied supply columns on the Western Front at night in the early months of '45.

Most Luftwaffe air combat operations started to drop in Oct/Nov 44 due to fuel and pilot shortages. Almost all dedicated ground attack units moved to the Eastern front which was considered more important somewhere around this time also. By early February the situation was even worse considering the resources Hitler wasted on Bodenplatte and by late March most air operations were over. I don't doubt that a night fighter unit strafed a supply column at some point but I'm not making any night mission on the DCS engine lol.

tried this today....enjoyed the mission alot....awesome job cminer :thumbup:....fun trying to take out those anti aircraft guns in the hillside.....cheers

tried this today....enjoyed the mission alot....awesome job cminer :thumbup:....fun trying to take out those anti aircraft guns in the hillside.....cheers

I'm glad to hear you liked the mission and I'll move the anti aircraft guns around at some point when I get enough feedback on basic mission design. It should end up making a huge furball without the need for spotting flak. I'll probably put German ground units in this week but they really aren't needed until I get it setup for multiplayer. Appreciate the feedback and hopefully I'll have it ready sometime after the K-4 release for multiplayer. Hope you didn't run out of ground or air targets lol.

This looks like a very interesting project.

I have recently got back in to DCS with the "World". The spread of aircraft over several decades gives the mission builder some great historical challenges. These sim aircraft fly very well and in this case we don't require a PhD in HOTAS profiles!

Assuming the main threat to thwart the attack is AAA. We have the ZU 23 mm Ural as a mobile AAA in the sim. With a range of 2 kilometres up to about 6000'.

The WW2 allied AAA was a bit more limited on mobile columns. I think the US had some 40mm Swedish Bofors but for the most part they were the good old fifty cal mg's, mounted on turret tops and half tracks. So I guess its a trial and error method to derive a good balance for the column defence.

Then there is the weather, which provided challenges by itself!

Getting the degree of difficulty right is the art of the mission planner and what makes this sim so compelling! I tend to go for the hard line approach. i.e. after the first pass I would enable some hidden (inactive) AA units that become super aggressive. This would deter frequent passes and give the sense of fear when running in again! Like Robin Old's used to say you don't want to attack AA guns unless they are the mission target!

Well done, great idea. :thumbup: The Me 109 is eagerly anticipated!

Regards

David

Thanks for the comments Accipiter. You are very correct that planning AAA for this period of aircraft is one of the main challenges. Currently we have AAA that was meant of for airplanes that could exceed 500mph so balancing is the key. I'll be honest ... I have yet to beat this mission but AI ground attack skills are lacking. The first group of attack birds will get a free run at the convoys but as the Mustangs respond(arrive) it changes everything. I put in armored Humvee's with .50 cals to simulate the old halftrack .50s but may up their numbers. Really plan on putting stronger air defenses around the bridges because to an advancing army it would be of critical importance.

The first group of attack aircraft will have to make important choices as to target selection (bridges/convoys/armor/warehouse) and if they start attacking the convoys how far to take it. They can use up their ammo on the convoys and land/rearm but rely on the Bf109(future escort) to cover the second group. Or they could make bombing passes slowing down the convoys but provide additional air protection for the second group. I've still got to put in the re-spawning convoys in for the warehouse for when convoys are destroyed.

The first round of online testing went well ... except for the God like flying of the Ai Mustangs. Thanks Mad Max and ratninko(sp?) for helping with the testing. Hopefully I'll get it setup for bigger servers soon.

Haven't tried it myself but is the German WW2 units mod accurate in terms of AAA range etc? If so maybe they can be implemented? Just a thought...

Haven't tried it myself but is the German WW2 units mod accurate in terms of AAA range etc? If so maybe they can be implemented? Just a thought...

I haven't tried the mod yet either but the main problem with using something like the German WW2 mod is that everyone would have to download the mod to see the units in the mission. That would be a big concern especially in a mission with so many ground units and their importance.

Sorry I haven't helped you test yet ... I have been head down finishing a few new miz for DoW. I hope to look at this one soon!