Hello, collegues. As far as I know, JG 54 was the main LW unit (deployed at Siverskaya) on Leningrad front. But I'm still eager looking for any info about LW & VVS fighter/bomber units on Leningrad front, during 1941-44. Needed it very much for a Campaign building...
Thanks in advance.

Cheers & regards,
Mangas.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mangas_Rus,

Hello Mangas,

check out this link that appeared in Oleg's ready room...

VVS order of battle at the start of Barbarossa

I have for the last couple of days been searching for the type of aircraft that these units were, with partial success. I have a rough campaign outline, and am starting on production of the first mission.

So far I have the player starting in an I-16 and converting to the LaGG-3 some time later. I hope to have the player be successfull and transfer to a Guards unit with mixed aircraft (MiG-3, P-40M(FM), for '42. Then in 43 to have the player fly in a Guards unit in a Yak or La-5.

Still the Campaign is in it's infancy and will take some time to complete.

Are you building a Leningrad campaign too?

If so, I have another project I could do so that I wouldn't be stepping on your toes...

B50

Hello, Nathan. I don't make campaigns myself for now... Actually, I started this discussion to help YOU to find an appropriate info about the units... Btw, did you get 2 my PMs?

Best wishes,
Mangas.

Thanks Mangas,

I just wanted to make sure.

I did get the PM's. I wasn't logged in when I was checking the forum, so I didn't see the PM flag.

I have some o.k. info about VVS IAP's in the area but nothing real specific. I guess I will just have to go ahead with the Campaign and make changes as inaccuracies are discovered by the community.

B50

Browning50Cal, thanks for starting up this campaign for Leningrad. I know Mangas has been wanting someone to do it for a while now. Good Luck!

Mangas, I'm glad you'll be getting your wish! Sorry not being able to do Leningrad myself. I've been working on some Kuban campaigns among other stuff. Good luck to you too!

You are welcome CT.

I am always surprised at how much is still undiscovered for me in the Il2 Series. I have to this point, never made an eastern front mission or campaign.

The first 5 missions will be complete by tonight. I am on my way down the long road of a new WIP.



B50

Hello again, Browning50cal & CzechTexan. Here's what I found:
The best disguised & thus the most often used airfield was "Smolny" (later name -- "Rzhevka" airfield). Here's it's history:
http://www.airport-rzhevka.ru/?id=14&lang=
It's located in BJ 10 in game. From 01.12.41 it had 286 IAP
(http://allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi/sssr/struct/p/iap286.dat) armed with I-16 (later -- with Yak-1). But mostly it was used as a base for TB-3 & Li-2 that delivered supplies for besieged city.
Also, the "Bychie Pole" Af at Kronshtadt island was used by 71 IAP armed with I-16 (later - Yak-7).
Also, the Komendantsky airfield, located in BI 10 (top, city outskirts) was used. It had: during 21.10.41 -- 01.12.41 -- I-16's of 286 IAP, and Pe-2/Pe-3s.
At the field in BN 12 (bottom right) was a 157 IAP (armed with I-16).
Btw, there's no airfield at the map in BH 8, but there should be one, it had I-153, I-16 & LaGG-3 of 19 IAP.
The full list is here:
http://www.ilpilot.narod.ru/vvs_tsifra/gl_2/2.1.html
By 22.06.41 50 SB bombers of 10 BAP were based at Siverskaya AF (BH 4 at map). Later the field was captured, and was most often used by LW units. By october, 1941, it had He-111s, Ju-88s and Bf-109F-2/4s.
If I'll find out anything new -- I'll let you know.
Everyone's welcome to take part in the discussion. Any info about the LW units location during certain periods is very appreciated.

Good luck to all & best wishes,
Mangas.

Thanks Mangas!!

That is exactly what I needed. The first couple of missions that I ended up making, I used 38th IAP for my I-16's based in Tallin on incomplete information, and I guess it turns out that they were actually there as part of the 4th SAD.

The first few missions are done. I have a watch tonight, so I will be able to brainstorm the next few missions now that I have a framework to guide me.

B50

Just a couple of small development screenies to keep it fresh.











B50

That are nice screenies, Nathan!
Please, keep it going!

My best regards,
Mangas.

Thanks, having fun with production.

My mission templates and airfields are taking way too much time to build. Also I am a little bit behind on my translation of the documents that you linked me to.

I am trying to have the player's story wind through a proper (according to the documents) path, while still changing aircraft types, and location about every seven to ten missions.

My goal is to have the player stay in one group for as long as possible. I can work a transfer or two into the story, but I don't want to have the player be in three different IAP's in two months to stay in one place for example.

I have watch again tonight, so I will be able to hopefully translate what I need to make the next ten missions or so, and then begin template construction for the areas in which those missions take place.

Thanks for the inspration and info.
B50

Do you have any summer/winter 41/42 MiG-3 (5IAP), or LaGG-3/Yak-1 (71 or 11IAP) summer/winter 41/42 skins lying around?

Hey, Nathan, I found a little info about using I-153s at Leningrad front:
"It must be noted that near Leningrad the use I-153 fighters was rather continuous and worthy. Here with the steady line of defense «Tchaikas» carried on a diverse battle service. Among their tasks were convoying the transport vehicles and guarding the supply rout to Leningrad, night hunt for floodlights, anti-gunnery standouts.
Among Leningrad events there is a nighttime ram, carried out by a pilot of 26 IAP Alexei Sevastianov. 26th airregiment, that entered the war near Brest, in the autumn of 1941 as a part of 7th IAK of PVO that defended Leningrad was specially put aside for night flights. The regiment was equipped with fighters I-153, I-16, Yak-1 and LaGG-3.
In the night of November 5 Sevastianov on a fighter I-153 Tchaika took off for night patrol mission and encountered He111. The attacks of Tchaika pilot brought no result, the ammunition was soon finished. Sevastianov rammed the enemy's plane and jumped with a parachute.
In summertime of 1942 the German aiviation undertook a series of heavy raid on Kronschtadt naval base. Kronschtadt was covered by 71 IAP with a fleet of about 20 fighters 1-153 and 1-16 at the time. Since May 28 to July 14 the Germans had lost in this region 24 airplanes - 71 IAP on the contrary lost not a single plane. The political commissar of the regiment Serbin on 1-153 during this period downed three He111 personally and one in a group of other pilots. On June 3 1942 at night Serbin was in a zone of expectation on 1000 meters altitude. Having discovered Heinkel 111, the pilot attacked it with rocket missiles, the German plane fell to the ground in the area of Pukhtola mountain and exploded. On the way back to his zone in the region of Kotlin island, Serbin ran across another He111, crossed by floodlights, and attacked it from a short range. The enemy bomber went down into the water eyewitnessed by the personnel of Kronschtadt garrison.
In mid-1943 I-153 fighters near Leningrad were ascribed mostly to the Baltic fleet aviation unit. Several «Tchaikas» (the numbers were changeable, as the machines went in and out of the repair, or were transferred to other regiments) were on service in 3rd, 4th, 10th Guards fighter airregiments and in 7th anti-aircraft flight unit. Up to ten machines till July were based on an island of Lavensaari - mostly fighters belonging tb 10th IAP. The activization of enemy airforce in the summer of 1943, difficulty of interception of German bombers Ju88 and He111, obvious inequality in battles with introduced FW190 have resulted in shifting of Yak-1 fighters from 3 Guards IAP on Lavansaary, and honorable veteran planes I-153 were assigned to some minor tasks..."

Btw, about the skins you said: I couldn't find not a single profile/photo of 5th/11th/71th's
IAP MiGs/Yaks/LaGGs... So what do you say if I prepare for you no-marked summer/winter skins for these planes? Just let them have the appropriate numbers in FMB... Will that do?

Regards,
Mangas.

I sent a PM.

The Regiments mentioned are by no means required. I require nothing, but can make use of anything if you know what I mean. I am still trying to build the story line through winter of 41.

I already have your beatiful early MiG pack, so I am already set for Summer MiGs.

But yes, that will definitely do.

Many thanks,
B50

Hello, Nathan.
A PM with some skins sent. Some more to go in the near future...


Best wishes,
Mangas.

Yes, 71 and 11 IAP upon further translation, flew primarily I-15bis/I-153 til mid 42.

Got the skins.

One more screenie...



I-16 Tankbuster

B50

Working mission 10.

I am in need of of a Ki-21 ko skin to represent a Finish Fokker DXXI of the December '41, January '42 time period.




Also, does anybody knows approximately what time (month) the Gulf of Finland Ices over?

TIA,
B50

Hello, Nathan. Sorry for my late answer, but I don't have I-net on weekends since I'm not at the office.
So, the Gulf of Finland freezez in the late November until the beginning of April (!).

And here are the Fokkers (made by Porsimo) you need:
http://www.porsimo.net/fb/skins/FokkerFi_Wwpack.zip
+ I PM-ed you some Yaks & I-153s...

Regards,
Mangas.

Thanks Anton, for the skins and info.

I saw Porsimo's skin pack, and I like that the panel lines are redone and everthing like that, but they are for the winter war (39/40). It is still a couple of missions away and a small part at that.

I think if I run into a "mission builders block" further on in production, I will switch that time to making a Ki-27 template on the GIMP and skinning one real quick. It wouldn't be superb quality, and it would have Ki-27 panel lines, but I would be trying to shoot it down not fly it, so the lack of detail is not too important in that regard. I just don't want to waste mission production time to make a template for 1 plane for 1 mission.

B50

Hello, Nathan. Please, keep it going!

I've just made summer/winter skins for MiG-3ud & Pe-2's. Check your PM for the link... Please, don't waste time on skinning -- I'll do that!

P.S.: Unfortunately, just the two of us seem to be interested in this Campaign...

Regards,
Mangas.

Hey! I'm keeping an eye on it....

Just didn't want to stick my oar in while you guys are working away.