Time for an unveiling...

[Rami]

Misson,

I am a person that likes to have a lot of "irons in the fire" (hierros en el fuego) at the same time. 486_Col_Wolf has been after me to get the German side to the Battle of Britain done, so I've been getting some done on that as well. Right now I have 37 missions done for the German side, (out of 108 total) and have everything done but the dynamic events for seven others. Possibly as early as tomorrow, I'll get a package to him for beta testing, and hop a transport back to Libya and Egypt.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I'm going to shift back to the Western Desert this weekend, but for the last few days, I've been working on "Operation Sealion," and thus far I have forty-six out of a final total of 108 missions that are ready for _486_Col_Wolf to beta test, including a completed "Stuka" campaign.

One thing that kept coming up in mission descriptions were "port facilities and docks in the Thames Estuary," so I made some I thought were suitable, located near where similar facilities are today. I hope they're realistic enough.

[sc7500]

Rami, if you make the Thames scenery any more realistic, I'm gonna have to pull my BoB install off the laptop and reload it onto the mainframe - it overheats my Dell video chip ! lolol :icon_lol:

Very nice work
SC
:kilroy:

[Discus]

Looks great. More than great. Spectacular!! I hope my rig doesn´t melt down. I´ll have to add extra fans to my PC housing.

Cheers, Discus

[CrisGer]

Great work Rami i see you are certainly earning your Air Marshal's stars with continuing brilliant campaign development and those sceneries look great.

:medals::icon29:

[Rami]

I've got to take a break from the Battle of Britain and get back to the desert, I'm sick of looking at England. But at least now, 61 out of 108 missions for this package are completed.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I decided to build an oil refinery at Rochester. I did an earlier version, but decided it needed an upgrade. 79 out of 108 missions are completed, I'm pretty sure I can bang out the other four today.

[Captain Kurt]

Kudos Rami. This is looking really good.

[Discus]

:applause::applause::applause: What else to say!

[Rami]

Guten Tag,

It's now time, beginning tomorrow, for construction of the final piece to the German side of the Battle of Britain. (Operation Sea Lion)

I am going to be constructing this campaign from scratch, and would like some opinion on the general progression the campaign will take. It will be twenty-five missions in length, no more, no less, and it will include use of the He-111, the Do-17z, and the Ju-88a-4, in near-equal amounts.

Due to the high concentration of Stuka missions that deal with Kanalkampf, the amount of time spent with Do-17 and He-111 bombers making low-level shipping attacks I'd like to keep to a minimum.

Additionally, the exploits of Luftlotte 5 (the attacks from Norway on Northeast England) are already covered by the Heinkels! campaign.

I was planning on leaning strongly toward attacks on aerodromes, industrial targets, and port facilities, as well as attacks on London and the surrounding area.

The main question I have is....are there specific raids that anyone would like a focus on? And what about going beyond 15 September? Would ending on the Coventry raid in December be a good choice?

I am using this as my primary source: http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/campaign_diaries.cfm

[sc7500]

... There's always the "What If" Aspect...?

http://www.alternatehistories.com/?p=17

SC
:kilroy:

[CrisGer]

If you stick to the actual history I am sure you will do fine, the What if is fun to think about but the sad fact for the Germans was that they just did not have the specialized landing craft and support vessels which took the Allies three years to design, create, train crews for and develop doctrine for to be able to use. The river barges that the Germans collected had neither the carrying capacity or the ability to navigate in deep water in typical Channel weather and if launched on that bizare campaign would have taken their cargoes to the bottom I am pretty sure, as the channel weather was so spotty and bad during that period that it would have been a miracle if they had been able to land. If they had, the chances of German armour making the difference it did on the Continent would have been small, due to small road size, steep shoreline and fanatical British opposition. I am sure most respoinsible German planners knew this and went along with the planning because Hitler was crazy.:sheep:

[Robert John]

Hi Rami,

If you are doing any night bombing over London I have just made a gsl exploding Searchlight and if used as a mission object it can be used as a flak gun, although the .dp can be made better.

I have downloaded Night_Missions_Mod and made two one poly objects, one VEH and the other INF to be used insted of the Jeep and tent.

I can send to you if interested.
RJ

PS I could do a St Paul's that glows in the burning night sky.

[Rami]

Good evening,

This is one mission for the campaign...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - The Coventry blitz
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftlotte pilots! Tonight's raid will be on the industrial city of Coventry. Previous strikes on the city have caused considerable damage, but it's our hope that this evening, our bomber forces can achieve a knockout blow, and finally bring Great Britain to her knees!
"objective_string"=The night of 14 November, 1940 saw the industrial city of Coventry in the West Midlands suffer from a devastating strike by German medium bombers of Luftlotte 3. Because British industries in this city were intermixed within the residential areas, total casualties for the raid were very high.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, you'll rendezvous with the other bombers near the French coast, and then maintain a due northwest course to the city of Coventry. En route, your course will take you right over South London, so you should be ready for the possibility of night interception. The city of Coventry is also heavily defended, due to its strategic importance as a manufacturing centre. Good luck!

Robert John,

Yes, I plan to do at least one London night blitz raid, and as you can see, I am ending with the late December London night blitz.

[Seagull V]

Hello Rami

What about an early Airbourne invasion as per the attack on Crete but modified as part of the Sea Lion attack.
Would need those Heinkels and Stukas attacking forts and defences before and during the attack.
Would also need a torpeado & Stuka attack on British Battleship, Cruisers and Destroyers that were attempting to attack the invasion force as per Narvik. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_narvik_second.html
Could also include a what if scenario of Me-321 gliders and tow planes with strong fighter escort being intercepted by a last ditch Spitfire-Hurricane-Gladiator defence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_22nd_Air_Landing_Infantry_Division

If you want to bounce a few ideas around you are welcome to PM me.

A few links that might be helpful:-
http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/jscsc-library/archives/operation-sealion
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA421637
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sea_Lion_order_of_battle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_anti-invasion_preparations_of_World_War_II
http://www.coleshillhouse.com/the-threat-from-germany-operation-sealion.php
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/operation_sealion_primer.html
http://www.newhavenfort.org.uk/operation_sea_lion.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/invasion_ww2_01.shtml
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38099

Regards SGV

[Rami]

Seagull V,

I'm aiming to stick within the realm of historical fact, and based the missions on actual raids during this period. I have no problem doing a few Channel convoy missions at the beginning of the campaign, but am not looking to do a "what if" campaign at this time.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I decided, in lieu of further opinions, that I am going to change the trajectory of this final campaign somewhat. I want to include in the bomber campaign some of the nighttime "Blitz" raids on cities like London, Birmingham, and Coventry. The Coventry raid is complete, and I should have the Birmingham raid completed this morning. I now think I'm going to end with the raid 29 December, 1940 against London. This raid became infamous by the amount of fires it started, and its aftermath became known as the "Second Great Fire of London."

I'm also probably going to create a raid on Bristol and Sheffield.

I know Captain Kurt is probably going to scream bloody murder about me doing nighttime raids, but this is something I've already done with C.A.I. / Chianti, so I'm not breaking new ground here.

[Robert John]

Raids on Bristol.
I know they caused a lot of destruction to the Centre of Bristol and a lot of very old buildings were destroyed, they went for the gasworks at Eastville Bristol, They destroyed a famous church here in bristol called by two names, the names are "The Holy Cross" and "Temple church". The word Temple here is not its real meaning as it is not a temple, its for the Nights Templar. The church is now a war memorial.

I worked on Temple Church conserving it for future generations, if the church was not bombed, a lot of history would not have been discovered. If the church survived it may have deen sold by now and developed into offices and now city centre living homes.

A few years ago they discovered a large live bomb embedded in to the railway embankment they were removing, making way for a new road layout, Trains moved along this embankment way after the war finished, they took it away safely and exploded it in a large field.

Robert John

[Rami]

Good morning,

After deciding to do a "Blitz" raid on Liverpool, I saw that there were no port facilities there, considering that it was one the most important facilities for receiving convoys from the North Atlantic. So, last night and this morning, I whipped up a little something and made it into GSL, complete with rail lines. :wiggle:

[Robert John]

Hi Rami,
have you looked at the searchlights and the modified fire objects.
I put some searchlights in to a mission you sent me looks ok, but like all gsl objects the pup up at about 5 miles away.
I cannot save anything in the other one, maybe the file is too large for mission builder,
RJ

[Rami]

RJ,

1) The reason why you were getting CTDs when editing these missions most likely stems from the fact that I didn't send you the airbase.dat entries for these missions. You may not have Beauvais in your scenery, or your airbase.dat file. It was originally NOT in Achim's JHS_France_North package, but I revised it in the library after Captain Kurt sent me some airbases Achim did for Captain Kurt's 354th Fighter Group campaign.

2) If the missions are over 64kb, you CAN modify them in mission builder, but you'll get a warning message to the effect that this mission will not work on pre-XP systems, and it will ask you if you want to return to editing. Clicking "no" will save the mission.

3) However, adding objects will undo a hand-edit that I will have to fix. I have configured this missions so that you do not fly as the lead plane, thus allowing the AI in your flight to release their bombs over the target. Saving the mission destroys these hand-edits, but they can easily be fixed.

When I send you tonight's batch of missions, (five in all, and I modified the Coventry raid slightly) I'll send you the GSL file for the Liverpool port facilities and city.

So far, I've done raids on Birmingham, Coventry, Sheffield, Liverpool, and Manchester.

[Rami]

Good afternoon,

Here are some descriptions for you...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Junkers over Birmingham
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! After our successful raid on Coventry, we will attempt tonight to replicate our success over the Midlands city of Birmingham. The city is another essential industrial center for the British, manufacturing crucial parts for their war machine. Let's put another city out of commission!
"objective_string"=The attack of November 18th, 1940 saw more than 365 German bombers raid the city of Birmingham, causing damage on a similar scale to the Coventry raid of five days earlier. While these strikes were devastating for those in its path, the British were able to rebound quickly, and these raids served to steel the resolve of the British people.
"intelligence_string"=Once again, you will depart the aerodrome around sunset, and will maintain a northwest course which will send you right over London. As you approach the city, stay on alert for British night fighters, and watch out for flak over the target. Good luck!

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Dorniers over Sheffield
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftlotte pilots! Tonight's blitz raid will be on the important industrial city of Sheffield. Sheffield's steel works are a valuable cog for the manufacture of Merlin engines, and the industries in this city also turned out 18-inch armor piercing shells. Your task is to target these industries, and put them out of commission. Good luck!
"objective_string"=On 12 December, and again on the 15th, Sheffield became another industrial city heavily damaged by German nighttime bombing attacks, known as "The Blitz." These important manufacturing facilities at Sheffield included a Vickers plant, which utilized a drop hammer that forged camshafts required for Merlin engines.
"intelligence_string"=After leaving Caen, your course will take you onto English soil between RAF Tangmere & Portsmouth. Remaining on course should allow you to skirt the defenses at these two locations. As you approach Sheffield, remain alert for British nightfighers. Make sure to place your bombs on target, because the British are stepping up their defenses against our raids. We must sustain this pressure to stamp out enemy resistance!

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Solstice over Liverpool
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftlotte pilots! Tonight, our target will be the city of Liverpool. This city is crucial to the British war effort, because many vessels from the North Atlantic dock there or continue on toward Manchester. It is our task to damage the port, and render these docks useless! This city has already been targeted, so their defenses may be stronger than some of our other raids. Good luck!
"objective_string"=The Port of Liverpool was a criticial link between the British Isles and North America, and thus was a primary destination for Allied convoys crossing the Atlantic. The city was struck often during the Battle of Britain, then struck again on the night of 20/21 December & continued to be heavily bombed for a few days just before Christmas, 1940. These attacks inflicted very heavy damage on the city's infrastructure, and these strikes also caused many civilian deaths.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, your course should allow you to just skirt the heavily defended ports of Gosport & Portsmouth. Your navigation needs to be accurate; you will have little room for error. Liverpool will be heavily defended. Your targets on this raid are the docks & the vessels at anchor. This effort will be supported by other bomber flights, we must put maximum effort into striking this target hard!

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Christmas over Manchester
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Tonight's bombing strike will be another long one, we will be attacking the city of Manchester. Manchester and the nearby towns are vital to the production of Merlin engines, and the Avro aircraft works are also nearby. We must strike these targets hard and render them useless to the British!
"objective_string"=Manchester was yet another British industrial city which was targeted by Luftwaffe bombers during "The Blitz." Like other cities in the Midlands area and northwest England, its industries were vital to the manufacture of steel armor, munitions, & metal forging for many types of war matériel, including aircraft components. The nights that the city was targeted were the nights of 22/23 December and 23/24 December, and these attacks became known thereafter as "The Christmas Blitz."
"intelligence_string"=After getting airborne, your due northwest course should place you far enough away from London to minimize the chances of interception. As you near the city, prepare for intense anti-aircraft fire, & the ever-marauding British nightfighters. You must make sure to place all of your bombs on target, we do not want to have to revisit!

[Rami]

Good evening,

Here is a revision I did to the port of Bristol, building that bridge was an experience I'd care to forget. :mixedsmi:

[Rich]

Rami this is just for interest, have'nt done CFS for many moons, where is that bridge ? that looks a wide stretch of water it crosses. Prior to the 60's there was only a ferry across the Severn at Beachly.

Just a nosy ex nearly local that crossed the Severn suspension bridge many times

[Rami]

Rich,

Actually, it is the Severn River Bridge. I wasn't aware that it didn't exist prior to the 1960s, I guess I failed to look it up! :kilroy:

[Rich]

Rami, Ms has a bridge there in other versions of Fs what is there is the Severn Tunnel which as you know is below ground/water while the tunnel is marked on ordnance survey maps it is not marked as a bridge, the tunnel is well over 100 years old and takes railway lines.

Prior to the bridge built in late 50's/ early 60's there was a ferry very close to the bridge site which has long since gone, the next crossing up river was at Gloucester.

[Robert John]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Railway_Bridge
67716
The Old Railway bridge that existed during the 2ww.

Links to the docks around bristol.

http://www.bristolblitzed.org/?page_id=59

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avonmouth_Docks

We had two Bristol Docks during the second world war one at Avonmouth and one in Bristol also called the floating harbour, both docks were targets.

Avonmouth was built because ships got to large to navagate around horseshoe bend.
Portbury was built for even larger ships in the 1970s.

RJ

[Robert John]

Hi Rami Bombers view over Coventry. Fires by earlier raids.
As you can see opened the file. Thanks.
67717

[Rami]

Robert John,

That's fantastic! I should have the two London "Blitz" missions (14 October and 29 December) done today, tomorrow at the latest. While I'm thinking of it, inserting a few damaged infrastructure buildings here and there by TheB24Guy may not be a bad idea.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=45&id=5998

When I revised the Port of Bristol, I moved its location toward the city itself, about where Avonmouth is, rather than in its older location, near Weston-super-mare.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I am happy to report that all of the "Blitz" missions have now been completed. They will compose the final eight missions of the campaign. (18-25) The attacks consist of two raids on London, (one in October and one in December) and single raids on Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield. :salute:

The task that remains is to select and create seventeen missions from 10 July to 15 September that haven't been covered by the other campaigns in the package...

[Rami]

Good evening,

Hi. Forgive me for being the ignorant American, but I have never quite understood something about the Battle of Britain. Where does the "start" date of 10 July come from? It is clear, for example, that Stukas were raiding Portland and convoys in the Channel on 4 July, and there are accounts such as this...

http://suite101.com/article/spitfire-mk1-early-operations-a341617

http://spitfiresite.com/2010/06/battle-of-britain-1940-prelude-to-the-blitz.html

http://spitfiresite.com/2010/07/battle-of-britain-1940-10-july-has-it-started-yet.html

...which I am including in my "Kampfgeschwader" campaign. This indicates that there was significant combat over England as early as 18/19 June, as well as another raid on 26/27 June.

So again, how was the date decided? If it was decided based on the ability of the RAF to successfully intercept, (it is my understanding they failed to intercept the Portland raiders, due to their slow response) then the action of 18/19 June calls that into question, does it not?

I'm not trying to start a fight here, I simply can't understand this. :isadizzy:

[Tako_Kichi]

Don't worry about being confused Rami as it can get confusing for a Brit (like me) too. To some extent the date may be an arbitrary one due to a number of significant facts.

In the early part of the war Hitler's forces and particularly the Luftwaffe were content to attack British shipping in the Channel without taking on targets on the mainland except for a few raids on radar stations (although at the time the Germans did not know their true function and assumed they were part of a homing beacon system for British bombers) and a few raids on major manufacturing centres.

That all changed when Hitler decided to approve the plan for the invasion of England (code named 'Operation Sealion') on July 16th, 1940 and then the targets became RAF fighter airfields in Southern England as it was vital that the RAF (especially the fighter squadrons) were taken out of the war if the plan was to succeed.

The term 'Battle of Britain' was coined by Winston Churchill in his famous 'This was their finest hour' speech on the 18th of June, 1940 (roughly a month before the dates usually quoted for the start of the battle) when he said "The Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin."

So you can see that events happened over a period of several weeks so how anyone can come up with a decisive date is open to debate.

[Bruce Thompson]

As I understand it and Grandad always said, the battle started on July 10th 1940 when the Luftwaffe attempted to gain control of the Straits of Dover.

[Sopwith Chameleon]

Hugh Dowding (CinC) Fighter Command always claimed the Battle started on May 10th 1940 when the Germans invaded the Low Countries .........:mix-smi:

[simonu]

From the writing of John W R Taylor,

On the night of the 5-6 June. 30 bombers crossed the east coast and attacked airfields and other targets. Thats when the "softening up" started.
There is doubt as to the date of Adlerangriff day. Deferred from the 10 to 12 August. Germans claim main assult on the 13th.

10th and 11th were devoted to attacks on channel convoys and the ports of Dover and Portland.
The Luftwaffe lost 63 aircraft. The RAF lost 52.
Primary targets on the 12th were airfields and radar stations.
By the evening of the 12 Manston was out of action. Lympne and Hawkinge had taken a battering but could still operate, pilots using narrow grass strips between the craters to land and take off. Five radar stations were out of action.
The germans lost 36 aircraft, against 22 defending fighters. All the raid that day were intercepted.
The 13th is recorded as different from most days that summer in that it was cloudy. Should have helped the Germans especially since the radar defences had been weakend.
485 bomber sorties and 1000 fighter sorties were flown against Southhampton, Portland and airfields in Kent and Hampshire.
The RAF improved their score 45 kills against 13 fighters lost.

[Rami]

Good morning,

More evidence from my research indicates a staffel of KG 2 struck Hull / Middlesborough on 1 July, and 34 Dorniers struck Kenley on 3 July.

[Robert John]

Battle of Britian started on the 10TH July when Germany invaded Belgium. Its a date that is reconised that Britian could no longer stay out of the war and people knew that Britian would soon be Hitlers next target.

FROM GOOGLE.

Belgium remained strictly neutral, but was invaded by the Germans for a second time (on May 10, 1940). The Germans struck at both the Netherlands and ...

[Robert John]

Although Briton was at war, alot of people called it the war the Phoney war.

The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/World_War_II) that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Western_Allies) against the German Reich (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/German_Reich). The phase was in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany (shortly after the German invasion of Poland (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland)) in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Battle_of_France) in May 1940. War was declared (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Declaration_of_war) by each side, but no Western power had committed (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Western_betrayal) to launching a significant land offensive, notwithstanding the terms of the Anglo-Polish military alliance (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Anglo-Polish_military_alliance) and the Franco-Polish military alliance (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Franco-Polish_alliance_(1921)), which obliged the United Kingdom (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/United_Kingdom) and France (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/French_Third_Republic) to assist Poland (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/wiki/Second_Polish_Republic).

10/5/1940: Germany invades Belgium and Holland 10/5/1940: British prime minister Neville Chamberlain resigns and is replaced by Winston Churchill ...

So I think the 10 of May 1940 is the start of the Battle of Britian because Churchill became prime minister.

Like with a lot of wars it takes more than a few little wars to become substantial world war.
When did ww2 start. It was not a world war as such, it was a European war until pearl harbour, then churchill got his wish and thank god he did and America joined and saved our way of life.

10 May 2006
The UK is about to pay off the last of its World War II loans from the US. But it hasn't always been so fastidious.
On 31 December, the UK will make a payment of about $83m (£45.5m) to the US and so discharge the last of its loans from World War II from its transatlantic ally.

RJ

[peterpan]

In the foreword by ACM Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris (Chairman Battle of Britain Fighter Assocation)

"...during the official period of the Battle, 10 July - 31 October, 1940 (this timescale itself seems somewhat questionable and arbitrarily selected - there was plenty of hard fighting before 10 July and after 31 October)."

Seemingly it was a dates chosen after the event, perhaps during which the fighting was considered at its most intense. For me, as one who was around then as a child, it was the summer - autumn (fall) of 1940

peter

[Rami]

Peter,

Additional research has proven this to be correct, thank you! :salute:

[Rami]

Good evening,

I wanted to pass along that I settled on three raids which occurred prior to 10 July. Two of these are based on the book "Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers over Great Britain" by Chris Goss, and "Battle of Britain" by James Holland. I created these missions, and I am using these books to create the other fourteen missions, so that I do not rehash what has been done by the other campaigns for this package.

One of these missions include making oil tanks and port facilities at Hull, along the Humber Estuary, which was of course made into GSL. At the spit of land at the end of the Estuary facing the North Sea, I placed a lighthouse, as well as what amounts to a makeshift landing strip, basically created to simulate a road stretching along the spit of land until it reached the main coast. There is also a lighthouse at Flamborough Head.

Here are the mission texts, to give you a preview...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Battle of Britain prelude
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte pilots! Tonight, we will launch our first large-scale assault on England, attacking oil storage tanks and docks in the Thames Estuary. Because of the exceptionally bright full moon, you should have no problems with navigation, so strike your targets hard. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=Before the Battle of France was over, 70 Heinkels of Kampfgeschwader 4 left France to attack port facilities in the Thames Estuary and other targets in Wales. The raid was intercepted by Blenheims, Spitfires, & Hurricanes due to the extraordinarily bright moonlight; it caused the Heinkel bombers to be spotted and provided silhouettes for Royal Air Force fighters. In the ensuing skirmish, "Sailor" Malan brought down two Heinkels.
"intelligence_string"=After takeoff, you'll fly a north-northwest course over France, come ashore near Dungeness, & cross over Kent to reach the Estuary. This will allow you to skirt the aerodromes at Manston and Hawkinge. Once you near Carney Island & Thameshaven, drop your bombs on the oil storage facilities and docks.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Beauvais

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Heinkels over the Humber
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Today, we'll test the enemy's defenses in the East Midlands. The objectives are to strike the oil tanks and port facilities at Hull, and try to identify any planes that you see. We do not believe that the Royal Air Force will use their valuable Spitfires this far north, so you should be able to avoid the enemy with height. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=1 July, 1940 saw Heinkels depart Schiphol to hit a large chemical factory at Middlesborough, with a secondary objective being the oil tanks & the port facilities at Hull. Three German staffel took part in the raid, but other information is unclear about how many He-111s were actually involved. What is known is one Heinkel, flown by Friedrich-Wilhelm Koch, struck Hull, was promptly intercepted by six Spitfires, and had to ditch in the Humber Estuary. This mission is an amalgam of his account and the later raids on Hull, known as the "Hull Blitz."
"intelligence_string"=After departing Waalhaven, you'll fly a northwest course to reach the English coastline. If you can navigate properly, you should reach the coast just below Flamborough Head, where you will then turn south for Hull. Your targets are the port facilities and the oil tanks. If you're intercepted, try to use the cloud cover to shield you.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=Holland - Waalhaven (Rotterdam)

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - "Flying Pencils" over Kenley
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte pilots! This afternoon, we will attack the RAF airfield at Kenley. Today's attempt is a "probing" raid, we want to see how the enemy will respond to us. Your effort will be covered by Messerschmitts from Gunies aerodrome. Hopefully, our attack will damage their aircraft bunkers and hangars, and our Messerschmitts can destroy some enemy fighters!
"objective_string"=3 July, 1940 saw 34 Dorniers hit the RAF fighter aerodrome of Kenley. The bombers were based at Laon, and were from 8/KG 77. The German bomber unit was equipped with Do-17s at the beginning of the Battle of Britain, but shifted to Ju-88s within a few weeks of the start of the battle. The attack did little damage, & the bombers were intercepted by Hurricanes of 32 Squadron.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Laon, your course should take you south of Cape Gris-Nez, where Bf-109 escors will rendezvous with you. They'll then remain with you over England, and keep any British fighters off of your tail. Your target is Kenley aerodrome; try to focus on the aircraft hangars and other buildings.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Laon

[Dick]

Rami,

You are doing a great job there. As for the starting date of the Battle of Britain, as others have said, it is open to debate. The best book and the most detailed I have read on the conflict, - 'Battle over Britain' by Francis K. Mason, settles on a convenient start date of 1st July 1940. The Germans had begun their invasion of the Channel Islands the day before and this was the first time that British territory had been directly threatened by the enemy. Before the 10th July Fighter Command had intercepted several raids, each of more than 50 aircraft. The official award of the 'Battle of Britain Clasp' to pilots taking part in battles from 10th July onwards is therefore a little unfair on those previously engaging the enemy.

However, on a similar theme, this Thursday in the U.K. there is a new memorial to be unveiled to the crews of Bomber Command. Since the war they have received little official recognition due largely to adverse publicity following the Dresden raids. Over 55,000 British, Commonwealth and allied airman lost their lives in the night skies over Germany in the years following the Battle of Britain and it is only right that they are remembered for the sacrifices that they made.

[Rami]

Dick,

Thank you. I'm hoping to have this definitive release ready by 10 July. :jump:

[Rami]

Good evening,

You may notice that the JHS_England package by Achim has been moved back into the "what's new" section, along with my GSL ports. The reason for this is that with the Sealion project nearing completion, it will require two airfields by Achim that were not included in the original package; Debden and North Weald.

These bases will be used in the Sealion campaigns, so you might as well get a jump on making sure they are all installed and ready. I also put up my GSL ports again; there are new ports at Hull, Liverpool, the Thames Estuary, and an oil refinery at Rochester. I also revised and enhanced the Port of Bristol, and added the Port of Brest, France.

This will allow you to get a lot of the installation process out of the way before the campaign comes out!

[Rami]

Good afternoon,

I just wanted to pass along a progress update...I have competed five of the six campaigns; 94 out of 108 missions are completed, all the missions that remain are the fourteen missions of the "Kampfgeschwader" campaign.

[Robert John]

Rami,
Thankyou for all the hard work you put in, when you update your work would it be possible to write a update date tex in the folder with the date of updating so we do not get mixed up.
RJ

[Jagdflieger]

Thanks for the HU Rami.

It's great to see all the new stuff for the old sim!

[Rami]

Good morning,

I'm still on track with the Battle of Britain, but ran into a bit of a snag, I'm afraid. I realized that I could not release the package without going back and modifying the British missions to accommodate the infrastructure improvements between July of last year and the present. I also found some minor issues with certain missions, which I fixed, and decided to add a few missions to the British side which give the 18-mission "Battle of Britain" campaign a bit more length.

I'm still on course to finish this project within the month, so you will be fighting over the English skies very soon.

[Rami]

Good evening,

I was able to knock out a full twenty-one missions this afternoon and evening, so we'll have to see how many more I can get to in the next couple of days.

[sc7500]

Andrew, You're a Campaign-Creating MACHINE !!!!!!!!!!

[Rami]

Good evening,

I pushed through another eleven missions through tonight, so all of the original missions for the RAF side have been put through the wringer. I am now back to doing the last 14 Luftwaffe bomber missions, and then all the campaigns will all be completed.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I decided to give you one more British mission. I "reverse-engineered" one of the German "blitz" missions and gave you a British "turkey shoot" scenario. It's entirely fictional, but the premise is fun...six Hurricanes and Spitfires against 16 Dorniers, 16 Junkers, and 16 Heinkels. No escorting German fighters are there to interfere with you.

"title_string"=Battle of Britain - The Coventry aftermath
"summary_string"=To your fighters, gentlemen! German bombers have laid waste to the city of Coventry! However, they still have to make it back across England and then the Channel to make it back to safety in France...
"objective_string"=Even though the Battle of Britain officially ended in October of 1940, waves of Luftwaffe bombers still conducted almost nightly large-scale attacks on British industrial cities. This is an example of such a historical "blitz" raid, although the British intercept is entirely fictional.
"intelligence_string"=The German bombers are returning from Coventry after having destroyed the city. Scramble & make sure as many of them as possible don't get back to their bases in France! Because of their night raid, the bombers may not have any escort. If that's the case, tear into their formation and bring down as many of them as you can!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ia
"airfield_string"=England - Debden West

[Rami]

Good evening,

I've finished updating all the other missions, including the "blitz" missions, so I'm back to finishing off the last fourteen missions, and then I am done.

[Rami]

Good afternoon,

Using the book "Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers over Britain" by Chris Goss, along with the RAF campaign diary, I have created a list of missions that are not covered by the other campaigns on the Luftwaffe side of this campaign package. These missions are for the "Kampfgeschwader" campaign.

I have not decided whether I am going to do all of these, I'm probably going to select fourteen of them, to go along with the "prelude" missions and the "Blitz" missions. I also may combine some of these raids.

1) 04/07/40 - Do-17 attack on convoy in the Channel. (Done - Consolidated with #1)
2) 07/07/40 - Do-17 attack on convoy in the Channel. (Done - Consolidated with #2)
3) 12/08/40 - Do-17 attack on Hawkinge and Lympne. (Done, consolidated with attack on 25/08/40, #9)
4) 13/08/40 - Ju-88s & Stukas attack Middle Wallop, Yeovil, and Warmwell. (Done)
5) 15/08/40 - Do-17 attack on Hornchurch & Gravesend. (Done)
6) 18/08/40 - Attack on Biggin Hill, Kenley, and West Malling. (Do-17s, He-111s, and Ju-88s) [Done - Combined with # 11]
7) 18/08/40 - Do-17s & He-111s attack Hornchurch and North Weald. (Done, consolidated with #15)
8) 24/08/40 - Attacks on Hornchurch, North Weald, and Manston. (Done)
9) 25/08/40 - Do-17s attack Hawkinge. (Done, consolidated with attack on 12/08/40, #3)
10) 26/08/40 - He-111s attack Portsmouth. (Done)
11) 30/08/40 - Dorniers attack Biggin Hill. (Done, combined with #6)
12) 31/08/40 - Dorniers attack Hornchurch & North Weald. (Done - Consolidated with #13)
13) 31/08/40 - Do-17s attack Debden and Duxford. (Done - Consolidated with #12)
14) 01/09/40 - Attack on Biggin Hill, Detling, Kenley, & Gravesend. (Do-17s, Ju-88s, and He-111s) [Done]
15) 04/09/40 - Do-17 attack on Rochford. (Done, consolidated with #7)
16) 07/09/40 - Massed attack on London. (Done)
17) 08/09/40 - Large-scale Do-17 attack on London.
18) 11/09/40 - Massed attack on London. (Done)
19) 15/09/40 - Massed attack on London. / He-111s hit Portland (late-day) (Done - He-111 raid combined with 30/09/40 attack on Yeovil, #23)
20) 18/09/40 - Ju-88s attack London. (Done, and it also covers a similar raid on 30/09/40 involving Ju-88s)
21) 25/09/40 - Heinkels attack Bristol. (Done)
22) 28/09/40 - Heinkels attack Liverpool. (Done)
23) 30/09/40 - Ju-88s attack London / He-111s attack Yeovil. (Done - Heinkel attack combined with 15/09/40 attack on Portland, #19)

[Rami]

Good morning,

Sc7500 and I were making comments on this one last night...but this is the route they took to bomb Liverpool. It's a strange one, all right....

69087

With regard to a mission flown by III /KG 55 against the Liverpool docks, the pilots flew a circuitous route over Cornwall and the Irish Sea to avoid flying a direct route over England. The problem was, I would run out of fuel off the west coast of Wales on the return flight.

When looking at the fuel allowances for the He-111h-3, (Which is very close to the models used over Great Britain) it stated that the He-111 had two 190-gallon main fuel tanks in each wing, as well as a 240-gallon reserve tank in each wing. That gives each wing a total fuel capacity of 620 gallons, for a total of 1240 gallons of internal fuel, not including a drop tank if required.

However, upon checking the air file, it listed a wing capacity of 449.1 gallons. The math works out that it was about 341.8 gallons short. I attempted last night to adjust the air file, and did so successfully. I reached Guernsey (the closest available field at the time) with approximately 2% of my fuel remaining. It's a scraper, but it works.

[Rami]

Good evening,

Here are the other mission sketches I managed to do today, I will tackle a least a few more tomorrow...

[Rami]

Good evening,

Here are some more mission sketches...

[Rami]

Good evening,

The campaign will be 29 missions in length...and 11 missions are totally completed. I have to write the mission texts, due the triggers, and events for the final 18. However, all the flight paths, infrastructure, and timing are already completed. I should be able to progress through these missions fairly quickly. Stay tuned...

[Rami]

Good evening,

I don't know why I have such an easy time writing these things...they just seem to flow out. :jump:

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Roundabout to Liverpool
"summary_string"=Guden abend, kameraden! Tonight's target will be the dockyards at Liverpool. Your task is to inflict maximum damage upon their warehouses, rail cars, and oil storage tanks, as well as the docked ships. To avoid flying over England, you will fly instead out over the Irish Sea after crossing Cornwall; we hope this will place you out of the range of enemy detection. Make sure to keep an eye on your fuel; this mission places you at the ragged edge of your bomber's range.
"objective_string"=On 28 September, 1940, He-111s from III / KG 55 left Villacoublay to attack the docks at Liverpool. To avoid any interception by the British, they took a circuitous route over Cornwall & the Irish Sea, pummeling Liverpool from the west. However, they were intercepted by Hawker Hurricanes based in South Wales. The Germans shot down a couple of these fighters, & then struck the dockyards hard.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Gurensey, you will fly northwest, crossing Cornwall along your way to the Irish Sea. Escorting fighters will remain with you until after you cross Cornwall, where you will fly unguarded the remainder of the way, with darkness offering you protection. Fuel consumption will be critical for this mission, and you can take a shorter route home if your fuel level reaches critical levels. Be aware...this route will put you at greater risk for interception. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=England - Guernsey

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - "Flying Spades" over Filton
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Today's target is the Bristol Aircraft Factory at Filton. This factory is a major supplier of Spitfires, which have been utilized to great effect against our bombers and fighters. If we can inflict serious damage on the plant, we can severely curtail their ability to manufacture these deadly adversaries!
"objective_string"=On 25 September, 1940, Heinkel He-111s of KG 55 left bases in France to attack the Bristol Aircraft Works at Filton, near Bristol. Because of an error by RAF flight controllers, the Heinkels were able to inflict terrible damage on this factory, halting the production of Spitfires & causing the death of some 350 civilians.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Paris, you'll fly within the safety of French skies until reaching Cherbourg, & then take the shortest route across the English Channel to Bristol. Primary targets are the parked planes, warehouses, & fuel supplies at the Bristol factory. You'll pick up your fighter escort as you approach Cherbourg, & they will stay with you over England. Make sure to put your bombs to good use!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Velizy-Villacoublay

[Jagdflieger]

You've got the gift of gab Rami.

Wir freuen uns auf Kampfgeschwader!

[Captain Kurt]

That's always the hardest part for me Rami :isadizzy:

I should try to recruit you to be the writer the next time I start a new campaign. Working on another project with a team right now, so that may be a ways off though. So you're "safe" for now.:cost1:

[Rami]

Kurt and Jagd,

Here are a few more...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Adler Tag in the west
"summary_string"=Guten Tag, kameraden! The weather has improved enough, so we're being sent out to strike airfields in the west of England. Our target is the airfield at Yeovil, other Ju-88s will attack the airfield at Warmwell. Stukas raiding Middle Wallop will also accompany you for a portion of the journey. Let's place our bombs on the target; our pilots striking Portland report regular interception from British fighters based in the area!
"objective_string"=13 August, 1940 represented 'Adler Tag,' the date assigned by Luftwaffe commanders to swing their attention toward the RAF and their airfields. The morning attack by Do-17s of KG 2 over Kent & the Thames Estuary was disastrous, due to the recall of the raid which was only heard by the fighters. Other strikes by Ju-88s during the day were also badly mauled, despite heavy fighter escort. Later in the day, attacks by Ju-88s and Ju-87s targeted Yeovil, Warmwell, and Middle Wallop. This mission represents the latter raid, which took place in the early evening.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Evereux, you will fly a northwest course toward Le Havre, where you'll rendezvous with the escort. Your flight will come ashore near Portland. A portion of your formation will attack Warmwell, while your flight will proceed inland to raid Yeovil. It is critical that you place the bombs on target; our bombers attacking the Bristol area report regular harassment from fighters based at Yeovil. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Norway)
"airfield_string"=France - Evreux

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - RAF fighters lie in wait
"summary_string"=Achtung, kamerad! This afternoon, we will target the city of London once again, this time releasing our fire on the heart of the city. The objective is to inflict maximum destruction, & show the British citizens that further resistance is futile!
"objective_string"=The afternoon of 11 September saw another large raid head for London. While the German formation consisted primarily of He-111s from KG 1 & KG 26, it is clear that Do-17s & Ju-88s also participated in the raid, and the entire formation was escorted by Bf-109s & Bf-110s. Despite this, the Royal Air Force used fighters below, above, and through the enemy formations to cause chaos, & they managed to bring down several of the bombers.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, you'll rendezvous with the other bombers & depart the French coastline with your escort. You'll then approach London from the east, flying directly along the Thames Estuary toward Central London. Your targets are either the docks or the historical buildings within the center of the city. Above all else, you must make every effort to inflict maximum damage!

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Luftwaffe bombers over Essex
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! After an attack this morning which hit the airfields south of London, our focus will be on the airfields in Essex, near the Thames Estuary. Your objective is RAF North Weald, while other flights will attack nearby aerodromes. Make sure to put your bombs on target, we must ground as much of the RAF fighter force as possible! Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=The third major attack of 18 August saw Dorniers of KG 2 & Heinkels of KG 53 attack the Royal Air Force airfields at Hornchurch & North Weald. The bombers were heavily escorted, however the Royal Air Force confronted them with several squadrons. This, combined with the targets being obscured by clouds, led to the German bombers abandoning the raid and turning for home. In the process, several He-11s of KG 53 were shot down. This attack has also been combined with a raid 4 September, when Do-17s of KG 76 hit Rochford and other airfields near the Estuary.
"intelligence_string"=After takeoff, you will head toward Calais, where the formation will assemble just prior to crossing the English Channel. Your Heinkels will be in the middle, those left of you will pummel Hornchurch, while those on the right will strike Rochford. Your target is North Weald; try to take out the aircraft hangars & any supplies or vehicles out in the open.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Lille

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - September starts with a bang
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte pilots! Today, we will keep up our effort against the Royal Air Force by striking the aerodromes to the south of London. Coming up from the south, your assigned target will be West Malling, while the other formation attacks Detling. Several schwarms of escort fighters will provide you with protection on this trip. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=On 1 September, 1940, the Luftwaffe carried out two major strikes against RAF bases in the London area; the morning raid targeted Detling and Biggin Hill, while the afternoon raiders hit West Malling and Kenley. Only one Dornier bomber, from I / KG 76, was lost on this day, a credit to strong fighter cover. This mission is an attempt to combine their two major raids of the day.
"intelligence_string"=After getting airborne, you'll rendezvous with the other bombers and the fighter escorts as you head for England, crossing over the coast at Dungeness. At this point the formation will split up, & you will focus on West Malling. A second formation coming from the Pas-de-Calais will also be in the area, so the sky will be crowded over Kent. Make sure that you place your bombs on target, we want to inflict maximum damage!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Boissy-le-bois

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Schwarze Donnerstag
"summary_string"=Guten Tag! This afternoon, we will continue what was begun on Adler Tag by striking the Royal Air Force fighter airfields surrounding London. If we can inflict serious damage on the enemy airfields, they may not be able to land or depart from them, and their pilots will be grounded. Let's put these airfields out of commission! Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=While 15 August was most notable for the mauling of Norway-based Luftflotte 5, Do-17 bombers of KG 2 & KG 3 were able to attack several airfields in Kent and Essex, amongst them Hornchurch and Gravesend. With the help of heavy fighter escort, they were able to strike the aerodromes & inflict damage. Nevertheless, several Dorniers were lost or damaged in the attack.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, you will maintain a course which will take you near Cape Gris-Nez & Dover on your way toward the target. Your target is Hornchurch airfield, while other Dorniers will hit the airfield at Gravesend. Fighter escorts should allow you to attack the target unmolested, so make your bombs count!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Cambrai-Forenville

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - The hardest day
"summary_string"=Guten Morgen! Today, your targets are the Royal Air Force fighter airfields to the south of London. We hope that by damaging their aerodromes, they will be unusable for their fighters, & their pilots will be grounded. On this raid, a few high-ranking officers and camera teams will be along to record all of the action. Make sure to put your best foot forward, and do the Führer proud!
"objective_string"=18 August, 1940 saw Luftwaffe bombers carry out a morning raid consisting of Ju-88s, He-111s, and Do-17s against the airfields just south of London. He-111s of KG 1 and Ju-88s of KG 76 performed a high-level raid, while Do-17s of 9/KG 76 executed a low-level attack against Kenley, coming up from the south. The Luftwaffe took heavy losses during this strike, including the loss of several officers and other aircrew, sent along to gain experience. To add insult to injury, war reporters and camera crews were onboard several aircraft in the flight.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, your flight will rendezvous with the Heinkels and your escort as you approach the English Channel. Upon reaching Kent, you will aim for Biggin Hill while the Heinkels will attack West Malling. Your strike should help clear the way and draw off fighters from the Dorniers, who'll strike Kelney at low level. Make sure that you place your bombs on target! Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Norway)
"airfield_string"=France - Laon

[Rami]

Hello again,

I figured I should start a new post...

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Battle of Britain day
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte airmen! We must get into the air immediately, our formation will be part of the second massed assault on London. Elements from three other bomber groups will join us in the raid. Several staffels of escort fighters will meet up with you before reaching England, and cover your assault on London. Watch out for Royal Air Force fighters, they will defend their capital city to the last!
"objective_string"=The raids of 15 September, 1940 represented the climax of the "Battle of Britain." Throughout this day, Luftwaffe bombers threw their might behind two main daylight raids on London; one by Do-17s of KG 76 in the morning, followed by a combined raid of Do-17s & He-111s from KG 2, KG 3, KG 26, and KG 53. Both attacks suffered heavy losses, & at the conclusion of this long day, 56 Luftwaffe aircraft had been lost.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, you'll rendezvous with the other bombers & finally the escort fighters as you near the French coast. After you cross Cape Gris-Nez, your flight path will take you over Kent, hopefully during the time when RAF fighters will be landing and refueling after dealing with the first raiders. When attacking the London dockyards, aim for the anchored ships and the warehouses, where critical supplies are likely to be kept.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Cambrai-Forenville

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - First convoy assault
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! This morning, we will attack a convoy making its way through the Channel. The convoys are ferrying supplies in which the British need to continue resisting us. Our objective is to attack this convoy, and sink as many of the vessels that we can. If we can sink enough of these ships, we will make it extremely hard for the British to keep up the fight!
"objective_string"=Though the Dornier attack on convoy "Bread" came to signify the 'official' beginning of the Battle of Britain, Dorniers were hitting other convoys in the English Channel on 4 & 7 July. The raid on 7 July was in fact costly for the British, with the loss of seven planes and four pilots, while the Luftwaffe did not lose a single bomber. However, any losses suffered in the convoy are not clear.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, you will angle a bit northwest to pick up your escort coming from Azeville, & then head north out over the Channel to find and attack the convoy moving east toward Dover & the Thames Estuary. You'll fly this strike at low level, so keep your speed high over the convoy. If you miss with your bombs, bring your Dornier back to France in good condition; with the effort that faces us over Britain, we'll need all the resources we have. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Caen

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Harassment over Hawkinge
"summary_string"=Achtung! Today's raid will be a short hop over the Channel to raid the RAF airfield at Hawkinge. To help minimalize your exposure over Kent, you will approach Hawkinge from the northwest, coming in over Ramsgate so you can release on Hawkinge and head directly out to sea. Your escort should meet up with you before you leave France. Get in, and then get out quickly!
"objective_string"=On 12 August 1940, Do-17s of II/KG 2, along with another unidentified unit attacked the airfields at Hawkinge and Lympne. Their goal was to have them eliminated as fighter bases, and they were put out of operation for a short time. However, both were back at full readiness within twenty-four hours. This raid has been combined with a similar attack on 25 August, when Dorniers targeted the airfield again.
"intelligence_string"=Upon leaving Cambrai, maintain a direct northwest course for Hawkinge, meeting up with your escort as you fly over the coast. Instead of approaching from Dover, you will swing around over Ramsgate; that way, you can release your bombs on Hawkinge & then speed back toward safety in France. Make sure to aim for the aircraft hangars, vehicles, and supplies at Hawkinge, this will certainly cause the most damage. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Cambrai-Forenville

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - East Anglia in the crosshairs
"summary_string"=Guten Tag, kameraden! This afternoon we'll strike the major RAF airfields at Manston, North Weald, and Hornchurch. All three of these airfields were heavily used by the RAF, & were considered major cogs within the defensive system. If we can knock them out of action, it may seriously the ability of the Royal Air Force to respond to our attacks!
"objective_string"=On 24 August, Luftwaffe bombers took advantage of problems with the British reporting system, and struck the RAF airfields at North Weald, Manston, and Hornchurch, followed a later assault by KG 51 on Portsmouth harbor. Because of these problems, intercepting fighters found themselves well below the attackers; this allowed the Germans to operate with relative impunity.
"intelligence_string"=After leaving Lille, your flight will assemble with the rest of the formation as you near the French coastline, & then skirt the Thames Estuary on the way to Hornchurch. The Ju-88s will raid Manston and Hornchurch. Your formation will be escorted by Bf-109s and Bf-110s, so they should be able to handle any attacking RAF fighters. Your task is to knock out their large aircraft hangars on the west end of the base.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Lille

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Portsmouth in the crosshairs
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! This afternoon, we'll attack the dockyards at Portsmouth. We believe that this shift away from London and the RAF airfields will take the British by total surprise, that way we can pounce & then clear the area before their fighters have a chance to react.
"objective_string"=On 26 August 1940, Dorniers of KG 3 and He-111s of KG 53 assaulted the South London aerodromes of Croydon, Biggin Hill, and Kenley, while a later raid of Dorniers from I & II /KG 2 struck Debden & Hornchurch. As this raid withdrew, Heinkels of KG 55 were moving in to hit the Portsmouth docks. The raiders were intercepted by Royal Air Force fighters, and suffered heavy losses. This was the final daylight attack flown by Luftflotte 3 until the end of September, due to the removal of their escort fighter forces to the Pas-de-Calais region. They shifted to night operations during this time.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Beauvais, the course will take you toward the mouth of the river Seine, where you'll meet up with your escort flight. After crossing the Channel, part of the flight will separate & attack the naval facility at Gosport, while your formation will strike the dockyards at Portsmouth. Make sure you damage the wharfs, warehouses, and ships at anchor. Viel Glück!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Beauvais

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Pummel the Royal Air Force
"summary_string"=Achtung, airmen! We'll continue our assault on the fighter aerodromes of the RAF. The airfields that we'll attack today are located in Essex, including Hornchurch & Debden, both of which are used by several squadrons of RAF fighters. Bf-109 flights based near the Channel will be able to remain with you up to the target & back, so use this protection to put your bombs on target!
"objective_string"=On 31 August 1940. two large flights hit Royal Air Force fighter airfields to the north and northeast of London. The morning strike of Dorniers from II and III / KG 2 struck Debden and Duxford, while during the afternoon & evening, Dorniers of KG 3 & KG 76 hit Hornchurch, North Weald, Biggin Hill, and Croydon. This mission is a combination of the two attacks. On the day, the RAF lost 38 fighters, equaled by total Luftwaffe losses. This was a rate the RAF could not sustain, long-term.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Cambrai, hold a northwest course toward the Channel. As you near the French coast, the remainder of the formation and the escort will assemble. The flight path will take you up over the Thames Estuary along your way to Debden, so the risk of RAF interception is high. The other flights will hit different airbases along your flight path, including the airfield at Duxford. Your targets at Debden are aircraft hangars and revertments for their fighters, so make your bombs count!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Cambrai-Forenville

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Hitler wants revenge
"summary_string"=Achtung, Luftflotte airmen! Today, our focus will change from attacking British fighter airfields to the capital of London itself. Your objective is the East London docks. The piers, anchored ships, and warehouses are the highest priority targets. Make sure you place your bombs on target, because the British will not let us attack their capital without putting up a fight! Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=Following the accidental bombing of London by a Luftwaffe bomber crew and the subsequent swift retaliation by Bomber Command that drew Hitler's ire, the initial night attacks on London were soon followed by an order on 5 September to hit major British cities, including London. On 7 September, London was pummeled all day by Operation Loge, striking the East End docks. While causing intense destruction, the shift to London gave the RAF new life; previous days had taken a major toll on pilots and machines, and had it continued, the Luftwaffe could have won a battle of attrition.
"intelligence_string"=After forming up over French soil, your flight will cross the Channel and head toward Kent. You must be ready for a fight; Royal Air Force fighters will be waiting. With the shift toward London, Bf-109s will have about fifteen minutes of combat time to defend you, & Bf-110s will have their own trouble once the Bf-109s leave. Make sure to release your bombs on target, then clear the area as quickly as you can, to limit your exposure over areas of thick flak. Remain on constant alert for enemy fighters!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Norway)
"airfield_string"=France - Laon

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - KG 2 targets Central London
"summary_string"=Achtung, kameraden! Our orders are to sustain the pressure on London following the massive raids of yesterday, during the day & night. Today, we will focus on Central London after yesterday's effort over the East End dockyards. Our objectives are the historical buildings and industrial areas near the city centre. Let's show the British the terrible cost of resistance!
"objective_string"=On 8 September, the Luftwaffe followed up their massive attacks on 7 September when Dorniers of II and III / KG 2 focused on Central London. Two Dorniers from II / KG 2 were lost to anti-aircraft fire, while a RAF pilot from 46 Squadron brought down another Do-17. During the night, London was struck again, and these night raids would continue for another fifty-five days.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Cambrai airfield, you will follow the familiar route through France to the Channel, passing over Cape Gris-Nez along the way to Kent. As you approach London, this formation will split, as each flight has a specific target. You are given the task of striking Buckingham Palace, but other historical buildings are acceptable if the target is covered by cloud or you come under fire. Be sure to watch out for the Royal Air Force...any raid on London places you at great risk.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Dornier Do-17z-2
"airfield_string"=France - Cambrai-Forenville

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Ju-88s mauled over London
"summary_string"=Guten morgen, Luftflotte pilots! Despite the heavy loss of 15 September, we are not letting up on the pressure, and will continue to pummel London. You are to hit the East End docks, while other bomber groups will rest today after intense action during the last two weeks. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=The raids on London on 18 & 30 September, 1940 by Junkers Ju-88s proved the vulnerability of the 'Schnellbomber' concept. Though much faster than the lumbering He-111s and Do-17s, Junkers Ju-88s were too lightly armored & defended to survive if intercepted. Hurricanes and Spitfires were fully capable of this, and on 18 September, nine Ju-88s of KG 77 were lost over London, a unit which had recently swifted over from Do-17s, and was out of action for the critical period of the battle. Among the losses was the Gruppen Kommander, Maj. Max Kless.
"intelligence_string"=After departing Laon aerodrome, you will follow the familiar route through France to the Channel, passing over Cape Gris-Nez along the way to Kent. As you approach London, you will aim for the East End docks, where you will drop your bombs on the warehouses, docks, & supplies. Continued pressure on the targets will prevent the British from making repairs, so make sure you put your bombs directly on target!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Norway)
"airfield_string"=France - Laon

"title_string"=Operation Sealion - Portland takes a pounding
"summary_string"=Guten Tag, Luftflotte pilots! This evening, we will fly a strike against the Westland Aircraft Factory at Yeovil, along with the docks at Portland. After breaking away from the Yeovil group, your section will pummel the anchored vessels & port facilities. Rumor has it that the daylight raids against Great Britain will be ending soon, though night raids may continue indefinitely. Viel Glück!
"objective_string"=On 30 September 1940, He-111s of I & II / KG 55 struck the Westland aircraft factory, near Yeovil. However, bad weather & RAF interception forced the Heinkels to turn back, and during their abort, they accidentally dropped their bombs on innocent civilians. The raid has been combined with another assault on 15 September, when twenty-six He-111s from the same bomber group attacked Royal Navy installations at Portland. That raid failed to cause any serious damage.
"intelligence_string"=After you've gotten airborne, your flight will take you to the mouth of the Seine River, where you'll rendezvous with the fighter escort. Following this, the formation will stay together until you separate out over the Channel, when half the Heinkels will alter course for Yeovil. Make sure that you keep a close watch for British fighters, RAF Warmwell is nearby. Your objective are the docks and supplies at Portland harbor, you must make every effort to inflict maximum damage!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=France - Boissy-le-bois

[CrisGer]

Remarkable endevour Rami and my congrats on your progress, it all is looking very good. well done.

[Rami]

CrisGer,

Thanks, I completed all of the texts tonight...now it's just triggers and events...snoozers. :wiggle:

[Rami]

Hey guys,

All of the triggers for these 18 missions have been completed...so we're getting really close to the end here. :mixedsmi:

[tobob]

Rami,

This is very exciting! :jump:

tobob

[Rami]

Tobob,

I have five of the last 18 missions completely done now, and will bang out at least a couple more tonight. Thanks for the support!