Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto 2.0 released!

[Rami]

Stuart277.

Do we have anything that could pass for HMS Keppel? (For an Operation Pedestal refit)

According to Makeitupapedia, she was a "Thornycroft-type flotilla leader built for the Royal Navy at the end of the First World War. She was completed too late to serve in that conflict, but saw extensive service in the inter war years and in World War II."

[Ravenna]

AKA Shakespeare class destroyers. A quick look says no, we don't have a good match.

...A closer look raises the possibility that a modified V&W class destroyer from Stuart's V&W set might be a good match for HMS Keppel as a long range escort.

[Rami]

AKA Shakespeare class destroyers. A quick look says no, we don't have a good match.

"O Thornycroft, Thornycroft, wherefore art thou, Thornycroft?" :costumed-smiley-034

[Dirtman]

A real family affair, Thornycroft designed and built vessels for navies across the globe for a hundred years.

https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/thornycroft

[Rami]

Dirtman,

Well, this has turned into something really interesting. :encouragement: I had no idea about this one. Absolutely none whatsoever. Thanks for the link! :santahat:

[stuart277]

Hi Rami
I will whip one up this afternoon.
1942 Pedestal style.
All the Best
Stuart

[Rami]

Stuart or UncleTgt,

Using Collin's SS Ohio42: https://simviation.com/lair/files/shipyard1/Ohio.zip

Damaged: https://simviation.com/lair/files/shipyard1/OhioD.zip

I had the "turn north and run like hell" problem during a torpedo run. I knew enough to check the .dp file to look for gun stations, and "surprise," there weren't any. Knowing that the Ohio was a 10,000 ton tanker, I used Stuart277's 10,000 ton tanker as a template and copied the gun stations and effects into the .dp file.

It solved the running north problem, but I don't know enough about .dp editing to ensure that my copy-and-paste job is accurate. Can someone check my handiwork?

Thanks,

[stuart277]

Hi Andrew
I have had a look at the files and as you have seen there are no gun's, so the ship will only go 'north.
There are a few other things that I do not like (or fully understand) in terms of the way I do .dp files.
In my original file I have:

I can't open the original .dp file with dpED, but I can open the one you sent me.

system.0=%system_name.0%,500,18

should probably be

system.0=%system_name.0%,500,-1
Your file has this.


The last number is 'hit points'
From my understanding this is the amount of damage each part of the ship can take before it sinks, if 'sink' is part of the 'effects'
ie



[EFFECTS.0]
; System = Fuselage Structure
effect.0=30,LIBRARY,fx_smkpuff_s,
effect.1=60,LIBRARY,fx_wtrexpl_m,
effect.2=80,LIBRARY,fx_wtrexpl_l,
effect.3=100,LIBRARY,fx_guns,
effect.4=100,SINK,1,

500 is not much.


I will fix the guns up today and upload in this thread.
I will leave the rest of the .dp file as is

Take Care
Stuart

[stuart277]

Hi Again
I should have said that I can only open the Damaged ship file with dpED.
I cannot open your files even after changing 18 to -1
Anyway I will see what I can do.
Take Care
Stuart

[stuart277]

Hi Andrew
I have made up some new .dp files for the Ohio.
The originals have only had gun-stations added.
1 x 5 inch (no ammo)
1 x 3 inch AA
1 x 40mm
2 x 20mm
The positions match the model, but the hit boxes do not.

I have also made up new .dp files that have the hit boxes relating to the model.

At the moment the damage is set at around 10,000, which means it can be sunk.
It is possible to have an unsinkable ship.
It just needs a the damage to be 100,000, but the effects will need to be altered so damage can be seen.

ie

[EFFECTS.0]
; System = deck_for_5
effect.0=1,LIBRARY,fx_smkpuff_s,
effect.1=2,LIBRARY,fx_ship_s,
effect.2=3,LIBRARY,fx_ship_s,
effect.3=4,LIBRARY,fx_ship_s,
effect.4=5,LIBRARY,fx_airexpl_s,
or
you may be able to remove 'sink' from the effects, but I am not sure about this.

In any case I have attached the four files.
SS_Ohio42New-Orig
SS_Ohio42FNew-Orig
SS_Ohio42Stuart
SS_Ohio42FStuart

Cheers
Stuart
PS
I have finished HMS Kepel. I am working on HMS Wallace. I may finish tomorrow.

[Rami]

Stuart277,

Many thanks for this. (This was my night to pick my brother up from work, so I am responding now...)

The SS Ohio need not be unsinkable; it's spawned in the next mission anyway as it works its way to Malta.

Thanks for the work on HMS Keppel and HMS Wallace. I have already updated all of the Mezzagosto missions with your ships (All they need is the Thornycroft) and am about 40% of the way through the Pedestal missions to reach the same standard.

I even added one mission, similar to the Fortress Malta update; I included the Spitfires flown off by HMS Furious about the time HMS Eagle was sunk on 11 August, 1942; HMS Furious launched thirty-eight Spitfires that reached Malta in advance of the convoy, then returned to Gibraltar. She launched 32 more on 16 August.

I used the Operation Bowery mission as a template and just hand-edited the adjustments.

We do have a good HMS Furious model; Collin did one. :santahat:

[Rami]

Stuart277,

The folder you posted was empty? :dizzy:

[Rami]

Stuart277,

I downloaded the Thornycroft/Shakespeare, and have updated all of the Pedestal missions and some of the Mezzagosto missions. I should be able to re-release the Pedestal campaign this weekend...in part it is an homage to all of the ships you have done.

Many thanks for all of these wonderful models!

[stuart277]

Hi Rami
Oops!
I have done that a couple of times lately.
Empty Folders / Empty Head
Here it is.
Take Care All
Stuart

[Rami]

Cody,

Modifying the Pedestal campaign, is it possible to include two campaign end points within the same .cmg file?

The scenario I'm thinking of is this. You have a 25% chance of flying a mission where you fly off Spitfires from HMS Furious to the island of Malta. I already have the mission set up within the campaign file for the 25% scenario, as well as the mission where the campaign picks up again after the convoy comes within range of Malta.

For the scenario where this does not happen, I want the carrier-based campaign to end after the last mission within the Sicilian narrows where the carriers turn back toward Gibraltar. So what I wrote looks likes this...(the section in question is highlighted in red)

[node.0]
true_branch=1
percent_true=100
filler=0
soundfile=


[node.1]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 1
true_branch=2
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.2]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 2
true_branch=4
false_branch=3
percent_true=75
filler=1


[node.3]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 3a
true_branch=13
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.4]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 3b
true_branch=4
false_branch=5
goals=3
filler=1


[node.5]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 4
true_branch=6
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.6]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 5
true_branch=7
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.7]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 6
true_branch=8
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.8]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 7
true_branch=9
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.9]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 8
true_branch=10
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.10]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 9
true_branch=11
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.11]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 10
true_branch=12
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.12]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 11
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.13]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 12
true_branch=14
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.14]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 13
true_branch=15
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.15]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 14
true_branch=16
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.16]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 15
true_branch=17
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.17]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 16
true_branch=18
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.18]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 17
true_branch=19
percent_true=100
filler=1


[node.19]
mission_name=Operation Pedestal 18
percent_true=100
filler=1

[Cody Coyote]

Rami - That should work just fine. You can have multiple "ending nodes" in a campaign. Obviously the player will only see one each time they fly the campaign but it adds the possibility of a different ending each time you play.

Here's another application of that. I once wrote a 500 node campaign for myself where about midway through the player gets reassigned to one of four different squadrons. The campaign then continues to the end. When the last mission is flown there is a 75% chance of the campaign ending right there and a 25% chance that you'll be sent back to when you were reassigned and fly the second half of the campaign over but with a different squadron and in different planes. There were at least five different ending points in that campaign as I recall.

Multiple endings are not difficult as long as think the logic through and they add life to a campaign since it may play out differently each time you fly.

[Rami]

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=80808&stc=1

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Campaigns Add-Ons

Description: Welcome to the Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto campaign package 2.0! Its overhaul and re-release is a gesture of gratitude and an homage to Stuart277, whose shipbuilding work has allowed for much more naval realism in CFS2, in terms of correctly representing naval forces of numerous nations. The missions themselves have also been modified to correct wayward AI behavior, and a new mission has been included, along with dynamic elements to the campaign file on both the British and Italian sides.

This package chronicles the effort by the British to get badly needed supplies loaded on merchant ships in the "Pedestal" convoy through the Western Mediterranean to relieve the besieged strategic island of Malta, whose citizens and defenses were on the brink of starvation. Also chronicled are the equally determined German and Italian efforts to prevent the convoy from reaching Malta intact. This dramatic battle took place between August 11th and 15th, 1942.

In the end, five merchant vessels were able to reach Malta, including the oiler Ohio, whose fuel allowed Malta to continue resisting the Axis forces in the Mediterranean. Nine of the merchant vessels were crippled and sunk, along with one destroyer, two light cruisers, and the carrier HMS Eagle. The result was a tactical victory for the Axis, whose bombers, fighters, torpedo boats, and U-boats inflicted horrific losses on the British. However, the result was also a strategic victory for the Royal Navy, who were able to keep Malta supplied enough to prevent its surrender to Axis forces, and continue its operations that severely affected the progress of the Afrika Korps during 1941 and 1942, especially in the crucial period during the battles of El Alamein.

This campaign is not designed to be immersive, or have you fly the same type of aircraft throughout. Instead, this campaign has you fly multiple types of aircraft to help give you a taste of the different types of attacks the Pedestal convoy withstood, and the valiant defense that her defenders put up in an effort to push through to Malta despite often overwhelming resistance. This campaign features the efforts that the German and Italian fighters and bombers undertook to try and prevent the Pedestal convoy from ever reaching Malta.

To preserve the legacy of those brave sailors involved in this effort, all the ship names have been researched and used accordingly. Stuart277’s magnificent work, as well as others such as Collin, Usio, and UncleTgt, have also allowed for the ship types to be matched as closely as possible.

In this first package, you will find all of the aircraft, gauges, sounds, weapons, voice packs, & nationality screens required for this campaign. All of the required aircraft have been included, as well as any historical repaints that would have been used during or near the time that Operation Pedestal worked its way through the Western Mediterranean. TThose whose work has been included in this first package include the Alphasim freeware team, Dbolt, Graham, (VB planes) Oldwheat, the Groundcrew team, Bismarck13, Martin Wright, Brunosk, Thicko, Paul Rebuffat, Captain Kurt, Morton, the Donationware team, UncleTgt, Lawdog2360, Buddha13, Krystof Malinowski, Baldy, Kelticheart, Gius, Franz von Baron, Alain Breton, Peperez, Mission, Edrufle, the old IS4G team, Virtual Wings, and Wolfi.

All of the aircraft in this package have been modified, when necessary, to include the appropriate repaints, when possible, for the aircraft. I've also included modified .dp files for each aircraft which correct information in the [MISC.DATA] section that I found to be in error. To lessen issues with frame rates with many waves of aircraft in the sky, all exhaust effects have been removed, if they were included in the original models.

"Rami"


Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto 2.0 - Part I.zip
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=44&id=27629

[Rami]

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=80807&stc=1

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Campaigns Add-Ons

Description: Welcome to the Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto campaign package 2.0! Its overhaul and re-release is a gesture of gratitude and an homage to Stuart277, whose shipbuilding work has allowed for much more naval realism in CFS2, in terms of correctly representing naval forces of numerous nations. The missions themselves have also been modified to correct wayward AI behavior, and a new mission has been included, along with dynamic elements to the campaign file on both the British and Italian sides.

This package chronicles the effort by the British to get badly needed supplies loaded on merchant ships in the "Pedestal" convoy through the Western Mediterranean to relieve the besieged strategic island of Malta, whose citizens and defenses were on the brink of starvation. Also chronicled are the equally determined German and Italian efforts to prevent the convoy from reaching Malta intact. This dramatic battle took place between August 11th and 15th, 1942.

In the end, five merchant vessels were able to reach Malta, including the oiler Ohio, whose fuel allowed Malta to continue resisting the Axis forces in the Mediterranean. Nine of the merchant vessels were crippled and sunk, along with one destroyer, two light cruisers, and the carrier HMS Eagle. The result was a tactical victory for the Axis, whose bombers, fighters, torpedo boats, and U-boats inflicted horrific losses on the British. However, the result was also a strategic victory for the Royal Navy, who were able to keep Malta supplied enough to prevent its surrender to Axis forces, and continue its operations that severely affected the progress of the Afrika Korps during 1941 and 1942, especially in the crucial period during the battles of El Alamein.

This campaign is not designed to be immersive, or have you fly the same type of aircraft throughout. Instead, this campaign has you fly multiple types of aircraft to help give you a taste of the different types of attacks the Pedestal convoy withstood, and the valiant defense that her defenders put up in an effort to push through to Malta despite often overwhelming resistance. This campaign features the efforts that the German and Italian fighters and bombers undertook to try and prevent the Pedestal convoy from ever reaching Malta.

To preserve the legacy of those brave sailors involved in this effort, all the ship names have been researched and used accordingly. Stuart277’s magnificent work, as well as others such as Collin, Usio, and UncleTgt, have also allowed for the ship types to be matched as closely as possible.

In this package, you'll find the GSL scenery objects, anti-aircraft guns, buildings, and scenery packages, as well as nearly all the other equipment required, together with the campaigns & missions themselves.

Those whose work has been used for this project include Jean Bomber, UncleTgt, Baldy, Brunosk, Achim27619, Xavierb, Wolfi, Stiz, Usio, The Virtual Navy, Pen32Win, MaskRider, Gary Burns, Nanni, Nibbio, Bismarck13, Rockster, Simonu, the IS4G team, Paul Rebuffat, The Groundcrew Team, and the AF Team. Due to this, it is imperative that you gain permission from all parties before uploading this file package to a location other than www.sim-outhouse.com (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/). Please be respectful of the rights of all those whose work is found here.

This campaign overhaul package and all contents within are exclusively released as freeware. This must not be used for any commercial gain or purpose, nor be uploaded to any site that requires payment for download access.

Any modifications or partial uploads must have the permission of Andrew Talbot, ("Rami"), Jean Bomber, Brunosk, and Achim27619, as well as all other parties whose work is being used. Make sure to check the "permissions and readme" folder for further details on author work.

This installation package has been scanned by BitDefender 2021, and is virus, payware. adware, and malware-free. However, I take no responsibility for and am not liable for any harm done to your computer as a result of this installation.

"Rami"

Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto 2.0 - Part II.zip
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=44&id=27630

[Rami]

Cody Coyote,

Many thanks for the campaign file advice. That's really interesting about the different stop points and redirects you have, I may have to try that.

Stuart277,

Many thanks for the Stonycroft-class, it provided yet another layer of authenticity!

[Rami]

Good morning,

Note to all flyers: Please make sure to look at the readme...you will need Lindsay Watt's library objects and trees from MaskRider's site, and you will also need to download a total of six ships from CG Shipyard.

In the second pack, be sure to look in the "after downloading ships" folder for the revised files for the undamaged and damaged Ohio models.

Also, please be aware that for the Stuka and torpedo-bomber missions, be sure to follow your flight leader to the target!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

You finished! Congrats, my man and thank you!

[Ravenna]

Not at home so I can't check right now, but do we have models for the SS Melbourne Star and Waimerama?

[Rami]

Ravenna,

I didn't think there was. However, there are about fifty-seven different ship types used during the campaign, and I was cognizant about upgrading the old 'Gator Navy" tankers and freighters. So, I found a happy medium and I did use the oiler Ohio, so I felt at that point I met my obligation to try and supply a greater level of authenticity.

[Captain Kurt]

A major effort for sure Rami. It should be appreciated by everyone who flies the campaign. :applause:



Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto 2.0 - Part I.zip
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=44&id=27629


Operation Pedestal and Mezzagosto 2.0 - Part II.zip
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=44&id=27630

[Rami]

Good morning,

Just noticed something I thought I would pass on. I noticed in the SS Ohio download that Collin neglected to include a panel and sound folder in the ship download. This may cause the ships to not display correctly. It would also help to create a text file named "dummy.txt" and place it in both the panel and sound folders of both the damaged and undamaged Ohio models.

It would be worthwhile to check the other ship downloads as well.

[Marty]

Good morning,

Just noticed something I thought I would pass on. I noticed in the SS Ohio download that Collin neglected to include a panel and sound folder in the ship download. This may cause the ships to not display correctly. It would also help to create a text file named "dummy.txt" and place it in both the panel and sound folders of both the damaged and undamaged Ohio models.

It would be worthwhile to check the other ship downloads as well.


The aircraft was without a pilot. I placed the raf_pilot in the aircraft
bit I can not het the gun gondolas to where they should be. Any help please. :banghead::banghead:

[Rami]

Marty,

The aircraft is primarily used as AI only, so it doesn’t need a pilot. You never fly it.

[ElsnerMarkus]

Nice Campa9ign, nice thank you for th update, i have Combined this with the P 38 Lightning Camppaign, both use the MTO Theatre base ^^

But i miss the TR B 25 C Agrresor early and late 1943 from TR, where can i find this?

[Captain Kurt]

Nice Campa9ign, nice thank you for th update, i have Combined this with the P 38 Lightning Camppaign, both use the MTO Theatre base ^^

But i miss the TR B 25 C Agrresor early and late 1943 from TR, where can i find this?

The B-25 model is by Tango Romeo so it has to be downloaded from Simviation. All the flight models and textures that are required are included in the campaign package. Load the campaign b-25 folders into your Aircraft folder, then drop the TR B-25 model - only the model - into those folders and Bob's your uncle. :wink:

[Rami]

Kurt,

Thank you for helping me out!

ElsnerMarkus,

The B-25 is not required for Pedestal and Mezzagosto.