Operation "Overlord"
Operation Overlord is larger than any other amphibious operation in history. Tremendous action, coordinated work of an incredible number of people. A genuine act of valor in terms of logistics and planning.
Only on the first day of the landing, June 6, more than 132 thousand soldiers were transferred from the British Isles to the mainland by sea and 24 thousand by air. Nearly 7,000 ships were involved in delivering the forces to the shore. Fire support from the sea was provided by an entire armada of warships, which included five battleships, twelve cruisers, sixty-five destroyers, and two monitors.
Usually, when the Overlord is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is infantry breaking through the hell of machine-gun fire on Omaha Beach, or paratroopers wandering in bocages in the darkness of the night. This image was formed thanks to movies and video games. However, the landing in Normandy is also an air operation of colossal proportions. More than ten thousand aircraft were involved in it: transports, reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, fighters, communications aircraft, and others. On the first day of operation Overlord alone (D-Day as it is known in popular culture), Allied forces flew 14,674 sorties.
It will be possible to take part in these historical events and look at burning Normandy from the aircraft cockpit in the new add-on for the Il-2: Sturmovik game.
At the player’s disposal is a map measuring 346 by 311 kilometers (the area, therefore, is almost 108 thousand square kilometers), on which there are about a hundred unique airfields. The British coast, a significant piece of Normandy, and the strait between them are completely accessible for flights. Chronologically, the career mode covers the period from April 15 to August 22, 1944. That is, it will be possible to take part in preparations for the landing, and in D-Day itself, and in subsequent battles until the actual completion of the Normandy operation, and the assault of allied troops deep into the continent. The situation at the front and the appearance of the terrain will change as the game time moves in accordance with how real historical events developed. For example, flying over the beaches after landing, you will notice how temporary wharves are being built on them to help the transfer of the bulk of the troops. The weather also, where possible, repeats the real one, according to archival data. In other words, the game offers the maximum historically reliable immersion in the era, achievable with the currently existing technologies.
You can play as an American, British, or German pilot and choose from a large number of real-life squadrons that took part in the Normandy operation. You can choose an ordinary pilot who is responsible only for himself and his crew, or become a flight commander and get virtual subordinates at your disposal. In addition to the already familiar types of objectives, such as intercepting enemy aircraft, escorting your own, and bombing targets, there will be new ones that have never been seen in Sturmovik before.
Eight new aircraft (plus two premium ones) will be available for piloting. It might seem to be not much, but it should be borne in mind that in the modern Sturmovik some modifications of the aircraft are considered variants of the same model and are switched in the vehicle settings, right in the hangar. In other words, in some other flight simulators, and even in the classic Sturmovik of the 2000s, this set would be considered two or even three dozen aircraft.
If you’ve read this far, it means you’re interested. And, probably, the only question that remains: “Will I be able to try all this splendor if I am a beginner?” The doubts are understandable: realistic flight simulators are complex entertainment, and according to some, even elitist one. But this is not about Sturmovik. The first game, released back in 2000, allowed a person with any degree of training to enjoy the game in full. The modern version completely inherited this part and even expanded it a little. Are you afraid to get tangled in the trimmers, set the wrong propeller pitch, or forget to open the radiator shutters? Or maybe you don’t even know what it is? In the difficulty settings, there are virtual assistants who will take care of this and much more on their own. No joystick and throttle lever? Not a problem at all! There is a control mode for the mouse and keyboard. And those who are complete beginners and do not want any difficulties, or just want to shoot beautifully at airplanes, can even turn on “legal cheats” like endless ammunition, endless fuel, and even complete invulnerability of the aircraft. Everyone can customize the game for themselves and change these settings at any time if they want something simpler or vice versa, closer to reality.
If you already play Il-2 Sturmovik, then Battle of Normandy is a great acquisition that will expand the game with both a new career and a new map for other modes. If you are just going to try, then this add-on can be an excellent entry point. After all, combat aircraft over the expanses of Northern France look amazingly beautiful.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Only on the first day of the landing, June 6, more than 132 thousand soldiers were transferred from the British Isles to the mainland by sea and 24 thousand by air. Nearly 7,000 ships were involved in delivering the forces to the shore. Fire support from the sea was provided by an entire armada of warships, which included five battleships, twelve cruisers, sixty-five destroyers, and two monitors.
Usually, when the Overlord is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is infantry breaking through the hell of machine-gun fire on Omaha Beach, or paratroopers wandering in bocages in the darkness of the night. This image was formed thanks to movies and video games. However, the landing in Normandy is also an air operation of colossal proportions. More than ten thousand aircraft were involved in it: transports, reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, fighters, communications aircraft, and others. On the first day of operation Overlord alone (D-Day as it is known in popular culture), Allied forces flew 14,674 sorties.
It will be possible to take part in these historical events and look at burning Normandy from the aircraft cockpit in the new add-on for the Il-2: Sturmovik game.
At the player’s disposal is a map measuring 346 by 311 kilometers (the area, therefore, is almost 108 thousand square kilometers), on which there are about a hundred unique airfields. The British coast, a significant piece of Normandy, and the strait between them are completely accessible for flights. Chronologically, the career mode covers the period from April 15 to August 22, 1944. That is, it will be possible to take part in preparations for the landing, and in D-Day itself, and in subsequent battles until the actual completion of the Normandy operation, and the assault of allied troops deep into the continent. The situation at the front and the appearance of the terrain will change as the game time moves in accordance with how real historical events developed. For example, flying over the beaches after landing, you will notice how temporary wharves are being built on them to help the transfer of the bulk of the troops. The weather also, where possible, repeats the real one, according to archival data. In other words, the game offers the maximum historically reliable immersion in the era, achievable with the currently existing technologies.
You can play as an American, British, or German pilot and choose from a large number of real-life squadrons that took part in the Normandy operation. You can choose an ordinary pilot who is responsible only for himself and his crew, or become a flight commander and get virtual subordinates at your disposal. In addition to the already familiar types of objectives, such as intercepting enemy aircraft, escorting your own, and bombing targets, there will be new ones that have never been seen in Sturmovik before.
Eight new aircraft (plus two premium ones) will be available for piloting. It might seem to be not much, but it should be borne in mind that in the modern Sturmovik some modifications of the aircraft are considered variants of the same model and are switched in the vehicle settings, right in the hangar. In other words, in some other flight simulators, and even in the classic Sturmovik of the 2000s, this set would be considered two or even three dozen aircraft.
If you’ve read this far, it means you’re interested. And, probably, the only question that remains: “Will I be able to try all this splendor if I am a beginner?” The doubts are understandable: realistic flight simulators are complex entertainment, and according to some, even elitist one. But this is not about Sturmovik. The first game, released back in 2000, allowed a person with any degree of training to enjoy the game in full. The modern version completely inherited this part and even expanded it a little. Are you afraid to get tangled in the trimmers, set the wrong propeller pitch, or forget to open the radiator shutters? Or maybe you don’t even know what it is? In the difficulty settings, there are virtual assistants who will take care of this and much more on their own. No joystick and throttle lever? Not a problem at all! There is a control mode for the mouse and keyboard. And those who are complete beginners and do not want any difficulties, or just want to shoot beautifully at airplanes, can even turn on “legal cheats” like endless ammunition, endless fuel, and even complete invulnerability of the aircraft. Everyone can customize the game for themselves and change these settings at any time if they want something simpler or vice versa, closer to reality.
If you already play Il-2 Sturmovik, then Battle of Normandy is a great acquisition that will expand the game with both a new career and a new map for other modes. If you are just going to try, then this add-on can be an excellent entry point. After all, combat aircraft over the expanses of Northern France look amazingly beautiful.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]