IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad News

#266

Dear Friends,

As you know, the long-awaited Tank Crew - Clash at Prokhorovka was released officially recently. This is a very important milestone in the development of the IL-2 Great Battles series even if it has deviated from the aviation theme a bit. However, those of you who read our Dev Blog regularly know that the tank project development contributed to the aircraft features immensely. And while today's Dev Blog is dedicated to tanks, in the near future all the aircraft in the series will benefit from both things we'll tell you about (3-dimensional visualization of the terrain unevenness and graphics effects improvements).




First, though, we'd like to show you the new Tank Crew promotion trailer created by =HH=Pauk. It showcases the main features we focused on with our partner Digital Forms during the development - operations of the realistically looking and accurately modeled combat vehicles on the real terrain that were recreated according to historical documents of the Prokhorovka battle and the events immediately before and after it. Taking into account the two bundled historical campaigns, it is a massive historical reconstruction of the tank actions in that area. Here it goes:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]










It is well-known that we continue the improvement of our modules long after their official release dates, that's why we keep them in one 'package', so all the modules shared the newest benefits of the sim core. In the next update, you'll see the terrain roughness that previously was modeled physically and affected the tank movement is now visible and have a realistic size and layout. This also affects the aircraft in case of an emergency landing in a field. The second addition is the set of newly developed gunfire visual effects for the detailed tanks - their guns and machine guns. Before all the gunfire effects looked similar, but now they'll differ depending on the muzzle brake and the power of the gun. We plan to do the same for the aircraft guns of the planes in development and later on for the previously released ones. This video demonstrates the new effects better than many words can:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]










Enjoy!

The Sturmovik Team

Attention Pilots!

The Annual Autumn Sale has begun right here on Steam! Save between 25% to 85% on most items. With the world still grappling with quarantines and lock-downs now is a great time to explore the Sturmovik universe in great depth by playing our Pilot Career or a Scripted Campaign or try your Tank Commander skills in our newly released Tan Crew – Clash at Prokhorovka or perhaps give multiplayer a try? There are so many gameplay options and something for every style of virtual pilot!

The Annual Autumn sale runs from 10:00am PST November 25th to 10:00am PST December 1st.

Battle of Stalingrad = 85% Off
Battle of Moscow = 75% Off
Battle of Kuban = 75% Off
Battle of Bodenplatte = 66% Off
Flying Circus: Volume I = 66% Off

Tank Crew - Clash at Prokhorovka - 13% Off (Launch Discount Ends 11/27)
Hurricane MK.II - 25% Off (Launch Discount Ends 11/27)

La-5 Series 8 = 85%
Fw-190 A-3 = 85%
P-40E-1 = 85%
Mc.202 Series VIII = 85%
Hs-129.B2 = 85%
Spitfire Vb = 75%
Bf-109 G-6 = 75%
Yak-1b = 75%
U-2VS = 75%
Ju-52/3m = 75%
La-5FN = 75%
P-38J-25 = 66% Off
Fw-190 D-9 = 66% Off
Yak-9 = = 30% Off
Yak-9T = 30% Off
Blazing Steppe Campaign = 75% Off
Fortress on the Volga Campaign = 75% Off

https://store.steampowered.com/app/307960/IL2_Sturmovik_Battle_of_Stalingrad/

Cliffs of Dover - Blitz = 75% Off
Desert Wings - Tobruk - 25% Off

https://store.steampowered.com/app/754530/IL2_Sturmovik_Cliffs_of_Dover_Blitz_Edition/

All ROF Content = 75% Off

https://store.steampowered.com/app/244050/Rise_of_Flight_United/

See you in the skies!

Enjoy!

The Sturmovik Team

Attention Tankers and Pilots!

We are proud to announce that IL-2 Sturmovik: Tank Crew – Clash at Prokhorovka is officially released! Take one of these armored beasts into combat in both single-player Campaigns and intense multiplayer action today! We've brought armored combat to the Great Battles series where tanks and aircraft seamlessly occupy the same battlefield in both single-player and multiplayer environments. Experience WWII from inside a massive armored machine that is impervious to machine-gun bullets, but not one well-placed cannon round or aerial bomb! 

We are also happy to announce that both Tank Crew and the Hurricane MK.II are now AVAILABLE on the STEAM platform starting today!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1467120/IL2_Sturmovik_Tank_Crew__Clash_at_Prokhorovka/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1467121/IL2_Sturmovik_Hurricane_MkII_Collector_Plane/
Both Tank Crew and Hurricane MK.II on Steam include a Launch Discount for the next 7 days!  







Hurricane MK.II

The legendary British-built Hurricane came to fame during the Battle of Britain where it did the heavy lifting for the RAF in that pivotal battle. Unlike popular belief, it was the sturdy and more numerous Hurricane and not the sexier Spitfire that really made the difference. The Hurricane was built in large numbers and the Mk.II series was sent to all corners of the war to fly and fight, including the Eastern Front where the Soviet VVS put them to good use in several sectors. The Hurricane Mk.II saw action over the sands of North Africa, the ports of Malta, the jungles of the Far East and protected convoys in the Atlantic. Hurricanes even saw action over Leningrad, Murmansk and many other battles over the vast Russian steppe. It was a true WWII legend and workhorse.

The Hurricane Mk.II series which consisted of the a, b, c and d variants was outfitted with a few different armament configurations. This included either the 12 x .303 machine guns in the wings or 4 x 20mm Hispano cannons also fitted in the wings. Many of the Mk.II’s were of the “Hurribomber” variety with wing racks for 250lb or 500lb bombs. One later variant could also carry two 40mm cannons for anti-armor duty. 





See you in the skies and on the battlefield!

The Sturmovik Team

Dear Friends,

Less than two weeks (wink-wink) have passed since the previous update and we just released another - 4.503. It doesn't contain so many changes, but it adds a new aircraft to the Battle of Normandy Early Access - the Bf 109 G-6 'Late'. With the MW-50 injection system engaged, it was a formidable machine capable of confronting the Allied fighters of that time. Normandy map and Battle of Normandy Career are still in development according to the development plan, but you can already use the new addition in the Rheinland career - we've added it to the five groups that have been using this Bf 109 during the Rheinland career time-frame historically.

Also in this update, 4K external texturing for the German heavy fighter Bf 110 G-2 (Battle of Kuban) is added. As with other updated planes, this change is a big visual improvement. There are several improvements for Tank Crew as well in anticipation of its official release.

NOTE: Tank Crew is scheduled for launch on Steam in just a couple days - Nov. 18th, 2020.



The full change-list follows:

4.503

1. German fighter Bf 109 G-6 Late is available for Battle of Normandy owners;
2. Bf 109 G-6 Late added to the following Rheinland Career mode (Battle of Bodenplatte) groups the player can join: I./JG 3, II./JG 11, III./JG 26, III./JG 27 and II./JG 77. It is also used by AI-controlled groups III./JG 1, III./JG 4, III./JG 53, I./JG 76 and III./JG 300;
3. German heavy fighter Bf 110 G-2 has 4K quality external textures created by Martin =ICDP= Catney;
4. Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.M player controllable tank now has a lower armor plate under the rear overhang modeled;
5. All player controllable tanks now have bulkheads (made of regular steel) between the fighting and the engine compartments;
6. M4A2 tank commander animation corrected (due to an error he could be wounded by enemy MG fire when inside the tank);
7. AI-controlled ground vehicle tracks are resistant to combat damage similarly to player controllable vehicle tracks
8. Combat damage resistance has been corrected for several player controllable tank tracks;
9. The maximum speeds of the simple AI-controlled tanks now correspond to the detailed ones;
10. Tracked and wheeled vehicles move up the hills faster and more realistically;
11. Recently released Tank Coop missions were improved;
12. Tank gunner AI prefers APHE ammo when it estimates that the target armor can be penetrated with different ammo types at the current relative position;
13. Tank driver AI has been improved, resulting in less jerking while driving backward;
14. Bf 109 G-2, G-4, G-6, G-14 and K-4 wheels texturing has been improved;
15. Hurricane Mk.II compass now has fluorescent needles;
16. A rare issue with generating a new day in the Career mode has been addressed.

Enjoy!

The Sturmovik Team

Dear Friends,

We know that the Battle of Normandy pre-order customers are eagerly waiting for its planes to arrive. It's understandable, but in spite of our team keeping the development rate at a very high level, creating an aircraft worthy of our simulation fidelity from scratch is very time consuming and labor. intensive. The main bulk of the Normandy planes list will arrive next year. However, some of the planes that are based on the previous ones will arrive sooner.

We have already released P-47D-22 'Razorback' and as soon as next week another one will arrive - the German Bf 109 G-6 Late fighter with an enlarged tail and additional modifications which are characteristic for the year 1944. This includes the MW-50 water-methanol injection system and an improved cockpit canopy - the 'Erla Haube'. Being part of the 109 family, this fighter also has very good flying characteristics and powerful weaponry. The MW-50 allows increasing the power near the deck from 1480 to 1800 HP, increasing the maximum speed from 528 to 573 km/h. Of course, the engine power increase also improves the turn radius and climb rate which are invaluable in a dogfight. This late G-6 variant could also carry the WGR.21 heavy unguided rockets in jettisonable underwing launchers.





Enjoy!

The Sturmovik Team