IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad News

Dear Friends,

Year 2022 is ending and, as we’re accustomed to, it’s time to sum up its results and discuss the future. 2022 was a year of big changes for IL-2 - our team has increased in size and is determined to achieve even more. We have completed nearly everything planned for this year: Battle of Normandy was the most massive release since 2012 and the finishing of Flying Circus Vol.II is in sight. We continue to develop the Great Battles world by releasing hundreds of improvements - some of them are very significant. Before moving to the next year plans, let’s reflect on the Great Battles stats for this year.

We have released 9 updates that brought 365 listed changes and improvements including:

• Battle of Normandy release.
  

6 fundamental visual improvements:

• New physically based sky dome tech;
  
• Realistic visualization of formation lights for all aircraft;
  

• Tactical numbers for all aircraft and player controllable tanks;
  
• New visualization of propellers for all aircraft;
  

• Dynamic Visual Damage (DVD) system applied for all aircraft and player controllable tanks;
  
• Numerous revamped graphical effects;
  

Two new huge maps:

• Northern France and Southern England (in two variations, with Quick Mission Builder, Advanced Quick Mission Generator and Career modes support);
  

• Western Front, Spring 1918 (with Quick Mission Builder mode support, the other two modes are in development);
  

New scenario campaign His Majesty’s Griffons;:

• “His Majesty’s Griffons”
  

10 new released aircraft (9 are player-controllable):

• Ju 88 C-6 “Zerstörer”
  

• Mosquito F.B. Mk.VI series.2
  

• Arado AR 234 B-2 “Blitz”
  

• Me 410 A-1 “Hornisse”
  

• Douglas C-47A “Skytrain”
  

• B-26B-55 “Marauder" (AI)
  

• Handley Page O/400
  

• Gotha G.V
  

• Sopwith Triplane
  

• Sopwith Snipe
  

Two new player controllable combat vehicles:

• Churchill IV
  

• StuG III Ausf.G
  

9 new AI controllable combat vehicles:

• Bedford QLD (AI)
  
• Bedford QLC (AI)
  
• Universal Carrier Mk.II (AI)
  

• Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.H (AI)
  
• Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf.G "Panther" (AI)
  

• Morris C9B with Bofors 40/L60 (AI)
  
• Flakpanzer IV "Möbelwagen" (AI)
  

• M8 "Greyhound" (AI)
  
• Sd.Kfz. 234/2 "Puma" (AI)
  

7 new ships:

• Landing Craft Assault (LCA)
  
• Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM)
  

• Landing Craft Tank (LCT)
  
• Bayfield-class military transport
  
• Liberty military transport
  
• Design 1013 cargo ship
  

• Gleaves-class destroyer
  

In addition, today we’re releasing 5.004b hotfix so your playing experience on the holidays will be even better.

Despite all the grim news of 2022, we were able to find a way not only to continue working, but to expand, probably in the most spectacular way since 2012 - the team size has increased by nearly a quarter. We are joined by two new programmers, two FM engineers, two 3D artists and two community managers. And this is only a beginning since we plan to continue the expansion.
All the not-so-easy changes that happened to IL-2 in 2022 allowed to get rid of the old thinking that held back our development. The need for changes in the technological base is long overdue. However, the former focus on producing primarily new content did not allow the team to fully unlock its potential associated with the full-fledged development of technology and improving the quality of the sim. The new strategy, adopted by the middle of the year, gave us freedom to choose the direction of development, as well as the opportunity to attract new resources.

There are ambitious goals ahead, and the team is gathering strength and resources to reach them. Here’s what we have planned for the next year:

1. Bring the production of the new large-scale project to full speed;
   
2. Complete the development of a number of new base technologies for the new project, which we started working on last year already;
   
3. Develop new approaches to the user experience in the next project, taking into account all the previous experience (both our own and that of our competitors);
   
4. Continue releasing new content for the Great Battles world;
   
5. Add new employees to the team, increasing the number of team members by 1.5 times in total;
   
6. Establish partnerships with teams and enthusiasts who will help us in the development of the Great Battles world, as well as in the creation of content for the new project.
   

It's been a long, eventful year, which we've managed to go through almost in full accordance with the previously planned plans, even building up potential along the way. Interesting and vast tasks lie ahead of us and we’re not doubting the eventual success. The work schedule is ready, the strategy is approved, the team is full of enthusiasm.

Clear prop! And Happy New Year!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

2022 was an exciting year for our team with the release of the Battle of Normandy, additional collector aircraft like the C-47 and Sopwith Snipe for IL-2, along with the collector vehicles Churchill IV and StuG IIIG for Tank Crew.
A heartfelt Thank You goes out to all of you for your continued support over the years.
We are even more excited for 2023, and have some great things planned for the future.

Until then, here is your chance to add to your collection:

Battle of Normandy – 25% OFF
Battle of Kuban – 85% OFF
Includes Sea Dragons single-player campaign
Flying Circus Volume I – 70% OFF
Includes two single-player campaigns
Tank Crew Premium Edition – 66% OFF
Tank Crew Deluxe Edition on Steam – 66% OFF
Includes two single-player campaigns, 14 (!) player controllable combat vehicles and Battle of Stalingrad

Battle of Bodenplatte – 70% OFF
Battle of Stalingrad – 75% OFF
Battle of Moscow – 75% OFF
All Rise of Flight Content – 75% OFF
Collector Planes and Vehicles
Sopwith Snipe – 20% OFF
C-47A Skytrain – 25% OFF
Arado Ar 234 B-2 Jet Recon/Bomber– 25% OFF
Spitfire Mk.XIV– 25% OFF
Spitfire Mk.VB– 85% OFF
Yak-9 – 70% OFF
Yak-9T – 70% OFF
Hs 129 – 85% OFF
P-38J-25 – 70% OFF
A free campaign is available for owners of this aircraft and Bodenplatte!
Fw 190 D-9 – 70% OFF
Hurricane MK.II – 66% OFF
P-40 – 75% OFF
MC.202 – 75% OFF
Yak-1b – 75% OFF
With a female pilot option!
U-2VS – 75% OFF
With female crew option!

Bf 109 G-6 – 75% OFF
Ju 52 – 66% OFF
La-5FN – 70% OFF
Churchill IV – 25% OFF
StuG III Ausf. G Assault Gun – 25% OFF
GAZ-MM 72-K (25mm) Mobile AA Gun– 60% OFF
Sd.Kfz. 10/5 Flak 38 (20mm) Mobile AA Gun – 60% OFF

Campaigns
Steel Birds Scripted Campaign – 50% OFF
Updated and is now available on Steam!
All other campaigns – 75% OFF
NOTE: having at least the base game (Stalingrad) on Steam means you can launch it from Steam without entering a login and password and access your IL-2 content purchased elsewhere if you link the accounts.

Dear Friends,

The year 2022 is drawing to a close and we did our best to bring you a new update on Christmas Eve. It bears the number 5.004 and adds the Great War Collector Plane Sopwith Snipe to our series. It is a late war aircraft equipped with the most powerful Bentley BR2 rotary engine, producing up to 234 horsepower. By comparison, the Sopwith Camel fighter's Clerget 9B engine produced 130 hp. At the same time, however, the Snipe is 200 kilograms heavier than its predecessor (more than a quarter). Overall, the new fighter is more stable in flight and has better speed and climb characteristics. Everyone who has purchased an airplane now has the opportunity to master it and use it in combat.




In addition to the new vehicle, in update 5.004 we are releasing two AI armored vehicles for the Normandy and Bodenplatte projects - the M8 Greyhound and the SdKfz 234/2 Puma. You'll find new scenario missions for Churchill and StuG III in this update, they were created by community enthusiast super-truite and his friends. More than 80 improvements were made to the "Western Front, Spring 1918" map, which is in the early access phase and is currently being finalized. There are a number of other improvements and fixes to player controllable aircraft, tanks and artificial intelligence. A complete list of changes in the version 5.004 follows:

5.004.

1. The Sopwith Snipe, a Royal Air Force collector aircraft from the final phase of the Great War, is now available to its owners;

2. Battle of Normandy AI armored vehicle M8 Greyhound added;

3. Battle of Normandy AI armored vehicle SdKfz 234/2 Puma added;

4. Scenarios for collectible vehicles Churchill and StuG III added (super-truite);

5. Mk.37 rig model for the 5'/38-gun Mk.12 on the Bayfield and Liberty ships updated;

6. Fixed a bug in the aircraft AI leading to incorrect maneuver choices and incorrect aircraft behavior in aerial combat, which was especially noticeable on WWI airplanes;

7. AI pilots correctly climb while maintaining formation;

8. AI pilots controlling high speed capable aircraft are less likely to use risky high-altitude maneuvers at lower altitudes (previously these could led to a collision with the ground);

9. AI pilots should better avoid collisions in some maneuvers, especially in a frontal attack;

10. The tail section damage texture has been fixed on all Bf-109s;

11. The placards were corrected along with other minor improvements on Bf-109 E7, He 111 H6/H16, Ju-87 D3, Spitfire Mk.Vb/IXe/XIV (Oyster_KAI);

12. Incorrect operation of GUI information bar in player controllable tanks has been fixed;

13. C-47A: a number of visual inaccuracies and technical problems with the aircraft model has been fixed, including the shape of upper air intakes on engine nacelles;

14. C-47A: phosphorescent cockpit instrument illumination restored;

15. C-47A: fixed a bug with a broken window when the landing door is opened for bailing out;

16. C-47A: fixed a bug in the bail out animation that caused crew members to visually appear outside the cockpit for a moment;

17. C-47A: added a feature to align engine flaps with the flow;

18. C-47A: a fixed bug with radio compass working on powered off aircraft;

19. Me 262A: fixed reflections in cockpit instruments;

20. Stug III Ausf. G gun now takes more time to reload if the loader is unbuttoned;

21. Crew gestures have been added for the Churchill IV and the Stug III;

22. Stug III Ausf. G - fixed an incorrect position of the machine gun after loader's death, if it was in anti-aircraft position;

23. Stug III Ausf.G. - corrected wrong animation of the side correction input control;

24. Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G - main gun reloading sound aligned with the visual animation;

25. Mission editor: skins which consist of several textures are correctly displayed in the skin list;

26. It is possible to shoot off the trunk behind the turret on Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.M, Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G, Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.H and Churchill IV;

27. It is possible to shoot off the commander cupola on the Tiger;

28. Range of smoke grenade launchers corrected for all player controllable vehicles;

29. Improved sorting of visual effect particles;

30. Western Front map, Spring 1918: Treizennes airfield added;

31. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Clairmarais airfield moved;

32. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Ferme airfield is renamed Filescamp Farm;

33. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Droogland Airfield moved to square 0205-8;

34. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: removed second Epehy;

35. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: added bridge to the fortress in square 0408-9;

36. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Hoog Huys manor added;

37. Map of Western Front, Spring 1918: added Ferme manor;

38. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Removed flooded railroad track;

39. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: corrected railroad tracks in square 1202;

40. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Hoog Huys Airfield moved;

41. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: Filescamp Farm airfield moved;

42. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: added homestead near Droogland airfield;

43. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: corrected wrong track crossing in quadrant 0305-8;

44. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: improved appearance of Thionville Steelworks East and Thionville Steelworks;

45. Western Front Map, Spring 1918: the village of Crochte has been renamed Merckeghem;

46. Western Front map, Spring 1918: Hondschoote village renamed Esquelbecq;

47. Western Front map, Spring 1918: Droogland village moved to square 0205-8 and renamed Winnezeele;

48. Western Front map, Spring 1918: Kemmelberg village moved to square 0207-5 and renamed Kemmel;

49. Map of the Western Front, Spring 1918: Aire is renamed Aire-sur-la-Lys;

50. Map of Western Front, Spring 1918: 25 obstructions on road network removed;

51. Map of the Western Front, Spring 1918: 15 wrong dead ends on the road network were removed;

52. Western Front map, Spring 1918: corrected 18 problematic entrances to railroad bridges.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Dear Friends,


As we have mentioned during one of the video streams earlier, there are additional Collector Planes in development which are modifications of the existing ones in our sim. Today we can tell you a bit about one of them: the Messerschmitt Bf-109 G6/AS.


This model of the Bf-109 G6 has been designed as a high-altitude interceptor and appeared in the Western Europe skies during late Spring 1944, so it fits in the Battle of Normandy and Bodenplatte Career timeframes. 686 aircraft were built, 226 from the scratch and 460 upgraded from G-6 modification aircraft during the repairs. The engine, DB605AS was a modification of the DB605A . The installation of the bigger supercharger from the DB603 engine has increased the critical altitude and flight characteristics at high altitudes. The engine cowling became bigger, but it had a more aerodynamic form compared to a standard G6 cowling.



The base model of this aircraft in Great Battles will have the DB605AS engine working on B4 fuel (87 octane) with 1.42 ATA and 1435 HP takeoff power (1 minute limit). There will be the following modifications available:
- DB605ASM engine using С3 fuel (100 octane) allowing 1.7 ATA and 1800 HP takeoff power (around 3 minute limit);
- DB605ASM engine using С3 fuel (100 octane) with MW50 water-methanol injection system, allowing 1.7 ATA and 1800 HP takeoff power (up to 10 minutes time limit while there is water-methanol mixture left). In this modification the engine can take the takeoff power longer, but the downside is that the aircraft becomes around 100 kg heavier (MW50 weight).



Bf-109 G6/AS had a bigger tail fin, Erla Haube canopy and fixed loop radio compass. Additional weapon modifications will include:
- MK-108 engine cannon (replacing the MG151/20);
- Two underwing MG151/20 guns;
- Two 210mm WGr 21 rockets;
- 250 kg underfuselage bomb.



Previously we have seen a number of player requests to have this 109 model in Great Battles and we always strive to meet the player requests whenever we have the opportunity. At the moment the 3D model of the aircraft is nearly done and the work on its FM and systems is ongoing.

Dear Friends,

As 2022 draws to a close, we are completing our work on bringing the AI objects to the Normandy project that we previously promised. The first one is the Fighter Direction Tender. FDT are radar surveillance and control ships. They were actively used during the Normandy Landing in 1944 to coordinate the actions of Allied aviation and provide radar cover for the landing zones. We created three ships, FDT-13, FDT-216, FDT-217, based on the LST class dock landing ships, which bore the same hull numbers before modernization. Their modernization was carried out on the shipyards of the west coast of Scotland, away from the active enemy forces. During the modernization, various radio communication, electronic interception, and radar antenna equipment were installed on the upper decks of the ships, including two powerful Type 15 GCI and Type 11 radars. These ships played a prominent role in the events of D-Day.



The second AI object is a German eight-wheeled armored car Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma. This “slash-two” modification was the second by numbers among all the Pumas produced during the war: 101 out of 478 vehicles. This modification took part in the events of 1944, which the Battle for Normandy project tells about. It is a variant armed with the 50mm KwK-39 cannon (similar to the one used on later modifications of the Pz.Kpfw. III tanks), located, unlike later modifications with a 75mm cannon, in a fully enclosed and armored rotating turret. The car is notable for quite good frontal armor of the hull and turret (up to 30mm), as well as its unique chassis, which is worth mentioning by itself. The chassis is built based on an independent levered suspension of all 8 wheels and their coupled wheel springing. All the wheels of the Puma are driving and steerable. All this together, as well as a 12-cylinder V-shaped diesel engine Tatra 103 with a 210 horsepower capacity, provided very good cross-country ability, maneuverability, and speed.



The third is a lighter American armored car, M8 Greyhound. This three-axle all-wheel drive vehicle, unlike the Puma, had a classic chassis design with 3 leading solid beams and a front steering axle, less body armor (up to 19mm in the front), and lighter armament, the 37mm M6 cannon placed in an open-top turret. An important quality of the vehicle for infantry units was the additional heavy .50 cal Browning machine gun mounted on the rear of the turret. Possessing more modest characteristics and a less revolutionary design, however, the Greyhound was a third lighter than the Puma and obviously easier to manufacture. In the conditions of the Second World War, this was largely a determining factor. Moreover, the Greyhound turned out to be a rather successful armored car that was used in various conflicts for a great many years after the 1945.