From Lars...
Von-Lars productions presents part two of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo-bomber campaign trilogy. This is a semi-historical series of 30 missions based on the operational history of 39 Squadron RAF in the Mediterranean Theatre. If there is enough positive response we will merge all three campaigns into one 50 mission career. The last part will cover the Pacific Theatre.
Download here:
https://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads3&file=details&id=2902The British Army commander, Bernard Montgomery, stated that the Beaufort torpedo-bomber crews were one of the most vital elements in defeating Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Without their sinking of his supply ships the outcome of the land war could have been very different.
The weather is clearer than on the English Channel front so it is easier to see the enemy but it is also easier for them to see you. The squadron, along with four other Beaufort equipped squadrons, were so successful that, despite often heavy losses, they earned the nickname ‘The Shipbusters’.
We recognise that the map War Over Italy portrays Malta as too lush and green but we felt it covers the operational area of the squadron better than the other maps available so far. We also are aware that the squadron carried out many mining operations and later on more night missions than before, as their daylight role was taken over by Beaufighters. Mining is currently difficult to portray in this simulator so we have concentrated on daytime attacks, adjusting the timing accordingly where it was actually a night attack.
As well as attacking shipping convoys, you will be bombing land targets, have to fight off aggressive enemy planes, go on recces which provide multiple targets, and take off under fire. You will sometimes have fighter escorts of Spitfires and Beaufighters, and remember to use the Allied shipping flak defences to help you survive. You may have to swim a lot, as most of you experienced players know you can never underestimate the enemy AI. Lol.
The Beaufort is wonderful plane to fly. It lacks a fire extinguisher so flames can be deadly. It is manouevrable enough to tackle enemy bombers and seaplanes , using the front gunner and pilot’s fixed gun, and the good old dorsal gunner usually does his job well. If you dare at low level, you could even jump in the rear turret yourself while the AI flies your plane.
We have tried to provide a varied and exciting experience, and trust you will have as much fun as we had in making it. We strongly recommend you practice on the training missions provided, which are given separately so that if you take a break from the campaign you can practice before continuing your career.
The campaign has been tested in both Il2 1946 BAT 4.0 and 4.1. A VP Modpack version is in work,
Installation
This version of The Shipbusters is built and tested using the BAT Modpack 4.0/4.1 available at the SAS website and VP Modpack available at M4T. The download link will offer you two separate versions of the zip file; choose the one that is right for your game.
You can download BAT at the SAS website using the following link:
https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?board=264.0You will need no additional mods if you install this campaign on a working BAT or VP Modpack install.
The installation zip file contains the campaign, 3 training missions in your Single Mission directory, and aircraft skins used by the campaign. Unzip the Download file into a temporary directory. Copy the Missions and Paintschemes directories into your game root folder. You will have additions to the following Missions folders in your game:
• Missions\Campaign\GB\BeaufortMT0
• Missions\Single\GB\Beaufort
The training missions are from our Beaufort ETO campaign, The Seventeen Percenters, which you should consider playing if you enjoy Shipbusters.
Credits
My thanks to Vonofterdingen for bringing my history notes and ideas to life with his ability to programme this simulator.
Our thanks to cafs for creating custom Beaufort and Italian skins for this campaign (included in the download). Cafs also helped us to get the squadron markings correct.
Also, thanks to …for his War Over Italy map by So.V-Volperossa and …. for the North Africa map by Jir.
Special Thanks to Sgt Fresh for doing additional testing and making some marvellous videos of this campaign on YouTube. Check out his channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC72QJXd6KltqCDa1zCHzt0w/featuredNow, go and sink some ships!
Author
Topic: The Shipbusters: A Beaufort campaign for the MTO (Read 2217 times)
