Survey of Combat Theater Preferences: MAPS AND PLANES

[Buzzbait]

S!

As part of a survey to determine what most CT flyer prefer, I`ve put together some Historical Map and aircraft matchup options.  

What are your preferences in Maps, (ie. Theaters)

Please indicate by listing the Maps in order of preference and then if multiple years are involved, put the year of preference.  The idea is not to exclude particular Theaters, but rather to start with the ones most are interested in, and then go on later to others.

Example :

2) 1944

1) 1945

6) 1943

4)    

5) 1944

7)

8)

3)

AH has the following maps that I am aware of :  (feel free to mention others if I`ve missed any)


Western Front  (U.S./British vs German)

1)  North West Europe :

This is the map currently being used.  It includes SouthEast England, Northern France, Belgium, Holland and Western Germany.

Time periods which can be simulated on this map run from 1942 to approx. March 1945 and could include scenarios which have no land forces, or others which do, including amphibious types.  Convoys, Trains, Task Forces, Factories and Cities should play a large part in this Theater.  This is the map which can be simulated in the most detail and the most accurately historically, particularly in 1944-45.  Front lines can be set up at whatever the historical starting point for the Scenario is.

1942

Hurri IIC
Spit V
B-26?

109F4
109G2
190A5
Ju88

1943

Spit V
Spit IX
Typhoon
P-47D-11
P-51B
B-26
B-17
Lancaster
Mosquito

109G2
109G6
190A5
Ju88

1944

Spit IX
Typhoon
Tempest
Mosquito
Lancaster
P-47D-11
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
P-51B
P-51D
P-38L
B-26
B-17

109G6
109G10
190A5
190A8
190F
190D9
Ju88
Arado
Me262


1945

Spit IX
Typhoon
Tempest
Mosquito
Lancaster
P-47D-11
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
P-51B
P-51D
P-38L
B-26
B-17

109G6
109G10
190A8
190F
190D9
TA-152
Ju88
Arado
Me262

2) Norway :

This is the map used for Hostile Shores.  It covers Northern and semi-Arctic Europe and includes a lot of Sea area.

Time periods and scenarios simulated here might include :

1942 :  German Convoy interdiction from Norway bases using land based bombers and fighters, as well as Cruiser Task Forces.  British defence by early Carrier borne aircraft and their Cruiser Task Forces.

Hurri IIC
TBM

109F4
Ju88

1944 :  Attacks on German Capital ships based in Norway Fjords by CV based British aircraft and longrange land based aircraft.  German land based defence aircraft.

Seafire IIC
F4U-D
F6-F
TBM
Mosquito
Lancaster
B-26

109G6
109G10
190F
Ju88


Eastern Front  (Soviets vs Germans, with some scenerios including Italians)

3) Baltic :

This was recently used in the MA.  It includes the region surrounding the Baltic Sea.  

Time periods and scenarios simulated here might include :

March/April 1945 :  Courland pocket.  A German Army cutoff in a Lithuanian peninsula by Soviet advance were ordered to stand firm by Hitler.  The Soviets attempted eliminate the pocket, the Germans to hold.  German Convoys to Courland were attacked by air and sea by the Soviets and defended by German Sea and Air forces.  This would include all the German and Soviet late war aircraft.

109G6
109G10
190D9
190A8
190F
Ju88
Arado
Me262
Ta-152
C-47

La-5
La-7
Yak-9U
Yak-9T
IL-2
Tu-2
B-26 (lendlease)
C-47


4) Stalingrad :

This is player generated map which I have used in HTH although I have since lost it.  (perhaps someone else has a copy?)  The scale is not very accurate here, but the terrain is snow covered, which makes for rather breathtaking scenery.

Time periods and scenarios simulated here might include :

1942-43 :  Counterattack at Stalingrad by Soviets and the fighting in the Donbass.  The Italian Airforce and Army were present at Stalingrad, hence the MC202.

Spit V (lendlease)
Hurri IIC (lendlease)
La-5
IL-2
Tu-2
C-47

MC202
109F4
109G2
190A5
Ju88
C-47

5) Leningrad and Finland

Another player generated map, this one is very well done.  Could be used for any of the time periods involved in the Finnish/Soviet matchup.  (With German aircraft based in Estonia)

1943 :

Hurri IIC (lendlease)
Spit V (lendlease)
La-5
IL-2
Tu-2

109G2
109G6
190A5
Ju88

1944 :

Spit IX (lendlease)
P-47D-30 (lendlease)
La-5
Yak-9T
IL-2
Tu-2

109G2
109G6
Ju88


There are also apparently two new maps of the Eastern Front being developed by the Scenario Team which could be used.


Mediterranean  Front  (British/U.S. vs German/Italian)

6)    Mediterranean Sea :

This covers the central Mediterranean, specifically Tunisia, Malta, Sicily and southern Italy.  It could be used for any of the period 1941-1943.  This is a very dynamic situation which involves a lot of Air/Sea by both sides.  I have put forward a very detailed Scenario for this map in an earlier posting.  (See `Combat Theater Lovers…`)

1941

Hurri IIC
Hurri IID
B-26?

MC202
109F4
Ju88

1942

Hurri IIC
Hurri IID
Spit V
B-26
B-17
C-47

MC202
109F4
109G2
Ju88
C-47

1943

Hurri IIC
Hurri IID
Spit V
Spit IX
P-47D-11
B-26
TBM
B-17
C-47

MC202
MC205
109G2
109G6
FW190A5
Ju88
C-47


Pacific Theater  (U.S. vs Japanese)


8) Phillipines :

Entire Phillipines Archipelago.  Could be used to simulate the 1944 Leyte Gulf Landings and the Japanese Counterattacks by Sea and Land.  Would involve a lot of Air/Sea

TBM
F4U-D
F6-F

A6M5
Ki61
Nik2
Ki67 (if available)
C-47


9)     Mindanao :

Southern Phillipines.  Blowup of a section of the Phillipines map.  This could be used as a followup to the Leyte Gulf invasion, the 1944-45 campaign by MacArthur to retake the Phillipines and would include some Task Forces as well as Land based aircraft for both sides.

P-38L
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
P-51D
TBM
F4U-D
F6-F
B-26
B-17
C-47

A6M5
Ki61
Nik2
Ki67 (if available)
C-47

10)  Luzon :  

Another blown up section of the Phillipines map this time focusing on the Central Phillipines and Manila.  Very similar setup  to above.  Same planes.  If earlier Pacific War aircraft are created, it could be used as a map for a Corregidor/Bataan Scenario.


All of these Scenerios could have extra planes added to compensate for missing historical aircraft.  Ie. adding the TBM to the Japanese side in a Pacific War setup to make up for the lack of a Jill etc.

[Kratzer]

How about tossing some IT planes in in places?

[Buzzbait]

S! Kratzer

You may want to read it again.

There are all models of Italian planes in the Mediterranean Map listings.

There are also Italian planes listed in the East Front Stalingrad Map setup.

Since this is for a Historically based Combat Theater, Italian planes are only present when they were historically.

[funkedup]

nm read it wrong

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

[funkedup]

I'd like the CT to cycle through all the available historical maps.  On each map, cycle through 3-5 historical planesets from as early as possible up to the end of the war.  Change the planeset each week.  After you have gone through all the planesets, switch to the next map and repeat the process.

[streakeagle]

I am not too choosy, but given the choice, what funked said goes for me.

Rotate through every useful combination as long as its historical. Just don't get bogged down in a particularly limited or boring plane set for too long. But it is definitely nice for a particular set to be around long enough to learn how to fly the planes peculiar to that set. I don't know what the magic time limit is, but 1 day is probably too short and 1 week is probably too long.

[Karnak]

Western Europe (Britain, France & Germany)

1941

UK:
Hurricane MkIIc
Spitfire MkVb

Germany:
Bf109F-4
Ju88A-4

1942

UK:
Hurricane MkIIc
Hurricane MkIId
Spitfire MkVb
Spitfire F.MkIX

Germany:
Bf109F-4
Bf109G-2
Ju88A-4

1943

UK:
Hurricane MkIIc
Hurricane MkIId
Mosquito FB.MkVI
Spitfire MkVb
Spitfire F.MkIX

USA:
B-17G
B-26B
P-51B

Germany:
Bf109F-4
Bf109G-2
Bf109G-6
Fw190A-5
Ju88A-4

1944

UK:
Hurricane MkIIc
Hurricane MkIId
Lancaster MkIII
Mosquito FB.MkVI
Spitfire MkVb
Spitfire F.MkIX
Tempest MkV
Typhoon MkIb

USA:
B-17G
B-26B
P-38L
P-47D-11
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
P-51B
P-51D

Germany:
Ar234A
Bf109F-4
Bf109G-2
Bf109G-6
Bf109G-10
Fw190A-5
Fw190A-8
Fw190D-9
Fw190F-8
Ju88A-4
Me262A

1945
UK:
Hurricane MkIIc
Hurricane MkIId
Lancaster MkIII
Mosquito FB.MkVI
Spitfire MkVb
Spitfire F.MkIX
Tempest MkV
Typhoon MkIb

USA:
B-17G
B-26B
P-38L
P-47D-11
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
P-51B
P-51D

Germany:
Ar234A
Bf109F-4
Bf109G-2
Bf109G-6
Bf109G-10
Fw190A-5
Fw190A-8
Fw190D-9
Fw190F-8
Ju88A-4
Me262A
Ta152H-1

Do it strictly based on when each type entered combat.

[Ghosth]

I'm with funked!

Cycle through all possible maps.
Setup all possible planesets.

As planes get added over time it only gets better!

[Ripsnort]

After talking with many people that do not post on this BBS, seems the community is split on the CT arena, 1/2 of everyone I've spoken too don't go in there because of no strat.  Until the CT meets in some common ground, I'd expect the overall attendance to be minicule.

Back to the question  

I'm with Funked, I'd like to see all the historic maps used, and I am particularly anxious to see 10bears new and improved Russian Front!

[Buzzbait]

S! Karnak

Good idea to have the aircraft introduced exactly when they started.

Couple comments about your lineup though:

The Western European front saw the best aircraft made available for both sides.  Older models were not kept in operation.  They were sent off to secondary fronts.

Also certain specialist aircraft were not used in West Europe.

The 109F4 was not used after `42 in the West.

The  109G2 was replaced by the G6 and was gone by the end of `43, due to the problems with a fragile undercarriage.

The Hurricane IIC was out of Combat service in bases in Britain by the end of `42.

The Hurricane IID was never used in Western Europe.  It was a model designed for Tank busting in the Eygptian, Libya and Tunisian desert campaigns.  It was out of service by early `43.

[Karnak]

Buzzbait,

True, I was ignoring service withdrawls.  Tell you the truth, except for the Spitfire, I am not familiar with service withdrawl dates.

We are also lacking some key aircraft to do it strictly by introduction date.

We have no Fw190 from late '41 or from '42 and so the Spitfire IX shows up before the Fw190 which caused the Spit IX to be needed.

We lack a Blenheim/Wellington/Lancaster MkI and so the British don't have a bomber until 1944 (1943 if you count the Mosquito FB.VI).

We lack P-47Cs, P-38Gs and Hs and B-17Es, thus the Americans don't show up until 1943, not 1942 like they should.

But eventually I would like to see it done strictly on service entry.

Obviously some useage of the perk system is needed to keep things like Me262s and Tempests under control once they become available.

[hazed-]

gotta agree with funked. Use all the maps in turn.
Perhaps do a PAC then EURO then PAC then Russian front then Mediteranian. the idea being we dont get too much of one particular planeset.When we get more early stuff id love to see a Battle of Britain map.I think the North afrika theatre could be a fantastic theatre if we only had desert skins for the planes, Hell even just make them all snad clour would do me  

funked seems to have the right idea for what id expect/want to see.