SP mission "Wellington Ic attack on airfield"

[Rostic]

You are the leader of third section (callsign "Luton 21"). Follow your leader and attack Luftwaffe airfield St-Omer-Clairmarais. You can drop bombs simply by your leader command or aim target by yourself.

WARNING! Mission length is about 2 hours!
- You will have to push the limits of your aircraft engines to catch up your leader during climb, to not to miss all the activities happening on the way to target.
- Way to the home base will be at night so you need to know how to use NDB and how the blind landing is carried out.

Additionally mission for blind landing training is provided. It contains same route to home base that you will fly in main mission.

To install mission, extract content of archive to your single player missions folder:
"C:\Users\<USER-NAME>\Documents\1C SoftClub\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover\missions\Single"

wellingtons_strike_on_st-omer-clairmarais-v2.zip

1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg
4.jpg 5.jpg 6.jpg

[ATAG_Bubba]

Thanks Rostic,
Look forward to trying this one out!

[Rostic]

Ooops, I found error in airfield layout slide. New version (v2) uploaded. Link in first post updated.

[Shaven]

Wow this is great and I've only started the SBA training, just what I was looking for. Love the briefing and the airfield picture this is really well done, top notch! I can't wait to fly the actual mission!!!

[Shaven]

Hey can I check the procedure for the SBA training mission please? I have Watchfield NDB tuned for 301 on my ADF (primary nav channel) and then I have Watchfield SBA tuned in to my SBA (secondary nav). I pickup the NDB and I can pick-up the SBA (pretty cool). I can see the outer and inner markers are on 380Khz from looking at the .mis file in FMB. How do you pick-up the outer and inner markers? Should you be manually re-tunning Nav 2 between 302 and 380, or should the inner out outer markers be on the same frequency as the SBA (302)?

Also the SBA morse is really faint, is this a feature or is there a way to turn up the volume?

Thanks, Shaven.

[Dawson]

The SBA/Lorenz system is only partially working in game. The marker beacons must be flown over too low for the proper glide slope. There was some discussion of that here https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...ad.php?t=37671. The frequency is fixed there is nothing to tune.

You can set the main beacon frequency and an optional non-directional beacon. They each have their own receiver.

If you search for "Lorenz" you'll find lots of threads on Standard Beam Approach.

[FTC_Rostic]

...I can see the outer and inner markers are on 380Khz from looking at the .mis file in FMB. How do you pick-up the outer and inner markers? ...

Nothing else to do. Just follow briefing instructions. Inner and outer markers will be picked up without any tuning. Just stay at 600 feet. Also you have to fly exactly above them.

Spoiler: 

Blind landing training.

Weather information:
- QNH: 1013mBar

Home airfield:
- RAF airfield Watchfield (AC28.6)
- QNF:1001mBar
- Elevation 330 ft
- NDB: 301 kHz
- SBA: 302 kHz
- Landing strip:27 / NAV:268° / MAG:275°
- Inner beacon: 1800 feet to the east
- Outer beacon: 2.0 miles to the east
- Wind at the ground level is 1m/s, heading 090°

Navigation NDB:
- W side of RAF airfield Watchfield(AC28.6) - 301kHz
- NE side of RAF airfield Odiham(AH24.3) - 305khz
- NE side of RAF airfield Hornchurch(AP27.9) - 310kHz

Blind landing tips:
1) Set your primary navigation radio to Watchfield NDB.
2) Set your secondary navigation radio to Watchfield SBA.
3) Set your altimeter pressure to QNF value.
4) Descend to 600 feet to catch SBA signal.
5) When audio tone starts to appear extend gears and flaps and slowdown to 120 mph. Also, you can calculate your position by Odiham NDB.
6) If you pass your home airfield you can always try again.
- Turn around and set on course 090°.
- Climb up to 600 feet.
- Turn your radio loop antenna 90° to the right.
- Set your primary navigation radio to Odiham NDB.
- Wait until you will start reading value about 0°.
- Turn around and set on course 270°.
- IMPORTANT! Turn your radio loop antenna back to 0°.
- Repeat steps from point 1.

Also the SBA morse is really faint, is this a feature or is there a way to turn up the volume?

Nothing I'm aware about... but check all the sliders in settings set to MAX.

The SBA/Lorenz system is only partially working in game.

What do you mean partially? All available in game systems work just about right... Isn't it?

[Dawson]

What do you mean partially? All available in game systems work just about right... Isn't it?

I spent some time on this a couple years back so I may not remember all the issues. The range of the main beacon was limited maybe to visual range of the aerodrome. The angle of it's beam's width was very low and perhaps the tone was the same on both sides of the centre line this made it difficult to find the path and keep it. The marker beacons, especially the outer, didn't radiate to a sufficient altitude to follow the proper path.

[Blitzen]

Many thanks for your efforts- I'll give it try later today!

[FTC_Rostic]

I spent some time on this a couple years back so I may not remember all the issues. The range of the main beacon was limited maybe to visual range of the aerodrome. The angle of it's beam's width was very low and perhaps the tone was the same on both sides of the centre line this made it difficult to find the path and keep it. The marker beacons, especially the outer, didn't radiate to a sufficient altitude to follow the proper path.

Well, IDK. Did not tested this since I created this mission. But at that time everything worked fine for me. Maybe some ranges and altitudes are some value off from real thing... But tones are different on each side, NDB could be picked up from 100+Km. SBA from about 15-30km (I do not remember exactly). Outer beacon definitely worked at about 200m altitude. Yep, they are quite narrow, just like runway pilot trying to land on...

Probably I should try this once again to refresh exact values in my memory

[Shaven]

Well, IDK. Did not tested this since I created this mission. But at that time everything worked fine for me. Maybe some ranges and altitudes are some value off from real thing... But tones are different on each side, NDB could be picked up from 100+Km. SBA from about 15-30km (I do not remember exactly). Outer beacon definitely worked at about 200m altitude. Yep, they are quite narrow, just like runway pilot trying to land on...

Probably I should try this once again to refresh exact values in my memory

Just flew this with success. Ok I slowed down and got into the landing config straight away so it took about 15 mins to reach the threshold. NDB tracking on 301; nps, I did pick-up the outer marker but missed the inner and I didn't get the SBA (302) until very late on, because I was right of track by a smidge. Picked up the lights and then got on the beam. Landing was sweet and then applied a little too much break at the end of the RW and gently nosed over; gutted!

Great training mission!

[ATAG_Slot]

Thanks Shaven (and Rostic) for reminding me about this test great mission.

Been good to get back in the beloved Welli again and managed to land the practice successfully (at third attempt!!).

Flying low in dark and navigating back safe to base seems one of the hardest things to do for me anyway as my night vision is terrible. I was really sweating on my third attempt as i didn't want to wipe out. Respect to the real life pilots who didn't get second and third chances.

I found "vector to home plate" really helpful too.

Will try the full mission soon when i get a chance.

[ATAG_Heggers]

Thanks for putting this together! It's a challenge but good fun. Like Slotty I tried the training mission and it took me 3 attempts to land successfully. What I noticed in the training mission:

- Set the Non-Directional Beacon and Standard Beam Approach frequencies as soon as you spawn in (you'll need key mappings for this)
- Also remember to set the correct altimeter pressure as per the mission notes
- You're on the correct bearing when you air spawn in (around 2000 ft) and 30 miles out
- From then on use the NDB instrument to stay on course (you pretty much just fly straight on)
- V important! Hover mouse over NDB instrument to get a positive or negative reading of bearing, then adjust accordingly
- Flying around 150mph it takes 12:00 minutes to get to the runway
- Watch out for side slip which can take you off course
- The clouds help a lot in helping maintain level flight - it would be a lot harder without them!
- Watch your altitude and descend slowly to around 800ft (then keep a close eye on altitude)
- A small town is visible on the port side about halfway along - you need to be about 1.5 miles north of this town as you pass
- The SBA tone is audible around the 10 minute mark (if you don't hear it you're not lined up on the runway)
- In this case, you can start "fanning the beam" - turn left 45° fly for 1 minute, then turn right 90° for 2 minutes to see if you pick up the beam.
- The runway lights appear as flashing red lights
- zoom in as soon as you see them so you can see the correct orientation of the runway
- The audible tone is clear (though starts off faint when you get in range) and switches to continuous tone when you line up on runway.
- It's really tricky if you drift too far north or south, and end up approaching the runway from the side, in this case you won't hear the SBA tone
- I found I could go around and note the bearing when heading directly away from the runway (NDB instrument will also show you), then you can ahead away from the airfield for a few minutes, then do a 180 to line up again.
- You get a "join the circuit" message about 2 miles out from the airfield
- Don't go in too low on approach or you might clip the trees!
- On touch down, apply the brakes gently so that you don't overshoot the end of the runway and nose over in the rough terrain
- You need to park of the runway - look out for the white light off to the right indicating the hangar area.
- Cockpit illumination essential!
- If really stuck, do tab 7-2 to get a bearing to the airfield
- If really really stuck, fly around in circles until it gets light :-p

If you're new to this (like I was) you can watch this for more detailed guidance: https://youtu.be/JZEoJKtx2wc?si=diltVXMWNY5_BuxF&t=618

I'd love to know how this was done in real life, it's quite tricky to get right and it must have been pretty scary for the young aircrew.

[ATAG_Heggers]

One thing I haven't figured out yet is that if you fly to the NDB, you can be on track with the NDB crosshairs but still miss the morse tone of the SBA, meaning that you are heading to the airfield but are not lined up on the runway. When this happens you never hear the SBA tone, but suddenly find yourself approaching the runway at an oblique angle. The only way I can think to solve this is to fly a weaving pattern on approach to see if you cross the SBA line.

Perhaps there is a better way, maybe using the SBA nav instrument...? Makes me wonder how they handled this in real life. In very low visibility perhaps it took a couple of passes to find the right approach.

Update

ChatGPT tells me that pilots would start "fanning the beam" on approach, e.g. turn 45° left and fly for 1 minute, then turn 90° right for 1 minute hoping to hear the beam signal.

[ATAG_Heggers]

Just tried the bombing mission on St Omer. Thanks for putting this together! It felt like a challenge to navigate and keep up with the other formation, but it was good fun.
The night time bombing mission was fun as it get dark as you cross into France.

Searchlights were a new experience for me, and once they lock on you are done for!
Not sure how to avoid that other than perhaps staying closer to the lead formation.

[FTC_Rostic]

One thing I haven't figured out yet is that if you fly to the NDB, you can be on track with the NDB crosshairs but still miss the morse tone of the SBA, meaning that you are heading to the airfield but are not lined up on the runway. When this happens you never hear the SBA tone, but suddenly find yourself approaching the runway at an oblique angle. ...

That is simple. You know runway direction (in this mission 275 Magnetic). So you should have NDB straight ahead when flying 275 by magnetic compass. When you fly 275 and NDB indicator shows +15 degree turn +30 (mag 305) and fly until you get NDB at -30. Then turn left back to 275.

[ATAG_Heggers]

Thanks for posting - that's very useful.

I've probably tried it about 15 times now. I always manage to locate the runway in the end, but in recent runs I've not heard the morse tone until I'm right on it. This is despite me trying various maneuvers including turning North when I reach the town on the port side about half way along.

You mention using the NDB instrument to check how far you are off course, but it doesn't give a measure of drift numerically, only the crosshairs:

https://share.google/images/nHCnoSuIvmaJOYbqg

Should I use the SBA instrument? Does this pick up the SBA before you hear the tone?

https://www.stjohnswoodmemories.org....s/IMG_1017.jpg

(top right of the left hand panel)

I normally am at around 700ft once I pass the town (Uffington?)

Once again - thanks for putting this together - it has been a fun exercise.

[FTC_Rostic]

....You mention using the NDB instrument to check how far you are off course, but it doesn't give a measure of drift numerically, only the crosshairs...

If you hover mouse cursor over the radio compass you will see tooltip with value you need to add to your actual heading to get heading to NDB. I displayed it on the picture as blue +15 and blue -XX.


Did you read TFS manual about radio loop antenna??? It is located in same place where the flashcards are.
There are two NDB, so you can determine your position quite precisely.

[FTC_Rostic]

Hey, Heggers, are you descending to 600ft as stated in the briefing???
I was testing a mission for several hours and had same problem of not able to catch outer beacon, until I carefully read briefing (written by me!) and realized that 2000 feet is too high for outer beacon!!! After I descended to 600 feet it worked like a charm

[ATAG_Heggers]

Thanks, yes I have been descending to below 600 (only crashed twice!). I have never heard the outer beacon signal (rapid beeps on the SBA) but have heard the inner beacon signal.

[ATAG_Heggers]

I just flew the full mission. It was a fantastic challenge and great fun so thanks for all your efforts on this!

- I didn't get a call out for take off (I was impatient) so I just waited for the other 2 flights of 3 aircraft to get airborne, then I followed them
- We did a couple of circuits then the rest of my flight took off and joined us
- Then we flew 120 to aim for English point
- It's hard to keep up with the other 2 flights at times so good engine management required (avoid overheating!)
- At English point we turn east to target
- All good until you cross the French coast, then the flak gets pretty tasty
- If you get caught in a searchlight then corkscrew out of it and they lose you.
- There are in game radio call outs when 5 minutes and 1 minute from target
- It seems the bomb drop is automatic but I have no idea whether it hit the target or not
- Then set 330 to aim for home, tune the NDB to Hornchurch
- Turn to 270 after Hornchurch, then rotate antenna 90deg and set for Odiham (when the NDB reaches zero you are passing north of Odiham)
- Then set to Watchfield and descend for home
- After all my practice it was straightforward to pick up the NDB and SBA and landed safely

All in all it took 2h 20

[FTC_Rostic]

There is similar mission...but Ju88 and it is all day time (except takeoff at dawn).
https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...l=1#post383111

[Shaven]

Enjoying reading the thread. I've been practicing the training mission and have had similar experiences. I'll try the fanning the SBA and also flying the numbers on the RDF.

I did find that I missed the NDB once because I'd tuned it into the SBA (doh). Using the controller would have been good to get a bearing back but I re-tuned the RDF climbed to 1,000ft and tracked back on the reciprocal heading which allowed me to pick-up the NDB and see how off course I was. I was then able to change my heading and head directly back to the airfield. I caught the runway lights so joined downwind and made a visual approach. I was pretty chuffed with this.

[ATAG_Heggers]

It's very satisfying when you navigate correctly and pick up the beam. Note that at first I didn't realise that you have to hover your mouse over the NDB instrument to get a numerical indication of how far you are off course. Once you do this, it makes it a lot easier because if you are -3 deg to port of NDB beacon you can fly +6 starboard to get back on course.