WIP Update: Expanded Med Campaign for GWX

[sabretwo]

I have been working on this one for a little over year now. About three months back, I lost a bunch of work and stopped (lost steam on it when I realized how much work got lost).

However, with SH5 now irrelevant to my future, I decided to get back to work in earnest. This week I put in about 20 hours rescripting some of the lost stuff and work-planning the rest.

Here's the status for anyone who is interested:

--------------------------

ADDED PORTS
* Athens/Piraeus
* Thessaloniki
* Iraklion
* Beirut
* Haifa
* Bone
* Famagusta
* Benghazi
* Derna
* Barda

SHIPPING & FISHING
* Added much more fishing and coastal activity...especially in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean
* Added new and more random shipping between neutral and allied ports / Dates of shipping activity coincides with flow of activity as suggested by historical sources (The sea is much more alive with commercial activity now!)

SUBMARINE ACTIVITY
* Increased Axis sub activity off North Africa during 1942
* Increased Allied sub activity around Crete, Aegean, and Southern Italy 1942-1943

AIR ACTIVITY
* Added RAF Haifa Squadron
* Added Crete Luftwaffe
* Added Malta Spitfire Squadrons
* Incresaed scripted and random air activity over Malta in Spring of 1942 to simulate the major air offensive by Axis forces on Malta
* Added temporary squadrons in several locations during various date periods to simulate increased air activity during major operations

ADDED &/OR RESCRIPTED HISTORICAL BATTLES AND EVENTS

* 17-21 October 1941 - Arrival of Force K at Malta
* 2-8 November 1941 - Famagusta-Haifa Troop Lift Operations
* 8-9 November 1941 - Battle of the Duisburg Convoy
* 7-13 November 1941 - Force H Delivery of Hurricanes to Malta (Ark Royal & Argus)
* Mid-November 1941 - Major TF exercises in East Med
* 18 November 1941 - Diversionary convoy from Alexandria in support of Operation Crusader
* 20-24 November 1941 - Force K and Alexandria Fleet Operations in East and Central Med
* 30 Nov-2 December 1941 - Force K Patrol and East Med Convoy Intercepts
* 30 Nov-14 December 1941 - AT1, AT2, and AT3 Convoys from Alexandria to Tobruk
* 9 December 1941 - HMS Naiad TF bombardment of Derna harbor
* 13 December 1941 - Engagement off Cape Bon, Tunisia
* 17 December 1941 - First Battle of Sirte
* 18-20 December 1941 - Force K Attempted Interception of Italian Convoy
* 19 December 1941 - Italian Miale Raid on Alexandria
* 22-24 December 1941 - Transfer of HM Cruiser Dido and DDs from Gibralter to Malta
* 26-29 December 1941 - Escort of Merchant Ships by HM Cruiser Dido and DDs from Malta to Alexandria

1942

* 5-7 January 1942 - Malta-Alexandria Convoy Movements escorted by Force K and Force B


GAMEPLAY EDITS

* Increased renown for warships and strategically important merchant ships (Breconshire, etc.)
Although the war in the Atlantic was strategically about merchant tonnage, a lot of emphasis in the Med was on force-on-force operations and crippling eachother's naval forces. Many of the greatest uboat successes in the Med were against warships and those that did sink warships seem to have been held in highest esteem. I adjusted the renown for this accordingly to encourage players to take a chance on that random task force rather than dive and hold their breath.


--------------------

I was already deep into 1943 when I lost my files. :damn:

If anyone is interested in helping, there's a few things that would assist a lot:

1. Radio Log for Med Operations. Radio messages based around Med operations, referencing historical activity but also giving a heads up on various dates to major task force movements (giving the player a chance to intercept if nearby).

2. Leander Class Cruiser. I have had a lot of luck lately in finding new ships to fill the holes in GWX for the Med Fleet and the Italian Order of Battle, but there are still a few outstanding that just don't have good alternatives.

Big thanks to BBW for permission to work from his original GWX files. Man, the more I have worked on this, the more I appreciate what he did in the original GWX campaign. In the panethon of Modders, BBW should be declared the 'God of Campaign Scripting'.

[Hitman]

That is looking EXCELLENT mate :yeah:

But please if possible, make the files in a manner that the traffic in the rest of the world dissapears, so we can benefit from faster load times :up:

[sabretwo]

That is looking EXCELLENT mate :yeah:

But please if possible, make the files in a manner that the traffic in the rest of the world dissapears, so we can benefit from faster load times :up:

Thanks. I eliminated all scripted and random traffic, and land objects outside the Med and Black Sea. This reduced the files quite a bit and should make a major improvement on load times.

PS: The above list of completed scripted events is a little short. I just realized that some of my mid 1942 and 1943 stuff is still there (Second Battle of Sirte, etc.).

I think I'll recover time pretty quick. As I am rescripting lost material, it seems to be going faster. Plus, as I re-research some events, I am getting more info and making the events even more historically accurate. The crash may have pu me behind a bit, but I think the end product will be better for it.

[sergei]

This looks very interesting.
I'll have to take a little trip to the Med when this is finished.
Looking forward to it :up:

[danurve]

There may be some information in Radio Log Expanded v.2 you can use about activity in the Med. Feel free to use any line out of the log that would be helpfull.

[Sag75]

Thanks! I've already started a campaign in Mediterranean Sea, I'm in May '42

Great! you added '41 Alexandria Raid! If you need help about Mediterranean operations, also related to Regia Marina, just contact me by PM!:up:

[Sailor Steve]

Looking good!:sunny:

[sabretwo]

Thanks! I've already started a campaign in Mediterranean Sea, I'm in May '42

Great! you added '41 Alexandria Raid! If you need help about Mediterranean operations, also related to Regia Marina, just contact me by PM!:up:

Thanks! If you have any really good sources for info on Axis convoys to North Africa in 1942 and 43, I'd welcome the reference. I have very good research references now for British movements (Convoys, task forces, troop movements, etc.) but my research has been limited with regard to RM supply activity. With a few exceptions, I'm pretty much relying only on BBW's scripted Axis convoys.

I'm planning on adding a few more Miale raids before its over. (The Miale turned out very cool, but the only downside is its very hard to see the actual subs when they are moving in the water. I tested the December raid a couple of times and only once could find the Miale when they were deployed by free cam.)

[sabretwo]

There may be some information in Radio Log Expanded v.2 you can use about activity in the Med. Feel free to use any line out of the log that would be helpfull.

Thanks. I'll take a look at it. What I'd like to do is add messages coinciding with Uboat operations as they happened in the med, but also give intel updates from RM and FdU Mediterranean (BdU in the Med) indicating when task forces have departed major ports and spot reports of task force activity that actually coincide with scripted movements so that the player has a chance to catch the action if he's nearby. (There's nothing cooler than rising to periscope depth and viewing two task forces dueling out from afar while trying to anticipate the movement of the enemy ships to plot a solution!)

After its all finished, I'd also like to prep a little Orders Applet in Macromedia Director that issues patrol orders to Grids based on upcoming scripted battles and historical mission priorities of the Axis in the Med. If players follow the orders issued in the module (based on the dates they depart port), they have a reasonable chance of being nearby when something big happens, like a battle or major event (Convoy, invasion landing, etc.).

Best thing would be to just finish the basic scripting first, release it all as a version 1.0. And then I can do some of the extra enhancements like the radio log and the Orders Application.

What I'm hoping for most right now is that someone can help with the missing ships. My wish list is a Leander Class CL, Abdiel-Class Minelayer, HMS Eagle, and a Dutch Gerard Callenburgh Class DD (Isaac Sweers).

I am also hoping that someone has an idea for how to make an invisible ship target that can be placed on land to aid in simulating naval artillery support during the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

[Hitman]

Thanks! If you have any really good sources for info on Axis convoys to North Africa in 1942 and 43, I'd welcome the reference. I have very good research references now for British movements (Convoys, task forces, troop movements, etc.) but my research has been limited with regard to RM supply activity. With a few exceptions, I'm pretty much relying only on BBW's scripted Axis convoys.

I have both Clive Blair's and Lawrence Paterson's books, but in general both deal in detail with uboat patrols and not with allied convoy system. There is good particular information about the Torch convoys, though, but not much about the default convoy system aside from special ops.

[Wreford-Brown]

I've got the Xa MAS scripted if you'd like the files. It has historic use of the Maiale as well as the support they were given by destroyers and torpedo boats.

If you speak to Von Dos and get permission to use his ships I can also give you the historically accurate scripted files for:
HMS Glorious
HS Gradisca
Maiale (Xa MAS)
RHN Georgios Averof
RM Aquila
RM Caio Duilio
RM San Giorgio
SS Arandora Star
SS Esperia
SS Rex

They're in my VonDos' ships mod but I can send you the individual _SCR files so you just need to merge them in with ME and add the ship models. I've also found a way to prevent them turning up in random convoys, so unique ships should no longer turn up randomly but only on their historic routes.

My Mission Orders and Warning Orders mods give info about impending operations and scripted ship movement sure as the reinforcement of Malta. You're more than welcome to take the Med specific bits out and use them in your mod.

[sabretwo]

I've got the Xa MAS scripted if you'd like the files. It has historic use of the Maiale as well as the support they were given by destroyers and torpedo boats.

If you speak to Von Dos and get permission to use his ships I can also give you the historically accurate scripted files for:
HMS Glorious
HS Gradisca
Maiale (Xa MAS)
RHN Georgios Averof
RM Aquila
RM Caio Duilio
RM San Giorgio
SS Arandora Star
SS Esperia
SS Rex

They're in my VonDos' ships mod but I can send you the individual _SCR files so you just need to merge them in with ME and add the ship models. I've also found a way to prevent them turning up in random convoys, so unique ships should no longer turn up randomly but only on their historic routes.

My Mission Orders and Warning Orders mods give info about impending operations and scripted ship movement sure as the reinforcement of Malta. You're more than welcome to take the Med specific bits out and use them in your mod.

Thank you very much. I'd like to see what you got, although I need to be careful as I merge your work (I scripted a number of them into their historical locations earlier in the process). But I'd really like to compare what you did to what I've got already and see if I can improve the accuracy of their placement.

One of the things I am going to carefully revisit before its finished is the locations and dates that various ships were assigned to ports. When I started, I tried being attentative to this carefully but lost track on some vessels. Although there are great detailed references out there for dates and times of events, I haven't found a good resource that consolidates the dates and locations of fleet/ship and port assignments. Once I am finished with event scripting, I plan on going back port by port checking this out.

Thanks also for offering to use your radio logs. That should give me a good starting point.

[Jimbuna]

This site may be of some use to you if you don't already have it:

http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

[sabretwo]

This site may be of some use to you if you don't already have it:

http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

Jimbuna,

Thanks! Yes, I use it HEAVILY! Its one of the best resources I have found yet. I have several books too, but it often takes a lot of time to research what I need in the books. The Naval History site organizes the information in a manner that is much easier to research.

Scripting itself can be time consuming. But the research...Man, if you're trying for maximum accuracy, that's the real time consuming part!

[bigboywooly]

Scripting itself can be time consuming. But the research...Man, if you're trying for maximum accuracy, that's the real time consuming part!

Tell me about it
:rotfl2:

Though I have to admit I would start researching one thing then spot something else to look at
Within an hour I was so far away from what I was supposed to be researching was unreal
Though all added to the learning curve

Axis convoys are not very well recorded
Allied ones are pretty much well documented

One you can try is this

http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/chronik.htm

3.– 6.1.1942
Mittelmeer
Ital. Nachschub-Operation M.43: Am 3.1. laufen drei italienische Konvois aus: die Frachter Nino Bixio, Monginevro, Lerici im Geleit der Zerstörer Vivaldi, Da Recco, Usodimare, Bersagliere und Fuciliere aus Messina; Frachter Monviso und Tanker Giulio Giordani in Begleitung der Torpedoboote Orsa, Aretusa, Castore und Antares aus Tarent; Transporter Gino Allegri mit Zerstörer Freccia und Torpedoboot Procione aus Messina. Die Konvois vereinigen sich am 4. Januar. Zur Sicherung laufen aus: als Nahsicherung Div-Adm. Bergamini, mit dem Schlachtschiff Duilio, den Kreuzern Garibaldi, Montecuccoli, Duca d'Aosta und Attendolo und den Zerstörern Maestrale, Gioberti, Oriani, Scirocco und Malocello, und die Fernsicherung Adm. Iachino mit den Schlachtschiffen Littorio, Doria und Cesare, den Kreuzern Gorizia und Trento und den Zerstörern Carabiniere, Alpino, Pigafetta, Da Noli, Ascari, Aviere, Geniere und Camicia Nera. Deckung der Operation ostwärts Malta durch die U-Boote Pisani, Onice, Dandolo, Alagi, Aradam, Tricheco und Axum, zwischen Kreta und Cyrenaika durch Beilul, Zaffiro, Dessiè und Galatea. Eine Sichtung des Konvois durch das brit. U-Boot P.34/ Ultimatum und der Deckungsgruppe durch Unique und einige Flugzeuge führt zu keinen erfolgreichen Angriffen. Am 5.1 erreichen die ital. Transporter Tripolis. Der Littorio-Verband kehrt am 5.1., der Duilio-Verband am 6.1. zurück nach Tarent. Ein Angriff der Unique (Lt. Hezlet) auf die Littorio schlägt fehl.3. - 6.1.1942 Mediterranean Ital. supply operation M.43: To 3.1. runs out three Italian convoys: the freighters Nino Bixio, Monginevro, Lerici in the escort of the destroyers Vivaldi, there Recco, Usodimare, Bersagliere and Fuciliere from Messina; Freighters Monviso and tanker Giulio Giordani in company of the torpedo boats Orsa, Aretusa, Castore and Antares from Tarent; Transporter Gino Allegri with destroyers Freccia and torpedo boat Procione from Messina. The convoys unite on 4 January. Close protection is given by Div Adm. Bergamini, with the battle ship Duilio, the cruisers Garibaldi, Montecuccoli, Duca d' Aosta and Attendolo and the destroyers Maestrale, Gioberti, Oriani, Scirocco and Malocello, and the distant cover by Adm. Iachino with the battle ships Littorio, Doria and Cesare, the cruisers Gorizia and Trento and the destroyers Carabiniere, Alpino, Pigafetta, there Noli, Ascari, Aviere, Geniere and Camicia Nera. Covering of the operation eastward Malta by the submarines Pisani, Onice, Dandolo, Alagi, Aradam, Tricheco and Axum, between Crete and Cyrenaika by Beilul, Zaffiro, Dessiè and Galatea. A attack on the convoy by brit. Submarine P.34/ultimatum and distant escorts by Unique and some airplanes leads to no successful attacks. To 5.1 reaches ital. the transporters Tripoli. The Littorio covering force turns to 5.1. , the Duilio escort force to 6.1. back after Tarent. An attack by HMS Unique (Lt Hezlet) on the Littorio fails.

Etc -
Ideal if you can read German - or fudge it as I do
Takes some understanding but will give you some more operations

This site
http://www.search.com/reference/Decima_Flottiglia_MAS#Chronicle_of_operations

Will give you Italian frogmen operations - inc It sub movements used to ferry them



Battle of Punta Stilo (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Calabria) (9 July (http://www.search.com/reference/July_9) 1940 (http://www.search.com/reference/1940)), also known as the Battle of Calabria.
Battle of Cape Spada (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Cape_Spada) (19 July (http://www.search.com/reference/July_19) 1940) - Bartolomeo Colleoni sunk by torpedoes.
The Night of Taranto (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Taranto) (11 November (http://www.search.com/reference/November_11) 1940), also known as Operation Judgement.
Battle of Cape Teulada (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Cape_Spartivento) (27 November (http://www.search.com/reference/November_27) 1940), also known as Battle of Cape Spartivento.
Attack on the British base at Suda Bay (http://www.search.com/reference/Suda_Bay), Crete (http://www.search.com/reference/Crete) by destroyers Crispi and Sella, both transporting explosive motor boats: HMS York (http://www.search.com/reference/HMS_York_%2890%29) beached and abandoned and one oil tanker sunk (26 March (http://www.search.com/reference/March_26) 1941 (http://www.search.com/reference/1941)).
Battle of Cape Matapan (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Cape_Matapan), Pola, Zara, Fiume, Vittorio Alfieri and Giosué Carducci sunk (27 March (http://www.search.com/reference/March_27) 1941)
First Battle of Sirte (http://www.search.com/reference/First_Battle_of_Sirte) (1941)
Sinking of HMS Queen Elizabeth (http://www.search.com/reference/HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_%281913%29) and HMS Valiant (http://www.search.com/reference/HMS_Valiant_%281914%29) in Alexandria (http://www.search.com/reference/Alexandria) Harbor, by Italian frogmen (http://www.search.com/reference/Frogmen) (19 December (http://www.search.com/reference/December_19) 1941)
Second Battle of Sirte (http://www.search.com/reference/Second_Battle_of_Sirte) (22 March (http://www.search.com/reference/March_22) 1942 (http://www.search.com/reference/1942))
Battle of Mid-June (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Mid-June) (1942), also known as Operation Harpoon.
Battle of Mid-August (http://www.search.com/reference/Battle_of_Mid-August) (1942), also known as Operation Pedestal.

http://www.regiamarina.net/cronology.asp?nid=102&lid=1 gives you a chronlogical timeline involving It Navy

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900Intro.htm gives you Royal navy day by day ship movements by theatre

[bigboywooly]

Not sure if you have these

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Cigno_Convoy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Duisburg_Convoy

[sabretwo]

BBW,

Thanks for the references. Some of them I haven't seen before. Very helpful!