The Western Front Patch
Moving Front adds improved historical accuracy to the Western Front Patch by
moving the positions of the front lines several times during 1917-18 and adding
and fixing many aerodrome assignments.
A realistic front line position enables much more realistic squadron
movements, and so the patch greatly revises the names and positions of
aerodromes.
NEW in WFPMF 4
This update of the moving
front patch is a little different from the previous ones. There is very little alteration to the front
line changes made for previous versions.
There are a few corrections to aerodrome positions, but only a few. What this version is about is to improve the
history provided by basic WFP2. There
are many details of aircraft usage that could be improved in WFP’s setup. Much of the content of the Squadron files
dates from years ago, back to Beery’s patch in fact. Since then, this info, although a quantum leap forward compared
with RB original, has become out of date.
Many details of squadron movements, types used, camouflage, and unit and
personal markings have become available but have not been incorporated into
RB. There is enough information to make
probably hundreds of such changes - I have made some where they were relatively
easy or the errors really bugged me.
There are many more that are still needed to make the game as accurate
as it could be given its setup.
Unit Changes
WFPMF version 4
contains changes to the squadron mix to squeeze a few more units in (or back
in) to the game, at the expense of minor units or units that primarily operated
by night, or to improve the balance of forces in certain regions at certain
times, or to improve the mix of aircraft types in the game. Accompanying this is a general tweaking of
historical items as I came across them.
Slot |
Current Squadron |
New Squadron |
|
New date-based replacement |
|||
01 |
B.A.O. > Kagohl I, Staffel 3 > Bogohl 1, Staffel 3 |
(171001) 84 Sq RFC/RAF |
|
02 |
B.A.M.> Kagohl II, Staffel 10 > Bogohl 2, Staffel 10 |
(180401) 99 Sq RAF |
|
89 |
9 Sq RNAS > 209 Sq RAF |
(150801) 3 Wing RNAS (170201) |
|
Complete replacement |
|||
00 |
Kagohl.IV, Staffel 21 > Bogohl 4, Staffel 21 |
Kagohl.V, Staffel 28 > Schusta 10 |
|
06 |
Kagohl IV, Staffel 22 > Bogohl 7, Staffel 22 |
Kagohl.VII, Staffel 42 > Schusta 18 |
|
31 |
Jasta 61 |
Jasta 64w |
|
2E |
MF 16 > AR 16 > Sal 16 |
C 64 > Spa-Bi 64 |
|
47 |
C 59 > Sal 59 |
MF 20 > AR 20 > Spa-Bi 20 |
|
4B |
FFA 62 > FA 27 |
AFA 222 > FA(A) 222 |
|
4C |
FFA 69 > FA 38 |
FFA 7b > FA(A) 293b |
|
4D |
N 76 > Spa 76 |
N 315 > Spa 315 |
|
58 |
FA(A) 245 |
AFA 216 > FA(A) 216w |
|
68 |
N 158 > MS 158 > SPA 158 |
13th Aero USAS |
|
6C |
Esc 4 Belgique |
Esc 3 Belgique |
|
81 |
MF 50 > AR 50 > Sal 50 |
V21 > C 21 > AR 21 > Spa-Bi 21 |
|
A1 |
3 RFC/RAF |
65 RFC / RAF |
|
B4 |
12th Aero USAS (Salmson 2) |
96th Aero USAS (Breguet) |
|
01 Restores 84 Sq (SE5) to the game
02 Adds new RAF day bomber squadron (DH 9)
to Alsace in 1918
89 Adds new RNAS day bomber squadron
(Sopwiths) to Alsace in 1916
00, 06 Replaces
two Kastas that became night bombing units with others that become Schustas
31 Replaces minor Jasta (61) with Jasta
64w for action with USAS in 1918
2E, 47, 81 Replaces three French Salmson escadrilles
with SPAD 2-seater escadrilles
4B, 4C, 58
Three German 2-seater squadrons replaced with longer serving units that
stayed on the Western Front
4D Replaces
minor fighter escadrille (Esc 76) with Esc 315 for game balance in the Belfort
area, 1918
68 Replaces
Esc 158 (used MS AI parasol fighter) with 13th Aero to add another
2PG squadron (and a cool insignia)
6C Esc
4 renamed to Esc 3, which flew Breguets (3 flew Spad 2-seaters)
A1 Replaces
3 Sq (flew Morane P parasols, not in game, prior to Camels) with a 1917-18
Camel Squadron
B4 Replaces
a USAS Salmson squadron with a USAS Breguet day bomber squadron
French specialized bomber squadrons identified by their Groupe de
Bombardement (GB) affiliation
Revised early war German fighter units.
Because Fokkers were initially issued to FFA units in
1915 in ones and twos, there were no fighter squadrons as such in 1915. So to have Fokkers in 1915 they have to be
with FFAs. During 1916 the Fokkers of
one or more FFAs were augmented and amalgamated to form detachments of 2-6
Fokkers as KEKs or Fokkerstaffeln, but
most of these did not begin to establish until March or even later.
The table shows my latest compromise for getting
Fokkers into the game and staying (fairly) close to the historical dates of
formation of German fighter units. Each
line of the table represents a squadron ‘slot’ and shows the name changes that
happen during the course of the game and the approx dates of those changes:
Front |
|
Flanders |
(150801) FFA
62 (160315) KEK Douai (160928) Jasta 10 (151001) Marine FFA I (160415) Marine KEK (170201) MFJ |
Marne |
(160101) FFA
11 (160315) KEK West (160701) Fokkerstaffel
West (160928) Jasta 12 (151001) FFA 1(160315)KEK Bantheville (160701)Fokkerstaffel Martincourt (160928) Jasta 7 (160101) KEK Vaux (160415) KEK Sud (160928) Jasta 4 |
Verdun |
(150801) FFA 19 (160601) Fokkerstaffel Porcher (160928) Jasta
13 (150801) FFA 25 (160315) KEK
Sivry (160701) Fokkerstaffel Sivry (160928) Jasta 6 (160101) KEK Avillers
(160928) Jasta 5 (151001) BAM
(160101 KEK Metz (160601) Kampfstaffel
Metz (160928) Jasta
17 |
Alsace |
(150801) FFA 48 (160315) KEK
Habsheim (160928) Jasta 15 (151001) Kasta F (160201)
Fokkerstaffel Falkenhausen (160928) Jasta 14 (160101) FFA 9b (160315) KEK Ensisheim (160928) Jasta 16 |
Flyable 2-seater squadrons
I have also changed some names associated with the
early war flyable 2-seaters. In Pat’s
original version he used the same squadron names as were already in the game
(FFA 7 and FFA 23, Esc 8, 2 Sq), with the awkward annotation ‘Not yet’ on the
main entries for these units. I have
now given the flyable early war 2-seater new unit designations.
So if you want to start the war as a 2-seater pilot
and then ‘transfer’ to scouts at the start of 1916.
·
Start a
career in one of the following four fighter units in 1916.
·
Go to CM11
and use the Change Date facility to move the date back to 1915 (earliest date
is 1 August).
·
Go back to
the Campaign, generate a mission. Start
and immediately finish the mission.
·
Generate a
new mission. It should be at the new 1915 date and will be a 2-seater style
mission (bombing, recon).
The squadrons that you must select to fly an
early war career are:
German
Jasta 12. Begin war in FFA 11 flying Aviatiks, stay
with FFA 11 but fly Fokkers from 1 January 1916. Detached as KEK West in March, then Fokkerstaffel West in June,
and at end September 1916 reformed as Jasta 12
Jasta 15. Begin
war in FFA 9b flying Aviatiks, stay with FFA 9b but fly Fokkers from 1 January
1916. Detached as KEK Ensisheim in
March, and at end September 1916 reformed as Jasta 15.
French
Esc 38. Begin war in MF 35 flying Farmans,
‘transfer’ to N 38 on 1 January 1916 to fly Nieuports
British
60 Sq. Begin war in 7 Sq flying BE2s, ‘transfer’
to 11 Sq on 1 January 1916 to fly Gunbuses, then ‘transfer’ again on 1 June
1916 to the newly arrived 60 Sq.
Colour and markings
Albatros D.III – begins with
green-green-brown camo and D.II-type squared-off rudders. Lilac-green camo comes in during May, and
rounded rudders not until September when most Alb DIIIs still in service were
OAW-built and used the DV shaped rudder.
Crazy mixed up Jastas –
Three pairs of Jastas have their colour schemes muddled in WFP2.
Jasta 15 and Jasta 18
have the red and blue ‘Berthold’ scheme arbitrarily applied to some aircraft
and not others at the same time period.
Jasta 22 has been given Jasta 21’s black and white fuselage band. Jasta 21 has the white diagonal line
sometimes used by Jasta 22. Jasta 7 has the white tail section of Jasta
40. Jasta 40 Albatroses all have the
markings of one of its leaders (Dilthey), while the Pfalz has orange lines on
the fuselage (source?); both should be black with white tail surfaces.
I have untangled them
and they now have markings closer to what they should. The correct default scheme of J21 matches
those of the aces that flew with it (Schleich and Thom). Jasta 15 now has its characteristic 1917
Albatros scheme of green dappled camouflage applied to the fuselage and
tail. The red and blue scheme of
Berthold’s Jasta 18 transfers across to Jasta 15 when he takes command of JG 2
in late March 1918. At the same time,
Jasta 18 gets a new CO and the red and white ‘raven’ scheme is introduced. Jasta 7 is now all-black on the fuselage and
tail. The scheme with the white tail
and black fuselage has now been transferred to Jasta 40.
The unit called “Jasta 16
Freistadt Bayern” was a bit of fun introduced into the WFP by Pat Wilson. In
fact, Jasta 16’s aircraft famously had
black tails and spinners, and at least two had black rings round the rear
fuselage. The beautiful Bavarian
diamonds shown in WFP2 were the personal markings of Bohning, CO of Jasta 79b, and
were applied to just his Albatros.
Changed Jasta 16 to its black colours.
Jasta 16 also had characteristically marked Fokker DVIIs, with blue
noses and a black and white stripe around the tail – now supplied.
The markings given for Jasta
50 Pfalz are those of a Jasta 21 pilot, Fritz Höhn. Made Jasta 50 factory standard.
Two Jastas had tail colours
not given in WFP. Jasta 19 used a unit
marking of a black-V-on-yellow stabilizer (game has it on Tripes, but not
Albatri). Jasta 17 had an unusual black
and white combination on its Albatros tail surfaces. Threw in an extra Buckler scheme too. There are still quite a few dodgy Albatros markings in the game,
but some will need more extensive file changes - I couldn’t face dealing with
them.
Boelcke’s Fokker EIII was
not distinctively marked, but his EIV was. This is now reflected in the
game.
Date-based colour scheme
change in Von Schleich’s personal schemes, with the all-black scheme starting
when he moves to Jasta 32. Similarly,
RFC aces (e.g. Mannock, Bishop) who change squadrons have the appropriate
changes in squadron markings.
French unit markings –
corrected/supplied. Many 2-seater
squadrons used the default scheme in WFP2; all of the later types now have
their correct escadrille markings.
Some French single seaters
have also been tweaked
Spad VIIs now have 5-colour
camouflage in 1918
B.Es. – have fuselage roundels.
All RFC 2-seaters have the
right unit markings (from April 1916 when they were instituted). BE 12 has the
correct 19 Sq ‘dumbell’ marking. A few
other RFC squadrons that lacked unit markings now have them.
Vickers Gunbus, DH2s and
Nieuport 10 have the RFC cockades right from the start, not the silly union
jack things that the RFC stopped using in early to mid 1915..
RFC/RAF scout squadrons
change markings at the end of April 1918.
Bellies – for some reason
the fuselage undersides of many camouflaged German and French types have the
topside camo wrapped underneath. AFIK,
this never happened and I have given some of these types a pale blue, varnished
or CDL fuselage underside.
Marking changes and unit
name change are reflected by insignia picture changes in the ‘Intelligence’
folders.
Other Stuff
Victory List names.
As WFP changes aircraft types, victory list will change. There is now a file included that will
correct this, but there is a cost to this benefit – see the item SIX in
the Loading section.
Early in the war, using MissionGen can actually cause
a few anomalies (large patrols by scouts of both sides, for instance. Also, if you start a career in one of the
newly available Détachements de Chasse
(small units later expanded or amalgamated to form escadrilles 90 to 96), you
would need to keep patrol sizes small.
So I have an alternative version of MissionGen.ini that has such small
patrol sizes a maximum of 4 in most cases (max 6 for offensive patrols). See item SEVEN in the Loading section.
I have knocked up a set of date based (approx
2-monthly) title screens following Nowi’s idea. Images come from several
different patches, mostly my home brew. (If you prefer Nowi’s, just reload them
after you load WFPMF4)
A few small changes have been made to aerodrome
positions (Cruyshouten and Ferme d’Alger) and TED files.
Fixes to errors detected in the previous version have
been incorporated in this one. This version also includes the river junction
fix. Bertangles aerodrome has been
reoriented and moved slightly north of its previous position, and this (in my
testing so far) seems to have fixed the odd issue of DH2s crashing on takeoff.
The loading
instructions assume use of CM11, von Tom’s Campaign Manager. If you are using WFP loaded via Gabi’s
Reload program, overwrite the WFP date files with the WFPMF files. No change to the way the TED files are
loaded.
ONE, WFP2 is the
baseline patch for this addition (NB It will NOT work with other
patches, such as HA or FCJ). Also
make sure any other additions, like terrain and redux patches etc are in place.
Before You run WFPMF4, read the info
below. The patch will over-write
important basic RedBaron files. And two files that support the SquadronEditor
program (if you have it).
You may wish to backup, move
or replace your existing versions of these files in case you wish to delete the
WFPMF versions later on. Do this
now.
TWO, after any
backing up:
The TWO patch files should
each be unzipped to DIFFERENT target directories:
A MF4_date3_files.zip - unzip to the Sierra/RedBaron II or
3D/CM11/patches directory
B MF4_ted_files – unzip to the
Sierra/RedBaronII or 3D/Data directory
·
Two files, Rbaero.txt and Rbplanes.txt, should be moved
to the folder that contains your copy of Squadron Editor, overwriting previous
versions.
·
The files MissionGen_small.ini,
MissionGen_standard.ini, Pnamechg_active.txt and Pnamechg_inactive.txt are alternative
versions of optional files (see Items SIX and SEVEN below).
·
The PowerPoint file summarises the changes in the front incorporated in
the patch. The file Squadron changes MF4.doc summarizes what
changes occur to squadron names and roles at each date change.
THREE. NB. do
not try to continue an existing campaign (including existing WFP careers)
once you have loaded the WFPMF4. Its
altered Lo files may cause any existing campaigns to freeze or DTD the
game. Purge all of your existing
campaigns and start fresh.
FOUR. Open CM.
Delete any previous version of WFPMF, and add the WFPMF4 patch to the
Current Patches list.
FIVE. In CM, set a game date.
SIX (optional). If you want to,
you can get CM to re-write your pilot victory lists so that even when WFP
substitutes a later type for an earlier one, each victory entry will maintain
the correct identity. To set this up,
take the file called pnamechg_active. txt
and save it to the 150801 directory as pnamechg.txt,
overwriting the WFP version that is already present. If you do
this, you will not be able to use the Editeur
de Campagne by Tymophil. If
you want to restore the original WFP2 file, save the alternate version pnamechg_inactive.txt as pnamechg.txt. Note that once you have used the active version of this file and
changed victory entries, restoring the original pnamechg.txt file will not
reverse any changes made to the victories in the campaign file, which will
remain unreadable by the Editeur.
SEVEN (optional).
If you want the (many) advantages of Pat Wilson’s MissionGenerator, but want to have smaller formations
(as in the early war period, or if flying with a Détachement de Chasse), rename the file MissionGen_small.ini as MissionGen.ini
and overwrite the standard version. The standard version can be reinstated
whenever you wish to have larger formation sizes. No reason why you couldn’t swap them in or out at any time.
***To have
this patch work correctly you have to be conscientious in using CM to refresh
files. Note the times when the front
lines change:***
1 August 1915
10 October 1916
19 March 1917
15 May 1917
1 June 1917
15 June 1917
1 October 1917
26 March 1918
15 April 1918
1 June 1918
1 July 1918
1 August 1918
15 August 1918
15 September 1918
20 September 1918
15 October 1918
For the patch to work
properly, refresh the campaign using CM immediately one of these dates has
arrived. To be sure, do it after every
mission. Do it BEFORE you generate the next mission. If you don’t the next mission may well tell you to attack a
friendly or protect an enemy location.
If a mismatch does happen to
occur, you may get the ‘Mission Planner’ screen when you hit next mission. If this happens, select a Lone Wolf patrol
for yourself, then start and finish the mission immediately. The game should then operate normally again.
You can continue to use MissionGen
with MFP to improve mission realism.
Likewise, you can use Captain
Darwin’s FCJ control panel with no problems.
Thanks to Steve Fabert
(Sfabert), Ted Harrity (Shredward) and Pat Wilson for testing early versions
and suggesting further improvements.
Special extra mention for Steve who, years ago, gave me a lot of info on
historical movements and the localities of aerodromes that got me started with
more with realistic placement of squadrons. He also suffered through trying
early versions of the patch – all frustrating failures. The fact that the patch
became workable is due to a critical insight by Sygrod regarding the way
Campaign data files track local landmarks.
This finally enabled the elimination of a persistent and fatal flaw in
earlier prototypes of this patch.
Shred
(who has the invaluable French publication Les
Escadrilles de l’Aeronautique Militaire Francaise, summarizing unit
histories of the French escadrilles) and Bletchley added info on unit movements
and AAA, and provided ideas and encouragement that have moved the project
along. My thanks to Zsolt Fazekas
and the TED primer notes prepared by Rens for helping me improve my terrain editing.
Some of my most useful
sources of historical information:
The major events along the Western Front 1915-1918
WW1 air war historical information of all kinds
Osprey Books ‘Aircraft of the Aces’ series
Australian Flying Corps
http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/
Belgian Air Force
http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Historyindex.htm
French Air Force
German Air Force
http://patriot.net/~townsend/WW1AirMap/
(summarizes and amends info from The Jasta Pilots by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey, and Rick
Duiven)
British Air Forces
The
war in the air; being the story of the part played in the great war by the
Royal Air Force. Volume 1 by Raleigh, W.A.; Vols 2-6 by Jones, H. A.
http://clubweb.interbaun.com/milesc/oob1.html http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm
USAS
http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/us_1st_pursuit.html
The
US Air Service in World War 1: Vol 1: Final Report and a Tactical History by
Maurer, M. (accessible on-line through Google Books: http://books.google.com/ )
If you notice any problems/bugs or, better, have information for improving the historical accuracy, let me know at mrars@bigpond.com
Background and notes for previous versions
WFPMF 3
This version concentrates
on the appearance of the terrain and maps, and fixes (mostly) a couple of
long-term bugs.
Balloons. This version goes some
way towards removing the indestructible balloon bug that was in earlier
versions. Most balloons can now be
destroyed by gunfire, but you generally need two to four passes to do it. A diving approach to the target is more
effective than a horizontal attack.
This actually adds realism in that, historically, single firing passes
at balloons often failed to ignite them.
Le Prieur rockets are almost useless (but then they mostly were).
It is possible that
balloons at a few sites remain indestructible; if you think you have found one,
let me know.
Terrain. The patch restores topographic relief. This was absent in earlier versions due simply to my
unfamiliarity with the terrain editor.
The terrain appearance may vary slightly from the RB original as I have
not been able to find the precise numbers used in the out-of-box release.
The south-western corner
of the Marne map sheet is supposed to reach the north-eastern outskirts of Paris
(le Bourget) so I have dressed up this area of the terrain file by placing
numbers of town type tiles instead of grassy countryside.
Several errors or
mismatches in aerodrome positions have been corrected and the positions of some
aerodromes improved.
Alsace front: Burscheid
aerodrome has been added E of Sarreburg, using the slot for the unused
Schlellstadt (Fr: Selestat) aerodrome. The position of Morchingen has been
improved. Dieuze aerodrome has been
renamed as St Medard, historically a significant Jasta base just west of
Dieuze.
Flanders front: Poperinghe aerodrome’s position has been
fixed. The Belgian towns of Jabbecke
and Varsenaere are only a few kilometeres apart, such that one RB aerodrome
would cover the two sites. The more northerly RB drome (Jabbecke) is closer to
the historical position, so I have stuck with that as
"Jabbecke". RedBaron's
"Varsenaere" is closer to the position of another German aerodrome at
Erkeghem and has been renamed accordingly.
RB's aerodrome Koekhoek (the old "Hooey Hook") becomes
redundant with the deletion of Jasta 58.
The site is close to Thourout (=Thouroube; today: Torhout) a 1917 base
for Jasta 7 and Jasta 29, so Thourout replaces Koekhoek.
Verdun front: Aerodrome positions between Briey and
Montmedy have been improved (Spincourt, Mont, Hivry, the “Mercy”s,
Longuyon). Boulay (G: Bolchen)
aerodrome dropped and its slot used for St Mard, E of Montmedy. Niederum (French: Many) is used instead of
Vatimont. Behonne’s buildings are now
oriented correctly.
Marne front: The northern railyard at Soissons is visible
(data corrupted in earlier version).
The “Vaux” of KEK Vaux was not a town but a chateau, Chateau Vaux just
outside Roupy. Jastas 4 and 22 start
their careers there. RedBaron’s “Vaux”
is renamed La Selve. The aerodrome SW
of St Quentin now has three date based alterations starting as Chateau Vaux,
changing to Roupy, then Foreste.
Maps. Background maps now have
additional town names – just about all town locations that are not immediately
adjacent to an aerodrome have their own names.
The position of an extra city, Bruges, has been added to the northern
edge of the Flanders sheet. No city
added to the terrain, as Bruges just misses, but it was an important landmark
that northern fliers ought to “know” about.
All major rivers and some
of the major canals are also named.
Named structures are picked out in blue (rivers) or blue-grey
(canals). Two rivers have inaccurate
gaps in their courses, the Vesle should run between Fismes and Rheims and the
Moselle between Toul and Azelot. Fixing
the underlying terrain file is beyond me, but I have shown the rivers’ actual
courses on the maps. A few place name
mis-spellings have been corrected, and names in German Alsace and Lorraine
(“Elsass” and “Lothringen”) have now all been switched from French to their
German equivalents.
Squadrons. Historically accurate squadron placement has
created some game play anomalies. For
the second half of 1917 none of the WFP German fighter units are in Alsace, and
in the second half of 1918, none of the WFP Allied fighter units are. So I have changed three squadrons to ensure
that there will always be at least one fighter unit from each side present in
Alsace. Jasta 58 and Jasta 77b (two of
the worst-performing Jastas of the war) have been deleted and their places
taken by Jastas 33 and 41. Similarly
Esc 79 (which simply clogs up the Marne front with yet another mediocre French
fighter unit) is dropped in favour of the Alsace-based Esc 90. Several data files have been changed and new
squadron-specific colour schemes added.
Other minor squadron
changes are present. Alteration of
bases in Verdun and Alsace means a few improvements to some Jasta
movements. Several German 2-seater
units have been renamed, as some of those in use had spent much or all of their
time on The Eastern or Italian fronts.
Some persistent errors in date-based unit name changes have been fixed.
Release 2: Errors in
landscape and landmark files corrected (position and terrain around some
aerodromes).
WFPMF 2.0
The
new version has several major additions.
·
All four map sheets now
have new, renamed and relocated aerodromes.
On the Flanders and Marne sheets, over half of the aerodromes have now
been adjusted. On the Verdun sheet,
those flying USAS will notice relocation of their aerodromes as well as quite a
few French bases. On the Alsace sheet
hardly any of the original set of Entente bases have survived.
·
A few bases that were
historically important lie close to map overlap areas, so they appear twice and
units get ‘transferred from one sheet to another to enable them to operate in
both map areas while based at these places.
Included in this is Cachy (Flanders and Marne) and the bases around Toul
and Nancy.
·
The positions of the front
lines have been refined. Flanders,
Marne and Verdun now have alterations that more accurately place parts of the
lines compared to the previous patch.
·
Additional town
names. Many of the ‘town’ and ‘village’
symbols, all anonymous in original RB, have now been given realistic
identities. As a result, there are now
even more points on the map that can be used to describe the site of a victory
or the course of a mission.
·
French escadrille
movements. Thanks to excellent info
uncovered by Shred, all French units now undergo much more accurate movements
during the course of the war. Many of
these new moves are to bases that were not in original RB and have driven the
choice of quite a few name changes.
·
Town appearances. Most cities and towns near the front were
more or less damaged by shellfire. This
version substitutes shell-damaged versions of the BMPs for the three types of
town buildings and the cathedral. As
you fly low over them you’ll see the damage.
The cost is that towns well away from the fighting will also show
damage, but the damage is not extreme, and as most action takes place close to
the front, it seemed to me most buildings should look damaged. Farmhouses on aerodromes, however, are in
good repair.
·
Antiaircraft fire. Over the course of the war, AAA fire becomes
heavier over the front lines. The
‘Brigades’ start with relatively small numbers of flak guns and MGs, but these
increase over time, slowly at first but more rapidly in 1918. German AAA is thicker on the ground than
Entente. Thanks to Bletchley for this
suggestion and for testing it.
·
Map sheets (PlanregX.bmp)
have been adjusted here and there to improve the correspondence between in-game
positions of cities and the positions shown on maps.
BUG: An unsolved bug using the moving front is that
balloons can no longer be shot down.
Altering the landscape has somehow made them impervious to guns and
rockets, although they can still be destroyed if a plane collides with them. You may wish to use Captain Darwin’s
FCJ control panel to
eliminate balloon attack and defense
missions.
The RBII/3D front line
positions are static throughout the game and represent a compromise position
historically. In reality, from early
1917 there were some changes that significantly altered the positions of the
lines and of aerodromes in use. This
patch moves the front line from time to time to better reflect its historical
position and to allow a closer approximation between historical squadron
placements and game placements.
NOTE that the underlying
landscape (specified by the .TED files) will not change, so that the nomans
land tiles will stay where they are (the old battlefield areas took a long time
to recover, so it’s not completely unrealistic). So when flying over altered lines you'll need to keep a keener
eye on where you are as enemy gunners will be shooting at you from more
difficult-to-spot positions.
The novel features of the Moving Front patch are date based versions of Lndmrks#.dat, Brigade#.dat and modified Squadron.dat files, planreg0, -1, -2 and-3 .bmp files, new aerodrome Lo.files. Together these move the front lines and enable squadrons to advance or retreat as the lines move. The new versions of Baron0.ted, Baron1.ted, Baron2.ted and Baron3.ted include new aerodrome tile sets, eliminate others, and alter the layout of many aerodrome landscape ‘tiles’. Also present is a set of new aerodrome lo files that alter the appearance of aerodromes (Lo020000.dat to Lo02000D.dat) and provide more diversity, and more small dromes with relatively few buildings. Two of these lo files (-02 and -09) are used for a few aerodrome locations when no planes are based there; they provide groups of buildings and tents to simulate army camps. The operating aerodrome lo files get extra buildings and AAA in October 1917 to reflect increasing numbers of squadrons (see Aerodrome Appearance on pp 5-6 below). Improving AAA is also represented by date based increments in the numbers of flak guns and MG nests along the front lines (Lo130000.dat to Lo130300.dat). Low flying over the trenches should become increasingly hazardous as time goes by. The town buildings and cathedral (0906-, 0907-, 0908-, 0908-. bmp) now start the game in their damaged state, to give the appearance of battle-damaged towns. The file also includes sets of date-based printable maps for the different fronts showing the variations that occur to the lines. These maps (labelled Alsace, Flanders, Marne and Verdun) can be used to try your hand at navigating RB by eye. As well, I have a PowerPoints file (Changing front.ppt) that sums up the major changes in the lines at a glance. The zip also contains two files to enhance the use of the Squadron Editor as a way of looking at the Squadron data file. Use these to replace the default rbaero.txt and rbplanes.txt that come with the Squadron editor.
The patch has the following date-based modifications of the front
lines:
150801
The game starts with the
German lines bulging towards Albert on the Flanders map and towards Ste
Menehould on the Marne and Verdun fronts.
161020
After
three months of fighting the lines have been pushed back to RB original on the
Flanders map.
170319
Flanders and Marne
Maps: The Germans withdraw to the
massively defended Siegfried Positions (“Hindenburg line”), in so doing cutting
out a great curve of the old front line.
Much of the old battle lines, including all of the Somme battlefields,
are now well inside Anglo-French territory.
Flanders Map: In the south the
lines run SE from Arras to Cambrai then south to St Quentin.
Marne Map: In the
northwest, the lines run south from St Quentin to Soissons.
170515
A
localised British offensive led by Canadian forces captures the tactical
highpoint of Vimy Ridge, pushing the Germans away from Arras and towards Lens –
minor movement of the lines.
170601
A major French offensive on the
Marne map towards the ridge of the Chemin des Dames is a near total
failure. Minor gains occur NE of
Soissons, but the disaster precipitates mutinies in French units.
170615
British offensives centring on the
town of Messines make small gains along the front between Bethune and Ypres.
171001
After
several months of attempting a break through in northern Flanders, the British
have merely pushed the Ypres salient east as far as the town of Passchendaele,
with huge losses on both sides.
180326
Operation 'Michael' opens on
March 21st and the British and French lines are breached where they meet along
the Somme valley. Germans advance west
towards Amiens.
Flanders Map: Following the German assaults, the front
lines in the south bulge west to Villers-Bretonneux. Many Entente aerodromes change to German. Albert in German hands.
Marne Map:
Front moves south in the west, Montdidier and Noyon taken by the Germans. Several aerodromes captured.
180415
On April 7th a second
German assault (Operation 'Georgette') is launched in the north along the Lys
River valley. The attack is halted but
a new bulge has appeared in the lines.
Flanders Map: Front lines in the north bulge west between
Ypres and Bethune. British aerodromes
including la Gorgue, Merville and Bailleul occupied.
180601
Operation Blücher hits worn
out British units moved to the ‘quiet’ French sector for a rest. The line around Fismes disintegrates and the
Germans roll south to the Marne before being stopped by, among others, the
first US forces to see serious action.
Marne Map: Front lines in
the centre bulge south to the Marne and Chateau-Thierry. Several French aerodromes change hands. Soissons
and Fismes now German.
180701
After what the Germans
call Operation Yorck, and the French the Battle of Reims, the Germans fail to
take the French city, pushing their line only slightly south and east. It is the last gasp of the German offensive. The French forces with their newly readied
US allies are about to counterattack
180801
French and
American counter attacks known as the Second Battle of the Marne have forced
the Germans out of the Chateau-Thierry bulge.
Marne Map: Front lines and aerodromes in centre return
to March 1918 position.
180815
A massive Anglo-French
assault on August 5th smashes through the German lines in front of Amiens. Australian and Canadian shock troops,
supported by great numbers of tanks, give the Germans their blackest day as
they fall back towards the old front lines.
Flanders Map: Front lines in south moved to the game
original lines (150801). Entente
aerodromes, towns, bridges revert to original status.
Marne Map: Front lines in
west revert to game original. Noyon and
Montdidier back in French hands.
180915
The Entente forces have now
pushed the Germans back to the Hindenburg line and are gearing up to make their
final breakthrough. Entente squadrons,
especially the army-cooperation ("Corps") squadrons, move up behind
the new front lines to stay in touch with the advancing troops. In the south, French and US forces are
starting to push the Germans northwards.
Flanders Map: Front lines in north revert to original
status. Front lines in south now the Hindenberg
line arrangement of March 1917. Several aerodromes now back in Entente hands.
Marne Map: Front lines in west pushed to March 1917 Hindenberg line. Aerodromes in the northwest corner back in
Entente hands. Lines in east to RB original.
Verdun Map: Lines in the
west to RB original.
180920
Verdun Map: The Germans
decide to evacuate the long-standing St Mihiel salient, but US forces choose
this moment to attack, capturing many German troops and equipment as they
occupy the old salient..
181015
The Entente
forces have broken through and the Germans are in retreat.
Flanders Map: The Germans have abandoned much of Flanders
and northwest France. Most of the large
towns and cities are now liberated.
Many RAF squadrons will shortly move further east to occupy former
German aerodromes, while the Germans withdraw their squadrons to the east.
Marne Map: Lines pushed
northeastwards, now running through Laon.
Many German aerodromes abandoned or in Entente territory. Lines in east
bulge north to Rethel.
Verdun Map: Lines in the
west move north to Vouziers.
SD made a lot of compromises
to real geography in order to achieve the incompatible aim of using historical
names of aerodromes and an un-historical static front line.
By bringing some movement to
the line I had an opportunity to fix some of the un-historic aerodrome
placements. Where I could, I renamed a
number of SD aerodrome sites to more accurately reflect actual French geography
and correct RB errors. The ability to
do this is limited by the TED files, which dictate where aerodromes can be by
providing sets of aerodrome tiles at appropriate coordinates. The most problematic area is the Somme
valley where the greatest oscillations of the front occurred. This is very
unfortunate because this is where the Marne and Flanders mapsheets meet, and SD
avoided placing aerodromes close to the map limits. The cost is that on Flanders all of the most southerly aerodromes
are too far north, while those at the top of the Marne sheet are too
southerly. On both there are not enough
aerodromes and there seems too much east-west compression. So I have used the TED editor to create new
aerodrome sites on the map sheets that more correctly place several game
aerodromes; other sites no longer used have been eliminated or reduced to
irregular patches. Other aerodrome
sites have been renamed.
Date-based changes
The above changes are
'permanent' alterations to the SD maps and files. In addition to these, during 1918, some aerodromes change names,
to represent bases that were close to RB dromes but used at different
times. For example, Cachy on the Marne
sheet becomes Harbonnières. Etc. Some compromises, where several closely
placed aerodromes are represented by one, mean that a few squadrons will visit
places they didn't really go to (still very close to the right region
though). Forgive me, history
buffs. SD knew not what they did.
Place names
I have also taken the
opportunity to correct the spellings of many of the place names (there are
probably still a few I haven't got). [Rant:
The level of mis-spelling of French and Belgian place names in the
original RB was incredibly slack]
In spite of all of this
tweaking, the aerodrome positions are STILL very approximate.
Aside from historical
adjustments, the MFP also changes the in-game appearance of aerodromes.
SD made all aerodromes on a relatively large landscape patch consisting of 16 terrain tiles. It used six different layouts for the aerodrome buildings, with a German and Allied version of each layout. To me, the result is that most aerodromes look too big in area and have too many large, permanent-looking buildings compared with what I’ve seen in photos of aerodromes of the period. And there is too much similarity from drome to drome. So I have added diversity to aerodrome appearances in two ways. Firstly, I reduced the number of tiles on many aerodrome sites. Some bases are now on only 8 tiles, and look more like the farmers fields that many were. Then I took the six German and six Allied aerodrome Lo files and made 12 new aerodrome layouts. German and Allied versions of the original six layouts differed only in having German or Allied trucks and gun positions, differences that are trivial as far as the look in-game is concerned. So now on each side of the lines you can see 12 different building layouts. One layout is for very large permanent aerodromes (for places like St Omer), some are medium-sized, and more are small, with one or two groups of three to five temporary hangars.
RB included two Lofiles for
aerodromes that were to be Zeppelin or airship bases. As the game has no such dirigibles, I use the two Lofiles to make
‘army bases’ – collections of tents, AAA, vehicles and other military stuff to
be placed on a few aerodrome locations that are not being used by any
squadrons. So you may find yourself
flying an airfield attack on an ‘army camp’ rather than an aerodrome.
Thanks to Miles Constable's
web postings detailed information is available for the bases used by all
British squadrons for the entire war. I
have used this info along with the revised positions of bases to update
squadron movements. Similar information
has been posted by Dave Townsend for the Jastas. Shred provided detailed data
fro French unit moves. No such detailed info is available for most German
2-seater units; these include a lot of guesswork, or are simply arbitrary to
ensure German two-seaters are spread across all of the fronts.
This patch is for private exchange only and neither it nor any of its
contents are to be posted on the web or used for any financial gain whatsoever
without prior written permission from the owners of original work contained in
this patch.