Strike Fighters by Thirdwire

Welcome
Welcome to VMFA-531 Mission Pack 'Gold', for Wings Over Vietnam (WOV). This pack covers the entire set of missions flown by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 (VMFA-531) between the dates of April 13 through April 30, 1965. Where possible I have tried to stay true to the historical write-up of Mike Wanamaker and Lee R. De haven*, given the constraints of the publicly available aircraft and ground objects in WOV. Where necessary, certain stock aircraft and ground objects are used in place of their historical counterparts.
 
*Special mention goes to Ken King (531_Ghost) for commissioning this work.
 
NOTE: This mission pack has been optimized and tested to work with the October 2008 patch for Wings Over Vietnam.
 
VERSION: 1.0
 
Missions included in this Pack
This pack contains over 60 single missions, scripted to reenact the engagements undertaken by the F-4Bs of VMFA-531. You will also get the chance to fly sorties in support of VMFA-531 in other aircraft, such as the A-6A, F-100D (acting as a Misty fast FAC) and the F-105D.
 
Acknowledgements, Disclaimer and Terms
Thank you to all those modders that have provided the prerequisites I have used in my mission packs. If there are any problems with these missions and my own modifications, then please contact me directly, not the authors of the prerequisites. Note that some models used by this pack may have different terms and conditions (consult the accompanying documentation for details).
 
Released under Fair-Use terms, as defined at CombatAce
 
Special thanks
Some contributors deserve a special mention, either for explicitly granting me permission to include their work in this pack, or for publishing their work under the aforementioned Fair-Use terms at CombatAce, and therefore permitting its inclusion in whole or in part in this pack*:

Kesselbrut – US_Squad_early and VC_Squad ground forces, updated by TeTeT**.
Ravenclaw_007 – Martin Baker Mk7 Ejection Seat, used in F-4B.
Suicidal – Type-21 Frigate.
Sundowner – VMFA-531 (early) F-4B skins.
Swambast – M18 smoke canisters, used with the marker smoke effects in missions involving US ground troops.
Veltro2K – C-141A transport aircraft, and KC-135 tanker aircraft.

*Please contact me if you feel this list is incomplete or contains errors. Thank you.
 
**Included in this pack after consultation with USAFMTL.
 
Contents
This mission pack replaces all previous VMFA-531 mission packs that I have published since late 2007. Briefly, the contents are as follows:

New smoke marker effects
New formations
Comprehensive mission briefings documentation
60+ scripted single missions
Static aircraft with low-rez skins to populate your airbases during scripted single missions
Pilot skins to personalize your strike aircraft
FM tweaks to provide an auto-opening canopy for each strike aircraft used by this pack
Loadout enhancements to match the ordnance expended during the 'real' missions
A static frigate and carrier to replicate carrier task forces for both Yankee and Dixie stations
Comprehensive target definitions for each mission, with some enhancements to existing friendly airfields
New type definitions to support the new targets
Full airfield approach, tall structure anti-collision and ramp flood lighting for all friendly airfields

 
Installation
Download this pack to a neutral location on your local machine, extract the files, and then consult the detailed ReadMe for installation instructions.
 
Files are included to drag-drop this mission pack onto a clean install of WOV (patched to October 2008) with minimal configuration required. Detailed instructions are also included to perform a merge-install.
 
A final word
This 'Gold' release of the VMFA-531 mission pack completes the set originally published in a series of mission packs from late 2007 onwards. This final version is intended to replace those earlier separate mission packs by offering everything in one place, re-written and enhanced to make full use of the October 2008 patched version of Wings Over Vietnam. The work presented here is the culmination of over 2 years worth of effort. I had a lot of fun doing it, learned a lot, and met some good people along the way. I hope that you enjoy it. I think you will.
 
Good luck.
 
comrpnt (February 2010).

#INSTALLATION
 
The setup for this mod is designed to use the Thirdwire first generation folder structure patched
to 10-08 standard, the latest one as per January 2010!
 
It doesn't contain the model of the plane itself, you need to get the fourth setup pack of NF4+ (link below) to get it. This package contains the INI reworks to make the model compatible with the first generation games along with the correct gun of the plane.
 
1) Unzip the "Su-25-firstgen" folder to a temporary place where it is easy to find.
 
2) Add the data from "GUNDATA.txt" to your GUNDATA.ini (numbering the entry with the first number availabe), open and save it with the gun editor. This step adds the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 gun which was the gun gun carried by the series-produced aircraft.
 
3) Get the 4th pack of NF4+ at CombatAce: http://forum.combata...&showfile=10125 and extract at least the folder containing the Su-25.
 
4) Copy the plane folder (the one with the LOD's and the cockpit directory) to your “Aircraft” directory and then the INI's within the “Su-25-firstgen” into the Su-25 folder, allowing to overwrite when prompted - be careful: you must only overwrite the files, the INI's to be precise, within the Su-25 folder, not elsewhere!
 
5) In the case that you do not use the community weapons pack 2.52 (available at CombatAce.com, link below), you may have to add the data from "Weapons\Ordnance_Weapondata.txt" to your weapondata.ini and copy the needed folders in "Weapons" in your weapon directory. No overwriting of existing files is needed.
 
 
#ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
This is mainly a INI rework to convert the Su-25 for the 2nd generation games included in the NF4+ mod into a plane usable in the first generation.
 
The weapons provided are solely those needed for the given LOADOUT.INI as I assume that a large majority of users has some kind of weapon pack installed, giving enough weapons to modify the loadouts at will.
 
I've tested the plane on a Wing over Europe install patched to Oct.-08 level with the
community weapons pack 2.52 installed.
 
 
#LINKS TO MATERIAL
 
- License information: http://forum.combata...showtopic=26131
- Community Weapons pack: http://forum.combata...p;showfile=7791
- Nato Fighters 4+, aircraft folder 2, fourth part: http://forum.combata...&showfile=10125
 
 
#DOCUMENTATION
 
1) The conversion of the plane was made by re-saving all INI files with ANSI coding, as this is the sole file coding understood by the first gen game engine.
 
2) Additionally, it makes use of the so-called “hiding components trick by bpao” (if you look at the Su-25_DATA.INI , you'll see how it works).
 
3) The loadout.ini is my creation.
 
 
#LICENSING INFORMATION
 
I think it is safe and the best to put my little INI work under the
-> CombatAce Freeware License (see link above) <-,
this rework / compilation is licensed as such, in short: freedom to distribute such licensed work
as long as it does NOT become part of payware or not publicly available.
 
I wasn't allowed to republish the model of the aircraft. USAFMTL said on request that “The person who made requested that it stay in the package only. “ but that I was clear to include the INI's, so I can't even name the contributor but nevertheless ask that he or she will accept my thanks!
- EDIT: after the upload, I learned that the model is more to be seen as in a "beta stage", AmokFloo ported it in game and 76.IAP-Blackbird is still working on it.
 
#CREDITS
 
- The Sukhoi 25 was/is done by AmokFloo and 76.IAP-Blackbird.
 
Uhu
 
EDIT of File description 2010-02-07: clarified a part of the install explanation after I saw that the advice of overwriting lead at least one time to misunderstandings. Also updated the information about original author. Same changes in updated readmes within the archive.

This it is the F-16C block 50+ "Peace Puma" of the Fuerza Aerea de Chile (FACH), mod based on excellent f-16 developed by TMF. The F-16C Peace Puma is a advanced version of the Falcon block 50 specifically the Chilean model includes a series of innovations on the previous variants, transform which it into a powerful fighter bomber of 21st century.
 
SFP1/WoX series 1
 
Update tweaks:
 
Multirol capacity
pod litening II
ECM improved
 
US/Israeli armament:
 
AA Missiles; Derby, Python III-IV, AIM-9M, AIM-120 Amraam
AG Missiles; Maverick
Bombs MK-82/83, JDAM Gbu-10
 
Graphic improvements:
 
New camouflage, opaque glass cockpit, new internal reflection in cockpit, full decals, IFF antennas, modification of the parachute compartment, new pilot group 3 FACH, seat ACES II.
 
Credits and Acknowledgments in the readme text.

With new WWII maps coming to play, I decided to make a WWII campaign.
 
Unlike any WWII campaign, I took the liberty to add modern warbirds into the fray just for the fun of it.
The creation of this campaign was influence by the movie The Final Countdown.
 
The campaign is mostly an air war due to my limited knowledge on how strategic nodes work. So if anyone want to assist me in this (recommendations and so forth), I'd be greatful.
 
The campaign currently only allow you to fly the F4F-4 and the F-14D because I have yet to add carriers in the campaign.
 
Future plans may include adding carriers to the fray which add more US aircraft into the mix as well as the Japanese.

By the mid-1950's, the entire Corsair fleet was considered "obsolete" and both the Navy and Marines began to phase them out of active squadrons and into scattered Reserve units throughout the country. This AU-1 depicts the LAST ACTIVE MARINE UNIT to operate the AU-1. This was AES-12 (Aircraft Engineering Squadron Twelve) based at MCAS Quantico,Virginia in 1957. It is unusual because it was one of the few examples where the Corsair was around just long enough to receive the new "grey over white" paint scheme the navy mandated in 1956.
 
Please see enclosed read me for history and installation instructions.
 
For the Mirage Factory AU-1 as posted by Crusader.
 
Tested on post 08 patch WOV.

Kamchatka Peninsula
 
Summer Terrain
 
v1.0
 
by Baltika
 
For Wings Over Europe October 2008 Patch
 
 
This is my first full-fledged terrain mod. It includes a base tileset by Deuces, together with Stary's forests and farms mod adapted for use on this terrain. I have also created a large number of additional transition tiles based on Deuce's tiles, which may be of interest to terrain builders.
 
The tile naming format is compatible with the stock GermanyCE tileset for ease of expansion, but be aware that the excellent hi-res and seasoned tilesets by Brain32 and Stary in particular will not have all the necessary transition tiles, so use them with caution. Should you wish to use the included transitioned tileset for your own terrain mods, copy all the terrain .bmp files and .tga files into the "Tileset" folder and convert the .tga tiles to .bmp format. See Gepard's excellent terrain tutorials in the KB at CA for more info.
 
All mission types are activated, for both red and blue side flyable. The Americans have their existing bases on the Aleutian Islands. I have handed the northern Kuril Islands to the Japanese for the sake of this scenario. Take it as read that the Soviets were sufficiently distracted by the ground war in central Europe that they lost their hold on the Kurils to Japan. Now, the Soviets are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the strategically important Kamchatka Peninsula.
 
This is a target-rich, fictionalised version of the Russian Far East. There are many installations and industrial zones in the Kamchatka Krai that you will not find in real life. Equally, as much real-life stuff as I could discover went into the mix. Also, this is intended as a showcase of a fully-transitioned tileset, so there is much more agriculture than you would get at these latitudes. Just kick back and enjoy the scenery.
 
Finally, there is a monstrous presence lurking at the heart of the Peninsula who has risen from aeons of deathless sleep to trouble the affairs of men once more. Bragging rights to the first person to take a recon photo of this horror and make it back to base alive, and with their sanity intact ;-)
 
 
 
INSTALLATION:-
 
Simply unzip and drop the "KAMCHATKA" folder into your Wings over Europe/Terrain folder.
 
It is highly recommended that you install the files listed below or you will not get the full intended Kamchatka Krai experience.
 
 
REQUIRED FILES:-
 
 
Groundobjects:-
 
CVN-75 by Digital Overload
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=9684
 
TAKR Orjol by Gepard
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=5497
 
TAKR Admiral Gorshkov by X-RAY
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=5830
 
UdaloyI by China Insky Team
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=10336
 
UdaloyII by China Insky Team
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=10330
 
BRDM_SA-9 by rebelryder
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=7740
 
SA-11 & SA-17 by 101tfs
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=7627
 
ScudLauncher & Missile by bigal1
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=6435
 
Soviet SAMs by gabilon
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=3057
 
 
 
INCLUDED FILES:-
 
Core tileset by Deuces. Additional transition tiles by Baltika.
 
Forests and Farms mod by Stary, extended to cover additional tiles.
 
Doppler Radar Dome by grumpapotamus
I have modded this as a terrain object rather than a separate ground object. The original readme file is included. Thanks grumpapotamus ;-)
 
WW2 Subpens from WW2 Europe Terrain by Edward et al, modded for Soviet use.
Thanks to the original creator.
 
 
Special thanks to Gepard for his TE tutorials, without which this mod would not exist.
 
Thanks also to The Wrench for leading the way in terrain target placement - the hard way!
 
 
 
As ever, feedback, comments, bug-reports and general griping are most welcome.
 
Tally-Ho!
 
Baltika
 
February 2010

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Indian Air Force Hunter F.Mk.56A skin pack
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A two skin pack for paulopanz's excellent Indian Air Force Hunter F.56A mod:
 
Skins included -
1. No. 20 Sqdn "Lightnings" - with historic serial nos. of their 15 Hunter airframes that they flew in the 1971 war. Fate & number of sorties flown by each of the Hunters is mentioned as well.
 
2. Target Tug Flight - The last IAF unit to fly the Hunters(actual serials included)
 
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Installation
-------------
Extract the contents of the file(Aircraft and Decals folder) to X:\Users\"Owner"\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Europe\Objects\
 
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Credits
--------
ThirdWire - For the Hunter F.6 & FGA.9 models and the base skin
paulopanz "the hunter maniac" - For the Indian AF Hunter F.56 & F.56A mods. Great work putting the whole mod together!!!
 
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References
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Website : www.bharat-rakshak.com
Book : "When Lightnings Strike" - Official History of 20 Sqdn IAF by Pushpindar Singh.
 
Use of the skin or decals in any payware is strictly prohibited. Any mistakes are mine alone.
 
Sandesh "ghostrider883" Kanchan
February 03, 2010

B-1R Beta 1.0 By Dels and Team
 
USAFMTL - Decals, testing, ini work
ST0RM - Skins and Jimmy B.
JAT - ini work, avionics
Spillone - Sounds
 
Pit by Normanknight (F-111)
(Pit is a temp fix, best we can do)
 
Thanks to anyone I might have missed too.

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Indian Air Force Mirage 2000TH skins for Amokfloo's Mirage 2000D
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Skin set for Amokfloo's Mirage 2000D for sf2 series only.
 
Installation:
-------------
Extract the contents of the file to X:\Users\"Owner"\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Europe\Objects\
 
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Credits:
--------
Amokfloo "the twin seat fighter king" ;-) : for the excellent Mirage 2000D & base skin for these IAF skins
pablitoVPT : for converting the m2KD to SF2 standards.
 
Hope you like these skins.
 
Sandesh "ghostrider883" Kanchan
February 02, 2010

Pucara Repaint Cockpit (2)