Building an Il-2 Mission: Step 3 Base Layout

Now that I have decided which mission to build, the attack on Clark Air Base in the Philippines, I need to figure out how I can use the Full Mission Builder. There are no maps of the Philippines in the simulation so another map must be used as a replacement.

Topographical data that I found on Clark Air Base shows that the base was not located near the sea, which rules out a lot of the maps in the Pacific. Furthermore I guess that the base was pretty important and since B-17's operated from it, it should have a concrete runway. After looking at the different maps I decide to go for the airbase near Simferopol on the Crimean map. It's far away enough from the sea, but if the player decides to pursue the bombers at a long distance, he will eventually encounter water.

Often, bases are dull places in user made campaign. The airfields remain an empty place, only used to take off from or land. I can understand this for aircraft not controlled by the player. But I stick to the rule that any place the player is likely to sea, should look like a living, realistic place. For my first mission I used a limited layout of the base, since the player only saw the airfield during landing and take-off. But for this mission the player will be flying all the time above his base, furthermore its the target of the AI so this base needs to look as realistic as possible; Since I don't have real pictures from Clark Air Base, I have to work with some assumptions when placing objects. In the end I must obtain what I think the base should look like. Below is a quick tour of the major land marks on the base.

This is the entrance to the base. Since the news of the Pearl Harbor attack already got spread around, sandbags and machineguns are placed near the entrance.

These are the barracks for the unmarried ground personnel, in the distance you spot the barrack for the unmarried pilots and officers.

This is where the unmarried pilots and officers sleep.

Married pilots and officers have off course their own private housing, which can be seen here. In the back is the only church on the base visible.

On the forefront is a concrete reinforcements for AAA, while the tower with HQ stands in the background.

These are the old hangers from the start of the base, which stand out because there are no concrete roads leading to them, on the right are the latest hangars, used to protect the B-17's.

This is part of the fence, with some old storage buildings in the background, god knows what they are used for.

This is the hospital, if you like some young nurses, this is the place to be.

Here are the fuel tanks of the base. Without them no fighter or bomber could take to the sky.

These land marks on the base are easily visible for the player and help to set the mood of the mission. They will also form the major targets for the AI when the bombers arrive. But more on that in my next post.

I also posted my latest AAR: the second part of Tunis. You can read it at the blog (scroll down to see the second part) or at SimHQ.

Happy Reading