Greetings Everyone! A new public beta (v1.02.27) is available. You will need to opt into the changes by selecting the beta branch from the games Properties menu, listed as "beta - Open Beta". You can opt out at any time. Changes since v1.02.25: [b]New Features and Rule Changes[/b] • Air units with custom loadouts are now set to Auto loadout, during the logistics phase, if the availability date of their loadout has passed. • Increased the fuel used by aircraft each time they engage in air to air combat, thus reducing their ability to engage large numbers of enemy aircraft in any one mission. • Editor – Changed the default air doctrine settings that are created when the Init Air Doctrines function is used on the air doctrine screen in the editor. • Manual Addendum: Fighters, and fighter bombers with a Mission setting of Fighter, display their escort range for radius in their air unit detail screen. Fighter bombers with a Mission setting of Bomber, display their combat range (in this case bombing range) for radius in their air unit detail screen. When the range circles are shown on map using the AOG functionality if the unit consists of fighter bombers one of two circles will be shown. If its Mission setting is Fighter, the purple circle will show the area within which it can escort missions. If the FB’s Mission setting is Bomber then a purple circle will be shown indicating the range over which the plane can fly to strike a ground target. This distance is 4/3 further than the escort range, but is usually then lowered due to having a bomb loadout (this can be checked on the load out tab for the air unit). If an airbase has aircraft but no ground units present in the hex, then left-clicking on the hex will generate one or two range circles depending on the aircraft at the airbase. The green circle is the greatest escort range of any fighters or fighter bombers with Mission set to Fighter that are at the base. The purple circle is the greatest combat range of any air unit at the base. So if the airbase only has level bombers only the purple combat range circle will be shown but for fighters and fighter bombers with their Mission set to Fighter, both the shorter escort and the combat range circles are shown. • Added Living Manual v1.12.pdf file in the \Manuals folder. This is up to date with changes through game version 1.02.27. [b]Bug Fixes and AI Improvements[/b] • Several bug fixes and adjustments for flak: o Defending side ground support was not being properly fired at by attacking side flak support units. Fixed. o Axis flak during June 22 1941 turns was being reduced along with Soviet flak. Fixed. o Flak and bombing for air units that were diving down to 1000 feet were not being handled correctly for ground support. Fixed. o The listing of the number of guns being reported in the battle report as contributing flak has been improved to be more accurate re the exact number of guns that contributed flak value against the enemy air mission. o The current turn column of the losses screen was often showing higher flak losses than were actually occurring. Fixed. o Other miscellaneous changes/improvements were made as the flak code was reviewed. • Several fixes were made involving displacement of HQs and support units in the HQs: o Support units in non-isolated HQs in isolated hexes (units just surrounded during the current player turn) are being destroyed when forced to displace. Fixed. o HQ units in airhead supply that are forced to displace are being destroyed. Fixed. o AI – AI support units in HQs that voluntarily displace, while isolated or in airhead supply, are not being destroyed. Fixed. • Air units, on vary rare occasions, have 255 damaged aircraft. Fixed. • Units in city forts, and fort type units, are prepping for amphibious invasions, which causes several issues when an invasion is ordered. It was not intended that these units be allowed to prep for invasions. This has been blocked so no further preparation is possible. If you have been prepping any of these kinds of units, we strongly advise you not launch an invasion while those units are still in the hex with the amphibious HQ. • AI and AI Air Assist – Improved the air AI so it tries not to fly air transport missions in bad weather except to resupply isolated units. Bad weather is heavy rain, snow and blizzard. Other improvements to air transport missions were made, including eliminating missions to hexes more than 25 hexes from supplied enemy units. [b]Data and Scenario Changes[/b] • Ob.dat file – Removed duplicate AT-rifles in OB slot 272. • 1941 Campaign(s) changes: o Adjusted starting air directives, air doctrines and pilot pools. Note: We’ve tried to improve the Axis 22 June 1941 airfield attacks and other air directives, causing as much damage to the Soviet air force while reducing Axis air losses where possible. For players using the AI Air Assist, you’ll want to push the button to activate it on turn 2 (if using auto AI air assist, this will happen automatically). Experienced players are free to delete these air directives (easiest from the Air Directive Summary screen) and create their own. Changes to the starting air doctrines have also been made to generally maximize effectiveness and minimize losses. Players are encouraged to review the standard air doctrines, experiment with changes, and adjust them to suit their air force play style and goals. o Added event 137 alerting the Soviet player of the imminent disbanding of rifle/mech corps HQs. o Changed several Axis Baltic ports to export ports. o Changed depot priorities of Bucharest and Buzau to 1. o Changes to land units: 999th Afrika Mot Bde - rename removed, demotorized, set to 65 exp/morale (penal unit) split into Two Inf Rgts, one Pioneer Bn and two 105mm Howitzer Bns III/999 Howitzer Bn demotorized, changed to 105mm Howitzers, renames to 645th in 4/45 IV/999 Howitzer Bn removed, became part of Sturm Div Rhodos 41st Fortress Div - arrives 8/43 directly to BA with squads at full strength (except motorcycles, unit comprised of 999th Inf Bns) all 999th set to rebuild restricted (except III/999th Howitzer Bn) all 999th start with full-strength squads, just lacking MG and heavier weapons o New land units: III+IV/999th Construction Bns added to WE (8/44) I/999 Fortress Inf Bn added to BA (mid 5/43), mid 2/44 to AR XIV+XV+XVII/999 Fortress Inf Bn added to BA (10/43), 12/43 to AR XXIII/999 Fortress Inf Bn added to WE (8/44) o Air unit changes: JGr Sued available early 2/42, renaming from new Erg-Stfl/JG 27 II./JG 1 transformed into rename from new Erg-Stfl/JG 3 III./JG 1 transformed into rename from new Erg-Stfl/JG 52 IV./JG 1 transformed into rename from new Erg-Stfl/JG 26 I./JG 4 delayed to mid 12/42, transformed into rename from new Erg-Stfl/JG 77 via Oelschutzstaffel/JG 77, change to Bf 109G-2 Stab/JG 6 rename source changed to delayed Stab/ZG 26 I./JG 6 rename source changed to V./KG 40, delayed to 10/44 II./JG 6 rename source changed to 5./BoFlGr 196 II./JG 7 becomes IV./JG 301 in late 11/44 10.(Jabo)/JG 26 disbands in early 10/43, after rename to Jabo/JG 54 it renames back to Jabo/JG 26 in 6/43 IV./JG 26 transformed into rename from second incarnation of II./ZG 76 IV./JG 54 rename to II./JG7 added for 2/45 I./JG 76 changed rename source unit to new Aufklar-Stfl XI Flgkorps 1.(Z)/JG 77 rename chain updated: 6.(Z)/JG 5->10.(Z)/JG 5 -> 13.(Z)/JG 5 -> IV./ZG 26, add 8/44 TB transfer to NO JGr 200 transformed from rename to reinforcing unit IV.(Sturm)/JG 300 (removed Sturm designation), transformed into rename from new Aufklar-Stfl XI Flgkorps IV./JG 301 transformed to rename from III./KG 1 (via II./JG 7) IV./NJG 1 renames from III./NJG2 in 10/42 III./NJG 2 renames to IV./NJG 1 in 10/42 IV./NJG 2 rename source changed to II./KG 40 Stab/NJG 3 delayed to 9/41 II./NJG 3 transformed into rename from new Erg-ZGr V./NJG 6 (6/43) renamed III./NJG 2, was active for just 1 month before rename I./NJG 7 transformed into rename from II./KG 40 PzJ/ZG 1 disbands mid 9/43 Stab/ZG 2 disbands early 1/43 I./ZG 2 disbands mid 8/42 II./ZG 2 stays in WE and becomes TB-locked Stab/ZG 26 rename removed, disbands 9/41 I./ZG 26 disbands 7/42 (delayed by 3 months to cover for II./ZG 2 which stays in WE) II./ZG 26 disbands 4/42, stays in East until disband IV./ZG 26 - rename delayed to mid 8/44, rename source changed to 1.(Z)/JG 77 Stab/ZG 76 delayed to 8/43 in WE with Bf 110G-2 I./ZG 76 transformed into rename from new Aufklar-Stfl XI Flgkorps II./ZG 76 TB-locked in WE II./ZG 76 (8/43) change rename source to 3.(F)/AufklarGr 11, add rename to IV./JG 26 in 2/45 III./ZG 76 disbands in late 4/44 (formation never fully completed, then abandoned) I./StG 1 renames to II./StG 3 in 1/42 and II./SG 3 in 10/43, add TB transfers II./StG 3 transformed into rename from I./StG 1 Stab/Sch.G 1 - disband removed, renames to Stab/SG 9 in 10/43 10.(Pz)/SG 1 transformed from rename slot to reinforcing unit, renames to 2.(Pz)/SG 9 in 1/45 I./SG 1 - rename source changed to delayed I./StG 1 II./SG 3 - rename source changed to original I./StG 1 I.(Pz)/SG 9 changed into 3.(Pz)/SG 9 (Staffel) 10.(Pz)/SG 77 (reinforcing) removed NSGr 30 rename source changed to II./KG 40 III./LG 1 renames to III./KG 6 in 9/42 I./KG 1 transformed into rename from KuFlGr 506 in 6/42 V./KG 2 transformed into rename from II./KG 40 III./KG 6 (9/42) transformed into rename from III./LG 1, adapting follow-up rename to III./KG(J) 6 III./KG(J) 6 - rename source changed to III./LG 1 II./KG 40 (original) locked in WE, renames to V./KG 2 6/43 -> I./NJG 7 2/44 -> IV./NJG 2 late 10/44 -> NSGr 30 late 2/45 V./KG 40 renames to I./ZG 26 in mid 10/43 and to I./JG 6 in 10/44, some TB transfers between West and East added I./KG 50 renames into II./KG 40 in 10/43 III./KG 51 (original) delayed disband to 3/44 III./KG 51 (rename) change to Fw 190F-8 I./KG 60 split into 1./2. Staffel, both disband early 2/43 (1. in NO, 2. in ITA) KGr zbV 5 renames to III./LG 1 in 5/43 (instead of TGr 10) TGr 10 transformed from rename to reinforcing unit (1/44 in FI), arrives with 40+40 LeO 451T SAGr 128 changed into 1./SAGr 128 (Staffel), transformed into rename from 5./BoFlGr 196 SAGr 131 split into Stab/1./2., 1. from 3./406 (to AR 7/43), 2. from 3./906 1./BoFlGr 196 changed to Gruppe, added TB transfers to NO 4/43 and to AR in 6/44 5./BoFlGr 196 changed to Gruppe, renames to 1./SAGr 128 6/43 -> II./ZG 26 12/43 -> II./JG 6 7/44, added some TB transfers Stab/KuFlGr 406 disbands late 12/42 2./KuFlGr 406 disbands mid 7/43 3./KuFlGr 406 renames to 1./SAGr 131 and moves to AR in 7/43 KuFlGr 506 renames to non-naval I./KG 1 in 6/42 KuFlGr 606 disbands late 8/42 Stab + 2./KuFlGr 906 disband 4/42 3./KuFlGr 906 renames to 2./SAGr 131 3.(F)/11 removed disband, add rename to II./ZG 76 in 8/43 and IV./JG 26 in 2/45, add 8/43 TB transfer to WE 3.(H)/12 disbands 1/43 6.(H)/13 disbands 1/43 1./NAGr 16 transformed into rename from new Aufklar-Stfl XI Flgkorps 2.(H)/31 disbands 2/44 2.(H)/32 disbands 1/43 3.+4.(H)/32 disband in late 7/42 2.(H)/41 disband late 12/42 4.(H)/41 disbands late 7/42 6.(H)/41 disband late 12/42 o New air units: Erg-Stfl/JG 2, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes JGr West in 2/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 3, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes II./JG 1 in mid 1/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 26, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes IV./JG 1 in mid 1/42 and II./JG 11 in 4/43 Erg-Stfl/JG 27, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes JGr Sued in 2/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 51, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes I./JGr Ost in 2/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 52, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes III./JG 1 in mid 1/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 53, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, -> 10.(Jabo)/JG 53 mid 2/42 -> 1./Jabogruppe Afrika late 8/42, disbands late 11/42 Erg-Stfl/JG 54, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in WE, becomes II./JGr Ost in 2/42 and JGr Nord in 9/44 Erg-Stfl/JG 77, Staffel with 15x Bf 109E-7 in Mizil/ROM, becomes Oelschutzstaffel/JG 77 in early 1942 and I./JG 4 in late 42 Oelschutzstaffel/JG 77, early 42 rename slot for Erg-Stfl/JG 77 JGr Nord, renames 9/44 from new Erg-Stfl/JG 54 via II./JGr Ost I./JGr Ost, renames 2/42 from new Erg-Stfl/JG 51 II./JGr Ost, renames 2/42 from new Erg-Stfl/JG 54 JGr West, renames 2/42 from new Erg-Stfl/JG 2 10.(Z)/JG 5 - rename slot for 1.(Z)/JG 77 II./JG 7 (2/45), renames from IV./JG 54 10.(Jabo)/JG 26 (6/43), rename slot for 10.(Jabo)/JG 54 as it renamed back to JG 26 Erg-ZGr, Bf 110 Group locked in WE, becomes II./NJG 3 in 9/41 Stab/ZG 26 (10/43), renames to Stab/JG 6 in 7/44 I./ZG 26 (10/43) rename slot for V./KG 40, to I./JG 6 in 10/44 II./ZG 26 (12/43), renames from 1./SAGr 128 and to II./JG 6 in 7/44 Erg-Stfl (Stuka)/LG 1, Ju 87 Staffel in NO, renames to 4./StG 5 in 2/42, disbands 6/43 I./StG 1 (6/43), renames to I./SG 1 in 10/43 4./StG 5 (2/42), rename slot for new Erg-Stfl(Stuka)/LG 1 Stab/SG 9 (10/43) - rename slot for Stab/Sch.G 1 2.(Pz)/SG 9 (1/45) - rename slot for 10.(Pz)/SG 1 ErgGr/LG 1, LB Group in BA, renames to IV./LG 1 in 2/42, to ITA 4/42, to BA 10/42, to WE 3/43 III./LG 1 (5/43) - rename slot for KGr zbV 5 IV./LG 1 (2/42), renames from new ErgGr/LG 1 II./KG 40 (10/43), rename slot for I./KG 50 Transportstaffel 1, 10/43 in BA Transportstaffel 2, 10/43 in NO Transportstaffel 3, 10/43 in NO, to BA 12/43 Transportstaffel 4, 12/43 rename from new Savoia-Staffel Transportstaffel 5, 12/43 rename from new Transportstaffel 290 Transportstaffel 290, 3/43 in ITA, to Transportstaffel 5 in 12/43, to WE in 7/43 Savoiastaffel, 7/42 in ITA, to Transportstaffel 4 in 12/43 Kuestenstaffel Krim reactivated, made a naval-only Staffel with Bomber-trained Bf 110G, disbands 7/44 Aufklar-Stfl Ostsee reactivated, made a naval-only Staffel with Ju 88A bombers, disbands 7/43 2./SAGr 128, a naval patrol staffel arriving 6/43 to WE Stab/SAGr 131 - 7/43 to NO 2./SAGr 131 - 7/43 rename slot for 3./KuFlGr 906 2./BoFlGr 196, naval patrol Staffel arriving 8/43 to ITA Erg-AufklarGr/ObdH, Hs 126 recon group in WE, renames to Erg-NAGr in 4/42 Erg-AufklarGr/ObdL, Ju 88 recon group in WE, renames to Erg-FAGr in 4/42 Aufklar-Stfl XI Flgkorps, Staffel with Hs 126 in BA, to 1./NAGr 16 in 10/42 -> I./ZG76 in 8/43 -> I./JG 76 in 7/44 ->IV./JG 300 in 10/44 2.(H)/33 (1/42) - rename slot for 2.(F) 33 • DSWF scenario changes: o Adjusted starting air directives, air doctrines and pilot pools. o Added event 137 alerting the Soviet player of the imminent disbanding of rifle/mech corps HQs. o Changed depot priority of Buzau to 1. • RtL scenario changes: o Adjusted starting air directives, air doctrines and pilot pools. o Added event 137 alerting the Soviet player of the imminent disbanding of rifle/mech corps HQs. o Changed Hel to export port. • RtM/OpTyphoon scenario changes – Adjusted starting air directives, air doctrines and pilot pools. Happy Gaming!