It was only a matter of time before news was released on the slightly under the radar Scripted Campaign for IL-2: Battle of Kuban. Now we have news! You’ll be flying for the naval aviation 47th ShAP flying IL-2s over the Kuban region during April of 1943 for this as yet untitled campaign.

It comes with IL-2: Battle of Kuban

Unlike Ten Days of Autumn and Blazing Steppe, this new IL-2 scripted campaign is “free” with your copy of IL-2: Battle of Kuban. It’s the first time a scripted campaign has been packaged with an official release but I’m sure many welcome this development.

It’s also a great way to showcase the IL-2 itself, the title aircraft of the series, and to maybe sell a few more premium scripted campaigns later if players enjoy this one. Given what Black Six has done previously, I’m expecting to enjoy this thoroughly.

Historically based

A flight of 47ShAP sturmoviks moves to the runway.

IL-2 pair of 47th ShAP begins a combat mission.

Т-34s of 62nd separate tank battalion enter the liberated stanitsa Krymskaya.

This is a campaign that is based on historical operations. Black Six chose the 47th ShAP naval aviation regiment for a couple of reasons but one of them was a very practical one – this unit spent most of its time right on the front lines and that means shorter but more exciting missions. Mission type and diversity of options is also good and it means that we’ll be taking the Sturmovik up against tanks, armored columns as well as naval ports and ships. Black Six said:

So in the end, I have decided to select naval 47th ShAP. There are enough real sorties and losses data and pilots lists for several dates are also available. And, most importantly, this regiment together with 8th GShAP conducted not only the strike missions for the fleet targeting ships and ports, but it also provided support for ground forces, allowing me to create diverse missions.

This sounds like the campaign will take full advantage of the diversity of landscapes and scenarios that the Kuban theatre can provide.

Speaking of which IL-2’s AI has historically been weak at attacking in places with hills but that sounds like its been sorted out according to some Q&A happening in the discussion thread for this weeks’ update. Black Six reporting on AI working in the hills:

When I started to make this campaign, the attack planes couldn’t attack the targets among the hills now it fixed. But I didn’t try to set targets among the high mountains.

Good news!

Get the rest of the details

For the full details plus a theatre map and more, visit the Developer Diary update. I also recommend reading the first couple of pages of the discussion thread on the same update as Black Six provides additional details on the mission design, AI challenges, and source materials. Read it now!