In addition to the new aircraft, map, and career, 1CGS is also working away on some of the supporting objects for their new Battle of Normandy title and this week we got a good look at progress being made on several new vehicles for the sim. Let’s have a peek!
From mobile radar to ambulances
Increasing the level of detail from previous vehicles and punching it up another notch, Battle of Normandy’s new vehicles and objects are impressively detailed. Today the team showed off the Dodge WC-54 ambulance, Austin K2/Y ambulance, QF 17-pounder which was an effective anti-tank artillery piece, Sd.Kfz.222 – a 5 ton armored car with 20mm cannon and sloped armor, and two radar sets too. The radar include AMES Type 15 and SCR-584. We also got a good look at a British searchlight and generator.
Have a look!
Very highly detailed
Now I jump from news to a bit of editorializing as these new vehicles are showing off an impressive amount of detail. My immediate reaction is that they are at or near Tank Crew levels of detail. That’s not too surprising as the work there has lead to impressive gains in ground warfare detail for the sim and these appear to be adding support to that.
While highly detailed vehicles are appreciable from the air, what I am now more curious about are what the plans may be for them in another capacity. If Tank Crew proves a success and helps to broaden the IL-2 Great Battles Series, it stands to reason that it will get a sequel. If so, these objects would be well placed to support it should it expand to the western front.
To be clear, we have no confirmation of this, no hints from the developer team, and high detailed vehicles are a useful achievement on their own. But they do make me wonder!
For all of this and more, visit the IL-2 forums and check out the latest developer diary.
Stormbirds 
I would welcome a Tank Crew 2 sequel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know a few people who LOVE Tank Crew that would be onboard with the idea and I think it’d be fun to add the same variety to western front servers as it has to more east front focused servers.
LikeLike
Unlike in the East, large scale tank battles in the West were rare. Operation Bagration would make far more sense for another title set in the AFV side of the house. Still, I think TC has a long way to go on the visuals side of the house as the engine just doesn’t seem all that suited for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fewer battles sure, but it’d probably be a popular choice.
The graphics aren’t class leading but the sense of scale and the gameplay are incredible. Especially in multiplayer.
LikeLike
Would be awesome if the radar trucks worked, like if they provided spotting info until they were destroyed. Would make for an interesting dynamic, trying to “blind” the opposing team by taking out their radar trucks
LikeLiked by 1 person
With Air Marshal hanging somewhere in the background it’s possible that these will factor in. Hard to say. Nice to see them even as possible triggers for other mission builders.
LikeLike