A trio of highly anticipated content has just dropped for IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles with the launch of Update 5.003. The C-47A, Western Front map, and StuG III have all been hotly anticipated in some corners of the community and here they are for us to fly, drive, and experience. Let’s have a look at these and other key updates to the sim. There’s also the first sale in a long time!

C-47

The DC-3, C-47, Skytrain, Dakota, Dak, and many other names are assigned to this iconic Douglas airplane. During WWII, the DC-3 in its many military and civilian guises was essential as a transport, cargo and overall utility airplane for the Allies and even for the Axis. Such was the reach of the Douglas design.

The C-47 has long been requested as a flyable option, a counterpoint to the German Ju52, and now it has finally arrived. The type is available for use in single player Normandy and Bodenplatte careers where it can be assigned to Cargo Delivery, Special Forces Paradrop, and Cargo Paradrop with both day and night missions. It’s also available in quick missions and advanced quick missions.

The C-47 gets a special trailer to highlight this airplane. I am very excited to experience it in IL-2!

Western Front map released

The 1918 Western Front map has arrived for Flying Circus pilots. According to the release notes, the map encompasses the whole of the Rise of Flight map with buildings and objects placed within the two most important zones Amiens – Lille – Saint Quentin (North-West) and Thionville – Saint Dizier – Nancy (South-East). Both maps are available to owners of Vol 1 and 2.

The map is considered a work in progress and is not yet complete. Here’s what the update had to say:

We hope to continue WWI development in the future and complete the scene along the frontline. For now, the map is WIP even for FC Vol.2 and the development of Career and Advanced Quick Mission modes for it are ongoing. The Quick Mission mode for it is already available, while Yugra-Media continues improving the map itself.

I do hope that we’ll see the Flying Circus series continue and that this map gets its complete experience. I’m also very much looking forward to the Career and AQMB experiences for the series.

StuG III released and new Tank Crew packages

Big news for Tank Crew as the StuG III Ausf.G has been released and is now available for pre-order owners and new purchasers. Building on the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.M and armed with a large 75mm StuK 40 L/48 gun that was aimed by an artillery periscope, this assault gun was built in huge numbers and was a key part of the German army’s arsenal. Should be interesting to drive.

The release of this vehicle also brings with it some new bundles on the IL-2 webstore and on Steam

Tank Crew Premium Edition is being offered on the IL-2 webstore and comes with Tank Crew – Clash at Prokhorovka plus the four Collector Vehicles: GAZ-MM 72-K (25mm), Sd.Kfz. 10/5 Flak 38 (20mm), Churchill Mk.IV and, of course, the StuG III Ausf.G.

There’s also a new Deluxe Edition which is the same package plus IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad. This version is available on Steam and this packaging makes sense there as Battle of Stalingrad is required through that storefront.

Check out all of these announcements right here.

Sale time!

With all of the recent changes over at 1CGS, we’ve noticed a bit of an absence of sales. Frequent sales I think have helped to drive both attention and follow-up purchases by community members and new people alike. I don’t know if the actual sales numbers support that assertion but offering Battle of Stalingrad for relatively low prices has definitely helped me convince a few people to give it a try.

Steam has just started their giant Autumn Sale and IL-2 is in on it with some nice discounts. Uniquely, we’re seeing Battle of Stalingrad not be the cheapest offering with Battle of Moscow instead being offered in standard form for $7.49 USD with the premium being up for $11.99 USD. Battle of Kuban, and Battle of Bodenplatte get some good discounts and even Battle of Normandy gets a small discount too.

So, if you want to pick up some sale prices head over to the official IL-2 webstore here and Steam right here.