I’ve just finished up the first two missions of Sky Nomads, the latest IL-2 Sturmvoik: Great Battles Scripted Campaign, released recently onto their online store. I’m busy playing and preparing a review of the campaign but in the meantime I wanted to give everyone a taste of the first two missions.

Sky Nomads

This campaign puts you into the cockpit of the Yak-7B, a slightly ungainly looking Yak variant, but one that saw success on the frontlines of the war for a couple of years. This late variant of the Yak-7B has quite a bit going for it from aerodynamic improvements over earlier production models to the M-105PF engine which is better optimized for the low altitude fighting over the Eastern Front. There’s also the firepower which is short lived but potent thanks to a nose full of two UBS 12.7mm heavy machine guns and 20mm ShVAK cannon.

Sky Nomads puts you into the ranks of the 43rd IAP of 278th IAD in May and June of 1943 in the Kuban region. As the name of the campaign foreshadows, you do a lot of base hopping and the first two missions typify that.

The first mission sends your flight out from one base to another. Destination: Krasnoarmeyskaya. Along the way our job is to patrol the frontline and check for activity before heading to our destination.

Base hopping, intense fighting

Climbing to a cruise altitude of 2700 meters, kicking in the stage 2 supercharger, and lowering the fuel mixture to get the best speed, our flight of four headed west. With our departure airfield now 60 kilometres behind us, we were now into range of the frontlines with plenty of vehicles on the move below and the landscape pockmarked with artillery shell blasts.

Ahead and slightly off to the right I spotted dots moving around in the distance. As we closed it became clear that this was a dogfight and once we were in closer still the visuals of tracers flying back and forth and the telltale sign of an aircraft on fire made themselves apparent.

Flying over the fight I saw a Yak in trouble with a 109 firing at him so I dove in and engaged. It took a while to close the gap an the Bf109 continued firing at the Yak causing damage and fuel leaks to the friendly fighter. I withheld my fire for fear of hitting the friendly myself before unleashing several rounds at the Bf109. He broke off and I followed firing more… first haphazardly and then with purpose as my shots connected. One down!

I got onto the tail of another Bf109 and fired several shots hitting him. I didn’t have time to do more as I broke sharply to the left as another Bf109 came in on my 7 o’clock.

The sky apparently empty of friendly fighters and two Bf109s now hunting me, I made my way north east and towards our destination.

Down on the deck at maximum speed, I eeked out just a bit more speed thanks to a RPM trick where the Yak-7B’s propeller at maximum throttle and speed at sea level is actually less efficient than at a slightly reduced RPM. The speed rose a bit more, but, the Bf109s were still giving chase. The gap? Closing!

Now near some friendly troops I decided that they were too close now and I kicked the rudder hard and pulled and rolled the aircraft into a very tight and aggressive turn. My speed dropped but the Bf109 no longer had a firing solution as he zoomed overhead. The second 109… backed off for a moment letting me go into a circle fight with the first. That first 109 dropped away just as the second one rejoined the fight and I caught a few more machine gun hits in the tail.

Then that second 109 made a reversal turn infront of me and I once again kicked the rudder aggressively with full aileron deflection firing wildly at the 109.

More dots appeared on the horizon as a wave of friendly fighters streamed into the area. The 109s retreated and I headed for base. After a successful landing I taxied my slightly shot up Yak-7B to the side of the field and shut down. Phew!

Trio on the front

In the second mission you’re treated to more description of the current situation on the frontline and within the squadron ranks. Describing the slugging match that was the Kuban frontline, its made apparent that, for this mission, only three Yak fighters are ready to fly. We’re going in short handed by one.

Arriving at the frontline and patrol area we encountered two Bf109s in tight formation flying in the opposite way. They didn’t see us at first and only panic broke as I got into a firing position. The two 109s briefly grazed each other and I zoomed in after the first firing and scoring hits on the 109 causing it to break apart in mid-air.

The second 109, seemingly unphased by the collision, dove down firing and scoring hits on nearby IL-2s. I went in after firing and at first missing before correcting my aim and firing a devastating blow. The 109 lit on fire and went downwards rapidly.

This area appeared clear but more dots on the horizon signalled possible trouble. Away our trio went heading south towards the contacts. As we got closer, and reminiscent to the first mission, we saw a dogfight in progress and quickly engaged.

I nearly had a firing solution on one of the 109s but one of the other Yaks was there first firing several shots that connected sending that 109 down. Another Bf109 went down, in flames, on the horizon, but still more dots appeared below. More Bf109s coming up to meet us? Fortunately no… these were Stukas!

I dove down and then under the first Ju87 scoring hits to the wing root before pulling away. The enemy gunner managed to land a few inconsequential hits. I dove in again, firing, and tearing the tail section of the Stuka off. A kill!

Still again I attacked firing and two more Stukas downing them both.

My guns were now dry and I made my way towards another new destination. I landed and shut off the Yak. Once again… phew!

I’ll be working through the rest of the campaign and writing up a review on it soon. Look for that in the coming weeks!