Red Sunset (1948) Fictional missions

[LuftManu]

Red Sunset

A fictional IL-2: Series mini-series of missions

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Background

February, 1948

Less than three years after the end of the Second World War, the alliance between the Soviet Union and the Western powers is rapidly collapsing.

As Europe edges toward confrontation during the Berlin Crisis, Moscow shifts its attention to the Far East. Although the Soviet Union occupied southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in 1945, Japan—supported by the United States—refuses to recognize Soviet sovereignty over the islands. At the same time, the American occupation authorities continue expanding military airfields and naval facilities across northern Honshu.

The Kremlin considers these new bases a direct threat to the Soviet Far East and the security of the Kuril Islands.

After weeks of failed diplomatic negotiations, Soviet forces begin a campaign of military pressure. Long-range fighter patrols, armed reconnaissance flights and attacks against military shipping cross the Sea of Japan almost daily. Officially, Moscow describes these operations as defensive measures intended to protect Soviet territorial waters and maintain regional security.

Chinese Communist volunteer pilots, flying Soviet-supplied aircraft, participate alongside Soviet units to gain operational experience during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War.

The first air battles take place over the waters off the Akita–Yamagata coastline, where American fighters scramble to intercept Soviet formations before they can reach Japanese ports, airfields and military installations.

No formal declaration of war is issued. Instead, both superpowers engage in a dangerous undeclared conflict, hoping to force political concessions without triggering another world war.

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OOB

United States

Far East Air Forces (FEAF)

• 18th Fighter Group — F-51D Mustang

• 35th Fighter Group — F-51D Mustang

• 8th Figther Wing - F-80

Soviet Union

9th Air Army (Soviet Far East)

• Yak-9P fighter units

Pacific Fleet Air Force

• La-11 long-range fighter units

• Il-10 Ground attack units

Chinese Communist Volunteers

Independent volunteer fighter detachment equipped with Yak-9P and Tu-2 aircraft operating under Soviet coordination.

 

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About the Map

This campaign uses the Korea map as a geographical stand-in for the Sea of Japan and the Akita–Yamagata coastline.

While the terrain does not exactly match northern Honshu, the Korean map offers similar mountainous coastlines, offshore islands, narrow sea crossings and airfield layouts, making it well suited for the fictional operations depicted in this campaign.

For the purposes of the story, all missions should be understood as taking place over western Japan and the Sea of Japan rather than the Korean Peninsula.

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Project Goals

Red Sunset is a short experimental series of missions created to test new MCUs, have some fun for me and also doing some prop vs prop action as I work on the Parallel 38 missions.

Each mission focuses on different gameplay mechanics while remaining connected through a common alternate-history scenario set during the opening days of a fictional small-conflict in the Pacific.

The first mission will be ready this month.

Which side are we on? Well, I plan to have mostly US missions as they have a place to take off and land. If, for some reason, Soviets land in Japan, we would also add them.

Thanks for reading, guys! 

[Blitzen]

Good news- I assume it will be ready at the same time as the August general release?☺️

Edited yesterday at 02:36 PM by Blitzen