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Balkans Theater Forces

If you have ANYTHING you can contribute, please email me

Updated on 8-24-2001

 - Due to time constraints, I have not maintained these web pages for many months.

Balkans updates are tracked on the F4Terrain Yahoogroups mailing list:

htto://groups.yahoo.com/group/F4Terrain

... so you should check that mailing list for the most recent updates.

 

 

I've updated the Air Forces pages and compiled the data into a more logical format.  Each page contains a new section near the bottom titled "Falcon 4 Organizational Chart" which is the new format.  

The vehicles represented by the region's military forces will cause some of this information to be abstracted.  Since we lack the capacity to completely represent the individual airplanes and vehicles that don't already exist in F4, some of the data will be abstracted.

If we attempt to represent all of the forces accurately, each new vehicle included would need an appropriate 3D model, new flight model, task list, ordnance loadouts, skin textures, etc. etc., so you see why the abstraction alternative is more appealing.

I think the best method to accomplish this will be to compile the individual units down into a similarly equipped squadron that can be accurately represented in F4.  For example, Mi-8, Mi-2, and other helicopter squadrons may be represented as an MD-500 or Mi-24 squadron.  

Since the Balkans Theater is portraying a 'what-if' scenario, and not a 100% historical scenario, there is some inherent latitude in designing the force structures.

This is the current Task List for the forces:

  • Compile the force data into abstracted Falcon 4 format.  

  • Determine campaign modeling so the ground forces will be properly generated for the campaigns

  • Locate any supplemental data for the forces, especially ground forces

  • Locate AF squadron patches, especially Bulgarian AF.

  • Determine campaign start alignment (BLUE vs. RED) for the three campaign starts.

  • Determine new Realism Patch settings that reduces the number of vehicles to model 'Stand-up Readiness' (SEE BELOW).

Readiness of ~ 90% was achieved by some US squadrons in the Gulf War, but ~ 60-80% readiness is usually the norm, and I think the RP group is targeting these numbers.  Due to the size of some of the Theater forces, this may need to be addressed by increasing the squadron sizes to artificial levels (e.g. adding 20% to the actual numbers).

The relatively small amount of information that is publicly available (without Jane's references!) makes any posted data subject to error.  Some data could not be verified through alternate sources.

I have compiled some camouflage patterns which appropriate to the region's ground forces, but that are different than the defaults found in F4.  This is a relatively small detail, but I feel that the Balkans Theater merits this attention to detail.  I intend, time permitting, to produce the skin-pack and include ground vehicle camo patterns for the region.

Due to the size of the region's forces, it is my opinion that a purely historical representation of these air forces will produce a one-sided campaign.

Therefore, I believe that the campaign's final force representations should project near-future force strengths in a 'what if' scenario, giving more liberal numbers to the RED forces, and perhaps the smaller countries included.  This doesn't have to be a drastic deviation from realism, because the buildup of forces in the area is something that isn't too far-fetched.

I believe that a TE may be more appropriate to represent historical battles.  This may prove interesting as a study of the recent conflicts of the area.

I have created some skins for some of the NATO forces that I have confirmed to be present in the Balkans conflict.  I have created skins for some the air forces that are 'generic' skins - only the country markings are present, no squadron numbers, etc. based on the format of the non-F16 skins.

The only distinction I am making is arranging the BLUE and RED forces - I made the designation based solely on the countries' stated intentions toward NATO, nothing else.  These affiliations may need to be altered to allow for more balanced gameplay. 

UPDATE - NATO has three country categories - NATO members, NATO partners, and non-NATO countries (usually neutral or hostile countries).  Most of the region is either a NATO member or is a NATO partner country.  A few countries are not yet recognized by the UN and NATO and therefore are considered 'non-aligned'.  If a an accurate, historical perspective is taken, about 80% of the Theater forces will be aligned as 'BLUE'.