Spitfire in action over Normandy! Campaign Review of BlackSix’s Ram Squadron
Quick summary· AI-generated
The review covers BlackSix's Ram Squadron campaign for IL-2, a 15-mission Spitfire IXc campaign spanning June–August 1944 over Normandy flying for No. 401 RCAF. The author praises the campaign's authenticity (missions based on actual unit logs), varied mission types (combat, tactical recon, strike), and historical detail (progressive paint-scheme changes). The piece examines mission design, difficulty balance, and how well the campaign captures a RCAF Spitfire pilot's experience on the Western Front, comparing it to BlackSix's earlier Eastern Front work.
Excerpt from Stormbirds
Flying the Spitfire IXc in BlackSix’s Ram Squadron campaign for IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles has been a real joy. The classic fighter fits the scenarios laid out in this campaign exceptionally well. But is BlackSix able to bring this Western Front campaign experience to life like his previous efforts on the Eastern Front? Let’s review Ram Squadron!
Disclaimer
As is policy here, I always disclose if someone has sent me something for free. BlackSix got in touch and sent me this campaign as a gift. My thoughts continue to be my own and the campaign author has no editorial control over the contents of this review.
The Normandy Spitfire experience
Typical mission setup in the later half of the campaign
Covering the time period between June 23rd and August 19th, 1944, Ram Squadron puts you in 2nd Tactical Air Force’s No. 401 RCAF “Ram Squadron.” This is a Spitfire unit flying the Mark IXc from Normandy during the intense fighting through the region following the initial D-Day invasion.
Ram Squadron gives you 15-missions of short to medium length to experience as the battle rages on the ground and in the air. The campaign creator, Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov, based the missions on the logs recorded by the unit during the operational time there so what you have is an experience grounded in authenticity and portraying the typical mission set of the unit during this time.
That mission set is somewhat varied as it turns out! While the Luftwaffe is sometimes scarce, other times its out in force, and the campaign gives you that kind of up and down experience where sometimes you’re facing off against an opponent that has suddenly fielded large numbers of aircraft while its unable to operate at other times and is more rarely seen.
This is all consistent with the 2nd TAF’s experience and it means that you’ll also lean in on some of the low level tactical recon roles and even a few strike missions interspersed through the campaign as well.
Notice as the D-Day stripes slowly get paired back as the campaign progresses
The level of detail includes representing shifting paint schemes from the full D-Day scheme at the start of the campaign to progressively removing the stripes as the campaign continues. I love that sort of detail.
In short, you really get a good sense of what a Spitfire pilot would experience in the 2nd TAF and it gives you a very good Spitfire IX experience all around!
Mission setup and challenge
Combat in the air and on the ground let the…
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