Royal Hungarian Army - Turan Campaign v1.2 (Mar 23, 2016)

[Uhu]

Excellent work again!!
Maybe the 20 ? 37mm AA could be made also smaller similar to the 40mm Bofors AA.

[McGuba]

Maybe the 20 ? 37mm AA could be made also smaller similar to the 40mm Bofors AA.

Ah, yeah, true. Units within the same unit class should have the same scale. Too bad that the creators of PzC did not pay attention to it. The Italian Breda 20mm AA gun, for example, is just as big as the 88mm FlaK 36. Weird.

Well, if, for some reason, they did it like that, WE have to fix it.

[McGuba]

The Siege of Budapest

The Siege of Budapest was one of the longest and blodiest sieges of World War II. In its lenght and ferocity it was probably only preceded by the sieges of Leningrad and Stalingrad. Berlin was captured in two weeks. The Vienna Offensive lasted for eleven days. The Red Army's desperate offensive to take Budapest lasted for 108 days, for 50 days the Hungarian capital was completely encircled. About 70.000 German and Hungarian soldiers and over 800.000 civilians became trapped whitin the city, which was designated as a 'Festung' (Fortress), that had to be defended until the last man. In the end Budapest lay in ruins, with more than 80 percent of its buildings destroyed or damaged, with historical buildings like the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Castle among them. All five bridges spanning the Danube were destroyed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Budapest






Budapest before...




...and after the siege:





Many thanks to Massi for making the Massi Destruction Mod 2.0. Without his cutom tiles I could not have made this map as I imagined.

[bebro]

Looking really nice! What's the big building on the eastern bank of the river?

[ThvN]

That is a beautiful map, and thanks for taking the time to provide some background about this nearly forgotten part of history.

Bebro, the building would be this, I believe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_ ... t_Building
I also spy on the West Danube Bank: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buda_Castle, and some other landmarks. Brilliant work.

[McGuba]

Thank you.

What's the big building on the eastern bank of the river?

Actually, it is the 'Citadella', the Citadel on the top of the Gellért Hill overlooking the Danube and the city centre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citadella





I used the following screenshot, taken from the superb looking Hungarian Blitzkrieg Mod (http://gabgames.ucoz.hu/index/hra_mod/0-11) to make this custom city tile:





Probably the Parliament Building or the Budapest Castle are more typical of the city as one can see them in most postcards, but I could not find an image of them that I could use for a map tile. Thus I ended up adding the Citadella to make the city a bit unique. There was some fierce fighting here as well, the Gellért Hill finally fell after six weeks of fighting, so I think it is not a bad choice.


The industrial buildings in the south represent the Weiss Manfred Works, the main (weapon) factory complex of the era. Among others it produced tanks, shells, and aircraft, including the WM-21 recon plane. During the siege it mainly produced Panzerfausts until it was captured by the Russians. In-game it will 'produce' extra units for the player as long as it remains in Axis hands.


I will try to recreate the Soviet offensive to take Budapest, the encirclement, the siege, and the German attempt to relieve it in one single scenario. The siege itself is not a very well known episode of the war, partly because it happened at the same time as the German offensive in the Ardennes, which overshadowed it, I guess. As I have spent most of my life in Budapest (which is a beautiful city today), this scenario has special importance for me.


Images of Budapest in 1945:
https://www.google.hu/search?q=budapest ... 80&bih=641

[ThvN]

Probably the Parliament Building or the Budapest Castle are more typical of the city as one can see them in most postcards, but I could not find an image of them that I could use for a map tile.

I had to combine two images (which took me all of 20 seconds to find ), the colors are very pale and washed out, but it might be usable. This is the largest size I could attach here, but I have almost every step of the creation process saved should you need anything.

[ThvN]

The perspective in this image is a bit distorted in places, I didn't try to correct it because I didn't want to fiddle around with it too much, on the PzC map scale it should hopefully be hard to notice.

[McGuba]

Wow, many thanks!

I will try to make them into custom city hexes.

[ThvN]

McGuba, you're welcome, and these are quite easy to make as well. I was a bit puzzled by your comment that you couldn't find good images, so here's how I got them: Google maps. They have a feature where you can 'tilt' the map view, it is a simulated 3D, but sometimes still pretty usable, and you can view from four directions (I used the view from the South here). The biggest problem is not the perspective, but getting something with some color and contrast to go with Massi's tiles, which have nice solid colors. I've smoothed out the .png images a bit for you, and did a test fit on a picture of your map and if you make them quite small and rotate them a bit (to lign up with the river banks/roads) it doesn't look half bad, but still a bit blurry. So the colors and contrast may need some work, but I didn't want to mess around with them too much, I just wanted to make some quick samples for you.

Also, a little question, I took a look at your mod, and I could not find any Turan tank icons? I was wondering how they looked, and the tanks are included in the eqp file, have you managed to make some icons for them yet?

And in order to share some knowledge, a little pictoral tutorial on this Google maps thing, using the Citadel. The upper half is just the normal top-down view, nothing special, I turned off the labels, otherwise there will be streetnames everywhere.
In the lower part I've slightly zoomed in, put the view on '45 degrees', and a somewhat distorted picture emerges (the view from the North is a bit better-looking). On the left is a compass, drag the 'N' around the circle to change the viewpoint. For example, the Parliament building has a nice head-on view, but I chose the South perspective because of your map layout. If you don't care much about having the right viewpoint, you have more choice in getting a nice picture to snap and convert.

[McGuba]

ThvN, thanks for your comments. Your contribution is is very constructive, I appreciate it.

In the meantime I also realised that you used Google map, it is indeed a great tool. I use it as well quite often to create geographically precise maps. I like to switch often between the map and the satellite view - both has advantages. In the map view I can see the road network and the rivers more clearly, in the satellite view I can check the extension of the forests and farmlands. So I use it as well, I just did not use it like this for close up views. But, there is one thing that should be considered when making ww2 maps: obviously the terrain has changed a lot in the last 70 years. For example, today's Budapest is two times larger than it was in 1945. Thus, where available, the usage of contemporary maps is also advisable. That's why I used the map showing the 1944 state of the city instead.

Same goes for certain buildings, like the Citadel which looked a bit different 70 years ago. The Statue of Liberty was added to it in 1947, the restaurant and the souvenir shop are recent additions. So these should be removed from the google image. Later I may or may not make a new hex tile for the Citadel with more emphasis on the wooded hill. It is hard to add everything to such a small hex and still keep it recognisable.

As you wrote, the problem is not copy and paste new custom images, but to get the right colours and contrast which fit into the Massi/PzC tiles. It also should not reduce with the visibility of the units. However, it is fun!

I wrote earlier:

I will try to make them into custom city hexes.

So this is how I could add the images you posted:









Basically the whole city could be made like this, but it would take ages. And the name of the present game is Panzer Corps and not Sim City. For the moment I am happy with it as it makes certain parts of the city unique and recognisable, and these can be the victory objectives.

...

Also, a little question, I took a look at your mod, and I could not find any Turan tank icons? I was wondering how they looked, and the tanks are included in the eqp file, have you managed to make some icons for them yet?

You can find loads of original images of the Turan tanks if you just enter 'Turan tank' to the google image finder. Here is a rare colour one, showing at least four 41.M Turan IIs and also a 39.M Toldi I (the one on the left):
http://greenh0rn.deviantart.com/art/Tur ... -324466256
You can also search wikipedia for '40M Turán I'.

I am almost finished with the icons for the Turan tank family and I will show them here very soon. The (early) Turan tanks did not perform very well in battle as they were designed in 1940-41, but were not used before 1944 and by that time they became obsolete. Still I like this design, I think they look cool, they have a certain 'steam punk' look, which I like a lot.

[ThvN]

Wow, you sure don't waste anything! First, the bad news: as a perfectionist, I would rotate the image of the Parliament Building slightly counter-clockwise, it looks as if it is leaning backwards a little. I can post it with a different angle to show what I mean, just let me know what you would like.

Then, the good news: I'm flattered that you want to use my images to help portray Budapest! And thank you for answering my question about the Turan tanks, I was just wondering how your icons will look like, as you seem to have very good knowledge of them. I'm familiar with the Turan already, as I have an interest in obscure vehicles. And yes, they have a certain appeal, maybe it's the 'steampunk', I don't know, I just like obscure hardware in general.

I remember my dissapointment when playing PzC and not being able to purchase the 'Panzer 35(t)' like in Panzer General, so I made my own icon, and I contemplated making a Turan out of it (as the Turan was a development from an enlarged derivative of the LT vz. 35). And it would also be a nice template for the Romanian TACAM R-2 tanks. So I'm just curious how your Turan icons have turned out, because I have thought about making some myself. But when your mod showed up I knew a couple of decent icons were just a matter of time, and instead I continued work on switchable AAA units and halftracks (some of my work is in Guille1434's icon thread).

To show what I mean, this is what I use as a Panzer 35(t) in my private mod, I also made a big icon in the PzC style. This is the German version with a cupola on top of the turret, but this particular version of the icon has no insignia. I could make some masks for it for the Spray Shop, I've found a tutorial for it, should be doable for me I guess, but I'm not sure if there would be interest... I'd noticed a bit late that a Panzer 35(t) icon had already been made a long time ago (you use a reskinned version of it in your mod), so I didn't continue with mine further. It would add next to nothing to the currently available icons.

[McGuba]

I would rotate the image of the Parliament Building slightly counter-clockwise, it looks as if it is leaning backwards a little. I can post it with a different angle to show what I mean, just let me know what you would like.

Go ahead. I think you are right with the above. It really looks a bit like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We have just created a new unique tourist attraction idea: the Leaning Parliament of Budapest. I think I should contact the Ministry of Turism to get some royalty that we could share equally.

...

I was also disappointed that they left out the Pz35 from PzC. But, I was even more disappointed that the advert said that 'all major and many minor nations are represented: ... Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Albania, Romania, Greece and more' - and all I found were a few generic icons used by all these nations, and also by the subject of the present topic, Hungary. Thus, a bit more than one year ago I started to work on Hungarian (and later other Minor) custom icons.

By the way, I think your Pz35 icon is great, but indeed, bebro's version which was reskinned by VPaulus, preceeded yours. And dragos has already made icons for the Romanian R-2 and TACAM R-2:
http://panzercorps.worldwar2.ro/

Still, if you think you can make better icons than the ones already created, or you can improve them, or just make them more accurate, do so. It is not carved into stone that the icon finished firstly has to be the one used by everyone from that time on.

It also applies to the icons created by me. If someone comes up with an icon that I find superior to mine, I will be happy to use it in my mod from that time on. It happened in the past on some occasions. These things are quite subjective, though, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'.

...

Having said that, it is my turn to show something:

[McGuba]

Turan tank family is finished







Starting with the obsolete 40.M Turan I, an improved version of the Czech Skoda T-21 tank, to the ultimate 44.M Tas heavy tank, Hungarian engineers continued to develop the basic design until the end of the war. Largely unknown to the world, these tanks made up the bulk of nearly 1.000 armoured fighting vehicles produced by Hungary between 1938-1945. In 1944 Hungary could fully equip two armoured and one cavalry divisions, and two independent assault gun battalions with Hungarian made AFVs. Due to the combined factors of allied bombing of the factories and the lack of raw material, the later types, such as the Tas, did not enter mass production.

Originally, I did not want to make icons for these prototype-only types, but Uhu asked me to do so, and I realised that sooner or later someone would make them anyway, and it is better if all types are made by one person so that they can have a uniform look. Also, the creators of PzC added several protoype-only units to Germany, such as the Maus or the Go-229, so why not add the some prototypes to the Hungarians as well...

...and now I like them so much that I could not resist the temptation to make them available for purchase in the last scenario of the campaign, even if it makes it a bit unhisorical.


40.M Turan I (a.k.a. 40.M Turan 40): In 1940 Hungary bought the manufacturing licence of the prototype-only Czech Skoda T-21 tank. Its armament was replaced with home manufactured guns and the its maximum armour was increased from 35mm to 50mm thus creating the basic Turan design. Also the turret was enlarged so that a fifth crew member could be added. 279 were produced.

41.M Turan II (a.k.a. 41.M Turan 75): The original 40mm gun of the Turan I was replaced with a more effective short barrel 75mm gun. 180 were produced.

43.M Turan III: A new long barrel 75mm gun was added. Maximum armour was increased to 90-95mm and an extra outer perforated plate 'skirt' armour was attached. Only 2 prototypes were made. Some sources claim 6 Turan IIs were also upgunned to the long barrel 75mm gun.

40/43.M Zrinyi II: Undoubtedly influenced by the German StuG and the Italian Semovente assault guns, a 105mm howitzer was added to the basic type in a fixed turret. With its powerful gun, low silhouette, and maximum armour increased to 75mm, the Zrinyi II became the most successful mass produced Hungarian AFV of the war. The problem was that there were never enough of these. About 70 were produced which was enough to equip two assault gun battalions. The exact number is debated as some sources claim that a few more were assambled during the chaotic siege of Budapest. For the ill-equipped troops these assult guns worth their weight in gold, and thus on many occasions daring raids were organized to recover damaged and knocked out vehicles left behind on the other side of the frontline. In-game it is a multipurpose unit with self-propelled artillery and anti-tank role.

44.M Zrinyi I: The plan to make a tank destroyer with a long barrel 75mm gun preceded the assult gun version. However, difficulties with the production of the new gun and the lack of raw materials postponed its mass production. Thus only one prototype was finished before the factories were captured by the Red Army.

44.M Tas: The completely new heavy tank design by Weiss Manfred was to be powered by two Turan engines. Having a modern sloped armour, thicker than that of the Panther (120mm as opposed to 100mm), and a long barrel 75mm gun, it could have caused more than just a headache to the Red Army tankers. Unfortunately (and fortunately for the Soviets), a massive allied bombing destroyed the factory and the only half-finished prototype in July 1944.


Again, I used the Hungarian Blitzkrieg Mod's original images as a basis to make most of these icons:





Following bebro's original idea, I also made winter-wash camo scheme versions for those frozen winter scenarios:





Hopefully, the new icons go together well with the vanilla ones such as the PzIVH or the Panther, which were also delivered in small numbers by the Germans. The 2nd Armoured Divison is ready to start its offensive to capture Southern Transylvania:

[bebro]

Very nice job. I wondered when those Turans would appear in the mod

[airbornemongo101]

I love the camo scheme..good choice it blends well w/ the game and those units are awesome.

I thought I knew alot about the Hungarians in WWII..but I am defenitely learning more...keep up the good work!!!!

McGuba..not that you need to (due to you being so talented at making your own stuff)..but feel free to use anything from Elite Units to represent the Florian Geyer and Maria Theresa divisions (if your going to have them represented in Budapest).

[Anfield]

Wow, great work, those units look super!

[McGuba]

Thanks... all

feel free to use anything from Elite Units to represent the Florian Geyer and Maria Theresa divisions (if your going to have them represented in Budapest).

Thanks for the offer. Yes, these (Waffen SS) Cavalry divisions are represented in that scenario, together with several other units. However, as this is an all-winter scenario, starting on 20 December, the vehicles have winter whitewash camo. But, I was thinking to add a different camo scheme to the Waffen SS units in the next, Spring Awakening scenario and your three colour ambush pattern looks spot on. So there is a chance that I will add them (with due credit given to you). I just try to minimize direct references to SS units as some people might find it offensive. But, a historical campaign cannot avoid depicting these in some way or another, in my view, as they had a pivotal role in these late war battles in Hungary. The other possiblity is to create a vanilla-like campaign with little regard to historical accuracy.

[airbornemongo101]

McGuba..while I appreciate credit it's not neccessary.

I was just trying to help out and I totally know what you mean by the controversy.

Feel free to use anything you need and if you need any help let me know.

To avoid "offending" anyone maybe you can just label the units and not use the "SS" moniker (ie: 8 Kav./Florian Geyer..8 StuG/FG..1 Inf/LAH). Most people wouldn't even know what and who those units were and those that do would probobly appreciate the historical accuracy.Just a thought.

You're doing an excellent job and and please keep up the good work.

[McGuba]

To avoid "offending" anyone maybe you can just label the units and not use the "SS" moniker (ie: 8 Kav./Florian Geyer..8 StuG/FG..1 Inf/LAH).

Ah, yeah, this is exactly what I am doing... a few examples: "Das Reich 2/5 TCo", "Wiking 5/II Art Btn", "Hohenstaufen 19/I Gr Btn", even if it is a bit euphemistic...
Strange, that we had the same idea, by the way. But, in a few occasions it is not possible to avoid making a direct reference, such as with the 12th Hitlerjugend Divison or 1st LSSAH. However, in the latter case I could use LAH instead, as you wrote.