[MAP] Saaremaa, Estonia, 1944

Number of posts : 25 Registration date : 2007-05-06

I saw the link Azrael posted (he's got some crazy name here), and thought I'd include this one, mainly because I'm selfish Razz

First, a little history:
In 1944, the Soviet Union reoccupied Estonia, although fierce battles raged on in the islands off Estonia’s west coast. With the capture of the southern tip of the island of Saaremaa on 24 November, the Soviets asserted their control over the entire country.
Also, the first large-scale air raid by the Soviets was partly launched from the Kuressaare Airfield in 1941:
Finally, at 9:15 p.m. on August 11, the 14 Pe-8s took to the sky from Pushkino, near Leningrad. At about the same time, two squadrons of Il-4s from the 200th BAP took off from Saaremaa to join the attack.
Now, Saaremaa itself is a large island north of the Courland, west of mainland Estonia. North of Saaremaa is another large Estonian island, Hiiumaa. The reason I made this map was after a visit to the Castle of Kuressaare, capital of Saaremaa, which holds a local museum, ranging from the stone ages to modern day. I happened to stumble into the WWII room, and naturally came interested Wink

IRL the reason to capture all three Estonian islands was that they blocked the sea entrance to Riga. Hitler, in his many not-so-great ideas, decided that the islands needed to be defended at all cost.
I decided to do the Soviet invasion of -44 instead of the German one in -41 as the Germans put up a fight, unlike the Soviets (Soviet Navy was stuck behind minefields, the local garrisson had been cut off & the Soviets were busy defending Leningrad.

Now, finally to the map itself:
It's Germans vs Soviets. I know, not the most "forgotten nations", but the Germans (and Soviets) had Estonians in their ranks, either forcefully levied or joined to protect Estonia from the Bolsheviks.
Screenies:
[MAP] Saaremaa, Estonia, 1944 ScreenShot24

[MAP] Saaremaa, Estonia, 1944 ScreenShot24

)
Kaali, center flag (1x Civ Truck, 2x 88mm at the defensive line)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/ScreenShot19.jpg
Center part of the defensive line (The farm spawns 2x Tractor, 1x Civ Coupe & 1x Civ Truck)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/ScreenShot24.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/saaremaa_new/ScreenShot21.jpg
Kuressaare, south-center flag (1x Panzer 3M, 1x Stuka, 2x Civ Coupe, 1x Pak-40)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/ScreenShot23.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/saaremaa_new/ScreenShot20.jpg
Kihelkonna, northwest flag (1x StuG3G, 1x Panzer IVH, 1x Civ Coupe)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/ScreenShot25.jpg
Sääre, south flag (1x Civ Coupe, 1x Civ Truck, 1x Kubel/Gaz, 3x Pak-40 in 3 different defensive positions visible on the minimap)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/ScreenShot22.jpg
Some countryside. The various farms spawn a few tractors & civ trucks.

I also made a little Frapsfilm to show the map:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYIi6lhSR7w
Route: http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/saaremaa_new/route.jpg
Note: I have fixed the fog setings, so they now properly blend in with the skybox.

Naturally, there are a few inaccuracies:
First, the amount of tanks. IRL the Germans had a few French tanks, and Soviets had a few T-34-85's. But for fun's sake I've added more.
Second, the scale of the map. The island is pretty big, it took about 4h to drive from Kuressaare to the port at Kuivastu. Just the land-bridge from the 1st island (Muhu) into the main Saaremaa island took 10mins, while ingame it is barely 100ft.
And third, the water between those islands is not a shallows, but for gameplays sake I have made it drivable.

Finally the download links:

NOTE: If you've downloaded the TDP mappack #2, you only need the 001.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/Saaremaa.rar
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/Saaremaa_001.rar

Wow, that was one hell of a post! Well, all comments & bashings are welcome. Especially if you've played it on TDP.
The 1st flag becomes quite cramped, so I thought I'd just make each tankspawner there spawn 2 or 3 tanks, say 15 secs after the last one has taen off?
Note that the old screenshots have a push-system, which I've deleted for two reasons: 1) I didn't design the map for it, so the pushcages really can't be placed anywhere and 2) because I've started to dislike pushmaps. Instead, the flags (except 1st & 2nd) require 2 or 3 people to cap.

As I said before, the setting isn't really forgotten nations, but the location definately is.

Number of posts : 60 Registration date : 2007-05-05

yea i've seen this map paasky, pretty nice. although i dont think it will fit the theme for our first release

Admin Number of posts : 43 Registration date : 2007-04-28

Yeah lol You made this? If you have msn, give me it and we can talk I always need mappers.

Number of posts : 60 Registration date : 2007-05-05

wait a minute did you make this in notepad like you tried to make the 003 for BoB? tongue

Number of posts : 25 Registration date : 2007-05-06

yes I made the entire map on notepad Razz

I'm just that leet Wink

I started the map a long time ago, and it was in the TDP mappack #2, where everyone quickly noticed that the 2nd flag was almost impenetrable. So I made the water infront of it completely passable, and also made it possible to make amphib landings on that flag.

EDIT: For more scrrenies of my 3 maps so far, click: http://koti.mbnet.fi/pjvuorio/bf_map_stuff/screens/

Number of posts : 5 Registration date : 2007-05-07

That's a very nice map.I'm an Estonian myself and been to Saaremaa several times so if you need to know something then just ask, I would be happy to help.

Admin Number of posts : 43 Registration date : 2007-04-28

Lt.M@rv wrote:: That's a very nice map.I'm an Estonian myself and been to Saaremaa several times so if you need to know something then just ask, I would be happy to help.

***jots down note***

Msn?

Number of posts : 5 Registration date : 2007-05-07

Here goes: Lt.Marv@hotmail.com