26th July 2005
BG2

BattleGroup2 Models & Skins Update

Welcome once again to another Battlegroup 2 update. While last week we concentrated on firearms with the G43 and Mosin Nagant, this week we're showing you some custom modelled buildings and objects that will be placed on our maps. All of these static objects have been done by Smig, who most of you know as the man who modelled and skinned various statics for free use in any mod on BF42. Smig has since joined Battlegroup, but there are currently still plans for these statics to be made publicly available after a set time from our first release.

Starting off, we have a couple of log sheds that will be dotted along various areas of our Eastern Front maps. These sheds are not just there for ambience, but will also provide good focal points for firefights and sniping.

 

 

Next, we have a fishing boat. Expect to cross a river in it, with your comrades defending this vital craft with their own arms, and also to see it used as a static on beaches and river banks.

 

 

Smig has also finished off a small chapel that will be used in various small Eastern Front towns and villages. These wooden chapels were commonly seen in villages as they were easy to make and other materials were hard to come by in the harsh Soviet lands. This chapel will be available in temperate and snow versions, and also foreshadows something larger that will be shown in a later newspost.

 

That’s it for today, folks! Expect our next newspost to return to the theme of our previous one, with more infantry weapons to show off.

For more information on the Battlegroup2 (BF2) and Battlegroup42 (BFV) WW2 mods visit our discussion forum at www.battlegroup42forum.com.

As we announced recently, the Battlegroup team are developing a new mod for BF2 as well as our existing one for BFV. As part of this development we are remaking many infantry weapons to replace those we have used up to now. Today we’d like to show off the first results; new models of the G43 and Mosin Nagant made by Geronimo and skinned by Bobton (renders by GeronimoGer).

19th July 2005
BG2

BattleGroup2 Weaponry

These weapons played an important part in World War 2, and here we give some background information for each of them from our infantry weapons chief, MajesticMoose. For more information on BG visit our discussion forum at www.battlegroup42forum.com.

Gewehr 43

Caliber: 7.92mm
Length: 44in. (1.12m)
Weight: 11lb (5kg)
Barrel: Four grooves, right hand twist
Feed System: 10 round detachable box magazine
System of Operation: Gas, locking flaps
Muzzle Velocity: 775 MPS

Not until 1937 did the German Army begin to take interest in semi automatic rifles. It is believed the standardization of the US Army's M1 Garand had something to do with their timing. The first self loading rifle to be produced in some quantity was the Gewehr 41. These were sent to the Eastern Front, and lost there. While the rifle did work, it wasn't popular. In the words of one man, the muzzle cone had a "built in fouling generator". Its muzzle cone demanded constant maintenance or burnt powder and foreign deposits rendered the rifle useless. The weapon was poorly balanced, difficult to handle, and extremely heavy for an infantry rifle. The next model, the Gewehr 43 had a similar internal layout to the Soviet SVT and was much lighter, balanced, and included a machined-out dovetail section on the receiver for mounting a scope. A large number of rifles were issued for sniping with the Zundblickfernrohr 4 telescope. The G43 gained a good reputation for accuracy and reliability and was extensively used on the Eastern Front after 1943.

Mosin Nagant 1930g

Caliber: 7.62mm
Length: 48.5in (1.23m)
Weight: 8lb 12.8oz (4kg)
Barrel: Four grooves, right hand twist
Feed System: Five round internal magazine, clip loaded
System of Operation: turning bolt action
Muzzle Velocity: 770 MPS

Designated the Vintovka (rifle) Obrazets (model) 1930g, the weapon is one of a series of rifles based on the Mosin Nagant 1891 that were the standard rifles of the Russian Army until 1945. It was designed by the Belgian Nagant brothers with modifications by Colonel S. I. Mosin of the Imperial Russian Army. The rifle had an action based on a French style bolt inspired by the Lebel and an unusual interrupter. One difficult problem of weapon design is efficient feeding of rimmed cartridges from a magazine. The pressure from the magazine spring tends to jam rims of the cartridges together and leads to stoppages. The Mosin Nagant used a spring loaded latch, controlled by the bolt, to hold down the second round and relieve pressure from the top cartridge. This feature made it easier for the round to be loaded into the chamber and increased its reliability.

Variants: Vintovka obr 1930g with telescopic sight: In 1932 the Mosin Nagant was chosen as the base for a new sniper rifle. Regular rifles were selected for their accuracy and had their bolt handles turned down. They were fitted with 4 x PE type scopes with a field of view of 8° 30'. Azimuth and elevation adjustments were internal and it gave good performance for its day. By 1940, PU scopes were used from Tokarev sniper rifles. The 3.5x PU was shorter and lighter than the PE and mounted in a twin ring slab side mount locked into the left side of the receiver.

Karabina obr 1938g and 1944g: These were shortened rifles. The 1944g model used a Semin bayonet system. A special cruciform blade bayonet was mounted to the right of the barrel and could be pivoted into position.

 

1 July 2005
BG2

Battlegroup2 for Battlefield 2 Announced!

Battlegroup announces Battlegroup2 WWII mod for Battlefield 2!

The Battlegroup42 Mod Team are pleased to announce that we have started developing a WW2 mod for the Battlefield 2 engine; this will be known as Battlegroup 2. It will retain BG's trademark mix of historically accurate models and maps, combined with enjoyable and fun gameplay and an emphasis on teamwork.

Although we will continue to support Battlegroup42 on Battlefield Vietnam - with a new African Theatre release out soon - it is with regret we must announce we will not be able to work any further on BG42 on the BF42 engine. However, the BF42 mod will live on with the support of the MOB clan, who were instrumental in developing and creating many of the new maps in the recent 1.2 release. For further details of BG42 developments visit the BG42 website at www.battlegroup42.de.

As part of these exciting new developments we will be rebuilding our website at www.Battlegroup42.com to cover our work and plans for BG2. The main forums for all three generations of the mod can be found at www.battlegroup42forum.com. We also have new members coming on board, including Fabio who has experience in making player models, and DarkElfa who is known for his player skins. Smig, who is well known in the community for his BF42 statics, is joining us to work with GeronimoGer on developing new WW2 statics. GeronimoGer has already done some great ones for the African theatre, including the Bizerte Fort.

We have bold and ambitious plans for Battlegroup 2, however, and are looking for further talent, particularly mappers, modellers, unwrappers and skinners. Please contact us at battlegroup42forum.com if you are interested.

Initial work has already begun on BG2, based on work originally for BGV, with a number of newly built vehicles by Koricus and DaCrapper, a Sten by Geronimo with new animations, plus a new HUD by Bobton. We are very happy to showcase them now as works in progress, and we will update you with developments as they progress. Join us on in our forums to discuss any aspect of BG.

Our Bizerte Fort model is a work-in-progres using actual textures
\of historic forts obtained by Static Modeler Geronimo|Ger

 

Previously shared models of vehicles planned to make their appearance in Battlegroup2

 

Work-in-progress shot of the Kit selection menus from Bobton