Overview
Curated Combat Box reconnaissance collection for Closing of the Ruhr Pocket.
Recon imagery status
Last updated 9 August 2026 at 14:04 BST Latest section: All Targets — B&W Latest file: test image.pngUse this recon collection
Displayed Mission links stay on this mission. Smart Links automatically follow the Combat Box mission currently in play.
Smart Link identifies the Combat Box mission currently in play and automatically points to the correct recon directory. During the development phase, curated missions will contain test images only.
Normal web viewer for this mission, or the permanent Smart Link.
The top-left shows the target name, type, grid location and elevation. Annotated target areas are designed to give useful insights into what to attack, but do not cover every enemy position.
Current Combat Box weather is shown at the top-right.
Scale and north orientation are shown along the lower part of the image, together with the altitude from which the photograph was taken.
Requirement: install the latest stable OpenKneeboard release. Choose and copy one target-set link above; copying another replaces it on the clipboard.
Mission map
Interactive target links can be added later using map.json.
Curated mission recon
Choose the complete collection, or filter by the side that owns the target.
Flying Allied? Choose Axis Targets. Flying Axis? Choose Allied Targets.
Every available target image for this mission.
Allied-held targets — primarily for Axis pilots.
No recon images published for this target set yet.
Axis-held targets — primarily for Allied pilots.
No recon images published for this target set yet.
Collection contents
No downloadable package has been published for this mission yet.
How the archive is made
Each reconnaissance photograph is produced from a modified IL-2 mission adapted for automated aerial photography. A Python processing pipeline captures and combines four image tiles into a high-resolution composite, reads the mission file and workbook reference data, and then uses these to orientate and prioritise target groupings before annotation. A label with the target name, its elevation, target type and grid is placed in the top left. At the bottom left, a scale bar is calculated. At the bottom right, a north compass arrow shows the orientation, and below that a strip of information shows the altitude from which the image was captured, the heading the aircraft was taking (flying bottom to top), the grid and other details. Annotated target areas are set at a maximum of six (server owners may request fewer) and are calculated based on their spatial setting and collective supply importance. A switchable "Show AA" option allows some images to contain AA positions, with some hidden depending on how difficult the server owners wish to make the target.
About / How it worksIn development
A future computer-vision pipeline is being developed in tandem using a custom YOLO model to identify target groups directly from previously captured images, removing the need for the .MISSION files and emulating a real-world reconnaissance process. This is a stretch target, so it may not be fully enacted.
Corrections and observations
Historical corrections, target-identification feedback and comments on usability are welcome.
