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Black Cats - 4/29/2002 12:35:48 PM   
PBYPilot


Posts: 183
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: Marina del Rey, CA
Status: offline 		Just watched a History Channel program on PBY Catalinas. In addition to some great footage, they included a reference to the Black Cat's role in the Guadacanal Campaign.

They specifically referred to the use of the night hunting PBY's in helping to cut off Japanese nighttime supply efforts in the Solomons. A quote from the program: "In one month of operations a single squadron claimed 43 enemy ships sunk."

I suppose many of those "ships" are lighter/barge type vessels. And we all know about aircrew's propensity for, ah, "enhancing" their damage claims. Even so, that's a pretty significant effect.

So I have to ask how, and if, night flying PBY's are included in UV. Certainly there are PBY squadrons included in the game. And night phases. And barges. Soooo......???

With a Forum name like mine, you'd think I'd be answering this, instead of asking it. And yes, I did a search.

PBYPilot
Post #: 1
- 4/29/2002 12:49:20 PM   
Ron Saueracker


Posts: 12121
Joined: 1/28/2002
From: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
Status: offline 		Didn't a Black Cat attempt to bomb the Zuikaku during the Guadalcanal Campaign?

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Post #: 2
- 4/29/2002 1:59:53 PM   
Mike Wood


Posts: 2095
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Oakland, California
Status: offline 		Hello...

Yes, you can assign PBY groups to night duty, where you can select bombing missions against airfields, ports and the like or you an select naval interdiction. They will then, on occasion, try to bomb or torpedo those enemy fast transport and bombardment task forces coming down the slot each night.

Have Fun...

Michael Wood

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Post #: 3
- 4/29/2002 2:15:50 PM   
PBYPilot


Posts: 183
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: Marina del Rey, CA
Status: offline 		Ooooo! Neato!

Thanks for the quick answer, Michael

Gotta go read up on these guys!

PBYPilot

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Post #: 4
Black Cat Raiders of World War II - 4/29/2002 9:38:33 PM   
SKillelea

 

Posts: 16
Joined: 4/26/2002
Status: offline 		There is a book out called the Black Cat Raiders of World War II. I read it several years back and have a copy somewhere. I remember thinking it was an awesome book.

I checked and it is available at Amazon.com, the link is below:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557504717/qid=1020090766/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/102-4805088-3009709

Enjoy!

SKillelea

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Post #: 5
- 4/29/2002 10:24:14 PM   
Eberbach

 

Posts: 44
Joined: 4/11/2002
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Yes that special was pretty good

I had no idea that those things were so huge on the inside. With bunks, multiple compartments, eating area, a little desk

that was insane. I learned alot from that show, stuff I had never seen before.

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Post #: 6
And a Black Cats Website - 4/29/2002 10:35:06 PM   
PBYPilot


Posts: 183
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: Marina del Rey, CA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the reference, SKillelea. I'll check it out.

And here's a Black Cats Website: [URL=http://www.ixpres.com/ag1caf/blackcat/]Black Cats[/URL]

Including the history of "Yardbird." Wouldn't that be an inside Forum name?

PBYPilot

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Post #: 7
- 5/3/2002 9:39:45 AM   
m10bob


Posts: 8622
Joined: 11/3/2002
From: Dismal Seepage Indiana
Status: offline 		For what it's worth,the inside of a PBY is larger than the inside of a B-17,and the pilots sit a floor up..Have to climb a ladder to get to the cockpit..:)

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Post #: 8
- 5/3/2002 10:17:55 AM   
Mike Wood


Posts: 2095
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Oakland, California
Status: offline 		Hello...

I believe you will find the PBY and other seaplanes to be very useful in Uncommon Valor. They can be sent on night bombing or night naval interdiction missions. In the daytime, they can be sent on anti-submarine patrols or naval search patrols. On these patrol missions, they can spot enemy shipping and may occasionally, if there is not too much flak, also attack that shipping. They may also transport small amounts of supply or troops. Importantly, they may transport to friendly bases without an airfield by landing in the water. Cargo planes require an airfield..

Have Fun...

Michael Wood

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Post #: 9
- 5/3/2002 10:36:15 AM   
PBYPilot


Posts: 183
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: Marina del Rey, CA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Wood
[B]They can be sent on night bombing or night naval interdiction missions. In the daytime, they can be sent on anti-submarine patrols or naval search patrols. On these patrol missions, they can spot enemy shipping and may occasionally, if there is not too much flak, also attack that shipping. They may also transport small amounts of supply or troops. Importantly, they may transport to friendly bases without an airfield by landing in the water.

Michael Wood [/B][/QUOTE]

Sounds great! Personally, I'm going to run my poor VP squadrons ragged. :D

The documentary I mentioned indicated that part of the success for the Black Cats was the use of airborne search radar. The convoys they were stalking had no radar and couldn't see the black painted PBY's even when they were caught in the ships searchlights! They could only fire at the sound of the PBY's.

The program also said the American radio altimeters were important. It allowed the 'cats to fly low over the water (50' - 100') without impacting. Evidently, intercepting float plane fighters would misjudge their altitude over a flat sea on a dark night and be rendered, er, "not survived" by flying into the water. :eek:

PBYPilot

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Post #: 10
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