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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> Ordered Friday-first post

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Ordered Friday-first post - 6/11/2002 11:57:04 AM

Rick Bradley

Posts: 30
Joined: 6/7/2002
From: Greenfield, IN
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I knew nothing about this game until I was browsing the Combat Mission forum and ended up on a page with an ad for it. That was early Friday before I went to work and without being able to find out a whole lot before I had to leave I just ordered it.

I played War in the Pacific thru many times. I must admit that even though I got Pacific War I never was able to grasp it so I hope I don't have that problem with this. I also had Carriers at War but the one I played all the time was Carrier Force. Nodded off many a night while my Apple IIe was "thinking". Anyway I sure know the name Gary Grigsby.

Been reading the forum as much as I can so I can get a little jump on it. Seems like one of the major problems is TF's being able to scoot in and out of range of opposing aircraft without being spotted or attacked. If I understand right because they start and end just out of range?

Anyway really looking foward to it. I just spent my CMBB money. That will be a great game "when" it comes out. I am ex-navy, sub service (and probably older than most here) and really think the fighting that went on around Guadalcanal in 42-43 was so important because the "issure was still in doubt" at the time. When other kids were reading about Huck Finn in 5th grade I was reading about the Lexington. Looks like it needs some tweaking which they seem to be working on so hope to talk to many of you some more.

Here's a question. Do any of you know why the early F4F's seemed to "waddle" a little right after takeoff?

Anchors Away

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Rick614
Pride Runs Deep

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- 6/11/2002 12:03:31 PM

dgaad

Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001
From: Hockeytown
Status: offline

Engine torque

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Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)

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- 6/11/2002 5:10:20 PM

Mike Wood

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

Hello...

Welcome to the forum and thanks a lot for your purchase.

The ability of ships to avoid aircraft is more a frustration than a game problem. I used to do the same thing in great naval battles, a ship simulator. I would start at about 3 pm, just outside SBD range from Lunga and race towards the base. That late in the day, even if spotted by a PBY, it was too late to launch an attack against me. I would arrive a little before midnight, with two task groups. The first was a surface task group of detroyers, who would make smoke, zig-zag a lot and engage enemy ships in the area, while my battleships and cruisers bombarded for about 15 minutes. Every one would then race north again and by 9 am the next morning, the earliest a PBY could reach me, I was out of SBD range. I also had Zeros cover my retirement during the day, in case the enemy tried medium bombers. Worked like a charm.

In Uncommon Valor, the player can do the same thing. There are defenses against it, like building an airfield at Munda, covering Lunga with B-17 aircraft from Irau or PBY aircraft on night naval attack, covering the slot with mines or placing carriers west of Lunga. The best defense may be what the U.S. Navy did. Try to defend, in night battles, with surface fleets.

Have fun...

Michael Wood
Lead Programmer,
Matrix Games

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- 6/11/2002 7:06:20 PM

Rick Bradley

Posts: 30
Joined: 6/7/2002
From: Greenfield, IN
Status: offline

Mike
Thanks for the welcome. In many games the recon information is often too perfect and reactions too precise. Something that would model the communications problems of the period although frustrating does add to the game I'm sure. However, on the other side of the coin to be able to precisely coordinate this tactic every time should not be possible, either.

I just finished re-reading the Carrier Battles of Guadalcanal by Mark Hammel. I was amazed that in the heat of battle some strikes were patched together with whatever aircraft could be gathered at the time and the pilots took off with the only information being someone holding a chalkboard saying "enemy bears 330, 175 miles." Then to fly that distance, locate the enemy, engage, and then fly an equal distance back looking for their carrier not even knowing if it was still floating. Those young men had some big ones.

I have read that the first models of the F4F had a manual hydraulic setup for raising the gear. As soon as the pilot got off the deck he would frantically start pumping the lever to get the gear up. His body motion was transferred to his right hand holding the stick a little bit and the plane appeared to "waddle" a little as the gear came up.

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Re: Ordered Friday-first post - 6/11/2002 7:06:31 PM

Supervisor

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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick Bradley
[B]Here's a question. Do any of you know why the early F4F's seemed to "waddle" a little right after takeoff?[/B][/QUOTE]
Would this be the "bobbing" caused by the pilot turning the hand-crank to raise the landing gear?

�edit�
[SIZE=1](38� turns to be exact)[/SIZE] I also understood that this was inherent with all F4F's and didn't get replaced by hydraulics until the F6F.
�/edit�

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- 6/12/2002 12:01:07 PM

Rick Bradley

Posts: 30
Joined: 6/7/2002
From: Greenfield, IN
Status: offline

Rowlf,
You are correct, sir. I believe later models of the Wildcat had fully powered retractable gear but am not sure. The early models left something to be desired. I don't think they had any armor to speak of nor self sealing tanks. Also only 4 .50's. Anyway they held the line. Grumman has always been good for the navy. They were sturdy aircraft. Grumman was nicknamed the "Grumman Ironworks"

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