The First Team

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

The First Team

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> The First Team

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

The First Team - 10/24/2004 9:59:30 PM

Hartford688

Posts: 261
Joined: 3/23/2004
From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Status: offline

Was looking at "The first team" by Lundstrom for a bit of background detail. Anyone read it? Can you recommend? Reviews on Amazon are very favourable.

Post #: 1

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 1:07:12 AM

Tiornu

Posts: 1126
Joined: 4/1/2004
Status: offline

Lundstrom's research always earns the highest regard.

(in reply to Hartford688)

Post #: 2

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 1:10:49 AM

pompack

Posts: 2582
Joined: 2/8/2004
From: University Park, Texas
Status: offline

The research is great and the level of detail is incredible (and often very applicable to some ofthe grog grumble threads and that is DETAILED). For example, I now fully understand the difference between the F4F-3 and the F4F-4 and understand why some of the pilots resisted the change and others welcomed it. On the other hand, his writing style did leave me nodding off at times.

(in reply to Hartford688)

Post #: 3

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 7:30:22 PM

Hartford688

Posts: 261
Joined: 3/23/2004
From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Status: offline

Thanks! Sounds worth a go (though not the cheapest series of books) - a bit of detailed background always helps my gaming. I'll go chase Amazon. Writing style cannot be more numbing than Shaw's "Fighter Tactics". "Fire in the sky" which I am busy re-reading again however flows along nicely. Good read for the South Pacific.

< Message edited by Hartford688 -- 10/25/2004 6:31:16 PM >

(in reply to pompack)

Post #: 4

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 7:39:18 PM

Jon_Hal

Posts: 95
Joined: 2/23/2004
Status: offline

For History nuts like us you really can't beat Lunstrom's work. I've re-read them all several times and my copies are all dog-eared and highlighted. Great books I recommend them highly!

Regards,

Jon

(in reply to Hartford688)

Post #: 5

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 8:02:42 PM

pompack

Posts: 2582
Joined: 2/8/2004
From: University Park, Texas
Status: offline

Lundstrom and Bergerud are an interesting comparison. Bergerud is a more enjoyable read, but he presents a LOT of conclusions without more than a passing reference to any data to back up those cocnlusions. Lundstom provides few explicit conclusions; instead he provides a MASS of data to allow you to draw your own.

(in reply to Hartford688)

Post #: 6

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 8:11:23 PM

Nikademus

Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline

Highly recommend both pieces (Lundstrom, Bergerud)

_____________________________

(in reply to pompack)

Post #: 7

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 8:29:02 PM

mdiehl

Posts: 5998
Joined: 10/21/2000
Status: offline

I recommend Lundstrom. Bergerud's "Fire in the Sky" is unremarkable IMO. His "Touched with Fire" focuses on the ground combat and is somewhat better. Bergerud puts too much value on anecdotes, IMO, to be a really good source for information on A2A, at least with respect to designing a consim about ww2.

_____________________________

Show me a fellow who rejects statistical analysis a priori and I'll show you a fellow who has no knowledge of statistics.

Didn't we have this conversation already?

(in reply to Nikademus)

Post #: 8

RE: The First Team - 10/25/2004 9:15:28 PM

Hartford688

Posts: 261
Joined: 3/23/2004
From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Status: offline

I guess Bergerud is less heavyweight, but still an interesting and enjoyable read. Gives a taster of the issues and events at least.

Sorry to dumb down to the general histories of the pacific war (and the previous threads + Spooky's biblio list) but which would you rate best on the following general histories?

Toland - Rising Sun
Van Der Vat - Pacific Campaign
Spector - Eagle Against the Sun
Costello - Pacific War

All sound good - Tempted in the order above. I will import from Amazon US to The Netherlands as the euro shops do not stock...but difficult to justify to myself four general histories!!!! Maybe two...or three...Christmas soon...

Finally, at the risk of pushing my luck too far...is "The Big E" any good..or dated? Apparently a classic, but not being American I had never heard of the book.

Many thanks all.

Quick investment tip to you sharewatchers out there...Amazon shares are about to go up on unexpected sales surge...

< Message edited by Hartford688 -- 10/25/2004 8:20:35 PM >

(in reply to mdiehl)

Post #: 9