The Hammerhead - An opinion

[AKDejaVu]

Dunno how much it was used in WW2.  I bet most pilots were not willing to gamble following a plane in the verticle unless they were 100% sure of his e state.

That is to say, if there were as many dopes in WW2, I gaurantee this move would have been used more.

The rope-a-dope offers an excellent opportunity for someone with an alt disadvantage to disengage.  People are less likely to do that here when their life is not on the line.  I don't believe this was the case in reality.

BTW, I seriously doubt people want to fight with traditional WW2 tactics.  Basically, sneak up behind them and pray you kill them before they notice you... if not run.

AKDejaVu

[AKDejaVu]

BTW, one of my favorite kills is on someone that is trying to rope-a-dope a lower con and doesn't notice me coming in.  To catch a plane at 200 yards right in the middle of a hammerhead is an awesome feeling

AKDejaVu

[Animal]

If people wanna help newbys, hey more power to them.

But is he REALLY helping them, when he is not teaching them one of the most important maneuvers, and not even at least telling them how to counter it? Its not that he doesnt know how to do it and will ask another trainer, its that he will tell the newby that its not a valid move and it is cheating.

That newbie will have a very hard time on the MA for sure.

LOL and what DOES he teach them? The guy hates BnZ, when it is obviously one of the PRIMARY fighting tactics in the game. He wont teach vertical maneuvers. So what does he teach? take off/landings, shootings head on, and sustained turning?

I mean, ive seen this guy fighting. all he does is turn, turn, turn, and god forbid you to stop turning and try some ACM trick, for he will call you a cheater and eject you from his game.

[WarChild]

I believe i HammerHeaded my LA5 on him just last weak.. poor sap.. when will he learn????

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WarChild
VMF-323 ~Death Rattlers~
"Where's the Charmin!"

[Vulcan]

I've been known to use rope-a-dope on (cough)occasion. Once you are experienced at it the move becomes an integral part of your technique.

To complete a good rope-a-dope you must have excellent SA and awareness of your opponents E, and his aircrafts capabilities.

Sorry, but its not a simple manoevre. Overestimate their status and you will not get back down in time for a shot, underestimate and they will blow you out of the sky.

I don't see what a limited view has to do with this move?

Maybe Artlaws is just jealous because he hasn't mastered it  

[Hammer Head]

You talking to me?  Huh?  You talking to me?

hehehe j/k.

I love rope-a-dopes, just that I'm always the dope...  Sounds like Artlaws is too...

[Jekyll]

 

Originally posted by bowser:
Obviously it's valid in AH, but was it used a lot in WWII?  I think that's his point.  I would think it was pretty rare considering the chance you were taking that the con had enough E to blow you away.

Can somebody post accounts of it's use in WWII?

bowser

Well, not an actual kill, but a wonderful example of the art is given by Robert S Johnson in his account of a mock dogfight between his P47C and a new Spitfire IX.

The actual account runs on for some pages, check pp 184-185 in Shaw, but here is the conclusion:

"Then I played the trump.  The Spitfire was clawing wildly through the air, trying to follow me in a roll, when I dropped the nose.  The Thunderbolt howled and ran for earth.  Barely had the Spitfire started to follow - and I was a long way ahead of him by now - when I jerked back on the stick and threw the Jug into a zoom climb.  In a straight or turning climb, the British ship had the advantage.  But coming out of a dive, there's not a British or German fighter that can come close to a Thunderbolt rushing upward in a zoom.  Before the Spit pilot knew what had happened, I was high above him, the Thunderbolt hammering around.  And that was it - for in the next few moments the Spitfire flier was amazed to see a less maneuverable, slower-climbing Thunderbolt rushing straight at him, eight guns pointed ominously at his cockpit".

Reality: 1
Artlaws: 0



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Jekyll
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
Aces High Training Corps

[moose]

I went into his h2h arena and tried to explain that there is actual documentation proving that the hammerhead was used, but he wouldn't listen.

What I found even more funny was that ammo was turned to unlimited. I immediately upped in a nikki!   When I hammerheaded a 202, Art informed me that I would be kicked the next time i tried that cheating crap.

Man Cit/Animal, you traumatized him!

[G10Whore]

....eight [.50 cal]guns pointed ominously at his cockpit.[/b]


lucky for him they didnt fire, hehe

[This message has been edited by G10potato (edited 05-01-2001).]

[Swager]

Cool!  

HeHe

I got killed all the time by the HH. It is difficult to perform perfectly.  Ant mistakes and you could be in world of dung.

[Jekyll]

The hammerhead reversal is really a test of nerves in AH.  You have to hit it at exactly the right time .... get too nervous during the zoom and try to 'force' it early, and your aircraft will kind of flop all over the place, completely out of control.

If you can wait until just the right moment, however, and feed in rudder control slowly but firmly, most planes in AH will perform beautiful hammerhead reversals.

Pre 1.04 it was practically impossible to do a smooth hammerhead in the F4U, due to engine torque.  Now, its a popsiclecat to hammerhead.  If you are vulching a field, it is THE way to do your reversals at the end of the runway.

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Jekyll
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
Aces High Training Corps

[Drex]

Hblair you taking the missles?

Drex

[This message has been edited by Drex (edited 05-01-2001).]

[milnko]

 

Originally posted by Vulcan:
To complete a good rope-a-dope you must have excellent SA and awareness of your opponents E, and his aircrafts capabilities.

Number one rule when engaging; "Never climb to a fight" always retain as much energy as possible to allow for BFM/ACM.

Last night Vulcan bounced me with his  Tempest shortly after I took off in my Tiffie.

I was aware that he had more energy than I, so I remained level, gathered up as much speed as possible then waited for his dives.
Once I saw he was committed to the bounce, I pulled moderately into a flat turn, til I was 90deg perpendicular to his dive, then roll level and move outta the line of fire.

Then I reverse back in opposite direction to gain position behind him and do a slight climb, maintaining good airspeed.

This doesn't allow me to get guns on him, but it places me behind him where he can't shoot me.

It's a slow way to chip away at an enema's energy, and the kill usually goes to whomever has the most patience.

I'm lucky enough to have great squaddies who are eager to clear my six, so an average Rope-a-Dope has me climbing near vertical, an enema zooming up behind me, and an ASSASSIN poppin' him in his pooper at neat the top of his climb.

<S>
Milenko

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"ASSASSINS have BIGGER Joysticks!"

<< MILENKO >>
ACES HIGH ASSASSINS Website
WB/AH ASSASSINS Website

[ArtLaws]

How many times in a row, can you do a hammerhead on someone who YOU KNOW is a "newbee" before you start to question what kind of pilot, player, and person you are.  Of course it is a valid ACM. I never said "IT DIDNT HAPPEN AT ALL".  I believe the AMOUNT of HH are exagerated and there are 2 things that make this possible.  Your vision is impaired and the added inticement of an icon number, getting smaller and smaller, ever so slowly, in front of you.  In war we want to kill people off permanently, in this game and community we shouldn't.....Im going to go put my rectantular buckit on my head now and run some red lights on my bicycle.  

[AKDejaVu]

How many times does someone have to be vulched before he learns not to respawn at a cap'd base?  Do you feel guilty teaching the lessen?

How many times does a newbie have to overshoot a slowly rolling fighter before he learns to make the necessary adjustments?  Do you feel guilty showing them the folly of their ways?

How many times does a newbie have to auger trying to fight NOE with a tighter turning aircraft?  Do you feel guilty teaching them this lesson?

How many times does a newbie have to give up good position by diving to HO a co-energy plane that is able to turn the tables quickly?  Do you feel guilty teaching them to hold any altitude advantage?

If experience doesn't teach newbies to avoid these situations, then I don't feel any pitty.  If the trainers refuse to teach newbies to avoid these situations, then I say "hmmmmmm".

The hammerhead requires the victim do something very silly.  Otherwise, its not a very wise tactic for getting a kill... only for staying out of gun range.

Also, most of my kills are a result of the enemy making some kind of mistake.  I don't say "oh.. that's not really fair to take advantage of that mistake" and let him go.  I kill him.  That's what my job is in the game.

As a trainer, you need to focus on enlightening the newbies as to these cheesy kill situations.  I do believe that teaching them to whine as loud as they can whenever it happens is not the route you should be pursuing.

AKDejaVu