Story of the A 10 Warthog and why the F 35 will never be as loved

youtube ^ | 12-31-14 | Björn Lundahl

[Hulka]

Indeed. What a story.

Closest I ever got was during Gulf War I.

I was in the left seat of an Army OH-58 (I was a USAF FAC) and we were flying about 4’ over the ground when we flew over an Iraqi position. Surprised us (and them)!

All I could do was whip out my 9mm and start firing out the door (I'm left-handed so that helped). . .the shell casings pinged off the inside of the windscreen as we yanked around and got outta there. . . probably didn't hit anything but dang, it felt like I had to do SOMETHING!

[Slings and Arrows]

Oy gevalt, are you barking up the wrong tree!

[Yo-Yo]

10
Combat Costs and Results Gulf War
Gulf War I USAF planned 39 day strategic bombing
campaign. Predicted surrender in 6 days (DOUHET!)
Targeting blunder, killing 300 women/children,
ended Baghdad bombing in 20 days. No effect on
Iraqi army in Kuwait
132 A-10s killed more tactical targets than all
the 2000 high speed jets (F-16, F-111,
F-15,F-117, etc)
2 A-10s destroyed the spearhead of Iraqi armored
invasion of Saudi Arabia. In 2 days, 100s of A-10
sorties mauled the whole division 2 force
After war, USAF bomber generals rewarded A-10s by
mothballing half simultaneously funding huge
over runs for the B-1, B-2 and F-22

Again, Pierre can go pound Persian Gulf sand. During the Gulf War, A-10s spent most of their days in Western Iraq looking for Scud missile launchers and most of their nights at home in bed, while the F-111F with it's Pave Tack FLIR targeting camera and Laser designator took out enemy tanks with 500 lb Laser guided Paveway bombs all night long. The process was known as "tank plinking."

The F-111F's Pave Tack performance was so impressive that the USAF wanted it on all of their ground attack aircraft. The FLIR/IR Laser combo is now part of the LANTIRN targeting pod that can be carried on the F-15E, F-16C, and B-1B to do the same job. The F-35 has the guts of a LANTIRN pod built into it's chin.

Don't get me wrong, I love the A-10 and believe we need to keep them, but when the Pave Tack system that took up the entire F-111 bomb bay (and the terrain following radar that took up half of the F-111's radome) were shrunk down to a pod that could be mounted on an F-15 and F-16, we gained the ability to take out tanks from high altitude, out of effective range of AAA and MANPADs, where the A-10 has to get down in the dirt.

[Hulka]

A-10’s remained at mid-altitude once air supremacy was achieved. They were never in the dirt.

A-10’s had no night capability therefore they flew during the day. They provided tremendous support and according to the GWAPS, accounted for huge Iraqi losses.

They supported the front lines all the time, except for one ill-fated day when they were sent deep and three were lost doing an AI mission.

[mabarker1]

Short burst from the 30mm along with four 20mm gun pods under the wings would be nothing shy of a flying claymore mine......add some of the 2.5 inch rocket pods and GBU’s and two 8 packs of hellfires and lay waste to enemy on the ground.....surgically.

I can see You trying to figure out a way to make all of that fit into an IWB Holster- just in case;)

[mabarker1]

IIRC an A10 was credited with an Air to Air Kill whacking a Raghead chopper.

Thank You for Your Service.

[Hulka]

Thank you, sir.

Yes, I believe it was actually two kills by two A-10’s against raghead helicopters.

[Squantos]

Ohhhh I can dream .

Gotta maintain the grayman concept. ....:o)

Stay safe !

[mabarker1]

Welcome

Cool! I only knew about the 1

[mabarker1]

LOL!

You as well Sir.

[Rapscallion]

If only we had the A-10 at Omaha Beach ....

[Hulka]

Gawd yes. . . .