Posted on 06/17/2016 6:41:26 PM PDT by Kaslin
As the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project continues to lag down the road of extravagant spending, the U.S. Marine Corps has decided to reach back for technology from the early 80's to get the job done against ISIS.
Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers flew on Thursday from aboard the USS Boxer in the Persian Gulf to provide what Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, called simultaneous strikes with combat planes flying off the USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean. The Truman aircraft carrier strike group had been flying combat missions over Iraq and Syria from the Gulf, prior to moving into the Mediterranean about two weeks ago.
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier is known for its quick maneuverability in and out of strikes as it provides close support to combat Marines. The project that eventually led to the AV-8B's creation started in the early 1970s and was complete in 1981.
This is not the first time that the U.S. military has had to reach back in its inventory to get the job done.
In April of this year, the B-52 bomber made its first combat deployment to the Mideast since the 1991 Gulf War.
Watch the famous vertical take-off of the Harrier (Volume Warning):
What’s old is new again!
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.
Marines have been doing this for years. Since the Corps’ budget isn’t as big as the other services, we’ve learned how to live with hand-me-downs and creating our own stuff out whatever we have available.
As long as our guys dont use muskets, anything to kill our enemies efficiently and comfortably is fine with me.
A ship board mishap rate well beyond the level of modern day sanity. With the advanced version weapons system it is one of the sweetest unguided bombing platforms around. A buddy of mine said the worst hit he ever had was just outside a hundred feet and that was from a loft delivery where you pitch up and huck the bomb at the target. Pretty amazing.
Maybe these so-called ancient systems are more hack proof than modern software.
I used to build model kits of these in the mid 70s when I was a kid, always in the Royal Navy configuration; I'm just going off memory but I think the jump jet 1st entered service with the Royal Navy (UK), 1969.
If I'm wrong on the year I'm sure a FReeper will let me know, TIA.
Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but I think a flock of P-47s would earn their keep.
Stop playing games and let loose the A10 “HOGS”!
I imagine a bunch of WWII Stormoviks would also be effective in that scenario.
Of course attacking modern first class armies with first class anti aircraft armament might be where an F-35 just might be better. At least when they get the F-35 right.
The Harrier's mission is ground attack all the way like the A-10 or the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of WW2, but it's capabilities are so much different from them due to the innovative thrust and landing gear systems and all the other amazing attributes of the Harrier.
8541 bump.
Semper Fi.
L
Which was usually followed by "Who told you to do that!!!". And of course the inevitable "good initiative, bad judgement".
But the Harrier can do shit no other fixed wing aircraft can do that I know of.
I've read of Harriers being able to hover on station like a helicopter and even fly backwards at slow speeds to make adjustments in gunnery.
I wonder if a Harrier ever won a dog-fight with an enemy helicopter?
LOL!
You’ve “been there done that” haven’t ya!
Would do well.
In his autobiography Erich Hartmann described his first attempt to shoot down a Stormovik. He poured a volley of fire into it and was shocked to see no effect plus the rear gunner almost got him.
He then talked to some of the experienced pilots and they told him to attack them from below and behind. That was their only weak spot. Of course the Russians knowing that tended to fly very low.
Hartmann who almost was killed that day went on to down at least 352 planes, probably substantially more.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.