"....what's gradatuniua mean? ..something is making people sick Lots of hurling"
Posted on 12/22/2016 11:25:10 AM PST by StormPrepper
Probably all true but he’s still right. I’d say that even if Hillary Clinton or Barry O’bama said that the Warthog should be kept in service and the use of the B1B as a “CAS” asset was some kind of Air Force joke.
The good old Air Force has been saying that since Billy Mitchell's day and it's not any truer now than it was then. "Close Air Support" is just what the name says and in direct, responsive support of the grunts in contact.
Honestly, the Air Force would use Minuteman IIIs as "CAS" if they could get away with it.
Now, how much better would Normandy had gone if the assault forces had real CAS in direct support?
“”On this day and age, close air support doesn’t have to mean laying down gunfire at treetop level.””
There are situations where it is still needed. This was heavily demonstrated during the war on the ground in Iraq. The A-10 was incredibly invaluable and while not at treetop level, it was rooftop level.
I completely agree. We need the A-10s until another specifically-designed CAS platform enters service.
There is a reason the Marine Corps is perfectly happy flying CAS with hornets and now the F-35. Remember how hard they've fought for a slow moving fixed wing CAS platform in let's say the last 40 years? Neither do I.
Lots of old grey haired experts thinking about dumb bomb CAS against small caliber AAA. Guess what? All the rules have changed. The only thing that hasn't changed is the absolute priority of killing the enemy by getting bombs on time, on target, without killing friendlies. End of story. And if you aren't proficient in receiving a nine line via datalink, using a helmet mounted sight, or guiding the latest generation laser guided munitions with the latest generation targeting pods, you are probably not well qualified to write the newest manual on CAS operations. Or explain why the A-10 is the only effective CAS platform in the inventory.
“So when you call for close air support, do you plan it out ahead of time so the planes can be scheduled in advance? Or do you need it NOW, cause the firefight will most likely be over before the long range aircraft get there?”
I always referred to it as NOW. We had to go in and bring out a combat ineffective unit. The bad guys had rallied more bad guys, and we were vastly outnumbered. Thankfully A-10s were in the air already with other nice airborne vehicles. We were danger close.
There is the serious question raised by fellow inmates at Hanoi Hilton that he ever was tortured at all. According to some soldiers, he turned as soon as he arrived and began broadcasting for the communists. By theirs and other accounts he is a coward on the order of Kerry.
At 50,000 feet could you not put several platforms over the battle space, with 12 hour loiter times, and cover it all?
Or, is the over riding concern being let down due to lack of commitment to CAS and those platforms being otherwise directed?
If that is the logic, I have a new understanding.
The A-10 has one use and one mission. It’s always available to do that.
That is alot if it. The modern battle space is occupation and search and destroy. The pitched battle, while both awesome and extremely important, is really only the small initial part of modern warfare.
Also we have only been discussing fixed wing. We also just got rid of the Kiowas, they were one of the most effective rotary wing platforms we had. Loved the replaceable gun/missle pods. They could be quickly equipped differently to meet the mission requirements.
Getting the "bombs on time" requires direct communication between the fast movers and the ground pounders, with close and intimate knowledge of the ground situation, friendly locations, fire support coordination measures/restrictions, and the right effects for the target.
JDAMs are gorgeous but sometimes a well placed line of 20mm or 30mm or rockets are what the doctor ordered.
BTW, I used to be a Navy and Air Force qualified FAC, a Naval Gunfire Spotter and a Forward Observer - in combat.
No airsoft here, compadre.
I read an interesting account, probably here, after the initial takedown of the Taliban in Afghanistan, about the BONE being very effective for CAS. Lots of payload, lots of loiter time, quick to scoot around the country to deliver a JDAM or whatever. Fighters tend to come up short on the first two.
"....what's gradatuniua mean? ..something is making people sick Lots of hurling"
And JDAMS have almost no CAS application. LGBs...loads.
For once McCain gets it right.
the Warthog is the best close air support weapon ever created.
> “I’d say that even if Hillary Clinton or Barry O’bama said ...”
You shouldn’t.
“The Air Force has tried to weasel out of true Close Air Support for decades except for the outstanding capabilities of the Warthog.”
which would be fine if they would turn over the Warthog or other CAS fixed wing aircraft to the Army. But defending their turf is more important than the grim reality of defending the infantry.
It’s not possible to insult McCain’s intelligence.
Sufficiently crude epithets do not exist.
“The good old Air Force has been saying that since Billy Mitchell’s day and it’s not any truer now than it was then.”
Not up on modern technology, I see.
If you tried dropping bombs accurately, including target ID, at 100’ versus with a Sniper pod, you would WANT them to drop with the Sniper pod!
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