Fuck yeah.
HAWG -- Exploits of an A-10 squadron in Afghanistan
- Thread starter Gunz
- Start date
The A-10 is the only thing with a fan boi club larger than the SEALS. A) RIGHTLY SO and B) SEALS love the A-10 (see Point A).
With that said, I think some of the -16 and -15E squadrons could do with the same treatment. We have a member or two alive today because of the timely delivery of ordnance by one or more of those platforms.
(Though the handful of JTACs I've spoken to prefer the Eagle over the Viper)
With that said, I think some of the -16 and -15E squadrons could do with the same treatment. We have a member or two alive today because of the timely delivery of ordnance by one or more of those platforms.
(Though the handful of JTACs I've spoken to prefer the Eagle over the Viper)
Brill
SOF Support
We had T-shirts made after this. The guy telling our CCT “bring it in closer” was answered with “man, I love you.”
You could feel the 30mm rounds impacting the ground, trees, etc in your chest. The area was totally shredded.
edit: not my video but I was at the end of the convoy using a truck mounted gun interlocking fire.
You could feel the 30mm rounds impacting the ground, trees, etc in your chest. The area was totally shredded.
edit: not my video but I was at the end of the convoy using a truck mounted gun interlocking fire.
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Devildoc
Verified Military
I love me some CAS pilots. Studs all.
Kraut783
SOF Support
A-10's Pfffft....we need more fighters and bombers....no CAS only aircraft is needed.
(Hoping reverse psychology would work on the USAF command)
(Hoping reverse psychology would work on the USAF command)
You've taken me back, Brother. From the GAU-8 to the wonderfully gratifying brrrrrrrrrrp of the M134's on AH-1s...as the Cobras dipped nose-down and smoked the living fuck out of our pesky Charlies. Goddammit...there is absolutely nothing in the world that gives me wood more than on-target CAS. Loved A-1s...loved Cobras...I know how you guys must feel about A-10s.
Two F4s screaming in over the tree tops and dropping hot jelly on the bastards is also incredibly satisfying. Nothing takes the Evil out of the AO faster than nape.
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I often think about how social media and everyone running around with cameras has changed how we train and prepare for war.
Devildoc
Verified Military
There is a PhD and history book in this: the role of established and pop media during conflicts: WWII to the present. We know that North Vietnam used propaganda against the US by having 'journalists' and photographers publish in small town newspapers, which hastened turning the tide of American opinion against US intervention in Vietnam. That was probably the first conflict where it was so documented.
We know that social media and cell phone photography has changed how we police, how we deliver medicine, how we act in public....
What we were doing in Vietnam on the worst days was kiddie school to our senior Marine officers. They'd been platoon and company commanders on Peliliu, Saipan, Tarawa, in Korea...200 dead Americans every week in SVN was good day in the Pacific.
To get back on topic: The Mandalorians would appreciate the A-10's unique capabilities.
Brill
SOF Support
I don’t think a 21st century commander would remain in command with rates like that. 1SGs loose their shit if a trooper misses an annual dental screening.
Kraut783
SOF Support
They kinda have them.....
The 25th ID's Stryker BDE took a mere fraction of that in Iraq and its division commander shut down the BDE in Afghanistan. He didn't want the div. overall to have too many casualties so he restricted his maneuver elements in Afghanistan to within a certain distance of their FOBs.
Brill
SOF Support
I'd suspect precision munitions, drones, night vision, acog rifle sights, satellites, GPS, laser targeting systems, tactical & medical innovations etc help those 21st century commanders significantly keeping casualty numbers below the level of public intolerance.
Gulf War One was the showcase. Precision munitions were demonstrated to the world. Blue casualties were astonishingly light. Since then, the public expects low numbers.
In just eight-weeks during the Lam Son 719 operation we lost some 400 helicopters. Can you imagine if that happened today?
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Devildoc
Verified Military
My dad's last tour (of 3) on VN he was intel chief for HMLA-167, that was either 70-71, or 71-72; I have his diary. Every day there is an entry that goes something like this: "today we lost aircraft 12345 to enemy fire, LT. Jones, CAPT. Smith, LCPL. Franks presumed killed during crash."
400 would be 90+ percent of the CH-47 fleet or half of our Apaches or 27% of our Blackhawks. It would be all of the Marine MV-22's (by 100) OR all MV-22's and CH-53's combined or every single HMLA squadron in the Marines.
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