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A story from this week AF times newspaper......

<b>F-15E Strike Eagles find new way to fight</b>


F-15E Strike Eagle pilots, who trained to fight in the skies and drop iron as a traditional bomber, have found a new calling in the war on terrorism----close air support. That's something that the ugly, but grunt-revered A-10 Thunderbolt----the Warthog----has had a lock on for years.

"Three years ago, no one would've expected us to use the gun," said 1st Lt Tim---whose last name was not given. The 335th FS WSO was referring the 20mm cannon internally mounted in the jet's fuselage. But lessons from Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in 2002 changed that. Then, two 335th FS aircraft were flying CAS for units on the ground when they were called in to drop ordnance close to friendly ground troops fighting Taliban forces. Once out of bombs, they attacked with 20mm rounds. After the strafing runs, and airman on the ground told the crews that he could "smell the pine" from trees that were shot up by the F-15Es guns cutting through the forest.

Now, the pilots train to fight that way, and it paid off recently in Fallujah, Iraq, where Marines and soldiers have been battling insurgents. "The Marines called and told us that they had someone shooting at them from a couple of buildings," said Capt Steve, whose last name was also not given. "And our flight lead rolled in and took out the first target, and they had us take out the target right next to it."

Amazing the Pr weenies are finding this unique, All pilots are trained to do it, although not a primary mission, but we all Do strafes at the range.

Several times ive Done the same during the Kosovo and Balkan Conflict.

20MM is deadly to light Skinned vehicles and other forms of soft targets, If it buys the guys on the ground precious time to break contact or out manuever the opposing force, I say do it. better than Cloud hugging with useless Weight.


In the past this was normal procedure since ww2, korea, Vietnam.

Are they trying to say that the Focus of precision engagement has lessoned the idea of using the Gun?

The Gun and the well calibrated eyeball of a versatile Fighter pilot is the best asset available during cas, It is very personal.

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

If the GAU-8 is so impressive, I'd imagine the M61, while not <i>as</i> impressive, would still hit hard. Though modern fighters don't really have the ammo capacity to use it alot.

As a fighter-bomber, isn't CAS one of the missions that the Strike Eagle was designed for?

"Some pup"
Nickname by Fenderstrat72

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

The F-15E has such a small ammo "drum" I definitly wouldn't take long to empty her....

<img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/70th.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/Mav_shot.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/25.jpg" border=0>

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540rds isn't it?

That's about 5.5 seconds worth.

The C model Eagles hold 960 i think...much nicer number.

"One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Its enough for the enemy to tuck their head up their ass and kiss it goodbye <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

...After all the troops want to atleast get some intelligence value off the bodies......dont get that with 30mm and its pyrophoric target vaporising effect <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

When I went through RTU at Seymour (prior to 9/11 and the GWOT), we were told "This is how you strafe, but we never strafe". That 3 degree offset makes things a bit ungainly to say the least...not impossible...just unusual if you don't train to it.

Obviously that situation has changed significantly. Now the 20mm is a nice addition to the 9 GBU-12 loadout (soon to be 36 SDBs!!).

Nothing like a good war to remind everyone why we do what we do. Just cause the old craniums never strafed before....

These "PR" articles are important. They remind everyone that whatever it is that congress is buying...it needs to have a friggin gun in it!

I think the E has a larger ammo capacity. Not by much, but the linear linkless hold more IIRC. I thought my source said, but I can't find it. So, I can't say.

"Some pup"
Nickname by Fenderstrat72

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

Funny, just talked to a guy at the test squadron at Eglin (Beagle guy) who said that the Strike Eagle doing CAS is pretty much for the dog and pony show and that they honestly don't do it well. This was Friday night at the bar. I also got to FAC-A some of those dudes at Base X and they weren't very good at it. I'm certainly not saying they're useless, just "less useful". Just my input (and that of a Strike Eagle patch wearer) but then again, I am biased...<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

ATTACK!!!!!!!

As long as they can put 20mm on target i don't care how poorly they consider themselves to be at CAS, lol.

Just kill the guys trying to kill me, the rest is just window dressing.

"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"
<img src="http://worldaffairsboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=862&stc=1" border=0>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Just kill the guys trying to kill me, the rest is just window dressing.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

LOL!!!

~Thud

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Funny, just talked to a guy at the test squadron at Eglin (Beagle guy) who said that the Strike Eagle doing CAS is pretty much for the dog and pony show and that they honestly don't do it well. This was Friday night at the bar. I also got to FAC-A some of those dudes at Base X and they weren't very good at it. I'm certainly not saying they're useless, just "less useful". Just my input (and that of a Strike Eagle patch wearer) but then again, I am biased...<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

ATTACK!!!!!!!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Its not a mission Taught, In Fact I recal during wwGulf1, you wer taught either the maverick or the Pod, but not both. Reasoning. One flight was a sead screen the others actually carried out the attack.

It hadnt Changed much in the Gunfighters either. All the missions are precision engagement. hard enough to get a guy to DME to a Steerpoint and get the Wizzo sorting the topography for his targeting ques. Which is why i ended up being a stan eval instructor.....again to getthese guys tactically aware.

I honestly believe the FIrst Tour needs to be in a CAS airframe before moving up to the added gadgets, The gadgets seem to be a hinderance to mission goals becasue theirs not enough experienced G2 in the Cockpit.

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

I got a to shoot at a little red dot being towed by a lear jet... does that count?

*sigh*... my kingdom for a blivot.

Hey Homo!

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

what's up ass pounder?

"Sleep tight tonight... your Air Force is awake."

Yes, I love to Pitch in with Flares, I wasnt the one complainingt hat you couldnt shit straight for a week.

you saying i need a Cock reduction?

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

lol... dood, yer flyin HVAA CAP now... I got nothin.



"Sleep tight tonight... your Air Force is awake."

Will banter later, The Old Crow is pulling me away now

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

K dude... take it easy. and take tums.

"Sleep tight tonight... your Air Force is awake."