B-Bottoms FIHOTD thread (A-10 "Warthog")

[B-Bottom]

A-10 Thunderbolt II

 

 

A-10 Thunderbolt IIThe A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the "Warthog", is the first US Air Force aircraft designed for close air support of ground forces. It is a simple, effective and hardy single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to attack tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets.

 

 

Description

The A-10/OA-10 has excellent maneuverability at low speeds and altitude, thanks to wide, straight wings. These also allow short takeoffs and landings, permitting operations from airfields near front lines. The plane can loiter for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000 foot (300 m) ceilings with 1.5-mile (2.4 km) visibility. It can fly at a relatively slow speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), which makes it better at ground-attack than fast fighter-bombers, which often have difficulty pursuing small and slow-moving targets.

 

The 'Warthog' is exceptionally hardy, with a strong airframe that can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23mm. The aircraft has triple redundancy in its flight systems, with manual systems to back up double-redundant hydraulic systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power or part of a wing is lost. Self-sealing fuel tanks are protected by fire-retardant foam.

 

The cockpit and parts of the flight-control system are protected by 900 pounds (400 kg) of titanium armor, referred to as a "titanium bathtub". Its engine exhaust passes over the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer and between the twin tails, decreasing the A-10's infrared signature and the likelihood that the aircraft can be targeted by heatseeking missiles. The placement of the engines partially shields them from anti-aircraft fire behind the wings and tail. The A-10 can fly even with one engine completely shot away.

 

 

USAF Thunderbolt

 

Thunderbolt closeup

The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from bases with limited facilities near battle areas. An unusual feature is that many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left to right, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers. A built-in ladder allows the pilot to enter or exit the aircraft without assistance. The sturdy landing gear, low-pressure tires and large, straight wings allow operation from short rough strips even with a modest weapon load. These also allow the aircraft to operate from damaged airbases. The aircraft is designed to be re-fueled, re-armed, and serviced with minimal equipment. Operating from a forward area is both useful for close air support and necessary due to the A-10's relatively low cruise and top speeds.

 

The A-10 has been criticized for its minimal avionics fit. It was originally intended purely for close air support, for which it was felt that complex electronics would be unnecessary (and would have an undesirable effect on serviceability and cost). Initial fit provided basic communications, a radar-warning system, and TACAN navigation, early aircraft lacking even an autopilot. As USAF emphasis shifted towards the anti-armor role, presumably in a conflict with the Warsaw Pact in Western Europe, where weather is frequently poor, there was pressure for improved sensors and electronics. Fairchild-Republic offered a two-seat NAW (Night and Adverse Weather) variant beginning in 1977, but it was not adopted. Aircraft were eventually upgraded with inertial navigation and a Pave Penny laser sensor (marked target seeker) pod that allowed the pilot to direct laser-guided bombs against targets marked by friendly forces.

 

The A-10 initially lacked systems to compute target range or impact points, greatly limiting its ability to deliver weapons other than cannon and rocket fire (in direct, visual-range attacks) or the self-guided AGM-65 Maverick missile, whose own sensors displayed imagery in the A-10's cockpit. Much later in the 'Warthog's' career, the Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting Enhancement (LASTE) upgrade provided computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and ground-collision warning system. The A-10 is now compatible with night-vision goggles for low-light operation. In 1999, aircraft began to be given GPS navigation systems.

 

Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, its primary built-in weapon is the 30 mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun. The most powerful aircraft cannon ever flown, it fires large, depleted uranium armor-piercing shells at a rate of 4,200 rounds per minute. The massive shells and high muzzle velocity allow the Avenger to destroy heavily armored main battle tanks. The chassis of the plane is actually built around the gun.

 

This gun is said to produce almost the same amount of force as one of the A-10's engines, leading to a persistent military legend that if enough bullets could be carried and fired in a long burst, the plane would stop flying (or move backwards, in some versions of the legend). Using the specs from the GAU-8/A product homepage,the recoil force of the GAU-8/A is measured to an average of 10,000 lbf (45 kN). This is a considerable amount: more than 50 percent of the thrust of both of the A-10 engines at full power. But the A-10 will certainly continue flying forward.

 

Despite the power of the GAU-8, the principal weapon of the A-10 is the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, with electro-optical targeting. The Maverick allows targets to be engaged at much greater ranges than the cannon, a safer proposition in the face of modern anti-aircraft systems. Other weapons include cluster bombs and rocket pods. Although the A-10 is equipped to deliver conventional and laser-guided bombs, their use is relatively uncommon. A-10s usually fly with an ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other for self-defense.

 

 

An A-10 Thunderbolt in flightThe first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975. It was designed for the close air support mission and had the ability to combine large military loads, long loiter time, and wide combat radius, which proved to be vital assets to the United States and its allies during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil. In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

 

 

Operational Service

 

An A-10 Thunderbolt II in flight fully loaded with armamentsA-10s were initially an unwelcome addition to the arsenal in the eyes of Air Force brass. The Air Force prized the high-flying, high-performance F-15 and F-16 jets, and were determined to leave the dirty work of close air support to Army helicopters.

 

Military planners in the 1980s intended the A-10s to fly low, slow missions to counter divisions of Soviet tanks stationed in Eastern Europe.

 

The planes proved their mettle in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 1,000 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces. Five A-10s were shot down during the war, far fewer than military planners expected.

 

In the 1990s many A-10s were shifted to the "forward air control (FAC)" role and redesignated O/A-10. In the FAC role the 'Warthog' is typically equipped with up to six pods of 5 inch (127 mm) Zuni rockets, usually with smoke or white phosphorus warheads. They remain combat capable despite the designation.

 

A-10s again saw service in the 1999 Kosovo War, in later stages of the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan from an air base at Bagram, including Operation Anaconda in March 2002, and in the 2003 Iraq war. Sixty A-10s were deployed in Iraq; one was shot down near Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi fire late in the campaign.

 

A-10 pilots have acquired something of a reputation for being trigger-happy due to their involvement in two notorious 'friendly fire' incidents. In the Gulf War of 1991 an A-10 attacked two British Army Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, killing nine soldiers. Two British reconnaissance vehicles were attacked by an A-10 in the Iraq War of 2003.

 

The A-10 is scheduled to stay in service with the USAF until 2028, when it may be replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter. In 2005 the A-10 fleet will be upgraded with improved FCS, ECM, and the ability to carry smart bombs. However, the A-10 may stay in service indefinitely due to both its low cost and its unique capabilities which the Joint Strike Fighter simply cannot incorporate such as its cannon, ruggedness, and slow flying capabilities.

 

 

 

 

The GAU-8/A "Avenger" Gatling gun assembly next to a VW Beetle

[sludgebass69]

One of my all time favorite military weapons! They are so ugly, but brutally effective................I never realized how big that cannon system is, WOW!

[Moody Johnny]

Now THAT is what you can call a kick-ass warmachine! Those Mavericks make tanks shiver in fear.

 

Here's some stats for the AGM-65D:

 

Average flight speed - 180 metres/second

Maximum range - 16 000 metres

Guidance system - Forward Looking Infrared ("Fire-and-Forget")

 

Armor penetration against-

Flat steel - 650mm

Sloped steel - 527mm

Rounded steel - 417mm

Reactive plating - 288mm

Composite armor - 257mm

[Rippin' Robin]

Originally posted by TheDarxide Anyone play A-10 Cuba on the PC? One of the first games I got for Windows 95, man, that was good simulation

 

I remember A-10 Tank Killer. That was a cool game, too!

[B-Bottom]

f you guys have never seen video of that gun firing I highly recomend you search the net for it. It is just unreal how fast it is.

[Moody Johnny]

Found it!

 

gatling test firing

 

gatling in action

 

using the gatling in Baghdad

 

plus

 

some clusterbomb fun

 

[Dragoon]

It's an amazing design, the plane and the cannon. Really cool-looking plane if you ask me, just lethal.

 

You guys ought to track down some pics of those 'Spooky' gunships from Vietnam. Basically it's a C-130 cargo plane retrofitted with 105mm cannons, several miniguns and gun pods, and so forth, all except the cannons firing red tracers. They flew at night as close air support and for interdiction of truck convoys and the like on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. All you see in the pictures is thick streams of red sent down from about four, five gun mounts in the plane. Staggering.

[Dragoon]

Actually it was called an AC-119 Specter. I think the Air Force may also have made Spooky gunships out of WWII vintage C-47 Dakotas. Submitted for your approval:

 

[MacGarnicle]

Originally posted by Dragoon Actually it was called an AC-119 Specter....

 

I think Australian soldiers in Vietnam sometimes referred to it as "Puff the Magic Dragon"

[oldivor]

Tank Buster.

[Dragoon]

Originally posted by MacGarnicle I think Australian soldiers in Vietnam sometimes referred to it as "Puff the Magic Dragon"

 

That's true. Maybe it was called the Spooky later on. I know they were used well into the '80s, e.g. in Panama.

[mrcrow]

 

i saw the programme on tv of the worlds most successful and challenging airplanes

 

the stratofortress came out first..there were a lot of usa planes in the listings

[bholder]

 

Originally posted by Dragoon That's true. Maybe it was called the Spooky later on. I know they were used well into the '80s, e.g. in Panama.

 

 

Spooky and Spectre are Puff's current descendants - it's the AC-130, based on the cargo C-130, but armored and with an ungodly amount of firepower:

 

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

 

Spectre:

- Two M61 20mm Vulcan cannons with 3,000 rounds

- One L60 40mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds

- One M102 105mm howitzer with 100 rounds

 

Spooky:

- One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (1,800 rounds per minute)

- One L60 40mm Bofors cannon (100 shots per minute)

- One M102 105mm cannon (6-10 rounds per minute)

[B-Bottom]

 

Originally posted by bholder Spooky and Spectre are Puff's current descendants - it's the AC-130, based on the cargo C-130, but armored and with an ungodly amount of firepower: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm Spectre: - Two M61 20mm Vulcan cannons with 3,000 rounds - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds - One M102 105mm howitzer with 100 rounds Spooky: - One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (1,800 rounds per minute) - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon (100 shots per minute) - One M102 105mm cannon (6-10 rounds per minute)

 

 

I was actually going to do a thread of the day about these things but I was trying to find a video first. These things are just unreal. I'm glad these things are on our side.

[mrcrow]

the stealth bomber also featured highly on the listings...

i didnt realise it flew blind.

[Dragoon]

Originally posted by bholder Spooky and Spectre are Puff's current descendants - it's the AC-130, based on the cargo C-130, but armored and with an ungodly amount of firepower: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm Spectre: - Two M61 20mm Vulcan cannons with 3,000 rounds - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds - One M102 105mm howitzer with 100 rounds Spooky: - One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (1,800 rounds per minute) - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon (100 shots per minute) - One M102 105mm cannon (6-10 rounds per minute)

 

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification

[Fran da Man]

Seen a demonstration of a Warthog at an Airshow...I think (can't remember the actual fact) but because of it's design and turn radius it can fire on a target and 15 seconds later fire on the exact same spot...can't find any info on it's turn time or radius to verify this.

I'm pretty sure that's what the announcer said.

[bholder]

Originally posted by Fran da Man Seen a demonstration of a Warthog at an Airshow...I think (can't remember the actual fact) but because of it's design and turn radius it can fire on a target and 15 seconds later fire on the exact same spot...can't find any info on it's turn time or radius to verify this. I'm pretty sure that's what the announcer said.

 

Pretty impressive. But you should see that video of the AC130 circling the target and just pouring broadside fire into the target continuously. Total destruction.

[NeonVomit]

Pity their sole purpose is the taking of human life.

 

War is an ugly, horrible, disgusting, but sometimes necessary thing.

 

Having said that however, there is a certain joy to be found in these machines of war. They're cool! I used to command an M-107 self propelled artillery gun

 

(one of these)

 

and man, you felt no greater power than when you were either driving 28 tons of steel with a 450 hp Detroit Diesel engine, or firing the damn thing... one of the few things i miss from my Army service. I even gave the one I commanded a proper name.

 

'Heavy Metal' :D

[oldivor]

Originally posted by bholder Spooky and Spectre are Puff's current descendants - it's the AC-130, based on the cargo C-130, but armored and with an ungodly amount of firepower: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm Spectre: - Two M61 20mm Vulcan cannons with 3,000 rounds - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds - One M102 105mm howitzer with 100 rounds Spooky: - One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (1,800 rounds per minute) - One L60 40mm Bofors cannon (100 shots per minute) - One M102 105mm cannon (6-10 rounds per minute)

 

I've been in one and boy, the 105 gun is huge.