WILDGEESE
Gone Fishin'
When reading "Harrier at War" by Alfred Price, he explained that in Vietnam most battles that either the US Army or US Marines battalions fought where lost after 30 minutes if no air support was forthcoming, 10 minutes the minimum, 20 minutes would make it a 50-50 for each side.
Due to the fact that Da-Nang airbase had a limited number of take-off's and landings because of limited runways, and US Navy air assets (Route Package) where devoted to attacks up north or "Downtown" as the fly jocks called them meant it was sometimes impossible due to the time it took for the air assets to get aloft to get air support over a specific battle within the desired 10 minutes, a so being able to defeat the Viet-Cong in a pitched battle.
What if, instead of using A-7, A-4, F-4, F-6 etc etc, US forces procured more AC-47 & AC-130 Gunships which had better loiter time and firepower than a say a squadron of fast jets.
Would replacing say half the fast jet complement with gunships be better?
How would this improve the conduct of the search and destroy missions against the Viet-Cong?
Would it affect the overall conflict?
Cheers filers
Due to the fact that Da-Nang airbase had a limited number of take-off's and landings because of limited runways, and US Navy air assets (Route Package) where devoted to attacks up north or "Downtown" as the fly jocks called them meant it was sometimes impossible due to the time it took for the air assets to get aloft to get air support over a specific battle within the desired 10 minutes, a so being able to defeat the Viet-Cong in a pitched battle.
What if, instead of using A-7, A-4, F-4, F-6 etc etc, US forces procured more AC-47 & AC-130 Gunships which had better loiter time and firepower than a say a squadron of fast jets.
Would replacing say half the fast jet complement with gunships be better?
How would this improve the conduct of the search and destroy missions against the Viet-Cong?
Would it affect the overall conflict?
Cheers filers