An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron 81 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson as the ship conducts flight operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, Dec. 4, 2014. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John Philip Wagner Jr.
A Desert War On ISIS, Fought From A Floating City -- New York Times
ABOARD THE U.S.S. CARL VINSON, in the Persian Gulf — More than a dozen Navy F/A-18 warplanes roar off this aircraft carrier every day to attack Islamic State targets in support of Iraqi troops battling to regain ground lost to the militants in June.
These Navy pilots face an array of lethal risks during their six-hour round-trip missions. Surface-to-air missiles and other enemy fire lurk below, as the downing of an Iraqi military helicopter late Friday underscored. About 60 percent of the aircrews are still learning the ropes on their first combat tours.
The United States-led coalition improvises how the Iraqis call in airstrikes: Iraqi troops talk by radio to American controllers at Iraqi command centers, who in turn talk to the Navy pilots to help pinpoint what to hit. Senior commanders have said that placing American spotters with the Iraqi troops would be more effective, but they have yet to recommend that step knowing that President Obama opposes it.
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My Comment: This New York Times post lists a number of conditions that US air force pilots must meet before they can use their weapons over Iraq/Syria. It makes me wonder how can they be successful with such limitations .... but apparently their success rate is high.
1 comment:
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail,
Real clear and rigid guidelines;
( no, that's a screw, no, that's an electrical outlet, no, that's a pipe, no, that's a joist hanger, no, that's a hurricaine strap,...
Yes, that's a nail)
Tends to result in more sucess.
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