Article

2023-05-26 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Air Force Warthogs patrol Middle East waters in response to Iranian actions

[StarsAndStripes] A U.S. attack aircraft known for close air support in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is seeing action in maritime patrols amid recent tensions between the U.S. and Iran, according to the Navy.

A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” jets are part of an increased rotation of U.S. aircraft and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran’s coast, U.S. 5th Fleet said this week.

Navy destroyers, Coast Guard fast response cutters, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and unmanned systems are also part of the patrols, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said Monday.

“Our ramped-up defensive posture is in response to Iran’s unwarranted and unlawful behavior of late,” Hawkins said.

The U.S. accuses Iran of seizing a commercial oil tanker in late April and another one in early May, as part of a series of 15 incidents in which the U.S. says Iran interfered with ships in the Middle East. The Iranian government says its recent seizures of oil tankers were due to ship violations or legal disputes.

Posted by NoMoreBS 2023-05-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

Posted by ACA JOE 2023-05-26 02:51|| 2023-05-26 02:51|| Front Page Top

#2 ....If they've got any sense, the Hogs are loaded with 2.75" rockets, CBUs, and of course Mister Avenger. One or two passes from a single Hog would shred anything the Iranians can send out there.

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-05-26 06:52|| 2023-05-26 06:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Just remember, F-35's are gonna do all of this!

Posted by ed in texas 2023-05-26 10:09|| 2023-05-26 10:09|| Front Page Top

#4 Given the tremendous firepower, bomb load and ability to absorb goundfire/ADA damage, the A-10 seems a perfect fit for the CAS mission of the Marine Corps Amphibious Task Forces (ARGs). Given the robust nature of the A-10 design, surely someone could configure a variant for short deck carrier landings/takeoffs?

Posted by NoMoreBS 2023-05-26 11:04|| 2023-05-26 11:04|| Front Page Top

#5 How bout a "Short Range Anti-Ship Missile" based on the Small Diameter Bomb? It would be plenty for those little fast boats and deployable from lots of different aircraft.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-05-26 11:07|| 2023-05-26 11:07|| Front Page Top

#6 IIRC, and please help I read this a long time ago.

Seems like they came up with sort of a solution to fold the wings so it was practical space wise. I think they even had a sort of ugly work around for an arrester hook which didn't bend the frame when using. Seems the real hangup was finding a way to launch it, on account of the direction the front wheel deploys, forward to down, and keep it locked in place for the catapult.

I think the study was put together for this exact situation and theater back in the 80s and basically concluded it would be a rare mission which, space being a luxury, could be handled by gunships and current air platforms, a role which would be handled by escort ships, and there would be friendly air bases nearby anyways.

This is me, back in the 90s, trying to learn about the models I was making, and the internet made cranky grind pings, so help or gap fills please.

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-05-26 20:43|| 2023-05-26 20:43|| Front Page Top

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