T2K Air Support

[Tegyrius]

Here's a timely, somewhat-related blog post, looking at the ground equivalent of this discussion:

http://xbradtc.com/2015/01/03/world-...-of-the-1990s/

- C.

[copeab]

There were also several T-34/85's still in use in Africa and elsewhere as of 1990.

[Olefin]

I would think that a lot of those older WWII tanks would have seen service in Yugoslavia during the Twilight War, either in the V1 or V2 timeline - and that with so many Soviet mobilization divisions being raised that some of them may have gone to war in old T-34's and other WWII tanks still in storage in the Soviet Union

[Apache6]

Attached are a selection of aircraft employed by 3d Marine Air Wing in observation and liaison roles.

The most primitive one is an ultralight using 3 lawn mover engines for power and parachute silk for skin over a metal tube frame. This model shown was designed by Marine Air Group 11's XO, Col Tom Jester. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 would eventually build more then 70 them, most incorporating small modification due either to lessons learned or material limitations. While the loss rate for the aircraft was fairly high, having the ability to conduct observation flights and call and adjust artillery fire often gave the Marines a much needed edge over North Koreans, the Infamous Han River Pirates and other foes. At least three were modified with 'pontoon floats.' In at least a few instances they were deployed from Naval Amphibious shipping launching and landing on the flight decks.

The later ones are adoptions of Dick Rutan's longeazy design powered by automobile engines. 3d MAW almost always used the engines from Toyota Civics, since engines (and spare parts) were common, lightweight and reliable. These served as both observation and liaison aircraft and provided reliable 'long range' (normally up to 450 miles) recon capability.

Experiments with arming the aircraft occurred. 2 were equipped with 2 x M249 SAW in the nose but they were not successful. Several others had hardpoints attached that allowed them to carry the 7 shot 2.75" zuni rocket pods that were normally used by USMC Cobras.

One of the aircraft pictured mounts a frankenstein home made photo recon capability, a modification the Marines called the pregnant longeazy.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by copeab

This is certainly possible. In 1944, for example, one American, not content acting as an artillery spotter in his military version of the Piper Cub, lashed three bazookas together and placed them under each wing (next to the connection for the support strut) and went tank hunting.

What was the firing mechanism for this setup like?

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Olefin

I would think that a lot of those older WWII tanks would have seen service in Yugoslavia during the Twilight War, either in the V1 or V2 timeline - and that with so many Soviet mobilization divisions being raised that some of them may have gone to war in old T-34's and other WWII tanks still in storage in the Soviet Union

There were indeed T34s in action in Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Saw several there myself - in various armouries etc.

[headquarters]

Apache6 - nice work. I totally agree that these type of aircraft would gain increasing importance as the regular airpower dwindled due to lack of spareparts, fuel, personnel and losses.

Modern armies have used powered and unpowered aircraft, balloons, dirigibles etc. for around 150 - 200 years as far as I know. The use of such implements would not stop due to inability to field the most modern airplanes - it would mean fielding whatever you could afford.

Do I imagine ultralight aircraft in aerial combat in T2K with handheld small arms etc ?

Sure.

Not commonplace due to the relative scarcity of such craft - but should they happen to buzz by within reasonabe range and be inclined to pick a fight- why not ?

[copeab]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

What was the firing mechanism for this setup like?

I saw a reference to a toggle lanyard.

[unkated]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

What was the firing mechanism for this setup like?

Probably a rigged pull-line using wires and pulleys.

Uncle Ted

[Apache6]

Bazooka rounds are electrically initiated. It would be very simple to run electrical wires and then set up a toggle switch that would fire bazookas from the cockpit of an observation aircraft.

[.45cultist]

A lot of U.S. WWII planes were used in the 1980's by some South American countries. A guy I know watched them dog fight during a border war.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by .45cultist

A lot of U.S. WWII planes were used in the 1980's by some South American countries. A guy I know watched them dog fight during a border war.

When/where?

[.45cultist]

I'll ask for more details.

[unkated]

By the 1980s, most WW2 vintage a/c were replaced by jets in South & Central America. In the 1960s, there were a couple small wars that featured dogfights of WW2 aircraft - most notably the Soccer War of 1969 between Honduras and El Salvador.

Uncle Ted

[.45cultist]

I might have added twenty years to the timeline. Doohh!

[Apache6]

The photo is of a light aircraft equipped with rocket pods. A Swedish Count built a 5 aircraft squadron of these to support the Biafarian rebellion against Nigeria in the late 60s. They were effective in harassing Nigerian Govt, they destroyed several MIG-17s, by attacking them on the ground.

http://texags.com/forums/63/topics/2549453

[Olefin]

I could see aircraft like that being in operation where there is still avgas available - for instance the Cessnas's that are operational in "A River Runs Thru It" in NJ - a heck of a lot more effective than just a couple of jury rigged machine guns