Soviet Missile Tanks

[Ursus Maior]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Or wires. Most T2k-era ATGMs were wire guided- I imagine that would also preclude or at least further complicate volley fire. If wires of multiple missiles were to get tangled during the missiles' flight to the target, it could interfere with or cut the command input from the user, causing missiles to miss.

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That's a practical limitation, yes. But early SACLOS missile control units weren't even technically capable to have a connection with several missiles at the same time. It was always "connect the missile, respectively the wire spool, to the command unit, fire, guide, reload". Shared connections almost certainly need a digital guidance system and digital missiles, so they can be controlled separately.

Also, target acquisition of a F-14 was done by the radar. A TOW has a nice optic, but the gunner does the target acquisition. So, as long as there is only one gunner and one optic, there will be only one target that he could aim, track and guide the missile into.