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Originally Posted by M21Sniper
I think 10 of the 13 Hercs that made a Ranger drop over Rio Hato took 23mm hits from a ZSU-23/2 that was guarding the airfield.
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I wasn't aware of that specifically but it doesn't surprise me. Still, you're as likely to encounter heavy mortars as anti aircraft, so the Hercs are still vulnerable if they land to off load. If you have to take an airfield sometimes it's a "pick your poison" situation.
Overall, I'd usually want to go for the airdrop, since it's allows for a faster troop build up on the ground. Heck, there have been numerous times that the confusion on the ground immediately after a parachute drop has sort of worked to the attackers advantage.
You know, I'm sort of hesitant to say this, but one of the reasons Mike Sparks (I know, I know) wants the Airborne to have organic light armored vehicles is so they can land some distance away from an airfield and manuever more effectively to take it from the ground.
That was sort of the T.E. Lawrence approach at Aquaba. The guns face the sea so come in with mobile forces from the land. Same principal.
Now, if Sparky were to learn a little tact and not be so abrasive maybe someone would listen to him.