Originally posted by bigross86
So the A-6's were used as backup if too many F-111's aborted?
So the A-6's were used as backup if too many F-111's aborted?
Let's look at the article again.
Mission planners decided, as part of the effort to attain tactical surprise, to hit all five targets simultaneously.
OK, so we have here 5 separate targets in Libya to attack, at night, with PGMs.
...it meant that the available US Navy resources could not perform the mission unilaterally.
I would take this to mean that the mission planners were intending (initially) to use only the USN carriers in the area and not use USAF strike aircraft but circumstances dictated otherwise.
The only two types of aircraft in the US inventory capable of conducting a precision night attack were the Navy’s A-6s and the Air Force’s F-111s.
So we now have a list of available aircraft types that can be used. We have precisely 2 aircraft types we can use, but unfortunately, one of those types is not only land-based, but land-based in Britain and we need to hit Libya, roughly 1400 miles (2300 km) away.
The Navy had two aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean at the time planning for the raid: The America and The Coral Sea. Each had ten A-6 aircraft, but these were not the total of 32 aircraft estimated as required to successfully hit all five targets with one raid.
Here we have our carrier assets and exact number of all-weather strike aircraft. We need to hold a few back in reserve for ASuW among other things and since we only have 20 total and we want to use at least 32 aircraft for the raid, we have a serious shortfall of aircraft. So, we have to use land-based aircraft to complete the strike package. Fortunately, those aircraft are based on a loyal ally (Britain) but the best route takes them over a rather reluctant ally (France). Nothing that can be done about that except fly a circuitous route and provide enough aerial tankers to fuel every car in Los Angeles.
Sooooo....do you see now? :LOL
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