It’s logical, but it’s equally logical that the guys and gals on the ground who are in the thick of things would prefer more to take the heat off. Doubly so when aircraft can put more of a hurt on the Bear at, frankly, a lower cost in lives than a mech or tank battalion doing it. That’s cold comfort to aircrew who don’t come home or squadron COs who have to write the letters, but preferable to the company or battalion COs on the ground who have to write fewer letters that way.Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2024 2:01 am A little bit of context here:
There is a 335th Squadron policy that goes back to the early days of the war, and it's also based on Israeli experience in 1973: if doing CAS, you limit yourself to one run only, expending all of your ordnance in one pass, unless the threat level dictates otherwise. Not only are you in range of divisional level assets such as SA-6, SA-8, and SA-11, but you're also at risk from regimental level threats, such as SA-9. SA-13, and either ZSU-23-4 or ZSU-30/SA-19. At battalion and below, it's heavy machine guns on APCs and tanks, plus MANPADS and small-arms fire.
You are low and fast, and attract the attention of everybody (enemy and friendly) with a gun, and a bullet in the right place can bring down a multimillion-dollar aircraft and force the crew to take a Martin-Baker ride. If lucky, they're rescued. If unlucky, KIA, and very unlucky, POW.... One pass minimizes the risk to aircraft and aircrew, and if you have to go back, do a turnaround, and come back to do this again? So be it.
It's not just this squadron: many other fast-mover outfits do the same thing, unless they're dedicated to the CAS mission (A-10, A-7, and A-4 squadrons). Even the Marines, who pride themselves on CAS, limit themselves to one run only in high-threat areas. Now, if the Army or Marines requesting CAS can take out any hostile air-defense assets, it gives a clearer run to the target, and eases the surface-to-air threat. FACs do make that request regularly, it should be pointed out.
One run just makes it easier for aircraft and aircrew, and as Poobah pointed out, people tend to get ornery when they've just been bombed.
Splitting that baby is why generals get the big bucks.