Major Destruction
Posts: 881
Joined: 8/10/2000 From: Canada Status: offline
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quote:
Originally posted by gdpsnake:
In the time frame of each scenario, I don't believe aircraft could fly home, refuel, rearm,
Ground commanders weren't able to call up A/C resources for CAS. All A/C operations were handled at a much higher level than represented in the game.
The Americans went into normandy with a close air support system based largely on British experience in the Desert. This system proved too unwieldy because of the centralised control of air assets. This system was used by IX Tactical Air command (IX TAC)and 1st US Army (FUSA).
By 10 June, a more decentralised system was being developed; IX TAC was given control of the fighter-bombers on the Continent, releasing control from the centre at Hillingdon House, England. In this system, aircraft would fly out of their base in England for the first mission then return to a French base for rearm and refuel until the end of the day, when they would return to England.
Until 17 June, all air support requests were routed through England. Since the HQ's of FUSA and IX TAC were only a hedgerow apart, they began to communicate directly, using Hillingdon House for requests for air support not already in theatre.
By July, a request for SAP support (soon as possible) would result in an airstrike within 4 hours. This was a great improvement from the situation in June.
Following Operation COBRA, SAP missions were eliminated and replaced by armored column cover (ACC). This of course was a direct result in the change from static bocage fighting to the breakout by FUSA towards the interior of France.
On 17 July, an ACC request by 116 IR near St Lo was answered successfully within 40 minutes and the airstrike by a squadron of thunderbolts lasted for one hour as the aircraft attacked identified targets in turn.
Having aircraft on station for a protracted period and able to attack targets identified by ground observers is the model that I would lkie to see portrayed in the game. Single-run sorties are fine in the early war years but by July 1944, the US, UK and Canadian airforces had begun to perfect the type of CAS described above.
My comments only apply to allied CAS in the ETO
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They struggled with a ferocity that was to be expected of brave men fighting with forlorn hope against an enemy who had the advantage of position......knowing that courage was the one thing that would save them. Julius Caesar, 57 BC
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